I’ve had a great but busy start to the week. Loads to catch up on with reading and commenting on the posts from last week, that I hardly have time to write anything new. So, I thought I’d rather share my post on Book Love that I’d started writing some time back but never got to finish. Let me confess— after reading Shilpa’s lovely post on A Book Lover’s Tag I got pulled into this. Since I found it fun to answer her questions while commenting on the post, I had an idea…why not tag myself and write one too!
Anyway, here are the questions that you might like to answer as well. Especially meant for those of you who love books and enjoy reading! And, of course, the idea behind this Q&A post is to get you drawn to writing one as well. 🙂
So, here we go.
1.Do you have a specific place for reading?
I do. Usually, in the living room, if I’m at home. Or, when I’m waiting to catch a flight. On holidays, it can be just about anywhere— while lounging on the settee, on the beach, under a tree, on a hammock…anywhere, quiet and peaceful, Even quiet corners work great!
2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Bookmarks, most certainly. I love them! We’ve made quite a few of them at home with leftover artworks, or handmade paper pieces during our craft sessions and then, there are those, we’ve picked up during our travels. Thankfully, I have plenty of them.
3. Do you eat or drink whilst reading?
I do not like eating while reading because it distracts me, but tea is altogether a different matter. For me, books are best savoured when there is a steaming cuppa beside, and I’m happy with any flavour really. Okay, ginger tea or Earl Grey works best!
4. Music or TV whilst reading?
I love silence when I am reading. it is non-negotiable. But, then, when the family is around, I don’t mind people chatting as long as they aren’t too loud. It is rare to find the perfect peace and quiet unless I’m all alone at home.
5. One book at a time or several?
I love to give all my attention to whatever it is that I’m reading, and I do prefer one book at a time because it allows me to absorb the most out of my reading.
6. Do you prefer to read at home or elsewhere?
I can read anywhere provided I have the peace and the quiet to do so! Definitely away from noise and distractions.
7. Read out loud or silently?
I love to read with my eyes…silently, feeling the flow of words as they tumble out of the book to enter my conscious mind. Words make music in my ears. Do you feel that way too?
8. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
I will never read ahead, no matter how much I get tempted to do so. I hate to spoil the fun/suspense/joy (whatever you call it) that comes towards the end of a book. Sometimes, I even re-read a portion if I love the author’s description or if it is a beautifully expressed passage. Happens quite often for me.
9. Break the spine or keep it like new?
I love to keep them nice and new even after a couple of readings. Break the spine? Never.
10. Do you write in books?
Not usually, unless I’m reading and making notes, for a post or for academic purposes—in which case I scribble with a pencil but do it neatly, and always, always, erase them after I’ve transferred them to the notebook, later.
11. What books are you reading now?
My current read is Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, which is a beautiful creative manifesto for the digital ages. It is one book that has got me totally hooked on it and is making me question a lot of the things that I do. It says getting bored is good because that’s where a lot of our ideas come from. The other awesome piece of advice from the book is this—”In the digital age, don’t forget to use your digits.” Our fingers. So precious and so useful, but how often do we use them nowadays?
12. What is your childhood favourite book?
There are these two wonderful books that I’ve loved reading, and re-reading since childhood and I must mention both of them here —The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Both books hold a magic in my heart to this day and I cannot imagine how one cannot fall in love with these gems that have stood the test of time over the years.
13. What is your all-time favourite book?
It is Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago—the epic tale of love, against the background of the Russian Revolution. It was in high school that I had developed a deep interest in Russian literature having read Chekhov, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy and when I laid my hands on this Nobel prize-winning classic, particularly with the Yuri poems that Pasternak had written in the final part of the novel, I knew I had discovered something that was going to remain a lasting influence on me. It is one book, that even after countless readings, still holds the same magic for me always. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d highly recommend you do!
And, that’s it from me, today! So, how did you find this? Keen to join?
Tagging you all here —Anamika, Balaka, Parul, Sunita and Shilpa to join in this with your posts and tell us more. For those of you dear readers, whom I haven’t mentioned here, but you think you are interested, do take up this book tag and please let me know. I promise to hop over to your blog and read your post.
So, with that, let me wish you happy reading and happy book tagging! Have a great Tuesday, everyone. 🙂
Esha this was fun to read. Just like you, I enjoy reading silently and prefer silence over noise. I also mostly read only one book at a time. And book is my favorite companion on travels. Till now I haven’t been lured by the charm of digital books. Let’s see.
You and I are quite alike in terms of the reading habits, but the first thing I do before I start reading is break the spine! I find it really difficult to read otherwise.
Your bookmarks collection is so beautiful… 😍😍 I love how colorful and different they are.
These days I can read anywhere anytime, even while standing at the train station. I loved Chekhov’s short stories. Been a fan since I read them in our English books. There was DD1 program as well called Chekov ki duniya or something like that. Not sure if you have seen it. I believe it’s available in youtube now.
Definitely considering taking this up… for the life of me, cant think of what my fave book would be, though!
Godyears.net
Oh!! Mituldi, Thanks for the tag..I would have done this even without a tag 🙂 I remember reading Dr. Zivago right after my school finals and sharing experiences with you during our evening walk..do you remember??
Kutty Pishi’s house used to be full of books and I used to borrow them and read. I still have couple of Babai’s Feluda books with me. Bikele especially Loadshedding holei kato galpo hoto..books cinema, cricket, politics..seisab adda ekhon ar hayna..I miss those days
I would love to do this but I really can’t call myself a reader any more….
Oh this is wonderful. I would love to do this.
Books are my escape and I need them every single day, even if just one page at night. And I have bookmarked Doctor Zhivago to read.
What can I say, I want to read all the books out there such is my thirst for books!
Great, Nabanita! Will be looking forward to your post very soon. I totally agree, nothing quite like books to dig into…they are our means of escaping from our everyday world to one of excitement and adventure, if not fairy tales, at least some of the times! If and when you write that post, do please tag me coz I wouldn’t wish to miss it. 🙂
Thats a lovely read.. I need to pick up more Russian literature. I will have to stop reviewing books to finish reading everything on my wish list. And that book looks so good.
Thanks, Lata. I’m a huge fan of Russian Literature, Lata and I can say for sure, they represent some of the best pieces of writing ever to be written in any language anywhere in the world. Do try Tolstoy or Chekhov’s short stories to begin with and Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, if you are keen to try.
Aha! So good to know your reading habits, Esha. You do have lovely book marks. Dr Zivago is highly recommended by you and now I cant wait to read it. Thank you for sharing your favourite book with me and for taking up this tag too! Enjoyed reading this post 🙂
Thanks, Shilpa. I knew when I read the opening lines of your post that this tag is for me. I loved writing it and sharing my reading habits. Its nice fun to see what others have to say about theirs. I’ve tagged five people in my post and there are some who I haven’t who are also keen to do it. So, lets see. 🙂 Dr Zhivago is not a light read so please keep some time aside when you start the book. Happy reading, my friend! 🙂
I think I will do this (no promises!) but not right away, as a cluster of holidays are coming up where I live. One of those questions broke my heart – spine breakers. So happy that you aren’t one. Isn’t it interesting the different reading habits we have?
That’s wonderful, Alana. Thank you so much for taking up the tag and please, no rush, write whenever you are up for it. But before that, do have a great time and enjoy your holidays! Spine breakers aren’t kind people, are they?! Everyone will have something different to share for this post. It’s fun to see how our reading habits differ!
My reaction to this post is exactly the same as in Shilpa’s first 4 lines. I had decided to do this post and I was also pleasantly surprised on finding my name in the tag. Thanks Esha. I may not have read much in life but I love all things books. I will certainly do this post for next Monday 🙂
Of course dear Anamika. I knew you’d love it too. Thank you so much for taking up the tag. I’ll be waiting until next Monday to read all about your reading habits…I might have an inkling to some of that, having been a regular reader of your blog all this while. But, the post will reveal it all, so waiting. Take your time dear, no rush. Do please tag me when you post your link, in case I miss it for some reason. 🙂
You know, the first line I read had me hooked and I decided right then that I would do this post next week, for sure (I have already scheduled posts for this week). And, when I reached the last para and found my name mentioned there, I was thrilled and pleasantly surprised, too!
I would love doing it, Esha! Thank you so much for tagging me!
Like you, I too like….uh oh, let me not spill the beans now. I will write about my bookie-habits in my post and you can read all about it there! 😀
So, wait and watch and thanks, once again, my dear!
Much love!
<3
Oh, thats wonderful to know, Shilpa. I just knew that you’d love it. Book lovers know who they are. 😀 I’m so keen to read your post dear Shilpa. This is so much fun, isn’t it? Thanks a ton for taking up the tag.
Love and hugs <3
This is great and, yes, I really am eager to join. I love talking about books.
Great, Alice! I’m looking forward to your post already. 😀
So glad to know that, Alice. Do please tag me when you post the link! 🙂