That’s our bookshelf at home. Books have been the constant in my life for as long as I can remember. From Amar Chitra Katha bought for me from railway book stalls before a long journey – by indulging parents and a doting grandmother who gifted me my love for stories – to Enid Blyton, Famous Five, and Hardy Boys discovered courtesy older cousins, and Alistair MacLean, Ludlum and Asimov stumbled upon in libraries, books have been my markers of time.
Across time, I have moved from only fiction to travelogues to non-fiction. I have also managed to convert D into an avid book reader, and increasingly discover good books thanks to her!
You can read the latest posts here, check my annual lists, or navigate the themes below.
Fiction
Science and speculative fiction, and fantasy, continue to be favourites, and so do Indian authors. But these days, it’s more of an eclectic mix. Amor Towles and Arundhati Roy co-exist with Liu Cixin and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Non-Fiction
I began reading non-fiction only thanks to a travelogue, and that too a gift! But over the years, they have become half of the books I read, and have a disproportionate share among the reviews. I have sorted these under multiple categories – Future & Tech, History & Politics, Mind, Philosophy & Worldview, and yes, travelogues!
Favourites
A list of books that I have enjoyed. As I said before, books are my markers of time, and at least some of these represent the mood at a time, be it happiness or sorrow. They most likely will not reflect popular choices. These are books that might have shaped my worldview or come to terms with reality.
Books to me are escapes across time and a peek into the minds of authors. Over the years, books have also become my means to express affection. So if you have received a book from me, consider yourself special. 🙂
P.S. The blog has a time lag. Follow me on Goodreads to get on the same page. 🙂