Tags
alfred hitcock, amar chitra katha. chandoba, books, childhood, Crossword, enid blytom, famous five, hobby, Landmark, library shelf, maximum comments, paise, phantom comics, Reader
Age 13 and 10 respectively – My brother and I decided to hoard our own library.
Ingenious plan: Papa promised us a new book every summer vacation (… provided we earned it with glowing report cards, obviously.) Only one book apiece! It was a grand beginning. BUT it was woefully inadequate for 2 voracious book-vorous animals. Then we had a brainwave.
If not brand new, we would be completely fine with 2nd hand books.
Sion Circle, Fort and the footpaths of Dadar housed these treasures of second-hand books. 5 Rupees each!
Rhea, FYI , 5 
Rupees is about 1/12th of $.
We travelled by BEST bus to school. We realized – if we got down one bus-stop earlier, we saved 25 paise each! (To the wide eyed innocents, ONCE UPON A TIME, there existed a 25 paise coin which = 1/4th Rupee) 
The allure of owning books sweetened our extra walking distance to school. Everyday, we managed to save 50 paise. At end of the school term, we proudly presented our reservoir money.
We now had the thrilling freedom to buy a new book and 4 second-hand book apiece. Oh! the simple Joys of Childhood!
FIRST CONQUESTS: I remember clearly – my first NEW book was Alfred Hitchcock’s Three Investigators – ‘Whispering Mummy’ 
and first 2nd hand book was Enid Blyton’s Famous Five – Five go off in a caravan.
Caught red-handed: Setting aside tradition, we once purchased books b4 exams ended. As brother & myself sat up late revising for next day exams, we were sorely tempted. The books beckoned tantalizing, sensuous and entirely irresistible.
We made a silent pact – ONLY 10 minutes, we decided, and greedily dived at our temptations.
Alas! Papa chose these very 10 minutes to check on his two sincere, studious kids. I dare not recollect the next scene.
Brick by brick: We stocked up laboriously. From Famous five book 9 and Mallory Towers book 3, we gradually managed to get the entire series. The same for Phantom comics 
We’d manage to get hold of Smuggler’s ring part III first, then meticulously hunt the next summers for Part I & II. What a world it was – Diana, Rex, piranha infested rivers, Skull cave, Guran, Hero & Devil! 
I still recollect our neat catalogue of alphabetically, author-wise and Genre-wise categorized library.
Credit Card Era: Now, of course, Crossword and Landmark offer my niece the entire series at the swipe of a credit card. There was joy in our childhood hunt. There’s joy in the credit card too, I guess. I HOPE.
BOOKSHOPS: remain my favorite places in any city. I love the rows of categorized books – Mythology, Mystery, Romance, Self Help.
I love to scoop up half the shop and then retire to a cozy corner to flip through them. I love to top off my trip with bitter hazelnut flavored Cappuccino and Blueberry muffin. Yep, I need that exact combination. 
Stamping ownership: Till date, I enjoy inscribing my name, the date of purchase, the shop and the occasion on first page. It may be a random book from a whole shelf, but it instantly becomes ‘Mine’.
Have I outgrown them? I doubt it. I still enjoy Magic Faraway Tree and Sleeping Beauty. My eternal favorite ‘Shadow –the sheepdog’ 
has flown across the oceans. It now occupies prime position in my niece Rhea’s book-shelf.
e-book? Nope, not me. I like to feel a book, smell its pages, scribble my notes at its edges, underline a new word & hunt down it’s meaning in a dictionary.
Click here for my pre-school Love at first sight with Chandoba and Amar Chitra Katha.
What is your earliest book-memory? Book–adventure? Book you still read?
There was a sandwich vendor in the corner of our school. I noticed him discarding the first and last slice of the bread. Struck a deal. 75% discount . No butter chutney on one side only. Only cucumber. I still don’t butter my sandwich and only like cucumber in it. never made this connection until now.
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I distinctly remember you steering me away from M&B. U allowed me to read one, but stopped me at the second. Then u introduced me to Mason & McLean
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sweety u r in line 2 b the next in the lineage of a jhumpa lahiri or chetan bhagwat… I am seriously looking forward 2 ur first book and don’t forget 2 present me a autographed copy… high time 4 the switch
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very humbled, Sir. Hmm, Bhagat & Lahiri ? As AB said, hum jahan khade hain, line wahi se shuru hoti hai! Just joking. Said book is undergoing ruthless editing. Will definitely keep one for you – and hope for a book review in return.
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This story warmed my heart
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Gayu, thank you. It warmed mine too. Did naktu baby read it? Waiting for her wise cracks.
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thats the spirit… so happy 4 u, that u r giving ur inherent talents an expression. God bless u…
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I enjoyed as always .. you and Sunil certainly worked hard for your book collection.. and how ! I remember my childhood days borrowing, exchanging books , spending hours in the library.. but nowhere near how you guys did, true book lovers. I’m going to have Aarushi read this.
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Kavita, thank you so much. Borrowing – lending books was a gut wrenching feel. I was always scared I would never get back my book.
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Hi Sweety, so beautifully written. Made me so nostalgic and sentimental. Childhood memeories are so precious. Hope all is well with you.
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Hi Sonal, I still think of u as Suvarna. The older I get, the more I value childhood memories. Ooops, am I supposed to say this many grey hair- later?
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A great post Sweety. It made me reflect on some memories as well.
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Hola! It’s been a long time. Nice to see you again.
and what are your book memories? Would love to know.
In India, we have this grandma-grandchildren storytelling as a ritual bed time. Does it exist at your place as well?
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Such a fun post 🙂 And how lovely to have parents who encourage reading. I remember Blyton and Hitchcock paperbacks, and still have them. Though credit card makes it easier, the thrill of saving paisas to buy books had its charm. Similarly, you can’t smell the rawness in their e-version. I long to go back to my childhood and start all over again – sit under a tree, by a dhaba tea vendor, and read all day. What’s your book about? Best!
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Hi
Long time no see!
When I visit Crossword, I often see parents curled up beside their children and reading out to them. It’s a reassuring sight.
Yes, I haven’t yet ventured into e-books. It just doesn’t seem like ‘real’ books. Or maybe I’m old-fashioned.
My book is Mahabharata from pov of Arjun & Draupadi.
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Wow – Mahabharata from Arjun and Draupadi’s POVs. That’s a bomb, isn’t that. Both strong characters. I’m curious to know what Arjun “really” thinks of Krishna, and how Draupadi, who also has the Krishna angle, views both Pandavas and Kauravas. When is this out? Best!
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Thank you. I’ve always thought Krishna & Draupadi are more twin-souls than she and Dhrishtadyumn. I mean, in terms of their ideas, intelligence and quest for justice. I enjoyed getting within the minds of all 3, actually. There will be a lot of ‘what I really think’ from both characters.
Editing is ongoing. Hopefully by Feb 2015?
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