Sunday, February 19, 2012

Reading habits, skip, end.



Book reading habit is pretty addictive. Once you start reading, it becomes difficult to disengage from the book and pay attention to what happens in the real world around you. For me, this habit (bad?) goes back to decades.

In our house, my older sister was an avid reader,of what she could manage to obtain. Luckily we studied in a good school, with a good library. But the main reading started off with magazines , like Vikatan, Kalki, Kumudam, kalaimagal, sudesamittiran, ( big pages),Pesumpadam ( not literary enough) , and those wonderful serials in them. I used to be a go between for her book friends and sneak into those magazines once in a while. After we were reasonably older, we all used to read books, with a stiff competition of who is going to read first. While eating lunch/dinner, we used to sit on the floor and keep the book on the lap. Mom used to get mad with a sharp" keep Saraswathi away from Anaapurni". When I used to visit friends’ houses, I used to be the one to look for books and beg them to lend me some!

College was heaven. I had a good friend who was proficient in English and only English. She introduced me to Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I was completely bowled over, and there it started. I tried to read as many books as possible from the library, with the help of my friend , who would decide what I should read next. She knew I was handicapped with the language and was genuinely interested that I should read right books.

There was no stopping since then. I have read in buses, trains, planes, bus stops, rly. Stations and hospitals, office , sea shores, hotel lobbies, airports, and while cooking too if the books was too good. Once I start, I used to read on into the night and go for work the next day bleary eyed. If the book was touching I would cry my heart out too. Even now, though, tears flow a little slowly .





This followed me after marriage too, and I used to find some ways of sneaking in a book , after every one finished their dinner. This was irksome to dear hubby who though the idea of reading and eating was strange. " Cockroach daale tho bhi kha lethi" was his usual quote. Considering that he was the one who used to buy me books by the dozen and addict me to English fiction!When babies came, I used to put them to sleep with me reading a book, and comforting them on my lap.

A discovery that warmed my heart in due course , was, that my son, turned to be like me! He loves books, and is very proud and possessive of his collection. I hate to admit it, but he introduced me to many authors, whom I have not heard of, most of them wonderful ones. (Aha, proud mom). And he also has the habit of reading at the dining table! ( In the genes).

Another habit of mine which irked my family was,my skipping pages. I can’t read big pages after pages of descriptive stuff. I am an impatient reader, and I need to know what the author is hinting at. That was a silly of me; I missed many classics due to this, and later sat through and read them. (Exception - War and Peace). I don't really feel that it diminishes my interest in the book. I have this urge to read the plot and figure it out soon, and in case of mysteries/thrillers, I had to know the ending. I will go through entire books again.P.D.James is the only exception.

My family used to dread asking me about the plot, lest I spoil their enjoyment, by spilling out the details. I can't bear suspense. Same is the case with movies too. In the case of suspense movies, I need to read the plot first and find out almost everything, and then see the movie. I used to upset my husband, by blurting out the ending.

Meanwhile, I found this piece where skipping is justified! http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/jan/05/skipping-parts-of-books-robert-mccrum

More on books later.

11 comments:

  1. Since the time you have commented on my blog, I have visited here couple of times , read few posts realized it needs a serious thought befor you could comment, Well I too love books and fortunetly My daughter too loves its fun to share with her. One can only hope that e-book will not rule the roost

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Welcome.
      Yes, E-books are not nice :-)
      My grand daughter is 2 +. and is fond of books right now, but who knows?


      No, you can comment as soon as your read, my posts are not so serious :-)

      Thanks.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9:20 AM

    Nice post...
    Post making format was excellent. What ever you faced in your life, make a post using simple words.
    I like more..

    When i read this post, i realize this poem,
    நூலைப் படி - சங்கத்தமிழ்
    நூலைப்படி - முறைப்படி
    நூலைப்படி

    காலையில் படி - கடும்பகல் படி
    மாலை இரவு பொருள்படும்படி

    கற்பவை கற்கும்படி
    வள்ளுவர் சொன்னபடி
    கற்கத்தான் வேண்டுமப்படி
    கல்லாதவர் வாழ்வதெப்படி ?

    பொய்யிலே முக்காற்படி
    புரட்டிலே காற்படி
    வையகமே ஏமாறும்படி
    வைத்துள நூல்களை ஒப்புவதெப்படி ?

    தொடங்கையில் வருந்தும்படி
    இருப்பினும் ஊன்றிப்படி
    அடங்கா இன்பம் மறுபடி
    ஆகுமென்ற ஆன்றோர் சொற்படி.

    -புரட்சிக் கவிஞர் "பாவேந்தர் பாரதிதாசன்"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sir.
      Paa vendarin padal!

      Too good , that you were reminded of it and I get to know it.

      I am touched.
      Please visit again.

      Delete
  3. Hello Pattu,
    Too bad I didn't come to know of this part of your personality earlier.
    Your neighbour sure needs to learn lessons in civic duties.Oh yes, one's blood boils at such reckless behaviour by a neighbour who you simply can't wish away. Take the help of others in the locality to tame him down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Uppalji,
      Yes, when I started that gardener blog, I did not write much on this. This got revived later.
      Between blogspot and WordPress , it took time for me to figure out how to organise.
      Meanwhile, I got lot of attention form other garden enthu people.
      So this serious blog stayed serious. :-)

      Please feel free to comment on the pages.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, It sure boils, Even today he is doing the same things. And most of our locality people are , 'my own house, I am ok, why should worry about others' type.

      Even then, we are spreading the message,and in case any other incident happens, we should see what to do.

      Talking it out is the best option. But he does not talk.

      Now it is wait and watch.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous11:45 PM

    Dear sis I read only this article and found this tamil poem even though I have Pavedar book with me..- nice one. congratz and keep continew...good luck-
    Vetha. Elangathilakam.

    ReplyDelete
  5. some books take over you just like that ! avid reader myself :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I had this strange habit of reading about 50 pages, then reading the climax and then reading through the story. Even then, many stories were thrilling. But these days, I stick to non-fiction, if at all!

    Destination Infinity

    ReplyDelete

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