The Challenge: Complete reading 25 (pre-selected) Books
Deadline: 365 Days / May 25th, 2016
Reason behind the challenge: Well, I'm turning half of half a century, and there has not been an accomplishment, as such. There are so many younger to me, who have achieved so much in life. While the majority of the population might not have - just like me - I would love to feel accomplished somehow...rather, in my own way. So, here's a little push for myself, the day before I turn the BIG TWENTY, AND FIVE.
How is it a challenge? Oh well, for those of you who have watched me read, you must know how slowly I read. I enjoy reading one line, or even one word at a time. To complete 2 books every month ain't a big deal to many. To me, in the current scenario where I only eat, sleep and go to work, is a huge challenge. Besides, Geminis are known for never completing a single book. Why? 'Cause we're too impatient, apparently. We'd rather jump to the end of a book than read it cover to cover. I've personally broken the myth n-number of times, but somewhere deep in me, I have often wanted to live up to the typical Gemini reputation (when it comes to reading).
So here's a list of books which I would be reading in the upcoming year - before I turn another year older - and feel like I've achieved SOMETHING. And that something, I'd be proud of!
Every book in the list has a story of it's own, which I'd be more than happy to share.
The Book List:
#1. Love among the Bookshelves - Ruskin Bond
This one's the latest purchase; bought it from The 39th International Kolkata Book Fair 2015. There's a reason why I'm starting with this one. I've already started reading it, for the THIRD TIME. I intend on completing it this time. 'Determined' would be the more suitable word. If I can complete reading it by 31st of May, '15, I'll be set for the rest of the 24 in the list, in the next 12 months to come!
Anyway, moving on...
#2. The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux
I've always had an eye on Dad's collection of books. It's sad how he prefers exchanging new books for older ones, instead of stacking them up in a lovely wooden shelf. However, this one's stayed with us...err...him, and it's definitely making it to my challenge.
#3. The Pearl - John Steinbeck
This one was a gift to my elder brother, about 2 decades ago. We discovered its existence about a few weeks back. Read the preface, instantly snatched it away from him, for my own collection. I'm all for retold tales, after all!
#4. The Pleasures of Murder - Jonathan Goodman
A few weeks back, The Calcutta Club's Library was selling off old books at the rate of dust. Dad bought a handful, and gifted me this one for some reason. He's all for non-fiction. I, on the other hand, can't do without fiction. But the old man has good taste, so when he suggests a good read, I take him for his word, and don't generally end up regretting.
There are exceptions, of course.
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari for instance. "It's too early for you, perhaps" he said. And I couldn't agree more!
#5. The Gift - Cecelia Ahern
The Gift was a gift to myself, after I had completed reading
P.S. I Love You and
If You Could See Me Now. No guesses why. For some reason, could never even bring myself to start this one. High time it came off my bookshelf. Definitely calls for a challenge to begin this one, at least.
#6. The Joshua Files: Ice Shock - M. G. Harris
"Some things are worth having, even though they are not very useful" - something THIS SILLY only I am capable of saying. Who knew that I had a sillier Best Friend, who would actually consider it, AND BUY YOU THIS BOOK, just because you made such a comment, looking at the packaging of the book. We spent HOURS at the Amity Campus bookstore, looking at books, ending up never buying anything, 'cause we were perpetually broke, and needed the little money we had left every month for good food. By good food, I mean Non Veg food, for the weekends, when we allowed to leave the hostel/campus.
#7. Down the Road
Edited by Ahmed Faiyaz & Rohini Kejriwal
This one was gifted by a friend - Joshua Irritating David - on my 20th Birthday, as far as I remember. It has 28 different short stories by 16 different authors, and by the look of it, this one's gonna be quite entertaining! Or so I hope. *Wink* If you're reading this, Josh, I'm sorry it hit the shelves and never came down for 5 years. High time now, I suppose.
#8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
Well, I've read this one before. About 5 times. Watched the movie too. About 19-20 times, I suppose. Why is it in my challenge? The answer is: BECUASE MY HEART SAYS SO. Simple.
#9. Pink or Black 2 - Tishaa
Had read the first one when I was in the 12th standard (if I can remember correctly) and somehow liked it. After all these years she's come out with the second one. So, I figured, why not read this too? Also one of the latest purchase, like the first one. "...bought it from The 39th International Kolkata Book Fair 2015."
#10. Guilty as Sin - Tami Hoag
Read it as "Guilty Assassin" when I first saw my Best Friend reading it. Funny, you think? Guess what's funnier? He made the same mistake too, while purchasing it. This one's been with me for 4 years now. Mr. Sarkar, look! Finally decided to give it a read! Happy?
#11. In Deep Space and other stories - Jaya Paramasivan
There's absolutely no recollection of this one. Did I buy it? Did someone gift it to us? Did someone just leave it behind at our place? Well, there ought to be a bit of Science fiction in this challenge, so, why not?
#12. A Passage to Antarctica - Dilip M. Salwi
Another one added to the 'list of books gifted to bro while conveniently gifting me Barbie Dolls' which I never played with. Why God? Why are we such sexists?
#13. Asura: Tale of the Vanquished - Anand Neelakantan
I had purchased this one after being too overwhelmed by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's
The Palace of Illusions. No guesses; I did end up not finishing this one. (Yes, I did start. And reached mid-way too!) I owe this particular unfinished business to work pressure.
#14. Right Ho, Jeeves - P.G.Wodehouse
How could I possibly take up a challenge without including Wodehouse, right ho, peeps? Ok, that was a miserable attempt. My bad. Moving on... This was gifted by a cousin. A bookworm himself. I'm sure he'd be only too disappointed to know that I've kept it unread still. Anyhoo.
#15. The Old Reliable - P.G.Wodehouse
A 1968 published edition, this one's a must read! Since, once you start with Wodehouse, you can't stop. Therefore taking this up, right after
Right Ho, Jeeves.
#16. 101 Short Stories - O. Henry
A birthday gift from a good friend (Sreedarshini Mitra). She gifted this one when I turned 2 decades old. Good choice, must say. Loved reading most of them, but being a Gemini that I am, couldn't bring myself to read 'em all!
#17. The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri
Are you wondering what on earth have I read, if I haven't read the most celebrated/common/popular ones of all? Yeah, I question myself too, at times. Gifted by none other than the elder brother, WITHOUT OCCASION. He was, I quote him here, "in a mood to buy books".
#18. Superstar India - Shobha De
Another one of bro's "in a mood to buy books" gift. Gotta read. Yep. This time, for sure.
#19. The Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai
To know about this one, all you need to do is read about numbers 17 and 18. Yep. Same story.
At this point of time, it's very important for me to clear the fact that I'm not too keen on reading Indian writers. No definite reason. No intellectual business either. Just.
Yes, I can be weird like that. Moving on...
#20. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
No, I am not a perpetually depressed kinda gal. And no, I don't intend on becoming one either. The first time I had laid my hands on this one, was during my High School years. All I kept wondering was, "will this be as depressing to read out of the compulsion of reading-for-the-sake-of-exams, or...will it?" Just mentioning this complex work of literature turned my sentence structure into a complex one. Yeesh! I'm in trouble.
#21. Charandas Chor - Habib Tanvir
All of you who have been taught this piece of literature by Mr. Tathagata Sen (our beloved TS Sir), cannot deny the fact that he taught us way more than what was required to, for exams. LOVED how Sir would get excited teaching us
Charandas Chor. Loved the way Sir taught us, especially this one.
#22. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
This one's such a beauty! Would love to read it once more.
Besides, I know I would be disappointing a lot of people by saying this, but my fascination towards
Wuthering Heights comes from
The Twilight Series. Ok, I have said enough. Definitely a good idea to move on.
#23. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain
I was recently reading
Tom Sawyer to a kid from the Apartments that I stay in. That's when it hit me, there's so much more to the stories we once read while growing up. Guess I'd love to just dig in to some of the books I read in my childhood.
#24. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne
The reason is pretty much associated with the one above. For the 24th book, I chose this one over
Black Beauty and
The Wizard of Oz because I would love to test my imagination power at this age, and compare it with the sort I had in my childhood. I'm sure I was way more cool, imagination-wise, when I was younger and knew nothing had limits.
Aaand... #25. Emma - Jane Austen
This one. *Phew! The perfect one to complete the challenge with.
I'd love to complete the challenge with a Novelist who had won my heart with her commendable "underlying moral commentary" in all her works of Literature. Yes I've read it before. And yes I'd love to read it again. This time, as a reward to my accomplishment - of having completed this challenge.
If you're still wondering why I'm doing this...that makes 2 of us.
So, here goes to nothing!
