I had almost stopped reading. By reading I mean non-technical stuff and non-newspaper. Why? Did I take up a job? Have I suddenly become highly motivated to cook and clean.
None of the above. I realized that I do not read beyond first 10 pages of any book. First few hours of a day are spent going between kitchen and terrace. And next few hours are spent being sthitha - not sthitha prajna. Rather shayita - if there is word like that in Sanskrit. I hardly get up from couch, watching repeat shows of TV serials which are making me nauseated. And I snack non-stop. As if TV and food will fill the void.
So rather than returning unread book with late fees, I decided not to bring any books at all. But then I brought two books.
To restart the habit of reading, I should bring an interesting book, which will be better than TV serials. Detective novels? But that is an insult to my reading history. I, who have read authors like Maughm, Sartre and books like Tin Drum, should read childish detective books? What a preposterous idea? But again, if I bring serious books, I will not read them.
Solution was sci-fi. The books are almost like detective books. But less violent and highly fascinating.
When I saw the author's name, - Margaret Atwood, I did have have these thoughts. She is a contemporary author, she is feminist and she is good.
The book is MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood . And so far it is keeping its promise of being riveting.
"There are very few humans left on earth. But there are lab created humanoids called crackers. Who have tweaked brains and are completely non-violent and are not very smart. They do not understand words like pain and death. To make injured Jimmy feel better, they surround him and purr to him. "
And, why are most sci-fi books tend to be about the time when human race has become almost extinct? Is this idea the sci-fi community's fantasy or fear?
None of the above. I realized that I do not read beyond first 10 pages of any book. First few hours of a day are spent going between kitchen and terrace. And next few hours are spent being sthitha - not sthitha prajna. Rather shayita - if there is word like that in Sanskrit. I hardly get up from couch, watching repeat shows of TV serials which are making me nauseated. And I snack non-stop. As if TV and food will fill the void.
So rather than returning unread book with late fees, I decided not to bring any books at all. But then I brought two books.
To restart the habit of reading, I should bring an interesting book, which will be better than TV serials. Detective novels? But that is an insult to my reading history. I, who have read authors like Maughm, Sartre and books like Tin Drum, should read childish detective books? What a preposterous idea? But again, if I bring serious books, I will not read them.
Solution was sci-fi. The books are almost like detective books. But less violent and highly fascinating.
When I saw the author's name, - Margaret Atwood, I did have have these thoughts. She is a contemporary author, she is feminist and she is good.
The book is MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood . And so far it is keeping its promise of being riveting.
"There are very few humans left on earth. But there are lab created humanoids called crackers. Who have tweaked brains and are completely non-violent and are not very smart. They do not understand words like pain and death. To make injured Jimmy feel better, they surround him and purr to him. "
And, why are most sci-fi books tend to be about the time when human race has become almost extinct? Is this idea the sci-fi community's fantasy or fear?
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