Who's reading what,when & the experience

kristinm · Dec 8th, 2007, 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwanttogoback

yes, he's much easier to read than to watch.

but there is definitely a place for documentarians like pilger and michael moore. someone has to be out there at the edge, pushing the boundaries of what we talk about, and alerting us to what is going on.

Totally agree - Moore gets away (barely) with his research errors and dogmatsm by being funny - but Pilger has no humour at all. Still watch everything they both do though - there are precious few such voices in the world and why should we demand balance of left of centre commentators when those on the other side wouldn't know the meaning of the word?

the opoponax · Dec 8th, 2007, 05:18

I've also always wanted to hike the Appalachian trail, Conor -- I've also eyed "A Walk in the Woods", having no idea it was about that. Thought it was just a general travel book about US national parks or something. Now I'll really have to pick it up.

Personally, I'm not happy with anything I'm reading these days. Had a brilliant tear there, for a while, and now I'm nodding off to dry nonfiction on the Mughals. It's great because I know next to nothing about them and feel I ought to get a sense of those guys in preparation for my trip, and the book I'm reading is a pretty good introduction. But it's a total snoozefest.

Aishah · Dec 8th, 2007, 07:55

Doing travelling to Delhi now and haven't had much time for reading lately but for the bedtime read I packed the slimmest, lightest book I had - turned out to be Crime Short Stories - a Spotlight book picked up for 75rs from local book exchange. Good authors - it's a book used by Germans learning English as it has vocab. underlined with German explanations at the end of every story! There's Margery Allingham, Judith Cutler, Colin Dexter, Poe and Ian Rankin amongst the authors - the good old faithfuls, tried and true! Stories just the right length to finish before the light goes out.

iwanttogoback · Dec 8th, 2007, 11:05

Quote:

Still watch everything they both do though - there are precious few such voices in the world and why should we demand balance of left of centre commentators when those on the other side wouldn't know the meaning of the word?

indeed kristin, indeed.

seem to have a huge pile of books on the bedside table, probably because semester's over and there's three long months of summer til it starts again.

off the top of my head i have john sarno's 'healing back pain', an amazing book which i thoroughly recommend to anyone with back pain; haseen khaledi's 'the kite runner' which i've only just started but hope is as wonderful as 'a thousand splendid suns', the first volume of prousts 'remembrances of things past', a couple of margaret drabble novels and probably a trashy tome or two for those long hot days under the ceiling fan.

bliss.

capt_mahajan · Dec 8th, 2007, 13:08

Rememberance of things past should be on top of the pile, if you ask me

kristinm · Dec 8th, 2007, 17:11

I never have time to read when Uni is on too - not even what I'm MEANT to be reading!

iwanttogoback · Dec 8th, 2007, 18:34

Quote:

Rememberance of things past should be on top of the pile, if you ask me

well i think i have to finish 'the kite runner' first. and i'm a bit intimidated by the million words of the six volumes! and i always like to have something trashy on hand for when i can't be bothered with a big effort.

i'll let you know how it goes.

the opoponax · Dec 8th, 2007, 19:33

Ah, this brings up something I've been idly contemplating --

what's good Indian Rail reading?

At home doing the daily grind, I find that good subway reading has to either be a light, quick pageturner, or it has to be a collection of short stories or something else that can be picked up and put down a lot.

I find that something has to be really captivating to hold me on a plane, and preferably not too dry. No idea why, considering there's not exactly anything else to do.

On the other hand, I always find myself dipping into the heavy hitters on trains -- on one recent 10 hour trip I read most of The Dubliners and then moved on to Faulkner.

What do you read on Indian trains? I assume there will be tons of distractions, so probably no Proust or Tolstoy, eh? or is it better to have a thick serious tome on hand?

capt_mahajan · Dec 8th, 2007, 19:46

While travelling, I like to read something which doesnt require too much concentration... an Ed Mcbain, perhaps.

On Indian trains, I would also avoid anything with small print.. some of those night lights aren't very bright... and a few don't work at all

machadinha · Dec 8th, 2007, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

What do you read on Indian trains? I assume there will be tons of distractions, so probably no Proust or Tolstoy, eh?

Yes... I thought I'd do myself a favor and pick up an Indian edition of Moby Dick on arrival, thinking hey this is cheap! (It really is, you can stock up on assorted classics for peanuts there.) 3.5 months down the line I'd progressed to something like chapter 3.

So some light reading is what I'd recommend yes. Some local authors or history etc. will naturally enhance the general travel mood. re: Small letters, the general bumpiness and shakiness of trains buses etc. doesn't sit well with this either.

(Opoponax, given your apparent interests and if I may make one suggestion, try The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham, you can buy it there for a few hundred Rupees. A historical work studying India before the Moghuls in all its facets, it's pretty dry and far from light reading, however I found it one book that really did enhance my travel experience, and not at all hard to work my way through while on the road. Best interspersed with some lighter reading I reckon. It's bulky but in small print... see the above. Basham is, of course, not uncontested in some quarters, how wouldn't he be.)

Aishah · Dec 9th, 2007, 08:25

Train reading - I like Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana books but now I've read them all.. Short story collections are good. And this is a terrible thing to say because it's the CONTENT not the SIZE of the book which is most important! But I pick a lightweight smallish book for the journey to pack easily into my handbag! I used to laugh at the old ladies coming into a library where I once worked asking "Have you got something light?" because they couldn't hold heavy books. Now I don't laugh! Fully understand their predicament (not that I am at that stage yet....!!!)

wonderwomanusa · Dec 9th, 2007, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

what's good Indian Rail reading? ...

What do you read on Indian trains? I assume there will be tons of distractions, so probably no Proust or Tolstoy, eh? or is it better to have a thick serious tome on hand?

I take small paperback classics with me -- THREE MUSKETEERS, ROUGE ET NOIR, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST... these are easy to carry and easy to trade with shops or other travellers... and give me plenty to think about when the train chaos is too great to read.

Nick-H · Dec 9th, 2007, 13:43

I always have a book on the go, and, as I generally only read before sleep, it can lost me a long time --- so I just take whatever I'm reading at the time.

Casey · Dec 9th, 2007, 20:35

I usually bring along three books to start off. I have a classic or a book that I should have read and never managed to get through (Atlas Shrugged, a Steinbeck or Faulkner), an easy thriller or mystery, and something that I am chomping at the bit to read. This way, I can choose a book to fit my mood. I pick up the historical, non fiction, or writers from the country I am visiting while I am there. Oh, and a crossword puzzle book and several newspapers.

I just finished A House for Mr. Biswas and really enjoyed it. This was followed up by London Fields (Martin Amis) and am currently reading The Remains of the Day. I find time to read by reading while walking to work (a bit harder these days as it is winter), riding on the bus, and sitting in the bath. I also wake up a lot during the night and read then. If I don't have a book I am reading bread bags, cereal boxes, and any advertisement in sight.

Aishah · Dec 9th, 2007, 21:10

I loved 'A House for Mr Biswas' Casey. You wouldn't want to be walking around our way reading your book - you will either sprain an ankle in a pothole (which I did about 18 months ago!)or land in cow dung. Reading anything - that's exactly what I'm like too, and also I practise my Hindi reading at same time reading signs, advertisements, cereal packs like cornflakes with half English and half Hindi!

Dec 8th, 2007, 07:55	#903
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,036	Doing travelling to Delhi now and haven't had much time for reading lately but for the bedtime read I packed the slimmest, lightest book I had - turned out to be Crime Short Stories - a Spotlight book picked up for 75rs from local book exchange. Good authors - it's a book used by Germans learning English as it has vocab. underlined with German explanations at the end of every story! There's Margery Allingham, Judith Cutler, Colin Dexter, Poe and Ian Rankin amongst the authors - the good old faithfuls, tried and true! Stories just the right length to finish before the light goes out. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Dec 9th, 2007, 13:43	#913
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,888	I always have a book on the go, and, as I generally only read before sleep, it can lost me a long time --- so I just take whatever I'm reading at the time. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Dec 8th, 2007, 05:18	#902
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	I've also always wanted to hike the Appalachian trail, Conor -- I've also eyed "A Walk in the Woods", having no idea it was about that. Thought it was just a general travel book about US national parks or something. Now I'll really have to pick it up. Personally, I'm not happy with anything I'm reading these days. Had a brilliant tear there, for a while, and now I'm nodding off to dry nonfiction on the Mughals. It's great because I know next to nothing about them and feel I ought to get a sense of those guys in preparation for my trip, and the book I'm reading is a pretty good introduction. But it's a total snoozefest.

Dec 8th, 2007, 13:08	#905
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Rememberance of things past should be on top of the pile, if you ask me

Dec 8th, 2007, 17:11	#906
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,483	I never have time to read when Uni is on too - not even what I'm MEANT to be reading!

Dec 8th, 2007, 19:33	#908
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	Ah, this brings up something I've been idly contemplating -- what's good Indian Rail reading? At home doing the daily grind, I find that good subway reading has to either be a light, quick pageturner, or it has to be a collection of short stories or something else that can be picked up and put down a lot. I find that something has to be really captivating to hold me on a plane, and preferably not too dry. No idea why, considering there's not exactly anything else to do. On the other hand, I always find myself dipping into the heavy hitters on trains -- on one recent 10 hour trip I read most of The Dubliners and then moved on to Faulkner. What do you read on Indian trains? I assume there will be tons of distractions, so probably no Proust or Tolstoy, eh? or is it better to have a thick serious tome on hand?

Dec 8th, 2007, 19:46	#909
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	While travelling, I like to read something which doesnt require too much concentration... an Ed Mcbain, perhaps. On Indian trains, I would also avoid anything with small print.. some of those night lights aren't very bright... and a few don't work at all

Dec 9th, 2007, 08:25	#911
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,036	Train reading - I like Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana books but now I've read them all.. Short story collections are good. And this is a terrible thing to say because it's the CONTENT not the SIZE of the book which is most important! But I pick a lightweight smallish book for the journey to pack easily into my handbag! I used to laugh at the old ladies coming into a library where I once worked asking "Have you got something light?" because they couldn't hold heavy books. Now I don't laugh! Fully understand their predicament (not that I am at that stage yet....!!!)

Dec 9th, 2007, 20:35	#914
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	I usually bring along three books to start off. I have a classic or a book that I should have read and never managed to get through (Atlas Shrugged, a Steinbeck or Faulkner), an easy thriller or mystery, and something that I am chomping at the bit to read. This way, I can choose a book to fit my mood. I pick up the historical, non fiction, or writers from the country I am visiting while I am there. Oh, and a crossword puzzle book and several newspapers. I just finished A House for Mr. Biswas and really enjoyed it. This was followed up by London Fields (Martin Amis) and am currently reading The Remains of the Day. I find time to read by reading while walking to work (a bit harder these days as it is winter), riding on the bus, and sitting in the bath. I also wake up a lot during the night and read then. If I don't have a book I am reading bread bags, cereal boxes, and any advertisement in sight.

Dec 9th, 2007, 21:10	#915
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,036	I loved 'A House for Mr Biswas' Casey. You wouldn't want to be walking around our way reading your book - you will either sprain an ankle in a pothole (which I did about 18 months ago!)or land in cow dung. Reading anything - that's exactly what I'm like too, and also I practise my Hindi reading at same time reading signs, advertisements, cereal packs like cornflakes with half English and half Hindi!

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