journey

Have you ever wondered the journey a book takes the moment its out of your hand? I was looking for something to read and came across a book which on the first page had a red cross charity stamp from someplace in Europe and now it's in my house in India. what a journey it must have been!

I wish they could talk or give us a few signs about all the hands they have exchanged, personalities encountered and experiences sought. When it reached my hand, though outwardly there is absolutely change, in fact it looks like a book just borrowed from a friend and doesnot have any of the yellowed or dog-earred pages, but has enough stamps and stickers on it to prove its long journey. This particular book has been extremely lucky with the readers that its passed through and seems to be living a previledged life!!

I love any city that makes a big deal of selling old books 2 of my favorites are delhi and hyderabad. i havenot seen anywhere else, other than Hyderabad and yes cannot forget Ahmadabad where on a Sunday the entire street is covered with vendors selling old books, on the carts cycles, footpaths every where there are books, for Rs 10 upto Rs 700 depending on the book. You will most probably depending on your patience to hunt will find the book that you are looking for.

Blossom in bangalore is also a joy to visit. Everytime I want retail therapy I run to blossom, and the joy to smell the books, the old pages, the event of accidental finds that end up as your prized possession, the out of date publication...I absolutely love it!!!I love it when you hold the book and you get a feeling of AAHAA like the books is saying to you that yes its time to read me! "over the rainbow" "stone diaries" ""mr.god, this is anna" "mists of Avalon" "red tent" are just a few of my prized collection in my sagging book shelf!!

Last week i had decided give away a few books as part cleaning drive to make space for a few new ones thats lying piled up on my bedside table and what a it was nightmare. The first 5 books came out very easily after confusion reigned.. do i give away a Arthur Hailey? or do i give away a Sidney Sheldon?, maybe the Sidney Sheldon, but this particular copy has memories of my mom is enjoying a book on the sofa so its back on the shelf!!

It was almost like a bubble of meories burst in my head about the places i visited or the people I went with or conversations around it... memories memories everywhere, so not only was I battling the decision based on the book, but also was prioritizing my memories.. it was a futile action finally i think i just have to get another bookshelf done as its heart wrenching to give away books.

With all the new technology coming along like kindle and ipad, i wonder how it would be to hold a cold metal-plastic gadget and to read books bought by ordering the book off the internet. One of the most enjoyable part about reading is shopping for the right book, when your down in the dumps you end up picking a thrashy romance novel and lifts up your spirit, or a murder mystery when your not getting sleep in the night. Sometimes we read serious alice walker or munroe's books to enjoy the language and skill of story writing.. for such eclectic choices the process of shopping and selecting leads to a collection in your book shelf. Not to forget that sometimes you have really really good freinds like mine who gifted me my copy of little prince, twilight series and a few others to add to my memory list!!

Books are my emotional support, my pillar during lonely nights and an absolute must when i get out of the house. It keeps me buzy when I am waiting for someone or when I am at a coffee shop enjoying my company and the coffee, lonely lunch times at work and long waits at the airports. Gadgets, am sure can do the same but would it give you the same joy as an old fashioned book.. i dont know..

I know I might end up buying my self a kindle, but I dont think I would ever stop buying books. The pleasure i get carrying a big bag full of book, am not willing to deny that for myself. Books are books and there is absoluely no alternates for the same.. happy reading!!