Woe to those who see no sense in re-reading books!

Books breathe a fresh new life into my breathless world. It sends my imagination on a flight of fantasy in seconds. But what peeves me off is the fact that once the freshness of a new book fades off, it becomes a thing of the past. Yes, I have developed this utterly disgusting habit of tasting books, much less devouring them or digesting them.      

Sir Francis Bacon may have rightly said: “Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly." But so far for me, first time read becomes the final read. No looking back. And by the way, isn't this the stereotypical norm with every regular reader. Am I any different!

And, tell me one thing, why in the world should I re-read books. When the plot is etched very clearly on my mind, when the characters are there on my fingertips, when I am fully aware of what’s going to happen in the next bend, then why re-read at all? This thought has crossed my mind a thousand times, when I comb through those countless books adorning my book shelf.

Yes, not long ago, the books piled up on my book-shelf were anything but a millstone around my neck. In fact, I even thought of trading it off for a few bucks. But couldn't bring myself to doing it, until I came across this thoughtful quote from Oscar Wilde: “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use reading it all."

My books have found a new life now. I gonna re-read them, one day at time 

The quote has struck a perfect chord with me, so much so that I started pulling out the best books from my book-self and started re-reading them once again. Before this, I used to wonder what I would do with all these old books, crowding my book-shelf. If Aryan doesn’t read them (in case, he has his own choice of books), who’s is going to read them? But now I know what I’ll do with them. Re-read and re-read them, over and over again, till the book becomes a part of me - the characters, the plot, anything and everything. And once I am done with them, I’ll lend them to other book lovers. Of course for a price. (First-hand books don’t come cheap, by the way.)

Thanks to Oscar Wilde, I believe, most of the books we love, and the authors we admire, should be read again and again. Of course, I’ve heard authors harping on the pleasures of re-reading books a couple of times, but during those times, I wondered, how could they? Now I know why, once I started reading 'Man’s Search for Meaning' by Victor Frankl. 

No doubt, my book-shelf is half-empty today. Now I won’t mind filling it up to the brim and then add some more. The process of filling up my book-shelf is though  damn slow: but I won’t stop. 

Raise A Toast to Re-reading 

Jini Maxin 

The Secret Wish List

I took a reading and writing hiatus for about three months or so. On hindsight, I do think, "how could I've done that?" But, the fact of the matter is I did distance myself from books; when your body and mind is busy working toward another important goal, you can’t help, but give in. Yes, I am all set to enter my fifth month of pregnancy; so the bodily changes kept him away from books.

But, I happy to be back with Preety Shenoy’s books in hands . I kicked off with her first book, '34 Bugglegums and Candies', and immediately moved on to her latest book ‘The Secret Wish' list in a jiffy.  I was looking for something light and fluffy and these books definitely don't disappoint. They keep you hooked throughout and you can be done with them in no time.

Coming back to the book, “My Secret Wish List,” it had all the masala of a typical Indian household. Dikhsa − the protagonists’ early marriage and motherhood, her choosing domesticity over professional life, her underplayed but simmering anger towards her insensitive, authoritative and conservative husband, her eagerness to break free from the shackles of marriage, and so on. I assume every Indian woman could relate to the story, specifically those homemakers who are taken for granted in quintessential Indian households. And, indeed, the book comes as an eye-opener for all of us.

Diksha, at sixteen was punished by her parents, because she made a mistake of kissing her senior in her school.  Naturally, she is forced to leave school in Chennai by her conservative parents and return to her native place in Kerala and finish her studies there. And by the time she reaches nineteen, she is married off to Sandeep, and for 15 long years she stays and makes her marriage work, raising her son Abhay and taking care of household chores, at the same time, ignoring her husband’s taunts and rapes.

On the one hand, if she hates her husband, on the other, she shares a lovely bond with cousin Vibha. She is also overjoyed to renew her long-lost friendship with school friend Tanu, and forms a new bond with salsa instructor Gaurav. Plus, her 9-year-old son Abhay, is always on her side. These friends insist her to come out of her wreaked marriage.  In fact, Vibha prods her to come up with a ‘Secret Wish List’ as an escape from her marriage, and goes all the way to ensure that she fulfills them. The wish list is interesting. She has six wishes in mind and has put them down on paper on Vibha’s insistence. Not surprisingly, Vibha has okayed all of them, except the last one − sex with a stranger.  But Diksha ends up doing it and this brings a wedge in their relationship.

Tanu, on the other hand, comes across as a big supporter of Diksha, and even inspires her to walk out of her hapless marriage. But will she or won’t she? This one question keeps the readers hooked till the end.  

Deodorant bug

Aryan, in no time, will turn eight. He looks as smart as his daddy now. Fortunately or unfortunately, he’s aware of his looks as well. So, these days he selects his own outfits and naturally creates a hue and cry when told to wear clothes that he simply abhors. For instance, no shorts, no capris, just full pants and full-sleeved shirts. He's grown up now, you see! The bottom-line is: he wants to look good. Looking good is feeling good, I agree. But, what about smelling good?

Kids today are highly conscious of their looks. And, I thought it's just Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham’s kids who dress up so fashionably.

But, my Aryan has taken a step further. He wants to smell good as well. Yes, besides clothes, he’s bitten by the deo bug. Aryan has been demanding deo for some time now. He says, “even children’s deos are available these days mummy, so why can’t you buy me one?” Okay! Fine, Let me think, I tell him.

And then, on one fine day he tells his dad, “Daddy, you should apply AXE deo.”  When his Daddy asked him why, Aryan’s naïve reply was, “Daddy, girls will look at you if you apply it.” “And, Daddy you should also shave often, then you would look as smart as I am.” Aryan innocuously added.

Max, my husband, simply smiled back at him, painfully aware of the fact that his little son is growing up too fast and is getting accustomed to worldly ways, too soon. Max shared this interesting little conversation he had with Aryan, when I got home from office.

I find the root in Aryan’s snoopy talk in mindless television ads. Ranbir Kapoor applying Axe and attracting female attention has got registered in his tiny little mind. And, yes, the ad had an immediate impact on him: lasting or not, I don’t know.

For the life of me, I don’t understand why deo companies conjure up such stupid ads. And, aren't these ads made for adults, then how come it has caught the fancy of young kids like Aryan(assuming it's not just Aryan who's wanting to have a deo).  Almost all the deo ads work on the same line.   Finally, I patiently explained to him, “Aryan, you are too small for a deo, just grow up baba, I’ll get you many.”

For the time being, I have put that deo out of his mind. But this is just a beginning I believe…I wonder what all stupid ads that idiot box will throw up in the future, and how much Aryan will be influenced by them.  
My goodness!!! He's already demanding Gatsby gel now. Which ad did he watch now?    

Damn with deo companies 
Jini Maxin