Monday, October 30, 2006

Books

When I was still in high school, I used to live for books. I used to devour books. I used to read one book after the other. I'd read at night, in my bed, under the covers, with a flashlight. And whenever my father wanted to punish me, believe it or not, he'd forbid me from reading books.

No, I wasn't a nerd, but I just loved reading anything and everything.

Oh how things have changed! I now barely read, and although I try to make the effort to read a book once in a while, and while I do enjoy going to bookstores and buying books, I have gotten into the horrible habit of starting books and never finishing them...

It first started in university, where a busier social life, and the pressure of 5 courses a semester meant that I didn't read as often as I wanted to.

But then, when I started work in Montreal, having to commute around 40 minutes every day meant that I had the perfect opportunity to catch up on some reading in the metro and on the bus . This has obviously all changed here now that I drive myself to work.

I also blame the Internet for my lack of reading. I browse through so many websites and articles during the day, that I really don't have the energy and don't feel the need to read books at all...

And let's not forget blogging....oh my...blogging has opened up a whole new can of worms! Now that I've become a blog addict, I spend a LOT of time I could have spent on a good book catching up on the many blogs I enjoy reading instead.

And I am somewhat of a TV fan too....I just like coming home from work, and doing something that doesn't require any more of my brain cells...And with my recent obsession of series DVD's, I'd much rather fall asleep to an episode of 24 than to a book.

It's really sad, when you think of it....I have learned so much from books and it's in part thanks to books that was able to become fluent in French and English. And there are so many amazing books out there, I really feel like I'm missing out.

So...with the resolution of making more of an effort to read more books, here's a question to my (few) readers out there: if you were to recommend one book, just one all-time favourite book of yours, the kind of book you'd want to have with you if were stranded on a desert island, which book would it be?

17 comments:

3li said...

The prophet
by kahlil jibran

Anonymous said...

The Alchemist

sky said...

Bridget Jones' Diary.
Shallow and possibly not high-end, but oh so much fun!
I'd need something to keep me laughing on a deserted island.

travel girl said...

Wow, picking just one book is so hard...there are so many I love. But if I were to narrow it down, I would say I could read War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk over and over again.

Anonymous said...

Picking only one is mean!

If I had to - it would be Haruki Murakami's "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles".

If you have never read Murakami - I urge you to try it! Great characters, sureal situations, Japanese logic and structure, totally engrossing...

grapeshisha said...

a fine balance by mistry
a suitable boy by seth
100yrs of solitude by marquez

dxbluey is right, picking just one is mean!!

Abha Malpani said...

on reading - that's exactly whats happened to me. The last book I read (fully) and enjoyed tremendously was Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson.

Krishna said...

Read "Who Moved My Cheese"...Takes about 20 Minutes to complete...Must read for everybody. For something more lengthy, try "The World is Flat".

Anonymous said...

lewitt and dubner's Freakonomics

and hey don't blame the tv, internet and blogs for losing the will to read....u only have urself to answer for that...

anywaz u have a long list now so happy reading!

Dubai Sunshine said...

3log, I think the Prophet is a classic too...It's the kind of book you read and re-read over and over again, and every time it means something different to you...

Anon@1:54am, the Alchemist is very good too....I read it a while ago though and I think it may be time for a re-read.

Sky, I thought you would say the Prophet too...but Bridget Jones is so you! I should get you a collector's edition of that book (if that even exists!)

Travelgirl, Dxbluey, Grapeshisha, Abha, Krishna, Alisha, I haven't read any of your suggestions, so now I have enough to keep me busy for a loooong time :) Keep those suggestions coming....

sky said...

Yeah I figured you'd think I would say th Prophet, but in the spirit of honesty, I told the truth...I can be that shallow :)
Although, I am now reading Fisk's The Great War for Civilisation; that book is my new Everest, I HAVE TO FINISH IT!

moryarti said...

Blink - Malcolm Gladwell..

travel girl said...

Glad you now have a list!
Just a tip, War and Remembrance is the second book of a two book series, so if you are going to read it, you should read The Winds of War first. Hope you enjoy!!

Jayne said...

The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver is an exellent read & one that touched me deeply was 'She's Come Undone' by Wally Lamb. (I have no idea if they're available here tho!)

Dubai Sunshine said...

Mory, I am reading The Tipping Point now, also by Malcolm Gladwell...good book too...

Jin, I have actually read both the Poisonwood Bible and She's come Undone....great books, you're right :)

Anonymous said...

Hello !
Je vois que notre conversation de l'autre jour a porte ses fruits !
Sinon, je suis superd'accord avec dxbluey, Haruki Murakami is amazing ! J'ai lu "Les Amants du Spoutnik" ou en anglais "Sputnik Sweetheart" (des nouvelles, vachement bien) et je suis en train de lire "La Ballade de l'impossible". Sinon, si t'aimes les nouvelles, j'ai adore aussi "Tout a l'ego" de Tonino Benacquista. Voila ! Sinon, ben merci, moi qui voulais des auteurs anglais, je suis servie :)

Anonymous said...

Well, try Interpreter of Maladies...its a collectiom of short stories tht just amuse you at how reality can be and the way ppl think!! its cute...