(This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. I am writing this month on activities that keep me refreshed during these depressing days. It's Day 5 today.)
Books are a great companion, always. It transports me to a different realm. Unlike movies, books leave a lot to our imagination, making our creative cells work a bit. I am not a fast reader, and rarely I get a long stretch of time to read a book. Mostly it's short spells of 20 or 30 minutes.
Ever since Kindle came, I have been reading a lot of e-books. I find it quite handy, comfortable, and easy to read. So many advantages: you can adjust the font shape and size, change the background, adjust brightness, check meanings of words, and make notes, which are later searchable. Since I can have the Kindle on my phone too as an app, I don't have to carry either the Kindle or the book along with me.
Additionally, the annual Kindle Unlimited subscription gives me access to a huge collection of books.
I tend to read more of non-fiction, generally biographies and travelogues.
Some of the non-fiction books I have read are:
India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time, by Shashi Tharoor,
Federer by Chris Bowers,
Tuesdays with Morrie by Albom Mitch,
Barack Obama: Life Lessons by Michael Winicott,
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama,
This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines, by Barkha Dutt,
Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in Northeast India by Nandita Haksar.
Some of the other authors I have enjoyed reading are Arther Hailey, A J Cronin, John Grisham, Dan Brown, R K Narayan, Preeti Shenoy, Chethan Bhagat, Anitha Nair, Shashi Deshpande, etc.
I am currently reading A Hundred Little Flames by Preeti Shenoy. This is her fourth book I am reading. The other three are The Rule Breakers, Life is What You Make It and The One You Can't Have.
I am on Goodreads where you can find some of the books I have read.
Ever since Kindle came, I have been reading a lot of e-books. I find it quite handy, comfortable, and easy to read. So many advantages: you can adjust the font shape and size, change the background, adjust brightness, check meanings of words, and make notes, which are later searchable. Since I can have the Kindle on my phone too as an app, I don't have to carry either the Kindle or the book along with me.
Additionally, the annual Kindle Unlimited subscription gives me access to a huge collection of books.
I tend to read more of non-fiction, generally biographies and travelogues.
Some of the non-fiction books I have read are:
India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time, by Shashi Tharoor,
Federer by Chris Bowers,
Tuesdays with Morrie by Albom Mitch,
Barack Obama: Life Lessons by Michael Winicott,
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama,
This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines, by Barkha Dutt,
Across the Chicken Neck: Travels in Northeast India by Nandita Haksar.
Some of the other authors I have enjoyed reading are Arther Hailey, A J Cronin, John Grisham, Dan Brown, R K Narayan, Preeti Shenoy, Chethan Bhagat, Anitha Nair, Shashi Deshpande, etc.
I am currently reading A Hundred Little Flames by Preeti Shenoy. This is her fourth book I am reading. The other three are The Rule Breakers, Life is What You Make It and The One You Can't Have.
I am on Goodreads where you can find some of the books I have read.
I love my Nook. I have hundreds of books on it. I heard that book sales are up. I guess we all have more time on our hands.
ReplyDeleteE-boos are becoming everybody's favorite. I heard Amazon is giving one month free download for unlimited plan. Recently, I have also launched my recipe book on Amazon. Feel free to check it out Culinary Tales-Indian Recipes for Every Home Chef.
ReplyDeleteHi Alpana - Sure, I shall check it out! Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI like them because no trees are required to manufacture these e-books.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI always loved to read... somehow, in recent years, I have had trouble settling to long reading. Am always researching and writing... but I do have a pile of books, both literal and virtual. Little by little I will work my way through them! YAM xx
Hi Yamini - Even I have so many books to read. But I am a slow reader, and I don't get much time to read.
DeleteThanks.
Since I am mostly on my laptop, it's difficult for me to read nowadays. So I listen to audiobooks, mostly from Audible. BTW, here is a sweet one-month free offer for both eBooks + Audiobooks that you don't want to miss - http://businessfreebooks.com/audiobookdeals/2020/03/24/listen-to-bestselling-audiobooks-free-for-30-days-until-apr-17-20-covid-19-offer/
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Hi Rajesh, thanks for that link. I shall check that out. Though I listen to podcasts, I haven't tried audiobooks. May be I should.
DeleteBooks are the best friends especially these days.
ReplyDeleteHi Tomichan - Indeed. Thanks.
DeleteAs I read your post and the comments abv- looks like I need to change my perception now. Audio books/ E Books - u people are way ahead. Somehow till date- when it comes to book - i look for hand-held book.
ReplyDeleteHi Viyoma - Physical books have their own advantage. I guess, both can co-exist.
DeleteTuesdays with Morrie is a favourite book of mine. I'm adding 'Across the chicken neck." to my list to read in this lifetime:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a slow reader too but have yet to convert to kindle.
I'm also a big fan of old books and old book shops which are sadly closing down at an alarming rate these days.
The way a book smells and the way its pages and spine feel when I'm holding it all become part of my reading memory.
Hi Arti - In spite of all the conveniences of e-books, there is nothing to beat physical books. So, I still buy them. Only that not as frequently as I used to. Tks.
DeleteI am not a big fan of ebooks but we do you use them when we travel. I still like to hold a book in my hands and turn the pages. Our library is closed so what we are reading is on ebook or books we have read before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit
~Moonie
The letter E
Hi Vesseys - There must be a spike in adoption of e-books now. Tks.
DeleteI'm a big fan of e-books! They are great for traveling, and even in the house, take less storage room ;))
ReplyDeleteE is for Embroirery
I still have my library of hard cover books, but over time I'm beginning to appreciate e-books for a lot of the reasons you mention. Highlighting and saving notes are an awesome feature. I'd be lost without reading!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jade - I find the highlights the best feature. Thanks.
DeleteE books are tre ding nowadays as u get all d collection on the go. A preferred means. You haveentioned good collection of e books.
ReplyDeleteHi Sweta - There is no space restriction when it comes to e-books.
DeleteKindle has changed the way I read. I am reading more and reading diverse genres too. I took to ebooks reluctantly, but now I am hooked and have trouble reading paper books! :P
ReplyDeleteHi Shilpa - Even my reading has increased with e-books.
DeleteI love eBooks. So convenient to have my kindle on my phone and my library with me wherever I go.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzy - Indeed, e-books are so convenient. Thanks.
Delete