my engagement with reading

"The art of reading is to skip judiciously"-Unknown

Came across this quote and my mind quickly started relating to it.Of late, I have taken up heavily on reading,be it blogs,books,or the web. Earlier, it was the tube that kept me occupied but now it seems as reading is also getting its due share of my time. I dont know, why I never did this amount of reading during my school and college days? May be because the focus was more on academic pursuits and less on anything else. Another reason could be, none of my close friends was into reading, also never did my folks put me into this habit. But I am still happy that it have finally started reading.It is never too late you know.

But as the quote above implies, it is very important to make ones choices with respect to what one would like to read, be it books as a whole or things within a book.

Months ago, I laid my hand on "Ignited Minds" written by our great President.I must say it is a must read for every Indian, young and gunning. It just makes you feel more passionate about being an Indian. All said, I still skipped a chapter of that book which was on Saints and Seers of India.Not sure exactly why I did this, may be my agnostic nature came to the fore.

Likewise, I am less drawn towards books by the likes of Jeffery Archer/Sydney Sheldon.Although I accept my limited ability to comment on them, I perceive them as a factory produce, a novel a month aint for me.:( . But I do not rule out reading fiction completely. I never will. I got an English,August few days back.

I also loathe the self-help/management kinda books. Learning how to live/manage ones life/work through books is an absolute silly proposition(MBAs and the wannabes will kill me). Although I have read a few of these kind, I have been quick to realize that implementing those profound thoughts has never been possible for me. Its better to live the way you are, pretty simple, do things as long you like them else procrastinate until you are in a soup and then come out drinking it.

I prefer reading books that are humourous and light in nature. I loved reading P.G. Wodehouse's first book on the Jeeves series(have to get the next one), Dilbert's Principle by Scott Adams(not complete as of yet), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams(just started on it..). I just love their metaphors and sarcasms on real life. Basically anything humourous is easily enjoyable.
Same goes with the blogs I read, light and crispy. I find GPS's blog very light as he describes his daily chores in Banglore almost very poetically. Aneekets blog is interesting for its weird weird posts.My daily dose of humour comes from the blogs I have mentioned under the heading 'My Dose of Humour'.

Though I am not very much into reading stuff that dwells into various social,economic,psycological issues(it is tooo heavy for me..:D..i do not think i am among those advanced,exalted species..), TOI,Rediff,blogs by JAM Mag Editorand The Great Bong help me keep abreast of developments/views on these fronts.

All in All, I hope my new found engagement with reading grows stronger,helps me shrug incorrect perceptions and eventually culminates into a long term relationship.Relationship...hmmm ...GOD,when will I have a heterosexual relationship??????????? Damn!!!