Reading Habit and Authors

 Nishka Rathi introduced me to a new author a couple of years ago. In a bookstore I have explored new authors too, for instance a couple of Japanese authors unknown to me, such as Kazuo Ishigara. Liked some of the new stuff too.

But I generally prefer a few known authors of fiction, such as Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, AA Fair aka Erle Stanley Gardner (he wrote under two names, for two sets of characters he created). And the Japanese Haruki Murakami, whose writing is surreal.

For humour of different kinds, my preferences are Dave Barry, PG Wodehouse, and in Marathi, the incomparable Pu. La. Deshpande. Also intergalactic humour from Douglas Adams.

In non-fiction, I like biographies, and thoughtful people like Osho and J. Krishnamurti who write about philosophy, and life's meaning.

My book collection has not stopped growing, and I am scared I may be buried under a pile of books some day.

A Joke

 Just heard this joke on a recorded session by a well-known guru of our time- Osho. 

A lady goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Everyone calls me shameless. Wherever I go, this happens. I am not doing anything untoward, but this happens all the time. Can you help me understand why?"

The psychiatrist replies,

"Madam, Please get off my lap and go sit on that couch first. Then we can discuss it."

Books That Have Impressed Me

The old ones are the Murakamis, and Ogilvy on Advertising, Maverick by Ricardo Semler. Umberto Eco's shorter essays are a new favourite. Comic stuff from Dave Barry or Woody Allen (he wrote too) is always welcome for an ATL (any time laugh).

Selfienomics, and The Art of Social Media (the latter by Guy Kawasaki), The 100-year-old-man who Jumped Out of a Window and Disappeared are some of the recently read books that were impressive. TED Talks by Chris Anderson was good also.

Naseeruddin Shah's autobiography, and Dev Anand's, were well-written. A biography of SD Burman that I got hold of at a concert in his honour was good, like a book about RD Burman I read earlier. I am a big fan of their music, making those reads all the more enjoyable.

This Way is Easier Dad by Harimohan, and Sreeram's Kalyug were ones from known people that I enjoyed reading. Attended the Pune launch of the former at Pagdandi, an offbeat book store.

Old favourites that I can re-read anytime are PG Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and Asterix. Liked the new Sherlock based on the classic. Just started re-reading some A.A. Fair books. I like Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe as a character too, in the mystery genre. Mr. Majestic is a fun detective story about a small-time Bangalore crook that I was gifted by Meghna, and liked.

My favourite Marathi author is the humourist P. L. Deshpande. Another teenage favourite was B.R.Bhagwat, who wrote the Faster Fene books- a movie was recently made with him as a hero.

Osho's books are also highly readable, and so are some of Jaggi Vasudev. J. Krishnamurti is also an old favourite.