What are you reading? - Page 11

sweet.i.f · Mar 24th, 2009, 04:54 PM

Well I WAS reading Knife Edge, Malorie Blackman. Definately the one to read.

Now I'm re-reading the Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince, just to get me all excited over the movie coming out soon =D

LeMocker · Mar 24th, 2009, 05:25 PM

re-reading pushkin's biography; alongside random verses of eugene onegin ;-)

Silver Falcon Of Kashmir · Mar 25th, 2009, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilestar

^ his books look interesting!
what's the correct order in which to read them? is his writing more a non-fiction or fiction type of work?

lol, I don't think it's necessary to read his books in a 'correct order'. I only know that his first book was "In Xanadu", and his latest book is "The Last Mughal". And if I remember correctly, "The White Mughals" would be his second last book till date. "The City of Djinns" is probably the first book that he wrote about Indian/Mughal history. And it's fascinating.

He is a non-fiction writer, mostly he writes about history.Even in books like "From the Holy Mountain", where he is travelling across several countries, he is basically researching about specific subjects. I haven't read this book yet.
Then there is "The Age of Kali", which has essays about both Pakistan and India.

I haven't read them all, and it doesn't matter whichever one you read first. They are all fantastic. Of course it makes sense to read "The City of Djinn" first..And to read "The White Mughals" before "The Last Mughal", as the white mughals came 'first', in a chronological sense.

Aimy · Mar 25th, 2009, 07:30 AM

Re-reading "Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. If u 'ven't .get one .!!

~MuNiYa~ · Mar 25th, 2009, 10:04 AM

Aimy can we have a little bit fo a synopsis plz?

Deeba1234 · Mar 25th, 2009, 10:05 AM

I've got 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' in front of me but haven't started reading it. Also, a collection of Noam Chomsky

smilestar · Mar 25th, 2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Falcon Of Kashmir

lol, I don't think it's necessary to read his books in a 'correct order'. I only know that his first book was "In Xanadu", and his latest book is "The Last Mughal". And if I remember correctly, "The White Mughals" would be his second last book till date. "The City of Djinns" is probably the first book that he wrote about Indian/Mughal history. And it's fascinating.

He is a non-fiction writer, mostly he writes about history.Even in books like "From the Holy Mountain", where he is travelling across several countries, he is basically researching about specific subjects. I haven't read this book yet.
Then there is "The Age of Kali", which has essays about both Pakistan and India.

I haven't read them all, and it doesn't matter whichever one you read first. They are all fantastic. Of course it makes sense to read "The City of Djinn" first..And to read "The White Mughals" before "The Last Mughal", as the white mughals came 'first', in a chronological sense.

yeah, i kinda realized that there probably isn't a 'proper' order in which to read them, after i posted my reply.

but thanks for the heads up..i'll check 'em out for sure!

ps - do you know of any other authors that write about the same subject matter? i've ready the twentith wife and the book that came before it (the name escapes my mind right now)..any other suggestions you might have?
i love reading books about our past history =]

gulab jamun · Mar 25th, 2009, 11:28 AM

kaplan pharmagolocy.sigh... i wish i could just graduate....TODAY!!

Silver Falcon Of Kashmir · Mar 26th, 2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilestar

yeah, i kinda realized that there probably isn't a 'proper' order in which to read them, after i posted my reply.

but thanks for the heads up..i'll check 'em out for sure!

ps - do you know of any other authors that write about the same subject matter? i've ready the twentith wife and the book that came before it (the name escapes my mind right now)..any other suggestions you might have?
i love reading books about our past history =]

I haven't read very many non-fiction books to be honest. I love fiction, especially novels. But sometimes novels can provide historical info, and in a much more engaging way than drab history books.

For example, Kim(by Rudyard Kipling), The Far Pavilions(by M.M. Kaye) etc. have helped me understand and 'visualize' the colonial India in a much better way. I particularly loved The Far Pavilions. The writer is very sympathetic towards Indians or local people, unlike Kipling who believed that educating the natives was 'white man's burden'...he probably seriously thought imperialism and colonization was good for the Indians. He is a master story teller nevertheless, and I have always enjoyed reading Kipling very much.

Then there's E.M. Forster's novel set in India, unfortunately I cannot recall it's title. And it's a very famous novel!*mortified* Then Ahmed Ali's Twilight in Delhi, which is set in Delhi, and the period is sometimes after the 1857 war.

Then I have read Gregson's book, The Bullet Up the Grand Trunk Road...that's a kind of travelogue, but you get frequent glimpses into history. I really liked it very much. Cannot remember any other similar books.

However, if you need recommendations about other themes/subjects/genres...I have plenty to make

LeMocker · Mar 26th, 2009, 11:52 AM

it's called A Passage to India; and I agree, great book!

rabia3983 · Mar 26th, 2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deeba1234

I've got 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' in front of me but haven't started reading it. Also, a collection of Noam Chomsky

^a thousand splendi suns...is a great book...read it!

rabia3983 · Mar 26th, 2009, 02:49 PM

5th horseman by james patterson...ok ok

guru8904 · Mar 27th, 2009, 06:00 AM

Freedom at Midnight

by Dominique Lapierre; Larry Collins

guru8904 · Mar 27th, 2009, 06:10 AM

Thornbirds by Colleen McCullough.

I read it a long time ago but still remember this beautiful parable that preceded the beginning of the book:

There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in his life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it, searches for a thorn tree and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches,it impales itself upon the largest , sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to outcarol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen and God, in His Heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the lost of great pain.... or so says the legend.

UZ · Mar 27th, 2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aimy

Re-reading "Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. If u 'ven't .get one .!!

Actually thats a nice idea as movie is coming in May I should start re reading it again.

smilestar · Mar 27th, 2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Falcon Of Kashmir

I haven't read very many non-fiction books to be honest. I love fiction, especially novels. But sometimes novels can provide historical info, and in a much more engaging way than drab history books.

For example, Kim(by Rudyard Kipling), The Far Pavilions(by M.M. Kaye) etc. have helped me understand and 'visualize' the colonial India in a much better way. I particularly loved The Far Pavilions. The writer is very sympathetic towards Indians or local people, unlike Kipling who believed that educating the natives was 'white man's burden'...he probably seriously thought imperialism and colonization was good for the Indians. He is a master story teller nevertheless, and I have always enjoyed reading Kipling very much.

Then there's E.M. Forster's novel set in India, unfortunately I cannot recall it's title. And it's a very famous novel!*mortified* Then Ahmed Ali's Twilight in Delhi, which is set in Delhi, and the period is sometimes after the 1857 war.

Then I have read Gregson's book, The Bullet Up the Grand Trunk Road...that's a kind of travelogue, but you get frequent glimpses into history. I really liked it very much. Cannot remember any other similar books.

However, if you need recommendations about other themes/subjects/genres...I have plenty to make

yayy! of course, i'd love your suggestions. i usually enjoy reading chick lit (and no, that's not those lovey dovey romance books), but often i also enjoy reading books that have a little bit of depth and learning in them as well.

and just like you i don't like reading non-fiction cause they're pretty dry cut, and it's almost like reading textbooks which i've done enough of already

any suggestions would be great. they don't have to specifically be about the sub-indian continent, but others as well would be awesome.

thanks!

guru8904 · Mar 28th, 2009, 12:50 PM

Neither a just war nor just a war By Khalid Mahmood. It is the story of an American soldier fighting in Iraq. Click on the link below to preview it.

NEITHER A JUST WAR NOR JUST A WAR

~MuNiYa~ · Mar 30th, 2009, 01:27 PM

^^ very interesting.

I'm reading ..

Shoe Addicts Anonymous by beth harbison

sereen · Mar 30th, 2009, 02:38 PM

Recently finished the Twilight series... phew! I think I'm gonna go back over to my fave pages once more and put it to rest...

redvelvet · Mar 30th, 2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sereen

Recently finished the Twilight series... phew! I think I'm gonna go back over to my fave pages once more and put it to rest...

Oh......YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TIMES I DID THAT!!!!!!! I couldn't believe that I had developed a crush on Edward, a fictional character. After I read the first book, I did some research on the internet and found I wasn't the only one who had the hots for Edward, lol. I was so crazy about the series, I kept telling my students (middle school) how wonderful it was...I sold the book by word-of-mouth. Pretty soon half the girs/their moms/and a few boys were hooked and reading the book.

I've requested Reading Lolita in Tehran and Things I've Kept Silent About from the library, and I'm looking forward to that. As well as The Inheritance of Loss.