top books of the year
Mon, 2007-12-31 05:22 — bottled imp
in the swing of the things at the end of the year folks, what would be your top three books you read this year?
Somehow I am not sure as to what recently written books I should pick up so am more comfortable picking stuff from the second handbook shop. new books rarely that get there. last year I was into Indian authors but this year haven’t ventured into any Indian section. my top three are:
Bruce Chatwin’s Songlines (this is about his travels in Australia to know more about Aboriginal Songlines - paths across the country that you know of only if you know the song)
Anne Tyler: The Accidental Tourist (It is about a chap who hates to travel but write about business travel - places to stay, eat, etc. actually it is more about his life than his travels. I liked her narrative.
Lawrence Durrell - Bitter Lemons (about his stay in Cyprus in the 50s. this was a turbulent period for the island. the local were fighting the british and the local were also fighting each other - the turks and the greeks. )
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mine
My top three:
1. Measuring the World
2. Love in the time of Cholera
3. The 2006 O’Henry prize winning collection
Apart from these, I really enjoyed my introduction to Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer) and the Discworld series (Terry Pratchett), had very educative discussions on Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) and A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khalid Hosseini), and of course, who can forget JK Rowling and her stupendous Harry Potter finale? I also read a great many of short story collections including 2007 O’Henry prize winners and Glimmertrain, and they gave me a whole new appreciation of the short story genre.
Thanks for this interesting post, imp.
ano
I really have to thank you for showing me the blossoms bookshop. I like spending hours there when ever i am in that area.
The book ‘measuring the world’ seems great. will certainly look for it. I liked the way you reviewed it. There is a book called the Evening Gone by Suguna Iyer a blend of fiction and faction about CV Raman. I quite liked it. Here are two contrasting reviews about it. One by Anita Nair and another by a scientist - Anna George
Read Love in the time of Cholera many years ago. Did not remember much of it until I read your review. Maybe will borrow it from you one day.
blossoms
strangely enough, imp, i haven’t gone back to that shop after our visit, though i do intend going back there some day. did you make it to the strand book festival? missed that one too.
great books of the year
wellll, I don’t know if I can list top books of the year, since I am not the kind of a guy who reads a book in the same year that it gets published. I just read books when I get around to them.
Here are some of the books that I read this year, and which I recommend -
No Logo - Naomi Klein
Must read to know the mechanics of MNCs, branding and other issues which affect us without us realizing how they affect us. actually, the book is about a lot more than this.
Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software
- Steven Johnson
excellent one on complex systems. If you are into complexity and emergence, you will dig this one almost as much as Capra’s Web of Life.
The Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
brilliant book - one of the aspects of this book is the demolition of the success myth. A lot of us tend to think that “I did this”, whereas its just society and being in the right place at the right time. Must read. You should actually read all of this guy’s books. they are quite perception altering.
The opposite house - helen oyeyemi
You have to read this fiction one just to know what narrative is all about. Fascinating style - though I am not sure if the same style will be entertaining in another book.
Creating a world without poverty - muhammad yunus
This one, I am reading right now, as it is pertinent to one of the projects that I have initiated. good look at the forefront of the bottom of the pyramid economics.
Inside IB and RAW - K. sankaran nair
Currently being read. Very quaint and entertaining. Hard core desi style of writing and thinking.
Aik mumbai tuzi kahaani (marathi)
Great book on the history of mumbai and its suburbs and communities. old one, though.
The structure of magic - bandler and grinder
these books (in volumes) are ancient classics, by the celebrated founders of NLP. I only got around to reading them this year.
atra
was interested in the likes of “No Logo” until I visited the World Social Forum in Hyderabad few years ago. Just got put off by the whole show and could not pick up this book again. Now that I am in a true blue business school, maybe it is time to pick it up again.
I am interested in some mild forms of complexity (not the mathematical stuff) and will buy Emergence. Read half of “fooled by randomness’ by Nicholas Taleb. hope to get back to it soon. have a feeling Black Swans is bit more of the same topic. Let me recommend a book called “Small Worlds” by March Buchanan. It on human interactions and I have a feeling that there is a connection between networks, interactions and complexity at some level.
atra, few weeks ago was at the design summit. had a thought at that time if you were there as well.
imp
I had been invited to the summit, but couldn’t make time to get there. Besides, had spent some time on organizing a similar (though much smaller) event in pune, the previous month. You must have bumped into many pune chaps at the summit.
Yes, black swan and fooled by randomness are both on the same topic, but they are equally readable. In fact, I consider taleb’s work as a groundbreaking work in this field, which I label as “non-egoistic looks at success or failure”.
Will look up small world - I think you had recommended granovetter to me some time back - got some of his books, and they were pretty good and useful to me. Thanks for that.
Read over 100 books:)
I guess since everyone is listing stuff, I might display mine:
http://www.ptfe.gatech.edu/faculty/mohan/MSLAB-Vivek-BooksRead.htm
I read more books than ever this year, and this is without counting the science and engineering books.
The ones that I will pitch for (English fiction) are:
Snow by Pamuk
Lost Illusions by Balzac
Stranger in the Land: Jewish Identity beyond Nationalism by Brecher
Where Angels fear to tread by Forster
Train to Pakistan
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
GB Shaw
Poetry:
Ranier Maria Rilke
Pablo Neruda
In search of duende by Lorca
and
Best Words, best order by Stephen Dobyns (Poetry handbook)
vivek
that is an impressive list you have there. i am sure it will be more impressive if you make is little more reader friendly . it taxes eyes like mine.
you devoured over 100 books. wow!! that a book almost every 4 days. Have read Snow and Things fall apart. Dont think I will read a Train to Pakistan although it is on my bookshelf. Will look out for the others
Huzzah!
Happy new year, everyone! Hope you’ve all had a swell ‘07. If I may be presumptuous for a minute and nurse delusions about being missed around these parts, apologies for the AWOLs and the MIAs…
As for the topic at hand, can I just begin with damning Suresh, IW and Salonii for their literary amnesia and for making me feel like a show-off? Thanks.
)
I’d been able to get a lot more reading done this last year, thanks to a reasonably long commute and hour-long lunch breaks. Here’s some of the ones I read and liked:
1. Patrick Suskind’s “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” - Tom Tykwer (who made the exhilerating film “Run Lola Run”) made this famously ‘unfilmable’ (Stanley Kubrick’s words, not mine!) book into a movie of the same name back in ‘06. I had a DVD of it, and bought the book out of sheer curiosity. What can I say? One of the best books I’ve read in a long fucking time. And you gotta love the film as well, at least for trying so hard!
2. Hunter S Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” - the junkie-book to rule them all, read this for a deconstruction of a drug-fuelled fever dream(s?),and some pretty hilariously absurd situations
3. Well, I’m cheating here but I just finished re-reading Shashi Tharoor’s “Great Indian Novel”. Nothing short of genius. As if channeling characters of the Mahabharata through those populating the political milieu of India circa 1900 - 1990 was not conceited enough, there’re enough endlessly quotable, sparklingly witty and insanely creative sections here to fill at least three books. Prerequisites for enjoying this: being Indian (to recognise all the references and the minor characters), or at least somebody who’s done a fucking thesis on the Nehru family or something.
Honorable mentions: Ian McEwan’s “Atonement”; Corman McCarthy’s “No Country for Old Men”. I hear both have been made into terrific movies!
Sorry for the blog-lenght comment…
CeC
IW, sadly, the camera’s
IW, sadly, the camera’s been rotting on the shelves. I was planning on taking it out for the new year’s’ fireworks, but “somehow” ended up having some friends over and getting sloshed! What about you?
Sal, yep, still here. How’ve you been?
Suresh, I know what you mean about Tharoor. I haven’t read his other novel (‘Show Business’), but I did read his non-fiction on Nehru - factual but not very inspired. I think he’s pretty much a one-hit wonder. Do give it a try.
hiya!
yes, CEC - the Great Indian Novel is absolutely delightful and pure genius. But I agree with imp - ST’s other writing sucks big-time. I picked up Riots and every goddamn stereotype was in there in all its glory. Was completely put off. Guess the GIN has the authenticity of first-hand knowledge (as in being in the country), while the latter ones are clearly gleaned from secondary sources, imho. His columns too suffer from the same superficiality.
sigland...
seems to be in full flow… welcome back cec! how about writing a review for each of these books?
would look out for perfume but i dont think i can read shashi tharoor. i dont like his columns not that i have read many but just that mild dislike that comes out of no where and with no logical backing. with your thumbs up, will atleast pick up the book and read the blurb and few random pages.
Hey Mr. Show Off!!!
Are you still in Singaland, by any chance?
Thanks CeC..
[ dutifully updates “books to read in 2008” list, based on CeC’s recco’s ]
Aur sunaa-o, what have you been up too ? Been any place interesting lately ? Seems like you have retired your good ole camera since long..
p.s. : Yes, you have been out of sight for too long now. I read you comment , thinking it was penned by TOTCS.. and after 2nd or 3rd reading I realized.. arey yaar yeh toh apnaa CeC hein..
I have IW's bimaari too...
Cant seem to remember 3 - but Shantaram definitely is on the list! So is The Kite Runner - in fact, this book left a lasting impression on me! After a long time, I cried reading a book - and no, not “sobbing cried”, just “tear rolling down cheek cried.” Can’t remember a third, though I am certain I read more than three books this year!
On another note, Suresh, I will check out the Lawrence Durrell book. I’m inclined to, given the fact that I have devoured most of Gerald Durrell’s books - and love every single one of them!
Come on guys, rest of you post too! I love such lists!
sal
santaram i liked. I guess that Leopold Cafe is now big time thanks to this novel.
but Kite Runner, i thought the ending was bit mucked up.
and I dont think the two Durrells are related. btw all the GD are now reprinted in India so if you have missed any, this is the time to buy. if you like GD then you may also like Redmond O’Hanlon as well.
the Durrells...
are brothers. Lawrence is elder bro to Gerald! I learnt ALL about him in GD’s books! And are u serious? I’ve been searching for GD’s “The Garden of the Gods” for a million years now and haven’t been able to find it!!!
I will check next time i go to India! Thanks Suresh!
GD/LD
yeah, thats true sal. these two chap were brothers. and i thought i read many GD books. it seems that it was the elder brother and his wife who urged GD to write about his life. good show there. all my GD book are borrowed by folks over the years and I right now have none.
Oye Saloni_i
List vist ko maaro goli.. Pehle 4 Liney arzz ki hein, zara mulaaizaa gaur farmaaiyyo - [ Irshaaad ]
Mere Pehchaan Kaa Ek Shaqs..
Eisi Shehar Mein Hein..
Mein Bhi Zindaa Hu.. Zaraa Usey Bataa De Koi..
And to that, Iw...
I will reply with the only shayari I know [gleaned from Hindi phillum music]
“zinda hoon is tarah ki gham-e-zindagi nahi
jalta hua diya hoon, magar roshnii nahi” [please to note the double ‘i” in roshnii]
Dost, it is quite thrilling to see your evolution from the “jhs” to the “z’s”!
)
Happy New Year and all that! May you be hitched this blessed year!
My Top 3 or rather just 1
Damn me.. I can’t recollect (off the cuff) any books that i read this year.. And its not that the books were forgettable or that sorts.. Its just my porous memory thats keeping me from naming them. This is an old ailment. I can’t recollect the plot of a movie or a book after having seen/read it just a week or two before.
But therez one book which I read recently (as in Nov-Dec) which is still fresh in my memory . It’s autobiography (or rather a biography narrated in first person ) of Dada Kondke, actor-writer-director who has the distinction of producing/directing/acting in 9 consecutive Jubilee Hits. The book is in Marathi & is titled “Ektaa Jeev” (Lonely Soul) . A throughly entertaining & controversial book filled with amusing anecdotes narrated in his inimitable candid style.
must be
hey IW, do you think i stood in front of my bookshelf and listed these books. my memory is as porous as your. sometime i pick up a book especially the john grisham types that i start and realise that i have read them. so go back home, check out the books and add to the list tomorrow.
considering how popular dada kondke’s films were. i bet the book must have had some interesting anecdotes. is the song ‘naveena popat’ from one of his movies? although i stayed in rural maharastra for a while but never saw any marati movies (language problem) but there were whole lot of songs that looped in the background where ever we went so kind of know some marati songs from the early 90s period. i bet some of them must be from dada’s movies.
Suresh Anna,
When Dada Kondke mania was at its peak, i was still schooling.. so I missed out on watching most of his movies (except maybe “Pandu Hawaldaar” & “Raam Raam Ganagaram”) . It would have been blasphemous to seek permission from my conservative parents to go and watch his movies. The two movies that I mentioned watching are amongst his early movies, I guess i must have watched them on TV and those were relatively moderate (in double entrede dialogues & scenes) compared to his films in late 80’s.
As for the song “Naveen Popat”
if i am not mistaken, it was from some Private Album and not from any DK movie. It’s a common practice to pass off any risque song or movie title by attributing it to Dada Kondke.. such was his reputation.