Iyer Musings-The world in a word

There was a time when a book was enough for one to travel, meet people, to learn anything and everything. Then social media made incursions into all our lives. It started in a small way but now it has completely taken over our life. Ironically now I feel left out if I do not understand a Genz acronym. To continue to live in my world, I decided to get back to reading a proper book. Love to smell books.

I have now consciously decided to switch off the mobile and read ten pages of a book before sleep hits me. But then I have some very interesting books. Primarily I have a huge collection which I keep next to pillow, thinking that is the best reminder. Started off with two meaningful books, both of which were part of my growing up. One is Robert M Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.' it still takes me to that place of understanding and I come away feeling reenergized. The second book which I can read in one sitting is Richard Bach's novella 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull'. And now that I can recite the Hanuman Chalisa, that booklet has gone to the shelf.

I have mentioned this earlier too but while I do love reading a lengthy novel, I am more attracted to short stories. Though I would love to read the stories in the original native language, I have to make do with English translations. Some of the translations are impeccable and can transport you immediately to the situation, geography, culture. But there are some which are such a huge struggle. My latest collection of short stories is Sahitya Akademi Award Winning Telugu Short Story Collection of Peddubhotla Subbaramaiah, Volume 1. This book received the award in 2012 and has 34 stories.

But I was entirely disappointed with the translation. I could not connect and really it has left me wondering why no editing was done. Surely there could not have been a hurry for a translated version of a book. Incidentally audio books are also a great companion. Especially if the story teller has a nice voice. Unfortunately not too many of them, but the Tamil and Gujarati ones are great.

— Lalita Iyer Sr. journalist & blogger