New found, good old C Radhakrishnan

Just completed reading C Radhakrishnan's "Karal Pilarum Kalam". It is a sequel to "Munpe Parakkunna Pakshikal". Meanwhile I also completed reading Jumpa Lahiri's "The Lowland". Infact "The Lowland" was a sandwich read between the two novels by C Radhakrishnan. I couldn't help comparing these two writers. What a difference. One an internationally celebrated author, the other much lesser known.

I would like to use the following metaphor to compare these two authors : C Radhakrishnan is a tree. A tree with strong roots and great spread of growth. But the radius of growth is limited. Jumpa Lahiri is like balloon - attractive, highflying, but lacks real substance. Lowland is a compelling novel, but naively crafted. There are unwanted instances of sexual gratifications in the novel. But largely its a blown up, pathless effort. It sure had the potential to be made into a novel, had some serious editing been done. I regret that I bought this book.Long listed for Man Booker Prize - yeah right!  Man Booker prize, for me has lost all its value the day when "The White Tiger" was awarded.

C Radhakrishnan's above two novels are much beyond the reaches of Man Booker prize. I can sense that the author has thought about the novel in English, but effortlessly scripted in Malayalam. For the same reason this could have been easily translated in English and could haven given all Jumpa Lahiris and Aravind Adigas a run for their money. There are graphic instances in his novels, which but the author communicates with ease and finesse that the reader will never once feel disgusting. The suspense and the thrill of progressive description is laudable. As a chronic late reader that I am, it took me about two decades to read C Radhakrishnan. But no regrets, as some one says - a book finds the reader, when the reader is ready for the book. So, the greatest discovery during 2013 for me was C Radhakrishnan.

I love bookmarks

What are you reading currently. I don’t have an answer. I mean, I do, but I don’t have ONE answer. Because I read a lot of books at a time. I take a really long time to read a book, irrespective of the number of pages. And , I like to read more than two books at a time, parallelly. I belive there is a virginity in books and I like to slowly enjoy these different virginities. I am a slow reader may be because I enjoy the pleasure of reading a book for the first time, and I would like to prolong it. I have met people who says they cant wait to know what happens next and keeps turning pages. I on the other hand likes to think more about the sentences and words written by the author, savoring every emotion the words might contain. In some cases, I went back to google some information the authors have briefed in their book, which inturn took me elsewhere. But I feel thrilled when I get back to a book, which I stopped reading for a while and continue reading from where I left. Obviously , I love bookmarks. This is one reason, I do not generally prefer to borrow books from library. They have a fixed return date, which means I have to finish reading by then (or by the maximum permitted extendable date). Many a time I wont finish reading by then. So I buy books. But sorry, I don’t like to lend books to random people. I would however love to share my books with people like me, who I am sure will return the book (without their traces left on the pages). 

So what am I reading currently?

Immortals of Meluha (Yeah, I am a fossil)

Don’t ask any old bloke for directions

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Thinking Fast and Slow

.. and I just finished reading ‘The Lowland’

Around the World, Forever

Geography fascinates me. I can sit for hours with an Atlas in hand, keeping myself busy. I almost always discover something new whenever I lay my hands on an Atlas.

Being a bibliophile, when asked what do I like reading, my answer would be: Travelogues !

I love travelogues, be it books, documentaries or TV programmes. My father used to borrow books on travelogues written by S K Pottecatt from the Trivandrum Public Library. I was so hooked to his language, metaphors and personal experiences that, they taught me more geography than my school teacher. All travelogues by Pottecatt followed by Pico Iyer (Falling Off the Map), and a book on travel experiences by Khushwant Singh (Sights and Sounds of the World) remains my favourite.

Its now the age of visual travelogues. I love them too, but seeing and listening to various places and countries does not have the thrill of reading about them. Of the many visual travelogues the one I love is ‘Sancharam’, being telecast in Asianet. It is not only the places Mr. Santhosh George shoots, but also the captivating script by Ratheesh, and the excellent narration by Aneesh Punnan Peter, which makes it so very attractive. My cable guy doesn’t supply Asianet News (where Sancharam is being telecast on all Sundays 10.30 am IST), but I do get to see Asianet, where they telecast older versions of Sancharam, Saturday mornings at 6.45; I sit glued to the TV during then.

I have read some horrible travelogues and seen some lousy TV shows which mostly explains nothing but the detailed history of the place, which is very unnecessary (in this age of google). What I look for in a travelogue is the first hand personal experience of a traveler.

Traveloging (!) is an art in itself. A fine blend of facts and creativity.