It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please Dearest Reader allow me to make a simple introduction, I am Miss Bookish Girl, Bibliophile, Dandywannabe, Hookah Smoker, Absinthe Drinker, Student of Self Education and Life. I am simply a bookish girl.
On the Author, Vikas Swarup is the same mind that gave us Slumdog Millionaire originally titled as Q & A. Unfortunately I have not read the book that inspired the movie. Six Suspects is his second novel.
Six Suspects so far is an interesting whodunit. A rather disreputable fellow is murdered and in the beginning we are presented with the six individuals who may or may not have been involved in the murder.
I completed Six Suspects this evening finishing up the last hundred pages I had yet to complete during my downtime at work. I am amazed at Mr. Swarup's ability to weave a story that draws the reader in, much like a black hole. Unlike a black hole the reader returns from the Mumbai created by Swarup feeling as if he or she has emerged from a whole new unexpected world. I guess unexpected for those of us who have never been to India, or those who have never experienced the Socio-political or cultural norms of Indian society.
The six suspects, the characteristics they hold, at times seem a bit cliche, but this aside doesn't take away from the novel. As I have said, the novel is a quick and fast paced read, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone I know who enjoys to read period. Six Suspects, is a treat for even the most elitist reader, who clings only to "literature".
As I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom last night, unable to be lulled to dreamland by the ever increasingly elusive sleep, I found myself pondering the notion of foot-printing books. Leaving behind personal annotations in books has been a common practice for many years and if these annotated tomes from a personal library are passed on they may either be enriching to the next reader or detrimental, causing the next reader to follow your own train of thought instead of developing their own thoughts an opinions.
I have yet to fully decide if I am a foot-printer, I find it difficult to mar the pristine pages of a crisp clean hardcover novel with what may be only the misinterpretations of the writers true meaning. I have come to rely on post-it notes in these situations..the smaller versions and flags to highlight phrases, blocks of text, or ideas I found intriguing. I still find myself unable to vandalize a book with my own personal annotations emblazoned on it's pages in my own reckless hand. It is akin to destroying a beautiful and delicate flower in my mind, though in my younger years I found myself highlighting, marking, annotating willynilly things that at the time seemed brilliant, only in retrospect to discover the naivete of my opinions and understanding of the authors meaning. Steve Leveen, CEO of Levengers, in his book The Little Guide to Your Well-Read Life does make a good argument for foot-printing books, and leaving behind annotations with the impression that you will take more from it and enrich your reading experience.
Even now I still struggle with trying to decide if I want to footprint my books, leave behind marginalia. I do want to leave behind some form of annotation in my books but for now instead of marring those pristine pages I will continue to relegate my opinions to those bright yellow notes from post-it notes tucked between the pages of the current read.
On the Author, Vikas Swarup is the same mind that gave us Slumdog Millionaire originally titled as Q & A. Unfortunately I have not read the book that inspired the movie. Six Suspects is his second novel.
Six Suspects so far is an interesting whodunit. A rather disreputable fellow is murdered and in the beginning we are presented with the six individuals who may or may not have been involved in the murder. I am only 1/4th of the way through the novel but it is a fast paced and easy read that keeps the reader wanting to not put the book down. As I said this is just my precursory review of this novel. I will provide a more complete review of the novel when it has been finished.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
If I could actually force anyone to read one book, they are like perfume they are not liked by all, but I would have to say The Last Lecture
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?
Since I have not kept up to date on who is being nominated for the Nobel Prize I cannot voice an opinion.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Honestly I worry about most books that have been turned into movies, there are too many liberties taken and the actual meaning of the book is lost for commercial gain. I fear what they will do to Gatsby by Fitzgerald when it is released.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Any book by Kerouac
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I have yet to have any weird or disturbing dreams involving a writer, book or literary character.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
I am not much for actually watching plays.
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I have a new found appreciation for the Russians.
18) Roth or Updike?
Updike, although it is unfair because I have not read enough Roth.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Sedaris, most definitely.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Don't make me choose between any of the Holy Trinity :)
21) Austen or Eliot?
Austen
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
I think the fact that I tend to get into books but get sidetracked easily at times that I don't finish most books that I would prefer to finish.
23) What is your favorite novel?
My absolute favorite no matter how cliche it is, Catcher in the Rye... followed perhaps by Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.. the idea behind struggling against your cultural identity was amazing.
