tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post2723407684605449320..comments2024-03-18T19:46:10.130+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: Suggesting a "nice" bookJabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-1162244490649242742008-08-08T19:16:00.000+05:302008-08-08T19:16:00.000+05:30first visit here..from the link on cute puppies fr...first visit here..from the link on cute puppies from a facebook profile.<BR/>Like your take on Mr Coelho..and other opinions.<BR/>I would love to hear what you think about the How to say NO, how to win friends category of 'selh help' books and yes also what you thought about the Dark Knight.<BR/>I am a reader of all things legible..books/magazines/ bill boards/ instruction manuals..shall visit again..Morpheushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13420959413200550202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-46359100988399242672008-08-03T18:59:00.000+05:302008-08-03T18:59:00.000+05:30I have visited your blog for the first time and fi...I have visited your blog for the first time and find it quite<BR/><A HREF="http://www.2wardgreenerpastures.com/" REL="nofollow">interesting.</A> Keep posting.2wardgreenerpastures.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03719226458944234941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-39593021543712902632008-08-03T02:11:00.000+05:302008-08-03T02:11:00.000+05:30I read your post. its really interesting post. I l...I read your post. its really interesting post. I like reading books. carry your posting on booksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-28726489166740070512008-07-28T21:44:00.000+05:302008-07-28T21:44:00.000+05:30I had no idea my brother-in-law was asking YOU for...I had no idea my brother-in-law was asking YOU for book recommendations? (I am guessing it's my b-i-l, since that's the way his conversation goes with me about Music :p)Zakintoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16878739501457502905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-13129823009395834852008-07-28T18:42:00.000+05:302008-07-28T18:42:00.000+05:30Slightly tangential, but I think you'd enjoy t...Slightly tangential, but I think you'd enjoy this: the Fowler brothers (H.W. & F.G., that is) on "nice".<BR/><BR/>"Another set of words that may be said to come from below, since it owes its existence to the vast number of people who are incapable of appreciating fine shades of meaning, is exemplified by <I>nice</I>, <I>awful</I>, <I>blooming</I>. Words of this class fortunately never make their way, in their slang senses, into literature (except, of course, dialogue). The abuse of <I>nice</I> has gone on at any rate for over a century; the curious reader may find an interesting page upon it in the fourteenth chapter of <I>Northanger Abbey</I> (1803). But even now we do not talk in books of <I>a nice day</I>, only of <I>a nice distinction</I>. On the other hand, the slang use makes us shy in different degrees of writing the words in their legitimate sense: <I>a nice distinction</I> we write almost without qualms; <I>an awful storm</I> we think twice about; and as to <I>a blooming girl</I>, we hardly venture it nowadays. The most recent sufferer of this sort is perhaps <I>chronic</I>. It has been adopted by the masses, as far apart at least as in Yorkshire and in London, for a mere intensive, in the sense of <I>remarkable</I>. The next step is for it to be taken up in parody by people who know better; after which it may be expected to succeed <I>awful</I>."solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357025699076466910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-69497949398255503102008-07-27T18:44:00.000+05:302008-07-27T18:44:00.000+05:30I've recently moved from Calcutta (often mistook f...I've recently moved from Calcutta (often mistook for Kolkata) to Gurgaon.<BR/><BR/>Somebody earlier on asked you for a good bookstore. Being half a Bengali(I was born like this, what can i do?) I ask you is there any place in Delhi where you get good second hand books? <BR/><BR/>You know those musty ol things that have (gasp!) already been read and hence are available for a throw away price?Shoaib Daniyalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14505444520025822214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-11065018317738961872008-07-25T20:04:00.000+05:302008-07-25T20:04:00.000+05:30Asimov is certainly a lot more than "juvenile fant...Asimov is certainly a lot more than "juvenile fantasy". It's cosmic philosophy. Like say our own Vedas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-5191824397239775622008-07-25T13:44:00.000+05:302008-07-25T13:44:00.000+05:30I came close to murdering a young 20 something who...I came close to murdering a young 20 something who asked for a recommendation - I was reading Asimov and I tossed it across - he dismissed it as juvenile fantasy - after which, with no irony, he said he could read Harry Potter for the 10th time and not get bored. I now simply recommend The Brothers Karamazov to anyone who asks - I figure, either their sleep will improve, or they'll be very impressed with my ability to withstand soporofic textsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-20298615044646375082008-07-25T13:25:00.000+05:302008-07-25T13:25:00.000+05:30Anon: have deleted your last 2 comments as promise...Anon: have deleted your last 2 comments as promised, but don't worry, I have them with me on email and will use at least one of them for my year-end comments post. I especially enjoy the angst and pomposity of the line "It is about the fact that someone - me - saw through your devious image-creation and managed to expose yourself to yourself...You need me more than the idiots who buy your self-propped image." You're like...the Joker to my Batman. I get it all now. Thanks!Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-38548752183431932992008-07-25T09:17:00.000+05:302008-07-25T09:17:00.000+05:30Am a compulsive book worm and trust me people come...Am a compulsive book worm and trust me people come to me with similar ques. I love suggesting books but then now I know that people us this as a way to talk to me, they are not actually interested in reading books.<BR/><BR/>BTW we can now add Chetan Bhagt books in "everyone has read them category"<BR/><BR/>SSmitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06342538308099137615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-46837270544139762002008-07-24T21:41:00.000+05:302008-07-24T21:41:00.000+05:30edit (Ajay Jadeja once claimed to have read only O...edit (Ajay Jadeja once claimed to have read only ONE book in his life...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-27273544403118307912008-07-24T21:39:00.000+05:302008-07-24T21:39:00.000+05:30Okay, I liked your post but it's not charitable to...Okay, I liked your post but it's not charitable to call people, even if they've read three books in their life and two of them Coelhos, sub-human. Okay, this may not be relevant but Ajay Jadeja once claimed to have read only book in his life and confessed to not liking it. Now, he may not be your favourite guy but he's a nice (ha, ha!) chappy, isn't he?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-9219587260674395052008-07-24T13:14:00.000+05:302008-07-24T13:14:00.000+05:30Anon 1: The Alchemist (naturally!) and another one...Anon 1: <I>The Alchemist</I> (naturally!) and another one called "Warrior of Light and Darkness" or something such (too lazy to look it up), which I had to write a 200-word short on.<BR/><BR/>Anon 2: always entertaining to read your rants (and to see how closely you study everything I write). As usual you've got it wrong though. I'm a soft-target offender in the context discussed in those earlier posts, but an equal-opportunity offender in contexts where I don't have to worry about my safety.<BR/><BR/>Also, you "extracted" a confession from me? Really?<BR/><BR/>Note: no more comments on this subject please, else Delete Delete will happen. As you've correctly pointed out, I don't have a conscience in most matters. (Oops, there's another confession you've "extracted"!)Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-50262923787274816922008-07-24T12:19:00.000+05:302008-07-24T12:19:00.000+05:30"..equal-opportunity offender.."not again, Oye Mr ..."..equal-opportunity offender.."<BR/>not again, Oye Mr Singhhhuu!<BR/>Just a few days back, we bust this image, didnt we?<BR/>Just a few days back,we established once and for all , and infact, extracted a confession from your esteemed self that what you are, is, infact, a "soft-target offender".<BR/>You admitted that though you claim to be an "equal-opportunity offender", you wouldnt really offend the ones that could return the favour in a violent fashion, didnt you?<BR/><BR/>The whole point we wished to make in that embroglio was that your self-image of equal-opp offender is, basically, an illusion. And, for once, you actually admitted it.<BR/><BR/>Ofcourse, not everyone would have read that comment space so you can continue to peddle your image in your posts - but doesnt your conscience wake up once in a while?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-89896554281537710242008-07-24T11:45:00.000+05:302008-07-24T11:45:00.000+05:30I'm hopelessly curious to find out which two Coelh...I'm hopelessly curious to find out which two Coelho books you have managed to read through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-67781013021866211582008-07-24T08:55:00.000+05:302008-07-24T08:55:00.000+05:30PPCC: I take it you've read Samit's Gameworld tril...PPCC: I take it you've read Samit's Gameworld trilogy? Great fun, with a few references to Indian mythology and such - details <A HREF="http://samitbasu.com/books/" REL="nofollow">here</A>. I think I hae reviews of the first two books on my blog as well.<BR/><BR/>diacritic: given the rate at which bookstores are shutting down/being relocated these days, it's probably better if you check with me again later, when you're about to reach Delhi. But generally speaking: Midland's, The Book Shop, Fact and Fiction.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-64953333800085918242008-07-24T08:47:00.000+05:302008-07-24T08:47:00.000+05:30daily poppycock: I was talking about "authority" o...daily poppycock: I was talking about "authority" only in the present context (book-reviewing/recommending), not in the context of physics or any other discipline. My point is that, sure, it always helps to have a strong knowledge base as a book-reviewer or film-reviewer, but that definitely doesn't give you a foolproof insight into what someone else (who has a different set of tastes, or a different attitude to reading) will like.<BR/><BR/>Ashanka: haven't seen it yet, but even when I do I doubt I'll be reviewing it (unless I have a blinding new insight to offer that I haven't read about anywhere else, or unless I just want to make a tangential comment on a particular scene).Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-64452826017667278882008-07-24T08:26:00.000+05:302008-07-24T08:26:00.000+05:30I agree 100% with you. It is virtually impossible ...I agree 100% with you. It is virtually impossible to recommend books for folks who think Coelho and Dan Brown write great literature.Krishnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642369297736205420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-36596373677594069322008-07-24T06:57:00.000+05:302008-07-24T06:57:00.000+05:30Come on now, it's not that hard. I once got a chan...Come on now, it's not that hard. I once got a chance for minding a second hand book store for a charity mela. I am sure the low prices helped but I did end up selling a lot of books. You can usually tell what kind of a book would a person like or atleast is likely to pay a bit for. <BR/>But I did use some really bizarre reasons too... Like, we had a collection of some rather old National Geographics, and most people would look at them and know they wouldn't read them and put them back. So, I ended up selling quite a few by asking people to pick up anniversaries and birthday editions. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-15269588935981543752008-07-24T05:21:00.000+05:302008-07-24T05:21:00.000+05:30Hi,I've been checking out your blog. I'm a book re...Hi,<BR/><BR/>I've been checking out your blog. I'm a book reviewer too (amongst other things) and I am going to be spending a couple of months in Delhi next year. Can you recommend some good bookstores?diacritichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13198090347053327876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-35426162136714538202008-07-24T04:34:00.000+05:302008-07-24T04:34:00.000+05:30OK, not "nice", but can you rec some bad-ass Desi ...OK, not "nice", but can you rec some bad-ass Desi sci-fi? Preferably a reinventing of some classic Hindu tale, where the characters swear and smoke and are like Han Solo and Sholay Jai's love child. That would make my day. Nay, month!<BR/><BR/>*dodges projectiles and wrath*<BR/><BR/>Can I also recommend a book to you? I'd love to hear your take on <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Light-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0380014033" REL="nofollow">Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny</A>, which is basically what I just requested, except written by a non-Desi. Sigh, one of my fave books!<BR/><BR/>*dodges more projectiles*<BR/><BR/>I second the request for you to review Batman. <BR/><BR/>Agreed that Coelho is lame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-14557282899763397952008-07-24T01:51:00.000+05:302008-07-24T01:51:00.000+05:30slightly out of topic but could you PLEASE review ...slightly out of topic but could you PLEASE review the new batman movie?? I would love to read your take on itAIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17530403868883464019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-79933665463433153172008-07-24T00:16:00.000+05:302008-07-24T00:16:00.000+05:30Hmm, so citing Tharoor can get me in trouble with ...Hmm, so citing Tharoor can get me in trouble with literati. Jabberwock, you said blogging and commenting comprise opinion pornography. I took it as a golden chance, thanks for warning about the consequences though.<BR/><BR/>But I disagree with your take on Authority. For instance; Einstein is an authority on many aspects of theoretical physics. Anyone with intense thought, analysis, handwork, observation can become somewhat of an authority on certain matters. But agreed in the field of art and literature the concept of authority loses its meaning or becomes relative.<BR/><BR/>I consider your views somewhat of an authority on the Texas Chainsaw genre :) of novels and movies (solely because I know nothing about it). My relative ignorance makes you an authority. <BR/><BR/>BTW, I was struggling what to recommend in book club when my turn comes. Now I know Coelho :)Aishwaryahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08868361939154391280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-1196217136804413422008-07-23T20:30:00.000+05:302008-07-23T20:30:00.000+05:30Shrikanth: I wasn't talking about your comment thi...Shrikanth: I wasn't talking about your comment this time. Or about double-posts, which happen often on Blogger - can't help those.<BR/><BR/>Nisha: welcome, and sympathies. But do also try to find time for popular bestsellers (the ones you can develop a taste for, that is) - studying English formally can be quite restricting otherwise.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-81721055678740724212008-07-23T20:23:00.000+05:302008-07-23T20:23:00.000+05:30have you tried suggesting a nice breezy little rom...<I>have you tried suggesting a nice breezy little romance called "mrs. Dalloway"?</I><BR/><BR/>Sumit: that's an idea! Maybe I could pass it off as a "stream-of-consciousness non-fiction". That would sound impressive to someone who's fond of Coelho.<BR/><BR/>daily poppycock: careful - most people I know (many of whom comment here) wouldn't think of Shashi Tharoor as someone who has interesting or original things to say about India. But I agree that "recommending anything to read is such an exercise in futility", and I would add "even if you are an authority on the subject matter" (whatever one means by "authority").<BR/><BR/>Shrikanth: yes, that's the other side of the coin: people who have a very limited view of literature (and I know I'm descending here into just the kind of snobbery I dislike) being patronising towards authors like Wodehouse, or Tolkien, or comics, or displaying genre snobbery. It's frequently happened that a friend who has read maybe three full books in his life has sneered condescendingly on seeing me read, says, a graphic novel.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.com