10 things You should never say to a Bookworm

We bookworms are an eccentric lot. While it is easy to guess what makes us happy (anything and everything that concerns books :P), you can never know what will tick us off!!

Here is a little help though. My sincere advise: NEVER EVER say any of this to a bookworm.. the repercussions may vary from mild irritation to extreme violence :P

10. My favourite author is Chetan Bhagat/Mills&Boons.

9. I am sorry but I lost the book that you gave me last week.

8. What's with you carrying books in your bag all the time? Aren't there better things to put in your bag?

7. The only books I have read are my school textbooks.

6. I love to make dog-ears in my books!! (seriously dude, haven't you heard of bookmarks??)

5. Yuck!! What are we doing in a bookstore??

4. Once I finish reading a book, i give it in Raddhi/Bhangaar(!!!)

3. I read a book when I want to sleep.

2. There are better things to spend money on.. I would never waste it on books.

1. Books???? Eeeewwwwwww.....!!!!!!! (The consequences of this statement can be fatal)

You Know You're a Bookworm When.....

1. Your idea of a perfect date begins at The Crossword Book Store, browsing for books and ends up on the couch… discussing books.

1. You have a tendency to quote randomly from the latest book that you have read or are reading… For Example: when you see Palak (spinach) for dinner you say "It is silliness to eat, when to eat is a torment"

1. You have the habit of noticing grammatical errors while people are speaking and you love to correct them, even if in return you get whacked on the head with your own book.

1. You judge people by the kind of books they read: Chetan Bhagat/Sidney Sheldon readers = The Easy Going ones, Management Books readers = The Workaholics, Shakespeare/Jane Austen/Classics Readers = The Intense, Dreamy ones, Non readers = The Losers

1. You will take it PERSONALLY if you hear even complete strangers saying "Oh books are so BORING!!"

1. In all probabilities, the only serious hobby you have had in your life is "Reading".

1. Nine out of Ten times, you wear glasses… atleast reading glasses.

1. If you ever realise that there is a certain book that you STILL HAVE NOT READ… you will die of misery and embarrassment.

1. When you are moving to a new house, you will pack your books in bubble wrap and write "Fragile, handle with care" on the box.

1. According to you mishandling a book is a heinous crime and all offenders should be made to serve in a library for lifetime.

1. Your circle of friends include the staff at your favourite bookstore, the friendly book-wallah on Dadar Station and your raddi-wallah who gives you second hand books for free.

1. You are so crazy about books that in spite of all the constructive things you could have done with your free time, all you will do is start a blog dedicated to books and write about books till the time everyone around you gets nauseous and starts puking at the slightest mention of the "B- Word".

Book Review: The Part-time People

Sometimes you come come across a book that is so desperately lazy and lax in its script that you wonder why the hell did you even pick it up? But then, you have started reading the book and being the incurable Bookworm that you are, you WILL read the book completely and finish it come what may.

And so, pushing away all the sarcastic, snotty thoughts about the author and his writing, you start reading again... And as the book wraps up, you realize that the author has used the age old formula of making a story work: "3-4 main characters, introduced in a sequence, a slow unfolding of the main plot, a small twist towards the end and ultimately tying up everything with a clinching one-liner". But then, not everybody is O'Henry.

The Part-time People, a novella by Tom Lichtenberg, tells us the story of DeBarrie's, a Stationery store run by two brothers Mike and Joe. Though the business brings them a neat profit, they could do with some extra help in the store. The problem however is that they never seem to find the right people as part timers. After burning their fingers at least 5 times, Joe ultimately hires David, a non-assuming shy college kid. But is David really what he seems like or is there a storm brewing within?

At times a psycho-thriller, at times dark humor and at times just a plain short story written without a strong plot, the author has tried to use a mash up of many elements in his writing. And it does go wrong because honestly I found my attention wavering many times while reading.

The O'Henry-esque way of ending a story with a simple but clinching one-liner that the author has used, is the only saving grace of this novella.

My Verdict: Avoid this one!!

A 23 year old Love Affair

A love affair always begins with something simple and harmless-- a simple look, a small conversation, even a seemingly minuscule hello!! An then it turns into something that is all encompassing, passionate and unforgettable!!

Mine began with something as simple and harmless as a Birthday gift... a First Birthday gift to be more precise.

While most parents would pamper their kids silly with toys, clothes and other such goodies, mine decided to give me a set of Childcraft-- 16 volumes covering everything that a child should know-- History, Geography, Biology, Maths, Literature, Art and Cultures + an Atlas and a Dictionary.

Those 16 books where the first ever books that i owned as a year old toddler, the first books from which I learnt to read, the very first Dictionary that I learnt to refer to. They were the truest companions when introvert little Miss Bookworm preferred staying at home than play Hide-n-Seek.

They say you should have something that you are passionate about in life, because Passion makes the world go around!

23 years ago unknowingly I found my Passion :)

My dearest Set of Childcraft .... Here's to You :)