Readers with miserable attention spans: the oxymoron of our times

I log in to my social media accounts. Scratch that, I never logged out.
So, I hop on to social media for my daily dose of words. There are reams of stories there: micro-fiction, nano tales, haikus, memes and flash fiction.
I will lick through some Terribly Tiny Tales, or chew some Scribbled Stories. Might swallow a lot of memes and digest some flash fiction. It should be no more than 200 words. Two sentences, abrupt and unjust as they may be, should do the trick. You can find word count more clearly embossed on your screen than your own words in Word processors and website templates.

Because reading is now measured.

I click on a link that leads me to an important piece of long-form journalism. But the first thing I notice there is "6 min read". They are telling me it would take me 6 minutes to read this. Well, dear publisher, are you so sure of the mediocre quality of content on your page that you know I am not going to hover over a sentence I find well-constructed? You know for sure that I am not going to read such a long piece if it takes up more time of my day than my daily dump does? Of course you do. You care about content, not words. Words don't sell. Content does.

Because reading is now measured.

Savoruing a book, flipping through its pages, underlining quotes that you like, making a note of those quotes in a special diary, dog-earing pages, inserting multiple bookmarks, putting up post-it notes within pages, finishing the book, going back to these quotes, reliving the story in snippets: the stupid old-school reader seems to have the luxury of time. I think she doesn't have a goodreads book challenge to finish. Someone will tell her about it. Or it will slip into conversations innocuously when she'll be asked how many books she has read this year.

Because reading is now measured.

And yet.
We are all readers. Our loyalties lie with words. But we are not ready to see pages wither away, the book spines breaking apart, the words fading away, the trickle of blood from a paper cut.
We are all readers, even though reading is now measured.

A New Bookstore In (Virtual) Town: BOOKLE

Bookle.in/ is India's first online bookstore for kids. And who am I kidding, I read children's books even now, so nothing really comes as a surprise.


My experience with Bookle:
The search was pretty easy.

There was a filter for price.

Shipping is free only for order above Rs 500, which is not a bad deal, considering that I would definitely buy a bunch of books and not just one.

The collection is adorable.

They let you sell books you bought from Bookle only, at 50% of the price.

Here's the bunch I ordered, and that arrived promptly, and for 500, it wasn't a bad deal at all.
I had never read GooseBumps ever, so I ordered those, along with a copy of High School Musical.

I received the delivery in a fine state, and the quality is not bad at all. Traversing the portal wasn't difficult at all.

Here's what my purchase looked like!

The only surprise element that could also be a downside is the fact that you can never guess the actual condition of the books that you're going to receive. I received some of them in a really decent condition, but all of them reeked of a used-rugged smell and sight. They looked like they came from a library clearance. I think what could help in this case is posting pictures of the actual products. Which also brings me to another glitch, that the pictures are pixelated. Had the pictures been clearer, I could have made wiser decisions.

The prices, for this condition, do seem higher, especially when we can get these books at this quality at Sunday markets, among other cheap deals.

But children's books are a tricky affair and this website will definitely untie some knots of the trick here.

To get your book reviewed, read my review policy here. And then contact me here.

Follow for regular reviews, author interviews and bookish love:

      

Why #brunchbookchallenge is awesome!

There's no denying it now. You know it, I know it. So many of us have started reading, thanks to the reading challenges, that surprisingly have a far longer life than the fragile resolutions we make at the beginning of the year.
Just when the publishing industry was at its performance peak, churning out one good book after another (also some really crappy ones), Hindustan Times did what every one was waiting for.
They brought in the #brunchbookchallenge last year.
Lo and behold, a revolution was in action.
Twitter became a book hangout, recommendations are now being exchanged faster than it is possible to keep track of, our to-be-read lists have grown humongous tails, and we have publicly and unabashedly been a fangirl for our favourite books. We have read them, reviewed them, recommended them, sent spoilers and whatnot.

Just a challenge to read 30 books in a  year (increased from 24 from the last year) and we saw a revolution:
Avid readers became disciplined readers.
Unorganised readers started keeping a track of how much and what they are reading.
Non-readers took a plunge.
The reading bug had bitten and the reading mania was, and continues to be infectious.

Without much ado, let's get straight to the point, and let me list out why #brunchbookchallenge is awesome. (As if it needs reasons!)

1. They have a massive reach

Sundays had become synonymous with the treat of HT Brunch. And twitter was never before made better use of. This is my definition of corporate social responsibility. Using your power to reach masses and getting them to read. CSR is for real!
This was like book club level: 21st Century

2. They give recommendations

The folks at Brunch don't shove books in your faces, but they do give recommendations drawing from what they have read recently and what your tastes sound like. This bunch of readers are awesome.


3. They conduct giveaways and contests

Yes- free books and bookish stuff. Who doesn't like to be the lucky owner of some swag?

4. They have brought bibliophiles together

They have used their media presence well- bringing scores of readers and non-readers turned readers together. Logging in to twitter/Instagram became a prospect of excitement about finding new bibliophiles and registering our progress with reading. And well, reading 30 books a year isn't that difficult.

5. They are our Sunday treat, duh!
Reading=Brunch= Reading list update

To get your book reviewed, read my review policy here. And then contact me here.

Follow for regular reviews, author interviews and bookish love:

        

Why Paper Towns isn't just another book for me

I've heard people rant about how Paper Towns is just another one of the John Green books, and how strikingly similar it is to Looking for Alaska, or how it is starkly analogous to the plot: boy is obsessed with the girl, and the girl disappears. I will not refute or approve this theory, but for reasons of my own, I beg to differ.

To me, Paper Towns is the book that was made for me, the book that feels me, if you know what I mean. I live by every word of it. And here is my reason: the quotes, the words and the dialogues, not just for what they represent in the plot, but for the deeper meaning they entail. Here's exemplifying a handful of them:

1. What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person

This quote is a case of been there, done that : I have been one of those people who amaze you with their creative prowess and genius, and I have seen how people viewed me as some deity, who always had magical solutions to all problems, when in reality it took me just as much pains and troubles as it did to them. Now that I look back, I can't figure where it started, but I do realize that it is treacherous to believe that a person is more than a person. Everyone loved the idea of me: the studious nerd who also coupled as a smart quizzer, writer, poet and whatnot. And I kind of hated it.

Update: People will call you superwoman and there will always be a flip side to it. You probably will never be able to explain this to people.

2. May be all the strings inside him broke

If you have ever been shattered or depressed beyond what words can describe, then you might know the feeling of something snapping inside of you. Some shred of hope dying inside, taking you a step apart from your definition of success. From experience I can tell you, that loss of hope is a fate equal to death.

3. “It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.” 

Who are we kidding? Goodbyes are always the hardest. They are the worst. But letting go is a great lesson in life. We all do that- leaving high school, leaving hometown, leaving college, leaving workplace. But, there is a certain form of liberation we experience when we detach ourselves. I know it may sound like one of those verses from holy scriptures, but let go of your High school, and you'll know how relieving and easy it is to have something to look forward to- even if it isn't a planned path!

4. Forever is composed of nows.

And this has got to be the lesson of our times. We are all busy planning, laying down a path to follow, worrying about the future, taking less risks. And where does that land us? We are stranded in a complacent place with no regard whatsoever to the gift of present. Plans fail, times change and
the future s uncertain, so, yeah- accept it.

5.  That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.

Isn't that the truth in it's unaltered and bare form? This is how human beings function. We give a lot of importance to looks, we love/hate depending upon looks. We are hypocrites. Okay, enough said.

6. If you don't imagine, nothing ever happens at all

Here's our very own John Green emphasizing the importance of imagination. The same reason we love fairies, believe in unicorns and love to delve into fiction. Because, if we never believe in something, it might never happen. Belief can make wonders happen, but then undermining the importance of imagination in our life is something we might regret for a long, long time in future.

 7. As much as life can suck, it always beats the alternative.

We may curse life in the bad times, we may hate it all we want: but nothing can compare to the roller-coaster that life is. The ups and downs, the elation and agony, the sorrows and joys- death couldn't be this varied.

I could go on and on, but after this dose of Paper Town-talk, I need to re-read the book. I take leave.

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Author spotlight and Interview: Shama Patel

By the number of smiles in the interview, you can tell how positive a person the author is. True to her personality, she has written her debut work, "21 ways of being happy" which has been published by Grapevine Publishers. It received a 5* rating from our blog  here.

Today, she joins us for an insightful, cheerful and lovely chat!

Kritika: What triggered the writing bug in your case? Was there some moment of epiphany?

Shama: The writing bug was triggered in 2009 when I was all geared up to write a fiction script. I did complete the script, co-authored by a close friend (Asif Sayani). We managed to circulate the script to 12-15 publishers and got a ‘No’ from most of them. The rest never got back. Though I did enjoy working on that script, I was not drawn to writing as passionately as I am today. While I continued to work as an editor and take up various writing projects, the real breakthrough happened when I developed a sincere urge to write about my thoughts, feelings and experiences (sometime around 2012). I started maintaining a blog where I began writing about everyday human struggle and ending each post with something positive to take home. I maintained that while continuing my work as a Psychologist. It all started then and the passion was patiently transformed into '21 Ways of Being Happy' when Grapevine India identified my strength as a writer and a Counselor:-)

On her journey with the book:
This book has been a cathartic journey for me. There were time where I found my creative genius leading the entire process while I felt like a mere channel through which the words were spoken. There were moments when I was so involved into writing a part that I would begin writing at 1 am and be in the literary trance till 5-6 in the morning. So this whole journey has been mystically creative for me.

Kritika: How was writing the book a different experience than the sessions you have with your clients?
Shama: Haha. I like this question:) Well, when I take sessions, it is the client who does the talking and I play the role of a listener. In therapy, the clients speak out their dilemmas, unanswered questions, doubts, confusions etc. and it is during these conversations that they begin to see their life in a better and much healthier perspective.

However, in writing, it was left for me to do the talking and I had the entire Universe as my imaginary readers! So, I began to play dual role of both client and a Psychologist and began this beautiful journey towards happiness. Since I have gone through (and I still go through) day-to-day human challenges, I started sharing my own challenges (from a client perspective) so that the readers can relate to the feelings, behavior and emotions that we all experience. Then I would role reverse and see things from a Counselor's perspective and add ways that I personally practiced in my life. While in therapy, the clients bring in a problem situation, I had to come up with my own list of challenges that I would simplify through this book. The common thread that runs in both therapy and my book is my desire to touch lives. So, even though the process differ, my purpose of healing remains same in both the situations:-)

Kritika: How do you think does the genre of self-help ease the pain of those in distress?

Shama: I believe that each of us has a special gift. Some are gifted techies, some are gifted artists, some gifted dancers and similarly, there are people who are gifted with the ability to ease out the stress in people's lives. Psychologists and Counselors are some of those gifted individuals who, by nature, posses the art of healing which is further enhanced through studying the subject matter and learning various tools to overcome stress. In my opinion, any human being who has gone through problems in life and have managed to overcome them becomes compelled to share this learning with fellow human beings. This is how we have people write volumes of books on self-help. Since we all are human beings and most of us receive the same conditioning throughout our lives, we tend to have (almost) similar problem pattern and when we hear a person (aka self-help guru) talk about a problem and solution, we begin to relate to it with all our heart and mind. Since the self-help writers are human beings, their (hopefully) tried and tested ways do help in easing out the stress that a common human being experiences in his/her life. It works because when in distress, we refuse to see another perspective or fail to cross the fence and get on the other side of life. In that helplessness and hesitation, a self-help expert becomes the one who stands in front of you to say "Dude! life is difficult. It is painful. But you know what, I am here to be by your side. I am here if you need a hand or a light to assist you get on the other side of this fence. I know you can cross it because I have. If I as a human being can, then you as a human being definitely can". So, while you get comfortable relishing the role of a victim (the poor me), a self-help book/speaker can kick your butt and get you connected to the lost strength that lies within you.

What I do wish to highlight here is, self-help books are to be read with an intention of beginning your journey towards easing the stress in life and not used as a bible to refer to, each time you are in distress. While you continue to treat a particular book/author as a self-help guru, do not limit your search. Make your own self your own self-help guru (No one else but you). When you do that, you automatically begin to see how one book or one video or one self-help talk begins to transform your being in a positive manner, opening several healing channels within and around you. Get in touch with that self-help Guru within you, while you continue to explore this genre to broaden your knowledge and wisdom about human life:)

Kritika: What are the future plans? Can your readers expect more in the same genre, or is there a surprise?
Shama: Well I have signed a contract of seven books so, I have six more to go! For now, I hope the readers enjoy the journey into '21 Ways of Being Happy' :-) I am determined to write a book on Relationships so hopefully that would be my second writing venture:)
Future plans! To continue spreading happiness and healing through my work, be it writing, art, counseling or by simply being a human being! :)

Kritika: Any comments/experiences you'd like to share pertaining to getting published?

Shama: Now that I have a book published, I realize that it is easier to get a book published than to promote and market it in the literary world. Since first time authors are still looked at as wearing an 'L' board around their neck, not many people/bookstores are open to giving them bhav and promoting their work. Especially with the self-help tag, people develop a presumed notion that 'yeh toh badi boring and pakaau book hogi'. So, it is a real challenge for me to break that myth and pass this message of happiness to as many people as I can. Even though it is a challenge, I have been fortunate enough to come across blessed and wonderful souls like you who have been generous to join me on this journey of spreading happiness. I keep talking about the book/concept to whoever I meet and in that determination of promoting my work, I do encounter people who are willing to help me spread the word. What keeps me going on this journey is my faith on my work and the belief that it will touch numerous lives, sooner or later:)

This was such a great interview.
I am so happy to know that there are more books in the pipeline, I can't wait! And this author certainly endears herself to her readers! I adore the optimism and candour! It is at times like these that I find myself immensely lucky to be a book blogger.
Thanks for hopping on to my blog!
Find her book here:

Mark Zuckerberg, facebook and a year of books

2015 got even more special for books the moment Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched his own reading challenge, and made an fb page, A Year of Books
When he posted on his timeline, "My challenge for 2015 is to read a new book every other week -- with an emphasis on learning about different cultures, beliefs, histories and technologies.

Thank you to all 50,000 of you in our community who gave me suggestions for different challenges.

Many of you proposed reading challenges. Cynthia Greco suggested I read one book a month that another person chooses -- and got 1,900 likes on her suggestion. Rachel Brown, Bill Munns, Marlo Kanipe and others suggested I read the Bible. My friend and colleague Amin Zoufonoun suggested I read and learn everything I can about a new country each week.

I'm excited for my reading challenge. I've found reading books very intellectually fulfilling. Books allow you to fully explore a topic and immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today. I'm looking forward to shifting more of my media diet towards reading books.

If you want to follow along on my challenge and read the same books I do, I've created a page, A Year of Books, where I'll post what I'm reading. Please only participate in the discussions if you've actually read the books and have relevant points to add. The group will be moderated to keep it focused.

Our first book of the year will be The End of Power by Moisés Naím. It's a book that explores how the world is shifting to give individual people more power that was traditionally only held by large governments, militaries and other organizations. The trend towards giving people more power is one I believe in deeply, and I'm looking forward to reading this book and exploring this in more detail.

I appreciated all of your other suggestions for possible challenges as well. Many of you suggested I give money to help people in need -- and Priscilla and I fully intend to keep doing that through our philanthropic work. We'll have more to discuss there soon. Some of you suggested that I meet a new person every day. That was actually my challenge in 2013. Others suggested I teach a class. I've done that too, and I'd love to do it again and get more involved in education in the coming year.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions, and I'm looking forward to a year of books!" I almost got delirious with joy. What more could a bibliophile ask for, than a modern-day self-made celebrity with a huge following spreading the love of books?

Post by A Year of Books.

My thoughts on this:

#1. Wow, If Mark Zuckerberg does it, millions on facebook would follow. Now that is called leveraging your "social" networks for a good cause: getting people to read more, learn more, suggest more!

#2 Another book recommendation list. Let me add a few more pages to my to-be-read list.

#3 His first Book club choice:  The End of Power by Moisés Naím is selling well, which is an indication of how good an influence a public personality can be, on people. He will surely ge them to read.

#4 He finds books intellectually fulfilling! *all smiles*

For me, this is all good news, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Which reading challenge will you take?

Another year is here. And while it spells an abundance of resolutions (some of which are never meant to be kept beyond 2 days), a reading challenge is different. You challenge yourself, to read more/ hard/diverse books. You may take one up to discipline your reading, or to increase the speed, add diverse genres to your credit, or to read the book before its movie adaptation comes out.
Reading challenges are always fun, because, oh, well we don't need to elaborate on the pleasures of reading.
Here's a list of my favourite reading challenges.
DISCLAIMER: I am certainly not gonna take all the challenges, but cherry-pick the ones I want to do, from the core of my heart. Because although I like to take up every challenge thrown my way, I have learnt to let go.
Tell me in comments what challenges you would like to take. Maybe you, with all your reading superpowers, decide to take them up all, in which case, I would love to meet you personally. :)

1. The Goodreads Reading Challenge

For most of us, Goodreads is the facebook of books, and by that follows our theory of the Goodreads reading challenge being the God of all challenges.It functions pretty simply: you add the number of books you wish to read in a year, and everytime you read a book and add it to your "read" shelf, it automatically tracks your progress. No complex promises to read a particular genres, author etc.

Best part: You challenge yourself. And you can update the number if you feel you can push a little more, or cannot read much.

2. The Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge

Averaging at two books per month, they have categories like

A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25, A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65, A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people), A book published by an indie press, A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ, A book by a person whose gender is different from your own and many more.

Best part: They even have a goodreads group for it!

Check them out here

3. Epic Reads 365 YA challenge

True to their name, they have come out with this EPIC list of 365 YA titles to read: book recommendations for every season, month, week and day of 2015

I have not much to say, I am still reading the infographic below (They also have a very cool gif). More info on their site.

Best Part: We never get tired of YA, do we? So this is our goldmine!

4. Bethany house 2015 Reading Challenge

They have curated a great Bingo-challenge. Hop on!

Best Part: It is so much fun!

5. b00k r3vi3ws Indie Reading challenge:

This is a niche reading challenge, so to say. And the most noble one, so to say.

Rules are simple:  Read and Review as many Indie (Self Published) Books as possible during this year, post a review anywhere, share the link:you know the drill.

Best part:  The books can overlap with other reading challenges.  

I have signed up at the Lover level (26-50 new authors)

http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/12/FR15.html

6. PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge

This Ultimate reading challenge is THE ultimate challenge. It has already sent the social media on an uproar. We couldn't have asked for more. Get on it only if you dare.

Best Part: It has already created a furore over social media, maybe if you complete it, fame will knock on your door?

7. Kindred’s 2015 Reading Challenge

Kindred Digital Books has created a challenge. If the previous challenge intimidated you, this one will probably restore your faith in your reading prowess!

Best part: Diversity!

8. 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

Their challenge is perfectly described in their own words:

"We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up.

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance. This is your chance!"

Best part: You get to unburden your TBR, what more can a biblophile ask for?

9. 2015 Nonfiction Reading Challenge hosted by The Introverted Reader

You sign up, and then post the reviews here. I think it is a very simple challenge, with levels, of course, but it will bring the much-needed attention to the genre of Non-fiction titles.

Best Part: Crossovers with other challenges are acceptable, and feel free to read your books in any format you like.

10.   2015 Feminism Reading Challenge 

Read about feminism. Period.

Best part: Sign up anytime. Read any number, no tags. Read any format! Too flexible!

11. 2015 WOMEN CHALLENGE @ Peek a Book

As the name suggests, you read books by women authors. 

Best Part: You Probably don't even know, but you read a LOT of women authors. No kidding, Everybody does. So this one will be easy-peasy.

12.  A no-book buying challenge

This reading challenge comes in the form of a remedy to the disease of us book hoarders. This is a real challenge. You won't buy anymore until you are done with the ones lying unread on your shelf. I have thought about doing this more times than I can count. But i would probably suck at this challenge if I take one!

Best part: A great way to do what is right: save money and caress the hitherto neglected books!

13. 2015 Debut Author Challenge

The challenge is to read 12 or more (or less! It’s up to you!) middle grade, young adult, and new adult debuts this year.

14. 2015 AudioBooks challenge

If you are into audiobooks, this is the place to be!

Best part: Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed. And you can join in anytime.

15. Back to the Classics Challenge 2015

Classic Novella, classic by a woman author and whatnot. Go explore.

Best Part: one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

16. Banned Books Challenge 2015

For those of you who are as infuriated by the concept of banned books as me, this is the place for revenge. Hop on and get to read banned books, and get another challenge completed to your credit.

Best part: Hey, reading banned books, duh!

17. BrunchBookChallenge

This one is for you all Indians. Tweet your reading progress. with the hashtag #brunchbookchallenge. Aim is to read 24 atleast. Anything and everything. 

I did it last year and won too!

They are awesome, they send you bookish stuff of your fantasies. Go dive right in.

@PoonamSaxena_ So, I say it: Can't thank you enough. @HTBrunch has brought in the next revolution: reading revolution!
— Kritika Narula (@Kritika_n_books) December 28, 2014

There are so many more! Tell me if you are hosting one too!

And I am still deciding which ones to hop on to.

Here's hoping.