My terrible first line

I've had an extremely unproductive summer and I'll admit I did absolutely nothing worthwhile with my time but hey, I'm back home and here nobody expects me to put myself to any good use when I'm off for vacations.Since I wouldn't want to break my lazy spell by actually writing something, here's a list of the funniest first lines ever written that made my morning! 33 Of The Most Hilariously Terrible First Sentences In Literature History

I'm also down with a terrible flu but this made me feel SO much better! Its just Horrilarious! (a term used to define something which is equal parts horrifying and hilarious). Thank me later for giving you a new word. 

This list actually inspired me to write something myself.  Here's my attempt at a terrible first line: 

As she lay in a pool of crumpled tissues each one lined with snot, she looked up to her computer screen, the blank whiteness tingled her senses like nose hair right before a sneeze and in that sudden moment of epiphany, she knew. Her writing the greatest novel was as inevitable as a colony of bacteria on a beef steak at room temperature! 

How do you like me now!? 

P.S. Please ignore me. It's the meds talking. 

The 'Before' Trilogy- Reaffirming faith in true love since 1995

I picked up a couple of books over the past month..Moth smoke, Of love and other demons, To the lighthouse... only to lose my interest and put them back. I figured I'll just take them back to Istanbul and read them there. I have however, been watching many movies lately and tonight I watched the third and probably the last installment in the 'Before' trilogy- Before Midnight. Now I know not many people have seen it or liked it but for me, each movie resonates exactly what love is- a feeling that cements over time and lasts with us as long as we live.

The first part of the movie came out 18 years ago. Some of the interesting parts that drew me to this series are the unconventional actors: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, both rendering undeniably charming performances in all three films, the fact that they co-wrote the movies and that the story evolves as they age; each part coming out after a whopping nine years.

I'm a major romantic drama junkie but that's not the only reason why I love this series. Not only is every movie accentuated with thoughtful dialogues and masterful direction, but it also succeeds in being real and convincing, so much so that its almost painful to watch sometimes. It's about witnessing a couple's evolution from twenty-somethings into their forties; each movie depicting one day in their lives and the unrelenting love that binds them together. Every conversation in those movies leaves you craving for more and wondering if you'd ever find someone who you could talk to that way.

The first one makes you believe in simple, true love. The second makes you believe in destiny and pure luck while the third makes you question everything you've come to believe along the way.

Before sunrise (1995)
"I like to feel his eyes on me when I look away."
"Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?"

Before Sunset (2004)
"Jes: In the months leading up to my wedding, I was thinking about you all the time. I mean, even on my way there; I'm in the car, a buddy of mine is driving me downtown and I'm staring out the window, and I think I see you, not far from the church, right? Folding up an umbrella and walking into a deli on the corner of 13th and Broadway. And I thought I was going crazy, but now I think it probably was you.
Celine: I lived on 11th and Broadway.
Jesse: You see?"

Before Midnight (2013)
"I fucked up my whole life because of the way you sing."
"Like sunlight, sunset, we appear, we disappear. We are so important to some, but we are just passing through." 

Summertime sadness and Gatsby

Once you leave and come back, people expect you to be the same but you're not nearly the same person who left. This is why coming back is hard. I came back home after a year in Turkey and it surprises me when people ask me about my time there. I have so little to say. When you're out there on your own, there is a strange air of solitude that takes holds of you. Nobody to come home to, nobody to ask about your day and even if they did, nothing you say can explain to them the change you feel in yourself. They still see you as the same person who left but you know better. 

How do you explain to someone the longing you felt looking at hazy islands drawn on a horizon smudged by the receding light of the sun from a ferry boat? How do you tell them of the freedom you feel walking home with a friend at 4 in the morning with your head up, marveling at the white birds circling a brightly lit building? Nothing you say can make them understand the euphoria of joining a protest in a foreign city, along with hundreds of roaring civilians, all the while knowing it has nothing to do with you. Heck! You don't even know what they are chanting. How do you tell someone of the inexplicable peace you felt 2..300ft up in the air, attached to a parachute, looking down at the sea, feeling bigger than the world? The answer is, you can't because they weren't there with you. So I don't even try. But I hope I'm more articulate at writing about the books that I took along with me than I am at talking about my experiences.  

Up in the air!

What am I itching to write about? The Great Gatsby! We readers have had the misfortune of watching our favorite novels being turned into horrible movies time and again but that wasn't the case with Gatsby (at least not for me).Never before has contemporary music been featured in a period film and I think it worked extremely well, especially because it was in a movie like this. I went to watch it three times! And every time my heart broke a little when Daisy, with her perfectly coquettish accent said: 'I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.' 'Cant repeat the past? Well, of course you can', I murmured with Gatsby trying to say it just like him. And every time, I left the theatre satisfied after hearing that iconic line: 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.'

Somewhere, Fitzgerald sitting among teary-eyed authors with unfaithful adaptions is looking down at us with a glass of champagne and a smug smile because Baz Luhrmann did complete justice to his work. I imagine he looks like this-

Do I want to watch the movie a 4th time? Will I sever all relations with you if you speak ill of the movie? Will I throw a brick at the critics who gave the movie a bad review if I ever see them? The answer to all those questions is a big YES :) 

To Mr. Luhrmann, I have only one thing to say (and here I assume Nick Carraway's awe struck voice): "They're a rotten crowd. You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." 

I'm back!

As guilty as I am about neglecting my blog for over three months, I am not going to wallow in self reproach (done enough of that) and instead move on to tell you of the books I've been reading and the things I've been doing. 

First things first, I moved to a new city! I now live in Istanbul, Turkey which feels pretty much like lıvıng ın a museum at times. Excuse the dot less 'i's, for I haven't gotten used to the Turkish keyboards. I'm studying Psychology, exploring a highly intriguing city and adjusting to a completely different (read: independent)  life over here. Living alone has its charms and I feel extremely lucky to be having that oh-so-desirable European college experience. 

Needless to say I haven't allowed the craziness around me take its toll on my reading. So here's the list of books I read since I got here. 

1. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway 
2. Animal Farm - George Orwell 
3. Istanbul: Memories and the City - Orhan Pamuk 
4. A Mercy - Toni Morrison 
5. The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde

...and currently Im reading This side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. My obsession with Fitzgerald ıs at an all time high these days due to the movie adaption of The Great Gatsby. The trailer alone gives me chills every time I watch ıt. We've all had our share of horror stories about brllıant books ruined by movies but I have high hopes from this one, primarily because I think the cast is gorgeous! 
Moving on, last night I made a collage...a sort of hodge podge of pop culture mixed with personal favorites. Its for the cover of a notebook I recently got.  

No pretentiousness intended but I carry around a notebook with me when I'm travelling, writing down whatever grabs my attention. A seat by the window is all you need to get the ideas rolling in. I love the cover, its a painting of the Maiden's Tower (built during the Byzantine era) in the middle of the Bosphorus. The tower gets it's name from the two maidens who are said to have lived there.

Every monument in Turkey has a story behind ıt. Some are enshrouded in legends and myths, others in ancient glory. Its a city of varying tastes, beliefs and sights. Before coming here I heard and read a lot about the 'stark contrasts' within the city or as Orhan Pamuk puts it, the dilemma of:  'Westernisation and Europe or tradition and Islam.' Istanbul undeniably has strong elements of both. In his memoir he talks at length about the Huzun (melancholy) of the city's citizens which comes of living amid the ruins of a lost empire, but lets leave that discussion for another post. I'm itching to write about this fascinating city so expect something of that sort in the near future.

In short, I am back. I started this blog last August and now that I sit here writing after so long I realise just how much Ive mıssed ıt. A big thank you to all those who read and appreciate it. Hope you all read some wonderful books in 2012. The list of books I read this year is in the left section and I'd love to see yours too.  

Happy reading! 

Things I do not need: More books. Things I will keep buying: More Books.

Exactly what I'm going for.

P.S. Pictures of a dozen new books gracing my shelves to be put up soon. One step closer to creating a personal library. XD

Why do you read?

I've always loved reading but could never put a finger on why I read. I've never admitted to reading as a means to escape since to me that translates into - 'My life is horrible and I need the help of books to transport me to a happier, more exciting place'. However, I now realize that while escapism is one of the reasons I enjoy reading, there's no shame in admitting it because what I mean is simple: Now and then, I love to live the life of others; the rich and the poor, the beautiful and the damned, the joyous and the distressed. To create a parallel life and alternate between the two at will is a miraculously liberating feeling to say the least.



However, a recent conversation on Twitter made me think that for a majority of people escapism comes from the fantasy genre only. The success of Harry Potter and The Lord of the rings are prime examples in this case. Here's one bit:

Follower's tweet:  i love d fantasy genre, takes ur mind off real life, the reason for reading books.

My reply:  hmm im sure.bt im nt into d fantasy genre.i need 2 b able to relate 2 the characters in d real world.

So my question to you, dear readers is: How can you relate to wizards who go to a school of wizardry, vampires who live for centuries, and hobbits who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth rather than characters rooted in the real world with actual human problems?

Maybe its a limitation of imagination on my part but when I read I need a strong sense of place. I need stories that are grounded in reality; in a fully real world. But that's just me. Feel free to differ.

Liebster Blog Award

A big thank you to Auggie from Auggie Talk and Candace from Read between the covers for the award! 

 
The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have 200 followers or less. It helps people to get to know you as a blogger while introducing your blog to new viewers.

The Rules are as follows:

1. Each person chosen must provide 11 facts about themselves.

2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger who tagged you has given, then think of 11 questions for the people you tag.

3. Choose 11 people to receive the award and link them in your post

4. Be sure to tell these people that you've tagged them.

5. Remember, no tag backs (in other words: don't tag the person who tagged you.)

11 Random Facts About Me

1) I prefer writing10 facts about myself.

2) I don't like celebrating odd number birthdays. 

3) At bookstores, I put shelves in order if the books are in disarray. 

4) I write letters to friends and acquaintances without the intention of ever sending it to them.

5) I've been keeping a journal since I was 10. 

6) It takes me almost a month to finish a novel even if I read it every day. 

7) I like to hold a Kit Kat finger like a cigarette.

8) I can climb high places but need at least 10 people to help bring me down. 

9) I wanted to be an archeologist as a kid. 

10)I am not going to write the 11th fact because I hate odd numbers.

Questions for Me:

 
1.   Why did you start your blog?
      To connect with like minded people and maybe turn this solitary passion into a shared one.  

2.   What are your top 3 to-die-for characters?
      Lord Henry in The Picture of Dorian Gray

      Rebecca in Rebecca

      Fermina Daza in Love in the time of Cholera

3.   What are you top 3 favorite books?
      Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

      The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

      The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

4.   Where do you live?
      Karachi, Pakistan

5.   Future release you are drooling over?
      The next book by Marquez (if he ever writes one).

6.   Favorite author?
      Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Oscar Wilde

7.   What "paranormal" creature would you be and why?
      Aloja- A female water spirit because water fascinates me.

8.   Can you read more than one book at one time?
      Yes

9.   What is your worst habit?

       Plucking dead skin from my lips. Even writing about it grosses me out but I can't help it.
 

10.  Book you were suprised you LOVED?
       Like the flowing river by Paulo Coelho. I had given up on Coelho after Veronica decides to die but this book was revelatory and gave me inspiration at a time when I needed it the most.       

11.  If you could live any story, what would it be? 

       Hands down! One Hundred years of Solitude.

Questions for those I tagged:

  

In one sentence: Who are you? 

What's something a lot of people do that you disagree with?

What's something no one can take away from you?

What's a common misconception people have about you?

 Your favorite quote?

 Do you believe honesty is the best policy?

 Describe yourself in three words.

Which dead author would you want to be haunted by?
What do u want to be known for?

What do you do when nothing else seems to make you happy?

Who do you think is the worst writer?

Blogs I am Tagging

MadauG's Attempt at Book Reviewing

read that also

A reluctant mind
Views and Reviews 

Positive Fountain 

Bound 2 astound 

books devoured

coffee table reviews

about happy books

an abundance of books

alaskan bookie

I think its a great way to support upcoming blogs and hope you will participate with me. :) 

I dream a dream of a library (2)

Back in end of February I started setting up my library with a mere 18 books. See: I dream a dream (1) Over the past three months I've added almost 30 more books. Not qualified to be called a library still, but it's finally starting to look like the picture I have in mind.

                                          Taken in February 

                                                    

                                                     In June

Good progress, eh?

Anyway I bought a couple of books at a Liberty Books sale today.  Here are the ones I got:

1) Night by Elie Wiesel

2) Selected Poems by Gulzar

3) Reading like a writer by Francine Prose  

4) Selected Short Stories from the 19th Century by David Stuart

Reading One hundred years of Solitude these days has me trapped in the imaginary village of Macondo and its daily life of atrocities, resilience and miracles. Marquez truly is a master of Magical realism. I've been reading the book at a slow pace and its already been a month since I started it. No rush. Masterpieces are too precious to be glanced at and brushed past by; they are meant to be savored, experienced and appreciated.

Type away!

Ms. Procrastination over stayed her welcome, hence the blog was not updated for weeks but I've got to write now. Sometimes I feel like I'll explode or die of an emotional overload if I don't write. I know I must but sometimes, I just don't.

Anyway, I'm sure nobody who reads this blog wants to comb through my mental debris so I'll let you know something that may interest some of you. I'm getting myself a TYPEWRITER! Okay so I have wanted to get one for the longest time but wasn't able to find it in my city but now I finally know where I can get it from and next week I shall be typing away from the ultimate writing machine of the 1800s. 

I think my love for typewriters and other vintage items stems from a fascination with bygone eras, very much like Owen Wilson's longing to belong to the early 1900s in Midnight in Paris. Something about the fantasy-nostalgist theme of this movie made me wonder how incredible it would be to personally know these writers from almost a century ago who are now considered literary Gods. What insecurities had they faced in regards to their writing? Self doubts? The extent of their passion? I want to know everything about them!

I can't jump back in time but I can own something that was used by them, and so, using a typewriter is my way of getting a little closer to the writers I've admired all my life.

Source: molsrock.tumblr.com

Books are magic!

"What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." - Carl Sagan

Pakistan’s first online library!

Originally published in Unique Pakistan

Very rarely would you hear of libraries being opened up in our country. However, a lack of public reading spaces doesn’t necessarily signify a lack of reading culture. This can be proved by the success of an innovative business venture called The Readers Club, launched in 2009 by the enterprising duo- Usman Siddiqui and Jawad Yousuf. The Readers Club is a vast online library consisting of thousands of books that can be borrowed once you subscribe to the website. It is Pakistan’s first book rental service.   

 I stumbled upon their website two years ago. Excited by the vast variety of books available for a small monthly membership fee; I instantly became a member and filled up my bucket list. I had the books delivered to my house the very next day. With excellent customer service, efficient delivery and good quality books, I was won over. A year later The reader’s club sister website Kitabain.com (Kitabain is urdu for books) was launched. This is a platform where you can buy and sell books online. Perfect for those looking for books at a lower price delivered to their house and those wanting to get rid of stacks of books consuming space in the house. Kitabain.com also received the Service Innovation award at the P@SHA awards, Lahore in October, 2010.

An effort such as this one must be applauded as it not only promotes reading but makes books much more accessible and affordable for a majority of people. Last year in December, at the annual Karachi international book fair at Expo Centre I was delighted to find a stall by The Reader’s Club offering numerous books at quarter the original prices. It was probably one of the best stalls at the fair, offering the most affordable books.

Their next project includes digitizing Urdu books into an audio format. In our country where the older generation shake their heads in disapproval of the young and their supposedly non-existent reading habit; an online library is a sign that there are still ambitious people who cater to readers in Pakistan and a significant number of people who consume such services.

 Here is a video about them!

Happy reading!

Stunning Book Art!

It kills me to see books and papers turned and twisted mecilessly but I find a bit of consolation in the fact that these are old newspapers and books turned into wonderful pieces of art. Just goes to show the uselfullness of book!

                                                             A tower of books 

                The Argentinian artist Marta Minujin has built a tower of 30,000 books.

    

 The tower was built to celebrate Buenos Aires' nomination for World Book Capital 2011.

 

 "Paper Elegies"

 Nick Georgiou uses old books to make these colorful artworks

                                                    

                                           

                                                        Carved book landscapes

Artist Guy Laramee says about his work: So I carve landscapes out of books and I paint Romantic landscapes. Mountains of disused knowledge return to what they really are: mountains. They erode a bit more and they become hills. Then they flatten and become fields where apparently nothing is happening. Piles of obsolete encyclopedias return to that which does not need to say anything, that which simply IS. Fogs and clouds erase everything we know, everything we think we are.

Cascades of books

  Artist Alicia martin transformed thousands of unused books into columns that pour out of windows of historical buildings in Madrid into the streets.

 

                                       These over sized sculptures are definitely one of a kind.

 

Sources: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2OceD5/:pZK9eOfY:Tj2GO3yC/www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/12/carved-book-landscapes-by-guy-laramee/
http://www.walltowatch.com/view/2000

Of books and Pakistan

First published in Unique Pakistan

A few years ago, Pakistani writers were globally unheard of. Fast forward to today and you’ll see Pakistan’s literary landscape flourishing. With international awards and widespread acclaim to their merit, Pakistani authors are making waves in the literary circles and casting their magic. Pakistani novelist writing in English are now being hailed as the new generation of intellectuals propelling the country’s almost non-existent reading culture forward and garnering attention for the country due to their immense talent.

The likes of these young guns include Daniyal Mueenuddin, Kamila Shamsie, Mohsin Hamid, Mohammed Hanif, Bina Shah, Bilal Tanveer, Ali Sethi, Nadeem Aslam amongst many more. Dealing with themes of religious extremism, racism, politics, class division, war and love, these novelists are weaving complex and epic tales with their distinguished style. Their popularity can be measured by the crowd that turns up in droves to attend their sessions in literature festivals in Pakistan and India as well as the prestigious awards they have been nominated for and won.

For the last three years, Karachi Literature Festival has been accelerating the process of the resurgence of writing in Pakistan. Every year it’s becoming bigger and better, bringing together the biggest names in literati from various countries. This year the festival showcased brilliant talent to the literary starved audience of Karachi by presenting an astounding number of 150 authors, poets, journalists, publishers, etc.

According to Kamila Shamsie: ”Pakistani writing is in it’s infancy”. While that may be true, Pakistani writers are surely taking the publishing world by storm.

Literary crushes!

I have plenty of free time on my hands these days and it seems all I do the entire day is read. Thank God for the makeshift library I set up a few months back; plenty of unread books grace my shelves so I'm set for a few more weeks. Yesterday I finished reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and found myself utterly captivated by it's dead protagonist- Rebecca. This made me ponder back to the numerous literary crushes I've developed over the years. Here are some them: 

  

 Mr. Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Johnny Depp plays Willy Wonka, 2005

Every fat kid with an irrevocable love for chocolate adored this eccentric character created by Roald Dahl in Charlie and the chocolate factory. Not only is Mr. Willy Wonka the best chocolatier in the world, he also owns a chocolate factory where everything is made entirely out of chocolate! Apart from a fabulous dressing style complete with a sleek bob, a tall hat and a perfectly tailored maroon coat, I love him for his quirkiness, his unconventional attitude and his disgust for almost everything that isn't made up of chocolate. Watching Johnny Depp play Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's film adaption only cemented his position as one of my favorite literary crushes. 

Best dialogue: “"Everything in this room is eatable. In fact even I am eatable, but that is called cannibalism my dear children and is frowned upon in most civilizations.”

 Vampire Lestat in Vampire Chronicles

Stuart Townsend plays Lestat, 2002

 This enigmatic monster gripped my attention in Interview with the vampire by Anne Rice- A story about blood sucking, bad ass vampires! (Take that Meyers). Despite the story being about Louis and his transformation from a human to a vampire and his subsequent adventurous life, it was Vampire Lestat who made a lasting impression on me. He prompted me to read the entire Vampire Chronicle series, including Vampire Lestat and The queen of the damned.
This 200 year old vampire is a vanity-struck sexy rockstar, a rebel, a miser, and ultimately a redemption seeker. He is more like one of my bi-polar friends...yes Molls I'm referring to you. He's crazy when life's good and deeply morose when things go bad. Unbelievably powerful and  unapologetically fatal; Vampire Lestat is irresistible!

 Best dialogue: ''Evil is a point of view. God kills indiscriminately and so shall we. For no creatures under God are as we are, none so like him as ourselves.''

Lord Henry in The picture of Dorian Gray

Collin Firth plays Lord Henry, 2009

 Could there be a character more witty, opinionated and intriguing than Lord Henry? The answer is no! He plays the devil's advocate, misleading the naive Dorian Gray with his demonic views of the world. Lord Henry is a clever man who doesn't practice what he preaches, instead he influences others with his immoral and unconventional philosophies. He may not be the desirable hero of this novel; he is sexist, offensive and attention seeking but Lord Henry is also undeniably fascinating and an exquisitely eloquent character who says things that most of us only wish we had the courage to speak.

Best dialogues: "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.''

"The people who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination. Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect - simply a confession of failure."

Florentino Ariza in Love in the time of Cholera

Javier Bardem plays Ariza, 2007

Florentino Ariza is observant without being detached, tragic without being hopeless and stubborn without being impatient. Our passionate hero waits fifty-one years, nine months, and four days to reach his lover, Fermina Daza. During his wait he turns into a sex addict, becomes an obsessive stalker and lives and breathes poetry.

This is not to say that I find the above mentioned traits attractive but despite his flaws Florentino Ariza is a die-hard romantic who reaffirmed my belief in true love that transcends time. Written in Marquez's masterful prose, Florentino Ariza is unforgettable.
 

 Best Dialogue: “The only regret I will have in dying is if it is not for love.”

 Rebecca in Rebecca

Author: Daphne Du Maurier

Rebbecca, the antagonist of the book with the same title is headstrong, accomplished and beautiful. Although she is dead, she is still indestructible. I am completely smitten by her character because of the different sides of her personality that were revealed to me as the book progressed. In the beginning the narrator of the book pieces together an image of Rebecca that portrays her as the perfect hostess of the grand Manderley and the much loved wife who dies tragically at sea but a few chapters into the book and the real Rebecca begins to emerge; one who is rebellious, flirtatious and an evil woman who commits unspeakable acts under the masquerade of beauty and grace.

The oppressive presence of Rebecca throughout the novel captured my imagination and made her one of the most memorable characters I've come across. Her 'last joke' in the book is the perfect example of Rebecca's wicked nature. Not so much of a crush than a fascination, the ghost of Rebecca haunted me long after I finished the novel.

These were mine. Who are your literary crushes? Any character who has captured your mind and enthralled you with their charisma?

Dead man walking - Mark Twain filmed by Thomas Edison

Mark Twain is arguably one of the best writers of all time. Unlike so many other authors of yesteryear  whose pictures we have seen in paintings and photographs only, here we have a footage of Twain captured on film by none other than Thomas Edison in 1909. The eerie video shows Twain in his estate in Stormfield with his daughters Jean and Clara. Here's a rare glimpse of the man who has inspired and entertained a generation of readers beyond measure.

It is sad to think about how his daughter Jean, featured in the video died in December of the same year, while Twain himself passed away the following spring in 1910.

Birth of a book

Found this beautiful video on Huffington Post. Also, remember my dilemma? Well, these two videos helped me make my mind- Hardbacks it is! Forever and ever.

A wonderfully hilarious speech about Book cover art: