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

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!

New titles in my collection this week!

Looks like this is my lucky week! Not only did I buy three of the books I've been eying for some time now but a dear friend sent me some valuable novels that are sure to be added to my library.

Here are the new additions to my collection: 

Currently reading

1) Our lady of Alice Bhatti by Mohammed Hanif

Last year after reading the darkly comedic 'A case of exploding Mangoes', I had fallen in love with it's brilliant author- Mohammed Hanif. This is his second book. So far in, I can't shake the feeling that Hanif should have stuck to his former writing style that won him worldwide acclaim. Satire is definitely his forte. Bhatti, nevertheless still has me gripped. 
Best line: ''Because love is a runaway charya!''

Second in line

2) A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

Hailed as one of the twentieth century's finest novels, I think this is going to be Naipaul's best book I'll read.

To-read

3) Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel García Márquez

My love affair with Marquez seems to be a lasting one. This would be the third book I'll read by this literary giant. 




4)  Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho


'A breathtaking collection of reflections from one of the world's best loved storytellers, Paulo Coelho.' Goodreads.com


I've had a love and hate relationship with Coelho. While I treasured The Alchemist, I swore off all his books after reading Veronica decides to die. However, it's been sometime since I've read any of his other novels. Also, his thought provoking blog posts have finally prompted me to go back to him and give this one a shot.

 5)  The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Of course I've already read this one and I don't think it needs any description. ;)




How many of these books have you read? No spoilers please!

I dream a dream of a library!

Recently, I decided to create a personal library. Now, as unfortunate as this may sound coming from a book blogger, I have never actually collected books.In my defense, I will attribute this disturbing fact to the tragic event of shifting our house back in 2001 when the movers managed to get my carton of books completely wet! Do you know what a soaking wet box full of one's carefully collected and best loved books can do to a child's psyche? I was traumatized! At that point, my 10 year old self thought 'Hmm, I'll never have as many books as I just lost again in my life, so there is no point in trying to recollect it all'. Since then, I've donated, sold off or lent all the books I've ever read. 

Sometimes, I thought of it as a testimony of my compassion to send a book back into the world by giving it away, but a slight desire to see a corner in my room stacked with my own books never evaded me and so, after all these years, I decided to build a home library. Fortunately, I've kept a record of all the books I've devoured over the years so the plan is to buy back all those covers, track down all my friends who may have borrowed and add them to my already existing little bookshelf which I made yesterday with some of the books I was left with. 

F.Y.I. First book from the left is the 'Autobiography of Mark Twain' (a prized possession) 

It's going to be a long process of recollecting everything I've read but the end result is sure to give my room the beautiful book-laden nook it's been missing ever since the fateful day that damn mover ruined my books.  

These are the 20 or so books I'm starting out with.

And with that happy thought, I'd sign off. Wish me luck :D and also, leave me tips on how you organize your book collection. I'm torn between a traditional bookcase and a hanging shelf.