Addicted to reading since shortly after age of three. Didn't read that much during those intense few years that occurr before graduating. Lived in many parts of the world. Some had really good public libraries, some good bookshops, some both and more. The shelf here shows what I can find on these pages - or remember names of. During the last over half a century, I have forgotten much .......
(The quotation originally from a poem was used for the title of a much loved book, where I picked it up; what I have used is the other half.)
The days of leisurely walks along roads on footpaths (sidewalks) in Mumbai and perusing the booksellers' treasures along the way on those sidewalks, of finding wonderful old second hand absolute treasures and finds of books for very little, are long gone now in India - now they too have fresh copies of hot new books, for perhaps a little less than you might pay in a bookshop, but it might be a runoff for all that.
Old classics, alas, are not so readily available any more, unless either on academic curriculum or republished for some reason, and then there are not always enough copies after a while in the stores - eveything has to be fast, including movements of books off the shelves, these days.
But this is completely opposite to the spirit of books and of reading. For good reading one requires more of leisure, of a calm mind, and less of a restless spirit chasing after one goal or another every moment of the day, driving one or others up the wall. That is equally true for art, whether for pursuit or for appreciation.
Even science at higher levels needs a quiet mind and a time free of other chases to reach out into the core.
Come to think of it most of inner achievements can only be reached by a calm and focused spirit, without the restlessness and the turmoil that is taken for drive - if you cannot sit still and wait for results while going on working for your goal, you might not know the way to the goal or pretty much anywhere else, for the dust you are raising quite unncessarily.
P.S.:- I see this forum as for use in communication about what one has read, what one thought on a book, or an issue that might rise from that. Any friendships formed or invited or accepted are on that base with that intention. For personal or professional I do not look here, but of course this is not to say I judge those that do, each one tends to one's own comfort levels. But any answers, to any questions asked me by anyone directly or even innuendos on discussion posts, shall remain unanswered if they involve an identification or a pinpointing of my identity or a matter of privacy.
Thoughts shared and information exchanged with courtesy is my vision of this site.
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