I don’t know how to begin telling this story. It’s a strange and mysterious tale, almost like a ghost story. But then again I wonder if there is such a thing as ghosts of birds and animals, or of humans, for that matter. I mean, one can’t be too sure about such things. But I do know that it’s just the kind of stuff people might like to put inside autobiographical books. But let’s begin at the beginning. This incident happened a few months before I came away from Muscat. I don’t know where it came from; it seemed to have materialized out of thin air. All I know is that one moment it wasn’t there and then in the next instant there it was,  perched in a rather curious  and unsure sort of way on the parapet wall of...

I’m not quite sure what others may have to say about online books , but my feelings on the subject are clear, simple and straight forward: Give me a real, solid book any day, one that I can hold in my hand and feel; virtual reality just isn’t my kind of thing, I want to see my books in the real world, in one sweeping glance on a mahogany bookshelf, in my study perhaps, so comforting, reassuring and so inviting. Otherwise, I suppose the next best place for them would be the library, where there would be books stacked from floor to ceiling in endless rows. Ah, what an overwhelming and heart-warming sight; very much similar to what a lost traveler, hopelessly staggering about in the desert would feel, on suddenly finding an oasis in the middle of nowhere. But let...

A couple of days ago, a news channel report said the Rajasthan government planned to put in place a door-to-door delivery system of vegetables, dry ration, milk and fruits. This is certainly a very positive and pro-active step in the face of problems brought on by the Corona virus. Shut inside homes, access to a vast array of commodities or services, has been restricted to the very, bare minimum. The recent announcement of a further extension in lockdown, makes it imperative for a smooth distribution system. Under the circumstances to be able to buy books online is a big boon indeed. But there are some other things which are equally important. For instance, what about laundry services and barber shops. There are many people who seem to shy away from the onerous task of doing their own laundry. Apart from...

There was a time when biographers had carte blanche authority to depict a man’s life exactly the way it was – warts and all. The idea behind it was to present before readers a true rendition of a man’s life, without any frills or embellishments. But somewhere along the way, a new trend has emerged. At its core, it still remains a biography for all practical purposes, but with a much more beautiful face and lots of make-up of course; picture perfect, one might say. Perhaps if one were to go through some coffee table books online, they may come across specimens of this interesting sub-genre. Yes, this sub-genre has a name. They are called personalized book. These are customized and tailor-made books, where the main characters’ personas are shaped by their own perceptions of themselves. Money is of no...

The debate over which is a more popular beverage, tea or coffee, never seems to end. Although the odds are squarely stacked in favour of tea, coffee-drinkers stubbornly refuse to admit to the fact and never miss an opportunity to ride their favourite hobby-horse. Even in South America, long regarded as the world’s coffee capital, tea is the scene-stealer as numero uno. Yes indeed; not coffee, not cocoa, not even beer – Only tea. Perhaps online book shopping could give us clues. In the meanwhile, there is unassailable evidence that tea is the reigning champion. For one thing, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says the average daily consumption of tea globally stands at around six billions cups every day. The two maximum populated countries, China and India, are extreme tea lovers. And now the ultimate and most...

Think autobiographical books, and you think of some great leaders of different fields from across the world. We Indians tend to buy books at any time, for birthdays or as festival gifts; internationally, books are more of Christmas gifts. Anyhow, why not! They make a good inspirational read for the holidays. However, I know many who are not much interested in autobiographies and biographies; their preference is fiction. While it is completely a personal choice, I believe life stories are different kind of stories which have no fiction but some hard-hitting truths. While there are many available books online too, I personally prefer to read true to life stories. Autobiographical and biographical accounts give indepth knowledge of how the person became what he or she is today, or what made them what they were better known for. Think Indira Gandhi,...

Forced confinement to our homes on account of the Coronavirus has led people to resort to various innovative ways and means to either occupy themselves or interact across various digital platforms. Some among us have books, yet some are quick to buy online books to continue with their reading. While men are mostly talking about business-related matters, the women are going yakitty-yak-yak on their mobiles, talking their heads off nineteen to the dozen. In pre-Coronavirus days without any restrictions on mingling or mixing, the ladies got their adrenaline rush with their regular doses of juicy neighbourhood gossip. But the exchange over the cellphones is of a more mundane nature. Now the talk centres around the prices of fruits, vegetables, milk and dry provisions like rice, wheat flour, pulses, cooking oils and sugar or about who’s getting what from where and...

Now that the Coronavirus in India has permeated and affected all human activity that form a part of our daily routine, it is interesting to note that even animals are not like their usual selves anymore. With their sixth sense, it’s easy for these creatures to tell that all is not well. The ever-present stray dogs and cows, a prominent neighbourhood fixture, have almost disappeared. And then, what about house pets? I suppose dogs are the worst affected because they can’t have their daily walks on account of the curfew. Perhaps online book shopping could point me in the right direction and throw some light on how to deal with this situation. I wonder what these animals would have to say, if they could only talk. It is more than certain they’d blame us totally for the mess that the...

So… all locked-down and wondering how to best utilize time? Play with your kids, help them study well in advance, talk to them, let them share their experiences, you share yours, enjoy meals together. How about reading books as you look for some me-time! With nothing to do and nowhere to go, the world has practically come to a standstill. That’s what happens when viruses, like Coronavirus this time, get out of hand and run amuck. While it is true that you cannot ignore its global repercussion or the restrictions put in place as a result of lockdowns in many countries, there are still some amazing ways in which people can view life from a new and different perspective and rediscover themselves AFRESH. So come on, don’t sit around and mope; slow down, get out of the fast lane and...

Buy books online, read in bed, adopt pets, let them disturb you as you read… Doesn’t that define heaven! What more if you get to buy books on pet-care! Well, yes there are many, visit a store, virtual or real, and you’ll know. Pets have an aura of charm around them that makes you want to cuddle them and care for them as much as possible. However, the right care, which includes medical care, too is important. And well, once you do have a pet, you realise caring for animals is not all that easy and thus books come in handy to understand their various expressions. Yet, a veterinary guidance remains a must! You may start with the innumerable online coffee table books on pets, though some dog-owners will tell you that their dogs have a good appetite for books....