Blotting paper

One of mine  is to find in a bookstore a writer I have never previously known. The writer could be very famous indeed, but if I have never even heard of her before, then the pleasure is acute. It’s a discovery, like finding a perfectly shaped stone. Someone else could have found that stone. In fact, it’s likely that many people before me have. Sometimes many, many people. Yet there is something unique about the experience, something personal.

A few hours before flying from London to Bangalore, my cousin and I walked into a secondhand bookstore on the way to the tube station. It was a Books for Amnesty outfit, whose proceeds go to Amnesty International. I found a lot of lovely books there, but I also found a book by John Haines called The Stone Harp. I’d never heard of Haines before, but the poems I read in that book in that bookstore were extraordinary. The book was rather expensive for a secondhand (non-first edition) copy. When I asked the cashier, he said it was because they match their prices online. So I got the feeling that it was a hard-to-find if not rare copy. I bought the book.

» Read the rest of this entry «

but I also want to say that I’ve also been thinking of becoming a librarian and thinking on library cultures in general. » Read the rest of this entry «

Every once in a while, bloggers are required to self-indulge and write what is known as a meta-blog post. So here goes.

I started this blog mainly out of peer pressure — a positive kind of peer pressure from my friend Phill, who offered to host this on his website. I didn’t think it would last, but a strange confluence of factors allowed for it to happen anyway: » Read the rest of this entry «

It is no surprise to me that The Times of India would use a headline as hideous as ‘This bookworms’ retreat set to be a closed chapter’. Thankfully we don’t get TOI delivered home and I don’t have to look at it for even a second if I don’t want to. On the other hand, certain readers of this vile “news”paper don’t bother actually reading the entire article. So when I reached college yesterday, I heard this strange rumour that Bookworm — my lovely, wonderful Bookworm — is shutting down. Instantly I was in denial. First Premier, now Bookworm? Where was I supposed to shop for books now, other than at Blossom? Hmm?

A few minutes later, I was told that it was no use being in denial, because this was no rumour, it was in the newspaper, dammit. That’s when I skipped a stage or two in the grief cycle and fell into depression. My first two thoughts were “Oh my god, I need to go to Bookworm!” and “Oh my god, I need to blog about this” — which shows I’ve got my priorities straight.

Today S and I made a trip to Bookworm and immediately I asked Mr Krishna if what we heard was true. He laughed and said no. He added that the unexpected press has boosted his sales though, because everyone’s been coming to the store expecting an 80% discount. That included us of course. S bought Batman comics and Roth and I bought Dostoevsky‘s Netochka Nezvanova. Then we went to Gangaram‘s because I had a gift voucher; I used it to by me some de Sade (Justine). We also went to Coffee House (supposedly also shutting down thanks to evil forces in the city) and fought with several autorickshaw drivers.

After running frantically to GK Vale and discovering that my photos look even worse in print, I decided to google the stupid news article that made me panic so. The English is pretty awful, too.

“The owner of the building wants us to move out because the building needs re-strengthening. I’m unsure whether they’ll return the place to us. Then they will charge for the place at market price, which I’ll be unable to match,” Shanbagh told to STOI.

I’m pretty sure Shanbagh doesn’t talk like that. Very poor quoting skills. And um, “told to”? It’s a scary world out there.

The Hindu reports that Premier Bookstore will pack up and be out of Church Street in a week. I blogged about Premier just a fortnight ago. I am in shock and in mourning.

… of deviantART’s April mini-chapbook contest.

The contest was hosted by yours truly for deviantART’s version of (National) Poetry Writing Month, and was judged by Jon Stone, poetry editor of the roundtable review. And the best part is, Jon agreed to publish the winners in rtr’s May 2008 issue. Do check them out.

In other poetry mag news, Fuselit has a new blog: Cut Out & Keep, which “is a blog that forges, muddy-goggled, through the volatile terrain between Poetry’s cold, isolated territories and the rich kingdoms of Claptrap, Paraphernalia and Pop Culture.” Haha, inimitable Fuselit style.

From Jon’s dA journal:

“We’re keeping it updating with wonderful things, such as:

* A free, downloadable Make Your Own Fuselit: Straddle set.
* Reviews, some by guest reviewers.
* Poet top trumps.
* Notable calls for submissions.

“There will also be, forthcoming, the inside scoop on making Fuselit, a preview of Fox, and, fingers crossed, an occasional audio show…”

In general, Fuselit has had a website revamp, which is a must-see, and they’re latest issue (Fox), will be launched on the 14th of June.

*

C’est tout. Oh no, wait! I bought poetry (Daljit Nagra’s) and Nin, and I’m in love with Mr Shanbhag again. There’s a better article (duh, it’s written by Ramchandra Guha) here.