BOOKS

Books, books, books......Well what can I say about his most enchanting thing I've ever come across in my life. My acquaintance with books dates back to times when I was a toddler I guess..Yeah that's right, TODDLER....My mum actually is the one source appreciation for getting me into this habit of reading...All thanks to MUM, there has been no looking back....

I was a kid when I first got the hang about books.. I started my tiny venture with books which had more of pictures and less of words.. The animals looked so real to me, that I used to look at those books for long hours.. Then started off with small books containing small strories.. I was just too excited for words.. Being the only child, I did not have brothers & sisters to disturb me too.. Started devouring books on a regular basis.. From tiny books to a little bigger books, I got my promotion.

I came to junior school, the addiction was only stronger. I started with ENID BLYTON. Fell in love with MALORY TOWERS. It is my all time favourite till today. Then came FAMOUS FIVE, FATTY SERIES, SECRET SEVEN. I used to be so lost reading books. It just continued. The urge to finish books was so strong that I used to polish them off in a day. Man, what a delight they

used to be.

Than came the High School days. Like all the reading gurls, I also entered the world of NANCY DREW. Started loving her Prosche cars too. I practically finished all her books. Never had a keen passion for HARDY BOYS... Then swayed into the enigmatic world of SWEET VALLEYS. You see in my school, SWEET VALLEY was a huge rage. All the girls, who read, wanted to read SWEET VALLEYS. You would actually find an Elizabeth (or LIZ in short) , or a JESSICA everywhere. I'm sure most of you who read will know them. But for those, who are alien to the Paper world, these 2 girls are the twin sisters of SWEET VALLEY books. Then from SWEET VALLEY HIGH, I moved up the ladder too SWEET VALLEY UNIVERSITY. I still fondly remember, in my Bio classes, I used to keep a novel in between my text book & read. Then moved to THREE INVESTIGATORS.....(What an impression right!!!!) My maa'm never found out.

Alas!! the end of good ole school days.. Time to move on...

I landed up in college now.. Yup, college.. Started off with ROBIN COOK. A whole new wrold of science fiction unmasked. My favourite was INVASION. Then started off with AGATHA CHRISTIE.. Loved all her books to the core. Then it was SYDNEY SHELDON. I still used to read ENID BLYTON at times. Time for JEFFREY ARCHER.

Then I got into Enginnering. Well, I never ever gave up reading. I was just far too addicted to quit reading. I continued. Back home mum is an avid reader. We used to dicuss a lot on books. she used to tell her favourites, & I used to tell her mine.

I started with VICTORIA HOLT, Gothic romance you see. Then moved on to MARY STEWART.

GEORGETTE HEYER. Though not one of my favourites. Of course how could I miss, POTTER MANIA!!!.

I was also a maniac. Just loved the books... I have the collection from U.S.A ( Courtesy: Ma' bro)

I was lost on Hogwarts... Actually forgot B.M.S.C.E for sometime.....LOL....

Then came the era of ASSORTED AUTHORS, as I call it. Paulo Coelho, Men R from Mars, Women r from Venus types.

Then I moved up the level. Joined Masters program.

The most unbelievable thing started happening. I was entrapped in Management & Non- Fiction books for a solid 2 years. Fiction seemed to be losing its essence. I started off with JACK WELSCH. Loved his book STRAIGHT FROM THE GUT. A whole new world opened up in front of me. I was kinda elated with the change. Built to last followed. A whole lot of other books.

Now after college, I have started loving Fiction as well as Non - Fiction.

But somewhere down the line my heart still voted for Fiction. ( Childhood days - Old habits die hard).

Books have always been my favourite. Jut to name a fw authors that I read,

1. Agatha Christie

2. Sydney Sheldon

3. Jeffrey Archer

3. Paulo Coelho

4. Victoria Holt

5. James Hadley Chase

6. Barbara Cartland

7. Mary Stewart

8. Randy Pausch & Jeffrey Zaslow

9. Sudha Murthy

10. Jack Welsch

11. Enid Blyton

12. J.K Rowling

And many more to name.

Books will be books. The Constant Factor in my Life.

Thanks MUMMY. All the credit for widening my data base goes to you. Hats off MOM!!!!