Self Tagged

Picked up this tag.Being a book lover, could not resist it.

1. Favorite childhood book? – Misha , the magazine. I even used to love its smell. I think they stopped publishing it following the disintegration of USSR.And I lost all my copies while shifting places.

2. What are you reading right now – An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. Too much of music jargon , doubtful about me finishing it.

3. Bad book habit? – If I like a book, I prefer finishing it in one go. When I was reading Gone With The Wind, I practically did nothing else for 3 days and that was just a week before I was moving to Delhi and I was supposed to be packing; drove my mom mad.

4. Do you have an e-reader? – No

5. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once? – One book at a time, I am scared of mixing up characters.I once even listed down the characters in a Ludlum Novel to keep track of the plot.Multi tasking while reading is definitely not my forte.

6. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? – Nope.But ever since I started reading blogs, yes, my reading has broadened a little.

7. Least favorite book you read this year (so far)? – An Equal Music is a strong suspect

8. Favorite book you’ve read this year? – Didn’t really read anything worth remembering this year , so far.

9. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? – Very rarely.

10. What is your reading comfort zone? – Fiction, but generally averse to classics.

11. Can you read on the bus – used to, when I was a kid.My astigmatism stemmed from it.But nowadays ,it makes me nauseous.

12. Favorite place to read? – Bed , curled up.

13. What is your policy on book lending? – Lend only if you are sure that you would get it back.

14. Do you ever dog-ear books? – Used to , but making an effort not to.

15. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? – No

16. Not even with text books? – I don’t think so.

17. What is your favorite language to read in? – English. Read a lot of Malayalam while in school, completely lost touch since then.

18. What makes you love a book? – The characters. Can read a book with a crappy plot just for a single character in it.

19. What will inspire you to recommend a book? – Whether I like it or not.

20. Favorite genre? – Spy Fiction

21. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?) - Classics

22. Favorite biography? – Oh ho, I don’t think I have ever read a biography.

23. Have you ever read a self-help book? – I don’t think so. Even if I started, I wouldn’t go beyond the first few pages.

24. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)? – Completely blank!!!

25. Favorite reading snack? - Lays

26. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience – The Godfather.

27. How often do you agree with critics about a book? – Hardly read book reviews.

28. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews – If I don’t like it, I don’t. Period.

29. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose? – Latin.Don’t ask me why.I don’t even know if there are anything other than biblical texta available in Latin.

30. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? – Disgrace by J.M.Coetzee.

31. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? – The Lord of the Rings

32. Favorite Poet? – Poems ? No, Thanks.

33. Favorite fictional character? – Howard Roark ,Rhett Butler comes a close second.

34. Favorite fictional villain? – Elseworth Toohey , I feel disgust and rage at him every time I read Fountainhead, I think that makes him a “favorite” villain.

35. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation? – Lonely Planet edition of that place ;-)

36. The longest I’ve gone without reading – A couple of months, maybe.

37. Name a book that you could/would not finish- The Monk Who sold his Ferrari

38. What distracts you easily when you’re reading? – Music, only if something I love is on.

39. Favorite film adaptation of a novel? - Namesake

40. Most disappointing film adaptation? – The Bourne Series

41. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? – That would be buying GMAT prep books, otherwise I hardly buy more than 2 or 3 at a time.

42. How often do you skim a book before reading it? – Never ,unless I find it too boring.

43. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?. – If I have been reading a book for more than a week, it means I am never going to finish it.Better call it quits then.

44. Do you like to keep your books organized? – Oh yes, I remember I had a very well arranged and labeled book collection during my school days. Now all lie in a trolley case sumwhere under my bed.- lack of space L But once I have my own place, I would definitely have a room for books or so I hope.

45. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them – I keep them.

46. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding? – Emma and Pride and Prejudice.Bought them more than a year back , still looks brand new .

47. Name a book that made you angry – The Confessions of an Economic Hit-Man.

48. A book you didn’t expect to like but did? – Gone With The Wind, took me a couple of years and some strong recommendations to even start it.

49. A book that you expected to like but didn’t? - Midnight’s children.

50. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading? – Ludlum Novels, back-to-back. But I have exhausted them all sadly.

Delhi-Chennai-Delhi

Was using up all my pending leaves(and some more) in the last two months - with me working in Delhi and husband in Chennai ,
that was the only way out.The foodie that I am , it was only natural that I ended up googling for some good eating out options there.
Could only try out a handful, Casa Piccola and La Boulangerie disappointed , Ecstasy was okie-dokie and Fuego was great.

Went to Casa Piccola after reading some great reviews , but the place was crowded even at 3pm - mostly college kids - which we took as a sign of great food , but it was not to be. it tuk us quite a while to even get hold of the menu , The service was slow (maybe beacuse of the crowd) ,and when the food finally arrived , it was not worth the wait.Ecstasy in Satyam Cinemas is good, but their desserts are not as great as their photographs (which caught my attention on my very first visit to satyam) ;-)

The best among our trials was Fuego - recently opened in Ampa skywalk mall , they had a 20% inaugral disocunt offer then.The ambience was nice , the food was great (sadly , we were not in a mood for desserts after having a not-so-mouthwatering stint at the La Boulangerie outlet right next to it earlier ) , what I liked best are the portions -perfect : not more, not less. Wouldnt mind going back :-)

Back to Delhi now , can't believe Delhi is ready to host an international sporting event will be conducted here in less than 3 weeks time. atleast the DTC buses are a real eye sore - thats the first thing i noticed on landing here.
Bagels at The bagel factory in Lajpat Nagar and Tiramisu from The coffee bean and tea leaf at Citywalk - I am hooked again :-)

If I were mushy

Almost half an year has passed since my last post.Spent around 6 months in the arabian desert , sometimes working insane hours but still enjoying it.
Nowadays, sitting in office with nothing much to do and impatiently waiting for the clock to strike 5.30 , I would gladly go bak to 14 hours a day , 5 1/2 days a week routine at site .

Was just checking out all the blogs listed in mine , except for one all are dead ; most of them stopped writing n 2007/2008.After 3 yrs of on and off blogging , I cant say that I have done much justice either.Just a passing fad it was(for me )I guess.
Those people who take to blogging with the same zeal even after years - they really need to be appreciated.

And as to the title of the post - If I were mushy I should be writing a post dedicated to my husband I guess (Got married on 9th May ) , but then that wouldnt be me ;-)
Around 2 weeks of wear saree - wear all the ornaments - then remove them routine , I am back to being myself now ;-)