Behind the Blog # 7: Loving Animals

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts, Faye, Kathe, andMelissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

Animals are everywhere and can make a large impact in people’s lives, so this week we’re asking how you feel about animals. Are you an animal lover? Do you get on with animals but don’t go out of your way to spend time with them? Do you dislike them? What is your favourite animal? Do you own any pets?

In relation to books and films, what animals have you loved reading or watching? This can include animals like werewolves, if you so wish!

When it comes to talking/thinking about animals, I'm pretty sure of what I feel about them. I love all animals and why not? Just because we've been created with far better abilities than them doesn't give us any excuse to hate them. But... and that's a big but, I still haven't got over my phobia of going within touching distance of them. It isn't that I don't like touching them, but I abstain from it because of the fear that they might bite or something because I've never had a pet and I don't know how they'll act! And it makes me sad. I mean, it's such a little thing, everyone I know is okay with it and I dream of sky diving and such stuff but I'm scared of animals because they might bite me? It's funny in a way as well and hugely embarrassing. 

I remember though, when we were kids, we built a makeshift shelter for little puppies of stray dogs in the neighbourhood. I know I was comfortable with them back then but I don't know how the aversion began. Maybe it's because I and my little brother did have stray dogs after us (and there are so many stray dogs here). Plus, once we were at a family friend's place who had two dogs as pets and when they were feeding them, I was watching them fascinated, the way their tongues lapped at the milk and the way they gobbled down the food. Before I could look away, one of them looked up and our eyes met (weird usage of words, but that's what it was) and the next instant they were barking like anything and came running straight at me. I was a kid and I guess I suffered a mini heart attack of sorts. I was later told that you shouldn't be watching them while they eat. Is that really true? Because the stray dog whom we feed with milk and bread occasionally never minds it. I watch it all the time. From behind the door. 

Let's say I did try to get over it. While in school, I visited a friend's place three or four times and she has a pug as a pet and she totally adores it. Of course I love it too, in a way. I just can't stop my heart from being terrified when they rush out to strangers (and it happens whichever place I go to), though now I've learned to be sure to be wearing full length jeans if we're going to anyone's place with a dog as a pet. As stupid as it sounds, I'm scared they might bite at my ankles otherwise. 

I hope I'm not sounding like I dislike them, because I do love them. They're fascinating, just from a distance. A stray one in our block once got stuck among some underground pipes while giving birth! There was a hole of sorts outside a neighbour's house and the dog had gone there to look for  a safe place for its puppies (apparently, another stray dog had been killing her babies previously and she needed a safe hiding place), but one of her legs got stuck among the mesh of pipes and she stayed there, crying for three whole days! I can proudly say I initiated her little 'rescue operation' when no one seemed bothered. I mean, even with all those fears, I can never see any living creature in pain. (If you really want to know the whole story, click here). I hope that made up for it. :) 

I've also never seen cats as pets where I live. The only family person I know who's had a cat as a pet lives in London. I love the stories about that cat (named Swea Pea) and I would very much like to see it for real (and pet it too, if I would be fearless enough)! I would love to have birds as pets but the idea of caging them seems revolting to me. It's just something I don't think I can do. Besides, I don't know how to take care of them. 

Apart from these, from what I've seen (real or TV) and what I've read, I think I would love to see penguins for real. And dolphins. They look very cute. I also love the peacock, which is India's national bird and I've seen them too! It's a treat to watch them with their feathers all open, which is a rare sight and I'm so glad I've seen them like that! I also like to see parrots, with their green bodies and red, sharp beaks. They're beautiful. Also, I found some spiderhunters in our neighborhood park and photographed one. They aren't here anymore though. (These three pictures have been clicked by me. :) ). And I just realized these all are birds, not animals. :|

Pretty parrots

A spiderhunter

The majestic peacock!

I also really want to go to a wildlife park or a Safari of sorts to see the animals in the wild. since I love natural, beautiful places and forests seem mystical to me (though I've never even been to a forest yet). We have quite a few famous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India where I want to visit, like Kanha National Park (the largest tiger reserve in India), the Sunderbans (a part of the world's largest delta formed by mighty rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. We can see all great types of animals and birds there!) and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, famous for its birds! 

Books and Movies

Since I haven't really been near many animals, I know about them through books and stories and movies. Some books are based on animals and those we read mostly as kids. I loved reading 101 Dalmitians and also enjoyed the movie. Same with The Lion King. Most of the folk tales of India, especially in Panchtantra, by Vishnu Sharma, have the main characters as animals. They're all moral stories for kids with animals to portray behaviors considered good/bad/horrible/acceptable. 

Then I found some fascination for horses with The Saddle Club series (Bonnie Bryant), which just grew when I read about special Lipizzaner stallions in The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson. (We had horse riding in school and I remember I did that, but that was a million years ago! I gave up too soon and now I have a certificate I got many years later, of participating in the school's "Horse Show". The certificate doesn't say that I was among those dancers in white gowns who performed at the inauguration ceremony). Eva Ibbotson reminds me of one of her another books, Island of the Aunts, which had different creatures on the said island; not really real animals, fantasy ones, but animals nevertheless. I also find Aslan in the Narnia series interesting (and intellectual, of course). Reading books gives you so much to think about, makes you aware of things and places you never knew existed and even gives you the power so you can dare to imagine new things too. One of the finest points in reading and one that provides that zeal to read more and more! 

I don't really watch many movies, except those based on kids. They're just beautiful. One movie that always makes me cry (admitting) is Free Willy, a story about the friendship between a small boy and a whale. I also liked Chestnut, a movie about a dog and two sisters who loved it. I'm sure I've seen more, but I don't remember them at the moment, apart from the famous ones like Stuart Little, Finding Nemo, The Jungle Book and all.

What about you? Do you like animals? Which are your favorites?

Behind the Blog # 6: On colors!

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!  

Did you know that colors have meanings attached to them? Some say that a person’s favorite color can be indicative of their personality or things that they are striving for in their lives. What is your favorite color? Do you think that the meaning behind your favorite color reflects your personality or something that you are trying to achieve? What is your least favorite color? 

In relation to books: What are some books you’ve read that have good use of color? Are there any films you’ve seen where color plays a major role in the plot?

Ever since I can remember, I think my favorite color has always been Pink, the staple color for most little girls. Except that I'm not a little girl anymore, but I can be very stubborn when I come down to it. I guess that aspect has made its effect on my favorite color remaining the same since forever! I mean, what's wrong with liking pink? I've had people smirk at it and to tell the truth, I've grown even more attached to that color because of that! Why does it seem immature, if I like it? It isn't. It's just a pretty color! And it isn't even consciously that I find myself attracted to all things pink.

Otherwise, how would you explain this? Almost half of the clothes I own are in different shades of pink or have some little pink in them, most accessories are in shades of pink, my room's pink and not just one pink, but the walls have three different shades of pink! Obviously, to match the colors, I usually have the bedsheets, etc in a matching shade. I've got some books with pink covers just because they looked attractive. It's just a fact, I'm obsessed with everything pink! 

Now, I don't know much about what colors symbolize and why we're attracted to certain colors more than others. So I just Googled a bit and whoa! I found out so much that made me both, 'yay' and 'ouch' in equal measures. I guess there's always a positive and negative inkling with everything. Anyway, a few short points collected from different websites: (references at the end of the post).

-  The color pink usually serves two purposes.  It can be used to show childish innocence, or a child-like personality.  For example, you want to remain a child. You get pleasure out of very simple, and 'childish' things.  Even so, you also would like to grow up and become an adult woman… but you're afraid of losing your childhood innocence.  Pink is normally a color associated with girls and femininity.

You know what, just this paragraph describes me perfectly. 

- Having a personality color pink as your favorite color means you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive to the needs of others. You also have maternal instincts and your deepest need is to be loved.

Oh boy. They caught me on that 'deepest need' part. I didn't even know it was true, but giving it some thought, it most probably is. Anyway, it also means I can be immature sometimes, which I admit, I can be. 

Even though I'm obsessed with Pink, I've also always been fascinated with Purple! I think I read somewhere, when I was a kid, that purple is the color of royalty. That must have been the trigger for me to love purple! I've always loved all things royal, be it princessy books or TV shows or gowns or costumes! I mean, when Prince William married Kate Middleton, I watched the whole marriage ceremony on TV, from morning till evening; every bit of it. It just fascinates me! When it comes to designing or decorating anything, my top choice for color is pink, but when it doesn't do, it has to be purple. I found this very true piece on purple:

If purple is your favorite color you have a great respect for people but can be arrogant: Absolutely true!

Mysterious is a word that describes you perfectly: Perfectly true!

You like power and royalty and wish to enlighten others with your wisdom: Need I even say anything? 

You are a faithful partner but can be cruel with your words: Damn! It's a sad fact. Not that I've ever been a partner, but sometimes I can speak harshly. :|

Others can mistake your desire for all things to be sophisticated as being intimidating: Seriously? Is there anyone who thinks I'm intimidating? C'mon, just tell me! I said, just-tell-me! NOW! :P

Creativity is something you pride yourself in, though you may not be good at artistic endeavors (such as drawing or painting): This actually cleared my thoughts. I had been wondering why I like 'uniqueness' and creativity, but I'm not exactly a person with many creative ideas.

You tend to be sentimental and have a great amount of empathy for others: Agree. 

It's not that I don't like other colors, I guess I like every other color too, just not so much that I'd want it to be my room color ;) But generally, I love color everywhere, especially when it's where it belongs. Like the different shades of green in plants and trees, the calm blue ocean, the brown and green and sometimes white in mountains, the red of love, the black of power, the yellow of the Sun (but never the harsh one. Or that of bananas), the pink covers of my notebooks ;), etc...


Pssst... Some element of pink and purple will always be on my blogs. I can't just do without them! Though, I changed the template of my other (personal) blog to something blue very recently, it was always something pink before. I've still added a few pinkish/purplish things there, though. ;)

That's what colors I usually like and what I found out it might say about my personality. 

Coming to books, the first one that came to mind was 'Pink or Black' by Tishaa Khosla. It's a high school story about a girl who's decided to understand herself deeply, though she's confused over her favorite color. She likes both, Pink and Black, but doesn't understand why. Her Mother explains something to her that I just loved! It's this: 'That is because our favorite colors have something to do with our personalities too. Pink is just one side of your personality, the side which loves life and wants to live it happily. Black is the other side of you, the stronger side which gives you hope and strength to see you through rough patches. There are so many beautiful colors, why choose only one as your favorite?'

There is this 'TRUECOLORS' series by author Melody Carlson. They're all teenage, high school stories and I've only ever read Harsh Pink- Color me Burned, which was an enjoyable read. I mean, the ones we usually read as teens. I've got 'Deep Green- Color me Jealous' too but I haven't read it yet. The stories are titled according to what the plot is all about, so it's kind of interesting. 

Though I don't have much to say about it, I recently got "The story of my life" by Hellen Keller. I guess reading about how life would have been for her when she couldn't see colors (well, couldn't see anything), it'd really give me a different perspective on things. I haven't read it yet, either.

And.... it's not very related to the topic but I'm just getting many thoughts about anything related with colors and there's a non-fiction book by Sonal Kalra, Editor, HT City, Hindustan Times, titled, A Calmer You. It's a collection of her weekly articles on calmness. Once somebody posted on her FB page asking why's the cover the way it is, and what does it signify. I was all, "Hey.. because it's blue and blue is the color of calmness! Duh!" Errr... that's it. :P 

Oh yeah, the references:

- http://www.three-musketeers.net/mike/colors.html

- http://voices.yahoo.com/what-does-favorite-color-say-you-505832.html

Is it evident from this post that I'm in a kinda funny mood? Sorry about that! I'm just feeling giddy, what with *new* college beginning ten days from now and I don't want to go too soon and I've got so much more *fun* things on my list I still haven't done!

Behind the Blog # 5: On Countries

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

Because of the recent Jubilee, a time to celebrate everything British, as well as the upcoming Olympics, we’re looking at countries this week. Where do you live? What is your favorite country and why? In relation to media, what book has described a place you desperately want to visit? What film has showcased an area you someday want to go?

Well, even though I'm bad at geography, I would admit it, I've still read plenty of books to understand and know about some marvelous places I most certainly would want to visit some time in my life! I don't know a lot about many places, still, ironically, I really want to visit, see and explore every beautiful city, town, island in the world! :D

I wouldn't say my country's awesome. India has a rich culture, great history, I love the natural beauty of some places and I especially love the mountains in the north! I don't mind saying mountains are my favorite kind of landscape. I really like the sound of climbing those huge natural structures, gear and all. I don't know when it will be that I get to climb Mt. Everest someday (not exactly in India, it falls in Nepal, but still), but it's definitely on my bucket list of things-to-do-in-my-life! What I don't much like is the corruption that's literally making the country fall apart and making it less appealing to me day-by-day! I mean, I used to be such a my-country-best thinker as a kid, but seeing corrupt, sad, bad, pitiful things happening, stuff that should be illegal (and it is!) happening without any repercussions, is really affecting the way I feel. Living in a city where I can only see cement and brick buildings all around with hardly any open space to enjoy watching the stars doesn't help (which I love watching. One such experience was in Shimla, a hill station in north! It was filled with stars! Awesome!). Sometimes I wish I was in a place better suited to my interests. I would happily swap the present one with one in the mountains or with natural beauty around! I know ultimately I'll be living the life I want for myself, including the places and all, but I can't wait for it! Even then, I wouldn't say I'm not enjoying. I love my friends and we have awesome fun together. I know many great people who share similar thoughts and who're really kind. Whatever the pitfalls, it's still 'my country and my people.' :)

That's me on my first trip to London.
In Trafalgar Square. I was what?
One and a half years old!

Coming to foreign countries, I've actually only ever been to London (thrice, the last time being when I was just 12!), Australia and for a very short while, Singapore. All these trips were before I was 12, so you can guess how very bad I want to go somewhere, now! There's no saying when the next time will be, so I keep myself happy with the 'within-India' trips! I love London, though. With all that I remember, the best thing I would say is the cleanliness, which is bad here. :| It was like a life from a novel, which it would be, I realized, because I've read some with the setting over there! Australia would've been fun too, if the pictures are any indication. I was so small that I don't remember anything more than our family friend's place where we stayed, the pool outside their home, a visit to some park where there were extremely tall men walking on stilts and some fireworks! We were in Brisbane. It has beautiful landscape and I think even back then, I loved it! Dad visited Perth recently and boy, was it bea-uti-full!!! I fell in love with that place just by seeing the pictures! Hills on one side and the sea on the other. In my words, "heaven"! I really want to go there sometime! 

Venice! I want to be here!

Coming to books, I think The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson was one book that's made me really yearn to visit the wondrous city of Vienna, with it's special Spanish Riding School, the Prater (which has a once-upon-a-time world's biggest giant wheel) and the world's greatest musicians like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss have all lived and composed over there! Then of course, I want to visit Europe and its cluster of wonderful countries too (all of them, especially Venice, the city of waterways, canals and bridges). To think about it, I want to visit every place imaginable! Fiction can give us so much flexibility in our thoughts that nothing seems impossible! Another book by Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea had brilliant descriptions about the Amazon river and life of people who lived around it. In fact, among my top-favorite-things-I-like-about-books, is the extent to which it describes real places and its people. :)

So what do you think? What are your favorite places or those where you want to be?

Behind the Blog# 4: The good old letters

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

Our theme this week is Snail Mail.  In the  age of instant gratification, technology is everywhere. Through Twitter, Facebook, and email, we’re always connected. As an unfortunate result, letter writing seems to have become a dying art. Even so, the thrill of getting a letter or card in the mail from a dear friend never seems to diminish. Do you like to write letters, or do you prefer email or social media sites? Have you ever been part of a pen pal program? Book related questions: What are some books you’ve read and enjoyed that have letter writing as a key component? What about some films? Do you ever take part in bookswaps? (They’re like a pen pal program but with books!)

Even though I’m an ancient-stuff-loving person, I moved onto e-mailing and using the internet for conversations as soon as I discovered it, primarily because of its simplicity and ease. It wasn’t before I really thought about it, thanks to this week’s topic, that I realized how much I missed the old handwritten letters. The thrill of seeing your name on the envelope, trying to identify the sender from the way it’s been packed or from the color/style of envelope and finally reading the note. When it’s a letter from a friend or a relative who lives far away, you really see the handwriting apart from the words, the way the alphabets are written and it gives you a sense of their personality and probably the timing of the letter. It tells you more about the sender than those words do and I love that aspect.

Though now it’s all changed. I haven’t seen a postman regularly here since so many years. I don’t even see many postboxes anymore and the memories I have of the khaki wearing postman date a long time back to when I was very small. While I was asking my dad about this, about how it has changed so much, he pointed out to me that it’s really here, in our state or maybe the country where it’s diminishing so fast! He said it’s used a lot in foreign countries and I guess he’s right because now that I remember, I’ve read about postmen carrying letters in many books. Apart from this, people here prefer to use internet for everything. While I love the internet for many reasons, I somehow want to preserve a few things to do personally, rather than virtually. For instance, I’m not a fan of online shopping (except books, because the ones I want are usually not in the nearby bookstores) or google searching for every single thing. Diverting a little from the topic, I feel I’m doing something wrong to myself if I’m searching on Google for almost everything I need to know. There are many things we already don’t know and it’s a great tool for that. But if we have, suppose, a topic to write on for homework, shouldn’t we do it ourselves? Google searching for facts is alright, but plagiarism, or copying lines from the net are unacceptable for me. I feel I’m undermining my own intelligence if I’m not even using my brain for simple things. Really, there may come a time when we would forget how to think and solve problems!

Anyway, back to the topic. I was fascinated with the details dad gave me, about the past when he was a kid. The postman visited thrice a day, everyday. And letters were expected from friends and relatives, so people used to eagerly wait for the postman to arrive at their gates. Sigh, I just love the sound of the good old days when I wasn’t born. I would trade anything to go back and live that life. Not that I hate this one, I’m very happy with whatever I have, just that the old one seems to be everything I would have enjoyed (more details would be a huge deviation, so I’ll keep that for a separate post!). Now there’re just a couple of fixed occasions when we’re sure to receive a post. Once on Raksha Bandhan, a festival when my dad’s oldest sister sends him a letter and rakhi, then Christmas and New year cards from relatives in the US. And sometimes during Diwali. As far as writing to loved ones is concerned, that’s about it.

Even when it comes to writing, I’ve written down so much in the past, in the fancy notebooks I especially bought to write, different ones for different purposes. I still follow the same practice, though now if I have to write on a topic, I will most probably use the PC/Laptop because it helps to write faster. I don’t have the speed in my handwriting that matches the speed of my thoughts and so I miss out on things. That’s the reason I use MS word! But, for other stuff, like reminders and little notes, I use the old methods, even for recording birthdays. As weird it may seem, I’m afraid using technology all the time would cripple my basic senses! That’s the way I feel.

I’ve delayed writing this week’s BTB post because I was feeling kind of guilty. I know how much an effect a handwritten note can have, have always known, but still hadn’t thought about reverting back to those practices. Even when I receive a book by post, I love the feel of holding the package and tearing it open to reveal its content(s). Then why hadn’t I ever thought of writing a letter to those with whom I communicate once in a while, instead of e-mailing? But now I know better. I needed a gentle reminder which came in the form of this topic and I am truly inspired by the hosts’ BTB posts that say they still do that. Thank you Kathe, Faye, Melissa for this awesome topic! :D

Behind the Blog # 3! [Childhood friends]..

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The co-hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

This week we’re diving into our past and talking about our childhood friends! Everyone has a friend or two in one’s childhood who are impossible to forget and who may have set the trend for coming friends (or who was the one exception). Who was your childhood best friend? How did he/she change your life? Regarding books/films: Which pairs or groups of childhood friends do you love? What do you particularly enjoy about them?

The best thing I like about childhood is the ease with which we would make and keep friends, without any feelings of jealousy or some kind of negative intent. Looking back, I realized I’ve always had a ‘best friend’ in every different kind of phase in my life, which is funny. I mean, a best friend when I was very young, then one in junior school, then in middle school, changing all the way till college, till now. It seems I’ve had a special friend for every different phase, for every place I’ve been and I still love most of them! Most of them because one of them turned out to be a scheming one, pretending friendship while thinking of ways to hurt my reputation, that too over the marks we scored! Which reminds me of another whom I considered my “best friend”, who turned into a jealous girl with the same motive. What’s up with people like that anyway? I’m usually the forgiving kind, but I can’t just think of these two in any positive way, they had my trust!

Anyway, I’m not going to spoil it and I really feel like talking about the wonderful ones! :D Our neighbourhood was a quiet place when we were little, so there were never many kids at a time. I spent most of my time playing with my younger brother and dad, so yeah, I was into cricket and basketball! We did a lot of cycling and skating too, making use of whatever plain surfaces we could find! Then I remember once I was so bored, I was roaming around the house and the park just like that, when I noticed there were new people coming to stay in one of the empty houses! That was when I was small, I don’t remember the age (maybe, 7 or 8 or even younger) and I was very happy because I recognized the kid! She was two years younger to me and in my own school! I knew her by face! Being the ‘hungry-for-friendship’ soul that I was, I quickly went over and made friends with her! Her name’s Nishtha. We were friends for a long long time.... we practically did everything together, every day. She had a hundred or something toys and I was mostly at her place during vacations! We played in the evenings, shared bicycles, cuddled her little sister together, ran to save ourselves from an angry cow-with-a-horn once (Yikes! That was a close call) and even took up fights with the other obnoxious kids from the other street! Combined with my brother and more kids from the neighbourhood, we had a lot of fun! When she moved, I had a lot of lone time, though we still met from time to time and on birthdays. Now it’s little communication (thank god for phones!) and whenever I get her text, it reminds me of a great time in the past. :)

Pic from Google

While I’m talking about that time, I remember a girl elder to us, who taught me to ride the bicycle without any support! That’s the most I remember about her (and her name, of course: Timsy!), since they moved very soon, but I think I would have liked her a lot back then. :)

 Fast forwarding to high school, Kanika, who remains one of my best friends till now and the only one with whom I can be my best, my funniest, my weirdest, my worst and she’ll still love me like always! We were opposites while in school, she the naughty one, I the nerd and the serious one, terrified of getting into trouble (though that doesn’t rule out the times we did get in trouble :P) and still we were inseparable, learning so much from each other! We even sat together in class for three years straight! We’re in different colleges and now the sides have turned a bit.. I’m the naughty one and she’s been kind of serious in studies (at least, serious for her!), but underneath all that, we’re still the same. :)

Then in college, from the first day till the last, I’ve been with Apoorva. In our case, the closeness was not because of being different, but being similar. She knows the worst I can do and still sticks with me, sometimes defending my side and always making sure I’m in whatever our group does! I really admire her for her fashion sense (and mine’s improved, thanks to her) and being practical in situations that require us to think logically. I’m usually the one rambling and ranting, thinking emotionally, while she’s got the sight to see the ‘greater picture’ and think like a sane person. So, we balance each other out. I don’t know how I would have had any fun in college without her! Now, as we graduate, I opt for higher studies and she’ll be in a job. Different paths, but connected hearts and I hope to remain the same with her, forever! :)

All the people I talked about are very special to me, in their own way. There were more friends, but these are those who know me, my choices, my personality and I love them for being that way!

Pic from Google

Coming to books, I feel all characters in Eva Ibbotson’s children’s books have a way of displaying childhood friendships at their best! Take The Star of Kazan, for example. Annika, Stefan, Pauline, Zed and the wonderful feelings of happiness, love and care they seem to emit when they’re together! And of course, the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione, right from the beginning of their first year at Hogwarts till they live, is some kind of a benchmark friendship. Like the way it should be; standing with your friends come-what-may. Which reminds me about the time when Harry and Ron are supposed to follow spiders in the Forbidden Forest and Ron sticks with Harry, whimpering and cursing because he hated spiders! It’s fiction, but still. 

Behind the Blog # 2! [Parental Influences...]

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

This week, because of the recent celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re looking at parents. Be free with it: Maybe write a good memory you have with them. Or ponder something like: How did your parents affect your life? What do you feel about other people’s parents? What’s it like being a parent yourself? Take it and make it your own!

I so love the topic this week!!! I’ll talk about my parents of course, but also people who’ve inspired me to go forward with whatever thing that took my fancy, who were there with me as parent figures, some for a lifetime and some for a while; those who cared and wanted nothing but the best for me, those whose faces I found whenever I saw trouble and looked up for help.

The person who’s been the centre of my own personal universe is my very dearest grandmom. With both parents working, I and my brother spent a lot of time with her and I attribute all the values, morals, ethics, love and kindness I might have, to her and her wonderful persona. She was more than anyone to me, and still is. Coming from school and finding her waiting with arms open for a hug, the always smiling face, the politeness, the way she could make every single person love her, her thoughts, her belief in religion, her confidence in me and the never ending encouragement she gave, I thought I could do anything in the world! She was the only one who, never for a second doubted my ability when I shared my secret dream with her. Losing her was never an option, never possible and when it came, it broke me. My whole family. It’s been just over a year and I sometimes hate it like this, like living alone, but sometimes I don’t even feel she’s not present. Every single thing about me, about our home, about the things we talk, belongs to her, was initiated by her. She’s there and always will be. She’s made sure I’m never alone. : )

Though Mom’s always been working as a teacher, she’s been an amazing mother too. ‘Nothing but the best’, is something she follows religiously, especially when it comes to her kids and I’ll be forever grateful for that. As I’ve said before, she’s been the one who helped spark my interest in reading, never said ‘No’ when I picked up a book and asked her if I could have it, even kept up with my bookish ramblings when she would be busy. She’s the one to accompany me wherever I want to go, on days when she’s on leave and I want to spend time with her. She’s so kind, I sometimes feel she should have been a social worker, what with all the things she does, going out of her way to help people. That’s one of the qualities I admire the most in her and I wish I could be somewhat like that. It seriously would be a worthwhile achievement! She’s also overly protective of us. It feels good sometimes when I think about the hundred things I’ve been saved from, thanks to her, but sometimes it bugs me no end. Since we can’t change anyone as a person, I guess I could live with that. :P

My relation with Dad is totally cool, the best thing being he’s unlike dads of my friends, or the general view of a dad. He isn’t strict, is always game for any kind of fun we demand, doesn’t get angry if we sleep in late or stay dishevelled all day long. He’ll still hug us and will leave no opportunity to tell us how much we’re loved. That’s one amay-zing thing I’ve noticed is actually rare. I may be wrong, people don’t generally show affection in front of others, but I’ve a hunch that he’s a unique person and I also know I’m not wrong on that part. Like Mom, he’s loving, caring, kind and most of all, totally honest. He believes in the ‘what-you-do-your-kids-do’ philosophy and he’s bent on making us learn that way, by acting the good part himself. The even better thing is, he’s got a super cool sense of humor! You can’t be staying with him for a few minutes and not laughing over something! He really makes sure his loved ones never lose their smiles. : )

The badge is so cool! I want one!

One of his philosophies (and the one I follow with full dedication!) is ‘spend a little extra, live an above average life’. I know, it sounds cool, right? You bet, it’s even better in practice! From my own observations, I’ve seen people ditching a high quality thing for something not-so-great in quality, just because it saves a few bucks. I’m not an ardent supporter of high or lavish spending, I don’t do that. It’s just that I spend more on things I like, slightly higher priced than other stuff and not spend on useless things at all. I’m not a fan of eating out regularly (once in a while is fun), or buying things that won’t last long. I see it as a waste and so the amount saved from there goes to the better things. I guess it balances it out evenly. Anyway, the point is, try it out. The feel one gets out of having/using better stuff is so good, it even makes you more confident! I know it’s a funny thing, but it’s true! I’ve learned it firsthand. :D

Just like in every family, the elders in mine have had an impact and a bearing on how I’ve turned out to be and I don’t regret a single thing. The faults are my own, from my own thinking and choices. I’m just glad they’ve all always been supportive and encouraging!

There are certain people who enter your life, make it glow and leave a lasting impression on you. You learn something so valuable from them, that you can’t seem (or dare) to forget them in a million years! They may have been a teacher you loved (in my case, my high school English teacher. We didn’t have personal talks, but I knew when it was that she deliberately picked me for certain tasks because she knew my weaknesses and worked to help me get over them. How can I not love anyone like that? And English, too, my favourite subject ever! :P) or ............ the newspaper columnist/writer whose inspiring writing you’ve been reading since for-ever! Ms. Sonal Kalra, Editor, HT City (author of the book ‘A Calmer You’), has been one such influence. Her weekly column on calmness tips for the worries in life is something you-can’t-just-miss! I was already in love with her and her writings and one day (at a time when I was broken from the inside), I got the opportunity to actually meet her!!! That was THE best day of my life so far (I know I’ve said this many times; there are so many best days!), when, waiting in the conference room of the HT building, heart pounding in anticipation, not bothering with anyone else who was present, the door opened and in walked the person who’s made me so positive as an individual. I was, literally, star struck. I guess I couldn’t have been bothered even if some movie star would have dropped by, I was so happy to see her in reality! And she’s so charming, humble and sweeeet! Thanks to that meeting and her Facebook fan page (where she interacts with all her fans, you know), I’ve got to know her even more (and hey! She knows me too. :P). She’s continued to encourage, inspire and return the love or loved more, if that’s possible, and I think she’s pretty awesome! :D

There are a few more people who’ve been incredible to me, but since the theme’s ‘parents’, I will leave it at that, with people who’ve had parental influence on me and whom I love so very much. : )

Thank you, Kathe, Melissa, Faye, for such a topic that made me even more grateful for the wonderful people in my life! : )

Behind the Blog # 1!

A new weekly feature!!!

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The feature hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

In honor of the meme’s launch, this week’s theme is beginnings. When did you start your blog? Who or what inspired or motivated you to do so? If you want to connect this to books, which book’s first line or paragraph hooked you and made sure you kept reading the whole way?

That's an interesting beginning for a new feature that's bound to bring up really interesting posts! 

Well, I've been into blogging since May 2010 (that makes it two years, in case you didn't feel like counting) but the idea for a book blog came around eight months back! Till then, I was rambling about how unfair life is, what I see around me and totally random thoughts on my first (and yes, still running) blog. The frequency of posts over there is low, about two-three posts a month and I've decided to heat things up a little, beginning with a makeover and adding new topics (goes without saying I'll do that after exams, it takes up time, you know)! 

Then one day I was on the Indian bloggers' site, Blogadda, looking up new blogs and things when I came across the blogger interviews section. The recent ones showed the blogger behind Books, Life and More, Smita, a respectable lady whose posts now I enjoy reading so much! (She was also among the very first members of this blog)! Being naturally attracted to anything with a hint of books, I explored her blog and found out a great way to share this love for books! Needless to say, I was truly inspired. I thought about the books I had read, about how sometimes I had tried to made a list of 'books read', but I had always stopped after a while or the list got misplaced. The idea that I could put it all somewhere, somewhere safe, and maybe find more people who might be interested in books, totally caught my attention. Being a midst exams and other useless things all the time, I took my time thinking about the new book blog I could create, where the initial idea was to record summaries of the books, so that when many months had passed since I had read a book and I wanted to revisit it, I could simply read my post and know what it was all about, in detail! So I began with it. 

Initially I mostly focused on summaries and less of the 'review' part, but then I came across the weekly meme, TGIF at GReads that had so many bloggers participating! That's when I actually came to know about so many book bloggers, some of whose blogs I took a fancy to, almost immediately! I gradually learned many things I ought to know as a book blogger, picking up things from others, learning, experimenting (and I realized I had been so stupid to write down whole summaries of books when I had started, endings included)! It just didn't occur to me that such a big community already exists and what things a review should, or should not have. Citing the thoughts of some very good friends and blog readers, I think I write better reviews now. ;) I always feel grateful to all those whose blogs I have followed, learning so much from them and towards those who provided well defined criticisms to help me create a better, and useful blog! I owe you all! :)

So, that's my story. That's how I started Journal of a Bookworm. Don't ask about the blog's name though. I always considered myself a bookworm (but I can assure you I'm cent per cent human and not at all creepy) and I thought this was going to be my online journal, hence, the name. 

Coming to another aspect of the topic, I would like to share how my love for books began! It was really early, my parents tell me it was as soon as I could read. It wasn't books, exactly, but they saw I loved reading. I would pick up the paper and read the name in my tiny voice, breaking up the words to form them whole. I wasn't very interested in socialization or television and passed my time either teasing my younger brother or poring over the story books mom got from school where she's a kindergarten teacher or from the bookstore. There was something in them that I couldn't resist. Once I knew I could read them, I wanted to know more about the world, their worlds and what the heroes did to save themselves from the bad guys. English was the favorite subject in school and I found it hard to resist anything related with books or the little bit of bookish knowledge I had. Not having people around who were interested in books, I sometimes felt sad and as much as I hate to admit, a little bit lonely. Relatives from the US bought some interesting and popular books when I was little and thanks to them, I had the fortune to read some books when they're supposed to be read. Studies caught up with me later on and my time with the books I so loved decreased. 

It wasn't until I was in college, when I was finally free enough to go back to the reading process. Mom accompanied me to a library, I got the best membership available and mmmm, enjoyed every bit of it! Then I explored other options to get books; from the library, finding out bookstores, thrift shops, ebooks. Somehow, borrowing (apart from the library) didn't much appeal to me so I refrained from that! And joining the book blogging community was the best thing that ever happened! Ever since I took up the Goodreads reading challenge, I swear I've never read so much before! It's such a great motivation!!! I mean, when it says, 'you're a book behind', it's as if it's stabbed me and I won't rest until it says 'great work, you're 1/2/3 books ahead!' :D 

If you liked this post and want to participate, head towards the hosts' blogs and submit your link! :)