Reading & Writing
By profession I am not a writer. But I have written two thesis in the field of architecture and got two technical papers published in an Indian architectural journal. However if you read a lot, somehow it inspires you to write. Its almost like if you read 10 great receipes, you will want to try out atleast one! Also after you cross the age of forty, you have done enough, seen enough, travelled enough to write about life in general.
In the last 10 years or so I have read books recommended by the New York Times bestseller list. Some of the books which I really enjoyed reading are: The Greatest Generation ( by Tom Brokaw), Most of Deepak Chopra’s books, The God Of Small Things (by A.Roy), East Of Eden ( by J. Steinbeck), A Fine Balance (by R.Mistry), The Tipping Point and Blink (both by Malcolm Gladwell).
Besides this I love to read biographies with a strong human element in them. Its wonderful to trace the evolution of great lives and careers. Its fascinating to see how each individual is so unique and how the journey of life for each person is so uniquely distinct.
As for writing, strong parallels can be drawn between writing and Architecture. In Architecture one deals with basically three elements, namely Design, Structure and Construction. Design consists of the plan, section and elevations of the building which is like how you weave a story with language, grammer, prose and poetry. Structure dictates how you hold the building together as a whole so that it does not fall, which is like the main story line. Construction is about the materials and how you build them together. Almost like what the story is made up of, its characters, setting, context etc.
I love to write short stories. We are living in the digital age and the world is moving too fast. Personally I don’t have time to write thick novels, but writing contemporary fiction is what I indulge in. Also with globalization, the whole world is churning and in doing so it generates lots of interesting material to write about. Last October I finished writing my first book, of contemporary fiction, which is yet to be published.
Ratna
September.26.2007
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Here is an ongoing list of books that have been read and reviewed for this blog:
….Title & Author…………………………………………………………………………………………………………Link to book’s review
1. THE ELEPHANT AND THE DRAGON by Robyn Meredith…………………………………………………………….Review
2. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini…………………………………………………………………..Review
3. THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini……………………………………………………………………………………..Review
4. IMAGINING INDIA: THE IDEA OF A RENEWED NATION by Nandan Nilekani……………………………Review
5. UNACCUSTOMED EARTH by Jhumpa Lahiri………………………………………………………………………………Review
6. THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD by Fareed Zakaria………………………………………………………………………Review
7. CONVERSATIONS WITH FRANK GEHRY by Barbara Isenberg…………………………………………………….Review
8. THE THIRD CHAPTER: PASSION, RISK AND ADVENTURE IN THE 25 YEARS AFTER 50 by Sara Lawrence……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Review
9. IN THE CONVENT OF LITTLE FLOWERS by Indu Sundaresan…………………………………………………….Review
10. BOUNDARIES by Maya Lin……………………………………………………………………………………………………….Review
11. IN OTHER ROOMS, OTHER WONDERS by Daniyal Mueenuddin………………………………………………..Review
12. WE ARE OUR MOTHER’S DAUGHTERS by Cokie Roberts………………………………………………………….Review
13. FROM THIS DAY FORWARD by Cokie & Steve Roberts………………………………………………………………Review
14. YOU’VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK by many writers…………………………………………………………………Review
15. IT’S A BOOK by Lane Smith………………………………………………………………………………………………………Review
16. INDIA CALLING: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF A NATION’S REMAKING by Anand Giridharadas…….Review
17. MOMfulness:MOTHERING WITH MINDFULNESS, COMPASSION AND GRACE by Denise Roy…….Review
18. THE PAPER GARDEN by Molly Peacock………………………………………………………………………………………Review
19. BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOM by Amy Chua…………………………………………………………………….Review
20. A FISTFUL OF RICE by Vikram Akula…………………………………………………………………………………………Review
21. THE POWER FORMULA FOR LINKEDIN SUCCESS by Wayne Breitbarth…………………………………….Review
22. STEVE JOBS by Walter Isaacson………………………………………………………………………………………………..Review
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