A New Day, everyday.

I have been going through a bit of a slump, reading wise. Maybe life wise too but that’s not relevant, the reading wise is. Cause you know, reading is like living for me.

So, the slump. Its going on. I have picked up books and abandoned them mid-way and instead am re-listening to some of the old favourites, read Harry Potter. This other day, I picked up the The Little Life. I loved that book when I listened to it for the first time some months back on audible and thought maybe now is the time to read the book too. And I was interested, but the sheer number of pages and the sadness which I knew would follow the book’s journey, possibly may be the reasons that I gave that up in a few days time.

In hopes of getting over the slump, I went to my favourite book guide, one near the old office and waited for the breath of fresh books that he would ladle out to me. He thought it best to give me some quick read (read second hand-ish, cheaper) books to get me back in the groove. I relied on his generosity (cause I know he meant well) and bought them. But sadly, that too became a bust when by the end of the day, despite trying to read the ‘page turner’ mystery with one Mr. Singh inspector to the best of my ability, the next day morning I just found the whole premise to be flat and unreadable.

And then yesterday, after dillydallying for so long, I went into the other favourite book store near the current office. I wandered around and found no recommendations, which otherwise are generally hanging on to the shelves as guides to my lonely lost reader soul. And then, on this one shelf, amidst books stacked on their side, sat this one book facing me, like confidently inviting me to pick it up. (Well ofcourse I know its not the books doing but that of the bookseller, but then again, i want to believe in the power of the book, so i shall go with the book's doing if you may please let me.) The red cover book with two tigers mirroring each other, giving an inkling of the cover of another book that I read and left at the airbnb house in firnagi land, and also co-incidentally a historic fiction based in the same country and the previous book that was left behind as a sort of gift. It felt like a ray of light, the kind I can handle. I picked it up with the opposite of trepidation, thinking that maybe finally this will be the salvation, and so what that I have so many other un-read books at home but this one will be it! I walked up to the counter, not even trying to pick up any more books. I recalled with delight that I may have some points which might just further salve the guilt that was turning my insides mush for spending so much on books. And lo and behold, the points came through and the book was in my hand, paid off by the accumulated discounts of years past.

I reached office, and broke one of my new rules of not reading books in office. I plunged, read three paragraphs of the Prologue and was instantly assured that this may yet be the one that would take me out of the slump. The book talking about a poor hunter/ex-imperial army soldier hunting for a leopard in war torn or possibly one invading the other country.

And then today, after finishing another re-listening of an already listened to book, I started another book, this one based in 1920’s Australia, of a family living on the lighthouse. Not a fantasy book, but yet taking me to place where I haven’t been so long, figuratively of course.

I am hopefully again.

Knock on the wood as you go by.