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10 October 2015

Saturday Story: Musty Books on a Dusty Bookshelf


Come let’s venture into a bookshelf
The owner I know not who
Shh….be quiet, lest you disturb the souls
Sleeping peacefully on the shelf


Life is bliss in the company of a bookshelf that treasures myriad pleasures. Bookshelves have always held a perennial charm for me and I manage to hunt down one wherever I go. So, on a sunny morning as I stepped into the lovely Silver Sands Holiday Village in Goa my eyes were drawn to the overladen bookshelf standing in the lounge.


On a holiday, in a beach resort and in the company of a loaded bookshelf, now if that’s not pure bliss then what is? 


It was a messy and dusty bookshelf bearing the weight of its priceless treasures and yet it defined the beauty of the space. I almost ran at once to have a look at its assets – musty but lovely assets they were! 

Look at the dark mahogany rows displaying their prized possessions. I discovered a vibrant mix of known and unknown titles. They formed such a perfect combination: the books, the comfy lounge chairs and the holiday mood. Oh yes, the rule book says you have to read the books sitting in the lounge itself. Not that I mind it much….


See these musty old books on the shelf – their own place to be! These soundless souls remain witness to the emotions and expressions of us humans. In a corner of the lounge someone laughed out loud, someone whispered, someone stole a glance and someone giggled. In the silence of the bookshelf the books watched as life went by at a lazy pace.



I noticed a lovely blue book playing peek-a-boo from behind a mini-tower of paperbacks and brought it out. Musty they may be, but all the same, old books do attract me always. The yellowed pages hold so much more than just stories. A forgotten bookmark, a scribble, a date written, a dog-eared page, each little thing speaking of a book's journey with a previous reader.



May be another traveller had picked up the book just like me and explored its fictional world. Had the reader finished reading the book or was it left midway? Did the reader fall in love with the characters? Did the reader carry back the story with her in her heart? I would never know the answers and the book won't reveal such secrets to me. They are too loyal you see....

They are the musty books dwelling in a dusty bookshelf!! 

1 October 2015

Random Musings: Old Books and New Ideas




Beyond the vagaries of time the pages of old books continue to ignite new ideas. A treasure trove of wisdom, a mentor to the one who cares, old books are gems to be cherished forever.


22 September 2015

A Bagful of Happiness




Who says money can't buy happiness? There lies my bagful of happiness!! The reader in me jumps with joy whenever the whiff of new books surround me. Each book contains a story and each book has a story of its own. 

There are times when a book becomes special just because it comes from a very dear person. At other times, it is the beauty of the words that endears a book and I hold it close to my heart.

Sometimes I wonder why I feel so attached to my books. Is it because I become a part of the story when I am reading it? Is it because books provide me a chance to co-exist in their world while still being a part of the real world? Is it the characters whom I befriend while unwrapping a story? Maybe it's the sheer joy of discovering a new story when I first read a book and the wonderful feeling of being with old friends when I read the same book a second or third time.

Like the sun-rays on your back on a winter afternoon, books provide a kind of warmth that can only be experienced and enjoyed. Each book is a unique friend for life. A friendship that can be bought by money and yet it remains the truest form of friendship and happiness!      

   

6 September 2015

Saturday Story: Literati Bookshop & Café, Goa


Literati Bookshop & Café was a chance discovery on my recent trip to Goa and what a discovery it was!! Situated in the Bardez locality of North Goa and not far from the Calangute beach, this unique bookshop is in essence a literary oasis.

Literati is a remarkable home for books. It is housed in a picturesque 100-year old Indo-Portuguese bungalow that stands amidst lush green lawns. The long verandah of the house with its comfortable sit-in arrangement extends an inviting look. The in-house café provides snacks, tea, coffee, wine and beer during the off-season and turns into a special Italian café during the peak tourist season.  



Once you step inside the bungalow, stacks and stacks of books strewn around transports you to the wonder world of words and phrases and stories. The unregimented arrangement of books adds to the characteristic feel of Literati. This cosy little place has distinct rooms marked for new and used books. The living area housing the new books gives you the feel of a local library while the used books section has an enticing charm of its own.



The extensive book collection at Literati comprises of a wide variety of genre. It mainly includes Indian fiction, Indian non-fiction and literature. An impressive selection of books on Goa and children’s books are stocked in this quaint bookshop. A dedicated foreign language section includes books in Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian and French. Literati is also a treasure trove of antiquarian books.

The wide assortment of books and periodicals on display and the warm ambiance of Literati can easily make you lose sense of time as you browse through the amazing collection or sit down with a book of your choice.



This one-of-its-kind bookshop is owned and run by Divya Kapur, a well-known figure in the literary circles in Goa and beyond. A self-confessed bibliophile, she gave up her career as a lawyer to set up Literati in November 2005 and mould it into a booklover’s haven.

Today Literati is much more than just a bookshop and café. It is a meeting place of creative minds. Literati hosts book launches, author meets, book reading sessions, storytelling events, art exhibitions, documentary screenings, photography shows, literary events and workshops. Many acclaimed international authors and artists have participated in the events organised at Literati.



On your next visit to Goa, head off to Literati’s porch to spend some memorable moments in this exceptional bookshop. If you love books, no beach in Goa can be as cosy as the comfortable couches and chairs of Literati where you can sit back and flip through your choice of pages as you sip freshly brewed coffee and munch on delicious home-made sandwiches from the in-house cafe.


Literati Bookshop & Cafe
E/1-282, Gaura Vaddo
Calangute, Bardez
Goa – 403 516
Phone: +91 832 227 7740

Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM (Closed on Sundays)


Random Musings: On the Quest for Stories




I live to read. Read to explore. Explore to know. Know to learn. Learn to live. Incurably bitten by the book bug. Forever on the quest to discover stories and tales….