Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Let us go to 'our Library' - close to my heart! (click here to read additional comments)

To initiate, here is a small (partial) list of a few books which are close to my heart!

Please add ONLY unique and hidden diamonds...not the obvious ones!
(Example: With all due respect - Please do not recommend books which are popular and obvious...like Saraswati Chandra)
Here is my short list:
1. Na Hanya Te' by Maitreyi Devi (Gujarati translation by Raman lal Soni) This book was translated in 40+ languages and won many awards. It’s a gorgeous works about the first love that never dies...!
2. AAranyak: by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay (Gujarati translation by Raman lal Soni) While reading this book – a slight car horn honking will bother you as you will be in the Jungles!
3.
Vitaan Sud Bij: -(Gujarati Poetry) Ramesh Parekh's collection of Kavya (The preface of this book is a must read) editor - Suresh Dalal
4. Chh Akshar nu naam - (Gujarati Poetry)Complete collection of Ramesh Parekh's Kavya... Any page you may open.... it is my guarantee that MAZA VASHE' - an unknown pleasure will breeze through you! All time great!
5.
Namesake - (English) by Jhumpa Lahiri (the
writer was born in India and raised in the US by Bengali parents). The book is made in to a movie by Mira Nair. Starring Kal Penn and Tabbu (Kal Penn "Kalpen" -happens to be my cousin!- I have a vested interest!)
6. The Unknown Errors of Our Lives:(English Nine Stories) by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: The stories depict the eternal struggle to find a balance between the pull of home and allure of change.
7. Pokhraaj: (Urdu poetry written in Hindi Script) by Gulzar: Very effective, at times witty and sharp TRIPADI are worth enjoying


Cheers!
Vijay Bhatt

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ya Vijay,
Books are man's best friends and should be close to our hearts.Here are few titles I went through in recent past.
1) AmeeSpandan,compiled by Pravinchandra Dave. It is an anthology of popular gujarati poems, folk songs, patriotic songs etc.

2)Sundaram-Sudha- A very good selection from literary works of Sundaram, edited by Suresh Dalal.Sundaram is my favorite poet and I need not say a word for his poetry. Otherthan his poems there are few good interviews, stories( Sundaramnee Gadhya Rachnao)which are worth reading for 'GujaratiBhashio.'

3)Diwan- e- Galib , Translation and editing by Mansukhlal Savalia( Pravin Prakashan).

Mr. Savalia makes it easy for us to read and understand Galib's Urdu and Farsee gazals.

Unknown said...

The description of khanky dropping and suggesting love was terrific as I remember.. Na hanyate is a class......

Abhijit said...

Vijay bhai,
I figured it was about time I took a crack at your blog, some good stuff here!

I figured I'd throw out 2 books a friend lent me to read, both interesting. First one Shantaram - which everyone has heard about, Warner bought the rights and I believe Mira Nair is planned to direct. It is about an Australian guys' life in India.

Another book which I find offensive is Holy Cow by Sarah McDonald - some parts are funny others are a very narrow view of a third world country from a westener.

So I think you need to start a new post for the top 5 all time favorite books!