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Love Among the Bookshelves
Many readers have grown up with Ruskin Bond’s stories. Now in an utterly delightful anthology, he introduces you to the stories he grew up with. Part memoir, part anthology, Love among the Bookshelves is a glimpse into Ruskin’s life through the books he has loved and an introduction to some forgotten classics.
185 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
34 people are currently reading
1023 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,557 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 18, 2022
I totally love this one.
It's really mesmerizing.
He has written it really simple yet in a captivating style.
This book is about the reading journey of the author and it's so damn satisfying to read it! *How this book is different from other books about books:
The authors which I would have never known existed have been brought up except for the obvious popular ones that we are all familiar about; the books which are no longer in print; his days when he wrote his most popular, full length novel at a very young age; his early life and trying out different jobs.
And what's more -
Excerpts from his most favourite books have been included in this small book.
At first, I was a bit apprehensive regarding this but after reading this book, I really appreciate the actual content that I was able to read some of the best parts of rare books.
But yes, these excerpts did hamper the flow of the book.
This can either be a plus point or a minus point.
One of the most genuine works by the author.
And I do feel that this book is not much talked about.
*One of the few books about books by Indian authors.
*I do love reading such books as they're really insightful and makes me see a whole other different world of books and authors from different other perspectives. And I always find the lives of other readers really interesting. There's always something new and exciting when I pick up such books.
Actually it's my favourite non-fiction genre. It's a genre which is so fictionally non-fiction for me, if it makes any sense.
It's really mesmerizing.
He has written it really simple yet in a captivating style.
This book is about the reading journey of the author and it's so damn satisfying to read it! *How this book is different from other books about books:
The authors which I would have never known existed have been brought up except for the obvious popular ones that we are all familiar about; the books which are no longer in print; his days when he wrote his most popular, full length novel at a very young age; his early life and trying out different jobs.
And what's more -
Excerpts from his most favourite books have been included in this small book.
At first, I was a bit apprehensive regarding this but after reading this book, I really appreciate the actual content that I was able to read some of the best parts of rare books.
But yes, these excerpts did hamper the flow of the book.
This can either be a plus point or a minus point.
One of the most genuine works by the author.
And I do feel that this book is not much talked about.
*One of the few books about books by Indian authors.
*I do love reading such books as they're really insightful and makes me see a whole other different world of books and authors from different other perspectives. And I always find the lives of other readers really interesting. There's always something new and exciting when I pick up such books.
Actually it's my favourite non-fiction genre. It's a genre which is so fictionally non-fiction for me, if it makes any sense.
June 14, 2016
A superb little book I picked up recently. Ruskin Bond talks about his love of books and a bit of his life. He discusses his favorite books and how they entertained, helped him during different periods of his life. Also there are five excerpts. There is a list at the end of his favorite authors and their favorite works.
I enjoyed the excerpts to a varying degree. It is really nice to read about the many books he mentions. I hope to read more than a few from his favorites list. It was great to be introduced to quite a few writers I have never heard about. I loved best the parts about his life. They are the best.
I cannot fight the temptation to quote this from the book
"Today, teachers and parents and the world at large complain that the reading habit is dying out, the youngsters don't read, that no one wants books. Well, all I can say is that they never did! If reading is a minority pastime today it was even more so sixty years ago. And there was no television then, no Internet, no Facebook, no tweeting and twittering, no video games, no DVD players, none of the distractions that we blame today for the decline in the reading habit.
In truth, it hasn't declined. I keep meeting young people who read, and many who want to write."
I enjoyed the excerpts to a varying degree. It is really nice to read about the many books he mentions. I hope to read more than a few from his favorites list. It was great to be introduced to quite a few writers I have never heard about. I loved best the parts about his life. They are the best.
I cannot fight the temptation to quote this from the book
"Today, teachers and parents and the world at large complain that the reading habit is dying out, the youngsters don't read, that no one wants books. Well, all I can say is that they never did! If reading is a minority pastime today it was even more so sixty years ago. And there was no television then, no Internet, no Facebook, no tweeting and twittering, no video games, no DVD players, none of the distractions that we blame today for the decline in the reading habit.
In truth, it hasn't declined. I keep meeting young people who read, and many who want to write."
May 17, 2018
here Ruskin Bond talks about the books he read in his formative years ... Which if not exactly shaped his character, at least influenced him some way or other . He strings along the memories of, and excerpts from his favourite books interspersed with personal anecdotes.
Enjoyed this book a lot, and found that we share quite a few favourite authors .
Through 3 or 4 star ish at places, on the whole it deserves five glorious stars
Enjoyed this book a lot, and found that we share quite a few favourite authors .
Through 3 or 4 star ish at places, on the whole it deserves five glorious stars
September 27, 2019
A bookshelf is a place where an ardent book lover always finds solace. The towering shelves teeming with books attract us just like a flame attracts a moth. We are guilty of buying more than we read but in the end, it is the love of books that surpasses everything.
'Love Among the Bookshelves' by Ruskin is a beautiful compilation of his memories of his reading. It includes how he got into reading and gradually turned into a writer. The book traces his early days in India, then him going abroad, only to return to his favorite place among the hills eventually. I also got to know about how he spent a lonely childhood and him spending on buying books. I loved reading about his favorite authors - P.G.Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, etc. I am most grateful to be introduced to Richard Jefferies. As Ruskin has included a few excerpts from the books by his favorite authors, I came across Jefferies' impeccable writing style. I loved it to the core and fell more in love with Ruskin. It is a short and beautiful read. Something to be savored on a lazy day to infuse oneself with energy.
'Love Among the Bookshelves' by Ruskin is a beautiful compilation of his memories of his reading. It includes how he got into reading and gradually turned into a writer. The book traces his early days in India, then him going abroad, only to return to his favorite place among the hills eventually. I also got to know about how he spent a lonely childhood and him spending on buying books. I loved reading about his favorite authors - P.G.Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, etc. I am most grateful to be introduced to Richard Jefferies. As Ruskin has included a few excerpts from the books by his favorite authors, I came across Jefferies' impeccable writing style. I loved it to the core and fell more in love with Ruskin. It is a short and beautiful read. Something to be savored on a lazy day to infuse oneself with energy.
December 19, 2016
Selling a book about an author talking about his or her favourite books and on the whole topic of reading is pretty much a piece of cake. While there have been moving, inspirational and splendid accounts that fall into this category there have also been duds. Ruskin Bond writes in simple yet evocative prose and I cherish his books for this and yet the ploy by Penguin to make a book out of a few scattered articles by him seems rather forced. So here is how the book is structured :
•Ruskin Bond writing about his life and how books helped shape him. A lonely childhood and a much more lonely adulthood which he spent mostly holed up with a book and which inevitably led him to become a writer are all mentioned here. While this would have been interesting to read, there are only three such chapters in the book and each of these are a measly 20-25 pages in all.
•Excerpts from the works of his favourite authors P.G. Wodehouse, H.E. Bates, W. Somerset Maugham, Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies. Quite interestingly and contrarily, this section of the book is almost double the size of Ruskin’s own writing. If the intent was to introduce a novice reader to these writers then yes it succeeds but if your objective is to familiarise yourself with Ruskin’s writing then this is sorely disappointing.
An expectation mismatch perhaps but making a book out of approximately 50 odd pages of original material cannot really be called a good effort.
•Ruskin Bond writing about his life and how books helped shape him. A lonely childhood and a much more lonely adulthood which he spent mostly holed up with a book and which inevitably led him to become a writer are all mentioned here. While this would have been interesting to read, there are only three such chapters in the book and each of these are a measly 20-25 pages in all.
•Excerpts from the works of his favourite authors P.G. Wodehouse, H.E. Bates, W. Somerset Maugham, Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies. Quite interestingly and contrarily, this section of the book is almost double the size of Ruskin’s own writing. If the intent was to introduce a novice reader to these writers then yes it succeeds but if your objective is to familiarise yourself with Ruskin’s writing then this is sorely disappointing.
An expectation mismatch perhaps but making a book out of approximately 50 odd pages of original material cannot really be called a good effort.
March 29, 2019
Just the friendly, cute, warm read I needed in the middle of a hectic week.
Like many others, I have a very special bond with Ruskin Bond’s books. I read and reread his collection of children’s stories and ghost stories.
In this collection of memoirs-book essays, Bond writes about books he’s loved, those that shaped his reading and writing. A pleasure to know his favorite is P. G. Wodehouse, too.
The style is simple, supple, lovable. It’s a homely smoothness to cover yourself in.
I found it strange that the excerpts from books were longer than the texts describing them, but I’m not complaining. Because most of it was a delightful hotchpotch.
Not earth-shattering, but comforting and engaging. Also discovered a little bit about the writer’s personal life. I so wanted to meet him when we went to Mussoorie.
Like many others, I have a very special bond with Ruskin Bond’s books. I read and reread his collection of children’s stories and ghost stories.
In this collection of memoirs-book essays, Bond writes about books he’s loved, those that shaped his reading and writing. A pleasure to know his favorite is P. G. Wodehouse, too.
The style is simple, supple, lovable. It’s a homely smoothness to cover yourself in.
I found it strange that the excerpts from books were longer than the texts describing them, but I’m not complaining. Because most of it was a delightful hotchpotch.
Not earth-shattering, but comforting and engaging. Also discovered a little bit about the writer’s personal life. I so wanted to meet him when we went to Mussoorie.
July 26, 2014
I heard about this book a while back when my friend wrote a review of it on her blog, Anu Reviews.
I am always game for a Ruskin Bond books, and when he writes about books, it is like a double treat. Hence I ordered it stat from flipkart. They have a speedy delivery system and the book reached me before the week was over.
I slit the parcel at 1.30 noon, and started reading the book. It was such a captivating book, that I could not put it down. I was done with reading it before the afternoon faded.
Ruskin Bond delves into his past and tells us how he came to be addicted to books and how and when he read certain books. Then he introduces an author and presents an excerpt of on of his books.
He introduces P.G. Wodehouse, H.E. Bates, W. Somerset Maugham, Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies. Out of these stalwarts, I had never heard of Bates and Jefferies.
Jefferies writes on the spiritual aspect of nature, hence I can understand why Bond likes him so much. Bond is deeply in love with nature himself. But the excerpt was too spiritual for me. I am not too inclined towards that.
But Bates was a find. He writes, it seems from the excerpt on offer, about people who live close to nature and are hearty and in love with life. I will certainly seek out a book or two written by Mr. Bates.
There is no need to write about Wodehouse, Dickens or Maugham. Every book lover knows these authors well.
Bond chooses an excerpt from "The Pickwick Papers" by Dickens. It is a book that is always beside me, I can pick it up any time, and read any chapter. It is too brilliant to be forgotten.
All the works of Wodehouse are such a delight. "All is sunshine and happiness in a never-never land of amiable earls, eccentric aunts and supercilious butlers", writes Bond. We read Wodehouse because we want to escape into that sunshine world where problems can be solved by some little trick of Jeeves.
Bond chose an excerpt from "Cakes and Ale" by Somerset Maugham. I have read this book at some point in my life. Now I just have to refresh my memory by reading it again. The passage that Bond chooses should be a delight for people who wish to write books as well.
In addition to all these goodies, we get to read more reminiscences by Bond, written in way only he can write. He writing has a touch of gentle humor which is so much more refreshing than the witty language used by some authors.
When he speaks about his failing eyesight, and how he chooses to read only in good light, I feel empathy for him. I feel the pain of a person who loves reading but cannot.
I am always game for a Ruskin Bond books, and when he writes about books, it is like a double treat. Hence I ordered it stat from flipkart. They have a speedy delivery system and the book reached me before the week was over.
I slit the parcel at 1.30 noon, and started reading the book. It was such a captivating book, that I could not put it down. I was done with reading it before the afternoon faded.
Ruskin Bond delves into his past and tells us how he came to be addicted to books and how and when he read certain books. Then he introduces an author and presents an excerpt of on of his books.
He introduces P.G. Wodehouse, H.E. Bates, W. Somerset Maugham, Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies. Out of these stalwarts, I had never heard of Bates and Jefferies.
Jefferies writes on the spiritual aspect of nature, hence I can understand why Bond likes him so much. Bond is deeply in love with nature himself. But the excerpt was too spiritual for me. I am not too inclined towards that.
But Bates was a find. He writes, it seems from the excerpt on offer, about people who live close to nature and are hearty and in love with life. I will certainly seek out a book or two written by Mr. Bates.
There is no need to write about Wodehouse, Dickens or Maugham. Every book lover knows these authors well.
Bond chooses an excerpt from "The Pickwick Papers" by Dickens. It is a book that is always beside me, I can pick it up any time, and read any chapter. It is too brilliant to be forgotten.
All the works of Wodehouse are such a delight. "All is sunshine and happiness in a never-never land of amiable earls, eccentric aunts and supercilious butlers", writes Bond. We read Wodehouse because we want to escape into that sunshine world where problems can be solved by some little trick of Jeeves.
Bond chose an excerpt from "Cakes and Ale" by Somerset Maugham. I have read this book at some point in my life. Now I just have to refresh my memory by reading it again. The passage that Bond chooses should be a delight for people who wish to write books as well.
In addition to all these goodies, we get to read more reminiscences by Bond, written in way only he can write. He writing has a touch of gentle humor which is so much more refreshing than the witty language used by some authors.
When he speaks about his failing eyesight, and how he chooses to read only in good light, I feel empathy for him. I feel the pain of a person who loves reading but cannot.
November 20, 2015
“If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book” – J.K. Rowling
For every bibliophile, there is a moment in life when they discover a book or a series of books that unlocks the magical world of stories for them that traverse reality and initiate them into the world of reading. For Ruskin Bond, ‘It wasn’t a bookshop, or a library, or a great-aunt’s hoard of romantic novels that made me a reader; it was the week I spent in a forest rest house, in what is now the Rajaji sanctuary, between Hardwar and Dehradun’ where ‘…I discovered a wall cupboard with a couple of shelves full of books.’
For the complete review, please visit:
http://rainingreviews.com/2015/11/20/...
For every bibliophile, there is a moment in life when they discover a book or a series of books that unlocks the magical world of stories for them that traverse reality and initiate them into the world of reading. For Ruskin Bond, ‘It wasn’t a bookshop, or a library, or a great-aunt’s hoard of romantic novels that made me a reader; it was the week I spent in a forest rest house, in what is now the Rajaji sanctuary, between Hardwar and Dehradun’ where ‘…I discovered a wall cupboard with a couple of shelves full of books.’
For the complete review, please visit:
http://rainingreviews.com/2015/11/20/...
July 8, 2017
Only someone who considers literature as his religion can recollect and compile this kind of oeuvre. It was a delight to read about Ruskin Bond's early life and his reading experience, I now have a new list of authors to read. He talks about and shares excerpts from stories of his most cherished authors, reading them was as good as having a conversation with Bond about them. Words have a great virtue, a writer who writes them and weaves stories that get into books on the bookshelves indeed knows where love deserves to be. Bond is surely the best at it.
February 17, 2017
॥ বই ও বই-মাত্রেয় সম্পর্কেরা ॥
[Love Among The Bookshelves by Ruskin Bond, Penguin Viking, 2014, ₹299]
সেদিন সমস্তটা রাত বাইরে প্রবল ঝড় চলেছে...
ক্ষণে ক্ষণেই বজ্র-বিদ্যুতের আলো আর হুঙ্কার চিলেকুঠুরীর মত এই ঘরটাকে প্লাবিত করে তুলছে! তার উপরে আবার এদিক-ওদিক দিয়ে ছাত ফুটো হয়ে জলও ঝরছে! বৃষ্টির সেই নাছোড় ধারাকে রোখার জন্য বাধ্য হয়ে ঘরের চার দিকে মগ, প্যান, হাড়ি-কুড়ি ইত্যাদি পাততে হয়েছে! এমন রাতে যে ঘুমানো মুশকিল, সেটা ছোট্ট ছেলেটাও জানে! আর তাই, ছোট্ট রাস্কিন উদারিং হাইটস্ নিয়ে জেগে আছে, পড়েই শেষ করবে চমৎকার এই বইটি!
বই! বইয়ের সাথে রাস্কিন বন্ডের সম্পর্ক বৈমাত্রেয় নয়, বরং বইকে ঘিরেই তৈরী হয়েছে তার জীবনের বই-মাত্রেয় সম্পর্কগুলি! মাস্টার রাস্টির স্মৃতির উন্মেষের পরে যখন থেকে বই পড়া শুরু হয়েছে, সেখান থেকে যৌবনের উন্মেষ পর্যন্ত, মি: রাস্কিন বন্ড হয়ে ওঠা ও তার প্রথম উপন্যাস ‘দ্যা রুম অন দ্যা রুফ’ প্রকাশের সময়কাল পর্যন্ত যে সব বিভিন্ন বই, মূলত রচনা সাহিত্য লেখককে মুগ্ধ করেছে, তাদেরই কয়েকটির সম্পর্কে দু-চার কথা বলেছেন তিনি। সেই অর্থে এই বইটি রাস্কিন বন্ডের স্মৃতিকথাও বটে!
(এই খানে আমি বন্ধুদের মনে করিয়ে দিতে চাই, দূরদর্শনের ‘এক থা রাস্টি’ সিরিয়াল টির কথা! যারা দেখেননি, তারা দেখে নিতে পারেন তাদের প্রিয় লেখকের ছোটোবেলার খন্ড দৃশ্য গুলি!)
রাস্কিন বন্ডের বৃটিশ পরিবার অর্থবান ছিল না। বন্ডের অল্পবয়সেই তার পিতা মারা যান এবং মা দ্বিতীয়বার বিবাহ করেন। রাস্কিন পড়াশোনার জন্য ভর্তি হোন সিমলার স্কুলে। দৌড়াদৌড়ি, পিটি ইত্যাদিতে বিশেষ দড় ছিলেন না ছোট্ট রাস্কিন (তবে ভালবেসে গোলকিপার হতেন, কারন দৌড় কম দিতে হত!), তিনি বরং স্বস্তির শ্বাস ফেলেন স্কুলের লাইব্রেরীর চাবিটি হাতে পেয়ে! সেকালে (এবং একালেও) শরীর শিক্ষার উপর যতটা না জোর দেওয়া হত, মনের শিক্ষার উপর অত জোর-জুলুম করা হত না। তাই লাইব্রেরীতে রাস্কিন ছাড়া আর কারও পাও পড়ত না!
স্কুলজীবন শেষ করে রাস্কিন পাড়ি দিলেন জার্সিতে। তখন ভারতে সদ্য স্বাধীনতা পেয়েছে। সেখানে কয়েকছর কাটিয়ে, চলে গেলেন লন্ডনে। লন্ডনেই লেখা হয় ও প্রকাশ পায় তার প্রথম উপন্যাস। যদিও সে উপন্যাস বই হয়ে ছাপা হওয়ার আগেই, রাস্কিন বন্ড আবার ফিরে আসেন ভারতে, পাকাপাকি ভাবে। এই বইতে, জীবনের এই পর্ব জুড়ে রাস্কিন তার বিভিন্ন অভিজ্ঞতা, ভাবনা, কাজকর্ম ইত্যাদির বর্ণনা দিয়েছেন তার নির্ভার সরস কলমে। রাস্কিন চিরকালই একাকী মানুষ, বইই তার চিরকালের সঙ্গী। এই সময়ে পড়া বিভিন্ন লেখকের অসংখ্য বইয়ের কথা তাই ঘুরেফিরে এসেছে এইসব অভিজ্ঞতার ফাঁকে ফাঁকে।
অসংখ্য লেখক, যাদের নাম মনে করিয়ে দিয়েছেন তিনি, তাদের কেউ কেউ আজ বিস্মৃতির আড়ালে চলে গিয়েছেন (আর ছাপাই হয় না তাদের লেখা), কেউ কেউ আবার কালের পরীক্ষায় উত্তীর্ণ হয়ে ধ্রূপদী আখ্যা পেয়েছেন। অজস্র নমের মধ্যে থেকেও যাদের তিনি বিশেষ প্রিয় বলে স্মৃতিতে ধরে রেখেছেন, তাদের একটা তালিকাও করে দিয়েছেন বইয়ের শেষে! তারা হলেন Charles Dickens, Emily Brontë, Honoré de Balzac, André Gide, W. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, Hugh Walpole, William Saroyan, Evelyn Waugh, R.L Stevenson, H.E Bates, Raymond Chandler, J.M Barrie, J.B Priestley এবং M.R James!
এই বইয়ে রাস্কিন বন্ডের স্মৃতিকথার সাথে বিশেষ প্রাপ্তি কয়েকজন লেখকের লেখার অংশবিশেষ (PG Wodehouse, Somerset Maugham, H.E Bates, Charles Dickens এবং Richard Jefferies)। এর মধ্যে H.E Bates এর গল্পটি পড়লে বোঝা যায় যে রাস্কিন এর নির্ভার গদ্য লেখার ধারাটি তার পূর্বসূরীদের অনুসরন করেই গড়ে উঠেছে! সবসময় যে গল্পে দারুন চমক থাকবে, তা আদপেই নয়। বরং আবেগের আতিশয্য এড়িয়ে, জীবনের আপাত সাধারন ঘটনার মধ্যে লুকিয়ে থাকা স্মিতহাস্যটুকু বা বিষাদের ছোঁয়াটুকু তুলে ধরাই এই ধারার বৈশিষ্ট্য। রাস্কিনের পাঠক মাত্রই তার লেখায় এই ভাষার সৌন্দর্য, চিত্রময়তা, এবং কাব্যিক মসৃনতার স্বাদ পেয়েছেন।
বইয়ের পাশাপাশি রাস্কিন বন্ড উল্লেখ করেছেন তার দেখা অনেক সিনেমার কথা, ম্যাগাজিনের কথা এবং ছোটোবেলার প্রিয় কমিকস এর কথা। এর মধ্যে কমিকসের কথাটি বিশেষ করে উল্লেখযোগ্য। দেখা যাচ্ছে, বন্ডের ছোটোবেলাতেও আমেরিকান সুপারহিরোরা, যেমন সুপারম্যান, ক্যাপ্টেন মারভেল, ওয়ান্ডর ওম্যান, গ্রীন ল্যান্টার্ন, ব্যাটম্যানদের দাপাদাপি প্রবল ছিল। সুপারহিরোদের সুপার কান্ড-কারখানার প্রভাব থেকে ছোট্ট রাস্টি একদম মুক্ত ছিল না, কিন্তু তার বেশী পছন্দ ছিল সেই কমিকস গুলি যাদের মধ্যে একটা গল্প থাকত (The Dandy, Beano, Film fun ও Champion)! (দেখা যাচ্ছে, এই সময়ে ফরাসীতে টিনটিনের প্রকাশ ঘটলেও, তা ভাষায় ব্যাবধান বশত ইংল্যান্ড ও তার উপনিবেশে প্রবেশ করেনি। ইংল্যান্ডে ও ইংরাজিতে টিনটিনের প্রকাশ 1951 এ ঈগল পত্রিকায় ‘ওটোকারের রাজদন্ড’ এর অনুবাদের মাধ্যমে!) বর্তমান কালের কমিকসের দুনিয়ায় সুপারহিরোদের দাপাদাপি আরও বেড়েছে বই কমেনি। কিন্তু ছিমছাম গল্প বলার ওই ধারাটি (আমার স্বল্প অভিজ্ঞতানুসারে গাবলু, বিলির বুট, রোভার্স রয় এর মত!) লক্ষ্যনীয়ভাবে কমে গিয়েছে।
এই বইপড়া ও লেখার সূত্র ধরেই রাস্কিন বন্ড এখানে জবাব দিয়েছেন আমাদের বহুচর্চিত একটি প্রশ্নের, আজকাল কি বই পড়ার অভ্যেস কমে গিয়েছে! দেখা যাক, রাস্কিন কি বলেছেন-
“আজকাল, শিক্ষকেরা ও অভিভাবকেরা, মোটের উপর, সারা দুনিয়াই অভিযোগ করে যে পড়ার অভ্যাস কমে যাচ্ছে, নবীনবয়সীরা একদম পড়ে না, কেউ বই চায় না! বেশ, আমি তো বলব, তারা কোনো কালেই চাইত না! যদি বই পড়া আজকে কেবলমাত্র গুটি কয়েকজনের অবকাশ যাপনের মাধ্যম হয়, তো ষাট বছর আগেও তাইই ছিল। এমন কি, তখন তো টিভিও ছিল না; না ছিল ফেসবুক, না ছিল ‘টুইট’ আর ‘টুইটারিং’; ভিডিও গেমও ছিল না, ডিভিডিও ছিল না। ফলে আজকে যাদের পড়ার অভ্যাস কমে যাওয়ার কারন বলে ধরা হয়, সেদিন সেসব কিছুই ছিল না।
আসলে, সত্যি কথাটি হল কিছুই কমেনি। নবীনদের সাথে আমার প্রায়ই মোলাকাত হয়, তারা পড়ে, তারা অনেকে লিখতেও চায়। আমার ছোটোবেলায় কিন্তু এটা হত না। আমাকে যদি জিজ্ঞেস করা হত যে স্কুলের গন্ডি শেষ হওয়ার পরে আমি কি করতে চাই, আর আমি যদি বলতাম, আমি লেখক হব, তবে সক্কলে হাসত। লেখকদের মনে করা হত আধপাগলাটে, যারা চাঁদে কিংবা কোনো আজব দুনিয়ায় থাকেন, তারা অবাস্তব! সুতরাং, আমি আমার লেখক হওয়ার ইচ্ছের কথা আর বলতাম না; বরং বলতাম আমি গোয়েন্দা হব!”
বই পাঠকের সংখ্যা কমেছে কি না, এটা বিচার করা খুবই মুশকিল। কেননা, ‘বই’ এবং ‘পাঠক’, যুগপৎ এই দুটি শব্দের সংজ্ঞা নির্ধারন করা খুবই মুশকিল। তবু, রাস্কিন বন্ডের আশ্বাস নিয়েই আমরা ভাবতে পারি যে বই পড়ার এই ধারা, ক্ষীণস্রোতা হলেও চিরকাল বজায় থাকবে, আর আমাদের বই নিয়ে আলোচনাও এরকমই সজীব ও মুখর থাকবে নুতন নুতন বইয়ের প্রকাশে, নুতন মনের বিকাশে!
পুনশ্চ: বই-মাত্রেয় সম্পর্কের পাশাপাশি খুব স্বল্প জনের সাথেই রাস্কিনের মন দেওয়া-নেওয়ার সম্পর্ক হয়েছে। লন্ডনে থাকার সময় যে কতিপয় কয়েকজনের সাথে আলাপ হয়, তাদের মধ্যে ভু-ফুং একজন। তরুনী ভু ছিলেন ভিয়েতনামীজ। তিনি রাস্কিন কে চা খাওয়ার পর পড়ে থাকা চা’র পাতার অবশেষ দেখে ভবিষ্যৎ বলতেন আর এই মজার ভবিষ্যবানীর ছলে দুজনে অনেক অনেক কাপ চা পান করতেন। রাস্কিন যখন ভু এর প্রেমে পড়লেন ও বিয়ের প্রস্তাব দিলেন, ভু বললেন যে তাদের বিয়ে এই থিতিয়ে পড়া চা-পাতার আলপনায় মোটেই লেখা নেই। অতএব, মন চল নিজ নিকেতনে! এই কি কারন যে রাস্কিন আর বিয়ে করলেন না?
রাস্কিন বন্ড জানিয়েছেন তিনি তার স্মৃতিকথা বিশদে লিখবেন, যা সম্পূর্ন হবে প্রায় তিন খন্ডে। সেখানে তিনি জানাবেন তার ভালবাসার কথা, কেন তিনি বিবাহ করলেন না, সে কথাও! আমি ভয়ঙ্কর অধীর ভাবে অপেক্ষায় আছি সে বইয়ের!
[Love Among The Bookshelves by Ruskin Bond, Penguin Viking, 2014, ₹299]
সেদিন সমস্তটা রাত বাইরে প্রবল ঝড় চলেছে...
ক্ষণে ক্ষণেই বজ্র-বিদ্যুতের আলো আর হুঙ্কার চিলেকুঠুরীর মত এই ঘরটাকে প্লাবিত করে তুলছে! তার উপরে আবার এদিক-ওদিক দিয়ে ছাত ফুটো হয়ে জলও ঝরছে! বৃষ্টির সেই নাছোড় ধারাকে রোখার জন্য বাধ্য হয়ে ঘরের চার দিকে মগ, প্যান, হাড়ি-কুড়ি ইত্যাদি পাততে হয়েছে! এমন রাতে যে ঘুমানো মুশকিল, সেটা ছোট্ট ছেলেটাও জানে! আর তাই, ছোট্ট রাস্কিন উদারিং হাইটস্ নিয়ে জেগে আছে, পড়েই শেষ করবে চমৎকার এই বইটি!
বই! বইয়ের সাথে রাস্কিন বন্ডের সম্পর্ক বৈমাত্রেয় নয়, বরং বইকে ঘিরেই তৈরী হয়েছে তার জীবনের বই-মাত্রেয় সম্পর্কগুলি! মাস্টার রাস্টির স্মৃতির উন্মেষের পরে যখন থেকে বই পড়া শুরু হয়েছে, সেখান থেকে যৌবনের উন্মেষ পর্যন্ত, মি: রাস্কিন বন্ড হয়ে ওঠা ও তার প্রথম উপন্যাস ‘দ্যা রুম অন দ্যা রুফ’ প্রকাশের সময়কাল পর্যন্ত যে সব বিভিন্ন বই, মূলত রচনা সাহিত্য লেখককে মুগ্ধ করেছে, তাদেরই কয়েকটির সম্পর্কে দু-চার কথা বলেছেন তিনি। সেই অর্থে এই বইটি রাস্কিন বন্ডের স্মৃতিকথাও বটে!
(এই খানে আমি বন্ধুদের মনে করিয়ে দিতে চাই, দূরদর্শনের ‘এক থা রাস্টি’ সিরিয়াল টির কথা! যারা দেখেননি, তারা দেখে নিতে পারেন তাদের প্রিয় লেখকের ছোটোবেলার খন্ড দৃশ্য গুলি!)
রাস্কিন বন্ডের বৃটিশ পরিবার অর্থবান ছিল না। বন্ডের অল্পবয়সেই তার পিতা মারা যান এবং মা দ্বিতীয়বার বিবাহ করেন। রাস্কিন পড়াশোনার জন্য ভর্তি হোন সিমলার স্কুলে। দৌড়াদৌড়ি, পিটি ইত্যাদিতে বিশেষ দড় ছিলেন না ছোট্ট রাস্কিন (তবে ভালবেসে গোলকিপার হতেন, কারন দৌড় কম দিতে হত!), তিনি বরং স্বস্তির শ্বাস ফেলেন স্কুলের লাইব্রেরীর চাবিটি হাতে পেয়ে! সেকালে (এবং একালেও) শরীর শিক্ষার উপর যতটা না জোর দেওয়া হত, মনের শিক্ষার উপর অত জোর-জুলুম করা হত না। তাই লাইব্রেরীতে রাস্কিন ছাড়া আর কারও পাও পড়ত না!
স্কুলজীবন শেষ করে রাস্কিন পাড়ি দিলেন জার্সিতে। তখন ভারতে সদ্য স্বাধীনতা পেয়েছে। সেখানে কয়েকছর কাটিয়ে, চলে গেলেন লন্ডনে। লন্ডনেই লেখা হয় ও প্রকাশ পায় তার প্রথম উপন্যাস। যদিও সে উপন্যাস বই হয়ে ছাপা হওয়ার আগেই, রাস্কিন বন্ড আবার ফিরে আসেন ভারতে, পাকাপাকি ভাবে। এই বইতে, জীবনের এই পর্ব জুড়ে রাস্কিন তার বিভিন্ন অভিজ্ঞতা, ভাবনা, কাজকর্ম ইত্যাদির বর্ণনা দিয়েছেন তার নির্ভার সরস কলমে। রাস্কিন চিরকালই একাকী মানুষ, বইই তার চিরকালের সঙ্গী। এই সময়ে পড়া বিভিন্ন লেখকের অসংখ্য বইয়ের কথা তাই ঘুরেফিরে এসেছে এইসব অভিজ্ঞতার ফাঁকে ফাঁকে।
অসংখ্য লেখক, যাদের নাম মনে করিয়ে দিয়েছেন তিনি, তাদের কেউ কেউ আজ বিস্মৃতির আড়ালে চলে গিয়েছেন (আর ছাপাই হয় না তাদের লেখা), কেউ কেউ আবার কালের পরীক্ষায় উত্তীর্ণ হয়ে ধ্রূপদী আখ্যা পেয়েছেন। অজস্র নমের মধ্যে থেকেও যাদের তিনি বিশেষ প্রিয় বলে স্মৃতিতে ধরে রেখেছেন, তাদের একটা তালিকাও করে দিয়েছেন বইয়ের শেষে! তারা হলেন Charles Dickens, Emily Brontë, Honoré de Balzac, André Gide, W. Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, Hugh Walpole, William Saroyan, Evelyn Waugh, R.L Stevenson, H.E Bates, Raymond Chandler, J.M Barrie, J.B Priestley এবং M.R James!
এই বইয়ে রাস্কিন বন্ডের স্মৃতিকথার সাথে বিশেষ প্রাপ্তি কয়েকজন লেখকের লেখার অংশবিশেষ (PG Wodehouse, Somerset Maugham, H.E Bates, Charles Dickens এবং Richard Jefferies)। এর মধ্যে H.E Bates এর গল্পটি পড়লে বোঝা যায় যে রাস্কিন এর নির্ভার গদ্য লেখার ধারাটি তার পূর্বসূরীদের অনুসরন করেই গড়ে উঠেছে! সবসময় যে গল্পে দারুন চমক থাকবে, তা আদপেই নয়। বরং আবেগের আতিশয্য এড়িয়ে, জীবনের আপাত সাধারন ঘটনার মধ্যে লুকিয়ে থাকা স্মিতহাস্যটুকু বা বিষাদের ছোঁয়াটুকু তুলে ধরাই এই ধারার বৈশিষ্ট্য। রাস্কিনের পাঠক মাত্রই তার লেখায় এই ভাষার সৌন্দর্য, চিত্রময়তা, এবং কাব্যিক মসৃনতার স্বাদ পেয়েছেন।
বইয়ের পাশাপাশি রাস্কিন বন্ড উল্লেখ করেছেন তার দেখা অনেক সিনেমার কথা, ম্যাগাজিনের কথা এবং ছোটোবেলার প্রিয় কমিকস এর কথা। এর মধ্যে কমিকসের কথাটি বিশেষ করে উল্লেখযোগ্য। দেখা যাচ্ছে, বন্ডের ছোটোবেলাতেও আমেরিকান সুপারহিরোরা, যেমন সুপারম্যান, ক্যাপ্টেন মারভেল, ওয়ান্ডর ওম্যান, গ্রীন ল্যান্টার্ন, ব্যাটম্যানদের দাপাদাপি প্রবল ছিল। সুপারহিরোদের সুপার কান্ড-কারখানার প্রভাব থেকে ছোট্ট রাস্টি একদম মুক্ত ছিল না, কিন্তু তার বেশী পছন্দ ছিল সেই কমিকস গুলি যাদের মধ্যে একটা গল্প থাকত (The Dandy, Beano, Film fun ও Champion)! (দেখা যাচ্ছে, এই সময়ে ফরাসীতে টিনটিনের প্রকাশ ঘটলেও, তা ভাষায় ব্যাবধান বশত ইংল্যান্ড ও তার উপনিবেশে প্রবেশ করেনি। ইংল্যান্ডে ও ইংরাজিতে টিনটিনের প্রকাশ 1951 এ ঈগল পত্রিকায় ‘ওটোকারের রাজদন্ড’ এর অনুবাদের মাধ্যমে!) বর্তমান কালের কমিকসের দুনিয়ায় সুপারহিরোদের দাপাদাপি আরও বেড়েছে বই কমেনি। কিন্তু ছিমছাম গল্প বলার ওই ধারাটি (আমার স্বল্প অভিজ্ঞতানুসারে গাবলু, বিলির বুট, রোভার্স রয় এর মত!) লক্ষ্যনীয়ভাবে কমে গিয়েছে।
এই বইপড়া ও লেখার সূত্র ধরেই রাস্কিন বন্ড এখানে জবাব দিয়েছেন আমাদের বহুচর্চিত একটি প্রশ্নের, আজকাল কি বই পড়ার অভ্যেস কমে গিয়েছে! দেখা যাক, রাস্কিন কি বলেছেন-
“আজকাল, শিক্ষকেরা ও অভিভাবকেরা, মোটের উপর, সারা দুনিয়াই অভিযোগ করে যে পড়ার অভ্যাস কমে যাচ্ছে, নবীনবয়সীরা একদম পড়ে না, কেউ বই চায় না! বেশ, আমি তো বলব, তারা কোনো কালেই চাইত না! যদি বই পড়া আজকে কেবলমাত্র গুটি কয়েকজনের অবকাশ যাপনের মাধ্যম হয়, তো ষাট বছর আগেও তাইই ছিল। এমন কি, তখন তো টিভিও ছিল না; না ছিল ফেসবুক, না ছিল ‘টুইট’ আর ‘টুইটারিং’; ভিডিও গেমও ছিল না, ডিভিডিও ছিল না। ফলে আজকে যাদের পড়ার অভ্যাস কমে যাওয়ার কারন বলে ধরা হয়, সেদিন সেসব কিছুই ছিল না।
আসলে, সত্যি কথাটি হল কিছুই কমেনি। নবীনদের সাথে আমার প্রায়ই মোলাকাত হয়, তারা পড়ে, তারা অনেকে লিখতেও চায়। আমার ছোটোবেলায় কিন্তু এটা হত না। আমাকে যদি জিজ্ঞেস করা হত যে স্কুলের গন্ডি শেষ হওয়ার পরে আমি কি করতে চাই, আর আমি যদি বলতাম, আমি লেখক হব, তবে সক্কলে হাসত। লেখকদের মনে করা হত আধপাগলাটে, যারা চাঁদে কিংবা কোনো আজব দুনিয়ায় থাকেন, তারা অবাস্তব! সুতরাং, আমি আমার লেখক হওয়ার ইচ্ছের কথা আর বলতাম না; বরং বলতাম আমি গোয়েন্দা হব!”
বই পাঠকের সংখ্যা কমেছে কি না, এটা বিচার করা খুবই মুশকিল। কেননা, ‘বই’ এবং ‘পাঠক’, যুগপৎ এই দুটি শব্দের সংজ্ঞা নির্ধারন করা খুবই মুশকিল। তবু, রাস্কিন বন্ডের আশ্বাস নিয়েই আমরা ভাবতে পারি যে বই পড়ার এই ধারা, ক্ষীণস্রোতা হলেও চিরকাল বজায় থাকবে, আর আমাদের বই নিয়ে আলোচনাও এরকমই সজীব ও মুখর থাকবে নুতন নুতন বইয়ের প্রকাশে, নুতন মনের বিকাশে!
পুনশ্চ: বই-মাত্রেয় সম্পর্কের পাশাপাশি খুব স্বল্প জনের সাথেই রাস্কিনের মন দেওয়া-নেওয়ার সম্পর্ক হয়েছে। লন্ডনে থাকার সময় যে কতিপয় কয়েকজনের সাথে আলাপ হয়, তাদের মধ্যে ভু-ফুং একজন। তরুনী ভু ছিলেন ভিয়েতনামীজ। তিনি রাস্কিন কে চা খাওয়ার পর পড়ে থাকা চা’র পাতার অবশেষ দেখে ভবিষ্যৎ বলতেন আর এই মজার ভবিষ্যবানীর ছলে দুজনে অনেক অনেক কাপ চা পান করতেন। রাস্কিন যখন ভু এর প্রেমে পড়লেন ও বিয়ের প্রস্তাব দিলেন, ভু বললেন যে তাদের বিয়ে এই থিতিয়ে পড়া চা-পাতার আলপনায় মোটেই লেখা নেই। অতএব, মন চল নিজ নিকেতনে! এই কি কারন যে রাস্কিন আর বিয়ে করলেন না?
রাস্কিন বন্ড জানিয়েছেন তিনি তার স্মৃতিকথা বিশদে লিখবেন, যা সম্পূর্ন হবে প্রায় তিন খন্ডে। সেখানে তিনি জানাবেন তার ভালবাসার কথা, কেন তিনি বিবাহ করলেন না, সে কথাও! আমি ভয়ঙ্কর অধীর ভাবে অপেক্ষায় আছি সে বইয়ের!
September 1, 2024
If I could symbolize what reading this book feels like, it would be a gentle wind of spring afternoon.
It's my first time reading Ruskin Bond's work, and I must admit I should have read his works earlier (this is my constant reaction every time I read a good book).
Reading 'Love Among the Bookshelves' feels like I'm sitting in front of Ruskin Bond and he's telling me his journey—how he became a reader and then what inspires him throughout the journey to be a writer. Ruskin Bond's writing style is so easy to read and yet captivating.
I absolutely love every time he mentions the name of a book he read in his childhood or adulthood; it feels like the writer himself is recommending me books. He even tried to visit some places he read in books from childhood to that age, a wonderful way to revisit and relive the moments of reading a good book.
It's my first time reading Ruskin Bond's work, and I must admit I should have read his works earlier (this is my constant reaction every time I read a good book).
Reading 'Love Among the Bookshelves' feels like I'm sitting in front of Ruskin Bond and he's telling me his journey—how he became a reader and then what inspires him throughout the journey to be a writer. Ruskin Bond's writing style is so easy to read and yet captivating.
I absolutely love every time he mentions the name of a book he read in his childhood or adulthood; it feels like the writer himself is recommending me books. He even tried to visit some places he read in books from childhood to that age, a wonderful way to revisit and relive the moments of reading a good book.
February 19, 2019
Books with memories. After reading, I've made 'want to read' list ;)
Thank you Bond for the list.
Thank you Bond for the list.
May 23, 2017
This is a quick read about Ruskin Bond's love for books. He talks about how he got into reading and which authors influenced him the most. There is even a list of favorite books from his favorite authors. He even talks about his favorite authors in chapters dedicated to these authors and has included some excerpts from his favorite books. I think this book is a great place to get some English classics recommendations. I am definitely going to read some of his favorite books.
One interesting tidbit I learnt was that people never read books. It is not that people have stopped reading because of television or games. There were always hardly any readers in India. No wonder Indians still ridicule those who read books.
Only complaint with this book was that it was too short. Wish he had written more about his love for books.
One interesting tidbit I learnt was that people never read books. It is not that people have stopped reading because of television or games. There were always hardly any readers in India. No wonder Indians still ridicule those who read books.
Only complaint with this book was that it was too short. Wish he had written more about his love for books.
January 29, 2015
My 4th book of the year. I literally breezed through this anecdotal biblio-memoir by one of India's best beloved authors Ruskin Bond. I must confess that I am in the small minority of Indian readers that haven't read Mr. Bond! This is a book I picked up because although I was disappointed in Miller's The Year of Reading Dangerously, it did leave me with an interest in biblio-memoirs. As a reader, it's always interesting to know what writers are reading, which authors they love and how those shaped their own work.
This is a wonderful little gem of the author's early life, before he became famous. It tells of how his lonely childhood fostered a life-long love of books & reading that has seen him through life's travails. He writes simply and in a way that makes you want to curl up in your favourite chair with a quilt and a hot cuppa on a cold winter's day - in fact, exactly the scene that's pictured on the book cover :) His writing has a warm, cozy feel to it that is reassuringly comforting - like a conversation with a beloved grandparent.
There are the usual suspects among his favourites - Dickens, Wodehouse and Maugham but also some authors that I hadn't heard off, like Bates and Jeffries. He includes excerpts from his favourite books by them, and although I did enjoy most of these, I must confess to abandoning the Jeffries after a few pages! Definitely not my kind of book!
This book was a welcome read after Sula - a quick, refreshing break from "serious literature" ;) I think I should read more from Mr. Bond.
This is a wonderful little gem of the author's early life, before he became famous. It tells of how his lonely childhood fostered a life-long love of books & reading that has seen him through life's travails. He writes simply and in a way that makes you want to curl up in your favourite chair with a quilt and a hot cuppa on a cold winter's day - in fact, exactly the scene that's pictured on the book cover :) His writing has a warm, cozy feel to it that is reassuringly comforting - like a conversation with a beloved grandparent.
There are the usual suspects among his favourites - Dickens, Wodehouse and Maugham but also some authors that I hadn't heard off, like Bates and Jeffries. He includes excerpts from his favourite books by them, and although I did enjoy most of these, I must confess to abandoning the Jeffries after a few pages! Definitely not my kind of book!
This book was a welcome read after Sula - a quick, refreshing break from "serious literature" ;) I think I should read more from Mr. Bond.
July 25, 2016
Being an ardent Ruskin Bond fan, I bought this book with lot of anticipation and hope. But alas, my anticipation and hope came a cropper when I finished reading the book.
Okay, the author starts the book well and writes in his inimitable, simple style devoid of any embellishments. He mentions how he got initiated into reading books and how his loneliness helped him find solace in books. Mostly, the book is about his reading experiences in youth, but misses most part of his later life and how books shaped his life and made him what he is.
I have two issues with the book. First and foremost, about one-third of the book (60 out of 180 odd pages) consists of excerpts of his favorite books/authors. This works as a major distraction in the overall reading experience. Needless to say, I skipped the excerpts. Perhaps, this was the publisher's demand to write a certain number of pages.
Second, as mentioned earlier, the writer covers mostly his early life, for example, his brief stay in London which he has already covered in his memoir, 'Scenes from a Writer's Life.' So as an avid reader, I didn't have much in this book. I would even go to the extent of saying I was left unsatiated at the end, which is a very uncommon feeling for me as far as a Ruskin Bond book is concerned.
Would I recommend the book to a Ruskin Bond fan? Well, I would say, don't go with high hopes, and you won't be disappointed.
Okay, the author starts the book well and writes in his inimitable, simple style devoid of any embellishments. He mentions how he got initiated into reading books and how his loneliness helped him find solace in books. Mostly, the book is about his reading experiences in youth, but misses most part of his later life and how books shaped his life and made him what he is.
I have two issues with the book. First and foremost, about one-third of the book (60 out of 180 odd pages) consists of excerpts of his favorite books/authors. This works as a major distraction in the overall reading experience. Needless to say, I skipped the excerpts. Perhaps, this was the publisher's demand to write a certain number of pages.
Second, as mentioned earlier, the writer covers mostly his early life, for example, his brief stay in London which he has already covered in his memoir, 'Scenes from a Writer's Life.' So as an avid reader, I didn't have much in this book. I would even go to the extent of saying I was left unsatiated at the end, which is a very uncommon feeling for me as far as a Ruskin Bond book is concerned.
Would I recommend the book to a Ruskin Bond fan? Well, I would say, don't go with high hopes, and you won't be disappointed.
October 1, 2016
Picking up a Ruskin Bond novel brings with it its own share of joy. He can easily take you comforting places. Love Among The Bookshelves is part memoir and part anthology, and he employs his usual candid style of writing. His book is all about the love he found in between lines of the novels he’s grown up reading. You get a clearer picture of several significant moments of his life and the books that influenced and inspired him.
He begins with his days as an eight-year-old—the time when he’d go into the forest with his mother and stepfather for hunting animals, but he finally found solace in the guest house reading PG Wodehouse. Then he goes on to talk about Wodehouse’s tale, Love Among Chickens. He swiftly takes us to his winter breaks at Dehradun where he found his love for classics and comics. The next segment focuses mostly on his boarding school days where he discusses Somerset Maugham. And, finally, his days in Jersey and London brings him closer to Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies.
What I loved about Ruskin Bond’s book is that he weaves his favourite reads and his life so seamlessly. An absolutely delightful read!
He begins with his days as an eight-year-old—the time when he’d go into the forest with his mother and stepfather for hunting animals, but he finally found solace in the guest house reading PG Wodehouse. Then he goes on to talk about Wodehouse’s tale, Love Among Chickens. He swiftly takes us to his winter breaks at Dehradun where he found his love for classics and comics. The next segment focuses mostly on his boarding school days where he discusses Somerset Maugham. And, finally, his days in Jersey and London brings him closer to Charles Dickens and Richard Jefferies.
What I loved about Ruskin Bond’s book is that he weaves his favourite reads and his life so seamlessly. An absolutely delightful read!
August 26, 2017
'In the meantime, there were books and authors to be discovered. A lifetime of reading lay ahead. Old books, new books, classics, thrillers, stories, short and tall, travelogues, histories, biographies, comedies, comic strips, poems, memories, fantasies, fables..The adventure would end only when the lights went out for ever.'
What can you say about a man that loves books and reading like this? This is the first Ruskin Bond book I have ever read, and I feel terrible that I didn't discover him sooner. Needless to say, he's amazing. The fluidity in his writing, the simplicity in his thought - its amazing. I'm falling in love with his work :)
What can you say about a man that loves books and reading like this? This is the first Ruskin Bond book I have ever read, and I feel terrible that I didn't discover him sooner. Needless to say, he's amazing. The fluidity in his writing, the simplicity in his thought - its amazing. I'm falling in love with his work :)
May 20, 2016
Ruskin Bond, being one of my favorite authors, I was curious to know about the books that he grew up reading or his favorite books. I was happy to know that like me, he too is an avid reader of Wodehouse among other authors. I look up books whose name have been mentioned in other books. This book is going to be my companion when I next visit a book shop or a library.
July 7, 2015
if you like reading about books and authors... this is the book to pick... amazing description of about his favorite books an why he liked them so much.. now that waiting to read the ones I have not laid my hands till now.
September 25, 2014
Such a cosy, comforting read. Hot chocolate for the soul.
June 4, 2015
A leisurely read from India's favourite author, Ruskin Bond. In the book, he talks about books that shaped him, influenced him and left an indelible mark on his life.
October 13, 2021
“I hereby confess that I am in love with books, and bookshelves are good places to keep them, if not hide them.”
The title - ‘Love among the bookshelves’ is an ode to P.G Wodehouse’s work - ‘Love Among the Chickens’. Ruskin Bond turned to Maugham for his dose of realism and P.G. Wodehouse, for humour. There is a mention of an interesting fact on how H.E Bates was addressed as Miss Bates because of his in-depth understanding of women
I got to read a new piece from literature every time I turned the pages and understand the styles of Somerset Maugham, Lewis Carol, P.G Wodehouse and how they influenced Ruskin Bond’s early and later works.
Ruskin Bond reminisces his time in England visiting the places mentioned in famous literary works and his short stint with Thomas & Cook. Besides this, there are snippets from his childhood days on how he despised hunting and an interesting trivia on how he stayed all night to read ‘Wuthering Heights’ compelled by its ‘intensity of the writing’ and ‘the passion and conflict’
Filled with anecdotes, interesting trivia and passages from Ruskin Bond’s favourite works - 'Love Among the Bookshelves' is a collector's delight. It also brushes upon his life in England as a thriving writer.
The title - ‘Love among the bookshelves’ is an ode to P.G Wodehouse’s work - ‘Love Among the Chickens’. Ruskin Bond turned to Maugham for his dose of realism and P.G. Wodehouse, for humour. There is a mention of an interesting fact on how H.E Bates was addressed as Miss Bates because of his in-depth understanding of women
I got to read a new piece from literature every time I turned the pages and understand the styles of Somerset Maugham, Lewis Carol, P.G Wodehouse and how they influenced Ruskin Bond’s early and later works.
Ruskin Bond reminisces his time in England visiting the places mentioned in famous literary works and his short stint with Thomas & Cook. Besides this, there are snippets from his childhood days on how he despised hunting and an interesting trivia on how he stayed all night to read ‘Wuthering Heights’ compelled by its ‘intensity of the writing’ and ‘the passion and conflict’
Filled with anecdotes, interesting trivia and passages from Ruskin Bond’s favourite works - 'Love Among the Bookshelves' is a collector's delight. It also brushes upon his life in England as a thriving writer.
May 13, 2021
Would you believe this is my first ever Ruskin Bond? I have no idea why I ever skipped his books?
This is a memoir/anthology that was such a deeply nostalgic read for me.
Mr. Bond lets us into five small snippets of his early life - a child in Dehradun reading Wuthering Heights till 3 am while it rained outside and the roof leaked in places, a teenager reluctant towards sports of any kind, preferring instead the company of books, a young man working to earn his first salary and skipping jobs to find one that suited him better.
Each little anecdote is followed by a chapter on the literary influences from that phase of his life - Wodehouse, Bates, Maugham, Dickens and Jefferies among many others. These chapters contain an excerpt from these masters' works and an insight into why our author fell in love with writing.
I will give this book 3.5 /5 stars because although I enjoyed the foray into the classic excerpts, I wanted to hear more from Mr. Bond himself. Perhaps this book wasn't meant to be so much about him, nevertheless I would've preferred to read his stories more than the classic works (which have their due place, of course, just not so center-stage as they were given here).
I'm inspired to pick up more from this author and take a walk down the old roads of Dehra, seeped in nostalgia of a time not even my parents were around, of experiencing through his words a simpler life, joys, struggles and all.
This is a memoir/anthology that was such a deeply nostalgic read for me.
Mr. Bond lets us into five small snippets of his early life - a child in Dehradun reading Wuthering Heights till 3 am while it rained outside and the roof leaked in places, a teenager reluctant towards sports of any kind, preferring instead the company of books, a young man working to earn his first salary and skipping jobs to find one that suited him better.
Each little anecdote is followed by a chapter on the literary influences from that phase of his life - Wodehouse, Bates, Maugham, Dickens and Jefferies among many others. These chapters contain an excerpt from these masters' works and an insight into why our author fell in love with writing.
I will give this book 3.5 /5 stars because although I enjoyed the foray into the classic excerpts, I wanted to hear more from Mr. Bond himself. Perhaps this book wasn't meant to be so much about him, nevertheless I would've preferred to read his stories more than the classic works (which have their due place, of course, just not so center-stage as they were given here).
I'm inspired to pick up more from this author and take a walk down the old roads of Dehra, seeped in nostalgia of a time not even my parents were around, of experiencing through his words a simpler life, joys, struggles and all.
January 20, 2020
Ruskin Bond always makes you go in a slow world. Wonder how authors have the ability to make you feel relaxed.
July 9, 2020
I have recently become an ardent fan of Ruskin Bond and his notes and essays on the mountains. But it is quite a different experience to come across books and writers that had inspired him as a writer and person. In this book he writes the writes and their works that had touched him deeply. Really an engaging read for me.
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November 3, 202414%
June 12, 2017
This is my first Ruskin Bond, growing up in India this sounds strange, even to my own years.Nonetheless, I did read my first Bond, and Im glad I did. I could relate to the book, having spent 11 years of my life in a boarding school and having an affinity for literature. I confess some of the names mentioned in the books, I have not read before but some I have like Wodehouse,Dickens and Doyle. The others I shall venture to find and some are lying forgotten in my very own bookshelf, which I will dig out now. His struggle for wanting desperately to be a writer and yearning to be back in India is very moving. The line that sticks out among others is, " Well, I was 17 and if my mentors, Charles Dickens and Jack London, could stand on their own feet while still in their teens, so could I!
To all those who share a love of good literature and good humour, you will definitely like the book.
To all those who share a love of good literature and good humour, you will definitely like the book.
October 12, 2017
Honestly, I hastily ordered this book online. I had not read a Bond book for more than 2 years , thereby, a desperation had mounted.
What I enjoyed the most while reading this book was the foreword of every story, it reflected Bond's feelings to which most of his fans can relate. He has mentioned the names of the books and authors in the foreword which opens up new possibilities for the readers.
I must admit that I didn't feel the nostalgia, the cherishing of the idyllic life or emotional upheaval while reading any of the mentioned stories. H.E Bate's 'Great Uncle Crow' and the extract from 'The Story of my Heart' by Richard Jefferies did leave an impression.
For those who wish to buy it, I suggest to keep it at the bottom of the wishlist.
What I enjoyed the most while reading this book was the foreword of every story, it reflected Bond's feelings to which most of his fans can relate. He has mentioned the names of the books and authors in the foreword which opens up new possibilities for the readers.
I must admit that I didn't feel the nostalgia, the cherishing of the idyllic life or emotional upheaval while reading any of the mentioned stories. H.E Bate's 'Great Uncle Crow' and the extract from 'The Story of my Heart' by Richard Jefferies did leave an impression.
For those who wish to buy it, I suggest to keep it at the bottom of the wishlist.
December 13, 2018
This is a story about how great novelist Ruskin Bond developed habit of reading..
It's totally inspirational:)
Many readers have grown up with Ruskin Bond’s stories. Now in an utterly delightful anthology, he introduces you to the stories he grew up with. Part memoir, part anthology, Love among the Bookshelves is a glimpse into Ruskin’s life through the books he has loved and an introduction to some forgotten classics.
It's totally inspirational:)
Many readers have grown up with Ruskin Bond’s stories. Now in an utterly delightful anthology, he introduces you to the stories he grew up with. Part memoir, part anthology, Love among the Bookshelves is a glimpse into Ruskin’s life through the books he has loved and an introduction to some forgotten classics.
April 14, 2020
I hereby confess that I am in love with books and bookshelves are good places to keep them,if not hide them
-Ruskin Bond
*
This book is about author's love for the books and books he read throughout his life which provided him entertainment or helped him through loneliness and inspired him to become a writer.
This book contains some short stories from some of his favourite authors like P.G.Woodehouse
Through the book i was reminded of books i read through my childhood and even got about some books i didn't know it existed..
*
I would totally recommend reading this because it's an lovely light read and anyone who loves books would completely agree with the author regarding the love for books.
-Ruskin Bond
*
This book is about author's love for the books and books he read throughout his life which provided him entertainment or helped him through loneliness and inspired him to become a writer.
This book contains some short stories from some of his favourite authors like P.G.Woodehouse
Through the book i was reminded of books i read through my childhood and even got about some books i didn't know it existed..
*
I would totally recommend reading this because it's an lovely light read and anyone who loves books would completely agree with the author regarding the love for books.
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