“I always like to imagine being a South African policeman who likely couldn’t tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese but whose job was to make sure that people of the wrong color weren’t doing the wrong thing. If he saw an Asian person sitting on a whites-only bench, what would he say? “Hey, get off that bench, you Chinaman!” “Excuse me. I’m Japanese.” “Oh, I apologize, sir. I didn’t mean to be racist. Have a lovely afternoon.”
― Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
― Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
“When I visit a new bookstore, I demand cleanliness, computer monitors, and rigorous alphabetization. When I visit a secondhand bookstore, I prefer indifferent housekeeping, sleeping cats, and sufficient organizational chaos...”
― Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
― Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
“The news was prioritized in a way I could not understand. For instance, there was nothing on new mathematical observations or still-undiscovered polygons, but quite a bit about politics, which on this planet was essentially all about war and money. Indeed, war and money seemed to be so popular on the news, it should more accurately have been titled The War and Money Show.”
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“I started the day with some nothin’ tea. Nothin’ tea is easy to make. First, get some hot water, then add nothin’.”
― The Martian
― The Martian
The Chennai Book Club
— 3165 members
— last activity Apr 14, 2026 11:25AM
This is a place where readers from Chennai can discuss, share and exchange books. We also have monthly meet-ups, usually held on the penultimate Sund ...more
Priyadarshini’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Priyadarshini’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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