Sunday, July 31, 2005

A quick tale 55

A contest

They competed with each other to show off who had read more books. I have 500 books, said one. I have 5000, said another. An entire library, said the third. Have you read Sartre? Marquez? Kafka? Hemingway? What about Baudelaire? Poetry, fiction, science, theology. They quoted from rare books, unheard-of works. It was an intellectual beauty parade. Much like how a lesser man (or woman) would have boasted lovers. The bookworms jostled for the best-read crown. To them it was more important to be seen reading. It didn’t matter what they had learned. Only what they had read.

12 comments:

Mukesh said...

learning is the most difficult act especially when everyone tries to be master not student....i like it.

Jade said...

So true. I've been feeling the same recently about reading. Insightful piece.

Lost in trance... said...

?? is this one of the uncharacteristic generalizations? Or am I wrong, is it not uncharacteristic? somewhere, a trend? but y?

Anonymous said...

People who only expound on "intellectual" books immediately make me want to talk about Enid Blyton, Harry Potter and Archie comics - to name but a few of the things that I still love and enjoy! :)

Robert said...

Hello,
Would you mind if I put a link to this on my blog? I enjoy it and I know a few people who would too.

Robert

Vinz said...

Hey..gud post..

Somebody had said reading books is not that worth learning something practically,just because while reading we cant ask questions to anyone..our doubts remain unanswered...

So more than how many buks u read its wt u gained from reading tht matters...

Keep writing..

NS said...

great twist in the end... quite true..:)

~phobiac~ said...

hey ammani....unfair...u removed the QT53 b4 I read it !!!

please pls pls put it back on !!

Paavai said...

This reminds of an incident when someone said Gandhi spoke only the truth after seeing the play Harischandra and me asking - what happened to the person who played the part a zillion times.

Anonymous said...

Hi Ammani,
You generalize too much, I beleive ; even book worms read for the pleasure of it and not just to show off

Pardeshi

Pal said...

a very good thought... i agree that learning in more important than just reading

blogrolling filthy, funny, flawed, gorgeous

Anonymous said...

I polished off all your new posts and archives, and your quick tales are simply wonderful. They touch a heartstring, something inside the soul, they stop the tears, but still spread the sadness....Please get them published.