I remain, a bookworm

Over the years, I have steadfastly refused to dictate my reading list according to what ispopular these days or what is on the New York Bestsellers list. I find it a waste of my time usually because my taste in books is exclusive in many respects. I do have other parametres that dictate my list however, most important of which are awards. I love reading books that have been shortlisted for the Governor General's award, the Orange prize, the Pulitzer and ofcourse outstanding books by authors that have won the Nobel prize for literature. I find that because I read so much, I have to use my time appropriately- or else I'll just end upreading crap that really has no literary value.

This approach to reading has served me well as I have discovered outstanding novelists from various countries that I would not have read otherwise. Authors like Rohinton Mistry, Vikram Seth, J.M. Coetzee, Naguib Mahfouz, and Jose Sarmago have all come to my attention during exhaustive searches of previous award winners and shortlisted works.

However, having finished the Da Vinci Code just a week ago, I can honestly say that this approach will now have to be tweaked to include some works from the New York bestsellers list. Dan Brown,the author of the Dav Vinci Code does a masterful job in his telling of a tale that weaves together history, religion, centruries of secrets and above all mystery.

Keeping in mind thats ome of you might not have read this book, I shall refrain from giving any details about it. I will say however, that I was surprised where the author took me, how he got me there and most of all, how enthralled I was the whole time I was on the journey. I must admit now that ignoring the New York bestsellers list all these years might have been elitistfolly but what is a man supposed to do when Danielle Steele has the number two spot locked week in and week out? I can't help but scoff at any list that amanges to include her works everyweek without fail.

On Natalie's recommendation I picked up Deception Point by Dan Brown from a used bookstore in Karachi (I'm still trying to locate Angels and Demons). I started reading it a few hours ago and its not going badly at all. Last night, I finished up Digital fortress by Dan Brown too, that book was not as good as the Da Vinci Code- infact, it was not even in the same league. As a review on the back cover of the book suggests, it is brain candy and although I devoured the book during my mornings and late nights in Karachi, I did not enjoy it as much as I did the Da Vinci Code.

I suggest you all read that book, perhaps we can even have a discussion on it- something that I feel I have also missed out upon having read the book almost two or three years after its initial publication.

In closing I'll permit myself just one analytical note, The Da Vinci Code juxtaposed itself really well with the Karachi society that I currently am making the rounds of. I have always considered myself a feminist to a degree and my dive into a the world of the sacred feminine was enlightening while I witnessed women playing a very different role in society- a role that I have not seen played out as an adult and a role that women do not usually play in North America.