On Escapism

"The Fountainhead" is one of the books I'm always planning to read, along with the other works of Ayn Rand and Umberto Eco. But 'planning' is the keyword here, because I never actually get around to reading these books. The library I frequent has a pretty decent collection, right from classics to contemporary philosophy, and the books are in very good condition too. After a hefty deposit, you can take books out for 10% of the original cost, which is a stiff but reasonable price.

But come on, after a long week of work and oppression, do you really want to read serious stuff?

Do you read James Joyce when you want to forget your emails and performance reviews? Pass-time books, like comics, Agatha Christie, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and a long list of others are more like it. They take you to another world, where reality is disconnected, and you can temporarily be anyone but you. From real-life monsters that cannot be slain (ranging from your boss to local politicians) to a world where you are a HERO and perhaps vaguely wonder why the dragon you are about to kill looks so familiar and resembles your boss, ha ha!

Escapism! That magic word in Indian culture, that mainstay of Indian Cinema, the Great Indian Dream where romance and true love is told with song and dance and skimpy costumes. Well, I run true to type and prefer light reading. You can catch me in the library every Friday evening, sneaking into the comics and kiddies section, hoping I don't run into anyone I know. These days I'm into a regressive phase and have started reading Archies and Nancy Drew again (No, I'm NOT a regressive amnesiac, thank you!)

Anyway, I managed to pay my way for a Somerset Maugham and Fitzgerald's "This Side of Paradise". From now reviews of the books I've read (no, not Nancy Drew :)) and maybe the movies I've seen will appear in this blog space.

See you next with the review of "The Alchemist"!

Syane says: Here comes Syane to terrorize the literary world! Muahahaha!