My mission was to read 10 books in 2011 as set in GoodReads. However, I read 12 books in total. I was pretty sure about not being able to plan for more as I am not a voracious reader and also having to achieve many other things within this year. I am happy to reveal, I am satisfied. I have met all my (personal) targets. To sum up, 2011 remained a fruitful year.
So, my plan is to let you know about the books I read. Ah, only the titles please… this won’t be book review. I an not that kind you know? 
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
Author: John Wood
Once we were at Ekta Books to buy some books on Essay Writing when I picked ‘Microsoft Dekhi Bahun Danda Samma’. Amir dai paid for the book and I scanned through some of the pages. But I hardly read 25 pages. I felt like I need to do something that makes myself happy and only I can read this book. Mahabharata project was recently canceled or let me say postponed and I was a kind of frustrated at that time. The book remained untouched for more than a year. I read several other books in 2010. and Mayur Times by Narayan Wagle.
In 2009, we decided to start Aangan Foundation for serving the community directly and Studio Mandala for producing audio programs for educating and awaring the people. This was a positive change that allowed me to get out of the trauma brought about by cancellation of Mahabharata and jump to something new. I am repeatedly saying cancellation though I hope it is just postponed and will revive someday in future. I have reasons to say cancellation and have reasons to hope it is yet not. I believe I will one day be able to write about that too. Aangan Foundation came to existence in 2009, Studio Mandala in 2010. Leaving Microsoft to Change the World impressed, encouraged and made me feel good about myself. I want to make Aangan Foundation an organization like Room to Read. I believe I can contribute more love, energy and effort. I believe I will get the opportunity.
Key of Light
Author: Nora Roberts
Didi sent me four books altogether. I read three of them in 2010. Tuesdays with Moorie by Mitch Albom, Men’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Night by Elie Wiesel are more than I can explain. These books must be read in your lifetime. If not all three, read at least the first one. I have no words to express how much I am impressed. Thank you Didi for the care and ever growing love.
In Key of Light Nora Roberts sets three women in a mission to free five heavenly characters from their imprisonment. The women find the Key. What attracted me is the desire of the women to free the little princess out of the glass house, otherwise it is a so so novel.
The Valkyries
Author: Paulo Coelho
This was My Own , hehe. In book fair 2009, I had asked Happy Prayash, my brother, to buy any book by Paulo Coelho and he had brought this one. Annu finished reading before I did. She was asking me many questions after going through the book which I found answered when I myself read the book.
Buddha’s Orphans
Author: Samrat Upadhyay
Snigdha (Nani) and I always talk about the books we have read or been reading. She saves pocket money to buy books. I wonder if all teenagers are like her, at least most?? That would be great!! you will find seven out of twelve books that I read this year are borrowed from my lovely sister. I am always thankful for her trust and love upon me.
I wanted to read any books by Samrat Upadhyay or Manjushree Thapa, the Nepali writers who write in English. When Sniku offered me Buddha’s Orphans, I instantly begun. It didn’t take me long to finish the book.
Veronika Decides to Die
Author: Paulo Coelho
I had carried this book from Delhi to Kathmandu as a gift to Shlagha from Daju. Nani said- Dizzu, please take care of the book’ while handing it to me. This too, Annu read before I did. Then Nani took it back. After months I chanced to ask her again and she gave me Eleven Minutes along with it. She said- You should read Eleven Minutes first. That is the best book I ever read.’ I took both and read Veronika Decides to Die before Eleven Minutes. But it did not take me long to finish Eleven Minutes too.
The Lucky One
Author: Nicholas Sparks
This one I got from Annu. I am a good story teller. I told this story to Bunu Didi and family. Telling stories is one of my hobbies, hehe I tell those stories to Sushila and Sangita in bus, thanks God they are not irritated… I tell those stories to Buni Didi, who wants to hear. She says, I make her feel like she is reading the story line by line. I can’t summarize things you know? Telling a story for me is telling it in whole. Nani (Sampada), Sunita and Babu (Sambid) are also interested in listening to the stories. You see? I am not bad at story telling! Last time when I was telling them about The Lucky One Bhinaju (Bunu Sister’s Husband) entered the room and ordered everyone to go to their respective beds. Babu was to sleep with Bhinaju, so he requested me to continue the story the next morning while Nani and Sunita wanted it to be completed the very time. I too wanted to finish it in single sitting. Though I can’t finish reading in one sitting, I can tell the whole story, lol. Babu could not manage time the next morning as he was to prepare for school. He still talks about it and wants me to tell the same story again. Other stories I told are Key of Light and Buddha’s Orphans.
The Winner Stands Alone
Author: Paulo Coelho
This too, I found in Snigdha’s library. She had not read it yet, but was ready to hand me as I wanted to read as many as I could. The serial killer does not impress me much but this was an insight into the world of glamor.
Five Point Someone
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Again my dear Sniku. Are you thinking why I read the book? I haven’t watched Three Idiots yet. Yes, the book is so much full of fun and filmy masala but I like how Bhagat inserts humor in greatest of miseries.
The God of Small Things
Author: Arundhati Roy
This book remained in Studio Mandala Library for a long time. I went through few pages and put back into the shelf. After going through the book, now I am amazed why I was not interested to read the book in whole beforehand? I yet don’t know the reason. I will never forget the life Estha and Rahel lived. I feel bad that the police officers murdered Chako for no reasons. This kind of violence is happening everyday here, I want an end to it. I can tell this story to people: To Bunu didi and family if they have time when I visit them the next time.
Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Before too Sniku had asked me if I would love to read Wuthering Heights. I denied. I had borrowed The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells and Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome from Annu but did not bother to read. As I already mentioned I am not a voracious reader, I am not self motivated to read. The author should do it on my behalf or I should have prepared myself that the book has so much in it which I will miss if I don’t pay attention in the content. I have a habit of reading every single line and every single word, thoroughly, with full attention and I want to be anxious about the happenings. If I don’t think of the book during the day while at work, I won’t be thinking of it in the evening at home. I don’t think means I won’t read. So, the book must have something that clicks my head at other times than when I am reading it.
But later when I thought my mission of reading 10 books is to be met by any means, I thought to give it a try. And within five days (I read the book only in evening because mornings are for writing or reading other stuffs and days are for office works.) I had completed it.
Who Moved My Cheese?
Author: Dr. Spencer Johnson
I had not entered the date read for Winner Stands Alone and Five point someone. Thus, it showed I read only nine books including Wuthering Heights. I wrote a status on facebook asking people to lend me one book that I would finish in single sitting. Three comments (this may sound too less for you but too high for me as my status mostly go unnoticed) suggesting books. Ah, one among them was an offer too. But I could not manage time. I was running short of time and deadlines to meet at office and personal work. Drama recording, translation of two short animated movies for children, audio recording, story for drama on transitional justice… a hectic schedule. I picked Who Moved my Cheese? that I had got from Sniku again, and finished it in a single sitting. It is short.
And finally, the 12 books helped me achieve 120% in the challenge. Happy
Now, Walden by Henry David Thoreau is the first book in my list for the next year. Kim didi gifted the book to me and I hope I will like it. You must have thought I don’t buy books by my own when you went through the list. I must admit, yes. I would love to buy them; I used to buy books but I seldom do it now. You may laugh at my reasons but in fact I earn no money. My office supports me somehow. what I got this year was utilized in paying college bills for dissertation, preparing thesis, printing and binding that, paying for the transcript, provisional and migration certificate, buying my unavoidable needs and also the bus fare. Besides this, I earned some extra money doing other works out of which I contributed Rs. 2500 for the furniture distribution project in a school in Terai. Also, you may be wondering where I got all those lovely dresses from. Let me mention Didi, Bhauju and Manju here. They have bought me enough clothes that will be sufficient for some three to four years from now. They have gifted me bags, cream, ear rings, lotions, lip gloss, eye shadows, perfumes, diaries, pen drive, pencil cases, t-shirts, coats, sweaters, chains, caps, gloves, socks; oh, everything! I haven’t bought anything besides pant from a year. Deepa didi is another lady who brought the fancy bag, bangles, face cream, lip balm, body lotion…. Didi has paid so much of my other bills and Daju sent me mobile phone, this lappy, pen drive and lot many things that I won’t be mentioning here but later somewhere. Besides, Sushila is there who has been supporting me with credit in her store and lending me money when I need. I owe credit to Annu as well who is currently herself in crisis. I wish to support her financially but am helpless. Also, Dev da contributed to tfcnepal on my behalf, he bought the t-shirt for me… This is how things are. I am happy that all my needs are fulfilled and in the mean time, I am learning so much.
Thus, I am left with few thousands of loan, pretty much hope, handsome amount of energy and a cheerful face. I know 2012 gonna rock and the years ahead gonna follow 2012 with more hopes and success.
I am thankful to all the people around me.
I wish I could read as many books as I can and tell the stories to as many people as I can.
Reading was my passion from early childhood. In school, I read a great number of books, comparatively higher than what most children of my age did. As I grew, I read too less than what youth of my age did. I don’t know why… I seem to be too much engrossed in something else, writing! Some 8 months back, I tore almost everything that I had written from 1997/8 to 2009. Those Ekata Kapoor Serial type lengthy plays, stories, poems, diaries, all. Now I have nothing in papers though they are still in my mind; yes, the sort of characters, events and their development. I don’t remember all but most. So, I can’t claim I can write something different or new but I hope I can write with renewed spirit and visions after a few years. I want to read a few dozens of books before that.
