General Comment: As mentioned earlier on my April 19 & Sept 14 2007 posts, I have embarked on writing a few words on all the books that I may read in my retirement.
I will reread few books which I read over last few years – this to allow me to capture some good essence from the readings .
It is apparent that I have been a bit lazy to write about books I read in 2009 and also 2010. I will try in the post to capture as many as I can – from my failing memory.
I can assure that I have read more books during these two years than listed here .
Also, it was great period -as I helped my friend in Kenya (Kantibhai) to formulate and prepare his writing of a book ( in our vernacular language – Gujarati) on Oshwal History.
Oshwal Community is from Saurastra (Gujarat, India) – many migrated to Kenya at the turn of the Twentieth Century – made good and then some further migrated to UK, Canada, USA and Australia and other countries of the world after East Africa became independent . The Community mainly follows the Jain religion ( a very non-violent – “live & let live principle” type religion) – though of late different streams of Hinduism have cropped in. The Community has also become flexible in terms of accepting inter-community and inter-racial marriages . The Community is very democratic in running its affairs in various countries and have a modern outward looking attitude .It is endowed with many selfless and committed volunteers and also philanthropists.
So that took a lot of time but also made daily living more interesting.So in 2009 and 2010, I have read the following books . These books listed are over and above those I read when I visited my son & his wife in Toronto. They have great selection of books and thus whenever we spend time there (even for a couple of days) , I manage to read a book. 1) Esther by Norah Lofts – a romance book – light reading .2) Terrace Terrors by Richard Allen – a sort of SKINHEAD series book – light reading3) A Death for Dreamer by E.X. Giroux -a Mystery book – light reading4) Something So Right by Elizabeth August – a romance book – light reading5) Snows of Offenburg by Alox Andre – a romantic suspense (a Mystique book) – light reading6) Aloha Means Goodbye by Naomi Hintze – a Mystery book – light reading7) Twins by Roxanne Pulitzer – a novel – a steamy expose’ of decadent Palm Beach society – light reading8) The following books written by the famous author – Dean Koontz – mystery novels (suspense, scary) – light reading. – Dark Rivers of The Heart – Phantoms
– Tick Tock
– Fear Nothing
9) The Gunny Sack by M.G. Vasanji – this is well written novel embedded in historical migration of East Indians from India to East Africa at the turn of the Twentieth Century or before that.
M.G. Vasanji is a famous Canadian ( East Indian ) author . We got this book as a gift on our 70th Birthday organised by our kids in 2010.
10) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen T. Covey. This book i got from PEO conference on Chpater Leaders Conference held in Toronto in 2010 .
Its a book providing lessons in Personal Change.
11) My Country by Pierre Berton – a Canadian History book
12) The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla by Marc J. Seiffer – a True Science & Biography book
13) Rumblings of a Rolling Stone by John W. Childs- a personal story of migration – the writer (about 90 yrs old now) plays bridge with his wife – at Petawawa Lions Hall – where me & others also go to play .
14) Tales from Forozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry . The author is originally from India but have now migrated and settled in Canada.
We got this book as a gift on our 70th Birthday organised by our kids in 2010
15) Humor – the Magic of Genie (Seven Potions for developing a sense of Humor) by Jeanne Robertson
16) Wisdom Develops Swamadhi by Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno – A Guide to the practice of the Buddha’s Meditation methods .
Wednesday 9 February 2011
Recently I have completed reading book by Father Ted Colleton titled ” Yes, I’d do it again ” Hewasa catholic Bishop (Father) in Kenya for considerable time and thus he has lot of material on kenya history, Kikiyus and White settlers.
I also completd reading the book “The Ascent of Money” by Niall Ferguson during the days of 25 to 27 Feb 2011. This is the book I had borrowed from Sunir, my son -I will be able to return the book to him this week as he & Shannon have come to Deep River to visit.
7 March 2011 – completed reading a book on Change Management titled ” The Heart of Change ” by John P. Parker ( Author of the Worldwide Bestseller Leading Change) and Dan S, Cohen. This book gives real-life stories of How People Change Their Organisations.
14 march 2011 – completed reading (a bit of fast reading) a book on predicting prophesies titled ” The Complete Illustrated Book of Divination and Prophecy” by Walter B. Gibson and Litzka R. Gibson. It is interesting that I found this book from a collection over the years -which I had stored away in a box in the basement, It turns out that this book was gifted to Nina -when she turned 18 years old – by her friend Gillian. Its a fascinating book giving various methods people have used over the millenia to predict future’
12 April 2011 – I have just completed reading this book titled ” Are You getting Enlightened or Losing Your Mind” by Dennis Gersten M.D. The author is a practicing psychiatrist . Dr. Gersten has supplemented his medical skills with uncommon wisdom, compassion, and love. Practical and reassuring, this book tells readers how to become comfortable with disturbing or disruptive states of minds – from stress to depression, from paranormal experiences to mystical visions – and how to learn from and find meaning in them all. .
He is also a follower of the Indian Guru ” Sathya Sai Baba”.
June 2011 – this month I have completed 3 books
i) “A sight for sore eyes” by Ruth Rendell .This si a mystery novel with ‘Damaged Children’ as the background. Damaged Children grow up in different ways .
ii) ” Moscow Rules” by Danieal Silva – this book i took with me to Barcelo Maya Resort, Mexico when vacationing there recently . Its an international espionage book with an Israeli spy ( Gabriel Allon ) as the central figure.
iii) ” More Five-Minute Mysteries ” by Ken Weber – this book I took with me to Toronto (17- 24 June) – when visiting our son & daughter-in law.
Saturday 17 Sept 2011 to Thursday 22 September 2011
I completed reading the book “Zero History” by William Gibson – a thriller (spy – business surveillance)
This book was read while making a visit to Toronto to Sunir/Shannon home to coddle Maya ( our granddaughter – born on 7 August 2011) . The book was out on a table – left there by Sunir as he was reading it but I kind of took it for the week to read whenever I had free time had been.
Pravin Shah