A Midweek Haul

The previous Saturday was a holiday for us because it was the second Saturday. I dropped in at the Unique book store in Lakdi-ka-pul to check out the stock. The store was downsized to just one small room from the two-room store it had been the last time I was there. The stock too seemed lesser than before but I could find two titles that I bought.

The first title I picked up was a nice copy of ‘The Way of Story: The Craft and Soul of Writing’ by Cathrine Ann Jones that a red cover with a Japanese painting. I bought it because I simply cannot resist any title on writing. I noticed that the author had signed it for someone called ‘Afeefa’. After going home I started reading the book out of curiosity after I read in the Author’s Note where she thanked her son, Christopher Rama Rao. I was surprised to learn that Cathrine Ann Jones had been married to Raja Rao, the English novelist, author of ‘Kanthapura’ and ‘The Serpent and the Rope’!

The other title I picked up was a copy of ‘Death of a Thin Skinned Animal’ by Patrick Alexander that promised to be a good read. I read it right away after I got home and was pleased to discover that Patrick Alexander was a wonderful writer. I was glad I picked it up on a hunch that it could be a good book. This midweek haul cost me quite a packet but I am glad I hauled in two good titles- one entertaining title and another educative title.