The Books of Anticipation

 The Strange Habit of Buying Books:

I have noticed a pattern over the years: I keep buying books even though I already have plenty waiting to be read. There is a kind of guilt that comes with it—seeing books pile up on the shelf, knowing I haven't even touched some of them. But at the same time, I still get excited when I come across a book I want to own.

Sometimes it is a secondhand copy spotted on a footpath or sometimes it is a chat with a book vendor on a weekend train ride. The price is good, the book looks interesting, and just like that, it comes home with me.

It’s not always practical. I know I don’t have unlimited time. I already have a backlog of unread books, and realistically, I won’t finish them all anytime soon. But I think buying books is partly about curiosity, and partly about wanting to have options. Even if I don’t read them right now, I like knowing that  it is already there on my shelf, ready to be picked up anytime.

Let me list out the well known titles on my shelf:

• The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
• The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
• Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel García Márquez
• All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
• The Story of My Life - Helen Keller
• The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

These books shows the shift in the kind of books I'm drawn to. They explore deeper themes-identity, survival, love and loss. More like historic, realistic and full of life. 

Collections from my Favourite Malayalam Authors:

• Agnisakshi - Lalithambika Antharjanam
• Indulekha - O. Chandumenon
• Verukal - Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
• Nashtappetta Neelambari - Madhavikutty
• Ninte Ormaykku - M T Vasudevan Nair
• Naalukettu - M T Vasudevan Nair
• Daivathinte Vikruthikal - M Mukundan

As I was dusting off the stack of books, I felt like I need to be more aware of how I spend my time and energy—focusing on things that genuinely bring me happiness and satisfaction. Looking at the books I have set aside, especially those by my favourite authors, made me feel good. I was glad to see that I have held on to some truly special works. 

So, let’s create a simple reading plan together—one that brings back the goodness of reading through small daily rituals. Whether it’s a favourite book you have been waiting to revisit or a fresh title you have just picked up. Make space for it this week and join our weekly reading challenge >>>. No pressure— just a commitment to enjoy the pages, one day at a time.!