Bit of This and Bit of That

I am an avid reader since early childhood. I would read all school books before the school actually re-opened for the new academic year. I learned reading Gujarati by trying to read the Gujarati newspaper that was delivered at my home for my parents. I later learnt that my mother too learnt reading Gujarati after marriage in similar fashion. While I was still in school, my mother subscribed for monthly Tinkle comics. I would also read old Reader’s Digest bought from the raddiwala or borrowed from a school friend. My mother made me join a local library during my vacations after Class X. As per the plan, I could take 3 books at a time and keep them for a maximum of 7 days. I was so overwhelmed by the number of books available that I would read 2 and sometimes 3 books in a day and plan a daily visit to the library. I started with Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and moved on to reading a variety of books like science fictions, autobiographies, biographies, humor, history, mysteries, fantasies, ma...