Books Books everywhere....

As I was growing up, we had this room in our house called the “study room”. The room had a big book shelf covering a whole wall. Now thinking back, I think Appa arranged it in such a way that the the complexity and maturity of the books was directly proportional to the height of the reader's access to the books. My favorite were the binded books of Amar Chithra Katha, Tinkle and Phantom.

In the middle class town where I grew up in India, I did not know anyone who had such a vast collection of books. Our library was the envy of my friends and I loved our little library. We probably had less than 500 books, but they included everything from Archie comics to Russian Math to Sidney Sheldon to War and Peace.

While growing up, we did have a public library which Appa took me sometimes, but it is was pretty useless. They had some nice books which was always out or torn. The rest were mostly references and we were allowed to take only three books anyway.

So instead of the library, after any major exam in school, Appa will take me to the “Palaya Pusthaka Kadai”, it was the old books “store” and it was a gold mine. There was no real store, these were makeshift shops on the streets. These street vendors line up the kizhakka kottai streets and there were open in the evening with their little kerosene lamps. I can still smell the kerosene and the old books, hear the traffic and the cry from the vendors- “Sir, Sir, evide Sir, evide (over here)” .

Picture taken by Thatha in 2017, they are much bigger than what I am used to

My Appa was popular among the street vendors as he hardly bargained, was quite easy going and bought many books. These vendors will hand over books in my hands to lure me into buying them. I would sit on the sidewalk and carefully look through them under the little lamps to make sure I was buying the ones we don't have at home. After 1/2 hour to hour of roaming around, Appa will say let's go and I will say, some more time Appa some more time....

Palaya Pusthaka kada near Palayam, Trivandrum, 2017

Later in life in India, I migrated to lending libraries and started buying books of my own, but nothing compares to the excitement of going to the palaya pushthaka kadai as you never know what is in store!

After I came to the US, I walked into my first public/town library in Ann Arbor. I fell in love with the vast amount of books neatly stacked. I was a little apprehensive talking to the librarian and she said all I need is proof of residence and this world of books is mine! Since then, I have moved to many towns and states within US. It is my ritual to get a local library card within the first week of moving in and I religiously go to the library at least twice a month.

Our library is a short ride from home and I am delighted to say that it is your favorite place to visit too. You are following the family tradition of book worms- Thatha and Ammumma can always be found with a book, I read every night before I sleep and so do you.

I am often alarmed when most of my colleagues say they have never visited their local library. Most say - I just buy the books, I don't need to go the library, the latest books are never available in the library. Well, good for the economy, but buying many books is not the same as visiting the library.

It is even more true when you are a parent. I try to make sure that you read all the “classic” toddler books(Yes, I am that kind of parent). But I also let you take whatever pleases you in the library. I have to say that some of the books which I think are a total bore end up being your favorites. Not to mention, my annoyance when I have to read it multiple times. I roll my eyes and try to figure out what is so funny, but you giggle and laugh say again Amma, read it again!

So dear baby , when you grow up, I don’t want you to take this wonderful resource in your town as a right, but a privilege that only few in the world have access to. I want you to build your own little library of your favorite books, but I hope the vast amount of your reading comes from books you picked walking through the shelves of the library.

I hope we continue to go to the library over the years, share our thoughts on books just like how I and my parents do. I want you and your sibling to fight over books just like how my sister and I used to fight over them :) Happy reading kannamma!!