RecommendedReads | Happy Apostrophe Day!

Photo/moreintelligentlife.com

Well it was yesterday, and so was Navroze! So it was a an exciting day for Parsi's, lovers of salli ghost and apostrophe's alike. We come bearing articles on publishing, an iconic journalist and a cartoon from Oatmeal to celebrate yesterday's key global holiday.

Headline: Come One, Come All
Publication: Open Magazine
Afsha says: I've always wondered how publishers go about selecting what to publish. Over the years I've taken a few hints based on the covers I've seen in the Mumbai local but this article puts a few of my theories to play in addition to lending some factual perspective. It doesn't matter if you're an aspiring author, voracious reader or a highly bored person looking for temporary escape. This essay is an interesting read for everyone.
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Headline: Notes on a Voice - Joan Didion
Publication: The Intelligent Life, The Economist
Reshma says: Didion's 'The Year of Magical Thinking' was the first non-fiction book I ever read. A memoir, built upon the year after her writer, collaborator and life partner died, did things to my insides. I remember sitting at Flavours, a well known Italian eatery in Delhi, and holding back the tears so as to not draw the undue attention of Arjun Rampal (seriously), who was sitting nonchalantly right in front of me enjoying a solitary Sunday lunch. She is an iconic journalist and this article is a lovely insight into her explosive prose. It talks of a trick that I learnt from her, which is to give some mundane detail right before a gut wrenching moment. Also check out An excerpt from her NY times article, Why I write.
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Headline: International Apostrophe Day
Publication: The Oatmeal
Reshma says: Yesterday was International Apostrophe Day. To celebrate the special occasion, my favorite Oatmeal has gifted us a poster on how to use apostrophe's. While, for some this may come naturally, I am the first to admit to scratching my head sometimes on whether its a pianist's heaven or a pianists' heaven. Oh well! Hope this helps!
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RecommendedReads | Homage to the book

Suffice to say my co-blogger and I conveniently slacked off during the long weekend for which we apologise. We're back in full swing now - books, clubs, posts and all - so stay tuned because we've got some exciting stuff coming up this week. Ciao for now.

Headline: Long Live the Book
Publication: Abe Books
Reshma says: Admit it. Every-time somebody says they hate reading books you want to shake them. These days it's often followed by, "I only read Magazines". I know it is wrong to judge. But most of us do and in the least. we feel sorry for them. Sorry that they are missing out on hanging out with a Mumbai dancebar girl or chasing after a golden snitch or even just sitting back and watching a detective catch his hundredth criminal while he puts a glass of cognac to bed. Abe Books has created the most lovely homage to the Book.
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Headline: Overrated
Publication: Slate.com
Afsha says: When I finish a book, I walk over to my bookshelf almost instantly to see what's still on offer. And if you're a hoarder like me, chances are there will be a lot to pick from. "I ought to have read Three Men in a Boat, after all these years..." "Maybe I'll get cracking on Poe short stories that aren't The Tell-Tale Heart..." "Someday, I will read The Iliad... in Greek!" Maybe it's time we stop trying to be seem impressive to our fellow readers and just stick to books, authors and genres we enjoy.

Reshma's two paisa: Found two other people who refused to be bowled over by "Catcher in the Rye". Filled me with glee.
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