My Favourite Book

I love some authors, though they are not the typical best-seller types. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow is my all-time favourite.
So is Winter Song written by, I believe a popular Mills & Boons writer, Karen Lockwood. These books were totally my own discoveries. Nobody recommended them. I didn’t even buy them. I discovered Winter Song ten years back in my ship, a bulk carrier which was on a long trans-oceanic voyage. I then proceeded to read it more than twenty times in the next six months. I loved the book so much that I filched it when I signed off from the ship. Fortunately nobody missed that book Winter Song.

Neither my wife nor my son, both of who are voracious readers, can understand my fixation on that book which continues till to-date.

It’s a simple love story set in the 1850s. Rich boy falls for a poor girl in a small town in the heart of USA.

Presumed Innocent on the other hand is a fast-paced book. Once again set in the USA, in a big bad American city. I am spellbound by the author’s command over the language as he describes a lurid courtroom story. A simple who-dunnit type murder rendered in a poetic manner. Scott Turow is the unparalleled master of mystery, twists and turns.

The best part about this book is that despite knowing the story after one or two readings I could re-read it many times over. I still read it now once in a while even after so many years.

I marvel at the meticulous manner Turow has built up the plot, leading the reader from one climax to the next till the final climax in the search for the murderer. The actual deed of murder is just an excuse in this story which details the grime of an American life-style, warts and all.

I can only wonder how the writer details the minutest nuance in a free-flow story, seemingly wandering away in tangents. Yet every line of the book is relevant to the central theme.

The lingo of a closed group of lawyers, criminals and cops has been effortlessly incorporated in this murder story. All the slangs and private terms they use in their everyday conversation make the story eminently believable.

How a fast society takes short-cuts with rules, laws and even integrity. Bending one’s normal lawful behavior to beat the nearest competitor. It is the story of a razor-sharp lady cutting through the maze of her life to grasp her goal.

How a law abiding citizen behaves in such an environment.

I love to read about these people. Vicariously enjoy leading their fast-paced lives. I imagine how I would behave if put in such situations.

In my heart I know that I am now used to the dull, monotonous, predictable life here in this small suburb of Mumbai. Nothing is going to surprise me. I will go to sleep latest by 10:30 for a sound seven hours uninterrupted sleep.

In fact I wouldn’t welcome any surprises – pleasant or unpleasant to disturb my dull, routine existence. I don’t think I am conditioned any more for excitement that upsets my routine.