Memoir Junkie: The Year of Yes by Maria Dhavana Headley

Inherently, I'm not a nosy person. I like to let people be and have conversations without prying into people's lives. But, it's nice to share experiences. I'm also not the type to reach for a nonfiction book for leisure reading. I've had enough of textbooks and research papers thank you very much. But, when people willingly share their stories, it's inspiring and often funny or touching. Many stories are stranger than fiction... So, is the case with Maria Headley's The Year of Yes. 

My Copy of "The Year of Yes"

This book is an account of one year in Headley's life. It takes place during the time she was a relatively poor college student in the one and only New York City. In her early-20s, studying drama and writing, and racing between various temporary jobs, Headley decides her life is not hard enough. She longs for a more arduous journey, one of the search for true love. She makes the radical decision of saying "yes" to any and every man who asks her out on a date. Headley stays true to her word, sometimes even bending it and asking a man out herself. The characters she encounters help her grow and learn and realize "what really matters".

I thought it was an enjoyable enough read. Funny and lighthearted, I did feel it dragged at some points. But overall, I was rooting for Ms. Maria. Everyone deserves love after all, and Headley was trying harder, and probably more recklessly, than any young girl in New York. Then, maybe not, but she was brave!

Did Maria find her "one"? Did she learn what love really is? Go ahead and give the book a go if you like stories of young women striving and surviving in big cities.

-Ekta    

Book Haul #1: 8 Supercheap Reads to Start a Book Collection

This past Saturday, I innocently stepped outside the house even though it was the weekend (a rather strenuous task for me). I was being responsible and running some errands which happened to involve managing my finances and such. Spending money was not on the agenda. Shopping or mere browsing was not on my mind. My direct path had no interesting shops and I should have been safe. I will admit though, in the back of my mind and deep down in a crevice of my heart, I had hoped to come across something I could take home and call mine. (I had stepped outside on the weekend! I deserved it!) I took home eight things. Books. 

My excuse: They were dirt cheap and this gave me an idea - more blog post incentives. 

All my life, I had used libraries as much as possible. My typically Asian parents never bought anything if it could be obtained for free. I loved libraries. I feel that books that have passed through many hands and under countless eyeballs carry more stories within them than the literal print. I don't believe they are the worst sort of fomites. But my affection for wondrous bookworm-abodes can wait for another post. 

The point is, there were books on sale at a bookshop I pass by quite often. I felt a sudden urge to splurge. These particular books looked used at first sight, but were actually just neglected for too long on shop shelves. They had yellowed from waiting to be held and read and understood and loved. They needed a bookworm's abode. That's where I came in. I decided at the spur of a moment I had to have physical books. I needed to become a book collector. I would buy classics, because all book collectors should have a good stash of classics, and then some light reading for moments when "heavy, serious" reading was beyond my mental capacity. (Read: Pink and/or sparkly covers - I was not judging! They were so pretty though.) I returned home with two bulging bags and innumerable stares as people are probably not used to seeing a girl carry home bags of books at noon. Clothes? Yes. Groceries? Sure. But definitely not books. Some people even did double takes. I felt mindlessly giddy. I had shopped for books no less! Yay for shopping rushes. 

I grabbed four of each type, and of course, decided I shall devour and blog about them. My reading list has been extended by these titles:

1. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
2. Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
3. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
4. Dracula by Bram Stoker
5. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
6. Not Another New Year's by Christie Ridgway
7. The Trouble with Valentine's Day by Rachel Gibson
8. Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

My Book Collection is Growing!

I hope I find to time to enjoy (or not?!) my paperbacks and share my thoughts on them with you. For those interested, they were only 20 INR each. 160 bucks can't get you a third of decent paperback in Mumbai. 8 books in 160? That's a steal considering books are quite an expensive hobby, at least, for me. Buying books in this fashion will no doubt help me discover new authors, since I won't be hunting for familiar works. It'll be a sort of "beggars can't be choosers" situation, but I would be paying. I'm a pretty open reader in terms of genre, but I'm sure buying without being influenced by the "bestseller lists" will be refreshing. Limits in options can be good sometimes. Right? At least I won't go in expecting an incredible journey as one might when a book has been appraised. 

I look forward to more of these book-shopping bouts. I hope you do too. I'll keep you updated. Meanwhile, let me know if you've ever book-binged. Feel free to share any other shopping spree experiences with me. Now, I think a clothes haul is in order!

Till later,

Ekta