What am I reading this week?

I finished Rainmaker last week. I started on Lay Her Among The Lillies by James Hadley Chase, this week. I always liked JHC. The local library would cover JHC books with newspaper or brown paper so the cover of the books was not visible. JHC was essentially known for his catchy titles and lurid covers but the books were thrillers and I liked them. I am enjoying returning to JHC after a long long time.  

What I am reading now?

I have opted to stay away from classics for a bit. This week, I started Rainmaker by John Grisham. I thought I had read it before but after reading a few pages, I realized that I hadn't read this book at all. I found it interesting and I doubt I will be able to finish this book before next week. I was a big fan of John Grisham novels a while ago and so I am unable to believe I hadn't read this book earlier. Anyway, its good. It reads like a very early novel and I like it so far.

Introducing Books to Kuku -- a fun experience

I love books and so I always hoped that Kuku would love it as much as well. However, he barely showed interest during his play school phase. While browsing at a book store, last year, I purchased "The Hungry Caterpillar". He really loved listening to the story and wanted us to read the book often. That was how we started with books for Kuku. I chose some of the common fairy tales like '3 Little Pigs', 'Goldilocks and the 3 bears', and 'Puss in Boots'. He liked Goldilocks and wanted to listen to it again but was not that interested in the other stories. 

 

Kuku started school in June. As part of his weekly schedule, the school gives the students a library book every week. Parents are supposed to read to the children as often as possible during the week. Kuku enjoys us reading to him and so even if we are bored by the re-reading, we try to re-create the enthusiasm with which we read the story for the first time. Surprisingly, I read a number of books written by Indian authors which Kuku enjoyed. These books are published by Pratham Books. While some books had an instant connection, he did not want us to read the others a second time. 

These Pratham books he really enjoyed:

• Where is my Bat?
• See you tomorrow
• Drip Drop Drip

Pratham web-site shares a couple of activities after you read the book. Some were a bit advanced for Kuku but I liked having access to the same so I could try them out when he was a bit older.

 Of the fairy tales, he enjoyed these two books: 

• The Magic Porridge Pot
• Chicken Licken 

He did not want to hear Cinderalla again or the Moon and the Cap story. Well, at least, its a beginning. What books do you read to your kid(s)? What kind of stories do they prefer? Leave your responses in a comment. 

May 2015 Update on my Classics Re-Reading Spree -- Not too bad

So, its time for yet another update on the status of my Classics re-reading spree. No waning of interest as yet. So, what have I completed so far? Here you go:

• Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
• The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald 
• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
•  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Currently reading The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit. I am as usual picking books at random. I believe that is the reason I am still reading the books :)

Update on my Classics Reading Spree -- So far so good

So, I am still into reading Classics. Maybe because I am reading a book from a different author, each time, I am able to continue doing so. What have I finished reading so far, you ask? Here you go:

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit  
• The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

I am currently reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I don't think I have read this book before. Nothing seems familiar or leaps to my mind as I read. I could not even connect to the title of the book. Hmmm.. thats nice in a way.

I have not taken up a challenge because reading a particular genre or author can get a bit boring after a while - this is more random and I can read as many as I like and go in any order I like. Maybe I should look up other folks's lists to identify the best way to go about this - Lets see. Too soon to talk 'bout it. My interest in Classics may wane anytime :(