P.r.o.j.e.c.t D.o.g .e.a.r.e.d: Reading Dyer and Batuman ....

About

Welcome to Project Dog-eared. As avid readers we realised that we go through a multitude of emotions and thoughts at different stages of reading any book. But, once we have finished the book, our impression of it was often based on one predominant emotion or memory of the book rather than our whole reading experience. We wondered if this could be improved upon , and came up with the idea of Project Dog-eared.

Here, we intend to choose a book - any book - some times agreed, but mostly our own individual choices and document our thoughts and emotions as we read along. We then intend to collate it all together at the end, possibly into a review.

In other words, this is just the good old scribble at the corner of the book, but more organised and shared live on the net. We must point out the reading is not collaborative but only a collective assortment - that is - unlike book clubs you don’t discuss the books as you read along. However some of you might want to follow what others are reading and comment on others’ posts and interact. So if you feel this is something that you would be interested in, give us a shout. We will log you on here. Then all you have to do is pick up a book of your choice and start reading and posting.

Monday, 16 May 2011

Reading Dyer and Batuman ....

I am flitting between two totally different writers, who, if not overtly, by measure of the emotions evoked are very similar; I don’t know if it’s just me but reading the sober, whimsy tongue-in-cheek Geoff Dyer ( Yoga for people who can’t be bothered to do it..) alternately with the energetic, airy, delightful Elif Batuman ( The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them) is a party of epic proportions.

In cinematic terms it’s like watching alternating shots by Wes Anderson and Terrence Malick add up into a perfect narrative montage. Yoga for people who can’t be bothered to do it… is about Dyer’s travel-pieces ( that’s the best word I could come up for the chapters of his book) and The Possessed is a chronicle of Batuman’s experiences of studying Russian Literature and all sorts of people she meets in the process; While Elif sends you on silents spasms of chuckles, Geoff makes you hold them, turn them into a reverie and float in them for a while relating your own travel experiences to his before you let it all go in an audible sigh or even an utter, that startles cab drivers! I am alternating the essays from the books and it’s just wonderful. If you are not too caught up see if you can try the combination, you will surely not regret it.

Here's a shot of the index of Yoga for people.....what Kindle can't offer :)