This weekend I ordered three books from an online shopping portal. One of them ‘Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra’ by Ruskin Bond has won the prestigious ‘Sahitya Akademi Award’ in 1992. Since 2010 I have purchased almost all the books online only. The traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores have been shrinking fast with the advent of online book portals. There was a particular bookshop I used to frequent. The collection was outstanding and for being a loyal customer I received up to 20% discount too- this was pre-2010. A few days back I happened to visit that store and to my dismay found that it is running only for clearing the stocks. The racks were half-empty and a bored sales girl was busy chatting on her mobile phone all alone in the store that once brimmed with customers. Gloomy sight I must say but, change is inevitable.
***
I saw a few samples of paper jewelery somewhere and since then it has caught my fancy. Some four years back I tried making paper mache bangles and other artifacts but that project was not very successful. I will surely try making a few pendants and bracelets from old glossy magazines and coloured papers. All you need is a pair of scissors, a bottle of glue and a dash of some girly creativity! (Pic: www.craftstylish.com)
***
My disgust with burgers seems queer to my friends. However, I really dislike the very sight of people opening their mouth like a demon to let in highly oil soaked stuffed buns about to burst like a moron’s suitcase. The ads too show people staring at it like hungry dogs and then pushing the entire potpourri having a bit of every single eatable you can find in kitchen into their mouths opened wide, I mean really wide! I am happier with traditional Indian chaat and Gol Gappa!(Pic: www.karryon.com)
Nice blog! Keep writing..
ReplyDeleteDo visit mine http://www.intertwinedthoughts.blogspot.com/ and share your feedback
Hi Divya
DeleteThanks a lot!
Hahaha...LOL at the selection of the bits and pieces :P
ReplyDeletePaper Jewellery? Sounds interesting ! Do post the pics of them as soon as you try your hand at it. :) ..... (^!^)..... *Waiting* :)
Hi Aasyaan
DeleteWhy watz so funny?
Ya, I would share pics for sure :)
As much as I love online shopping for books, I do enjoy browsing through bookstores from time to time. It's like having a conversation with the books :) Lovely post Ankita!
ReplyDeleteHi A
DeleteI love book shopping too! exactly, I agree.
Thanks a lot A :)
Yea. Online has taken over the entire shopping industry. In USA, we can buy even cars online.
ReplyDeleteSo you don't want to come to Chicago and see how people eat their huge sandwich. Hay, I am from California.
Hi SG
Deletecars online!! it is difficult for us to even imagine that!
hahah, people should order smaller burgers!
Food for thought. Never really thought that book stores, especially in smaller towns may be hit by the flipkarts and Amazon's of the world.
ReplyDeleteGol Gappa... Lol!
Hi Rajesh
ReplyDeleteThanks! I am happy that you liked the post! yes, these online shops have become market leaders in book selling.
Hehehe! I love gol gappa, it is much better than burger!
hmm but where do i get the chat and gol gappe here in uk.. burger is so easily available :)
ReplyDeleteBikram
Hi Bikram
Deletemay be Southhall or some Haldiram outlet :)
sadly that is now 6 hours drive where i am now ...
Deletewe do get gol gappe but you got to buy them in a box and then go to a sweet shop to hope they have the water for it ..
Bikram
hahahah! that seems like a joke to me! buying gappa and paani separately! it seems westerners are addicted to assembling everything!
DeleteBook shopping is by far my favorite kind of shopping! :)
ReplyDeletePaper jewelry! So cool!
Have a fantastic week, Ankita!
Hi Katrin
DeleteYa I know you are a book lover! Book shopping is really addictive!
Yes, and so creative also!
Thank you and same to you Katrin :)
Oh I still love browsing through bookstores as against buying books online. Paper jewellery sounds creative and funky. I like the ones seen in the picture here. You gave me a totally different perspective on eating burgers...hahaha! I love my golgappas any day even if I have to open my mouth the widest for one of them!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the burger part of this post the most!
Hi Vinodini
DeleteYa, I fully agree, book stores give a very different experience that can never come on online portals. ya, these pieces are really cool!
heheh! I dislike burgers esp the over stuffed ones but I can have huge gol gappas anywhere anytime!
I am glad that you enjoyed the post :)
Yes, very true. After this Ecommerce revolution, buying online becomes easy and cheaper. Also, we can read reviews, refer multiple stores sitting in one place before buying decision. I too go online whenever I need to buy books.
ReplyDeleteHi John Paul
Deleteyes, there are several advantages except that personal touch the traditional stores provide but these days it is better to focus on benefits and savings!
It's not a pretty sight to watch a book store close. Do post when you make those pendants and yes, golgappas over burger, any day. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Saru
DeleteYes, a very depressing sight indeed.
yes sure! I'll make some pieces very soon! i wish I could courier a few pieces to you, not for wearing but just for fun!!
yaaa, gol gappas are divine esp. is hot Indian summers!
In my college days, I loved visiting bookstores in my free time, walking around the shelves, picking up and turning pages of each book. Online portal makes buying easier, but somewhere it doesn't carry the same romance of browsing the books that you do in stores.
ReplyDeleteHi Amrit
DeleteI love doing the very same too but now the entire process have become digital!
I agree, the feel of books and the peculiar erudite atmosphere provided by physical stores is matchless.
Bookstores are really failing to attract customers who prefer home-delivery or door-to-door kind of service. Though I think it is time for them to make it theme based stores, with toys, playing area, Playstations, chess boards and good reading place to attract kids and their parents. I know that is too much of a ask but then haven't we become demanding! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Karan
DeleteYou are right and I think that's why Crosswords book store is still surviving. Shopping has taken new dimensions these days even on online sites people want to read samples before buying.
At-least people are still buying paper version of books, the rate at which everything is going online, I feel soon it will all be e-reading world. I miss the charm of holding a book and browsing through it before deciding to take it home. Interesting bits and pieces you have woven together Ankita, I have to agree with you on the burger bit. Those ads are truly unappetizing.
ReplyDeleteHi Reshma
DeleteYes, everything is getting digitized. Thanks for liking the post! I am really glad you enjoyed it :)
ya, I hate those annoying ads
I prefer shopping for books old style... The feeling of stumbling upon a book which catches your eye on the shelf is love at first site feeling all over again!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Priyank
DeleteThat is a wonderful experience in itself but these days, good bookstores are fast shutting shops and online portals are taking over the book selling biz.
blessings....
ReplyDeleteI have stopped doing too much book ordering online. I have since a couple of years ago really started utilizing the public library and it has saved me a bundle! It also works because i never read a book twice.
I don't think you are disgusted with burger per say, rather people's poor eating, for me its the snapping of the mouth like pigs, drives me bonkers, so i just up and move as far away as possible.
peace.
Rhapsody
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Hi Rhapsody
Deletelucky you! we do not have good public libraries near by :(
i am disgusted by both, over stuffed burgers and people with poor eating habits! I agree!
Paper mache jewelry does look amazing! It's bright and lively and you could wear it on a regular day to office too!
ReplyDeleteI loved your blog too Ankita! Thanks for your heart-felt comment!
Hi Soumyaa
DeleteYes, it looks very different and stylish and it is really lightweight as well so you can wear it all day long!
Thanks a ton Soumyaa!
Paper Mach jewelry looks interesting..a friend of mine was talking t me about the stuff that her wife makes with paper by cutting it and all.. but jewelry should be a unique idea. I would look forward and yeah...burger is soo loaded with fat and all awful products..opening mouth like a giant, makes me nervous too.
ReplyDeleteHi Ekta
ReplyDeleteI find paper jewelery a bit fascinating as it requires a lot of creativity and making it is really fun! I dislike over stuffed burgers and like you said, such a wide opened mouth makes me nervous too :P
Hi Ankita,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment on my Blog. I hope you make it to Bhutan one day. Let me know if you are coming - it would be my pleasure to help you in any way you wish.
Take care
Hi Yeshey
DeleteThanks for the lovely words! I am glad to find a friend from Bhutan! I will definitely contact you if i happen to plan a trip to your beautiful country :)
The book store in our neighborhood is closing down too.
ReplyDeleteLike that colorful and creative paper jewelry.
You must see Eat Street on TLC... well... I am not saying anything... just watch it when they have burgers or wraps or tacos on the show. ;)
Hi Shilpa
Deletesad..many bookstores are fast shutting shops. Yup, paper jewelry is not only funky, it is creative as well! hehe! do you think i'll be able to sit through an entire episode :P
OMG we really have similar likes and dislikes. And boy i'm glad there was a part 1 too. Ruskin Bond you know i've met him when he visited my school in Chennai. i often quote from his books. My posts on birds in Delhi well i have quoted from one of his books. Yeah i taught the XII Economics in Chennai when he had visited us and i have a picture of him with me. i love his books too.
ReplyDeleteQuilling and jewellery made of that...i have bought danglers of that...bought a set meaning the pendant with thread and matching earrings but gifted that to a friend but love paper jewellery even when it is not quilling, and if it is as a papier mache jewellery.
That burger eating thing yeah it's disgusting when people are seen eating like that. you know that movie Laaga Chunari Mei Daag, well not a very great movie but it has that good looking Kunal Kapoor. i guess he plays ad some brilliant creative adman character and there is a scene when he meets Konkana Sen when she comes to the same office as a new recruit. And he is eating this burger in the same disgusting manner with the drippings remaining on the sides of his chin. Trust me Ankita i know in real life he may be a clean person but everytime i think about it i get that same yuck feeling...and that feeling that scene returns even when i see him now looking so cool and good on the yacht in his plaid shirt and cool bermudas...queer but it's like that. The rational mind tells me it was just a role he was playing but some scenes create a very nasty impact...like the guy is a smelling like a skunk disgusting man...
Accha by and by pls return to my comment box again...a piece of info i left for u there as a reply to ur comment and because u r a nature lover want u to check that flower out...on Google...might as well tell it here too. Solandra maxima...check that out too. :) :) :)
Yup! I have grown up reading Ruskin bond and i just loveee him! quilling is so attractive! i have not seen that movie but its songs were really boring i remember. such scenes make me feel like vomiting...yuck
DeleteInteresting observations.
ReplyDeleteKudos to your creativity.
Sad about the book store.
Geetashree
Hi Maam
DeleteThanks a lot! yes, I really miss having some good bookstores in my city.