The Kite Runner Reader
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
The Kite Runner Reader
What a coincidence,to have my conversation with Kenneth Kwan just a few nights ago come true today in Kinokuniya,during yet another one of my shopping sprees for books.Initially i didnt have a lot of books in mind to buy,with the "Conversations with God" trilogy by Neale Donald Walsch rather religious based(Im not too hot about this genre in the first place),and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace has a staggering 1400+ pages.1400+ pages might not sound like a lot of pages to you(Actually,if it doesnt you are not even in the vicinity of being a human),but the sight of it at Kinokuniya today totally turned me off.It was like the combination of the new and old testament or something,more daunting than the longest book i have ever read: The Lord of the Rings.I know it is a classic of classics of course,but perhaps not now.Im waiting for an edition with bigger pages with smaller fonts,perhaps 1400+ might be reduced down to 900.Who knows?
Anyway,so the books initially planned to buy turned out to be the books i merely checked out.The ones i bought in the end were rather unexpected,on my part.
1)Rabbit,Run by John Updike
2)Night by Elie Wiesel
3)The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Now,sidetrack a little bit.I had the article i mentioned in the previous entry in mind.And over the conversation with Kenneth Kwan a few nights i had a crazy and rather radical idea to test the idea out.I told him(Of course,it was meant to be a joke)that i am going to go to Kinokuniya one day,look for a book that i loved or hated,then camp there until some good looking girl comes around and picks up that book.When she does so,comment on how great or horrendous that book is,and thus start a good conversation about the book.
Of course,always the idea and never the guts.It was meant to be a joke,really,and of course i didnt have the intention of doing whatever i said when i saw a girl reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini in the Literature section,which happens to be one of my favourite books of all-time.
She was speaking to somebody on the phone then,reaching out for a book on the shelves and later putting it back.She had a white shirt on then,looking like somebody who just got off her work at the office.But of course,it's National Day and her wardrobe merely reminded me of that.Anyway,she had a pair of Levis jeans on,and with the handbag in one hand and books in another(I couldnt make out what she got),she almost looked awkward and clumsy as she tried to negotiate her head in a way,most comfortable to herself as she continued the conversation.
Like i said before,always the idea and never the guts.Kenneth Kwan was on the phone and i reported this perfect opportunity.He actually encouraged me,thinking that whatever i said,i meant it seriously(It was a damn joke!).But of course,i fished out my books,paid for them and left soon after.I didnt linger around long enough to see if she bought anymore books(She was just picking books off the shelves,clearly without prior researches whatsoever),but at least The Kite Runner stayed in her hands when i left the store,so i guess that is great.
I wonder what her reaction would be,if this hideous guy with an iPod plugged into his ears and a bunch of books in his hands were to approach her and go,"That's a GREAT book,but i hope you can stomach the twist".Is it going to be a look of disgust,or a pleasant surprise that somebody is kind enough to offer his opinion?I bet if i am shopping for books in,say,London i will do such a thing for sure,without a doubt.But here in Singapore,it is so hard to know if a person is going to deem you as a runaway lunatic,once you approach him or her like that.Which is why,i always say,i admire courage based on stupidity to a certain extent.You know,people just going up to strangers and ask for numbers and stuff.Sure it's downright dumb to do such things sometimes(I firmly believe in asking for emails instead),but still despite the fact that the courage is based on pure stupidity,it is still in many ways,admirable.
Oh hell,im sure such opportunities will come sooner or later.Besides,though that girl was incredibly attractive(Gosh,what astounding eyes!),i think she is more likely to be the kind of person to brush you off,then hook out a pepper-spray from her handbag and scream,"Molester!"
Better luck next time,camper.
What a coincidence,to have my conversation with Kenneth Kwan just a few nights ago come true today in Kinokuniya,during yet another one of my shopping sprees for books.Initially i didnt have a lot of books in mind to buy,with the "Conversations with God" trilogy by Neale Donald Walsch rather religious based(Im not too hot about this genre in the first place),and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace has a staggering 1400+ pages.1400+ pages might not sound like a lot of pages to you(Actually,if it doesnt you are not even in the vicinity of being a human),but the sight of it at Kinokuniya today totally turned me off.It was like the combination of the new and old testament or something,more daunting than the longest book i have ever read: The Lord of the Rings.I know it is a classic of classics of course,but perhaps not now.Im waiting for an edition with bigger pages with smaller fonts,perhaps 1400+ might be reduced down to 900.Who knows?
Anyway,so the books initially planned to buy turned out to be the books i merely checked out.The ones i bought in the end were rather unexpected,on my part.
1)Rabbit,Run by John Updike
2)Night by Elie Wiesel
3)The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Now,sidetrack a little bit.I had the article i mentioned in the previous entry in mind.And over the conversation with Kenneth Kwan a few nights i had a crazy and rather radical idea to test the idea out.I told him(Of course,it was meant to be a joke)that i am going to go to Kinokuniya one day,look for a book that i loved or hated,then camp there until some good looking girl comes around and picks up that book.When she does so,comment on how great or horrendous that book is,and thus start a good conversation about the book.
Of course,always the idea and never the guts.It was meant to be a joke,really,and of course i didnt have the intention of doing whatever i said when i saw a girl reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini in the Literature section,which happens to be one of my favourite books of all-time.
She was speaking to somebody on the phone then,reaching out for a book on the shelves and later putting it back.She had a white shirt on then,looking like somebody who just got off her work at the office.But of course,it's National Day and her wardrobe merely reminded me of that.Anyway,she had a pair of Levis jeans on,and with the handbag in one hand and books in another(I couldnt make out what she got),she almost looked awkward and clumsy as she tried to negotiate her head in a way,most comfortable to herself as she continued the conversation.
Like i said before,always the idea and never the guts.Kenneth Kwan was on the phone and i reported this perfect opportunity.He actually encouraged me,thinking that whatever i said,i meant it seriously(It was a damn joke!).But of course,i fished out my books,paid for them and left soon after.I didnt linger around long enough to see if she bought anymore books(She was just picking books off the shelves,clearly without prior researches whatsoever),but at least The Kite Runner stayed in her hands when i left the store,so i guess that is great.
I wonder what her reaction would be,if this hideous guy with an iPod plugged into his ears and a bunch of books in his hands were to approach her and go,"That's a GREAT book,but i hope you can stomach the twist".Is it going to be a look of disgust,or a pleasant surprise that somebody is kind enough to offer his opinion?I bet if i am shopping for books in,say,London i will do such a thing for sure,without a doubt.But here in Singapore,it is so hard to know if a person is going to deem you as a runaway lunatic,once you approach him or her like that.Which is why,i always say,i admire courage based on stupidity to a certain extent.You know,people just going up to strangers and ask for numbers and stuff.Sure it's downright dumb to do such things sometimes(I firmly believe in asking for emails instead),but still despite the fact that the courage is based on pure stupidity,it is still in many ways,admirable.
Oh hell,im sure such opportunities will come sooner or later.Besides,though that girl was incredibly attractive(Gosh,what astounding eyes!),i think she is more likely to be the kind of person to brush you off,then hook out a pepper-spray from her handbag and scream,"Molester!"
Better luck next time,camper.
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