reading habit
Book Editor’s note
Varud Gupta is the author of ‘Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan’, which explores the intersection of food and faith in India; and the graphic novel ‘Chhotu’, a coming-of-age story set in 1947 Chandni Chowk. He's been a NY cheesemonger, an Argentine asador, a Peruvian bartender, and a spy in countless household kitchens.
When not writing or traveling, he's usually eating, collecting Instant Noodles, teaching Storytelling, or playing Dungeons and Dragons. Unsurprisingly, he was our go-to choice for our fiendishly fun Book Addict’s Quiz.
What is your most powerful and/or cherished childhood memory of a book?
There are a couple of memories that lean into the most ‘powerful’ category. I remember standing in line all night for the release of the sixth ‘Harry Potter’ book back when extravagant launch parties used to take place. We’d all dress up and play as wizards for the evening. Hours after, celebrations came to a close, my copy was safe in hands and a smile upon my face leaving the bookstore. Only to hear commotion from the outside. There was a car driving by with someone yelling SNAPE KILLS DUMBLEDORE. The event was in the news the next day. And this was in the early days of viral videos. I unfortunately experienced it first-hand.
Another ‘powerful’ memory: I loved reading the ‘Berenstain Bears’ series. Recently stumbled upon a Reddit-borne controversy regarding the spelling of the title which involves parallel universes and the Mandela Effect. I might even be a believer. (Read more here—although I do feel strange linking to an article on Seventeen).
<Ah the literary equivalent of a driveby shooting...>
What line of literature or poetry can you quote ad nauseam? Brownie points if you can tell us when and where you quoted it most recently.
My eighth grade English teacher probably left behind the most profound reading legacy for me. In particular, everything Shakespeare—such as the opening lines to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (“Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”) often silently flutter into my mind whenever I see or experience household drama. More notably, we also watched the musical version of ‘Les Misérables’ that year and we used to be the type of geeks to run about school singing the songs. I’m a bit rusty, but ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ and ‘Castle in a Cloud’ easily come to mind—though I’ll probably never admit to it outside of this interview.
<Shakespearean tragedies, Indian families. Eh, same difference.>
An author you adored as a child but haven’t thought about in years?
Not an author, but Archie comics were a staple prop of our bathroom growing up. We’d always smuggle copies from my aunt’s house to restock our toilet-adjacent collection.
Which book would you gift to your new best friend, and which to your worst enemy?
I’ve gifted many copies of ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller’ by Italo Calvino. Partly because it is one of my favourite books. And partly because I once read a story of two people falling in love over the book—and my inner SRK went into overdrive. My enemy? I’d Wile E Coyote drop a copy of ‘Infinite Jest’ on them.
<Dropping a copy of IJ on people is bound to kill them in more ways than one 😉>
I would love to see a movie/series adaptation of ___________ starring ____ as _____
The children’s series ‘Amelia Bedelia’ with Phoebe Waller-Bridge starring as Amelia Bedelia.
<A foul-mouthed Amelia? Every parent’s horror and child’s delight! >
A book review that was better than the book?
Any positive review of ‘The Fountainhead’, ever.
<Oh look, we dug up one for your reading pleasure—and in the New York Times circa 1943, no less!>
Which book do you pretend to have read?
‘The Game’ by Neil Strauss which touts the ability to teach one how to (from an Amazon reviewer) “hook up with women.” I got the original version (before the re-print apparently changed it from pick-up guide to more of a storybook) from a friend and it made me feel so gross to read. So, I feigned interest although going to bars to ‘meet’ people gives me extreme anxiety.
<Men like Strauss may have many things—’game’ is not one of them.>
What is the first “forbidden” book you read in secret?
Not forbidden as in hidden-from-my-mother forbidden, but forbidden as in probably-best-for-the-world-not-to-know would have to be ‘My Immortal’—the Harry Potter fan-fic series. It’s so bad, but priceless—more so when you dare a friend into doing a dramatic reading of it.
<“Hi my name is Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way and I have long ebony black hair (that’s how I got my name) with purple streaks and red tips that reaches my mid-back and icy blue eyes like limpid tears and a lot of people tell me I look like Amy Lee... I’m not related to Gerard Way but I wish I was because he’s a major fucking hottie. I’m a vampire but my teeth are straight and white. I have pale white skin.” CANNOT STOP READING>
What’s one of the funniest books you’ve ever read? Something apart from Wodehouse, Adams, Durrell et al would be even better.
Hate to bring up the same book twice, but ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller’ is probably the book that I vividly recall smiling and snickering to myself while reading. It’s a hoot. Honourable mentions: ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, 'The Adventure Zone’ graphic novels, and ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’.
<The Adventure Zone… colour us intrigued.>
Send us a photo of your tsundoku pile.
Room is currently under construction because of major water leakage during our lovely Covid year. So book piles are now boxes, of which the largest section is 'The Wheel of Time’ collection. Just couldn’t seem to find the time to get through it all. Now eagerly awaiting the TV adaptation.
<120/100 for ambition and the epic-sized binge-reading #fail>
Note: Reading Habit is curated by our books editor Anushree Kaushal. Want to send along recommendations, feedback or just say hi? Email her at kaushalanushree@gmail.com