Out came a thought and then another...

I had a friend in college, the only person I know personally who had finished that book. He begged me for many years to read it in vain.. He even tried bribing me by getting me beers. I would just drink them and go to sleep. One fine day, it all changed- I walked up to him and as if nothing had happened asked for 'the book'. He dashed to his trunk and books flew left and right until he came back with a grin. I read the book for two full hours and 40 pages and gave up. Something about the number of characters? maybe a mental block? or was it just to irritate him further? The book remains an unfinished project. Maybe you will be the one who inspires me to take it up again.

Oh! I didn't realise 'The last Mughal' is by William Dalrymple. I have read 3 of his- The age of Kali, The city of Djinns and In Xanadu.

When I was considering buying my own copy, my then landlady's dad (a top class Dubliner himself) had a neat suggestion. He told me that one way to enjoy Joyce is to read it aloud. This is especially true of certain passages from the notoriously difficult Finnegan's Wake. Nevertheless, never quite tried it out for I attract too much attention especially with a fake Irish accent! Anyway, my Bloomsday target for completing Ulysses last year lapsed, and have therefore reset it for this year. Care to join in? Would definitely like to team up with another Joycean in Chennai. (This is in case you don't manage your March deadline... sorry to wish otherwise!)

:-D Cheers! Wish you the best in finishing Ulysses. But it is not a book one can rush through. There were days when I simply kept reading and re-reading the first 10 pages. Sometimes I wished I never completed it. :-)
But best of luck. Hope you do. The Last Mughal is indeed interesting. I am still reading it. Very informative.

@Manohar: I think I have a mental block. So I am glad that you have a similar one too ;) Did I tell you that on the list of the mentally blocked ones sits The Life of Pi as well? I bought it because you rated it so high and then I never got past two chapters (of which I think I read Chapter One leaning on a shelf in Landmark!) And yeah Dalrymple. I've also read only his travel books, Age of Kali, From the Holy Mountain and City of Djinns. Missed White Mughals though almost bought it.
Btw, if I finish my March bet, be assured that I shall provoke you into a bet to finish as well!

@Anand: Much trying will happen for the March deadline because it would be awful to lose this bet. Thankfully I did not commit to proving how much of the book I understand! So I could always read it again, aloud, slowly, properly. I'm certainly game for the June 16 target.

@Eroteme: Now, now, why on earth are you grinning like that? My plight is that amusing eh E? Sigh. Btw, do you remember how long it took you to read the book the first time? Please tell me it was a year and that will be the perfect icing. Thanks for the wishes!

Can I borrow your copy after you finish? This way, I can tell truthfully, "I am waiting for Lavanya to finish reading, so I can borrow from her". Relieves the feeling of guilt, you know.

@Chenthil: yeah right, how convenient :( 'after you finish' - words that weigh a ton at the moment!