Eight things about me.

Again tagged by Akshay. Actually this was the first tag. But I just HAD to talk about my first love - books - first. So here we go.

1. I have four moms - Amma, Siya, Jachi, Patti. My moms sisters and her mother make it to this list as I grew up in their arms as much as amma's.

2. My starbucks name was Sophie for the longest time :). I also went by Sofia in Peru. I hate being called Regina as most americans tend to. I'd rather use a fake name than have my real name distorted. I have now started using Raaga. It happens to be my "pet-name". :) My mom gave me a nick that means something beautiful. :) Thanks ma. Everyone who knows me well enough uses that - including co workers :).

3. I dont like milk. I eat cereal with yougurt every morning. In fact I love cereals with yougurt so much I also end up eating it for dinner very often. I like to add some farsan in it to make it crunchier :).

4. I always listen to radio while driving. When I reach home/work and a song i like is playing, I sit in the car till the song finishes and then get out.:)

5. I am a huge Harry Potter fan. Last year the night before the book release ( I order teh books 6 months in advance so its at my doorstep the morning its released) my friend and I went to birthday party dressed up as Harry Potter.

6. Two years ago I auditioned for a local Salsa Dance team. I was asked to join the amateur group and I didn't. I plan to audition to teach Step aerobics at 24 Hour fitness this year.

7. I have never studied/worked later than 9/10 pm. I'll get up at 5 am if need be but I turn into a pumpkin after midnight. I dont particularly enjoy staying awake talking through the night either. If it can wait till morning it should. I have been cursed by all my friends for this all my life :)

8. I can touch my nose with my tongue.


I know these are 8 weird things - but who said I was normal ?

Books

I have been tagged by Akshay. And here it goes:

1. Book that changed your life: Hmm. Well many books have influenced me and my thought process. But to pick just one that completely changed me.. that would be impossible. I havent read such a book yet :). But to be a sport I'll list some that at various stages in my life have made me think about what I believe in.
Mahabharata - C. Rajagopalachari. I read this as a kid many times over. I think it still remains my favourite story to date.
The Hidden Flower - Pearl Buck. Shattered quite a few of my teenage romantic notions.
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand. I dont plan to ever re-read this book. It can only be read and enjoyed while you are in college and believe you are a rebel.
Harry Potter - J.K Rowling. I rediscovered my childhood joys at 24.
Of Human Bondage - Somerset Maugham. Simply brilliant. It had to be mentioned simply because he writes so beautifully that it astonished me beyond words.

2. Book you have read more than once: This is a toughie. There are soo many of them. But the most number of times would have to be Malory Towers - ALL the terms by Enid Blyton and I guess pretty much all the book by her have kept me very very busy through summers in High school.

3. Book I'd take to a deserted island: Haha. I steal Axe's choice here :) The HItchhikers guide to the galaxy - complete set. I treied reading it a few years ago and I didnt get it at all. Being stuck on a deserted island with it is the only way ill ever get it I think :). And Also Ernest Hemmingways - For whom the Bells Toll. Over the last two years I am half way through it. Its too heavy. A deserted island alone will help me appreciate its beauty.:)

4. Book that made you laugh: Three Men in a boat - Jerome.K.Jerome. P.G Wodehouse's Blanding Castle books. I am talking about Loud rolling on the floor laughing reading these books.

5. Book that made you cry: I dont cry over books. I weep for characters. :). Again so many. Love in the time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez.. I remember I was reading this book out loud when we were driving to Grand Canyon. My friend and colleague was reading the book at the same time in Spanish. And reading just like that I started crying. But I am a sucker for some characters. Oh I cried so much when Sirius Black died.

6. Book I wish I had written: Hmm...Would have to be Life of Pi - Yann Martel. Simply because its underlying message is everything I believe in :) and i wouldlove to write about the power of believing sometime :).

7. Book I wish had never been written : None. There are many bad books pointless books that I have read - but really I never wish that they didnt exist.

8. Book I am currently reading : I just finished The gospel according to Jesus Christ - Jose Saramogo. The book thats in my bag right now that I am starting is A Terry Pratchett - Witches Abroad gift from my tagger :). The book club book I am supposed to be reading is Cats cradle - Kurt Vonnegut.

9. Book I have been meaning to read : Tons actually. But now after i am done with the number 8 - next in queue are Haroun and the Sea of stories - Salman Rushdie and The Argumentative Indian - Amartya Sen. Oh and to finish reading Freakanomics.

10. Tagging: Everyone who reads this blog. I am always on the lookout for new and interesting books. Please leave me a message saying you will post it and Ill come check out your booklist.