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Would You Like Some Bread With That Book? And Other Instances of Literary Love
If you really think about it, there are only two kinds of those who spend the week before a trek to the Everest base camp training and eating right, and those who lie in bed agonizing over which book should make it into their backpack. Would You Like Some Bread With That Book? is about this second group of people. Join the author in bookstore aisles as she fantasizes about falling in love with men who share her love of books or is spat upon by a book-crazed gentleman who is compelled to sell his library. A collection of 14 evocative and laugh-out-loud funny essays about books and reading, this book speaks to anyone for whom books are not merely words on a page, but sites of adventure, conversation and reverie.
120 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2012
7 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Veena Venugopal
8 books13 followersVeena Venugopal has been a journalist for the past decade, and is based in Delhi. She writes for Quartz, Atlantic Media's new online magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 5, 2019
If you read extensively/a bit, you would like this book. A collection of 14 essays on her relationship with books that accompanied her during various stages of her life and some more. She mostly talks about books and authors you would know about and doesn't get too literary. I thought she was trying a little too hard to be poignant and funny respectively with her first and second essays. They too were ok. After that, It was smooth and I especially liked her fantasies involving chance meeting with authors and other like-minded people at random at bookstores. I could totally relate with her on her getting too involved with reading on her daily commute (via train) and getting into laughter bursts. She was reading a Bill Bryson. I was reading Vernon God Little. Other than that, I picked a few names (authors) that I think will check out on GR or Amazon. It is written nicely: Engaging and funny.
February 23, 2016
“The pages were dark amber, the paper powdery.”
Would You Like Some Bread With That Book? is a collection of essays about reading by the utterly charming and witty journalist and avid reader, Veena Venugopal. Starting with her earliest memories of reading in Cochin in south India to hilarious high school literary escapades to speed reading in college and through her twenties to pregnancy books and beyond, Venugopal talks about various aspects of the reading experience. I love that she abhors marginalia (something I too loathe but so many of my friends like, bafflingly), has elaborate fantasies of a bookshop romance (preferably with an author she admires), and finds “the entire process of reading simply a relationship between the writer and the reader. It is the reader’s privilege to make of the words what she will….The book I have read is mine alone.”
Aside from her hatred of e-books (I’ll happily argue you on this point Veena!) and some literary snobbiness (don’t hide your pop/mass market books!), I loved this breezy funny little book about reading, and I’m looking forward to picking up her next!
“It’s like a Hrithik Roshan movie or the short kurti or the cosmopolitan cocktail. You know it’s wrong because too many people think it’s right.”
Would You Like Some Bread With That Book? is a collection of essays about reading by the utterly charming and witty journalist and avid reader, Veena Venugopal. Starting with her earliest memories of reading in Cochin in south India to hilarious high school literary escapades to speed reading in college and through her twenties to pregnancy books and beyond, Venugopal talks about various aspects of the reading experience. I love that she abhors marginalia (something I too loathe but so many of my friends like, bafflingly), has elaborate fantasies of a bookshop romance (preferably with an author she admires), and finds “the entire process of reading simply a relationship between the writer and the reader. It is the reader’s privilege to make of the words what she will….The book I have read is mine alone.”
Aside from her hatred of e-books (I’ll happily argue you on this point Veena!) and some literary snobbiness (don’t hide your pop/mass market books!), I loved this breezy funny little book about reading, and I’m looking forward to picking up her next!
“It’s like a Hrithik Roshan movie or the short kurti or the cosmopolitan cocktail. You know it’s wrong because too many people think it’s right.”
April 7, 2016
A light and pleasant read with the highlight being how much Indian readers might relate to some of her experiences. Tends to sag in the middle.
June 8, 2017
Simple read about books if you love books. Must read.
February 18, 2013
Just the other day, I chanced upon Veena Venugopal’s article on a popular site and got hooked to her style of writing. I remember having read her interview months ago but somehow that hadn’t struck a chord. But the article in Kafila certainly did.
I immediately placed an order for her book at the library and got it the next day. This is a kind of book that I would love to write someday. 10 lucid and humorously written essays on Reading. The writer pours her heart out about her first book, the book she had to sneak in with her friend, reading in Mumbai locals, shopping at Strand, reading during pregnancy, her favourite cook-books, and a lot more. Some of her essays took me back to my childhood and college and I could relate to them word by word.
The title story, “Coming Home” and “The rules about reading in Mumbai trains” are my favourite. This book is a must-read for anyone who eats, sleeps and talks books!
A delightful compilation of “literary loves” and a truly enjoyable read!
I immediately placed an order for her book at the library and got it the next day. This is a kind of book that I would love to write someday. 10 lucid and humorously written essays on Reading. The writer pours her heart out about her first book, the book she had to sneak in with her friend, reading in Mumbai locals, shopping at Strand, reading during pregnancy, her favourite cook-books, and a lot more. Some of her essays took me back to my childhood and college and I could relate to them word by word.
The title story, “Coming Home” and “The rules about reading in Mumbai trains” are my favourite. This book is a must-read for anyone who eats, sleeps and talks books!
A delightful compilation of “literary loves” and a truly enjoyable read!
March 12, 2013
Veena Venugopal has been in love with books since eternity. And it's not just books that she has been in love with. She is fascinated by the thrill of buying new books, discovering the joy of re-reading a book after two decades, hanging about in a bookstore anticipating a romantic encounter and more such events that voracious readers like her might have experienced.
'Would you like some bread with that book?' takes you on a joy ride of not just reading a book but experiencing the drama surrounding it too. Reading becomes more than just turning pages and proceeding with the plot; it's actually living the book! And this is when it is reminiscent of several amusing anecdotes turned into 14 essays recounting and discovering new books, authors and of course, the happenings around them. Read full review here - http://articles.timesofindia.indiatim...
'Would you like some bread with that book?' takes you on a joy ride of not just reading a book but experiencing the drama surrounding it too. Reading becomes more than just turning pages and proceeding with the plot; it's actually living the book! And this is when it is reminiscent of several amusing anecdotes turned into 14 essays recounting and discovering new books, authors and of course, the happenings around them. Read full review here - http://articles.timesofindia.indiatim...
May 27, 2012
A funny account of a reader and her adventures with the books.
June 4, 2012
The perfect book for someone who is crazy about reading.
February 20, 2023
Entire passages from her favorite books reproduced in an already short book is not cool. Damn near reproduced the entire first chapter from Bill Bryson's Notes from a small island. So, where's your contribution as an author then? Letting us know that you LOLed to it? Essays were just about okay.
That last essay was good. Ain't gonna give too much away else I should be guilty of the same thing I am accusing her of.
Formatting on the kindle version was out of whack. Some tech issues with the full stops - I had strange boxes appearing where a full-stop ought to have been. I had to convert it to an AZW3 format from the mobi for those to disappear, but doing this caused all the apostrophes ' to vanish, but at least it was less irritating and I made do with it.
That last essay was good. Ain't gonna give too much away else I should be guilty of the same thing I am accusing her of.
Formatting on the kindle version was out of whack. Some tech issues with the full stops - I had strange boxes appearing where a full-stop ought to have been. I had to convert it to an AZW3 format from the mobi for those to disappear, but doing this caused all the apostrophes ' to vanish, but at least it was less irritating and I made do with it.
November 9, 2016
What an awesome book this is! I nodded along in so many places and chuckled at the thought of familiarity in many others. A very well written and enjoyable book for readers by a reader. And has a ton of book recos in there too!
January 3, 2020
This is the book you cheat on other books with. The one night stand that keeps you glowing for hours after. Most importantly, this is the book that makes you want to pick up another book, and then another, and then another. And for some time, you forget about your Netflix subscription.
April 14, 2018
Light read. Hilarious at some places but generic at others. A person who has read diverse book genre might enjoy, else it feels a little disconnected at places.
August 28, 2023
Loved loved loved it. Read it in a single sitting. Will always re-read it
October 16, 2017
This amazing book is a must read for people who love books. I used to travel a lot as a part of my work, and the agony used to be more over which book to take - and I used to end up with 3 different books. Yet the one in the book store in the airport was always more alluring. Of course the answer to this, as some of my friends said was the digital book. But though I have read a few on my ipad, I still like to open my books and smell in the freshness of the pages. The chapter on birds and bees had me clutching to the chair for support - I was laughing so much. I loved the reference to the dictionary where you keep searching for related words and keep going round and round with your knowledge at the same place and frustration multiplying. Thanks to Veena, I have started exploring other writers like Llosa. The chapter on phonics was amazing. With my three year old calling A "Ae" I guess I am in for a phonics ride. The chapter on pregnancy and childbirth had me nodding vigorously so much that I have a crick in my neck.
Each of the chapters had me revisiting my theories and experiences. It is lovely to read your words and experiences in a book written by someone else...
Thank you Veena for this amazing book. I read this book thrice on day one and keep revisiting it...
Each of the chapters had me revisiting my theories and experiences. It is lovely to read your words and experiences in a book written by someone else...
Thank you Veena for this amazing book. I read this book thrice on day one and keep revisiting it...
December 20, 2015
Borrowed this from a friend, and starting reading it on my way back from her place. The first essay was bittersweet and engaging. By the second, I was hooked, and temporarily abandoned other books I was reading to finish this.
The first seven essays were a delight to read, and I found myself really excited about having seven more to go through. But the book sort of went downhill after that. Bibliophilia, which was in the centre in the initial chapters, somehow receded to the background thereafter, and the book became more about musings on other things. Though the author did talk about books and reading in these chapters as well (and they are interesting too), I found myself feeling slightly let down at the end.
Veena's writing is decent, but not really good. Had the theme and content of the book not been so interesting, I doubt if the writing alone would have sufficed to make me want to keep turning pages.
4.25 on 5.
The first seven essays were a delight to read, and I found myself really excited about having seven more to go through. But the book sort of went downhill after that. Bibliophilia, which was in the centre in the initial chapters, somehow receded to the background thereafter, and the book became more about musings on other things. Though the author did talk about books and reading in these chapters as well (and they are interesting too), I found myself feeling slightly let down at the end.
Veena's writing is decent, but not really good. Had the theme and content of the book not been so interesting, I doubt if the writing alone would have sufficed to make me want to keep turning pages.
4.25 on 5.
October 31, 2013
I could totally relate to the chapters on trying to get your hands on the "forbidden" books in high school, trying to be the perfect mother reading all the pregnancy books only to realize that nothing can prepare you for going through childbirth and having a baby. I felt like as though I am conversing with my friend, when I read the chapter on Phonics and teaching the kid to read. I was shocked reading the chapters on Saudi Arabia and have added more books to my reading list. I think to add to the chapter of Pixel vs Paper along with Kindle vs books, the addiction to goodreads to get my next book to read is also another step into the digital world.
Thank you Veena for such a beautiful book... Please do write more..
Thank you Veena for such a beautiful book... Please do write more..
June 4, 2016
The joy of reading - how the love starts, the special memories and anecdotes, how its integral to your vacations, paper vs pixels, the imaginary connect with your fav authors - all of us (avid readers, that is) have our own versions of it and this book by Veena Venugopal provides a lovely vent to it. She establishes a connect immediately from the start, but sadly, it progresses into a personal memoir with her major life events becoming the core focus of the middle chapters. Gathers itself up somewhat with a wonderful thought on the experience of repeating books.
At ~110 pages, this was probably the fastest I have finished a book. And that includes certain big extracts lifted directly from the author's favorite books.
At ~110 pages, this was probably the fastest I have finished a book. And that includes certain big extracts lifted directly from the author's favorite books.
November 1, 2013
A reader about reading. And if I dare add, a rather charming one at that? But I won't be merely superfluous here in saying that the book is splendid. The bittersweet narration of Veena Venugopal in the essays is what compelled me to finish this book in a day. And this is besides the fact that I loved the writer being so deliciously candid! Experiences need to be engaging as well as a mirror to ourselves. And by ourselves I surely mean the community to which I belong among many - booklovers. It takes one amongst us to know the quirks of another. Needless to say, Venugopal has done this rather brilliantly.
January 15, 2017
Immensely readable..I will go find the author now on Twitter
August 29, 2022
This is a book which as an avid reader I would come back to again and again. This contains essays about literary love and everything related to it. Anyone who lives, breathes and eats books should have this in their personal collection.
August 3, 2013
Short and satisfying ...with a few very relatable stories ... Considering I go through short stories irreverently without wanting to actually finish any collection completely and my book shelf is dotted by several which i have read here and there... This was as i said, s & s!!
January 23, 2017
A book about books and reading and a delightful one at that. Had me nodding and smiling at so many places and a treasure house for more book recos. In author's words, this is a book that leads to a series of book hunts :)
July 31, 2016
Well I mean it's not the best writing ever but the theme is the best and it's the sort of first book I would write. And maybe will some day.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews