Landmark Bookstore

Located in Forum, Koramangala, this is a bookstore with one of the best collection of books I have come across. Going there is an experience in itself. You get educated on the latest arrivals, various genres and the range of books in each category. The bookstore is extensively categorized and that makes it easy to find books and also browse subjects. The Indian writers section is one of the largest I have come across in any of the other stores. The categories range from Cookery, Commercial Interiors to Cinema and of course an entire aisle on literature and fiction.

As soon as you enter the store, you come across a range of latest arrivals, talked about/reviewed/prize winning books. There are also displays of award winning authors. Recently the flavor was Doris Lessing, with an entire display of all her works. I have listed out the categories here in case you are looking for something in particular: Cookery, Sports, Gardening, Photography, Wildlife, Encyclopedia, VB, Networking, Java, SQL, Art, Craft, Interiors, Fashion, Windows, Cinema, Finance, Trading, Certifications, Communication, net, Commercial Interiors, Health and Fitness, Marketing, Puzzles, English Reference and a lot many more. I came across a section called book CDs, which is basically books along with their movie versions – really liked this concept. They have a separate children’s section with a good collection of favorite authors. You would also find Kannada books here.

My one grouse with this bookstore is that it does not have a place to sit. There are stools at selected locations and you wonder why they are piled high with books. If a free one comes by, you would notice that it has ‘books only’ printed on top. So these stools are hallowed ground unavailable for occupation. So you come across people perched at the foot of a pillar. Though you are spoilt for choice here, you get exhausted standing around after a while. We had to break our sojourn among the aisles for a coffee break.

Landmark also has a collection of CDs, perfume, cutlery, toys and other items on the third floor. The book store is on the 2nd floor but the billing happens only on the 3rd, so you pass through all the goodies on that floor as well and probably end up spending a bit more on things other than books.

We wanted to bring you a few photographs of the place but the first one we took, of the entrance clearly says ‘no photography allowed inside’. So you will have to make do with a snapshot of just the entrance.

Kenneth Anderson’s tales from the Indian Jungle

For those of us in India who’ve grown up on tales of Corbett, Anderson will rekindle similarly fond memories of an India where fangs and claws still ruled supreme. Readers not familiar with Corbett or his ilk of hunter turned conservationists need not worry about finding themselves alienated, for Anderson possesses a rare talent which makes anything woven by him a sheer delight to read. Anderson was a british hunter turned naturalist who made India his home and much like Corbett fell in love with its diverse flora and fauna (more with the latter). Both these hunters had their fair share of ending the budding careers of many a menacing man eaters (Humans used to be a viable prey species not all that long ago you know), but that’s where the resemblance ends. Anderson frequented the pristine rain forests and dry scrub jungles of South India compared to where his predecessor operated and Anderson also got to personally witness the results of an uncontrolled population boom and the havoc it has since wreaked on the India’s ecosystems.

Getting back to less gloomy subjects, Anderson’s anecdotes (for that is the gist of everything written by him) is a first person account of his experiences in the jungles of South India. He regales the readers with delightful tales of various close encounters with some of the most majestic and dangerous creatures of sub continent, with the Tiger being the foremost of these illustrious beasts. The narration is often pacy and nail biting leaving the reader breathless. Anderson also lends a warm and personal touch to the anecdotes, a style which is uniquely his own. The reader is transported back to a period where the nascent young nation was taking its first uncertain steps from a colonial hangover and this setting adds even more to the charm of an already endearing theme. Imagine, no computers, TVs, cellphones, gameboys, discos or urban jungles, replaced instead by virgin rainforests where a tiger roams in all its pomp, dusk as witnessed from the comfortable porch of a jungle bungalow, the call of the wild filling your every waking hour… Sigh I could just go on, but I'll have to settle for reading Anderson. Somebody invent a time machine and hurry up.

Higginbothams

Located in the heart of the city on that prime real estate (M G Road) that attracts the largest transitory & tourist population Higginbothams is one of the oldest book stores in Bangalore. The old Victorian façade very similar to the Deccan Herald office next door evokes memories of the colonial past of the cantonment that Bangalore was for the British troops.

Although the rundown nature of the store is not very inviting, the fact that it’s just off the road and you can see the books from outside draws you in. The ground floor is what I would term a good example of “playing to the gallery”. Books are not really classified here other than being an assortment that would appeal to the masses. From the current Nobel winner Doris Lessing, the latest best seller Kite Runner (Khaled Hossini) to the usual suspects Agatha Christie, Terry Pratchett, Sherlock Holmes and Sidney Sheldon. For the tourist a quick pick of everything ‘Indian’, Books on Yoga, Books on the traditional dance forms (Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Mohini Attam et al) Kamasutra, Travel Guides, thankfully nothing on snake charming though :)

A doorway leads into the deeper recesses of the ground floor which is surprisingly well lit and ventilated. Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries and other reference books abound here. A large collection of Tamil books and the ever popular, among architects, home builders and carpenters alike, Fevicol Furniture Books are two notable finds here.

The first floor with a larger area is well laid out and spacious. Better categorization of books, mostly non fiction, comics and children’s books.

Source: Google Maps