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A review by pixeldetective
A Book of Simple Living: Brief Notes from the Hills by Ruskin Bond
5.0
One of the most beautiful books I've ever listened to. The 2 hour audiobook was a treat and now I want to get the hardcover just so I can go through it again and highlight the lines that spoke to me.
I never got into Ruskin Bond as a kid or as a teenager because I didn't read much back then. But after listening to this books, I've ordered two Bond books and I'm really looking forward to reading them.
The two most meaningful things I took from this are about writing and life.
About writing: It's amazing how Bond can weave a narrative or a story with such a simple language. And it directly hits you in the heart. There's something beautiful about how he constructs words and it's something I want to study and emulate. It goes to show that you don't need to write complicated words or sentences to be a great writer. Ultimately, you're writing to be understood.
About writing and happiness: One thing that stuck out was how Bond was aware of his limitations as a writer and choose to accept them. And he thinks he is better for it. He writers as well as he can and doesn't worry a lot. When he can't write, he takes a walk on the hills or tends to the garden (when he had one). I think as a writer, this is very important. And it's key to peace and happiness. We can't all be great writers or we can't be great writers in every field. Choose what kind of writing you like, accept the ends of you talent and then work within it. Maybe that itself will help you get better (this is something Bond didn't address in the book but I'd like to know more about).
About life: I think Bond has lead one of the most romantic and wholesome lives of any writer or person I know. And he still continues to do so, even at the age of 80. He is single and doesn't have any kids but he's had his fair share of love (both romantic and the other kind). To me it's good proof that living simply, longterm, is the best strategy.
I never got into Ruskin Bond as a kid or as a teenager because I didn't read much back then. But after listening to this books, I've ordered two Bond books and I'm really looking forward to reading them.
The two most meaningful things I took from this are about writing and life.
About writing: It's amazing how Bond can weave a narrative or a story with such a simple language. And it directly hits you in the heart. There's something beautiful about how he constructs words and it's something I want to study and emulate. It goes to show that you don't need to write complicated words or sentences to be a great writer. Ultimately, you're writing to be understood.
About writing and happiness: One thing that stuck out was how Bond was aware of his limitations as a writer and choose to accept them. And he thinks he is better for it. He writers as well as he can and doesn't worry a lot. When he can't write, he takes a walk on the hills or tends to the garden (when he had one). I think as a writer, this is very important. And it's key to peace and happiness. We can't all be great writers or we can't be great writers in every field. Choose what kind of writing you like, accept the ends of you talent and then work within it. Maybe that itself will help you get better (this is something Bond didn't address in the book but I'd like to know more about).
About life: I think Bond has lead one of the most romantic and wholesome lives of any writer or person I know. And he still continues to do so, even at the age of 80. He is single and doesn't have any kids but he's had his fair share of love (both romantic and the other kind). To me it's good proof that living simply, longterm, is the best strategy.