Thanks Coelho

Let's give credit where it's due. The seed of the idea was from something I read in a Paulo Coelho interview.
He decided that it wasn't of any use to collect books. So once he has read it, he would leave it around in park benches, trains, public places. So someone else would read it.
Since I am not generous by nature, I can't bear the thought of giving away my books, which I have spent good money on buying, and time on choosing.
So this is the next best thing.
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Lists

I will soon upload the booklist. I have it in simple excel format. Trying to get a good freeware that will make it more browse-able. As of now, our Doha bookshelf (excluding what has been lent to friends) has over 200 books.
Will add the books we have back home as well. But that will be much later.
The books listed doesn't include collection of comics.
Our friends and we are quite excited by this little project.
Qatar desperately needs a library. Let's be part of small beginnings.
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Some of my favourite...

Please refer to previous post for purpose of this blog.

But here are some of my favourite authors, of whose I have more than a few books.
In no particular order:

Rohinton Mistry
Ann Patchett
Stephen King
Thomas Hardy
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
J K Rowling
Kiran Nagarkar

There are loads of other writers. I will write about them by and by.
The next few entries I will give a brief on why I like these authors.
There is going to be no method to my chronicles.
If there are authors you would like to introduce, please do so in the comment box.

Hopefully over the next several weeks, before the 'Library' gets going, I would have created a database of books in my shelf.
Looking for a good software that is browsable and can be uploaded online.

Does This Interest You

Ok, I have loads of books here, on a whole range of topics. Over the last eight years in Doha, my husband and I have been ferrying books from home and ordering them online.

We read many of these books more than once.

Here is what I thought. We will lend you the books.

This is the basic idea. You pay no rental fee. You pay either QR50 as a refundable deposit, or donate two of your books (not refundable) to the collection. Every week, we will fix an hour or two as open house.

Come in. Browse. And take your pick. Only 2 books at a time.

This is just an idea I am bouncing around now. Operations will begin after summer.

Please note, this is NOT a social club. It is not for profit. We just have some great books we would like to share. And we would like to be a part of a a community of book lovers here. And hopefully get introduced to new authors and new genres as well.

This is not a book club or reading group. Time enough for that.

Do mail back with your comments and suggestions. Only if you are seriously interested.

qatar.booklovers@gmail.com