The Collection by Peter Ackroyd

I stumbled on to this book by accidental at a Borders sale.

Ackroyd's literary expressions are refreshingly precise and concise. There's no unconscious display of verbosity or even a hint of superiority that is generally common among some of the lesser known authors.

It has been a long time since I have come across a writer of Ackroyd's calibre. The last time I found someone whom I thought had an unusual way with words was Thomas Babington Macauley.

Macauley lived in 19th century England. Sometimes as one journeys nonchalantly across the dominion of words, one meets a stranger who offers more than a friendly nod or a warm shake of hands.

Peter Ackroyd is a wonderful writers. He can spin a tale, tell a story or reviews a biography with the touch of a learned ancient one.

I would have been pleased if we could meet over coffee and discuss books and life in general without any forethought of carrying the friendship beyond the dining table.

England has produced many fine writers through the ages. Ackroyd just happens to belong to our century - the 21st.

May he continue to illuminate this realm of words that serve as a beacon for us searching for that wonderful turn of phrase and a clutch of artistic expressions that will sustain our literary interest in our hours of solitude.

Surfing the Himalayas by Frederick Lenz

There are some books about spirituality that are meant for relaxation and not deep reflection.

This is one of them. I found and bought this book at a low-profiled book store in the city. Normally, I would read the synosis on the cover jacket and try to imagine what the rest of the book is all about.

One of the considerations that led me to purchase this book was its low price. I thought it was worth a couple hours of my time.

This book can be said to be a modern version and a watered down remake of Lobsang Rampa's books that began with The Third Eye.

It is interesting but somehow I got the feeling that you can interpret it whichever way you want but the bottomline is: don't be obsessed by it.

As with most of books of this genre, there's an unlying message. But don't fret if you can't figure it out. It is an interesting journey into what-ifs and if-it's-ever-possibles.

I confess I had a good time digesting the book and Mr Lenz gets a pat on the back from me. There are some inherent truths in his discourse about his imaginary journey in the Himalayas.

If you must, the whole plot sounds a bit Hollywood-ish but it's all in good fun. Frederick Lenz became what I perceive and believe to be a mini-celebrity among those who clamour for New Age religion.

But this book is not so much about religion as it is about self-discovery if you don't look too deeply or take life too seriously. That's one of the reasons why I found the book so refreshingly light.

Somehow I wish there were more books like this one. Books that skims the surface of that deep pool called spirituality are mostly dry-as-dust tomes. Who has the time to digest such books.

The first five paragraphs are enough to turn on the television. A writer can only succeed if he or she captures and hold the attention of his audience for an indefinite period of time.

Surfing the Himalayas is a bit of an adventure, a touch of inner self-exploration and a glance at the lighter side of life.

Frankly, life is meant to be enjoyed - fully. And if you must get serious about anything, it's all about gladdening the heart and soothing the soul. I hope that is not too cryptic for you guys.

If you want to read a book on religion mixed with a light dose of spirituality, this could very well be the title for you.

Even if you don't gain an ounce of spirituality in between the pages, you will have the honour of partaking in some of the antics that the writer indulged in throughout the chapters.

There's a thinly veiled sense of humour somewhere in the pages. That's the idea. Have fun, gain some knowledge but mainly watch time stand still as your mind skips the corners and bounce over the hurdles of life's imaginary obstacles.