Book Box : The addictive art of pairing books

When it comes to pairing books, the experience can feel like a compounding of pleasures, much like combining a cappuccino with a croissant or food with wine. It can be done by reading two entire novels that revolve around the same relationship or by pairing fiction with biography. Recently, the addictive art of pairing books has become an obsession for me.

One of my first pairings involved the "He Said, She Said" duo, Mr. Bridge and Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell. These two books tell the story of an upper middle-class couple, Walter and India Bridge, who live in Kansas City between the two world wars. We see the Bridges' life through their three children, experiencing the mundane aspects of domestic life.

However, by reading both perspectives, one can see the complexity of the relationship. This creates an unsettling realization about one's own family, making it a deeply unsettling but also thought-provoking experience.

Another pairing that I enjoyed was the "She Says, He Says" duo of Bengal Nights by Mircea Eliade and It Does Not Die by Maitreyi Devi. Reading these books together can be compared to watching one man pass off stereotypes and fantasies as facts, while the woman bravely challenges them. It emphasizes the importance of telling one's own story, as if not, someone else will and they will undoubtedly skew it. Additionally, translation plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of the story.

When it comes to attributing credit, pairings can also be insightful. Some book clubs have tackled the subject of "Who Got the Credit?" by reading works about women whose contributions have been overlooked or overshadowed by their male counterparts. Anna Funder's Wifedom and Marie Benedict's The Other Einstein are two such books that delve into the lives of Eileen and the other Einstein, respectively.

Both books present a different approach to highlighting the women's stories, sparking an engaging discussion on which method brings more authenticity and emotional depth.

Looking ahead, I plan to venture to Afghanistan through the lens of two books - The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet and Shadow City by Taran N. Khan. Pairing these accounts with a novel like The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul will give me a vivid and comprehensive understanding of the region. In conclusion, there's no denying that reading multiple books on a subject can be a thrilling experience, filled with drama, questions, and a deeper understanding of the stories being told.