I am a hoarder of books and a lover of the written word. Books are my instruments of time-travel, my way of escaping everyday life and slipping into new and undiscovered worlds. I can frequently be found lamenting the fact that some of my favorite people are, in fact, not real, but characters in my favorite books.

I now spend evenings reading Dr Seuss in a loop to my four-year-old.

I grew up in a home full of classics, with a grandmother who read Jane Austin to me at 10. I spent my childhood leafing through old hardcover books with yellowing pages.

When I moved continents a few years ago, two large bookshelves traveled with me, populated by books I’ve read and books I plan to read.

My love of stories led me to a career in journalism. I have spent the last 15 years chasing people and stories. I was earlier assistant editor at The Times of India.

My investigations into the world in which we live have convinced me that truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction.

My love for books and conversations makes me particularly excited to be a part of book clubs and lead discussions that tease hidden meanings and undiscovered ideas from the pages we read.