The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis BorgesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was smitten by Borges after our first encounter. So much so that even his name could make me jump around and ramble in excitement. More so because of the rarity of coming across his name. It was thus with a mild surprise that I pulled out the book bearing his name in a small and endearing cafe in McLeodganj. It bore the title of "The Book Of Imaginary Beings" and I immediately started fantasizing about what the pages might be like. Unfortunately I did not have the time to read the book then so I made a mental note about it and ordered it when I got back to Pune.
The book is something of a modern bestiary indulging in the imaginary creatures from across the world and over aeons of time. Borges has curated a list of the most remarkable imaginary creatures that titillate the readers imagination. He presents these beings with his bit of research on their origin and mentions. His commentary not only serves to educate, but also incites one to think and imagine. The small book is crowded with wonderful creatures. Some are often read in popular and classic fiction, like the Centaur, the Minotaur, the Dragon, the Phoenix or the Gnomes. Some are rarely found mentioned or come from folklore, like the Tin Pig, A Bao A Qu, Hochigan, Kujata and more.
I read the book as it prescribed : in small morsels. To bite off a few creatures at a time and chew on them, savour and swallow them before biting off the next lot. It was not just the collection that was brilliant but also the research and commentary associated with each creature. Borges still remains somewhere on the top of my list. He has the power to preempt any book when he comes along.
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