Bestselling Author Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan (You are Here) is here again with her new book!
Confessions of a Listmaniac: The Life and Times of Layla the Ordinary
And here’s your chance to win a free autographed copy of the book
Make a list of things that you love (or loved) or hate (or hated) about being a teenager.
The top three lists picked by Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan , author of Confessions of a Listmaniac, will win an author signed copy of the book.
What’s more, if you live in Mumbai, you will also win an evening of coffee and list sharing with Meenakshi.
How?
1. Create your list on your blog/website. Simply add a link back to www.FriendsOfBooks.com.
2. E-mail us at cs@friendsOfbooks.com and let us know your blogaddress i.e blog URL.
Or
Simply put your list down in the comments section below.
Contest closes on June 15th, so hurry!
wow.. looks interesting!!!
Things I Loved
1, No worries about future Lived only in the present.
2. Interaction with friends was more
3.No need to count ur calories before eating.No need to watch weight.
4.Future was always bright
Things I hated:
1.Constant reminder by parents to study hard and get more marks
2.Lack of freedom
Teenage is the journey between our childhood and our adulthood. Entering the teenage means getting the right to take our own decisions. Its a feeling of being independent and living free.
Teenage is probably the best period in anyone’s life.The best thing i love being a teenager is that we are in that enviable stage where things are positioned to go our way.We are young, full of energy an totally carefree.
My first cellphone,my first crush,my bestest buddies,my first scooty, hanging out,partying,falling in love for the first time,first break up…. so many things are there which make teenage the most beautiful and adventurous period in one’s life
Things I Love:
1. The oppurtunity to explore just about anything – from adventure activites to people to internships to future options
2. To be a part of the ‘youth’ tagline – the promising future of the country and the most irresponsible generation – that makes us interesting. People are willing to listen to us and our ideas and we’re allowed to implement them in our ‘jugaad’ style – where we work around the system, not for or against it.
3. Break ups and percentages form the troughs whereas the highs can range from a good iq score to becoming the youngest entrepreneur to anything under the sun.
4. Little things make us happy. We’re not fighting for sustenance just yet, nor are we encumbered by responsibilities.
5. Social Networking Era: We facebook/linked in and form connections via networks instantly. And that’s what works for us in many ways – from boyfriends to employment.
Things I Hate:
1. Our amazing ideas are always tagged as ‘immature’, ‘not practical’ and ‘unrealistic’ when there is infact scope sometimes. We are given the ‘logistics’ excuse.
2. Talking on the phone makes us overtly dependent and not receiving messages causes depression.
3. Having to lie about parties and people – our judgement doesn’ t count – we haven’t seen the world yet, then please let us!
4. Shopping forms a major part of a teenage girls’s life. It’s quite bugging honestly, to shop every few months – we have no excuse to be outdated on music and clothes.
5. Noone cares if we’re idle. I hate it because It’s only when we sit for interviews do we realize that we have no identity if we can’t prove it beyond a friends’ circle. Cut throat competition forms a major aspect of our life – from escapism to immense pressure! And most of us keep stalling it!
My list of loves and hates!
1. I loved putting up posters of all my favourite stars up on the walls when I was in my adolescent years. It’s amazing how I no longer want posters but just elegant mirrors and paintings!
2. I love dogs… but I’m scared of every one of them other than my own little Yorkie! I absolutely hated bugs of all sorts… terrified of them and that hasn’t changed much.
3. As a teenager, I loved the idea of being a paediatrician, irrespective of the fact that I wasn’t too fond of kids! I used to hate it when they jumped up on my bed or started drawing on my books.
4. Up and until my 10th grade, I used to collect all kinds of stationery. Stickers, pens, pencils, letter pads, cards, letters, glow-in-the-dark stuff… you name it! Although I have outgrown the hobby, I still find myself lost every time I set foot in a stationery store.
5. I hate (d) sports, but love watching figure skating, gymnastics or synchronized swimming on TV, whenever I get the opportunity.
6. I used to love dressing up at home and pretending I’m in a fashion show in front of the mirror.
7. Back in the days, my friends and I were crazy about the mystery books by Enid Blyton, Baby Sitter’s Club by Ann. M. Martin, the scary series Goosebumps by R.L. Stine and Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal. I’d nag my parents to buy me a new one, every time I was done with a book!
8. My parents put me in karate class when I was in my pre-teens. Although it was a pain, I loved how my body was so flexible back then. I could jump and do kicks, back flips, splits and a lot of other crazy stuff that I can’t even imagine to attempt now.
9. I loved this club some of my girl friends and I formed over one of the summer holidays where we would meet at each of the member’s houses during pre-assigned days of the week and we’d play games like calling on dead spirits and spooking ourselves, among others!
10. I was obsessed with growing my hair as long as I possibly could between 15-17yrs. I would be willing to try every single product or beauty ritual just to get it to grow! But once out of teenage, all I wanted was to cut it shorter and colour it.
11. That said I also had my share of “tomboy times”. Probably from having a younger brother who had his friends around the house most of the time. It was fun being ‘one of the guys’. But I came out of that phase eventually. I can’t really say if I loved or hated it.
12. Unforgettable are the birthday parties my parents would throw for me. I’d begin preparing and making lists of guests, invitations, games, return presents (yes, presents for guests!), snacks, what to wear, etc., etc., almost a year in advance!
13. Call me shy, but I hated it when a guy took interest in me even if it was someone I had a crush on. I thought it was wrong. But I always secretly liked the fact that he found me cute.
14. I remember the days when I couldn’t resist watching scary movies even if it meant I had to hide behind a whole bunch of cushions and blankets. I can’t help but laugh at the way I would tip- toe around the house with all the lights switched on for the next few days anticipating a Freddy Kruger or Dracula lurking in some dark corner.
15. I hated wearing spectacles when I was a teenager. I’d always wish I would be allowed to get contacts. Astigmatism, which meant my power would keep increasing all throughout my adolescent years, prevented me from getting them. Now these spectacles have become a part of who I am!
Things I loved:
- Falling madly in what I thought was love …and getting over it in a couple of weeks
- reading great books for the first time, and having the time to read them – some of those books stay with me now
- Bad pop music (that I totally still love)- take that, n ‘sync anyone?
- 90′s fashion- lots of plaid and grunge-y sweaters and always the boots
- Relating to ’90′s angst- I grew up in the era of reality bites and nirvana and it was oh so easy to be a brooding, anti-establishment teen (or think you were one)
- intense friendships- where you called your best friend up the minute you got home from school and wrote each other long notes
Things I hated:
- Being so crippling self aware all the f’in time – (if the present me could talk to teenage me I’d be like ‘really, it’s ok. No one cares’…)
- Feeling completely misunderstood by older people
- My amazingly fickle skin
- Curfews and having to fight for the right to paaarty!
- having to do math
This might sound like a downer, but it’s actually kind of fun. it’s more of an inventory of the ships that you allowed to set sail.
-I hated that I never took one foreign language for more than a couple of years in a row.
-I hated that I never told that boy how I felt about him (this goes for more than one person, and I should apply this lesson to my life now)
-I love that I moved out of the country i was born in and decided not spending another semester there because i love the place I’m currently staying at.
-I hated that I opted out of piano lessons in school, can’t read music.
- I loved that I always accompanied my twin sister when my mom asked me to as kids.
- I hated that I did not realize I was young and cute when I was young and cute.
-I loved being involved in extra-curricular activities on my school campus.
- I loved all those times in school that I stayed constantly outside the house and went out with people instead of inside the house on the computer or phone.
- i hated not standing up for myself earlier.
- I loved that I was never in the academic bowl in high school.
- Loved school. Though it was a girls convent, it just so happened to be the best time of my life. The girlfriends, the bitching, the learning about ‘intercourse’ when I was 10 from another friend’s trusted elder sister, the back biting, the teachers pets, the crazy prank calling to random boys. Ah..school!
- Hated saying good morning. In fact that kinda still holds good. Never was a morning person. Never will be.
- Loved just being called a ‘teenager’. That whole migration from ‘pre-teen’ to ‘teen’ was the best.
- Loved all the stuff in this following link
http://withnowheretogo.blogspot.com/2008/08/good-ol-90s.html
LOVED:
- The excitement that came with a crush, and the thrill of seeing the object of your affection, however fleetingly!
- Meeting with friends in corridors in the too-short time span between the school buses arriving and the assembly bell, and catching up on what we missed in each others’ lives in the past 16 hours.
- How EVERYTHING was of vital importance!
- That the little things mattered the most: the biggest concern was whether or not you’d pass maths; the main goal was to ensure your skirt was at JUST the right length to make you look good and not incur the teachers’ wrath; the highlight of the day was when your crush talked to you and didn’t even bat an eye at his friends’ hooting and catcalling.
- The ability to talk on the phone for 5 hours straight and still feel that there was plenty more to be said.
- That ”being there for each other” and ”having your back” and ”unswerving support” weren’t just random terms, but actual qualities prevalent in a circle of friends
HATED:
- The double-standard and labeling that was prevalent when it came to romance…no matter how much they did, the boys were studs; no matter how little they did, the girls were sluts.
- Getting your period and having to wear a white uniform in summer…talk about constant fear!
- That popularity mattered so much to some people that they’d treat those who were different (too tall, too thin, too fat, too pimply, too brainy, too poor) with extreme cruelty.
- How easy it was for teachers to judge you only based on your marks and not your personality, your efforts, your extra-curriculars…
- How emotions were so extreme that a break-up felt like the end of the world (maybe that’s not just a teenage thing, though)….
Check out the list here : )
http://snobster.blogspot.com/2010/06/lust-for-lists.html
list of things that I love (or loved) :
1. Feeling of being brave yet brainless 24*7
2. Cooking a breakfast for my Ex. during her PMS
3. Evening at versova after bunking college.
4. Asking money and bike to friends
5. Matinée Shows at Metro
6. Jamming on most of the occasion
7. When I was forced to go out of class by prof. most of the lectures I was out. It was cool.
8. Bringing flying cockroaches in th matchbox.
9. Walking all the way to Rang Sharda for a Live Gig. (Read Independence Rock – Jazz Yatra Etc.)
10. Fake Id’s for college Fest
11. Buying coolest and most creative gifts after all the contributions.
12. Discussion about who’s hot and who’s what
13. Sharing College Canteen Food like Samosas, Egg Frankies, Vada Pav, Juice till the last Drop and Bite remains.
14. Sharing Cloths with closest Chuddy Buddies for annual Functions.
15. Creating Parody of famous songs.
* * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hate (or hated) -
1. Got caught kissing my girl whom everyone thought I hated. — Duh
2. Being Broke
3. Most of the people talking about career, Movie, Music
, Sports, Sex, Sachin That’s all.
4. Exams.
5. Math Test
6. Printed Tees and Anti-Fits
7. Sr. acting like part time retards if we were caught mouth fagging.
8. D-Day when results were out.
9. When I failed for the very first time and rest who ha passed were crying because of me – Friends.
10. Piercing and long chained wallet connected around their bodies. Yeah right – Convicted by Profs.
Honestly this list applies the most to me since i am still a teenager ..im actually just about to turn 18!! so i can truly list what i love and hate about my current life!!
THINGS I LOVE!!
1. Buying new clothes ,brands and have everyone in college oogling at you!!
2. Bunking college and watching earling morning shows in Metro since the ticket is cheapest at that time
3.Watching serials like 90210 and One tree hill and acting them out in class.
4.Saving up Pocket money to buy chunky jewellery from colaba causeway.
5 Sneaking out from sleepovers to meet my boyfriend for an icecream.
6.Having randomn plans and going for drives to lonavala
7.Eating complete junk in the canteen …and then sitting on marine lines watching the sea
8.Wearing absolutely crazy outfits to college hoping to make a fashion statement.
9.Streaking your hair red, green and purple and have noone think your a loon
10.Playing stupid boardgames on a rainy day with lots of hotchocolate.
11.Signing on school uniforms before leaving 10th grade
12. Entering late in class by quietly from the back door
13.Leatching at the hot guys from the football team
14.Having icecream or smoothie dates
15.Not having to worry about a job or paying bills or bank issues
16.Waking up in the afternoon and have your mom give you breakfast…
17.Doing crazy hairstyles and painting nails and alot of gossiping at sleepovers .
18.Having somebody to hangout with everyday
19.Talking on the phone the entire night and not being sleepy after….
20.Facebooking in a lecture under the desks
THINGS I HATE
1.Having to do well and compete with others
2.Having a curfew and not being able to come home whenever you want.
3.A person staying away from drugs smoking or drinking being termed “GAY” or “STUPID”
4.Running for trains to reach college in time.
5.Not being able to watch A rated movies.
6.People who are just a few years older to you calling you a baccha!!
7.Having to leave your buddies to go and study abroad
8.Friends partying because of good results and you havibg to stay home.
9.Immature guys who break girls hearts and say that they cant blame it their just teenagers
10.Sharing very expensive clothes with your bestfriend and she losing it or damaging it
11. Someone wearing the same clothes or carrying the same bag as you!!
The best things about being a teenager : -
1. Being called a “teenager”. Back then, I thought it was quite cool to be a teenager. And whenever I read smthg about teenagers, i became immensely happy and thought to myself , “hey… they are talking about me”.
2. Whenever I did smthg smart, I was always told that I ‘m too young to do it. I felt secretly proud of myself. Err.. Now m not too young for anything u see….
3. the school crushes
Things I hated :-
1. Fights with mom
2. Always being worried about my chums… u know.. like being caught unawares….
3. 5 am Tutions
Things I loved:
1] Midnight phone conversations with my BFFs(landline – there were no mobiles then) that used to drag on till dawn
2] falling in (what I thought was, but now realise it was a crush) love (one sided) on my BF (guy ok?). The thrill it used to give me whenever I was around him was super
3] not having to worry about repsonsibilities, committments etc
Thinsg I hated
1] Not having enough moolah , in terms of pocket money
2] tuitions at unearthly hours
3] being looked down upon as uncool
Pingback: Manjulika… » TEEN-AGE
Here’s my list, plz do check
http://totalgadha.com/tgtown/manjulika/2010/06/09/teen-age/
http://funnyflyingthingsanddeadbutterflies.blogspot.com/2010/06/because-im-part-retrospect-ing-and-part.html
Hated having to “plead” to parents to go out with a group of girls AND BOYS
Hated being told that good marks meant a future as an engineer or a doctor
Hated having to ask permission for EVERYTHING
Hated being told that “wearing skimpy clothes” reflected badly on the family (WTH?)
Hated having to ASK parents for money! ( being secretly jealous of all the “oldies” who earned!)
Hated anyone else who dared look better than me!!!
Secretly Hated the guts of everyone who proclaimed Maths sucked…. (whatever happened to freedom of opinion)
Loved my high metabolism!
Love the fact that my then friends are still my best friends.
Loved the fact that I could use studies as an excuse for everything ( a child who studies can do no wrong)
Loved the 2 month long vacations!
Love how I thought my first love was my eternal love (HA!.. still gives me the kicks!)
Loved how jealous friends would get when I got to go ” abroad” on family vacations (well.. secretly loved… the attention!)
Loved being punished at school!!!! ( gave me the time to day dream standing outside my class!)
Love the thought how I hated the idea of growing older by a year.. every year!
I am interested to join the contest to win a free autographed copy of the book titled Confessions of a Listmaniac : The Life and Times of Layla the Ordinary. I have made a list of the things I loved and hated about being a teenager. The list is posted in my blog :-
www dot luciferassistant dot blogspot dot com
Things I love about being a teenager :
1. SUMMER VACATION!!! Eeeeeeeeeee!!! Waking up at the godly hour of 1 PM in the afternoon staying in your PJs till 5 PM eating melted ice cream out of a tub and watching Friends re runs and laughing like a deranged maniac.
2. Being schizo with my best-esht friends. Read pretending that you are a polka dotted penguin and your best friend is a T Rex called Candyfoxxxx! *sqwack*
3. BIRTHDAYS!
*hops excitedly* When everything is about YOU YOU YOU! And you get lots of shiny shiny wrapped up shiny gifts. And candy. And you get to have chocolate cake. Because it’s your birthday. 
(Psst! My birthday is on the 15th of June 
Yay! Only 3 days and 14 hours and 52 minutes to go!)
4. Sleepovers where you watch Powerpuff Girls at 2 AM and eat charred pop corn because your cooking skills extend only up to boiling water.
Things I don’t :
1. Phone bills running into a squillion rupees. Pfft.
2. Mad Cow Days. When you are don’t fit into your favourite pair of jeans and there’s this ugly pimple on your nose and Creep by Radiohead keeps playing like a broken record in your head again and again and again.
3. The whole drama-rama about becoming engineer/doctor or getting 99.99% in your Board Exams otherwise I-shall-disown-you-as-my-daughter. Our society has been brainwashed. Incredibly sad times.
4. Heartbreak. Knowing the guy you like will never ever look at you and prolly doesn’t even know that you exist. Your heart breaks into a million little pieces all at once and you know that even the strongest super glue won’t put it back together.
Things to love:
1. You are allowed to have more freedom gradually
2. You started to get listened to
3. The ground to explore gets bigger & bigger
4. Best time to do be hard at anything you do with no dearth of energy
Things to hate: None. Teen years are too short a time to hate anything. You just keep on moving with all new things knocking at you.
Things I loved
1. Getting POCKETMONEY! Now I have to *shudder* earn for my clothes and shoes.
2. Having these ‘breakthrough’ moments when I’d have these sudden recollection of being denied something, or being hurt / ‘scared’ in some way. Discovering the addictive powers of playing victim. Sigh, me as the angsty, indignant teenager. How the tables turned overnight with my parents. Ha!
3. Feeling immortal. Like I’d be young forever. You know, I’d try to picture someone calling me ‘aunty’ and double up with laugher. It was so… IMPOSSIBLE.
I Hated:
So unattractive, esp when you’re finally talking to That Boy.
1. My sudden uncontrollable flushes. And with the bright red colouring of my face, I’d also start to sweat
2. My figure. First on the hate list was my boobs. HATED them with all my heart. Why wasn’t I so virtuously flat like my sister’s? Next was my bum. So large it was. Never could fit into my sister’s jeans.
3. Sniggering boys who sat in the back of my class. I always thought they were ridiculing me. Gawd, why are boys that age so daft!!!
I know I am late (and how!)… but I HAD to write my list too