Book Review: The God of Small things

 

Yes, it has been a long time coming! This book was penned by Arundhati Roy, an Indian  author and published in the year 1997.Unfortunately,do to some twisted chants of the cosmic universe, I got to read only last week.

Honestly, not discovering this earlier was a tragedy. It is a masterpiece!

The story revolves around a rich, influential Christian family with its roots in a society that maintains its structure within a caste system laying down seen and unseen laws of love, behaviour, wealth and opportunities. Swirling around this is communism, an ideology yielding to the intentions of the beholder.

The story is narrated through the eyes of children(the two -egg twins), adults, the destitute, the powerful and the villians. The chapters are non-linear, playing between different time zones. There is mischief ,love, revenge and a life changing tragedy.

However, I think it is the authenticity that makes it absolutely unique!! It is raw, no pretences and exposes every emotion, thought, fact and truth unapologetically. Secondly, it is descriptive to the tiny details to the fineness  such that you see, hear and feel the emotions, the land and the people. It is theatre between lines.

I think this book is a power house and if you missed it, I wish the entire universe will conspire and bring the book to you.

Book review -George Orwell "1984"

 Hello friends,

It has been a long time coming since I wanted to read this book and finally, it is done. George Orwell's "1984 "published in 1949 was a widely critically acclaimed book and is one of the finest works of fiction ever.

After reading and reflecting , I can clearly see why this book is par excellence. The story unfolds in  1984 London. But this London is not the place that we are familiar by any means of experience. This is exactly where the author's brilliant imagination brings a fictional world of totalitarianism where the the "Party" sees, rules and knows everything ,horrifyingly even thoughts of  its citizens and at the helm of the party, is Big Brother who remains invisible through out the pages. So, in the order of things, even simple acts like keeping a diary or making a choice of your partner are acts of treason. If you do have children, they belong to the party and their loyalties. The party decides  the truth and rewrites history as befitting ,so truth no longer actually exists

Living among Them is Winston Smith ,the protagonist who pretends to be one of Them but deep down he is in search for truth. In  his mundane repetitive routine ,he accidently meets Julia who he falls in love with and ends up  having a secret affair. Then, begins a seismic chain of events  of treachery, betrayal and eventually capture of our protagonist .The end of the story is remarkable and is one of disbelief. What we perceive as facts change to fiction and fiction to fact.

This book is testament to how a book can stand the test  of time and be relevant today in 2025 even when it was conceptualised over 76 years ago. In the our world of technology, internet, social media and Artificial intelligence, privacy is almost sacred and  these resources can become centralised into few wrong hands  with the  threat of the world descending into the one that George Orwell has encapsulated in his book.

I found this book challenging and refreshing . It may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you would like to see  creativity in  powerful play, this is the book to read. Mind blowing!!

Moment

 

I see them through my window
Where I sat
A  latte in my hand
A choice
More by  unseen social influence!


A busy place
People bustling end to end
To work and back
Earning to meet ends or luxury or in between
Some in dread and some in Joy
But I shall never know.

Yet some are sat alone ,coupled or in company
By the lined cafes
Chatting,laughing,silent and some grim.
What are they saying or not?
But I shall never know.

Amidst all this
Children running,cartwheeling ,giggling ,wailing or all of these
At once or in turn
They carry on.
What are their thoughts,fears and futures?
But I shall never know.



Buildings of all kinds
Some dark but many others with signs  and lights
They have a lot to give but in return for sure.
I do know what they may have
how do they keep up?
But I shall never know.

High above ,the sky changes colours and patterns
Sun has gone slowly shy
Stars in glitters cabaret.
They see the world
What do they actually see?
But I shall never know


I sat by sipping my latte,
I wonder the creations around me
And smallness of my being
I  am a cog in the wheel that turns
All I pray, is stay in the moment to turn the wheel
Because thats all I have
This moment.
I wonder.

Book Review: Picture Imperfect and other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries

 

.

This is my first read of 2022 and penned by an Indian Author, Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. The original work has been in Bengali and the English Version is a translation by Sreejata Guha. Infact, one of the stories has been made into a movie featuring the late Sushant Singh Rajput.

Our protagonist is Bymokesh Bakshi who prefers to call himself the “The Inquistor” meaning seeker of truth rather than a detective. The Book has 7 short stories and each one of them revolves around a crime and how Byomkesh cleverly seeks out the truth.

The positive is that there are very good plots set against the early 1900s in Calcutta, Bengal. The crime is old but the modus operanda of each crime is succinctly intriguing and different. There are lot of similarities to the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot but honestly it is difficult not to be inspired. Fortunately, the characters have their own unique characteristics and hence although there is familiarity, it does not breed contempt. Also, Byomkesh Bakshi has a writer friend, Ajit Babu, who publishes Byomkesh’s Exploits in the newspapers. So you see, the author clearly has been inspired!.

The drawback is probably the language and the way the book is written. The flow of words does not sync in harmony and it seems to stop and start. Possibly, this is because it is a translation from a different language.

This is not an absolute must read .However, if you are keen to explore and taste the labyrinth of crime stories set against the Indian tapestry, it is definitely worth a go.

 

VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE-BOOK REVIEW

                      

A review for this book was a challenging task. I say challenging because the scope of interpretation was wide and every time you reflect, one will discover a new meaning. Paulo Coelho is the author of this book. This literary genius is deeply philosophical and the story is a means of presenting his thoughts on life and its its intricate and delicate patterns.

As the title of the book states, it is about a girl who decides to commit suicide and what happens in the aftermath of this event. Veronica who decides to die has no mental health issues or any other problem. Her life is perfect and somehow, therein lies the crux of the dilemma. Apart from Veronica ,there are only a handful of characters and each of them have their own set of visions, ideals, problems and solutions. In fact, as each of them progress through the story, the authors provokes us to think outside the box, challenges our notions and even tries to unlock our own fears. In contrast to the rather turbulent beginning, the ending is happy and predictable but is just as subtly brave and adventurous.

To be honest, It can be a disturbing read as it questions our fundamental ideas about life, suicide and death, why we do what we do, explores our fears and can lay it bare if you are willing. There is a palpable anxiety created for which the author himself a solution and you would be genuinely surprised that it is something we all know but never pays attention to.

I was quite intrigued in the beginning, anxious as the pages turned but inspired at the end. The take home message from the book is to be cherished forever.I would not want to say it as it would be a unforgivable spoiler. To sum it up, it is a really good read and is ideal if you want a mental makeover and a reminder to how beautiful life can be if we are prepared to be a little mad or possibly madder! 

The code of the Woosters-A book review

 

Stories comes in all shapes and shades. I have always thought, be it stories, movies or an act, comedy is probably the most difficult to demonstrate. This story by P.G Wodehouse is one such comedy but beautifully told in the most amusing language and tone.

PG Wodehouse has written many books and is the master creator of fictional characters- Bertram Wooster and his Valet, Jeeves. Bertram Wooster is a wealthy man born to a famous and socially privileged family. With all his education, confidence and abilities, he constantly finds himself in a pickle. His valet ,on the other hand ,is a master brain who devises brilliant solutions to all the holes that his master lands in.

This particular book is about Mr Wooster’s troubles at Totleigh towers where he tries to fix broken relations ships, trying very hard not to steal antiques and helmets and in short wholeheartedly attempts to keep himself safe, yet it is hardly the outcome.

The humour is laced into words and lines which reveals itself only if you actually read and not skim through. It is difficult at first but once your teeth sinks, it is hilarious and throws you into fits of laughter.

The book is a gem as it is a unique take on comedy and the probably, the most wonderful aspect is, the more you read ,the more the love for it.

I can hear many asking what does the title mean!. Patience my comrades!, the pages shall reveal it all. I must say that the title is nothing to do with anything  over- the- moon magical or suspense. But yes, it has a place ,a significant one.

This book is not one for every one. If you like writings that are descriptive, funny and wordy ,you will definitely enjoy. Having said that,you never know unless you give it a try. Who can say what you might discover. Take a peek, live dangerously! 

Purple Hibiscus-A book Review

 

Purple Hibiscus is the very first book of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and was short listed for the Orange Prize. Before, we delve into the multifaceted angles of the book, knowing the Author is a must. She is a Nigerian  and has over the years became a prolific writer and spokesperson for women.

Purple Hibiscus is a testament to her profound ability to describe people and their lives encompassing all its complexities and layers in the most simplest language yet all the while, leaving an indefinable impression on the reader. From page one, till the last word, the pace of the events stays the same but the lows, highs and the turns are felt as intensely as a ruthlessly done ,edge of the seat suspense thriller or a heart breaking tragedy.

Our protagonist is a young school girl  and  the story unravels through her thoughts, actions and interactions. It happens against the backdrop of Nigeria as it goes through civil unrest and  the culture and life of Nigerians permeates stealthily and slowly across the tale. She lives with her family with all the luxuries one could think of. Her Father, who is a  rich and well respected Catholic Priest  is a tyrant at  home and  mercilessly imposes religious ideals on his wife and kids. Her mother is an epitome of love, tolerance and deeply entrenched in the belief systems  that society had created for her. Then there is her brother who is strong, loyal yet there is a storm raging in his heart and head. But our protagonist is silence personified. The book is full of her thoughts and she actually says very few lines which is very unusual considering she is the central character. Their lives goes through unimaginable changes after a short vacation with their cousins. The transformation does not hit you like a tornado but the effects are unmistakable.

The other aspect of the book is it shows how blindly following beliefs can actually do more harm than good. It justifies faith over religious practices and life's worthiness measured in laughter, togetherness and freedom from fear.

The brilliance of the book, i think, is the way it is written that can make you cry, tense, happy and fearful without you knowing it. As you move through events, you learn more about the characters and their changes. It is relatable to a common person because she appeals to people basic desires and interests. The yearning to experience freedom ,respect, joy is universal and that is the crux of it all.

This book is an intense but a beautiful read. Every page is special ,even the title is, as hibiscuses are rarely purple but the reason behind it is symbolic to the depth and range of this book.

Enjoy the read!

 

When Breath Becomes Air-A book review

 I had finally read this book  after a wanting to do so for a really  long time. After a huge hiatus of not reading (!!!) for around 3-4 years, i  finally, after a new year resolution, brought back my reading habit into action last year. This book took a prestige place in my reading list for this year.

It is a very thought provoking autobiography. The author is Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon in residency who sadly dies after succumbing to metastatic lung cancer at age of 37.The book has additions from his friend and his wife as well. This is a life story from  childhood to his death. The picture develops of an young, ambitious, brilliant mind  who throughout his life and career seeks to find answers to questions of identity, life and death. He narrates his experiences as a doctor through its layers of professional, medical and ethical dilemmas. Never does he shy away from voicing the truth or self criticism. At the end, he confronts death in the most honest and graceful manner. The decisions he takes as a husband and doctor is nothing short of absolute grit and fills you with a deep sense of admiration. He writes this book in the last few months of his life and is testament to his resolve in "living until death".

He is an eloquent writer and there is a real expectation to think between the lines. He weaves philosophy into the day to day human life. In short, he creates an undercurrent of value and meaning to the simple things we do in life.

Personally, the questions and answers the book presents demands you to think and rethink one's actions and thoughts. More so as a doctor, it invites to pause and consider our attitudes towards patients and to consider how intricate and sensitive these relationships actually are!. At the end of the day, I truly believe, his words and actions ,if one is willing, can make you a better person.

The book is definitely for a read especially for healthcare professionals and those who aspire to be one. The time that you spent will be worth as you feel a great sense of pride for knowing a fellow human being as wonderful and remarkable as he was.

Imprisoned

Words or knives, the decision too eloquent

Behold the former as nothing too subtle but powerful

 Brimming yet  aloof  akin the glances of a lover ,silent.

A gaziilion thoughts,

A pandemonium of emotions,

A treasure chest of experience,

Screaming, raging and imploding,

To break free and to flight,

 Alas, chains Imprisoned!

Links of doubt,

Links of imperfection,

Links of rejection,

Bind thee, thou and them forever.

Need a nod, Need a pat, Need a helping hand,

For words to flow and leave footprints on sand.

For generations to  Lead and Inspire.

Words or knives, decision eloquent

Befriend the former and from here the tomorrow is born.

A book review-A thousand splendid suns.

 A Thousand Splendid Suns

This is my second read of the year. "A thousand splendid suns" is a beautiful book that is an amalgamation of genres from across the spectrum. It has friendship, love, tragedy, comedy, suspense, strife, cruelty and satire .It relates the life of 2 women and how their friendship and love for each other triumphs over their fears. They are 2 different people in nature, childhood, background, but bond together to live a life and death. Yet both possess a determination and strength of character that surfaces though their tolerance to suffering and revolt. At the end of it all, one feels deep sense of empathy and admiration for them.

The story is set on the background of a war stricken Afghanistan as one regime over another crushes a great nation to an abyss of poverty, destruction and the subjugation of people especially its women. Many of the events in this book, in all probability, is something we have heard of or read about in the comforts and protection of our homes. As the Journey unfolds, it makes you laugh, cry and seethe with anger. The author makes no judgment calls about how women are treated under the mirage of traditions and beliefs but his opinion  is sublime and is hidden behind the satire weaved into the lines.

It's a wonder, almost unbelievable that these women who do nothing but care, love and protect their people get the most cruel treatment in forms of oppression, beatings and ostracisation. This is the grand irony that i felt and troubles me even after i shut the book since a week ago.

The book in its prose and presentation is not as eloquent as "The Kite runner", Mr Hosseini's first book but somehow, the characters in this book are  so real that i am raptured to say the least. 

Book Review: Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu(my grandfather had an elephant)

 This is a story  of a young girl who hails from a Muslim community in North Kerala. The author, Vaikom Basheer, weaves an honest, simple tale of this innocent femme from the time she was a child to her womanhood. The language is simple  and is in Malayalam. It is written in first person and is in the voices of a little girl and then a woman yet there is this underlying flavour of a unique personality which is obvious as the story unfolds. The local dialect is evident right from the title to the end of the book and adds to the  whole feel of the tale. The writing is an absolute beauty in its ability to convey emotions, situations and actions that tugs at your heartstrings from page to page. Apart from it story line, the author dwells into the core thoughts, practices and lifestyle of the community ,never taking sides but yet provokes your mind ever so subtly. If anybody is wondering why there is a mention of an elephant in the title, i would encourage you to read the book to find out because saying it aloud now would damage the experience. 

Personally, this book is a feather in my cap. I have always secretly felt embarassed that i have never read a book in my native language which is Malayalam (outside school books of course) and  therefore completing this book has been redemption.

Anyone who would like to treat yourself to a Malayalam book, i would recommend this one.

Cheers!!

Book Review-A Short history of nearly everything!!

 

That's exactly what the book is! The book is authored by Bill Bryson and is a marvellous work of non-fiction. The book explores the origin of our universe with us and everything in it, unravels how earth formed, plunges deep into the world of microparticles-the atoms, neutrons, electrons and many more and then weaves delicately through the world of dinosaurs, microorganisms and finally, humans. 

My personal experience while reading this book was that of wonder and admiration. I cannot but take a bow of respect to the level of preparation, commitment and hardwork that must have gone in making this happen. It is not out of place to feel whether a complete work of non fiction would be boring in some way but on the contrary. The way it is written keeps you intrigued and curious to find out more. I suspect the reason for this that all these facts are expressed through stories of the works and lives of great men and women. The language is simple yet has a certain rapture of mystery which makes you turn pages.

To state an example: A paragraph from the book "When you sit on a chair, your body is not actually in contact. The bottom is levitating at an angstrom level( a hundred milionth of a centimetre) above which is not evident to the naked eye. The rationale is your and electrons will oppose as they come close and push each other away. So essentially, we are floating but at micro-micro-micro units".

So you see, the books shows the mysterious world we live in. It gave me  glimpses into the lessons of physics, chemistry and geology that i had done while in school and hence, there was this whiff of kind nostalgia that could not be ignored. I think it a brilliant book, long and brain-racking but definitely worth a read.

As I Lay on the Turmac Black

I saw the clouds of dust before me.
Not large but scant and fine.
They rose above the turmac black,
A glimpse of the world above,
And settled quietly back.
It would again do the same,
With every breath, I struggled to let in and out.
The dance of the dust lingered before my eyes,
As I lay chained to the turmac black.
 
I heard muffled voices,
Shouts or cries, couldn’t say.
It seemed to emanate far way,
Sorry, strained and struggled.
Neither did it reach nor enlighten ,
But I did hear the voices!
As I lay imprisoned to the turmac black.
 
I tried to scream, shout and plead
But he never did heed.
The dust swept in as I cried,
Numbed the mouth,voice and speech.
I tasted dust and injustice,
As I lay traumatised on the turmac black.
My body hugged the ground,
To the earth,I was bound,
By the powerful yet insane.
 The hardness I felt,the heat and the pain.
 As I lay sprawled, alive but lifeless on the turmac black.
 
I smelled the heat, the air, earth and people.
The scents were afloat,
Tugging my sense to take note,
But with every breath a task,
It seemed not a pleasant ask.
As I lay overpowered on the turmac black.
 
I felt the fear, anger and distress,
 Strangling life bare.
I felt it, pregnant everywhere!
Although, unable to understand ,
Discern the origins or reasons.
It stroked my soul.
As I lay beneath the choke of a human limb on the turmac black.
 
I could see, hear, taste, smell and feel.
Yet I could not perceive!!
This helpless body, mind and soul.
As I lay under the weight of his body and anger.
My life, the highs and lows flickered before me.
I am not perfect, I confess, have good and vice,
I may be neat or messy.
But my brother,
Feel my plea!
When I ask for hope, a breath, a life and mercy.
For you and me are one from beginning to end.
 
I leave this world, my friends and foes.
After I do, not flowers do I need or endless songs,
But a promise of never again, a similar story of tragedy and grief.

Period,Pain and Pride!

 

The agony of it all,

You might say!

Every month ,less or more,

I give my blood,the precious drops.

I shed it from within

No questions asked.

For some it’s the beginning,

For some in between.

For the others, the end is near.

 

Reserve any thoughts if you never had a feel,

The days before it is real.

The bloating, aches and the cramping,

With moods to and fro on a swing.

The waves of nausea, steaming the taste buds

It’s not for the fainthearted, my dear,If  I may.

 

As these changes seems visible to world in view,

Internally,a battle of hormones is on!

The mind and the body soldiering to its tunes,

This age old scuffle continues.

Performed  perfectly ,

Orchestrated, in detailed harmony.

 

It’s normal, painful or less,

Troubling and or a mess.

It’s a part of me, like it or not

Yet, Keeping me in, closed behind a lair

Is it fair?

And taking a dig and jibe,at face and behind

Is it Kind?

Coaching me the impurity of the bleed,

Is it not a moronic plead?

Depraving me liberty to pray,

Is it not inequality or hypocrisy or both ,I must say?

Shackling me the with the cultural ethos of the menstrual blood.

Is it not but respectful to bleed with freedom?

 

My Life,My body,My Bleed!

Not a cultural heritage or matter of disgust!

It plain and simple.

My period,My pain and My pride!

Full stop.

Camaraderie

I shall recite a story..

 The Story of a little Journey

Evenmore, The Story of seven lasses

Their 3 days as one.

We were excited.

Beyond words was the emotion if I may so,

My friend , she “boarded us 2 weeks ago”.

We wanted to bolt to the skies,

My friend ,“She did a run back to sort it all”

Yet it was just destiny that we go as one!

Spanish as alien it was said or heard,

My friend”she said Gracias before every word”.

We danced through the night,

 My friend, “she sparkled , her dress evermore, all the light!!

We drank through the lows and highs,

She brought to us “the ambitions and likes”.

We longed for the beach do or die,

My friend ,”She waded in waters with guards on either side”.

We posed through day to night, full toss,

My friend ,”she clicked and collaged to a one big US”.

We missed some, yet gained more.

Opened Our Heart and lives

Each one,a bit and little more.

 The camaraderie, girls,give it a few high fives!!

Fav Quote

This thought from the book Dr.Zhivago By Boris Posternak caught my attention and ever since,the desire to share it is burning.

"Fabulous is nothing but commonplace touched by the hand of a genius"

HAPPINESS!!

She smiled.

She spoke.

She cuddled.

The bundles of joy, she wished.

In her arms, cared and snuggled.

The yesterdays stretched eternity and beyond,

Hope and dreams wasted lay crushed.

The body tired, the heart ached,

Like the rainless earth, sore and parched.

Yet, she persisted, the woman she is.

Her whimpers turned to thunder,

Rolled along, deafening wonder.

The gods of heavens and earth,

Bowed in admiration,

And let loose a miracle!

Of one life, maybe two. 

She embraced her miracles, her motherhood.

She smiled.

she spoke.

she cuddled.

I knew what I saw!

I believed it too!

Happiness is what I saw!

I believe it is true and it’s the truth.

Dedicated to a friend far but dear.

Fav quote...

"To hell with circumstances,I create opportunities"

                                                           

                                                              ---BRUCE LEE.

A Dream come True

It was dark,Black as night.

A ray of light did creep in stealthly

Shy and reluctantly.

I lay still.

Hovering in shadows,

Of wakefulness and sleep.

Mind drunk with dreams,

Eyes could not really see,

Was this real or fantasy.

Behold, rose a form,

From the earth with an unsteady grace.

Not a sound escaped,the deafening silence.

My heart pounded, reasons why?

It turned its head,yes,towards me.

I prayed,the five senses did.

There was a dribble ,between sharp white specks

Unrelenting ,signalling serious wreck.

I lay still,

Awake.unsure.undecided.

I lay still,

Awaiting.praying.Hoping.

It pounced,agility unleashed,

Licked me and said ‘’me..ma..thatha’’

I lay still,

Warm.Cuddled and loved.

I lay still,

With my little bundle of joy.

A Dream that came true.

Another fav quote...

I came across this recently and it resonated.

Courage doesn't always roar.Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying''I will try again tomorrow''.
(Mary Anne Redmacher)