I completed reading 'East West' by Salman Rushdie few weeks ago;the book is divided into 3 sections- East (simple language and RKNarayan story-telling style), West ( Yorik is in Shakespearean style) and EastWest (guessed this is Rushdie's style!).
East collection:
Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies-This is just a simple story where a guard gives free advice to a woman seeking a visa to England to join her fiance; his advice turns out to be valuable.
The Free Radio:This story is told from an old man's point of view--hard to digest the new culture of birth control, widow marriage. But finally the quest(or wait) to free radio leads a man to stardom!
The Prophet's Hair tells of the theft of the relic of the Prophet ... and events of misfortunes following it!
West:
Yorick-Hamet's tale
At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers-A man's dream and view of society.
Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella of Spain Consummate-Their Relationship depicts Christopher gaining the financial backing for his voyage
East West:
The Harmony of the Spheres follows a friendship through the occult, madness, suicide, and truth - the last being, perhaps, the most difficult.
Chekov and Zulu-Story of two childhood friends who work as Indian diplomats.
The Courter-Follows life of a Indian nanny and her courter in England.
I enjoyed reading Free Radio, Prophet's Hair and the Courter.
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Apr 6, 2008
Mar 17, 2008
New Trend?
This is the third book I've come across the same theme--Girl blogs discretely (personal stuff/about school/about job, to vent her anger); newspaper/magazine editor is a fan;offers job/exposes blogger after rejection/forced to shut blog!
This is like watching the bollywood movies---girl+boy fight-meet;fall in love;parents reject;runaway/marry/die.
The actual plot of the movie is then built around this theme.
All this just flashed after finishing "Consider Lily" by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. Seriously wanted a chick-lit this weekend to calm me!
Pros: Wow, I never knew Christian girls were so conservative in relationships.Prejudice I suppose. Not much drama when boyfriend and family are involved. Thank god there was no Mills&Boons syndrome (love, fight, like, fight, love,fight, marry!).
Reminding me of grandma a lot at half-time.
Cons: feeble plot; too much gossip material when friends are involved (guess should have seen that coming);
Bottom line: Don't vent your anger in blogoshphere!
Jan 18, 2008
Chick-Flicks
I’ve acquired a new routine when I visit the local library. After meticulous search for the latest DVD’s (yep…not member of BlockBuster or Netflix!) I move onto the ‘latest non-fiction’ book section.
Why just the non-fiction. Well, since I’ve invested in variety of investment clubs, its supposed to be mandatory to have finance skills.
Anyway coming back, I usually read the title, then pick up the book and read the summary and finally decide to pick it up.
Last month I picked up these two books—
1. Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan:
I confess, picked this up just for this flashy cover (marketing works!) and it promised (?) to uncover the mind of people we call ABCD!
This is a novel revolves around 3 daughters (born and brought up in USA) and their mothers. Their story(ies) of battles and compromises against their conscious, tradition, people around them and most of all with the people they love.
It also contains good recpices. Just like our culture, its food (with the right amount of spieces) that we Indians treasure.
The beautiful part I liked about the book along with recipes and stories was how each character is given a chance to express thier story (creating home away from home, building new relationships while trying to preserve the old ones).
But it was irritating to read subtle things like explainations on what ‘Ganesha’ is or what ‘Bindi’ means. Guess, the book was meant for global readers.
But the abrupt end does not do any justice to the book, unless Monica is planning to write a Part2!
2. Almond Eyes Louts Feet:Indian Traditions in Beauty and Health by by Sharanda Dwivedi and Shalini Devi Holkar.
I passed this book the first time when it was displayed on the rack last week since the summary said it was mostly about beauty rituals followed in India.
However, curiosity overpowered me this week and before I knew it was on my nightstand.
The book is more than Mulanti-mitti face packs and papaya-mint tea.
It starts off with introduction of our storyteller who is a child-bride (which is still rampant in rural India, but somehow shocking to digest when seen in print!) who is being prepared for the wedding. But she is also a Rajput princess, so there are more customsthe tradition has heaved upon her. After the joy of wedding story takes us to life at the in-laws place (imagine having three mil’s but forntualely as she puts it—it’s a Palace!) .
The book captures all those beauty traditions which are orally passed onto to us---the sunday morning oil bath ritual; taking tulsi water everyday after its pooja; home remedies for cold/cough like drinking tumeric and black pepper with milk; neem leaves and cloves for tooth ache emergines; cream of milk with turmeric for winter skin;.........list goes on!
I especially enjoyed reading about her later part of life (after marriage and three children)—it was just the Sex and City but different circumstances and a different place!
Women need to socialize, to talk about their troubles, seek advice and ofcourse gossip. So instead of trendiest place in New York City, we are given a peek into harems; where ladies indulge in taking care of themselves and TALK!
And oh..I liked few of the pictures in the book; especially the old Lux, Pears ad posters and oblivious the gold, silver antiques!
Why just the non-fiction. Well, since I’ve invested in variety of investment clubs, its supposed to be mandatory to have finance skills.
Anyway coming back, I usually read the title, then pick up the book and read the summary and finally decide to pick it up.
Last month I picked up these two books—
1. Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan:
I confess, picked this up just for this flashy cover (marketing works!) and it promised (?) to uncover the mind of people we call ABCD!This is a novel revolves around 3 daughters (born and brought up in USA) and their mothers. Their story(ies) of battles and compromises against their conscious, tradition, people around them and most of all with the people they love.
It also contains good recpices. Just like our culture, its food (with the right amount of spieces) that we Indians treasure.
The beautiful part I liked about the book along with recipes and stories was how each character is given a chance to express thier story (creating home away from home, building new relationships while trying to preserve the old ones).
But it was irritating to read subtle things like explainations on what ‘Ganesha’ is or what ‘Bindi’ means. Guess, the book was meant for global readers.
But the abrupt end does not do any justice to the book, unless Monica is planning to write a Part2!
2. Almond Eyes Louts Feet:Indian Traditions in Beauty and Health by by Sharanda Dwivedi and Shalini Devi Holkar.
I passed this book the first time when it was displayed on the rack last week since the summary said it was mostly about beauty rituals followed in India.
However, curiosity overpowered me this week and before I knew it was on my nightstand.
The book is more than Mulanti-mitti face packs and papaya-mint tea.
It starts off with introduction of our storyteller who is a child-bride (which is still rampant in rural India, but somehow shocking to digest when seen in print!) who is being prepared for the wedding. But she is also a Rajput princess, so there are more customsthe tradition has heaved upon her. After the joy of wedding story takes us to life at the in-laws place (imagine having three mil’s but forntualely as she puts it—it’s a Palace!) .
The book captures all those beauty traditions which are orally passed onto to us---the sunday morning oil bath ritual; taking tulsi water everyday after its pooja; home remedies for cold/cough like drinking tumeric and black pepper with milk; neem leaves and cloves for tooth ache emergines; cream of milk with turmeric for winter skin;.........list goes on!
I especially enjoyed reading about her later part of life (after marriage and three children)—it was just the Sex and City but different circumstances and a different place!
Women need to socialize, to talk about their troubles, seek advice and ofcourse gossip. So instead of trendiest place in New York City, we are given a peek into harems; where ladies indulge in taking care of themselves and TALK!
And oh..I liked few of the pictures in the book; especially the old Lux, Pears ad posters and oblivious the gold, silver antiques!
Oct 16, 2007
Knocked Up!!!!
No, no, no, its not me.
I just finished reading this book called "Knocked Up" by Rebecca Eckler.
Dont ask me how this book landed in my hands (Actually KC had accidently requested the book from library instead of the movie!).
The package looked inviting--pink book with cosmo with a nipple on the stem.
I didnt do complete justice to the book, skipped a few pages and finished it between 10-12pm last night and 11am-2pm in the office (there goes today's work!).
The book is about a newspaper columnist Rebecca who is never a mother material (eats fruits loops, parties and drinks every night) is suddenly pregnant at thirty and deals with personal issues which come along with being pregnant!
P.S : You can also read the latest updates on how she is coping with the kid now here.
You'll like reading it if like seeing reruns of Sex and the City!
I just finished reading this book called "Knocked Up" by Rebecca Eckler.
Dont ask me how this book landed in my hands (Actually KC had accidently requested the book from library instead of the movie!).
The package looked inviting--pink book with cosmo with a nipple on the stem.
I didnt do complete justice to the book, skipped a few pages and finished it between 10-12pm last night and 11am-2pm in the office (there goes today's work!).
The book is about a newspaper columnist Rebecca who is never a mother material (eats fruits loops, parties and drinks every night) is suddenly pregnant at thirty and deals with personal issues which come along with being pregnant!
P.S : You can also read the latest updates on how she is coping with the kid now here.
You'll like reading it if like seeing reruns of Sex and the City!
Oct 13, 2007
The Last of Harry???
Last week I attended a book discussion--'Harry Potter and Deathy Hallows for Adults' in the local library.
We were just 8 of us in the book club, but it was good to discuss the book face-to-face (not complaining of mugglenet!).
Our hosts had also prepared delicious treats too---Cockroach chocolate (chocolate syrup on peanuts and pretzels), cauldron cake (chocolate cake on Oreo cookie with a black twister) , every-flavour-beans and candy canes!!
Unanimous vote: Everybody loves the Weasley twins; humor among dark magic is very welcome i suppose.
Fred's death was too painful.
The Fairy Tale ending was okay.
And is Teddy the next Harry????
However, there is a open question at end of the discussion:
How did the sword of Gryffindor come back into the Sorting Hat when Griphook had taken it away in Gringotts?
Let me know if you know the answer.
We were just 8 of us in the book club, but it was good to discuss the book face-to-face (not complaining of mugglenet!).
Our hosts had also prepared delicious treats too---Cockroach chocolate (chocolate syrup on peanuts and pretzels), cauldron cake (chocolate cake on Oreo cookie with a black twister) , every-flavour-beans and candy canes!!
Unanimous vote: Everybody loves the Weasley twins; humor among dark magic is very welcome i suppose.
Fred's death was too painful.
The Fairy Tale ending was okay.
And is Teddy the next Harry????
However, there is a open question at end of the discussion:
How did the sword of Gryffindor come back into the Sorting Hat when Griphook had taken it away in Gringotts?
Let me know if you know the answer.
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