#IReadBecause

Illustration by Chris Buzelli

I read because life is too short for me to do everything. Even if I decide to have nothing but adventures and travel everyday, all day till I die it’s still too short because I still won’t be spearing down a mammoth or hold the fate of the universe in my hands or win a match by catching the golden snitch. 

I read because reality can be limited. Limited by where I go and what I do. Limited by what I know. Limited by laws of physics. Limited by the time moving only forward.

Water by Brian Stauffer

I read because I want to share a moment, a memory that is independent of time and place. When I read a book that my dad has read, I know I’m sharing a moment with him even if I can’t create any more memories with him. It sparks a crazy hope in me that my unborn children and grandchildren will pick up the book long after I’m gone and still be a part of that moment along with me and my dad. 

I read because I lose myself otherwise. In other people’s trials and travels I find emotions I din’t know existed in me; thoughts are triggered, desires are awakened, horizons are pushed, perspectives changed, imagination is charged, and I see a me who is more alive after the reading. 

I read because, the way food sustains my shell, 

Reading nourishes my soul. 

Illustration by Julie Paschkis

The post is a response to a writing prompt on Medium.

Book of the Month : June 2015

After May, June was a mixed bag. I guess every month can't be a winner. But I was able to see some foreign locales and get interesting cultural insights this month, so it was not a total loss.

Without further ado, Phil presents to you...

Sugar and Other Stories by A.S. Byatt - 2 / 5

I've been wanting to try Byatt but had always been rather intimidated. So I thought I'll start with her short stories. Seemed simple enough. I still don't know if that was a good idea or not, because I simply did not understand her. The language was convoluted and so were the plots.  A couple of stories were nice, like 'The Day E. M. Forster Died' and 'The July Ghost', but most of it went over my head. I felt like a 5 yr old trying to read Shakespeare. Not a collection I enjoyed on the whole.

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter - 2 / 5

The idea behind the book sounded super interesting. Brothers Grimm and Hans Anderson more so, had changed the folk stories to make it more palatable for children. In doing so, he took out the morbid and morally confusing aspects. So Carter set out to rehash the familiar fairy tales, from their popular PG rated version back to the the original tales full of sex and violence. Sounded exciting and I was all set. Except, like Byatt, this woman too writes highly convoluted sentences which felt like a cipher than a statement. The basic stories were interesting, especially comparing how the original actually unfolds vs. the popular versions. But I felt it was much too complicated a writing just to say a few fairy tales.

Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie - 3.2 / 5

She seems to be my go-to gal whenever I want some light reading. This was a collection of 4 stories and the title story I thought was brilliant. So was Triangle at Rhodes but the other two (Dead Man's Mirror, The Incredible Theft) were just ok.  I 'm starting to feel comparatively, that novels are more of her strong point than short stories. But still worth picking up coz after all she's the 'queen of crime'!

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo - 3.5 / 5

It's not easy to deal with death and all the more when you are a child. I love how deftly DiCamillo has dealt with the subject.  I feel her writings remind you what it means to be a kid - the intensity of emotion, of both joy and sorrow, the ease of forgiveness borne out of the need to grow, feeling trapped between adult needs and your dependency on people less than perfect. It reminds you childhood can be both a wonderful and a terrifying place. While this was not as brilliant as 'The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane', there is no doubt that DiCamillo is a powerhouse in children's literature.

Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski - 3.7 / 5

If you are looking to read a book on Thailand and get a feel of the people and place, I'm not sure if this is something I recommend. You do get a vague snap shot of the history of Northern Thailand but since the book mostly tends to deal with American missionaries and anthropologists, you don't get a feel of it's native people. But that doesn't change the fact that it is an engrossing read and you do get a good insight into the lives of people who leave behind a way of life to embrace a whole new culture, like missionaries and anthropologists. Berlinski successfully blurs the lines between fact and fiction creating an extremely believable story. If not for the disclaimer by Berlinski, you would walk away feeling that you were reading about a true incident.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman - 4  / 5

Both the book and the movie had been on my list of must-read/watch-cult-fiction and I'm happy to report the book is everything it promised to be. It panders to your most childish notions of good and bad; and does it with panache. The base story is the most cliched bunch of Bollywood story bits mashed together ( drama, laughs, emotion, romance, action) but the narrator makes all the difference. Goldman makes you laugh so hard and in spite of knowing where the story is heading, builds suspense and drama like no other. Pick it up for a good old fashioned adventure!

Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap - 4.1 / 5

I had never been to Thailand when I took up the book, but it din't matter because Lapcharoensap is just brilliant at capturing the place though his short stories. The stories have at their heart universal themes but it's drawn in distinctly Thai flavors. The language has a wonderful clarity that brings everyone he writes about alive.Most of the stories have a mix of sadness and hope, and seen mainly from a young person's perspective. It feels like the struggle of leaving behind childhood and it's innocence and straddling between adulthood is part of Thailand trying to define itself.  You get the sense that people are tired of being exploited by the foreigners but are too polite and too dependent to push back. It's hard to pinpoint why it feels so Thai, but it does. It's warm and alive, the stories and you get to bring back some lovely memories of the place and the people with this book.

And now to the Book of the Month. She's one of my favorite writers and her prose is so fine tuned that reading her words is like the feeling of being covered in satin.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman - 4.5 / 5

Anne Fadiman's At Large and At Small, a collection of familiar essays, is one of my most read (and loved) books. So, it stood to reason that I should try her book - 'The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures'. The title threw me off. It sounded like a Ph.D thesis report of an anthropologist - dry.  To say I was wrong doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how wonderful it was. She took a medical case file of a child with epilepsy and turned into a narrative of humanity and it's follies. Most of us like to think of ourselves as broadminded, especially the more educated. But no matter how broad minded we are, we have our blind spots and Fadiman highlights how we ignore them. She explores the two cultures, Hmong and the western medicine dispassionately. Sherwin Nuland said of the account, "There are no villains in Fadiman's tale, just as there are no heroes. People are presented as she saw them, in their humility and their frailty--and their nobility."

It took me almost a year to finish. Not because it's anything less than spectacular, but because it's so wonderfully empathetic to all the pain and human emotions that I found it hard to read it without feeling the pain myself. It can leave you feeling like a raw wound but out of that pain comes compassion and understanding of your prejudices. It opens you up to accepting those with whom you have nothing in common other than humanity. Fadiman proves again and again that she's one of the most underrated and brilliant writers I've ever come across.

Well, that's it for June. Wish you all happy rains and happy reading!
Take care,
Phil!

Book of the Month : May 2015

May was an absolute revelation.. Like I said it here, it was the month for women power. It happened entirely by accident that ( except for the last two books) that almost all I read was by women ( except one). I have to say, I din't expect to be a different experience.  I have never really thought about authors really having a gender. I mean, it's a incidental thing, and never thought it was something which could influence their writing. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was wrong.

Anyways, I have already ranted why, so I'll get on with it!

Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned" by Lena Dunham - 1.5 / 5

I don't know what kind of girl she is, but she is definitely not the kind of girl who should be allowed to write a book. In a book,  least one character should be likable, preferably the narrator. But there is only consistent character, that is Dunham and she's comes across as the embodiment of the privileged white girl with first world problems. I had watched a couple of episodes of  her hit show Girls and I had found them quite funny imagining of course that she's being ironic about the bunch of whiny loser girls. But turns out she's not. And the more you read the book, the more irritated you feel at her whining, why life is not going as planned though she doesn't take any effort. For the longest time I wondered if this is some sort of age gap at work,if  this is how the new kids think, the entitlement. But she's barely 2 yrs younger to me so that theory went out to the window. Her stories are disjointed and there's a marked lack of continuity between chapters. And honestly by the end of the book, you are quite clueless what the hell she has "learned".

Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie - 3 / 5

It felt a bit tame for Poirot, but I found it interesting because it shows the human side of his secretary Miss Lemon. The ending also was a little contrived and far fetched. Not Agatha Christie's best work.


Dunham's book made me a little suspicious of picking the next one afraid it is going to blow up in my face. But I knew I would eventually read it anyways ( coz I loveee her), so might as well get it over with. So that's how I ended up with...

Bossypants by Tina Fey - 3.2 / 5

And it was everything that you want and expect from Tina Fey. She's warm, funny, engaging and most importantly, grounded. I was a wee bit disappointed that most of the book is about her professional life and you don't see much of her personal life ( I believe she's saving that for her autobiography when she's 80). But I do love her energy and enthusiasm especially when she faces discrimination. Her attitude is more like "Life is not fair. Ok, so we'll work harder and then say 'HA HA' to life!' and what's not to love about it. There are a couple of chapters which are rather random but overall a fun read.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling - 3.4 / 5

I love Fey and I always will, but Mindy totally stole my heart with this book. I don't always find her show funny but her book was hilarious. She too is warm, funny, grounded. I love how she has made it plain that any success that she enjoys is through sheer grit and doggedness. She's not dismissing that luck and perhaps even talent might have played a part but mostly it's sticking with it till it works. The book is like a light, refreshing chat with a friend, so go pick it up for a pick-me-up! :)

Tamarind City by Bishwanath Ghosh - 3.4 / 5

I have a theory that anyone who loves Chennai ( or Madras, as purists insist) is someone who can look beyond the superficial and see you for who you are. I'm yet to meet a person who loves Chennai and I've not liked. On the surface, yes, it's hellishly hot and humid. But if you keep that aside, spend some time, you'll also find out that the place is gorgeous amalgamation of good people, charming culture and cosy beaches. So when Mr.Ghosh, an outsider who has been charmed ( like myself) takes it upon himself to explore my favorite city I knew I would love it. He's done a lovely job of presenting the historical Madras and the present day Chennai. Towards the end the book it becomes more about him and less about the city and I found the narrative a tad weak there. I don't blame him because the city becomes so intertwined with your soul that you stop identifying it as something separate. But that doesn't always make it more interesting for the reader. Overall, if you thought you knew Chennai, well, think again and pick up the book because it's going to totally surprise you. And if you are not a fan of the city, then too pick up the book because you'll find out why you should be!

PS: He was the only male author in the month of May. But as far as I'm concerned his subject was female, so it all works out!

Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie -  3.6 / 5

It was a bit underwhelming for a Pulitzer prize winner. The prize sets up a huge expectation. I feel this is one of those books which, had I approached without the Pulitzer tag I would have enjoyed it more. Her language is lovely and her characters, though quite mundane, are memorable. I think that's what makes this book a great read. She takes almost clichéd characters and given them a new life within the framework of the cliché. We get a glimpse of the inner workings of the dowdy spinster and the beautiful and spoiled actress. How life is exactly as we imagine when we judge someone  and fit them into a box; and yet it is never as we expect it either. Quite an interesting exercise in 'not judging a book by the cover'.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo - 3.7/ 5

Thank you Mr. President!

I have Barack Obama to thank for having led me to this book and the lovely DiCamillo. It was in his book buying list (here's the list) and there were enough books that I had enjoyed before, so thought I'll pick up some and try. I found the blurb for Flora and Ulysses quite ticklish so I got my hand on it immediately ( also got 'A Constellation of Vital Phenomena' by Anthony Marra but have not read it yet).

The book is about the self-described 10 yr old cynic Flora (she reminds me of a 10 yr old Calvin, Bill Watterson's that is) and the superhero squirrel Ulysses with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry. It's so wonderfully relate-able, especially Flora's relationship with her parents. It has abundance of humor laced with an underlying sadness and K. G. Campbell's illustrations capture it perfectly. It's a funny blend of book and comic and the technique as been used to the maximum effect. You really don't know where to draw the line ( Is it a comic? It is a book?). But that doesn't matter because it works to pull you into the story.

I love that DiCamillo treats her young readers as perceptive individuals who are quite capable of understanding that people can be both good and bad. Quite a refreshing approach to a children's book to have characters who are grey rather than black and white in their personalities. She also uses language which might be a little above a child's but again I love that she's challenging her young readers to grow and learn. It's a wonderful ride getting to know Flora and her weird family (and of course Ulysses), one I'm sure you will enjoy even if you are no longer 10 yrs old!

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear - 3.7 / 5

There are not many female detectives who have captured the imagination. After reading Maisie Dobbs I, for the life of me, can't figure out why. She's not flamboyant like Sherlock or Poirot, but I loved her practical, no nonsense approach to problems. I also loved the story premise, set after the World War. So often we hear the exploits of the soldiers in the war but rarely do we bother with what happens after. We think that it was the war itself which was the hardship and that once it is over, they will move on like the rest of us. Winspear has explored the sensitive issue brilliantly without taking away any of the excitement that goes into a mystery. And nor has she kept the personal life of the protagonist, Dobbs, non-existent like in the case of Holmes. Instead she uses it to enrich the experience of getting to know Dobbs. I can't wait to pick up more of the series.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott -  4 / 5

If ever you are faced with a writer's block, this is the book to pick up. Or because you have never tried writing because you are afraid to find out what that would be like, pick up Bird by Bird. Or you just love books, then too you should pick it up. What Lamott does give you behind-the-scenes of writing a book. Not the edited, stylised version but the sweat, blood, tears and bare bones that makes writing what it is. It's not always pretty but it's wonderfully fulfilling. And she does it with gentle humor and grace. Even if you don't have any dreams of being a best selling author ( you don't have to lie to me :-P) it's still a lovely read because you really start to appreciate the effort it takes to be called an author.

And finally it's time for the book of the month..

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo - 4.5 / 5

I could not believe this was a children's book because it was so wise and beautiful and sad. It broke my heart. It really did. And yet I could not help but loving it fiercely! I know DiCamillo credits her young readers with far more grace and understanding than most adults do, but here I was a little skeptical if this is something I would want to give to a child to read because it was so heartbreaking.

The story line is simple enough, though the language is a little more advanced at times for a children's book. But that is all secondary. Edward Tulane, the porcelain rabbit who gets adopted and loved by different people at different points of his life carves out a space for himself in your heart whether you want it or not. Not just Edward, each character shines with realness; they are imperfect yet all the more beautiful because of it. As Edward's pride diminishes, as his heart grows warmer and filled with love, your heart too swells till it feels like its going to burst. Well, in my case, I guess it did because I found myself bawling away as I was closing the book. It made me intensely grateful for the people I love and who love me. It reminded me to not take the wonderful blessings I have for granted. Most importantly, it showed me what love, real heartbreaking kind of love can do. For that alone, you should pick up the book. Again, it'll hurt, but think of it as growing pains for your heart!

Well, that's the 10 books which made up May. See you soon!
Take care and Keep reading, folks!
Phil!

Superheroes : Now with rainbow colors!

Ah superheroes. Those paragons of strength and righteousness. The ones who keep our little hearts and mind secure in the knowledge that good always triumphs over evil no matter how convoluted or devious the plans of those nefarious masterminds are. No matter how big or powerful the bullies are, a superhero by your side makes all the difference in the world. Which is why it made perfect sense to recruit some for the LGBT team!  :) And you don’t have to dig particularly deep to find some superheroes who might be hiding a little more in the closet than just a cape.

To begin with, let’s go over the all too familiar relationship between Batman and Robin. I mean what’s really going on there? There’s nothing new about this question. The gay angle for Batman and Robin has been going on ever since.. well, Robin came into the scene.  But let’s face it, we all know Batman is straight. Least according to Catwoman. Robin on the other hand.. well, it’s an open question.  After all he’s never had a girlfriend and more importantly he’s perfectly happy being with Batman. How is possible  a teenager with raging hormones never think fondly about a girl or two and instead is happy traipsing around in short tight shorts with a hunky guy? Of course you could always put forth the argument that crime fighting in Gotham is serious business and that there’s no time for fooling around with girls. The only issue with that would be the fact that Batman always seem to find the time to go for a date or two. Hmm.. it all points to the inevitable., doesn’t it?

This is the bitch slap which started it all. The actual comic strip which gave the world the slapping meme. If you ask me, Robin’s shorts are a lot more suggestive than need be.  Plus, the conversation and the body language suggest an intimacy, does it not?

And speaking of teen boys, type “Is Tintin” on Google and see what auto suggestion throws up.

Looks like we are not the only one asking the question! And it’s not surprising. Not once in the entire series, in all his adventures around the world did a girl catch his eye. I mean c’mon!! How is it  possible for a young man to not have any female companions when you are as well travelled as Tintin is. It almost  defies logic till you consider the possibility of him being gay.

 If that’s not proof enough, you can look at his relationship with Haddock. Haddock, again a well-travelled man who’s shown no interest in women but is devoted to Tintin in a way that is completely at odds with his gruff exterior. Unlike Tintin, he doesn’t seem like someone who really enjoys being chased by (or chasing) goons and foiling evil plans to take over the world. But he endures all for the sake of this teen reporter.  And he’s a man of means and it makes perfect sense for him to settle down with a pretty wife in his comfy mansion.

And why does this teenage invest so much energy into an alcoholic and make him turn over a new leaf. All of this simply doesn’t make sense unless you consider their relationship to have a deeper chord, one which is a lot more than friendship. 

And if you start some serious psychoanalysis on their relationship.. whoa, it’s a Freudian goldmine! From Tintin’s androgynous physique to his almost nonexistent relationship with his parents (a lot of gay men in that period particularly are known  to have difficult relationship with the parents) to the fact that the only female friend he has is an opera diva.  The signs are all there!!

Now we move a little south of border and wonder about our Gaulish friends, Asterisk and Obelisk.  While it’s well documented that Obelisk is more than a little susceptible when it comes to female charms, does it not strike you odd why these bachelors have set up home together away from their families? And though there’s been tons of gorgeous and powerful women around them, they always come home to each other. It’s not like there are no other single men in the village but they seem to be the only two bachelors who are living with each other. In the words of Fulliautomatix, something smells fishy here!! 

Moving to American soil, we have Forsythe Pendleton  Jones III more popularly known as Jughead who might not be a superhero but is most certain an icon. His tremendous appetite is matched only by his compulsion to not date girls. While he clearly is not a misogynist with plenty of women as his friends, his lack of interest in them is all the more marked when you look at the antics of the rest of his friends circle. Even if you don’t have the raging hormones of a teenager, with so much peer pressure around you to date, he should have dated a girl or two.  Despite his skinny frame and unconventional choice in head gear, he’s had a few gorgeous women who have chased him and even convinced him to go on a couple of dates. But all of this feels more like exploration and experimenting rather than a serious try to make a relationship work.  Moreover all that over eating (where does it all go, though!) does suggest that he might be trying to compensate for some deep seated emotional distress. Overall, it looks like our favorite foodie needs to step out of the closet. 

While none of the super heroes considered so far is openly gay or is only hinted at, DC comics has embraced the changing attitudes and given the world an openly gay super hero with Green Lantern.  A new series, The New 52, was released in 2012 which reimagines some of DC’s star cast. In this series, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern is shown with his partner Sam. There’s even some steamy kissing scenes.

Not to be left behind, Marvel comics also hosted a same sex wedding in the June2012 issue of it’s Astonishing X-Men where Northstar married his partner Kyle.  X-men so totally works as an analogy for gay people. A minority misunderstood and persecuted by the majority. As a result they try to hide their true selves, cloaking themselves with the mundane. Until they realize they are not alone and the differences are to be celebrated and what makes them special.

Now, before anyone starts throwing brickbats for ruining their favorite childhood past time, just stop and think for a moment what difference it really makes, super heroes being gay. Does Batman’s fierce love for justice grow any less? Is Tintin less exciting and adventurous? Jughead less logical or loyal as a friend? None of the qualities which make them who they are, which make them super heroes  and why we love them are changed. It merely adds another facet to their personality. In their private lives. So ease up and let us celebrate superheroes in all the colors of the rainbow!

Summer snapshots!

My summer holidays are tinged with monsoons as well. Its like nature is being kind and fulfilling all I missed about Kerala. Bright sunny May mornings and cozy rainy June afternoons followed by pleasant clear sky-ed nights of December. Plus some extra love like the puppies. When a day starts with puppies you know the day can only be so bad.

And Summer means mangoes, guavas, star apples fresh off the branch. Summer means bugs birds and butterflies waiting to be captured. But thanks to the rains, without the sweat and the heat.

The best part though would be the people. Being pampered with your favorite dishes, all you've been craving all year long. Every meal you promise yourself that this time you won't stuff yourself and break that promise because your gran mom, mom and mom in law heaps another spoon on to your plate and you just cant refuse the love or the yumminess.

After all of this, you park yourself on the hammock on the balcony to count your blessings. And you find its a many splendored thing, like love.

Women on Women - Literary style!

Inadvertently May because the month for Woman Power. No, not girl power. It was all about Women. Girls are sweet. Women are powerful. Women have a strength which belie their sweetness. Not all girls become women and some girls take a long time to reach womanhood. All the books I read last month had a woman at the heart of it's book. And with the exception of two (out of the eleven), all the rest were written by women too. And it was a revelation.

When men write about women (or girls) they tend to give them an aura. It can be of the saint or of the whore, or maybe even somewhere in between ( the whore with the heart of gold?!). Rarely are they goofy, the women of the male imagination ( MPDG don't count!). And even rarer are the cases where the goofiness is a part of the strength. It's not that all the women I read about were goofy. But I'm just pointing out an instance of how male and female writers tend to portray female characters. The more female writers I read, I felt there was some subliminal difference. But one I could not place a finger on immediately. Had I read female and male authors indiscriminately as I'm wont to do, I'm sure I would not have even noticed the difference. I would have merely notched it to the particular style or voice of the author.

But skipping from one women to another, author wise, I caught a subtle shift of perception. The women are plainer. Even the attractive ones. They are not built to make your heart ache with want. Not on sight that is. And even more importantly love is not a function that's dependent on their external beauty. Or even on their likability. These women, created by other women, are irritable, have abundant sense of humor even if it is a bit sardonic, unwillingly kind or even willingly unkind. Yet, they still find love and fulfillment. And the love that they find is not dependent on them being likable all the time. Nor is love and fulfillment directly proportional. This is certainly not a revelation in the real world.

Then why does it feel so exceptional in the literary one?

They, the female characters, are also sweet, considerate, jealous, motherly, sexy or what ever feminine virtue (or vice) you want to confer on them. The difference, I guess, is that these women are not an embodiment of a single emotion or virtue ( or vice). They get tired and have exceptionally bad hair days and be exceptionally cranky because of the said day or be exceptionally happy and not give a flying f**k for the said day. But the range of emotion that they display, these women written by other women. doesn't make them seem hysterical. Instead it is a mere expression of their feelings at that point of time in the story.

I don't know if I'm making sense. It's not like all the women written by men are hysterical or ideal. I'm not saying that men can't or haven't written about women realistically. But looking back, I feel a majority of the women written by men have, for the lack of a better word, an aura. A particular virtue or vice is subtly enhanced or embodied by the female characters. Male characters can get angry but they are not defined by it (unless we are talking about the Hulk). They also be sad, happy, jealous, manipulative. yet they don't always carry an aura. It is not the norm. The hero or more often the master or guide will have an aura but not every male in the story has one.

And to be clear, I'm definitely not saying female authors are better than their male counterparts. The abundance of shitty writers are more or less equal in their distribution among genders. What I am saying is that it is refreshing to see female characters who are not boxed and colored with a brush of a singular virtue.

"Even these people will get married one day!"

One day sitting in college, a free period, my best friend suddenly started. With a certain amount of awe in her voice she said,"Even these people will get married one day!". Looking out at the people she was scanning I could understand her awe. Bits and pieces of gawky, socially awkward, sleazy, guys, some of them dimmer than a 10 watt bulb. Yet, it was true. All of these will one day be marketed as eligible bachelors and some poor girl's family will buy it enough to sent their girl along with them.. for life.

Looking back, I always felt this was a a sort of grand epiphany, made of equal parts despair and hope. Despair, coz it seemed like life is unfair ( and it is). Hope, because even these buggers have a chance in life ( and that is true too! ).

Anyways, when my turn came to go through the 'boy seeing' rigmarole which goes before a wedding, I took it as a chance to study human nature in general and chance to collect stories.

Of all the people I met, most were rather boring or shy to the point of being painful. But one really took the cake when it came to being bonkers! For convenience's sake let's call him Mr.X.

We met up in a coffee shop. He was considerably shorter than me but since he was confident and could talk reasonable well, I figured it would not hurt to actually spend some time. And boy could he talk. and talk.. and talk.. and.. honestly it was rather impressive how he much he could talk without taking a break. Which as fine by me, as I found him hilarious (though I dont think it was intentional from his side but it was great time pass). He would look at me quizzically at times when I end up laughing but clearly he dint take it badly coz he never stopped.

After a while I started noticing a pattern in his speech. He would be going strong in a particular pitch and then it would drop low for around 3-4 seconds, and then would continue back at the his usual pitch. Clearly something was distracting him. As our table was next to the bathroom, I initially though it might be coz of the people walking by.

But the next couple of times, when guys went there was no difference in his tone. Then there was the drop again.. when a girl walked by! The elevator look at the girl and then the monologue continues. and this happened every time a girl, no matter what shape size breed was about. It was not the checking out which was odd, it was the blatant way it was done. Of course, with the endless chatter and elevator eyes, there was no way I could imagine a life time of this and told my mom to politely decline.

And she did. Usually that's the end of story. But he kept calling for one more meeting and I thought fine, if being told to his face that this will not work is the way to do it, fine! So we meet up for lunch. and straight up he wants to know why this wont work coz he felt sure there was something that could be hit off. I was rather unprepared for the suddenness and I did the standard demurring of I see nothing common etc. but he started to deep dive and wanted to know why I felt it and offering counter points etc. It was awkward to say the least as he kept insisting though I made my disinterest very evident. Finally he seemed to accept that this is not gonna go anywhere coz I have firmly made up my mind. At that point the grilling stopped and the conversation moved on to general topics.

I'm not sure how the topic popped up( actually the way he flits from topic to topic itself was an interesting study of of his thinking.. of how he made connections in his brain) but it ended at his ex girlfriends. Of course in his version he was wildly popular thanks to his charm and eloquence. But he dated seriously only one ms.Y in high school. Now Ms.Y had a very unique name and was his junior in school. Incidentally it was also the name of a very good friend of mine and Who's entire dating history I was privy to and there was no Mr.X in it.

But she was miss popular and I've heard a lot of random guys boast about being her 'special' friend not realising that I'm close to her. So while this was not surprising (and I was wondering if I should tell him or not) the fact that he knew a lot of details in her life which the other random guys dint. He seemed to know her parents and siblings. Some part of my brain was sending these SOS signals which I could not interpret immediately. Suddenly it hit me.

While ms.Y did not date X, I did remember a certain person with the name 'X' bullying rather stalking her all though high school. According to her, he was more than a couple of years senior (match), quite popular (match) and infatuated with her(match?). And when she turned him down, he stalked her. The next couple of year were quite miserable for her coz he had marked her as "His girl" and would beat or threaten anyone who spoke to her or interacted with her. It got so bad she had to tell her parents and they had a talk with him (which is how he knew them so well). But since X was a common name, there was no reason for me to suspect this was the same stalker X till he brought up Y's name.

It all fell into place in a snap and then I could not run out of there faster. I made up some excuse and got out as fast as I could. Later I confirmed with my friend what X's full name was and it was a match!! :-/

It's quite scary to know the kind of people out there looking to get married!! But it sure makes for a funny story!

Book of the month : Apr 2015

Don't blame me, blame the sultry summer for making me lazy and hazy with the heat! And for that same reason April was the month of lazy reading. What's lazy reading? Let me give you a context. There are books you read because they are in your bucket list ( a.k.a most classics); ones you read because they sound interesting ( differs from person to person.. for me it's mostly science, non-fiction and philosophy) and last, the books you read because you are too lazy to exert your brain. The last section, which mainly consists of your 'guilty pleasures' reading ie books which you really really enjoy ( spelled as chick lits, and children's section for me) but would not really admit to reading coz you don't want to dent your persona as a (fraud) intellectual! That's lazy reading! But lazy reading has it's perks too. For one, if you are trying to read 100 books in a year, they definitely help to increase your book count. Two, they might just surprise with unexpected depth.

Lazy reading or not, April was definitely a fulfilling month, reading wise. It was full of magic, wonder, excitement and learning.  In short, it was like an adventure. So without further delay, let's start on the...

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan - 2.7 / 5

This one is strictly for Percy Jackson fans and everyone else should just stay away. No questions asked. Greek mythology has always been a soft corner and Percy Jackson even more so for me. Other than to my 10 year old nephew ( to up my street cred with him) this is one of my guilty pleasures I don't otherwise openly admit.. until now that is. So yes, I really enjoyed it. But that doesn't stop the book or the story from being a little on the flimsy side. But if you are willing to overlook a certain dicey-ness in character growth and just go with the flow, this one would be ok.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan - 2.8 / 5

Comes with the same warning as the previous one. Actually with a slightly less severe warning perhaps. If you like loads of action in your books, this one is good to go. Super fast paced. Riordan tries to experiment with some deeper themes like 'save earth' but it seemed forced at times. But over all, if you been with Percy, Annabeth and Grover this far, you will enjoy this one too.

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - 2.8 / 5

If I had to describe this book in one word, that would be 'underwhelming'. I picked up the book with a lot of expectation, Ms. Egan having won the Pulitzer with this one. And for weird reason I expected it to be like the Goonies. Even though I have not seen the movie and have no idea what it's about other that it being a cult classic.Yeah, dont ask.

But that's not the reason it's disappointing. It's because it's rather unmemorable though it's well written. Of the dozen characters who speak in this book, only a couple of  teenagers stay with you. The rest of the narcissistic, selfish and cynical bunch, all them sort of merge into each other. It's not just their lives which intertwine and connect in odd ways, but their individual motivations and desires also seem to overlap in odd ways. If Egan's purpose was to show us how similar we are even when we think ourselves as snowflakes, I don't think she's been successful in that either. Instead the feeling I came away with was that the characters all seem similar because of their immaturity. Maybe that's why I thought the teenagers seemed the most honest and true. Immaturity is not out of place with a teen. But on the rest of the adults it seemed incongruous. Would recommend you skip this Pulitzer!

PS: It does have a cool chapter written in power point. I'd say skip the rest and just read that!

Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature by David Quammen - 3.5 / 5

Is there every a collections of essay where you read and say all of them were equally brilliant? I'm yet to find one of those. Quammen is at times interesting and at times oddly didactic which is rather at odds with how he presents himself, which is as a layman with a curiosity for science. The description is one I could easily borrow for myself which is why I picked up this one. The initial essays were fun with their counter intuitive logic. He definitely made me look at the crows in new light. Or even wonder whether mosquitoes were actually protecting our rain forests. Then some where in between he lost that quirky sense of humor and it because rather drab. But his style further evolves, into a more serious and thoughtful point of view. And here you again come across some really thought provoking articles with depth. Here the book really challenges you to think how you relate to the world at large. Overall, it's an interesting read and something you can dip into while waiting for a particularly philosophical mood to pass.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman - 3.7 / 5

The book is built with the kind of insidious horror which sort of fully dawns on you just before you close the book. I can't count the number of times as a kid I wanted nicer parents who will give all that I wanted or run away and be adopted by a different set of parents who will appreciate the kind of person I am. But if that was to be true, that it could come with crippling consequences is not something I had thought though as a child. The built up is slow, almost at a sleepy pace though there a vague unease which gnaws at the back of your mind. You almost don't even realise that the unease has grown into panic till Coraline escapes and you exhale a huge sigh of relief. But this is not exactly a horror story in the style of Stephen King ( so no veins frozen with fright ). But if I had read this as a kid, this would rank right along with Chucky (Child's Play) as nightmare material simply because being trapped and unable to reach your loving parents is terrifying. And plus the ending is kind of lovely so would definitely recommend picking it up!

Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde - 4.2 / 5

Reading this play made me really wonder if Wilde was really gay like he said he was. I mean it seems ridiculous that a man, that too a gay man, can cut thought straight into a woman's heart with the kind of precision which would make a surgeon envious. His humor and wit aside, it's his grasp of human nature which makes his writing not just fascinating but relevant as long as humanity will exist. If that is not a sign of genius I don't know what is!

The Wondla Series by Tony DiTerlizzi - 4.5 / 5

Picked it up as part of my lazy reading but these surprised me so much. I guess the books would get slotted into Children's books but only because children would enjoy them as well. But I think it's a rather unfair categorization because so often we over look children's book, especially contemporary ones as not being mature enough.

There are 3 books in the series and each one gets better than the last. The gorgeous illustrations by DiTerlizzi alone would make these books a find. The pictures have the kind of clarity and warmth which makes it feel like it's lit from within. But the funny thing is the illustrations, as gorgeous as they are, are only a side to the real beauty in the book.

The characters, both human and alien shine with truth and wisdom. I was genuinely surprised to find myself getting so attached to Eva Nine, the heroine and even minor characters stick to you like burrs. I mean that is the sort of affection I usually reserve for someone like Huckleberry Finn. Someone I have read and loved over and over, every single time I read. Maybe children's books are not your usual pick. Or you have never really like science fiction. But because the magic of a wonderfully written book always stays alive, Wondla is a must read for adults and kids alike!


And finally the Book of the Month goes toooooo....

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer  - 4.5 / 5 

While reading this book, I developed such a huge crush on Foer it makes me blush. It reads like a nerdy yet racy novel. The blurb gives vague hints about the contents but it definitely does not prepare you for the fun ride that is this book. It basically follows Foer while he prepares for the U.S. Memory Champion. And while doing so he explore the the concept of memory and the bunch of neurons which helps us remember. So I expected a generous smattering of science but what I did not see coming was the quirky adrenaline pumping narrative of the weirdly hyper competitive world of Memory Championships and how engaging Foer can make it be. It was like a mix of Dan Brown and Big Bang Theory - Funny, entertaining and informative all nicely packaged in a yummy bite of book!

So Until next month, Keep reading!
Take care,
Phil!

Book of the month : Mar 2015

O-M-G.. It's month three and I'm still reading books! o_0

Ok, that's not really surprising. But I've been reading a lot of listicles lately on '# ways to get your audience's attention in like 2 second!'. Clearly I'm not very good at retaining vague numbered pieces of wisdom, but thought I'll give it try anyways.

I still have your attention? Wow.. You are patient. Anyways, my inability to retain and execute listicles ( does it remind anyone else of popsicles every time you hear/read the word?) thankfully is independent of my ability to review books. March had been an unusually busy month of reading with 10 book ( and a short story) most likely because I could spend time with a few of my favorite writers and characters. Discovering a new writer or a book is like meeting someone new. If you like the person, you exchange numbers and promise to meet again. You feel thrilled and excited about the new relationship. But they have yet to be a part of your life in a meaningful way - Someone you turn to when you have bad day.

That can happen only with people you have known and loved a long time. Even if you have not met them in a long time, you know you can always turn to them and they'll envelop you in their arms no matter how awful you been. And re-reading you favorite books and authors have same warmth.

Anyways, I'll save my musing on re-reading for another day. Now to the task at hand.

Funnily I started the month with Christoper Moore and ended it with Moore as well, though in the time gap he really dint improve by much which is why he's starting off my list, at the bottom.

Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore - 2/5

The usual trajectory of a mediocre book is from expectation to disappointment. This one completely misdirects you by disappointing you first and then building up the expectation. All I wanted was a few laughs and something which will not strain my imagination or intellect. Which is why I picked Moore. He's not someone I would classify as great but I felt he's always met the minimum requirement for a decent read. But badly developed characters are a huge pain in my... errrm...neck ( keeping it as PG friendly as possible!) and so are dragged out story lines. Half way through the book I found myself mumbling on character consistency and that Moore should not write about women if he doesn't understand them. In 'Lamb' (which I rather enjoyed), there are very few women and we see only glimpses of their personality. I think that might have been the secret of it's success. But in 'Fiends', he made the mistake of making the central character a woman. And the story line meanders all over the place without much purpose to it's inevitable conclusion. But here, in the last two chapters the story really picks up and in spite of the rather predictable ending, Moore get you hooked. But honestly it felt like 'too little,too late'.

Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore - 2.5/5

My personality leans on the side of nerdy, and you show me any thing remotely scientific on bugs, bats or whales, you are more or less assured of my attention. And Fluke started out brilliantly. The lead character, a marine behavioral biologist Nate Quinn, had my sympathies from the word go. I was drooling over the goofy surfer dude Kona as expected. The scene with the whale penises ( yes, plural!)  had me in splits and I found myself giggling later thinking of the same. Everything according to script. Even when the story line took a dive from the scientific and probably into the zany, I was still on board. But again, as soon as we started focusing on feminine characters, the book started to sink for me. His women react like men. The fact is, women don't have the same motivations and drives as guys and imagining guys with tits is just not good enough. Which was kinda sad, because this book had so much potential, especially how he could have explored the idea of an alternate gene driven god-ish organism. The ending was so bollywood-ish with it's half baked love story it made me cringe. The only character worth salvaging from the whole wreck was Kona and apparently Moore did use him again else where  ( which I have not read yet). But you know what, it's worth a read coz the whale penises scene .... Priceless!

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley - 2.8/5

7th book in the Flavia de Luce series, this was awaited with bated breathe by me. I absolutely adored the 10 year old sleuthing chemist in her previous adventures ( if you haven't read her yet, do pick it up). But moving the Brit girl from her comfortable backyard to a new country was too much of a challenge for the author because I felt he lost a little bit of essence of what makes this extraordinary brat so very addictive. Part of her charm was in being the underdog, with regard to her elder sisters. And moving that out of the equation removed a very human part of Flavia. For me, the murder mysteries were just the icing on top but the real meat lay in watching this hyper intelligent, stoic yet surprisingly fragile little girl deal with her uncommon life. So that ways, the mystery itself was satisfactory, but it was the rest of the background and cast which disappointed me. But I have hope, i.e. I'll see more of her in her old haunts and that should set the balance right.

And of course, being a Flavia fan, I had to read story story 'The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse'. My only complaint was that it was much too short.

The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely - 3/5

I love Dan's TED talk which was funny, engaging and insightful. It figures in my list of TTTT, i.e. Top Ten TED Talks. So, I was looking forward to his book. And it din't disappoint in the sense, it was funny and engaging. But more than once, I found myself questioning his insights. True, almost all of them are counter intuitive so they are not easy conclusions to accept. But I felt it all the more because there was a lack of clarity in how he came to some of his conclusions. Maybe it is not possible to share all the data and perhaps his research papers covers them in detail are you so interested to find out more. And some conclusions, even with data, is a tough pill to swallow. So by the end of the book I felt I was in a dilemma. Either I had to accept all of it, seeming inconsistency and all, or reject all. But the scales seemed to be rather evenly tipped to both sides. Oh well, life can be indecisive as well as irrational I guess!

I plunged into Paul Gallico's Mrs.'Arris Series and covered them one after the other. So I'm going to break away a little from the usual system of lowest to highest rating so as to preserve the order of the series.

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris  by Paul Gallico - 4 / 5

If you have not read Paul Gallico, you should. Especially Mrs.'Arris. I remember reading about her Parisian journey in my early teens and being thoroughly delighted. I mean if getting yourself a Dior dress is not a teenage dream come true, then I don't know what is. When I took it up again I wondered if it will be as awesome as I remembered. And it was. If ever there's a modern fairy tale with equal parts magic and equal parts mundane, then this is it! But the part which floored me as a teen, which were all about the wonderful sensation of being around gorgeous creations of satin and lace, was not the ones which plucked at my heartstrings this time. Instead I saw myself being drawn to the more sober part of the tale. Maybe it's a testimony to my growing maturity ( ahem!!) The odd thing is what ought to have been a miserable ending is turned around into a thing of beauty. A tale which will stay with you a very long time, I promise!

Mrs Harris Goes to New York by Paul Gallico - 3 / 5

I would not even know there was a series of  Mrs. 'Arris if not the double feature book I took up! Not as endearing as the first book but you can't help but love Mrs.'Arris, that eternal optimist while she tackles the near impossible!

Mrs. Harris Goes To Moscow  by Paul Gallico - 3 / 5

Fourth in the series, ( I skipped 3rd) the spirit of Mrs.'Arris shines though but the story seemed a little unrealistic. Too many coincidences and lucky breaks to bring about the happy ending according to me. By now, our faith in Ada Harris is such that we can easily predict the ending and the predictability is what reduces the story to just another story.

Every Living Thing by James Herriot - 4.5 / 5

I don't remember when I first picked up Herriot, but he was as much a part of growing up as sip-ups ( that brightly colored, sweet flavored irresistible roadside vendor ices ) because he was a family favorite. Three generations of Thottans have read him and loved him. So every time I pick up his books, it's is not so much as reading as spending time with your favorite uncle. The one who is always ready with delightful stories infused with the unexpected and not afraid to take pot shot at himself. His books are often quoted as must reads for animal lovers because so many of his stories revolve around them. But I say they are a must read for everyone. His humor and warmth will make you laugh, occasionally cry and most of all, reminds you what it means to be human.

The Firm by John Grisham - 4.5 / 5

It's rather ironic but growing up, I managed to skip the popular authors. So never read any Sidney Sheldons or Danielle Steeles. I did read one Harold Robbins as a teen which scared and scarred me for life! Which, I believe, is the reason why I kept away from the popular authors. The reason I'm telling you all this is give you a background why it was only in March 2015 I got hold of my first John Grisham. And boy oh boy, I loved it! I loved everything about it! The book literally had me on the edge of my seat, impatient to know what comes next. Truth be told I was expecting something Dan Brown-ish. Interesting facts/ aspects on law in a weak story line. And there are a lot of people who argue the same. But as far as I'm concerned the title of  the king of 'legal thrillers' can be without doubt conferred on Grisham. I know I might seem a bit hasty in conferring him the title with just one book under my arm, but that's how much I loved it! :P

Through I'm willing to crown Grisham, he is still only the runner up. Annnnd so ( drum roll please) the  BOOK OF THE MONTH goes to..

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh - 4.5 / 5

Blue is also my favorite color. But that's not why it's the book of the month. And I don't know if you have noticed, but the last two books have the same rating as this one. So what makes it stand out? For me, it's because Maroh shares a story that feels raw and brutally honest. Because she has shared a story which makes you explore sexuality with sensitivity and sensuality. That is a hard line to toe. She pushes boundaries without pushing the reader away. You would think stepping into shoes of a lesbian, it would never fit, yet it surprises you how incredibly familiar it feels. You also learn how much it can pinch trying to force yourself into a mold which is not meant for you. It's at once every teenager's story, with its share of angst, impossible crushes, rebellion, trying to fit in and stand out; yet it as unique as her fingerprint.

The art work too feels raw at times but you can't help but feel moved by it. A certain sense of life seems to gently throb within in. Her sparing use of color does wonders to heighten your senses. You start feeling the same rush and expectation as Clementine, the narrator, each time you glimpse the color blue. It reads less like a book and more like an experience. Like looking back on your first heart break. Painful yet strangely lovely because it made you wiser, more compassionate. So don't think twice and pick up the book!

Until next time, keep reading! :)
Phil!

PS : Damn, this post was late! Will try not to repeat that! Take care all!

Book of the month : Feb 2015

So it's time to look back at the month and crown the winner! Initially I thought I'll read all love stories, February being all about Valentine's and all.  But guess I have a bit of A.D.D sticking to the topic 'coz I ended up reading pretty much anything I can hold of.. as usual! Oh well!

Anyways, let get back to the point. Starting at the bottom of the list is...

See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson - 1.5 / 5

This book reminded me why I keep off chick lit as a general rule. If well written ones are like your favorite candy, this one was the equivalent of stale popcorn. The book was painfully predictable and characters were so terribly cliched it almost seemed like Gibson was making fun of the genre. The only plus point was the marginally steamy encounters between the main characters. The sex scenes seem to be the only place where Gibson seemed to have bothered to expend a little of her imagination. And that's all there was to the book, so pretty much a waste of time!

Second Thoughts by Niklas Asker - 2 / 5

This month has a lot of graphic novels. And this was the first of the lot. And sadly, the worst of the lot too. The story line is intriguing but the artwork left me kinda cold. Not that Asker's work isn't good but it seemed to be missing a subliminal quality which tends to bring the images to life. They remained strictly two dimensional. I also felt it was missing attention to details within the images. It was missing a master's touch. But then again I don't know if I'm judging it too harshly given that this is Niklas Asker's debut work. I came off with the feeling this could have been so much more because the story line was definitely something offbeat. I can't decide if I should recommend this one or not, but I would be intrigued to see what next he comes up with after a little maturing because the potential is definitely there. 

Good-Bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson 

- ? / 5

I had started Habibi by Craig Thompson (looooong back) and I had loved the artwork. And I have been hearing rave reviews about Blankets ( in fact there's a scene in Asker's Second thoughts which shows the cover of Blankets; and that is how I ended up with this book simply because I could not get hold of Blankets). But this one is an enigma for me. I don't know how I feel about it and honestly for me, that's quite a new sensation. There were parts of it which were touching and parts which I thought was complete drivel. End of the book, I came off feeling like I either completely missed the point or that there was no point what so ever. It is such a funny mixture of poetic and grotesque. Somehow I have a sneaky feeling that this is one of those books which need a couple of re-readings to unravel it's beauty. So why don't you try and let me know how you feel about it :)

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott - 3.5 /5

I had marked it the moment I read this book was one of the inspirations behind Interstellar movie. Both, the director Christopher Nolan and Kip Thorne, the theoretical physicist who was the principle scientific consultant for the movie, referred to the book and as someone who finds such concepts utterly fascinating it sounded like a book I could not miss. And had I read it a decade ago, it would have been a book which would have blown my mind. Not because the book is anything less than absolutely brilliant but because the basic concept would have been so spectacularly new. The basic premise of the story was shared by my mathematics teacher while explaining quadratic equations ( and their co-relation to geometry, and from there to real life.. not explaining how 'coz that would be a spoiler!). Now I can't help but wonder if he had read the book. So while reading the book, the concept itself was not new but that doesn't change the fact that it is wonderful read. 

Apart from the concept of the higher dimensions, what fascinated me was the clarity with which he renders the flatland society. The parallels (pun unintended..mostly ) between flatland society and the 3-D human world is rather uncanny. In this day of 'outward-political-correctness-and-inward-regressive-thinking', to read something which blatantly puts forward the hypocrisy without any apologies is refreshing because it forces you to rethink where you really stand. 

March: Book One (March #1) by John Robert Lewis, Andrew Aydin , Nate Powell (Artist) - 4 / 5

This graphic novel is the first of the trilogy which illustrates the life of John Robert Lewis, an American politician and civil rights leader. Most of the narratives that we hear about the black civil right moment is mainly focused on Martin Luther King Jr. This novel gives a perspective from the lesser known yet equally inspiring personality of John Lewis. It starts out rather slow with John's childhood but builds up momentum as he matures into an adult with strong convictions. This is more of a build up for the second of the series but it's still an interesting read on it's own. Nate Powell's artwork is just so gorgeously emotive, the perfect compliment for Lewis's inspiring story. 

A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde - 4 / 5

Has this man written anything which is not polished to perfection? As usual, Wilde shows his genius and you have four fables of extraordinary simplicity and grace. The birthday of Infanta is one of the most lovely and tragic reads I have read in a long time. As a rule, I'm not fascinated by tragedy. But this one made me cry. Not the blubbering sort. But the one where I ached so badly 'coz I badly wanted to hug the little guy and tell him, it's all lies. And the last short story which moved me as much was when I read O.Henry's Last Leaf in school. The other stories have the innocence of fairy tales and yet something adult and dark underneath. I was rather surprised by the strong Christian theme in them. Somehow seemed at odds with all I know of Wilde's personality. But it doesn't disrupt the storytelling in anyway. Should definitely pick it up for Infanta's birthday.

The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne - 4.2 / 5

I have not read the official version of Jane Austen's biography, but I did love Byrne's approach to her life, ie to take her letters and her writings in perspective of the day to day environment Ms.Austen found her self in. Bryne also explores the books that she read, plays she appreciated and the people who influenced her to create a deeper understanding of the English novelist. It was much longer than expected (I started this book in Jan but finished it only in Feb) but that dint diminish the enthusiasm you feel through out the book. With the new information in hand I think I should re-read some of her lesser appreciated novels (by me) like Emma and Mansfield Park. I'm sure the context that is provided by Byrne would help in clarifying the kind of characters that Austen created who seemed rather unnatural to me before. Overall, if you are an Austen fan, then this is one book you'll immensely enjoy!

As we go towards the end of the list, my dilemma starts.. which is the book that truly stood out for me? A perfectly rendered classic or a wonderfully etched out story of a modern day hero? I'm almost tempted to declare a draw yet I feel that would be unfair for some reason. So, after digging a little deeper and splitting a lot of hair, here's the runner up:

Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope - 4.4 / 5

I have been wanting to read Trollope for a while now. I kept finding a lot of references in other works yet I had not the least bit of familiarity with his work. Plus it helped that I had just started Downton Abbey and this looked like the perfect read to compliment the series ( and it is! ). As soppy as the name sounds, the book is anything but. Trollope narrates a love story, but not one made of grand passions and extravagant gestures. Instead he presents to us a practical and very down to earth love story with all it's confusions and messiness. But he does it with a sense of humor and a certain amount of compassion for the human follies and fickleness. And his style of narration is so very engaging; like you are listening to some good gossip, one that is not mean spirited yet has a hint of secrecy which makes it so much fun to know (even the title hints of it, doesn't it? ). 

And there is so much of depth for each of the characters that he has created, especially the women. And I like the fact that he has not given his women any of the stereotypical extremes of virtue or vileness. They are neither all good nor all bad, though they might have their preferences to which side they lean. As a feminist there are times I feel I should probably be offended about his portrayal of the female characters, instead I feel that he has done a fantastic job of capturing the female thought process. Occasionally I feel a bit put off by the side narrations which deviate from the main story line because I'm impatient to know what's happening with the main story line. It makes the book rather lengthy and the deviations themselves are a small book by themselves. But it does provide a nice contrast of characters to which you can judge the protagonists with. 

I can't exactly pin point why I enjoyed the book so much, but I did and I can't wait for my next Trollope!

And finally, the BOOK OF THE MONTH...

March: Book Two by John Robert Lewis, Andrew Aydin , Nate Powell (Artist)

This is second of the trilogy illustrating the life of John Lewis. 

The beauty of this book lies in it's powerful storytelling and evocative images. While the story never glosses over the violence that the movement had to face, Nate Powell translates them into incredibly powerful imagery with minimal symbols that stays long after you close the book. Each person in this book brought alive with so much honesty and passion. It's amazing how much depth creations of ink and paper can have. 

The book moves between the present ( i.e January 2009) and 1960s. This simultaneously reminds us the huge struggle and sacrifice that it took for a black man to be the president of United States and the distance that is yet to be covered for that equality to be truly equal. Another beautiful thing I found in the book, was that at no point was 'white' people shown as the enemy. The story clearly points out it is hatred without understanding and blind prejudice is the villain. Given the intolerance that we find growing insidiously everyday, this book is still ever so relevant. The story, the personalities, and the art all comes together wonderfully making this a must read!

So that's all for now. Till next time.. Happy reading y'all! :)

Phil!