Book of the Month -- August

The Collected Short Stories

There is something about these rains in Mumbai. The flooded streets and delayed trains give you just another reason to stay back home and curl up on your bed with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.

My book of the month for the rain drenched month of August is "The Collected Short Stories" by Jeffrey Archer.

I count this book as one of my personal favourite because each story is a masterpiece in itself, captivating you with the quintessential "Archer Style" of the unexpected twist in the plot, intelligent writing and quite humor.

Although all the 36 stories are worthy of at least 3 reads each, I highly recommend "Never Stop on the Motorway", "Do Not Pass Go", "Clean Sweep Ignatius" and "Not the Real Thing".

As each story draws to a close, you will no doubt be mesmerized by Jeffrey Archer's inventiveness and his easy effervescent style.

Last Words: This is a rather thick book and it will last you the entire month. Highly recommended for first time readers, it'll have you hooked on to Jeffrey Archer. This is one book that is not at all put-downable =)

Hiatus

First things First...Bookworm was not in Hibernation! Neither has this been a case of Writers Block.

She was and still is completely immersed in work, because in a couple of months Bookworm will be moving Bags and Books across continents all the way to England. And when such a huge move is on the cards, a little hiatus (I Hope) is justified.

But that is no excuse. No matter the delays, I intend to start the posts immediately.

Glad to be back, this feels so good like Home :)

P.S. A very B-I-G thank you to all those amazing people who have been sending me fan mail even though I haven't written a single post in the last couple of months. You guys keep me going <3

Book Review -- The Gift

Title: The Gift

Author: Cecelia Ahern

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 2.5/5

Cecelia Ahern has developed a style of her own, of weaving a bit of magic into reality in her stories. However, it could go wrong sometimes, it could go overboard sometimes.

In her book "The Gift", it most certainly does not go overboard. But it does go wrong.

The Plot kicks off on a cold Christmas morning, when a teenager is caught smashing a window with a frozen turkey. Since he is a juvenile, charges are not pressed against him and till the time his mother arrives to pick him up from the police station, the cop, Rafe, decides to tell the boy a story.

The story is about Lou, a young and successful professional, who is a hardcore workaholic who has no time for his family. One day out of the blue, Lou decides to offer a job to Gabriel a.k.a Gabe, a homeless fellow who lives on the pavement outside his office.

As soon as Gabe joins Lou's office, Lou's life takes a turn and he slowly begins to learn the importance of giving time to his family, choosing his wife over his secretary and how to balance his work and his personal life.

The concept is good, however the implementation isn't.

Despite the really shaky first couple of chapters, the story does pick up a bit, only to falter again!! The narration tends to get preachy at times, giving you the feeling that you are reading a self help book. Also at time you find it difficult to get a grip on who is actually the narrator: The Cop Rafe or the author herself?

And the lecture on time management in the last chapter is lengthy, deliberate and at the end only puts off the reader.

Last words: Read this only if you have nothing else to read.

Book of the Month -- May

The Traveller's Guide to Planet Earth

The monthly subscriptions of "Lonely Planet" magazine has had the desired effect and so, very soon I will be packing my bags and be off the the Himalayas to scramble around the hills and snow and take a break from all the humidity of Mumbai.

Not surprisingly so, my Book of the Month for May is all about travel, more so the adventure seekers who like to go off the beaten track and explore something new.

"The Traveller's Guide to Planet Earth" is based on the amazing BBC documentary series of the same name. It has now been published as a book by Lonely Planet.

Divided into 10 chapters, each containing fascinating travelogues and breathtaking photos, this book covers 50 destinations across the planet earth; from the hottest deserts to the frozen poles, the deepest seas to the highest mountains, it has all the information you will ever need if you want to go visit those places. And believe me, you WILL want to go there!!

This book is a real treasure for all those who more often than not suffer from Wanderlust and itch to pack their bags and go exploring.

Last Words: Be prepared to get overwhelmed, because this book will show you a side of our planet that has never been seen before :)

The Reading Hour

Amy,

What an absolute pleasure to come across a teeny weeny bookworm-in-the-making like you!!! The way you squealed with delight when I opened my library for you!!! :)

It was delightful reading with you, reading out for you, and helping you learn how to arrange the books on the shelf :P

Here's looking forward to many more such reading hours with you <3 :D

10 things You should never say to a Bookworm

We bookworms are an eccentric lot. While it is easy to guess what makes us happy (anything and everything that concerns books :P), you can never know what will tick us off!!

Here is a little help though. My sincere advise: NEVER EVER say any of this to a bookworm.. the repercussions may vary from mild irritation to extreme violence :P

10. My favourite author is Chetan Bhagat/Mills&Boons.

9. I am sorry but I lost the book that you gave me last week.

8. What's with you carrying books in your bag all the time? Aren't there better things to put in your bag?

7. The only books I have read are my school textbooks.

6. I love to make dog-ears in my books!! (seriously dude, haven't you heard of bookmarks??)

5. Yuck!! What are we doing in a bookstore??

4. Once I finish reading a book, i give it in Raddhi/Bhangaar(!!!)

3. I read a book when I want to sleep.

2. There are better things to spend money on.. I would never waste it on books.

1. Books???? Eeeewwwwwww.....!!!!!!! (The consequences of this statement can be fatal)

The Agony and the Ecstasy--Book Review

I am frankly a little disappointed with myself. Because this is the longest I have taken to finish a book. And so this is the longest I have kept my readers waiting for a new post from me.

This, however, is not a book that you can hope to get over with in a day or two. You need to savour it, live in the moments that the author creates, sit back and let yourself be immersed in the Renaissance art and come out feeling humbled.

"The Agony and the Ecstasy" written by Irving Stone is the biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti, more popularly known as Michelangelo, the creator of David, the Sistine Chapel Frescoes, Madonna and the Child, the architect of St. Peters dome. A Perfectionist, a Passionate lover and above all a Brilliant artist who was honest to his trade.

The novel traces Michelangelo's life from the time he was 13 and was apprenticed to learn painting in Florence till the time of his death.

The author maintains a steady pace throughout the book, falters not even once and takes the readers on a journey through the turbulent Renaissance period.

The highlights of this book are the sequences where Michelangelo envisions and thereon proceeds to create some of his finest masterpieces -- Madonna of the Stairs, Battle of the Centaurs, David, and the Sistine Ceiling; also worth a mention is the description of his rivalry with Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael.

So deep is the impact of this book that unknowingly, you feel the inner turmoil of Michelangelo when he had to waste years quarrying for the finest of marble that was never used, you feel his anger at being called a "Stone Laborer", his agony when a splinter of marble enters his eye and renders him sightless for days and his ecstasy when his fellow countrymen tell him that his David gave them back their self respect.

My Verdict: "The Agony and the Ecstasy" is a must read for all the serious Bookworms who want to read something offbeat, insightful and profound. Casual readers will want to abandon the book within the first 50 pages or so. Art and History enthusiasts will find it to be a priceless treasure.

Last words: Make sure that you have an internet connection at hand, because you will want to Google and see the artworks and sculptures mentioned in the book.

Word of Thanks: To Mr. Bookworm. Though it was a date, I still could not keep myself away from Landmark and I pleaded that I be allowed just 10 minutes to rush inside and buy a book. This was the first one on the racks near the bill counter and ultimately I ended up buying one of the most beautiful books that I have read so far :)

The Magical World of Classics-- Grimms Fairy Tales

As they say: "You may have not heard of the Grimm Brothers, but you must have definitly heard a Grimms Fairy Tale"

There will hardly be anyone who has not heard of Cinderella or The Frog Prince or Snow White.

The entire foundation of Disney has been these Fairy Tales, and surprisingly there are a lot of people who think that these immortal Fairy Tales have been the brainchild of Disney :(

What we are not aware of is that these Fairy tales, which were and are still continued to be immortalised by Disney in their animation movies were infact collected and published by the two German brothers Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, more popularl

y known as the Brothers Grimm.

The Grimm Brothers published their first collection of fairy tales way back in 1812 and then later published a second collection. These two books are together known as "Grimms Fairy Tales" and contain 209 fairy tales from all over Europe.

Point to be noted here is that the brothers only collected and published the tales, they never wrote any, but yet the tales came to be known as Grimms Fairy Tales :)

Grimms Fairy Tales include stories of Magic, of Talking animals, the Evil Queen and the Beautiful Princess and of course Fairies and Dwarfs and Elves!!

The more popular from these 209 tales are Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Hans and Gretel, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, The Sleeping Beauty, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel and The Sleeping Beauty.

Read this book and lose yourself in the world of magic and fairy godmothers and of course the Prince Charming :)

You can read a few of the famous fairy tales here : http://www.grimmfairytales.com

And for those who feel apprehensive about being caught with a Fairy Tale book in your hand, well I would just sum it up saying "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again"(C.S. Lewis) ...... Enjoy :)

Book of the Month -- April

Sometimes you come across a book that is so simple yet so profound in its writing, that it keeps haunting you long after you have finished reading it.

My Book of the Month for April is one such book that has left a lasting impact on me, so much so, that no matter how many times I read it, it never fails to dazzle me with its simplicity!

The English Teacher is the story of Krishna, who teaches English in the Albert Mission College in Malgudi, while his wife Susila and new born daughter Leela stay with his in-laws in another town nearby. A move into a new rented house, brings the promise of a life of marital bliss for the young couple and they look forward to the simple pleasures of everyday life.

But a cruel twist of fate snatches away Susila, leaving Krishna alone to care for his now 3 year old child and face a life of loneliness and despair.

And then, just when Krishna thinks that he has lost everything, he receives a message from an unknown source which promises to bring the sunshine back into his grey world.

Written by R.K. Narayan, one of the most iconic Indian authors, The English Teacher is a simple yet beautiful tale which has love, life and the afterlife as its central theme. The flow of the book is dreamy, almost lyrical, and you are transported into a tranquil little world where life exists without its usual complexities.

Read it to get the stress out of your mind. Read it also if you want to read a classic which has been written in the simplest of English. But most importantly read it to get a taste of Malgudi, the wonderland that was created by R.K. Narayan and cherished by young and old alike.

P.S. Since I am suffering from a very serious bout of "Cricket Fever", much due to the fact that my Team India has been A-W-E-S-O-M-E so far and will be playing the Cricket World Cup finals in Mumbai, I am being a little lazy about posting reviews regularly. Sincere apologies to everyone... I will be back after 3rd April!! (:

The Magical World of Classics-- Heidi

I begin with my fortnightly feature on Classics today.

The first is one of my All Time Favourite classics since Childhood --- "Heidi" written by Johanna Spyri.

It is the story of a little girl named Adelheid, fondly called Heidi, who is an orphan and lives with her Aunt Detie in Germany, until one day when her Aunt decides to take up a lucrative Job offer. Taking up this new job means little time to look after Heidi and so Diete decides to leave Heidi with her formidable and gloomy Grandfather who lives in the pretty little Swiss town of Mayenfeld.

As Heidi begins adjusting to her new life in the Alps, the readers are transported into the delightful and innocent world of children, where everything is harmless and beautiful.

Read this book to experience the beauty of the Swiss Alps and to re-live your carefree childhood days.

Even today whenever I read "Heidi", I find myself wishing that my life was as simple as Heidi's, where every morning would begin with the Fir trees whispering against my windows and I would spend my whole day playing with my pet goats in the mountains having bread and cheese for lunch and dinner (:

Written originally in German, way back in 1880, Heidi was later (thankfully!!) translated into English and continues to mesmerize readers the world over even today.

It is also available as an E-book, legally :)

Download Heidi here : http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1448

Last Words: This one is a sure shot stress buster and after effects of reading Heidi include a temptation to eat cheese at every given opportunity and wanting to run away to the Swiss Alps by the first flight available. Enjoy!!

The Magical World of Classics--- Coming Soon!!

If "Booorriiinnggg" is the only thing that comes to your mind when I say classics…. Then worry not, Bookworm is coming to your rescue.

Yes, along with my monthly feature of "Book of the month" I am starting with a new feature on classics.

Erm...Why classics? Arent they long, tedious, full of difficult phrases??

I rather say Why Not?

Classics, unlike the regular books, are the purest form of literature. Be it a tragedy like Hamlet, a comedy like Don Quixote or a romance like Gone with the Wind, these were the original stories and reading them will make you realise that all the books we read now are in one way or the other a little inspired from these classics.

We live in a world that is getting increasingly simplified, be it our language or our modern day literature. And Classics ensure that we remain in touch with our roots.

And most importantly, classics have been loved by all the generations, the characters have been immortalised (Even kids will know who were Romeo and Juliet), and they have survived the test of time. What more proof would be needed to say that these classics are some of the best books available for us??

So... are you ready to enter the Magical World of Classics with me?

You Know You're a Bookworm When.....

1. Your idea of a perfect date begins at The Crossword Book Store, browsing for books and ends up on the couch… discussing books.

1. You have a tendency to quote randomly from the latest book that you have read or are reading… For Example: when you see Palak (spinach) for dinner you say "It is silliness to eat, when to eat is a torment"

1. You have the habit of noticing grammatical errors while people are speaking and you love to correct them, even if in return you get whacked on the head with your own book.

1. You judge people by the kind of books they read: Chetan Bhagat/Sidney Sheldon readers = The Easy Going ones, Management Books readers = The Workaholics, Shakespeare/Jane Austen/Classics Readers = The Intense, Dreamy ones, Non readers = The Losers

1. You will take it PERSONALLY if you hear even complete strangers saying "Oh books are so BORING!!"

1. In all probabilities, the only serious hobby you have had in your life is "Reading".

1. Nine out of Ten times, you wear glasses… atleast reading glasses.

1. If you ever realise that there is a certain book that you STILL HAVE NOT READ… you will die of misery and embarrassment.

1. When you are moving to a new house, you will pack your books in bubble wrap and write "Fragile, handle with care" on the box.

1. According to you mishandling a book is a heinous crime and all offenders should be made to serve in a library for lifetime.

1. Your circle of friends include the staff at your favourite bookstore, the friendly book-wallah on Dadar Station and your raddi-wallah who gives you second hand books for free.

1. You are so crazy about books that in spite of all the constructive things you could have done with your free time, all you will do is start a blog dedicated to books and write about books till the time everyone around you gets nauseous and starts puking at the slightest mention of the "B- Word".

Book Review-- Keep off the Grass

When Chetan Bhagat wrote Five Point Someone, it started a trend of sorts about the "me too an IIT/IIM alumnus" genre of books.

At the first look, "Keep Off the Grass" too comes across as something similar.

Yes it is about a guy who is stuck in the IIM. And yes, just like Bhagat's famous trio of Hari, Alok and Ryan, even our protoganist here isn't really great when it comes to grades. But that is exactly where, thankfully, the similarity ends and that's what sets this book apart from all those IIT alumni novels!

Keep Off the Grass, the debut novel of Karan Bajaj, takes us on a whirlwind journey from the plush offices of Goldman Sachs in Wall street to the mystic ghats of Benares.

It is the story of Samrat Ratan, a 25 year old investment banker from wall street who earns a paycheck of a quarter million a month. Though he has achieved all that he could ever ask for, the feeling of being lost in a crowd refuses to go.

That's when he decides to quit his job, go back to India and enroll in a business school while also planning to search for the ever elusive thing called Happiness and Contentment in the land of a million Gods.

Philosophical, with a dash of wicked humour, I finished reading the book at one go. Yes, it is that engrossing :)

The one Flipside of this book is that since it was published way after "Five Point Someone", there are bound to be comparisons all the time. It does not help that some parts of the story, a few lines are eerily similar too.

What works for this book, though, is that Karan Bajaj is extremely unpretentious when it comes to writing and unlike Chetan Bhagat, does not use too many colloquial terms and saves himself from the disgrace of being called an author with bad grammar!

Also another plus point is the complete absence of a love angle, and believe me it is so utterly refreshing for once to read a book that just STICKS to its main plot and does not waver with unnecessary complications :)

My Verdict: Keep Off the Grass is recommended for all those lost souls out there who are searching for a purpose in life. Also for those who love a little dose of wacky philosophy every now and then. Go enjoy!

Book Review -- Everyone Worth Knowing

There is a certain pattern that is followed in almost all the chick-lit novels which I have read so far. There is a girl next door who works someplace cool, like a fashion house, or a glamorous PR Agency. She has a close gal-pal, she meets prince charming, they fall in love, something goes wrong--- like a miniscule fight/misunderstanding/social misfit problems, and then just as the girl is about to lose hope, everything comes together, and she and the guy live happily (not necessarily ever after though!!)

This is a tried and tested formula, and also a tiring way to write a novel, because everything is simply so predictable about the book!!

But yet, there is something adorably endearing about the way Lauren Weisberger creates this story, that makes me want to give this book a 3.5/5 :)

For starters, "Everyone Worth Knowing" is the story of Bette Robinson, who after slogging away for 5 years in a thankless banking job, quits the job in a fit of rebellion. Just when she is finally adjusting to her new life of unemployment, she is hired by Kelly & Co. thanks to her famous writer uncle.

At Kelly & Co. all Bette has to do is plan parties, party hard, check out new places and yes, get paid for it too. During one such drunken party, Bette is snapped with a notorious Playboy and from then on, all hell breaks loose, threatening to affect not only Bette's personal life and reputation, but also her parents, best friend and her boyfriend.

The book moves at an even pace, taking the reader on a colorful joyride of the New York high life; right into the world of models, socialites, playboys, members only clubs… and drugs, lies, backstabbing and utter lack of ethics.

The author etches the characters in the novel with astonishing honesty. You can identify with Bette's desperation and can feel your blood boil at Abby's viciousness!!

It does manage to keep the reader engaged, but the book kind of gets a little tedious somewhere in the middle. And this is the only flipside of the book.

I would highly recommend this one for all the chick-lit addicts out there, and also to the first time readers who want to start with something light and breezy :)

Word of caution: Serious Bibliophiles might get a strong feeling of abandoning this book mid-way, so watch out!!

My verdict: 3.5/5… Thumbs' up for this one :)

Book Review-- The Tales of Beedle the Bard

In the year 1999, the British publication house Bloomsbury, published the first book written by a completely unknown, many times rejected, first time Author, who went by the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling.

That book, and its consequent parts, went on to create the biggest storm that the literary world has seen till date, and JK Rowling, as she is popularly known as, gave us Harry Potter.

This brief background, I feel is necessary before I start reviewing "The Tales of Beedle the Bard".

The Tales of Beedle the Bard first finds a mention in the last installment of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The complete book was released sometime after the last book.

The book contains 5 different fairy tales, popular in the wizarding community, each with different magical characters, and with a moral at the end ---- much like our "Muggle" fairy tales.

Let me get straight to the point: The stories are delightful, a little sinister, but quite enjoyable and will even make the reader a little nostalgic as Dumbledore, Hogwarts and quite a few old terms like Animagus, Inferi, The Unforgivable Curses find a mention in these 5 tales.

But honestly, a "non Harry Potter" person will feel lost and left out while reading this book.

The Potter fans on the other hand will not be disappointed, because The Tales of Beedle the Bard is quintessential Rowling with her brilliant imagination, playful humour and gripping plots.

My Verdict: Strictly for the Harry Potter Fanclub :)

Book of the Month-- March

"It has frowzy hair and blue eyes, and looks like a reptile" So said Eve, the first time she saw Adam.

Written by Mark Twain way back in 1905, my Book of the Month for March is Eve's Dairy. Though a short story, of about 42 pages, this book comes across as a very interesting and engrossing read, mainly because Twain wrote it as a first person account of Eve, the first woman to live on Earth, in the beautiful Eden.

Full of subtle but clever humour, this book initially seems as if it is a candid confession of Eve, about her ever changing feelings for Adam, the discovery of Fire, how she thinks the world is a mess because "There are too many stars in one place, and too less in others" and how she would love to eat those Beautiful albeit Forbidden Apples.

But read it a second time, and you will see how Mark Twain has effortlessly explained the complexities of the "Man- Woman Relationship".

Tender and amusing, you will find yourself falling in love with Eve's innocence, her mindless babble and her vain efforts to understand Adam.

Towards the end, Adam too gets to speak his mind, which he does most eloquently at the grave of Eve: "Wheresoever she was, THERE was Eden."

Last words: This is one compelling read. Do not miss out on this one :)

Remembering Uncle Pai.....

Dear Uncle Pai,

That summer from 18 years ago is still crystal clear in my mind. That was the summer when I read my very first “Tinkle” and instantly fell in love with it. Lazy afternoons were never the same again.

I giggled at Suppandi’s innocence, went into hysterics reading Shikari Shambhu’s antics, marveled at Kaila’s intelligence and felt sorry for Tantri’s ever failing attempts to grab the throne. I remember thinking wistfully that maybe someday I will get into a sticky situation and send my story to “It happened to me.” Sadly, it never happened to me.

Not surprisingly, even after getting out my teens, Tinkle continues to be my constant companion, ever present in my bag, by my side like a faithful friend.

No one has, till date, managed to explain The Ramayan like you did. I am very proud that I am so well versed in our Indian mythology, all thanks to Amar Chitra Katha.

Uncle, you touched many lives, brightened up countless lazy afternoons and shaped many young lives. Today as you begin your journey into the world beyond, I wish that you become one of the brightest stars and continue to shine upon us forever.

Yours sincerely,

A “Tinkle” & “Amar Chitra Katha” loyalist since age 5 years

An Unfailing Companion-- Part 2

Situation 2: The Solitary Journey

The world can be a lonely place when you are an introvert. That I am an introvert, a naturally shy person, is something that has bothered me a lot. More so when I am on my own, travelling to someplace with nothing else to do.

Striking up a conversation with your fellow travelers can be a huge pain when you just end up tongue tied and unable to speak at all with strangers.
The iPod gets boring because after a certain while you cannot bear the music blasting in your ears (no, switching to soft music also doesn't help after an hour or two.)
Yes, looking out of the window can be pretty pleasing because our incredible country is full of sights and surprises at every nook and corner... But what do you do after it turns dark?

Then out comes The Book.
And invariably I lose myself in it, because, the book is my gateway to an unknown exciting world; 17th century Europe, 21st century India, the morbid world of Vampires, the artificial world of socialites and the gruesome world of the Mafia.

Laughing and crying with them, I make my way to my destination and realise that the book has been an unfailing companion to me, yet again.

Book Review: The Part-time People

Sometimes you come come across a book that is so desperately lazy and lax in its script that you wonder why the hell did you even pick it up? But then, you have started reading the book and being the incurable Bookworm that you are, you WILL read the book completely and finish it come what may.

And so, pushing away all the sarcastic, snotty thoughts about the author and his writing, you start reading again... And as the book wraps up, you realize that the author has used the age old formula of making a story work: "3-4 main characters, introduced in a sequence, a slow unfolding of the main plot, a small twist towards the end and ultimately tying up everything with a clinching one-liner". But then, not everybody is O'Henry.

The Part-time People, a novella by Tom Lichtenberg, tells us the story of DeBarrie's, a Stationery store run by two brothers Mike and Joe. Though the business brings them a neat profit, they could do with some extra help in the store. The problem however is that they never seem to find the right people as part timers. After burning their fingers at least 5 times, Joe ultimately hires David, a non-assuming shy college kid. But is David really what he seems like or is there a storm brewing within?

At times a psycho-thriller, at times dark humor and at times just a plain short story written without a strong plot, the author has tried to use a mash up of many elements in his writing. And it does go wrong because honestly I found my attention wavering many times while reading.

The O'Henry-esque way of ending a story with a simple but clinching one-liner that the author has used, is the only saving grace of this novella.

My Verdict: Avoid this one!!

An Unfailing Companion-- Part 1

Books, they say, are our best friends. And best friends stand by us come what may, and never let us down. Books, I discovered, are my best friends too, my truest, most unfailing companions :)

Situation 1: Classroom, Boring lecture in progress

Imagine a situation, where you are compelled to sit through a lecture on an extremely lethargic subject like Indian Management Thoughts and Practices. With huge efforts I was trying to concentrate on what the prof was trying to say but invariably my mind started wandering, i began stifling monstrous yawns and my eyelids start drooping. But hey!! I cannot sleep in class, can I? Who wants to get caught sleeping midway through a lecture... because that is like the surest way to drawing not just the professors but the entire class's attention to you. Neither could I chat or play my i-pod, lest I be caught :(

And then I remembered, I had an old Archie somewhere in my backpack :D
Honestly, it is very easy to camouflage an Archie within a huge Management volume, pretend that you are listening and taking notes/marking points and still have the time of your life hanging out with Archie and his Gang at Pop Tates ;)

And boy, did the time fly by!!!! :)

Writers Block and back...!!!!

I am back at last, from what I feel was a mini Writers Block. My fellow bloggers will agree, it is not a good feeling.
You have a thousand ideas swimming in your head, so you take your laptop, sit somewhere nice all set to write out a good meaningful post and ............................................................!!!!
The words just don't come out as they should. It is as though there is a huge block right inside your head which simply does not allow you to think, write, express.
*Blank*

Nonetheless, I am back. And it feels good, no... Awesome, to be back :)
Feels like I am home at last.

Looking forward to bright sunny blogging days again :) :)

Book of the Month: February

After quite a few requests that I start a regular feature on my blog, I thought, why not? So "Book of the Month" it is, from now on, published in the first week of every month.
Now that we celebrate St. Valentines Day this month, I have put together a list of some nice books, which are not necessarily high on the "Mush" and "Gooey" factor, but nonetheless manage to give you that breezy, goody good feel :)
However, if you are looking for some Mills and Boons type of romance over here, then please move ahead... this is not for you!!

So here below, my nominations and the Book of the Month:

5. Romeo and Juliet -- William Shakespeare
4. The Notebook -- Nicholas Sparks
3.Eleven Minutes -- Paulo Coehlo
2. Pride and Prejudice -- Jane Austen

And the Book of the Month is "P.S. I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern.

Now though the title may sound a bit cheesy, this one is not your run of the mill kind of romances. Set in Dublin, Ireland, the story revolves around Holly and her dead husband Jerry who has left her a bundle of notes each ending with the sentence P.S. I love you. These notes help Holly to move on with her life after the sudden death of Jerry

Funny, emotional and warm, the readers will find themselves laughing and crying with Holly as she slowly makes her way into a new life.
The best thing about this book is that it is romantic without being corny, cheesy and full of outdated tedious love quotes. Also, the author has used Irish English throughout the book which gives it a very delightful flavour.

Grab your copy now, snuggle up on your couch and feel the magic of love that promises to live on even after death.

Will the paperback die?

Travelling back home on the evening fast train, I was lost in my battered old Shakespeare Paperback until a lady sitting right across me caught my eye. Well actually it was a chic little black gadget in her hand that caught my eye. No it was not an i-pod or a Blackberry considering the way the lady was intently staring at the screen. On a little closer inspection i realised that it was an e-book reader!!

Smart, sleek, portable and capable of storing hundreds of books at a time, the Electronic Book Reader saves up precious space in you bag while you're on the move and you can practically carry your library with you. I looked depressingly at my paperback... was the e-reader soon going to put the traditional books out of circulation? Was the good ole paperback nearing extinction?

Sitting there, my mind already taken over by the above mentioned depressing thoughts, i decided to do a mental E-Reader v/s Paperback debate :)

What tosses the coin in favour of the E-reader is its portability. Now who wouldn't like their bag to be a little lighter while going to work in the jam packed Mumbai locals? Also, the e-reader has a vast memory and so you can store as many books you like in it... so if mid way you finish off a book, you do not need to wait until you reach home to pick up a new book to read!!

And then there came a deluge of women rushing right inside the compartment and the crowd wouldn't stop knocking our knees!! Let me tell you, in such a situation, it is far more easier to take care of your book as compared to your e-reader. What would happen at the most is that the book might be knocked out of your hands, it will fall, get a little dirty or a page or two might come loose. But the e-reader won't survive such an assault and there goes your Rs. 15,000 down the drain!

Also, while you can flip through the pages of your book easily, the constant tapping and scrolling through your e-reader gets a little frustrating and strains your fingers after a while.

What will happen if your book is stolen? Well you can always go back to the bookstore and buy a new one... 300 bucks are not that heavy on our pocket; but if your e-reader is stolen (and the chances of this happening are very high), how many people will be as willing to shell out 15-20k for a new gadget again?

And lastly, there is no comfort as lying on your soft couch, sipping a nice cup of coffee and reading a book.. the gentle sound of the turning pages is extremely soothing :)

While I do not say that the paperback is Better than the e-reader or vice versa, the mental debate put me at ease because i know that the e-reader along with its amazing pros also has it cons and so it will surely never kill the paperbacks.

5 Books that every Guy should read

OK, so after my hugely popular blog about 7 books that every Woman should read... here is my Must read list of 5 Books for every Guy!!

1. The Kite Runner: Set in the pre Taliban occupied Afghanistan, this is the story of Amir and Hasan, one the son of a Rich man and the other, the son of his servant. This heart wrenching tale is about the enduring power of friendship between these two boys, which spans across a lifetime --- distance, lies, betrayal and war notwithstanding.

2. The Godfather: Arguably one of the best books written about the mafia, the lesser I talk about this book, the better :) A Must Must read for all the guys!!

3.The Picture of Dorian Gray: All that Dorian Gray wanted was to be the best looking chap in town and freeze his handsome looks forever. But good looks come at a heavy cost!! This clever and witty tale by Oscar Wilde tells us about the pitfalls of being...... or wanting to be the most Good-looking guy around.

4. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: I put forth my point here again... I Hate Self help books!!! But then this is one book that has to be included in this list... simply because it makes an honest attempt to help Men understand the complexity of a woman's brain (and vice-versa!) ;)

5. Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra: Semi- autobiographical, this is a collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond. Chronicling his life from his childhood days to his youth, the stories are written in a simple, almost lyrical language, and they innocently capture all the emotions and moods of a boy who is on the verge of becoming a Man.

P.S. This list is shorter than the one I wrote for girls simply because I found myself at loss racking my brains over and over again thinking which books would be most suitable for guys.
If any guy is reading this post, please suggest some "Includable" books and i will rewrite this post again :)

Don't judge a Book by its Movie

"Don't judge a Book by its Movie" --- so said the bookmark at Crossword. And I could not help agree more!

I remember the time when I was watching Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and at least 10 times throughout the movie i was wondering "Heck, was this even there in the book?"

The plot was put on a complete fast forward mode, characters were ruthlessly omitted and seriously the Quidditch Matches in the movie did not give me the goosebumps like those in the book.

But then there are exceptions everywhere, and so even here. If me and you think likewise about the whole books into movies trend, then I suggest you have a look at the below list. It took me quite some time to figure out this list, but I feel it was worth all the effort.

Here are 3 Books-made-into-movies, which are worth a watch, simply because they succeed in bringing on the big screen, the original charm and beauty of the plot and the characters, without spoiling its "True Feel". At least now I am satisfied to know that sometimes, just sometimes, it is OK to Judge a Book by its Movie

The Blue Umbrella: Adapted from the story of the same name by Ruskin Bond, this movie is charming, touching and original. Watch out for the rock solid performance by Pankaj Kapoor.

Marley and Me: Adapted from the book of the same name, it tells us the story of the author and his life with his badly behaved dog Marley. The movie rarely strays from what is there in the book, is delightful, funny and tender. Must watch movie for all dog lovers, I bet you will hug your doggie endlessly while watching Marley & Me.

Godfather: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Mafia and Francis Ford Coppola---- sheer genius.

A 23 year old Love Affair

A love affair always begins with something simple and harmless-- a simple look, a small conversation, even a seemingly minuscule hello!! An then it turns into something that is all encompassing, passionate and unforgettable!!

Mine began with something as simple and harmless as a Birthday gift... a First Birthday gift to be more precise.

While most parents would pamper their kids silly with toys, clothes and other such goodies, mine decided to give me a set of Childcraft-- 16 volumes covering everything that a child should know-- History, Geography, Biology, Maths, Literature, Art and Cultures + an Atlas and a Dictionary.

Those 16 books where the first ever books that i owned as a year old toddler, the first books from which I learnt to read, the very first Dictionary that I learnt to refer to. They were the truest companions when introvert little Miss Bookworm preferred staying at home than play Hide-n-Seek.

They say you should have something that you are passionate about in life, because Passion makes the world go around!

23 years ago unknowingly I found my Passion :)

My dearest Set of Childcraft .... Here's to You :)

7 Books every Girl should read

Inspiring, Funny, Tearjerkers, Emotional, Tender, Real and Gritty --- this is my compilation of what should be the ultimate 7 books that every girl, every woman has to read at least once in her life.

The Princess Diaries: Every girl secretly dreams of becoming a princess someday :) Except For Mia, whose sole aim in life is to remain as insignificant as humanly possible!!
And as her luck would have it, she wakes up one fine day, to find out that she is in fact a princess, and the only heir to the throne of the minuscule, pear loving country of Genovia.
This book is a roller coaster ride, full of downright hilarious moments and ultimately a touching account of Mia's coming of age story where she finally learns to appreciate and stand up for herself!

I Dare: She was India's first woman IPS officer, the first woman to become the Inspector General of Prisons at the dreaded Tihar Jail, a place known to house the most hardcore criminals, and the first police officer to win the Magsaysay award. I Dare is the story of Kiran Bedi -- immensely inspiring and spellbinding, read this to know that Glass Ceilings are a Myth and women, though the fairer sex can also be the Tougher sex.

The Bridget Jones Diary: She is Bridget Jones, a 30 year old British Woman/Girl who is on a perpetual quest of self improvement. The perfect antithesis of the ideal heroine, she is desperately trying to lose weight, give up smoking and get a life, though not necessarily in that order. A complete laugh riot, this book has become a sort of bible women across the globe.

Not without my Daughter: Betty Mahmoody thought she finally had everything she wanted in life -- a loving husband, a beautiful daughter and a satisfying job. This was until a family vacation to her husband's home country Iran, which turned out to be a nightmare and forced her to become a prisoner.
Every escape route suggests she run away without her daughter, and Betty just isn't ready for that.
A true life story, this is a tale of grit and determination and ultimately about a mothers undying love for her child.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Set in Afghanistan, this is the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between Mariam and Laila, two women who are victims of circumstances and the cruel unforgiving Taliban rule. Heart wrenching to say the least, this book will at once move you to tears and make you realise the power of friendship, love and sacrifice.

Women and the Weight loss Tamasha: What is it with us women and wieghtloss anyways?? Do we really have to starve ourselves and stare longingly at all those pastries to look beautiful? "Stop all this tamasha and eat!!!" is what the author says :)
An amazing book by Rujuta Diwekar, this is Nutrition Bible for women of all ages and professions. And the best part of this book? It teaches you to love yourself (even after you have eaten a big chocolate pastry) :D

Shobhaa at 60: though personally I detest self help and self improvement books of all sorts, this one is an exception simply because it is a one of a kind book telling us women that life DOES NOT end after we turn 60... or for that matter 50. Full of tips and tricks on topics ranging from health and personal grooming to travel and coping with the loss of your partner, this book sure is a must read and a must have on your book shelf.

P.S. Do you feel I have missed out on any significant book which should have been a part of this list?? Or have I included a book which should rather NOT be on this list?? Post a comment and let me know :)

If you have never read a book before.. but want to :)

There are, according to me, 3 categories of people when it comes to books:

1. Those who HATE reading and do not have anything to do with books at all!!
2. Those who are curious about the "habit" called reading but do not know where to start.
3. Those who have "attempted" reading but have unfortunately started off with some heavy duty stuff and have been freaked out by their experience.

If you fall in the first category, read no further, this is not for you! For those who fall in the second and third category, I have compiled below a list of five "easy on the mind" books to guide you and hopefully get you hooked on to reading!! :)

• Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat: Written by an ex IITian this is a story about 3 average guys at the IIT Delhi. Light, breezy and funny, it makes for an ideal read because of the simplicity of the language that the author has used. With its fair share of twists and turns and a few "Oh my gosh" incidents, this book is sure to leave you smiling for a long time after you have finished reading it. And my personal opinion.... This is the best book written by Chetan Bhagat.

• Short Stories by Ruskin Bond: Set majorly in North India especially Mussorie and Shimla, his stories are written in an easy flowing language that is simply mesmerising and soothing. Two collections I recommend are : The Room on the Roof and Our Trees still grow in Dehra. Try also to read some of his unforgettable stories like "The Blue Umbrella", "Time stops at Shamli", "The night train at Deoli" and "The last Tonga ride".

• Swami and Friends- R.K. Narayan: All time favourite stories, unforgettable characters, a language that is easily understood, this is a masterpiece by R.K. Narayan and a must read if you want to relive the magical, innocent and carefree childhood days :)

• Matilda- Roald Dahl: Though actually a children's novel, this story of five year old Matilda, will be enjoyed by young and old alike. Humorous, quirky and magical, this book is a quick and enjoyable read especially for those who have never ever touched a book before and do not have the courage to read through a thick one at the first go ;)

• The Notebook- Nicholas Sparks: This is the story of an old man who reads out to an old woman, from a faded old notebook about the story of Aly and Noah, a passionately in love couple, who is separated, only to be reunited again 7 years later. At times tender, at times heartbreaking, this story manages to keep you engrossed and you will want to read it in one go....

Book Shopping: Destination Two

Flora Fountain

What do you do if you are an incurable Bibliophile, need something new to read every 15 days and don't have much money to spend?? Beg, borrow, steal??

Take my advice and take a train to Churchgate. Get down and walk a bit till you are at Flora fountain and you will be in a literal Fantasy land. Books in every size and shape, every author you can dream of, every genre, subject and edition you want... available at throwaway prices!!! Why you can even get a copy of the very controversial "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie here!!

These pavement book sellers of Flora Fountain have been around for as much as 50 years now and are considered as a very important part of Mumbai's rich and varied landscape. Starting at prices as low as Rs.20 are the all time favourites Archie comics and Mills and Boons (store Price for Archie comics is Rs.60 per copy by the way) going up to the most "expensive" ones which are at Rs.600-700 (these are usually the heavy Management and Law books).

In fact there are even sellers who "specialise" in just one genre and if you are regular enough in this area of the city, then you would know whom to approach for Fiction, Non fiction and Educational books.

The most interesting part is that if you buy a particularly expensive book, you are even allowed to re-sell the book (especially the GMAT, GRE, CAT books) for half the price!! Neat profit, isn't it??

The nature of sale here is non-intrusive. No hawking, calling out or shouting unlike fashion street or Causeway. But bargain you can and bargain you must! :)

This place is my personal favourite, mainly because the vendors here are extra helpful in sourcing out the rarest of titles which sometimes even established book stores find difficult to do. Also being on a perpetual cash crunch, i find it easier on my pocket because here i can buy 4 books for Rs.400 as against 1 book for 400 bucks from Crossword or Landmark.

And each book you buy from here has story... sometimes an inscription on the first page of a Birthday greeting, sometimes notes scribbled in the margins, sometimes the meanings of some particularly difficult English words explained in Hindi or Marathi. Flip through the pages and be lost in a world of its own.....

Verdict: If you don't find a book here, you won't find it in Crosswords either! Go here to get the best deals you will ever find!! And an ambiance that is a class apart ;)

Book Shopping: Destination One

Crossword

Location: Sion West

I always think of bookstores as small quaint little places filled with dusty old classics and shiny fresh smelly new books and an old man in glasses who is ever ready to help you. You get to browse to your hearts content without being disturbed by screaming children or loud music in the background. there are no colorful garish posters to cause an eye sore and no spic span marble floors that shine and make you slip and fall!

In the huge sprawling city of Mumbai, it is quite difficult to find such a store, especially with the state of art bookstores coming up at every street corner. But being the optimist that I am, i located one such store and that is the Crossword outlet @ Sion.

Located in a not so prime location, away from the well known Sion circle and a few blocks walking distance from the well known SIES college, is this quait little outlet. Spread over two levels, the top level is dedicated exclusively for books. The books have been arranged in the trademark Crossword/any other bookstore style as per their genres.

But what endears me to THIS particular store is that it is very very quite here, more so in the books section. The carpets are warm enough for you to slip of your shoes and sit cross legged on the floor. They have a huge glass wall facing the street with a cozy couch where you can sink in and lose yourself.

Of all the Crossword/Landmark/Oxford that i have been to in this city, I love this one... i prefer this one simply for its old world charm!

My Verdict: Quaint, Old world and Charming. Try to grab the couch before anyone else does and you are guaranteed to lose track of time! (:

The Immortals of Meluha

The foreigner's words came flooding back to Shiva "Come to our land. It lies beyond the great mountains. Others call it Meluha. I call it Heaven."

And thus begins this gripping novel "The Immortals of Meluha"

Set in 1900 BC, what is interesting about this book is that it gives a completely new twist to our age old commonly accepted mythological beliefs. Here Lord Shiva is a simple tribal man from Mansarovar who is invited to move with his tribe to the immensely prosperous land of Meluha, whose inhabitants are the descendants of lord Ram, the Suryavanshis. This kingdom is seething for a war with their neighbours the Chandravanshis and they hope that Shiva will be their saviour.

This is what forms the basic premise of this novel. Moving at a fast pace, the author challenges us to lay aside our preconceived notions for here Nandi is not the bull as w know him to be, but rather a faithful Human companion of Shiva. Most importantly he has shown Shiva as a simple human being, rather that the Lord Shiva or Mahadev that we know and worship him as, a man who rose to become Godlike purely because of his karma.

The downside of this book I would say is the usage of colloquial terms like Goddammit, O Hell with you, What the hell and so on. It sort of disturbs the feel of the story, making it seem a bit casual, when actually it is quite the opposite.

Except for that small little glitch "the Immortals of Meluha" is definitely a winner and leaves the reader anticipating for the next two parts. Thumbs up to the Amazing climax!!

My Verdict: A Must Read, but only for serious readers and those having a bit of knowledge and interest about Indian Mythology. First time readers or ones who are looking for something light to read might find this book a bit intense and heavy. Enjoy!