The book is authored by Dr Shamantakamani Narendra, Dr R Nagarathna, Dr H R Nagendra. A handy book for anyone who wants to understand how the human body works when it comes to reproduction (don't let your mind wander people it is written very scientifically and accurately) and of course the fitness through pregnancy. Although one would still require a well trained practitioner for guidance to follow all the suggestions in the book.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The CEO of the Sofa
A book I picked up on a whim. It is funny but the context is very American and hence made no sense to me! The author, - P J O'Rourke rambles on literally through out!
My Forbidden Face
I am reading more books than I can review them. I am doing quick recap here so that I don't forget them.
My forbidden face Growing up under the Taliban, a young woman's story - Latifa. The book sent shivers down my spine. What will I do If I get caught in something like this? Latifas only 16 when Taliban took over the country, she lived with the ridiculous decrees! I mean they banned any man from selling women's under garments and women were not allowed to step out of the house or work in anyway. what the hell was that? How can any religion preach something like that?
The Taliban are apparently taught in the "Deobandi" school of thought. And Deobandi the author says "is an orthodox strain of Islam that preaches purification from all foreign influence and is an exteremley narrow reading of the Koranic message." But what was shocking to me was the fact that this school of thought orginated in UP, India in the 19th century and was "upheld by the British who wanted a religious power that could provide a counter-force to Hinduism is"!
I am still coming to terms with this discovery. Reading the book has suddenly made me aware of the opportunities I am letting go off. I mean women like Latifa didn't have them, how can I waste them?
The Taliban are apparently taught in the "Deobandi" school of thought. And Deobandi the author says "is an orthodox strain of Islam that preaches purification from all foreign influence and is an exteremley narrow reading of the Koranic message." But what was shocking to me was the fact that this school of thought orginated in UP, India in the 19th century and was "upheld by the British who wanted a religious power that could provide a counter-force to Hinduism is"!
I am still coming to terms with this discovery. Reading the book has suddenly made me aware of the opportunities I am letting go off. I mean women like Latifa didn't have them, how can I waste them?
Social novelsuu naanuu
Last 4 days have been a marathon reading session for me. The fact that it is Kannada I am reading and that none of these books are more than 200 pages long ensured that I finished 4 books in as many days.
But that is not to say I had fun. I didn't like most of the books I read. Off the four, 3 were "social novels" by their own admission. But they turned out to be literary versions of the daily soaps I avoid watching!
"aparichitaru" or strangers by C N Mukta was the most annoying of the lot. In the introduction the author says that "at one point it was believed that education and economic independence was the way out for women. But today, despite that women are being trampled on" Very interesting right? But the following 180 pages were a sob story to the hilt. The protagonist (can we call her that if all she does is be a doormat, willingly at that, through out?) Manasa is this very dedicated doctor with big dreams of serving people. She falls for this guy Anant who goes against his parents' will to get married to her. But his parents never give in and alienate him completely from their lives. This gets him resentful against Manasa and starts harassing her.
That is not it, the fellow takes to alcohol, gambling and women in full public view. All this while blaming his wife that if she spent more time with her he wouldn't look else where. A point of view Manasa's 2 obnoxious children also share. The two children demand things left, right and centre from the mother but will not be nice to her. Through it all Manasa is patience personified. There are moments when she shows some spunk and decides to walk out of this "family" but things like daughter's marriage and her post natal care stop her from doing so. She decides to stay back and sort things for the husband even after she finds out that he was married to someone else all along and has a daughter of marraigable age. Her excuse this time? The poor girl needs to be settled, she's not at fault! But after her step daughter is married off thankfully Manasa takes off to serve at some oldage home. The story ends with that.
I am not terribly optimistic when it comes to gender equality in the near future. But this level of pessimism put me into depression. I spoke to other women who have read this book and their take on this was stunning! Here are a few.
"Women should not be / cannot be too ambitious. Their place at home is more important and she cannot jeopardise it"
"Men will look else where if they don't get everything they need or want from home"
"This is the proof that women can never be equal to men"
"She decided to leave the husband and children after all her duties were finished. She didn't run half way. Young women these days can learn something from this."
What can I say to this? This book was written in 1994. Much time has passed since, have the books changed with times? or are they sticking to the safe territory? Also doesn't this kind of writing alienate the other gender completely? Novels and soaps are only for women eh? I am looking for more recent books by the same author or others to see if and how things have changed.
The other reviews to follow are "dharitri" by Dr Arathi Venkatesh, "hrudaya milana" by Usha Navaratnaram and "hantaki I love you" by Ravi Belagere.
But that is not to say I had fun. I didn't like most of the books I read. Off the four, 3 were "social novels" by their own admission. But they turned out to be literary versions of the daily soaps I avoid watching!
"aparichitaru" or strangers by C N Mukta was the most annoying of the lot. In the introduction the author says that "at one point it was believed that education and economic independence was the way out for women. But today, despite that women are being trampled on" Very interesting right? But the following 180 pages were a sob story to the hilt. The protagonist (can we call her that if all she does is be a doormat, willingly at that, through out?) Manasa is this very dedicated doctor with big dreams of serving people. She falls for this guy Anant who goes against his parents' will to get married to her. But his parents never give in and alienate him completely from their lives. This gets him resentful against Manasa and starts harassing her.
That is not it, the fellow takes to alcohol, gambling and women in full public view. All this while blaming his wife that if she spent more time with her he wouldn't look else where. A point of view Manasa's 2 obnoxious children also share. The two children demand things left, right and centre from the mother but will not be nice to her. Through it all Manasa is patience personified. There are moments when she shows some spunk and decides to walk out of this "family" but things like daughter's marriage and her post natal care stop her from doing so. She decides to stay back and sort things for the husband even after she finds out that he was married to someone else all along and has a daughter of marraigable age. Her excuse this time? The poor girl needs to be settled, she's not at fault! But after her step daughter is married off thankfully Manasa takes off to serve at some oldage home. The story ends with that.
I am not terribly optimistic when it comes to gender equality in the near future. But this level of pessimism put me into depression. I spoke to other women who have read this book and their take on this was stunning! Here are a few.
"Women should not be / cannot be too ambitious. Their place at home is more important and she cannot jeopardise it"
"Men will look else where if they don't get everything they need or want from home"
"This is the proof that women can never be equal to men"
"She decided to leave the husband and children after all her duties were finished. She didn't run half way. Young women these days can learn something from this."
What can I say to this? This book was written in 1994. Much time has passed since, have the books changed with times? or are they sticking to the safe territory? Also doesn't this kind of writing alienate the other gender completely? Novels and soaps are only for women eh? I am looking for more recent books by the same author or others to see if and how things have changed.
The other reviews to follow are "dharitri" by Dr Arathi Venkatesh, "hrudaya milana" by Usha Navaratnaram and "hantaki I love you" by Ravi Belagere.
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