Kari

I first heard of Kari from Whizkid. Never got around to it. Partly because i had some inexplicable disinterest towards graphic novels.

It took me about 20 pages to warm up to Kari. Then it wasn't hard to relate to her in most situations. There's a bit of a Kari in all of us I think. I am hoping that the to be continued promise will be kept.

N.P.

This was quite a random pick. But I was totally smitten by Japan, post Murakami. The author's name, Banana Yoshimoto, amused and intrigued me. The book was eerie, disturbing and interesting but it had an almost happy ending.

I quite enjoyed reading the book.

Return of the Bibliophile

I reviewed books for Just Femme once in a while. But not much reading happened.

I had to re-read The Book thief to get back into the reading groove.

And it has been quite a fun time. I started off with Haruki Murakami. It blew my mind (if it sounds like a teenagish phase, that's because it is. I am attributing it to the writer's block though) The book is fascinating. The Magic realism sucks into Murakami's world through every word. I knew half way through the book that I won't 'get' many things and there will be no 'happy endings' but i couldn't put it down.

T quite liked the black cat on the cover of the book. We named it Nakata and made up very many stories with Nakata, a cat who could speak to humans :)

Half Of A Yellow Sun

After reading Chimamanda's Purple Hibiscus I have been on the look out for her second book. And it is as brilliant and as realistic as the first one. Ugwu, Olanna, Odenigbo, Kainene and Richard do not get out of your head for a long time. It is not for leisure reading though. It shows the dark side of human nature at its starkest.

Picasso's War

At a time when one feels helpless that nothing one does will make a difference to the world, this book is the much needed truth. It makes you want to believe. It will tell you to be very very afraid of the violence and deceit the people of the world are capable of. But mostly it is the story of one man's belief, that will make you think, try a little harder and more than anything else, believe.

'Indian Summer' in winter

History that you will not read in Indian textbooks. I for one feel very vindicated on account of Gandhi but am not sure of the glorified Nehru legacy. An intimate look at the Raj, Independence and Partition. The romance between Nehru and Edwina didn't bother me and doesn't skew the narrative either.

After a long time...

Gosh, it has been 7 months since did an update here!!!!! But I have read many books, attempted many several more and happily forgotten about them. Partly because of paucity of time and mostly because, I hardly read anything that moved me (either way) to write about it.

The Hungry Tide (Amithav Ghosh) was different. I was in awe, I was terrified, I was moved, I was educated, I rediscovered the beauty of the written word all over again.

5 on 5 I'd say

Maximum City. Bombay lost & found

I didn't know it was shortlisted for Pulitzer! I didn't like it! I couldn't even read beyond the first chapter. It is one of those NRI trying to find his / her roots and hating everything about the country but rediscovers patriotism anyways type of book. And the author rambles all along!

Very Blah i found it

The Magic Mountain

One should never attempt to read a classic by borrowing from a library. It is too expensive. I realised I couldn't finish it on time so I returned it. I am going to buy this book.

Nightfall

I am not big on Sci-fi / disaster awaits the world kind of books, but this I liked. The story of a planet with no nightfall is fascinating. But the fear they feel about it something I couldn't relate to. Particularly the part about stars. I mean how can you be scared of the? Go crazy at the sight of those sparklers in the sky?

The book has 3 parts, one - leading up to the night fall - brilliant! two - nightfall itself - Fascinating! three - was post nightfall, I didn't enjoy that so much. It felt very cliche. I suppose in 1990 it wasn't so but with so many paranoid hollywood films...

But overall I liked it.

The world's best street and yard games

This was a joy read. Did you know there are nine types of Tag? And that the simple game of elastic we played as children might have its origins in China?

Some old and lotsa new games. I am trying to get hold of the copy for keepsakes :)

Err....The tailor in vogue Fashion designing

This book is part of the learn all about series Published by Tiny Tot, Delhi . I got curious about it and the only book available was on fashion designing so I got it. Bad choice! It is written very badly. The illustrations are in Black and white and illegible. And if you are not already into fashion designing you'll not know what the author is talking about!

Only thing I got out of it is that I know the different kind of cottons there is.

Interestingly the series includes topics such as "Ayurveda, Diarroea, Aromatherapy, Hypertension and Graphology for general readers"

I can't wait!

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

I sometimes forget that Douglas Adams wrote books other than Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. This was a great reminder.

This is no light reading. If you are not clued in you lose the plot very easily.

Like the author describes " A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-who dunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy epic" it is :D

Must read

Indigo

The collection is simply brilliant. This is the first time ever I have read all the short stories in one book at one go.

Extremely quirky, macabre with humour. I was reminded of Roald Dahl but I like Ray's style better.

Taste of Bengal all along. Just the names of the characters evoke that sense in you.

22 stories in all. Fantastic read.

Only no women in the stories. Some three women appear as wives of the main characters and have nothing much to do. Very curious.

I could almost smell the rain!

I wanna do this chasing the monsoon.

Manto, selected stories

An excellent translation by Aatish Taseer.

The magic of Manto is captured so beautifully.

The Great Indian Novel

I was never a big fan of Shashi Tharoor's columns in The Hindu. Though I thought he was very good looking :P But then when he stood for elections in the last general elections, there was so much hoopla around him that I got curious. I decided I should read one of his books before I decide I don't like his writing at all. And so I picked The great Indian Novel. I had absolutely no idea what the book was about, hadn't even read a blurb! Imagine my surprise when I realise that the book is satire on Indian politics written the Mahabharatha way. Maha = Great, Bharatha = Indian Novel...get it?

Anyways the book is a bit difficult to read and my state of affairs doessn't permit me to think too much while reading so I am totally losing on the satire end. I read 30 pages and all i figured out was Bhishma = Gandhi (Gandhiji is Gangaji) But I like what I have read so far. The pun (for I can't think of any other word) we like. I don't think anyone can write a book like this now (this was written 2 decates ago) and get away with it. There would be too many protests and the book might be banned.

But no time for the rest so I will come back to it when I have time.

The Fire Thief

People at Landmark kept trying to sell me this book when I was looking for The Book Thief. They thought I had the title wrong and I thought this book was some random thing that they were trying to sell. When I came across this book while browsing the library I thought I should try it.

It is hilarious! A super take on greek gods :)

The Comfort of Saturdays

I like the pace at which the book goes. There is a bit of sleuthing in there but it isn't at breakneck speed. Not the book if you want to solve a mystery. That isn't the primary aim of the book.

I think I liked this book because I related to Isabel, the main character at so many levels. On top of it Saturday is my favourite day so.

It was surely comforting. Something I needed right after The Cleft :)

The Cleft

This is my first Doris Lessing book, even though she has been on my reading list for a long time now.

It took me a while to get through the book. It is a bit difficult. Reading a difficult book with a two-month-old on hand isn't the smartest thing to do. But at least it was a girl baby :) If you want an explanation for the statement, read the book. Wiki has a rather flimsy plot summary here, if you are too lazy. But I won't suggest it.

The book tells us what we already know about the gender differences, in a very interesting manner. But the reinforcement is quite forceful. It left me despondent. I am quite an optimist; to the extent that I do believe that men and women will be on the same page in life at some point. If not in my lifetime, sometime in the future.

But The Cleft kinda shattered my hopes.

I suddenly realised something. I probably knew it all along but never had put it in words. See women have evolved, most men haven't. They've just replaced hunting games with car racing or WWE matches. So naturally there are bound to be differences. Big differences. But nothing can be done. Not as yet.

Quite a depressing thought huh?

So to get over that I've got myself some light reading.