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?

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.

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

I read this book more than a year ago. I loved the book though the filmy climax was a bit of a downer, I still loved it. Recently I found this piece of paper where I had written down my favourite lines from the book. Some of them don't make much sense out of context but they are good lines nevertheless.

Lin / Shantaram's lines

"Every free minute is a short story with a happy ending"
"Freedom to say no. If you've got that much freedom, you don't really need anymore"

Karla has some of the best lines in the book

"Some of the worst things were caused by people who tried to change things"
"It isn't a secret unless keeping it hurts"
"Men reveal what they think when they look away and what they feel when the hesitate. With women it's the other way around"
"Happiness is myth. It was invented to make us buy things"

Didier's character appears on and off but he gets a line a too and darn good one at that.

"There is no meanness too spiteful or too cruel, when we hate someone for all the wrong reasons"

Kader Bhai is a pivotal character and he's got a lot of lines, this is my favourite.

"It is possible to do the wrong things for the right reasons"

This is a Pashto saying that Kader Bhai quotes

"You are not a man until you give your love truly and freely to a child. And you are not a good man until you earn the love truly and freely of a child in return"

How lovely! I should go back and read this book again.

The Confidential Agent

This is my first Graham Greene book. And I cannot make up my mind about it. The writing is no doubt very engaging. But something didn't quite work for me. Of course I cannot write Greene off for this, unless I read a couple of more books and still feel indifferent.

I can't rate it because I don't know how to. This post is strictly for the record that I did read this book.

The Fabulous Girl's guide to Decorum

I thought for a very long time about admitting it in public that I have read this book. No there's nothing wrong with the book. Just that people who know me would be surprised about the choice :) I wanted to read something silly but couldn't bring myself to pick up an M&B. I barely managed to read 2 of them when I was 15 and anyway Chick-Lit was a subject that was being talked about...

It is a very practical guide book for those who want to be well what else, fabulous girls. I finished the book in about 3/4 of a day. Not because it was unputdownable but because I didn't find many things in the book worth my time. The book gives gyan on everything from how to handle workplace situations (like biding your time till you get the right job to office romances), How to behave at book launches, movie premieres, funerals, shopping, handling friendships, sex, being couples, weddings and divorces and how to decorate your homes. It is largely in European and American context so most of it doesn't make sense here. I really don't know if "you wanna come over for a cup of coffee" means "wanna have sex" to a larger section of Indians yet.

But it was a fun read nevertheless. It might be helpful guide to young women who are stuck in a rut and have no clue how to get out. I am thinking a book like this in an Indian context (that is well written) will sell really well. And may be the publishers can think about bringing out similar things in regional languages as well. Just because one doesn't know the queen's language doesn't mean one doesn't want to be a fabulous girl isn't it?

My rating 2.5 on 5

The Book Thief stole my heart

This one came with high recommendation. And it was worth all the two days I spent reading the book. I couldn't put book the down even for a minute. Thankfully I didn't have any assignments so I did have the time. But since I wanted to finish the book I had to order in to avoid cooking time :)

The narration is simply the best I have read. The language is exquisite. It is a delight to read the way the author, Markus Zusak has stringed the sentences together. It is like every single syllable in there has been thought about. And no phrase or word is there by accident. The imagery is outstanding. I love the way the colours are described on each occassion.

You cannot help falling in love with the characters of Himmel Street. Liesel, her papa Hans Hubermann (I would give anything to meet a man like this one) or Mama Rosa who swears all the time. But my favourite has to be Rudy. The boy who is forever in love with Liesel and does everything to get a kiss from her.

I am not a big fan of stories set in Nazi period. They are all incredibly grim and reminds me of that side of human nature which I'd rather not know. But this book is full of heart. And is the only one I've read from the german perspective. The book made laugh and it made me cry. (V thought it utterly silly. But what the hell).

It would make an excellent film if someone can get that style of narration right (which I doubt)

And it is a great book if you want to learn the german language. After all swear words are the best first words to learn in any language :)

My rating 5 on 5