Perpetually Perplexed

I completed another book. But the book is beautiful and sad. The books "Of love and other demons" by Marquez is quite disturbing. The story is from 19th century and revolves around the life of 12 year old daughter of a land-load (Marquis) - Sierva.  Her father the Marquis is fearful person and lives in his own world. Her mother Bernarda is a nymphomaniac and detests her daughter from birth. Sierva  lives with the slaves and learns from them multiple African languages, and their customs. One day a rabid dog bites her in local market. Her father starts worrying about her and takes her to a local doctor who says she is not having any symptoms of rabies. There was no cure for rabies then. Marquis takes Sierva to a convent in Santa Clara for exorcising. She is locked in a prison there and is bound to her bed by straps. Father Cayetano who comes to exorcise her falls in love with her and starts visiting her secretly every night. One day he is caught and is punished. H...

It could be my age or this age. Forget books, I don't even sit watching a movie hours together. Nothing is fascinating enough, riveting enough. Blame it on 'seen it all, heard it all' syndrome, blame it on short attention span due to one line whatsapp jokes. So I surprised myself by completing Roy's book, sitting till post noon. War stories are really disturbing. It makes one question the existence of humanity in this world.  And in worst cases, it makes us wonder are we in any way better than wild animals - at least they kill their prey - for their food. But again those stories belonged to another world, another time. World war, afghanistan etc. But this book - Arundhati Roy's Ministry of utmost happiness -  is from our country, our people, this present time. And that realization is very very scary. As scary as the news you read some times. Amrik Singh is an army officer who has blood of many kashmiris on his hands - both militants and civilians. For him...

The problem with story telling is unless you have lived the story, the story looks like a narration. It does not matter how much you empathize with the persons in the story, it does not matter how much of scenes you craft accurately in the story. So that was the first impression I had when I started reading The ministry of utmost happiness by Arundhati Roy. But I did continue to read the book. Reading is better than TV watching because it does not give us time to ruminate during commercials. Or it does not make you curse yourself for watching the rerun for nth time. But I appreciate her courage to call a spade a spade and am thankful to her for giving us another viewpoint to look at all strange, scary events happening in our world and external world in the last few years.  Well one thing I must admit, when compared to 'chandamama' like story of murakami , this is certainly a better book. But were these two books worth purchasing? OK, I have mentioned earlier, I read ...

For once I have something to blog about. Not just whining and blaming others. Or posting some silly quotes which only I found hilarious, and reposting it. Ok. The day I saw about Arundhati Roy's book "the ministry of utmost happiness" I read more about her and read part of her article in Caravan. I realized we share some common enemies. Isn't that how friendships are formed - based on whom you hate or dislike? OK, why don't I buy her book. Amazon order was prepared. Luckily they had some offer on hardcover book. So that went into shopping cart. Because I did not want to pay 50 rupee delivary charges, I browsed through suggestion Amazon provided and selected "Kafka on the shore" by Murukami - a Japanese writer. Now both books have arrived and I haven't yet removed the plastic cover of Roy's book. Instead I am reading Kafka... And interestingly enough, I am proceeding quite well. Though two other book which I was trying to read few pages a...

Luca Ann was very black. Ebony black. So black that her mother did not want to touch her. And her father left them because he thought child was not his. The tragic thing was Luca would feel happy when her mother slapped her because she will touch her. Her life in school was worse. Children would throw bananas at her and mock her. But one day 8 year old Luca became bold enough to testify against one of the teachers who was molesting children. Her proud mother took her to a jeweler and gave a ear rings. Now the grown up Luca Ann does not visit her mother, but sends her money. She is confident and she has learned to dress in such a way so that the ugly duckling has turned into a swan. But she is rejected once again by her boyfriend Booker. He simply leaves her. Because she went to visit her molester and tried to give her money, but was beaten until she was unconscious. Booker has his own childhood tragedy. He had lost his brother Adam to a serial killer. And Booker is unable ...

There are green activists and there are big corporations. Corporations are controlling everything. They are de-facto government. Rich people of these Corps live in a separate worlds and plebeians live in another world (slum). Green activists are trying to save man from destroying himself and the earth. Their efforts are clandestine because if found, activists just disappear. Because these activists are pose a hurdle to Corps. Even the church is part of these corps. Priests try to interpret bible words into some thing which benefits Corps. Corps have huge research facilities. And some such places, they have invented vitamin pills which have some disease vectors mixed. People who take these pills fall sick. More medicines are sold. Patients are hospitalized - hospitals run by Corps get more money. So men are plundering other men and the earth non-stop. Then there are pain ballers, who are frustrated, angry plebeians who are  almost psychopaths. Pain balling is gladiator ...

Some books seem mysterious. Not Sherlock Holmes kind of mysterious. Mysterious as we are in a whole new world where every thing is so different, but still familiar. Familiar because you feel you have entered that world. "Leaf Storm" by Marquez starts with the death of a doctor who is almost an outcast in the town on Mocondo. Only friend of doctor, A Colonel, tries to arrange final rites of the man with the help of his servants. Colonel's daughter and grand son are witnessing all this. Doctor is hated by all in the village. Mayor of the town when ushered, instead of giving permissions for burial, is trying to delay the process by asking all strange questions. The story is narrated by Colonel, his daughter Isabel and her son alternatively. As I told you earlier, even though the story takes place in first half of twentieth century, it does not feel outdated at all. Again the question remains - what makes these books so intriguing? The depth of characters? Mystery ...

He is living a peaceful life as a magistrate of a small town. His people are peaceful. He knows there are barbarians - or rather nomads beyond the lake some where in the woods. But they visit the town only once a year for trading their goods. But one day all these change. A colonel from the empire (name is not specified in the book. It could be any empire) comes with the news that barbarians are planning a revolt. And the colonel has come to arrest these barbarians and find out more about this revolt. Magistrate tries to convince him, that barbarians do not trouble them at all. And going in search of them in deep forests is very very difficult because nobody has the correct maps. Colonel does not listen and goes in search of barbarians. Thus starts the saga of cruelty, torture of barbarians and even fishermen by the soldiers of the empire. Magistrate is responsible for feeding and watching over the prisoners. He sees one barbarian woman who has lost her eye sight, whose foot has...

I do not remember reading much of world history in our school days. We read a lot about Indian history, even Indus valley civilization and about world wars. But nothing about Greek or Roman civilization, I think. So I am really finding the book "Glimpses of World history" by Nehru very very interesting. Imagine reading a history book, not out of compulsion! Not only has book tries to cover the history of different parts of the world, the insights of Nehru on various events make the book all the better. And the best part is it is in my phone. No, no, I am not one of the persons who buy kindle for reading. The book in pdf form is available for free download. Again his-story is a story of great empires and emperors and their invasions. And it is also a story of cruelty, war and killing. If only it were her-story instead of his-story. And along with my e-book, I need a physical book. After finishing Gold, I have brought "Waiting for Barbarians" by Coetzee - a s...

The difference between crime and public service is more of station than of substance. When I was small, there were many poor people, and rich were the enemy. Now rich are still there, poor are also enemy. Any society worth its salt, will stop itself from self destruction. We are not doing it. So we are not a society at all or we are not worth our salt. Such quotes are numerous in the book and are more and more sarcastic. Bruce Gold is trying to write a book on Jewish experience in America but he hardly remembers anything about his childhood.  So he asks his elder brother Sid - the same Sid who always tries to pull his legs. Sid remembers. He is new to school and English language is new to him. So he speaks it in a funny accent. Other children in the school imitate him and he does not even realize he is being made fun of. Even in the neighborhood other children let him play with them. But often treat him very cruelly. He does not complain for the fear of losing his play...

Gold is a professor and a writer. But in his father's eyes he is a complete Idiot. Father does not leave a single opportunity to condemn his son. And his siblings too are not proud of him because he writes something which they can not understand. So Gold is treated as baby by his sisters. Mocked by his father, step mother and brother. And he still feels hurt because no one appreciates him, not even his children. So far I can understand the protagonist, relate to him and feel sympathetic with him. But when I see that he does not work honestly as a professor, he misguides kids to lure them into English department, I stop relating with him. What a hypocrite I am. If the hero of book is rude, self centered, almost anti-social, it is OK. But he should not go against my value system. (Do I have one?) So suddenly all my enthusiasm to read "Good as gold" by Joseph Heller evaporated. So back to TV and mobile games. Nothing succeeds as planned : So Gold feels all his...

You are feeling blues, you want to lighten mood. You search for a joke. And what do you get, a dirty bundle of text full of innuendos which make you sick. Why can not any one write simple clean humor? Which is not a rambling like mine.   One writer who used to write excellent subtle humor was Wodehouse. His stories of Bertram Wooster and his "gentleman's gentleman" butler - Jeeves, are "ekamevadvitiya".  Most of us grew up reading his books and chuckling in the class room. But his books are not of the type which make you guffaw like "Three men in a boat". Again, if you have not read TMIAB, you are not literate at all. Sorry, some serious flaw in flow today. Make a point to read the book immediately. You can read it online from Project GutenBerg Raold Dahl's William series are good, suitable more for children. I tried to remember another author whose satire was excellent. He is Saki - Victor Hug Munro. Saki's works are also availabl...

People call her Ajji and most people do not know her name. She and her cat live in huge house with large garden. Ajji is probably eighty but sharp for her age. Most of the day, she sits by the window. People say she has 5 children. Her eldest son is in America, her daughter who was in Bangalore has died.  Her children, grand children or great grand children never visit her. A maid comes daily to Ajji's house and cleans the house and feeds her town gossip. This maid Sheenamma is her only window to the world. After Sheenamma goes home, ajji analyzes the news Sheenamma gave, with the cat. She talks to the cat as she knows it can understand each word ajji says. If some one comes to their house offering to pluck coconuts or mangoes in the garden, she sells the fruits to them keeping a few for her self. But one day, the cat dies. Ajji telephones a shop keeper Ramanna (I think his name is Ramanna) "Ramanna, the cat is not moving. It is not eating food. Please send some one...

Harry is commissioned by his publisher to write a biography of well known writer Mamoon. Publisher Rob, tells Harry to write a sizzling story about the life of author. Mamoon does not know this part, but is willing to share his life story with biographer because he wants to revive his career. Mamoon is in his seventies, and his books are not selling so well. His wife has very expensive tastes. He feels, when this biography is published, his book sales will improve. Harry himself needs this book badly as he is a budding writer with only one book so far to his credit. And he adores Mamoon immensely. Mamoon is an Indian based author settled in London, always in controversies, always rude to people. And as expected he is not willing to shared anything with Harry. Harry starts feeling suffocated in the farm house of Mamoon and would have fled from there. But his girl friend comes as an angle and softens Mamoon with her charms and her massaging skills. She even makes the writer give...

I bought this book because it was written by editor of Outlook, one of the best English magazines in India. Is it also because recently he has expired? I am not sure. Or is it also because the author is self proclaimed pseudo secularist - at a time when the word - secularism is ridiculed or frowned upon. And the book is really good. The author gives us an in depth view of the world of journalism, media and politics. And the narration is detailed without ever getting boring. Consider an essay about should newspapers be owned by big industrialists. In India and in world over, it is difficult for a newspaper to survive without financial backing of a rich industrialist. Because running a news paper is costly and most often lossy business. Industrialists run this business and in return they expect the paper should support their causes. An editor will always have to struggle between the duty to tell the truth and need to obey his proprietor. Honest editor will often be fired and will ...

She hears him frequently. Ewan gives her useful suggestions. He consoles her when she is upset. But he is not visible. She has not lit the fire place since he has stopped becoming visible. She says that, she is not telling herself also that he is dead. As if it some how betrayal. And it will hurt him. She declined the offer by her sons and their spouses to come and stay with them. She wants to stay in her house. Her and Ewan's house and of course Aphinland. Aphinland is the fantasy world she has created in her youth. It is exciting world with dragons, demons, hexes, weapons, forts etc. She has written books on this land and sold them. Her publishers want her to join social network to promote the sale of her books. But why does she need more money. Money did not cure Ewan's tumor. This is how the story goes. What made me like the book. Because it is in large print - soothing for eyes. Or because I am reading a female narrator's book after a long time. Or because t...

Of late I am hardly finishing any book. So this time I decided, I will finish Humboldt's gift and started reading even on non-bedtimes. Charlie Citrine is having very difficult time. His divorce case is running and ex-wife is asking for a bond of two hundred thousand dollars. He has .lost some money in poker to a small time hoodlum Cantabile. And Cantabile is in revenge mood. First he attacks Charlie's car. He also gets Charlie arrested by telling that Charlie is his hitman. Then this sixty year old writer Charlie has a young girl friend Renata. Who is only after his money. Charlie knows it but still loves her. As the story proceeds, he takes her to Europe trip and she abandons him and marries another man, before which sending her son to him. Charlie visits his elder brother Julius who is a big shot builder, has a luxurious house and is about to have an open heart surgery. Julius is a worldly man unlike Charlie who is letting every one loot him. But in his own way Juli...

The main theme of the book 'Shikari' is fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of vague past. Nagappa is R and D manager in large chemical factory. Having lost his parents in an early age, he has struggled a lot, but has come up in life due to his hard work and intelligence. One fine day suddenly he finds himself suspended from his job. The reason given is that he might be involved in the fire accident which occurred in the factory. And he is asked to go on a leave for a month. An introvert by nature, he is in a turmoil. Along with external problems, he keeps remembering about how his back and stomach were burnt when his shirt catches fire. He doubts the fire might not be accident, but his father might have tried to kill him. He does not know why his father committed suicide and why and how his sister disappeared. His entire childhood is  a fuzzy but scary memory which keeps terrorizing him. He is very conscious about the burn marks on his body, so never removes his shirt. ...

Everyone loves a rags to riches story. Even people like me who look down on non-award winning authors. But most often, the good books are not about this theme. But this book is the opposite of it. It is riches to rags story. The story is really too good but too depressing. The story of teenage boy Hugo, whose father vanishes in Nazi Germany, whose shop is taken over by a non-Jew person and  both mother and son are not even able to protest, and who comes to India in search of better fortune. But we know the end. We know that he will end up the ugliest slums of Bombay with no one in the world to call his own except for some stray cats. Yes. We love to read good books. Which means we read depressing books. But even we wish that, if only the fortunes turn for Hugos of the world. If only there is justice in this world.  The books is Baumgartner's Bombay by Anita Desai. And my rating is 5/5

I have been reading "Pickles from Home" by Sugatha Srinivasaraju. I felt nostalgic. Funny. Feeling nostalgic about home, while staying in home land for the past 15 years. We the readers of English newspapers, and viewers of Hindi and English TV channels do not hear most of the events of our "Kannada nadu." Many articles -  be it about A pontiff writing about how it is wrong for "maths" to appoint children as swamis or about the communalization of coastal districts or even the controversy surrounding the 300 Ramayanas by AK Ramanujan are sparsely heard in namma Bengaluru - and more so to English reading populace.  Do we live in the same state? We don't read Kannada papers saying they don't go beyond our state. We don't watch Kannada channels saying they are substandard. So it is more our fault. Not the fault of English papers who concentrate on more important issues - around the world. Coming back to the book Pickles from home - an Eng...