Having connected with an author who replies to your comments in her blog ; I decided to buy 'The Secret Wish List' - the fourth book by Preeti Shenoy.
A good one time read - best for a casual, easy read on travel - is how I would sum up this novel which largely revolves around adolescent love , parental pressure, unhappy marriage and extramarital affairs.
The protagonist , Diksha , find her life that revolves around her husband and son monotonous and lifeless.
Out of her discontent grows a Secret Wish List - a list of things that she identifies to make her happy and satisfied. The story is a chain of events by which Diksha realises her wish list.
I should say that I approve of Vibha and even Thanu more than Diksha - read to find out why ...
Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Novel. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Life is what you make it - Preeti Shenoy
Easy to read, simple and narrative Preeti Shenoy’s ‘Life is what you make it’ is a great and easy read.
The life of young, smart, intelligent, college going Ankita goes on reverse gear when her pace and reactions go out of her control. The remorse of not having responded well to her boyfriend and the stress of management studies takes her through heights of exhilarated energy and depths of depression. The story of how she copes up with the condition reiterates how faith and determination can bring back a lost mind to track and trace a new path of life . 'Life is what you make it' is a book of hope.
After the initial few chapters of the book , I began to think if it was just another adolescent love story – the storyline though straight ; the book was captivating enough to keep me going . I enjoyed Preeti's story telling ability , narrative writing style , the way she churned out words and also the in-depth study of symptoms,causes and treatment of 'Bipolar Disorder' that has gone into writing the book.
Keep Going Preeti- I'm sure you would.
Keep Going Preeti- I'm sure you would.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Pride and Prejudice
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, is an English Novel set in the turn of 19th century in UK.
The English soceity seems to be very different from the way it is now. Through there has been many strings of proposals, attractions and marriages in the novel, there is not a single mention of divorce- probably divorce was then not an obivious choice of an unhappy marriage.
The Bennet family consists of a frivolous and silly Mrs Bennet ,a relatively silent and usually disinterested Mr Bennet and five daughters. Jane , the eldeset who is known for her beauty in the neighbourhood, Elizabeth the clever and lively of the five, Mary - the book lover , Catherine - the ordinary and the frivolous and flirtacious Lidia.
The male protagonist is Mr Darcy - who is known for his pride and obsessive concern for social status.Mr Bingley is Darcy's close friend.
Elizabeth and Darcy meets in a ball where Jane and Bingley identifies their natural attraction to each other.Elizabeth having herad of Darcy's nature develops a prejudice towards him and develops a dislike for him.
She is later drawn to Mr Wickham who claims to have been mistreated by Darcy. Darcy and Elizabeth later meet at her Aunts place where Darcy proposes to her. Elizabeth rejects the proposal following heated arguments.
The story then follows different twists where Darcy helps settle the lives of Jane and Lidia who elopes with Wickham .Elizabeth also recognises her love for Darcy.
Elizabeth leaves her Prejudice and Darcy his Pride to recognise and love each other.
The story ends with three daughters of the Bennet family being married and settled in life.
Through the eyes of the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet , the novel deals with the issues of manners, upbringing , morality, family values, love and marriage in the 19th century England.
The English soceity seems to be very different from the way it is now. Through there has been many strings of proposals, attractions and marriages in the novel, there is not a single mention of divorce- probably divorce was then not an obivious choice of an unhappy marriage.
The Bennet family consists of a frivolous and silly Mrs Bennet ,a relatively silent and usually disinterested Mr Bennet and five daughters. Jane , the eldeset who is known for her beauty in the neighbourhood, Elizabeth the clever and lively of the five, Mary - the book lover , Catherine - the ordinary and the frivolous and flirtacious Lidia.
The male protagonist is Mr Darcy - who is known for his pride and obsessive concern for social status.Mr Bingley is Darcy's close friend.
Elizabeth and Darcy meets in a ball where Jane and Bingley identifies their natural attraction to each other.Elizabeth having herad of Darcy's nature develops a prejudice towards him and develops a dislike for him.
She is later drawn to Mr Wickham who claims to have been mistreated by Darcy. Darcy and Elizabeth later meet at her Aunts place where Darcy proposes to her. Elizabeth rejects the proposal following heated arguments.
The story then follows different twists where Darcy helps settle the lives of Jane and Lidia who elopes with Wickham .Elizabeth also recognises her love for Darcy.
Elizabeth leaves her Prejudice and Darcy his Pride to recognise and love each other.
The story ends with three daughters of the Bennet family being married and settled in life.
Through the eyes of the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet , the novel deals with the issues of manners, upbringing , morality, family values, love and marriage in the 19th century England.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Revolution 2020 : Chetan Bhagat
Revolution 2020: Chetan Bhagat
This is the first Chetan Bhagat book that I’ve read – and from the reviews of the book it looks to be a wrong selection to be his first read.
In my view, the book is a simple, easy, one time read.
The triangle love story, winning the girl’s heart and then letting it go – was all stereotypical and easily imagined. The description of the deeply rooted corruption in the Indian society seemed very peripheral and the solution that he suggested namely a different hue of family politics, again seemed corrupt to me. The readers are let to wonder how the revolution (if any) would be brought about.
The book fails to answer this.
This is the first Chetan Bhagat book that I’ve read – and from the reviews of the book it looks to be a wrong selection to be his first read.
In my view, the book is a simple, easy, one time read.
The triangle love story, winning the girl’s heart and then letting it go – was all stereotypical and easily imagined. The description of the deeply rooted corruption in the Indian society seemed very peripheral and the solution that he suggested namely a different hue of family politics, again seemed corrupt to me. The readers are let to wonder how the revolution (if any) would be brought about.
The book fails to answer this.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Lajja ( Shame ) - Taslima Nasrin
Written in less than 10 days, Taslima Nasrin’s ‘Lajja’ portrays the torture, humiliation and man-hunting that Hindus in Bangladesh were subjected to after the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Precise and poignant the book throws light on religious fundamentalism and communalism and how its repercussions are felt in human relationships.
Storyline:
The story revolves around the lives of a four member family, who had to sell their land in Mymensingh on the banks of Brahmaputra and move out to Dhaka in search of security.
Sudhamoy, a medical practitioner by profession, simple, honest, idealistic and a great humanitarian at heart, detested communalism in all its shades. So, they decided to stay back in Bangladesh, when many of their friends and relatives migrated to India for a secure and safe future. Kironmoyee, his wife, is portrayed as a courageous and enduring woman who stands by her husband through all the hardships that they encountered. Suranjan, their elder son, though brilliant and studious , being a Hindu is unable to find himself work and stays back home. His relationship with Parveen, a Muslim girl breaks up when he refuses to accept her plea to convert to Islam. The family is emotionally shattered when their younger daughter, Maya is abducted and does not return.
Hastily written and unimaginative the book leaves several ends open. But it hooks the reader to the end and qualifies for a good one time read.
Storyline:
The story revolves around the lives of a four member family, who had to sell their land in Mymensingh on the banks of Brahmaputra and move out to Dhaka in search of security.
Sudhamoy, a medical practitioner by profession, simple, honest, idealistic and a great humanitarian at heart, detested communalism in all its shades. So, they decided to stay back in Bangladesh, when many of their friends and relatives migrated to India for a secure and safe future. Kironmoyee, his wife, is portrayed as a courageous and enduring woman who stands by her husband through all the hardships that they encountered. Suranjan, their elder son, though brilliant and studious , being a Hindu is unable to find himself work and stays back home. His relationship with Parveen, a Muslim girl breaks up when he refuses to accept her plea to convert to Islam. The family is emotionally shattered when their younger daughter, Maya is abducted and does not return.
Hastily written and unimaginative the book leaves several ends open. But it hooks the reader to the end and qualifies for a good one time read.
Friday, December 19, 2008
We The Living - Ayn Rand
Set in Communist Russia, Ayn Rand’s “ We the Living ” is a novel that talks of revolution , war, poverty, inflation, smuggling ,love, treachery ,plot and dictatorship in Communist Russia and qualifies for a must read for anyone interested to know of Communism in Russia. Above all it depicts the struggle of individual against the collective state.
Published in 1936 “We the Living” is Ayn Rand’s first novel. In her own words, the book is autobiographical, in the sense that, the ideas, convictions and values of the central character are hers though the specific incidents of her life are not.
Storyline
Kira Argounova, the central character of the novel, comes back to Petrograd along with her parents and sister, only to find that the house that they had vacated while fleeing to Crimea in the time of communist revolution in Russia, was occupied by proletarians of the communist party .There they meet their mother’s sister and family and start a life from scratch.
Kira was different from other girls of her age. The first thing that she learned of life and the first thing that her elders learned, dismayed, of her was the joy of being alone.
When she was taken to church and sneaked out alone in the middle of the services to get lost in the streets and be brought home to her frantic family in a police wagon – she was never taken to church again. She knew what she wanted in life and had chosen a life of hardest work and effort.
So when she came back to Petrograd she decided to join the Technological Institute against her parents’ wishes. After an untoward incident with her cousin she travels back alone at night when she meets Leo – a counter revolutionary. They meet twice before they decide to sneak out of Russia to Germany. Caught by the revolutionaries they are sent back to Russia and she decides to live with him.
Andrei is a friend of Kira at the institute – a true Communist –with whom she could think together and talk about thoughts. The one thing that she hated in the whole idea of Communism was the sense of collectivism or considering the state above the individual.
Leo loses his job and becomes sick and Kira is ousted out of her institute for not being from a proletarian background. With Andrei’s party influence she manages to get a job and pretend to be a Communist to keep the job – more for treating Leo than for herself. Leo had to be sent to a sanatorium at a distant place for his treatment. Unaware of her love for Leo, Andrei falls for her and Kira exploits his love for her for the money needed for Leo’s treatment.
The author successfully portrays life in Communist Russia- dictatorship, poverty, unemployment – where people without a Communist Party membership could not live-“Dictatorship of the proletarians”. The author also portrays treachery within the party, smuggling and hoarding as the reasons for the fall of Communist Russia.
Heart broken by the state of communism in Russia, Andrei denounces communism and commits suicide leaving a note “No one is responsible for my death”.
Kira wonders whether she had killed him or the revolution or both. Kira and Leo break up and she finally escapes from Russia.
Excerpts from the Book
From Andrei’s last speech addressing his Party comrades:
“Are we sure we know what we are doing? No one can tell men what they must live for. No one can take that right – because there are things in men, in the best of us, which are above all states, above all collectives! Do not ask: what things? Man’s mind and his values. ...Every honest man lives for himself.Every man worth calling a man lives for himself.The one who doesn't, doesn't live at all. You cannot change it.You cannot change it because that is the way man is born , alone, complete, an end in himself”
Published in 1936 “We the Living” is Ayn Rand’s first novel. In her own words, the book is autobiographical, in the sense that, the ideas, convictions and values of the central character are hers though the specific incidents of her life are not.
Storyline
Kira Argounova, the central character of the novel, comes back to Petrograd along with her parents and sister, only to find that the house that they had vacated while fleeing to Crimea in the time of communist revolution in Russia, was occupied by proletarians of the communist party .There they meet their mother’s sister and family and start a life from scratch.
Kira was different from other girls of her age. The first thing that she learned of life and the first thing that her elders learned, dismayed, of her was the joy of being alone.
When she was taken to church and sneaked out alone in the middle of the services to get lost in the streets and be brought home to her frantic family in a police wagon – she was never taken to church again. She knew what she wanted in life and had chosen a life of hardest work and effort.
So when she came back to Petrograd she decided to join the Technological Institute against her parents’ wishes. After an untoward incident with her cousin she travels back alone at night when she meets Leo – a counter revolutionary. They meet twice before they decide to sneak out of Russia to Germany. Caught by the revolutionaries they are sent back to Russia and she decides to live with him.
Andrei is a friend of Kira at the institute – a true Communist –with whom she could think together and talk about thoughts. The one thing that she hated in the whole idea of Communism was the sense of collectivism or considering the state above the individual.
Leo loses his job and becomes sick and Kira is ousted out of her institute for not being from a proletarian background. With Andrei’s party influence she manages to get a job and pretend to be a Communist to keep the job – more for treating Leo than for herself. Leo had to be sent to a sanatorium at a distant place for his treatment. Unaware of her love for Leo, Andrei falls for her and Kira exploits his love for her for the money needed for Leo’s treatment.
The author successfully portrays life in Communist Russia- dictatorship, poverty, unemployment – where people without a Communist Party membership could not live-“Dictatorship of the proletarians”. The author also portrays treachery within the party, smuggling and hoarding as the reasons for the fall of Communist Russia.
Heart broken by the state of communism in Russia, Andrei denounces communism and commits suicide leaving a note “No one is responsible for my death”.
Kira wonders whether she had killed him or the revolution or both. Kira and Leo break up and she finally escapes from Russia.
Excerpts from the Book
From Andrei’s last speech addressing his Party comrades:
“Are we sure we know what we are doing? No one can tell men what they must live for. No one can take that right – because there are things in men, in the best of us, which are above all states, above all collectives! Do not ask: what things? Man’s mind and his values. ...Every honest man lives for himself.Every man worth calling a man lives for himself.The one who doesn't, doesn't live at all. You cannot change it.You cannot change it because that is the way man is born , alone, complete, an end in himself”
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Anthem - Ayn Rand
With allegorical narration of the importance of self realisation, Anthem portrays the strength in identifying the 'Individual self' above the Collective brotherhood , having a dream of ones own and following it passionately.The novel is about a society so collectivised that even the word 'I' has vanished from it's language. It is about identifying the ego-strength in each individual.
Storyline :
'Equality 7-2521' as the central character of the novel is known, was not happy in the 'Home of Students' where all the children of the society studied till the age of fifteen.He excelled in everything he did and was taller than all his brethren but the society thought it to be a sin to be different from others.Though he wished to join the 'Home Of Scholars ' after school he was doomed by the decision of the 'Council of Vocations' to join the 'Home of Street Sweepers'. It was considered a sin to have a wish of ones own.
Amidst his work of sweeping the street , he meets Liberty 5-3000, a woman of the 'Home of Peasants' and greeting her becomes a routine though the laws of the society considered it a sin.
One day Equality finds a forbidden tunnel where he spends 3 hours alone on all days until one day he discovers a glowing wire while in the box of glass. On the day of the discovery he was condemned by the city council to be lashed in the 'Palace of Corrective Detention' for being late.
However, he manages to keep his discovery a secret, until the ' World Council of Scholars '. Against his expectations the scholars failed to acknowledge or accept his discovery and he escapes to the 'Uncharted Forest' with his box.
Liberty follows his footsteps and meets Equality in the forest.There they start a new life of their own.They discover the strength of the word I and identifies the collectivism of the society as the disaster that took the reason away from man.
Excerpts from the book :
Ayn Rand -born in Russia and having spent a large part of her life in the United states , is a champion of Individualism and individual freedom .Below are few excerpts from 'Anthem' that elucidates her ideas of Individualism :
"There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him save other men. To be free a man must be free from his brothers . "
"My happiness is not the means to any end .It is the end.It is it's own goal.It is it's own purpose .Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish.I'm not a tool for their use.I'm not a servant for their needs.I'm not a bandage for their wounds.I'm not a sacrifice on their altars."
"I owe nothing to my brothers nor do I gather debts from them.I ask none to live for me nor do I live for any others.I covet no man's soul nor is my soul theirs to covet."
"I shall choose my friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters.And I shall choose only such as please me and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.And we shall join our hands when we wish , or walk alone when we so desire.For in the temple of his spirit, each man is alone.Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled.Then let him join hands with others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold."
Storyline :
'Equality 7-2521' as the central character of the novel is known, was not happy in the 'Home of Students' where all the children of the society studied till the age of fifteen.He excelled in everything he did and was taller than all his brethren but the society thought it to be a sin to be different from others.Though he wished to join the 'Home Of Scholars ' after school he was doomed by the decision of the 'Council of Vocations' to join the 'Home of Street Sweepers'. It was considered a sin to have a wish of ones own.
Amidst his work of sweeping the street , he meets Liberty 5-3000, a woman of the 'Home of Peasants' and greeting her becomes a routine though the laws of the society considered it a sin.
One day Equality finds a forbidden tunnel where he spends 3 hours alone on all days until one day he discovers a glowing wire while in the box of glass. On the day of the discovery he was condemned by the city council to be lashed in the 'Palace of Corrective Detention' for being late.
However, he manages to keep his discovery a secret, until the ' World Council of Scholars '. Against his expectations the scholars failed to acknowledge or accept his discovery and he escapes to the 'Uncharted Forest' with his box.
Liberty follows his footsteps and meets Equality in the forest.There they start a new life of their own.They discover the strength of the word I and identifies the collectivism of the society as the disaster that took the reason away from man.
Excerpts from the book :
Ayn Rand -born in Russia and having spent a large part of her life in the United states , is a champion of Individualism and individual freedom .Below are few excerpts from 'Anthem' that elucidates her ideas of Individualism :
"There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him save other men. To be free a man must be free from his brothers . "
"My happiness is not the means to any end .It is the end.It is it's own goal.It is it's own purpose .Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish.I'm not a tool for their use.I'm not a servant for their needs.I'm not a bandage for their wounds.I'm not a sacrifice on their altars."
"I owe nothing to my brothers nor do I gather debts from them.I ask none to live for me nor do I live for any others.I covet no man's soul nor is my soul theirs to covet."
"I shall choose my friends among men, but neither slaves nor masters.And I shall choose only such as please me and them I shall love and respect, but neither command nor obey.And we shall join our hands when we wish , or walk alone when we so desire.For in the temple of his spirit, each man is alone.Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled.Then let him join hands with others if he wishes, but only beyond his holy threshold."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Riot -Shashi Tharoor
Written in the form of diary pages , newspaper articles , letters and transcripts of conversations , Shashi Tharoor's 'Riot' qualifies for a good one time read.The book through it's interwoven narration of the riot that rocks the Zalilgarh district of UP , through the eyes of different people like the dutiful district magistrate , the Sikh Superintendent of police, a local Hindu fanatic and a Muslim professor throws light on the social structure, family life and diversity in India. It is a novel about the ownership of history, love outside marriage, religious fanaticism, life of women in India and the impossibility of knowing the truth.
Storyline :
The novel begins with the newspaper article reporting the death of Priscilla Hart , a 24 year old American volunteer with a Non governmental organisation , that works for 'population control awareness' among the women of India, in a riot between the Hindu and Muslim community.Her divorced parents travel together to India accompanied by a journalist of a New York journal, to gather information on their daughter's work, life and finally death in India.
It proceeds with the excerpts from Priscilla's scrapbook and letters that she writes to her friend back in her country about her life and work in India.Interspersed are the transcripts of conversations that the journalist has with different people which gives the reader an insight into the diversity in India and how people of different religions and faiths own as their own the rich cultural heritage of India.In Lakshman , the District Magistrate of Zalilgarh , the author portrays an unsatisfied and confused husband, a responsible father and a dutiful officer.In Geeta, Lakshman's wife , we see a typical Indian wife.
The author chooses to let the Question of 'who killed Priscilla' unanswered .It may be the Muslim mob that took refuge in the abandoned cottage after they attacked the procession which included the enraged husband of a Muslim woman, whom Priscilla had taken to a clinic to get her eighth child aborted , as part of her work.Or It may be the Hindu fanatics who wanted to take revenge on Lakshman for having let the Muslims go unscathed after the riot ...Or may be it was just Geeta's prayer answered....
Storyline :
The novel begins with the newspaper article reporting the death of Priscilla Hart , a 24 year old American volunteer with a Non governmental organisation , that works for 'population control awareness' among the women of India, in a riot between the Hindu and Muslim community.Her divorced parents travel together to India accompanied by a journalist of a New York journal, to gather information on their daughter's work, life and finally death in India.
It proceeds with the excerpts from Priscilla's scrapbook and letters that she writes to her friend back in her country about her life and work in India.Interspersed are the transcripts of conversations that the journalist has with different people which gives the reader an insight into the diversity in India and how people of different religions and faiths own as their own the rich cultural heritage of India.In Lakshman , the District Magistrate of Zalilgarh , the author portrays an unsatisfied and confused husband, a responsible father and a dutiful officer.In Geeta, Lakshman's wife , we see a typical Indian wife.
The author chooses to let the Question of 'who killed Priscilla' unanswered .It may be the Muslim mob that took refuge in the abandoned cottage after they attacked the procession which included the enraged husband of a Muslim woman, whom Priscilla had taken to a clinic to get her eighth child aborted , as part of her work.Or It may be the Hindu fanatics who wanted to take revenge on Lakshman for having let the Muslims go unscathed after the riot ...Or may be it was just Geeta's prayer answered....
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