The Hidden Life Of Trees

As you may have noticed, its not often that I have posted book reviews. Today I am compelled to write about an amazing book that has accidentally come my way. Accidentally because it was spotted at our library by my husband who immediately brought it home for me! And I have been glued to it since...

The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohelleben is a book for all tree lovers. The author is a forester from Germany and naturally he mostly describes trees in Germany and Europe. Beech. Pine. Birch. Ash and so on...Tropical trees barely find a mention yet I am sure, the 'behaviours' that he has described is quite likely apply to trees in my part of the world too. 

Unanswered by Kunal Narayan Uniyal

I read, a lot, both online and the old fashioned paper books. I buy a few but I source most of my books from a library. What I don't do is review books. The reason is simple, some one has given all they have and more to create something (possibly unique) and I dont think I am best qualified to comment on it. However, I do comment whether I like the book or not, do I recommend it or not and so on... 

Recently, I happened to read an e-version of a book called Unanswered by Capt Kunal Narayan Uniyal, which was sent to me by Novemberschild @romspeaks . The Publisher is Samaya Sakshaya

What sparked my interest was the name... Unanswered. Would it be a Mystery/Thriller/Romance?? Nothing had prepared me for what I eventually read... an intensely philosophical book. It is the author's spiritual journey put forth in a combination of text and prose. It is the result of extensive introspection and reading of ancient texts. If you are looking for light reading, then this is not for you. 

Book Review: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

For the first time, I began reading a book after I read about it on  Twitter, namely Atul Gawande's  'Being Mortal'. That plus the fact that it was a book written by a medico. We have heard of bankers, engineers, Indian-origin folks who have turned writers but doctors... I find that 'Being Mortal' is on the list of 10 best health books in 2014 by The Huffington Post.

The book left me with mixed feelings. I usually like to complete a book in one go but this is of a different category. The reason is not because it fails to hold attention but actually because it does just that. The ideas that Gawande puts forth compel the reader to think, to introspect, to look at ones own life and family and the decisions one has made or have to make. This demanded that I put the book away to gather my thoughts. 

Book Review is not a correct term for the post, I am not really in a position to 'review' it. Obviously a lot of hard work has been put in by people much better placed than me in the publishing industry. My Impressions would be a better word, I guess. Anyway here goes...

The Best of Ruskin Bond

An un-put-downable book after a long time...

I happened to get hold of "The Best of Ruskin Bond" an anthology of his prose and poetry and was totally enthralled  by his work. The stories are autobiographical and describe his childhood, the various personalities that have influenced his life. His love of nature and trees comes through palpably specifically in "Bird Life in the City" and "In the Garden of My Dreams."

"At Home in India" is something that each one of us should read and share especially if anyone has any difficulty in articulating their patriotism.

Adi Parva

Adi Parva
Churning of the Ocean
by Amruta Patil

I have always found it fascinating to read stories written from a different perspective. After all the other view point may actually change the entire way we 'see' things.

Mahabharata is on our ancient texts and all of us have heard it in bits and pieces in the form of different stories. Lord Krishna's dialogue with Arjun on the battlefield is commonly taught and explained as a standalone piece. Every reader can find their own perspective.
Yet each character in this epic has his or her own story which is often not told hence not commonly known. Adi Parva by Amruta Patil is a story told by a woman narrator, the River Ganga. It presents the epic to us from the viewpoint of the women therein.

"Pune Queen of the Deccan"

After our recent Heritage walk, we have been in an overdrive to locate this particular book. Sadly its not easily available but happily we did manage to borrow a copy. "Pune Queen of the Deccan" is a coffee table book by Jayamala Diddee and Samita Gupta that explores origins, development and growth of Pune as a city. It would have been so easy to digress into India's history etc but the authors have stayed true to this theme.

The book covers most of what I have described in my earlier post but in greater detail and accompanied by photographs and sketches and maps. That the authors' love this city is evident in their painstaking research and attention to detail. Kasba Peth was among the first inhabited areas and the book deals with its changing face over the years. It goes on to describe development and layout of the Peths, the Cantonment and how the Colonial City metamorphosed into a Metropolis.

Interestingly all images in the book are in black and white (even those captured in modern times!) which lends it an interesting look.Some are especially eyecatching:

• Class in progress in a girls school: probably Huzur Paga: the girl students are wearing sarees!!
• A collage of late Nineteen century faces of Pune citizens
• The Flood of 1961
• A priest getting ready to drive a two wheeler
• The photograph showing a famous drug store on MG Road (Main Street). This building is almost the same even now if you can ignore the crowd...

The simple matter of fact style of writing grips your attention and does what it is meant to- take you back several hundred years to the Peshwa era and before. The accompanying maps make it easy to visualise route taken by invaders or those who fled.

However this is not a book to be read by the bedside. Being of a healthy weight and dimensions, make sure you are comfortably seated to avoid damaging the book or yourself!!

Look around your favourite bookstore or you can look for it on Flipcart. This is one book that is a must have for those brought up in Pune and those who have chosen to make their home here...

Cheers!
Archana

What is it with Vampires?

I recently read all four books of the Twilight saga series by Stephanie Myer. I was terribly impressed not only with the story line, characters etc but with fundamentals that the books advocated via its characters for youth. Namely: looking after parents, taking up a job to support your studies, studying, a NO to premarital sex (of course the reasons here were quite different but none the less!),
I also watched two movies based on the first two books and this made me into a vampire fan!
Visit the author's site here for more details about the movies and books.

While channel surfing last evening, I happened to catch a movie called Love Bites on MGM. I had missed the initial part but within a few minutes it was quite clear the movie was about a 300 year old vampire- Zachary and a young city girl- Kendall. No gory stuff as people that Zachary bit actually seemed to enjoy it!! They probably turned into vampires but that bit I was not clear about... Kendall decides to help Zachary turn human again and helps him adjust to the modern world. The movie has strong romantic overtones despite two 'villains' namely Dwight (Kendall's ex flame) and Nerissa (a female vampire from Zachary's era). Kendall and Zachary are in love and she is pregnant with his child. Just a day prior to Zachary turning human the story takes a twist.
This is a link to the story: http://www.thatbmoviechick.com/reviews/lovebites.htm

From what I read up on the Internet, this movie seems to be made in 1993. Of course vampires have always been a popular movie subject but usually always the 'bad guys'. However seeing these movies, has me wondering if their stock is on the uptrend now??
With Adam Ant as the vampire in Love Bites and Robert Pattison playing the cold but dazzling hero in Twilight and New Moon, I guess vampires may be losing their ranking as villains!

What? You havent read the books or seen these movies??
Then you know what is to be done this weekend... Visit burrp!tv here to know when Love bites is to be screened next...
Ciao!

We Are Like That Only

Being an avid shopper and firm believer in 'retail therapy' I seized the first opportunity to read Rama Bijapurkar's "We are like that only".  Besides all those wanting a 'pie' of the Indian marke, this book is also a must read for consumers. 

Our decisions on why we choose a particular soap, TV, car or paint affects the fortunes of these corporates. As consumers we must know how each of our decisions is analysed or interpreted. 

Written in a simple easy to understand style (there is enough management jargon and figures for the corporate honchos)  "We are like that only" takes an in depth view of all aspects of our lives. 

Even the evolution of the marriage market has come under the scanner. 

Though not a conventional thriller, it certainly will hold your attention all through. The book was published in 2007 but thoughts expressed therein continue to be valid.

Read my review here.

Happy shopping! 

A Classic Romance

I have decided to put down my ideas of books I have read over the years and ofcourse current publications.

I read 'Gone With the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell when in class nine. I was happiest when my daughter too enjoyed every page of my well thumbed copy. I watched the movie much much later so all these years my mental visualisation of the cotton fields, Mammy waddling in and out of the house, Scarlett's famous green gown made from curtain cloth or her final rush to find Rhett as she discovers her love for him are owed to the author's powerful words. 

This classic is heads my list of romance novels. I can still read it at any time, cry with Scarlett in her times of distress or  get angry or laugh with her. 

Happy Reading everyone!