Happy 5th birthday to my son.
Wishing you a happy and fulfilling life
Monday, November 24, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
Balram Halwai narrates his story from being a poor servant from the 'darkness' to a successful entrepreneur to the Chinese premier.
The book does not judge but makes a mocking reference on several things we all wonder about ourselves.
It explores various themes like 'inherent caste based judgement ' (You are a Halwai so you should be good at making sweets) , the trustworthiness of servants ("The trustworthiness of servants is the basis of the entire Indian economy.") , our apathy to the plight of our own neighbours and yet the surprising good nature in helping 'strangers'.
But still the book is quite readable and fast paced.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Do we loathe our masters behind a facade of love - or do we love them behind a facade of loathing"
"I was looking for the key for years. But the door was always open"
"It's amazing. The moment you show cash, everyone knows your language.”
"The trustworthiness of servants is the basis of the entire Indian economy.”
"Part of me wanted to get up and apologize to him right there and say, You go and be a driver in Delhi. You never did anything to hurt me. Forgive me, brother.
I turned to the other side, farted, and went back to sleep."
Recommended for a one time read. 3.5 stars of 5 stars.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
My top 10 books
Susanta is my former lead/mentor and a great inspiration in my life.
This morning, he added me to a list of friends requesting to share their favorite books.
I was flattered by his gesture .How could I resist it !
Here is a list of books I liked.
1. A Brief History of Time , Stephen Hawing
I got this book as a prize for a Quiz competition during class 8. I never knew who Stephen Hawking was or anything about field of study. But having this book and reading it had a profound effect on me. I would not say I understood everything on this book . But ever since I got this book, I've been interested about black holes, singularity ,worm holes .This book was my initiation to a life long fascination on Astronomy and theoretical physics.
2. A Fine Balance ,Rohinton Mistry
This is a slow and sad tale about the life of 4 ordinary people. A very touching tale and could change your perception about life.
Rohinton Mistry aces in capturing the emotions and lives of the ordinary people of India. I may be overstating it , but IMHO Rohinton Mistry is one of the most underrated authors from India. He could be called the exact opposite of people like Chetan Bagat.
3. Steve Jobs , Walter Issacson.
The definitive biography of one of the greatest CEOs of our times. I got this book to know about Steve Jobs but I ended up admiring Walter Issacson's writing more than Job's life. Considering the cult status of Jobs, it is hard to write an unbiased account of his life . But Walter Issacson has done just that. After reading this book I also read Walter Issacson's another great work - 'Einstien His life and Universe'. A great book to learn know about Einstein.
4. Open : An Autobiography .,Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi may not be the greatest but he was definitely one of the most famous of all Tennis players. He brought the flair and panche to the game with his unorthodox hairstyles, hair clips , ear piercings etc. But reading this book would show you the other side of Agassi's life .. One of the best memoirs I have read .
5. Phantoms In the Brian , VS Ramachandran.
A very informative book exploring the mysteries of our brain.
6. One Hundered Years of Solitude ,Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I rate this book high for the sheet magnitude of the imagination of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The novel is written like a journalist's account with everyday details.It is hard to belive that nothing in the book is real. I thoroughly enjoyed the book especially the ending! A must read if you like reading 'magical realism'..
7. 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot, Richard Wiseman.
I read this book because a popular blogger recommended it as the best self help book.I would not say this book is the best. But it is definitely one of the most interesting /different ones.If you love reading 'Self Help' books, give this a try.
8. Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami.
There are many open ends and in many cases the author leaves many things to the imagination of the reader. Yet, Murakamis books have a strange allure that I couldnt resist. Perhaps its his ability to write about people who you happen to meet everyday. Murakam's characters are ordinary people , but there is something very unique/exquisite with thier life that keeps you interested with the characters.Norwegian wood is perhaps one of the easier ones to read and the one I like the most.
9.The Shack, WM. Paul Young.
This is a book about religion. This is not for all kind of audiences. Nonetheless mentioned it here as it had an impact on my life.
10. Shantaram -Gregory David Roberts
Gregory David Roberts (Shantaram) narrates his story of living undercover in Mumbai.The book is part real and part fiction. But its a great read .
This morning, he added me to a list of friends requesting to share their favorite books.
I was flattered by his gesture .How could I resist it !
Here is a list of books I liked.
1. A Brief History of Time , Stephen Hawing
I got this book as a prize for a Quiz competition during class 8. I never knew who Stephen Hawking was or anything about field of study. But having this book and reading it had a profound effect on me. I would not say I understood everything on this book . But ever since I got this book, I've been interested about black holes, singularity ,worm holes .This book was my initiation to a life long fascination on Astronomy and theoretical physics.
2. A Fine Balance ,Rohinton Mistry
This is a slow and sad tale about the life of 4 ordinary people. A very touching tale and could change your perception about life.
Rohinton Mistry aces in capturing the emotions and lives of the ordinary people of India. I may be overstating it , but IMHO Rohinton Mistry is one of the most underrated authors from India. He could be called the exact opposite of people like Chetan Bagat.
3. Steve Jobs , Walter Issacson.
The definitive biography of one of the greatest CEOs of our times. I got this book to know about Steve Jobs but I ended up admiring Walter Issacson's writing more than Job's life. Considering the cult status of Jobs, it is hard to write an unbiased account of his life . But Walter Issacson has done just that. After reading this book I also read Walter Issacson's another great work - 'Einstien His life and Universe'. A great book to learn know about Einstein.
4. Open : An Autobiography .,Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi may not be the greatest but he was definitely one of the most famous of all Tennis players. He brought the flair and panche to the game with his unorthodox hairstyles, hair clips , ear piercings etc. But reading this book would show you the other side of Agassi's life .. One of the best memoirs I have read .
5. Phantoms In the Brian , VS Ramachandran.
A very informative book exploring the mysteries of our brain.
6. One Hundered Years of Solitude ,Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I rate this book high for the sheet magnitude of the imagination of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The novel is written like a journalist's account with everyday details.It is hard to belive that nothing in the book is real. I thoroughly enjoyed the book especially the ending! A must read if you like reading 'magical realism'..
7. 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot, Richard Wiseman.
I read this book because a popular blogger recommended it as the best self help book.I would not say this book is the best. But it is definitely one of the most interesting /different ones.If you love reading 'Self Help' books, give this a try.
8. Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami.
There are many open ends and in many cases the author leaves many things to the imagination of the reader. Yet, Murakamis books have a strange allure that I couldnt resist. Perhaps its his ability to write about people who you happen to meet everyday. Murakam's characters are ordinary people , but there is something very unique/exquisite with thier life that keeps you interested with the characters.Norwegian wood is perhaps one of the easier ones to read and the one I like the most.
9.The Shack, WM. Paul Young.
This is a book about religion. This is not for all kind of audiences. Nonetheless mentioned it here as it had an impact on my life.
10. Shantaram -Gregory David Roberts
Gregory David Roberts (Shantaram) narrates his story of living undercover in Mumbai.The book is part real and part fiction. But its a great read .
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Memorable quotes:
At the temple there is a poem called "Loss" carved into the stone. It has three words, but the poet has scratched them out. You cannot read loss, only feel it.
Was life nothing more than a storm that constantly washed away what had been only a moment before,and left behind something barren and unrecognizable ?
Occasionally in life we come upon things we cant understand because we have never seen anything similar - pg 112.
Of all the lessons I'd learned, the hardest one lay just ahead of me
- pg 296.
Adversity is like a strong wind.. it tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn. - pg 348.
Nothing is bleaker than the future, except perhaps the past - pg 336.
I've stopped believing that anything in life is 'as simple as that' - pg 367.
We must always keep something to remember those who have left us - pg 407.
I dont think any of us can speak frankly about pain until we are no longer enduring it - pg 419 .
I think the things that I remember are more real than the things that I see - pg 427.
- Completed 19-Jul -2014.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Books 2014 : A Fine Balance
A Fine Balance is about the four people ordinary people, their past and the things that happen in their life during period of the Emergency rule in India.
Ishvar Darji ,his nephew Omprakash Darji belong a very low caste in the northern part of India. It was a time when we still had some parts of the sections untouchable. The two leave to Mumbai for a better future .They find a job with Dina Dalal, a widow ,working hard to meet her ends meet in Mumbai. Maneck Kohlah is a young student who stays at Dina's house as a paying guest.
You may find the characters and the events pretty ordinary and boring .But the writing makes this book a memorable read. The book has done a good job in capturing the life of people at the lowermost ranks of society in India.
The author explores themes like the life of an untouchable , what would be a night of homelessness , an old mans view of a world that is changing fast in his eyes to name a few.
Even the back story of all the four characters are written well.
Calling this book a tragedy would be an understatement. Through the book, the characters endure so much hardship and you would really wish or pray that all of this ends for the better. I was hoping ther would be a silver lining or a 'happily ever after ending'.
But Mistry makes it clear that for the poor and the underprivileged, there are no happy endings.The coda of this masterpiece makes the heart melt (if you read this book until that :) ).
Some of the best quotes and in the book are about hope and the human capacity to find happiness in our tragedies.
"Sometimes you have to use your failures as stepping stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair.In the end it is all a question of balance" - pg 229
'the human face has limited space', my mother used to say. 'If you fill your face with laughing, there will be no room for crying.'- pg 433.
In the heart, there is limitless room- happiness, kindness, sorrw, anger, friendship ,everything fits in there .
There is always hope- hope enough to balance our despair.Or we would all be lost - pg 553.
what an unreliable thing is time. When I want it to fly, the hours stick to me like glue .
One day you must tell me your full ad complete story. Unabridged and unexpurgated..It is extremely important because it helps to remind yourself
who you are. Then you van go forward without losing yourself in this ever changing world. - pg 594.
Very often there was sadness in their laughter, for these memories were of their youth..
'what chance do we have ,when our beginnings and endings are so freaking ? Birth and death- what could be more monstrous from that ? We live to decieve ourselves and call it wondrous and beautiful and majestic., but it is freakish , lets face it - Manekh Kohlah.
Rating : * * * * . 'A Fine Balance' is one of the best books I have read by an Indian author .
Friday, June 27, 2014
A girl who reads.
Disclaimer : Found this one on the web. saving for my own reads. Copyrights and credits belong to the author.
"You should date a girl who reads.
Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes, who has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.
Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she has found the book she wants. You see that weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a secondhand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow and worn.
She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.
Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.
It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry and in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.
She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.
Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things must come to end, but that you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.
If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.
You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.
You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.
Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes."
— Rosemarie Urquico
"You should date a girl who reads.
Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes, who has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.
Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she has found the book she wants. You see that weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a secondhand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow and worn.
She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.
Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.
It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas, for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry and in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.
She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.
Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things must come to end, but that you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.
Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.
If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.
You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.
You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.
Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.
Or better yet, date a girl who writes."
— Rosemarie Urquico
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Books: Memories of My Melancholy Whores
That would be the tl;dr version.
However, Gabriel Garcia Marquez could turn it into an exiting read with wonderful insights into human life.
Though not to the epic proportions of his other famous creations, the book has its own highlights, witty insights and so many amazing lines to save for your quote book.
This was one of Gabriel Garcia' later books although I couldn't find a lot of difference in the writing style. It does not have the exaggerated reality that we see in 'One hundred years of solitude' but it is more like 'Love in the time of Cholera' .It is set in the the real world and with characters you could relate too.
The title and the theme stirred controversy in its initial years. It was banned for sometime. But there is nothing gross .I found it an interesting exploration into the psyche of an old man and the perks of being old and healthy.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Inspiration gives no warnings"
"Morality ,too ,is a question of time"
"Thanks to her ,I confronted my inner self for the first time."
"I discovered I am not disciplined out of virtue but as a reaction to my negligence,that I appear generous in order to conceal my meanness, that I am conciliatory in order to succumb to my repressed rage, that I am punctual only to hide how little I care about other people's time ."
"Jealousy knows more than truth does."
"In this end , it is impossible not to become what others believe you are "
"What happens is that ,you don't feel it on the inside, but from the outside, everyone can see it "
"There is no greater misfortune than dying alone "
"No matter what , nobody can take away the dances you've already had "
"I have become aware that the invincible power that has moved the world is unrequited,not happy,love."
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Farewell to a bike.
Farewell my bike
Great steed and constant company
You carried me in times thick and thin.
Gandalf had Shadowfax
Aragorn rode on Brego
Thor went on the Sleipnir
I am no Viking but you were a true dragon
Ten years ,,
we have a long way
Now I leave you behind
our paths have gone separate
Go forward..you got a new mate
As I carry you in my heart
Till we meet again..
--Sujai Antony (04/04/2014).
Monday, March 24, 2014
Love in the Time of Cholera
This is yet another wonderful novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. If One hundred years of solitude had an epic story line, then this novel could be summarized in couple of sentences.
After being rejected by Fermina Daza , Florentino Ariza waits for his lover until she becomes a widow and eventually gets to live with her together.
Someone said that if Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is about adolescent love, then 'Love in the time of Cholera' is the best book about love in old age.
Just like the previous novel, I was just amazed by Gabriel Garcia's vivid imagination and his wonderful prose. Here are some good ones.
Wisdom comes to use when it can no longer do any good. - pg 26.
the heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good - pg 106.
'No ,not rich' ..'I am a poor man with money.shich is not the same thing .' - pg 167 (Uncle Leo X11).
for a long time, he had boarded ships to his country just to drink a glass of water from the cisterns
filled with the rains of the village where he was born.
..she felt and irresistible longing to begin life with him over again so that they could say what they havd left unsaid and do everything right that they had done in the past . -pg 47
She would defend herself saying that love ,no matter what else it might be, was a natuarl talent.'You are either born knowing how or you never know' - pg 198
Life would have been another matter .. if they had learnt in time that it was easier to avoid great matrimonial catastrophes than trivial everyday miseries. - pg 26.
Someone said that if Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is about adolescent love, then 'Love in the time of Cholera' is the best book about love in old age.
Just like the previous novel, I was just amazed by Gabriel Garcia's vivid imagination and his wonderful prose. Here are some good ones.
Wisdom comes to use when it can no longer do any good. - pg 26.
the heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good - pg 106.
'No ,not rich' ..'I am a poor man with money.shich is not the same thing .' - pg 167 (Uncle Leo X11).
for a long time, he had boarded ships to his country just to drink a glass of water from the cisterns
filled with the rains of the village where he was born.
..she felt and irresistible longing to begin life with him over again so that they could say what they havd left unsaid and do everything right that they had done in the past . -pg 47
She would defend herself saying that love ,no matter what else it might be, was a natuarl talent.'You are either born knowing how or you never know' - pg 198
Life would have been another matter .. if they had learnt in time that it was easier to avoid great matrimonial catastrophes than trivial everyday miseries. - pg 26.
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