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The Court Painter’s Apprentice

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I love novels that read like short stories. I don't like it when the plot is so complex that my excitement reaches its peak too early. When I read a book like that, I'm just waiting to find out what happens in the end, not enjoying the journey. The book I read before this, The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43, was like that. In the last two chapters, you're just waiting for resolution, no longer anticipating what could happen. The Court Painter's Apprentice was nothing like that. In many ways, I found its telling old-fashioned, and I liked that. I liked how different incidents come together to create a story. There was a build-up with no unnecessary crests and troughs. One story after another, with very few sub-plots. Didn't Aristotle say that that was the making of good literature? A young painter's talent is discovered when he is still very young. Apprenticed to Hugo, the leading painter of … [Read more...]

Days Three and Four: Reading Workshop at Friends Library

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"How can it already be 11:30?" "Time is already up?" "I could sit here for five hours daily!" "Why is tomorrow the last day?"             Today, Day Four of Exploring the World of Stories, my reading workshop at Friends Library, I ended up extending my one and a half hour slot to almost two hours, simply because the children were so excited. It's been wonderful, these four days. I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day either! … [Read more...]

Day Two: Exploring the World of Stories

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Two more children joined the reading workshop at Friends Library today! With seven children in the cosy children's section of Friends Library, Day Two of the reading workshop was a day of learning. We spoke about the publishing process and copyright. We designed book covers. We shared myths from around the world. And we had a quiz to round things up. Tomorrow promises to be fun too! … [Read more...]

Day One: Exploring the World of Stories

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As of yesterday, I had no registrations for my reading workshop. I decided to go to Friends Library anyway. Three children came. And then one more. And one more. And one more promises to come tomorrow - all in all, it was delightful. Among other things, we played Pass the Story - a cross between Pictionary and Chinese Whispers, with the element of stories added into it. Here's how it works: Participant One picks a chit. Suppose it says 'Geronimo Stilton'. Participant One draws Geronimo Stilton and passes on his sketch. Participant Two makes a guess. Suppose Participant Two guesses 'rat'. He writes 'rat' on a sheet of Paper and passes it on. Participant Three draws. Participant Four guesses. And so on. It's a hilarious game. Harry Potter became Wimpy Kid. And Sleeping Beauty became Barbie, as did one of the seven dwarfs. The world of stories continues tomorrow - here's … [Read more...]

Biskitwali

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My dance teacher regularly gives the Salvation Army children food and biscuits, so everyone there, from the workers to the watchman's son, knows her. The little ones have given her a name, too - 'Biskitwali'. The most endearing feature of the epithet is that no offence is intended , and none is taken. Yesterday, I parked my bike outside my teacher's house and a cheeky child came up to me with his bright smile. "Dance class," he proclaimed. I nodded. "Dance class?" inquired another child. "Haan!" The tone said 'naturally, don't you know even that?'. "Tereko nahin malum kya?" Top-speed speech, barely completing each word, heedless of grammar. I took off my helmet and scarf. "But what is that?" the second child asked in Hindi. "What is 'dance class'?" "Arre!" the first one said, as if talking to a dunce. "Wo biskitwali hai, na? Wo actually dance teacher hai. Tereko … [Read more...]