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Happy Birthday, Harry Potter

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How can I let this day go by without wishing one of my favourite fictional characters of all time? I don't have the books in front of me, but phrases flash through my mind - 'emotional range of a teaspoon' 'Gred and Forge' I can see Harry at school, praying not to get to into Slytherin. I can see him thinking about what 'Wood' Prof McGonagall could mean. I can see the glint in his eyes when he thinks of the fact that the Dursleys don't know that he is not permitted to use magic at home. Ah, Harry, Harry. My friends know how fond I am of writing letters to them on their birthdays. This is, perhaps, my letter (though in peculiar third-person) to Harry. Happy birthday. Love, Varsha (A writer who loves to think of fictional characters as real people) … [Read more...]

Surprise Interview

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I never have call waiting turned on. Yesterday, somehow I did. An unknown number was calling me as I spoke to a very dear friend - a landline number. At first, I ignored it. I got another call. I was puzzled. And another. So I took it. "Varsha Seshan!" said the voice at the other end. "Ye-es...?" And it was MJ Shubhra from Radio One. I spoke to her, just like that, out of the blue. Did you listen in? … [Read more...]

Radio One!

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Tune in to 94.3 FM Radio One - Maximum Music, Maximum Choice! Immediately! Surprise interview about The Story-Catcher and its author! … [Read more...]

Monsters University

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When humour, action, plot, story, character and setting are all rolled into one, how can I not leave the cinema hall smiling like I have a tummy full of food and am ready to sleep? Monsters University made me happy.  Why should anyone (particularly me) pretend to write a review? I like Mike (and Sullivan). I love 'OK'. I love the story. I love the Monsters University campus. I love the idea - and hugely respect the fact that such a grand prequel was made for a movie like Monsters, Inc. In short, I like animated films and this one did not let me down! … [Read more...]

Magical Mail

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'Dear Sir or Madam,My name is Thor. I would like to work for the council recycling department. I think I would be good at this as I have lightning for melting and a big hammer for those items that are difficult to crush. I have passed an exam in art and I am also a god.' - Magical Mail by Claire Barker What a silly, droll book! I enjoyed each page and read the whole thing at one sitting in a couple of hours. I giggled, chuckled and tucked my brains away under a chair as I read the book, delighting in its eccentricities and adventures. The end of the story did not fit, somehow. The tone and mood changed, making me frown for the first time. It felt as if a makeshift ending had been attached at the end, but not too well, pulling strings a little too tightly in an attempt to tie the loose ends. How does it matter? I still enjoyed the tale of one girl, nine letters and a whole lot of magic! … [Read more...]

The Poison Garden

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I finally finished reading The Poison Garden only because I forced myself to. I turned page after deliberate page, skipping sections, skimming over larger sections and wondering who would read the book. And then, I had a rather startling thought. I understand where the inspiration comes from. I understand a fascination for plants and power - I have the fascination myself. I understand the thrilling secrets of a closed box - I've written a story about a box myself. I understand the love for fine language and vocabulary that is beyond the scope of a child - I have that myself. In other words, perhaps the essence of the book is something that captivates me. No, not perhaps. Every idea in the book does thrill me. The names thrill me. Albion, Arcadia, Broceliande, Tadmor, Xanadu, Nineveh and Acoma: gardens of love, poison, dreams, healing, time, perfume and journeys. They send ripples over … [Read more...]

Imagination

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I sometimes think about what other people must be thinking about what I'm thinking. Cycling home from my grandfather's place early this morning, I was amused at bystanders waiting for buses. I thought about what they would be thinking about how dedicated I was about exercising everyday. I imagined conversations with real people and recollected a real conversation with someone who was actually curious enough to stop me and ask. And then I thought about how wild my imagination was when I was younger. When I saw men (they were probably young, but child-Varsha thought they were all uncles) on bikes, how I loved to imagine! I imagined that they had just robbed a bank and were running away. I imagined that they were policemen in disguise. I imagined they had stolen other people's bikes. I imagined that they had murdered someone or performed some nameless crime. I never imagined that they … [Read more...]

The Harry Potter Phenomenon

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"You must read Harry Potter," a friend of mine told me when I was in the eighth standard. I glanced at the book lying on her desk and nodded. The book she was so impressed by was not yet available easily in India. A relative had given it to her and she was passing it on. I postponed reading - for an incomprehensible reason that I wonder if anyone would understand. I thought Harry Potter was the name of the writer and I had a deep-rooted prejudice against writers who put their own names in font that is far larger than the name of the book. Who was this Harry Potter who used one-fourth of the book cover for his own name? A lot of writers did that, I knew. I did not like the idea of it at all. I did not want to read this new author, this Harry Potter. So another friend read it before I did and said to me, "You must read Harry Potter!" I was curious now, so we spoke a … [Read more...]

Faerie Heart

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Incredible. As a child, I did not like novels that were not divided into chapters. I have no idea why. The only exception was Mary Poppins. I somehow think this one would have been an exception too. What a visual treat! The imagination just blew me over. A coverlet and a bed made of insects' wings. Weaving ropes out of spider threads. Threading cobwebs together to sew the insects' wings. Curtains parting noiselessly - like clouds. Droplets of water hanging from grass - and whole shimmering worlds within. Livi Michael. I'll look out for the name. … [Read more...]