The Elephant Thief was one of those books that I would have loved to read as a child, and thoroughly enjoyed as an adult. At the back of the book, there are three words that describe it - animal, adventure and thrilling. I think the first two sum up the book perfectly. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was thrilling, but it certainly was exciting. The twists and turns in the plot were sometimes surprising and sometimes predictable. As always, more than twisting plots, characters drew me in. The special relationship in this book is the one that blossoms between the street-urchin-turned-prince Danny and the elephant Maharajah. I am not at all a fan of elephants being domesticated - elephants belong in the wild. But then, this is historical fiction, loosely based on fact, so I couldn't really complain. I enjoyed the book! Additionally, The Elephant Thief was a quick read … [Read more...]
Just Henry
Have you read Goodnight Mister Tom? If you haven't, you must. I can't quite believe that I never wrote about the book. It's a classic, one that touched something deep inside me, the way only classics can. I remember the first time I read the book - I borrowed it from the library, and read and read and read and read ... And the last page was missing. I don't need to write about how frustrating that was. Then I read it for the second time and sobbed over it all over again, but finished it. Ah. It's one of those books. I see it on the shelf and it fills me up just thinking about it. So, of course, when I saw another book by Michelle Magorian at the library, I had to borrow it. I was a little daunted by how thick it was - I haven't read a 700-page book since Harry Potter. But I borrowed it and started reading it. And just like Goodnight Mister Tom, I read and read … [Read more...]
Meet the Monsters!
The huge, purple monster is on the loose! It has 12 arms, 12 legs, one eye, one horn, two mouths and 43 teeth, and it's going to take over the town. It eats 12 people every day: it ate my neighbour and my children; it even destroyed a nearby building! It stinks to high heavens, and people are trying to kill it with fire. So far, they have been unsuccessful because after all, what can kill a monster who is so enormous that even an elephant is like a rat to it? Meet the Crushing Monster - this one can be destroyed by just one person in the world, a young boy named Krishant. Meet the Destroying Monster. Vikas and his younger brother Vishnu are going to kill this one! Meet Mono. Vishnu and his friends will triumph over this one. And finally, meet Tide. We don't know yet whether this monster can be destroyed at all! What fun the workshop at BookMark Coimbatore … [Read more...]
How Not to Disappear
Wow. What a wonderful book. It kept me reading and reading and reading. I had to wipe away tears more than once, and I kept shaking my head at the power the story had over me. For me, How Not to Disappear is not a Young Adult book, and I cannot understand how it is classified as one. If I had read it as a young adult, I would have been traumatised. There's violence, abuse, isolation, drunkenness ... Hattie, who thinks she is in love with Reuben, needs to make an important decision. The one thing she takes a while to realise is that it is a decision. She must make a conscious choice, and it is not wise to base her decision on Reuben's reaction. The most important bit of advice she receives is from an old lady called Gloria, who has the beginnings of dementia. Do not be afraid of regret. Gloria and Hattie, two isolated and vulnerable individuals, embark on a journey together. … [Read more...]
The Lie Tree
The Lie Tree looked fascinating, but I wondered if it was my kind of book. Everyone who was quoted on the cover said it was 'dark' and compelling, and I cannot say that I am a fan of dark literature. I get scared too easily, and I don't enjoy getting scared. I decided to borrow it anyway and it was only when I got it home that I noticed that it was by Frances Hardinge. I've read two books by her - A Face like Glass, which was gripping, and Fly by Night, which is famous, but not one that I enjoyed as much. If I'd read Fly by Night first, I may not have picked p anything else by Hardinge. But A Face like Glass was impressive, so The Lie Tree could go either way. It went the right way. For one, I found the protagonist superb. I can't say I loved her because that really isn't what the book wants. Faith Sunderly is too complex for that. She is a rebel who does not appear to be … [Read more...]
Books that I must write about!
I couldn't wait any longer. I just had to write about at least some of the books I've been reading. Last night, I sat and reread Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's not my favourite, but then, it's Harry Potter, probably the only series of books I've ever stayed up reading. I even took part in a midnight treasure-hunt at a bookstore the day the seventh Harry Potter book was to be released. It pushed me to write today about all these other books I'm reading, books that aren't nearly as famous. The good part about reviewing books long after you've read them is that you have a little more perspective. You know which books stay with you and which ones just get lost along the way. The Thing about Jellyfish stayed with me. And I think the best thing about the book - without giving anything away - is that it ends perfectly. When Franny dies, her best friend Suzy stops … [Read more...]
The Lit Bug Fest 2018
The Lit Bug Fest, Pune's own literary fest for children, was held yesterday, and I'm sure everyone who was there is still on a high. For me, just like last year, it was a delightful experience interacting with readers, talking about my books, sharing ideas, and even being interviewed by two child-journalists! The energy of a lit fest is unmatched. I kept sneaking away from the stall and attending bits and pieces of events, hovering on the outside sometimes, and sitting in at other times. Each session I attended was lovely! I began my day with a story with which I was familiar, retold by Yamini Vijendran. Using puppets and all the drama of her expressive voice and face, she drew us into the story, so much so that I didn't realise that she'd kept us engaged for half an hour! I wanted very much to attend Bhavna Menon's session because I loved her book, Welcome to the Forest. It was as … [Read more...]
My Name’s not Friday
My Name's Not Friday. I love the title. My name is not Friday. It says so much to me. In the afterword, Jon Walter talks about markers in the book like the embargo on cotton, which happened in the first year of the American Civil War. Yet, he warns the reader that if you try too hard to figure out the timeline of the novel, for there is one red herring after another - he did not want to restrict himself to a 'true' timeline or even to just real places. If I ever write historical fiction, I wonder, will I have the courage to do that? Somehow, I doubt it. Perhaps the book would not work for people who are very familiar with the American Civil War. Perhaps it would make them cringe and shake their heads with annoyance at the liberties Walter has taken. But for me, the story was paramount. A young black boy being raised in an orphanage is secretly sold into slavery. The priest who … [Read more...]
Workshop for Women’s Day
Yes, I was a bit sceptical about doing a workshop for children to mark International Women's Day. What would I do? How much would I say? How would I even begin to talk about the inequality we see around us every day without even noticing it? Talking about equal pay means nothing to these children. Pay is something far, far in the future. Unequal opportunities and conditioning do not ring true to them. Believe me, I've tried. Most are too idealistic to think that these could be true - and perhaps that's a good thing. So, I began with home. How many of you have mothers who work outside home? Six out of seven. Who cooks at home? Two children said both their parents do. The others, you know the answer. Laundry? Three said both parents. Then, as an afterthought, another agreed. Who buys groceries? Both parents. Who does 'extra' cleaning - windows, dusting, cobwebs … [Read more...]
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
The British Library is organising several women's day related events this weekend, and thanks to that, I came across a gem: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World. Featuring Jane Austen, Gertrude Ederle, Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Mary Anning, Mary Seacole, Amelia Earhart, Agent Fifi, Sacagawa, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks and Anne Frank, Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is an absolutely lovely read. With wonderful illustrations and an engaging layout, I think it's a delightful book, no matter how old you are, and this despite the fact that it is an 'educational' book. (Oh, and I just had a look at a related activity book, and that looks fun too!) Title Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World Author Kate Pankhurst Genre Non-fiction Rating (out of 5) 5 Age-group 6+ Based on this book, I will be conducting a … [Read more...]
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