It's been a while since I wrote about what I was reading for some reason. I did read quite a bit, though. Some of the books were worth sharing, but I was too lazy to talk about them. Some were important for me to read - like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The Perks of Being a Wallflower taught me, finally, what a 'coming-of-age' novel is. Honestly, I was not old enough to read it when I was physically coming of age. Maybe children today are; maybe they aren't. I could, at best, have read it seven years ago, definitely not in my teens. The novel that now brings me back to writing about books is Tanya Landman's Apache. With a workshop on books coming up tomorrow, I have been reflecting again on how little we read. There's so much variety in the world, and we put everything into little boxes that we label 'fantasy', 'historical fiction', 'school … [Read more...]
Jatayu Moksham
The Kalakshetra troupe performed in Pune for the first time last evening. Finally. When I watch them dance, I understand. I understand why Kalakshetra is such a reputed name in the dance world. I am awed by the vision of Rukmini Devi, and her incredible imagination. I see dance as architecture, performance and storytelling. I am moved to laughter and tears, empathy and revulsion. I don't particularly like the Ramayana as a story. I find Sita a rather insipid character, whimsical and petulant. Rama, to me, is too good to be true. Too much of an unbelievable mixture of human and god. I am revolted time and again by the way Rama and Lakshmana taunt the rakshasi Surpanakha before shaming her. There is too much wrong with the story, for me. Yet, on stage, it is divine. The characters are living, breathing individuals. Sita, roused to anger, is formidable. In love, she wins my … [Read more...]
Lari Don
I was introduced to Lari Don thanks to the Mythical Maze Reading Challenge, and if for nothing else, I'm glad of the challenge for that! Of the First Aid for Fairies series, I read the last one first, and then I had to read the others. Once again, I realised why children like series. A single book is not like a short story. A short story delivers what it promises to deliver - a picture. A book makes you want more - a sequel, a prequel, a continuation. If you fall in love with a book, you fall in love with the characters. When the characters are your friends, you want to spend more time with them and get to know them better. That's how it was with this series. Despite the fact that I did not read the series in order, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I love brave, loyal Yann and Lee who cannot be trusted. Helen Strang with her violin - I could hear the melodies … [Read more...]
David
I rarely read something that is 'Not Suitable for Younger Readers' and, to be honest, I did not notice that David had this warning. Yet (or maybe because of that) David struck a chord with me. In Florence in 1501, it was essential to know what your political inclinations were. Either you supported the republic, or you supported the de Medici. Yet, things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. Gabriele, drawn into politics against his will, found himself adhering by principles he did not entirely agree with. He found himself aligning himself with political ideologies that he did not quite endorse. More than anything else, what hit me was how similar things seem to be today. Everyone must have an opinion. You may know nothing about politics, and you may care less. But somehow, you have to have an opinion. If you don't you are somehow heartless or unfeeling or selfish or stupid … [Read more...]
Frederica
I was standing at the bank reading Frederica because even though it is not true that I 'cannot' put the book down, it is true that I don't want to put the book down. There is nothing like a book that is addictive. It makes you want to read: during that one minute when the computer is booting, during the thirty seconds when your bottle is being filled, during the twenty seconds it takes for someone to pick up the phone. Back to the bank story. I was standing in line, waiting for my turn and I read about Felix, who is not a 'little boy', but an abominable 'thatch-gallows'. Felix's sister Frederica warned him not to plague Alverstoke into taking him to see a balloon ascension. But, you see, Felix was not 'plaguing' Cousin Alverstoke; he was just 'asking'. And that's not the same thing, is it? A bubble of laughter rose to my throat, but how could I laugh, standing there in a mundane … [Read more...]
White Dolphin
Who does not like animal stories? As a child, I wanted to be an environmentalist and a vet. The problem was that I was afraid of biology and dissection, so I contented myself with animal stories, knowing no other option. Gill Lewis's White Dolphin filled my heart. It was a story that jumped out of the pages and touched me despite the fact that I knew nothing about the particular problems it addressed. White Dolphin is a story of humane humans and their attempts to be what human beings should be - kind, brave and generous. Questions remain unanswered even at the end of the book, but there is no feeling of dissatisfaction there. Because life is like that. There are no clues leading to all the most beautifully crafted answers. Sometimes, you have to move away from the question to reach another, more important question. During my last workshop, we spoke about how lovely stories are … [Read more...]
The Memory Cage
A truly wonderful book. What can a boy do when his grandfather has Alzheimer's and everyone else in his family wants him to go to a home? How can he convince his family that it's cruel? The Memory Cage is a stark depiction of war and loneliness. War is not about bravery and courage. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Everyone knows that's a lie. But what happens if no one wants to know the truth? What happens when people want to look away from the truth that is staring them in the face? Memories of sadness, grief and loss cannot be put in a box and hidden under the bed. If you try to do that, the repercussions will be violent. And that is what a young boy discovers - for himself and his grandfather. … [Read more...]
Street of Tall People
I was intrigued by the title; who wouldn't be? The World War has not yet begun, but anti-Jewish sentiments run high. I know nothing of this time. Street of Tall People is set in East London, about which, also, I know nothing. Yet, the story reached out to me. Awkwardness and friendship. Loyalty, trust and betrayal. Loneliness and the quest for someone who understands. Idealism and cynicism. Street of Tall People is one of those books that shows you that even in a cruel, heartless mob is someone who is not tied to you by blood or religion, but is still family. That person there is still part of your idealistic brotherhood, however cynical other people may be. … [Read more...]
Pocahontas
Intrigued by the title of the series 'Before They Became Famous', I picked up Caroline Corby's Pocahontas. Just to make things clear, I haven't watched the movie. In fact, I know nothing about the movie except the song "Colours of the Wind". The book I read was lovely. 'Pocahontas' means 'curious, lively, inquisitive', and this was one of those historical novels in which the character came alive. Each character was real to me. There were no detailed explanations to teach me about the customs and livelihood, but there were enough clues to help me find my way, and that made the experience of the novel that much more exciting. A young girl, oscillating between disgrace and honour, is a character that is inspiring, to say the least. Pocahontas, before she became famous, seems to have been exactly like that, at least in Caroline Corby's imagination! … [Read more...]
No Such Thing as Dragons
An unusual book, No Such Thing as Dragons puzzled me. I think the promise that the book cover held (yes, I always judge a book by its cover) led me to expect more. I found that the characters had so much potential, and the plot could have been much more exciting, considering the lovely seed of the story. Since there is no such thing as dragons, the dragon-hunter knows that the best person to keep his secrets is a mute boy. The dragon-hunter has grand stories of courage and bravery, which he spreads from town to town as he goes through Christendom ridding the world of dragons. Sold for a purse of gold, the mute boy Ansel is told over and over again by his new master that there is not such thing as dragons. A town they go to has a different story to tell, though. Packed with surprises, No Such Thing as Dragons is a story that keeps you running at the same pace as the narrative. Yet, I am … [Read more...]
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