Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Book Review #17 - Notes of A Dream The Authorized Biograph by Krishna Trilok


NOTES OF A DREAM THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPH by Krishna TrilokMy rating: 3 of 5 stars




40% it is A.R Rahman's biography & the rest is a mix of Soundtrack lists of famous ARR albums, Interesting Trivia's, Perspective about ARR said by his family, colleagues and associates

Negatives

- A die-hard fan would easily get bored while reading the well-known facts
- Could have been more into the biography

Positives

- Makes you feel nostalgic while reading about early albums of ARR
- Each time you read about a song you can get reminded how good the song was and makes you search the internet and play it immediately

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Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Unsung Heroes #01 - Revolutionary Nationalist 'Pritilata Waddedar'


Original Archived photo of Pritilata Waddedar.jpg

Unsung Heroes #01

Revolutionary Nationalist 'Pritilata Waddedar'



Pritilata Waddedar (5 May 1911 – 23 September 1932) was a Bengali revolutionary nationalist. After a brief stint as a school teacher, Pritilata joined a revolutionary group

Joining Surya Sen's revolutionary group

The whole country wanted freedom from British and everyone tried their ways to achieve it. Inspired by Rani Lakshmi Bai, she joined a revolutionary group in 1932.



Revolution

There was Pahartali European Club in Chittagong, where it was written: “Indians and dogs are not allowed”.

Pritilata Waddedar led a team of fifteen revolutionaries to attack the Pahartali European Club for their remarks on Indians. She along with her companions attacked the club where they fought with British police. Firing was going on and one policemen shot her. That was minor but in order to avoid arrest, she consumed cyanide and thus end her short endeavour in fighting for freedom of her country.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Book Review #16 - வாடிவாசல் [Vaadivaasal] By C.S Chellappa

வாடிவாசல் [Vaadivaasal] வாடிவாசல் [Vaadivaasal] by C. S. Chellappa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Vaadivaasal' (closed place from where the bull is released) was published as a supplementary to a magazine. Novel narrates a engaging story of Pichi who wants to take a revenge by taming a bull that earlier killed his father. The story happens at one night at a 'Jallikattu' the bull embracing sport that is been followed in many parts of India been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC).

Narrative style can be compared to Earnest Hemingway's 'Old Man and The Sea' who detailed even a inch of happening into a 10 page narration.

சி.சு. செல்லப்பாவின் மிகச் சிறந்த படைப்பு 'வாடிவாசல்' என்று சொல்லலாம். இக் குறுநாவலை 1959இல் வெளியிட்டு அப்போது தொடங்கியிருந்த எழுத்து பத்திரிகையின் சந்தாதாரர் அனைவருக்கும் அன்பளிப்பாக அனுப்பினார் செல்லப்பா.

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Thursday, October 25, 2018

Importance of Mental Health - #01 'The Self Care'

Importance of Mental Health - #01


The Self Care


Treat yourself like you treat your dog (Assuming you`re not some animal-abusing psycho)

People appear to love their dogs, cats, and birds more than themselves.
But they don't know how to take care of themselves.
How horrible is that? How much shame must exist, for something like that to be true?
So treat yourself like you treat your dog.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Book Review #15 - Kabuliwala by Rabindranath Tagore


Kabuliwala by Rabindranath TagoreMy rating: 4 of 5 stars



Review


We Owe to the People Who Loved Us in Childhood. When a child/toddler befriends you but forgets who you are during your next meet then that's worse than a breakup.

Quotes From The Book:


Article about Kabuliwala's now:
Article: 125 years of Tagore’s Kabuliwala: Here’s what life is like for the community today

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-search-of-tagore-s-kabuliwala/story-JgtSdmfJp0PKKVokebwYwN.html

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Book Review #14 - Mathilgal by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer



Mathilgal
by Vaikom Muhammad BasheerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars



About the Book:

Mathilukal (Wall) is about the author himself and his never met love. both are imprisoned and separated by a huge wall that divides their prisons.

Got to know about this ace Malayalam writer and purchased three of his books that was translated in Tamil by காலச்சுவடு Kaalachuvadu publications. 'Balyakalasakhi', 'Mathilukal' and 'Enga Uppuppavukku Oru Aana Irunthathu'



Quotes From The Book:


Basheer says ” I’m the garden, I’m the flower” What about the fruit? Yes I'm the fruit too!



Movie Version of Mathilukal (Malayalam):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRwGYHd-yJ4



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Book Review #13 - Balyakalasakhi by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer


ബാല്യകാലസഖി | Balyakalasakhi by Vaikom Muhammad BasheerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars


About the Book:

Balyakalasakhi (Childhood Friend) is a romantic tragedy novel. The story revolves around Majeed and Suhra, who are in love from childhood.

Got to know about this ace Malayalam writer and purchased three of his books that was translated in Tamil by காலச்சுவடு Kaalachuvadu publications. 'Balyakalasakhi', 'Mathilukal' and 'Enga Uppuppavukku Oru Aana Irunthathu'

Movie Version of Balyakalasakhi (Malayalam):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Smu...

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Friday, September 21, 2018

Book Review #12 - யானை டாக்டர் [Yaanai Doctor] by Jeyamohan

யானை டாக்டர் [Yaanai Doctor]

யானை டாக்டர் [Yaanai Doctor] by JeyamohanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars


About the Book:

Yaanai Doctor (Elephant Doctor) from writer Jeyamohan is a must read short account of a real-life veteran veterinarian doctor who is an Elephant expert.
The story is narrated by a colleague who works closely with Dr K who gets instantly admired and later trying his best to get the deserved recognition for the Elephant Doctor.

Review:

The reader can easily connect with the narrator and visualize the beauty of wildlife and see how inspirational Dr K is. This short read will make you go to nature and communicate with it.

About Doctor K:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._Kris...

About the author:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._Jeya...

Free Audio Book Version of this book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la53H...

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Thursday, September 20, 2018

Book Review #11 - ''Murder on the Orient Express'' by Agatha Christie



Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Review:

This was my first Agatha Christie novel. I was not expecting that Connections & ending, which was the best thing in a murder mystery story.

Spoiler:

The Number Twelve

"I remembered a remark of Colonel Arbuthnot's about trial by jury. A jury is composed of twelve people – there were twelve passengers – Ratchett was stabbed twelve times." (3.9.58)
The number links a many and what an ending!

Quote From The Book:

“The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.”

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Thursday, September 13, 2018

Instagram Post: Hanging bell in the temple

Instagram Post: Hanging bell in the temple


Hanging bell in the temple. A Belief: When bells ring, it creates a vibration in the atmosphere, which spreads too far with the flow of winds. All the insects and particles coming across this vibration get killed, and the atmosphere becomes clean and healthy


Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Book Review #10 - Nylon Rope by Sujatha Rangarajan

Nylon Rope

Nylon Rope by Sujatha RangarajanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars



Nylon Rope is a whodunit by ace writer Sujatha Rangarajan published in the year 1971 (His first novel).

Within 115 pages the writer has given a good crime thriller which still gives a crisp read and keeps us engaged even after these many years.

Lookout for the pages that appears in random pages in the middle of the novel containing handwritten letters of a character that makes you feel irrelevant to where the story is going but see later how the knots are tied to Sujatha's signature ending.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2018

நீங்கள் பார்க்காத சுவர்கள்

நீங்கள் பார்க்காத சுவர்கள்



நீங்கள் பேச விரும்பாத பக்கங்களை நான் அசை போட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

நீங்கள் நினைக்க இயலாத பக்கங்கள் எனக்கு பரிச்சயமான பக்கங்களாய் இருக்கிறது.

நீங்கள் கடந்து சென்ற சாதாரண நிகழ்வு எனக்கு கூர்ந்து பார்க்க விஷயங்களை தரும் பெரு நிகழ்வு.

நீங்கள் உங்களுடைய நண்பனுடன் கழித்த நாட்களெல்லாம் பின்பு மரக்கக்கூடும்.
எனக்கு அவைகள் தான் நட்பை நினைவில் அசைபோட்டு  பாதுகாக்கும் கருவி.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Book Review #09 - 'Ghachar Ghochar' by Vivek Shanbhag



Ghachar Ghochar means tangled beyond repair.

Review:

Unsettling, Often claustrophobic!
This novel looks intimately at a middle-class family living in Bengaluru, at how their new-found fortune becomes more of a cruel joke played upon them, unleashing the beast within. It changes family equations, robs them of their moral fortitude and peace of mind.
The author often refers some minute details that are easy to relate to any middle-class south Indian
which may be nostalgic at times and Déjà vu the other times but you will never want to go through where the story later progresses and ends.


Quotes From The Book:

“it’s not we who control money, it’s the money that controls us. When there’s only a little, it behaves meekly; when it grows, it becomes brash and has its way with us.”

“On that day I became convinced that it is the words of women that deeply wound other women.”

“Words, after all, are nothing by themselves. They burst into meaning only in the minds they’ve entered.”

Spoiler:

The Essence of the story:

After a moment of particular crisis in the family: “Amma and Malati noticed Anita’s dissent. It’s an unwritten rule that all members come to the family’s aid when it is threatened. Anita had broken that rule. She should not have.” Anita is the narrator’s wife, an “outsider” to the family and, as the rather threatening “she should not have” indicates, a potential “ant” that may need to be quashed.

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Monday, April 16, 2018

Book Review #08 - "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman




The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins GilmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars



Review:

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a semi-autobiographical short story by the author. The actual story represents the author's thoughts on 'Men Dictate Women's Lives' and Liberation.

In "The Yellow Wallpaper," Jane suffers from depression and starts to see a woman inside her yellow wallpaper. She thinks the woman is struggling to break free but it is not just the woman in the yellow wallpaper.

Quotes From The Book:

“It is so hard to talk with John about my case, because he is so wise, and because he loves me so.”

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Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Book Review #07 - "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry



The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryMy rating: 3 of 5 stars



The Little Prince is a short and enjoyable classic fiction (120 pages with illustrations) on intergalactic travel adventures of a little prince shows us a deep reflection on human nature.


The little prince describes grown-ups as loving numbers and asking questions to get to know someone where the answers are numbers instead of questions about things that matter (like getting to know their personality).

To prove the little prince is right, here’s a numbered list of the types of adults he meets on each planet:


1. The King – talks about his control and power, but the little prince clearly sees that it’s just an illusion since he commands things under the “science of government, until conditions are favourable. (pg 31)” Or, when they were going to do it anyway.

2. The Vain Man – wants nothing more than to be admired constantly.  The little prince wonders “…what is there about my admiration that interests you so much? (pg 34).”

3. The Drunkard – the vicious cycle of shame.  He’s ashamed that he drinks so he drinks to forget his shame. The prince has literally nothing to say about that.

4. The Business Man – endlessly counts all the stars and says he owns them and they make him rich. The little prince sees that work should be a two-way street. “But you’re not useful to the stars. (pg 40)”

5. The Lamp Lighter – stuck in the endless cycle of chores. He is a hard worker and the little prince likes him since his job is useful to others, but the little prince doesn’t understand why he can’t rest and enjoy the many joys (like sunsets) that his planet has.

6. The Geographer – never actually goes anywhere. He writes about places and discoveries that other people have made.  He’s the kind of adult that never fully lives their life.

7. Earth – the last planet he visits that has a combination of all these grown-ups (which he numbers to please the adults).

Quotes From The Book

'And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

'All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.'

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Book Review #06 - "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch



The Last Lecture by Randy PauschMy rating: 5 of 5 stars



What is it about

'The Last Lecture' is a wonderful life lesson that can influence you and change your perspective on life.

Reason Behind the Lecture and Book

'I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children, If I were a painter, I would have painted for them. But I am a lecturer, so I lectured.'

Randy Pausch gave his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon (where he was a professor) while he was battling cancer. He thought that the lecture is not just for his audience but also for his kids after his demise. His speech was recorded as a video and got popular on which he later decided to make into a book.

If someone asked you, “What’s unique about you?” how would you answer? You’d probably stop dead in your tracks. And more than likely, you’d take time to think before you answered. That’s the question Randy Pausch asked himself when he was about to prepare his presentation for 'The Last Lecture' Series.

To achieve his childhood dreams, there were often obstacles in his path and in The Last Lecture, Pausch walks us through how he went through these brick walls. For instance, when he was a child, he dreamed that he would someday work at Disney.

Here are some of the author's suggestions which he learned out of incidents from his life, quotes and rules-to-live-by
- Treat the disease, not the symptom.
- Don't obsess over what people think.
- Check egos at the door.
- Praise each other.
- Look for the best in everybody.
- Watch what they do, not what they say.
- Whether you think you can or can't, you're right.
- Loyalty is a two-way street.
- Tell the truth.

Notable Quotes From the Book

"The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people."

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer."

"Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. "

"Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other."

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Monday, March 26, 2018

Book Review #05 - "Rajiv Kolai Vazhakku" ராஜீவ் கொலை வழக்கு by Ragothaman


ராஜீவ் கொலை வழக்கு by RagothamanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars



Review

This one is a rollercoaster ride. The book started to affect my sleep for few days as the events start revealing one by one. so, took a decision to read and complete it as soon as possible to come out of the feel that the book provides.

Keywords from the Web

இந்திய சரித்திரத்தில் மட்டுமல்ல உலக சரித்திரத்திலும்கூட ராஜிவ் கொலை வழக்குக்கு இணையான இன்னொரு வழக்கு இல்லை. வழக்கின் ஆரம்பப்புள்ளி முதல் முடிவு வரையிலான நேர்மையான அலசல். முழுமையான பின்னணித் தகவல்கள், ஆதாரங்களுடன் கூடிய விசாரணை விவரங்கள். வழக்கின் தலைமை புலனாய்வு அதிகாரி கே. ரகோத்தமனின் இந்நூலை, ராஜிவ் கொலை வழக்கு பற்றிய ஆதாரபூர்வமான முதன்மை ஆவணமாகக் கொள்ளலாம். சதித்திட்டம் குறித்த விசாரணைகள் எவ்வாறு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டன? புலன் விசாரணை செய்த அதிகாரிகள் சந்தித்த சிக்கல்கள், சவால்கள் என்னென்ன? யாரால், ஏன் அவை தோற்றுவிக்கப்பட்டன? இந்திய உளவு நிறுவனங்களின் நிகரற்ற மெத்தனப் போக்கின் பின் உள்ள அரசியல் என்ன? விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கும் இந்திய அரசியல் பெரும்புள்ளிகளுக்கும் இடையிலான நுட்பமான தொடர்புகள் குறித்த செய்திகள் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கின்றன. அதைவிட அதிர்ச்சிகரமானது, புலிகளோடு நெருங்கிய தொடர்புடைய சிலர் இறுதிவரை சரியாக விசாரிக்கப்படாதது.



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Book Review #04 - "Moongil Moochu" by Suga மூங்கில் மூச்சு - சுகா


Moongil moochu by சுகாMy rating: 5 of 5 stars



Review Summary

Thanks to Suga the author for his nostalgic writing about 'Tirunelveli' in weekly magazine 'Ananda Vikatan' which was later combined and published in paperback format.
Moongi Moochu is an account of life experience and life events of a man in and about a small town. The author speaks about the minute things that should be addressed once in a while like the places he visited from childhood, classic old theatre, friends, relatives, places and people.

About the Book From the Web

பசுமரத்து ஆணி போல, மனதில் ஆழமாகப் பதிந்துகிடக்கும் இளமைக் கால நினைவுகளைப் பிறரிடம் பகிர்ந்துகொள்ளும் சுகமே அலாதியானது. குறிப்பேடுகளில் குறித்துவைத்த சம்பவங்களைவிட, மனதில் பதிந்த விஷயங்கள் விசேஷமானவை. நினைத்தாலே இனிக்கக்கூடியவை. அப்படி, தனது மனதில் தேங்கியிருந்த சுகமான நினைவுகளை, எழுத்தாளரும், திரைப்பட இயக்குநருமான சுகா, ஆனந்த விகடனில் ‘மூங்கில் மூச்சு!’ என்ற தலைப்பில் தொடராக எழுதிவந்தார். மண்ணின் மணத்தோடு துவங்கி, பால்ய பருவத்து சகாக்களுடனான சந்தோஷ தருணங்களையும், ஆறு, கோயில், குளம், நீச்சல், விளையாட்டு... என வாழ்ந்த சூழலையும் நம் கண்முன்னே நிழலாடச் செய்திருக்கிறார். வாழ்வோடு ஒன்றிய பல விஷயங்களை வர்ணனைகளோடு வார்த்தைகளில் வடித்திருக்கிறார். அறிவு புகட்டிய ஆசான் முதல், அன்பு பாராட்டிய உறவுகள் வரை அனைவரைப் பற்றியும் நெல்லைத் தமிழ் மொழியின் வாசனையோடு, ஜனரஞ்சகமாக, சுவாரஸ்யமாக எழுதியிருக்கிறார். எலெக்ட்ரானிக் யுகத்தின் தலைமுறை மாற்றத்தையும் கூறியிருப்பது படிப்போரின் ஆர்வத்தைத் தூண்டும் விதமாக உள்ளது. சென்னைக்கு வந்த பிறகு, திரைத்துறையின் வழிகாட்டியான பாலுமகேந்திரா பற்றியும், பாலசந்தர், பாலா, சீமான், அறிவுமதி போன்றோருடனான நெருக்கத்தையும், சுவையான சம்பவங்களையும் திரையிட்டுக் காட்டுகிறார். ஆட்டோ டிரைவர், சைக்கிள் ரிக்ஷாக்காரர், கண் பார்வை தெரியாத முதியவர்... என பலரையும் தன் நினைவுகளில் தேக்கிவைத்து இவர் வெளிப்படுத்தியிருப்பது, பசுமையான அனுபவம் கொண்டிருக்கும் எவருக்கும், தம் அனுபவங்களை பகிர்ந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தைத் தூண்டும்.


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Monday, March 19, 2018

Book Review #03 - "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway


The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest HemingwayMy rating: 3 of 5 stars

Review


The book is more about explaining an incident and its background. I wish I could someday get to explain things in such details. As said by the author this is a simple book.

"There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. The sharks are all sharks no better and no worse. All the symbolism that people say is crap. What goes beyond is what you see beyond when you know."
-Ernest Hemingway


Quotes From The Book


"But man is not made for defeat," he said. "A man can be destroyed but not defeated."

"Why do old men wake so early? Is it to have one longer day?"

"You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved him when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?"

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Book Review #02 - "Veronika Decides to Die" by Paulo Coelho


Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo CoelhoMy rating: 3 of 5 stars


Review

A Good Read but sluggish often!
After reading the epic like 'The Alchemist' i thought 'Veronika Decides to Die' might lack the punch but at the end and on the whole there are few upside and downside with some surprise moments to enjoy as well.

People who liked the medium paced storytelling of books/movies like 'The Fault In Our Stars', 'Me before you', and 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' may like this book too.


Quotes From The Book


“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.”

“People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves.”

“You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.”

“Nothing in this world happens by chance”



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Book Review #01 - "The Room on the Roof" by Ruskin Bond

Review

'The room on the roof' is worth reading! The story keeps you hooked with many unexpected incidents and takes you on a short trip to your childhood.

Written by Ruskin Bond when he was 17 which was partly based on his experience at Dehradun, India.
The novel revolves around the imaginary character Rusty an Anglo-Indian created by Bond. There are 4 other novels and short stories about Rusty.

Quotes From The Book

“I don't want to rot like mangoes at the end of the season, or burnout like the sun at the and of the day. I cannot live like the gardener, the cook and water-carrier, doing the same task everyday of my life... I want to be either somebody or nobody. I don't want to be anybody.”

“You don’t have to lie if you know how to withhold the truth.”

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