Book Review #34 When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka - Stars 4/5

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka Stars 4/5

Review:

Those who read 'The Buddha in the Attic' should also read 'When the Emperor Was Divine' which is also set in the same premise - the lives of the Japanese in the US during WW2.
'The Buddha in the Attic' was like the voice of many and not about a single main character but 'When the Emperor Was Divine' is about one unnamed family and the final chapters are said hard-hitting like a response from all the affected person point of view to the country that is treating them like an alien. This is not a melodramatic story, and it ends with a positive note about their hope.

Plot:

The story is about a Japanese family living in the US during World War II Says how men were named a traitor and prisoned secretly for years and how their families were sent to Utah desert to internment camps for years.
The family is first separated from the father and living in an internment camp, their life changes there, after years when they are back to their home they see how ruined their places are, kids are still missing their father, they are visit school and asked to not intervene the whites, they ask apologies even if their hand touches them mistakenly.
After years when their father returns the kids are not sure if it was him, he is looking different now, pale, energy drained.

Quotes from the book:
“But we never stopped believing that somewhere out there, in some stranger's backyard, our mother's rosebush was blossoming madly, wildly, pressing one perfect red flower after another out into the late afternoon light.”

"We used to live in the desert. We used to wake every morning, to the blast of a siren. We used to stand in line for our meals three times a day. We used to stand in line for our mail. We used to stand in line to get coal. We used to stand in line whenever we had to shower or use the latrine. We used to hear the wind hissing day and night through the sagebrush. We used to hear coyotes. We used to hear every word spoken by our neighbors on the other side of the thin barrack wall ... We used to try and imagine what it would be like when we finally returned home."          

Book Review #33 The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka Stars 5/5

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka Stars 5/5 

Review:

The Buddha in the Attic is Lyrical and empathetic.
Instead of a single, named protagonist, author writes in the first personal plural through a series of thematic chapters.

Plot:

The voice of many. Tale of Japanese mail-ordered brides sent to America by ship and later when their life is kind of stable the World war 2 begins and life takes turns again.
They are lured that future husband is a wealthy businessman but only after reaching the US they come to know that the photos are 20 years old and these guys are mostly working as a slave in a farm.
They go through many struggles, they are naive, they are blamed.
But after decades when their kids grow the families become less Japanese and more American, only to have it shattered in a passage, simply called 'Traitors' as the World War II begins and men captured and the family never see them again.

Quotes from the book:

“Not once did we ever have the money to buy them a single toy”

“You will see women are weak, but mothers are strong.”

“We forgot about Buddha. We forgot about God. We developed a coldness inside us that still has not thawed. I fear my soul has died. We stopped writing home to our mothers. We lost weight and grew thin. We stopped bleeding. We stopped dreaming. We stopped wanting.”

Book Review #26 - My Story/En Kadhai/Ente Katha by Kamala Suraiyya Das

என் கதை by Kamala Suraiyya DasMy rating: 5 of 5 stars

An explicit biography published February 1st 1973. Kamala Das (born Kamala; 31 March 1934 - 31 May 2009) was short-listed for the Nobel Prize for Literature and is probably the first Hindu woman to talk openly about desires of Indian woman.
Originally published as Ente Katha in Malayalam, I read the Tamil version finely translated by Nirmalya and published by Kalachuvadu Publications.

Review

For many readers this will be the first time they read such a content from an Indian author.
Begins her childhood, an early marriage, frequent shifts to cities, her love of books, writing, loneliness, depression, health and also some lights on places like Kolkata, Bombay and Delhi.
She was born into a conservative family in Kerala and her life took turns in exploring the desires of women which makes me wonder how the book got received when it published.

Quote from the book

'Wipe out of the paints unmold the clay
Let nothing remain of that yesterday'

A Google Doodle Honour


 “I speak three languages, write in two, dream in one,”


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Book Review #23 - ரூஹ்: Rooh - A Novel in Tamil by Lakshmi Saravanakumar லஷ்மி சரவணகுமார்

ரூஹ்: Rooh - A Novel in Tamil by Lakshmi Saravanakumar லஷ்மி சரவணகுமார்My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rooh is a soulful experience! After reading Rooh you will realize that it's time to spread love unconsciously.
The first 30% of the novel was slow, dark and dense but that's the reason it got cooked well! it made the reader to prepare and dwell in it. The formatting of the Kindle version could have been better.

You can be Jothilingam if you have faced childhood mockery or came across a abusive workplace.
You can be Rabia if you were someone who lifted someone when they were down.

Rooh is a soulful experience! after completion of this book it made me complie a playlist of Sufi songs and Qawwali songs which are setting the mood right and the link to playlist is here
Rooh PlayList

Plot:

Past: Story details how the journey begins with Ahamed who belongs to the past with a mission to guard something very precious and his encounter with the Great Maratha Kind Angre.

Present: We are told about Jothilingam the main protagonist then Anwar and also how Rabia is related to Jothilingam and Anwar.

Quotes From The Book புத்தகத்திலிருந்து சில மேற்கோள்கள்

"அறிவின் மீது பற்று கொண்டவர்கள் விளக்கைப் போன்றவர்கள். தன்னைச் சுற்றியிருக்கும் எல்லோருக்கும் ஒளியைப் பகிர்ந்தளிக்கும் குணம் அவர்களுக்கு இயல்பிலேயே வந்துவிடுகிறது."

"அறிந்த எல்லாவற்றிலிருந்தும் துண்டித்துக் கொண்ட பிறகான மனிதர்களை மனம் பிறழ்ந்தவர்கள் என்று சொல்வது எப்படி சரியாகும்? "


"ஒவ்வொரு மனிதரோடும் நாம் ஏற்படுத்திக் கொள்ளும் இடைவெளிதான் ஒருவேளை முதுமையா?"

"வாழ்வின் மீதான இச்சைதான் ஒரு மாலுமிக்கு எப்போதும் அவசியம். அந்த இச்சைதான் அவனையும் அவனோடு கப்பலில் பயணிக்கும் மற்றவர்களையும் பாதுகாப்பாய் வைத்திருக்கிறது."

"தேவையின் போது கடந்த காலத்தைய தவறுகளில் இருந்து தன்னைத் திருத்திக் கொண்டு ஒரு மனிதன் வாழ்வை நெறிப்படுத்துவதற்கு பெயர் அனுபவமென்றால், அன்வர் இப்பொழுது அனுபவசாலி."

"அள்ளிக்குடிக்க முடியுமென்பதற்காக மனிதன் கடலைக் குடித்துவிடத் துடிப்பது பேதமை."

"சொந்த ஊர்க்காரர்களிடம் மரியாதையை சம்பாதிக்க ஒரு மனிதன் வேறு ஊர்களுக்குப் பஞ்சம் பிழைக்க போகவேண்டியிருப்பதை துரதிர்ஷ்டமென்றுதான் சொல்லவேண்டும்."

"எப்படியும் தளைத்து விடவேண்டுமென்கிற நம்பிக்கையைப் பற்றிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் செடிகளுக்கு மழையே ஜீவநீர்."

"இதில்லாமல் வாழ இயலாதென்கிற தேவைக்கும், இதற்காகத்தான் வாழ்கிறோம் என்கிற ஆசைக்கும் அப்பாற்பட்டது பேராசை. வாழ்வை கொஞ்சம் கூடுதலாய் மேம்படுத்திக் கொள்வதற்கான போராட்டத்தில் மனிதர்கள் இந்த பேராசைகளிடம்தான் ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் தோற்றுப்போகிறார்கள்."

"வெறுப்பதை விடவும் ஒருவரை நேசித்தல் எளிது, தன்னால் நேசிக்கவே முடியாதென மனம் சொல்லும் போது அமைதியாக ஒதுங்கிச் செல்லுதல் அதனினும் எளிது."

"பாதுகாப்பு முக்கியமெனில், கரையில் நில் பொக்கிஷம் வேண்டுமென்றால், கடலுக்குள் செல்." - சூஃபி கவிஞர் சா’அதி.

"கடல். கடலுக்குள் கலந்த பிறகு ​உபநதிகளைப் பற்றி ஒரு வார்த்தையும் தேவையில்லை."

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Book Review #20 - 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' by Haruki Murakami

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki MurakamiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another Haruki Murakami work im reading/listening this year.
Being an audiobook that runs for 4hours I was able to complete it in two days and understood that audible audio books can be a good way to read too.

Review:

We have read books or biographies by sport personalities turning into an author, here the experience of a popular author Haruki Murakami's as a long-distance runners/triathletes and the impact running has had on the author’s life and work is narrated in 9 different essays.

Quotes From The Book:

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

“The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can't be learned at school.”

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Book Review #19 - Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Norwegian Wood by Haruki MurakamiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars

Whatever I read this year is mostly of Haruki Murakami this year!

The books cover design is so attractive, only while completing the half of the book i understood that the front cover is showing three main characters of the novel standing in a triangle which pretty much hints about their triangle love story.

Review:

'Norwegian Wood' is a slow and sad love story but still it is good and leaves a mark.

Similar to author's other works here we again have the characters who are mostly dealing with depression, guilt, loss, death.

Quotes From The Book:

“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”

“What happens when people open their hearts?"
"They get better.”

“Letters are just pieces of paper," I said. "Burn them, and what stays in your heart will stay; keep them, and what vanishes will vanish.” 

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Unsung Heroes #01 - Revolutionary Nationalist 'Pritilata Waddedar'

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.

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.

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.