Truth is stranger than fiction

Book review Title: The Legends of Khasak Author: O.V.Vijayan Genre: Translation (Malayalam) This book was recommended by one of the members of Did you read today community. The Legends of khasak chronicles the spiritual journey undertaken by Ravi. Plunged by guilt for his past actions, Ravi finds himself in the mystical land of Khasak as a school teacher. During his tenure, he acquaints himself with the village folk, discovers the legends, folklore and myths of the land. The writing style is vivid and transports readers to the picturesque side of Palghat. It initially takes a while for the characters to grow on you. The story is complex, at times dark and showcases a world of sorceress, ancient practices, curses and magic potions. Karma and it’s role play in life seems to be the main theme here. It also subtly touches upon politics, communal rivalry, religion and education. It’s interesting to learn that this book is based on some of the author’s real life experiences. T...

Title: Together Tea Author: Marjan Kamali Genre: Fiction Set in the 90s, Together Tea chronicles the story of a mother,  daughter and their family who migrated to the US during the Revolution in Iran. Darya is constantly playing the role of a matchmaker to find a suitable groom for her daughter Mina. After a futile attempt, Mina and Darya decide fo embark on a journey to Iran. This trip  helps them gain an understanding of one another and also delves into the political history and changes that occur post the revolution in Iran. The first part starts of as a light hearted witty tale that depicts a typical banter between mother daughter over Match fixing and trying to live up to expectations.  The book gains depth in the latter stage where readers are given a glimpse into life during the revolution. An era where people lived in terror and sought shelter in their basements to escape the continuous bombings. In her engaging and vivid style, the author explores ...

It was just another Sunday. Last year around this time, I had run a half marathon at San Francisco. That was how I usually spent my weekends. Running on trails or cities or doing a triathlon. 2020 was different. It was dull and devoid of the excitement that 2019 had offered. The unseen enemy had claimed lives and the future looked bleak. I was told that there was more to life than running or triathlons. I agreed. I decided to use this time to pursue other hobbies and professional dreams. A large chunk of my time was spent in interviewing authors, reading, writing and editing, filling up applications. The efforts bore fruit. Books were getting published and I had secured admission into a coveted writing program at the University of San Francisco.  Yet this uncertainty with regards to life returning back to normal exasperated me. One question kept haunting me constantly-Will the world ever be free from this deadly Corona Virus? For some reason, I couldn’t get myself to ...

It was sometime in 2014 when I read The Fault in our stars by John Green. I fell in love with it instantly. Its the story about 2 individuals, suffering from ailments, who come together in an unexpected manner. It was endearing, witty, funny and wistful. Reading the book felt like going on this gentle roller coaster ride. Watching the Hollywood adaptation of the same name generated a similar feeling.  When the Hindi remake was slated to release on Disney Hotstar today, I was eager to watch it for more than one reason. It was almost after 4 months that I was getting to watch a new release. Second being that it was Sushant Sign Rajput's last film before his untimely and unfortunate death. I have always admired his spunk as an actor, whether it was in Kai Po Che or Chhichhore or even in 2016 release MS Dhoni.  Dil Bechara had me hooked right from the beginning. The storyline more or less was the same as the book. The movie was set in Jamshedpur and the characters of ...

Book review Title: The Guest Cat Author: Takashi Hiraide Genre: Translation (Japanese) The guest cat is a story of an emotionally distant couple who are unnamed throughout the book.  Writers by profession and in their mid 30s, their lack of communication leads to their emotional distance over time. The unexpected entry of their neighbor's cat named chibi restores some joy and purpose in their lives. Written in first person from the point of view of the husband, the story traverses through changing seasons in Japan, their growing attachment and strong bond with Chibi. The writing style is lyrical and vivid, bringing out the beauty of nature, surroundings and human emotions. An interesting aspect is the author's sensitive portrayal of the cat and its feelings which almost humanizes it. Readers are bound to love the endearing character of Chibi. The story is heartwarming in parts while other parts of the book elicits a certain amount of heartache. Themes of relationship...

After 3 years of taking certified courses in creative writing at Stanford, I have finally decided to take a step further in writing.  The last 3 years helped me learn the basic nuances of writing which were related to mostly non fiction. These learnings helped me pen down a book- a memoir titled A Turbulent Mind which is slated to release in August. I am keen to write fiction in the coming years. Being a diverse genre, there is a lot to explore as a writer. When I had expressed this to my professor at Stanford, he encouraged me to enroll into a MFA Program. I immediately looked up MFA programs in the Bay Area and listed my options. I found the program at University of San Francisco pretty exciting and a place which would enable me to grow as a writer. Working with professors on a one to one basis on my thesis would be a wonderful experience. Fortunately for me, the admissions for Fall 2020 were still open. After a talk with the administrative director of USF, I worked vig...

Book review Title: Nectar in a Sieve Author: Kamala Markandaya Genre: Fiction This literary gem of Indian literature was recommended by my professor. It was named a notable book by the American Library Association in 1955.  Nectar in a Sieve chronicles the life of a woman peasant named Rukamni - right from her birth to her marriage to a farmer named Nathan. Their peaceful life in the village is destroyed by the arrival of the tannery. It eventually leads to their struggles against several hardships which they silently endure.  Written in first person narrative, the story is a realistic portrayal of rural life. It showcases the insurmountable obstacles that come in the way of a farmer's life. Themes of poverty and suffering are touched upon here.  The heartrending instances renders a certain helplessness among readers.  Nectar in a sieve is emotional and moving- a tale that will elicit admiration for its eloquent prose but will leave you fe...

Title: Ms Ice Sandwich Author: Mieko Kawakami Genre: Translation (Japanese) Set in Japan, Ms Ice Sandwich is a story of a boy who has a massive crush on this woman who sells egg sandwiches in a supermarket. She appears cold and aloof which earns her a reputation of being icy. The boy frequents the store to get a glimpse of her. As the story progresses, he describes his mother's obsession with her phone, his grandma's illness and his classmate Tutti.  Written in first person, Ms Ice Sandwich is a heartwarming narrative where readers get a glimpse of the world through the boy's eyes. His observations and sensitivity interspersed with philosophical musings depict a certain maturity for his age.  The tone is quirky, sometimes funny and has a matter of fact ring to it. It sort of reminds you of The Catcher in the rye and The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. It also subtly brings to light the harsh reality  of body sh...

Book Review Title: American Dirt Author: Jeanine Cummins Genre: Fiction Was compelled to pick a copy of this book after seeing it as a part of Oprah's book club 2020. American Dirt is the story of a Mexican immigrant who escapes the horrors of her city and attempts to cross borders to reach her destination in the United States.  Lydia runs a bookstore in Acapulco where she meets the charming Javier. Through her journalist husband's article about him, she realises that he's part of the drug cartels who create havoc in the city. After seeing her family brutally murdered, Lydia and her son Luca flee from home, eager to escape from Javier's reach. The story goes on to describe their nightmarish ordeals, tryst with other immigrants, jumping off trains and narrow escape from death.   American Dirt grips you from the beginning. Readers are instantly drawn to the characters. The story manages to describe the pitiable plight of the immigrants with reg...

Book review Title: I'm still here Author: Austin Channing Brown Genre: Memoir/Non Fiction This book was recommended by a professor of mine. 'I'm still here' is an account of a girl describing about what it felt like to exist in a black body. In this strikingly honest memoir, the author narrates her parent's deliberate move to bestow her with a white man’s name in order to secure her acceptance in the world of white individuals. She talks about her inability to fit in. She is considered too white for the black community and too black for the white community. A similar premise was described in American author Mishna Woolf's memoir titled 'I'm Down.' She talks about being subjected to racial slurs and prejudices during her growing up years that extends even in her professional life. She traces back to America’s history and some instances that leaves an unsettling feeling amongst readers. 'I'm still here' is powerful and thou...

Show time! Its that moment when your dream actually becomes a reality. A dummy copy of my book arrived from India. A Turbulent Mind is published by ThewritePlace (Crossword bookstore). Its about my triathlon journey where I address my fear of open water, struggles, hitting all time lows, battling inner demons, overcoming inhibitions and finally go on to do the Ironman 70.3 race within a year's time. The book also sees my crazy adventures in California which includes a blind date with a triathlon. It has been endorsed by Padmashree Shiny Wilson, former Indian athlete and Bob Anderson, founder and publisher of runners' world magazine.  The idea was conceptualized sometime in early 2019. Triathlon as a sport was picking up in India. Goa had also conducted its first edition of the Ironman 70.3 race in October 2019. I had worked on the manuscript whole of 2019, taking feedback from my cohort and professors at Stanford. I signed the contract in February 2020, just before...

Book review Title: Ghachar Ghochar Author: Vivek Shanbhag Genre: Translation (Kannada) It's not we who control money, its money that controls us.’ A powerful line from the book pretty much sums up the nemesis of the plot. Set in Bangalore, Ghachar Ghochar is a rags to riches story of a family and the affect of affluence on them. It’s narrated in first person voice of a young man who remains nameless. He lives with his family comprising of his parents, uncle and sister.  Their cramped house infested by ants is located in a lower middle class neighborhood. A fortune through his uncle's spice business compels them to move to a bigger house in a sophisticated locality. This sudden acquisition of wealth transforms the entire dynamics and change in values that results in discords and tension. The author has a great eye for detail. His observations are clearly evident in his vivid portrayal of the houses and the behavior of ants. He captures the various smells and scent...

Title: Fallen Star Author: Allison Morse Genre: Thriller/Murder Mystery It was nice to curl up with a murder mystery during July the 4th weekend. Picked this up on kindle based on some rave reviews by some of the publications and book clubs here. Fallen Star is a riveting story about an unsolved murder mystery of a yesteryears Hollywood actress. Gloria Reardon was a screen sensation in the 1940s and brutally murdered. There were many unsolved elements that led to some speculations. Many years later, her granddaughter cum aspiring filmmaker Kate Bloom discovers footage that holds the answer to the mystery surrounding her grandmother's death. With the help of friends, family and battling her own inner demons, Kate resolves to find the culprit. This gripping narrative manages to capture the ambience of Hollywood in the 60s. It showcases a world where morals are compromised for power and fame comes at a price. It also depicts the rather patriarchal mindset towards women...

This was written based on a word prompt given by my group. The word was night and the first thing that came to my mind was this incident that occurred many years ago... It was sometime during my final exams in school. I’d usually be up burning the midnight oil, pouring over my lessons and listening to the sounds of nocturnal creatures. The nights were still and an occasional breeze would cause a rustling sound of the trees outside. Sometimes I’d hear an owl or two. Working diligently over my lessons would often evoke those hunger pangs which would make me raid the refrigerator. It would be either be a fruit or a jam sandwich that I usually fixed for myself. Sugar treats were a great way to keep those droopy eyes of mine open.  One such night, I stumbled upon a piece of chocolate cake. My eyes widened and I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. It wasn’t anyone’s birthday or anniversary. Usually chocolate cakes were reserved for special celebrations like my good grad...

Book Review Title: Schoolgirl Author: Osamu Dazai Translated by Allison Markin Powell Genre: Translation (Japanese) Picked up this title from a fellow reader’s list of recommendations .  Schoolgirl is a narrative that takes place in just one day. The story starts from the time the narrator opens her eyes, gets ready, boards a train to school, walks back home along the countryside until she goes to sleep at midnight.  She is prone to a lot of thoughts, wishful thinking and being observant of people around her. She appears to be wrapped in her own world and is critical of herself. Her self loathing comes across disturbing at times. She ruminates about the problems in the world, worries about being different and exhibits bouts of frustration about her tryst with adolescence. Written in first person narrative, schoolgirl explores the themes of loneliness, pain and suffering. The tone has a critical ring to it coupled with a tinge of wistfulness an...