Truth is stranger than fiction

                               It was one of those days when life threw a curve ball at me. I panicked. Tears stung my eyes. Probably more than the sea water. The tears that ran down my face were saltier than the ocean water. My heart rate shot up more than it would have if I was doing my interval training.    I followed the usual routine. As I usually do before the start of every triathlon race. A small sea prayer. A warm up swim to acclimatize myself with the cold temperature. The waves were huge. Almost felt like I was swimming up a hill. I swam a few yards, turned and swam back to the shore. It was during my second time I felt this smack. Whoa! That powerful slap of the wave. I choked and spluttered. The wave retreated. My vision was unobstructed. To my dismay I realized the goggles were snatched by that wave. Goggles which I had tucked behind my ear. Goggles that felt like another pair of eyes...

Book review Title: Mapping the interior Author: Stephen Graham Jones Genre: Fiction/Horror Mapping the interior is one of those kind of stories which explores the relationship between memory, trauma and loss of a loved one.  We have our narrator named Junior who is on the brink of adolescence. Junior is yearning to connect with his dad who drowned under mysterious circumstances. Junior was barely four and the memories of his father are blurred. The story begins with Junior sighing his father’s ghost in his trailer home where he lives with his cognitively impaired brother Dino and his mother. At first Junior thinks the ghost has come to save his family. Later he is filled with apprehension and fear. Junior is forced to confront the ghosts of the past and delve deeper into the realms between the two worlds.  The entire story is narrated in first person from the point of view of Junior. The prose is raw mending authenticity to the character’s voice. The setting is inside the prot...

Book review Title: The Nakano Thrift Shop Author: Hiromi Kawakami Genre: Fiction/ Translation (Japanese) The Nakano Thrift shop is an endearing story about lives of offbeat characters working in a little shop that sells a wide variety of objects. The shop is set in suburban Tokyo. While the shop has curious things to sell, the people working on the shop are quirky and fascinating in their own way.  We have our characters- Nakano who is the owner of the thrift store. He is on his third marriage and enjoys spending time with his mistress whom his colleagues nickname as ‘the bank’. There is  Nakano’s sister Masayo who thinks she has found the love of her life.  Our narrator Hitomi is in love with her colleague Takeo and in unsure about how to win his life. The book explores their bond and their loyalty to the thrift store.  The entire story is narrated in first person from the point of view of Hitomi. She is at times naive, confused and has a tainted view of the world. ...

Book review Title: Mrs Caliban Author: Rachel Ingalls Genre: Fiction/Fantasy Mrs Calliban is an intriguing portrait of a woman who is confined to her domesticity until she meets the monster man.  Our protagonist is Dorothy whose marriage is on the rocks. After suffering from miscarriage and death of her son, her husband Fred begins to distance himself from her. Citing late nights and long hours at work, he is suspected of having an affair. Dorothy is stressed and begins to hear strange messages in the radio.  One fine day she hears a bizarre news of an Aquarius monster man who has escaped from its keepers. Things take a different turn when this monster man lands up at her place. A bond develops between Dorothy and the monster man who prefers to be called Larry. We also see other characters like Dorothy and Fred’s friends who are battling some kind of complexities as well.  The story is written in close third person from the point of view of Dorothy. We are privy to her mu...

Book review Title: The Ten loves of Nishino Author: Hiromi Kawakami Genre: Fiction/Translation (Japanese)  The Ten Loves of Nishino is a unique book  where each chapter is narrated from the point of view of different women about the central character- Nishino You have Minami- daughter of Nishino’s first love, his colleague Manami, Reiko who values her freedom, Eriko who prefers her cat over him, Sayuri who is older than him. Through the eyes of these women we understand Nishino is a womanzier, commitment phobic and confused. We learn briefly about Nishino’s  growing up years, his school days, his work life and even his death.  The form is an interesting aspect to contemplate- is it a novel or could it be a compilation of ten short stories where the characters lives at times cross with one another?  The language is delicate and melancholic. The tone is conversational, making you feel as though you are chatting with the narrators over coffee.  All these women...

 The last time I watched a movie on big screen was sometime in February 2020. It was the Oscar winner-Parasite. After which of course the world had practically shut down. All my source of entertainment was restricted to Amazon Prime and Netflix. While all the viewing was within the comfort of my home, I missed the special effects, the popcorn and just being in a different environment. So it was a treat to go back to the movie hall and watch a slick spy thriller.  I must however admit that a movie with a title like Bell Bottom did leave me with apprehensions. And the couple of latest releases of the lead actor turned out to be a disappointment. However the synopsis and the reviews erased whatever little doubts I had.And I ended up enjoying a well made film with some salted-caramel popcorn.  The movie is based on true incidents. Its set in the 80s when India faced the challenge of the occurrence of several plane hijacks. Bell Bottom chronicles the journey of Raw Agent playe...

Book review Title: Revival Season Author: Monica West Genre: Literary Fiction Was good to read this book authored by one of my professors at University.  Revival story is a tender portrayal of a girl whose life takes a sudden turn at a shocking discovery.  We have our protagonist Miriam- daughter of one of the famous Baptist preacher. Every summer, Miriam and her family pack themselves in a minivan and travel entire South for revival season. This is a time when her father practices healing powers on people who badly want to be cured from various ailments. That summer when things don’t go as expected, Miriam witnesses something horrifying from her father. Things become more complicated when Miriam also discovers her ability to heal- something that her father is against as he doesn’t believe that women can possess such powers. Miriam must make a choice. Torn between her family and her special powers, the rest of the narrative takes us through her life and journey of surviving am...

Book review Title: Strange weather in Tokyo Author: Hiromi Kawakami Genre: Fiction/Translation (Japanese) Strange Weather in Tokyo is the story of two lonely people who come together under unexpected circumstances.  We have our protagonist Tsukiko who is single and spends her time drinking sake at a local bar. By sheer coincidence she bumps into her old high school teacher whom she refers to as Sensei. A chance meeting results in several other meetings and gradually develops into something more.  The story is written in first person from the point of view of Tsukiko. The plot moves slowly at first and then begins to pick up pace as the relationship between Sensei and Tsukiko strengthens. The characterization and prose are the strongest points in the story. You cannot help but warm up to Seiki and Tsukiko. They have their odd moments and eccentricities. Both share an intimate relationship with loneliness and perhaps that’s what draws you to these characters and their lives....

Summary of August reads  The Ladies midnight swimming club- An endearing story of three women overcoming their own grief and trauma. They find solace in the healing powers of water and eventually come together to form a midnights swimming club. Touches upon several themes- one of the main ones being Friendship.  How the one armed sister sweeps the floor- A story that starts off as a folklore and tells the stories of characters whose lives unexpectedly intertwine with one another. It’s set in the time of Barbados , quite dark and touches upon aspects of drug, burglary and murder.  Heaven is a disturbing portrayal of bullying experienced by two adolescents. It showcases the prejudices of society towards those who are different from the rest. What struck me was the voice of the character and the irony of the title.  Shoko’s smile is a collection of short stories of Korean Women set against the backdrop of political turmoil. It showcases the impact of political events on...