Truth is stranger than fiction

Book Review Title: Sula Author: Toni Morrison Genre: Fiction  Set in Ohio in a fictional town called Medallion, Sula traces the story of 2 Black women in the community of Bottom, where black people primarily dwell. Nel and Sula hail from the same community but different backgrounds. Despite their differences, they form a strong friendship. Sula leaves town and returns to Medallion after a decade. Her comeback is viewed as an ill omen by the community. The story goes on to describe the course of events, strained relations and confrontations. Simultaneously, there exists a parallel narrative of a character named Shadrack, who returns from World war I and is suffering from PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder).  Sula is spread over a span of generations and written in a chronological order from 1919-1965. The beauty of Toni Morrison's writing lies in its complexity and the layers that she brings to the characters and the plot. The tone is conversational and has a no holds ba...

On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, had an opportunity to read the story of his birth and also relive the Amar Chitra Katha days.  This story talks about how Parvathi created a human form from turmeric paste. When she inserted life into it, it turned out to be a boy. Much to Lord Shiva’s indignation, the boy refused to let him enter Parvathi’s chambers. A war erupts and a fierce battle is fought between the heavenly deities and the little boy.  What happens later commemorates the significance of Lord Ganesha and his status in the world today. It’s always delightful to dive into the world of mythology. The pictures and texts display the creativity of the comic that we all love dearly. Not to mention, it brings back fond memories.  Happy Ganesh Chaturthi everyone.  -- 

Book Review Title: Things not made Author: Michael Sellars Genre: Horror Things not Made is an interesting story about how a spiked drink results in an outlandish adventure.  Holly is a bookworm who finds her drink spiked on a night out.  She gets separated from her best friend Melanie and finds herself steering away from reality. Pursued by a strange man with a green hood, she ends up in a  strange world infested with a bed of eels and tentacles. Melanie goes in search of Holly. Will she rescue her friend in time? The narration alters between the points of view of Holly and Melanie.   The writing is exemplary with a good amount of engaging dialogues. The author manages to capture several scents, taste and sights along with several references to classic literature. The Haunting of Hill House and The Turn of the Screw are mentioned several times.  The story delves into the history of their friendship back in high school where Holly had been subject...

The class of 83 chronicles the journey of the 83 batch of the Police training school in Nasik which produced some powerful encounter specialists.  This is set around the time when Mumbai was infested with the deadly underworld gangsters. Senior Police inspector Pradeep Sharma vows to clean up the city from the mafia and bring back law and order.  The book further delves into the world of  high octane shooting encounters, car chases, drug mafia and informants. It also highlights the unforgettable  26/11 episode.  The class of 83 is a gripping narrative of a renowned officer who along with success also faced his downfall and eventually bounced back to glory. It showcases rivalry, jealousy, fair weathered friendships and how success always comes at a price. Themes of power, fear and revenge are touched upon here.  The class of 83 is informative, well researched and gives an insight into the world of crime.  It’s bound to be enjoyed by those who possess a ...

-By Swetha Amit http://domain-b.com/goodlife/read/20101001_oliver_diary.html Certain books evoke feelings of nostalgia, propelling one on a walk down memory lane. Thoughts about our school days always brings back fond memories of our friends and teachers and the numerous happy moments shared with them. Ruskin Bond’s latest book ‘Mr Oliver’s Diary’ is a record of the many memorable moments of the students and teachers of a prep school. It creates a sense of longing in the reader for the good old times when he / she was a child and life was stress-free. The story unfolds in the backdrop of Simla, similar to the setting in several of Ruskin Bond's earlier works. The narrative starts off by describing the train journey of a teacher — Mr Oliver — in the company of hungry and mischievous boys. Back at school, there never is a boring moment, and Mr Oliver records the hilarious events taking place on an everyday basis in his diary. Right from the notes on his pet parrot, sleepwalking stu...

-By Swetha Amit http://domain-b.com/goodlife/Read/20091222_my_marriage.html Cross-cultural conflicts are no mystery to the inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. It is a ever-present reality. Chetan Bhagat’s latest book “2 states — the story of my marriage” deals with this issue. Partly autobiographical, the tale of two people belonging to two different states and communities is weaved together with instances from the author’s own life to come up as yet another bestseller. Chetan Bhagat’s fourth book is the tale of a Punjabi lad Krish and South Indian lass Ananya and how they fall in love and get married. However, things are not simple as that. From being classmates at IIM Ahmedabad, their relationship traverses the stages of friendship, passion and love to the decision to get married, but they have to overcome the ultimate test, staunch opposition to their union from their respective parents. Whether their love proves strong enough to win over their families is what forms a major pa...