Truth is stranger than fiction

Watched this on Amazon Prime over the weekend.  Overcomer is a movie which interweaves faith and running. A high school basketball coach is facing a tough situation. Due to a certain plant shutting down, families are relocating and the boys in his team are leaving. He loses all hope and purpose. One day he gets a chance to coach a 15 year old cross country runner named Hannah. With little love for the sport, he agrees albeit reluctantly. This brief coaching stint of his results in an unexpected friendship, learning about faith and running and certain discoveries that ultimately results in a  victory. The film largely focuses on Christianity and how certain faith and belief propels running. It also showcases cross country running and the mantra behind a win. The father's message to his daughter Hannah via the headphones gives a dose of inspiration and that surge of adrenalin rush.  While the distance is just 5 k but his motivational words can be applic...

Title: A long walk to Water Author: Linda Sue Walk Genre: Fiction A long walk to water is based on a true story of 2 young people whose lives were affected by the war in Sudan.  After hearing gunshots, Salva escapes from his village school and joins a group of people as a lost boy or refugee. While searching for his family, he traverses through dangerous jungles haunted by predators, swims across crocodile infested waters, crosses River Nile and sees death entice a couple of his close associates.  Nya is a girl who walks 8 hours in a day to fetch water in a pond. The water is muddy and causes several infections. Her story showcases the search of clean water for survival.  The two parallel narratives are set in 1985 and 2008 respectively. Written in a compelling manner, the author manages to showcase life in turbulent Sudan. This includes poverty, starvation, rivalry between the Dinka and Nuer tribes, uncertainty with danger lurking in ...

A birthday couldn't get better. Especially when the anthology of short stories, which you are a part of, releases on the same day.  The idea of penning down stories revolving around the lockdown period was conceptualized by the core team of Did you read today (DYRT), sometime in April. They encouraged members to submit their contributions. When the founder Bijay Nair asked me to edit the stories, I gladly obliged.  Now I have done some editing for my website as a part of my job. However editing an entire collection of short stories by different authors was a challenge. The entire month of May and half of June turned out to be quite hectic. I was juggling multiple things which left feeling quite drained at the end of the day.  I was attending my classes at Stanford albeit through zoom. I had tons of reading assigned besides writing for all those word prompts. I had my own book-a memoir titled 'A Turbulent Mind' which I was editing and proof reading. I was ...

I had read this classic by Johanna Spyri as a little girl. I won it as a prize along with my merit card when I was graduating from Primary to Middle School.  When I stumbled upon this on Amazon Prime, I was delighted. It always feels good to watch your favorite fictional characters on screen. Its often slated that the book is always better as it captures a lot more depth with regards to the plot and characters. However a couple of adaptations that I had seen in the recent past made a good watch. A couple of them ended up being a visual treat. One was The Call of the Wild which showcased the beauty of the Alaskan Wilderness. Another one was Heidi which exhibited the splendor of the snow clad Alps.  Heidi is the story of a young orphaned girl who is sent to live in the mountains with her rather eccentric grandfather-who is known as Alm Uncle by the villagers. Heidi manages to melt his heart as he develops an affection for her. She spends her carefree days in t...

Melody was the word given as the word prompt by my writing group. For some reason, I was reminded of a theatre that I had often visited in the 90s.  It was the year 1993 around the onset of Diwali. Usually around that time, the Hindi film industry releases a blockbuster.  I had accompanied my mom and her friends to the movie hall. It was rather cold with the air conditioning on full blast. The smell of popcorn filled the air and cups of Pepsi were stacked along the seats. We were seated in the balcony and had a good view of the screen.  It was my first time in that particular movie hall which was usually crowded. It was almost next to impossible to secure tickets for a new release. I sat there watching the screen. The hero was good looking in an unconventional way. With his unruly locks, he possessed a certain boyish charm and an intense look in his eyes.  While both the heroines had a certain spunk to them. I stifled a yawn thinking it was going to be ...

Title: The Wine Lover's Daughter Author: Anne Fadiman Genre: Memoir/Biography This book, which was another recommendation by my Professor, turned out to be a perfect read  for Father's day today.  The Wine Lover's daughter chronicles essayist Anne Fadiman's relationship with her father Clifton Fadiman who was editor in chief of Simon and Schuster and also a wine connoisseur.  She talks about his journey from humble beginnings to a renowned literary critic. He was an unorthodox jew who defied religious beliefs showcasing his rather unconventional and rebellious streak. Being an ardent wine lover,  he always encouraged her to develop a taste for the same. Despite trying several times, Anne finally accepted that she could never love wine the way her dad did. She narrates about her father's 80th birthday celebrations with a wine as old as him, his bouts of mild depression, his illnesses and rising from the ashes like a phoenix. ...

Book Review Title: The Bell Jar Author: Sylvia Plath Genre: Fiction The Bell jar is a semi autobiographical fiction work of the author Sylvia Plath and was recommended to me by my Professor at Stanford. .  This modern classic entails the story of Esther Greenwood-a college student who gets a chance to visit New York for a month and work as a guest editor for a magazine. Instead of having a glorious time as she had expected, Esther feels stifled. Her inability to fit in with her peers or the lifestyle in the city leaves her in despair. Things turn worse when she fails to get accepted into a writing program. Gradually Esther succumbs to feelings of meloncholonchy that eventually paves way to depression and suicidal tendencies. The rest of the book depicts Esther's battle with her deteriorating mental health.  Written in first person narrative, the first half of the book talks about Esther's coming of age story which includes her several relation...

Title: Cobalt Blue Author: Sachin Kundalkar Translated by Jerry Pinto Genre: Translation (Marathi)  There are many gems in regional literature that capture some intriguing and powerful themes. Cobalt Blue is one such book. Its the story about a brother and sister who end up falling for their tenant.  Tanay and Anuja are fascinated by the tenant who takes up lodging in their family home in Pune. He is an artist and quite mysterious with no friends or family to speak of. Things take a drastic turn when Anuja runs away with their tenant.  The first half of the book is written from the perspective of Tanay addressing the tenant who is nameless in the book. While the second half of the book from Anuja's perspective reads more as a journal entry. There is an underlying sense of betrayal and disappointment in the narrative tones.  The author manages to capture the myriad of emotions and moods along with the vivid descriptions of...

Book Review Title: A Room of one's own Author: Virginia Woolf Genre: Non Fiction/Essay A Room of one's own is the account of the author's thoughts when she is asked to write a piece on women and fiction.  In this prolonged essay, Woolf talks about a patriarchal society and gender roles. She wonders what would have happened if women chose a path of their own? Why weren't women able to come out with poems while the men composed one sonnet after another? At one point, she mulls over the effect of poverty on fiction and explores the living conditions of women.  She categorically states how a woman's life is constantly filled with interruptions and spent in the rigmarole of family life. Another interesting thought occurs when she imagines Shakespeare's sister and names her Judith. She wonders if this imaginary woman had the same talent and died without being able to exhibit it.  In her brutally honest manner masked with the British po...

Book review Title: Silent World Author: Jacques-Yves Cousteau Genre: Memoir Silent world is an account of a French Naval  Officer’s underwater escapades with his comrades. In this memoir he explains the nuances of scuba diving. This involves the usage of certain technical  terms like nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness.  He also narrates his diving expeditions which includes catching lobsters, exploring ship wrecks, caves, drowned museums,  his near to death experience at 396 feet below and night dives. He goes on describe his encounters with the marine life that includes barracudas, sea urchins, monk seals, sharks, whales, octopus and other crustaceans. It’s fascinating to see him talk about the behavior pattens of the sea creatures and their ability to express their emotions. The writing style is descriptive and quite technical in many parts. It’s interesting, informative and insightful. Silent world enables readers to explore a mysterious w...

Title: The Henna Artist Author: Alka Joshi Genre: Literary Fiction Set in 1950s, post independent India, The Henna Artist is a sweeping tale of a girl who runs away from an abusive marriage in a village and establishes her identity as a henna artist amidst the elite in Jaipur.  Lakshmi Shastri is revered for her creative Henna designs and worms her way into the high society of Jaipur. She treads cautiously and maneuvers her way amidst malice gossips, wagging tongues and fragile egos while harboring secret ambitions of her own. Lakshmi is surprised when her husband Hari lands at her doorstep with 13 year old Radha who is the sister Lakshmi never realised she had. Radha's arrival creates an uproar in Lakshmi's life and threatens her several years of hard work. Will Lakshmi still fulfil her dreams of leading an independent life?  The vivid and descriptive style of the author transports the readers to the pink city, capturing the sights and smells to perfe...

Letter from the Elephant I was respected and loved That’s what I thought Little did I realize I would get caught In dignity I would walk Holding my head high With an occasional trumpet For human attention I would vie Within me I was carrying A little life of my own A calf that was unborn Whom I would never know. My trust in humans Was so deep and blind They fruit that they fed Shattered my mouth and mind How cruel can they be What pleasure do they gain I was just a gentle giant Now I feel immense pain Carrying them on my back I thought I was a friend What did I do to deserve Such a brutal end? Learn to be compassionate Learn to be kind Somehow in this world Humanity got left behind!

I stepped out and blinked, letting the warm rays of the sun brush against my face. I looked up at the glorious blue sky and took a deep breath. The scent of summer slowly wafted into my nostrils. It was an unusually hot day. Not the ideal weather to step out for a run. Especially after being cooped up indoors for almost 2 and a half months. I wasn’t complaining even though 8 am felt like 12 noon. It just felt great to be outdoors again.   California was moving to phase 2 where people were allowed to go out for a walk/run/hike, maintaining 6 feet social distance. The roads were practically empty barring a car or two. I set into my strides. My legs were rusty at first but eventually found its rhythm. It felt like catching up with a long-lost friend. It wasn’t just another run that morning. I was putting my foot forward for a good cause.  I had stumbled upon the page of Coastal Trail Runs which had announced a virtual run. Proceeds of the registration fees...

Book Review Title: The Stationary Shop Author: Marjan Kamali Genre: Historical Fiction Set in 1953 amidst the political upheaval in Tehran, The Stationary shop is a powerful love story between two individuals and how circumstances tear them apart. Seventeen year old Roya meets activist Bahman in the city's stationary shop. Their love blossoms over several meetings and exchange of letters.  The owner Mr Fakhri encourages their love to thrive amidst the pages of Rumi and books are used as a vehicle of communication between the 2 lovers. One fine day Roya agrees to meet Bahman near the marriage registrar. He fails to show up.  A shattered Roya is forced to move to America after her efforts to contact him are futile. Years later, an accidental encounter gives her a chance to find answers to her questions. Will Roya gain closure? In her vivid style, the author captures the emotions, political tyranny and the sense of smell of some of the delicious cuisine and spices. R...

Title: The Tenth Muse Author: Catherine Chung Genre: Historical Fiction Set in the 1950s, The Tenth Muse is a story about a mathematics prodigy who is in search of her real identity. Katherine realizes that she is different and that her parents aren’t who they seem to be. She grows up to be a mathematics genuius and finds her place amidst the research scholars and top universities. While trying to conquer the Riemann Hypothesis, she stumbles upon a theorem which holds the key to a secret and her past that is buried during the World War II. What does Katherine discover? Narrated from the first person voice of the protagonist, The Tenth Muse is heartbreaking and insightful at the same time. It’s sort of a coming of age story and showcases a woman’s struggle to gain acceptance and attain success in a man’s world. The author delves deep into the complexity of both mathematics theorems and human emotions. She showcases how several lives were impacted during Workd war II. It’s...

On the occasion of National Wine day (May 25(, I have coined a poem on my favorite red wine. What wouldn’t  I do  For a glass of wine  Red is what I prefer  In the evenings when I dine.  At Napa valley  It was the last time  Two months gone  And not a sip of wine.  The world has shut down  With the Corona Quarantine Low intensity and high risk  The doctors said no wine.  I miss being in high spirits  Every weekend after a run An occasional sip wouldn’t hurt What life without a bit of fun? The runners high no more No triathlons no races No library no meetings  They say it’s just a phase.  Will life ever be normal  Will there be a vaccine  Will there be outings  It remains to be seen.  All I can do is dream That things will be fine  When I can finally celebrate  With a sip of red wine. -- 

Title: We have always lived in the Castle Author: Shirley Jackson Genre: Gothic/ Psychological fiction I was compelled to pick this one based on some rave reviews. 'We have always lived in the castle' is a story about two sisters who have been affected by a tragedy that occurred six years ago.  18 year old Mary Katherine Blackwood aka Merricat and her 28 year old sister Constance live with their rather eccentric uncle Julian in a mansion located in the outskirts of a village. Their other family members were poisoned with arsenic six years ago. The entire village accuses the girls of murdering the family. The three of them are battling their own idiosyncrasies until the arrival of their cousin Charles which causes a change in the most bizarre manner.  The story is narrated in first person from Merricat's point of view. The childlike tone interspersed with curiosity and a tinge of darkness, is the USP of the book. The atmospheric vibe around the mansio...

The year 2020 may not have turned out to be great, especially with the Corona Virus that has made the world come to a standstill.  Its been a dreary two months now, huddled at home and trying to cope up with this new normal. Well it is said that every cloud has a silver lining.  I managed to sign a couple of contracts with publishers.  One is a memoir which should hopefully be out in a couple of months. The other is an academic journal of essays and the third is an anthology of ghost stories.  A big thanks to Koral Dasgupta and Tell me your story for the concept of this e book. It can be purchased here.  https://lnkd.in/gHWVyJH

Title: Between the World and me Author:  Ta-Nehisi Coates Genre: Memoir/ Autobiography This book was highly  recommended to me by my professor at Stanford. Ta- Nehisi Coates is a National corespondent for The Atlantic.  Between the world and me is a letter from Ta- Nehisi Coates to his son Samori which addresses the perils of being trapped in a black body. The author narrates the horrors inflicted upon him- the price he had to pay for the colour of his skin. He talks about cosmic injustice, racial discrimination, witnessing brutal murders-one that involved  his classmate at Howard University- Prince Jones. He also addresses slavery, his experiences in Paris and how he found his true calling in journalism. As he states in his book- “Journalism gave me another tool of exploration, another way of unveiling the laws that bound my body..“ He ends this illuminating letter by encouraging his son to pursue his dreams. He also mentions  meeting his classma...

Title: The English Eagles Author: Nigel Slater Genre: Fiction This book was recommended to me by a runner friend.  Set in a place called Lake District at the border of Scotland, The English eagles is a story about a man and his quest to fiercely protect the breeding of a pair of golden Eagles. Robin leads a simple life of a headmaster until the arrival of a pair of eagles. He takes up the responsibility of protecting them and is supported by two women in this mission.  At the same time he faces opposition from the local farmer who detests the presence of the eagles. Seeing them as a threat to his livestock, he vows to kill them. Will Robin succeed in his mission?  The author's vivid style of writing transports the readers to the picturesque English countryside. It’s interesting to note how the eagles are represented as a symbol of freedom and flight- something that the protagonist is yearning for. Robin is struggling to break free from his dark pas...