Capturing Wild Life Moments in India by Ashok Mahindra

Title:Capturing Wild Life Moments in India
Author:Ashok Mahindra
Pages:88
Source:review copy
Publisher:Oxford
Price:1450 INR

                   Well,I think it's the first time that we are reviewing a unique book like this here, at random thoughts.It's difficult to put this book into a particular genre.Though from the looks of it,this work by Ashok Mahindra resemble any other coffee table book with a lot of wild life pictures in it,the book  actually offers a lot more than that!
                   First things first,the book obviously has got quite a number of high resolution pictures of wild animals.Right from the Bengal Tiger(Ustad) in the cover page to the Lion-Tailed Macaque which make it's appearance towards the fag end of this book,almost all animals featured in this work have 'a story of their own' to tell! Full marks to the writer for taking pains to make this as informative as possible.As the author himself rightly states in the beginning of this work,the book will definitely help a great deal in creating awareness about wild life conservation and afforestation among the younger generation.
                   Almost all the pictures in this work are equally good and I must confess that I am impressed by the pains taken by the author(photographer) to get the 'right' snap!Hours of dedication and hardwork have definitely gone into bringing out this book in the present form.Although I loved all the pictures featured here,my personal favourites are the staring Rhesus Macaque and the spotted Owlet.The short descriptions about each of these photographed animals helps the reader to increase his awareness about them.'Capturing Wild Life...' also gives a list of resorts/National Parks which give concessional package for school children, towards the end. 
                    Now don't get me wrong,this book is not only about beautiful pictures and wild animals,it also meticulously lists out interesting places to check out and also gives directions regarding where to stay in case you are visiting those places.In short,if you are a nature lover with a sense of adventure,I'm sure that you will be bowled over by this brilliant book!

Verdict-On the whole,this book is an interesting work.I'm giving it a 4.5 out of 5.

 This post is a part of the book review program of at Saevus Wildlife India in association with The Hemchand Mahindra Foundation for the book Capturing Wildlife Moments in India 
      

The Mad Tibetan - by Deepti Naval

Through the prism of life emerges The Mad Tibetan: Stories from Then and Now. Each story carries the visual and emotional impact, and vivacity of a film.

I have a bundle of books (I am sure we all do!) that have been picked up because of the Author’s name. Many have lived up to those expectations and some have been a let-down. Not necessarily bad but yes they have dwindled. Regrettably, in the latter category belongs The Mad Tibetan, by Deepti Naval.

I have been an admirer of the art-house actress Deepti Naval. Her name as an author was enough to make me want to read this collection of eleven short stories. The compilation is a mixed bag, some are her personal accounts and some figments of her imagination. I would agree that each story does in fact have the potential ‘vivacity of a film’ but they all seem half-baked. Was Ms. Naval in a hurry while penning these? I wonder!

The title story The Mad Tibetan starts on a different tangent and ends on a different one. There was potential to close the loop and tie the two ends together but sadly that didn’t happen. After all, the title story is expected to be the strongest and the main focus. Stories like D and Thulli too lacked the magic I expected from her, these were supposed to be through the ‘prism of life’. Since she is an industry insider, I was looking forward to the story Balraj Sahni. She could have explored and added a unique angle to the veteran actor’s story. Why didn’t she?

Enough of the negative, I’d like to share my top four stories of her collection. The Piano Tuner would knock on your heart and it has immense potential to be developed into a screenplay. I secretly wish this would have been the focus of her collection. I liked The Morning After too, feels like a variation of the 1983 movie Masoom (which isn’t a bad thing), it deserves to be re-read. Ruth Mayberry will invoke emotions from the deepest corners of your heart for the protagonist. I felt the turmoil and the character’s frustration with the story Birds. This was a not-so-simple and a moving one!

However, four stories weren’t enough to salvage the book overall. Yes, they didn’t see the light of their potential. Hope the next time around Deepti Naval will give us a more gripping book or a short stories’ collection.

Rating: 2.5/5 (with a heavy heart)

Grand Delusions

Some books you chose , some books choose you.

This is one of the books i am glad came to me and i read it , even if the only reason was that one of my best friend is a bengali, a resident of kolkata too.

When i started the book , i treatrd it as a book on kolkata , a city i knew nothing about. And gradually it became a study of any city i knew of. It made me aware how much i do not know about the place i grew up in , the cities i stayed for work or the one i occupy now.

This book was a reminder that not just geography or history alone can tell you of the changes in a city. It is a combination of both and a few other aspects that will help you belong to any area.

Indrajit's writing is so fluent and fun at places that it doesnt even feel i was reading about a city. It was more of his memories , his feelings and his experiences of the city. It was about the origin and evolution of a city , its culture , its people ,the politics ,  its identity and its entity as a being. He brought some of the buildings alive for me , some incidents of my own life made their presence felt in my subconcious mind while i read his. He gave a human point of view on behalf of all non living things too it seems.

I do not know how much of kolkata i will remember few weeks later but i will never be able to treat my city like before.  I am now curious to know and read about my cities , this country a lot more and even make my own discoveries.

This book proved to be the best way to begin 2014 for me.

Rating : You Must must must read this one.

Who will cry when you die? by Robin Sharma

About the author:

Robin Sharma is one of the world’s most highly respected leadership experts. He is devoted the mission of helping organizations to develop people who “lead without a title” so that they win in period of intense change. His books such as “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” and “The Greatness Guide” have topped bestseller charts across the globe.

My thoughts on the book:

I sometimes think “self-help” books aren’t that necessary. After all, we are the ones who have to help ourselves, right? But there are times when a little push is needed. Times when we question about why we exist and what the meaning of life is. I think this is a book to give that push.

“When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice.” – I think the book is somewhat built around that.

What I liked:

Like I said earlier, this is a book to give a push when you need to regain some perspective on life, in those times when you question if it has one. You could say this is the 101 on life. Some things I liked are:

1. Connect with nature: It says to go out of just admiring nature from an image on the computer and admire nature where it is.
2. Discover your calling: Do what you love to do and what you are meant to pursue.
3. Live a life: Forget judging each day as good or bad, just live it.

What I didn’t like:

It’s preachy. Do this, and do that. Kind of like a checklist to happiness. But life doesn’t quite work that way does it? Read it when you are feeling low and you get a push, but if you read it and try to contemplate if you are going that way, you’ll just end up doubting yourself more.

Closing thoughts:

It’s a book to get you a little motivated when you are feeling down, and not a checklist to happiness. 

Rating: 3 on 5

Book details:
Title: Who will cry when you die?
Author: Robin Sharma
ISBN: 9788179922323
Genre: Non-fiction/Self-help
Publishers: Jaico books
Price: Rs. 175

Reviewed by: Leo
Also shared with: First Reads & IQRC.

Shades of Life - Vasundhara Ramanujan, Mohd. Akmal

About the authors:

Vasundhara retired as secretary general of Mumbai-based Media Research Users Council. She and her husband Srinivas live in Dubai. They have two sons. Mohammad Akmal is a professor of medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine and has directed its dialysis program for more than twenty-five years.

My thoughts on the book:

This book, a non-fiction, is the recollections of the journey taken by a family after one of them was diagnosed with kidney disease. To have a feeling that that might be the problem and then hearing it is one thing, but going to the doctor for a persistent headache and finding out that the matter is something completely different is another. The settled family rises up to help the son, Aditya, fight against the odds. The author Vasundhara, the mother donates her own kidney to him while fighting a disease herself. And their efforts are fruitful as Aditya survives and goes on to get his PhD. For me, the afterword by Srinivas Raghavan was quite touching. He tells us acceptance is a big part in fighting any disease. Consistent negligence is a cause for harsh steps, but though we may not be able to forget the slightest mistake when it comes to our loved ones, we also have to accept that even doctors are human beings. It is God’s will as well what may or may not happen. I rate this 4/5, and feel that it is a book worth reading.

Book details:

Title: Shades of Life

Author: Vasundhara Ramanujan, Mohammed Akmal

ISBN: 9789381626559

Genre: Non-fiction/Motivational

Publishers: Westland

Price: Rs. 195

Reviewed by Leo

Also shared with: First Reads and IQRC.

Death In Mumbai - Meenal Baghel

This book was recommended to me by a friend. Honestly, I never follow real life murder cases, political news or whatsoever. I dont like to thrive on negative things. I look for positivity and thats why I hardly read newspapers, watch news channels. I am too uninformed about everything going around until unless I wish to know what actually is going around. Death In Mumbai is about the famous murder mystery of Neeraj Grover, a young TV executive, who was brutally killed by Maria Susairaj ( an actor cum dancer ) and his fiancee Emile ( a naval officer ). The case stirred the nation back then as far as I can remember, but I never really followed it. I didn't want to follow it. 

When my friend told me about this book, I decided to pick it up and absolutely loved reading it. The way Meenal Baghel, who is currently working with Mumbai Mirror as editor-in-chief spoke to almost everyone associated with the case. Some known names and some spoke to her only on one condition that their identity should be kept under cover. The book psyches you out completely when you read some things. The insanity of the whole case will actually drive you crazy at points. 

The author spoke to Neeraj's friends, family, people who had worked with him, Ekta Kapoor as Neeraj used to work for Balaji Telefilms, Moon Das, who was approached to play the character of Maria Susairaj and herself was a victim of another insane killing of her mother and uncle by her ex-husband. Ram Gopal Varma, who made a movie adapting the entire case history, Rakesh Maria, top cop of the Mumbai crime branch who resolved the whole case. 

The way this book has been written, it throws light on many things. The way when Maria Susairaj confesses her doing psyches out again completely, it did happen to me. It leaves you aghast, that how can a human be so insane, so brutal to another human being. I highly recommend this book if you wish to know what exactly happened. It is an unputdownable, roller coaster ride. 

Book Source : Random House India
Genre : Non-Fiction 

ISBN : 978-8-184-00065-8

Don't Hire The Best - Abhijit Bhaduri

Ever since I have started taking reading seriously, I am reading whatever is coming my way. I am not saying no to anything and thats the best part about it. The most unexpected readings are becoming my favourites and latest addition in the list is the book Don't Hire The Best by Abhijit Bhaduri. Its a 184 page book, very well written, supplied with examples and also theories and solutions to everything related to recruitment. 

Abhijit who has led HR teams at Microsoft, PepsiCo, Colgate, Tata Steel in India, South East Asia and US has made sure that the book stays simple and easily understandable to everyone who reads it. Initially, I thought I would drop the book in midway but that didn't happen. In fact, I finished in the book in two sittings. 

In the whole book, Abhijit focuses on one and only thing, Don't hire the best, hire the RIGHT person for the job. He has tried to explain the concept from various examples, situations and theories. The book is divided into three sections with some 4-5 chapters each. I would definitely like to share the name of the chapters here because that will give the reader of this post a vague idea about the whole book

1. The Role of a Leader

2. Hiring "The Best"

3. What I Learnt and how ?

4. Boss, What's the secret sauce?

5. Hiring Leaders Needs a Different Approach.

6. Interviewers' Mistakes

7. Building a Success Profile

8. Personality and "Fit"

9. Personality : The 'Bright Side'

10. Personality : The 'Dark Side'

11. Organisational Fit : Value and Motivations

12. Values and Organisational Culture

13. Conclusion

So, if you are into recruitment business, this book is a must for you. Its not that heavy sort of reading that would take ages to finish. It presents you with key points for being a great recruiter and understand the value of recruiting the right person for the job. Even if you are an entrepreneur, this book will surely open your eyes about setting up a right team for the business you do.  Give this book a try, I strongly recommend it to all the HR people at least. 

Book Source : HarperCollins India

Genre : Non-Fiction

ISBN : 978-93-5029-433-8

Cutting Chai and Maska Pao - Digantika Mitra, Priya Sheth, Mithila Mehta

Mumbai, the business capital of India, the city of dream, a city that never sleeps and the list goes on and on.  I have been to the city once and being a true Delhiwallah at heart, I actually loved Mumbai. Call me a traitor or whatever. It was in the last week of June that I went to Mumbai this year and experienced the city in my own way. Met people both from real and online world, roamed around a lot, walked a lot, took services of taxis and auto rickshaws, lived in a posh area, ate at a roadside stall, I did it all in mere 10 days, the most interesting part of the whole trip was, I blogged the experience daily here at www.mumbaisaga.blogspot.in 

Ever since I came back, I couldn't get over Mumbai, I am still not over with the city and eagerly waiting for my next trip. I have been reading about the city and things to do there from quite some time now. Cutting chai and maska pao happened to me while I was surfing Harper Collins website and thought, I must give it a shot and I got it yesterday. I thought, I would skip reviewing this book on ALOP but couldn't resist it. I think, a person who loves Mumbai should definitely give this book a read. 

Cutting Chai and Maska Pao is an intelligent and interesting take on the city. It is a small book with 100 pages and somehow perfectly sums up the entire city with colourful pictures and sharp observations with witty writeups. The writers of the book, the three gorgeous ladies, took a project quite seriously and it turned out to be a beautiful little handbook. 

The authors of the book have picked up approx 65 words that are famous in Mumbai and have arranged them alphabetically in this book. What makes this book interesting is, the pictures and the information shared about each world. Right from slangs, to the street food and some places, the book has it all that Mumbai can be identified with. 

I am surely taking this book along with me on my next trip to Mumbai. I am going to all the places and trying all that which has been mentioned in this book. Its a sort of bucket list and one must try to tick off each and every thing mentioned in this little handbook with creativity at its best. 

Book Source : Harper Collins

Genre : Non Fiction

ISBN : 978-93-5029-111-5

A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking

A brief history of time

ISBN: 0553176986 
Number of pages: 210
First published: 1988


Synopsis:
From the time of the ancient Greeks through the present time, this historical overview of cosmology is told by one of the most famous and fascinating scientists today. - from goodreads


nightflier speaks:
Who isn't fascinated by other worlds, other beings, the universe and what lies beyond it ? I think that is why humans often venture into the realms of fantasy and construct entire worlds (westeros, hogwarts) from scratch. Of course depending on our imagination we bring what we got to the party. But what if a physicist joined you to this party ? With all his life's work clubbed in 200 pages ? You will get a brief history of time. And what a fascinating history it is!


Stephen Hawking's book from page one holds your hand and takes you to a journey, to unknown stars, very widely known galaxies, to the sun and black holes. It is one journey which you wish would never end. And your background doesn't matter. Everyone who is remotely interested in existence on this planet is invited. On the way he also meditates about god, philosophy, life. You feel awestruck, most of the time.  (well it may be my ignorance, but then awe is awe).


To the core a true theoretical physicist, despite his illness and disabilities, Mr. Hawking along with his work, brings you names and works of the people who contributed in our understanding of the universe as we know it. He discusses the big bang, origins of our planet, the expansion and contraction of the universe, possible futures of the universe, event horizons, black holes, singularities, time travel (and its possibilities) and many more astounding phenomena which normally skip the textbooks and are only heard/seen in science fiction movies. 


Despite the terms and the physics involved, Mr. Hawking has kept the language pretty simple.  The only requirement while reading this book is curiosity. And yes a remote interest in the cosmos. 


It is the most fascinating and awesome non-fiction and fantasy book I have read till date.


Rating: 5/5
Price: Rs. 245 [flipkart]

Siva: The Siva Purana Retold by Ramesh Menon

Image Source: gangabooksemporium.com

SIVA - The Siva Purana Retold: Religious, Non-Fiction

AUTHOR: Ramesh Menon

BEST SELLERS: The Hunt for K and Blue God: A Life of Krishna (1992), Ramesh Menon, born in 1951 at New Delhi, has also rendered modern translations of The Ramayana (2000), The Mahabharata (2004) and The Bhagavata Purana into English prose.

SYNOPSIS (From back cover): 

One day of Bramha has 14 Indras; his life has 54,000 Indras. One day of Vishnu is the lifetime of Bramha. The lifetime of Vishnu is one day of Siva.

There are 18 Mahapuranas, great Puranas, and the Siva Purana is one of them. Siva is a vivid retelling of the Siva Purana for today's reader.The book contains all the major legends of Siva, bringing them alive again for a new generation. The characters and events one encounters here are awesome, many are cosmic. Siva himself is the Auspicious One. He is Mahadeva, the greatest God.

EXCERPT:

SIVA AND SATI

He had sat in tapasya for thousands of interminable, cosmic years; yet his mind grew unsteady with compassion for the world. His eyes fluttered half open and tears fell from them as if at a vow broken. From those precious drops the the rudraksha plants sprouted.

Siva has said to the Goddess, the rudraksha is the holiest bead in this world. Wearing rudraksha, Siva's tears, destroys the most heinous sins.

MSM Speaks: Oh, the humbleness which you feel when you read something like this. I scoff at religious things, wondering at the mere mumjo jumbo of words and thinking, do they even have a meaning? I stand corrected now. Siva was given to me by a friend who knows I was in love with Siva's Nirgun-avatar (Something like a Supreme being with no shape or form). I had never ever thought I'd pick up a religious book to read - a Purana to be precise, and enjoy it. I read it like a lay person, not having true idea of the mythology - and the ideas which I had, I kept them aside. I initially picked it up and left, after reading 12 Chapters. I was kind of losing interest. But few days after, when I was caught up with a lot of other things, I started to read from where I'd left and whoa! It was over before I knew it.

There are many stories - how Bramha, with the help of Kaama Deva (God of love), took vengeance on Siva, by making him fall in love with Sati, how Bramha has only Four heads, when he had five; how daksha got the head of a goat, and other such intriguing narrations and revelations. These stories show, that not even Greatest of Gods, were spared from the wheel of karma. And a lot of things that we believe in these days, you would see, have been given in the Purana. Impressive Stuff. Seriously. After reading the kind of books I've reviewed off late - Ref. to Tea-20 , something like this is a fresh and welcome change. Believe me, you will not regret reading this, considering that this was my first experience of reviewing a religious non-fiction book - the very genre I had thought I will not review.

Mr. Menon adopts literal translation - from Sanskrit to English, and therefore, there are words and references, which were a bit difficult to interpret. He has actually simplified the verses a lot, telling the stories in a beautiful narrative style, which saves this book from getting painfully boring - especially for someone like us, the youth, who, in spite of being readers, do not have much patience with such books, unless we really like the genre. MSM Recommends this.

My Rating: 4.5/5 (I really wanted to give five, but nothing is perfect.)

Siva: The Siva Purana Retold @ Rupa & Co. (2006) Sixth Reprint (2011)
ISBN 978-81-291-1495-2
Pages: 324
flipkart Price: 365/-INR

Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto Che Guevara

Motorcycle diaries


ISBN: 

0007272901

Number of Pages: 165
Genre: Travelogue, non-fiction


Synopsis: 2 boys on a warm sunny afternoon, sipping on mate, spontaneously decide to travel to North America. They decide on a route which takes them through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia. This is a story of travel adventures and awakening which travel brings to you.


Nightflier Speaks: 
I have always seen Ernesto 'Che' Guevara on t-sirts and caps in my brother's closet. 'He was a revolutionary' that was how my brother introduced me to him. We were teenagers then. After that it was around last week that I came across this book, and since it evoked some nostalgia, I instantly picked it up.


The fun thing about any book with travel tales is, it is full of adventures. Yes even the mundane, asking a stranger to let a broke you (che) and your friend (Alberto Grenado) spend a night at his place, is more than adventure. The sheer excitement of the unknown keeps you seek new places and people. And I think that's the most wonderful thing about travelling. It satisfies the wanderlust. The book is awesome on that front. If you have seen the map of South America, then the audacity of the travel plan will hit you first. Then imagining that the two boys did all that in the 1950s on a La Poderosa (the bike - the mighty one literally) makes you feel awed even more! They keep on going through rough terrains, bad weather, wind, rain, snow, but the aim of the doctors to visit the leper colony in San Pablo, where they are profoundly affected by the conditions of the disease and the treatment meted out to the sufferers. The book also gives one a scoop of the fascinating Inca civilization through the eyes of these outsiders.


It is said that Che was deeply affected by the poverty, suffering, he encountered during his travails. And that was a huge part of the person, the revolutionary, he became later on. Personally, I think travel does change one as a person. Everyone undergoes their own metamorphosis, be it in the form of new experiences, stretching horizons, or the universality of the human condition.


The book is a delight for all the wanderers. It made me want to pack my bags and sail away to lands unexplored.


Rating: 5/5
Price: Rs. 224 (flipkart)


Excerpt:

Daughters of Arabia

DAUGHTERS OF ARABIA

AUTHOR: Jean Sasson

Genre: Autobiographical,Non-Fiction

ISBN-13: 9780553813777

NO. OF PAGES: 256 (Bantam books)

PRICE: Rs.288 (at Flipkart )

BOOK COVER SAYS: Readers of Princess Sultana's extraordinary story, princess, were gripped by her powerful indictment of women's lives behind the veil within the royal family of Saudi Arabia. now, the princess turns the spotlight on her two teenage daughters, Maha and Amani.

EXCERPT:  " Was Kareem that rare phenomenon, a Saudi husband who was gentle, virile, practical and intelligent? Had I been wrong in my assessment of his character?"

SWARNALI SPEAKS: Here is the sequel of Princess. Even after calling it a very depressing book, I couldn't help picking up the next one in the series (and am looking forward to reading the next one and all the others written by Sasson). After you have realised the person that Sultana is, we now know what her kids are like. Sultana has 3 children - Abdullah, Maha and Amani.

Each of her three children have taken different traits of their mother - Abdullah has his mother's compassion and respect for women, Maha, her mother's rebellious spirit and Amani, her intelligent mind. Like its prequel,this book also tends to be depressing but the happier parts lessen the reader's misery to some extent. The books is filled with tales of horror that a lot of readers might have been already acquainted with from real life news articles, of torture done on the female sex, on women who are brave enough to try to defy the unjust and often inhuman  laws, who are punished with cruelty unimaginable. The book also had tales of success like that of Fayza, reminding us that the ray of hope isn't extinguished and with a few noble men like Abdullah and his father Kareem (who is truly devoted to his wife Sultana and refuses to follow his mother's instructions to take another wife as his religion permits), change is truly possible, a change towards making the land a better and safer place for the oppressed.

Another very disturbing issue that was introduced was that of circumcision on women which is still practiced in several parts of the world under the name of religion. The severe form of inhumanity practiced during this process cannot be expressed in words. Other tales like that of Majed, Abdullah's cousin is a cruel reminder of the hypocrisy of the royals and the secretive acts done behind the curtains. The bargaining of beautiful women to fill the harems of old royal men,and the effect it has on the young minds like that of Ayesha and Maha is another disturbing area.

The book is a very captivating one despite the maddening cruelty described in the book. Apart from the horror tales, the book also has several entertaining anecdotes like how the young Amani decides to punish her uncle as her child mind finds just, stories of women bonding with each other and standing up for each other when one of them is unjustly treated. The book probes deep into the royal family in Saudi Arab, giving the readers a transparent view into the lives behind the curtains, providing insights into the practices and often unveiling the cruelty and misinterpretation of Islam that is rampantly carried on by corrupt religious leaders to serve their own selfish needs. The book should be read with an open mind, to stop yourself from being too swayed in any direction. The author gives one a clear untainted perspective from a princess's POV but the readers must be prepared to form their own opinions based on their own judgement from the situations described.

All the characters in the book are real but their real names have not been used to protect the princess and her family from harm.

MY RATING: 4 / 5

Princess

PRINCESS

AUTHOR: Jean Sasson

Genre: Autobiographical, Non fiction

ISBN-13: 9780553816952

NO. OF PAGES: 329 (Bantam books)

PRICE: Rs.288 (at Flipkart )

BOOK COVER SAYS: Jean Sasson captures the flavour and reality of life in a country full of extremes and contradictions.Princess 'Sultana', a real Saudi princess closely related to the King, lives those contradictions, with priceless jewels,many servants, unlimited funds at her disposal, but no freedom. A prisoner in a gilded cage with no vote, no control, no value but as a mother of sons, she is totally at the mercy of the men in her life...her father, her brother, her husband.

EXCERPT:  "The mere suspiction of sexual misconduct, such as kissing, can bring death to a young girl. in addition, public congratulations are given from the men of religion for the father's 'notable' act of upholding the commands of the Prophet! "

SWARNALI SPEAKS: This is one book which is both entertaining and depressing, very depressing. 

Princess Sultana is a real princess,belonging to the Saudi royal family. Her mother was married at a very tender age to a man completely unknown to her. their union produced 11 children, all daughters but one son, Ali. Ali is a carbon copy of her father, tyrannical and very condescending on women around him. Like his father he has numerous wives and an even larger number of concubines. The narrative is filled with stories about the tortures done to women in Saudi Arabia in the name of religion and propriety. Certain tales like that of the Filipino maids, Sara's first wedding to a 60 year old man, the mental and physical tortures she undergoes due to the union, the sacrifice of a few other women who tried to defy the strict laws of the county, are more than cruel.

Despite the gruesome tales, there are instance which makes the reader laugh. Sultana is a very animated character who is lucky to have married to a man who truly loves her. The description given when her future in-laws come to see her before the wedding is truly hilarious.

Princess Sultana makes it very clear to the reader that it is not Allah, her religion , Prophet Mohammed or the Holy Koran which are responsible for the fates of these women,it is for those fanatics, who have corrupted the message of God.

 I have read other articles and books where I was told that Saudi Arabia is not as open and lenient to its women like many other Arabian and Muslim countries where women are given sufficient freedom regarding their choice of jobs and clothes and wearing a Hijab is not compulsory.

Filled with a lot of historical facts about the royal family and its origin, unknown stories of cruelty and numerous rituals and religious ceremonies, the book makes a very interesting and gripping read. the style and language are very simple and fluid making it an easy read. 

MY RATING: 4.5/5

P.S.- Names of all the characters in the book are fake,to protect the princess and her family.The author has personally told me that they are real people.

P.P.S- Bestselling author of Daughters of Arabia, Desert Royale, Rape of Kuwait, Mayada: Daughter of Iraq and others. The Princess trilogy consists of Princess, Daughters of Arabia and Princess Sultana's Circle.

tuesday with Morrie by Mitch Albom

As you can see the cover says , "Bestseller that changed millions of lives". I, beign one of the last person seen reading autobiographies , agree to this. It might not have changed my life, but it indeed changed some of my thoughts.

This is one book that I have bought and gifted most number of times. And every time I read it, I feel I start a new page in ym life. I actually read it evey time I am in need of answers. It gives you a fresh approach and a wise perspective to any sphere and phase in your life.

Synopsis :

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague.  Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder.  Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance.  He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life.  Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college.  Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.

 

Sample Front Page

Quotes from the book:

Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too-even when you are in the dark.

If you stayed at twenty-two, you'd always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. It's growth.

The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it.

"Death ends a life, not a relationship."

We should be looking at our potential, stretching ourselves into everything we can be come.


Need I say more ?  Just read it !

Ratings : 5/5

Other Details:
ISBN:  0751527378
ISBN-13:  9780751527377, 978-0751527377
Binding:  Paperback
Publishing Date:  12/01/98
Number of Pages:  210
Price : 170 @ flipkart

Wings of Fire- An Autobiography

WRITTEN BY: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and Arun Tiwari

1ST PUBLISHED: 1999

ISBN 13: 978-81-7371-146-6

ISBN 10: 81-7371-146-6

SYNOPSIS:

Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam has come to personally represent to many of his countrymen the best aspects of Indian life. In his autobiography, he ascribes, with characteristic modesty, the greatness of his achievements to the influence of his teachers and mentors. He describes the struggles of his boyhood and youth, bringing alive everyday life in a small town in South India and the inspirational role of educators.

He describes the role of visionary Indian scientists, such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, and of the creation of a coordinated network of research institutions. This is also the saga of independent India’s struggle for technological self sufficiency and defensive autonomy- a story as much about politics, domestic and international, as it is about science.

EXCERPT:

Each individual creature on this beautiful planet is created by God to fulfill a particular role. Whatever I have achieved in life is through His help, and an expression of His will. He showered His grace on me through some outstanding teachers and colleagues, and when I pay my tributes to these fine persons, I am merely praising His glory. All these rockets and missiles are His work through a small person called Kalam, in order to tell the several million mass of India to never feel small or helpless. We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness.

ARPITA SPEAKS:

It’s a book that needs no introduction. I had been thinking of reading this one ever since I went to a painting exhibition inaugurated by Dr. Kalam some time ago, at the art gallery of the Triveni Kala Sangam, in New Delhi. And I am really glad that I finally got down to reading it- thanks to the reading challenge, and a dear friend of mine who has lent it to me. However, I am actually thinking of getting my own copy now.

It was quite tough choosing the excerpt- I would quote nearly everything if I could! I finally decided on the one above, for what I love most about Dr. Kalam is his love for God as well as his interest in, and regard for, all religions. The autobiography, co-written with Arun Tiwari, who worked under Dr. Kalam for over a decade in the Defense Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), is not just a book about science and politics, but also a collection of anecdotes, recollections, and pictures from the former President’s life.

Dr. Kalam recounts incidents from his childhood, and emphasizes on the profound impact that his family, friends, teachers and relatives had on him. He reminisces about his relative Ahmed Jallaluddin’s “special connection to God” that he used to wonder about as a child; he thinks back on his interaction with his best friends Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Sivaprakasan.

There’s his love for English literature, Philosophy, and of course, Physics that he shares with us. What’s extraordinary, and remarkable, is his firm belief that there’s an intimate connection between science and spirituality. He refers to his childhood dreams, his love for aeronautics and his passion for science and, indeed, for life. What touches the heart is the humility and honesty that is ever so evident in every word. Enjoyable and, more importantly, truly inspirational- it’s an autobiography I feel proud to have read.

RATING: 4 on 5

PRICE: Rs.250/- (Universities Press)

NUMBER OF PAGES: 180

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Steve Jobs
ISBN: 1451648537
First Published: 2011
Pages: 598 (excluding index)
Genre: Biography


Synopsis:
The extraordinary tale of one of the brilliant wizards of our times. Rich with product stories, Steve's personal struggles and his vision and idealism.


Excerpt:
“I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong,” Jobs said. “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”


In a meeting with Eric Schmidt, who was the CEO of Google and Apple board member at that time, Steve Jobs told Schmidt that he wasn't interested in settling the lawsuit:


"I don't want your money. If you offer me $5 billion, I won't want it. I've got plenty of money. I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that's all I want."

Nightflier Speaks:
My personal problem with biographies is they don't generate enough interest and seem to be rambling on about someone I barely know. In this case the person in question is a growing up idol and I have enjoyed his products thoroughly. Hence reading the biography seemed something obvious to me.


But the fact that it would happen after his demise was a bit of a shock. And that is why the entire reading experience felt very personal. Like losing someone you very well know. Considering how well known rather well rehearsed all anecdotes from his life are, in popular culture. 


And that was the biggest plus of this book. Despite knowing what is going to happen, Walter Isaacson presents Steve Job's story in a very lucid manner. Even if you are not a technology oriented person, the book will engage you at various levels, the amazing insights of Mr. Jobs being one of them. The writer claims that he tried his hard to not get influenced by Steve's RDF (reality distortion field). And his human portrayal of Steve Jobs proves that point. Also something I noted, even though Steve Jobs was a cruel manager, none of his co-workers/competitors/enemies speak ill of him. They seem to have accepted the genius with his flaws. That in itself explains quite a lot about the enigmatic person. 


Apart from that the rise-fall-rise of apple computers is a legend of our times. And every time you get to know some minute detail about it, or who was involved, it adds to the curiosity. Why Lisa failed, why Sculley drove Steve away, how buzz and woody the symbols of modern animation came to being, - like this there are various stories which will appeal to the product guy/girl in you.


All in all, a very very interesting read if you want to know what drove this genius, his grey shades and what made him work and how. Amazing story.


Rating: 4.5/5


Price: 479 (flipkart - pre-ordered)

Yuganta - The end of an epoch

ISBN: 13: 978 81 250 1424 9

First published in English: 1969 by Deshmukh Prakashan

Pages: 220

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Non fiction, academic

Price: INR 155, Orient Blackswan

Author: Iravati Karve

Synopsis: A collection of essays exploring the strengths and weaknesses of some of the very complex characters of the Mahabharat.

UCV says: Commenting on this book would be a minor crime, for there are perhaps few equals to Iravati Karve’s Yuganta – The end of an epoch. Commentaries and commentaries have been written about the ‘Mahabharat’, and continue to be written today, such is the mystery and vastness of that epic. But few have dared autopsied it with the scientific precision of Karve. Little wonder that it won the Sahitya Akademi prize for the best Marathi book of the year in 1967. It was later translated and published in English.

An anthropologist, Karve dissects all characters with an objectivity impossible for most native readers. She begins with a neat introduction explaining the literary tradition of the ‘Mahabharat’. She writes about how the original work was called ‘Jaya’ (victory), and composed/carried forth in the oral tradition by the members of the Suta caste. This sauta (of the Sutas) literature is then passed on to different sections of the society (especially Brahmins), who make additions and interpolations, thus enlarging the original story. What we consequently inherit is the ‘Mahabharat’ (great story of the house of King Bharat).

In the subsequent essays, Karve picks each of the major characters of the ‘Mahabharat’, giving an incisive character analysis. The first of the lot is the character of Bhisma. Karve wonders aloud about the contrary motives of some of Bhisma’s actions, who while appearing to sacrifice all for the sake of others, takes some rather peculiar decisions that seem directed at proving his personal greatness.

The two great matriarchs are then dealt with in the next two chapters, which elucidate mainly the injustices suffered by Gandhari and Kunti. Yet, Karve goes on to show the strength of the two Kshatriya women, and what part they played in binding the Kuru clan together. Gandhari’s great sacrifice though laced with bitterness, and Kunti’s pain and guilt on parting with her firstborn, Karna, are some of the instances described in these two chapters.

An interesting chapter called ‘Father and son?’ explores the important character of Vidura, and the possibility of him being Yudhishtir’s (or Dharma as he is referred to in this book) father. Karve points to us the several similarities in character between the two, in addition to the custom of the time when the younger brother was allowed to sleep with his brother’s wife, if the brother was unable to beget children. Vidura’s fondness for Yudhishtir and his firm loyalty to Kunti, apart from an ambiguous passage towards the end of the epic proclaiming that Vidura and Yudhishtir are but one for they both are the reincarnations of Lord Yama, are served as evidence by the author.

There is yet another interesting chapter on Draupadi, and Karve compares and contrasts the character with that of Sita - the female protagonist of ‘Ramayana’. Karve points out the emotional richness and scope of Draupadi’s character as compared to Sita’s formulaic one. She also talks about her unique relationship with her five husbands, her ultimate insult at the Kaurava court and her thirst for revenge that, in part, pushes the Pandavas to war. Several more aspects are noted in this chapter.

Karna’s character too is analysed in detail. Instead of the pitiable hero that Karna is made out to be in the popular renditions of the Mahabharat, Karve paints a not-so-rosy picture of him. Despite the occasional show of the strength of his character, Karna, according to Karve, is a flawed man because of his deep bitterness and rashness.

Krishna is also studied from a very human perspective in Karve’s book. Krishna is not a god, whilst in the ‘Mahabharat’, but a very powerful, charismatic and clever man. He is shown by Karve to be more of a friend of Arjuna and a well-wisher of the Pandavas, rather than a divine being. She explains how subsequent literature, like the ‘Bhagvata’ accorded divinity to Krishna, unlike the Mahabharat. His role in the war, and the rise and fall of the Pandavas and the Yadavas is also spoken about in this chapter.

Of the two remaining chapters, one is a study of the mystical palace of Mayasabha in Indraprastha, and a concluding chapter on the manners of the time. These chapters too hold a wealth of information and detailed study of some of the nitty-gritties of the epic.

Karve opens the reader’s eyes to a lot of fallacies that are wont to be in a creation by human beings. She dispels a handful of myths and interprets the seemingly illogical in a manner best understood in our times. The best part about this book is that it critiques without ever being disrespectful or dismissive. For anyone interested in the ‘Mahabharat’, and the study of Indian mythology in general, this book is a must read.

Rating: 5/5 (You know what that means)