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_askthebookbug's Reviews (1.34k)
Growing up, I never once imagined myself enjoying the process of cooking. While my cousins and friends enjoyed helping out their mothers in the kitchen and experimenting with food, I wanted nothing to do with it. But things started to change once I got married and moved to a different city. I quickly realised that the food that my cook made wasn’t really to my liking and decided to take matters into my own hands. It is only now that I realised how therapeutic cooking can be (unless during summers) and that is how I have now come to possess Mrs K.M. Mathew’s cookbook.
Mrs Annamma Mathew aka K.M. Mathew was born Tamil Nadu. Her annual visits to Kerala and a brief stay in Chikmagalur post her marriage, imbibed in her a sense of various cooking traditions. When her recipes started appearing in popular newspapers back in 1950s, she set in motion the evolution of cookery columns. This iconic woman has written more than 27 cookbooks over forty years. She branched out into writing travelogues and about hair care and finally to editing a famous women’s magazine called Vanita. It is said that she enjoyed art and finally found the right place to express her creative talents in Bombay and later in Kottayam.
The book that I hold now was published 20 years post Mrs K.M. Mathew’s demise but still holds the most flavourful recipes. Perhaps it is her journey across cities in India and abroad that eventually shaped her into such a talented cook. But it’s safe to say that Mrs K.M. Mathew’s was much more than just a woman who loved to cook. She was also an activist who started the Kasturba Social Welfare Centre for women.
She was an icon in the truest sense. Having said that, I can’t wait to try the delightful recipes from this cookbook.
Mrs Annamma Mathew aka K.M. Mathew was born Tamil Nadu. Her annual visits to Kerala and a brief stay in Chikmagalur post her marriage, imbibed in her a sense of various cooking traditions. When her recipes started appearing in popular newspapers back in 1950s, she set in motion the evolution of cookery columns. This iconic woman has written more than 27 cookbooks over forty years. She branched out into writing travelogues and about hair care and finally to editing a famous women’s magazine called Vanita. It is said that she enjoyed art and finally found the right place to express her creative talents in Bombay and later in Kottayam.
The book that I hold now was published 20 years post Mrs K.M. Mathew’s demise but still holds the most flavourful recipes. Perhaps it is her journey across cities in India and abroad that eventually shaped her into such a talented cook. But it’s safe to say that Mrs K.M. Mathew’s was much more than just a woman who loved to cook. She was also an activist who started the Kasturba Social Welfare Centre for women.
She was an icon in the truest sense. Having said that, I can’t wait to try the delightful recipes from this cookbook.
4.5 stars
“Don’t you hear her screams, my king? Don’t you hear her?”
“Bhishma, from this chair of mine, I hear a sea bird. Do you?” - (A dialogue between Vidura and Dhritarashtra during the disrobing of Panchali)
Everything begins with a vow. I vow to review “The Book of Vows”- Volume 1, with all my sincerity, respect and perceived truth of it. The book begins with a vow. It ends with one.
The author gives a much required introduction to answer several lingering questions in my head : Why should I read Mahabharata? Hasn’t enough versions & interpretations been written already? How is this any different? Except for the last question which was almost immediately answered at the end of the first chapter, the other two questions needed to be answered. Without the answers, it was impossible for me to rouse myself to read this seemingly uninteresting book. I’m glad that they were answered that I could read this book on a voracious spree.
The book is divided in 9 sequences which are subdivided to 30 sargas in total. Each sequence is a summary of what is to occur in Majmudar’s telling of Mahabharata. They are filled with spoilers, yet cannot substitute for cultural immersion, as the author says. Rather, they help the reader in acquainting with what to expect. Every time I read these summaries, it got me excited for the events that were to unfold. As I attempt reviewing, I am battling the dilemma of writing about the how the book is written versus what is written. Both worth discussing & appreciating.
I have heard tales of Mahabharata from my grandmother as a child, watched television adaptations as a kid, read abridged versions as a teenager. But as an adult, I had read “Jaya” by Devdutt Patnaik which left me with more questions than answers. Reading “The Book of Vows”, felt like re-arranging the jigsaw puzzles of my passive memory to make sense of the impending war of wars and the backstory behind. The book ends with the roll of dice, disrobing of a woman and yes, a vow. As I flipped the last page, which forebodes the beginning of the end, I can fully assure that I can’t wait for Majmudar’s remaining 2 volumes of the Mahabharata trilogy.
“Don’t you hear her screams, my king? Don’t you hear her?”
“Bhishma, from this chair of mine, I hear a sea bird. Do you?” - (A dialogue between Vidura and Dhritarashtra during the disrobing of Panchali)
Everything begins with a vow. I vow to review “The Book of Vows”- Volume 1, with all my sincerity, respect and perceived truth of it. The book begins with a vow. It ends with one.
The author gives a much required introduction to answer several lingering questions in my head : Why should I read Mahabharata? Hasn’t enough versions & interpretations been written already? How is this any different? Except for the last question which was almost immediately answered at the end of the first chapter, the other two questions needed to be answered. Without the answers, it was impossible for me to rouse myself to read this seemingly uninteresting book. I’m glad that they were answered that I could read this book on a voracious spree.
The book is divided in 9 sequences which are subdivided to 30 sargas in total. Each sequence is a summary of what is to occur in Majmudar’s telling of Mahabharata. They are filled with spoilers, yet cannot substitute for cultural immersion, as the author says. Rather, they help the reader in acquainting with what to expect. Every time I read these summaries, it got me excited for the events that were to unfold. As I attempt reviewing, I am battling the dilemma of writing about the how the book is written versus what is written. Both worth discussing & appreciating.
I have heard tales of Mahabharata from my grandmother as a child, watched television adaptations as a kid, read abridged versions as a teenager. But as an adult, I had read “Jaya” by Devdutt Patnaik which left me with more questions than answers. Reading “The Book of Vows”, felt like re-arranging the jigsaw puzzles of my passive memory to make sense of the impending war of wars and the backstory behind. The book ends with the roll of dice, disrobing of a woman and yes, a vow. As I flipped the last page, which forebodes the beginning of the end, I can fully assure that I can’t wait for Majmudar’s remaining 2 volumes of the Mahabharata trilogy.
When you hear of a poet being incarcerated the most, doesn’t it intrigue you to know why? This was precisely what pushed me towards reading this book of poems. Varavara Rao is a renowned poet who has the tongue of a whip. Known famously for his speeches and brutally honest poems about the government and everything that looks down on the oppressed, this book is like a breath of fresh air. Edited by his nephew N. Venugopal Rao and Meena Kandasamy, these pages include some revolutionary poems.
Varavara Rao is a famous poet from Telangana who eased into poetry at a very young age. Writing about the unfairness around him, he quickly became known as an activist. Known as the most-jailed poet in independent India’s history, and for cancelling his own bail, this legendary writer is a force to reckon with. It didn’t take me long to recognise the pattern in his work. Any event that held a sense of unjustness to it, featured in Rao’s poetry. His pen is unforgivable, quick to point out the culprits and also to mourn the deaths of his beloved fellow activists and writers. These hard hitting poems are translated into over 50 languages across the world, a true testament of his prowess as a writer. I had many favourites amongst the ones that I read from this book but I’ll leave you with this. Rest assured, I highly recommend it.
The poet is by no means a lion
But a stream.
It is in the nature of a river
Not only to leap from peaks but
Also to flow steadily in plains
Circumventing the hurdles
Stopping at dams.
And if time favours
Breaking them down and moving on
In branches and in canals.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
Varavara Rao is a famous poet from Telangana who eased into poetry at a very young age. Writing about the unfairness around him, he quickly became known as an activist. Known as the most-jailed poet in independent India’s history, and for cancelling his own bail, this legendary writer is a force to reckon with. It didn’t take me long to recognise the pattern in his work. Any event that held a sense of unjustness to it, featured in Rao’s poetry. His pen is unforgivable, quick to point out the culprits and also to mourn the deaths of his beloved fellow activists and writers. These hard hitting poems are translated into over 50 languages across the world, a true testament of his prowess as a writer. I had many favourites amongst the ones that I read from this book but I’ll leave you with this. Rest assured, I highly recommend it.
The poet is by no means a lion
But a stream.
It is in the nature of a river
Not only to leap from peaks but
Also to flow steadily in plains
Circumventing the hurdles
Stopping at dams.
And if time favours
Breaking them down and moving on
In branches and in canals.
Thank you for the copy @penguinindia ✨
I’m always looking forward to read the next book in The Greatest Stories Ever Told series. Short stories are always a great way for me to get back into the reading game and so I decided to keep my current read aside to dive into this one. Selected and edited by Renuka Singh and Balbir Madhopuri, these stories gives us a glimpse of the rich literature of the land of Punjab. It doesn’t take long to realise that they carry an undertone of tension, violence and at times a tinge of humour. But many of them revolved around partition and the horrors that followed it.
The thing that I love about the books in this series are the opportunities for the readers to discover some new and old authors. This too, was no different. Most of the authors were fairly new to me so it was an immersive experience to explore their work. A major chunk of the stories are suffused with grim seriousness and melancholy, making me take time reading them. There’s no doubt that this book offers a variety of interesting perspectives about human nature but it still didn’t work for me. Perhaps it had to do with my inability to connect with the stories. I may very well be on the unpopular side so I’d urge you to read it yourself and see how you like it.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
The thing that I love about the books in this series are the opportunities for the readers to discover some new and old authors. This too, was no different. Most of the authors were fairly new to me so it was an immersive experience to explore their work. A major chunk of the stories are suffused with grim seriousness and melancholy, making me take time reading them. There’s no doubt that this book offers a variety of interesting perspectives about human nature but it still didn’t work for me. Perhaps it had to do with my inability to connect with the stories. I may very well be on the unpopular side so I’d urge you to read it yourself and see how you like it.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
When Sneha asked if I wanted to read and review her debut translation work, I immediately jumped at the chance. Mrs Simon is Waiting and Other Stories includes collected short stories penned by Dinesh Pathak over the decades but what makes it special is his daughter’s debut attempt at translating his stories. It didn’t take me long to realise that I was going to adore this book. The stories, each different from the other captures and then dissects complex human behaviours in certain situations. I started reading this book early day before yesterday and before I knew it, I finished it the very same night. Apart from being breezy, it’s the simplicity of the stories that pulls you in.
It just took ten stories for me to become a fan of the author. How is it that he managed to take simple themes like hopelessness, sadness, loss, love and turn them into such beautiful tales? The very first story sets the mood for what to expect. But my favourite stories were probably Siyabar Babu and the Suitable Boy, Thanks Uncle and the title story. In Siyabar Babu we see a father, a clerk by profession, desperate to find grooms for his daughters. In Thanks, Uncle we see a father who ends up viewing his son differently while trying to arrange a matrimonial match for him. And in Mrs Simon, we see how material comforts end up taking precedence over moral responsibility.
The author has successfully managed to unmask the hidden faces of humans that peeks out every now and then. These are flawed and ordinary people like us, making it all the more easier for us to connect with them. The stories aren’t grand and feels like something that can happen well within our families or neighbourhood. Not once did I feel like I was reading a translated book and this is certainly a job well done by Sneha. There is nothing lost in translation and she gives full access for us to enter into her father’s world of stories. This is in no doubt one of the best short story collections I’ve read in a very long time.
Thank you Sneha for trusting me to read this book. My congratulations to you and your father. I hope I get to read more by you two ✨
It just took ten stories for me to become a fan of the author. How is it that he managed to take simple themes like hopelessness, sadness, loss, love and turn them into such beautiful tales? The very first story sets the mood for what to expect. But my favourite stories were probably Siyabar Babu and the Suitable Boy, Thanks Uncle and the title story. In Siyabar Babu we see a father, a clerk by profession, desperate to find grooms for his daughters. In Thanks, Uncle we see a father who ends up viewing his son differently while trying to arrange a matrimonial match for him. And in Mrs Simon, we see how material comforts end up taking precedence over moral responsibility.
The author has successfully managed to unmask the hidden faces of humans that peeks out every now and then. These are flawed and ordinary people like us, making it all the more easier for us to connect with them. The stories aren’t grand and feels like something that can happen well within our families or neighbourhood. Not once did I feel like I was reading a translated book and this is certainly a job well done by Sneha. There is nothing lost in translation and she gives full access for us to enter into her father’s world of stories. This is in no doubt one of the best short story collections I’ve read in a very long time.
Thank you Sneha for trusting me to read this book. My congratulations to you and your father. I hope I get to read more by you two ✨
Contrary to what others have to say, I liked Sakina’s Kiss as much as I liked Ghachar Ghochar. Both books have a certain amount of quietness to them, something that makes you want to read them on a Sunday when the whole world slows down. I’m glad Srinath Perur has translated of both novels because he never misses. The essence of the story is transferred intact from Kannada to English. In Sakina’s Kiss, we see Venkataramana, a middle class man who fails to see his own misogynistic side. The story is set at a time when our country is changing and evolving socially and politically and we see Venkat struggling to understand his teenage daughter’s progressive views. A sudden involvement of goons into their normal life shakes Venkat and henceforth begins a slow unravelling of the story.
Although the story may seem normal on the surface, it brings together a lot of interesting topics. We see a patriarchal head who is paranoid about his wife and daughter keeping secrets from him, fails to acknowledge change, and parrots lines from the many self help books that he reads. I’m quite certain that many of us growing up in the late 80s and early 90s have someone like Venkat within our families. He doesn’t trust liberal journalists and secretly believes condescending things a politician says about women. What really amazed me was the accuracy with which Shanbhag managed to capture this image of an Indian man who believes himself to be the perfect husband and father while carrying these backward notions in his head.
Sakina’s Kiss reads like a slow burn mystery but in the end, it turns out to be so much more than that. But I also feel that his books probably wouldn’t be everybody’s cup of tea. He has a very nuanced way of writing and making statements through minute details that strikes a chord with the audience. But I’d highly recommend you to give it a try.
Thank you for the advance copy @penguinindia.
Although the story may seem normal on the surface, it brings together a lot of interesting topics. We see a patriarchal head who is paranoid about his wife and daughter keeping secrets from him, fails to acknowledge change, and parrots lines from the many self help books that he reads. I’m quite certain that many of us growing up in the late 80s and early 90s have someone like Venkat within our families. He doesn’t trust liberal journalists and secretly believes condescending things a politician says about women. What really amazed me was the accuracy with which Shanbhag managed to capture this image of an Indian man who believes himself to be the perfect husband and father while carrying these backward notions in his head.
Sakina’s Kiss reads like a slow burn mystery but in the end, it turns out to be so much more than that. But I also feel that his books probably wouldn’t be everybody’s cup of tea. He has a very nuanced way of writing and making statements through minute details that strikes a chord with the audience. But I’d highly recommend you to give it a try.
Thank you for the advance copy @penguinindia.
There’s a reason why people of all ages keep going back to grab Ruskin Bond’s books. The simplicity and comfort that they offer are unmatched. The Night has a Thousand Eyes is no different. Comprising of 36 stories, this heartwarming book offered some new and familiar tales like The Blue Umbrella and The Night Train at Deoli. But the never before published two stories ‘High Water’ and the title story ended up being my favourite. Some fictionalised and some real, these stories were absolutely delightful.
These are stories of children making unexpected friendships, a ghost that tries to help a young boy caught up in strong currents, a queen who lives in a room of colourful windows and Ruskin sharing a sweet kiss with the daughter of an Indian ambassador on a ship. Tales of love, friendship, hope and sometimes, loss.
So when you feel a bit sad and want a cheer me up, don’t forget this latest collection of stories from @ruskinbondofficial . Needless to say, I highly recommend it. Thank you for the review copy @alephbookco ✨
These are stories of children making unexpected friendships, a ghost that tries to help a young boy caught up in strong currents, a queen who lives in a room of colourful windows and Ruskin sharing a sweet kiss with the daughter of an Indian ambassador on a ship. Tales of love, friendship, hope and sometimes, loss.
So when you feel a bit sad and want a cheer me up, don’t forget this latest collection of stories from @ruskinbondofficial . Needless to say, I highly recommend it. Thank you for the review copy @alephbookco ✨
Rheea’s TGWKFIL is the kind of book that wakes you up from a deep slumber to the reality of the world. The protagonist Kaya who is 40, has loved many times in the past, each with all her heart. But when she finds A, a fellow activist on a random day, she falls in love once again. But this isn’t a typical love story. Nor is it an entirely political story. Rheea has cleverly dipped her toes in all things relevant be it the political, social and cultural state of our country. But beyond all this, she has somehow managed to come up with a way to build a protagonist who holds up a mirror at us. Because she carries much of our own identity in herself.
My favourite part of the story was undoubtedly the dystopian aspect of it, making it seem very much like The Animal Farm but also different in many ways. We see leftist parties holding protests, Kaya’s own relationship with A that was born on the stairs of one such protest. We get a picture of Kaya’s growing up years in America and then in India and her complete humaneness to make errors. Kaya carries guilt, fear, insecurity and also a sense of shame for her behaviour towards others but that’s what makes her human. We see parents who really shouldn’t be parents, friends who drain you and lovers who teach you things.
TGWKFIL is a complex tale about the system we’re stuck in. It has a lot to offer and Rheea’s witty writing makes it all the more compelling. She writes with a sharp flick that has the power to slap facts onto your face but also has the ability to coo words of wisdom. I can’t recommend this enough.
Thanks for the copy @penguinindia ✨
My favourite part of the story was undoubtedly the dystopian aspect of it, making it seem very much like The Animal Farm but also different in many ways. We see leftist parties holding protests, Kaya’s own relationship with A that was born on the stairs of one such protest. We get a picture of Kaya’s growing up years in America and then in India and her complete humaneness to make errors. Kaya carries guilt, fear, insecurity and also a sense of shame for her behaviour towards others but that’s what makes her human. We see parents who really shouldn’t be parents, friends who drain you and lovers who teach you things.
TGWKFIL is a complex tale about the system we’re stuck in. It has a lot to offer and Rheea’s witty writing makes it all the more compelling. She writes with a sharp flick that has the power to slap facts onto your face but also has the ability to coo words of wisdom. I can’t recommend this enough.
Thanks for the copy @penguinindia ✨
I think this has to be one of my favourite The Greatest Short Stories edition from @alephbookco . A. J. Thomas, writer and poet has selected & translated fifty stories to be part of this fantastic collection. The themes are varied and hits a chord. Written masterfully, we are introduced to old and budding writers who pull you into the rich and immersive world of Malayalam literature. This comes a close second for me in the language series but the translation earns major points as it left no room for error and doubt.
The first two stories captures the essence of rural women who live complex lives. In ‘Vision’, we see a woman whose marriage has become hot topic of conversation receiving surprising advice from her grandmother. In ‘Scent of a Bird’ we are taken to a world that exists between life and death. ‘Sethu’ explores a strange and detached relationship between a father and his son. But my favourite of all was ‘Photo’ which addresses the issue of child molestation followed closely by ‘Pempi’, another hard hitting tale about tribal women. Out of the fifty short stories, there were hardly two or three that didn’t work for me.
The world of Malayalam literature is famous for addressing difficult topics and this book was no different. I found it to be a melting pot of interesting themes, voices and ideas and I enjoyed reading all of them. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy reading translated literature.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
The first two stories captures the essence of rural women who live complex lives. In ‘Vision’, we see a woman whose marriage has become hot topic of conversation receiving surprising advice from her grandmother. In ‘Scent of a Bird’ we are taken to a world that exists between life and death. ‘Sethu’ explores a strange and detached relationship between a father and his son. But my favourite of all was ‘Photo’ which addresses the issue of child molestation followed closely by ‘Pempi’, another hard hitting tale about tribal women. Out of the fifty short stories, there were hardly two or three that didn’t work for me.
The world of Malayalam literature is famous for addressing difficult topics and this book was no different. I found it to be a melting pot of interesting themes, voices and ideas and I enjoyed reading all of them. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy reading translated literature.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
“Do you know which is India’s worst disease? It’s amnesia.”- A dialogue from a random movie.
‘Anarchy or Chaos’ is a biography about one such Indian revolutionary whom the nation collectively revered and then forgot. His name: MPT Acharya. Ole Birk Laursen’s unbiased biography paints a black and white picture of this man’s life which is generously drawn with strokes of grey. It took me a while to wrap my head around ‘Anarchism’ and Acharya’s pursuit for the same. Unlike most biographers, Laursen keeps his book almost matter-of-factly except with sprinkles of eye-brow raising anecdotes. In his detailed biography comprising of 16 chapters divided into five parts, the author takes his sweet time in preparing the reader with a cause-and-effect style of story telling.
To put it succinctly, the book begins with Acharya’s beginnings as a teenager who was proprietor and publisher of ‘Bala Bharat’. His journey into national politics, pursuit for anarchism and his own understanding of ideologies began when he went under the tutelage of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an extremist of INC. Thereafter follows his escape into exile, the charges of “anti-national” activism taking him across Europe and NAmerica. A detailed account of his involvement with militant nationalists such as VVS Aiyar, VD Savarkar etc warms the reader to the confused state of mind of Acharya. Lisbon, Constantinople, New York, Stockholm, Russia.. Acharya’s adventures ensue with his hunt for refuge and patronage. I was surprised to know that in the few anarchists revered around the world, MPT Acharya was one of the front runners, even admired by Bhikaiji Cama. Followed in an almost chronological order, the book reaches its end with his death, almost echoing the death of anarchism in India. It is not surprising anymore to discover a person who has been forgotten by a whole nation whose welfare he struggled to ensure. Buried deep in the archives, the life of MPT Acharya was brought back by Laursen’s book. I hope the forgotten may not remain forgotten.
‘Anarchy or Chaos’ is a biography about one such Indian revolutionary whom the nation collectively revered and then forgot. His name: MPT Acharya. Ole Birk Laursen’s unbiased biography paints a black and white picture of this man’s life which is generously drawn with strokes of grey. It took me a while to wrap my head around ‘Anarchism’ and Acharya’s pursuit for the same. Unlike most biographers, Laursen keeps his book almost matter-of-factly except with sprinkles of eye-brow raising anecdotes. In his detailed biography comprising of 16 chapters divided into five parts, the author takes his sweet time in preparing the reader with a cause-and-effect style of story telling.
To put it succinctly, the book begins with Acharya’s beginnings as a teenager who was proprietor and publisher of ‘Bala Bharat’. His journey into national politics, pursuit for anarchism and his own understanding of ideologies began when he went under the tutelage of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, an extremist of INC. Thereafter follows his escape into exile, the charges of “anti-national” activism taking him across Europe and NAmerica. A detailed account of his involvement with militant nationalists such as VVS Aiyar, VD Savarkar etc warms the reader to the confused state of mind of Acharya. Lisbon, Constantinople, New York, Stockholm, Russia.. Acharya’s adventures ensue with his hunt for refuge and patronage. I was surprised to know that in the few anarchists revered around the world, MPT Acharya was one of the front runners, even admired by Bhikaiji Cama. Followed in an almost chronological order, the book reaches its end with his death, almost echoing the death of anarchism in India. It is not surprising anymore to discover a person who has been forgotten by a whole nation whose welfare he struggled to ensure. Buried deep in the archives, the life of MPT Acharya was brought back by Laursen’s book. I hope the forgotten may not remain forgotten.