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jainandsdiary's Reviews (310)
Wednesday's Child by Yuyan Li is a collection of stories that revolve around the themes of love, loss, longing, and belonging. With the stories that were written over a span of fourteen years, Li shows how people want their lives to be in equilibrium, sustained, and ordinary, until something turbulent, unsustained, and out-of-ordinary happens.
This book was like calmness amidst chaos for me, the chaos of thoughts, longings, homesickness, and nostalgia, and the calmness of time, of the moment, and solitude. For me, most of the stories were like this, where I started a chain of thoughts because of any particular line or a sentence and after being tired from it, came back to it, just like we do when we get to a new city, with the new sense of longing and belonging, and finding a home outside home! And these stories carry that feeling with them thoroughly.
Also, I felt that many of the stories carry the characters of the teachers very strongly and make us realise how important and impacting they are in our lives! They are someone apart from our guardians to whom we give our trust without boundaries in our formative years, and that leaves a lifelong imprint. And Li showed that astonishingly.
No matter who we are and which culture, ethnicity, and region we belong to, what makes us all common is our human nature, tendencies, and emotions. Though the stories depict the lives of Chinese immigrants, the core themes of migration, sustainability, and survival remain the same, making the stories relatable.
I read this book for around two months and took my time. The author's writing style is evocative and although some stories might not be the best, they evoke emotions, and thus, I highly recommend this book.
This book was like calmness amidst chaos for me, the chaos of thoughts, longings, homesickness, and nostalgia, and the calmness of time, of the moment, and solitude. For me, most of the stories were like this, where I started a chain of thoughts because of any particular line or a sentence and after being tired from it, came back to it, just like we do when we get to a new city, with the new sense of longing and belonging, and finding a home outside home! And these stories carry that feeling with them thoroughly.
Also, I felt that many of the stories carry the characters of the teachers very strongly and make us realise how important and impacting they are in our lives! They are someone apart from our guardians to whom we give our trust without boundaries in our formative years, and that leaves a lifelong imprint. And Li showed that astonishingly.
No matter who we are and which culture, ethnicity, and region we belong to, what makes us all common is our human nature, tendencies, and emotions. Though the stories depict the lives of Chinese immigrants, the core themes of migration, sustainability, and survival remain the same, making the stories relatable.
I read this book for around two months and took my time. The author's writing style is evocative and although some stories might not be the best, they evoke emotions, and thus, I highly recommend this book.
The Parents I Met by Mansi Zaveri is an anthology of the interviews that the authors did with the parents of successful individuals in society to find out how they raised their children and the fundamentals of their parenting.
The book provides interesting insights about parenting and makes the author reflect on the generational differences and how they affect the whole concept of parenting with the changing times and ways, but at the same time, demonstrates the thing that binds generations which is again, parenting, in its core emotions.
I felt that this book is not only for parents who can get a sense of relief and comradeship with other parents and can inculcate things and learnings from others, it is also a wonderful book for children as well who can understand the perspective, insecurities, hardships and of their parents along with looking at their life from their lens.
I just wished for an interview of the parents of any writer in the collection as well as the interview of the parents of Mansi Zaveri herself, as I wanted their reaction when she switched jobs and some anecdotes about her childhood. Well, can we expect them in the next edition of the book? Only the author can answer that!
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I feel that anyone who is looking forward to reading about parenting can try this book. I highly recommend it.
Detailed review on Blog. Link
The book provides interesting insights about parenting and makes the author reflect on the generational differences and how they affect the whole concept of parenting with the changing times and ways, but at the same time, demonstrates the thing that binds generations which is again, parenting, in its core emotions.
I felt that this book is not only for parents who can get a sense of relief and comradeship with other parents and can inculcate things and learnings from others, it is also a wonderful book for children as well who can understand the perspective, insecurities, hardships and of their parents along with looking at their life from their lens.
I just wished for an interview of the parents of any writer in the collection as well as the interview of the parents of Mansi Zaveri herself, as I wanted their reaction when she switched jobs and some anecdotes about her childhood. Well, can we expect them in the next edition of the book? Only the author can answer that!
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I feel that anyone who is looking forward to reading about parenting can try this book. I highly recommend it.
Detailed review on Blog. Link
Book: What You Are Looking For Is In The Library
Author: Michiko Aoyama
Translator: Alison Watts
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 256
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated from Japanese to English by Alison Watts shows us the story of people who are looking for some hope, trust, motivation, and maybe a book as well. And the recommendations for the book come from the librarian Sayuri Komachi, who not only looks for what one is looking for in the book, but for life, for something that not only helps them in reading a book, but also, living the life.
When the visitors visit the library, "What are you looking for?" from the librarian Sayuri Komachi sounds like "What brings you here?" as asked by counsellors. And the process after that again seems so personal like the latter, as it seems it's written for us. Even when the situations or protagonists are diagonally opposite from us- the readers, there will be moments when it seems like it's written for us or even by us. Also, the personal connection that Ms. Komachi builds up through the bonus gifts is mesmerizing.
The book, the stories of the people, the writing style, and the sentences in between bring a deep sense of calmness and comfort and soothe the emotions and vulnerabilities of us, the readers as humans, after creating a sense of restlessness and making us see our emotions naked, without any outfit of the society or environment. And it heals a part of us, maybe a wound about which we weren't even aware of. And that's the speciality and power of this book.
The book also has so many humorous moments, especially when the visitors see Ms. Komachi for the first time and their description of her appearance and how it changes after having a conversation with her. Also, I felt naturally inclined to know more about the books that were suggested and I hope to read a few of them sometime, especially "Guri and Gura".
Also, this was my first book and the introduction to Japanese Literature and if it is like this, I want to explore more. And I hope that we all get a librarian like Ms. Komachi.
I was inclined towards this book because of the title and the cover, but I can assure you that the story inside is more beautiful and heartwarming than that and I hope you all read it. This book is a favourite and it's definitely a book that I'll highly recommend to everyone, no matter who you are, just read it. It's 5.5/5. (Yes, you read it right, I was discussing with Sukaina di about this book while buddy reading and I said I wish I could give it more than 5 and she said it's 5.5, and so yes, now it's 5.5!!)
Author: Michiko Aoyama
Translator: Alison Watts
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday
Pages: 256
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated from Japanese to English by Alison Watts shows us the story of people who are looking for some hope, trust, motivation, and maybe a book as well. And the recommendations for the book come from the librarian Sayuri Komachi, who not only looks for what one is looking for in the book, but for life, for something that not only helps them in reading a book, but also, living the life.
When the visitors visit the library, "What are you looking for?" from the librarian Sayuri Komachi sounds like "What brings you here?" as asked by counsellors. And the process after that again seems so personal like the latter, as it seems it's written for us. Even when the situations or protagonists are diagonally opposite from us- the readers, there will be moments when it seems like it's written for us or even by us. Also, the personal connection that Ms. Komachi builds up through the bonus gifts is mesmerizing.
The book, the stories of the people, the writing style, and the sentences in between bring a deep sense of calmness and comfort and soothe the emotions and vulnerabilities of us, the readers as humans, after creating a sense of restlessness and making us see our emotions naked, without any outfit of the society or environment. And it heals a part of us, maybe a wound about which we weren't even aware of. And that's the speciality and power of this book.
The book also has so many humorous moments, especially when the visitors see Ms. Komachi for the first time and their description of her appearance and how it changes after having a conversation with her. Also, I felt naturally inclined to know more about the books that were suggested and I hope to read a few of them sometime, especially "Guri and Gura".
Also, this was my first book and the introduction to Japanese Literature and if it is like this, I want to explore more. And I hope that we all get a librarian like Ms. Komachi.
I was inclined towards this book because of the title and the cover, but I can assure you that the story inside is more beautiful and heartwarming than that and I hope you all read it. This book is a favourite and it's definitely a book that I'll highly recommend to everyone, no matter who you are, just read it. It's 5.5/5. (Yes, you read it right, I was discussing with Sukaina di about this book while buddy reading and I said I wish I could give it more than 5 and she said it's 5.5, and so yes, now it's 5.5!!)
Book: A Fish That Grows Tomato
Author: Sushant Madaan
Genre: Children's Early Learning
Publisher: Notion Press
Pages: 100
A Fish That Grows Tomato by Sushant Madaan is an illustrated educational children's book that uncovers the story of farming and agriculture in a fun, enhanced, and innovative way through Professor Sushi, a fish!
The book has gorgeous illustrations and the author covered the agriculture for the children in a very vast range that gives it a much fresher perspective. The addition of horticulture, apiculture, and sustainable farming along with the elemental knowledge, history, and the market gives a much view and broadens the horizon.
Although some terms would require the assistance of parents/guardians for the elaboration while reading, overall the author tried to give definitions and clarity in a fun way that makes it interesting.
I was a little confused about the title until the end which was very fascinating and justified why the title is named as it is. Although I was aware of the concept, certain aspects of it were new even for me and made it more enjoyable and informative.
I highly recommend this book for children as it covers an essential theme that needs to be discussed and provides room for conversation, queries, and curiosity.
Author: Sushant Madaan
Genre: Children's Early Learning
Publisher: Notion Press
Pages: 100
A Fish That Grows Tomato by Sushant Madaan is an illustrated educational children's book that uncovers the story of farming and agriculture in a fun, enhanced, and innovative way through Professor Sushi, a fish!
The book has gorgeous illustrations and the author covered the agriculture for the children in a very vast range that gives it a much fresher perspective. The addition of horticulture, apiculture, and sustainable farming along with the elemental knowledge, history, and the market gives a much view and broadens the horizon.
Although some terms would require the assistance of parents/guardians for the elaboration while reading, overall the author tried to give definitions and clarity in a fun way that makes it interesting.
I was a little confused about the title until the end which was very fascinating and justified why the title is named as it is. Although I was aware of the concept, certain aspects of it were new even for me and made it more enjoyable and informative.
I highly recommend this book for children as it covers an essential theme that needs to be discussed and provides room for conversation, queries, and curiosity.
Book: Murder Under A Red Moon
Author: Harini Nagendra
Genre: Crime & Mystery
Publisher: Constable
Pages: 298
Murder Under A Red Moon by Harini Nagendra is the latest book and second part in the Bangalore Detectives Club series. When Kaveri Murthy, who solved the famous murder case of the missing milkman last summer agrees to solve a minor crime to please her mother-in-law, Bhargavi, she was in no way expecting to stumble upon a new murder during the blood moon eclipse. So when she starts diving deeper into the case with the Bangalore Detective Club, having some street urchins, nosy neighbours, an ex-prostitute, and a policeman's wife, she is close to the truth. But with the rise of a charismatic religious personality, people having multiple motives for the murder, and her life in danger, she has to find the killer before the killer finds her. Read the book to uncover the murderer and the truth.
The author covers various themes and touches on various issues through different characters of the story, be it patriarchy, hierarchy in society, class difference, spirituality, domestic violence, or the role of education and relationships. The story dives deeper into each of them very subtly, without being preachy or making a point exclusively.
The character of Kaveri was fascinating to read and it was nice to read a detective having biases and prejudices unlike other "detectives" which are ideal in their character arc and make the characters more connected. The women of The Women’s Study Group have their own story and it gives a very diverse and real picture of the society. Other characters such as Venu, Coffeepudi Lakamma, and Inspector Ismail were fascinating and I would love to see more of them.
The story also beautifully portrays the problems of life after a certain age and conditions, especially through the characters of Bhargavi and Uma Aunty, Kaveri's neighbour. Bhargavi's dynamics with pets was another interesting thing.
The build-up for the end was good and although the ending was a little predictable, the writing and the last chapter were a delight to read and I would love to explore that a little more in the next part. Also, I wished to see more moments between Ramu and Kaveri and to see more of their relationship dynamics, but I think that's because I haven't read the first part of the series which I'll do now!
It was my first book by the author and I enjoyed her writing style. The writing was simple, appealing, and fluid and engaged me from the initial pages and kept me hooked till the end. The chapters were short and quick to finish which made them more enjoyable and intriguing. I enjoyed the titles of the chapters as well, I love it when authors invest in naming the chapters and give subtle hints through them rather than just numbering them.
Also, the author tried to capture the history and nuisance of Bangalore in the 1920s very well and it was nice to read a book set in the city known as the "Silicon Valley of India" in different settings and see its different phases and perspectives.
Overall, this short crime and mystery fiction was an amazing read that could easily be finished in a day and can give good company to the reader. If you are looking forward to reading Desi crime fiction with a female detective, this is a perfect read.
Author: Harini Nagendra
Genre: Crime & Mystery
Publisher: Constable
Pages: 298
Murder Under A Red Moon by Harini Nagendra is the latest book and second part in the Bangalore Detectives Club series. When Kaveri Murthy, who solved the famous murder case of the missing milkman last summer agrees to solve a minor crime to please her mother-in-law, Bhargavi, she was in no way expecting to stumble upon a new murder during the blood moon eclipse. So when she starts diving deeper into the case with the Bangalore Detective Club, having some street urchins, nosy neighbours, an ex-prostitute, and a policeman's wife, she is close to the truth. But with the rise of a charismatic religious personality, people having multiple motives for the murder, and her life in danger, she has to find the killer before the killer finds her. Read the book to uncover the murderer and the truth.
The author covers various themes and touches on various issues through different characters of the story, be it patriarchy, hierarchy in society, class difference, spirituality, domestic violence, or the role of education and relationships. The story dives deeper into each of them very subtly, without being preachy or making a point exclusively.
The character of Kaveri was fascinating to read and it was nice to read a detective having biases and prejudices unlike other "detectives" which are ideal in their character arc and make the characters more connected. The women of The Women’s Study Group have their own story and it gives a very diverse and real picture of the society. Other characters such as Venu, Coffeepudi Lakamma, and Inspector Ismail were fascinating and I would love to see more of them.
The story also beautifully portrays the problems of life after a certain age and conditions, especially through the characters of Bhargavi and Uma Aunty, Kaveri's neighbour. Bhargavi's dynamics with pets was another interesting thing.
The build-up for the end was good and although the ending was a little predictable, the writing and the last chapter were a delight to read and I would love to explore that a little more in the next part. Also, I wished to see more moments between Ramu and Kaveri and to see more of their relationship dynamics, but I think that's because I haven't read the first part of the series which I'll do now!
It was my first book by the author and I enjoyed her writing style. The writing was simple, appealing, and fluid and engaged me from the initial pages and kept me hooked till the end. The chapters were short and quick to finish which made them more enjoyable and intriguing. I enjoyed the titles of the chapters as well, I love it when authors invest in naming the chapters and give subtle hints through them rather than just numbering them.
Also, the author tried to capture the history and nuisance of Bangalore in the 1920s very well and it was nice to read a book set in the city known as the "Silicon Valley of India" in different settings and see its different phases and perspectives.
Overall, this short crime and mystery fiction was an amazing read that could easily be finished in a day and can give good company to the reader. If you are looking forward to reading Desi crime fiction with a female detective, this is a perfect read.
Book: The Bandit Queens
Author: Parini Shroff
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 352
Longlisted for The Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff is the story of Geeta. It's been five years since the rumour in the village that Geeta killed her husband and is a churel, a rumour that won't easily die. But it comes with some perks - no one tries to mess with Geeta or harass her and it's good for her business, the jewellery making, as no one dares to say no to her jewellery. But with freedom comes responsibility, the responsibility of "helping" other women to dispose of their husbands. And helping does not necessarily always mean helping, sometimes it can be for "forced help" as well. And so she needs to find a way to save herself while helping to be windows. How will Geeta save herself amidst the changing events around her that not only impacts Geeta but all the women around her in the village? Read the book to know more.
The book is a blend of multiple genres- crime, thriller, mystery, and humour (and still I might have missed some) and the author covered a vast range of themes through it, be it domestic violence, manipulation in relationships, untouchability and hierarchy, patriarchy, sexual harassment, violence, animal cruelty and again a lot more that I might not be able to cover, and thus makes the story a lot more than what it seems on paper.
The author also mentioned Phoolan Devi at multiple junctions, something that can be derived and expected from the title as well, and shows how even after so many years, the oppression and abuse towards Dalits and women is prominent in society, and especially in the villages. The author also beautifully mentions in the Author's Note regarding this, "For me, fiction is when research meets compassion; I believe this is often why facts don’t change people’s minds, but stories do."
In between all the chaos and disasters, the "friendship" between the women was something that stood out particularly well and marked an impact. There is a hunt, restlessness, and extreme measures for survival and diving deeper into the mud for the living, and in between all of this, there is a hope for a dignified life, away from sexism and chauvinism.
It was one of my most anticipated reads of last year and I started reading it back then only after I received it, but after reading a few pages, I was not able to continue it as I was struggling with it. I tried to read it again a few times but wasn't successful before attempting it again last month. And the book picked up the pace and interest for me after about 40 percent and after that, there was no looking back.
I enjoyed reading the book, especially the ending which was quite impacting and gave a perfect end to the buildup and the pace, but at the same time, for me, the book lacked creating an emotional connection. There were moments which I felt if given a little more space could have played a vital role in bridging that distance, especially in the context of Karem and Saloni. Also, there were a few places where I would have liked to see more of the story and the build-up of the change in the character's perception and perspective.
I can see why this book is so loved and appreciated and why it is nominated, and it had so many elements that worked in favour of it and thus can be thoroughly enjoyed by the readers. So if you are looking forward to reading a book that is witty, humorous, and at the same time can make you think a lot about some very crucial issues, this can be a perfect read for you.
Rating: 3.25/5
Author: Parini Shroff
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 352
Longlisted for The Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff is the story of Geeta. It's been five years since the rumour in the village that Geeta killed her husband and is a churel, a rumour that won't easily die. But it comes with some perks - no one tries to mess with Geeta or harass her and it's good for her business, the jewellery making, as no one dares to say no to her jewellery. But with freedom comes responsibility, the responsibility of "helping" other women to dispose of their husbands. And helping does not necessarily always mean helping, sometimes it can be for "forced help" as well. And so she needs to find a way to save herself while helping to be windows. How will Geeta save herself amidst the changing events around her that not only impacts Geeta but all the women around her in the village? Read the book to know more.
The book is a blend of multiple genres- crime, thriller, mystery, and humour (and still I might have missed some) and the author covered a vast range of themes through it, be it domestic violence, manipulation in relationships, untouchability and hierarchy, patriarchy, sexual harassment, violence, animal cruelty and again a lot more that I might not be able to cover, and thus makes the story a lot more than what it seems on paper.
The author also mentioned Phoolan Devi at multiple junctions, something that can be derived and expected from the title as well, and shows how even after so many years, the oppression and abuse towards Dalits and women is prominent in society, and especially in the villages. The author also beautifully mentions in the Author's Note regarding this, "For me, fiction is when research meets compassion; I believe this is often why facts don’t change people’s minds, but stories do."
In between all the chaos and disasters, the "friendship" between the women was something that stood out particularly well and marked an impact. There is a hunt, restlessness, and extreme measures for survival and diving deeper into the mud for the living, and in between all of this, there is a hope for a dignified life, away from sexism and chauvinism.
It was one of my most anticipated reads of last year and I started reading it back then only after I received it, but after reading a few pages, I was not able to continue it as I was struggling with it. I tried to read it again a few times but wasn't successful before attempting it again last month. And the book picked up the pace and interest for me after about 40 percent and after that, there was no looking back.
I enjoyed reading the book, especially the ending which was quite impacting and gave a perfect end to the buildup and the pace, but at the same time, for me, the book lacked creating an emotional connection. There were moments which I felt if given a little more space could have played a vital role in bridging that distance, especially in the context of Karem and Saloni. Also, there were a few places where I would have liked to see more of the story and the build-up of the change in the character's perception and perspective.
I can see why this book is so loved and appreciated and why it is nominated, and it had so many elements that worked in favour of it and thus can be thoroughly enjoyed by the readers. So if you are looking forward to reading a book that is witty, humorous, and at the same time can make you think a lot about some very crucial issues, this can be a perfect read for you.
Rating: 3.25/5
Book: Conversations With Aurangzeb
Author: Charu Nivedita
Translator: Nandini Krishnan
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 348
Conversations With Aurangzeb by Charu Nivedita, translated from Tamil by Nandini Krishnan is a genre-blending fiction book. In the story, the writer while researching for his new novel about Catarina de San Juan, Shah Jahan's first cousin stumbles upon an Aghori who could summon into his body the spirit of anyone whom one wishes to speak, and so the writer tries to speak to the spirit of Shah Jahan. But Shah Jahan is elbowed out by Aurangzeb and turns the trajectory of the research and the novel of the writer completely. And thus this book takes place through a series of conversations. Read the book to see the "spirit" side of Aurangzeb.
This was one of the most anticipated reads for me because I got to know about the book when I visited the HarperCollins India office in September last year, and I was intrigued by the title and its description.
The book has a lot of humorous and fun moments. From Aurangabad mentioning lingos like "bro" and "dude" and making fun of them, being offended by a media's favourite child who shares his name with His ancestor Taimur, to discussing Priyanka Chopra or Tamil Superstars, there is a lot of humour and satire in it, and the writing makes it more captivating and interesting. Also, it was the first time where I had seen a book with Prologue 0 to 5, covering around 50 pages and giving a whole new dimension to the book.
The conversation between Aurangzeb and Honourable Katib(as Aurangzeb's spirit addresses the writer) focuses on a plethora of topics - democracy, genocide, taxes, rituals, heroism, Babur, Akbar, and Shah Jahan's reign, Aurangzeb's contemporaries and his comparisons with them, his "image" and Jawahar Lal Nehru, music, love, and things beyond Mughal's Dynasty, giving it a flavour of contemporary fiction and making it much more than historical fiction.
The author refers to several other resources, readings, artists, and pieces of evidence that analyze the claims of Aurangzeb's spirit, and at the same time, leaves many things for the understanding of the readers and makes them go a mile beyond to look for a few things further by themselves, making it a collaborative experience.
In the Translator's Note, Nandini Krishnan writes, "I do hope it alarms, frightens, and makes you want to throw it across the room. It is rather heavy, though, so I also hope you choose a worthy target to aim it at." And I can say that the book succeeded in its aim.
It would be a very absurd analogy to give, but the way Aurangzeb's conversation was written looked like Sajid Khan's appearance in Big Boss(IYKYK!). And so many times when Aurangzeb's spirit was talking about Ashoka, Shivaji, and others, I can imagine him saying the viral dialogue by Shehnaaz Gill- "Twada Kutta Tommy, Sadda Kutta Kutta"
Although the writing remains fascinating, after a point, the conversation looks repetitive and the interest starts to fade if I can say! The conversation looks like ranting and what looks humorous at the beginning becomes irritating!
Overall, this is a book that cannot be molded in any existing structures and makes a way on its own with the genre-blending, thought-provoking, diverse themes, narratives, and writing style and makes the readers look at things from an entirely new perspective. So if you want to read anything that's out of the box, this one can fulfill that requirement.
Author: Charu Nivedita
Translator: Nandini Krishnan
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 348
Conversations With Aurangzeb by Charu Nivedita, translated from Tamil by Nandini Krishnan is a genre-blending fiction book. In the story, the writer while researching for his new novel about Catarina de San Juan, Shah Jahan's first cousin stumbles upon an Aghori who could summon into his body the spirit of anyone whom one wishes to speak, and so the writer tries to speak to the spirit of Shah Jahan. But Shah Jahan is elbowed out by Aurangzeb and turns the trajectory of the research and the novel of the writer completely. And thus this book takes place through a series of conversations. Read the book to see the "spirit" side of Aurangzeb.
This was one of the most anticipated reads for me because I got to know about the book when I visited the HarperCollins India office in September last year, and I was intrigued by the title and its description.
The book has a lot of humorous and fun moments. From Aurangabad mentioning lingos like "bro" and "dude" and making fun of them, being offended by a media's favourite child who shares his name with His ancestor Taimur, to discussing Priyanka Chopra or Tamil Superstars, there is a lot of humour and satire in it, and the writing makes it more captivating and interesting. Also, it was the first time where I had seen a book with Prologue 0 to 5, covering around 50 pages and giving a whole new dimension to the book.
The conversation between Aurangzeb and Honourable Katib(as Aurangzeb's spirit addresses the writer) focuses on a plethora of topics - democracy, genocide, taxes, rituals, heroism, Babur, Akbar, and Shah Jahan's reign, Aurangzeb's contemporaries and his comparisons with them, his "image" and Jawahar Lal Nehru, music, love, and things beyond Mughal's Dynasty, giving it a flavour of contemporary fiction and making it much more than historical fiction.
The author refers to several other resources, readings, artists, and pieces of evidence that analyze the claims of Aurangzeb's spirit, and at the same time, leaves many things for the understanding of the readers and makes them go a mile beyond to look for a few things further by themselves, making it a collaborative experience.
In the Translator's Note, Nandini Krishnan writes, "I do hope it alarms, frightens, and makes you want to throw it across the room. It is rather heavy, though, so I also hope you choose a worthy target to aim it at." And I can say that the book succeeded in its aim.
It would be a very absurd analogy to give, but the way Aurangzeb's conversation was written looked like Sajid Khan's appearance in Big Boss(IYKYK!). And so many times when Aurangzeb's spirit was talking about Ashoka, Shivaji, and others, I can imagine him saying the viral dialogue by Shehnaaz Gill- "Twada Kutta Tommy, Sadda Kutta Kutta"
Although the writing remains fascinating, after a point, the conversation looks repetitive and the interest starts to fade if I can say! The conversation looks like ranting and what looks humorous at the beginning becomes irritating!
Overall, this is a book that cannot be molded in any existing structures and makes a way on its own with the genre-blending, thought-provoking, diverse themes, narratives, and writing style and makes the readers look at things from an entirely new perspective. So if you want to read anything that's out of the box, this one can fulfill that requirement.
Book: The Museum Of The World
Author: Christopher Kloeble
Translator: Rekha Kamath Rajan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 464
The Museum Of The World by Christopher Kloeble is translated from German into English by Rekha Kamath Rajan. In this historical fiction, when Schlagintweit Brothers: Adolph, Hermann, and Robert Schlagintweit visited India in the 1950s with the support of East India Company and Alexander von Humboldt embarked upon a great journey and discovery that took them across India and the Himalayas, they hired a twelve-year-old boy Bartholomew, an orphan from Bombay who speaks as many languages as his age as their translator (although there is no mention of him in the official records). But Bartholomew has a different ambition - to establish the first museum of India! To know what happens in this journey where a twelve-year-old is willing to risk anything for his dream- even his life, read the book.
This book uniquely shows us the history of colonialism through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy who is embarking on a historical, huge scientific journey and entering his teenage at the same time thus provides a very raw, real, and perceptive filled with emotions, innocence and perseverance, and adrenaline rush!
The book captures the themes of colonialism, teenagers, and dreams together very well and Kloeble has masterfully interwoven them. This is my first translated read from German and the translator deserves a lot of appreciation. The translation was lucid and it didn't even feel like a translation, I felt as if it was written in English.
This is a part fictional part factual book and rides deep on emotions. From Bartholomew's struggle at the orphanage amongst other people, their tactics and bullying, his relationship with Father Fuchs and Smitaben shines and provides a much-needed comfort in his life and the story with turbulence at times to giving the description of the hardships in the journey and saving one's own life and dreams, this book rides high on characters and their perspectives. Although at some point the length of the book seems long, it felt much needed for the character development and gives deep insights into their life, forming an emotional connection with the readers.
But for me, the highlight of the book would be "The Museum Of The World", a museum made up of not only materialistic things but emotions as well and an orphan could not afford to have anything, not even emotions. And he is reminded from time to time of it-
"Bartholomew, if I may give you some advice. You will never be free. You are an orphan. Even worse, an ambitious orphan! If you aren’t careful, your life will be a series of disappointments. Someone like you does not found museums. Someone like you should be thankful if he does not perish as a child."
Thus, this book gives a ray of sunshine through the life of Bartholomew to all of us, and the way it's written, it strikes directly and leaves a deep long-lasting impact.
Read this book so that you can see colonialism through a different lens, and more importantly to see how a twelve-year-old takes us on a journey where time and again he is reminded to not dream and yet, he teaches us that one cannot live without them!
Author: Christopher Kloeble
Translator: Rekha Kamath Rajan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 464
The Museum Of The World by Christopher Kloeble is translated from German into English by Rekha Kamath Rajan. In this historical fiction, when Schlagintweit Brothers: Adolph, Hermann, and Robert Schlagintweit visited India in the 1950s with the support of East India Company and Alexander von Humboldt embarked upon a great journey and discovery that took them across India and the Himalayas, they hired a twelve-year-old boy Bartholomew, an orphan from Bombay who speaks as many languages as his age as their translator (although there is no mention of him in the official records). But Bartholomew has a different ambition - to establish the first museum of India! To know what happens in this journey where a twelve-year-old is willing to risk anything for his dream- even his life, read the book.
This book uniquely shows us the history of colonialism through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy who is embarking on a historical, huge scientific journey and entering his teenage at the same time thus provides a very raw, real, and perceptive filled with emotions, innocence and perseverance, and adrenaline rush!
The book captures the themes of colonialism, teenagers, and dreams together very well and Kloeble has masterfully interwoven them. This is my first translated read from German and the translator deserves a lot of appreciation. The translation was lucid and it didn't even feel like a translation, I felt as if it was written in English.
This is a part fictional part factual book and rides deep on emotions. From Bartholomew's struggle at the orphanage amongst other people, their tactics and bullying, his relationship with Father Fuchs and Smitaben shines and provides a much-needed comfort in his life and the story with turbulence at times to giving the description of the hardships in the journey and saving one's own life and dreams, this book rides high on characters and their perspectives. Although at some point the length of the book seems long, it felt much needed for the character development and gives deep insights into their life, forming an emotional connection with the readers.
But for me, the highlight of the book would be "The Museum Of The World", a museum made up of not only materialistic things but emotions as well and an orphan could not afford to have anything, not even emotions. And he is reminded from time to time of it-
"Bartholomew, if I may give you some advice. You will never be free. You are an orphan. Even worse, an ambitious orphan! If you aren’t careful, your life will be a series of disappointments. Someone like you does not found museums. Someone like you should be thankful if he does not perish as a child."
Thus, this book gives a ray of sunshine through the life of Bartholomew to all of us, and the way it's written, it strikes directly and leaves a deep long-lasting impact.
Read this book so that you can see colonialism through a different lens, and more importantly to see how a twelve-year-old takes us on a journey where time and again he is reminded to not dream and yet, he teaches us that one cannot live without them!
Book: Revolutionaries
Author: Sanjeev Sanyal
Genre: Colonialism and Imperialism History
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 364
The history of India's Freedom Struggle is always known, appreciated, and idealised for its non-violent movement. Yet it cannot be neglected that at the same time, there was armed resistance against the Britishers, and yet it has been ignored carefully throughout History. Either they are ignored, or their story is represented as an overambitious, directionless activity that does not have a wider reach and network. But it might not be the case and the author Sanjeev Sanyal through his book - "Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom" highlights and narrates their story having names including Vinayak Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose, amongst many others, and this book shows their vision of establishing a modern republic.
This book comes at a time when a lot of historical narratives are questioned and a lot of voids in the narratives are being identified and filled. And this book is one such initiative in that case.
In the book, a lot of information has been beautifully carved out by the author in the form of a linear story that makes the historical narrative even more interesting to read rather than any factual book, making it more connecting and taking the readers closer to their history.
There's a lot that can be said about this book and how the author very gracefully penned down some heart-wrenching stories of our freedom struggle but it would be better if you read this book by yourself.
There's a line from the book that depicts why it is important to read this book: "The friction between the two factions is usually referred to as the rivalry between ‘extremists’ and ‘moderates’. The very use of the terms tells you who would later write the official history of that period."
This is an essential book that should be read to know our past and our leaders more deeply and closely and something that will initiate more conversations, debates, opinions, diversity, and research and development- something that a country always needs for its betterment. Thus, this book is highly recommended.
Author: Sanjeev Sanyal
Genre: Colonialism and Imperialism History
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 364
The history of India's Freedom Struggle is always known, appreciated, and idealised for its non-violent movement. Yet it cannot be neglected that at the same time, there was armed resistance against the Britishers, and yet it has been ignored carefully throughout History. Either they are ignored, or their story is represented as an overambitious, directionless activity that does not have a wider reach and network. But it might not be the case and the author Sanjeev Sanyal through his book - "Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom" highlights and narrates their story having names including Vinayak Savarkar, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose, amongst many others, and this book shows their vision of establishing a modern republic.
This book comes at a time when a lot of historical narratives are questioned and a lot of voids in the narratives are being identified and filled. And this book is one such initiative in that case.
In the book, a lot of information has been beautifully carved out by the author in the form of a linear story that makes the historical narrative even more interesting to read rather than any factual book, making it more connecting and taking the readers closer to their history.
There's a lot that can be said about this book and how the author very gracefully penned down some heart-wrenching stories of our freedom struggle but it would be better if you read this book by yourself.
There's a line from the book that depicts why it is important to read this book: "The friction between the two factions is usually referred to as the rivalry between ‘extremists’ and ‘moderates’. The very use of the terms tells you who would later write the official history of that period."
This is an essential book that should be read to know our past and our leaders more deeply and closely and something that will initiate more conversations, debates, opinions, diversity, and research and development- something that a country always needs for its betterment. Thus, this book is highly recommended.
Book: Nalisa's Universe
Author: Nalisa Chopra
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Om Books International
Pages: 246
Nalisa's Universe by Nalisa Chopra is a collection of 101 poems that are divided into 7 chapters: Mystical, Storytelling, Nature, Memories, Romance, Feminist, and Me. Through the poems, the poet covers a range of themes, emotions, events, experiences, and anecdotes that can easily be interpreted through the names of the chapters.
Some poems stand out well and make the reader pause and reflect, especially in the 'Nature' section where a lot of poems subtly raise the issue of Human-Wildlife Conflict and talk passionately about finding equilibrium and giving nature what it deserves.
As a young and aspiring writer, there is a rawness and keen observation in the poem that can make one see things differently with a new perspective and enrich the reading experience.
One can also observe the fact that the most number of poems are in chapter 'Memories' and the least in 'Me', giving a sense that what gives an individual a sense of identity and belonging are their experiences and memories, making one reflect on it more subconsciously and giving the identity to the latter chapter by the former.
Many poems spoke directly to me and I could connect with them. But as a collection of poems, it goes without saying that it's not possible to connect with all of them with the same intensity and there are many poems with which I didn't feel connected.
Overall, it's a collection that could be tried if you enjoy reading light poems, each accompanied by some gorgeous illustrations by Shruti Ahuja, that makes it even more beautiful. I'll give it 3.65/5 stars.
Author: Nalisa Chopra
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: Om Books International
Pages: 246
Nalisa's Universe by Nalisa Chopra is a collection of 101 poems that are divided into 7 chapters: Mystical, Storytelling, Nature, Memories, Romance, Feminist, and Me. Through the poems, the poet covers a range of themes, emotions, events, experiences, and anecdotes that can easily be interpreted through the names of the chapters.
Some poems stand out well and make the reader pause and reflect, especially in the 'Nature' section where a lot of poems subtly raise the issue of Human-Wildlife Conflict and talk passionately about finding equilibrium and giving nature what it deserves.
As a young and aspiring writer, there is a rawness and keen observation in the poem that can make one see things differently with a new perspective and enrich the reading experience.
One can also observe the fact that the most number of poems are in chapter 'Memories' and the least in 'Me', giving a sense that what gives an individual a sense of identity and belonging are their experiences and memories, making one reflect on it more subconsciously and giving the identity to the latter chapter by the former.
Many poems spoke directly to me and I could connect with them. But as a collection of poems, it goes without saying that it's not possible to connect with all of them with the same intensity and there are many poems with which I didn't feel connected.
Overall, it's a collection that could be tried if you enjoy reading light poems, each accompanied by some gorgeous illustrations by Shruti Ahuja, that makes it even more beautiful. I'll give it 3.65/5 stars.