USA has a very recent history. In that short span I think they have managed to create quite a commotion. If we can draw a similarity between birth of places to growth of people or to new buys, then this is how I would explain it from that perspective. It's similar to a small child and all the fuss it creates or a new cloth that we love to wear more often than others. It too will soon calm down and grow up. This is how I think I would like to draw conclusion reading the book.
It is however a better read than all the crazy "USA that", "USA this" stuff that's on the movies and books these days. It reminded me of how the White immigrants from Europe have oppressed and almost made extinct the local people of Americas and the culture of the tribes. It reflects on the cruelty shown towards colored people - which is still evident in the nation despite all the talk of equality. It is a wonderful book if one feels like seeing how hypocritical humans are. If we can learn from these mistakes and make ourselves better, just a little bit, then I feel we will make for much better Humans.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
abachurina postapisu
I decided I have to improve my Kannada and Kannada novel knowledge. Till now I had read only one novel, about shakuntala and I simply loved it. Recently, borrowed a couple of books from my sis. This one by poornachandra tejaswi was the first to be devoured, slowly, yes.
My first impression, it's just a bunch of random stories. Starts and ends abruptly. But as I reflect upon it I do like the book. It's a one reader for me but I quite like the abruptness. It leaves room for thought and characters do have a certain depth to them. Looking forward to reading the next one.
My first impression, it's just a bunch of random stories. Starts and ends abruptly. But as I reflect upon it I do like the book. It's a one reader for me but I quite like the abruptness. It leaves room for thought and characters do have a certain depth to them. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
The Final Rehearsal
This is the play that is at the bottom of my memory stack. I have - I guess - seen other plays before but I don't remember any except the one I acted in as a school boi, haha. I went to this play by Pawan. Pawan happend to be my close friend's friend and so I was literally dragged to this play screening at Alliance francais Blr. It's a lovely play and very very touching...the raw nerve kinds. Quite well acted aswell!
Pawan's page
Pawan's page
Flowers - a play
This was my second english play and the first english one I watched at RS. The actor Rajit Kapur (Byomkesh Bakshi fame). It was a 60 min monologue, where Rajit has played the role of Head priest of a temple and is caught between his dedication towards God and love towards a courtesan. Very well written drama by Girish Karnad and amazing acting by Rajit.
Girish Karnad's new play is a dramatic monologue about a devoted and pious priest who violates both his ‘dharma’ and his ‘bhakti’ because of his love for a courtesan. Torn between his love for his god and his love for Chandravati, between his duty to the king and his duty to his wife, the priest tells the story of his life after matters have come to a head and all his loves and his duties collide on a single night. Once again, Karnad takes a folk tale about the human condition and refreshes it with a contemporary sensibility that embraces love, loyalty and honour. - RS
Girish Karnad's new play is a dramatic monologue about a devoted and pious priest who violates both his ‘dharma’ and his ‘bhakti’ because of his love for a courtesan. Torn between his love for his god and his love for Chandravati, between his duty to the king and his duty to his wife, the priest tells the story of his life after matters have come to a head and all his loves and his duties collide on a single night. Once again, Karnad takes a folk tale about the human condition and refreshes it with a contemporary sensibility that embraces love, loyalty and honour. - RS
shraddha
This play is a nice dialogue among 3 brothers with a flash back effet, how their father used to be. It also involves how the sons are correcting themselves now and that - to them - was the ultimate salute and respect they give to their late father on his death anniversary. A one time watch for me but ended up watching it twice as I read shraddha as shredde! :-)
Jokumara swamy
Play by chandrashekara kambara. It's about how the worship of a veggi which resembles the male organ and it's further consumption helps a woman get her long desire, for kids. It's a nice play and well executed at RS. Insidentally a movie plan for the same play was also in news relating to Shankar Nag's demise. Shankar nag - death. It was quite moving to see Arundathi Nag at the screening of this play.
A recent visit to Bangkok exposed me to a similar traditon where, if a woman conceives (bangkok, well I dont see problems there with their culture - IMHO!), a wooden penis is placed in a temple sanctorium dedicated to this god of child giver. Quite interesting how we have changed a natural act of procreation into such an act of hush hush and quiteness among other things. More about it here
A recent visit to Bangkok exposed me to a similar traditon where, if a woman conceives (bangkok, well I dont see problems there with their culture - IMHO!), a wooden penis is placed in a temple sanctorium dedicated to this god of child giver. Quite interesting how we have changed a natural act of procreation into such an act of hush hush and quiteness among other things. More about it here
heegadre hege
Ok! I just had to do this, I have the problem that I just cannot remember the titles of the plays I watch or of the books I read. I just confess, I try n try but I just can't remember! So just for my reference, I am going to jot down the names of the plays I have seen with a small line about it.
Heegadre hege is a play by Sunandamma, with milaraiya and sarasu. It's a fab comedy play and a must watch for those who have not.
Sarasamma and Mylarayya: the English-educated Mylarayya’s desperate attempts to relearn his mother-tongue when it is declared the official language; a retired Mylarayya making a nuisance of himself to the household; the couple’s dream of winning a crore in a television quiz gradually turning into a nightmare; Sarasu’s attempts to become a writer and her being conned by a fake film script-writer into parting with the small honorarium she receives for her first story; the invitation to make a memorial lecture landing Sarasu in another mess; Mylarayya’s anxieties over Sarasu’s brief spell of spirituality. - RS.
Heegadre hege is a play by Sunandamma, with milaraiya and sarasu. It's a fab comedy play and a must watch for those who have not.
Sarasamma and Mylarayya: the English-educated Mylarayya’s desperate attempts to relearn his mother-tongue when it is declared the official language; a retired Mylarayya making a nuisance of himself to the household; the couple’s dream of winning a crore in a television quiz gradually turning into a nightmare; Sarasu’s attempts to become a writer and her being conned by a fake film script-writer into parting with the small honorarium she receives for her first story; the invitation to make a memorial lecture landing Sarasu in another mess; Mylarayya’s anxieties over Sarasu’s brief spell of spirituality. - RS.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
2 books that I recently read
10th Feb 2007
Girl with a pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier
- A fiction story based on the painting by Johannes Vermeer with the same title. The painting is also known as 'Dutch Monalisa'. Loved the description of the 17th century Holland and the other paintings by Vermeer. The characters are finely depicted.
15th Feb 2007
Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir
- A true story based on a upper class Moroccan Oufkir family. After executing the father for the attempted murder of King Hassan II, Malika Oufkir her 5 siblings and mother are imprisoned in 1972, in a desert jail for 20 yrs. A gripping book about freedom and the will to survive in adverse conditions.
Girl with a pearl earring by Tracy Chevalier
- A fiction story based on the painting by Johannes Vermeer with the same title. The painting is also known as 'Dutch Monalisa'. Loved the description of the 17th century Holland and the other paintings by Vermeer. The characters are finely depicted.
15th Feb 2007
Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir
- A true story based on a upper class Moroccan Oufkir family. After executing the father for the attempted murder of King Hassan II, Malika Oufkir her 5 siblings and mother are imprisoned in 1972, in a desert jail for 20 yrs. A gripping book about freedom and the will to survive in adverse conditions.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Manfredi Triathlon
I read a couple of books by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Listed below are the books:
The Spartan. I had read this a few years back and this was my first Massimo. Love at first read is how to describe this book.
The Talisman of Troy read in December `06. A nice read at times a drag but in all good.
The Oracle. This was a try by Manfredi at getting away from the typical ancient Roman setting towards blending the 20th century with the fables from ancient Rome. For me, it was not that great a read. It sort of feels like it has an Identity crisis.
I just finished reading The Empire of Dragons. It was a beauty and a must read. It has a very distinct character and charm that keeps you glued to the book.
Link to my other post on this
The Spartan. I had read this a few years back and this was my first Massimo. Love at first read is how to describe this book.
The Talisman of Troy read in December `06. A nice read at times a drag but in all good.
The Oracle. This was a try by Manfredi at getting away from the typical ancient Roman setting towards blending the 20th century with the fables from ancient Rome. For me, it was not that great a read. It sort of feels like it has an Identity crisis.
I just finished reading The Empire of Dragons. It was a beauty and a must read. It has a very distinct character and charm that keeps you glued to the book.
Link to my other post on this
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Paris and Parisans!
Paris - a city shrowded in mystery. Atleast the numerous books written describe it so. I have read 3 books till now, written at different points in time, the plot has it's foundations in some or the other famous monument of Paris.
The first of the series was Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown based built on "La Louvre". This was also made into a movie, as you already know. It caused quite a sensation due to it's religious association! However it does have a love track running along with the mystery track.
The second was Hunch back of Notredame by Victor Hugo. This was a love story of sorts among the inhabitants of the famous Notredame church in Paris. I read an un-abriged translation. Found the original fench book too much for the little french that I know.
The third and the latest that I read was The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. This is also another love story and the setting is The Paris opera house.
I enjoyed reading each of these books....in their own way they were quite thriling! Parisans and the thrill they get out of love shrouded in mystery....Would love to visit this place some time...
The first of the series was Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown based built on "La Louvre". This was also made into a movie, as you already know. It caused quite a sensation due to it's religious association! However it does have a love track running along with the mystery track.
The second was Hunch back of Notredame by Victor Hugo. This was a love story of sorts among the inhabitants of the famous Notredame church in Paris. I read an un-abriged translation. Found the original fench book too much for the little french that I know.
The third and the latest that I read was The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. This is also another love story and the setting is The Paris opera house.
I enjoyed reading each of these books....in their own way they were quite thriling! Parisans and the thrill they get out of love shrouded in mystery....Would love to visit this place some time...
Monday, October 30, 2006
Oliver twist
The first time I heard this, was on TV, there is this cooking show that is called Oliver Twist (cute guy with a funny accent and nice style of cooking). In one of my visits to landmark, and the usual browsing through classics, I saw this book. I was wondering what it was all about when my friend told me it was a very good book. So, yup you guessed right, I picked it up.
It’s actually a slow book; I have fallen asleep numerous times while reading it. At times I even cussed myself for liking classics!
The story is about this young orphan, who is brought up in the cruelest of conditions, in a typical English country side. It talks of how he escapes the clutches of the middle class people of that times, and reaches London, how he gets cheated in London by a gang of robbers, of the assistance of some elderly gentleman and lady of the upper class, and the change in his luck and finally of his becoming happy and experiencing a much desired and wanted love and affection by the people surrounding him.
It is a book with a typical happy ending, which all of us would want in a book but then, one which makes the book a “typical book”. To me it was a decent read, quite touching at times of Oliver’s misery and happiness but not something that had a “punch” to it.
It’s actually a slow book; I have fallen asleep numerous times while reading it. At times I even cussed myself for liking classics!
The story is about this young orphan, who is brought up in the cruelest of conditions, in a typical English country side. It talks of how he escapes the clutches of the middle class people of that times, and reaches London, how he gets cheated in London by a gang of robbers, of the assistance of some elderly gentleman and lady of the upper class, and the change in his luck and finally of his becoming happy and experiencing a much desired and wanted love and affection by the people surrounding him.
It is a book with a typical happy ending, which all of us would want in a book but then, one which makes the book a “typical book”. To me it was a decent read, quite touching at times of Oliver’s misery and happiness but not something that had a “punch” to it.
I remember the day, a couple of months back when in one of my visits to forum's landmark, I was as usual browsing throught the classics section and I happened to notice this book. I picked it up to confirm that it was the un-abriged version, which it was, and I just bought it. Simple, didn't even see the reviews or previews. I had been hearing about this book a lot and voila, now Ive got it! After 2 months and 2 books read in-between, I got to find out what it is all about.
This is a tragic story of a beautiful girl, who was loved to the brink by 2 persons, one an old priest - who was the cause of her death, a murderer - and the other a ugly hunchbacked bellringer - who was even willing to get her a lover just to see her happy. She in her turn was in love with an army man, who being handsome and "of the society", looked at her - a nomad - as an object to be used for pleasure but nothing else. The story is about the tragic death of the 3 lovers and the good life of the 'society man'. It very vividly show the insanity of the European people of those times towards people from other parts of the world (I still believe this exists but may be to a slightly lesser extent) and of the recklessness of the kings (read today's politicians).
It was a good read, specially after the initial half! The first half is a little too slow but it gets exciting after a point of time. Go on, get yourself this book.
This is a tragic story of a beautiful girl, who was loved to the brink by 2 persons, one an old priest - who was the cause of her death, a murderer - and the other a ugly hunchbacked bellringer - who was even willing to get her a lover just to see her happy. She in her turn was in love with an army man, who being handsome and "of the society", looked at her - a nomad - as an object to be used for pleasure but nothing else. The story is about the tragic death of the 3 lovers and the good life of the 'society man'. It very vividly show the insanity of the European people of those times towards people from other parts of the world (I still believe this exists but may be to a slightly lesser extent) and of the recklessness of the kings (read today's politicians).
It was a good read, specially after the initial half! The first half is a little too slow but it gets exciting after a point of time. Go on, get yourself this book.
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