One of my longest posts! (Book review)

Dear Mr. Adiga,

Next time you attempt to write a novel (which i fervently wish you don't!) please keep in mind, the sanity of the readers. As is obvious from your book, The White Tiger- you have no great writing skills, you don't know how to play with words at all and have completely no story to tell! I don't know whether to label you as a communist (why else would you support "killing your boss to make it big in life" simply because one has had a difficult childhood, in poverty?)... or maybe you are one of those people who think that just by being sarcastic and talking about India's drawbacks you can conjure up a good novel- well, you're wrong!

No part of your description of the protagonist's difficult village life, was even remotely moving. If you want to be so bloody sarcastic about this country- well then first go and do something for all these poor villagers that you seem to care about! You've lived a major part of your adult life outside India, in comparatively developed places like Australia and the US and then you have the gall to actually come back and be so damn critical of this country!

I would suggest that you read another well known book called Shantaram, where a foreigner gives his perspective about India, it's villages and life in Mumbai...Believe me you will learn a lot!! I do not have a problem with the fact that you've spoken mainly of India's backwardness in the villages (in the first half of the novel), but rather with the condescending attitude that you have used.

In the end, it is my personal request that you please explain to me why the character is writing a letter to the Premier of China, telling his life story to him??? I'd really really like to know what made you think that this guy should write a loooonnng letter (the entire novel!) to the Chinese head, giving him his life story?? Yes, you wanted to write it in first hand- I got that! But writing a letter to the Chinese Premier??? What, why? why? You are a crazy person. QED.

I have spoken about his earlier also and now once again I am wondering about the secret behind life and death. I have started believing that there is some algorithm behind this entire cycle. There is some Power, trying to maintain a balance on the planet. Which is why, sometime last year, I was only hearing of new births... in my extended family alone there have been 3 births and I have heard of some 4-5 other people  who've had babies last year. In the beginning of last year there were 3 deaths in my family and I heard of some 3-4 other deaths. 

Now again in the last 2 weeks I have already heard of 3 deaths... some of them really freaky- like a sudden haemorrage or a road-crossing accident..! And again I think that some supreme being is trying to create a balance of some kind by equalling the total number of births and deaths.

Emosanal Atyachar

Sometimes I like being melancholy... I don't know what it is about this feeling.. but sometimes you just enjoy feeling this weird mixture of sadness, nostalgia, pain... and somehow it feels nice.. I don't know why but it feels nice.. maybe I'm the only one who likes this feeling? 

To make it clear, I'm not wallowing in self-pity or crying my eyes out... I'm just feeling like you feel on a rainy day... when the sky is cloudy and you feel lazy and somehow old memories stir up from some corner of your brain... :D

You just like listening to songs that you know have a certain effect on you... you like looking at old pictures of family and friends...some people like having a nice strong whiskyand a nice comfi sofa to be in...sigh...I don't even know what I'm saying or what I'm about to type... it's nice... weird but nice...

p.s. In K's words, "Such is life. Tougher than we ever imagined it would be...makes you wish you'd never grown up and could stay a kid for life, eh?"

The past is lost to you forever, and the future isn't yet yours. Now is the only time you own. Use it well...

Nithari Serial Killing

I am so so so damn happy I cannot explain... Pandher and Koli have been handed the Death Sentence in the Nithari Case...I seriously doubted that our judicial system could deliver such judgement- but it has... god it has!! :D

Moninder and Koli have been charged with rape, murder, abduction- but the one thing that I still see missing in this list is the cause of child sexual abuse. All the victimes were between the age of 5 - 16 and were lured into the house and abused sexually... so what I would like to bring to my readers' notice is that how come there is still No Law against Child Sexual Abuse? We are living in 2009! I mean c'mon- at least recognise the fact that there is a need for a law for cases like these? 

I pray for the victims and their families and hope that they find it in them to forgive and move on with their lives...coz closure is the best thing they could hope for... 

Pitter Patter of Little feet :)

I have just received some very good news. A very good friend of mine is going to become a father. What is surprising is that of our entire gang- he was the last person you could imagine in a father's role! In fact he is still like a kid.. like a little kiddo who would do a lot of masti :D

Well, anyways here's wishing the couple a very happy future...and may his kids make him tear his hair out like he used to do to us :D

Justice will prevail...

The first thing my eyes fall on as I open the newspaper today morning is that Pandher and his servant Koli (from the Nithari case) have been declared guilty of rape and murder...Believe me, there couldn't have been a better way to start my day :)

For 2 whole years, the CBI kept saying that Pandher was not guilty, but today the special judge pronounced both master and servant guilty. I just hope that both these guys are given the death sentence! I know that a lot of people are against capital punishment- but given the kind of crime they have been charged for (I mean they actually hacked the bodies and did stuff which I don't think I wanna write about here... ) I am totally in favour of giving them the death sentence...! I know the dead children will not come back- nor will the pain of their parents get reduced in any manner... but the only good that will come out of it would be that there will be Justice and the families will finally get closure.

Gucci, Prada and the whole jingbang...!

I have a problem. I don't understand fashion. There I admit it..!

I have never really been "fashionable" by general standards and frankly, I don't give a damn. :D Hmmm... now the point of this post is that I believe that if I can carry the right attitude and have enough confidence and pride- then I can go anywhere and not feel like all eyes are focused on me. I once went to a TOI party in Mumbai- one of those page 3 types... with ladies in slinky dresses and gentlemen in proper formal attire... and you know what I was wearing? I went in jeans and a tee-shirt with a broad blue headband on my head... I remember being in sneakers and wearing one of those Lance Armstrong bands around my wrist...! :P

No, this is not my way of rebelling to society's norms or of making any kind of statement... But, I reiterate- I cannot be bothered about wearing kajal or gooey lipstick every time I step out of the house... I don't care how many men turn and give me a second glance or how many women feel threatened by my presence :D Frankly, I feel that mainly bimbos need to go out of their way to doll up- coz we geeks are happy with our curly hair and freckled faces :D

Advertisement! ;)

I am currently looking for old/ second hand books for some reason... now the thing is that I have realised that I HATE taking obligations from people. I somehow find it very very difficult to ask people to please give away their books for free...I find it difficult to say, "look, this is what I need- do you think you could help?"

So all I'm gonna do is put it up on my blog (this request) and if people read it and feel that they can hand over some books to me (maybe for a small price if they want) ... or get their friends to give away some- well then I'd be obliged. Other than that- I don't think I'll be able to actually go up to someone and ask for help :(

My best score at basketball- 110 in 150 secs! Awesome! :D
My worst score in Bowling ever- less than 30! :(

Life has its best and worst moments... and all can happen within an hour!! So if you're happy- don't be too happy and complacent coz you don't know what's aroun' the corner... and if you're sad and depressed, don't be too worried, coz things will get better soon :D

p.s. Note how philosophical I have become these days! :D

Pissed off..!!!

Okay... I am ssooooo PISSED OFF right now... i can't believe it... just.. no one come near me for the next few hours...!! I know I keep saying that I will not fly off the handle easily (it was one of my new year resolutions also!)... but I just can't help it... Sometimes you just get so damn frustrated with people and life... and you just wanna take out ALL your anger out on something... right now if I had a punching bag- that would be great!!! I mean how... how can people be like this? how can they just say anything and get away with it... I am sorry.. i do not have the patience or inclination to take crap from anyone!! Don't care who they are or how old they may be!

You Know You're a Bookaholic When...

-You've figured out a way to read books in the shower without getting your book wet.
-You pack all your books for a trip but forget your underwear.
-You're packing for a romantic weekend away with significant other and you give more thought to which books to take than to which nightgown is your sexiest.
-You become murderous when you discover a friend lost a book you loaned her.
-Your twin sons' names are Rhett and Ashley. (I'd never name my kid after Ashley!)
-You call in sick so you can finish reading a book.
-It's 2am and you think "just another chapter" and do the same thing at 3am when you know you have to get up in 4 hours and work.

All those who read this and felt they could relate to it... and can feel a small smile coming up as you admit to being a bookaholic- ping me! I have a venture in mind and I'd like tips from people who are as big geeks as me :D

Random musings

Resentment and bitterness over past wrongs are like rocks that drag your spirits down. Only when we let go of the rocks can we regain the freedom of spirit we once knew.