Women on Wednesday - Nayantara Sahgal

This weekly event is hosted by Susan at Rocks n' Reads West of Mars : 

She says: " Every Wednesday, write about a book you loved that’s written by a woman. Celebrate a woman author whose books you love. Talk about a book you’re dying to read. "

The woman I'm featuring this week is as different from the previous authors I've featured on this meme as possible. For one, Nayantara Sahgal is a modern-day Indian writer. Also, unlike Blyton and Alcott whose several books I've read and enjoyed, I've read only one book written by Ms. Sahgal. But if I'm dedicating a post for her, you can imagine how much I love the book.

Prison and Chocolate Cake ( My review is here ), published as early as 1954, is Ms. Sahgal's memoir of India. The struggle for Independence, as seen through the eyes of a young member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is fascinating. Sahgal's mother was India's first woman minister Vijayalakshmi Pandit, while her uncle Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first Prime Minister.

But it's not on the worth of the famous family name that Sahgal's book sells. Her writing, as seen in Prison and Chocolate Cake, is deceptively simple, gloriously witty and wonderfully Indian.


 Nayantara Sahgal says, "I am a novelist and a political journalist. My novels have a political background or political ambiance. I didn't plan it that way—I was dealing with people and situations—but looking back, each one seems to reflect the hopes and fears the political scene held out to us at the time. " That's just the kind of mix of politics and fiction that I love  and I'm looking forward to reading several of works!


On my To Be Read list:

Rich Like Us - Winner of the Sinclair Prize and Sahitya Akademi Award

Mistaken Identity

This Time of Morning

Storm in Chandigarh

Also on my list is Sahgal's non-fiction book about her cousin and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, of whom she was always very critical:

Indira Gandhi : Her Road to Power

I cannot vouch for the greatness of any of these novels that I haven't read yet. But Prison and Chocolate Cake is a must-read for every Indian and to anyone interested in the freedom struggle of India.


Featured on 'Women on Wednesday':

November 25, 2009 - Louisa May Alcott

December 2, 2009 - Enid Blyton 

From Books to Films!

I'm one of those people who say 'Don't wait for the film, read the book!'. But I love watching films based on fabulous books. There's just something wonderful to see your favourite characters being given life and transported visually to the big screen. Of course, sometimes, the result is disastrous ( The Da Vinci Code ) and sometimes, the film is much better than the book ( The Devil Wears Prada). I'm no expert film critic, but these are the films-based-on-books that I'm looking forward to!

1. The Zoya Factor: Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment is producing the film. It will be a challenging task to recreate the pure fun and hilarity that Anuja Chauhan's writing did with ease, but I'm eager to see how the director will handle it. The casting is going to be very vital and interesting too.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows : Part 1: Okay, the fact is that I'm not a fan of the final book being split into two films. I think it accomplishes nothing much, excluding confusing the audience. But the obsessed Harry Potter fan that I am, I'm looking forward to the film with the usual excitement although with a little more nerves than usual.

3. Alice in Wonderland: The photos released from the film look fantastic! Plus, it has Johnny Depp. And Tim Burton. This is supposedly a sequel to the first two books about Alice by Lewis Carroll. I'm booking my tickets for the film as soon as possible!

4. Sherlock Holmes: I hear this is Holmes, packaged for the 21st century. I'm not sure how much I'll like it, if so, but Robert Downey Jr. is usually brilliant, as is Jude Law ( who is probably too attractive for the Dr. Watson I imagined ), which is reason enough to watch the film.

5. The White Tiger - I HATE this book so much that I love it. Does that make any sense to you? If not, read the book. And then, watch the movie, that will be produced by Smuggler Films. I found Slumdog Millionaire over-rated, to say the least, so I'm not sure what to expect of The White Tiger. But I'll be watching it anyway.

6. Bollywood's take on Emma - Ayesha: I'm actually very nervous about how they might make Emma extremely anti-climactic and I'm not sure what to expect from this venture. I dislike Bride and Prejudice, but love Kandukondain Kandukondain ( India's take on Sense and Sensibility - Austen-fans, please watch it! You'll love it, I'm sure ). But Austenite that I am, I shall eagerly await anything with an ounce of Austen in it. I won't be too sparing if the movie is bad though.

One adaptation of a book that I won't be watching, even if I'm paid to watch and review it, is the film starring Julia Roberts, based on Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. The book had no plot, so I'm wondering what the film worked on.

So what are the films based on books that you're looking forward to?

Reading In Bed - Sue Gee

Rating: 7/10

Review:

'Don't judge a book by its cover'?  But that's what I do, frequently. It was no different with this book cover either. From the cover, one thing is obvious: it's chick-lit. Right? Wrong.

Book title: 'Reading in Bed'. So it's got a lot to do with books or book clubs. Right? Not really.

Firstly, this book is not chick-lit. It is a moving, emotional, sensitive story of two middle-aged friends, Dido and Georgia. While Georgia is struggling to come to terms with her husband Henry's death, Dido suspects that her beloved husband Jeffrey might be having an affair. The two women bank on their friendship and a book here and another book there, to help them handle several daunting problems in their lives and in the lives of their children. 

Sue Gee is a brilliant writer. And her characters are very realistic, unforgettable and evoke sympathy, without being too whiny. I went into the book expecting something light, funny and nice, but I ended up with a poignant, witty analysis of human emotions and life in general. Reading in Bed achieves what The Memory Keeper's Daughter wanted to but couldn't, and makes it look like so easy.

 Initially, I felt that since the protagonists were quite old, I would find the book boring. I presumed that it would be tough to relate to the main leads. But Gee's wonderful, easy writing made me get so very involved in the book and I adored her lead characters! 

Coming to the point I'd made earlier, this book doesn't have an important role for books/book clubs. The books are secondary aspects, though the characters frequently reminisce about their favourite books. That way, the title is misleading : this book isn't as much about the books or reading in bed, as it is about the lives of two book-lovers. 

One major fault in this book is that, sometimes, things get just too repetitive. Repetitive feelings of despair ( For example: 'Oh, how I miss you!' 'Oh, how I miss you!' 'Oh, how I miss you!' 'Oh, how I miss you!' ) might add to realism, but they also add to boredom. And sometimes, there is a nagging feeling that the book just tries too hard. Also, I found the lack of quotation marks very distracting. Regardless of these aspects though, this beautiful, witty, tender book is worth a read. 

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Rating: 3.5/10

Review:

Dr.David Henry's wife Norah gives birth to twins. One, a healthy baby boy and the other, a daughter with Down's syndrome. David gives the daughter to a nurse Caroline and asks her to leave the child in an institution, in a bid to save his wife from grief that he went through when his sister died young. However, Caroline leaves the city to raise the daughter as her own.  

The summary might make this book sound like a masterpiece, analyzing intricate human emotions and delving into the life of the two children, separated by fate yet joined by blood. Also, there are  recommendations from famous authors: Jodi Picoult calls the book 'beautiful', while Sue Monk Kidd calls it 'absolutely mesmerizing'.


You are forgiven for picking this book. But you are most likely to suffer for that choice.


Here are some reasons why:

1. The writing is beautiful, yes. But how can you endure wonderful writing when there is no plot to read about!? Yes.. there is no plot of significance. Kim Edwards chronicles the lives of two families, ad nauseum. Tedious to read through a book that seems aimless, if you exclude its intent to waste your time.

2. It is understood that you want to embellish your characters. But telling us constantly about mindless drinking habits, senseless affairs and emotional worries that have not much of a consequence in the end is just a bit too much. Especially when the main characters evoke little or no sympathy.

3. Justifying a word in the book title so many times throughout the book is unnecessary! The Memory Keeper refers to a camera, a camera helps to preserve memories, camera comes from a word that means 'secret', this book is about keeping secrets. Really? I got it the first time you explained.

4. Speaking of the book title, why is there SO little in the book about 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter'?? Why is she like a footnote added hastily?

5. And just when I thought things couldn't get worse arrives deus ex machina that is so unbelievably crazy! Rosemary and her baby? Seriously. A random pregnant girl is whom you confess your 'biggest secret' to? And because you willingly confessed, you bring a pregnant girl home to live with your wife and son? And she becomes an integral part of your life? And her son becomes your darling?

Enough said, really.

If there is any positive in this book, it is Kim Edwards' smooth way with words. I wish though, that she had an actual plot to work on.

Women on Wednesday - Enid Blyton

This weekly event is hosted by Susan at Rocks n' Reads West of Mars : 

She says: " Every Wednesday, write about a book you loved that’s written by a woman. Celebrate a woman author whose books you love. Talk about a book you’re dying to read. "

Memories of my childhood are incomplete without reminiscing about Enid Blyton. I used to snuggle in  my bed, book in hand, oblivious to everyone and everything around me. Instead, I was in the world of Toy Town, riding a car with Noddy. Or I was in Kirrin Island, trying to escape from a cave, to find treasure. Or I was dreading lessons with Mamzelle Rougier.  Or planning a grand trick on Mamzelle Dupont using invisible chalk. Or being friends with Elizabeth Allen, the naughtiest girl in school!

Good-old Timmy wagging his tail vigorously was my  favourite, though in reality,  I was and still am scared of most dogs. Sandwiches, neatly cut and packed for picnics, orangeade, lemonade and ginger beer to choose from, a large chocolate cake with plum glaze, roasted tomatoes, home-made biscuits, ice cream and slices of fresh pineapple - the mouth-watering descriptions in Blyton's books are unforgettable. 

At one point, all I ever wanted, was to go to Malory Towers or St. Clare's and be part of a midnight feast. The magical, wonderful, top-secret, climactic midnight feasts! The often hilariously-used French teachers, the fiery heroines, the timid best friends, the tomboyish cousins, the attractive and arrogant brats - these are template characters who find place in almost any Blyton novel, be it the Famous Five series, Secret Seven series, St. Clare's series, Malory Towers series or The Naughtiest Girl in School series.

 New information about Enid indicates that she might not have been quite a wonderful person in real life. And of course, there are several examples of racism, snobbery and sexism in her books. 

But that doesn't take away the fact that Enid Blyton was the first author I really adored. The author who made me run  to the library in a hurry, every time I finished one of her books, so that I could get another as soon as possible. The author who made me use words like 'Smashing!' in regular conversation. The author whose books were my greatest companions in childhood.  The author who helped me cultivate the 'reading habit' which has grown along with me and reached great levels of obsession! And for that, thank you, Enid. 

Featured on 'Women on Wednesday':

November 25, 2009 - Louisa May Alcott

What's In A Name Challenge

BethF is hosting the extremely interesting What's In A Name Challenge, which I hope will be the last challenge that I join for 2010. ( Or not. I have zero self-restraint. ) But seriously, look at the fun rules of the challenge and I'm sure you'll join in too =)

Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a food in the title
2. A book with a body of water in the title
3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title
4. A book with a plant in the title
5. A book with a place-name (city, country) in the title
6. A book with a music term in the title

You can find more information in the blog. Go ahead and sign up for the challenge! Thank you, Beth, for hosting this =)

South Asian Author Challenge

Swapna at S. Krishna's Books is hosting the amazing South Asian Author Challenge. Amazing because that's the kind of challenge I desperately wanted to join. If you notice the books I've been reading of late, most of them are India-related books ( mostly non-fiction). The India-related books I'm going to read next year will only be that much more, since I'll have to read more for research work.  


I'm going for 10 books between Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2010.  


My list so far:

1. Between the Assassinations - Aravind Adiga

2. India After Gandhi - Ramachandra Guha

3. Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri

4. I Won't Let You Go : Selected Poems - Rabindranath Tagore

5. Letters from a Father to His Daughter - Jawaharlal Nehru

6. Train to Pakistan - Khushwant Singh

7.

8.

9.

10.

I shall edit and add books in the coming days. Thanks so much for hosting this challenge, Swapna! =)