Thus She Spake (Vol I) - A R Sara & Friends (Book)

Thus She Spake (Vol I) - A R Sara & Friends.
Whenever I look back or think about my childhood there is this one thing that keeps coming back to my mind. Everyday as I used to walk back home from school, I would imagine that my mom must have cooked one of my favorite items and indeed it came true mostly (still dunno how that worked) but there was always an issue with what she made in quantity :). Every-time the quantity used to fall short of our satisfaction and mom will always give an excuse that when something is too good, it feels it wasn't enough. "Thus She Spake" is exactly that dish, that I always wanted, the booked came my way without asking, it is full of gem of the stories that I never wanted to end but again the size is so small (or call it so good) that it ended in no time. But the best thing about it is that the title says "Vol I" so we have more of it coming in very near future. Although I don't read much of mythological fiction these days but if I have to name a few of my favorite from the era, Karan will be on the top of the chain (right man at the wrong side). Another of my favorite character who never got his due is Krishna who I love more as I myself am a hardcore romantic and can there be a better character than Krishna and his love of Radha when it comes to romance or make it other way round. Imagine a situation when the whole world looks up to that one person for rescue and how amazing it is to know that who he looks up to. Now these five amazing Authors who are a part of "All Ladies League" have done a tremendous beautiful work in carving out five incredible untold stories of five underrated women whose perspectives were never told.

I don't want to disclose much about the book as you have to get this gem of a book and read it yourself, I can bet my life that you will finish it in one sitting (I stretched it to two to the best of my abilities and to savor the taste). I had no idea of its content and that is the reason I loved it more. My favorite story(s) will remain the first one about Radha (& Krishna) and the last one about Shiva's daughter. Although I am a strict atheist but if I have to pick up one God from the plethora of Gods that we have in our part of the world, Shiva will show up on the top and I still haven't got enough of him in my reading career yet. This one gave me another superb chapter about the man, his family and especially about his daughter of who I knew nothing till I read this one. Did you know Shiva had a daughter? And so far I haven't read Gandhari's version ever from Mahabharat whereas the only thing I know about her is that she was one of the most righteous person back then unfortunately having no control on the situation. It was indeed fantastic to know her story, how she was betrayed by her own father (and why). A new angle to Raavan's end was superb too. An important character from Ramayan who started it all in the first place (and why). I have read a few books earlier based on the mythological stories (fictionalized version) but this one comes closest to my favorites "Palace of Illusions" and "Karna's Wife" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Kavita Kane respectively. I will be big time looking forward to its Vol II and will be super eager to know who they are writing about in the upcoming books.

Have you read "Thus She Spake"? If you have already read it, do let me know how you like it or which was your favorite story and character but if you haven't read it so far, you gotta get it at the earliest. 

The Lake House - James Patterson (Book)

The Lake House - James Patterson. 

The two big mistakes because of which this book came to my possession were: One the Movie Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, I assumed was based on this book. Two I wanted to get a taste of much acclaimed Mr Patterson :). I guess one (disastrous) book is good enough to give me enough of idea of this man's talent and I have decided to keep away from anything else from him in any near future. Anyways I had picked it up to be used as a filler but 400 pages of sheer pain was something that now I need a book which should bail me out of what this one has given me :). But one thing really made me wonder how are his books selling like hot cakes? but again may be that is what these days people like to read in the name of racy futuristic thrillers, no ways he is my cup of tea. On top of that one line on the cover of the book further piqued my curiosity saying "Do not read this book alone in your house". And I did exactly that :) in the times of Artificial Intelligence one of the antagonist in his story creates an Artificial Love machine (a thing called wife) as per his whims, fancies, size and needs. Talk about a man's ego, he even designs his wife who will not age, with a mute button who is supposed to compliment him everyday and do the needful at the drop of a hat. That one thing put me off so badly that I wanted to abandon the book and let it go flying out of my 6th floor terrace but somehow looking at my own track record I just plowed through.

Imagine the progress Science has made, the great Doctor Mr. Ethan has matched the DNA of birds with man-kind and has created half a dozen bird kids in some hospital right under the nose of white house :). What was the purpose and how is he going to use his invention is something excited me initially and there has to be good people too who are to come to the rescue of these innocent kids. And enter an FBI agent and his girl friend who happens to be a veterinary. On top of that the Govt has her own agenda as how to save the kids and who to give the custody of. Right from cloning to saving and ruling the world for good, immortality, the plot has everything but unfortunately they just remain the ideas not very well explored by Mr. Author. Visually too the entire book is so weak that I had a sad time imagining the teenage kids with ten feet of wings flying out in open, some times to have fun and at times to save each other from the bad men. Barring one important character, I had no connect with anyone, almost no character development, no background or even their Biologies not fully explained it was all a quarter baked story. Even the title I would say isn't justified properly, there is a mention of the Lake House throughout but it is over-stretched to no end.

Right after I finished this book I checked my Unread collection to make sure that I do not have any other gems from him and thanked god that I don't have. Have you read The Lake House or for that matter any other James Patterson which worked for you? I would really like to know. But if you haven't read any of his works, I suggest you keep it that ways. 

Narziss & Goldmund - Hermann Hesse (Book)

Narziss & Goldmund - Hermann Hesse. 

Disclaimer: I am not expert when it comes to the subject or Hermann Hesse's philosophy so please excuse my blabber and do get the book and read it without fail.

I must have mentioned this earlier too that I am an atheist, but every-time I go through a book like this one which talks to so much about Life, Philosophy, Religion and belief, it does changes me a bit from inside (not that I will start going to a temple to pray) and makes me slightly a better human than how I was a day before. This is my second Hermann Hesse and I must tell you that he is the master of philosophy, one of the favorite writers of my own parents who totally refuse to share their copy of any of his books and I am supposed to get my own if I plan to read him. And just like my last from him "Siddhartha" this too is based on the life of a nomad named Goldmund who is always on move, never settles at one place but takes his life like a journey (superb at that) and tries to find the meaning of it all. I love this genre where the protagonist keeps moving, keeps meeting new people, keeps making relations to break away from them and land into new one, it keeps me wondering if there is ever going to be an end to his story and what kind of an ending one can expect to a philosophical book. Still Hermann no doubt puts a smile on my face, second time in a row by giving a perfect ending, you've got to read the magical book if you want to know how the journey ends for Goldmund and his most loved teacher cum best friend Narziss. A brilliant book on friendship and teacher student relationship.

Goldmund, a young kid is forced to join a cloister after his mother's death as his father decides to abandon him for reasons unknown to him. Coming from a royal family the new life is a surprise to him but he is delighted to have a master like Narziss, who himself is not so old, hardly a few years elder to Goldmund but is totally loved by his colleagues and chief of the monastery they work with. How they develop a repo between teacher and student, and what adventures young Goldmund goes through with his cloister mates is the story all about. After spending a few years at the monastery Goldmund decides that he has learned all he could and goes on to have his own learning with in the school called life and take each day as it came his way. The only purpose of his life as per him is to love and be loved in return, he is more of life for the pleasure of flesh guy whereas his master Narziss is more of live for the enlightenment of soul types. But fortunately they are never at the warring ends and their face to face interactions are a pleasure to read. The new masters that Goldmund comes across in his journey is again a terrific tale of loving and learning, how he aspires to become the perfect pupil and deliver what is expected of him, how many times he fails in his eyes more than anybody else's is the rest of the story. I never expected to come across this kind of a story from Hermann Hesse which totally bowled me over and made me yet again a fan of the great man. Especially the way he has touched the subject of sensuality yet never going over-board and delivers a solid punch in the end. I am not sure how this book was treated by the then critics as it does explores the sexual orientation of Narziss too (very subtly) in a most beautiful way but totally to my surprise and shock.

Another thing that I loved about it all was the way Goldmund keeps getting flashes of his past life and his association with his mother which was too short lived yet she keeps coming back in his senses, that was so beautifully done. As I said this is one of the most beautiful books based on Love, Lust, Lose, Friendship as well as Teacher Student relationship and like I mentioned, you have to read this to know who teaches whom more, is it the teacher or is it the student who teaches his teacher. Although I am no expert on neither on the book like this or on the Authors like Herman Hesse, so please forgive me if my blabber makes no sense but do read the book without fail and come back with your thoughts. 

4 Latas (2019) Spanish Movie.

4 Latas (2019) Spanish Movie. Few days back I was talking to my colleague about his last years bike trip to Leh from Pune and back. The guy is a legend when it comes to riding and he wouldn't miss a biker's festival ever anywhere in India. His next trip is going to be a cross country from Pune to Nepal, Bhutan etc and while we were talking about his plans and how can we be a part of his trip in our car the name of this movie cropped up. He insisted that we watch this movie asap as the movie covers one of the most treacherous drive ever and that is crossing the Sahara desert starting from Spain to Mali :), I had to logon to Google to know what exactly was the terrain. My mind got blown by just watching over the African map and on top of that the maniacs start from Spain and finish their drive in Mali, what happens to them on the drive and how they cross the desert is movie all about. Why they do that, can be anybody's guess as well have few of those crazy friends who have the most whacky ideas and on top of that they have the will to fulfill them too. On top of all that as if that all is not interesting, "4 Latas" is actually a very capable Renault 4x4 vehicle known as "4L". A movie named after a car in my books is a must watch just for the name. On top of that the main lead character is played by one of my favorite French star Jean Reno. He hardly gets his due in any of the movies that he has done but in 4 Latas, he is full on action and plays an amazing character with superb style. Movie is based on the life of a trio of friends who have done multiple crossings of the same desert a few times in the younger days and a lot of road trips. One of them is passing his last days suffering from some disease with his wife in Mali. His wife writes a letter to his friends informing that he has very few days left and they may not be able to see their friend anymore. This dying guy has a daughter too, the two friends meet her for the first time and ask her to join them to meet her father and she gives them an idea that her father may not like the idea of them flying to to meet him rather they should do a cross country trip on a car that he himself built for her so when she turns 18 she would take it for a spin. As they look at each other and at the car and at themselves if they will be able to cross the desert or finish the trip in one piece is something you've got to watch the movie for and for the rest of the electrifying journey. The people they meet and some old acquaintances as their past comes hitting on them makes it an amazingly superb watch. Visually the movie is stunning and so is its background score and music. Other than Jean Reno the rest of the characters are lesser known (at-least to me) but they are totally amazing in the characters that they enact. I had a jolly good time watching their histrionics. Have you seen "4 Latas"? If not, trust me you have no idea what you are missing. You've got to watch it without fail ASAP and do come back with your thoughts. And if you have seen it, do let me know how you like it.

Nothing to Lose - Lee Child (Book)

Nothing to Lose - Lee Child. Another pleasant surprise that I kept for myself without my own knowledge :) as this is fortunately or unfortunately my first Lee Child read and again I had no idea what it was based on or if it was a part of a series or something. The first thing that excited me was the very first page with big bold letters saying "Jack Reacher" and I almost did a happy jiggle in my living room as I started this one. I have seen both the Jack Reacher movies, loved them as one of my favorite Tom Cruise plays the lead character and eagerly waiting for the third one to hit the screens this year. Unfortunately this is the 12th book from the series :) I know I am way too late but isn't it better to be late than never. I wish I had picked up the first two parts instead of this one and now onward I will be a little cautious in picking up the books that I am going to read and will stop picking books randomly without knowing anything about them. Guess that will take me another 6-8 months as I have that much stock left on my book rack which is yet to be read. My first Jack Reacher book has given me an awesome background of the much loved man who lives a ghostly life from one place to another, no family or friends to look forward to and almost no present and future. Surprisingly the book has some 550+ pages yet not for one moment I found it challenging. The book is way different than how they have made two movies on the character the guy is much more huge, handsome, milder and smarter than how they portray in the movies. If I hadn't seen the movies, I am totally sure that Tom Cruise wouldn't come to my mind rather someone like Henry Cavill would fit the bill more, he is more subtle, better looking and handsome too. As this was my first Jack Reacher book, it was a superb introduction to the ghost character who appears at his own will anywhere in the world and solves the problems even when no one asks him to do so or may be in the first place there appears no issue with the town. This time he is on his feet, moving from one place to another (on foot) with just a tooth brush and a handful of necessary things. As he crosses a small town called "Hope" and enters another called "Despair" the trouble starts when the people of Despair try to throw him out of the town for no reason at all. Now the Jack Reacher that I know is a tuff nut to crack :) as one can ask him to do things but no one can "tell" him to do something especially when he doesn't want to do it :) I guess you get the point. And what he uncovers at his own pace with the help of a local deputy from Hope (of-course a female) who has her own story to tell. Jack Reacher is Ex Army and have been in and out of quite a few countries especially Iraq and Afghanistan etc. What could be so wrong with Despair's only iron recycling plant which is very heavily guarded and even the military has some involvement, is what the rest of the story all about. How he clears his own doubts and solves the case is the terrific story spread over 550 pages at leisure, not for one moment the book is written to be competing in the "thriller" segment but will certainly qualify as a superb drama which keeps the reader glued to the narrative asking what happens next from the protagonist :). What an amazing character Mr. Lee has carved for us, if I liked him from the movie now I am totally smitten in love with him after the only book that I have read on him and I am craving so much to know more about the man's past :). Oh! And before I forget, Lee Child throws some very precious lines in the book that I will never forget ever in my life. Especially the definition of "Assume", not going to disclose it here as you have to read the book to know more about it. Also, Authors knowledge of mathematics and physics is simply brilliant :) again thats another reason why one should read this book or I guess any other Jack Reacher book too. The man is such a gentleman who believes so much in minimization that I am totally impressed. And as the title suggests, he never has anything to lose but it is for the people who come in his aura who are more to gain so much from his company. Have you read Nothing to Lose or for that matter any other Jack Reacher book? Do let me know which one is your favorite and I will get that with the first of the series which I am definitely picking up in my next book haul. Any other Lee Child favorite if you may have, do let me know about it.

IT Chapter Two (2019) - Movie.

IT Chapter Two (2019). Things that I had to do to watch a horror movie on big screen which is based on an acclaimed book from my all time favorite Author - Stephen King. I practically begged my friends, colleagues and family members, tried buying them with gifts, beer and what not, I even blackmailed a few Jr colleagues ;) but nothing worked. Finally one of the (best colleague ever) understood my frustration and realized that I may go in depression if I do not see this on the big screen soon as I had seen the first chapter some 48 hours ago in preparation :) she agreed and the rest is history. Shockingly we met a 20 something girl in theater who came all alone to watch this, I even spoke to her and she said she usually watched all movies alone, horror were no exception, that encouraged me so much that I may give it a try in near future if my fundaas to take someone to big screen fails anytime soon. I actually bunked my office in broad day light to watch the movie and that is a different matter that I had to put some extra hours in the night hence the blabber is running exactly 24 hours late. But let me tell you upfront that even the Second Chapter failed to scare me but it has so much more heart, character and story that technically I loved it in comparison to the first chapter and on top of that it actually gives a closure in the end (finally). Introduction (of upcoming feature) by the acclaimed and much loved Author was a surprise factor for me, since I didn't watch the first part on big screen, I had no clue and that sets up the things for the audience followed by "The Shining" sequel's trailer which is coming in next few weeks. Chapter Two picks up the story 27 years after the end of Chapter One as the joker hits every 27 years and now the teenager gang is in the middle age with their own stories to tell. One of them is still stuck in the old town and gets in touch with them all as they made a pact last time to come together if "IT" returns :). The way the first hour unfolds is simply superb, the transition from kids to adults and flashbacks are simply the best part of the whole movie, especially the way they have cast the perfect 7 for the roles and they are super fit. It took me back in time to my own home-town and it is exactly the way they pick up the things after so many years is what we all do in our own lives, the way they bug each other, stand by, understand and have lighter moments till the reality of things hits them as why they are assembled and how they would be tackling the problem at hand. So far the built up was good and keeps the audience glued but once the story is told and everything is set up, it takes way too long for the movie to hit the point and from any standard I see it, it is indeed a over stretch at 169 minutes. I enjoyed it personally as I am a sucker for good stories and entertainment but most of the people will not like it because of its sheer length and not for having too many scary moments. Blood, Gore and Gross moments are aplenty but nothing that I haven't seen earlier is my grudge. I expected so much more and it had nothing new to offer. One thing that I totally loved and which kept me exciting throughout the movie was the book / author references. You've got to watch it and see it for yourself how one of the lead character turns out to be a writer and what happens to all his stories, how they are treated by the movie makers, his friends and even fans :) was simply mind-blowing. As I said earlier, the movie is a full on entertainer but fails on only one ground that it isn't a horror movie, rest it has everything to make it a success only its sheer length may turn out to be a spoilsport for some. I loved the blood and gory movie and it kind of reminded me so much of one of my all time favorite "Evil Dead" on so many counts. Have you seen IT Chapter Two yet? if yes, do let me know if it was able to scare you and if you haven't seen it yet, go ahead and watch like a superb thriller with a rocking story and some thrills throughout, it is a joy-ride if nothing else. I am so much inclined to get the book and read it ASAP (in next two years).

IT (2017): Chapter One (Movie).

IT (2017): Chapter One. I've stayed away from Horror movies for last few years especially after challenging myself to see a movie like Conjuring and The Shining and spending a few sleepless nights, taking cab to office as our official parking is Basement 4 :( etc etc. This weekend I decided to yet again check my guts and see if anything has changed as I am now way over 4 decades old (in numbers at-least) and what better movie I could watch but "IT" (2017) Chapter One. As Chapter Two released last Friday and I may gather enough guts and graduate to a horror movie on big screen after all. So how was the experience? For one, I lived to tell this tale and two, to impress you, I must tell you that I saw this in the dead of the night, started the movie at 1 AM sharp on Sunday with Volume at 130%. Technically I watched it alone but to tell you the truth, initially my friend was watching it with me but he found it so boring that he slept over in the first 30 minutes itself. I was well prepared to terrify myself as it is based on one of my all time favorite - Stephen King's Book of the same name and he is one of those few Authors, whose books I usually keep miles away from me and won't read more than one a year just to be on the safer side (and live long) as they are way too scary. But the movie altogether was a lukewarm affair for me. It had its own moments which kind of excited me but wasn't able to scare me one bit. As my friend slept over, I finished the movie in one shot, turned off the living room lights myself, went to my bedroom without help and slept peacefully. If a horror movie allows me to do all that, it cannot be considered a horror from any standard. A typical Horror movie setting in the First Chapter of IT, a small almost dead town, with a bunch of not so exciting kids going around their affairs and being bullied by their senior schoolmates. One of them loses his brother in a freak accident and sort of blames himself for the same. Before we are told that his brother wasn't the only kid missing, there is something more in the background who may be doing some horrific things to the missing kids. On top of that our own bunch of 7 kids (6 guys and 1 girl) go through their own set of horrible experiences, they are in a kind of a fix which only the could witness and no one else. By the time they and the audience puts the two and two together, and the story sort of moves, I had already lost a lot of interest and was only watching it for some thrills and fun it was offering which was strictly average. I have seen way better movies in the past with almost similar stories but with terrific visuals, this was no match to its earlier counterparts, I guess the book must be a superb scary read but the movie wasn't one bit. How it all is cooked up was nice, the calculations, the settings, the friendship angle, bullies in school and the kids family backgrounds, the way they stand up for each other was all good and works like a perfect drama but doesn't stand on its own two feet when it comes to making a thriller (at best) and no ways a Horror for sure. Overall it was a heart-break for me. Unfortunately (or say Fortunately) I haven't read the book yet and not even planning to read it any sooner, but I am all charged to see it's second part on Big Screen tomorrow for sure. Do let me know if you have read the book and seen the movie both or any one of them, if that worked for you. I will be right back with my post on the second chapter shortly.

Chhichhore (Movie).

Chhichhore.

After the "Saaho" saho and sehte raho debacle :) I had to correct my mistake by taking my kiddo out for a movie which worked on most ground and wifey wanted to see "Chhichhore" as the lead guy looks exactly like her brother. Going by the name and the casting, I had no expectations on top of that we decided to see it at a much smaller single screen theater near our place, unfortunately even the single screen theaters are now multiple screens :D but this one has stiff non moving seats, with total old school feel building and the crowd is royally rowdy to top it all. But usually a new movie is always housefull thanks to the cheap tickets. The last movie we saw and loved in this theater was Tiger Shroff's Baaghi 2 and the experience was mind-blowing to say the least. "Chhichhore" upped that quotient by few notches for sure as it turned out to be a hilarious joy-ride right from the word go and on top of that conveys a brilliant message so subtly. In other words the movie can be called a Middle class man's Student of the Year :) with at-least eight awesome characters that you will not be able to forget neither their names nor the way they are throughout the movie :) even when the movie keeps going back a few decades in flashbacks. Super and utterly disastrous college life of the "Chhichhora" gang, story of their victory and losses plus how they all turn out in the end in the present is something you've got to watch the movie for. Especially for those who have or are setting up steep targets for their kids to achieve something big in life and are preparing them for a very competitive future, this should work like an eye opener if at all the movie gets its proper due. We totally loved it, starting from the dialogues to body language to the ultimate comedy which didn't let us sit straight for more than five minutes at a stretch. Especially Varun Sharma (Choocha) is my hero of the movie and how beautifully he lifts the movie on his capable shoulders with superb support from his half a dozen friends is really commendable. The movie took me back in time to my own loser friends, made me laugh like crazy, hoot like anything, made me regret yet again that I still haven't learned how to whistle with a few fingers in my mouth, choked me a few times and give solid pain to my jaw-line, made me fall in love with Shraddha Kapoor yet again (yeah it does) and so much more than I can blabber about here. Also, taught me a superb lesson as how to treat my own kid when it comes to competition in today's time and take life a bit lightly :) as at the end of the day, we all end up making our own marks one way or other just like the "Chhichhoras". If you haven't seen it yet, I big time suggest you take a break and watch it at the earliest, especially on big screen and help the makers make some profit so they keep making such gems in future too. And if you've seen it, I am sure you will agree with me when I end up giving this one a superb 5/5. Yeah! it did made me blush a few times with my teenage kiddo sitting right next to me but no big deal, they have their own ways and sources to learn all that they do or say in the movie anyways, so take it with a pinch of salt when some references from your own past come hilariously haunting you on your face :D. But do not miss this movie at any cost.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde (Book)

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde.

The reason why I got this book or for that matter I bought the entire collection of Oscar Wilde is such that if I tell you, you will laugh on me big time. Unfortunately I haven't read nothing from him in the last two decades or more. What I read of him last was for sure in the school course books and never picked up anything after that. How stupid one can be :( and how sad that is. Now, I saw this on Amazon a few months back and the book cover, a huge picture of Oscar Wilde with his wild hair got my attention, I totally love his Hair but now I love his writing slightly more than his hair if you ask me. Of-course, people who have read more of him will not be surprised when I say that his Novel and story is actually so smooth that it feels as I am reading the world's most perfect poetry. It just made me glide through it, I was feeling as I am travelling in a Gondola in a secluded lake with beautiful surroundings on my way to heaven. And if you have a Low Blood Pressure problem, let me tell you, this book exactly made me feel like my BP was going low as if I was waiting on a huge swing going up and down. For sure, this is my life's one of the most beautiful book ever which further confused me when I am asked to decided whether I loved the story or the characters or actually the Author. Even after 48 hours of finishing the book, I am not out of its awe and still dreaming of Oscar Wilde, in exactly that attire typing his story on a vintage typewriter. Now and then, he keeps shaking his head to move those curls totally making me love him more and feel jealous. I wish I could keep my crop like that (someday).

I have heard of a term "Poetry in motion" some time back but what it means truly I have learned with this book. As I moved ahead with the story of the most beautiful character of Dorian Gray who is much loved, admired and followed almost by all his friends, neighbors and people of the society he moves around in. The way they love him and the way he does things and especially the way his character is carved out, one just can't help but fall head over heels in love with the man. At the very start of the story one of his best friends Basil Hallward paints a picture of him and calls it his own masterpiece :). Dorian Gray is so jealous of his own picture (hardly 18 years) that he wishes if he could always remain young and his picture takes all the brunt of not only ageing but also of anything he does in real life. How not only his wish comes true but changes his life upside down is what you need to read this book for. His love story with Sibyl Vane, Wow, it had me smiling, laughing, sad and heart-broken too but the way Wilde gave the two sides of their love story was simply heart-touching, totally loved it. The best love story ever. Dorian's another best friend Lord Henry Wolton is another character that you just can't not love in the story. Although at times he felt too old to be his friend but the guy is simply amazing and his love for Dorian over the sulky Basil who feels he is losing Dorian by introducing both of them to each other, is totally hilarious. The way story goes fast forward couple of years yet doesn't loses its shine, the reader in me kept loving Dorian big time, I hated to love him for what he was doing with his life (and why) and later loved to hate him for that terrific ending too. Also, although written in the late 19th century still you can read so much in between Wilde's lines, I was supremely impressed and in grins too. The man was totally amazing (read Oscar Wilde).

It was an amazing experience the way he put his own philosophy through the story of Dorian Gray. It never diverts from the story but he has incorporated so much in the longer version of the book which becomes an important part of the story too when he talks about the futility of our own lives, the young people wasting their youth unknowingly only to later regret at a very late stage when it is simply too late to amend the ways. Never expected it to be a such an eye opening philosophical story which made me fall in love more with it even more.

As I said, I bought the entire collection of Oscar Wilde's work from Amazon (Kindle version) at throw away price. I read two versions back to back, the smaller magazine version which lasted close to 5 hours of constant reading and the detailed originally edited version which lasted close to 8 hours was totally awesome. I wish I had read the original version first and not the magazine version as it gave me the ending too fast but I enjoyed the second version which was in great details. I am now planning to get a Paperback Classic copy of the book too as unfortunately this is the only Novel that Oscar Wilde wrote and rest all are either short stories, plays or poems. But after reading and loving this (which will certainly now onward show up in my top 10 favorites of anytime) I am totally intrigued to read his stories, plays and even poetry. Guess this will be a damn good start for a guy like me who has never read poems in his life ever.

Have you read "The Picture of Dorian Gray"? do let me know how you loved it and if you haven't read it yet, I will say dump whatever you are reading and read it first. You have no idea what you are missing. I am so looking forward to his stories now before attempting to read one of his plays.

Saaho (Movie)

Finally, I watched the epic of the year from our side of the world and in one sentence if I have to review it I will say - it is the WTF movie of the year. I tried my level best to coax, force, plead, bribe and what not to all my colleagues, friends and family members to give me company to watch the movie but no one agreed. Finally my kiddo agreed realizing that I had no choice :), 140/- worth of tickets and we end up spending 500/- on cab and pop corns, you see my DL expired few months back and with new rules in force, I am taking no chances. I am not going to talk about the most stylish or say the most expensive movie from our side as that is already done and dusted but what I will tell you are the priceless words that my kiddo threw on me as soon as the movie got over and the lights were turned on. She said "Papa, what was that? I can't believe that we saw the whole movie, And is this the movie that you mentioned which came close to break Avenger's record?? Are you serious? What are you going to say to mom? As she is going to ask how was it". And if there is a sequel, which chances are for sure they are making, she is definitely not joining me for it. The Damn movie never comes to an end, it keeps going and going and going, I couldn't believe that 171 minutes can be that long, all style and no substance with so many characters thrown at the audience one after the another and the twists like every 20 minutes the game changes, predictable cliche stuff throughout yet the style never ends. Wonder why they didn't work on Prabhas's hair style, he looks Yukk and why the heck he talks like he is giving a voice over for someone like Amitabh Bachchan is beyond me. Shraddha Kapoor is a total miscast, instead they should have taken Sonakshi Sinha, she would have fitted the role superbly and it would have brought some oomph factor to the movie too. Although Shraddha and again mis-fit songs were a saving grace for me, they were like a breeze of fresh air (meaningless though) but totally unwanted. Over all, if you haven't seen it, stay strictly away from a theater running it and if you have seen it already, Dude!! I am sending some sympathetic hugs your way, I hear you. We need a few good movies to get over this contortion.

Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte (Book)

Agnes Grey - Anne Bronte.

I do a lot of pleasant mistakes (at times) when it comes to picking the right or wrong books :). Like last year when I was going through the used book collection at Blossoms, I picked up so many amazing names, without reading the blurbs or cover or back pages or any kind of research on writer or the book. That's typically me for you, if you do not know me. So, as soon as my eyes landed on a book with it's side wall saying "Bronte" I just picked it up and put it in my cart :) and what a brilliant decision that was, I must tell you post reading the book. She happens to be the youngest of the Bronte children and her other sisters have written some brilliant books like "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" etc and they even had a lesser known brother too who was more a painter than a writer. Those two super known books are anyways in my radar to be read soon and I am glad that I started with Anne's Agnes Grey which turned out to be a brilliantly simple yet totally heart touching account of a maid to be young girl, who goes through her own set of struggles to make the ends meet from a lower middle class family back in the day. Now that is another thing which keeps pulling me (time and again) to British Authors, the way they play with the language, the details, the terms (which send me looking for a dictionary) and they always put a wide smile on my face.

Terrific story of Agnes Grey whose only aspiration is to become a housemaid to help her struggling family make the ends meet. She is good in a few things, knows multiple languages, fills up as a house tutor to young kids and to take care of the grown ups to make them better, how she handles all that for two opposite families is the entire book in her own words with a little of her own private story. Although the story is a proper British drama full of humor, philosophy, a little sadness and a little twist there but it is no less than a thriller if you ask me (about the ending), it almost had my heart in my mouth for once. These days and especially with the kind of books coming my way, I am never too sure as what to expect from a particular Author and Bronte sister (as far as I know) are exceptional in all departments. I loved the way she kept the reader in me involved with the story, it works wonders when she left so much for my own imagination and claims that she doesn't want to bore the reader with unnecessary details and I was delighted to see that she had offered so much in almost 300 pages (only) that I kept asking for more. The kind of families that she faces in her initial years of being a maid and the characters that she comes across from different walks of life teach us readers so much about the human behavior. It was an amazing experience to see that kind of story coming from such a young soul that too from her own personal experience, was simply too good. But the best part of the book is her own underrated love story which I totally loved but I refuse to talk about it :), you've got to read the book to know anything about it.

Have you read anything from the Bronte Sisters? Do let me know which one is your favorite as my next from them will definitely be Wuthering Heights followed by Jane Eyre :) giving me taste of the remaining two sisters. But if you haven't read nothing from them yet, I very highly recommend you start with Anne Bronte's Agnes Grey, enough to fall in love with.

Lord of the Flies - William Golding (Book)

Lord of the Flies - William Golding.

I got this book long back from a very dear friend, in the course of our book club meet and he told me that this is one of those amazing classics that I have to read at any cost. Going by the title, Author's acclaimed background and the time that it was written in, I expected a book which will swipe me off my feet and will give so much food for thoughts. But unfortunately this became a (rare) case of a Classic totally going above my head. With hardly 230 odd pages, it was a quick and easy read with such an interesting premise but by the ending it left so much to be answered that I actually found the ending to be half hearted or too hap-hazard which totally didn't work for me.

Imagine the world has come to an end (again) because of Atomic bombs, a handful of kids (no exact count, may 20 odd) somehow crash land in an unknown Island which is uninhabited yet. They have no idea how they came there, the way story progresses it becomes a little bit clear that either they were dropped off an Airplane or must have crash landed but again there is no wreckage of any aircraft on the Island. They are aged as young as 6 year old (thumb sucking) to the oldest would be like a 13 year old kid. How they survive on the Island waiting to be rescued is what makes up for the rest of the story. The unknown creatures and demons that they had to face on the course of their unfortunate survival was gripping and kept me glued to it. Plus I really wanted to know if they will actually survive till they may get rescued if there still was any humanity left on the planet.

What didn't work for me was the way it ends and the way Author totally refuses to answer the questions which a reader is sure to have. For example all the surviving kids are males and not one girl among them, not even a mere mention by any kid of having a (girl) friend or a sister or anything. No mention of anyone's family either shocked and surprised me to no end. Also the title, I mean I was like, it actually sounds so much forced on the book and the way he justifies it had actually turned me off completely but as it comes at almost the ending, I somehow dragged myself to the ending.

I would really to know if anyone has read it in the recent times and liked it? or shall I say understood it, as it went way above my understanding level for sure. Although my kind friend has put in so many notes in the book and his own metaphors, some did help but some made me feel as if he actually was reading a little too much than the Author was offering (read forced). Now, having said that and read this one, I will have to pick up a couple of books from William Golding for sure to see if they make any sense to me. Have you read this one? Do let me know your thoughts on the book. Or which do you recommend that I read next from William Golding?