Open - Andre Agassi (Book)

Book: 10/52.

Open - Andre Agassi.

My Rating: 5/5.

I bought this book for my office library as I became the official curator for the same., Knowing my love towards books, I took the position graciously. This was the first book from the batch that I personally picked up a few months back. It has been on my TBR for ages, and not sure why I haven’t read it yet. One of the most beautiful biographies or autobiographies, I must say, and it is written in such an amazing way that the reader feels as if Agassi is talking to us in person. Going back to my teenage while he was playing, we had our competition as to who was the bigger fan. My brother even grew his hair shoulder length, coloured it golden, got a pair of studs and used to hang out his pony tail out of the back of a golf cap, typically Agassi style. We even coaxed our dad to get us a tennis racket so we could play like pros in our own cemented SBI colony tennis court with a shoddy net. While my brother picked up the style, I picked up the game (but not for too long, as it required huge stamina to play). But we were both glued to the TV big time, as and when we could match the timings of his game. It was amazing to see him play in Denim Shorts, at times topless, multi-colored tops and even to witness him thrown out of the game for his abusive nature too. He hated Wimbledon because of the white uniforms, more or less, if his Autobiography is to be believed, he hated Tennis right from the moment his dad made him play. Yet, he goes on to become one of the most loved and admired tennis players in the world, and to top it all, he ends up marrying the best women’s tennis player too (Stephanie Graff). You’ve got to read this lovely 350-something-page book to know a heck of a lot more than what I have disclosed above, and I guarantee you a fun ride with so much to learn from the man himself and his story. His love life, marriage to Brooke Shields, the F.R.I.E.N.D.S connection, and so much more. His association with the greatest of greats from all fields, and who can forget the best sporting rivalry ever between him and Pete Sampras (they were my generation’s Fed and Rafa). 

Have you read Open? Do let me know if you loved it. I technically stopped watching Tennis after Steffi and Agassi’s retirement, but I have seen a few finals between Fed and Rafa to compensate. But the game has lost its charm for me after their retirement. 

 

Nithalle Ki Diary (Book) - Harishankar Parsai

Book: 9/52.

Nithalle Ki Diary (Hindi) - Harishankar Parsai.

My Rating: 5/5.

This came as a laugh-out-loud surprise in my quest to read a quarter of my target books in Hindi. Harishankar Parsai is our own PG Wodehouse if I may be allowed to draw certain parallels between the two legends. Nithalle Ki Dairy was first published in 1968 but his tone, comic timing and jabs on the then Govt as well as politicians are simply out of this world. I was shocked by his name-calling as he for sure wasn’t intimidated by those names and of course, back then we were a democracy of sorts (not any more that I can bet on). May it be religion or class divide, he has his take which the reader in me couldn’t disagree with at times and loads of sarcasm, you need to read this little gem of a book to understand what I am trying to say and don’t want to spill the beans for those who plan to read it. As per him, Indian cows are different than the cows in the rest of the world and how? (their purpose of existence matters). Or how the Gods only exist in India only and not anywhere else in the world and the argument behind these was hilarious. He has his way of solving a problem, say a govt official needs to be transferred and all he has to do is stand in front of his reporting manager’s house and hurl the choicest abuses :) but if that doesn’t work, he has plenty more solutions, what happens in the end? You’ve got to read it yourself to find out. 

Have you read Nithalle Ki Diary? Do let me know how you loved it and if you have a personal Harishankar Parsai favourite, do let me know as I am certainly looking forward to more from him at the earliest. 

 

The Secret River - Kate Grenville (Book)

Book: 8/52.

The Secret River - Kate Grenville.

My Rating: 2/5.

Another addition to my list of “What did I just read?” which, surprisingly, I didn’t DNF, but the thought did cross my mind multiple times, and there was a reason why I did not. First, my friend from Aussyland got this one for me as nowadays I take only books as gifts from friends returning or visiting India :). Second on the cover, as you can read - it claims to be “Multi-award winning”, and if I am not wrong, it was even shortlisted for a Booker, and I believe that is why my dear friend picked it up for me in the first place. Now, award-winning books, and I have an appalling track record of either falling head over heels for or disliking them, this one lost in the latter category, unfortunately. Coming back to the story, it is from the early 19th century wherein a British William Thornhill hits a jackpot when he falls for a rich girl, but their luck doesn’t last long, and they lose it all, so much that they need to steal to survive and once caught they are hoarded aboard a ship full of criminals sentenced to Australia. So this book came to me from Sydney, and that’s where the rest of the story takes place: the couple’s survival amidst the challenges thrown by locals (Blacks). He hopes to go back home as soon as he has made enough money, and she hopes never to leave what they had made in Australia after so much struggle. The entire story revolves around a river, but what is the big secret if one goes by the title is not be found in the book. What turned me off was the writing style and abrupt start or ending of things like you turn a page and the story has progressed a couple of years, no details, but they go rich just like that and go poor just like that. Overall, it was a very tough read, if it wasn’t a gift, it must have become my first DNF of the year. 

Do let me know if you have read this one especially if it worked for you. Or any other book that you read and liked from Kate Grenville, for now I will stay away from her works unless highly recommended by someone. I need to pick up a Nevil Shute book fast as no one does justice to Aussyland the way he does it with his words. 

 

Sons and Lovers - DH Lawrence (Book)

Book 7/52.

Sons and Lovers - DH Lawrence.

My Rating: 5/5.

As I mentioned in my last post, one cannot go wrong with classics (mostly, they work), and this one was an amazing experience. I loved it big time. I have read a few works of DHL and have yet to lay my hands on The Lady Chatterley’s Lover as it has been unavailable for quite a while, and as soon as I found this one, I had to read it. What a terrific story based on a mother-son relationship. It reminded me so much of a few movies based in our part of the world (hint! hint!), but this one was way out of my expectations and kept me hooked till the very last page on the final outcome. The favourite of the four kids, he finds it too hard to walk out of his mother’s shadow, even when he falls in love for the first time with someone her mother won’t approve of. Tough times at home because of a miner father gradually changed as kids got on to work and became independent, surprisingly, it kept on going against my expectations and, at times, even shocked me. What I found heart-touching was that the second son loved his mother so much that he never went against her wishes, and even his interactions with her were so straightforward that he knew the answers before even asking a question from her. And the way he adored his mother was totally out of this world, of course, in fiction, Mr DHL made him the way he wanted and stumped me by the ending. To know more, you’ve got to read this one at any cost as it was hardly 380+ pages, and I found it too short to my liking. Also, DHL is criticised for over-sexing his prose, which wasn’t the case, neither with this one nor my previous read, Women in Love, I wonder if I am reading censored versions? 

Do let me know if you have read this one or if you have a DHL favourite. Looking forward to reading TLCL at the earliest opportunity. 

 

Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance - Robert M Pirsig (Book)

Book: 6/52.

Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance - Robert M Pirsig. 

My Rating: 1/5. 

This is why self-help books are not for me. Time and again, I find them a little too preachy or pretentious. Maybe that’s my age calling that I have become philosophical in life that I don’t need philosophical lessons from others. Also, this didn’t have anything to do with Bikes in the first place either. He didn’t even disclose the Bikes brand or make even. The only respite is the road trip that the father and son take and pick up so much in between breaks. By the time it ends and a big revelation takes place, it is too late for me to hit it off. He tried giving it a sixth sense shocking ending, but it didn’t work for me at all. 

My suggestion. Stay away from this and similar books; rather, pick up classics anyway.