God loves fun by Sri Sri Ravi SHankar

Book: God loves fun
Author: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Publisher:Jaico Publisher
Genre: Spiritual philosophy
Reading year: 2003
Source: Personal


I happened to attend a workshop organised by The Art of Living., though I am not onto Godman and  preachers of spiritual life., Sri Sri Ravishankar is more on to Yoga., and he chooses yoga , meditation as a tool to make his points., though I am not so fond of him or his work., its always pleasing to hear his voice or to see him talk., there is a positive aura that surrounds that is quite contagious..There is no denying that his yoga workshop through The art of living is amazing too..Being said that I was reminded of this book that I read couple of years ago..As the title goes it is indeed fun reading the book., though the subject that it deals are quite serious., he chooses fun and humor to convey a broader message..Ravi Shankar insists that Gods is not someone who has to be dealt seriously and its not just prayers that you approach god or the high existence., He distinguishes between the spiritual life from religious life and the similarities between them...He also points out that laughter is the best therapy., okay that one we all know isn't., but what he suggests are paths to attain that happiness and peace..One of his messages are that., in a relation its not the person who hurts but the expectation that one attaches .,this one particular quotes somehow stayed with me ....There are paths described to reach spirituality in an enjoyable way...I liked the way he made use of examples that we get to observe everyday around us to make his point., like a leaf floating on a flowing water is compared with a free mind that can happily travel any curve., while troubled mind is compared with a stone that sinks onto the bottom of the bed unable to move...According to him to make opinion can get a person to be attached which would never let a person to live freely...He says not to hurry in love., for love is always relaxed ( that again was good one)...There is another quote that I found interesting
"Thinking is like chewing gum...It doesn't produce anything..You can think about only those things which you know.."
 I am sure if I were more in to spiritual philosophy I would have enjoyed it even more...This book is an enjoyable read to even a person who is not interested in a spiritual way of life......

The music room : a memoir by Namita Devidayal

Title: The music room
Author: Namita Devidayal
Publisher: Random house India
Pages:320
Price: Rs 295
ISBN: 8184000545
Genre:Fiction/memoir
Rating:4.5 out of 5
Source: Borrowed

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Summary
This is a tribute to a teacher by a student ., Dhondutai Kulkarni is the music of Namita Devidayal who not only teaches her music but through music., she teaches her about dedication, love and finding a balance in life., This she does it through not by mere preaching but through living as an example..Dhondutai  is a disciple of legendary Kesarbhai Kerkar..The book reveals rich tradition of hindustani music and its heritage...

Review
Before I go any further into the book I wanted to for few basics facts on Indian Classical music..Like the western music that goes with Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do., classical Indian goes with Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa..The Indian classical music has  two subgenres one being Hindustani music and the other Carnatic music., while the former is largely practiced in northern India the later is spread through Southern India...A distinct Raga (note) sung for a rhythmic tala  forms the base of the Indian Classical music...

I expected the book to be more to Namita Devidayal's account of music., though it is to an extend it is more about her teacher's dedication to music., though it turned out to be quite different...At ten Devidayal is dragged for music class much against her will by her mother....She is put off also due to the locality where Dhondutai lives surrounded by brothels, her walls outside home is all clattered by betel spit marks... The book explores on the relationship of Devidayal and Dhondutai and Dhondutai's relations with her teacher Kesarbhai Kerkar who happends to be a disciple of much accalaimed Alladiya Khan...Devidayal prefers for a swim upon music class but her mother drags her to Khondubhai Kulkarni..In those times in India it was customary for all girls to learn music to enrich marital skills (I still wonder why it was so)., though now children are taught music though not for the same reason anymore...Initially reluctant Devidayal slowly gets the hang of the classic music from her devoted teacher coming face to face with her dedication., Kulkarni stays single throughout her life for the sake of her love of music., she states one cannot have two masters as both demand too much....Devidayal also describes the true meaning of gharana and the difference between each gharana...Dhondutai was the only surviving child of  the family hence she was named Kondu to cast off the evil...Dhondutai not only teaches the art of singing but full aspect of music, its history, music as an art., its tradition and cultural heritage...Devidayal keeps her life apart from it and concentrates more on the guru-shishya (teacher student) relation., somewhere along the memoir she mentions about her job and about her relations..There are beautiful anecdotes describing musical legends ..In a world that go by worldly possession and recognition there are few like Dhondutai and Keserbhai who live for the love of art without any kind of expectation., and this is that sets them apart from the regular crowd gaining respect...Another important fact is emphasized on clearly that no music can be learnt from books..There has to be a teacher who can guide you through., Dhondutai teaches Devidayal two important part of music one is breath control and another to throw voice., both she mastered from Jaipur gharana... Through everyday converstaion between Dhondutai and Devidayal the reader gets to bite sweetness of the knowledge of music....While Kesarbhai Kelkar was a legendary Hindustani singer of 20th century, passed on to Dhondutai  and she stayed with her till her death in 1977...Though the book the depreciation of wealth for the singer as there are no more people around to appreciate the talent..Even Dhondutai is able to retain the success of Jaipur gharana that soared sky during the times of Alladiya Khan and Keserbhai Kelkar...Dhondutai's present house itself explains a lot about her finance ., yet she is content and happier than anyone Devidayal has come across..Her life is music and it stays that way until her death....Glimpses of Mumbai life is also scattered through like the travel is local trains, instant friendship among the passengers, the busy streets ., people rushing to get home and to work., slow modernising city....Devidayal writing is an absolute treat that keep you engrossed throughtout ..This book is a must read for all who wish to get a glimpse of Indian music and its heritage....

Book 19 for SAC

 

One lovely blog award!!!!!

Today has been a great for me so far and to top it all , I got my second blogging out..wow I am so happy...I thank Rita of  thoughts & Musings for nominating me ..

Rules are:

1. Include the blog award logo in your post
2. Thank the person you nominated
3. Nominate 15 other bloggers and let them know about it...
4. Seven random facts about yourself..

7 Random facts about me

1. I can live on Irish coffee the whole day
2. I hate math..
3. I love listening to stories
4. I start with book without really finishing the current book coming back to it later...
5. I love get drenched in rain provided I am not heading to my work..
6. My girly gang make a solid company on a random weekend..
7. I love black forest...

Here are the fellow bloggers I have nominated

1. Babbling books
2. Amy's book-et list
3. Wonderland's reader
4. Reading cave
5. Melissa's mochas, mysteries and more
6. Andrea heltsley books
7. That readioactive book blog
8. 365-books-a-year
9. Possession of books
10. P.G writing
11. Dreamaholic diaries
12. A little shelf of heaven
13. Batty for books
14. Poetry
15. The book lovers report

Congratulations to all....

The help by Kathryn Stockett

Title:The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Publisher: Penguin Books
Price: Rs 299
Pages:451
ISBN: 0141047704
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Personal

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Summary:
Skeeter is turned down by a publishing house.,her ambition of becoming a writer seemed to be dawning as she unravels the stories of black maid in the white household..She becomes close to Ailbeen very giving and caring  and Minny outspoken with classic culinary skills both are black maid working..Skeeter has her won past with a lovely black maid Constantine whom she was quite close too...Skeeter, Minny and Ailbeen the threesome find themselves in a line when such things are still not allowed...Set in the 1960's in Jackson town the novel is about these three characters and their perspective of life...

Review:
This is another book about African American ., but seen through Eugenia Phelan or Skeeter (white)..This novel is not about the larger struggle of earning freedom, but their everyday lives to get on with life..Stockett has chosen an emotional angle, maids who take care of the children they work in...All excited Skeeter returns home from hostel after graduation ., one thing she wanted to get an explanation from her maid Constantine for not writing to her., but sooner to her astonishment finds out that she has left with no trail to find her...Her life starts to move ahead leaving behind her thoughts about Constantine., Her ambition is to become a writer., she soars to cloud nine after receiving a letter from Harper and Roe her happiness are shattered as she learns that she hasn't been hired but they are open to read her work..Gearing up she sends it only to be turned down...She has two girl friends Hilly Holbrook and Elizebeth Leefort., they grew up together living in the same neighbourhood, going to the same school and parties., they are in a similar wavelength...Hilly and Elizebeth are married with children ., now a black maid takes care of them...Though Skeeter was friendly with her black maid Constantine ., her friends Leefolt and Holbrook do not share a similar sentiment ...They prefer to stay outright racist than see truth..Skeeter feels awful after her friends suggests to build a separate bathroom outside their house for black maid..Skeeter gets a subject to write..She decides to talk to as many black maids as possible to learn about their experiences in the white homes..But being white herself., she has a problem getting close to them even the law restricts free mixing of white and black., if seen together blacks could be arrested ., hence she has nothing to go forward., Meanwhile  Elizebeth helps Skeeter by letting her to talk to Ailbeen Elizebeth's black maid .,Skeeter still looks around for other black maids., that is the time when an unfortunate event hit Jackson... A black familiy fall prey to the hands of white men., Coming face to face with such attrocities many maids come forward to share their tale hoping for a better future...We are also introduced to Minnie who comes in as a whizz of fresh air, with amusing moments and her soulful tale...By sheer hardwork and lot of research with many maids she writes the full book and through a contact she gets it published..Skeeter wants to hit of with a wave of celebration as the book turns out to be a bestseller.,except for her town Jackson of course...In spite of claiming about a fictitious town and maintaining anonymity of the maids.,somehow people figure out that it is after all their own town and their maids... Stockett builds an aura of 60's  amazingly., the accent the maid use are a typical of those period..In spite of a serious subject there are moments of fun and humor that will  flint a smile..I loved Stockett for building in strong, bold characters who make their point clear across to the reader and all the three of them be it Skeeter or Aibileen or Minny., they just fit in most ardently...Skeeter is independent with free thoughts and strong ethical value., she doesn't want to live by the flow even if it means to go against the current..Her parents want her to get married and live like a lady like her friends., but somehow Skeeter doesn't have the heart to do all of it just because that is what is expected of her...Ailbileen on the other hand is emotional , kind and a matured lady... Minnie is too loud and outspoken even then she lives with an abusive husband who beats her up every single day...Minnie's cooking skills are so well done that she is hired in a  household even to save marriages...Having three enduring characters and gives the book three different angle rendering the  reader with a perfect panorama....There are many practices that will leave you desperate like the maids are forced to eat their food separately and not anywhere closer to the white., these maids are insulted in front of family and friends., and the irony lies in the fact that these children call these maids mama when their own mothers are busy partying with no time to spend with their children...The extend of prejudice in those times are put in openly with many examples like these punched me ..The book is an enjoyable read., easy to read and difficult to put away...The book goes onto another level as the stories of the  maid unfolds....Through Skeeter we also get the psychology of white's behaviour to the coloured people...I loved the way the novel closes after Ailbileen is fired and she decides to become a writer, strong enough to voice her opinion...At the backdrop of this storyline rise of Martin Luther King Jr's as a strong leader, John F Kennedy's assassination makes news., making the  novel the more alive and real..Had you liked the movie., you would definitely end up loving the book...

Love, peace and happiness:what more can you want? by Rituraj Verma

Title: Love, peace and happiness: what more can you want?
Author: Rituraj Verma
Publisher: Leadstart publishing Pvt Ltd
Pages: 223
ISBN: 9381836345
Genre: short stories/ well being/psychology
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Publisher

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Summary:
It is a collection of short stories were in each story centers on the life of an urban middle class character caught in a set of circumstances beyond his or her control.Live -in relationships, Divorce, search for soul mate and true love, obsession, love, ego, government reservations for the minority community all forms the base of the stories becoming a well structured read..

Review:
Reading the introduction got me skeptical .,Verma claims that all the characters in the short stories are like real life characters.,I felt well ., that's what every contemporary author claims to write...Having felt that I started with High Heaven the first story and things just clicked on from then on....The initial skeptism helped me see through all aspects of the characters and stories and letting me enjoy the read...Each story carries its own underlying message apt for the day we live in without., and Verma cleverly chooses not to preach them rather let the reader dwell on them with unique perception..One interesting part of the book is readers can write their desired endings to each story on the website., if they don't like the author's say... The book is also about many conflict of interests.,such as money and happiness., love and lust.,duty and desire., I am sure every individual has to make his priorities at some point in life...Verma plays with the characters very interestingly., there are few characters who play a cameo in the other stories providing a continuity to the whole book, so in a way you feel that each story is interwoven beautifully with each thread playing its part... I loved all the female characters of Verma more than their male counterpart .,even if few appeared for a brief time..Be it Aparna a family's bread winner., Anamika a talented ,young, vivacious and independent girl, Paromita is forced to take up prostitution after her husband throws her out of home is quite a thought provoking lady, Payal a highly successful doctor who keep adjusting with her vantage and life just to give way for her husband's ego., okay I agree that male characters had high stuffs too but somehow female characters linger around..Verma's writing is easy and all the characters gets easily absorbed... Life's changing priorities., inability to cope up with stress, people craving for attention, love and affection are all woven throughout the Verma's work ...
Most stories explores the physical intimacy more than needed, or its just me who felt so....The stories also question the extend of moral benchmark of the Indian society and its relevance on the road we are travelling., and I know for sure that it is one point today's generation is struggling to fine tune....Most middle class of today's generation are born to a traditional family raised wrapped in it and all of a sudden find themselves at the midst of all modern era unable to fit the value they held on to, nor able to leave the life they are in due to career and education., and there begins a personal struggle to find a balance between the family's expectations and personal desire... Though we all agree that the one's ethics cannot be every bodys' way of life.,yet it is high time we rethink on the rusted system and believes, though Verma is quick to point out that traditions are to be preserved, but not blindly carried on...The book is a great companion for a relaxing read., especially for a travel....

From the back cover
Stories surround us. Stories about people like us who make difficult and often complex choices that sometimes astound us. You must have come across some people in your own life who closely resemble the characters in these stories. Maybe you have gone through trying moments in your life too. For instance, have you ever been bugged enough with your partner to want to leave? Have you ever had to choose between love and money? Have you ever had to compete with your partner? Have you ever felt that your family weighs you down when it comes to choosing your partner? At times like these, havent you wished that things happened differently and that you could change how they ended? Now you will control how the stories in this book end.

Each story centres on the life of an urban middle class character caught in a set of circumstances beyond his or her control. A Hindu girl living in with a Muslim boy is suddenly in the glare of global media in a reality TV show, a divorced cynical man faces the prospect of committing himself to a prostitute, a highly talented small town girl must choose between life and death. All must resolve the conflicts within their beliefs. Read the way the stories end in the book, but if you dont agree with the ending, visit the website riturajverma.com for alternate endings. If you dont like the way the stories end there either, write your own, and if your ending is selected, see it in print in the next print run with your name in the acknowledgements. Hoping to change the world, one story at a time

Book 18 for SAC

 

Best kept secret by Amy Hatvany

Title: Best kept secret
Author:Amy Hatvay
Publisher: Washingnton square press
Pages:330
Genre: Woman's fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: online

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Summary
Cadence was not into more than a glass of wine till she got divorced from her cheating husband ..Just to relax and for a deep sleep it all started with one glass then she couldn't get sleep without  one full bottle and then it just went on...From a happily married life with a lovely son she had a perfect life until her divorce lead to reach out for alcohol to cope up with her sinking career and life all together..Predictably the bottle took control over her and she lost everything around even her son the only hope of her life..This novel is about a long struggle of Candence getting over her addiction and finding a new life..

Review
Reading the back cover I was convinced that this would be an emotional read for me, my only question was how far..Quite amazingly the book held me enchanted...Alcoholism was the only thing that made me skeptical about the book but as I read through all doubts just evaporated... Just divorced, now a single parent of a pre-school son, Candence resorted on two glass of wine for a deep sleep each night..Slowly and steadily this habit expands onto one bottle and by a year she turns out be a fully alcoholic, yea I know its nothing to be proud of or to be boasted but well that's what happened to Candence...She ended up there with all her senses loud and wide still I couldn't help from sympathizing with her..Predictably she takes grave steps that further risks her to the edge..She now has no friends she can identify with..Her son who was her life is taken away by her ex-husband..Her life is all messed up from there on her path to recovery begins., alcoholism to sobriety she makes it through her ebbing confidence that she somehow pushes high...Her strive to stay in touch with life after divorce, her inabilty to find a job after being a stay home mother,her sinking career graph as a freelance writer, are vividly portrayed by Hatvany....Hatvany makes Candence's character   likeable, in spite of her flaws..Yes, she isn't anything closer to perfection, she makes dumb mistakes. succumbs to alcoholism when she knew right away that would end up losing her beloved son, yet she did it all but that happens to many..Candence recovery is driven by one determined thought., that is her son, I really felt bad when her sister put Candence in hospital..She is all alone and no one to hold on or lean to., well life can in deed could go through rough water...All the perfect description of alcholism made me search more for Amy Hatvany's profile and interviews and there she was admitting to be on the path of recovery from alcoholism....One trouble with alcoholics is that.,  apart from their own life, they also disrupt the lives of people around who care and love them...During her initial stages of recovery, she feels at peace at home all alone., somehow she feels she feels good without her son to mess up things around....To deal with a infidel husband itself toils up a wife emotionally and then when you venture upon alcohol just to shake off the sinking mood which starts to control you is definitely not a great way to deal with things...One of my friends said that.,this book has helped her see alcohol addicts in a new light, now I can see why!!!!Its sad that like Candence., alcoholics are judged , but its also important to make way for them to recover with a helping hand and with some assuring words that they eagerly look out... The novel is not just fabulous but quiet thought provoking too...The honest take on alcoholism and recovery just took my heart away..This book makes me want to read her other works too...

This is my 12th book to New author reading challenge 2012

Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani

Title: Sunstruck
Author: Mayra Calvini
Publisher: Twilight Times book
Pages: 160
Price: $5.95
ISBN: 9781606190242
Genre: Sattire/ Parody
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Source: Review copy

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Summary:

Daniella is an architecture student living with her narcissistic artist boyfriend in San Juan. Abandoned by her father at an early age, Daniella always falls for the ‘wrong’ type of man. Her most enduring male relationship so far has been with her.Several strange mysteries are threaded through Daniella’s everyday life: her ex-husband, Ismael, has just opened an outlandish hotel for animal lovers that has her distraught; Ismael’s wife, a rich woman Daniella fondly refers to as ‘Lady Dracula’, has some gruesome ways to keep her skin looking young; Daniella’s mother is founding a revolutionary, feminist society called The Praying Mantises; the island’s national forest is being depleted of hallucinogenic mushrooms; meanwhile, young girls are disappearing and there’s a nut loose dressed as Zorro slashing the rear ends of women who wear miniskirts.Suddenly Daniella wakes from stupor and takes charge of life..  

Review:
Daniella is an architecture graduate whose life seem to be taking wierd turns off late around her.. .Her ex-husband has married a rich old lady, Irene whom Daniella refers to 'Lady Dracula' , she has few strange behaviour like she collects crime instruments, her house is a standing museum of it, she applies frog's blood to keep up her youth....Tony is a struggling artist and Daniella's current boy-friend, Daniella has a strange equation with him , yet they share cute moments...Daniella's best friend is in love with a priest, her lovely cat Commmando acts more like a menacing human than an animal with Tony who only hates, but with Daniella he is all sweetly wrapped in cuteness..Top it all there is Zorro man who leaves a mark on woman's body... The novel is with all its twists here and there, few engrossing and some wierdly amusing characters wrapped up in with good humour and wit..Suspense goes very well with all its whimsical substances scattered all through and at the very end of the novel everything fits in perfectly...In spite of the strangeness Daniella's bond with her mother Marcela is normal and enduring, Marcela often renders a shoulder to lean on, a hand to lead through her daughter's difficult times, encouraging her time and again with all love and tenderness...Nothing in the novel seems the way they are, there are always too many insights to each of them  and that is the best treatment to the character and the plot...Calvani has a done a fantastic job giving us a beautiful picture of all the plots, even when its about the characters some interesting moments around them are parallely provided keeping the reader lively, deeply in touch with the novel...Peurto Rica will always stay around through Calvani's eyes..Even when Calvini gives minimal description, it brings out a great snapshot of the places and characters...I also liked the way Calvini gives an insights to the troubled minds of the characters..Calvini's Sunstruck is like those famous painting in a museum that looks very plain at the outset but if you look at it closely , it reveals folds of expressions with it..It was a very different read for me, strange, witty, bizzare , savvy,dazzling , with some sphinx like aura...I would definitely love to read more from this author..

Special Release Price: Sunstruck - $2.99 now through September 15.

Gift with Purchase: Purchase Sunstruck http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LYYOWM and receive FREE download e-Book of Dark Lullaby. Email her publicist, Donna McDine donna@donnamcdine.com with your receipt of Sunstruck purchase and receive link to FREE Dark Lullaby e-Book through September 15, 2012. Of course, if you purchase Sunstruck elsewhere please email receipt to Ms. McDine.

Also, as Mayra's thank you to her blog hosts please find below the FREE download e-Book of Dark Lullaby (no purchase of Sunstruck necessary):

Coupon Code: XD38V
Expires: September 15, 2012

About the author

Award-winning author Mayra Calvani has penned over ten books for children and adults in genres ranging from picture books to satire to paranormal fantasy novels. She’s had over 300 articles, short stories, interviews and reviews published in magazines such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal  and Bloomsbury Review, among others. She has lived in America, Asia, the Middle East, and now lives in Brussels, Belgium.

Website: www.MayraCalvani.com

Disclosure:

I am a member of Bewitching book tours..I received a copy of this book from the author..I have not received any payment from any third party and the opinions expressed in my blog are my own...