'The Bookshelf'

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Flight Behaviour

     Author                            Barbara Kingsolver

     Country                          United States

     Genre                             Realistic Fiction

     Publication Date            2012

     Pages                              436

An interesting contemporary read is how I would describe this book.

Through this book, Barbara builds the story of Dellarobia - a farm wife, mother of two who finds herself giving up her aspirations when she accidentally gets pregnant at the age of seventeen. Now, many years hence, trapped in a bored, loveless marriage with a husband who refuses to stand up for her or for himself against his overbearing and judgemental mom, Dellarobia desperately seeks reprieve. She wants to find a larger meaning to her existence and the sudden appearance of the magical butterflies on the family farmland provide her this reprieve. She ends up getting a job with the scientist who works on this and is amazed at how much she was losing out in life by not stepping beyond her home to explore the world outside. One thing leads to the other till Dellaboria finds the courage to stand up for herself and do what is best for her.

Interspersed with the story of Dellaboria is the story of the magical butterflies which is due to a possible climate change. The scientists view on global warming and the refusal of the soceity to believe that it bodes any ill are an interesting backdrop to the story.

In conclusion, I would say that is is an interesting read where Dellaboria's character is built as a classic case of a woman who loses herself and her innate desires in the demanding world of marriage and motherhood. And her struggle to get out of it is a lesson to many who find themselves in her position.

While the story is compelling and relevant to our times, unfortunately, for me the book did not build as much an emotional connect as I had expected. Its one of those situations where its hard to exactly verbalise what was missing. Guess thats why books are as much about feelings as they are about cognizance and I wouldnt be inaacurate in saying that while this book had everything to make it an emotionally moving story, for me, it didnt go beyond being just an 'interesting read'.

If you are thinking of purchasing a copy of this book, try out my favorite site: www.lafalafa.com; an online shopping portal which brings together some awesome deals from all large e commerce sites (Flipkart, eBay, Snapdeal and the likes) while also offering additional cash back; which you only get if you go through Lafalafa and shop at any of your e commerce sites!

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Thursday, 18 September 2014

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

     Author                            Ken Kesey

     Country                          United States

     Genre                             Fiction

     Publication Date           1962

     Pages                             320

Set in the 1960s, this book gives the readers an interesting insight into the life at a mental asylum. The main plot of the the book is built around an ongoing and irresolvable conflict between the two protagonists: Nurse Ratched who likes order and control and the patient McMurphy who is a fun loving, spirited and boisterous rebel. McMurphy's refusal to bow down to the almost tyrannical nurse reflects his streak of non conformity and individualism in a world that is mostly defined by rules and authority.

Ken has done a fine job of showcasing the human dynamics that come to play in any organizational set up. The willingness of the other patients to succumb to the nurse (for fear of consequences), the refusal to support McMurphy in his crazy expeditions and finally the consequent uprising against authority once they see in McMurphy a leader of their cause, reflects how human psyche works. We are all vulnerable and are willing to bow down to authority to protect our selfish interests; unless there is someone who can lead us to believe otherwise.

While I enjoyed reading the book, my honest submission is that this is a little over rated. I admire McMurphy's spirit and his courage to stand his own but am confused on the final message that the book wanted to convey.

McMurphy's tragic end to me signifies the crushing of human spirit in the favour of authority. But am not convinced that that is what Ken wanted to leave us with. Thus, I am left wondering whether the sole idea of the book was to convey the struggle between authority and individualism rather than selecting a winner between the two!

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Sounder

     Author                        William H Armstrong

     County                        Canada

     Genre                          Fiction

     Publication Date        1969

     Pages 83


I happened to chance upon this book at the library and ended up picking it up more on impulse than design. And really, what makes life captivating is these seemingly insignificant impulse 'purchases'; which start with no expectations and then delight you like rain shower on a particularly hot day!

Honestly, I am not too much of a 'short story' or 'novella' person since I like books to grow on me through their many pages. Thus, my love for this book is limited in that sense. It can never end up featured on my list of favourite books but within it's established limitations, it did a fine job.

This is the story of a black family and the bond that ties them together in a world that is unjust and biased. It's a story of love, family ties, desperation, injustice and yearning.

What intrigued me immensely about this book is the fact that none of the characters have a name - they are addressed as 'boy', 'mother', 'father' and the like. To me, this is a subtle message from the author that these individuals were really a non entity in a world that was governed by the colour of the skin. The fact that there is no reason shared with the reader as to why the boy's father was incarcerated makes me believe that the family was not worth being reasoned to. The fair skinned looked down upon these African Americans and did not deem it important to afford any justification for their actions against them. It is these subtle messages left to the interpretation of the reader that make this book endearing to me.

The boy's desperate search for his father, his coming of age as a result of his father's disappearance and his yearning to learn to read and write give us an insight into his character; which is heart wrenching.

A reasonably good 'quick read' is how I would describe this book!

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Friday, 29 August 2014

A Passage to India

     Author   E.M. Forster

     Country                      England

     Genre                         Historical Fiction

     Publication Date       1924

     Pages                          293

This is a book written by an Englishman in 1924: at the height of India's independence movement. The fact that it's written by an Englishman and protrays an almost honest and unbiased view of the bridge that existed between the British and the Indians make it an interesting read.

However, I found the book far from engaging. In my view, reading a book is like embarking on an emotional journey; and there are some that just put you at the centre of action (almost making you feel like a character in the book) and others that leave you as a bystander (or a reader). Unfortunately, this book made me the latter. It's a fine story of an Indian and his interaction with different English men and women but it surely lacks the punch that make 'good' books 'great'.

The central theme of the book is the wide bridge that exists between the two societies and the way Indians are treated by the British in their own country. While some English men and women question and in a subtle way oppose this 'not so pleasant' treatment of Indians, the British Raj largely believes that their job is to maintain peace and order in the country rather than being pleasant and friendly. The overriding belief is that Indians who are beset with their own inter sect clashes are far from capable of running the country on their own.

Another important theme that Forster skillfully develops through the course of the book is the feasibility of friendship between an Indian and an Englishman. While Aziz and Fielding start off as friends, very soon the deep rooted animosity between the two cultures and the lack of trust takes over resulting in the loss of this friendship. Thus, Forster evolves the notion of friendship during the course of the book: while in the early part of the book it seems that individuality and mutual respect are more critical to friendship than societal norms, the same does not hold true towards the end of the book when external circumstances colour this friendship for good.

Forster ends the book on a rather strong note from Aziz who believes that while India may have its own problems of inter sect clashes, it is clearly against the British rule and could get united to push the British out. This in a way gives an indication of the Indian freedom struggle to follow.

All in all, it was an interesting book but it did not move me emotionally or engage me as much as I would have wanted it to.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Friday, 22 August 2014

Man's Search for Meaning

     Author                         Viktor E Frankyl

     Country                       Austria

     Genre                          Non Fiction: Psychology

     Publication Date        1946

     Pages                          165

This book came highly recommended. Given the intriguing and thought provoking title, and the fact that it's a 150 page concise book, I was more than tempted to pick it up post my recently concluded escapade with the 900 plus page 'Anna Karenina'.

Through this book, Victor Frankyl, a psychiatrist by profession, chronicles his experiences as an inmate in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War 2 and his psychotherapeutic method for dealing with such experiences.

The first part of the book which deals with the author's personal experiences at the concentration camp is insightful. The fact that he analyses how people react to such experiences rather than just relaying these experiences as a work of historical fiction, make the book different from the host of other books on this subject. Victor throws light on how man can get used to any circumstances and how in such extreme conditions, he regresses to just fulfilling his basic needs and develops an almost uncanny insensitivity to others. One of the most disturbing impacts of such conditions is the loss of the sense of being an individual (with a free mind) and the constant threat to ones values. Such situations leave men with just 2 options - to either add a deeper meaning to life by being brave and dignified or to forgo all dignity and become an animal in this fight for self preservation. While very few men manage to do the former, the fact that even one can do it makes one believe in the feasibility of the same.

Through the second and third part of the book, Victor builds his psychotherapeutic method called logo therapy. While the details of this were too technical for my comfort, what has stayed with me is that ones mental well being depends on a certain degree of tension - between what one has achieved and what one still aspires to achieve - finding that deeper meaning in life. So many of us today suffer from what is called 'existential vacuum' or inner emptiness. As Victor aptly remarks, one can find meaning by devoting himself to a cause or by experiencing beauty/love or through the attitude one develops towards unavoidable suffering.

In a snapshot, while the latter part of the book was a little technical, overall it's been insightful and thought provoking and definitely worth a read.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Anna Karenina

Author Leo Tolstoy

Country Russia

Genre Fiction: Classic

Publication Date 1877

Pages 864

One of the longest books I have read in the recent past. But a much awaited and wonderful read. I am amazed at Leo Tolstoy's ability to weave a beautiful story that touches upon love, insecurities and societal norms against the backdrop of Russian contemporary politics.

Through this book (first published in 1878), Leo Tolstoy has skillfully crafted the story of Anna, a high society woman who falls in desperate love with Count Vronsky and defies all societal norms to be with him (leaving behind a husband and a son). She is, however, not treated well by the society which almost completely shuns her while Vronsky continues to enjoy a social life. Interwoven with this is the tale of Levin who enlightens the readers on the Russian peasantry system and his search for a deeper meaning in life; while being married to the wonderful and sensitive Kitty.

What has particularly touched me about this book is how an intelligent, self assured and an almost formidable woman like Anna can fall prey to insecurities and jealously over her relationship with Vronsky. It's a classic case of how each of us harbour vulnerabilities within us; irrespective of the persona we present to the world at large. And it's no surprise that society plays an immense role in our sense of self esteem and worth. Having been shunned by the society, post her relations with Vronsky, Anna grows anxious and isolated. And this further fuels her already growing insecurity.

It is this insecurity over Vronsky's love for her and her nagging pain and guilt of having left her son 'motherless' that lead to her tragic end.

Life is not simple. It has it's shades of grey. Accepting the greys and cherishing what is brings along is my takeaway from this almost impeccable piece of literature.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

The Circle

     Author                            Dave Eggers

     County                           United States

     Genre                             Science Fiction

     Publication Date            2013

     Pages                              504

This is an exciting and futuristic book by the New York Times best selling author, Dave Eggers. It follows the story of Mae Holland, a young and ambitious girl who lands a job in the much coveted organization called 'Circle'.

Through the course of the book, she is both amazed and enraptured by the technology and the insight of the company. However, before long, Mae finds herself at the centre of this large scale change movement and she absolutely loves the attention.

The central theme of the book is the use of technology to create a much better world (as deemed by the leaders of this organization). In their view, there should be no privacy and all information should be available in full with everyone. The fundamental belief is that secrets enable immoral activities and everybody would behave righteously if they know they are being watched (and hence the need for round the clock monitoring of everybody). This cent percent openness would, they believe lead to a society which is bereft of any crime and misdoings.

While the belief sounds utopian and aspirational, at a more humane and personal level, it opens up questions around an individual's right to his privacy.

This is indubitably one of the most contentious debates of our times and in that sense, this book hits the nail on the head. While the perspectives are more from the view of those who are pushing for this change, the book leaves an engaged reader questioning the limits of information sharing.

And that is somewhere what Dave had aspired for - to raise the right questions and force people to seek answers.

In summation, I would describe this as an insightful book that leaves the reader thinking. However, the book could have surely benefited from some brevity.

You could use the link: http://bit.ly/1MJ4Fh5 to shop.

So, do check it out and Happy Reading!