'Criti....que not Criti....cize'

This article can be read here as well. Mumbai, October 29, 2015: After what seemed more like enthusiasm to meet some great authors than a crowd trying to get past the security personnel’s bulky arm, TATA Literature Live!: The Mumbai LitFest finally kickstarted at the National Centre of the Performing Arts (NCPA). The opening ceremony was graced by Vikram Seth, famed author of ‘A Suitable Boy’, Germaine Greer, the feminist author famous for her works like The Female Eunuch and the more recent White Beech: The Rainforest Years , who has many times kicked up quite a few storms for her libertarian thoughts and provocative writing. Mr. Anil Dharker, Founder and Festival Director, Dr. Mukund Rajan, Brand Custodian, Tata Sons, and Mr. Khushroo Suntook, Chairman, NCPA were some of the other dignitaries present at the inaugural session. Germaine Greer in  conversation with Vikram Seth on 'Can books change the World' at Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2015 ...

Sleeping on Jupiter by Anuradha Roy My rating: 4 of 5 stars True to the review printed in the book, "This is why you read fiction at all". More than the journey of a girl rediscovering her birthplace, away from her place of rebirth or perceived rebirth ( post her adoption),it is the little things that give life to the very pages of the book- the aroma of the ginger and clove tea, the sage in sunglasses by the sea,the man watering a rootless plant with unfailing dedication, the braids of her hair, the gold earrings, the chatter of the old ladies and their will to live life in spite of the turbulence in their lives, no matter what situation they find themselves in. It is about living life, not by closing every page of the past but by seeking reference from it in order to understand the present well. :) Thank you Anuradha Roy, for breathing life into an otherwise "lesser" mortal. - Divya Nambiar Author of the book: Other books by the Author: , ...

Hold Still Please by Tina Huerta My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is a compilation of poems written by Tina Huerta over time and the aesthetic and subliminal use of pictures make the poems more endearing and sensuous. But considering the Indian sensibilities and set-up, I wonder how many would be comfortable enough to turn over the pages in public. But it does make for a good read. However, I would have appreciated it more if the layout in some poems had been a bit more easy on the eyes. For example, Soul Twin and Ethereal Rein could have done with a better font setting. But nevertheless, the poems makes up for their placements! The poems do touch a romantic chord somewhere. Certain emotions expressed through certain words may not be comprehended as per the author's wish but isn't that the beauty of a poem, after all? To be left to be interpreted as per the reader's understanding, rather than pressing to find out what 'exactly' the poet meant when she w...

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom My rating: 4 of 5 stars Morrie became my coach as well, long after he passed away and found peace. I laughed, cried and ‘thought’ with him, thanks to one of my colleagues at office, Mr. Sumeet Naik, who introduced me to Morrie and Mitch. Imagine sitting on a chair in your room and looking out of the window. You see patterns in the distant sky and try making shapes or look at the hibiscus plant that has been witnessing changes in days and seasons, along with you, for quite some time now. Then there is an occasional sound of a truck pulling by, on the opposite street. Life seems blissful, isn’t it; to admire the beauty of the subtle movements in the big thing called life? Now here comes the “minor” glitch. While you do see people roaming around in the park through your window, to your left, you have to make peace with the fact that you can only be a mute spectator of it. Never again in your life would you be able to do it-  ...

Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish Tripathi My rating: 4 of 5 stars Tripathi has done it once again- restructured ancient mythology to suit modern preferences- making history so much more colourful and sensible! The first in the Ram Chandra series, it perceptibly has Amish’s magical storytelling. Indians undeniably grow up listening to stories from ancient epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Some read the original version while others read it year after year.   In fact, there are times when Hindus dedicate an entire month to read the Ramayana (that concluded on August 16, this year, according to Malayalam calendar). Being a Malayali, I keenly observed my grandmother reading it bit by bit every single day and finally flipping through the last 5-8 pages today. It is said that reciting Ramayana during this month leads to blessings being showered upon the next seven generations by the almighty. Keeping the myths aside, I did think of it from a new angle. It is probably said s...

This blog was started as an assignment during the course of MA in Communication and Journalism. Many books were reviewed and many more relationships established with different worlds thanks to the varied journeys they took me upon. I got to know authors, their journeys, their views about the print media and their take upon the profession of story-writing. While I believe that the journey has just begun and that I have miles and miles to go before I sleep (yes, Robert Frost), here's a review that found a place in Mumbai's Free Press Journal, one of the oldest dailies. Amy Snow by Tracey Rees My rating: 3 of 5 stars The review - epaper.freepressjournal.in/556248/The... -Divya Nambiar View all my reviews

A Walk in the Rain by Udai Yadla My rating: 3 of 5 stars A walk in the rain, said the title of the book. Please not another mushy love story, I prayed. It did start like one. Oh… please no, I prayed. It was the line below the title that kept me going as it said- ‘A journey of love and redemption’. Love and redemption sounded like a lethal combination. To an extent it was. The fact that it was a romance thriller further fuelled my interest. For a first time writer, he has done a good job. But I really would like to suggest that often, self publishing has its cons too. For one- there is a tendency to look over minor mistakes that are bound to be committed in the eagerness to complete our book. The second, as told by a professor in my college once, never ever fall in love with your work. When that is followed, you seem to be in a better position to access your own work. Coming back to the book, it has got many instances where the innocence of a childhood crush or the ...