Midnight's Children

I am currently in one of those out of body moods perfect for reading Rushdie. The man's a genius. If anyone can ever put down dreams in words, its him. Reading him is akin to a psychedelic experience. You get washed off whatever you were previously. You begin anew, afresh.

This is the second book of Rushdie's that I am reading. The first one was 'The Moor's Last Sigh'. What hit me the most about the book was how it ended. That is what left the indelible mark on me. It stays completely true to the line 'It's not where you start, but where you finish that matters'. I guess that's also why a lot of respected sportsmen choose to retire at the peak of their careers. Well that last line was totally off and random. But then you get the drift. Anyways, I am hoping this book too will end with a bang what with each of Saleem's revelations being more shacking than the previous one.

As an aside, it after reading Rushdie that one realizes how much he has inspired modern day authors. Of course no one has the guts or talent to be as radical as him, but they aspire to his greatness and a lot of works do have lingering whiff's of Rushdie in them.

More than a year later....

Hmmm... It has been more than a year since my last post. I had been waiting till now to set up my own site to restart blogging. But seeing as how that plan has not materialized as yet, I think I will resume blogging here till whenever I decide to wake up from my soporific state and get my site up.

I just finished reading 'The Toss of a Lemon' by Padma Vishwanathan. 600 pages in about 10hrs. A marathon reading session. The book describes very elaborately the complex caste system as it existed in Tamil brahmin society from 1896 on. Very strangely, the book seems not to have had much of an emotional impact on me. Or I do not know if it was because of the particular mood I was in. Because I still havent had the guts to finish 'Family Matters'. I am too scared to find out what happens to poor old Nariman.

Maybe it has also to do with the settings of the characters. Sivakami, the matriarch does not want for anything materially in contrast to Nariman's near penurious state. I guess '.. Lemon' was also predictable in large parts. Even the writing style could have been better. In many parts, Vishwanathan simply rattles off details in a very monotonous tone. There were very descriptive bits I skimmed through. I guess I am just upset because after 600 pages, I still don't feel anything for the characters. Or maybe I should wait a day to ruminate over the book and then write about it again.

Design Philosophy

A Psychological Tip
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
and you’re hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma you’ll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.

No—not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you’re passively standing there moping,
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you’re hoping.
-Piet Hein (Danish designer, inventor, philosopher & poet)

The Book

I am agnostic; very confused about my religious inheritance and belonging. I go through these phases when I get all religious and pray twice a day and read the Bible. But lately these phases have been getting rarer and rarer. What I dont get is, what drives the religious? Is it an act of self preservation(Almost all religions preach salvation through adherence)? Is it their way of fitting in? Or is it just blind-faith? What is blind-faith then? Why do some have it while some dont? I wish I could get ready-made answers for these without having to think about it.

The past three days, I have had to attend sermons by a Bishop who is a childhood friend of my dad's. My dad has told me stories of how the Bishop knew where his inclination lay since childhood. He was apparently a man of ardent faith. He is a great man the Bishop. I had the opportunity to interact with him and found him to be a man who automatically commands respect. During one of the sermons, he talked about the Bible being one of the most influential books of his life. That made me think. And, the more I thought, I realised that the Bible has been a very influential book in my life too. When I was a kid, my mom used to make me internalise verses. Even now, in times of trouble and confusion, I tend to fall back on those verses. I wonder if that makes me non-agnostic. I dont know. To find out, I guess, I will just have to keep thinking.

If

.......
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
.......
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
-Rudyard Kipling

My fav eight lines from the poem. This was recommended to me by someone who was once a very close friend. We parted quite bitterly and abruptly. These lines helped me through that episode. The written word can be so powerful. They can take you from the heights of happiness to the depths of depression through a single phrase.

I have just got back from church and its raining outside, making the internet my refuge. Its been an interesting weekend and I am sad to see it go.

Ozzie sojourn

My Oz experience was marked by an Amy Tannic discovery. Started off with the Joy Luck Club. I found it so good that I found it appropriate to give away as a wedding gift to my best friend. I still have to get myself a new copy though. I gave her my copy of Bread and Chocolate as well. It is again a very delightful book; a set of short stories by Phillipa Gregory. I have been unable to find a second copy for myself since. (Hmm... Note to self.. Must check for it in NJ..)

The next Amy Tan I bought was the Hundred Secret Senses. However in true bibliophilic spirit of gluttony I started it along with Rushdie's Midnight's Children and postponed completing either (Been two years now). I managed to finish her Saving Fish from Drowning on time, although I bought it much later. It was prolly because I was in GOC with nothing to do except squat mosquitoes!! I love Tan's simple prose and real people in almost real situations. Next on my list is The Kitchen God's Wife (100 Secret Senses pushed way down the list). But that will be only when I get back to dear old delhi. Till then its Bryson and Umberto Eco for me.

Globe trotting

Its been a while since I gave voice to my meandering mind, and here goes!!! I am currently travelling in the US, but reading a travelogue on Australia (Down Under by Bill Bryson). Recommended by mah friend R, I bought it along with a handful of other books during a recent sale in Delhi. Now in this distant land I sit and yearn for Oz. Oh those Ozzie days of my carefree youth!! How I wish to be young again. Sighh... Its like what Adam Sandler said in Big Daddy 'I drink a milkshake now and my ass shakes for a week!!' Bryson's managed to capture the minute eccentricities of Oz life so well... A must read for anyone even remotely interested in Australia...

My last trip to the US was marked by Amartya Sen (dont remember the book's name.. i gave it away eventually without completing it.. the man cant keep a reader!!... ) and Richard Branson (Losing My Virginity.. One helluva book.. you have to hand it to him.. the guy has guts and panache..) It was also marked by a lot of shopping (I had to buy a new bag altogether!!).. this time since i am opting to move into a better accommodation, I might end up being an impoverished trotter... saddd... so much for all those gadget dreams of mine.. oh noiee!!... I can see all those external hard drives take flight in my head.. Sighh... As Ned Kelly (famous Ozzie bushranger) said 'Such is life'!!!..