Sunday 31 August 2014

Where Even the Present is Ancient: Benaras - Book Review



Title: Where Even the Present is Ancient: Benaras
Author: Maitreyee B Chowdhury
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd
ISBN: 978-9382473848
Number of Pages: 78
Price: 125 [INR]
Genre: Poetry

Blurb on the Book:

Benaras is a book that seeks to tell the little stories that make us who we are. The author believes that Benaras resides in all of us Indians, in some beautiful often unknown way. The author is the Sutradhar, in that she attempts to connect an India that many do not realize exists, in that it is everybody's story. Radha, Krishna, Ganga, Benaras and Me are all characters in this deluge of poems.

This attempt at telling the story of the ancient, of love and of faith is to instill the confidence that poetry exists in all of us, everywhere, all that is needed is to smell its fragrance.

To those outside India, the book does not seek to be a representation of what India is or was, but a whiff of what it also can be. It is an attempt to ask people to see the little stories that govern all our lives, stories that we often don't see, but those that are important.

The audience for this book might be strewn across the globe, for faith is not religion-centric, it is people-centric and often without dimensions.

In poetry there is no beginning, no middle, nor no end. Like faith it is everywhere, it is omnipresent. The book affords no answers, nor no questions, but if you listen and read carefully you will see new things, a new beauty perhaps, one that has been silent so long.

My Review:

'Where Even the Present is Ancient: Benaras' is a collection of poems by Maitreyee B Chowdhury. When I first saw the cover page of this book, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew that it was something different. So without much delay I flipped to the first poem and there was no stopping from then. I finished reading all the poems within an hour and half.

Benaras is the religious capital of India. It is a place looked upon by us with devotion. But what is the reality? Is it really as holy as it looks for us from a distance? What is the truth? The author had made a commendable job of nudging us towards the reality of this place through her wonderful poetry. 

The book is a collection of short poems, which holds great meaning. The characters in the book are most essentially us. Small, yet thought provoking, these poems will leave a deep impact on us.

Here are a few verses that I loved:

"You haven't lived,
Till you've lost'
He seems to say -
'Most of all Yourself"

This verse if from the poem 'Faceless in Benaras' which is the poem I liked the most in the book.

Verses like 
'Spat some Benaras into his Ganga
       and
'God greets you in his stench,
pure and full of Bacteria'
    gives you a reality check about the condition of Ganga and places in Benaras.

I have never visited Benaras but reading this book, I felt like I was in Benaras, seeing it through author's eye. 

Here are some of my favorite poems:

  • Faceless in Benaras
  • The Stench of Ganga
All in all, the book makes a good read. I recommend it for poetry lovers.

My rating: 4/5 stars!

BUY @
 
About the Author 

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Maitreyee B Chowdhury is a web columnist and creative writer. She is author of Reflections on My India, a book of Indian traditions and spirituality in parts. Maitreyee is also author of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen- Bengali Cinema’s First Couple and Ichhe Holo Tai, a bilingual multi media presentation of poetry. Maitreyee is featured amongst other Indian writers such as Gulzar, Shashi Tharoor and Deepti Naval in an anthology of Indian writers Celebrating India.

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Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Friday 29 August 2014

100 Happy Days - Day 31 to Day 40

       Last week had been hectic but finally I am able to catch up with the #100HappyDays Challenge. I do notice that this challenge, though seems difficult, has helped me a lot amidst my busy schedule. Here is the list of things that made me happy in the past 10 days.

Day 31: Not having to set the alarm for the next day is one of the greatest pleasures of life. I was glad that I didn't have a 7:30 class next day.



Day 32: Had a lazy and fun filled afternoon with my best friend. Chatting with your best friend can lift your mood like anything.



Day 33: It was Independence day, which gives every Indian a reason to be happy and celebrate. I loved watching parade on the Television. 



Day 34: Received signed copy of Private India for review from BlogAdda. Must say, it was a good read.



Day 35: It was the day of Janmashtami, which I and my brother love. Why? The picture below says it all! 



       8 kind of sweets were prepared and it was a treat for us.

Day 36: Bought this new Centuary matress which is so comfortable. I am totally loving it.



Day 37: I am totally hating 7th semester. I don't feel like attending most of the classes. 'Web lab' is the only thing that I am loving in this semester. The first lab session was good and I was happy to find something I love in the otherwise boring routine!



Day 38: Received the books I had ordered on Flipkart. I have been thinking of reading P.S. I Love You from so many days and finally getting a copy of it made me happy.



Day 39: After months of arguments and postponing, my friend finally took us to a hotel for her birthday treat. Had an awesome time there. Happiness is enjoying with friends.



Day 40: Some times the biggest happiness is bunking class. So when life gets hectic, ditch a class and enjoy the day. Just make sure it doesn't become a habit!


With that I finish writing about 40 days. Yay :) What made you happy today?

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)       


Wednesday 27 August 2014

100 Happy Days - Day 21 to Day 30

      I have been lagging behind again. Final year of engineering is keeping me busy. But I have been successful in finding small things which make me happy. These things help me keep going when I want to quit everything and go sleep! Here are the next 10 days of the #100DaysHappiness Challenge:

Day 21I finally convinced dad to take me to the Book Fair in Bangalore and it was a treat! Surrounded by lakhs of books and book lovers, it was an awesome feeling. Finally bought these books for 1K. Fair enough right?



Day 22Tired from too much travelling, I woke up to see this amazing news that my poem on Writer's Ezine has won the 'Exceptional Poem' for the month of July. They sent me a voucher of 500/- for the same.


Day 23: My phone used to hang a lot. So I decided to install the new updates and finally, its working better now. Most of my irritation was eased by this fact!


Day 24: Most of the classes this semester starts at 7:30, which requires me to get up by 6 am! I absolutely loath it! Thankfully, when lab batches were announced, I found that I don't have lab on Fridays which meant I didn't have classes till 10.45! Now that was a treat.



Day 25: It always feels great to receive an author signed copy. Received this book as a part of review program by BlogAdda.


Day 26: Recently I fell in love with this video 'Unbreakable' by Kim Hyun Joong and I can't get enough of it. Happiness is watching a video you love.


Day 27: Happiness is being a Back Bencher! I always was one but this semester, it has become tough to get that last bench as competition has significantly increased for it! I was happy to have been early enough to get it that day!


Day 28: Happiness is having a brother whom you love a lot! And when you have one such brother, Rakshabandhan means all the more special to you. I absolutely enjoyed this day.


Day 29: BlogAdda announced the winners for Mardaani activity and I was shocked and delighted when I saw that I am one of the runner ups of this amazing contest! I was on cloud nine!


Day 30: Happiness is shopping! Bought this new dressing table for my room. I was happy happy.


      There! I finished the list of next 10 days again i.e 3rd August to 12th August. Stay tuned for more.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Saturday 23 August 2014

Re-Doing my Paradise - 2

       Isn't it amazing how things around us influence our mood? If there are things we love around us, our mood will be positively affected and our spirits will be uplifted. On the other hand, if the things are not according to our wish, then it is quite obvious that it results in a bad, grumpy mood which will remain with you whole day. Though we cannot change everything, at least we can re-do our home according to our tastes and make it look like we wish. This way, there will always be one place that you will love spending time at. 

       I already wrote a post saying how I would love to re-do my home in ethnic style. And of course I loved the idea. But in this changing world, nothing is constant. Change is a way of life. So there is one more style that I would love to adapt in re-doing my home - Contemporary. While I love ethnic style, contemporary has its own charm. 

       Here are the things that I would love to have in my home



      I don't like things which are too much bright. I love simple things. Thus there is no doubt why I loved this particular product. Though it looks simple, it is quite appealing and adds a certain charm to the place. And if kept in right place, with right background, it gives the home a classy look.



       Going with my theme, here is another prop that I would love to use. This oil burner has an elegant look to it. I loved the pattern it forms on the wall. It looks like a golden pot, which is radiating some divine light! Awesome, isn't it?

       


       I love the night sky. I love sitting by the window and watching the stars. I have always felt a pull towards the mysterious sky and the secrets that lay hidden there. I would love to unravel them with the help of this telescope. It's always been a dream to own a telescope and get lost in the secrets of a world that seems so far yet so inviting. Who knows, may be someday I will discover something great? This telescope will be my partner in the discovery.

       So these were my favorite things with which I want to decorate my home. What is your favorite?

PS: This post is a part of Makemyhome activity at BlogAdda.com.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Friday 22 August 2014

Private India - Book Review

Title: Private India 
Authors: Ashwin Sanghi and 
               James Patterson
Publisher: Arrow Books
ISBN: 978-0-099-58639-5
Number of pages: 448
Price: 350 [INR]
Genre: Thriller




Blurb on the Book:

In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with corpses.

For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest investigation agency, it's a race against time to stop the killer striking again.

In a city of over thirteen million, he'd have his work cut out at the best of times, but this case has him battling Mumbai's biggest gang lord and a godman who isn't all he seems.

And then he discovers there may be an even greater danger facing Private India. Hidden in the shadows is someone who could destroy the whole organization - along with thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens...

My Review:

When I received this book, I was shocked to see the number of pages! Though I don't mind reading lengthy novels, I had my doubts whether I will be able to finish it off in seven days, owing to my busy schedule. But all I had to do was start reading! And as the line on the cover page says, 'The pages turn themselves' and within three days, I was done reading!

Private India is the Indian branch of the worldwide detective agency Private headed by Jack Morgan. Santosh Wagh is the chief of the Indian branch of Private, who is in a constant battle with his alcohol addiction and wanting to perform his duty well. The book starts with the murder of Dr. Kanya Jaiyen and right from here, the story picks up pace. The story is about a serial killer who is on a killing spree, murdering people, women in particular, who seemingly have nothing in common. The murders happen at such a fast rate, almost two per day, that it leaves the Santosh Wagh and his team bewildered. The only thing in common is all these women are strangled with a yellow scarf. The clues left by the murderer are weird stuffs like dolls, drums, egg shells which seem no where connected! And to add more spice (or horror) to the story, there is also a terrorist group which plans on planting bomb in Mumbai, the city where the entire story is based.

The plot is very good and it leaves you guessing who could be the culprit. And to be honest, I couldn't guess it. Of the two suspense, I could only guess one. The book has everything that you encounter in real life - media which is hungry for news, local gangster who rules the entire city, corrupt officers and people who back stab. Like most thriller novels, the story doesn't revolve just around the main character, which is good. It keeps you engaged right from the beginning till the end. You cannot simply just stop reading! Such is the story line.

But the ending disappointed me a lot! A story which started well, ended with too much drama! It was like a movie scene; things that cannot and do not happen in real life are depicted at the climax! I cannot say much without revealing the mystery. So I will just stop at saying that for a book so well written, the ending could have been better! Also there are few unnecessary explanations and flashbacks given, which could have been omitted to optimize the story.

Few of my favorite lines from the book:
  • Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
  • A smile is a curve that sets everything right.
  • There are always second chances - both in metal and men.
So what is the verdict you would ask. Well though the ending could have been better, the rest of the plot is brilliant. The book definitely makes  a good one-time read! I would suggest it to mystery, crime and thriller fans!

My Rating: 3.5 stars!


Thank you BlogAdda for sending me the signed copy for review.

PS: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Thursday 21 August 2014

Re-doing my Paradise!

       Home is paradise on earth. It is that one place where we can be ourselves without having to worry about anything or anyone; not even worrying about how we look. Being a person who loves being at home rather than going out, I absolutely love decorating my little space according to my taste. It is such a bliss re-doing it, adding personal touch-ups. It lifts my mood like anything. 

       I would like to re-do my home with ethnic as the theme. Here are the three items that I would love to have:

1. Mobile Stand:


       I came across this classy looking Chitrahandicrafts Mobile Stand Design - 1 which immediately caught my attention. I don't have a mobile stand. I sleep keeping my cell below my pillow but recently I read an article about a cellphone kept under pillow having burnt up! It seriously scared me. So I would love to get this Mobile Stand so that I can keep my cell safely. The clock that is designed so brilliantly is a plus. The whole design is so awesome, that it adds a good finishing touch to my room and definitely will be the center of attraction and appreciation.

2. Wall Decor


      Next thing I would love to have is Aapno Rajasthan Ganapati Kalash and Diya Wood and Clay Wall Decor. I am a devotee of Ganapathi Bappa. I have a small idol of Ganesha that I carry with me most of the times. So I would love to have this lovely wall decor and hang it in the hall, where I can see it as soon as I enter the home. I am sure this idol will spread a positive vibe in the home. After all what is paradise without God?

3. Lantern:


       One more thing which I would love to add is this Aapno Rajasthan Lantern-048. The lantern is a beauty! It was love at first sight. I couldn't stop myself from looking at this lantern repeatedly. If this was my reaction, then I can only begin to imagine how wonderful the reactions of my guests will be when they see it at my home. It will be like adding a feather to the crown when they appreciate it. This lantern definitely is an eye catcher!

       With these three things, I am sure my mission of re-doing my home will be a grand success. Not only will it make me happy, it will also make me proud when people start appreciating my choices. Mission accomplished!

PS: This post is a part of Makemyhome activity at BlogAdda.com.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Need for 4G Speed!

       Today we live in a world of speed. Anything that takes longer than necessary becomes too irritating. It might be a jam that is taking too long to clear or some person who is working too slow for our liking. Patience has become a word of the past and all people crave today is speed. They expect everything to be over within the blink of an eye. No one likes the waiting part and I am no exception to this.

       Last month, our broadband had connection had failed. And it took almost 1 month to get it fixed. There is no doubt that it was one hell of a month! With no broadband to rely on, I was totally dependent on my mobile data. But as speed as the 3G data pack claims to be, it was never enough. I had started watching a TV series before the broadband failed and I still had to download 2 seasons but downloading it using my 3G data pack was out of question. So I had to plead and persuade my friend for days before she finally agreed to download it for me. The wait had finally killed the enthusiasm with which I was watching the series.

       Every little work in today's world requires internet connection. Right from paying bills to booking tickets, everything is done online. And even a little delay could make you miss on your favorite things. And the worst torture is when you have to download a movie. It takes hours for a single movie to download and the net becomes so slow at that time that you can't do any other work except wait for the download to complete. Or you would have to opt for the overnight download ritual.

       Well, not anymore! The wait is over with the arrival of Airtel 4G - The fastest network ever. You can download movies within minutes and you will never be frustrated like before. The buffering problem will be solved and the scowl that had taken a permanent place on the face due to the irritating wait will soon disappear. Just imagine having that high speed internet!

  • You don't have to take tea breaks every time watching some live shows on your mobile. Yes, the buffering wouldn't be a problem and you can enjoy watching your favorite shows without interruption.
  • You don't have to wait for a minute before you can hear what the person on the other side of the Whatsapp call said! There won't be the irritation of discontinuity anymore.
  • You can download songs, apps, movies all on the go. No need to wait for hours together to enjoy something that you love.

       And what is more unbelievable is the price at which you can avail all these benefits. Yes, the Airtel 4G data pack is available at 3G price only! I am most definitely going for it. Are you?


PS: This post is written for Airtel 4G.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Ramayana: The Game of Life - Rise of the Sun Prince - Book Review

Title: Ramayana: The Game of Life - 
          Rise of the Sun Prince

Author: Shubha Vilas
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
ISBN: 978-81-8495-530-9
Number of Pages: 217
Price: 250 [INR]
Genre: Mythology

Blurb on the book: 

One of the World's great literary masterpieces, skillfully retold for modern audiences.

Epics like the Ramayana have been recounted infinite times. Is there a need for another chronicle in the presence of so many? How is this one different? And is it relevant to our ever-changing modern lives?

My Review:

There are some stories, which no matter how many times you have read, you find something new each time! Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are such stories. I have always been a fan of these. There have been numerous books on the epic Ramayana and many attempts have been made to re-narrate this epic over time. So what could be possibly different about this book? It was with this mindset that I picked up the book, expecting it to be just another story retold. But was I wrong?

The book is not a typical Ramayana story retold! The narration is crisp. As I started reading it, I was totally mesmerized by the story and the effort made by the author to illustrate even the minute details. There are so many details in this book that I wasn't aware of before. The book deals with the story from the time of Rama's birth till His marriage. But there is also a story in the beginning which narrates how this greatest epic of Ramayana came into being. How Rathnakar becomes Valmiki and how his angry curse turns into a beautiful verse of Ramayana.

As it is the story of Ramayana, it is natural to expect the hero of the book to be Rama. But instead of centering the story around Rama, the author has made the sage Vishwamitra as the hero of this book, which is the first of the six book series. Equal importance is given in describing each and every character in the story. The author has managed in providing a different perspective to the story, yet not spoiling the originality of the Ramayana.

The cover page is just awesome. It is attractive and prompts readers to pick it up instantly. The language used is simple yet compelling, which manages to engage the reader's interest throughout. What caught my attention the most are the footnotes that are present in almost every page of the book. The author has become successful in catching the reader's attention and interest by providing insights on various topics that otherwise will go unnoticed. It is said that Ramayana is not just a tale but a way of life. How the inherent wisdom from the tale can be imbibed in our life is effectively described in these footnotes.

Though there are so many quotes that are worth mentioning, the one that I loved the most is

  • Heroic acts may attract a common person, but acts of compassion and kindness attract the heart of great souls.

  • It is not the divine knowledge you possess that makes you divine but what you do with it that does.

Any series can be considered effective when the readers are enthusiastic and look forward for the next book. If you ask me, I say I am definitely looking forward for the second book in the series - Ramayana: The Game of Life - Shattered dreams. I suggest this book for all the readers who are interested in Mythology. Don't think 'Another Ramayana book?' Because when you read the book, you will find it worth it!

My Rating: 5/5 stars!

Thank you BlogAdda for sending me the signed copy for review.

PS: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)


Sunday 10 August 2014

100 Happy Days - Day 11 to Day 20

       I know I am pretty late; but it's better late than never! I took a break after UBC July and was reluctant to give up the lazy time I was having. After coaxing myself a lot, here I am finally with the list of next ten days of happiness challenge.

Day 11: Yummy Cabbage Fritters prepared by mom.


Day 12: Finally got net pack for my cell. You will understand my happiness only if you have waiter for 3 full days after paying for net pack!

Day 13: Met PU friends at Alumni Inauguration held in college. It felt good to meet up with lecturers and friends after a long time.


Day 14: There is no greater happiness than sitting with mom and gossiping.


Day 15: Received writer's badge for my poem The Dance that was published on Writer's Ezine.


Day 16: Eating Bhel puri with my brother :D we both love this routine :)


Day 17: Being silly when with friends and knowing they won't judge you; instead they will join in with you.


Day 18: Completed Ultimate Blog Challenge July 2014 successfully after so much doubts and thoughts of dropping out in the middle!


Day 19: Reading a good novel before going to bed.


Day 20: End of placement training session! Oh God! Did I hate that 9 am to 6 pm sessions!


      There! I finished the list of next 10 days i.e 24th July to 2nd August. More to follow soon.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)