How does a sheep roll his eyes?

Hiromi Kawakami's Stranger Weather in Tokyo is such a beautiful book that I felt like reading it all over again as soon as I completed reading it. One of the best written books which reaches out to you in multiple ways. The Goldfinch was a good read as well. the only issue was the copy itself. I prefer to read the physical book rather than kindle or e-books. And the only copy I foud in the library was the hard bound one. So to carry it around for weeks [it is a long novel] was difficult but the story was gripping and kept me hooked on. I bought few of Tagore's books off flipcart while in India. When I was a kid, I remember reading them in my aunt's place in Calcutta and wanted to own the books badly. Finally had my wish fulfilled this time. Re-read some of the classic short stories last week and they overwhelmed me a always. And yes, I was in India for the last 3 weeks. Met with some people. Things have changed for sure. In my head and around me. Stayed in my childhoo...

Few years ago, I was on my way back from shopping at one of the busiest places in Chennai. I was in the middle of the road trying to get to the other side but because of the busy traffic had to wait for more than few minutes there. Shortly afterwards I was joined by a man carrying a huge bag. He smiled at me like he knew me well and since he was no one I knew, I found it a bit worrying. I turned away from him trying to find a space in between the cars and buses so that I could squeeze past. However, as a result of a flyover being built in the adjoining junction, the traffic flow was almost endless. Suddenly this man gave me a very clear smile, looked down at his bag, left it there and ran past the traffic to the other side and disappeared. He had taken a huge risk since one of the passing vehicles could have easily run over him. But he made it, still smiling at me and I was left in the middle with this bag beside me. As is normal these days, I found myself thinking that the bag contain...

It would take an awful amount of rains to bug a Chennaiite but I think England has managed to do it.

I wonder how it is considered to be cool to act silly and punctuate every sentence with a giggle. This comes post watching Nargis Fakhri on television yesterday. I do understand that I do not appreciate things in the same way I did 10 years ago. But her conversation really left me exasperated. Did the actor/model believe that men would fall for an airhead. And do they?

There is this Indian American kid who wins the US National Spelling Bee contest and I think to myself, would Z be interested in words? That is what parenting does to you. Every news piece, information, fact becomes a reason to worry or rejoice or ponder upon. Needless to say I am loving it :) I finished Chimamanda Adichie's Purple Hibiscus last week and loved it. In the same vein, I started reading her Americanah. I am nearing the end of the book but did not enjoy it s much as the previous one. I enjoy long novels, so the length was not the issue. The author speaks about racism at length and with such frequency that one is allowed to think that all that runs in the minds of African Americans all day is the fact that they are black. Living in England, I have been subject to feelings such as, did he say that because I am Asian or was I ignored as a choice because of my ethinicity. At times, it could be my imagination. maybe at all times, it is. And it hurts, real bad. You think we ...

I was reading about Penguin withdrawing the book on Hinduism from the Indian market. It got me wondering. If one is a true believer of something, how should anything said about it matter? I mean how or why would you get offended if you in your heart you know or think it is not right? I know the Indian law prescribes criminal action against any person or group which talks/ publishes anything derogatory against any religion/ sect. But that is the law, which in turns has been developed keeping in mind any religious agitation which might rise. What I am talking about is individual choices. Why should an individual feel offended?

The last couple of years have been emotionally and physically challenging, to say the least. You might have understood that with the lack of posts from me. Not that I was very regular earlier but I used to post something once in two weeks atleast on one of my blogs [I have couple of private blogs, one for my niece and one for my baby and I have decided it will be for their eyes alone]. The only time I get now is when I am done with my work, dinner and Z is tucked in. It is about 20-30 mins of time. By this time I am thoroughly exhausted and invest my leisure time unwisely in front of the television. When I sometimes hear of people achieving great things inspite of full time jobs and babies, I wonder if they use such 20-30 mins in some kind of productive work as well. Must be a herculean task. I might be able to manage if I try harder. Sometimes I do get to that point but that is when my heart tells me I should be kind to myself. I am reading Kazuo Ishiguro these days. I finished Neve...