From Deepa's Desk

Krishna and Buddha have influenced generation after generation with their timeless wisdom that is relevant in every age. This book while exploring the unique traits of the Bhagavad Gita and Buddha's teachings, draws a comparative analysis of their essence and proves one timeless fact - that both Buddhism and Bhagavad Gita meet at one common destination i.e. Shanti, peace. The book begins with a brief introduction of Buddha and the events that led him to choose the life of an ascetic. It then describes in detail, the Eightfold path prescribed in Buddhism. The book draws out parallels between the Eightfold path and verses of Bhagavad Gita and finally publishes the similarities between the two. It is indeed amazing how both the teachings have so many things in common - detachment, inner reflection, Dharma, liberation from all desires and freedom from the clutches of ego. The narrative is very simple and uses bulleted points to stress on the important parts. The similarities have been ...

Come, sit for a while. There is no rush. No urgency. Thus begins this book. It takes you on a leisurely journey laced with wisdom and timeless insights. The story starts with a monkey who is not satisfied with a mundane existence. When he seeks out his friends, asking them whether they ever feel that there is more to life, they ridicule him. Not finding anyone to share his views and thoughts, the monkey gets frustrated.  One day, he learns about a master who seemingly had answers to all the questions of life. The monkey sets off in search of him, thus earning the name, 'The Wandering Monkey'. He meets the master as a frustrated and restless monkey, irritated with the trials and tribulations of life and seeking peace.  The monkey represents the quintessential human, always in search of something that would provide unshakeable peace, something that would provide answers to all the questions in life. The book proceeds to show the monkey's transformation - from a grumbling, dis...

My friend lent this book to me stating that I have to read this.  To be frank, I was already taken in by the lovely book cover. It is an instant dopamine hit. The second thing I fell for was the title. Let's admit it, we readers fall hard for any title that has 'book', or 'Reading' or 'bookstore' in it. Sometimes that is all it takes to buy or read a book, isn't it? I started reading this book with great excitement, wanting to know what it talks about. By the third or fourth chapter, that excitement was replaced by a contented sense of bliss that I never wanted to let go of, which meant I wanted the book to just go on and never end. Yes, it is one of those books. The author talks about various aspects related to reading. Why do we read, what do we read, how do we read, what happens if we cannot get through the first few pages of any book... As a reader, I have always believed that we read mostly because we are bookworms. For the first time, I have realiz...

This book is a collection of 33 short stories all of which feature a cat. Why a cat, and why the moon? To quote the author, 'If Zen were to take form, it might very well show up as a cat - appearing when it pleases, ignoring you when you try too hard, curling up in the most inconvenient places, and slipping away just when you think you have finally figured it out.'   About the moon, the author says - 'In Zen, the moon often represents truth - unreachable, yet reflected in every puddle, every bowl of tea, every pair of eyes that dares to stop and look.' This is definitely one of the best books that I have ever come across. It is simply amazing how the author has created such beautiful and insightful tales around a cat. The stories are deep in meaning, imparting unforgettable life lessons and invoking self reflection. At the end of every chapter there is a question that makes you pause and think on it.  Reading this book felt like the ultimate mindfulness exercise. The na...

Mrs.Ludlow is the matriarch of the Ludlow family. Confined to a wheel-chair, she runs the household and keeps everyone in the family under her control - her daughter Phyllis, her sons Gerald and Derek and her grand-children from these two. There is also her caretaker Mrs.Mackenzie who is an invaluable asset not just in the kitchen but in also keeping the family intact.  But one fine morning, Mrs.Mackenzie doesn't wake up from her sleep.  Was it a stroke? A heart-attack? Or was it an external force, or someone?  Dr.Patrick Grant is the dean of the school where the Ludlow kids study and he has a curious mind that seeks out mysteries even in the ordinary. And Mrs.Mackenzie's case is anything but plain. As he interacts with the Ludlows, new insights emerge and the case takes a shocking turn. Did Mrs.Mackenzie indeed die of natural causes, or was there a sinister twist to the plot? The story has been written in English literature style, complete with Edwardian customs and trad...

  I am kind of ashamed to say that I didn't know about Narmada Parikrama until I read this book.  The author Sameer Gaikwad decides to go on a special pilgrimage, the Narmada Parikrama, the circumambulation of the river Narmada. It is a journey of around 3k kms and takes atleast 3 months to complete. However the author took 29 days to complete the pilgrimage. The amazing part is, he covered this entire journey on his cycle.  The book begins like a travelogue, with the author giving a brief prologue of how the events up to his date of travel unfolded. But when he begins the journey, he doesn't travel alone. He takes the reader along with him. The author's vivid description brings every scene to life and I felt like I was present there, cycling through roads that are sometimes smooth, at times in dire need of cement, other times making their way through fields and yet many other times, giving a glimpse of rolling hills in the background. I absolutely loved the narrative tha...