Posts

Book Review - The Monkey And The Way Of Zen by Serena Choo

Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Book Review - Every day I Read by Hwang Bo - Reum

Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Book Review - The Cat And The Moon by Kai Tsukimi

Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Book Review - Dead In The Morning by Margaret Yorke

Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Book Review - Cycling The Narmada by Sameer Gaikwad

Image
  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...
1 comment
Read more

Book Review - Brain Damage by Freida McFadden

Image
You only have to search for thrillers on Kindle and you will find Freida's name staring at you from every page you scroll through. Freida has made a name for herself as an author of excellent thrillers. I have read some of her previous works and I took up this book with lots of expectations. I wasn't disappointed. Dr.Charlotte McKenna, a dermatologist wakes up to no feeling at the left side of her head. But apparently that is what a bullet shot at the right side of your brain will do - it will wipe out every memory, every feeling from the left side. Charlotte has a long way to recovery.  But that is not her only concern. Who shot her? She sure has suspects lined up. Her dashingly good-looking husband Clark? Her patient Stan who keeps popping up everywhere she goes, giving off stalker vibes? The ex-husband of one of her patients Regina, whom Charlotte treated for skin ailments against her husband's wishes? It didn't help matters that once Regina was cured of her ailment,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Book Review - A Murder In Mussoorie And Other Tales by Ruskin Bond

Image
Ruskin Bond is one author to whom I keep returning time and again and never get disappointed. His simple narratives, vivid description of the places he lived in and the characters that he met and brings to life through his stories make him one of the best writers of the age.  A Murder In Mussoorie And Other Tales is a collection of ten short stories mostly centered in small towns. There is the story of a mysterious murder in Mussoorie that has stayed unsolved till date.  There are stories based on places where Rudyard Kipling is said to have lived during his stay in India. Through these stories, you get a view of India like it was when Ruskin was a child, a teen and a young man, the India that only lives in his memories now. Ruskin's vivid description of the places brings them to life in front of the reader. There is his beloved Dehra where, Ruskin says, the trees are a match for man. There is the lonely and isolated town Shamli where you won't find any civilisation for m...
Post a Comment
Read more