Change in the list

Life this week had been pretty hectic. Joined the new organization and had to go through a week of 'orientation program'. The real job will begin from tomorrow. I started with 'A Handful of Rice' (kamala Markandeya), unfortunately I have not had the time to proceed.
I managed to get a copy of Preeta Samarasan's book 'Evening is the whole Day' but looks like I will have to change my choice of 'Kaddish for the Unborn' - I haven't managed to get it. Landmark seems to be out of stock.
Probably I might have to go for another author. Any suggestions?

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

I finished William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' yesterday. It is not difficult to figure out why some authors stand out distinctly as compared to the rest of the crowd - Lord of the Flies is a testimony to this fact.

My initial reaction to the story was a stunned silence at the shocking violence and depravity that a human mind is capable of.

The story revolves around a group of British school children (the exact number is never known) who survive a plane crash and land on an uninhabited island. There are no grown ups and this causes merriment initially and the boys form their own method of governance. Ralph is chosen as the chief by the boys and his main aim is to find a rescue ship. Jack, an equal to Ralph has a mind of his own. Piggy is a shortsighted, fat, physically weak but intelligent boy who supports Ralph in his endeavours. Gradually, differences crop up between two main characters Ralph and Jack (who goes on to become a successful hunter and is power hungry ) and slowly the order collapses with Jack building his own tribe and enticing the rest of the boys to join the tribe. The book goes on to describe the incredible evil that crops up from these seemingly normal kids and finally ends in a rescue, depicting the loss of innocence and the ability to believe in goodness of the people.

The book is incredible in its style of narration and the build up of the story. It leaves you with a feeling of helplessness, in that, completely succeeds in hitting home the point.

However, there are loopholes that cannot be so easily ignored. Although it can be excused for being allegorical in nature, certain aspects seem too contrived to be believed - for example, the survival of kids with no adults aboard the plane, the age group of the children (the 'littleuns' being six and 'biguns' about twelve). One cannot really imagine such young children hunting pigs, killing them and roasting the meat (may be I am too skeptical about their capability)

All in all, the story is dark and completely gripping.

Rating: 4/5

Orbis Terrarum Challenge - Accepted!

I was so excited about finding books from different authors and different nations that I went straight ahead and did all my googling keeping my bookshelf in mind. I realized I have many in house from HD's collection which I have not read yet and can be used for this challenge. How lovely.
So, I put up my list now. I dont know if I can finish all of them, but I am starting off today!

The Almond – Nadjma (North Africa)
Breakfast of Champions – Kurt Vonnegut (USA) [COMPLETED]
A Handful of Rice – Kamala Markandeya (India)
Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh (Scotland)
The Life of Pi – Yann Martel (Canada)
Lord of the Flies – William Golding (England) [COMPLETED]
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert (France)
Evening is the whole day – Preeta Samarasan (Malaysia) [COMPLETED]
Kaddish for the Unborn Child – Imre Kertesz (Hungary)

It is a different story that coming Monday I would busy toiling my butt off in a new job, new environment. I am hoping these books will help me overcome any nasty surprises out there.

Gifts that thrill

The weekend saw us shopping more books - I had promised myself that I would not buy another new book till I finish reading all the books HD's shelf. But it so happened that I could not resist picking up another book ' A Handful of Rice' by Kamala Markandeya, an Indian writer. In addition, Sid presented me with Kurt Vonnegut's 'Breakfast of Champions'. I have never read Vonnegut or K. Markandeya before so I am all set to go. I am delighted when I am gifted with books.

Meanwhile, I am on Lord of the Flies.

UPDATE:

I stumbled upon Orbis Terrarum Challenge quite accidentally and I am in awe of people who have so much of energy, enthusiasm and time to go ahead and take up book challenges. Well, it certainly prompted me to take it up. Only, I dont know if I can finish it.

I am supposed to pick up nine books of any genre/non fiction/anything/ from nine different authors of nine different countries. This challenge was supposed to have started from april to finish by december. But being a late runner that I am, I dont know how I will manage nine books.

I will come up with a list of nine books soon and put it up.

At last some thing to make me feel alive and excited.

Weight Loss - Upamanyu Chatterjee

It has been three long days since I planned to write about the book 'Weight Loss'.
Frankly, I dont really know how to put my emotions down on the page- such rollercoaster ride of feelings forcing me to think and not proceed further. I am not actually surprised because major book critics were stumped by this unusual book so, a mere book burrower need not worry.

Weight Loss is about Bhola and his obsession about two things in life - sex and fitness. Bhola is an intelligent guy who at his ealiest age displays lust towards any human being who otherwise is dispicable/lowest in the social rung/horribly dirty. During his school days, he lusts after his teachers and in college his land lady. His obsession with two lowly people - Titli and Moti, a couple selling vegetables and later assistants of a quack, causes many upheavals in his life. His friends Dosto and Anin are equally crazy. The story tracks Bhola's tragic life via the people who are part of his life.

Firstly, the book is horribly bleak. The situations are completely bizzare, straight out of fantasy land only Mr. Chatterjee was capable of finding. None of the characters save the protagonist's father are believable. The descriptions of Bhola's sexual adventures are, at best, disgusting.
However, the book is immensely FUNNY. I mean humourous. There is no way one can deny the grossness of explicit sexual adventures of the protagonist, but the very absurdity of the situation makes it quite palatable. With the kind of morose subject regarding futility of life, humour is the best weapon to explain it I guess. As an example, I can open any page of the book and find something to smile about - sarcastic, ironic, slapstic, witty.
It makes one wonder about the human nature and the complexity of emotions - at the end of day, I would not be surprised if there is a Bhola hiding somewhere out there behind the facade of a 'respectable' (in the general sense) human being.
It takes a genius to handle such a difficult scenario with such absurd humour and lightness at the same time. Upamnyu Chatterjee is definitely one of the best.
One should venture out to read this book if one has the capability to enjoy the beautiful writing while safely ignoring the ugly details.

Rating: 3.75/5

Next in line

I am in a dilemma about the next book to be picked up. I have Upamanyu Chatterjee's 'The Last Burden' and William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' and am wondering which one to pick up.
It is all fine with U. Chatterjee's books but I am still reeling from the after effects of 'Weight Loss'. So probably I should try Lord of the Flies.
I am yet to write my impressions of Weight Loss - will do it soon.

Starting afresh

The best thing about starting anew is that one can shed all those bad habits acquired over the period, the taste for adulation and also probably the laziness.
I love the fact that I have cut off all the old ties and have been mum about the new blog. Can you imagine how much of freedom this gives me? I am lovviinnggg it !!!!
The one must thing I plan to do while blogging this time is that I will blog everyday. No matter what... It does not have to be anything profound, witty, sarcastic or even long. I am enjoying this as I write!

I have always wanted to read up lots of books and tell people who cared to listen about how I felt about them... at this point of time, I dont know if people will even get to read (a form of listening, according to me) what I write, but what the heck, I have decided to let go of the habits. So I stick to this.

Another fascinating activity right now is peeking into other book blogs - there are millions of them and way way above in terms of quality and quantity, and I am glad people are so good, gives me hope for myself.

The first step

Every blog has to have a first ever post. In the past I have come out with wittier ones but this time, it is going to be a disappointment to my carefully hidden exhibitionist alter ego.
The idea is to read as many wonderful books (preferrably, cannot help if I end up with not-so-wonderful ones) as possible and share my joys and disappointments upon completion.

I am reading 'Weight Loss' by Upamanyu Chatterjee currently. Will post on it once I am done with it.