Estate of Mind: What a deceptively interesting name

It has been a real long time since I got on to the net and looked around. I can say too much of work and stress in the new job is the only reason. However, I had promised myself that I would continue updating this blog all the time. A failed promise.
Anyway, let me not mope around much. I have not been reading much of late. My orbis terrarum challenge has flown out of the window. 'A Handful of Rice' is still lying around somewhere.
Meanwhile, I went furniture shopping and on the way found this unbelievably great bargain book store. H and I went crazy and ended up buying seventeen books. Of course, it offered good and some downright bad books.
One such book was 'Estate of Mind' by Tamar Myers. The story on the cover seemed nice, so I picked it up. I have never read Tamar Myers before and I didnt know she was popular. It took me all my willpower to finish the book. It is so painful - flimsy storyline, highly irritating smart-alecy main character, and a very annoying style of writing. I read it only because I had to write about this book and warn others not to venture anywhere near the book. I found out later that this book was one of the 'Den of Antiquities' mysteries!! I mean, there is a whole lot more of such books. I cant imagine who would want to read such stories.
The story is about a woman called Abigail who is the owner of antique shop, who finds a priceless painting in a church auction and a bunch of idiots who want to steal it from her. The story is meandering, all the time losing its way in the overly stylized dialogues and the author suddenly realizes she has lost the thread and comes up with more muck.
Anyway, there isn't much to write about this. Please avoid this book if you are smart.
Rating: 1/5

I have started on J.D. Salinger's 'Franny and Zooey'. Will post about it soon.

Struggling with 'Handful of Rice'

Following Kamala Markandeya's 'A Handful of Rice' is proving to be quite a task. It is not an easy read - neither boring nor stupendously exciting. But I am not able to put it aside - I hate doing it to a book unless it is absolutely a waste of my time. And right now, there is a big scarcity of time.

Greed and Delhi Book Fair

Work has been hectic but that is the usual story. The weekend was a different thing altogether. HD and I went to Delhi Book Fair this weekend and loved every moment we spent there rummaging through stalls.
This was my first time and the fair was HUGE. Publishers - international, national and even local had their stalls overflowing with visitors.
I went berserk. Later I realized I behaved just like a greedy kid in a sweet stall, but that's ok I guess.
I got myself twenty books. Hah!

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.