Wow. Just wow. This felt like reading loss of breath by Poe. The narrator gives his name Egaeus he is supposed to get married to his cousin Bere#9/148
Wow. Just wow. This felt like reading loss of breath by Poe. The narrator gives his name Egaeus he is supposed to get married to his cousin Berenice. But Berenice gets sick and one of the symptoms of her illness is cataclysm which Egaeus describes as period of trance.
Egaeus himself suffers from Monomania a type of obssessive disease where person fixate on spmething specific. Egaeus loses his interest in the full person of Berenice as she gets sick; she becomes an object to analyze, not to admire. The fixation of his in the story is Teeth.
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"Why... did the hairs of my head erect themselves on end, and the blood of my body become congealed within my veins?"
Poe never gives out the direct hideous act in his story but tells us through indirect descriptions. A must read for Poe fans....more
Monsoon The chasm of hopes, Scraping through the wattle of dreams, That have been smashed Between the weight of "being me"
Poems by Disha Malhotra
SometimeMonsoon The chasm of hopes, Scraping through the wattle of dreams, That have been smashed Between the weight of "being me"
Poems by Disha Malhotra
Sometimes it's so difficult to find words as to exactly what you felt while reading a book. This book left me in emotional crutches and I haven't yet been able to recover. It is collection of mixed poetry, few striking and hitting home while other light-hearted.
Few of my favorite ones were Monsoon, hope, her mahogany skin, wind and self-love.
She was fragile, Fluttered with contusions All over her corpse. The hard blow almost disrupted her soul. Nonetheless, she collected Her broken chunks, Craving for thin streaks of clouds Trailing in the sky, Pausing a moment to breathe, Hoping for the sunlight To penetrate from beneath. - Hope
Language is simple, lucid, easy to understand and adorned with rhythm. Most profound is the effect that is branded with its simplicity and it leaves its mark on the mind of a reader.
The prospect of waking up in a coffin might be the most terrifying thing one can ever imagine . A sufferer of catalepsy, who has morbid fear of#14/148
The prospect of waking up in a coffin might be the most terrifying thing one can ever imagine . A sufferer of catalepsy, who has morbid fear of being buried alive narrates few incidents in which the victims were buried alive. Few were saved while others were not so lucky.
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The narrator reviews these examples in order to provide context for his nearly crippling phobia of being buried alive. As he explains, his condition made him prone to slipping into a trance state of unconsciousness, a disease that grew progressively worse over time. He became obsessed with the idea that he would fall into such a state while away from home, and that his state would be mistaken for death. He extracts promises from his friends that they will not bury him prematurely, refuses to leave his home, and builds an elaborate tomb with equipment allowing him to signal for help in case he should awaken after "death".
Imagine then, his horrors when he finds himself in pitch dark place reeking of musty earth and not a one precaution in sight.
“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”
Fear of burial alive was deeply rooted in Western culture in the nineteenth century and Poe was taking advantage of the public's fascination with it.
One of the best works by Poe, at his most terrifying. one star less coz I don't like his obsession of painting doctors in dark light....more
Many of Tendulkar's plays derived inspiration from real-life incidents or social upheavals, which provides clear light on harsh realities. He providedMany of Tendulkar's plays derived inspiration from real-life incidents or social upheavals, which provides clear light on harsh realities. He provided his guidance to students studying "playwright writing" in US universities.
This play is about a person Arun Sarnayak. It starts with his monolgues telling few things about himself and his mind-set about marriage and kids.
He enters a house where he knows no one but pretends to. Although family doesn't recognise him as they actually never knew him, they still pretend they remember and welcome him with open arms. They have a daughter whose marriage they are trying to fix but every guy rejects her. Dejected the girl doesn't even want to try. But Arun is kind of miracle worker, he knows how to make her feel beautiful.
You don't have to be beautiful to feel beautiful, you just have to think you are.
The twist was good, Arun handles it well but ending wasn't upto my liking. We all love some happy ending although it doesn't always happen in real life.
I would have loved some pretty end to this Marathi drama.
Tendulkar's writing is fun and his grasp over the Marathi language is mind-blowing. The confidence that oozed from Arun was kind of a proof that not only protagonist but the one who created the protagonist could woke wonders too.
I listened to audiobook on storytel and Chandrakant Kulkarni has voiced Arun, his voice and tone are just perfect for arun. Other characters were good too.
I liked it and definitely gonna recommend it....more
As I said, I shouldn't have read this one but I did anyways.
I don't like unnecessary emotional drama and this felt unnecessary. It was hardly one booAs I said, I shouldn't have read this one but I did anyways.
I don't like unnecessary emotional drama and this felt unnecessary. It was hardly one book but here we have duology for God knows what reasons coz frankly I would have liked it to end with the first book only.
I don't like it when female MC is running behind the male MC proving him what she is worth.
And in general terms, men are scared of commitments they don't need to have a shitty past not to commit to a woman for life.
I didn't hate the book but I wasn't invested in the characters. Not in any of them.
From my personal experience, I love when vi keeland is the sole writer of the novel, when she writes with Penelope Ward the heroes appear rather crassFrom my personal experience, I love when vi keeland is the sole writer of the novel, when she writes with Penelope Ward the heroes appear rather crass as they mention in the book itself.
I don't get why it's all physical between the MCs. Like if the male MC is not ready to commit, the female MC is shown to well showcase their bodies. Like what the actual hell?
I want to tell these MCs, girl if he is just into your body, he isn't right. That cringy need for the male to notice them is just not tempting. It's yuck.
The connection between the two protagonists was lacking, it was delibrate and didn't felt easing. There was always this tug of war which felt unnecessary. The twist I had figured out way soon in the story. It was so predictable that it verged on the border of being cliched.
I should not touch the second book but I'm still going to do it coz I need closure.
See ya with second book review pretty soon....more
I'm always hesitant to pick up books by Indian authors written in English as they tend to be written for foreign readers, concentrating solely on starI'm always hesitant to pick up books by Indian authors written in English as they tend to be written for foreign readers, concentrating solely on stark poverty in India along with biases and hypocrisy.
Henna artist had raving reviews on Instagram and it piqued my interest as it was chosen by Reese's book club. Now I don't often take the chance at all of reading someone Indian as it disppoints me and makes me furious, The Henna Artist on the other hand was a journey that was soulful and subtle without much ado to the cliches that are shown in many foreign TV shows and English Indian books.
For example, If they have an Indian character, it has an odd typical annoying accent, please come to India n see that nobody talks like that in India. Not with the kind of accentuation and intonation the fake/ NRI uses. The Indians are always shown black, if you have ever visited in India, you will come to know that India is not just colorful in terms of culture and food but it's colourful when it comes to tones of people. You will find all tones, mind you from whites to wheatish to black. One of the reason I don't watch many Netflix series on India. They are so cliched and outrageously racist.
Anyways coming back to the book, this book was a pleasantly delightful. Set in India few years past independence, the Henna artist shows the residual Influence and effect British has left over India in their wake along with historical India. Although not written solely for foreign readers, author has kept in mind the readers outside India to help them better understand, that's why few explanations as well as recipes.
The main protagonist Lakshmi is thirty years old Henna Artist who makes her living by doing henna works for her privileged women and being a herbalist by side and her sister Radha who she didn't know she had.
"Success was ephemeral—and fluid—as I’d found out the hard way. It came. It went. It changed you from the outside, but not from the inside. Inside, I was still the same girl who dreamed of a destiny greater than she was allowed. Did I really need the house to prove I had skill, talent, ambition, intelligence? What if—”
Lakshmi's strife to make her own place in the world where most women (sometimes even from the rich and respected families don't) is admirable. What's more admirable though is that even with success, she stays humble and true to her nature. She can throw off the chains as she did once but she doesn't. She rather chooses to make the most with everything she has.
She is pleasant, strong, honest and sincere. She knows where she stands in the society and never crosses her boundaries set by herself and her clients. She is confidante to rich high caste women but she is never able to give away her own secrets and yes, she has few unrevealed truths.
Lakshmi isn't naive nor is she reckless but she is human afterall making mistakes along the line while life throws obstacles her way. Her life turns upside down when she comes to know about her sister and becomes a guardian figure to her. The sudden & abrupt change in her life and rebelliousness of her sister doesn't deluge Laksmi from her supposed responsibility.
The author through the subtle livid prose has woven an imagery of how it was in India past independence but it doesn't dramatize or tries to over-sympathize. It paints a vivid picture of castes and class, women's place in the men's world, gender bias which is overwhelming at many points but rightly so.
The writing style has a poetic flow as it does not gloss over in an attempt to earn over the sympathy of the readers. It is so true to the era and time that it feels real and factual.
Lakshmi is one of those characters who comes out quite strong despite what they did wasn't outstanding or rebellious but it was enough, it was the most that could have been achieved in those times.
Only thing that I didn't feel upto my liking was the surprises or twists in the plot weren't surprising for me, not really. They were quite predictable but not at the fault of author but maybe I have seen too much Indian drama. Even the end was quite foreseeable. It didn't bother me but it did took out the shock factor.
I hope this review helps you to decide if it is a read for you or not for all the readers, Indians or non-Indians included....more
This short parable is inspired by a hassidic tale. It is quite a short story which can be finished in few minutes.
I listened to audiobook and when I This short parable is inspired by a hassidic tale. It is quite a short story which can be finished in few minutes.
I listened to audiobook and when I thought to write a review I realised that I have completely forgotten what it is about. Happens sometimes with age.
So this time I read it and it was okay. Wouldn't change my star rating. I don't like the biblical stuff anyways. Nothing remarkable, easily forgettable....more
"She considered it a crime against her own soul to kill it and force it to be put in a cage. A free spirit… a spirit free."
This is second book that I "She considered it a crime against her own soul to kill it and force it to be put in a cage. A free spirit… a spirit free."
This is second book that I picked up from the author. I had liked the previous one and had hopes from this one. Rakhi Kapoor never disappoint. Her writing style has a poetic flow and melody which pulls the reader deep into her stories.
This is a collection of 19 short stories all different in their own way but all same in being morally strong and altruistic.
This one wasn't an easy read, not for being dull but for being triggering & relating. I have witnessed many such cases myself, for being a doctor and also a good listener.
Women everywhere have to go through gender discrimination, harassment, sexual abuse, lack of education, domestic violence, gender pay gap and much more but I think most important would be mental abuse.
In India to be specific, women are reminded how they are dependant on their husbands for support. How they ought to listen to their in laws and husband, we have grown up listening to it, ain't we? Times are changing but still there's so much still to change.
Will you consider yourself a rebel? I do, I wish I could do more and better, I'm doing my part. I will definitely do better in future.
You don't have to rally against abusers, you just have to stand up if you see something wrong going on with you or in front of you.
One thing that I'm sure about from my experience is abusers are cowards, once you stand up to them, they will think twice before abusing again....more
I love reading vi keeland's books. They are funny, quirky and enjoyable reads. Vi keeland is my favorite go to writer when I'm in slump. She is one ofI love reading vi keeland's books. They are funny, quirky and enjoyable reads. Vi keeland is my favorite go to writer when I'm in slump. She is one of those writers who can make reader giggle ( if they are from female species) and blush too ( again female species).
Maybe I wouldn't find any faults with her characters if I just use my heart and not my brain. But I do find faults, sometimes few other times many.
This unfortunately had many faults. First of all I didn't like MC's almost stalking behaviour. And the unnecessary drama at the end was just not my cup of tea.
A beautiful story if she had kept it simple. I would have liked it better, way much better....more
I don't get the stories where someone is actually a very good looking person but opts to stay nerdy or geeky or whatever one calls it. Who does that?
II don't get the stories where someone is actually a very good looking person but opts to stay nerdy or geeky or whatever one calls it. Who does that?
In real world, everyone wants to look good even if it is introvert like me. Of course i wouldn't want to get noticed but I would like to atleast look good in the mirror for myself.
So open season was kind of let down. But Linda Howard still makes story interesting so 3 stars....more
The thing about reading Poe's short stories is you are able to finish them quite quickly but they leave such an impression on you that you can not takThe thing about reading Poe's short stories is you are able to finish them quite quickly but they leave such an impression on you that you can not take your mind off them for a long time.
Metzengerstein might look a simple gothic story but there's so much more in this story that it made my mind numb. The story is about feud between two families-the Metzengersteins and the Berlifitzings—which is so old that no one knows how far back it dates. At the start an ancient prophecy is mentioned which concerns the rivalry between the two families. It suggests that Berlifitzings might be immortals- "A lofty name shall have a fearful fall when, as the rider over his horse, the mortality of Metzengerstein shall triumph over the immortality of Berlifitzing."
Frederick , an orphan and newly inherited baron of Metzengerstein, begins to show a cruel behavior as soon as he becomes a baron. Within few days, Berlifitzings' place is burned down killing every last of Berlifitzing. Although its not clear but it is indicated that Frederick is responsible for this cruel act. Among the chaos, Frederick finds a horse unlike others with WVB branded on his forehead. He takes it as a sign that he will be ruling a Berlifitzings as he supposes WVB stands for William Von Berlifitzing.
He becomes obsessed with the horse spending almost whole time with it, controlling it and not caring for his duties. In doing so, he ultimately falls victim to the fulfilment of the prophecy.
The branding on horse's forehead and the tapestry described at the start referrences towards metempsychosis which is in itself a very weird concept. Metempsychosis is a kind of belief that means the soul of a person is attached to another living being. So we are left to wonder if that is what Poe's intentions were with the story.
At the end, as always the interpretation is left for us readers but one conclusion that is very obvious from the story is— nothing good ever comes from hatred and anger.
Again Poe's enchanting and dark tale takes us by surprise and we are left awed.
Oh Poe, just when I thought you can't get any weirder, this book did prove me wrong.
Loss of breath i#15/148
“Invisible things are the only realities.”
Oh Poe, just when I thought you can't get any weirder, this book did prove me wrong.
Loss of breath is about well what the title says it is. This is satirical criticism on the medical practitioner of that time. At time Poe even indicates that common folk are better than the doctors.
Poe also expands on the faulty speech and diagnoses of practitioners. Many considered physicians to provide patients with incomplete or inconsistent information during Poe's time.
Doctors were criticized for avoiding a clear naming of the disease. The narrator in "Loss of Breath" mocks this because he diagnoses himself as having dyspnea which is shortness of breath by noting several common symptoms of it, but never explicitly stating so. He details his symptoms to prove his knowledge; for example, shortness of breath is one of the symptoms, which is emphasized with the character's complete lack of breath.
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I being a Doctor didn't enjoy it , there are many misunderstandings in the world about our profession and one can not understand what we have to go through unless they are in our shoes.
You can give it a try but frankly I found many flaws in the storyline which I did not agree with.
“The idea of suicide flitted across my brain; but it is a trait in the perversity of human nature to reject the obvious and the ready, for the far-distant and equivocal.” ...more
The narrator of the story takes a shelter in a mansion which is grand and rich but gloomy as a result of abandonment. While looking around , he#10/148
The narrator of the story takes a shelter in a mansion which is grand and rich but gloomy as a result of abandonment. While looking around , he comes across a portrait of a beautiful girl. He becomes awed with it gazing at it for hours admiring its beauty. He finds a journal where he gets detailed accounts of the painting.
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He comes to know that she was indeed a real and beautiful person , a wife of the artist himself and also the tragedy that happened.
The Bibliophile Doctor
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