The Bridges of Madison County
Is this just another romance novel? Yes and no.
Yes: Set in 1960s, it is a tale of a 52-year old photographer and a lonely farm wife. They meet, they are attracted to each other, they spend some time together, and then they decide to not elope for the sake of the woman’s family. It is beautifully told by Robert James Waller. The author has either lived every moment of Kincaid and Francesca’s life or he really is a brilliant story teller.
No: It is not just another romance novel. In fact, it is not a romance novel at all, it is a test of whether you are a romantic or a cynic. What starts as a thrilling fling between a bored wife and an adventurer reaches a completely different level when emotions are realized. This is a haunting tale about magic called love. And no, the word does not stand for the need-based, insecurity-ridden, selfish emotion we experience today!
Unlike other good romances that I’ve read, innocence is not the selling point here. Maturity and complete knowledge of one’s feelings is. The book has no mystery, no twists and turns, no deep secrets, no great revelations, it just is a smooth flowing tale of poignant emotions.
Weller’s writing is witty and affecting, full of magical moments that reach out and grab the hopeless romantic in readers. The book both glorifies and justifies adultery, which has led to serious criticism from most reviewers. However, to me this is all about believing. If one wants to believe in love that strong, one would enjoy the experience called The Bridges of Madison County.
8/22/2005
Girl Alone
Chick Book Alert!
It does not get more Cosmo-istic than this. If you want something to breeze through on a lazy Sunday afternoon, grab a copy of Girl Alone and jump into that hammock with jug lemonade at bay.
The book reads like an extended Cosmo article. Actually, that is what it is! Rupa Gulab wrote some short stories for Cosmo and was persuaded by her friends to turn those into a book.
Girl Alone is a story of Arti, a girl in late twenties who is under parental pressure to find herself a groom, under friends’ pressure to find herself the right boyfriend, and under biological pressure to find herself a lover! Addicted to cough syrup and phobic to parrots and aging spinsters, Arti mirrors emotions that almost every girl goes through at some point in her life.
The author does an interesting job of using funnies and witty one-liners. I particularly like author’s take on love and marriage (how the two are separated by a hair-thin line and are yet completely different) in the closing chapter of the book. Read it if you are a girl. If you are not, I am surprised you reached this point. :p
7/29/2005
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
People all over the world had been waiting for this book for what seemed like an eternity. Now that it is here, I think the wait has been worthwhile. If you are a Harry Potter fan, read on. Else, don’t waste your precious bandwidth. Because The Half-Blood Prince is an entertaining book, but it is still a Harry Potter!
Rowling learnt from her mistake. She ensured that this book mended what the last one had ruined – a cheery thrill that keeps you turning the pages. Don’t get me wrong, The Order of the Phoenix was also a page-turner, it had its twists and turns, but it was gloomy. However, the Half-Blood Prince has it all: thrill, mystery (and this is not about who dies), twists, funnies, adolescent romance, and fascinating fantasies!
In keeping with her usual style, Rowling helps you warm up for the characters she is going to use in the climax. Half way through the book you can guess who’ll date who, who’ll win the quidditch match, who’ll help death eaters but that is okay, because this isn’t the mystery. Nope, the mystery is not even who’ll die this time. And, that is the best part of the book. The author has done an amazing job of underplaying the real thing until the very end. She unveils the thing so casually, that the reader has to do a double take. Awesome!
However, she hurried the end. For reasons better known to Rowling, she just got over with the book after a few things happened. The last thirty pages or so are drab and don’t add anything to the story. It just provides a reasonable closure for readers so that they can wait patiently for the next book. Nope, there is no to-be-continued thrill either; one just loses interest.
All the same, an interesting book. If you have read the previous ones, you will read this one as well. Do that, it is my second favorite in the series. (The Prisoner of Azkaban being at the top of my list)
7/5/2005
I, the Divine
Amy Tan says this is a ‘Literary genius, humorously naughty’. I say this
is a ‘Well represented confused mind of a woman.’
Rabih Alameddine writes a journal of an utterly confused, rebellious
woman. I respect him for being able to represent feelings of a woman so
well. He must really know what goes on inside a female head to have been
able to write this book. But that is where my praises for the book end.
Alameddine has put together seemingly endless series of chapter ones
describing the supposedly exciting and definitely atypical life of Sarah
Nour El-Din. Sarah grows up in Beirut during the civil war and travels
to New York to lead a normal life, in vain. Her life story includes an
array of bizarre relatives: a psychotic sister who turns into a serial
killer, a homosexual lover, a devoted ex-husband, a not-so-devoted
ex-husband, a lesbian best friend, gay brother, a depressed mother, an
obsessed step-mother…the list goes on.
Alameddine writes the entire book in first chapters; this is a pain
after a while. He repeats the descriptions, the characters are
re-introduced, the scenario is restated. I get bored. A unique, novel,
and dull style of writing. The book has no beginning, and of course, no
end. It just goes on and on describing the events of Sarah’s life. Some
chapter ones are complex, deep, and run high on emotions. Others
describe mundane activities like taking a bath. In Alameddine’s defense,
the characterization is very well done. The book is full of people and
by the time you reach half way, you know them well. (The fact that most
characters are introduced at least three times helps this point.)
Read I, the Divine if you want to experience a book that travels in time
(not the Sci-fi way, silly!) Alameddine writes about the kid Sarah who
listens eagerly to her gramp’s mystical stories, about the rebellious
teen aged Sarah who is out to get them all, about young romantic Sarah
who marries the man of her dream, about the middle-aged Sarah who
marries for convenience, about the mother Sarah, about the aching and
lonely Sarah, about an incomplete woman Sarah. The author has a great
understanding but his writing style is what did not appeal to me. If you
like to read, give him a shot. May be you could tell me what I am
missing here.
6/14/2005
after the quake*
In 1995, earthquake shook Kobe, Japan. The disaster and resulting tragedy shook people who lived in the affected area, and those who did not. “after the quake” is a collection of six stories about people who did not live in Kobe. And, this is the beauty of the book.
Haruki Murakami writes about the stranded husband of a woman who is traumatized by the disaster that hit an area where none of her dear ones live. He writes about a teenage girl who befriends a middle aged man and discovers the shared fascination for bonfires; bonfires that represent life. Murakami writes about a middle aged business woman who is vacationing in Thailand, trying to heal the wounds inflicted by her childhood lover. He writes about a super frog who decides to save Tokyo from an approaching disaster, with the help of hardworking insurance agent. He also writes about a youth torn between the adversities of life, an ignorantly aphrodisiacal mother, and search for his father. And, he writes (my favorite piece) about a silent lover, who ends up as a caring and gentle friend to his love, and her daughter.
All these stories are loosely connected to the earthquake. It is there in the backdrop. It has affected all the characters and most of them do not realize this. The stories talk of loss, yearning, bizarre quests, loneliness, and love. The quake details are minimal…may be nonexistent. Murakami manages to seep in the vastness of the disaster by building full characters and describing their inappropriateness.
The words are simple, yet the stories are transfixing and mystical. Murakami gives a surreal touch to all events and leaves the interpretation up to the reader. The reader breezes through the pages but is intoxicated in the end. Once you finish reading the book, you begin thinking. You cannot escape this.
* Murakami wishes that his book’s title should be all lower case. I like his book. I respect his wish.
6/5/2005
High Fidelity
Funny. Honest. Cute. Wise. Charming. Unputdownable.
High Fidelity is a story about a thirty-something British guy (Yes, a guy, not a man. You know the difference, right?), who owns a record store, collects records for his personal home collection, makes tapes for people, and has a fucked up love life. Let me rephrase, High Fidelity is a story of Rob, a guy with no life. Only, he thinks differently. Or maybe not. People have opinions, he has lists. For everything that happens in any given day, he makes a list. His girlfriend dumps him, he makes a list. His records don’t sell, he makes a list. His friends forget his birthday, he makes a list. His girlfriend’s father dies, well, he makes a list. If you are a girl, you don’t like Rob. But you know he is true and want him to be happy. If you are a guy, you relate to him, at one level or another.
Nick Hornby writes as we think in our heads – in simple, honest words. The conversation is sharp, the jokes are funny, and there is compassion. This book is not a work of super imagination, at least not a complete work of super imagination. Author’s deep insight into the shallowness of human nature makes me sure that the story is weaved from the experiences collected over time.
Hornby has done a great job of smoothly interlacing umpteen references to music with the story. Not even once does the mention of songs hinder the flow of the story. In fact, the story uses the songs to step forward. Another notable element is the strong characterization. Each character, however short its role may be, is depicted with such clarity and conviction that it comes alive in the reader’s head. I know Barry; I know Marie; I know Ray; I also know Rosy – the simultaneous orgasm, pain-in-the-arse girl. And yes, I love Hornby’s witty phrases.
So if you are looking for a charming, easy-to-read, out-and-out fun book about a man’s journey to getting sorted out, pick up High Fidelity.
5/24/2005
The Vine of Desire
To a frivolous reader, the story is simple. Two young girls grow up in a conservative woman-lead household, sharing their darkest secrets, deepest sorrows, greatest pleasures, and intense passions. As they grow up, the physical distance between them broadens, but emotionally, they are one – Soul Sisters. Lightening strikes, destiny makes its move, but the two women hold hands to see the other through the ocean of sorrows. This is where this book, which is a sequel to Sister of My Heart, begins.
The two cousins meet after years, expecting to feel the same warmth and affection for each other, that they felt as a child. But soon they realize that they were mistaken. Even their altruistic love could not be saved from the harsh realities of life. Do my words sound dramatic? Well, one cannot express a story written with so much passion in any other way.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni spins a complex web of human relationships. Her forte is giving words to human emotions – affection, sorrow, guilt, romance, passion, lust, compassion, jealousy – and making you a part of the character’s life in the process. She draws vibrant images with her sensual words.
While I read this book, I was in the cramped apartment in California. I went for the evening walks with Sudha and Dayita, took the bus to the University with Anju, and stared at Sunil’s computer screen. I was jealous of Lalit, when he swept Sudha off her feet, my heart broke into pieces when Anju saw lust for the other woman in her husband’s eyes, and I was filled with joy when Dayita napped by Sunil’s side. This is what Divakaruni does to you. She writes a lot, pages after pages describing a thought, a dream, a moment, but she captures the idea so beautifully that it affects the reader.
Her language is lyrical and vivid. Her knowledge of the two cultures, immaculate. Her understanding of the disarrays of human mind and heart, incredible. I think it is this very knowledge and understanding that limits the subjects that Divakaruni explores. She talks about what she knows best – a woman’s mind.
The Vine of Desire is a dazzling collection of feelings. Pick it up only if you want to plunge into an emotional whirlpool. Not a light read from any angle, clearly, this is not a book for one and all.
5/15/2005
The Sandman – Preludes & Nocturnes
The fact that you are reading this review allows me to make a safe assumption that you like reading books. Tell me, do you read graphic novels as well?
- Yes? Great!
- No? Ah…I urge you to read The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. And, after you are done reading it, answer my question again.
Gaiman’s story line for the first volume of The Sandman series is simple: A weird wizard in search of eternal life captures Dream – Death’s little brother. Dream spends many decades imprisoned in a glass bottle before escaping back to his Dream Land, which is now in ruins. Here begins Dream’s journey to find the three objects of power, to regain his strength that’ll enable him to rule the Dream Land again.
The author adds a lot of spice to this seemingly simple storyline by introducing Lucifer and other demons from hell (BTW, hell is being ruled in coalition), members of the old Justice League of America, and John Constantine! No need to say, this is a super-treat for any comic reader. Each character of the novel is equally fascinating, be it a writer who waits the tables to gather writing material for herself or the brothers, Cain and Abel. The surreal representation of dreams (or lack of them) of a common man, and the thin line of distinction between the world as we know it and as the King of Dreams sees it, is marvelously treated by Gaiman. However, the character that won my heart over was Dream’s, perky yet practical, big sister – Death. Goth girl at her best!
Gaiman’s brilliant story is well supported by Sam Keith’s illustration most of the time. I especially like the way he has done Dream in imagery, dark, deformed lines. Nevertheless, I’ve seen much better art. In some panels, the illustration actually hinders my reading the text. When the graphics overpower the story, I am slightly put off. But, don’t let this little thing hold you back from reading this graphic novel. I’ve a feeling that once you plunge into this Dream Land, you aren’t going back. So as Gaiman would say, Pleasant Dreams.
5/13/2005
Neither Here Nor There
Bill Bryson travels across Europe with a backpack, a journal, and a tight hold on his wallet. The journey (and the book) begins from Hammerfest, located in the far north of the continent, and ends in Istanbul, which is located on the cusp of Asia. The book combines scenic details of Rome, Copenhagen, Naples, Paris, Florence, Austria, among many others, with brief History as he knows it. This makes the Historical accounts a fun read as the author relates the historical facts with the present day’s boring-to-the-verge-of-being-funny events.
The book totally lacks glamor. Bryson stays in the cheapest hotels, travels by the most inexpensive mode, eats at local places, and hence, experiences the places in their true essence. He has no plans, no calendar exists for him. He buys a railway ticket to a city, gets himself a hotel room, roams the streets until he gets bored. Then, he moves on. If he catches a sight of something exciting like Northern Lights, he is tempted to stay longer, but mostly not. The author has a way of expressing the routine activities, such as buying a railway ticket, ordering food at a local restaurant, paying bills, and browsing sex shops (okay, this one is not really a routine activity for most of us!), in a very engrossing fashion. He has a passion for traveling and an acrid eye for details and this comes across beautifully in the book.
Bryson gives an unbiased but personal opinion on the culture of different places. He is not afraid of dissecting the popular myths about countries like Switzerland and Rome.
Neither Here Nor There is an extremely mirthful travelog that is mystical in some parts and extremely pragmatic in others. Bryson’s knack for blending picturesque descriptions of places with humorous anecdotes of mundane life of a small town is the lifeline of the book.
Don’t think of this book as a guide to Europe. If you are looking to learn about the culture or history of Europe, look someplace else. Here, you get entertainment. Three hundred pages of pure entertainment!
-Anupma Bakshi
5/12/2005
Batman:Broken City
Broken City is the story arch covering Batman #30-32 in the current Gotham Comics run, the last issue ending the story that turns the Dark Knight over to Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, the writer/artist team behind the series 100 Bullets.
Because it is Risso, it is genuinely eye-pleasing, but the story is no great shakes. The plot about a murder investigation among new and old villians, meanders a lot and culminates in a sort of mayhem, all set to Bats’ voiceover musings—a hard-boiled noir like narration that seems forced after a while.
There are predictable replays of his parents’ murder all through the story, though the tough as nails Bats smoothly investigating through Gotham City are kind of fun. What is NOT fun is the Spider-man-ization of Batman. Gone is the loathing he had for the Gotham’s corrupt and gone is his dark brooding manner. He is all jokes and puns and being pally with the riff raff, albeit in a rough way, so’s to get some information.
Azzarello ignores Batman’s larger-than-life, brooding persona; he turns him into a sadistic vigilante. Risso’s art, however, as brilliant as in 100 bullets. The images are sharp and crisp, the page flow dynamic, and the pencil work is masterful, mirroring Tim Sale’s earlier work on the Dark Knight. This gives the book a very distinctive european flavor, rarely seen in mainstream DC.
The plot in itself, meanders, as well as confuses the reader a fair bit. But as any body who has read Azzarello’s work knows, he takes a long time talkin about something, but he delivers a sucker punch in the end. The end, however, is a bit of a let down here, the shocker only lasting a page or two, and offering no explanations.
To sum it up: Visually great, confusing to read, but worth it if you’ve ever thought Killer Croc was one dimensional.
