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As soon as I read a book or watch a movie I write down my thoughts. A few days later, when I read my reviews, I see that my opinions have changed, and I alter them.
Most often than not, I end up watching the same movies again and again, reading my favorite books at least twice, and then my reviews go through another overhaul.
I have come to see this section as an indication of how much I have grown over time and how fickle-minded I am. When I read all my reviews together, they give me a different perspective on my likes and dislikes and I learn something about myself.
RECENTLY READ:
The Mind Tree: A Miraculous Child Breaks the Silence of
Autism by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
One of the most profoundly beautiful books I
have read, which is so full of wonder and imagination. I
wish I could express myself as eloquently as he does!
What's especially amazing is the many different styles of
writing that he plays with - there is the poetic, the
biographical, the fictional and the prose, written in first
and third person. He even writes little snippets about life
from the point of view of challenged kids and a tree! I
can't think of a book that has made me smile as much as
this one has in recent times.
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles
Wheeler
One
of the most straightforward books I have read that makes
basic economic principles sound very interesting, with many
thought-provoking real-life examples!
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi
Tharoor
Tharoor
is one of the most astute authors I have read. The melange
of mythology with pre-independence politics was quite
interesting, and leaves you with a lot to think about.
There are some parts fo the narrative that are
extremely profound and insightful even. But, sometimes it
is overwhelming because he touches on a whole array of
issues, that keep coming at you one after the
other, if not all at once, before you can
take it all in. And then there are some provocative parts
that almost border on offensive, that make you quite angry!
Sometimes, he also seems to try too hard to draw the
correlation between mahabharata and Indian politics, which
is not necessarily a bad thing, given that it is a daunting
task. One couldn't possibly have done much better than he
did. But, you are certainly made aware ofhis struggle to
make it all come together. But on the whole, it is one of
the most perceptive fictional novels I have read.
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephanie Meyer
At the core of it, it is a teenage vampiric
romance novel. And once you have accepted that, it leaves
you longing to see Edward Cullen's beautiful face and
chiseled body. The book's romance lingers in my mind
several days after I've read it. There are thoughts about
beauty, of life and death, and what it means to be human.
While Bella's narrative felt like being spoon-fed, it still
left a lot to the imagination.
A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
A very
simple book with memoirs of Vonnegut that touch on
everything from war to environmental destruction to people.
It is the kind of book that you casually mull over, your
thoughts dancing lightly as you grasp little things that
seem profound and yet so straightforward.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A lot of contemptuous gobbledegook. The protagonist's
thoughts unrealistically alternate between wide-eyed
villager to the worldly-wise thinker. The motive for the
murder was unconvincing. That being said, the book gets
consistently better after the fourth day with the
rooster-coop explanation.
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
A quick read (a few minutes). For a wordless graphic novel,
it expresses a lot of emotion. It's among a very few books
that you spend less time reading and more time reflecting
on (like life, love, failed relationships and moving on).
It's sweet, bittersweet, and resonates with everyone and
every aspect of life. The illustrations are adorable.
RECENTLY WATCHED:
Rachel Getting
Married*****
One of
the most honest-to-god films I have seen. It interweaves a
whole lot of drama and complex characters into a colorful
celebratory plot, making it heart-rending and disturbing at
the same time. There is something very real and relatable
about the sequence of events and the subjective reactions
of all the characters. A difficult film to make, and an
even more difficult film to watch. Amid all the chaos, the
film managed to packs in a whole lot of festivities and
music.
Sunshine Cleaning**
Very
uninteresting.
Earth****
Do we
really live on this planet! The film was awe-inspiringly
beautiful to look at. It's a fantastic film for
kids.
State of Play**
Blech!
They had nothing new to offer!
Sin Nombre****
A
solidly grounded film, a bit wrenching. It could have been
more suspenseful and kicked up the feeling of despair and
anxious uncertainty a bit more.
Monsters vs. Aliens**
It went
for cute, but turned out to be neither slapstick nor
emotionally engaging!
Adventureland**
A bit
sappy.
Dying Young*
Bleh!
It was meaning to be weepy (i think) and it wasn't even
that!
