Veyililekku Mazha Chanju - Malayalam novel, ( review in English )

It is definitely a prodigious task for an author to write a story based on an autobiography. It will have real characters and incidents. The risk burgeons out if it is not an adaptation and the author has to stick to real incidents and characters. A skimpy or superfluous sketch could mar its real objective. But Xavier J has pulled the right strings to make "Nilaykkatha Symphony", an autobiography by veteran journalist Leela Menon, into a beautiful novel titled "Veyililekku Mazha Chanju."

Leela Menon - pic courtesy: Google

  The story starts with Leela, the protagonist being diagnosed with cancer. Slowly the life of Leela Manjari, a small girl from a nondescript village called Vengola unfolds. From a village belle who loves birds, trees and plants, she quickly transforms into a name to be reckoned with, in the field of journalism.


Leela brings to the fore many characters and incidents. Her friends Kamala Das and Sugathakumari who stood by her like a rock during her illness and Prema Vishwananthan who brought her to the world of journalism and her child-like husband Bhaskaran are significant few among them. Without diluting its essence, the author has narrated the Vypeen hooch tragedy, Aruvakkode potter women’s woes,  Sooryanelli and many other reports which once shook Kerala.


Perhaps, Xavier might have faced the biggest challenge from the original work itself. Nilaykkatha Symphony could be categorised into three parts - Leela Menon’s childhood, her life as a journalist with ‘The Indian Express’ and her life after that. How would one condense these three parts that have been written elaborately? It might definitely have been a nerve-racking job.



But, surprisingly, with ease, he has fine-tuned the original work into a novel by picking the right elements. He has compressed it so efficiently that in no way has it affected the essence of the actual work, placing the dialogue in the apt place.


Leela used to wake up in the morning by turning to her right side. It was her mother’s instruction. Otherwise, things would go go wrong, she used to say. And one morning,  blood dripped out of her right nose. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer and given a span of six months to live, it was one of her unfinished stories that haunted her and kept her moving for she felt restless till she completed it.


She borrowed a pen and paper from her doctor and sent the news to the bureau. This undaunted spirit pushed her on even while she had to encounter various hurdles in the form of illnesses from cancer, to bypass surgery and later to facial palsy. And Xavier could successfully bring out this indomitable spirit to the readers.



At the outset the work proceeds in a poetic way, but soon turns into a stubborn fiction being obstinate not to embrace any sort of creativity. Perhaps, the author had to do it as the nature of events demanded it, but it is a bit of a strain for the readers who have not read the autobiography.


The same poetic tempo is not seen throughout the work. When the novel switches over to the narration of her life as a journalist, the reader is likely to be in a dilemma as to whether they are leafing through the autobiography or a novel. It could have been avoided.


The novel starts with a third person account, but at times it slips into a first person narrative. Though it moves parallel to the original work, the novel could have been rendered in a way that it could transcend the readers.


Xavier J is a subeditor with the Malayalam daily, Janmabhumi. His other works include Kadal Malayodu Paranjathu, Zeebravarakal and Rathriyude Pakalurakkam.

- Shalet Jimmy

Bidding adieu to Tess Gerritsen

To Tess Gerritsen 

It is with great sadness that I am parting away with your books. The violence and other related meticulous details portrayed through her novels are too much for me to digest. I still remember one of my blog posts after reading one of her novels saying I felt butterflies in my stomach. It was too eerie. When I was reading her second book, I had to ask my mother to sleep with me. ( Thank God, I was at my home when while reading her book ).  I am sure, I will miss cop Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles. I have taken this decision with utter sadness. I love your books with quirky endings. But I did not have any other alternative. The reading used to go smooth when you feel that all these sort of violence occurs only in books. But that has changed. Every day, the brutal stories you come across in dailies have literally given me a jolt. The reality is a burden and I do not need my burden to pile up.

I hope that this parting away is not permanent. I will muster the courage to read you again


With Love
Shalet Jimmy

My Story - Kamala Das

It's true that when you grow old your perspective changes. It's so true while re-reading a book too. Many thoughts becomes clear and assumes different dimensions. That's a different experience.  The recent in the list of those books which I read again was  Kamala Das ' My Story'.  I should be very specific. I am reading it for the third time. When I first read it, about 15 years ago, the only scene that I remembered from the book was when Das ( her husband ) forcibly kissing her when they meet for the first time. Yet another scene was when her cousin kisses her near a staircase. Except those scenes I remember nothing till I read it for the third time. ( I was stuck with those scenes. It might because I was studying in a convent at that time where all such conversation were a taboo) 

Coming back to the review, 

The Nalappat house, the ancestral home of Kamala provided ample resources to take a deep plunge into the ocean of writing. Her stay in Calcutta too provided ample food for thought. As the title indicates, it is her story where she did not hide behind any hypocrisy. She came out in the open without diluting her thoughts even once. Lesbianism, her frequent love affairs, her quest for love - though she discuss themin detail, I wonder whether she had taken many of those things from the world she had created for herself.  Somewhere down the line, her all romantic expectations never went beyond a certain level. It was miles away from reaching a successful culmination. I felt she was unfortunately stuck in her thoughts and her longing for love froze before fruition.  All through her work I felt her like a reservoir. The water tapped in it wanted to take its own course. But the big walls built around it prevented it. This thought broke my heart. It was not lust she was talking about but love,pure love. 

I was also surprised by the kind of relationship she shared with her husband. She describes that her husband invites his boy friend to her home. They would shut themselves in a room and would behave as lovers.  It  hurts her. But at the same time she loves her husband too. “ When I heard his heavy footfalls on the stairs, I clapped my hands in sheer happiness”.  This was when she was staying away from her husband in Nalappat house with her younger son.  When one of her love letters ended up in her husband's hands he warns her saying that she is innocent and she should keep herself away from such fraudsters. Is n't it a strange kind of relationships. Sometimes I am forced to think that Kamala might have acknowledged that her husband is a homosexual. Because of it, Das did not have any issues with her romantic escapades. ( Am I far-fetched by pointing out this). When this was published years ago, it was a shocker in Kerala. It should be. It shredded into pieces the so called built up moralities existed in Kerala.

I would like to conclude with her quote from ' My story'  “ I sincerely believe that knowledge is exposure to life. I could never bring myself to hang my life on the pegs of quotation for safety . I never did play safe. I compromised myself with every sentence I wrote and thus burnt all the boats that would have reached me to security.”

I give 9/10

Books to be read Before I wind up this year

It is already November. But I am nowhere near my reading challenge. But I am happy to say that this has been a year I delved into reading with utmost sincerity and passion. I read many good books and I am reading many including classics.

But before I wind up my reading challenge this year, I would like to complete certain books. Of course, it would not help me reach close to the reading challenge. But at least I will have a satisfaction that I read some most beautiful works this year.

Any two Agatha Christie' works
Any two Mary Higgins Clark works
I am Malala  - Malala Yousafzai
Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri
The Cuckoos Calling – Robert Galbraith
Every light in the house burning – Andrea Levy

The Grandmother's Tale by R K Narayan

There was a time when grandiloquent writings gave me sleepless nights. How I wished I could use such words while writing. It was then I accidentally chanced upon R K Narayan's books which thankfully broke all my misconceptions. I knew at once that a story could be told beautifully with simple words too. My all time favourites are ' The Guide ' and ' The English Teacher'. But there are several more to explore.

Coming to Grandmother's tale, I did have a different picture before reading it. I was associating the title of the book with so many things such as pickles, Tairu saadam, the mischief of Swamy and many tales told by his grandmother. But it was not so. The book was about Bala and Vishwa, RK's great grandparents and their life from marriage until their death. Though I could read this book at a stretch, I could not relish it as I have done many of his other books.

RK's  grandparents tied the knot when they were little children. Unlike today, the husband and wife could not be together until the young wife Bala attains puberty. Once in a while, they were left alone only for a few minutes to talk to each other. Many of their such meetings went awry as they could not muster the courage to talk to themselves. But eventually, in one of such meeting, Bala somehow manages to talk to him. All she did was to point out to Vishwa, a dark patch under one of his ear. To this, he replies “ This is a lucky sign and my mother says I would be a king,” which became true.  He becomes rich but at the cost of Bala. 

 The story is all about how Bala manages to bring back his husband who left her and got married to another woman. As the story was completely told only from the point of Bala, there were many questions unanswered. Why did Vishwa become ready to desert his second wife though he loves her and come back to his first wife whom he hardly knows? What happened to Surma, his second wife when she was abandoned by Vishwa. Though he prospered after coming back to his village why didn't he make any effort to search Surma?

I grabbed this book as I was quite lured by the picture of the book where a small boy was seen sitting with his grandmother with inquisitive eyes on a swing.

- Shalet Jimmy

Riot by Shashi Tharoor

I read this book around 10 years ago. Ever since Lakshman and Priscilla Hart remained with me. Ten years after, I thought of re-reading it again. Just because I felt I can understand the emotions portrayed in the book much better.

When the story starts, Priscilla Hart, a 24-year-old American24-year-oldad. Why did she die? Was she murdered or was she at the wrong place at the wrong time?
Though there is the element of ‘ Who dunnit?’, the story is not said through the shrewd eyes of a sleuth but with a heart full of emotions.


Priscilla came to India when she was a little girl. Her dad was a Coco Cola executive. Though she had to leave India after some time, she left her heart and soul in the country only to return after a couple of years. She volunteered a population control programme in Zalilgarh in Uttar Pradesh, a place completely marred by the riots. She gets acquainted with the District Magistrate Lakshman and slowly the acquaintance blossoms to love. An abandoned ‘Kotli’ in the district is the witness of all their romantic trysts.

But Lakshman is married and could not leave his wife ( though he knew that he was not in love with her) and his little daughter. But he knew that Priscilla is the love of his life – with whom his life again bloomed. On top of that, he is in charge of a city marred by riots.

Putting an end to Lakshman’s dilemma, Priscillia was about to leave India when the fate struck its hardest blow. In the riots that broke out in Zalilgarh, there were eight people killed and her name was one among them. She is found dead in the same Kotli where she used to love Lakshman. The story slowly unravels the mystery of her death.

Tharoor has written a beautiful love -story in the backdrop of a riot-torn city.

- Shalet Jimmy

Blogger Interview - Anisha Vasudevan

 I started stalking Anisha's blog ' Absolutely Not Sure ' for the positive energy it always exuded. The letters in black written on a white back ground always have a soothing effect on my nerves. Besides she shares many of my interests obviously books, movies etc. etc. Since she writes not only about books and movies but also anything and everything under the sun. Hence a few of my questions asked to her are in this regard. If you want to stalk and  read those beautiful and positive posts, here is the linkhttp://stilsearching.blogspot.in/

Could you tell a few words about yourself?
A reader afflicted by abibliophobia. An avid list maker. I try to find happiness in the ‘small things’.


Your blog exudes positive energy. How did you get into blogging?


That means a lot to me! I don’t remember how I initially got into blogging. It took me two emo, philosophically dramatic blogs to realise; life is not all about the negativity. True, we all fight our battles every day and I don’t believe in dwelling in bad times. So, I decided to start my current blog which would be my happy place. A place which would try to focus on the small, good stuff in life. If a second person felt the same way, I think it’s a happy day for me!


What you would like to “rant and rave” about through your blog apart from books, music and movies?


That pretty much sums up my life! I wanted my blog to have a light feel to it, so the lighter, happier topics take centre stage.


Your book reviews are wonderful. Any criterion while selecting a book for reading and also for book reviewing.

Thankyou! They say, never judge a book by its cover, but the cover HAS to grab me. If it doesn’t, the blurb should. If neither does, it’s pretty obvious; it’s going to be a pass.  If I really liked a book by a certain author, I try to get my hands on his/her other works. I used to make sure I review every book I read. Soon I couldn’t keep up, since I read way faster than I write a review. So now I review books which blew my mind and also the ones which are sent by authors/publishers.


Nowadays social networking sites helps in bonding. When you blog, do you feel a kind of personal attachment with your readers. I have often felt it and I have always written to those people with a strong intuition that they would concede to my request. Do you really feel the same?

Initially, I wrote for myself. The only readers were my husband and my best friend. Later on readers came in one by one and they did connect with my writing on some level. So yes, I do have a vague idea what would appeal to the readers.
I remember when you gave me the 'Liebster blog' for my blog named ' Passion Drops'. Which kind of blogs appeals to you the most?
I am a huge blog person. I use Food blogs for recipes to cook almost on a daily basis. I like book blogs, that way I come across more books to add in my to-read list. I enjoy reading blogs which has this sarcastic yet candid approach to life vibe.


Share some of your beautiful moments in your life?

Back when I was in India, spending Saturday afternoons with mom & aunt over a cup of chai and gossip! I miss those days.

• My first library card.
• My first job.
• Spending Friday nights burying my face in a double cheeseburger along with the husband.
• My snow fall experience.

Are you a full time book reviewer or a blogger?
Well, I am neither. I wish I could blog/ book review full time. Creative juices don’t flow that easy!


Do you think reading classics is a must to be a writer?
 To be a writer, I think it would be an added advantage to read the works of people who know what they are doing. So yes. Personally, I haven’t read a whole lot of classics, even though I promise myself to read more sometime in future!


How many days usually you take - a) to read a book? b) to review a book?

To be completely honest with you, I don’t know. I feel it depends upon the book. If the book is interesting many a times I look up to see that I had covered a vast section of the book. Give or take, a week then. Sometimes I get my hands on a book which is difficult to get into..if it doesn’t get my attention by the first few chapters, either it goes back in my library or I end up reading frustrated and that might take months for me to finish!


To review: 

Once I am done with a book, I let the story line sink in my system for a night or maybe a couple of nights. To pen it down I would maybe need 3-4 hours!

Are you in the habit of keeping notes while reviewing a book?

I wish! I tried it once. I had received a book from an author for review and it was my first time reviewing a book specifically requested by an author. So I wanted to be thorough. I feel that it literally drains the fun out of reading.

Your favourite genres and authors and why do you like them?

Psychological thrillers and Horror. Gimme dark any day! I’m twisted that way! I am always fascinated by the dark side of humanity. What tipped someone into doing something bad. Books by Gillian Flynn, Robin Cook, Stephen King, Stieg Larsson
Women centred books: Books by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Books by Paulo Celho. The way he combines spirituality with the most mundane things is commendable!
Young Adult has managed to surprise me. I am still new to it. Dystopian era with a female strong lead has a certain charm to it.


Apart from reading and writing, what are your other interests?

My interests change from time to time. Sometimes I obsess over knitting. Other times its TV series marathon with the husband. Eating so much that I can barely move is a pretty interesting ‘interest’ to have.


Do you buy books you need to read or just collect books to read in future?

I am a self-proclaimed abibliophobic. I have the urge to collect books as though tomorrow I might just run out of them. The fact that I have books stacked up is a huge reassurance! It doesn’t necessarily have to be a brand new copy. As a matter of a fact I love collecting second hand books. Every time I tell myself no more books until I finish the ones I already have, I find some other interesting book and then I end up buying it and the cycle continues! Plus I came across this website called onehundredfreebooks.com. The person who runs the website lets the readers know the free ebooks available in Amazon, daily! So, more books for me.

Do you encourage ebooks as a reader and writer?

I was an anti ebook till last year, until I met my Kindle. I hated it in the beginning, but I guess carrying your library in a compact device is pretty appealing! So I’m pro ebook now! I think its hassle free. Having said that, the feel of a book, the divine fragrance of the pages be it new or age old cannot be achieved through an e book, can they?

Your 10 favourite books and 10 favourite movies?
11 Minutes, God of Small Things, Kane and Abel, Gone Girl, Dark Places,The Dragon Tattoo Series, The Alchemist, Lord of the Flies, The White Tiger, Brida
All I can of right now is Forest Gump and No country for Old men.

 PS :How many books you have in your library?
 60 physical copies and 485 kindle copies.

To Kill a mocking bird by Harper Lee

Sometimes after reading a book, the contentment you receive will be tremendous. After finishing reading, you feel like closing your eyes and savour all those beautiful emotions the book has invoked . It is a beautiful experience. Yesterday, Harper Lee's ' To kill a mocking bird ' did that to me. One of the finest book I have ever read. I loved ' Atticus' the character which was immortalised by Gregory Peck in the movie. I never felt Atticus, Jem, Scout, Calpurnia and even ' Boo Radley were characters. I was there in Maycomb county. Did not want to spoil that mood by reviewing the book.

I am not going to review the book. My creative talents are not that big to review such a grand work.

But don't miss this beautiful work.

My rating 10/10

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement

The Lost Years of Sherlock Holmes by Ted Riccardi

 

When you step into the shoes of a master writer, meticulous care has to be taken. There should be neither a spill over nor a deficiency. The author has certainly adhered to these cardinal principles. Right from the chapter ‘preface by Dr Watson’, Ted Riccardi has not shown any inclination towards himself but always to the celebrated author who has produced the greatest sleuths of all time- Sherlock Holmes ‘. Neither once did he let the reader to think that they are not interacting with the Sherlock Holmes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but Ted Riccardi’s.

‘ The Lost years of Sherlock Holmes’ speaks about that particular period when the world assumed Sherlock Holmes to be dead. He was dead to his known world but all alive in the orient world. It deals at length about his adventures and exploration mainly in India, Nepal and Tibet. When some of his cases included many coincidences on his way, others were to protect the interests of his empire whose pride lay in the vast expanses of India. Only his brother Microoft knew that Holmes was not dead. Dr. Watson was mourning his death. Though Holmes’ brother knew Holmes’ whereabouts, for strong reasons, they kept Watson in the dark. May be to fill this vacuum, Ted introduces a new friend for Sherlock – Gorashar, who is an Indian. In many cases, we could see Gorashar rushing to help the sleuth. The mysterious orient lay bare beautifully through this book.

Riccardi has definitely used a simple language but has never allowed in any part of the book to fizzle out the style of Doyle. It will grip and engage you, the way Arthur Doyle has been doing his readers for so many years. The incidents were not narrated in a chronological order. But that is excused as Dr Watson has put it in his preface that if the readers look for historical consistency, he/she will be disappointed.

At the same time, there are minor flaws which can be conveniently shoved off. Though the initial chapters will grip you immensely, the tempo diminishes a little when we reach the middle of the book. But that could not be attributed to the author’s callousness but to the interests of the readers. Doubtlessly, it is good and engaging read. If you are an ardent fan of Sherlock Holmes and mourned his death, Ted Riccardi’s  ‘ The Lost years of Sherlock Holmes ‘ will give you an opportunity to revel in his resurrection.

My rating for the book 4/5

NB :  I receive this book from Jaico for review

Tales from a Vending Machine by Anees Salim

When an Indian author writes in English, it is a strenuous task to do something that can overstep the boundaries. Tales From a Vending Machine by Kochi-based author Anees Salim has clearly surpassed these boundaries without any effort.

Go to any part of India, it would not be difficult to spot a Hasina Mansoor, the protagonist. The backdrops, the airport lounge, even the names with which she addresses her parents, siblings and colleagues will not give you a slightest clue that the story is set in Kerala.

It begins with a lot of promise, with all the necessary elements, including humour, but the author fails to keep up the tempo till the end.

Hasina enters a new world when she lands a job as a vending machine attendant at the airport departure lounge. With scant resources at her disposal, the resilient Hasina dreams of making it big. She is thankful for the job, dreams of being in a plane, even becoming a pilot or air hostess some day.

Thanks to her, many characters come alive, whether it be the coupon man who advises her on anything and everything under the sun, the cookie lady whom she abhors, the Pakistani cricketer, and the air hostess, Natasha Singh, from whom she learns that she could also aspire to be one.

Unlike her eventful work in the airport, her life with her family - Abba, mother, Shamla, and younger brother, Ali - is mundane, until she falls in love with her cousin Eza. The story talks about how she evolves through the many incidents which happens in her family and workplace and enables Hasina to make the major decisions of her life.

The climax is aptly titled as the Emergency Exit and is a surprising one. But if the author had given a bit of depth in the preceding chapters, the ending would have given readers an experience to cherish. Though Hasina has matured from an innocent to a practical girl, Eza stands between the extremes.

At the outset, Eza shows maturity, but, all of a sudden, he becomes the villain. There is little to convince the reader that he is one. There are attempts to present good humour which Anees conveniently attains in the beginning, but goes overboard when he continues for the sake of doing it. For instance Hasina’s mispronunciations of words such as ‘Anne French’ for ‘Anne Frank’ or ‘Juice’ for ‘Jews’. When she is asked her blood group, Hasina says, “‘B plus. I was not sure if it was A plus or B plus or AB plus”.

It seems strange that the same Hasina, who could not pronounce her blood group correctly, talks about the Hollywood actor Richard Gere. The long and short of it is that it is a good story and a smooth read, provided that some of the flaws are glossed over.


My rating 3/5

K Harikumar, author of ' When strangers Meet'

I have couple of friends who write well too. K Harikumar is one among them. Surprisingly, unlike others, he started his blog after writing his debut book ' When strangers meet'. I will review his book soon in this blog.You can know more about from his blog http://www.thetimesofhari.blogspot.in/  Apart from writing the book, Harikumar has also come up with trailers for his book with live characters. Perhaps, such an attempt is first of its kind in the country. He himself acted as one of the characters of his book for the trailer. He was kind enough to answer some of my questions.


What kind of a person is Harikumar?
Simple, at times arrogant, loner on most occasions, always weaving a tale or two in my mind.

Your debut book has just hit the markets. How was your experience while writing them and also about books and its characters?
To be honest, I was bed ridden during the writing process. However, I had created my own world and was living in it, as the One who created it and as each everything created. The World of my story...

How did writing occur to you?
By pure fascination. My mother used to read me stories from Balarama & Muthashi ( children story books in Malayalam, the language of Kerala, a state in India ) back in the 90s when I was a 6 year old Dillivala (from Delhi, the capital of India )(since I could not read Malayalam). Later on, when I started reading (which was quite late as I did not have a solid base in any language due to my dad's transferable job) I was even more fascinated, especially by the stories of Sherlock Holmes & novels of Roald Dahl.

What were your struggles in becoming a writer and also the person you are today?
My greatest struggle was to overcome the writer's block which was the direct result of my laziness. One should have a beginning and an ending, rest can be weaved in between. After years of sitting down and trying to write something, I finally had a short story which had a beginning and an ending, which I first prepared as a short film. The struggle evolves phase by phase, first it was writing, then finding a publisher and then it was marketing the book (which I am still doing). The experience was amazing, since I was the one who did everything right from writing to drawing to filming the trailer to distributing the books in local markets (esp in Kerala) to online marketing to PR to giving talk sessions in schools in the North etc etc etc.

Which is your favourite genre that you would like to write a book on?
Period Thriller

Tell us about your new blog?
It's more like a journal where I put up all my thoughts, and yea, my new craze 'doodles'. Since, many people do not have accounts on facebook, so having a personal blog makes it easier for everyone to join in.

Are you a voracious reader. Do you have a special liking for any particular genre to read?
I am an occasional reader and my favorite genre being Thriller. I simply love reading Dan Brown, Conan Doyle & Roald Dahl. I also love to read Paulo Coelho and Khalid Hosseini.

What are your tips for writing?
I can give one simple suggestion. When I write, I try to put on a situational soundtrack to go with the mood of the chapter/story.

Share some of your beautiful moments associated with writing?
The time I was finishing the climax and the soundtrack from The Da Vinci Code was raising it's tempo in my jukebox. I could actually feel myself in the shoes of Robert Langdon inside the Westminster Abbey (Tom Hanks from the movie) and all I had to do was swap places and people. 

Have your ever thought of any other job other than writing? What are your other passions?
I have made three documentaries, filmmaking completes my passion of storytelling. I have worked as an Assistant Director and Screenwriter in over 25 ad films and directed 8 short films. Just to keep things neatly wound, I am assisting my dad in his farm too and that's his passion- Farming.

Do you write a book with both the readers of east and west in your mind?
While writing I try to place myself as a ordinary reader, nothing above or below that mark. When I like it and can connect with the particular emotions, then every reader (the majority) would like it because I am myself an ordinary reader. 

Your 10 favourite books and 10 favourite movies?
In the decreasing order: 
BOOKS
The Da Vinci Code, Alchemist, Deception Point, Fifth Mountain, Witches, The Study in Scarlet, The Kite Runner, The Lost Symbol, Pet Sematory, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. And well of course, a new addition WHEN STRANGERS MEET ;)

MOVIES
GURU, Delhi 6 , Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya , Transformers Trilogy, The Dark Knight series, The Da Vinci Code, Rab ne Banadi Jodi, Raavanan, Jab tak Hai Jaan, Dasavatharam.

How would you like to see you after five years?
Lets take one thing at a time, the present moment.

PS How many books you have in your library?
I guess over 100, have only read a dozen or more.

Amritorupa Kanjilal - an interview with a book reviwer

It's been a long time since I interviewed some one. Hence I started surfing the blogs for  bloggers and blogger writers. And it was by sheer coincidence I chanced upon Amritorupa Kanjilal's blog ' Rivers I have Known'  and I was quite awed by the selection of her books. It encompassed various genres. Her reviews are great. I have decided to  read five particular books after reading her reviews.  For a change I am interviewing a book reviewer for the first time. This is my fifth interview. My other three interviewees were published authors. I love book reviewers for I started my blog to be a wonderful book reviewer who could lure others to read what I liked. That's why Amrita topped the list.

About Amrita ( Short form for Amritorupa Kanjilal )

Amritorupa Kanjilal was a corporate shark before she decided she would be much happier being a goldfish, blowing bubbles in her little bowl. She lives in Kolkata, India, and reads too much for her own good. When she isn't reviewing the hell out of books, she works on ideas for her novel, and makes tiny sculptures from construction putty......

( Taken from her blog )

To read her wonderful reviewshttp://riversihaveknown.com/

Could you tell a few words about yourself?
I’m a supremely laid back person who loves to read.

When did you realise that you want to be a gold fish and not a shark?
2011, when I had the epiphany that I’ll never be able to care too much about material success, and will be miserable if I spend my life seeking it. I quit my job the next day. I took up another job 6 months later, but took the conscious decision never to try to become a shark again.

Your book reviews are wonderful. What are the criterions select a book for reading and also for book reviewing.

Thank you! I read a lot of reviews and generally try to read anything that sounds interesting. I also go by the recommendations of those friends whose tastes in reading are somewhat similar to mine. I also try to read other books by authors whose other works I’ve enjoyed. Sometime, very rarely though, I pick up a book that has an interesting name or cover. 
I want to review all the books I read, but since I read much faster than I blog, I end up reviewing just those I really liked or really hated.

Are you a full time book reviewer or a blogger?
Nope, I have a day job. I wish were, though. Maybe someday.

How many days usually you take - a) to read a book ?
Depends on the size of the book. I manage to read approximately 40 pages on weekdays and 200 pages on weekends. I spent 2 weeks reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, which is the longest I’ve spent on a book in recent years.

b)to review a book?
2-3 hours. It would be less, but I have to think up puns and witticisms become somehow those have become expected of me.

Are you in the habit of keeping notes while reviewing a book?
Haha, I wish. I have tried doing that several times, but it never works because I generally forget everything else while reading. Also because I read in public vehicles a lot. Also because once I tried and my dog stole my pen when I wasn’t looking and chewed it till it became transparent.

Your favourite genres and authors and why do you like them?
Humour, horror, fantasy, and graphic novels (not sure if that is a genre). Not sure why I love humour and horror so much. Possibly because they appeal to my fundamental instincts – I love the absurd and the grotesque. Fantasy I love because I always wish I were living a cooler, more awesome life, and fantasy literature helps me achieve that illusion temporarily.
Too many favorite authors to name, here are some though- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hilary Mantel, Joseph Heller,  John Kennedy Toole.Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Sue Townsend, Neil Gaiman, Milan Kundera, John Steinbeck, Helen Fielding, Ogden Nash, Wendy Cope, Bill Watterson, Arthur Conan Doyle, Douglas Adams, Ian McEwan, JRR Tolkien, J K Rowling (Going to stop now before every single author I love guilts me into mentioning them)

Which genre you prefer to read?
Fiction primarily. In fiction I love reading all sorts of books

Apart from reading and writing, what are your other interests?
Playing with my dog. Cooking weird things with my husband. Eating out. Being lazy.

What are your tips for writing?
None. Can’t think of a single one.
Oh, here’s one. Every once in a while pretend you are the reader. That saves your writing from becoming self indulgent.

Do you buy books you need to read or just collect books to read in future?
Unfortunately I am a raging bookshopaholic, so I always buy faster than I can read. Any given time I have at least 10 books on my shelf waiting to be read. I promise myself I wont buy any more books till I finish every single one I already own, but then I have a bad week and accidentally buy 8 more.

Do you encourage ebooks as a reader and writer?
I read ebooks often, but I cannot bring myself to love them. If I really like a book I read in e-format, I usually buy the paper version soon enough. I encourage other people to read ebooks because it is good for the environment and also because I hope popularity of ebooks will help make paper books cheaper for people like me. But I also worry that paper books will go the way of vinyl records and cassettes and just become extinct. What will become of book collectors like me then?

Your 10 favourite books and 10 favourite movies?
Catch 22
Love in the time of cholera
Wolf Hall, Bring up the bodies
A confederacy of dunces
Good Omens
Midnight’s children
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Calvin & Hobbes
The Master and Margharita
One Hundred Years of Solitude

Not a huge movie buff. I like dark stuff like those by Tarantino or Kubrick.

How did you start blogging?
Don’t remember. It was something a lot of my friends were doing back in 2008, probably one of them inspired me.

You have talked in your profile about working out ideas for novel when you are not reviewing. Is there a novel in the pipe line.
Haha, nope. Lots of ideas in the pipeline though.

 How many books you have in your library
578. ten of these I have not read yet.