Book: Parva
Language: Kannada
Author: S.L.Byrappa
Genre: Mythology
If somebody asks me to pick one book that tops my reading list it would be Parva. A Kannada novel Written by veteran S.L.Byrappa based on epic Mahabharata. This has been translated to several languages.
It was my father who recommended the book. He had the copy, which was brought in early 80s. It was in a very fragile condition by then. He explained it was borrowed by many back then and was debated in fervor. I started it immediately after my 10th board exam. From then onward I would have read it 8 to 10 times and know the story and characters like back of my hand.
Now a days there are 100 versions of epic Mahabharatha out there and nothing comes close to S.L.Byrappa's Parva. The story begins at the end of Vanavasa (12 year of exile in forest) and Ajnatavasa (1 year in disguise). Both Kauravas and Pandavas are now on the quest to collect warriors to fight for them. It is narrated in different point of view of many characters such as Kunti, Bhima, Draupadi, Arjuna, Satyaki, Karna, Dhuryodhana and so on.
As much as I love all the characters it is Draupadi who stands out to me. A royal princess, married to the most powerful men of that time, her life is nothing but bed of roses. It is a feat to read her transforming from a innocent, coy bride to her strength displayed at the time of infamous disrobing to her unshakable determination to seek justice. She falls out of love with handsome and romantic Arjuna for various reasons. She opts for more caring and compassionate Bhima at later part. Her repulsion towards Dharmaraya is evident though she is bound by duties to treat all her husbands equally.
All the characters here are mere humans and not gods or demi-gods even the mighty Krishna. They do not possess any supernatural powers. And all born through natural process of "the birds and the bees", not by boons granted to Kunti by sage Durvasa.
Byrappa created the most believable characters with flaws just like how we human beings are. Author spent years traveling all over India. His research mainly consists of geography, anthropology, techniques of warfare, socio-cultural detail, and philosophical approach. He took sabbatical from his new job to do all that. He is totally impartial to all the characters he created. It is rather hard for an author because somewhere down the line he is prone to fall in love with one character
more than the rest.
I'm reluctant to read the English version of Parva for the fear of losing its magic in translation. And nothing can be compared with reading the book in its original language. For me "Parva" is the holy magnum opus.
TV Show: Modern Family
Seasons: 11
Genre: Sitcom
Creators: Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan
Starring: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell
It must have been more than a decade since we stopped watching Indian TV shows, be it regressive Saas-Bahu Saga or well-orchestrated reality shows. News channels are no better, less news and more debate, yelling news anchors, breaking news, mudslinging. We digress.
We're privileged enough to keep us entertained during the pandemic and we never forget to count our blessings every single day
Right now it is marathon of Modern Family. We finished six seasons and can't stop gushing. Modern Family is an American Sit-Com shot in mocumentary style with characters frequently directly talking into the camera. Set in suburban Los Angeles, California, the story revolves around Jay Prichett and his dysfunctional family. Old fashioned patriarch Jay Prichett, married to much younger and sexy Colombian, Gloria with whom he has a baby boy and and a son, Manny, from Gloria's previous marriage. Jay has two adult kids, Claire and Mitchell from previous marriage, which ended in divorce. Claire is married to Phil Dunphy, a realtor and self-proclaimed "cool dad". They cluelessely raise three kids together; Haley, a popular, bemused teenage girl; Alex, super intelligent, nerdy; and Luke, a weirdo and cool in his own way. Jay's son Mitchell, an environmental lawyer and his husband, Cameron raises an adopted Vietnamese baby girl, Lily. They all stay in the same neighborhood and its their daily life's nitty-gritties.
It is not a traditional sit-com with usual laugh track. The show focuses mainly on parents and how they raises their kids and interact with each other. Theirs is a modest and close-nit family. Each character is very well-etched, though we see a little bit streak of Monica in Clarie. We will be well-acquainted with the character's mannerism and quirk to an extent that we feel they are real people whom we actually know. And the episodes are not interconnected.
It is clever and well-written story. The writers deliberate take on a lot of social taboos to show us how shallow and prejudiced society we live in. The life lessons at the end of episodes are heartwarming, but never preachy or soppy. It broadens your way of thinking and compels you for self-introspection. The writers create most hilarious and tear-jerking moments throughout the series. Kids get razor-sharp one-liner to match the adults too. All character share great chemistry with each other and they cracks you up most of the time. The entire ensemble of cast is brilliant. We're not surprised it has so many accolades in its kitty.
Our favourite characters in order of preference.
1. Cameron Tucker; over dramatic, passionate, bubbly, and outgoing.
2. Phil Dunphy; a cool dad, calls parenting as peerenting, drives his wife, claire up the wall most of the time.
3. Gloria; loud, outspoken, feisty, sexy, with a heart of gold.
4. Manny; wise beyond his years and an aptly called "old soul".
5. Jay Prichett; acts tough, although deeply cares for feelings of all his family members.
6. Claire Dunphy; over protective, over-bearing, stressed out mother.
7. Mitchell Pritchett; oh! We love his eye-rolling.
8. Haley Dunphy
9. Alex Dunphy
10. Lily Prichett-Tucker
11. Luke Dunphy
12. Joe Prichett
With critical acclaim, this one is a stellar. We still have to go along five more seasons. Highly recommend this one to anybody who appreciate good comedy.
I was succumbed to the charm of Harry Potter in my early 20s. I have heard a great deal about these books, but somehow I was dismissing the thought to read it mainly because it falls under the category of Children's book. And I'm not a very patient person to read one book in a series and sit and wait for the rest to release. Not knowing what happens next in a book or a movie or basically in a story almost kills me. It is not a torture I subject myself to very often. However, one fine day, I went to a book store and brought all the 7 books in a jiffy. Those were E-commerce free days. Now, I order all my books either on Flipkart or Amazon. It has been ages since I have visited a book store. I digress.
TBNH (Then-Boyfriend-Now-Husband) was away in another city for his masters. I was terribly lonely, unhappy, depressed, and miserable. It took me precisely 3 pages to get hooked and from that moment no turning back. I was missing TBNH very badly, yet, I was happy, cheerful, bright, back to my normal self, a happy soul.
I am not going to discuss story or characters here. It is next to impossible. Harry Potter is primarily a story of good versus evil. It is of the fantasy genre with vivid and rich imagination, which made us to believe in the parallel world of magic. It taught us about friendship, love, solidarity, courage, compassion, sacrifice, humanity, kindness, more importantly life. One can easily get connected to each and every characters. It is not only about Harry, Hermione, or Ron, though it chronicles their life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. None, not a single character is flawless. They all have their strengths and shortcomings. I am sure everyone who read the book can relate to at least one character, that is the beauty of it. We all have experienced the excitement of new academic year, school rivalries, fear and tension of exams, results, love-hate relationships with teacher, caught in mischievous act, being punished for it, standing up for our friends against all odds. Probably the only uncommon thing would be Lord Voldemort (You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) or may be we all did have a Voldemort, not of that magnitude of course.
I genuinely wished for a world like that, where I can be a witch. I mostly relate myself to Hermione, which I'm sure billion others out there would do too. The one thing I constantly get teased by Tarun "Ms. Know-It-All just like her. My favourite charm is "Expecto Patronum" and my patronus is always "peacock". And how I wish for "Accio". It has been almost 8 years since I read them, but still fresh in my memory. I have equally enjoyed the Harry Potter movies. I have written a essay about Potter in my interview for current job. How cocky is that? I can talk to a fellow Potter fan hours together. That easy bond only a muggle would understand. Even though I have now moved to much advanced fantasy like "Songs of Ice and Fire", Harry Potter will be my first love in the fantasy genre. It has made me definitely a better human being, and an upright and righteous person. It has something to cater to all age groups, that is why it is such a global phenomenon.
J.K. Rowling is a wonderful writer. She created a parallel world of wizards and witches, which is absurd and crazy, but convincing and believable nonetheless. I know she has written six more bestselling novels under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Somehow, I am hesitant to pick those books for the fear of breaking the magic spell. I know I will do this gradually and will come to love her other works too, until then let me bask in the Potter memory.
Title: Boston Girl
Author: Anita Diamant
Genre: Historic drama
Publication: 2014
“As far as I can tell, common sense hasn’t been in fashion for a long time.”
Blurb: An unforgettable novel about a young Jewish woman growing up in Boston in the early twentieth century, told “with humor and optimism…through the eyes of an irresistible heroine”
WeRefect: Boston Girl by Anita Diamant is transcript of a tape-recorded monologue delivered by an 85-year-old woman called Addie Baum. She was asked by her granddaughter how she got to be the person she is today. Addie takes us back to 1990, the year she was born.
Addie is the daughter of Jewish immigrants who settled down in Boston. She has two elder sisters, Betty and Celia. She is the first in the family to go to school. She learns how to use typewriting and takes Shakespeare classes. To escape her mother's suffocating behavior, She attends Saturday club where she meets women of other classes who introduce her to books, theater, games, and leisurely activities which were scandalous back then.
Her sister Celia commits suicide. She loses two of her nephews to Spanish flu. After initial debacles with men, she finds her "fella" in Aaron, a lawyer who believes in fighting for social causes. In a course of time she becomes a writer and subsequently starts teaching at Boston University.
Though not in a great detail The Boston Girl touches the event of immigration, women's suffrage, world war I and II, Spanish flu, great depression. It explores the cultural difference between immigrants and natives and how it affects the relationships. Addie's tumultuous relationship with her eternal unhappy mother who hates everything about America is quite engaging.
It is a memoir, an easy read. I would love to hear the story of my grandmother like this. Certainly it gave me an idea to ask about her childhood, adolescence, and the journey of life. Living almost a century is not an easy feast. I digress.
I finished it off in two days between tight schedule. Other than a few tragedies it is all hunky dory. I don't say it is an excellent piece of work, nonetheless a good read.
“Even a broken clock is right twice every day.”
