The Woman in White

I first came to know of Wilkie Collins in inter 2nd year. We had “The Moonstone”, his most famous novel as a supplementary reader. T.S.Eliot, the famous literary critic, called it “the first, the longest and the best of modern English detective novels. I loved that book. I developed a lot of admiration for Collins and my love for England only grew a hundred fold after that novel. Moonstone inspired me to read all the novels of Wilkie Collins and the so when I found “The Woman in White” a few days ago at Odyssey, I was only too happy to grab a copy.

“The Woman in White” is a fantastic novel. Moonstone and this one are considered the best works of Collins and it certainly lived up to the fame. A detective story to the core, it has also got a beautiful love track running in parallel and the combination worked wonders. It certainly is one of those “Unputdownable” master pieces. I just want to throw a little light on the love story in particular. People often think love faces such obstacles as class and creed only in societies like India (I certainly felt so!) and not in countries like England. This book shatters those misconceptions. Wilkie Collins depicts the English society of nineteenth century in this novel. The hero of this novel, Walter Hartright is a poor artist and makes his living as a drawing teacher. He happens to come to Limmeridge House to teach the two step sisters Marian Halcombe and Laura Fairlie. Marian is not attractive but she is a very intelligent and spirited lady. Laura Fairlie on the other hand is a delicate and ethereal beauty. Walter falls in love with Laura not knowing that she was engaged. Thus the events unwind and the rest of the story follows. I have read expressions of love in quite a few novels and stories, but somehow I found the Walter’s love, so beautifully expressed by Wilkie Collins, fantastic. Here is an excerpt from the novel where Walter is caught between his love for Laura and his social standing:

“I know, now, that I should have questioned myself from the first. I should have asked why any room in the house was better than home to me when she entered it, and barren as a desert when she went out again – why I always noticed and remembered the little changes in her dress that I had noticed and remembered in no other woman’s before – why I saw her, heard her and touched her (when she shook hands at night and morning) as I has never seen, heard and touched any other woman in my life? I should have looked into my own heart, and found this new growth springing up there, and plucked it out while it was young. Why was this easiest, simplest work of self-culture always too much for me? The explanation has already been written already in three words that were many enough, and plain enough for my confession. I loved her.”

No wonder, long after I finished reading the novel, that the images of Walter and Luara and also of Marian (you need to read the novel to know Marian's importance) are still fresh in my mind.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

For a change, I bought a non-fiction book at Odyssey. I have been seeing this book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, by Robert T. Kiyosaki, in the best sellers list for quite some time and wanted to buy it. I even saw a Telugu translation of the book and it really build up my expectation.

This is really a fantastic book. Every phrase of praise on the cover of the book is completely true and justified. This is the starting point for anyone wanting to get rich. The ideas presented in the book are really amazing. They are simple and straight-forward. Yet so profound!

He challenges school education throughout the book. According to him, which is very true of course, schools teach students how to work hard for money but not how to make money work for them. That is the basic difference between the rich and the poor and the most important one. The poor and the middle class work hard their lives, earn money, pay taxes, get into credit, work harder to earn more and pay more taxes and so on… this he calls “Rat Race”. The rich do quite the opposite. They buy assets. Their assets work hard for them and generate more assets.

Talking of assets, the single most important formula to get rich in the book is “focus your time and energy in building income generating assets”. This is an extremely important sentence to underline and remember. When you have assets generating income equal to or more than your monthly expenses, you are called Wealthy!

Anyone who wants to get out of the rat race and achieve freedom from having to work hard all their life, needs to understand the above formula. He talks of people who get up early everyday and hurry to work just to pay bills and taxes with a sense of pity in his tone. I couldn’t help visualize myself driving 40 kms everyday through the insane traffic of Hyderabad to go to work that I don’t love. It is my great dream to become a free lancer one day! This book provides me inspiration, to make my dream come true.

This book is all about improving our Financial Intelligence to get rich. Financial Intelligence is comprised of four things:
1. Knowledge of Accounting
2. Knowledge of Investing (Investment Strategies)
3. Knowledge of Markets (Demand, Supply etc.)
4. Knowledge of Law
It requires a lot of focus and intent to acquire the above and lazy people can not do that. We know people who are lazy to exercise their body, but the author talks of people who are lazy to make their brain work. That’s why he says self discipline is important to acquire and put to use the financial intelligence to achieve riches.

There are many other great ideas expressed in this book. The author also tells us what he did in his journey to riches. Most of them are applicable to most people. But he says there can be innumerable such formulae and emphasizes the importance of developing our own methods.

All in all it’s a great book, but mind you, only for ambitious people who are willing to develop and deploy their financial intelligence.

Love Story - By Erich Segal

When my friend suggested this book to me, I felt an irresistible tendency to read it. I was disappointed to know that Odyssey didn't have this book. What a shame! But, I was very lucky to get one of the only two remaining copies at Walden.

The first thing that attracted me was the name. A simple, yet profound one - Love Story! It felt a little strange too. How could one have chosen a generic name like "Love Story" to a novel? Imagine naming novels like "A Tragedy" or "A Comedy" !! But after reading the novel, I felt that the name was truly justified. Erich Segal must have pondered over a dozen names before coming up with this striking one!

This small and beautiful looking book - it has only 187 pages with not more than 25 lines per page of relatively big font - is the story of Oliver Barrett IV, a rich, ice-hockey jock from Harvard and Jennifer Cavilleri, a working-class beauty, studying music at Radcliffe.

This story is as simple as the title - A rich boy and a middle-class girl find themselves deeply in love with each other, get married without the approval of the boy's father, struggle through adversities before the boy gets a lucrative job. The sequence of events logically point to a happy ending. But that's not the case here because; a happy ending would have made this novel "any love story" not Erich Segal's "Love Story"!

Jenny dies young, at the age of just twenty-five, of leukemia. This is not something that comes as a big shock to the reader mid way through the novel. The author reveals the sad ending in the very first line of the novel: "What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died?" asks Oliver Barrett. So, you know what's going to happen. It's just a matter of when and how!

I don't like novels with tragic endings, much less those that declare, in the first line, that they are going to make you weep. Yet, I finished the novel in one go! I couldn't help but marvel the way Segal has deferred the tragedy till the very end and made this book an un-putdownable read with his exceptional skill and craft.

Though the reader knows that Jenny is going to die, he doesn't feel the pinch until towards the end of the novel because he is completely engrossed in the romance of Oliver and Jenny. The conversations are intelligent, witty and romantic. I ended up reading many lines twice, sometimes thrice!

As a reader, I was hovering around Harvard and Radcliffe, in spirit, following the two wherever they went....to the Midget Restaurant, the Dillon Field House, Briggs Hall, Paine Hall, so on and so forth…and finally to Mount Sinai Hospital !

Oliver Barrett III, Oliver's father and Phil Cavilleri, jenny's father are the other two prominent characters in the novel and were portrayed equally well by the author.

As I mentioned earlier, the author has handled the tragic part - since the revelation of the fact that Jenny has leukemia to her death - exceptionally well. He doesn't over burden the reader with too much drama or emotion, I mean, he doesn't make you bang your chest and weep. He sustains the subtle humor and romance, yet infuses the right amount of gravity and emotion in to the story that makes the reader cringe with an inexplicable pain deep inside.

The image of Oliver holding Jenny tightly in a hug, on the hospital bed, as she utters her last words, "Thanks, Ollie.” will linger in the memory of the reader for a long long time.

This, without doubt, is one of the best books I've read so far and I feel happy to have joined the club of more than 21 million admirers of this beautiful and touching Love Story!

Roger Federer ends his drought

Serving at 2-5 and down 2 sets to 0, Andy Murray netted an overhead smash from Roger Federer, there by handing the great man his fifth consecutive US Open title and his thirteenth major title overall. What followed next is something Federer fans all over the world have been desperately waiting to see for almost a year…Federer sank to his knees, threw away his racquet, covered his face with his palms and rolled on to his back. This is how he vents out all his emotion at the end of a big final.

This was the first major title Federer won this year and I was surprised that he did not break into tears as he often does after winning big tournaments. He’s now just one slam away from equaling Pete Sampras’ all time record of 14 major titles. He is the first man since Bill Tilden (1924) to win five US Open titles in a row. More importantly, with this victory, Federer becomes the first man in the history of tennis to have won two different Grand Slams five times in a row (he achieved this feat at Wimbledon last year). Awesome!!

There is something very special about Federer that endears him to the crowds, commentators and his opponents alike. It is his grace, his awesome style of play, his ability to make the most difficult shots in the book look so simple, his consistency in making those shots and the character he displays at critical moments…all make him probably the best player ever to play the sport. This is just one side of the coin. What is even more amazing is the way he carries himself on and off the court. Despite his awe inspiring stature as the undisputed world number one (in my view and in many others’, he is still the number one and continues to be so) he is such a cool customer, so very friendly with everyone and hardly shows any motion on the field. It is always very heart warming to see his opponents shaking hands with him and congratulating him heartily at the end of every match. That speaks volumes of his character. When Mats Wilander says that Federer’s parents must be very proud not just because of their son’s on-field heroics but also for the way he carries himself on and off the court, he is absolutely right.

Mats Wilader, a four time Grand Slam champion, who had earlier said that Federer would never win another Grand Slam in his life, made an interesting comment during the course of the US Open final, “I personally want to see Federer break Sampras’ record of 14 titles. Not that I have anything against Sampras, it is just that Federer deserves to be the all time great player”. He is very true.

It is really heart breaking to see Federer going down, more so against his nemesis, Nadal. When he lost to Nadal in that epic final of Wimbledon this year, I was almost in tears. I couldn’t digest that at all! As far as I remember this is my second most devastating experience watching sport (first one is the semifinal of the 1996 cricket world cup between India and Srilanka. I literally had nightmares that night). After the Wimbledon final, I decided not to watch tennis again. But the moment US Open started I couldn’t help getting glued to the television set. Tennis is my passion…it is also my worst addiction J

Many consider Federer as the greatest player ever to grace the sport. He ended the worst season of his career on a high note winning the US Open title. Hope he continues his class and form and wins all the majors next year. The whole of tennis world (I dare say that :)) is eagerly waiting to see Federer reestablish his “Aura of Invincibility”.

Long Live King Roger!!!!!!!!!!

My First Story...

I've been trying to write a story for a long time, but somehow I couldn't! But when I saw the mail that a creative writing competition is being conducted in our company, I decided I would participate at any cost...and the following is my entry to the competition, my first work of fiction ever...:)

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That night has been etched in my memory forever, after all it was the night which changed my life forever…

It was on a beautiful, moonlit winter night when I was sixteen that I had my first crush. I had just finished my school and entered college. In college, nothing mattered to me except studies. I was quite happy with in the confines of my world i.e. the first bench, the dais and the black board…until that night changed my world.

That night, one of our classmates, Vishali was getting married and all of our class was present at the venue. The atmosphere was electric and buzzing with life. There is something special about a wedding scenario. It excites people and brings the best out of them. Around me, I could see my classmates, all very happy and excited, none more so than the celebrated couple of our class, Satya and Raj. They seemed to be in a world of their own. I honestly didn’t find anything amusing about them.

I was in these thoughts when I heard someone calling me from behind. I turned around and could not believe my eyes. It was Madhu, one of the very few good looking girls of our class.

“Hi”, she said.

She was clad in a beautiful red half sari and looked gorgeous. Her slim figure was gracious. I wonder why girls always look beautiful in classical dress.

“Hi”, I said hesitatingly. We had been in the same class for almost a year but never spoke to each other.

“Hope I’m not disturbing you!” she sounded a little doubtful.

I quickly reassured her that she wasn’t and that I myself had wanted to talk to her.

“It’s a wonderful evening. Isn’t it?” she said.

I could only mumble “Yes”, hesitatingly.

Both of us were slightly shivering. Was it the cold, was it the excitement…I don’t know. She covered herself from around the shoulders with the end of the sari. It kept the cold away and also kept her midriff from being exposed.

I was very nervous. Talking to girls was not new to me but this was different. I really did not know what to talk. On a moonlit night, with a beautiful girl in front of you, there would be a million ways of initiating a romantic conversation. But all I could come up with was,

“Are you done with your Physics assignment?

She said yes, but with a wry smile on her face.

Despite my best efforts to continue the conversation, I was faltering. I followed up my first question with an equally stupid one,

“What about the Chemistry assignment?”

She looked bewildered.

I would have inquired about her Mathematics assignment too, but the what-kind-of-a-moron-are-you look on her face stopped me.

She understood my plight, took it upon herself to ease the tension, and diverted the conversation to better things. And thus, we went on and on.

During the dinner, I gathered some confidence and complimented her.

“You look really wonderful in this dress!”

She seemed relieved, “Thank God! Finally you have something to talk about me!”

At that, we laughed heartily.

It was almost 2 O’ clock in the morning by the time all the ceremonies were over. We bid good bye to each other and got ready to leave.

Just before leaving, she turned around and said

“Thank you very much for the company. I can never forget this night”

I was feeling equally happy, if not more. My heart was dancing with joy.

She added, “Next Sunday, if you are free, please come over to my house. We can have a great time together, Good Night!”

An invitation from Madhu to visit her house! I was on cloud nine!

Now I knew why Satya and Raj were so happy…

I stood there watching, as Madhu slowly rode on her bicycle and faded into the night.

That night something had changed…forever. Madhu had entered my life!!!

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the 3 mistakes of my life

For a book lover like me, having Odyssey just about hundred meters from home is a boon. Every time I go past it, I feel a strong a urge to get in and surf the enchanting world of books. And…more often than not…I give in to my urge!

Last Monday when I was browsing the various sections of books at Odyssey, one title caught my attention…”The 3 mistakes of my life”, by Chetan Bhagat. It really was a pleasant surprise because I was not aware Chetan was going to release his third novel. I had no hesitation in buying it no matter what the price. But would you believe it??....the price is just Rs.95/-…After the phenomenal success of his two previous books, it is but natural to expect a hike in price. But Rupa & Co kept it to the same affordable price much to the delight of all Chetan Bhagat fans.

The novel is based on the true story of a young businessman from Ahmedabad, Govind Patel, who, before committing suicide (by popping in sleeping pills), sends an e-mail to Chetan (God knows why!). And, Chetan, with the help of his ex-professor at IIM Ahmedabad, tracks him down. Fortunately, Govind survives and is being treated in a government hospital. Chetan flies all the way from Hongkong to Ahmedabad to meet him. After much persuasion from Chetan, Govind tells his story and that is the plot of the novel.

This book is beyond doubt, Chetan’s second best after Five Point Some One. But…let me tell you the margin is so small. While the former is pure fun, the latter embraces a wide range of human emotions. The author narrates in a touching tone, how Govind and his two best friends, Ishaan an Omi, become the victims of incidents as diverse as natural calamities and religious riots. He does well in linking some of the most significant incidents from Gujarat’s recent history to the protagonist’s life. I will not go into the details though!

On the whole, this book is about cricket and how an exceptionally gifted young batsman named Ali is nurtured, groomed and ultimately saved from religious extremists by the three friends. Most of the drama in this book, I believe is in this section that involves cricket and Ali.

And finally, it is utter injustice if I do not touch upon one of the most important characters of this novel, Vidya, Ishaan’s sister. She’s a clever, naughty and confident girl who lures Govind into her spell, when he starts teaching her Maths for her medical entrance examination. This is the best part of the novel and I really loved every bit of it. You can’t help rolling with laughter on so many occasions in this episode, when the author brings his customary, rib tickling humor to the fore. Chetan seems to be at his best when it comes to romance and Vidya and Govind bring back those wonderful memories of Neha and Hari from Five Point Some One…

There are episodes in this novel, that one feels are a bit over the top, like the Australian episode…but let me remind you that it is a novel, and no novel can be 100% real…it needs to be dramatized to a certain degree. What do you prefer to watch, a documentary or an action thriller…??

Take my word…this book is a treat!! Don’t miss it! After reading this book, let me tell you…you can’t help desperately waiting for Chetan’s next novel. He’s driving the youth of India crazy and it is no exaggeration in New York Times calling him the biggest-selling English-language novelist in the India’s history.

The day when I met Chetan

Time: 6:30 PM

Place: Big Bazaar, Ameerpet, Hyderabad

Chetan Bhagat came to Hyderabad for the release campaign of his latest novel. I read of his arrival in his official website, the day before. I was present at the venue without fail and was so excited to see him. He was so cool and looked exactly like his picture on the cover of his book. He was wearing a “1972, FCUK” T-Shirt…very funky I guess!! He is naturally gifted with a great sense of humor, which he makes best use of in his novels.

I was ecstatic that I carried my book with me to the venue because at the end, he signed all the books.

What a day!!! I pinched my hand…ouch...yes…it’s not a dream!!!!!

Don’t be surprised, if some 20 years down the line, this book signed by him sells for a million Dollars at some famous auction firm in USA or UK….!!!!!!!

The Way I Look At R.K.Narayan

Even before I knew of R.K.Narayan, I knew of Malgudi. Malgudi was made popular by a television serial named "Malgudi Days" in Doordarshan. I used to watch the episodes when I was in school and found them interesting.
My first introduction of the author came from an article in the Hindu by its editor N.Ram, "Reluctant Centenarian". I liked the article and wanted toread Narayan's novels. The first novel of R.K.Narayn that I read was "Financial Expert". It narrates the story of a villager named Margayya, who underdramatic circumstances, becomes a rich man and at the end, loses all his wealth under equally intriguing circumstances. To be honest I didn't like the story. But I was enchanted by his language, which was simple, and gentle, underlying humour. I loved the way he depicted the lower middle class lives of people in asmall town like Malgudi. The author seemed to empathise with them, being satirical at the same time. His expression was simply out of the world.
After that, I read two novels back to back, "The bachelor of Arts" and "Waiting for the Mahatma" and with each novel my respect and love for Narayan only grew exponentially. And then I read what most people believe is his best work, "Swami and Friends". I was mesmerised by the way he brought the innocenceand bliss of childhood to life through his characters. Every page took me back to my own childhood days and I rolled with laughter reading the silly thingsthe children did. Reading the novel, I really thought Narayam must have been a child at heart to have depicted a child's thoughts and actions in such a beautifulway.
Next, I read "The Guide". It is widely accalaimed as one of Narayan's best books. The plot was wonderful and it really was ahead of its time. No one would have expected Narayan to choose a story involving an extra marital relationship for his novel. It was a bold attempt which really paid off. The book was a great success and inspired Dev Anand to make a movie based on it. "Guide" was a phenomenal success at the box office and is one of the best romantic movies of the era. When I learnt that "Guide" was based on Narayan's novel, I immediately bought the CD and watched the movie. No wonder he was unhappy with the film. I will bring out the differences between the two versions in my next blog.
So far I have read five of Narayan's about 15 novels and am currently reading "The Dark Room". I like him very much for the way he is so down to earth in his writing style and for his humour. He has made such an indelible impression on me that I can't help considering him my own family member and considering me a member of the families in his novels. I felt very sad when I read that some people like Shashi Tharoor criticise his style as pedestrian. But I console myself saying that there are more pedestrians in India than any other class. In that way, Narayan is close to the heart of many readers than anybody would ever imagine.