springs without smell

I buy the books last year as part of DC Sahityotsavam. As a hefty fan of Benyamin, I don't really know why I kept the books untouched for 1 whole year. And. My good God. I'm shocked beyond my 12 years of Bahrain life. Flabbergasted. Mind blowing.


 


 The books are a mix of history n fiction and of course autobiographical too. The lines merge and divide. I salute the author's courage. Bravo.

A must read for all Gulf expatriates esp of Bahrain.

click...click

I've a confession to make. As you can see, almost all the images scattered throughout this blog is the result of my steady search, copy n paste from google via the concerned sites. Till now I didn't bother to add any links to display image credits. My bad. My bad ! So. On World Photography Day, I've decided not to nick images  from you. I mean book images. Why did I do it? Because who has the patience to photograph the book before reading it? Who has the patience to photograph the book after reading it?  Anyways that's what I plan to do from today. So hereby I wish to give credits to all the images their due credits. That clears my image I guess.

Photo of the day !



The fish curry I prepared which was a huge success during the weekend party.

freedom is to the free

Assumption of the Virgin.
India's 69th Independence Day.
My mother-in-law's 74th birthday.

We don't attend the obligatory mass. We don't bother to go to the embassy to hoist the flag. But we wish Amma and that makes her very very happy. What else we need?

Funny. We go to the fish market, buy some fishes esp guppies this time. Fish tank is ready after 3 months of neglect n starvation n death. With guppies lie our hopes. They are supposed to multiply and fill the tank.

fishy pets

the thousand natural shocks the flesh is heir to

Flat life. I've lived in 5 different flats before settling in the present one. I'm not a friendly neighbor nor I make friends easily. But I did get a BFF and a few close friends. The last man and his neighbors in Vishram society do not remind me of any of my past or present neighbors. Flat life in Gulf is totally different I should say.

Bombay. Real estate business. A filmi sort of builder plans to redevelop an old apartment complex. He offers huge sums to vacate the flats. Except an old teacher everyone concedes. The story goes on n on. Even after the last man in the tower is mercilessly murdered by his loving but concerned n greedy neighbors. Are they greedy? How depressing. My eyes still hurt. The printing is way too small for my old eyes. That's first thing I noticed n disapproved about this book. I've changed my glasses. Progressive. You know how weird n strange you feel in new glasses.

Back to the book. I don't skip a single word. I chew and chew and chew. It's bitter, dry and depressing. The Truth.

looking like nothing matters

Delhi. I'm yet to visit  the capital city. Actually I've never been to the northern parts of India. What a shame !

Day Scholar by Siddarth Chowdury reminds me a lots I've, haven't n should've done in my college, hostel n day scholar days. Lol. Though honest, witty n funny, I won't recommend the novel to youngsters esp wannabe writers nor to my son. Way too much of adult content n anti social activities. Also hostel, PG or barsati, university life has changed for the better I guess.

Shortlisted for The Man Asian literary prize? You kidding?

 The story is about the end of innocence and the dawn of a young writer. Must read for those who had 'enjoyed' college n hostel life yet became successful n happy in life. You know what I mean. Cheers to that.

The concentrated stench of life

I read fast. But sometimes deliberately slowly. Like with Lahiri's books. As a huge but on diet fan of Lahiri, you can imagine my anticipations n expectations regarding this book. To begin with, I don't fancy going through naxalite movements, freedom n partition struggles or mandir-masjid riots anymore. I'm done with those.

Though the first half features '60s Calcutta and naxalbari movement, it drags on and on. From the second half the story races up to a promising end.

The novel tests my patience but eventually warms my feline heart.