The curious incident of the dog in the night-time

When I tried to pour down my feelings as a six-year old girl in my write-up 'Where is my papa?', I found how difficult it is to write children's books. Years back, when a 'special child' (autistic child) visited our house, I wondered how could their world, feelings and thoughts be, as I had never had a close watch of them. I could not get into their inside world howmuchever I tried to read about their behavioural patterns. But loads of love reserved always.

This story, 'The curious incident of the dog in the night-time' by Mark Haddon has blown me totally. Whatever you name it - creative, interesting, moving, informative etc, it is worth treasuring it and giving it as a gift for the adolescents and adults alike. Winner of the 'Whitbread Book of the Year', this book has amazed and influenced me of the creative style, the usage of 'and', the mathematical equations, the smileys and the approach of the author.

Oh, God! There are many Christophers out there who could not understand the oscillating behaviours of the normal people and who could not be understood as well. Can anyone write soooooo simply and yet touch the roots of your heart? Yes, here is the answer.

A must to read and adorn your book-shelf.

O Mother Nature

Sitting in the porch of my home
I watch the downpour from the sky dome
In a slanting array of its display
Water perform its powerful play

Rains lashing out here in Mumbai
Unstoppable is the nature’s joy
Plants and trees waving their arms
Joy or agony I know not their qualms

O Nature, please slow down a little
I assure you, none dare ever to belittle
See, sparrows are shivering outside in confusion
As if accusing me as a selfish person

Fire may be quenched by water’s power
But nothing can withhold the ruthless shower
Nay, who can understand your secret desires
As I keep wondering at your many faces

My tears have reasons known only to me
But never do they affect anyone except me
Why do you cry so publicly O Mother Nature
It disturbs many to lose their priceless life stature

Your beauty sizzles in mountains in coy
In plains and rivers you laugh out of joy
Living would be a disaster without you
Poets die to praise you standing in a queue

Are you not a mother of us all
Who would come at our beckoning call
As always, lead us with your charming stare
And bless us only with your soothing care

The Kite Runner

I am completely bowled over by the debut novel of by Dr. Khaled Hosseini. I may be late in reading this book but it would stay in my mind for a long time. Such an emotional packed drama it is set at the backdrop of Afghanistan and America, Taliban rule and the freedom of American soil, the sin and the redemption - surely the novelist has put his heart more into his first novel. Rather it looks like he has relived the story what with his bio perfectly coinciding with this native Afghan relocating to America.

More than the protagonist of the play (Amir), I am deeply touched by the innocent and extraordinary character of Hassan (who shines in every page) and his son, Sohrab. The author's intelligence gets splashed everywhere, a few samples I give below:

- It always hurts more to have and lose than to not have in the first place.

- He flicked his cigarette out of window. "How much more do you need to see? Let me save you the trouble: Nothing that you remember has survived. Best to forget."

"I don't want to forget anymore," I said.

- "Father used to say it's wrong to hurt even bad people. Because they don't know any better, and because bad people sometimes become good."

- In Kabul, hot running water had been like fathers, a rare commodity.

Memories die hard as they keep bouncing back fresh even after many years. Yes, the author has reaffirmed this truth in this book. A good read indeed!

A trip to Kodaikanal

My stay in Kodaikanal (July 13-16) with family and friends was a memorable one. The virgin beauty of the land, the lavish spread of greenery, the serene & beautiful lake, the thick mist & fog covering our ways during our entourage to various places, the hand-in-hand & arm-in-arm honeymooners in their dream worlds - all make the place all the more attractive and wonderful.

It was a pleasure to go on cycling around the lake (more to it, a few young boys ragging and coming along with me & my friend - oh, feeling so young and fresh :-)), a little bit of horse-riding, walks in the plush lawn gliding downhill creating a totally irresistible urge to roll on it endlessly, trying our hands to carry loads on our heads which the tribals do it with elan (hey, I managed to walk a few paces too and I can proudly say that I was the only one to do it), words dancing in my dreams all of a sudden to carve out the beauty of the place, a long drive to Mannavanur village drinking the scenic beauty of the still unspoilt and unexplored lake - all will be cherished as memories for a long time. I may have to borrow words and improve my vocabulary to paint them completely in words and to make you all chill out with the same feelings as mine.

See the beautiful backdrop for yourself.