Stranded but not lost!

Just one more month and we are going to start a fresh year. And here I am, failing miserably in all the four challenges in addition to the Goodreads challenge(8 read toward the goal of 20) I took this year, Am I discouraged? Not at all! I am looking forward to taking fresh challenges the coming year and may be, may be I will complete them next year,

The Redeemers

The Redeemers by Suresh Taneja

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Redeemers, the story of youngsters who masterminded a movement against corruption is an easy read. It has a tempting back blurb and a plot that is good enough for a blockbuster movie. I would love to see such books on bestsellers list rather than the ones portraying Modern India as so-called 'cool dudes' whose life revolves around partying, girl friends, pre-marital sex, boozing and the like. That said, this book falls short in many areas to be a best seller. Nevertheless, it is worth reading once.

As I had mentioned earlier, the strength of the book is its plot. Also, to think of children/youth as the target to solve corruption is a good strategy. Simple ideas such as this leaves me fascinated but the idea lacks brilliance when put across in words.

Talking about the flip side, first of all the incidents leading G4(the 4 friends are collectively called so, reminds of me of some summit!) to start a movement of such scale are not very impressive. I could not feel any pinch when G4 and their parents meet with the fabricated accident. May be it could have been more elaborate, a little more taxing for the youngsters and their family. Same is the case with the way the movement takes shape. The details are so shallow that it fails to create an impression. G4 admitting to the fact that they are direction-less but are committed to bring a change doesn't convince the reader, leave alone the people they come across.

Another aspect that troubles the reader is the writing. There is repetition of matter, shallow details and poor characterization. And the book cover could have been better!

To sum up, this book is neither a page-turner nor a 'read-few-pages-and-toss-it' kind. All it lacks is a little bit of drama for the kind of subject it handles.

View all my reviews

Some much needed attention

We were blessed with a baby girl recently! Like every other new mother, I was lost in the world of motherhood. My thoughts, speech, action everything was limited to few words - nursing, diapering and comforting! Just about the time I was contemplating if I should post a 'hiatus' update and if there would actually be a single soul to feel my presence/absence in the blogosphere, tada, there comes a liebster award from Aarthy! :-)

Firstly, thanks a ton for the recognition and for visiting my blog. Also, a special thanks is due as her post on liebster award gives me lots of new blogs to read :-D  Along with the award comes the task of answering Qs posted by Aarthy, ten random facts about me and the honour of passing the baton.

Random facts about me

I have done this already here but there is no end when it comes to talking about self :-D. 

• My baby came after 6 years of married life. I wish our society doesn't make TTC such a stressful phase. Am happy that am out of it and sympathize with those undergoing it.
• Sugar coated talk is an art. I wish i could learn it.
• I am a loser when it comes to food :-D
• Looking good and fit tops my post-partum list.
• I have curly hair. Having a high forehead worsens things. I straightened it twice but its a costly process, so please someone give me tips to style it :-P
• I love coffee. Not just any coffee, South indian Filter Kaapi :-)
• I am scared of dogs. My hubby loves dogs. Thankfully we live in an apartment and there is no chance for him to ask me about having one. On second thought, may be, I will let go of my inhibitions if he really wants one.
• I cheated. I did not write 10 random facts :-P

Coming to the Qs posted by Aarthy,

Which is that part of your daily routine which energises you to go through the day?

Starting the day early energizes me! Not that am an early riser everyday but there is definitely something about the rising sun, the breeze, the sound of birds, the brisk morning walkers, the aroma of sambar from someone's kitchen and of course the piping hot coffee :-)

For you, a day well spent would be ...?

A day well spent would ideally start as above and should be filled with laughs and giggles irrespective of where i am, with whom and what am up to. Ideally it would just be me and my hubby roaming around, nice weather, no plans, chatting mindlessly, good food and few hours of shopping.

If you were allowed to re-live some part of your life, would you opt for it? If yes, which part of your life would you choose?

I would want to relive the few months before my wedding and the day of my wedding. Because I always have a feeling that I missed being 'present in the moment' enjoying the occasion and those days passed with certain tension and apprehension. Especially I should have spent more time with my mother(who passed away few months after my wedding) planning and shopping for wedding and talking about married life and such.

What does writing mean to you?

My blog name says it all :-) Unspoken words.

Do you take conscious efforts to improve your writing or just allow it take its own course?

I don't take conscious effort but every post is written with the effort of giving my best.

Do you feel it is necessary to market your blog?

Yes, marketing is necessary. What level of marketing depends on the intention of the blog. For personal blogs like this, finding like-minded bloggers, interacting with them and developing a bond is much needed to keep the spirit going.

What are your thoughts on blogging contests?

Again, they are needed to keep the spirit going and finding fellow bloggers.

Which genre do you enjoy writing the most? (Poetry, Stories,Musings, Or any other .. )

Musings and book reviews.

Do you have ambitions of writing a book someday? Why?

Haa haa, i have no such ambitions but i day dream about it :-) Actually, I day dream about a career that involves books  not exactly authoring.

How do you handle the proverbial writer’s block?

I write. :-) Yes, too much planning and procrastination doesn't help. I just start off with a new post. Then it takes care of itself. 

Now, I pass on this honor to Green Boochi, LittleVoids and SummerScript. I enjoy reading their blogs, the way they express themselves and their life in words.

Over to you three... All you need to do is 

• Accept the award :)
• Nominate ten bloggers whom you feel should be encouraged to continue their good work and haven't got this award already.(They should have less than 200 followers)
• Write ten random facts about yourself
• Answer the questions that I have posed above
• Put down ten questions for your nominees to answer

10 Q for them

• What are the top three qualities you would teach your child? 
• What do you do to bring yourself out of a bad mood?
• Do you read self help books? How effective do you think they are?
• What sort of gifts do you enjoy/like the most?
• What do you do to keep yourself updated with current trends, be it politics, society, books, technology or fashion?
• When am old, I wish i don't ------ : what would that be?
• What is that you would like to contribute to your neighbourhood/community (however small the deed is)? Have you done it already? If no, what's stopping you?
• How do you think your life should be? Are you living it?
• If you could follow one practice from the bygone lifestyle of our ancestors, what would that be?
• What is your dream career? Do you have plans to pursue it in future? 

Waiting to read your responses :-) Hope the Qs aren't boring or philosophical!

Follow Every Rainbow

Follow Every Rainbow by Rashmi Bansal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Though I have been wanting to read Rashmi Bansal's books for quite sometime, this book made me take the plunge immediately as its of much relevance to me personally, being an inspirational book on Women Entrepreneurs. 
Am at that crossroad in my life currently, where am forced by circumstances to either slow down a bit and solve the more important life's priorities before its too late or dance like a joker trying to balance work and home. I chose the former. Though I have never regretted my decision till date, building a second career, if possible in a varied field of interest than my first career , is always at the back of my mind. 

I loved everything about the book. Firstly, the book title, which is a phrase from a song in 'Sound of Music' and gives enough motivation to pursue something varied and look out for opportunities.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life

For as long as you live

Secondly, the grouping of the entrepreneurs as Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswathi -  the `ghar ki lakshmis` who brought wealth and prosperity to the home by co-opting family members into their business; those who had to fight for survival and rose to the challenge, slaying demons within & without and those  armed with a professional education and are carving out an identity through entrepreneurship respectively. Am not getting into the details of those who are featured and my favorites as each one of the story gives you something or the other to be inspired.

Thirdly, even within the sections (Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi) and across the book, there are entrepreneurs from varied fields. Though my favourite section happens to be Saraswathi which is more relevant to me, I enjoyed reading every other story as each one provides you with valuable insights. In addition, each story ends with an Advice to Entrepreneurs from the featured Entrepreneur. Especially, I feel more confident after observing the fact that many of the featured Entrepreneurs have taken the plunge at a later stage in life post their motherhood and that hard work and perseverance is more important than the age that are mere numbers.

Last but not the least, the Helping hands section on various courses and opportunities that's an eye opener for women who have the motivation but lack direction.

The only complaint I have, which is mentioned by the Author herself as a feedback she gets from many, is that there is liberal use of Hindi throughout the book which I feel doesn't add any value. 

Overall, a great read for those who want to pursue something in life to keep them motivated till they make things work and even for those who are already into the bandwagon.

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Atheism, Theism and Tolerance

The 'Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi '(Tamil version of KBC) program yesterday featured Actor Kamalhaasan and today I see a harsh status on Facebook from a friend about his repeated expression of atheistic views in every stage claiming he mocks at God and religious views. This is not the first time I hear reactions about Kamalhaasan's atheistic views among my family and friends. And almost every time the reaction is more of an outburst, explosive anger expressed with so much hatred and rage. On a deeper note, it seems like the person wants to hide oneself under a protective shell of unarguable belief, which should not even be attempted to be questioned. In doing so, they end up targeting the private lives of the atheist and finding faults in their behavior, as if theists are void of these. 

To sum up, Religion is just a view and a way of living. Everyone is entitled to their own views and no one has the rights to derogate other's beliefs. But the point am trying to make here is, theists are the ones who mostly take offense in whatever an atheist says. Every question about a belief is an insult! If you are a firm believer, why not brush off the so-called-offenders without an ugly show off of insecurity, intolerance and blame game. Live and let Live!

Not-so-brief P.S: To answer the question whether am an atheist or theist, am neither! Yes, am a confused soul. If complete refusal of existence of a super power and shunning our Vedas, Epics, Culture and the way of living practiced by our ancestors  is atheism, am not an atheist. If blind surrender to religious views, visiting temples dutifully, saying Rama/Krishna/Jesus even at the drop of a pin, performing fasting, 'nerthi kadan/venduthal'(tamil word for offering something or performing a ritual in return for a fulfilled prayer) and the likes is theism, am not an theist.

And regarding the FB status on Kamalhaasan's views, I have followed Kamal's remarks and views in many stages and yes, he stresses atheism at every given opportunity but never have I felt that he insults or mocks. Infact, he quotes liberally from Epics and the like which only shows that he is well-read and has taken his stand after understanding what Hinduism and other Religions propagate.