Archive for 2008

Bitter Chocolate - Read this Book


2008
04.22

Bitter Chocolate by Pinki Virani. Penguin.

Bitter Chocolate Cover

I had read a few reviews of the book before I picked it up in one of the book festivals. I had only sociological interests when I heard about the book, but when I picked up to read it finally, I was more a parent.

The book is about Child Sexual Abuse in India, as the subtitle says. But what the book has in it is not just information. Once you read this book, you cannot just glance over newspaper headings like 8 yr old raped by uncle. It hurts you. You cannot ignore your daughter’s silences. It beats you.

Bitter Chocolate is extremely bitter. A very apt title.

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Weekend Getaway to Horsley Hills - Again


2008
04.09

Horsley Hills. Andhrapradesh. ~150 km from Bangalore. 1265 m above sea level. Cool and pleasant.

We went to Horsley Hills again on a weekend. So I thought I should be adding more to this entry.

This time, we were three families - 6 adults and 5 children. So, age group range: 3 months to 34 yrs.

And Horsley Hills? Moist. Flowery. More beautiful.

Horlsey Hills

A Summer Morning. Photo by Deepak.
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A Warangal Trip from Hyderabad


2008
04.02

Warangal. ~150 km from Hyderabad - Ramappa Temple, Pagala Cheruvu, Kirti Toranas of Kakatiyas, Thousand Pillar Temple.

Kirti Torana
We had gone to Warangal quite long ago. I was not a frequent blogger then and did not write about it.
This was a trip I enjoyed a lot. It was not planned, no rooms booked and totally out of the blue.
We were: Ratheesh, Bindu, Sanjeev, Nisa and myself. All of us had our own reasons to get out and travel.

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Two stories from K R Meera - Compelling Read


2008
03.17

I realized that I have not posted any review on any of the Malayalam books I read. Well, let me correct myself.

Last week, I read these two novellas in one book by K R Meera: Malakhayude Marukukal (Moles of the Angel) and Karineela (Dark Blue).

Malakhayude Marukukal

Malakhayude Marukukal is very tragic. Failed love, infidelity, murder, separated childhoods. The story line is too familiar, but Meera does breath fresh life into it. You do not get a chance to feel judgemental about Angela’s repeated infidelities. It is portrayed rather as a defense mechanism of a pretty woman against the world of masculine lust. But fortunately, she is not victimhood personified; she does enjoy moments of it. It struck me now, the English translation of the title gets a double edge. Moles of Angela: The spots she has on her or her childrens’ body. The double roles she wears in each relation.

Karineela is again the story of love and infidelity, but it is not tragic in the usual sense of the word. She, a married and settled woman, suddenly finds out her true love in an ascetic and until she conquers him and get stung by him. The story is new and told in a very powerful diction.

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Night is Still Young….For Activism


2008
03.13

I’m thrilled to write this!
Two nights of activism in two different cities of Kerala in the first week of March, 08. Both interesting and very inspiring!
One: Solidarity Night Vigil supporting Chengara land struggle
Two: Women’s Day celeberations by reclaiming the night.
rathri_03.jpg
Reclaiming the night - Photo from Malayala Manorama
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