Karthik's reading(s):
- The book about Madhubala /
I read the section about Mughal-e-Azam with much interest.
Karthik liked the part where author describes about the sheesh Mahal in depth. The song pyar kiya to darna kya has been picturised in this Mahal. He even bought a CD of the movie. One member of the book club said we can learn so much from these biographies. A thought just crossed my mind as to what we can learn from reading a heroine's biography!!!. But when I read Meena Kumari's biography, I came to know how much hard work they do for different kind of roles. Their dedication to play a a particular role is really worth brooding. Madhubala is synonymous with Mughal-e-Azam. When you think of Madhubala you immediately think about her movie Mughal-e-Azam. Superb movie and superb acting by Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. book "The biography of Madhubala" covers more on the making of Mughal-e-Azam.
- Aarathu published his facebook posts into two books - Araajagam 1000 and Tharkolaik Kurunkadhaigal. This is a proof that free stuff can be monetised.
- Sen She collected some 100 short stories, recommended as best short stories by prominant writer S Ramakrishnan, and was providing it free on web. He collected stories with much effort from various sources and was typing on net. Someone collected these stories and printed it into a hard copy book. Sen She argued that these short stories were published free with consent of its authors, with the idea that most people would read. Sen She did not like someone monetising his efforts. So the 100 short story collection was published free on net.
- Bankerupt / Ravi Subramanian
There are a lot of sub-plots running through, Bankerupt. From a financial hoax to a cryptic clue the novel spans from the US of A to India to Australia. There is a murder but obviously. Ravi Subramanians writing style is impeccable keeping in mind short chapters to generate interest to the plot which is racy and suspenseful at almost every turn of the page.
- Bird in a banayan tree: my story / Bina Ramani
Bird in a Banyan Tree is the account of Bina Ramanis tumultuous journey through life. Fashion designer, entrepreneur, restaurateur, social worker, agony aunt, visionary, socialite many labels have been applied to Bina Ramani. But what is her real story? From arriving as a refugee child in India during Partition to having Binatone, a successful electronics brand, named after her from a nine-year-old sitting on her favourite black rock, watching the waves and weaving dreams in Mumbai to a passionate relationship with screen idol Shammi Kapoor from a loveless marriage and a bitter divorce to opening her own stores and changing the face of Delhis Hauz Khas Village from searching for her daughters across continents, to being taken in police custody and sent to Tihar Jail for being a stubbornly honest witness, from being vilified by the media to being lauded by the country for her heroic role in the Jessica Lal murder case in this inspiring, no-holds-barred memoir, Bina tells it all.
- House of cards / Sudha Murthy
What happens when values clash? When two people who think differently are now married and there seems no way out of things? What happens when everything you ever loved and cared for is at stake? Such questions often seem to have easy answers in books and probably other art forms, but never in life, more so when you are the one living it. Sudha Murthy manages to communicate just that through her new book, House of Cards.
House of Cards is about a young couple Mridula and Sanjay. It is about their life in Bangalore, which is idyll and how one fine day a decision of Mridulas basis Sanjays actions brings everything in their relationship to a halt. Sudha Murthy writes with biting precision about everyday life, without becoming too myopic about situations and how life works out for the common man
- Jars filled with gold / Ruby Malshe
The heart may take delight in several things and yet experience a void. The trick lies in discovering the truth or falseness of that void. A question lingers; does that void really exist or is it just ones imagination?Our lives are like those of fish caught in the net of strings which entangle us. Strings of desires and relations do not allow us to set ourselves free. Should we then cut ourselves free from all desires or relationships to get ultimate freedom?
Pratibha's reading(s):
- My Encounter with IIT JEE: The Story of Preparation / Arpit Agrawal
This book is a riveting saga of an ingenious boy who had the acumen to duel the difficult entrance exam of IIT and clearing it with flying colours and thereupon experiencing a strenuous journey as an IITian.
Pratibha wished her son could read this book to get some inspiration. Was thinking whether these kind of books will inspire you to take the course towards these institutions or will it dissuade you from taking education from these institutions.
- Lateral Thinking / Edward de Bono
About part of the Book: Quota of Alternatives
One of the learning from Lateral thinking was
generating “Quota of Alternatives”. Here the Quota means “minimum number “of
alternatives that needs to be generated for a given problem say 5 alternatives
per problem. The main focus would be to generate minimum number of alternatives
to problems, without judging whether correct or wrong, ideal or impractical.
What happens is that in this process one tend to stretch his/her imagination or
though process by challenging his/her own thinking capability. Using Quota alternatives, one can generate
minimum number of Alternatives and not the solutions, which will lead to escape
from rigidity of one way of looking at a problem, Generate new ideas, discovery
of a new approach. By generating alternatives, one becomes more ready
to appreciate and understand differing viewpoints of others.
I think this book will be repeated in subsequent meetings too, since it is too heavy to read, to digest..what ever pages Vignesh reads, he will be discussing those in the meeting!!!
He recently has developed a taste for reading Hindu mythology especially the Mahabharata. He liked the character of Karna and has even started giving alms to the poor!!!!!Good gesture Sumit. Just a word of caution: if you give money to the kids, it is taken away by their parents…if you give money to the elders, they use it for drugs….Better to give something to eat, of course that they don’t take, they accept only hard cash…BEWARE…
Thank god he is not wearing jewellery!!!!
Deepali's reading(s):
Deepali said she didn’t get time to read as her son’s exams were going on. She was busy helping him with studies.
The one You cannot have / Preeti Shenoy
This book is about relationship. (Preeti Shenoy's books are mostly on relationships). Book focuses on 3 people, Aman, Shruti and Anjali. Aman & Shruti love each other and decides to get married. However Shruti's parents are against this marriage. Shruti ends up marrying Rishabh (parent's choice) but in her deep heart she still loves Aman.. Aman is heartbroken. He leaves India and settles abroad. After few years he comes back to India and falls in love with Anjali. Rishabh comes to know Shruti's affair with Aman. He is upset with her for not letting him know about the affair. Their marriage is on the rocks. Shruti gets to know that Aman is returning to India. She tries to meet him. Aman tells her that he no longer wants to be with her and tells her that he is getting married to Anjali. Shruti comes back to Rishubh.
Relationships are complicated, no
second thoughts on it…Any relationship, whether it is marriage, love,
relatives, friends. All relationships are not easy to maintain. One has to
actually work on it. It is neither constant nor steady..They are like water
waves…kabhi idhar kabhi udhar….Wonder whether that is the reason why The word
Relationship has a “ship” attached to the Relation!!!!
Just a thought, I think at least wives are more adjustable when they come to know about husband's affair, but same is not the case with husband. They will mentally torture their wife. Usually girls avoid telling their prospective husband of their affair. It is entirely their fate if the husbands come to know the affair after marriage!!! It is a like a CATCH 22 situation. You tell, you create a problem for yourself, IF you don't tell and then they come to know, you invite problems!!!
Sponsor of the meeting: Vignesh Poojary
