If reading the title has left you bewildered and you ponder what exactly is Nation of Idiots? You’re in the right path of questioning that. What is NaIf reading the title has left you bewildered and you ponder what exactly is Nation of Idiots? You’re in the right path of questioning that. What is Nation of Idiots? Who are they?
Let me break it done for you.
Daksh quotes “The idea within our country, a collective of heads that influences our lives for the worse. A group that forces on us their logic, their reasons and their way of life. It confuses us, and expects of us, to follow blindly. This collective I call a nation of idiots.”
An idiot maybe around you, at the railway station, restaurants and shopping malls. They maybe among your friends or family. An idiot might be in your bedroom, even if you’re alone. Strange. The author faced difficulty in opening the first chapter. He hit the right spot by doing it with demonetization. Happened just a few years ago, the wound is still afresh. We are persistently nagging about the pink colour of 2000 rupee note, or the arrival of new 10 and 50 rupees note in the market. But what are we missing on the bigger picture? Have you questioned that?
Author with sheer sarcasm and sharpness covers all the topic, we Indians detonate in public. Cold war between India and Pakistan, dowry system, rape, sexuality, politics and religion prevailing in our society, are talked about in a span of just 200 pages. My favorite chapters remain State of Women and Sex and Sensibility. The lines after every chapter are an added bonus. The lines make you laugh your head off and you might end up using that in your life.
“2047 will be a big year for us. It will be hundred years of being ripped off by our own.”
We need more authors like Daksh, who aren’t engrossed in a fairy tale love story and actually show reality a mirror. This book is not meant to teach anything, it makes us aware of the country we’re living in. Helps see things clearly, like a pair of spectacles.
Thank you, for sending in the early reader’s copy.
Merged review:
If reading the title has left you bewildered and you ponder what exactly is Nation of Idiots? You’re in the right path of questioning that. What is Nation of Idiots? Who are they?
Let me break it done for you.
Daksh quotes “The idea within our country, a collective of heads that influences our lives for the worse. A group that forces on us their logic, their reasons and their way of life. It confuses us, and expects of us, to follow blindly. This collective I call a nation of idiots.”
An idiot maybe around you, at the railway station, restaurants and shopping malls. They maybe among your friends or family. An idiot might be in your bedroom, even if you’re alone. Strange. The author faced difficulty in opening the first chapter. He hit the right spot by doing it with demonetization. Happened just a few years ago, the wound is still afresh. We are persistently nagging about the pink colour of 2000 rupee note, or the arrival of new 10 and 50 rupees note in the market. But what are we missing on the bigger picture? Have you questioned that?
Author with sheer sarcasm and sharpness covers all the topic, we Indians detonate in public. Cold war between India and Pakistan, dowry system, rape, sexuality, politics and religion prevailing in our society, are talked about in a span of just 200 pages. My favorite chapters remain State of Women and Sex and Sensibility. The lines after every chapter are an added bonus. The lines make you laugh your head off and you might end up using that in your life.
“2047 will be a big year for us. It will be hundred years of being ripped off by our own.”
We need more authors like Daksh, who aren’t engrossed in a fairy tale love story and actually show reality a mirror. This book is not meant to teach anything, it makes us aware of the country we’re living in. Helps see things clearly, like a pair of spectacles.
Thank you, for sending in the early reader’s copy....more
There are few titles that holds you and squeezes every emotion out of you. This is one such title. “When breath becomes air” When the breath that symbThere are few titles that holds you and squeezes every emotion out of you. This is one such title. “When breath becomes air” When the breath that symbolizes the state of being alive for an individual is just turned into something as ubiquitous as air. It loses its identity and uniqueness. It vanishes into the void, into sheer nothingness from where it happened to originate at first place. Isn’t this beautiful?
Kalanithi’s words immediately connected with me as I continued to get enveloped in his journey through life, diagnosis, and eventual death. His observations on the meaning of life and its purpose were poignant and insightful. It left me with a thought that it matters less how much time you have, and more what you do with it. What really got to me was how well written and detailed it was at the beginning of the book, but by the end of the book you could tell he was rushing to finish it. The book ends abruptly, because well, life does too. I am always on the lookout for the books that make me cry, because those are the books, I will cherish it to my grave. It has almost been a year, I cried over a book like a kid. I nearly assumed; I lost all human emotions. Until, I read Paul’s wife narrate, my pillow cover was soaked up with tears, I was crying uncontrollably over Paul and his family’s grief.
I downloaded this audiobook, to listen while travelling. But I was suggested not to, because you don’t wanna cry while travelling. And rightly said, Read this book in your comfort zone. This book has so much to offer and unpack. I know I will have to read it again....more
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian, Jewish psychiatrist who pioneered logotherapy, a form of existential analysis focused on finding meaning in life.
Man’sViktor Frankl was an Austrian, Jewish psychiatrist who pioneered logotherapy, a form of existential analysis focused on finding meaning in life.
Man’s Search for Meaning is a two-part account: the first half discusses Frankl’s experience at the concentration camps, and the second half is comprised of universally applicable lessons gleaned from Frank’s struggle.
This book contains a rawness, an open display of the writer’s deepest emotions, that keeps author up at night wondering if they can emulate. This book is not just his magnum opus, nor his legacy, but his very reason for life itself. The lessons contained within the pages cannot be condensed to a few bullet points because it is the experiences of the author which give him the authority, which justify, his right to speak with such candour on these topics. This book is that powerful, and powerful to such a wide range of people that anyone can find something which resonates with them. It is truly telling that, when I have searched on google for “best Man’s Search for Meaning quotes” or something similar, my personal favorite quote doesn’t appear until the third page of some lists. Frankl reveals more of himself than some do in their entire lives. So many pages contain insight and knowledge in its purest form that I had to force myself to stop the audiobook and just think about it. I haven’t read every piece of Holocaust literature ever written, but I have read a decent number of them. This is the only work which contains the suffering, the randomness of life and death, the horror these prisoners experienced, and a sense of hope and beauty within one volume. This book, even if you disagree with it, deserves and demands your time. I’m tempted to end this with a quote,
"So live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now!"...more
This book encompasses of 44 poems in total. Every poem is compendious and articulated in a way that makes the readers content after reading.With the oThis book encompasses of 44 poems in total. Every poem is compendious and articulated in a way that makes the readers content after reading.With the ornate use of words, the poem rather sounds lyrical and grips your heart with a lingering cloud of feelings. The Poetess eloquent and chatty style of writing, is something to be noted here. It grasps the readers and reflects the life and living of this young Poetess.
I like how she hasn't restricted poems only on love and love stories. She has touched various topics in a way seems to have an impact on her life. The poems are about patriotism, family, friends, solitude, passion and determination. In the end of the book, there is a treat to all readers -A Tribute to APJ Abdul Kalam. It is one of my favorite. No one could have summed his life in a better way.
The poems evoke a great sense of hope and zeal. Reciting one poem overwhelms you with joy and words. Words so beautifully carved, words you knew existed but made much more sense now.
This is my first poetry read and I thank the Poetess who made me realize what I'm missing out from my life - poetry....more
Is there anytime where you feel like breaking the monotonous chain of work and actually start living life? I feel that ALWAYS
I spend hours watching viIs there anytime where you feel like breaking the monotonous chain of work and actually start living life? I feel that ALWAYS
I spend hours watching videos on how not to procrastinate and get your life together. Also note that I would be procrastinating my work to watch those video. GUILTY
It is needless to say what this book is about. Personally, I am a late riser, I cannot wake up at 5. I still try to wake up at 6 the least. I won’t tell how good the author has written or how useful this book is. I will share in some of the techniques that I liked.
4 Interior Empires: It is divided into four quadrants, where it talks about Mindset, Heartset, Healthset and Soulset respectively. All the four empires must be polished beautifully through morning practice. Waking up early would not serve its purpose, if you’re heart is full of negative feelings.
Habit Installation Protocol: We have heard of the 21 day rule right. This is quite similar to it. Every stage is of 22 days. Stage 1 is destruction. Stage 2 is installation. Stage 3 is integration. It requires a large amount of fuel to overcome these initial forces and reach escape velocity.
20/20/20 rule: This is my favorite rule. What will you do after you wake up to achieve a state of mind? One hour is divided into slots of 20 minutes, where you need to move, reflect and grow. It can be exercise, meditation, reading, praying so on.
Journalling habit: Through experience I can tell that, this rule is more effective. Journaling daily helps you to re-experience joyful times, elevates creativity, reinforces daily learning, activates gratitude.
90/90/1 rule: It is quite amazing to know that, for the next 90 days, if you dedicate your first 90 minutes of your workday on one activity that, when completed at world class, will cause you to own your field....more
“He was a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Named an Oprah’s book club selection. Won 2019 Women Prize for Fiction.
Newlywed African Amer“He was a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Named an Oprah’s book club selection. Won 2019 Women Prize for Fiction.
Newlywed African American couple, Ron and Celestial are a model to a flawless marriage. Being married for about one and half year, they have their own secrets kept under wraps. There are happy and lovable and that is just the beginning of the end. Things go out of hand and the next thing that happens is Roy wrongly been accused of the crime he did not commit. He is claimed for wrong incarceration and a period of 12 years in jail. Celestial, a young budding artist, hung to Roy’s incarceration for starting 3 years, but as every relationship, theirs too had loose ends. Then enters Andre, childhood friend of Celestial who stuck with her tenaciously. Due to his sheer luck, Roy gets out of the prison after serving for 5 years.
Are things same as he left 5 years ago? How much does a period of 5year change?
This book must be appreciated for the grief and misery it renders. A psychological study than a suspenseful read, that slaps the mirror of reality and shows how racism and judicial system can ruin the brink of a marriage and wreck the entire family. Narrated from different POVs, the epistolary conversations between Roy and Celestial is something heart etches for. The exploration of characters history is with such clarity. Tayari Jones, has a skilful mastery over storytelling. I am glad she’s getting such high accolades and recognition she deserves.
This is not a book that you pick up to get over another book, this is the book you need to cling to. A slow burn book, not for everyone, that is definitely thought-provoking, exploring various themes like human nature, race, family, love and marriage....more
I've never read any Stephen King before and always assumed he had to be good due to his immense fame but thought horror wasn't really my schtick but II've never read any Stephen King before and always assumed he had to be good due to his immense fame but thought horror wasn't really my schtick but I was so wrong. Even though this isn't straight dreadful horror it certainly is ominous and very creepy but aside from all that it was also the character development that made it such a page turner. Stephen King never rushes you to the suspense and the horror directly, without setting up the right premise. Danny entering the room 217 was explored only after first half of the book. Until that point, I was like ok cool this isn’t scary, I can manage this. And right when you think that, King throws a disgusting red sloppy killer clown at you, laughing half-witted at your plight and then you’re stuck just like Danny is in the room 217.
The battle raging inside all the characters over their own insecurities and self doubt was really good. Those were some of the most real characters I've read in a long time, completely sympathetic and believable while also growing as much as the story allowed them too. Building the setup in a horror book is the most difficult, if it doesn’t hit you right, you might just think the movie was better. King with his brilliance and cleverness walks you through his world effortlessly, and at one instance it might also seem real.
I am making it a point to read every King’s work before I get strangled by a fire hose. This makes me truly sad thinking; how effed up King’s brain might be. He writes like he has been in that spot right there. He lives the character, with their insecurities wrapped around, entwined between two realities. This is a book you cannot miss reading. Also, a gentle reminder, sleepless nights and scary nightmares are common side effects. If you jolt awake sweating profusely at 3am with Danny haunting your dreams, the book did it’s job....more
The nameless one is returning once again to destroy the world. The world is divided into two, based on the heretics and religion they believe in, the The nameless one is returning once again to destroy the world. The world is divided into two, based on the heretics and religion they believe in, the East and the West. East and West must unite and find a way to work in unison. The wyrm haters must learn to work with water dragons of the East in order to battle the fire dragons and prevent a mass slaughter. With magic, violence, myth and war – this 800 page long book has something for everyone.
This is an amazing tale of politics, faith, love and dragons carried by great cast of complex and nuanced characters. It has broad diversity of characters in age, sexuality and race. There are some complex characters woven together in their misery, absolutely no cookie-cutter characters, everyone are trying to fit into the world bearing their flaws. Shannon introduced some very strong female protagonist to the fantasy world. My favorite being Ead and Tane. She showed that women can get tragic stories and deal with pain, it doesn’t have to be exploitative and they can still be empowered. Switching back and forth between the four characters perspective helped the book not feel as long as it actually is.
The story remains upbeat and optimistic even in the face of tragedy, striking a perfect balance between dark and light, love and hate. While the starting chapters were slow-paced, the ending was a breakneck and jarring. The author has left enough strands for a sequel and a lot of questions. I’d love to know the heresy of both the religion. I want the author to go back in time, a thousand years ago, and scout for the story of Cleolind. Every fantasy lover must indulge in a story with intricate plotlines, strong characters, different viewpoints of the world and of course the magical creatures – dragons and ichneumons....more
Get on a hop on hop off bus where the author takes you through this very beautiful, cultural and historical city of Mysore. Around 1500, a renowned AsGet on a hop on hop off bus where the author takes you through this very beautiful, cultural and historical city of Mysore. Around 1500, a renowned Astrophysicist Yagnabhatta designed a very powerful and compelling weapon called Gandabaerunda. The weapon has the power to create something beautiful or destroy human kind. The King Krishnadevaraya, the then ruler of Mysore, hid this enigmatic weapon in the city of Mysore, thereby protecting it from falling into wrong hands.
A very famous and knowledgeable archaeologist goes missing in pursuit of discovering this weapon. Indeed his son, Amar Bhardwaj is in the quest of finding his missing father and also the weapon. Amar, a Kannadiga Brahmin recognized himself as a self-claimed, naive archaeologist, is in love with a Telugite Naidu girl named Pooja. Amar and Pooja together try to solve the mystery involving the weapon and the predictable locations in order to find Amar’s father. The two stories, Amar and Pooja’s love story and finding Amar’s missing father runs parallelly. Amar and Pooja being in relationship for over 10 years now, wants to get married. But the difference in caste, status, culture hinders their relationship and they face quite a lot of obstacles involving both the families. Will Amar and Pooja get happily married? Did Amar succeed in his quest?
An amalgamation of mystery, history and romance. A well – researched book. The author’s writing style didn’t grab much of my attention. It is plain and simple. Easy to read. The romance was too cheesy and made me cringe sometimes. The story line is well built and executed. The plot is intriguing, it keeps you gripped until the very end. Talking about ending, I liked it, it was a happy ending. Living in Mysore for a while now, I know most of the places but hey don’t worry, if you’re not from Mysore, you will still follow and build the setting. Author has provided references wherever necessary, that makes it easy to just teleport to Mysore. The characters are quite relatable and the struggles involved in intercaste marriage is well described. Overall, the journey with this book was amazing and I got to know so much more about the city I live. Grab this book now....more
Earlier, when I was having a conversation with my friend. He asked me “What would you do, if tomorrow is the day you die?” Just like everyone, I was bEarlier, when I was having a conversation with my friend. He asked me “What would you do, if tomorrow is the day you die?” Just like everyone, I was baffled for a moment and replied straight away, “Maybe I will start living my life?” He then asked me, “Aren’t you living it right now?” I was held back for a few seconds and I came up with this theory of working for a project. Only when the deadline is certain, we roll up our sleeves and work towards it. Is it analogous to life also? How many times have we commenced with the idea of the so called “Bucket list” or “Things to do before turning so and so?” Have we not put Skydiving, Scuba diving into our list after being inspired by the ZNMD movie? But, this book questions the readers, “Is it really worth to spend your last couple of days diving or doing things from Bucket list? Do we not want to spend that little leisure time with family and friends?”. That is what this book is about.
The narrator, a young postman is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and commences his bucket list, it isn’t long before the devil appears in the form of a doppelganger. In contrast to our quiet narrator who wears simple basic clothes, the devil is an outgoing character called Aloha who wears a Hawaiian shirt. His bargain is suitably devilish, the postman can buy an extra day of life each time he allows the devil to make something disappear. The fiendish part of the bargain is that devil chooses. The first thing narrator chooses, for it to disappear is phones. As years go by, phones will cease to exist completely. Like pebbles on the roadside, they will start by going unnoticed, until they disappear completely. The disappearance of the phone was difficult for the character to bear. The next items are even harder. Not just for cat lovers, I recommend this book to everyone, to find meaning of their life and to know that it is okay to have regrets....more
The book is set in Ohio, during the years following the Great Depression. The author narrates the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola.The book is set in Ohio, during the years following the Great Depression. The author narrates the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola. She is consistently regarded as ugly. She fuels her desire for blue eyes so that she will be as beautiful and accepted as all the blond, blue-eyed American girls. The novel through flashbacks visits the younger years of Pecola's parents, Cholly and Pauline.
The book is extremely sad. There is no ray of hope or optimism found throughout the book. I liked the children's perspective of periods against the jarring reality. There was a lot of child molestation that made me super uncomfortable, though the explanation behind it was realistic. The ending part about loving wickedly and stupidly was interesting. Father impregnating his own daughter is something I found as an element in African Literature. I didn't like the fact that Claudia was supposed to be the main character but the story wavered more around Pecola's past and her vicinity. Morrison addressed and touched on many strong themes in this book. I am not pleased with this book. Maybe it wasn't for me. But I won't give up on her books either....more
How do I comprehend the story and put it in words without giving away any spoiler? This story is freaking amazing. It was more like walking through anHow do I comprehend the story and put it in words without giving away any spoiler? This story is freaking amazing. It was more like walking through an actual biography of a Hollywood actress. The glam and glitz Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is ready to narrate her malicious and scandalous life. She chooses an unknown reporter Monique Grant for this job. Nobody knows why. Monique is an aspiring writer; it is her only chance to enkindle her career. Are you ready to hear Evelyn’s story?
The book started on a slow note with Monique wondering How on earth THE EVELYN HUGO approached her. Her part didn’t grab my nerves at start. Once, Evelyn began unfolded her story, there was no looking back. The story shot high, picked up the speed and escalated exponentially. Every story about each of her husband was wrapped up in a delicate membrane of trust, love, incest, abuse and friendship.
I loved Evelyn’s narrative voice, it was crisp and transparent. Evelyn’s life was laid open like a deck to cards on a table. Fresh and ajar. She admits her ruthless ambitions, her over exposed publicity, her sexuality and that makes me absolutely adore her. Every character is amicable and friendly. Jenkins built a set of characters for every type of reader possible. The short brief and news entwined with her career was a cherry on top. I loved the way Jenkins took one scene of Hollywood’s scandalous life and snapped that into various snippets of subtle themes. Jenkins handled the story with utmost delicacy. It brought light on the 1950s era of American culture where homosexuality was never an option. There are some twists that I never saw them coming. After peacefully completing this book, it makes me ponder about the book title and what half truth lies behind it. This is one of the books that portrayed love in its purest form, be it heterosexuality, homosexuality, parents love or friends love. This book definitely lived up to its hype and all I was left with was a grin on my face....more
A beautiful fable of a lonely, unnamed boy who gets trapped in a labyrinth beneath a library. The captor, an old man wants the boy to memorize the conA beautiful fable of a lonely, unnamed boy who gets trapped in a labyrinth beneath a library. The captor, an old man wants the boy to memorize the contents of three thick books of Ottoman Empire Tax Collection, cover to cover. If not, the old man would eat his fact-filled brains because "brains packed with knowledge are yummy. They're nice and creamy. And sort of grainy at the same time." There are yet two more characters trapped in such a labyrinth. A sheepman who makes the best-fried doughnuts and a mysterious beautiful voiceless girl, who may or may not exist. As the boy bids farewell through the maze with the help of sheepman and the mysterious girl. He confronts the old man and a black dog. After back home, his mother oblivion to his disappearance and serves him hot breakfast. Then a tragedy strikes and he is left all alone again.
A scathing, withering story delivered hardly in a bundle of pages. It just appears as a series of dreams or nightmares or deja vu. Aren't we all trapped in a labyrinth of our own suffering just like the young boy? The old man like spiraling and wreathing our brain with noxious and whirlpool of thoughts that would someday crumble and perish our brain. Do we not wait for a Messiah as in a mysterious girl to unleash us and set us free from the predicament. But the boy is in no grave danger and that saves us from an eternity of muddling and juggling around. There cannot be a scowling character beneath a holy place like a library. The world could never be so grotesque....more
When reading a Murakami book, the inevitable question I always face is, "What's the book about?"
Where do I begin with? A boy who ran away from his homWhen reading a Murakami book, the inevitable question I always face is, "What's the book about?"
Where do I begin with? A boy who ran away from his home to a library? A man who loves his dead best friend's girlfriend? A young boy who gets trapped in the basement of a library? Or as in this, a man loves a woman, but who indeed is in love with a woman 17 years senior.
Asking me to describe the fondness for his books counterparts to why I love books? Because they make me happy and so does his books. I'm just gonna put out the blurb because I'm so bad at reviewing his books.
Sumire is in love with a woman seventeen years senior. But whereas Miu is glamorous and successful, Sumire is an aspiring writer. Sumire spends hours on the phone talking to her best friend K about the big questions in life. Meanwhile, K wonders whether he should confess his own unrequited love for Sumire. Then, a desperate Miu calls from a small Greek island, Sumire has mysteriously vanished like smoke.
Conclusions drawn from his books - a dude as a protagonist, he sorts of don't care, but also does. - a precocious teenage girl. - a sub-story of lesbian romance. - surreal settings and characters. - characters are all avid readers, they also got great taste in pop culture and jazz music. - a lot of bookstores and some strange library. - lots of cats and apparently also black dogs that make up for his metaphors. - existence of alternate realities, psychic powers, and weird sorts of mysticism. - the man aimlessly navigates through the vague mystical, melancholic existential journey alone. - the conversations leads to some great insights into real life. - scrutinizing what sexual desire is? - his books are read not for the plot, but for the dialogue, reading experience, and literary skill. - reading Murakami is like living a dream, even whitening of hair color overnight seems normal.
If you want to read something bizarre and utterly confusing, but weirdly satisfying, then you must go for his books. Sputnik sweetheart is the best one, to begin with, it's a bildungsroman of all sorts....more