Review : I don’t wear Sunscreen

Kavipriya, a fellow author sent her debut book to me yesterday for free. The word free is important because that is a depiction of Indian literary scene; the publishers are not doing enough to seek attention from audience. If I were Kavipriya’s publisher I won’t have let her send this book in its current shape to market. I would have worked with her to develop characters she chose to write about.

There are two major high points in Kavi’s Novel. One, her main character (MC) is a plump girl and two, she is exploring a friendship between two girls.  Today’s society is ridden with prejudice about weight loss or unshaped women. So much so even writers are obsessed writing about women who are in good curves. Kavi gets full marks for choosing a character but she has left a lot unexplored. The obese teens (16-21) have difficult time with people, the eating habits and playing habits are constantly under watch or scrutiny.  The obesity has been directly linked to emotional burst and other issues. The reason character falls for Sai, a man of loose morale is also somewhere linked to her confidence and appearance.

Since the novel also explores about friendship between girls, Kavi should have explored two POVs for the work. While the Novel is mostly written from Laksha’s POV, a lot is left unsaid from Pallavi’s POV which is rather unfair to the other character. When other characters have a story to tell about a dead elder brother, family in debt, and is living in Coimbatore with relatives who are not so accommodating, and earning money, there is a lot she could do with the character.

Now, coming to male characters in the book, Sai. I have a strong objection to labeling a character as misogamist. One should prove it before labeling them. The author has failed here. There is no Justice to character of Saurav & Priyanka .

About Laksha’s mother, I would rather not talk about a rape victim. It’s a death to her soul. Clearly, Kavi is too young and naïve to talk about it.

Kavi told a story which will highly engage today’s teens. She uses simple English stays consistent throughout the book.  If I were her I’d further reduce no. of pages and make it affordable to buy.  I would have priced the book between 100-120 bucks. I would have sold more downloads on Kindle.

I hope she grows further in her next book without hurrying with characters. Take your time Kavi, the readers love a good book.

3 out 5

To Write or Not to Write

Yesterday, I found a seat within first two stops of boarding the bus.  The bus was so crowded that the probability of finding a seat early was almost in 2-3 decimals i.e, 0.02 or .01 but it turned out to be my lucky day; in addition to finding an early seat soothing music was also played on the bus. It's an apt start to a working day. As I settled, my thoughts slowly drifted to the conversation with a friend I had a few days ago. I told her,

"I won't be writing a book anymore, probably that's not something I want to do now,"  the reasons were numerous including people might call my book dud, something I am not ready to digest. The concept is there, but to take it forward is one problem, Grammar is another problem and it's been more than a year since I begun writing it here and there.

Then a thought occurred to me, what if I finish the book two/three years down the line. Well, It would be a great achievement. Well, will I publish? Umm no, Maybe I will send it to friends and then the kite began to fly.

Yeah, Maybe I will publish it. Maybe the book will be so good that I will have offers from eons of publishing houses. It would be an instant hit. Suddenly my self-conscience shook me, the little girl on my shoulder said,

"Isn't your kite flying too high. I told her, of course not. It's just a beginning," She also tried to reason me with a Panchtantra story of a brahmin, who broke his milk pot in sleep while dreaming about how he would change his life from that single pot by selling milk from that, then buying one goat, two goats & so forth. I told her,

"Chill, there is no pot around. Let me fly this kite."

So, the book would become an instant hit, a bestseller even. Both  Karan Johar & Anurag Kashyap would want to work with me. I could also foresee a Hollywood studio buying rights for my book. Money! How much money will I get? Oh be it, it will come. Wait, what if copyrights are bought by publishing house, oh my content would be their property. Here  I made a mental note to self on finding out how these publishing house writer relationship worked . Especially financial aspect of the same.  Sachin would invite me for a dinner with him & discuss the book. I can also be the honorary guest on KBC, and yes Mr. Bachchan would host it. And then the  conductor shouted,

"Virvani, Oberoi, Dindoshi,"  I had arrived at my stop.

In few minutes, office.I was standing in front of the large gate of my office. The grind must start and the kite must stop flying. I was back working on SAP, excel & some Marketing work too.The day was quite exhausting. Towards the end of the day, I received this article. IIt'san interview with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon & the cast -crew of the Good Will  Hunting . Its mainly about Matt & Ben's journey in getting a movie made which they wrote & wanted to act in it. It was their dream.


It took 4 years to write that story & 4 years to get it made. Also, when the story was up in the market there was a bidding war for the same. Finally, they sold it to Creative studios for a handsome amount. But they hardly knew, their journey had just begun.So in real life, it takes little longer to fly a kite in the sky.

 Their journey to find someone would produce it, some guy who would direct and other characters for the movie who would want to act in it. They had their share of challenges.Then the making the movie itself. The logistic & commercial aspect. Matt & Ben literally cried when the movie went on the floor. The movie was one of the highest grosser, had academy award nominations. Had it not been Titanic in that year, they would have swept more awards. I was in awe of both the guys. It had me thinking maybe its not a bad idea to write a book.

I still had some more time left and after reading few posts, I read this.  A movie/docu recco from the moifight club , a blog on films. The story was of a construction worker who cuts an album, which sold only six copies in whole America and then he went back to his life of obscurity. However, in  South Africa, his music starts getting a cult following. The word goes around that he is dead, some fans decide to find out what happened to him. Interesting . Another possible result for a good book.

The day had ended. Sun took an early day off due to winter & the darkness was coming on its whole. In the washroom, I looked into the mirror and I wondered where my journey would end; in obscurity or in fame. An answer I am not ready for, yet.  To Write or Not to Write remained the question, yet again.

Agatha Christie Novels

The past  three weeks of New year had been little less happening. Exams in first and second week and an unrepaired mobile didn't offer much of exciting things . Reading is always a good escapade :) to beat routine .As I said in my earlier post that I was to read "A monk who sold his Ferrari" ,  and I did go to one of the leading bookstore to buy it . However the book was out of stock (Not my fault:)).The shop had some kinda sale, it was also end of the year . The people had literally brought down the whole shop. In that mess I saw offers on Agatha Christie novels .  Excitedly picked up 6 Christie novels and consoled myself to buy 3 only (concept of frugal spending :P) . One of them  was fiction which she wrote under the pen name Mary Westmacott and other two were Poirot series .

Its said that her fiction is not as good as crime novels. I seem to disagree . Her fiction novel equally offer wonderful reading as much a crime novel would. I read "A daughter's a daughter " which explored relationship of a mother and daughter . It was quite a page turner and made me to introspect my relationship with my mother . We grown up daughters seem think we know where her interest would lie (which sometimes may not be true at all ) .

The Murder on Orient Express and Hickory Dickory Dock , both made an amazing read in past one week. Poirot , who solved cases by utter logic and study of available evidence ,  was incredible. I may have known who was the murderer in both novels, however never could guess or reason  the motive . These two novels and also the previous one  which I have read did inspire bollywood. I could faintly recollect the scene's of movies of the 1960's era while reading.

Also now reading her first Poirot book "Mysterious affairs at Styles . One of the point Poirot makes it , even the innocent will destroy the eveidence if it incriminates him or her . :) Quite amusing .


PS : I would surely read A monk who sold his ferrari . After all its search led me to my favorite writer :) .

The Monk Who Sold The Ferrari

How many times does it happens , that a friend highly recommends a book and tells you to buy the book. It happens , its normal. We often go and buy such books , what if recomended book is not what you would want to read .  Something like that did happen to me .I told my friend , will check about it .She was persistent, told me , you must buy it ASAP , its very good . I said, yeah sure. Then a follow up call came , Did you buy the book?  I said , not yet . Then the friend asked  whats stopping you ? go go , buy the book . And yes the friend is dearest to me ,  I promised that I would surely buy the book. 

Thats what happens to people (In this case my friend )  when they read "The Monk who sold the Ferrari "  by Robin Sharma.

I was with my friend when she had bought the book . She has been buying self help books for an year now . I am one of those people who discourage people from buyig "self help/management" books. I think investing in self help books as one of the most boring ideas. I find self help/management  books uninteresting , not a page turner sorts etc . However  these books could give very good insights on varied subjects. I am aware of people , who say books like Alchemist and who moved my cheese have changes their perspective of life . Too heavy to digest . It isn't that I haven't read  any self help books. I have read two books and both had been good..

When I read Rich Dad Poor Dad which encourages you to make investments , I painfully became aware of  the fact I actually have a zero saving till date and since then I  have been seriously working on my savings ; well almost . I have also read "How To Lose Your Weight " by a dietitian Rujuta Divekar the book make not you lose weight , however it gives good insights to curb craving habits , eat when you are hungry and train your stomach. It also advises to read the calorific value and the % of fat while eating/choosing packaged food . I was atnoished to find out one of the leading brands of digestive biscuits which claim to be good  for health and fitness contain 25 % of saturated fat .

However I have failed to complete both the books . After a point I  found Rich Dad Poor Dad complicated and the second one started to bore me.

I do have an option of not buying the book . However , as I mentioned , she is dearest to me so I should respect her view and would not want to disappoint her . Her "persistance" has also generated a certain  amusement to me.

With these mixed feeling I am would buy "The Monk Who Sold The Ferrari " by Robin Sharma , read it and let the world know if this  book is any good..... :) :) ( The way my friend has marketed to buy book , it ought to be good :) ) .

Vanita :)

The Life of Pi ....Contd..

Finally here comes the adventure, Our protagonist "Pi"  has been struck with a tragedy in Pacific ocean. He has lost his family in ship wreck while traveling to Canada in Pacific ." Pi "  has company of tiger , hyena,orangutan and a zebra with broken leg on lifeboat . It also happens , the circumstances have brought these animals & Pi together .
This is being real.... Hyena has ate up zebra &  orangutan . Its only two days later , thirsty  & hungry Pi realises there is a  Tiger overboard.  Two wild animals & Pi on a boat with no ship or a land in vicinity.... The boat carries  everything with respect to disaster management , drinking water , food which would last for days .  He is a teenage boy , the  tiger weighs 450 pounds ..... The greedy hyena has been ate up by tiger .....who put a very pathetic self defense (raising a paw and hiding the face in ground ).....Will Pi survive with a Tiger overboard ?

Well Pi does , as the book has been written on him . How , I guess from here the reader needs to find out himself . I ought to write , this is a real life story of "Piscine Montreal Patel" :).....

The Life of Pi

Starting today I am gonna write about books I read .The posts would be what i think about the book, why am I reading it , will I finish it and hows the book....

Currently am reading "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel . The book  has been written very well . The book is winner of Man Booker 2002 . The credential is enough to buy a book. However a friend of mine lend me this book. According to her the book was uninteresting ,abstract....and nothing much to connect . The book claims to be an adventure story . She asked me to read and hence the book fell in my hands ......

I have read just little above 10% of  book. I immensely like it , I like the author's view on religion . I may not fully agree with his point why  a zoo is a better place for a "wild animal" , however it seems he has done a thorough research on the subject  . The book is slight opinionated , I feel its a big plus for a reader . Since its opinionated , the reader either agrees or disagrees with views and it compels to read further. I am yet to come across adventure in the book and I don't seem to mind it ... :) :)

The literature content is also good. I like it . The  author's note is also very good , infact it had encouraged me to read the book. Though I have never heard "bamboozle" in India , its seems its the most common word known among froreigners..... :)

All in all a thumbs up to this book .......

Vanita.....