Sense & Nonsensibility

Usually I write about how the book, but this time Im going to talk about the author. Tracy Kidder is a literary genius..I kid you not…I realize I may have sounded like one of those people who throw the amazing and fabulous and other such superlatives around…but Tracy Kidder is truly an incredible genius. It was after reading ‘Mountains beyond Mountains’ and ‘ Strength in what Remains’ that I realize the powerful role that a writer plays in a book. Usually the author is the God of the book- he knows what has happened, what will happen and what twist of plot awaits for us. The writer is always in full control of the how the book will unfold and end… I know this makes sense for fiction , but even for non fiction, the author always has a point to prove and he proves it. Tracy Kidder on the other hand is always a part of the book, he never makes himself or his interactions with the subjects larger than life. Infact by making himself insignificant, he shows his magnanimity. He allows us ...

I hope you guys enjoyed my last post...here is my second part of the awards....hope you enjoy this... 10) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot This is one of the coolest books I have ever read. I know my mom doesn’t approve words like coolest to describe anything except something that came out of her fridge, but this book..this book…. It was such a personal human account of something that could be so dreary if just written about. It made the science more human and a human story we could all connect with. This account made me want to have an alternate career as a science writer. I’ll probably write a post about the book, stay tuned. 9) Palace if Illusions by Chitra Divakaruni I have gone on and on about the Palace of illusions. Here is my  post 8) Hotel/ Airport by Arthur Hailey Arthur Hailey might be one of my absolute favorite authors of all time.  he wrote some of great classics like Hotel and Airport. Personally I love Hotel more t...

Dear Dreamers, I just realized it was July!! And I hadn’t posted for more than a month! Time is not just flying by, it’s a supersonic jet whizzing by. And while I still do do my absolute favorite thing in the world, I haven’t come across any earth shattering books in recent times. So here is a list of my favorite books!! Just in case your looking for some good reads 20) Tara Road -  Maeve Binchy Maeve Binchy was my favorite writer in my late teens, and Tara Road, one of my favorite books. She gave me a taste of Dublin and other parts of Ireland while being firmly rooted in Mumbai. She also made me want to learn about the cultures and lifestyles of people of this world without being too preachy about it. Other favs from this author- Cooper Beech , Circle of Friends. 19) Sister of my Heart- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni This book is an emotional tale of two sisters who grew up together and have their lives twisted in a way only women are capable of twisting. Thi...

Dear Dreamers, When was the last time you got drenched in the rain? Not when you were shuttling to work and back, afraid that your hair, your clothes or your shoes might get wet. I cant remember the last time I didn’t huddle through the dampness of a rainy day. No, today I enjoyed the feeling. Today I turned to the clouds and watched the big raindrops fall on my face, seep through me. And it brings back memories. Memories of the my dad driving through the winding roads of Goa, as ginormous raindrops engulf us , my aunts, mom and sister squished at the back, Memories of raindrops on the luscious green leaves and green mountains and valleys at the back, and the memories of the sweet sweet smell of wet soil rising up and bringing with it the promise of the rain on the tortured hot ground. We don’t do this often enough, let the rain wash over us. We get tied down by our commitments, our desire to get the next shiny object. And so we forget .. Sometime...

It all began five days ago, half of us hunkered to work, grumbling slightly, dealing with our Monday blues, the other half of us, jumped up at the crack of dawn, pulled on our running shorts, and hit the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon held on Patriot’s Day every year is the oldest annual marathon in the whole world. To marathoners everywhere, the Boston Marathon is a sign of strength, regularity and endurance, for Bostonians, the marathon is a sign of hope, turn of change, that spring is around the corner, a sign of new beginnings and a new season of Red Sox games. For everybody with the day off, it’s a day to watch the marathon in Boston’s Copley area, a day to laze around, a day to possibly go on a bike ride and do spring cleaning. Monday: Day 1 I woke up, like any usual Monday, stayed in bed till the last possible moment, got ready to work, and then it hit me smack in the head that the MBTA was running on a weekend schedule due to Patriots Day. Wow what a sta...

Dear Snow God or To Whomsoever it may concern, I think we need to talk. Im writing this after giving this a lot of thought, and I think we need to take a break. When we started out earlier this season in November, it was beautiful. Our time came in short sprinkling doses, and we were excited about spending time with each other. You know how it is when a new relationship begins. Typically couples tend to grow apart, but in our case I think we spent a little too much time together. That’s when things started going downhill for me.  We have spent a lot, a LOT of time together. I think we have had 10 stormy encounters in a few short months, and while it was exciting at first, I think frankly we people kind are running out of names. I think the only way to give this a shot, is if next year you are in this part of town, then pay me a visit, we can spend an evening together, maybe. I don’t know yet, I need some time away from you.  I think maybe have a few rebounds w...

Dear Dreamers, A couple of days ago, I watched Butter. And I loved it! If you know me, you have probably heard me say that it doesn’t take a lot for me to like a movie, as long as it’s a motion picture I am in…But sometimes, you get surprised, pleasantly surprised, when a movie you thought to be a fairly average, turns out to be a real nice one. Butter, takes you by surprise like that- it has all the sensitivities in a nice little package. It’s a story of passion to excel, ambition, greed, revenge and hope about butter sculpting!!! Ha! I mean COME ON! Did you see that coming? They say gymnastics is competitive, wait till you see butter sculpting!! I mean there are people with ambition and greed and hope that butter sculpting will take them where they want to go. There are others who have had a long struggle of a life, and the sculptor competition is their way to a better life. And yet this movie is funny and genuine and it draws you in.  It’s the same story isn’t...

Dear Dreamers! Wish you all a happy New Year! I know Im about a month late ( exactly) but I spent the last 3 weeks at home in India. They were delightful and fun and short 3 weeks. But now Im back to start a brand new year with brand new resolutions. But more importantly , a brand new observation. Chemistry. Relationships between people, any two people can be described by chemistry, right? Any two human beings have chemistry which in reality is the culmination of our history, biology and geography. I feel like its this chemistry, that is the definition of our love, hate, friendship and jealousy. Some bonds are volatile and opposite in charge, while others are covalent and strong. Get where im going with this? And I know people talk about chemistry between a couple, but the fact is, everything we have runs on chemistry, right? ( Boy I wish I had figured it out in school, I would have paid much more attention to the org chem class) Do you know when I realized this? I w...