These series mean a lot to me and I am extremely proud to say I’ve traveled the journey as a reader and well wisher with Ashok and a few more Epic Indians and I’ve literally seen these books come to life. I’m also extremely humbled that I was acknowledged by Ashok in the books, along with other Epic Indians!

The hardcover editions are slightly different from the earlier paper back editions and is definitely more refined and ‘Indianised’ (for want of a better word!). There are a lot more phrases and sentences in Indian languages and some scenes have been slightly modified from the earlier paper-back editions. Expect detailed reviews of the three hardcover books as and when I’m done with them. And if you haven’t already, go and read the series – trust me they are worth the read!

The book itself was a nice light read and was good time pass. The book does talk of a rather serious issue of how children are forced into being someone they aren’t. It is very common here in India to see most students under enormous parental pressure. Parents force the children to take up various classes and never let the children decide their own future and course of life. Courses, colleges, friends, and even spouses are choosen by parents – because (supposedly) parents know best – and parents are only doing it for the child’s welfare – blah blah crap. I think parents should let their children just be themselves and make their own decisions.

And parents should stop comparing their children with others. I hear it so often (even now) – “oh you got 70%?”, “How much did so-and-so get?”, “If he can then why can’t you?”, etc! I hate being compared to anybody else and I don’t live my life based on what others are doing.

Hmmm a little digression there, but back to the book – some of the incidents described in the book can now be compared with Kaavya’s own life – especially the part about getting caught and being embarrased in front of school friends. Opal Mehta goes through a lot in the book and ultimately realises that she needn’t try to imitate anyone or be something that she is not. Just chill and be yourself! I guess that now applies to Kaavya herself! She probably needs to look beyond this disaster and move on and user her talent to continue writing.

I am currently re-re-reading Demons of Chitrakut by Ashok K Banker and wanted to post this review of the same. Well I actually read Ashok’s Ramayana series over and over again, sometimes just a few chapters here and there or some incident or some interesting story of some character…because the books are really good and are so different from other re-tellings of the Ramayana and one would have never read the Ramayana in this style ever before and ofcourse the Ramayana itself is such a timeless and wonderful epic.

Like the previous two books, this one does not fail to hold you captive! Infact for once being held captive is a nice idea. You just don’t want this book to get over!

This 3rd book resumes immediately where Siege of Mithila left us…at the very exciting attack of the demons. The book goes on to describe Rama’s wedding with Sita and the interaction between Rama and Parashurama (one of my favourites).

This is the book in which Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are sent into exile thanks to the manipulated Kaikeyi’s demands of the two boons that were promised to her by Dasaratha. Manthara’s evil ways are finally revealed and she is banished from the Kingdom. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana go to Dandaka-van and a broken hearted Maharaja Dasaratha passes away with Rama’s name on his lips. We then read about Rama’s adventures in the forests with Guha, chief of the hunters and his meeting with Sabari, the tribal woman. It is after her that the Ayyappa temple hill is named Sabarimala in Kerala, and incidently after which I am named!

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana finally settle down at the beautiful and calm Chitrakut hill for their long fourteen year exile, but its not all peace and quiet…

Ashok takes the liberty of adding scenes and incidents to his re-telling (for that is what it is – a re-telling and not a translation), and he does so in a way that supports the central story and he manages to add a lot of background details and descriptions that literally let the reader experience the Ramayana, in Ashok’s own special, wonderful way.

It really sets the mood for further books of the series and is one of my favourite books in the series. A very action packed book with lots of interesting incidents and a definite must read and must have book.

My trip to Noida is not yet confirmed and might take another week or so to get confirmed. So me still in Bangalore!

I recently read John Banville’s ‘The Sea’, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. His prose style is simply awesome to read. Quite different from most books I’ve read. His writing transports you to some sort of “musical” – it just fills your mind and all your senses and holds you captive. Very nice.

The good thing about office is once I’m home I’m jobless and totally free! No home work to do, no assignments to complete, nothing. This is so unlike school/college, where there is always some work or the other to do and deadlines to keep.

Anyway back to the office situation – now I suddenly have all this free time in the evenings and weekends and so to use up this time, I now indulge (big time) in some of the many forms of entertainment available, mainly – movies, music, books and friends.

I was never completely into movies earlier and used to watch around one or two (max) movies a week. I hardly watch TV and prefer spending my time with my girl friend ( my computer! ;~) ). When I was in school I used to read a lot of books. The frequency dropped while in college, but never stopped.

My parents always complain that I have too many friends and this is true to an extent, but I am not complaining!! I have so many groups of friends that sometimes it gets hard to cope with all of them properly, but its a lot of fun. I like to make friends and though I am slightly reserved initially, once enough time passes, I come out of the shell and my friends will remain so for life. I still keep in touch and regularly meet with my 1st standard school friend!

Anyway, over the past 2 – 3 weeks, I watched more movies and read more books (ofcourse some of these movies/books I’ve watched/read earlier also) and went out to meet my friends more than I used to do over a full semester or two in college!

Some of the movies that I watched are -

English:

• Equilibrium – Good to see once.
• Pulp Fiction – Awesome movie!
• Philadelphia – Nice movie and nice acting
• Reservoir Dogs – I love Quenton Tarantino
• Shawshank Redemption – Beautiful movie!
• The Usual Suspects – Great ending!
• Transporter2 – Ok
• Sahara – Ok
• Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Not as good as the book. Not even close.
• Batman Begins – Wokay
• The School of Rock – Rocking movie!
• Good Morning, Vietnam

Tamil:

• Anniyan – Great acting by Vikram – one of my favourite actors
• Manmathan – Nice story with a twist!

Hindi:

• Paheli – How the hell did this get nominated for the Oscars???
• Bunty Aur Bubli – Fun Fun Fun!
• Chocolate – Copy of The Usual Suspects – but not half as good
• Iqbal – Nice movie

Some of the books that I read are -

• The Mahabharata by Chakravarthi Narasimha – Came highly recommended and was a great read, especially to understand the main story of the epic, without any distractions.
• Ka by Roberto Calasso
• Valmiki Ramayana by Arshia Suttar – One of the best translations of the original Valmiki Ramayana.
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling -Time pass.
• Prince of Ayodhya by Ashok K Banker – Awesome! Read my review in an earlier post.
• Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – Need I say anything?!
• Siege of Mithila by Ashok K Banker – Roller coaster ride with the Princes and the Seer!
• The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum
• Demons of Chitrakut by Ashok K Banker – Fascinating! Watch out for my review.

As far as I remember, I’ve managed to put down all the movies/books, but I am pretty sure I have missed out on a few items that I could have added to the above lists. Anyway it was incredible fun ‘living’ the above lists!

As I write this blog post, I’ve already made plans for another movie – Hanuman! I will be going to watch this movie with a friend this evening!

Life as a professional is good!

Blogging after a long time. Still at office – now on a break from our training.

Nothing much happening to blog about.

Life is now very monotonous. I am at work Monday to Saturday 9AM to 9PM.
Sundays are spent doing various odd-jobs. Catching up with friends and the pending activities.

The weeks are just whizzing past…

I am re-reading Armies of Hanuman by Ashok Banker now. It is book 4 in the Ramayana series. The book is great and the story resumes 13 years into the exile of Rama and Sita. There are more interesting battle scenes, which Ashok is so good at writing (I just can’t wait for the big battle of Lanka). The book soon reaches the point where Sita is kidnapped by Ravana in disguise, while Rama is chasing the golden deer, and Lakshman leaves Sita to look for Rama. The love between Rama and Sita has been portrayed very beautifully by Ashok and Rama’s angst and distress at the loss of Sita has also been dealt with properly. Finally one of the most loved characters of the Ramayana – Hanuman – makes an entry into the story. Ashok has described in detail and in a very touching manner the interactions between Rama and Hanuman. The book goes on to describe how Rama helps the Vanar Sena and they agree to help Rama get back Sita.

On the whole a great book. If you still havent read the Ramayana Series by Ashok K Banker, then I suggest you do so immediately! Check out the author’s website at: www.epicindia.com for more details. And did I mention that Ashok has acknowledged me in the Armies of Hanuman?! Thanks Ashok for the honour!

Yup it’s that time of the semester when life comes to a standstill…the semester exams…2 weeks of hell and reading a lot of crap that will hardly, if ever, be useful to anybody anytime. Considering how outdated most of what we learn is. By the time the syllabus is updated the technology is outdated.

hmm…leaving that aside – I just finished reading the book Vertigo by Ashok K Banker today. I got a personally autographed copy of the book, yesterday, from Ashok K Banker himself! A great writer and human being and one of my favourite authors now. He has an awesome way with words and his books are really well worth a read (or two or even three!).
Coming back to Vertigo – it’s a story of a guy trying to survive in Bombay. The book takes you through his life of dealing with his alcoholic mother, his (very demanding) girl friend, his job, money, etc… A very intense novel and definitely ‘unputdownable’ like all of Ashok’s works. In fact I finished the book in two sittings inspite of having a final exam tomorrow!

I first came to know of Ashok’s writing when I read an interview of his in one of the magazines about his plan to retell the great epic Ramayana (one of my favourite epics!) in a 7-book series. It is supposed to be the first ever re-telling of the Ramayana in English ever!This caught my attention and soon enough I got my hands on book one of the Ramayana – Prince of Ayodhya.

Rama. Thus began one of the best works I have ever read. Ashok’s retelling was very well written and does a lot of justice to the original epic. Ashok transports us literally to the world of Rama and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the remaining books of the series! And there is more good news – he is also planning to retell the Mahabharatha! It doesnt get any bigger and better than that!

Well I doubt if even Lord Rama can come to my rescue if I don’t log off now and start preparing for tomorrows’ exam!