Interpreter Of Maladies By Jhumpa Lahiri

This book has won Pulitzer prize for Fiction in 2000 & after reading this book it wasnt a big mystery for me why.Definitely,an elegeant collection of short stories has been composed by Ms. Jhumpa.The way she has picturised the silhouette of the characters in the stories along with the situation or problems they are facing.The tntire repertoire is a masterpiece with sories woven beautifully around the characters.Jhumpa definitely deserves accolades for her outstanding work.Despite of interpreter of maladies being her first published novel,jhumpa has shown enviable eloquence.The stories revolve around the lives of Indians in exile,of people navigating between the strict traditions they have inherited & the baffling new world they must encounter every day.Each & every story has been crafted with great wile,spiced up with humour & subtle details.Abstruse emotions of characters have been envisaged with great care & concern.Jhumpa’s scintillating proses have a mesmerising effect on the reader.Jhumpa’s selection of topics is exemplary which is clear.y visible in all the nine stories.Mingling of expected with the unexpected is her way of doing things.Beguiled by the placidity you are not quite prepared for the sudden jerks,which almost sweep you into drowning.Though,I liked all the nine stories equally but my favourite ones are – Interpreter Of maladies,story of a midwestern woman who discloses her extramarital affair to an interpreter;A Real Durwan,shows how people change with time & definitely,the third & final continent,the story of a father who encourages his son to go abroad to find his own land.Overall,the book is a must read for the fans of short stories who crave for sweet,little stories.

How Buffet Does It By james Pardoe

24 Simple Investing Strategies From The world’s Greatest Value Investor

This book encompasses a truly inspiring story of a boy who inherited nothing from his father,knew nothing of stock market’s trends,is tehnologically illiterate & is presiding over one of the most famous investment organisations Berkshire Hathaway & is currently worth more than $40 Billion.
I read this book during the time when Indian stock market index i.e. sensex was plummetting from  near 20728 on Jan 11 to 12962 on July 1.So,I could actually put Buffet’s strategies at places & the problem was as clear as crystal.
His principles & srategies,of which Buffet swears,are –
1. Choose Simplicity over Complexity
2. Make your own investment decisions
3. Maintain Proper Temperament
4. Be Patient – think in years not in days
5. Get into the right business rather than running after good stocks
6. Look for companies that have high walls & deep moats around them.
7. Aim to own no more than 10 stocks at a time
8. Practice inactivity not hyperactivity
9. Dont be bothered for daily or monthly or even yearly fluctuations
10. View market downturn as buying opportunities-Always search for value
11. Dont swing at every pitch
12. Buy low tech not high tech
13. Ignore the visible focus on invisible
14. Take a close look at the management
15. Remember the emperor wears no clothes on wall street
16. Practice independent thinking
17. Develop a zone of expertise & operate within that zone only
18. Ignore stock market forecasts
19. Always remember “Mr. Market” & “Margin Theory” concept
20. Be fearful when others are greedy & greedy when others are fearful
21. Read,read some more & then think
22. Emulate your ideal & disdain ones you dislike
23. Avoid the costly mistakes of others
24. Become A Sound Investor
That’s in all what Buffet says & practices.Rest its all one’s intellect  & ingenious which actually make a difference.
Buffet is truly impressed by Benjamin Graham’s strategies & is a student & a devoted disciple of his.Mr Market refers to a person who reacts to the situation very quickly & is ready to buy or sell shares in an instant.Margin of safety means thst the price of stock is considerably lower than the value of the business.

The Namesake By Jhumpa Lahiri

The entire story of the novel becomes very clear,the moment you read the title-“The Namesake” whose dictionary meaning is “A person with the same name as another”.The story is about a boy,born in the house of a bengali immigrant couple-Ashoke & Ashima Ganguli who have migrated to Massachusetts from Calcutta.The boy is named Gogol,after a Russian author Nikolai Gogol with whom his father has an intrinsic relationdhip because of a train accident.The name meant to be his nick name becomes his good name because of a small mistake of Gogol.Gogol,later changes his name & becomes Nikhil,as he hates his absurd,nonsensical name.Gogol aka Nikhil has a younger sister Sonia & is an architect.The story revolves around Nikhil & his life,his relationships,his dreams,his desires with little stress on lives of Ashoke,who in the meanwhile passes away or Ashima or Sonia.Nikhil is an exact example of Yankee Indians who despite of taking birth in a foreign country,treated as an alien,are somehow still connected with the age old traditions of India & are still unable to cope up with the quixotic living style of Americans.Ms. Jhumpa Lahiri,a renowned raconteur visits the private limited spaces of bengali immigrants in America(Lahiri’s world) where the state of exile is a cultural as well as an emotional denial,floating in an anonymous island,displaced & dour,& her empathy is as transparent as her words.
Though,Nikhil gets into relationships,infact intimate relationships with three girls viz Ruth,Maxine & finally settling down with Moushumi.All relationships,howsoever intimate they were,ended in a breakup all for the good.Till the end Nikhil finds himelf clueless about what his life is going to be with his mother going back to India,sister marrying his long time partner Bill & he still a vagabond.The story is about rediscovering your roots,& the accidents of the universe that caused you to be.And that’s somoething all of us can identify with.
Jhumpa hass wriiten a simple story presented in a lucid & exotic manner.The precise timing of the occurrence of events have made this novel all the more beter & definitely a must-read.Jhuma’s open sensuality & hidden complexity make this novel all the more whetted.Her eleganne,unretrained attitude & poise when combined with her unsurpassable rhetoric make a refreshing combination.

Lastly,In The Words Of Nikolai Gogol,”The Overcoat” –
“The reader should realize himself that it could not have happened otherwise,& that to give him any other name was quite out of the question.”

“It’s Not About The Bike” & “Every Second Counts” By Lance Armstrong

One of my favorite authors is definitely Lance,not becouse of his rhetoric but beacause of his straightforwardness.He hasnt given any damn concern to who’s who before criticising him.In both his novels,he hasn’s spared anybody & has not made any consideration before speaking out his real thoughts.Whatever was actually going on in his mind during the time is visible to the reader immediately.His reactions are not only very natural but any normal human being would have reacted in the same manner.He has accepted his victories with grace but its his style of accepting  his shortcomings,defeats which showcases his modus vivendi,his belief in carpe diem.His dependency over his friends is something which connects with me the most.In his time of crisis,he was never deserted by his friends & when it was his turn he never let his friends go down.The person in a very short span has seen what needs an entire lifetime to be seen.From what seemed to be the peak of his career to cancer then again out of the blue reaching the zenith of success with his determination & hardwork.The person had a very turbulent life starting right away from his childhood,his mother married 3 times but still he has nobody to call Papa,but it was his mother,Linda Armstrong,who actually turned his all odds into evens.Her influence over his life can’t be negotiated.As a matter of fact,he is the only racer among the five racers all over the world,who has a cancer history & has won Tour de France 5 times.His life was never easy & he never tried to make it easy.After his own divorce,Lance is currentlly spending his time along with his children & his dream foundation – Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer patients.Honestly speaking,I completed both his novles in just 2 days & it was not only touching but also a thrilling experience.I really want Lance to write more but I wish he never feels the same.Goodluck To Lance!!!!!!!!

The Inheritance Of Loss By Kiran Desai

Definitely the book deserved what it get i.e. The Man Booker Prize 2006.Ms. Desai has given s very detailed description of the situation prevailing during the 1980s.Written upon the background of Nepalese insurgency to claim a Gorkhaland,similar to that of Khalistan,story has been beautifully woven around its characters-
Justice Jemubhai Patel,a retired judge who went to U.S. for getting into I.C.S. returned as a totally different person from what he used to be,typically westernized or rather trying to be westernize,disliked India & Indians,,disgusted his wife Nimi,when she was pregnant,for the sake of his fake manners & etiqueettes.His experiences had made him phlegmatic devoid of any single humane pleasure but just a martinet for whom nobody else but he is important.He tries to move away from his past but his memories keep on hunching back.
Sai,Justice Jemubhai Patel’s maternal grand daughter who was forced to join her grandfather in  Cho Oyu in his solitude because of the unfortunate demise of both her parents.She was accompanied by her friend,Lola,a widow,her sister Noni,a spinster,Uncle Potty,a drunkard & Father Booty.Later as the story moves on comes in her life her Hero,Gyan,as her mathematics tutor & later her lover.
The Cook,who remained  unnamed throughout the story is the one who is waiting for nothing else but his only son,Biju,who has gone to America to earn money.
Closely & charmingly has the writer interwoven the story around these 3 character shifting focus from one to another describing each’s pains,sorrows,moment of joy,guilt etc.The judge regrets for illtreating his wife,Nimi,the cook is waiting for his only son,in the mean while,is showering his love on Sai.Sai falls into love with a poor GLNF supporter who deserted her for his due cause of free Gorkhaland for Gorkhas,wants him back.Lola & Noni are facing problems like their beautiful cottage,Mon Ami,annexed by insurgents.Father Booty facing an immigration problem as being a swiss resident,he was asked to move back to his native country after spending 45 years in Kalimpong running his dairy.
Thus,each & everybody is busy & engaged in their own adversaries but at the same time they are deeply involved in other’s lives also playing a crucial role.The novel is at times comical & at times it is contemplative.Her Dark Humor,description of the laughter of the dispossessed are fiercely funny.The novel is undoubtedly extraordinary,astonishingly observant & inventive.Author has written about the postcolonial India,of in poor as well as its privileged,with a cold eye & a warm heart.The novel is definitely an abstruse,mature & a first-rate read.

one night @ the call center By Chetan Bhagat

After reading five point someone, I was actually looking forward to read this another bestseller by  the same author & to be honest this piece is as good as its forerunner.

The story is about 6 people,3 guys & 3 girls,each facing a different problem.One night they receive a call from God & their life changes. What are their problems & how did the call from the God solved them is all clearly & beautifully narrated by the author from the point of view of Shyam.

Six people are –

• Vroom, troubled by his parents divorce & unsatisfied by his job.
• Shyam ,facing a break up & craving for promotion
• Esha ,Modelling aspirant,facing a guilt of sleeping with a man for the sake of a modeling aspirant
• Priyanka ,Shyam’s Girlfriend, Distraughted by always pulling mom,confused about her marriage
• Military Uncle ,Abandoned By his only son & daughter-in-law, wants to go back to them
• Radhika ,cheated by her husband & forced to cope up with tantrum throwing in-laws
• Shefali ,though not mentioned as a key character is shyam’s present not-so-serious girlfriend

The story is about their struggle with their lives.How they cope up with their daily routine problems & come to work at a call center, Connexions in Gurgaon.How God helps them out & how they implement his suggestions are a delight to read.

After reading this book,I can only say – Chetan’s Third Book Awaited.

“A Tale Of Two Cities” By Charles Dickens

Based on the real story of King Louis 16 of France who was along with his wife Marie sent to guillotine in 16^th century this story depicts french revolution in the most lucid manner.In the story,London has been depicted as a haven for all those who have been persecuted.There comes the comparison between the 2 cities – London & France.

A Tale Of Two astonishingly look alikes,one from the royal evremonde family of france & the other one an advocate from england.The story begins from Charles’s,the former one,who has renounced his legacy & has taken a new surname Darnay,trial for spying against the England but he is saved by his look alike Sydney Carton.Both of them fell into love with the same girl Lucie manette but Darnay marries her.Lucie’s father who plays a crucial role in the story is suffering from relapse because of the time he spent in jail many a years ago.One day Charles Darnay receives a letter from his old servant for his help & he returns to paris,the city which is undergoing a bloody coupe under the leadership of Defarge & Madam Defarge,whose sister,brother & father were killed by Darnay’s father.Darnay is caught in france & undergoes a trial.First time he manages to escape unscathed but next time he is voted death within 24 hours.Then comes the main protagonist of the story Sydney who once again saves Charle’s life by dying himsellf in his place for the sake of his love Lucie.In the meanwhile,madame defarge is killed by Miss Pross,lucie’s companion to france while escaping from france.The entire family returns to England  lives happily ever after.Thus,Characters triumph through love ,heroism &  sacrifice.

No doubts an interesting story which catches hold of you & doesnt allows you to leave the novel midway.Longing to read the original version by Charles Dickens himself.What I have read is the story retold by Lucinda Dickens great great great granddaughter of Charles.
 

“Chronicle Of A Death Foretold” By Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Original masterpiece is in spanish which is translated in english by gregory rabassa.Quite an interesting story.The main protagonist is Santiago Nasar who is brutall murdered by vicario brothers – pedro & pablo for violating the chastity of their sister angela vicario before her marriage.Her loving ,wealthy & caring husband,Bayardo San Roman sent her back the moment he realised the truth.Though angela took santiago’s name but author has at times  hinted that it was not santiago who did the sin.The description is detailed & very lively.A chain of coincidences leading to a brutal death have been picturised beautifully & dont allow the reader to leave the story midway.Englih used is subtle & some words are really impressive.Detailing done by the author is really good & with no doubts is mesmerizing.Reconstructing a murder that occurred 27 years before the chronicle moves backward  & forward in time with great smoothness & ease.Half accurate memories,equivocation,contradictory versions trying to establish what happened & why,the chronicle is really haunting. 

Who Moved My Cheese?

Yesterday finished reading “Who Moved My Cheese” By Dr. Spencer Johnson.A book all about changes in one’s life & different ways of handling those changes by different people.The story is about 2 mice sniff,good at sniffing the food,scurry,good at scurrying into action & 2 littlepeople hem,good at hemming only & wants to remain in the familiar territory rather than venturing out for new possiblities,chance or new cheese & finally,haw,good at envisaging the new cheese,learns to adapt in timw when he sees changing can lead to something better.
The story rotates around these 4 main characters & their way of tackling the situation when their cheese is moved.This is one of the simplest & most meaningful stories I have ever read.Its surely gonna help all those who are undergoing a change in their lives.
Excerpts from The Book –
Change Happens-keep moving with the cheese
Anticipate Change-get ready for the cheese to move.
Monitor Change-smell the cheese often so u know when its geting old.
Adapt to change quickly-the quicker u let go of old cheese,the sooner u can enjoy new cheese
Change-move with the cheese
Enjoy Change-Savor the adventure & enjoy the taste of new cheese
Be Ready To Change Quickly & Enjoy It Again & Again