2013 reading challenges...

This year like all years I wanted to take too many reading challenges which keep me motivated to read more and more, so I sat down to take a stock of my unread collection in my bookshelf. I realised that I have become a book hoarder instead of a book reader. So, I have decided this year to read the books which I already have. Also, have decided that I will not be buying books till I clear half of my unread books from my bookshelf.

"I, hereby, pledge not to buy more than 5 books in the year 2013 :( "

I am quite saddened by this fact because buying books is as much thrilling as reading is. But, its OK for this year. I read 30 books in the year 2012, so just to outdo myself - I will be reading 32 books in year 2013. Hence, I am taking Book Vixen's 2013 reading challenge.

I am going for "Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books" level as I have my personal goals as well so I might not get much time to read.

I'm listing the books which I have to read this year. The ones in blue are already sitting on by bookshelf.

1. Mistress by Anita Nair
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling  
4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
7. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
9. The Rozabal Line by Ashwin Sanghi
10. Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi
11. The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi
12. The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi
13. The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi
14. The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish Tripathi – expected in March 2013
15. Deception Point by Dan Brown
16. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
17. Next release by Yashodhara Lal – expected in August 2013
18. Next release by Sophie Kinsella – expected in June 2013
19. Home by Manju Kapur
20. The Immigrant by Manju Kapur
21. Difficult Daughters by Manju Kapur
22. The Zoya Factor by Anuja Chauhan
23. The Princess Diaries: Take Two by Meg Cabot
24. The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
25. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
26. Last Man in Tiger by Aravind Adiga 
27. Krishna's Konfessions by Smita Jain
28.  
29.  
30.  
31.  
32.

So, you see I am left with a choice of just 5 books in the whole year. :(

Anyway, I am happy that this hobby of mine will be lighter on pocket this year :). Looking for some good challenges which get aligned with my list. I think I saw one related to reading mythology & fantasy - will link it soon. Also, I plan to review all the books I read this year, I am sure there will be a challenge related to this as well - Will link it soon... Luck needed!!!

Happy 2013 to all of you!!!

Keep Shattering Keys...

Kshipra

Book Review: Mahashwetha

Magic recreated!!! This is the third book which I have read by this author & as expected it was a great work by the great author. Again, this is an appallingly simple story which is so close to the real life that you can actually relate to it. This story was written some 15+ years back, but today also it holds so true, leukoderma probably might not be such a big issue these days due to awareness but current issues can ranging from medical issues to social issues or interpersonal relationship issues.

I have seen many people with leukoderma, even in my family, but have hardly given it a thought ever… But can you believe this!!! in today’s world of awareness & communication when I was getting married 6 years back, many of the marriage proposals were not taken forward just because someone in our family had leukoderma…. Mind you they were not my parents or my siblings. At that time I just thought just one ‘bahana’ not to pursue it but after reading it I realised that leukoderma still has social stigma attached to it. Anupama’s [the female protagonist] agony make you realize what it is. to go through all this especially at that time.

It’s a touching story of a courageous girl, Anupama, who suffers from leukoderma just after her marriage. How the hypocritical society, insensitive in-laws and husband obsessed with beauty treat her! Above all, her husband is a doctor who knows it very well that leukoderma is a harmless disease in which a person suffers from a deficiency in the pigmentation of skin. The writer has portrayed various aspects of Indian society – arranged marriages, dominating mother in-law, helpful friends, hypocrite relatives, a cursing stepmother, and worried father of a young Indian girl. I would recommend everyone to read this novel once especially those who are planning to tie the nuptial knot in the coming years. Marriage is a commitment for a lifetime. Make this commitment only if you are prepared to honor it.

“A marriage is a commitment, for better or worse, till death do us part”

This book has affected life of many people. One of such personal experience is mentioned by Sudha Murthy at the end of book where she was invited to an unknown marriage of a girl with leukoderma which was almost broken and then the bridegroom changed his opinion after reading her book Mahashweta. A suggestion from the author herself: "Start reading the book after going through the post-script."

From a social point of view, the language scores. It is so simple that even people with the most basic English skills will be able to understand it; and that is paramount given that the book has a strong social message to deliver (probably the only reason it was written). And the translation ensures that it reaches a wider web of people.

Mahashweta makes good reading and touches the heart. It dispels false notions about one of nature’s cruelties called Leukoderma. It takes the focus away from the external factors of one’s personality and brings it around to internal factors like what the person stands for. More women should read it to find their foothold in the society and overcome dependence on their families or husbands and find identities as individuals. It is only when others know that you can’t be hurt that they will stop trying.

My Rating:    

Keep Shattering...

K

Book Review: If God Was A Banker

Personality clashes, family swings, business flings with secretaries, fun and lethargy at the company’s expense, extravagant dance parties, insomniac business deals, shrewd business intellect, workaholic lifetimes and millions of dollars is what this book talks about.

Sundeep Srivastava and Swaminathan are juxtaposed to project the two sides of a different and difficult profession; retail banking. While Sundeep is aggressive and ambitious, Swami is evenhanded and sensible. Their careers with the New York International Bank zoom meteorically but on different planes. Sundeep is ready for any compromise to get promoted, project and achieve his goals and Swami prefers to go slow and steady adhering to ethics of the profession without being overzealous. The novel unfolds as a flashback of 

Sundeep Srivastava before a crucial trial. The innumerable characters apart from Kalpana, Natasha and Aditya walk through the novel but each one makes an impact on the readers which is the strength of Subramanian’s narration. (In fact, he is also one of the characters in the novel towards the end!). The novel travels from Chennai to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata to New York and London.

It is a true story of a leading bank that had launched its retail banking in the 90’s.I came to know from the blogosphere that the people who have been talked about are big names in the Financial Services Industry like Survesh Swaroop, PS Jayakumar, Nanu Pamnani, Ashok Dutt, etc. The author himself was part of the happening and close aide of Swami (book name). Also, it was learnt that the author has deliberately changed the story at some places. Sundeep and Natasha getting married, Swami and Kalpana getting married, Ram Naresh based out of Kolkata (he was actually a Delhi guy) are cooked up stories. In real life it is said that they marry different people.

After lots of books on campus life (Five Point Someone, Keep off the grass and many more..) by IIM alumni, this one concentrates on the corporate lives after passing out of these prestigious colleges. The author goes on and on about the nitty-gritties of sales in banking industry, describing each selling campaign & business operation in great detail. But inspite of the details it is like movie ‘Lagaan’ which was epitomized around cricket but everybody loved the movie. I would admit there are some minor flaws in the presentation of the story, like Swami threatening of resigning from the job if anything happens which he doesn’t like, it never happens like this in real life. But that is immaterial as long as the reader is satisfied with the content and flow.It is, in fact, a good trend that the creative writing bug has bitten many a corporate personnel in recent times. It is all the more enjoyable to read novels based on their personal and professional experience in that chosen area hitherto not explored by writers fully.

All said and done the book was an interesting read and I will recommend it to others as a “Good Read”.

My Rating:   

Shattering keys…

K

Oh! how I wish...

ONE ...I have the luxury to have a bigggg room all to myself which has wall to wall bookshelves full of loads and loads of books, books in all nooks and corners of that room, below the sofa, under the staircase, above the table and besides the door…. J and I have a comfortable couch in that room where I can sit for days and days and nobody disturbs me. No work, no kids running around - Just me with myself and my books... (pssst, a cup of coffee would be icing on the cake)

TWO ...I am there for my 4-year old kid till he needs me (Okay! Okay!  We can exclude ‘no kids running around’ clause from the first wish). I am there for him when he returns from school (L I am not as I am a working mom), I am there when he will a little big and would need me for help in studies, I am there where he grows up a little more and he wants to tell about his antics at school, I am there when he wants to discuss his friends and forever…

THREE ...this newly started blog of mine continues J. I wanted to do this since ages but could never muster the courage to do so; I have done this now and don’t want this to die. You know how bad it feels when you start a thing you wanted to do soooo passionately and you have to drop it because of xyz reasons…

And, I wish that all of my by above wishes come true for sure.

This post is in response to the prompt 'Wish List Wednesday' initiated by Preeti Shenoy - An amazing author and an inspiring person.

I have read all her books have pre-ordered her new book ‘The Secret Wishlist’ and I loved ‘Life is what you make it’ by her. There are books where you are so engrossed with the characters of the book that even when you are not reading it (taking a break) you are thinking about them and ‘Life is what you make it’ is one such book of hers.

She inspires me a lot as she is so creative and has amazing time management skills. If I would have had the fourth wish, I would have asked for these skills for me. :p

Keep shattering keys...

K