Return to Big Screen Viewing...as Parents!

It was a landmark day in the history of our 6-year-old family life.

photo courtesy:www.comingsoon.net

For the first time in years, the four of us watched a movie together at a theatre.

Now regular cinegoers may scoff at this (what’s the big deal!) but couples (like us!) who gave up on movie theatres after kids, will know what I am on about.

As newly-weds, we loved looking out for the latest releases on the big screen. Often, it would be an ad hoc case of last minute booking, catching up movies on a whim.

When our daughter was about a year old, I remember sneaking out once to watch a matinee on our anniversary and then rushing back in time to collect her from day care.

When the second one came along, we still went to movies, albeit separately. Either of us had to be with the kids and it was much easier and stress free that way.  However, that meant giving up on the shared experience and the movie chat thereafter.

We did watch movies on the telly, though. The pause button on the remote control played an invaluable role, allowing us to take care of nappy changes and watch the movie at our pace .

It seemed to suit us fine. Years rolled on and then last weekend…

It was a lazy Saturday evening. The kids and I were plonked on the sofa watching Mr Bean. I was mentally reviewing evening meal options requiring minimal culinary effort. Suddenly P broke into my thoughts:

“Jungle Book movie evening show, what do you think?”

I knew P had an ongoing love for this childhood favourite flick. He had drilled “Bare necessities” into the kids and my 3-year-old boy had watched the animated version numerous times.

I had heard good things about the latest 3D movie too. But I did not think it was worth getting off the sofa.

I squirmed and put on my budgetary tone. “The tickets will be expensive.”

“No, they are not. There is a show in an hour’s time and the tickets are available. It will take us 20 minutes to get there. Are you up for it?”

Wait, was that a challenge? I caught his smile as I turned around. It appealed to my long-buried, impulsive self and I shot off the sofa. Teamwork saw us get out of the front door in half an hour’s time.

We were bang on time to pick up some popcorn and nachos. Soon it was a case of settling back on our seats and watching the adverts roll.

It was my 3-year-old’s first trip to the cinema. He was waiting to see his hero. “Where is Bagheera, mummy?”

My 5-year-old had her own concerns. “Can I hold the popcorn, please?”

The movie started. The storyline though familiar had a very modern and a high tech feel and the visuals were awe inspiring.  It was a movie that appealed to us adult viewers and kids alike. Much to my surprise, the kids who sat down at the start, got up only when the credits rolled.

It was way past their bedtime but they did not look tired or bothered.

Neither was I. It was as though we had all crossed a threshold. Just as the movie had come back with a new look, so had we – as parents.

Bye bye babyhood, welcome family time!

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

photo courtesy:www.goodreads.com

A much hyped book that delivers.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a long time. Apparently, it is a celebrated book which has topped all the relevant lists and is touted as the latest in the "intelligent crime fiction" genre.

Hype about a book always puts me off. Therefore I waited a long time before I got the opportunity to read this one. I read a lot of interviews about the author where she talks about commuting and how people who do it on a regular basis will be able to relate to it. The concept is intriguing I admit. Being a train lover myself I have imagined the lives of people of houses that I pass by. That the author has managed to weave a fascinating tale from such a random activity that it has sparked a lot of interest and promise for the book.

Gist:

Rachel, a daily commuter, is fascinated by a house she passes by on train. One day she sees something that brings right to the centre of the case of a disappearing woman. What follows then is a turn of events that pulls in Rachel deeper until it threatens her sanity and her life.

What works:

• The style. It is engaging and compels the reader to read on. The fact that the author was a journalist shows through her clipped sentences and tight arrative.

• The narrative works through the point of view of the main characters. I have always been a fan of the technique where the reader gets a 3D view of the situation. It is a tough one to pull off and the first time author does it well.

• The characters. I loved the character of Rachel. Her flaws and her fight with her internal demons are shown very well.

• The psychology of the characters are shown very well too. Loved Anna and Megan and the way they have been etched.

What doesn't:

• The story is a big boring to begin with. It took me a good number of pages to get hooked. Had this book not been famous, may be I would have been tempted to given up. But stick with it and the skill of the writer is revealed.

• It is grim and depressing. That is not a bad thing but the mood gets so sombre that it affected me too. That doesn't mean the book is bad, in fact the opposite. But those looking for a feel good crime thriller may be disappointed. 

Overall, a great read. It is skillfully done, the characters remain with you for a long time and there is this satisfaction of having read a good book by a skilled author.

Recommended.

Pradyumna - Usha Narayanan

Photo courtesy: Amazon.in

A novel way of handling a mythological character.

It was fascinating to see how mythology is India's answer to the fantasy genre of the West where Gods take human forms and take on the demons in a brilliant, action packed stories.

In a market where peripheral mythological characters like Sita's sister and Karna's wife are telling their versions of Mahabharata and Ramayana, the book adds interest to the already popular genre.

It is not a well known fact that Pradyumna was Krishna's son and the fact that it says in the title draws attention and curiosity in equal measure.

Secondly when  you have a multi faceted full bodied character like Krishna, can Pradyumna stand up to him? Hmm..I soon found out.

Gist:

Pradyumna is raised as the son of Kalasura, Vama, a weakling, unable to match the ferocity and the capabilities of his mighty father.  He has an ally in Mayavati, his mother who shields him from the wrath of the King. However, matters come to a head when an angry Kalasura decides to kill Vama. Why does he have so much hatred for his own son? What does Mayavati know about the young Pradyumna?

Like all mythological characters, Pradyumna is the avatar of a God in human form. He is one of the two sons born to Krishna. Narada the celestial rishi foretells a dark vision for the sons - one the saviour, the other destroyer. So who is Pradyumna after all?

The story spans from his fight with Kalasura to his reunion with his real parents to developing as persona like his father. The character comes to life in these pages as he battles demons both physical and psychological.

What works:

•  The pages contain many mythological stories. It is the amazing the way these tiny stories have been threaded with the main plot. It shows off the author's knowledge and her ability to weave a good plot with these stories.

• The choice of the character Pradyumna is really an intriguing one. Krishna is a well loved character and since it is about the son, it definitely piques interest.

• Krishna is seen her in a different role. He is the all knowing one, the one  with all the answers. However, he does not intervene and when he does, he plays a pivotal role.

• The characters of Shiva and Brahma add depth to the story.

• There is lots of action in the story. It reminded me of Harry Potter dodging illusions and fighting off demons.

• The language is superior and sophisticated and adds value to the story. 

What doesn't:

• At one point the stories in stories tends to get a bit much. That's the trouble with having too much background information.

• Where there are other strong characters, Pradyumna tends to get a bit overshadowed.

• There is too much action that it becomes hard to find out what is happening and  becomes demanding of the reader.

• There is a bit of repetition where at one  point all that Pradyumna seems to be doing is wooing maidens and killing their dads.

• The plot tends to feel a bit patchy at times and that affects the flow of the story.

Overall a good read for lovers of Indian mythological fiction.  I am a big fan and the book refreshed my memory bank of mythological stories. It is amazing how there are stories within stories. 

The book is a good projection of Indian culture through the mythological lens - it offers a fascinating 

 perspective on age old stories.

The Curse of Damini - Debajani Mohanty

A story about women and their place in society.

photo courtesy: amazon.com

Sounds routine but with the setting of the zamindari era infused with Bangla culture and a strong female protagnist, now that is an interesting concoction indeed.

Let me make the disclaimer here. I got this book to review from the author in return for an honest review and the post aims to do just that.

Looking out for emerging Indian voices is a much loved habit and my trips back home always include browsing bookstores, checking out new trends and voices in Indian writing.

Of late, there has been a plethora of mythological fiction crowding the Indian fiction shelves. Ramayana, Mahabharata and all other popular stories have been rehashed with characters telling their version, offering a new twist to an age old tale. However, it was all getting too formulaic and I was glad to come across a book which offered me something different.

Gist:

Set in the pre-independence era we meet Renuka, a spirited girl from the zamindar family who makes a terrific entry at the start of the book. However, her promising life takes a surprise turn when her father dies and she is married off at a young age.

The circumstances of the marriage are quite interesting and soon she enters her husband's household and becomes privy to the age-old curse that has been haunting the Roy Chaudhury family for generations.

The story focusses on the women characters and their place in society. The plot spans years and generations and shows how the choices made by the women characters - Renuka, Papia and Mandira - shapes their lives and destinies.

What works:

• The structure: The story pans out well, the time period and the characters blend seamlessly and the atmosphere is so evocatively created.

• The period feeling: The independence movement and the patriotic passion in youngsters is well conveyed. Also the zamindari feel for traditions and status comes across very well.

• The characters. Renuka and Mandira are strong women whose personas are very well etched out. My favourite though is Mandira, the bolder one who defies conventions.

• The story. It was interesting to see how this penniless girl manages to work her way through life and make a success of it in a highly patriarchial society.

• The strong voice of the narrator is undeniable and adds to the force of the story.

• The conversation between Renuka and Mandira at the end was well handled and was a scene that had me mulling over it.

• The romance between Shekhar and Renuka is very subtle and subdued, well handled.

• The use of Bangla sentences and phrases gave it a more Indian feel, while adding a new dimension to the story.

• The wedding and death rituals are explained beautifully and offered insight into the Bangla traditions.

What doesn't:

• At one point it attempts to become a social treatise. The last speech of Renuka is a bit loaded and goes overboard in its ardour. 

• The first half lays out the story so well but the second half seems like it was rushing through to get to the end. The latter part had more information rather than scenes that helped the story move forward. It could have been a bit more elaborate, with the second half taking its time to unfurl the story.

• "The curse of Damini" which was dominant in the first half, fizzles out in the second part of the book. Though there is an explanation, it seems a bit lost towards the end.

• The exclamation marks could have been toned down. Perhaps that's the pedantic me, but it felt like the story was shouting out for attention when it already had it.

Overall a great read. Though the themes are heavy, it is a light read that can easily be finished in a couple of sittings. 

It clearly has the potential to be a opus considering the time span and the generations it covers. Perhaps, the writer was mindful of the length because of the short attention span of today's reader. However, the story and the writing work very well and make for an enjoyable read.

Mohanty has an engaging style that keeps the reader hooked. It will be interesting to see what she writes next.

Career Girls - Louise Bagshawe

photo courtesy:ebay.co.uk

A guilty read that was better than expected.

I picked up this book because it reminded of my teenage years when such plot would be the stuff I loved - young female underdogs and how they triumph in the male dominated world. The fact that the book promised to be a "sexy" read was an added bonus.

Gist:

Two girls Rowena and Topaz (what name!) come to study in Oxford. They become best of friends in no time but soon something drastic happens and they become the best of enemies!

What happens next is how they vow to ruin each other and work really hard at it while becoming successful women themselves. Rowena makes her mark in the music world and Topaz becomes a top notch journalist.

The story takes through the men they love, their professional persona and also their serious attempts to destroy each other.

Eventually, years later something happens that brings them both together. The hardcore enemies will now have to work and help each other in order to survive.

Can they do it? Can they overcome their feelings of jealousy and hate for each other is what the story is about.

What works:

• The language. The style is contemporary and the tone direct. Perhaps it is in keeping with the world of the music and journalism industry. Exclamation marks, swear words flow in abundance, making it a racy prose.

• The plot. It is fast moving and action oriented. One thing after the other, the events take the plot from Oxford to New York while stringing along a series of events.

• The second half about their professional lives is so well detailed. As someone having worked in the journalism industry, I could empathise and identify with the world. It was a job reading about her trials and tribulations as a journalist and editor. 

What doesn't:

• Clearly the plot is based on a formula. The drama is planned to end on a neat note. The racy prose comes up to a neatly tied conclusion which took the edge off a bit for me.

Occasionally, it is nice to dip into such predictable reads. It is like floating in the lazy pool letting the waves wash over you without making much of it. It is not  high brow literary stuff and the characters don't stay with you, but like any guilty pleasure, it is as good as it lasts.

Beneath the Surface - Heidi Perks

photo courtesy:goodreads.com

An interesting debut by a talented author.

I received this book as part of the goodreads giveaways in return for an honest review.

Heidi Perks' Beneath the Surface is all about families and secrets.Well, so what? Many books on a similar theme there already. But what piqued my interest was the shocking premise and the curiosity to see how the plot panned out.

Gist:
Seventeen-year-old Abigail comes back from school to find that her entire family has vanished. Years later, when she is about to start her family, she is still traumatised by the past. Compelled to find out what and why, Abi embarks on a journey that leads to shocking discoveries for her that makes up the plot.

What works:

• The structure. The story moves through the many narratives running through it. We get to hear what happened from all the major characters. An interesting way of taking the reader in.

• The style. The characters reveal a bit about themselves and in turn shed light on their situation. I found it interesting to read on how they attempt to control the events whereas eventually the events take over.

• The writing is good too. I particularly loved Amy's description of her mother's loveless marriage to her stepfather.It combined emotions and an element of mystery quite succinctly.

What doesn't:

• The first few pages are good. Soon it is obvious that it is an unhappy family and the emotions and the sadness dominate the plot. However, I felt it weighing down the story and slowing down the plot. 

• About 50 pages later, I felt as though I was wading through the descriptive paragraphs. It was boring and the only thing that kept me going was the thought that it gets better. After a couple of hundred pages, the pace finally picked up and the narratives merged into the plot, turning it into a rewarding read.

• The premise is shocking and bizarre. The explanation of why the mother left the girl behind, had to be justified. Of course Perks takes care of that, but it left me wondering about the plausibility. Perhaps I am being too harsh but after such great characters, a great structure, the suspense element, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't unflinchingly call it a great read. However, technically the novel works well and as a reader, it made me stick to the end - that says something about this debut author.

• Also a bit of editing in the first half would have made it more taut. I could see she was prepping the ground for  the second half. The pace really zooms ahead in the second half and I found myself ignoring the bedside clock to get to the end.

Overall, it is a well written book and a good debut. Perks knows  how to hook the reader and keep them dangling till the end - job well done.

Recommended.

Leave the Grave Green - Deborah Crombie

photo courtesy amazon.com

A complex story from a loved author.

As mentioned earlier, I am backtracking and going over the Duncan-James series beginning from the first one. It has been an interesting journey and gives a lot of insight into how each book sounds more confident and complex as the series moves ahead.

I started with the latter ones and once I got hooked them all, I decided to get my hands on the earlier ones. As a wannabe writer studying the craft, the series allows the novice the opportunity to understand how the series is slowly developed with each whodunnit.

In this third novel, Duncan and Gemma are getting closer as they tackle yet another death and find themselves entangled in the process.

Gist:

The son in law of an opera singer and the husband of a well known painter is found dead in mysterious circumstances in a loch. Being a family with connections, the family call in Scotland Yard to get to the root of it all.

Enter Duncan and Gemma who find themselves getting into the opera community and find all sorts of secrets coming to fore.

What works:

• The characters are good. I particularly liked the way, Crombie was showing more confidence by linking the death to a past incident that has an irrevocable effect on the family. 

• The past incident and the present murder tie in well. 

• The narrative flows very well and the development of Gemma and Duncan's relationship is also progressing simulteneous to the plot.

• The third books marks a difference from the ones before, as Crombie seems more surefooted about her characters and lays out some complex scenes.

 What doesn't:

• I realise I need a break from Duncan and Kincaid. Reading so many of their mysteries is grating a bit. Perhaps I am familiar with the style now so much that it is becoming a bit predictable as well. But then thats me and not the book.

This mystery is better and far more enjoyable than the earlier ones.