Happy Birthday, Mr. Lewis! I always have a lot to ask you rather than tell you; you confuse me well after all! A life resembling a sine-curve sans the regularity has placed you in a certain pedestal in my world onto which my eyes are capable of seeing only a part; lot remains hidden. For … More HAPPY BIRTHDAY, C S LEWIS!
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis My rating: 5 of 5 stars Where do I begin unloading this colossal bag of thoughts that are raging in my mind since yesterday? Well, my friend, you seem to be the victim today. So be it. Don’t term me evil; it is just the scent of one, I … More Book Review: The Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis (1942)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Zweig! I am so glad to have met you this year. Through your stupendously masterful Chess Story, you got into my book world like a summer rain; unexpected but alluring. Discovering multiple angles of psychological reflections in a slim novella of 80 pages was like hitting a jackpot; that sudden halt one … More HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEFAN ZWEIG!
Chess Story by Stefan Zweig My Rating: 5 of 5 stars “Wanting to play chess against yourself is a paradox, like jumping over your own shadow.” But what fun is life if words like manic, insanity, paradox and contradiction are not put to test once in a while? Even at the cost of years of discipline and rationality? … More Book Review: Chess Story by Stefan Zweig (1941)
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry My rating: 5 of 5 stars The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of. Flipping through the pages, my heart leaped many times; those waves bearing the ring of countenance were from still stream but the ones with ripples of accusation roared thunder. Accusation? Accusation hurled towards whom? … More Book Review: Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry (2001)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare! Ah! It is your birthday, once again and an excuse for me to celebrate all that I have loved about your pen! The riches you have amassed over your lifetime make it almost unfair to other authors; I mean who can fill such huge boots? Not that the reader in me … More HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE!
Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert My rating: 3 of 5 stars Ever wondered if stark realities of life were humans, how would they converse? What would death reveal to Satan which may surprise agony? What may joy surmise on pain that might recall God’s support? What might greed and insanity bring to table worthy of … More Book Review: Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert (1876)
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys My rating: 2 of 5 stars A few years ago, I happened to have a chat with an old friend. We were catching up after a long time and like most friends do, we picked up our favorite teen (innocent) crimes to gorge on. One of our best memoirs … More Book Review: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966)
Bonsaï by Alejandro Zambra My rating: 4 of 5 stars What does a resonating journal do? Arrest us in the powerful aura of words? Dispatch us to the comforting cocoon of our memories? Render a blanket of dignity to our failures? Exhort our fledgling dreams to a palpable fruition? Cast a succor net on our … More Book Review: Bonsaï by Alejandro Zambra (2006)
I am sorry I fell sick and the birthday wish comes a tad belated, 6 days to be precise. But it is nigh impossible to have a week pass by without sending across my shout to you, Mr. D! You absolutely know how special you are, don’t you? That skill you have, ah! How envious … More HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY!
SEEMITA DAS 