Book Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Life of Pi is the story of Piscine Molitor Patel – known as Pi – a young, bookish boy whose life revolves around the hippos, hyenas, bears and other animals at his father’s zoo in Pondicherry, India. Curious by nature, Pi is deeply influenced by religion, and learns about and embraces three of them – Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. But his idyllic life at the zoo comes to an end when his father decides to pack up and move the family to Canada for a better life. They leave aboard a Japanese cargo ship called the Tsimtsum along with many of their animals, who are bound for zoos in the US. A few days into their journey, disaster strikes – their ship, along with most of the animals and the entire Patel family – bar Pi – sink to the depths of the ocean. 16-year old Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a zebra, hyena, orang-utan and a Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Of course, the only animal to survive is Richard Parker, and Pi must share his lifeboat with him and hope for a miraculous rescue.

The book is hailed as a modern day classic, a glorious spiritual adventure that makes us question what it means to be alive, and to believe. But sadly, I found it lacking.

I read the book after watching the movie, as I was sure the philosophy and meditation on life would be better conveyed through the written word. However, this was not so. Life of Pi is one of those few books that do much, much better as a movie.

There are aspects of the book that are rather gruesome – especially the portion where the hyena eats the orang-utan. The “message” that Martel aims to convey – faith translates to belief in the improbable; atheism means choosing the story you already know; and agnosticism as a refusal to choose – seems to be lost in translation.

Probably if you can put your expectations aside, you might find it an interesting read, as Martel’s writing style and plot build-up are excellent.

For me though, it was all a bit disappointing.

Disclaimer: I got all the three books from Random House India, but the review and opinions expressed are my own.

I wish I could

I wish  I could live in a cottage by the lake,
read, dream, garden, potter around.

I wish I could spend my time
painting, photographing, writing, cooking.

I wish I was surrounded by friends and loved ones,
talking, sharing, communing.

I wish life was simpler,
relaxed, carefree, joyful, abundant.

I wish…

What do you wish for?

Inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop

Two books to look out for this April

One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

From the back cover:

Is running away ever the answer?
An apparently happy marriage. A beautiful son. A lovely home. So what makes Emily Coleman get up one morning and walk right out of her life to start all over again? Has she had a breakdown? Was it to escape her dysfunctional family – especially her flawed twin sister Caroline who always seemed to hate her? And what is the date that looms, threatening to force her to confront her past? No-one has ever guessed her secret. Will you?

This was an excellent, compelling read. What would force you to plan your escape from your life – from your husband…your soulmate…and your lovely boy Charlie? What would make you put a stone on your heart every time you think about them in your new life? And how would you cope with the pain, the loss, the deception? In this searingly beautiful novel, with twists you’d never see coming, Seskis sets a crackling pace, with characters you’ll love and others you’ll hate. Kirkus Reviews calls it

The book EVERYONE’S going to be talking about this summer. “Recommended.”

And I couldn’t agree more. If you read just one book this summer, this should be it! The book is out now on Amazon!

The Bleiberg Project by David Khara, Simon John (translator)

From the back cover:

Self-pitying golden boy trader Jay Novacek is having a bad week. He finds out his long-lost father is dead, he discovers his boss’s real identity, and he ends up boarding a plane to Zurich under his real name Jeremy Corbin. He has a Nazi medallion in his pocket, a hot CIA body guard next to him, and a clearly dangerous Mossad agent on his tail. What was his father investigating? Why was his mother assassinated? Why are unknown sides fighting over him with automatic weapons? Far from his posh NY apartment, he races to save the world from a horrific conspiracy straight out of the darkest hours of history. Can it be stopped? This fast-paced thriller was an instant sensation in France. Think a dash of Robin Cook, a splash of John Grisham, and pinch of Clive Cussler with a very distinctive flavor all its own.

If you’re a fan of fast paced thrillers, be prepared to stay up all night as David takes you on a rip-roaring ride! The novel is based on the premise that Hitler’s doctors succeeded in creating an Aryan superman – a killer – who is still alive, as is the doctor who was responsible for the genetic mutation. David builds up the suspense by flashing between different time periods – from Nazi camps to  present day action, dropping hints and clues as your race through the book, desperate to find out what happens next. I loved Jay’s character – his sharp, sarcastic wit even in the middle of untold dangers. Eytan’s character is also fascinating, and I hope he features in more of David’s books. The plotting is excellent, the novel is fast-paced, and the translation is flawless – this book is guaranteed to keep you up all night!

Publication date: 30 April.

Disclaimer: I got the galleys from NetGalley.com. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

Top Tips for Upholstery Cleaning

Upholstery is a real challenge for home makers but don’t worry, just as all the other challenges you have faced it you will be winning it too. Very often home makers have to face spills stains on the carpets, clothes and other stuffs. Here are few tips, which can give you a respite from the problems of the stained clothes or Furnitures that have often poised a threat to your peace.

Considerations that Need Attention

There are certain kinds of dirt, dirt or stains that may be handled by home treatments as well and not just by professionals. But before starting your treatment you must consider the following aspects

• The type of fabric
• The severity and location of the stain
• And the nature of stain
If you are not sure regarding the type of fabric, you can call up the retailer and ask him. In case of synthetic material, you can safely treat on it since the material is made for ease of maintenance. Yet you should consider the treatment in some hidden area first. But if it is made from more than fifty per cent cotton then you may have to call on professional cleaners.

Understand the Cleaning Codes

Before applying any kind of cleaner you must first look into your furniture or other stuff and follow the instructions after finding the following codes-

1. W: this code means that water can be used in cleaning this furniture.

2. S: this code states that a cleaning solvent can be used on this upholstery.

3. SW: this code means that you can use water as well as solvent cleaners on the upholstery.

4. X: this code states that neither water nor any kind of solvent must be used (in this type of furniture either brushes or simple vacuum must be used). It must be dry cleaned.

Kinds of Stains

There are numerous kinds of stains, but the most common is spilling of tea or coffee and milk. Here are some easy tips how you may handle some kinds of stains-

1. Coffee: For removing coffee stains you can use a combination of dish detergent, vinegar, water and dab on it. You will notice that the coffee stain will disappear.

2. Mold: For treatment of mold you will have to use hydrogen per oxide quarter cup and color safe bleach quarter teaspoon. First clean the area with the mixture and remove excess of solution with clean water. The stains will be removed after drying.

3. Baby Food: Children are in the habit of dropping food everywhere and a simple wipe off with the baby wipes are good enough. The wipes have the right consistency of soap and water, and they simply wipe off.

4. Crayon Stains: Crayon can be ideally handled by using tooth paste that is not gel based. Use the technique in a short area and as soon as you are done rub it off.

5. Oil and Grease: These may be the toughest of stains and it may take time to remove it. You will have to use salt and corn-starch, sprinkling them on the stain and let the oil be absorbed. Then you can put some powder dust.

For daily care, you can use a vacuum cleaner for best results. Special attachments are found in them that can remove dust even from smart corners. Also keep a spot remover handy you can find it at your local market, and it is also remarkably affordable. Always try not to use any water based cleaners on your upholstery.

This is a sponsored post.

Delhi Lens: Monuments: Nawaab ka Masjid, Chawdi Bazaar, Old Delhi

Tiny matchbox shops line both sides of a congested road. A mêlée of pedestrians, cycle rickshaws, two-wheelers and a few tempos are a cause for constant traffic jams. A lot of the buildings are crumbling and dilapidated. There’s a mess of electrical wires overhead. Everywhere you look there is chaos.

And then suddenly, while looking up at that jumble of old buildings, you spot a delightful color combination – terracotta and blue. You pause, raise your camera to your eyes, zoom in, and see a beautiful carved wall. You click a picture, but keep staring at that building as a sea of humanity passes you by, gazing upwards, awestruck, spellbound.

Until the shopkeeper – where your husband, oblivious to your delightful find, is busy buying wood working tools to fuel his hobby – moved by your stillness and your interest in photography, tells you that the building you’re staring at is a masjid. So while he pulls out the tools and makes the bill for your husband, both of you cross the road and climb up a flight of stairs to reach the mosque.

Your husband, who is ahead of you, suddenly turns towards you at the head of the stairs and says “Namaaz is going on, let’s go.” But before you can even process this disappointing news, another man sticks his head out and says “Oh no problem, please come in. Feel free to take pictures. And take off your shoes before you step into the courtyard.”

So you walk on up, give your husband a cheeky grin, and freeze.

Close up of a carved block of stone at the masjid

The masjid is far more beautiful than you had imagined. And, as the shopkeeper said, it’s unique. Because unlike any stone façade you have seen anywhere in the world, this mosque isn’t made of carved stone. It’s made of embossed stone. Yes, it means that the flowers and vines are not cut into the stone; instead, the stone around the shapes has been cut and smoothed away.

The entire mosque is made of red sandstone. Well preserved. Neat and clean. There’s no air of religious fervor here – instead, there’s a quiet spirituality. You can forget about the crowd just one flight of stairs down. The seething humanity, the chaos, the pollution, all of it just melts away. It’s a place where you feel connected with the divine…the universe…yourself…

The masjid itself is 200 years old. Or 500. It depends on who you ask. No one seems to know exactly when it was built. All they know is that it definitely dates from British times. There’s an “English flower” carved on the entryway to prove it. They say the flower isn’t to be found anywhere in India, though they cannot tell you its name. When you ask a gentleman who has just finished his prayers what the name of the masjid is, he shrugs and tells you he is not a regular here.

The “English flower” carved at the entry to the mosque

You finally meet the caretaker, who tells you that the masjid is called Nawab ka Masjid – and you think that is a fitting name. He shows you around the place, showing you entire pillars and walls constructed of one piece of stone. He invites you inside and shows you around. Like all mosques, there are no figures or idols here, just a blank wall with a marble chair pointing towards Mecca. But the pillars are beautifully carved. The atmosphere within is serene. And you come away knowing that you have seen something unique…a structure that will live on in your heart for years to come.