Mitch Albom's - Tuesdays with Morrie

Genre : Non-Fiction
Rating : 4.5/5

All these days I had confused this book with - Marley & Me. So when anyone referred this book in the past I always imagined a little puppy staring back at me (As on cover of Marley & Me). Unlike my myth about this book that it has to do something with dog, it turned out to be a true story about a young man, Mitch Albom and his Tuesday meetings with his professor, Morrie Schwartz.

Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor in Brandeis University was one of Mitch's favorite professor. After graduation Mitch loses touch with Morrie and after span of a decade and a half, he sees Morrie on television interview show. Morrie who had suffered from a disease called Amyotorphic lateral sclerosis or ALS (The same disease that has disabled Stephen Hawking) is counting his last days in this world. After getting frustrated with his life Mitch decides to meet his old professor on every Tuesday as he used to do for his classes while in school.

This book is about their discussions (rather Morrie's lesson's on life) on every Tuesday. While in the meetings Morrie shares with Mitch the tragedy in his life as a child and his honest opinions about the life. The book is deckd with beautiful aphorisms. Out of which I liked - If you are in bed, you are dead! It is Morrie's wish to share his stories with the world and so Mitch takes notes and records their discussion for all the 14 Tuesdays. They both call it as their last thesis together. They also decide upon the name of the thesis, Tuesdays with Morrie.

Who would want to fly from Florida to Detroit every Tuesday for continous 14 weeks to see and listen to a dying old man? Mitch dos that. For his professor. For he knows that doctrines of his professor are worth spreading across the world, because they would one day, to an extent, change peoples lives.

I liked it!

Jhumpa Lahiri's - Interpreter of Maladies

Genre : Collection of Stories
Rating : 4/5

Pulitzer Award winner and the most talked about book of Jhumpa Lahiri!

This book is the collection of 9 stories casting Indians (Bengalis to be specific) in India and in America. I have mixed feelings for this book as a whole. Few good stories stave me off from rating it negative and others do not vouch enough for being elite.

Out of all I liked the story - The Real Durwan which is about a poor old lady who lives on the stairway of an apartment complex. She claims to be from a rich family but had lost all the fortune when she found aslyum in West Bengal as an effect of war. Her rantings of how her life fell from riches to rags brings smile on your face. The end is little touchy but overall the story is good.

I also appreciated the last story - The third and Final Continent about a character who has travelled from India to Great Britain and then to America. The story is focused on his initial days in America (with the backdrop of Boston).

The casts of the stories vary from the first and second generation Indians in America to people in and around Calcutta. Jhumpa's characters face some kind of identity crisis or isolation. There is little malady involved in their lives. As compared to the online reviews and those I received from my friends, this book disappointed me a little. Writing style again proves Jhumpa Lahiri as an excellent story-teller. Mind you, I do not doubt her writing skills. I am still a fan of her and would not mind reading her more. But I am not happy with the stories. Surprisingly not even a single story I wish to hold near my heart. I somehow do not devour the stories invloving divorces, unhappy marriages or infidelity. Though the scripts were not overly emotional, the tinge of nuptial-sorrow killed my interest. Why is it shown that when Indian women come to US they live a melancholic life? Why is it shown that each and every marriage demands adjustment? Why wasn't there a single story of made-for-each-other or a happy couple? Aloofness each and everybody suffers when they come to America is showcased very well but the stories fail to explain that this aloofness is only a small part of their lives in America and it is not to be taken as the only emotion!

The front cover of Interpreter of Maladies quotes Amy Tan's review - Jhumpa Lahiri is the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you see and say, 'Read This'! Yes, Jhumpa Lahiri IS one of the finest story writer but I would prefer being neutral in recommending this book.

Harper Lee`s - To Kill A Mockingbird

Genre : Fiction
Rating : 5.0/5

One year! Complete one year this book laid in my self unheeded. I know, I shouldn't have ill-treated this timeless classic but the small print and old yellow pages always kept me from picking it. Finally when there was nothing else to read I picked it and yes, I liked it. It made me laugh, made me sad, made me think!

It is the story about childhood incident of two siblings - 12 yrs old Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem) and 8 yrs old Jean Luoise Finch (Scout). Their father Atticus Finch is a very reknowned and respected lawyer in the town of Maycomb, Alabama. Jem, Scout and their summer-friend Dill are intrigued by their neighbor Boo Radley, of whom they have only heard of and never seen. Boo is depicted as a suspecious character who is believed to come out of his house only at nights. Because of skeptical personality all these kids are always scared of him. They imagine him as a spooky person and are frightened even to pass Boo's property and yet they try some funny things to get a glance of him.

One day kids find some small insignificant gifts as chewing gum hidden in the hole of the tree trunk. Kids love getting those surprises. Later Atticus gets a sensational case to defend a black man, Tom Robinson who is convicted of raping a daughter of a white man, Bob Ewell. This case is the talk of the town and Atticus is refered to as nigger-lover by some cynical people for accepting to defend a black person. Jem, Scout and Dill stealthily witness this case in court and are totally unsatisfied with the jury's descision. Throughout the case Atticus provides strong evidences to prove that Bob Ewell and his daughter, Mayella are lying and even when it is crystal clear that Mayella enticed Tom, jury of white people decides to accuse Tom guilty. Though Bob wins the case, Atticus is successful in breaching Bob's reputation. Bob threatens Atticus that one day he will take the revenge for all the damage Atticus has caused. While in prison Tom tries to escape and is killed by the shots fired to stop him.

One night when Jem and Scout are returning from their school pageant Bob attacks them breaking Jem's hand and later Bob is found stabbed. Jem is carried home by mysterious Boo Radley. From what Scout narrates Atticus believes that Jem has accidently stabbed Bob. But the sheriff insists that Bob stripped on the roots of the trees, falling on his knife and killing himself... whereas the truth is Boo Radley intervens and saves children from being killed. Instead of giving publicity to Boo for protecting kids, sheriff decides to tweak the story. Scout understands that Boo has meant well of the kids and did nothing to harm them so to punish him would be like - To kill a mockingbird - a bird who only sings and does nothing harm to the mankind!

I liked the way this story unfolds, though at time I felt at some places lenghty explanations could have cut short. The character of Atticus Finch is very strong. Caring least for the consequences, he tries to stick to his principles. This warm hearted, intelligent lawyer is sure to win your respect. I liked the tomboyish, innocent character of Scout. She is criticized by other middle-aged ladies of the town for her unlady-like manners and the narration of those incidents is really funny. Jem on the other hand is too protective of his younger sister and is shown to mature as the story flows.

Though the story is about the racism in the early nineteenth century, the childhood innocence makes it a wonderful read. The story, backdrop of the town, language used reminded me of the another classic Gone with the Wind. Though there are lots of characters in this story Harper Lee has sketched them so well that even after you have finished reading the book you can remember each and every one very distinctly. I would say To Kill a Mockingbird really has a touching theme.