This was my world, last year...

A part of my brain looks at story arc, plot, characters. 
Regardless of what I'm reading.
Sometimes, it forgets to do any of this.
Yesterday I had to force myself to put the book aside and cook. To eat. To sleep. To function and not stare out of the window.
Been ages since I've read something as solid.What a tale.
What writer can bring forth this sort of interest for her 41st novel*!
And I'm only half way through.
(*Lakshagrah/ Varsha Adalja)

Infibeam delivered my copy of Varsha Adalja’s Lakshagruh yesterday.

A quick narrative, free of  convoluted passages and double meanings to trip one up…

Engrossed. After so long!

Am I glad I pushed myself to the movies, to watch Madras Café.

What an immense movie. Brave.

Tough as hell. Panoramic. Colossal.

Solid story line, if too close to the truth.

Splendid casting. Acting.

The scale of it all!

The constant drone of the helicopters that hover over the “usual everyday hello this is Sri Lanka” scenes—that drone still resounds.

No wonder I was glued to my seat, staring at the screen like one possessed.

No wonder there were not more than 5 people in all the theater.

But what a movie.

http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/a-journalists-review-despite-factual-problems-madras-cafe-is-worth-a-watch-1060193.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Anupama-Chopra-s-review-Madras-Cafe/Article1-1112074.aspx

Delighted to announce publication of two stories on Star 82 Review. 

http://star82review.com/1.3/contents.html

Free time. On a Sunday. What a luxury…I stacked unread n’papers and discovered a few steals like Shekhar Gupta’s Second Draft about IPKF’s foray on foreign shores, not to be missed. Not for the faint of heart.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/such-a-long-lankan-journey/1167330/

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dead-men-talking/1167902/

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uncovering-the-war/1168571/

Also watched Bhag Milkha Bhag, so sharply scripted and made.

yesterday was ganesh chaturthi.

the hymns at the Ramakrishna Math still resound.

tsomoriri, hemis, the dunes in jaisalmer, that strange sense of déjà vu at patwa haveli that drew me back there just to gaze at the façade when the moon was high in the skies; the tree walks, birding trips, the stillness of lakes and a bird flying high…. among the million and one things that I said thanks for. Unimaginable, wonderous things.

I need periodic doses. Of lush green. Of the wind in the trees. Of  the wind etching waves on  water. Of birds, mostly unknown; and making their acquaintance the first time via the camera.

I’m back from three days spent at a farm somewhere in the middle of Maharashtra. So remote that you cant find it on googlemaps. The insistent call of the babbler resounds. Is there anything more plaintive than the peacock’s plea?

A dose of still peace.  The bonus this once was hearing the life story of some one who lives his life on his terms, making the transition from corporate to animal breeder to farming and niche tourism. Very inspiring.

Stepped on the porch of author Gauri Deshpande’s  house… what a vista…do homes carry the imprints of people who lived there long after they’re gone? My despair at not knowing Marathi, the language she (mostly) wrote in... but what a lineage, THE Iravati Karve's daughter... Yuganta!