Book Review : A Thousand Splendid Suns

Just finished reading "A thousand splendid suns" by Khaled Hosseini and can not help but to write it's review and my first ever post in  2012 ... :)

I would not say book is BEST in it's category .. but it is a good read for the one who would like to know about the war-ridden afghanistan , the country who suffered , survived through  'n' number of wars weighed upon them by invaders. The price paid by native is just heart wrenching I do not know whether story is true or not but it should not matter , if one gets to know the "rules and regulations" that were on natives in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Rules on women were all so outraging and it clearly indicated women as a dirt in the eye of Taliban government.

Rough Plot : Story is about Afghan women who were TRUE victims of constant war in Afghanistan. Mariam is a girl who is born out of wedlock to a cinema owner in city Herat. She and her mother lives out of city and are visited by very less people including a old man who teaches Qaran to marium. Once out of curiosity she reaches to her father's home in city and then shown the "REALITY" that she is not at all welcomed into his family. After coming back to her home, she finds that her mother have committed suicide in fear that her daughter will never return. This kills Mariam's aspirations, ambitions, her true self also. She is soon then married off to a shoe store owner in Kabul who is twice her age.

She initially tries to amend her ways with Rasheed , her husband but then when she is unable to keep his child ,he grows hateful towards her . Years pass .. 

Now in meanwhile few blocks away lives Laila , a only daughter of a school teacher who wants to see her turn into an educated woman. She is very close to one of her frnd Tariq who is living with disability .Laila's dreams are crushed when Mujahideen war rages over kabul and civilians are crushed like anything in between warlords's territory. She witnesses death of her two older brothers and her friends. Her troubles increases when Tariq leaves the city . She is in deep grief and while parting ways  both of them realizes the "special bond" of love they share for each other. In a flood of emotions they both unite for first time in a thought that they might not see each other in rest of their life.  She is devastated and He promises to come back for her. 

After few days when Tariq leaves  her parents also decides to leave the country for good. But destinity strikes Laila again and this time it is very bad. While shifting their luggage their house is destroyed by rocket and only she survives and is rescued by Rasheed. Laila is taken care by Mariam by orders of Rasheed who has a plot behind it. He tries to impose on Laila that Tariq is no more and then makes a proposal of marriage to her who is just 14 and Rasheed then 50. Mariam tries to stop him but she know she does not stand a chance as he has right to marry again if there is no prospect of a child frm Mariam .. 

Laila also agrees because she has to give father's name to her child frm Tariq. They marry and Marium is now treated like a dirt by Rasheed. But Marium declares to Laila that she will have to do equal amount of house hold work as she does. Soon Laila announces her pregnancy. Marium is at first stays very distant from Laila. Both of the women qurrel with each other all the time. Laila gives birth to Tariq's daughter Aziza and Rasheed is annoyed as it is NOT SON... Little Aziza makes place in Marium's heart and Laila, Marium confides. They share their secrets and shares a deep bond. 

Their failed attempt to run away from rasheed makes him voilent and in it's aftermath Aziza is nearly killed by hunger. 

In mean while, Taliban takes over the government of Afghanistan and real trouble for women starts. 

Laila gives birth to rasheed's son through ceiser operation in  a hospital where no anasthetic is provided by Taliban Government. 

Years pass by only when a day is rises  when Tariq comes to visit Laila.... 

Zalmai, rasheed's son tell him that one man came to visit Laila.. and rasheed beats Laila to death but somehow Marium saves her by killing Rasheed. Marium now feels peace wash over her as she takes revenge and she thinks her aim in life is complete.

She makes Laila go with Tariq along with children and she takes a whole blame on her for Rasheed's murder and then executed by Talibs in a ground when thousands and thousands afghan's are watching it ... Laila and Tariq flees to Pakistan territory only to return when Taliban government is no longer on power.  Laila then visits Herat to truly bid farewell to Marium. She  visits mariam's old home and also finds the Letter written by Mariam's father , Jalil to Mariam and some money. Jalil reveals that he is apologetic to make Mariam marry to some stranger.  But now it's of no use. Mariam is gone far beyond any emotions. Laila uses that money to start  a school for children in Kabul. 

Book Review : Who moved my cheese?

It's a  motivational and self-help book which i was hoping to read since long time as it is  favorite book of one of my friend and he recommended me to read it.

The book is all about broadening personal vision / perspective on certain things which are dear to oneself which are depicted in book as "cheese" .Now, cheese can be anything... one's professional life, one's personal life, certain situation in one's life .. The book tells you how to have a broad perspective so that you will not likely loose... and about winning .. that all depends on how you deal with the situation ..

So, the book tells it's story in a very interesting way. In the form of story of 4 characters. 2 of them are  mice and 2 of them are little people each having unique  characteristics.These characteristics depicts major qualities of human kind.  Like , Sniff ( the mouse ) is representation of "very active mindset" who "sniffs" out the early changes in one's environment. so, it depicts the people who keeps check on change.  Similarly, Scurry ( the mouse ) depicts the persons who move very quickly , takes action promptly. Hem ( little people ) depicts the people who are skeptic and pessimist and who keeps on cribbing about everything into their life that changes . This is a classic example of  failed person .. :) . Haw ( little people) depicts the strategy chosen by failed people to get back in game.. if, one does not  follow this strategy then one will turn Hem-like..

I would say the hero of the story if Haw, who first acts like Hem ,fellow little people , but, after realising the real scenario  , he starts changing his strategies and he finally wins the game. but, does not stop there. He learns from his mistakes and then finds out long term winning strategy ..

Few of the GOLDEN lines carved on wall by Haw are :

                                    Change Happens

                                            They Keep Moving The Cheese

                                    Anticipate Change

                                           Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

                                    Monitor Change

                                            Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

                                    Adapt To Change Quickly

                                            The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New
                                            cheese

                                    Change

                                             Move With The Cheese

                                    Enjoy Change!

                                              Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!

                                    Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again

                                              They Keep Moving The Cheese.

I seriously loved the book as in it says more about how to win back into game instead of just lamely telling winners strategy. If one is really stuck due to constant failures ,this book should definitely be guide for oneself. Must read book.. 

Book review : Act like a lady, think like a man

The title says it all ,the book is all about understanding Man's world.. :) ,a good guide for woman ( i may say, Steve's book is a knight in shining armor for those who are looking for help in relationships ) ,But. this book is good for those too who are in mid-of-relationship and can not figure out what is going wrong with them. Though, i do not fully agree with all of Steve's notes and tips ( somewhere i totally find it offending for we all females..) but, all in all a good read to understand/clear few misconceptions about your partner's world.

The big tip i got from this book is that "stop asking other woman for help on relationship issues", especially those woman who are in relationship. Just talk to your partner. Coz, after all, Man's world is different than woman's. Woman's world is soft, fragile.But, Man's world is harsh, he have to prove himself for every minute in some way or other. For woman, Socially ,it is not mandatory to prove herself :) .. If a woman is not doing anything to earn her bread and butter then no-body will care about. but, if a man is not doing anything then, everyone taunts him for his inability. This is fact.

According to steve, Man's love is different than woman's love. Her love is deep like oceans and high like mountains but his love is more rough yet caring. Man is always taught to profess,protect and provide everything to his lady and a woman makes him important by allowing him to give her those Golden Ps (stated above). Steve states all about keeping relationships with man, how not to loose your man, how to make him want you, what all general mistakes woman do in relationship, how men evaluate any woman when they first see her. Everything.

Another thought i liked is that, Steve suggests to woman that not to give blueprint of her likes ,favourites to her partner.coz, certainly, he will give her what she likes, but surely will not give his inputs,innovatives thoughts .Let him research, dig out your favourite and then see wonder in your relationship.

Few more tips  ( from him ,not from me :P ) :

1) Dont open a conversation with words "we need to talk" ... :) Steve says, it opens up guards of men. They go into defending position rather than conversing mode which is what woman wants at that moment :)

2) Form a two handed circle...Dont let ANYBODY come in between two of you.. nice thought.. not ur friends too nor his friends too

3) Men hate gossips.. :) :) :) :)

These are just excerpts from book. You must read book if you are further interested.. :)

You can download e-book here.

Book review: Gone with the wind : A master piece of Margaret Mitchell

After so many days of no new readings, i picked this novel from local library. I read the book in marathi , a translated version of the book.

The moment i started reading it, just could not suppress my desire of reading it in one shot. but, i had to put it down some time as i had daily chores to do.but, i used to read it's e-book version in my free time on job..For those 4/5 days,i had no time pass left, no orkutting, no rss feeds nothing... such was the attraction of that book.

It is a great love story of a girl named Scarlett O-hara and Rhett butler in the background of civil war of America which ends in a dramatic way. Yes, like other love stories we do not get goody goody ending and i think it is rare situation to have such thought in 1940's literature.

Book contains a great citing where few of my fav are listed at the end of the blog.

About book, the story unfolds in the era where American civil war was raging i.e in 1870's.I feel, without this background , the love story would not have been so effective as it seems right now to me.The main feminine figure of the book is Scarlett O-hara who is a daughter of Geranld O-hara who owns a plantation named Tara in Georgia. Scarlett is not portrayed as a good girl, but rather a bad girl only. She is rich, she is pretty with a obsession about her smallest waist in a province,she is kinda bad girl, envy girls ,wants to keep every man at her footstep.At the same time, she is selfish and foolish girls who misunderstands a no-love for her teenage boyfriend Ashley as love and stays deprived of love through out her life .She understands this at the end of book when Ashley ( her assumed love ) clears that he loved his wife. The dialog goes like this :

Ashley: [about Melanie, who is dying] I can't live without her. I can't. Everything I ever had is going with her... She's the only dream I ever had that didn't die in the face of reality. Scarlett: Ashley, you should have told me years ago that you loved her and not me, and not left me dangling with your talk of honor. But you had to wait till now, now when Melly's dying. To show me that I could never be any more to you than, than this Watling woman( Prostitute ) is to Rhett ... And I've loved something that doesn't really exist. Somehow, I don't care. Somehow, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter one bit.

On the other part, Scarlett is also a good example of aggressive woman of that era. She literally come out of war situation with her remaining family, so, obviously becomes dominant and aggressive. It was new idea for woman of that era to be aggressive. In fact, she did turn business-woman and literally made money for herself, and also for TARA (her beloved home and a dream of her father Gerald). Her love for her home, land carries her to the extend when she offers her everything to long time so-called friend Rhett butler. she shows immense loyalty towards her family and marries a man for few bucks. But at the deepest corner of heart, she yearns for money, for popularity ,to be a center of attraction always. At the end , she marries Rhett butler, who truly loves her and always helps her in her bad times. His epic saying at the time he proposed her when she was in mourning for her 2 nd husband , tells us all :

"Forgive me for startling you with the impetuosity of my sentiments, my dear Scarlett - I mean, my dear Mrs. Kennedy. But it cannot have escaped your notice that for some time past, the friendship I have felt for you has ripened into a deeper feeling. A feeling more beautiful, more pure, more sacred - Dare I name it? Can it be - love?... This is an honorable proposal of marriage, made at what I consider a most opportune moment. I can't go all my life waiting to catch you between husbands."

She marries him mostly for his money.. Though, he truly loves her, but thinks to wait for her till she gets over with ashley.. But, could not wait for her longer.. at the end when, she realizes that she do not love Ashley instead she loves Rhett, he pulles strings back. Now, he had moved over her and walks on her..

From my perspective, Rhett butler's character seemed like a true gentleman.He patiently waits for her but never discloses his true feelings for her.

The books ends with couple separating... and Rhett saying out those famous words to her upon her asking "where would she go, if he is leaving her" : "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn( i dont care where you go scarlett )!"........

It's a must read book with a rich language,good plot, good roles.. I truly njoyed reading it..Now, gonna watch this epic movie too.. :)

"Kashmir"-nama : A book review

Kashmir - a true shangrila of our mother earth.Few days back ,I stumbled upon a Marathi book named "Kashmir-nama" by Sachchidanand shevade. What a book it is! this book has got everything that you want to know about Kashmir. It's origin,it's Past/history,it's present and yes not to forget this book gives the idea of it's future too.

"Arya" were the aboriginals of Kashmir and from thee Arya moved into various territories of Indian peninsula.So, we are direct descendants of arya from Kashmir. But,now, arya are rarely seen in Kashmir which is now a Muslim province and head of our India.Arya then there were said as "Pundits" by the ruler .But, truly, once upon a time Kashmir was the land of "intelligence".

But, once Kashmir was taken over by Yemeni, Muslim rulers, none of it's glory remained.Muslim rulers forced people in Kashmir to change their .Initially, emperors tricked poor people of Kashmir to turn Muslims and then once they gathered enough numbers, they forced other pundits by hook or crook.So,now also, many Muslim family trees goes back to Hindu names and surnames.

A biggest political party in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference was formed by Sheikh Abdullah whose descendants are still ruling the Jammu and Kashmir state.Basically, Sheikh Abdullah wanted Jammu and Kashmir as a separate province and not be included in Independent India.He then that time started a kind-of-war against Hindu Maharajah Hari Singh, who was one of the most famous emperor that time.He started Quit Kashmir Agitation again Maharaja.

According to author,Sheikh Abdullah played dirty politics in Kashmir and got lots of muslims to believe in his propositions.Now, his descendants are also doing the same.Omar Abdullah is the descendant of his who is CM of province right now.

Indo-Pak war and separation Effect :

In separation time, Sheikh Abdullah was the one leader who was considered as a future leader of Jammu and Kashmir by P. J. Nehru, which was the biggest mistake according to author. Author also proposes that Pandit Nehru gave priorities to Sheikh Abdullah because of friendship with Lady Edwina ,wife of L. Mountbatten.

Why we got only small portion of Kashmir and Punjab province ,is the question that author answers with proofs.That time,L.Mountbatten was the head of Defence ministry of independent India, who did not give proper orders to troops which were defending wagha borders which cost ed us so much.In effect,pakistan troops got whole Punjab province which was worth having.

Author narrates the whole story with lots of proofs ,so, no body at present can deny them which is a dire truth.

In over-all, book is worth reading.