Rashomon and other stories (1952)

Paperback

Language: English (Original in Japanese)

Author: Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Translator: Takashi Kojima

Few of us would know Ryūnosuke Akutagawa as the man who wrote Rashomon. A story immortalized on silver screen by Akira Kurosawa.

For the majority of us who don't bother to see credit titles, Akutagawa is a legend of Japanese literature, he is called the "Father of Japanese short story". He has a premier Japanese literary award named after him. A legend who lived in the late 1800’s and committed suicide 35 years later.

This book has 6 stories. The first two are the ones which Kurosawa made as Rashomon, In a groove and Rashomon. Every line of these two short stories you read brings before you Kurosawa’s movie, frame by frame. At the end of it you are confused if you want to praise the literary brilliance of Akutagawa or the faithful adaptation Kurosawa gave us (which by itself is an amazingly great movie).

Yam Gruel, the next story has some good humour in it. It is about a low ranking Samurai waiting for an opportunity to have his favorite yam gruel. And it has what you can call, a moral of the story. The next story “The Martyr” is a story about an orphan raised by Jesuit priests. “Kesa & Morito” , the next story is told in the form of a monologue of Morito and then Kesa. It is a story of a man who has to kill someone at the behest of his lover, whom he doesn’t love.

The last story, “The Dragon” is the story of a priest who by spreading a rumour about a dragon wants to go one up with his fellow priests because they make fun of his large nose. The story reminds one of the famous NFDC (India) animated promo against rumour from the late 1980’s.

The stories showcase how humans react when they come face to face with lust, greed, poverty etc. A special mention should go to Takashi Kojima, the translator of the stories. Amazingly written, super dooper read.

Most recommended.

Phatik Chand (1983)

Paperback

Language: English(Originally Bengali)

Author: Satyajit Ray

Translator: Lila Ray

This is a novel by Satyajit Ray the great film maker from Bengal, India.

This one is a poignant story of a 12 year old affluent kid who is kidnapped for ransom. The kidnap attempt goes haywire as the kidnappers crash their car and the kid escapes with minor external injuries but a major one internally, loss of memory. The boy who has lost his memory calls himself Phatik, afraid that he might have broken some law and hence be a person wanted by police he runs into oblivion and happens to meet a juggler Harun.

Harun-da takes Phatik under his wing and finds him a job in a restaurant owned by his friend. And there comes the twist in the story, the kidnappers spot Phatik in the restaurant. And Phatik without knowing why they are after him runs from them with the help of Harun-da. What happens next is the novel.

The characterization and the narrative are amazing. You feel like you are looking at a storyboard and not reading a novel. The relationship between the boy and Harun-da, the juggler is the heart of the novel and is handled beautifully by Mr Ray.

A short novel of 112 pages which you can’t put down without finishing it.

Super Read of monumental propositions !!

Most recommended.

PS: This novel was later made a feature film by Sandip Ray, Satyajit’s son.

God save the Dork (2011)

Paperback

Language: English

Author: Sidin Vadukut

A sequel to the hilarious Dork: The incredible adventures of Robin “Einstein” Varghese. In this episode the highflying consultant from Dufresne, Robin “Einstein” Varghese is sent on secondment to Lederman Bank in London. The good thing for us readers is that Robin still updates his famous diary.

This one again is a laugh riot that gives us a good look into the relationship issues Robin has with his girlfriend Gouri, his life in London, visit to museums, his tryst with the interns at Lederman, his relationship with the CEO of Lederman, the financial irregularities in Lederman, the mistake in the payroll system that effects in a windfall into his account and more.

There is something that has not changed at all, in fact at times you wonder if things have gotten better in this edition of Dork. The stupidity and naivety quotient of Robin gets bigger and better in this edition and hence laughing out your guts is guaranteed.

The fact is that sequels are a very tricky business but I think the fact that the books are a presentation of Robin’s diary entries helps the book a lot. Go for it…

Another Super Read from Sidin Vadukut !!

Dork: The incredible adventures of Robin “Einstein” Varghese (2010)

Paperback

Language: English

Author: Sidin Vadukut

As the name suggests this book is about the adventures of Robin “Einstein” Varghese. The story starts with the last few days of Robin on the campus of his business school. The days when campus recruitment is in full swing and Robin like many others in his institute want to be lapped up by a consultancy firm with a fancy salary.

The difference between the others and Robin is his top of the rack stupidity and naivety quotient. And more importantly a false air of confidence & the ability to screw-up or score an own goal at ease.

The story comes to us as Robin’s diary entries. It is a hilarious account of Robin’s naïve arrogance, stupid brilliance and confident messing-up of things. Episodes of Robin’s booze fueled bravado, puking, monumental hangover, epic fights with classmates / peers he hates, his quest to rewrite supply chain management, the stupid thought that he is going to be the savior of the world of consultancy. And the monumental of all, a booze fueled voicemail message which puts him on top of the world map of the consultancy business.

The story becomes even better if you have come across someone of Robin’s caliber in your life. It becomes more relatable and enjoyable. A laugh riot and most recommended !!

Super Read… Go for it !!

Chronicles of a death foretold (1981)

Paperback

Language: English (Originally Spanish)

Author: Gabriel García Márquez

Translator: Gregory Rabassa

Orignally written in Spanish as Crónica de una muerte anunciada. It is a murder mystery that chronicles the last day of Santiago Nasser, a ranch owner. Almost everyone in the village knows Santiago Nasser is going to be murdered and the reasons surrounding it.

The story starts on a busy day with Nasser waking up from a dream of walking through a grove of timber trees, waiting for the bishop who is to visit his village and the Vicario brothers waiting to kill him. The story isn’t linear, meaning it doesn’t follow an order.

The narrative follows Santiago, it moves on to the marriage of Angela Vicario, the wedding celebrations, Angela’s bride discovering that she is not a virgin and sending her back, the Vicario twins blaming Santiago for defiling their sister and finally murdering him. While the reader gets a clear idea as to why the Vicario twins want Santiago murdered, what we don’t get is whether Santiago really defiled Angela.

The most impressive thing about this work is the way Márquez sketches his characters. Especially the key ones like Santiago, Bayardo, Angela, her family and more importantly her brothers. This novel is replete with symbolism and supernatural stuff.

Never a dull moment in this novel with superbly chiseled characters and a powerful narrative.

A straight SuperRead.

PS: This novel was also adapted as a Spanish language feature film with the same title in 1987 directed by Francesco Rosi

Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen (1974)

Paperback

Language: English

Author: P G Wodehouse

It was first published in the UK in October 1974. It incidentally is the last novel by Wodehouse to feature the famed combination of Bertie Wooster & his butler Jeeves. And my third Wodehouse novel !!

Bertie Wooster gets into situations at the throw of a hat and you have Jeeves to his rescue. This episode is enabled by a doctor who advises Bertie to take a countryside vacation to mind his health. Which according to his assessment is on the edge thanks to Bertie’s smoking and drinking routine. So Bertie and Jeeves go to this little town near Somerset where his favorite Aunt Dahlia is also vacationing.

And then you have a girl who rejected Bertie’s advances, her villainous dad, a college mate who is now this girls love interest, a certain Major Plank who is of the opinion that Bertie is one dangerous crook called Alpine foe, the Briscoe’s who host Wooster and a cat which would be kidnapped to force a result in a horse race. All characters result in one classic comic-drama.

There are many who feel that “Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen” is not the best of Wodehouse, not as comical as some of his other works. But I felt this one has a nice plot, super story and multiple comic knots. Wodehouse’s writing style and his storytelling ability comes to the fore in this one as well.

A Super R. Time well S. Highly R !!

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle (1997)

Paperback (Vintage)

Language: English (Originally Japanese)

Author: Haruki Murakami

Translator: Jay Rubin

The Japanese book was released in three parts: Dorobō kasasagi hen (泥棒かささぎ編?), Yogen suru tori hen (予言する鳥編?), Torisashi otoko hen (鳥刺し男編?) in 1994-95. The English translation is one book of 600 odd pages (607).

The story is about the young Okada’s, the husband who has recently left his job with a law firm and his wife an editor of a health food magazine and their cat Noboru Wataya aka Mackerel. The cat disappears one day which triggers a series of surreal events including the end of the Okada’s relationship.

Murakami’s love for music comes to the fore, The Thieving Magpie (written by Gioachino Rossini) runs throughout the story among other jazz & classical pieces. The book covers a wide range of topics like relationships, psychics, the Russo-Japanese war (during WW II), surrealism, philosophy and even politics. Murakami’s story telling is mesmerising. He again provides us with a range of stuff from flashbacks to dreams to letters to conversations to two column newspaper reportage to internet chat transcripts. It is amazing how he straddles many themes and moves from different points-of-view.

There are some characters whom you would love for ever, some that make you wonder about and some whom one would loathe. Lieutenant Mamiya is one character who stays along with you for a while, so is the mother-son duo Nutmeg & Cinnamon. Characters like Boris the man skinner who is the epitome of cruelty and connivance and Noboru Wataya the politician are samples of the people of the other extreme. The internet chat transcripts (in a completely different font compared to the story text) and the two column newspaper reportage enliven the narrative.

Overall this is a bit heavy and a lengthy read. But for a couple of chapters which might be a bit boring, predictable and adding to the 607 pages, the rest make you sit-up and read. Reading this book alone (without external disturbances) enhances the surreal experience / feeling and makes it more enjoyable.

Very highly recommended.

PS: Haruki Murakami is in the running for the Nobel prize for literature this year. He is presumed to be the 3rd favorite for the prize with an 8/1 odd

Pannaiyarum Padminiyum (2011)

Country: India

Language: Tamil

Actors: Theni Murugan, Bala Saravanan, Prakash, Geetha, Vijay Lokesh, Vijayakumar, Kaushik, Naveen & Selvi

Director (& story): S U Arun Kumar

Chanced upon this short thanks to Sajan.

A simple story, a benevolent Pannaiyar (land owner) in a village buys his dream car. The Premier Padmini of the Pannaiyar's dream now becomes a village property. It runs as the village ambulance, taxi and also as the Pannaiyar's very dear status symbol.

The film then goes on to document the affinity the Pannaiyar has for his Padmini in a very touching manner.

A very well done short film. The only grudge though is the non availability of a subtitle. That would have ensured a greater reach for this lovely film.

The advantage is that you can watch the film right here and it doesn't take much of ones time (10 mins is all you need to spend).

Great movie, sure super watch

The Cartoon Introduction to Economics - Volume 1: Microeconomics

Paperback

Author: Yoram Bauman (Economics) & Grady Klein (Illustration)

When I did Economics courses in Post Graduate college I had one goal, to clear them. For me, a Physics major Under Graduate, Economics was close to Quantum Physics or a little better. A little better because I could get more marks in the Economics courses, at least 25% more than the 35% passing minimum I managed to muster in Quantum Physics. I would term my performance a quantum leap for the below “the average” mankind.

Economics was not all that bad, more than the 50 odd names, I could also remember a few theories. And most importantly tell “Supply” from “Demand”, once you did this you’ve already passed the course. Many of us in the class had a doubt if it was the subject or the professor. The doubts grew stronger because the person always started his classes with the customary, “Economics, is a little dry subject… You need to put some effort to get it”. By the time I understood that it was a healthy combination of both, I had already managed to clear the course with some decent marks.

Economics came back to my life much later, when I saw this book called “The Undercover Economist” on a bookshelf. This one by Tim Harford lead me to another, to another and to one too many. So when I saw Harford’s recommendation of this book I thought it is time for me to do a crash course on the basics and do some catching-up. The other thing that interested me was the fact that Yoram Bauman is touted the first stand-up Economist. We people from Dubai have a special fascination about “firsts”, so I was tempted to check this “first”, one of the few contemporary first's not to be from Dubai or the region.

And this book didn’t disappoint me, more than just the crash course I was looking for it has offered me a great new perspective on Economics. The other face of Economics which is not dull, drab & boring as the popular face we know. And mind you, this is the first part that deals only with microeconomics. Macroeconomics would be his next book and that is coming soon.

The cartoon presentation is spectacular and it doesn’t take anything away from the concepts or doesn’t make the book something like an Economics joke book. The other thing I loved in the book was the way the concepts of microeconomics are introduced and how simply they are explained.

Every concept (or most of them) is cross-referenced with a Nobel winning Economic theory. And every time this introduction happens, the king of Sweden pops up with a “Congratulations, you win the Nobel prize” which I love.

This is a superb book that should be read by students taking an Economics course for the first time in their lives. Reading this book gets them do two things, (1) They get to understand the subject in a much, much better way compared to the conventional course material and (2) They will understand that Economics can be lively and Economists are human beings too.

A lovely book I would recommend to people who want to know what Economics is or to those who have done Economics courses and want to understand the concepts better.