Moongphali

Moongphali is a book I bought for my kid after hearing rave reviews about it.  Each story is an eclectic mix of adventure, fun, frolic while underlining the virtues like empathy, honesty, self discipline among others.  The author does not preach but every story by itself makes the protagonist a better person through their resolve.

The story are a good span that is not too lengthy but is enough to keep the child engrossed in the plot.  All the stories were really good but I especially like the chapters of Poonam's Chappals, The perfect doll and the hundred rupee note stories.  The story about the clones were weird but it is fiction and any child would appreciate a good imagination.  The stories are refreshingly new set in contemporary India.

The illustrations were too good that we can frame those pages and it will look good by itself.  The DIYs and craft projects at the end of each story is a good memento to carry from the book.  The book is  for 8 years and above.  The English is plain and the descriptions are very vivid.  The plot is too riveting but I doubt if for the kid's age they can find the end of the story predictable.  All in all a very entertaining and educative find every child should read.  A very delicious read, just like its title.

The boy who swallowed a nail and other stories

Have you ever been told about little chapters of life by your grandmother or mother at bed time.  Well this book is a very similar one.  Except here we get a glimpse of Lalita Iyer's life.  She opens her childhood days and the pure joy it brings.  I know it is all about the parent's days to a child now, but that will not stop them from enjoying the emotions, the pranks and the joy that the child then had experienced.  Some of the chapters (like the first and the fourth) did not have any plot or story, but were simply an account of happenings.

The language is kept very simple and so is a good fit for 8-12 years.  Also the beautiful and vibrant illustrations will keep them very happy. The last chapter, The Boy who swallowed a nail reminds our family of our son who swallowed a magnet when he was a couple of years old.  This book will take you down a beautiful memory lane for adults.  We can immediately bond with the scenes and stories no matter where we grew up (be it north or south India).  Though its not roll on the floor funny, this book gives you a warm feeling like a beautiful hug and keeps you engaged till you have finished the book.

The author's blog can be reached at www.mommygolightly.com

Wonder

I bought this book after a lot of trepidation.  I know this book is about a deformed kid and it has received many accolades but I didn't read any reviews as it may be a spoiler to big plots.  I thought it may have these emotional trauma, would be depressing, but I finally bit the bullet and read it.. Wow!! I didn't shed a tear.  I was emotional though, in a lot of places, but it didn't sadden me.  The whole story was like a big warm hug.  The story is light, inspirational yet will linger for a very long time. 

The Pullman family is the ideal family you would imagine.  They have their ups and downs but they stick together.  The fact that they are dealing with a deformed kid does not arouse any regret or pity.  Sometimes when we read the story in one person's point of view and we lack to see the depth of the characters surrounding it.  But the author has provided chapters in the form of point of view of some of the main characters, which justifies their emotions and actions.  The story does not stagnate, it keeps moving but it shifts focus through the characters.  The author has managed to not preach or be philosophical and yet has underlined the importance of being exceptional in character.

The last few chapters were a bit dramatic but it was necessary to make it inspirational.  The kid is just deformed, not spastic or retarded.  Just deformed.  Still the author has beautifully portrayed all the difficulties of this 10 year old.  At last we understand "Beauty is just skin deep".  This book falls under the category of 10-12 years.  But I guess a beautiful story defies all ages.

The mother I never knew

Summary:
What secrets lurk in a family’s past—and how important are they in the here and now?
Sudha Murty’s new book comprises two novellas that explore two quests by two different men—both for mothers they never knew they had.

Venkatesh, a bank manager, stumbles upon his lookalike one fine day. When he probes further, he discovers his father’s hidden past, which includes an abandoned wife and child. Ventakesh is determined to make amends to his impoverished stepmother—but how can he repay his father’s debt?
Mukesh, a young man, is shocked to realize after his father’s death that he was actually adopted. He sets out to find his biological mother, but the deeper he delves, the more confused he is about where his loyalties should lie: with the mother who gave birth to him, or with the mother who brought him up.

The Mother I Never Knew is a poignant, dramatic book that reaches deep into the human heart to reveal what we really feel about those closest to us.

My Review:
Sudha Murty is a people person.  With her philanthropic works and extensive travelling she meets a lot of people from very diverse backgrounds.  She conjures up two stories from this vast oceans of stories that are apt for the same title. 

She has laced the social evils and injustice to women in the rural parts of India.  She depicts the ugly face of the society and the sheer will power of these women who endure such hardship.  Her forte is spin a story that is very much like watching a soap or a 80 or 90's movie. 

It was one racy read and the turn of events could be easily judged.  It was the last couple of chapters that was a bit unusual and kept me hooked.  The mould of the characters are very structured and could easily resemble anyone living.  But lets not delve into the real world itself, the press does its share to fill us with the grim details.  But whenever a secret is to be told, the author simply creates an ambience where everyone leaves and the people discussing the secret can simply carry on.  How convenient! yet the author decides to cut to the chase (for our sake of course)and spares us more drama.  Simple English and riveting narration are the key points which will help you breeze through the book in a couple of hours. 

Secret Daughter

This is one novel I will not forget in a hurry.  The very rawness of emotions still hangs around me.  A very structured book from the introductions to the very epilogue which beautifully ties all loose ends.  The author has struck a chord with all women, particularly the mothers, be it the surrogate or the helpless who unwillingly loses her girl to the chauvinistic male society.

The delivery is a painful event all by itself.  But when the author goes on the length to project it, it becomes etched in the memory forever.  We all understand a mother's concern to save a child, but for the unborn this mother goes to every length to at least give her a life.  The strong woman that she is, painstakingly ignores the aftermath of child delivery to at least let this child see the light of a day, and names her Usha.

The author has thoroughly researched the slums of Mumbai and drawn a detail picture of its rashness and poverty.  Tears prick my eyes not just at one or two high points but again and again when I feel the searing pain these women experience throughout their lives.

We do have this notion of the women of western world as the easy going types.  Well not so.  The emotions of Somer are too raw.  Her willingness to prove as a good wife, her patience to be accepted as a mother and above all trying to fit in a world shared by dad and daughter.  I feel an empathy with her that I simply cannot ignore her as another character of the story.  She stands in par with Kavitha, the Indian Protagonist of the story.

I could not simply put down the book and had a very intimate connection as a mother and as a human.  It is a willing choice of every mother/parent who puts their kid for adoption, but the author has beautifully accounted every aftermath of it.  If as a reader I am under such emotional roller coaster, I wonder what the author would have gone through to put up such an awesome novel.  A simple one liner (or spoiler, however you wanna look at it) would be, "the world of two women connected through one child".

Well it does not end there.  She does justify the men too.  What emotions and guilt a father would have when he loses a girl child is strongly reflected.  That indeed was a turning point, for good.  Everything becomes peaceful when the story has a beautiful ending.  Try this book. You will not be disappointed.  Not to give an air for myself, but I had read this book in 2011 and still remember the story thoroughly.  Goes to show, how well this story still lingers in my mind.

A long walk for Bina

The story starts with a leopard and the beautiful picturesque description of the forest that we cannot see today.  Birds and animals come alive at the description that is too vivid. 

The story tells about the hardship of children, who have to travel miles on foot for education.  I am reminded of APJ Abdul Kalam, who had endured such hardship yet became a scientist at ISRO and later our nation's president.

Chapter 3 mentions the Tahri dam and the blurb has a titbit of info about the protests around it.  So I dug a little and found more info here.  It is said that the dam would reduce the flow of the Ganges and its tributaries which is much against the popular Hindu belief.

Local village scenery like the dusty roads, steep climbs up the hill, mule trains, the village bazzar were a delight and some brought back memories of yesteryear.  I am sure no place still remains the same so it was like a black and white movie that I shared with my kid.

The author details each season change through the changes in the flora and fauna, which is a good learning for the children too.  Now a days, a thriving luscious forest is a rarity.  I wonder if we will get a glimpse of this luscious forest and mountains with streams today, where this Tehri dam has been built.

Thousands of people had lost their homes because of this dam but the author goes on to show that even animals had lost their only home, the forest.  Also he further drives the point that man and animals can co-exist if only we can understand them a little bit.

In this era of fast deforestation, the author has managed to capture the importance of the forest alongside educate about the disadvantages of the controversial Tehri dam.  Ruskin Bond has again captured a very mundane, routine life of a village in a captivating story that displays courage and friendship.  Illustrations by Kanwar Deep though in Black & White, captures the story beautifully.  Another book from my kid's school library.  I am sure every library would maintain one of Ruskin Bond's classics.