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Showing posts from April, 2015

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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It usually so happens such that I first read the book and then watch the movie. But in this case, I first saw the movie and after about 3 months, read the book. And ever since, "I will do a Gone Girl on you", has been my favorite expression to throw at my husband, to mock threaten him. The best part and also the worst part of reading a book after watching the movie is you just imagine the actors faces when reading the book. Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck are just perfect for the characters. Gone Girl is easily one of the best books that I have read till date. Gillian Flynn has so brilliantly captured the characters that you just can't believe that they are fictitious -even though Amy is someone whom you just can't believe that she actually exists. And there lies the brilliance of the author. By now, am sure you all know the basic outline of the story -Amy Elliot Dunn disappears from her house on her 5th wedding anniversary and her husband becomes a prime su

Manah Sodhanam -Verse 22

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I have been thinking about verse 22 for quite sometime now. I really didn't know what to write about it, because whatever I penned down didn't really come out satisfactorily to me. But then, somedays back, I got into a heated debate with a friend -about the practice of staunch Iyengars eating food prepared by only those who have their Baranyasam done -the branding of the conch and the Sudarshana Chakra on their shoulders. The practice was more prevalent two generations back then it is now, like most of our customs and traditions. While my friend argued that the practice was completely bigoted and was just a way of reinforcing untouchability, I argued that it was an exercise in discipline. Before I proceed further, let me make it very clear that I don't deny or justify the cruel of untouchability meted out by the so called upper caste people. But, in this case, I feel that we can't deny the amount of discipline and control people had to follow such practices.

A follow up post

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Remember this post where I had made such tall claims and wanted to become disciplined and focused overnight? Well, it didn't happen. But, it was not a complete write off either. I was able to work out 4 times a week on all the four weeks! and I have started cycling in earnest. Covering more than 180 Kms by walking, jogging and cycling, I had exercised the maximum number of times and most regularly in the month of March. Yay! But, I have figured a very important thing... I am able to focus fully on only one thing at a time. By focusing on exercise, I have missed out on writing. Even though I have all the posts written in my head, I was not able to type it out, simply because I was too exhausted after all the activities. Waking up at 4.30 am puts you to sleep by 10. And the only time I stayed up late was to finish Gone Girl (review coming up shortly), and a couple of nights at my mom's place where I was binge watching the TV. So, I have to find a way to balance thing