Boys Do Cry!

I have received many emails over the last few weeks asking me to write about my favorite book. Its a sacrilege to pick just one out of the numerous ones I have read. Most of them have created an impression on me, and there are certain pieces in each book that stick to your mind forever, surfacing every once in a while. So I have decided to briefly mention my top five picks-

1) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Clearly the best I have read in fiction over the last five years or so. The book presents a beautifully written, poignant story of two friends in Afghanistan. Of how they move apart and how one of the friends, redeems himself by trying to recover the remains of his friendship. Now let me go out on a limb here and openly say that I cried reading this book while in a flight. I cried entire buckets! Yes, Boys do cry! One of things I would like to mention here is that I never understood the need for a couple to have kids until I read this book. Maybe I was naive and immature to understand that, but the way Hosseini talks about the emptiness in the protagonists' life is just gut wrenching. I have presented this book as a parting gift to my clients while I was working in Europe and it evoked some very extreme reactions! Bluntly put, you are missing something really big if you haven't read this book already!As another thought, I haven't seen the movie based off of this novel, but I bet the movie does a great deal of injustice to the novel, simply because the book is just hopelessly beautiful.

2) Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Just one word- Eccentric! You either like it or hate it. This book is not meant for everyone. It takes guts or desperation to write and more importantly to read something so radical. Mr. Zaphod Beeblebrox, your deeds will forever be etched in my mind, especially the way you torture people by reciting your poems. Hats off to you!

3) The Godfather by Mario Puzo.

The world is divided into two parts. People who have, and people who have not read the godfather.This is staple food I would say. Most of us have been witness to the husky voice of Don Corleaone either in print or on Television. I must say this is one of those rare instances where the movie has done justice to the novel. I like the way Puzo brings out the darker shades in his characters. This also happens to be a crash course on Negotiations in my opinion. There are as many memorable one liners in this novel as the number of companies that have rejected me! I guess the one liners deserve a separate post altogether.

4) Surely You are Joking Mr. Feynman

An interesting collection of anecdotes and instances from Feynman's life. His colorful range of interests, the Manhattan project, drums and what not. A fact I am quoting from Wikipedia- The title derives from a woman's response at Princeton when, after she asked the newly-arrived Feynman if he wanted cream or lemon in his tea, he requested both (not realising that it was not customary). I feel you would enjoy this much more if you have been acquainted to some extent with his works and lectures.

5) Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

I guess this semi-autobiographical novel by Roberts-a heroin addict, run away prisoner, illegal alien in India is colorful in every sense of the word. It helps me look at India from an "outsiders" perspective. The story of his life is carefully woven around the diversity of India and the gap that exists between a middle class indian upbringing and a western life. The novel simply celebrates the beauty of life. While reading it, I am taken into the streets of Old delhi, and I find myself soaking in the heat, dust and the vibrant colors of India. This book was gifted to me by a colleague in England and the whiff of its pages always reminds me of my time there.

Well, clearly I suck at book reviews, but nevertheless, that took a lot out of me to write all that. Hope you enjoy them and it would be great to hear your comments as well, in case you have read any of these.

This post merits a confession as well- Forgive me father for I have sinned, by not talking about the Ernest Hemingways, the Dickens, the Ayn Rands, the Tolstoys of this world, in my post.
As I sleep with one eye open, save me from their spirits as they haunt me tonight.

Signing off with Smile
by Charlie Chaplin

Adios
Metal