Shantaram

I finally managed to read this book. I had heard some very good reviews about it, and thought that it would be worth a read.
Now, after finishing it, I have some pretty mixed feelings. I liked the story itself, and the plot was gripping. But I did not like the authors style of writing. It felt too much like a schoolmasters style, and was stilted and artificial (to me).
But like most books, its worth reading at least once. Though if you have to start, be warned. This is one thick book.

Some Poetry...maybe

I usually hate poetry...especially if it does not even rhyme. But at 1:50 am local time, my resistance collapsed, and I decided to try my hand at that Worse stuff. So here goes.

Visions of tomorrow

Each day I have I see something fresh

A flower blooms tonight, and fills my mind

Fragrances vie for attention

And today is a free day.

Don’t shed a tear when it wilts

Its time is done

And the dawn brings a new surprise.

The world of forever

Leaps out to surprise me.

And tomorrow is already today.

A Long Day!

Sunday was one of my longest days so far. I had gone to sleep only by around 12:00 on Saturday, and was up at 4:00 in the morning in order to pick up some distant cousins from the Railway station.
It was all quite surreal. It was ridiculously early in the morning, and the station wore a really deserted look. There was this solitary pigeon cooing in the rafters which supported the roof of the old Cantonment station at B'lore. I was sitting with my cousin on the bench , admiring the beauty of the station, and glorying in its pristine condition. Then this train comes chugging in, and this sudden crowd of people get off, and then the train itself disappears a few instants later, leaving no signs of the mob that recently crowded the stations. Well, when I say no signs, I meant no VISIBLE signs! There were certainly enough olfactory signs floating around. It ensured that my cousin and I spent the next 20 minutes vainly trying to evade the stench that certain inconsiderate passengers left behind as their calling cards.
Anyway, we finally picked up cousins (who arrived to play the violin and mrudangam for a concert) at about 5:00 in the morning. Got back home, to play a couple of games of Warcraft III, and then to finish "Eldest" (To be reviewed).
Went out in the afternoon, and purchased a laptop for self and sister. Mine is comparitively cheaper, at about 47k...but that is still freaking expensive...especially for the loser config that all laptops seem to have! Got back home at 5:45 to attend said concert, which was actually very good indeed.
Then went to my aunts place to pig out, and dropped the cousins back to the railway station. It was almost 12:00 by the time I got back. Writing this, my computer clock says that the time is 1:01a.m...and considering the way my eyes feel, I think that the clock is showing the right time.
So my book and music reviews will have to wait until my next post...which might not be too soon.