HBR - Test - All Post

The painter of Signs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">R.K. Narayan brings the most unique pair of lovers through this book.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zc6QELtyYCUHhpgeHmAVW5SsOBTKYbpWGoMmKQjXmVE7y6MZI7cl0AFpdqyKFJbV70sWUtuhfYbT1ZIQHj4clSqThp5sK8PaXydflh6RqvkS5CeQI7BXJf7OOTDyImrBzm0KJKiR8G6z/s1600/PainterOfSigns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Zc6QELtyYCUHhpgeHmAVW5SsOBTKYbpWGoMmKQjXmVE7y6MZI7cl0AFpdqyKFJbV70sWUtuhfYbT1ZIQHj4clSqThp5sK8PaXydflh6RqvkS5CeQI7BXJf7OOTDyImrBzm0KJKiR8G6z/s1600/PainterOfSigns.jpg" /></a>To be frank, I did not enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed <a href="http://heavybookreview.blogspot.in/2013/04/guide.html" target="_blank">Guide</a>. I think I did not belong to the right age required for this book. Maturity in thought is needed to appreciate such a book. The story revolves around Raman, a painter of signs and Daisy, a young lady determined to improve the plight of the Indian population through strict family planning. What is striking about the novel is the modern human psychology and state of relationships. Garnished with the hustle and bustle of a life in Malgudi, the story is written in a simple language. My reading experience was not a very good one as I haven't grown the mentality of liking such a plot. <br />The bittersweet story has a very slow pace and was not very engrossing to me. I plan to read this book once again in the future to make a clearer view about my true experience. What I would like to suggest the viewers of this blog is that go through the book and make your own views and opinions regarding it. Maybe your opinions would contrast mine. However this book is not for children.<span id="goog_2086286303"></span><span id="goog_2086286304"></span></div>

The painter of Signs

R.K. Narayan brings the most unique pair of lovers through this book. To be frank, I did not enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Guide . I ...

Lost Cat

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QWzXy71usw_aWASF6r70kYejchzTcUem4CuEghe3RuO7IrwoePuPcOmg8qgOh8dv6bq9SSi8L2vo9SQf_bDKGVscx7kHZB2kJo7hXvH3JYf397CA0IPWr3XK0FhkFGEOge5_sBU4utY/s1600/15793584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QWzXy71usw_aWASF6r70kYejchzTcUem4CuEghe3RuO7IrwoePuPcOmg8qgOh8dv6bq9SSi8L2vo9SQf_bDKGVscx7kHZB2kJo7hXvH3JYf397CA0IPWr3XK0FhkFGEOge5_sBU4utY/s1600/15793584.jpg" width="209" /></a>The subtitle of this book written by Caroline Paul goes: <b>A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology.</b><br /><b><br /></b>As the name suggests, it can be easily understood by many that this non-fictitious story is about a cat that is lost. The author gets badly hurt in an accident, and hears the doctors saying that she has broken her Tibia and Fibula. She then enthusiastically responds in her morphine haze that they are her cats, making the doctors think of her as hallucinating. Her two cats are introduced to the reader through this, namely Tibby and Fibby.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO3Ce-mxCERfzwdob2HzEmuxiF1kdLLYv0jYyuhy1faw2yh8PQ_9OVj-aJz1dOZAJ7iUYwQkABpUHIT141GIoiXnh-0YnQhD4UZu-bsxKlehyphenhyphen_MM0nQGdX5bzf6pHMhCGnN77IIowGMI/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="27" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO3Ce-mxCERfzwdob2HzEmuxiF1kdLLYv0jYyuhy1faw2yh8PQ_9OVj-aJz1dOZAJ7iUYwQkABpUHIT141GIoiXnh-0YnQhD4UZu-bsxKlehyphenhyphen_MM0nQGdX5bzf6pHMhCGnN77IIowGMI/s1600/Picture1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This image shows how interesting the book is. Black lines are interesting parts, yellow spaces boring.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next follow rather humorous descriptions of her 13-year old cats, which she prefers to address as 'kittens'. The unthinkable follows, when Tibby gets lost. She drowns in a sea of despair, prays to Allah, Buddha, whom she does not believe in, and even makes a failed attempt of finding the lost cat through the help of a psychic.<br /><br />Read the book to find out if she will even find her cat? I found the book a little boring. The free introduction might kindle interest in the reader to buy the book, but I found the middle section more like a scientific paper. Many forms of wonderful technology are used to track Tibby.</div>

Lost Cat

The subtitle of this book written by Caroline Paul goes: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology. As the name suggests, it can...

Secret Seven Win Through

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qqo0WhfhWvrhphP9H89iM7HcS6fFpUpti6_tZEnvklCTdTD7v7eERm_MzswivmcFkAhNTae2Z-71f_f9c2RwNRjk3CUjgxv4UBkSIo9vzqz9AZf8n3uv7qeDS0nJnegFvI6FKQlKjmE/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qqo0WhfhWvrhphP9H89iM7HcS6fFpUpti6_tZEnvklCTdTD7v7eERm_MzswivmcFkAhNTae2Z-71f_f9c2RwNRjk3CUjgxv4UBkSIo9vzqz9AZf8n3uv7qeDS0nJnegFvI6FKQlKjmE/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original book</td></tr></tbody></table>Another review of a book by Enid Blyton, the seventh in the series, and the most interesting of the three I have read. The language used is somewhat informal, but has a great sense of meaning in it.<br /><br />The story sets out during the season of <i>Easter,</i> with seven members and a dog belonging a secret society (as I have mentioned earlier <a href="http://heavybookreview.blogspot.in/2014/01/go-ahead-secret-seven.html">here</a>) who are very eager to solve problems that create problems to the pubic. They lose their meeting place and start looking for a new one, eventually finding many locations including an old hut, a boat house, a caravan and a cave. They decide to vote, and choose the secret cave as their meeting place, but are unaware of the actual history of that place.<br /><br />They find the cave very '<i>secret</i>' and inconspicuous, and enjoy the sand-covered, cold floor. They bring in their things and enjoy a few 'hidden' days. But after some time, their books and food start disappearing. They set traps near the entrance to catch the unknown intruder, but still continue to find their things stolen surprisingly without any disturbance to their trap.They then find an evidence! A book left by the intruder, which was recognized to be a diary of a person named <i>Albert Tanner</i>.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.enidblyton.net/secret-seven/seven-walking.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="123" src="http://www.enidblyton.net/secret-seven/seven-walking.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Walking Seven</td></tr></tbody></table><br />They start searching the countryside for any clues. Will they find the suspect? Or will they vacate the cave in despair? Or is it a combination of the above two? Read the book to enjoy this wonderful story.<br /><br />Other Enid Blyton book reviews:<br /><a href="http://heavybookreview.blogspot.in/2014/01/go-ahead-secret-seven.html"><i>Go Ahead Secret Seven</i></a><br /><a href="http://heavybookreview.blogspot.in/2013/04/you-all-must-have-heard-about-famous.html"><i>The Famous Five (Part 4)</i></a><br /><a href="http://heavybookreview.blogspot.in/2013/03/the-adventures-of-mr-pink-whistle.html"><i>The Adventure of Mr Pink Whistle</i></a></div>

Secret Seven Win Through

The original book Another review of a book by Enid Blyton, the seventh in the series, and the most interesting of the three I have read. The...

Pygmalion(abridged)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love to read the unabridged versions of classics but I happened to read this abridged version of 'Pygmalion' originally written by George Bernard Shaw.  This book is framed in such a way that it drives young readers to develop an interest for reading classics. It includes huge black and white illustrations in almost every other page. There was a saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover" which was later modified into "Don't judge a book by it's movie". I have seen the movie adapted from this book, a very old Audrey Hepburn movie- 'My Fair Lady'. Whenever I encounter such an incident, inevitably I give more preference to the the book because it interests me more. However, this time the situation was reversed. The movie gave me a wider and better representation of the emotions and thought processes. Coming back to the book, I am surely eager to read the unabridged version to taste the true essence of the writing. I think this book is meant for children as the human psychology shown here is much simpler to the one shown in the movie. The story revolves around a very ill mannered and uncultured flower seller who meets a professor who specializes in voice training only to be destined to become a person whose outward side looks polished but deep within remains the same. Enjoy reading starters!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I4-Nrbuboy4TY5RqRLdeOk8p42bgOX3Ns7tJDoP-_goHeR2YpQL3-2yaid0glpt4uDMUwZwV_JvoZ14WAEkDgE0Cs8n47DNDULFuKMd-fcpAJDGIc1eTHQ-Nn2EOF4dmTb_sDdeKvrTh/s1600/Pygmalion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I4-Nrbuboy4TY5RqRLdeOk8p42bgOX3Ns7tJDoP-_goHeR2YpQL3-2yaid0glpt4uDMUwZwV_JvoZ14WAEkDgE0Cs8n47DNDULFuKMd-fcpAJDGIc1eTHQ-Nn2EOF4dmTb_sDdeKvrTh/s1600/Pygmalion.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>

Pygmalion(abridged)

I love to read the unabridged versions of classics but I happened to read this abridged version of 'Pygmalion' originally written by...

Tigers for Dinner

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">When I was buying it I never expected it to turn out what it did! This book went way beyond my assumption. Initially, I thought it would be a fat volume that would include comedy, which it did include, and was meant for book worms. The fact turned out to be that, the book was meant to turn normal children into book worms. What I mean by this strange sentence of mine is that this book with seven chapters is meant to be read by children and get them interested into reading. More than 3\4th of this copy includes coloured illustrations by Sunaina Coelho. Ruskin Bond's imaginations know no bounds when he is wrinting for children. He brings in seven intriguing strories narrated by Jim Corbett's <i>Khansama</i>(cook), Mehmoud, who describes his experiences and encounters with animals of all sorts while preparing the tasty lamb chops for young Ruskin. I loved the fact that the sub-title on the cover page is 'Tall Tales by Jim Corbett's <i>Khansama</i>', not short tales.<br />Tussling with a cobra to hairy demons under the pillow, being carried away by a <i>muggermuch</i>(crocodile) to hunting down a cheetah, being blown by a wild boar to tackling a hungry man eating tiger; the stories urge it's readers to give a thought to the possibility of events.<br />The very thought of the aromas of delicious food floating by Mehmoud's kitchen with his voice humming an enchanting tale bring both, water to my mouth and anxiety in my mind. So, join me to this world of <i>Carpet sahib's</i> (Mehmoud's way of referring to Jim Corbett) company and Runskin's transfixing imaginations. I'm sure that this book can turn anybody into a little child.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTlbEPC2ErdxWplTFC82sbmAfzj3-KC6AksIEIa1tiLp9ZI5YGIXFPQYSmW8w0nqEcCs_pUEbxQOjz2F5qxB8-zzgq3fxUVyVJim0X5DgOMPwRgmrewW4GBOCsizKXMijncAEhNLJkwQi/s1600/Tigers_for_dinner.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTlbEPC2ErdxWplTFC82sbmAfzj3-KC6AksIEIa1tiLp9ZI5YGIXFPQYSmW8w0nqEcCs_pUEbxQOjz2F5qxB8-zzgq3fxUVyVJim0X5DgOMPwRgmrewW4GBOCsizKXMijncAEhNLJkwQi/s1600/Tigers_for_dinner.jpeg" width="205" /></a></div><br /></div>

Tigers for Dinner

When I was buying it I never expected it to turn out what it did! This book went way beyond my assumption. Initially, I thought it would be ...

Wise and Otherwise

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">An intriguing set of fifty one real life encounters that leave the reader pondering on the contrasting shades of India. Sudha Murty brings out the best from her life experiences with her vivid writing that captivate the readers. Human nature and psychology is showcased through these twinkling tales where there are illustrations of honesty, humility, wisdom, greed, wretchedness, sorrow, cruelty and what not. The stories highlight human nature at it's best and worst. What interests me best in this book is the impact it creates through the simplicity of language. The stories reflect irony and are caramelized by subtle humour. Just like her other book, 'The day I stopped Drinking Milk', this book too manages to touch the deepest corners of one's heart. The author has dedicated this work of art to "the shirtless people of India" who have taught her so much about her country.<br />Strong variations in the societal effects on humans are showcased wonderfully. This universal book will surely leave a change in the outlooks of it's readers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWJfPikdeIqZ1UVTNx7voz_nblDgDvftt_CRoeHgpfg12JX9tdDBrYXAt2rL9a_svmP0guaNF45a9BlKfQvLg8-n5EsMSVVPvfMeFF0BuLtkgzmKcsalvav6YpvBgHYZIJ_kcENV6VaEa/s1600/wise_and_otherwise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWJfPikdeIqZ1UVTNx7voz_nblDgDvftt_CRoeHgpfg12JX9tdDBrYXAt2rL9a_svmP0guaNF45a9BlKfQvLg8-n5EsMSVVPvfMeFF0BuLtkgzmKcsalvav6YpvBgHYZIJ_kcENV6VaEa/s1600/wise_and_otherwise.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>

Wise and Otherwise

An intriguing set of fifty one real life encounters that leave the reader pondering on the contrasting shades of India. Sudha Murty brings o...

Mahashweta

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I think I fell in love with a certain "parijata" flowers even without actually knowing which flowers they referred to after reading this novel. Well now I've Googled it and come to know :) . That is the speciality of this book and I would rate it as the best book I've ever read until now.<br />Such is Sudha Murty's enchanting style of writing which has left me awe-inspired and spellbound. The best part is that I could not contain my curiosity to know the whole story and was complled to finish the book within one day and that too the day before my Mathematics examination!<br />The story starts off just like a fairy tale where there is a dream marriage of the main character, Anupama, who belongs to a poor background, to a rich and handsome Anand (whom we'll later discover is not at all rich at heart and commitment). Everything is perfect and then, just a little white spot discovered on Anupama's foot bombards Anupama's life entirely. Having leukoderma is considered to be a bad omen in India and also leaves the victims totally ostracized.<br />Forced to return to her paternal house without any sign of concern or sympathy from her wealthy in-laws,  Anupama tolerates all sorts of taunts from her stepmother and also bears with the social stigma of a married woman living with her parents just in the hope of some support from her beloved. She makes up her mind, committing suicide at the point would be the best potion available to her when she comes to know that her husband is remarrying. But she is driven by  courage and determination to face life as it comes, moves to Bombay to her childhood friend, Sumithra's place. Discover how Anupama weaves her painful life into one where she is independent, successful and supported by the storng walls of friendship and love.<br />I feel the title of the book is apt in the true sense- 'Mahashweta', the absolute white. I don't remember how many times the contents of the pages made me cry. I could not manage to keep my cheeks dry. After Rabindranath Tagore, I think Sudha Murty is the only person who managed to portray the human psychology and emotions so well.<br />"Mahashweta is an inspiring story of courage and resilience in a world marred by illusions and betrayals. The poignant tale offers hope and solace to the victims of the prejudices that govern society even today." This is given at the back of the book and I really feel that something existing deep within me has changed since I've read this book. The success of the book is defined when one reads the postscript which is a real life story where a girl's life and marriage is saved due to this eye-opener book read by the fiance.<br />Go ahead, wait for nothing to propel you and experience this heart rending story.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIGjUMmJkm5h1F1QdAVNQDYQP9oBJVEcALcUDLnVhiKTu4th20TZp3b5ZAJmfLvtcW891FVZTXa2NHv9fI0Z4z1TzvyhU0686tGHMJh72U4bWmv9qddrAkx44uVENtOPYLjlwRVzgpWHv/s1600/Mahasweta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIGjUMmJkm5h1F1QdAVNQDYQP9oBJVEcALcUDLnVhiKTu4th20TZp3b5ZAJmfLvtcW891FVZTXa2NHv9fI0Z4z1TzvyhU0686tGHMJh72U4bWmv9qddrAkx44uVENtOPYLjlwRVzgpWHv/s1600/Mahasweta.jpg" width="201" /></a></div></div>

Mahashweta

I think I fell in love with a certain "parijata" flowers even without actually knowing which flowers they referred to after readin...