City of Fear
One of the saddest books I have read in a long time. I might write more about it later; meanwhile here’s Anita’s post about the book.
Here’s Robin David’s blog, where I found this Time Out interview of Robin David by Naresh Fernandes.
The Great Disconnect
This blogpost by Hindol Sengupta on the IBN website is objectionable on so many levels. Not only for its lack of understanding of things like democracy, citizenship, nation-building, but also its lack of respect for spelling and syntax. Here’s a sample:
This is a country that prides on it English-speaking, entrepreneurial youth (sic). We who represent India to the world. But we don’t vote do we? And why don’t we? Because there’s no one to vote for! Where is my leader? The truth is, I don’t have one. And that, as sophistication deserts our politics, means perhaps one day I will have to leave.
I’m tempted to comment on that last line but it speaks for itself.
Read the whole thing to find out why, among other things, “the middle-class, educated, metro-bred, Christian-education raised, young” writer couldn’t have “an great conversation” (sic) with his cameraperson.
Bhuter Naach
The Ghost Dance from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, via Amardeep.
The Collector’s Wife
I came to Mitra Phukan’s novel rather late, but I’m glad I got to it finally. It’s lovely.
Events Alert
Book Reading by Amitabha Bagchi from his novel “Above Average”
Chief Guest: Mahesh Dattani
on Wednesday, 23 May 2007, 7.00pm, at Crossword Bookstores, Kemps Corner, Mumbai
*****
A Reading of Revathy Gopal’s Poems
by poets Arundhati Subramaniam, Jane Bhandari, Menka Shivdasani, Anand Thakore
followed by three short remembrance speeches
on Friday, 1 June 2007, at 6:30 pm in the Audio-Visual Room, 2nd Floor NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai.
*****
“Ochre as the Earth”
A Spoken Word Performance
on Sunday, June 3rd 2007, 9 pm, No Black Tie, 17 Jalan Mesui, Kuala Lumpur.
Entry fee: RM15
This 90-minute long spoken word performance of original writing by Sharanya Manivannan will be the first full-length feature performance in Kuala Lumpur by a poet residing in Malaysia.
