Short Story: The Flints of Memory Lane by Neil Gaiman

In Neil Gaiman's Fragile things which is a collection of short fiction and wonders, The Flints of Memory Lane is a true account of a ghost story. Here Neil Gaiman starts with saying that some places are haunted and there is always a reason for that. Then the author speaks of his house, which was built in the grounds of the old house, he had been staying before it was sold by his father. He missed his old house. One night while he was going out to a friend's place, he saw an oddly dressed gypsy woman standing beneath the street lamp, staring up at his house. When he addressed her, she did not answer but looked at him and smiled in a nasty way, that chilled him.

In his own words, he was scared and he walked out of the drive and when he looked back and saw nothing. Profoundly scared, he went over to his friends place and asked his parents to take him home. Although he never saw that woman again, he could not find any reason of her being there. He couldn't find any kind of losure why she had been there. As far as he knew, the house and the grounds were not haunted.

All he remembered was her yellow-black smile under the sodium lamp of the street light and his chilled reaction. In his own words, this is not a great account but he still wrote it down although in his own words, this was not story shaped. Gaiman's story telling is very good. Even though it is not one of his best acounts, he still manages to make it interesting. While reading it, one does feel the chill he must have endured at the age of fifteen.

Short Story: Natasha by Vladimir Nabokov

Natasha by Vladimir Nabokov is another short story I read online on The New Yorker for Short Story September being conducted by CB James.

Exiled from Russia, Natasha lives with he father Khrenov, who is very old and sick. He had lost his two sons and Natasha is the only one who has survived. Their neighbour Baron Wolfe, is attracted to Natasha and wished to be with her.

It has some elements of imagination and magical vision in it. And I felt that all the three characters lie to each other. Natasha says her father is getting well and goes out to spend a day with Wolfe. And Wolfe in turn lies about his travels to Afria and India. Natasha in turn tells him about her strange visions where she feels light and almost flying. It shows the power of imagination which can take us into journeys from our minds. The imaginations of all three is kind of concrete here. I liked the ending.....

Short Story: Awake by Tobias Wolffe

Awake by Tobias Wolffe is a short story I read in The New Yorker yesterday for Short Story September being conducted by CB James. It seems I like exploring and reading online stories.

In this short story, Richard, a student is thinking about his relationship with Ana, an improvised Russian waitress. She is very fond of reading the classics and he has only pretended to like those. He is lying beside her while she is sleeping and is filled with desire for her. However, he knows not to wake her up. To drive away thoughts about his need for her, he thinks of the various classic literature brought by Ana and kept in his room. He even gets up to read a few lines. However, nothing seems to hold his interest save Ana, who is sleeping peacefully by his side.

What drew me on was the conversations Richard has with himself in his mind. I am reading a lot of books like this lately. He is analysing his relationship with Ana and thinks he met her too soon in his life. He loves her yet he does not. Maybe if he had met her later on in his life, he would have been able to claim her love as his right. I liked this part, somewhat. Can we really speculate on what should have happened? Or what should happen? Is his insecured feelings about Ana keep him awake? Ana is an immigrant, yet she knows what she wants but Richar being in his own country does not. It is not a story which stands out. Yet it interests us in its own way.

Read Awake by Tobias Wolffe by clicking on it.

Treatment for Books

Do you treat books carefully, or do you just treat them as any other object? Do you have certain things you refuse to do with books (write in them, etc)? If so, what are they?


Ill-treating, a book, any book is kind of sacrilege for me. It does not matter whose book is it. Yes, I used to write on my text books when I was in school or college. Even now I write in the margins of the reference books I use for my students.

I avoid turning the books so as not to spoil the spine. I do not dog-ear my books. I use book marks. I even made a few bookmarks which are a hug hit with my family and friends. I hate turning corners. I do write my name and date of purhase, other than that nothing. I even put dust covers on my books. Not the hardbound ones but the paperback ones. I cringe if I see a spine damaged. For me, it is death of a book.

However, when I was in school, we used to tear apart each and every page of any romance novel and read it! Those days are long gone! I still possess a lot many of my old tattered books whcih I have lovingly repaired over the years. I can't imagine tearing apart any book now.

Books need to be cared for and looked after. I cherish my books too much to cause real damage to those.

Dear John by Norma Betz

Title: Dear John
Author: Norma L Betz
ISBN: 9781434310712
Publisher: authorhouse/2008
Pages: 206

Andi of Andilit sent me copy of Dear John by Norma L. Betz to guest review it for her. I liked reading this.

Plot summary from Back Cover:

When financial aid administrator Susanna Smith goes to Massachusetts to settle her aunt's estate, she doesn't suspect that her well-ordered life is about to take an unusual turn. Susanna and her faithful Weimaraner companion, Quincy, embark on a journey to the past that not only reveals a connection to a famous ancestor whose circumstances parallel her own, but also results in an important discovery about her own life.

What did you like most about the book?

Although it is fiction, it relates to history, that is star of The American Revolution and tells us about women in the eighteenth entury who were very liberated. I liked the letters Abigal wrote to her husband. They are the main stay of the novel. As we get to know about the historical significance via the letters. These letters are what make Susanna realise her roots as they provide great insight into her ancestors mind.

What did you like least?

It tends to get long winded at places. I felt too much detailing spoiled the flow at times. However, it is a well researched novel.

What did you think of the writing style?

Her writing style is good. Not very complicated, very readable and sucks us into it.

What did you think of the main character? What is the central character’s biggest problem?

Susanna is an independent woman who has only herself to care care of save her dog, Quincy. She is very fond of him and thinks of him as her dear friend. She even talks to him as if with another human being. He also responds in a similar way. Her biggest problem is she does not wish to get emotionally closer to any other human being. Not even her aunt when she was alive.

What effect do the people in the book have on one another?

William Shaw had a great relationship with Susanna's aunt. He transfers his affection to Susanna. Mrs O'Hara is a very motherly woman who loves Susanna for what she is. John, William's son develops some kind of feelings for her. And then the Local librarian is also a very likeable character. The local police too is very co-operative. There is a community feeling and all are supportive of each other. Jerry is the only villain here.

Any other particularly interesting characters?

I found the dog, Quincy very interesting. He can understand whatever Susanna says. He loves his mistress to distraction and is very protective of her.

What did you think of the ending?

Quite good, under the circumstanes. It ends with a positive note.

Do you recommend this book? If you use a rating system, what’s your rating?

Yes, I do recommend this book to anyone who is interested to read about history with a bit of mystery and also to those who wish to learn about woman's rights in the eighteenth century. I would rate it 3.5/5.

Novel About My Wife by Emily Perkins

Thanks Rebecca, for the great questions! I need not go for a full review now!

Title: Novel About My Wife
Author: Emily Perkins
ISBN: 9780747584223
Publisher: Bloomsbury/2008
Pages: 271/Hardback


What was it that made you pick up this novel in the first place? I personally find the title to be quite intriguing; did this play a part?

I did not pick it up. It is gift from a friend of mine who lives in UK. He knows about my love of books and gifted it to me along with a few others. Yes, the title intrigued me! The protagonist is writing a novel about his wife, in flashbacks.

For those not in the know, why don't you give us a brief run-down of the novel so far.

It is about being married, the intricacies of it, the intimacy of it. Tom is very much in love with his wife, Ann, who is pregnant. They move to a new house and she sees a man stalking her. Is he real or just an imagination of her mind? This is pegged as a gothic novel.

This novel is told through the narrative perspective of the character Tom, a bitter, middle-aged man (who is, obviously, telling the 'novel about [his] wife'). Do you find Tom to be an interesting character? Is his voice compelling?

Tom is not bitter. He is very much in love with his wife. Yes, I found Tom interesting, his thoughts compelling. One continuously needs to know his thoughts about Ann, their relationship and their friends. Tom's internalized thoughts are fascinating. Don't we all talk within our minds? So does he.

What do you think of Perkins' writing? How would you describe it to someone who has not read her work before?

Perkins has a way with words. Her writing has many layers to it. I found the novel almost surreal and mystical at places. Intense too. I couldn't put it down after halfway through.

I've seen it written that Perkins "writes brilliantly about dismal people". In your reading of this novel, would you agree with that assessment?

In a way, she does. However, she makes those dismal people likeable and endearing. That drew me into the novel as soon as I started reading it.

They always say you should never judge a book by it's cover, but what the hey, what are your thoughts on the cover of Novel About My Wife?

I think I would have picked it up for the cover and the title. I found those arresting.

Would you recomend this book to others (why/why not)? If so, to what audience would you present it to?

Yes, I would. For couples. Who are in the verge of a relationship or committed to each other. Also to single persons who need to know the finer nuances of marriage, love, relationships and the feelings and emotions that go with it. Understanding is another aspect of it. Frankly I liked reading it.

Booking Through Villiany

Do real-world catastrophes such as 9/11 (and the bombs in Madrid, and the ones in London, and the war in Darfur, and … really, all the human-driven, mass loss-of-life events) affect what you choose to read?


India is not new to terrorists or terrorism. We have had it in the Kashmir region for more than three decades. We have cried hoarse about it to the world at large but no one listened to us. Only after 9/11 happened, US woke up to the fact that it was very real and they were also a part of it in the larger view of things. I wouldn't like to dwell on the political stance about US for the middle east. That is not relevant to this topic.What is relevant here is, how can anyone kill innocent people? That is hard to understand. But then terrorists have no feelings or sentiments. For them we are faceless and nothing can come between their brain-washed beliefs. At one point or other, powerful countries (I don't need to name those) have created terrorists to counteract terrorism. And it has only backfired. Have we really learnt any lessons from those? The state that the world is in, apparently not.

For me terrorism is very real. It is there at every corner. Especially for those who live in Delhi. Twice I have been in the vicinity of terror attacks, only saved by God knows how. For the last thirty years or so, we have terrorists killing people in the Kashmir region. Every day. And bomb blasts elsewhere are not uncommon. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi, Hyderabad are just a few places I mention here, which have been affected by terrorism and blasts. Recent ones took place in Ahmedabad which left 50+ dead. We cannot move anywhere without security check up. All this does take a toll.

And now taking on reading. I can read about terrorists, I can even watch movies too. (However, if something like this happens, I go off reading completely for a while. Any kind of reading). Nonetheless, I think all of us need to read about terror attacks, terrorists and terrorism. If only to understand the whys and hows of it. Trying to escape the reality of it is not going to let it go. I need to understand how a terrorists' mind works. Because I can't get over all those people who are dead for no reason at all. Terrorists simply do not need any reason to kill. They just do it. Cliches simply do not work here. Religion, faith has no meaning when one is left dead and/or maimed, in body, mind or spirit.

And in the midst of it all, please do remember that the world is much beyond US and has faced terrorism much before 9/11.

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Short Story: Blue by Yuvi Zalkow

I found this story on narrativemagazine.com. One has to be logged to read the full story. I am providing a link of that here. This is the story of the week. I read this for Short Story September being conducted by CB James. (Do click on the links for more details about the challenge)

Blue: A Story by Yuvi Zalkow

Here a man sees a woman across the street with clear details and without any thought goes to meet her. He observes a lot of things about her. She too talks to him and takes him to the bowling alley. Without any thought he follows her.

The story does not have much in the sense that you have to get inside both their minds. And interpret how you like. Why does a man go to meet a woman who is a total stranger? She looks past him. She does not give him any kind of signals. So what makes him go to her? How does her name affect him? What fascinates him about her? Why does not ask her motives when she takes him along to the bowling alley?

It is a very short story and it can take our thoughts to many directions. I thought I would share it here, with you all.

Booking Through Peer Pressure

Have you ever felt pressured to read something because ‘everyone else’ was reading it? Have you ever given in and read the book(s) in question or do you resist? If you are a reviewer, etc, do you feel it’s your duty to keep up on current trends?

An one word answer is no! I have not felt pressurised to read what everyone else is reading. Most of the time I avoid those much hyped books. Only exception was the Harry Potter series. That too becos I bought those for my nephews and nieces and hence read those along with the kids.

Frankly I don't give a damn for writers like Dan Brown or Paulho Coelho. They might have mass appeal but I find little substance in their writings. Many a times well known authors are disappointing. As for as twilight series goes, I don't think I am going to check it out. But for the reason, I don't like that genre. And for reviewing, I don't think I have to keep up with trends. Why should I? There is always a place for reviewers who think out of box!

Re-reading

I am all into re-reading. There are many books I have read again and again and there are lot more I plan to re-read.

Amongst the books I have re-read are almost everything by Guy de Maupassant, The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas, Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome, Oliver Twist and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol, Illusions by Richard Bach, almost all the books by Enid Blyton, Tintin, Asterix, poetry books by many poets. There are many many that I can't recall now.

Soon I plan to re-read Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, and yet again poetry books. These are not all...

Re-reading for me means savouring! The familiarity offers comfort. Like having chocolates in midst of a crisis. And re-reading also means learning new things each time. To see the book in a new light. While re-reading, I pause and simply enjoy the words. Am I making any sense at all??