Wonderful Words # 2

Quote on Starbucks Cup as mentioned in How Starbucks saved my Life

Imagine we are all the same. Imagine we all agree about politics, religion and morality. Imagine we like the same types of music, food and coffee. Sound boring? Differences need not divide us. Embrace diversity. Dignity is everyone's human right. ~ Bill Brummel

A Cricket Crazy Nation Called India

Many achievements may go unnoticed in a Cricket crazy nation like India. While whole India is ecstatic about winning a quarterfinal match against Australia and all out there on streets dancing and celebrating this victory, some important sports news that are likely to go unseen.

• Saina Nehwal is world number three of women's singles in BWF rankings, after wining
• Viswanathan Anand finishes third in Amber chess tournament at Monaco after defeating against Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan

I know, I am no sports queen and don’t possess enough knowledge to comment on Sports environment but sometimes I feel frustrated (disappointed at times as well) on craziness India shows for Cricket and complete negligence towards other sports. To an Indian: No Cricket means No Sport.

I feel it unjustifiable when I read about hefty amounts cricketers earn from their fees and from brand endorsements and other such events obviously using their position as a brand. In India, You are not entitled to glory if you are not a Cricketer. Here a cricketer of half the caliber may earn more money and fame than any other sport person just because people worship Cricket while refuse to acknowledge presence of other sports. For instance, Viswanathan Anand has been world number one in chess for many years and has shown exceptional games like his contemporary Sachin Tendulkar does in Cricket but while a common Indian may regard Sachin as God but may even not be aware who Viswanathan Anand is.

I completely understand that each individual and nation has it’s own favorites but this is more like nourishing one plant at the cost of others and suppressing growth of others. Nevertheless, I hope at the end of the day all this euphoria around 2011 Cricket World Cup proves fruitful and India wins highest title of its much-revered game, Cricket, after drought of 27 years ends this time.

Image Source: Wikipedia

I saw this cover on a blog and loved it instantly. There is something about this cover that intregued me in a strange way.

Review: How Starbucks Saved My Life

“ How Starbucks Saved My Life” is a autobiographical endeavor of Michael Gates Gill; a fortunate person since his childhood, a Yale University pass out who holds a successful career in a well-known advertising agency. His life graph has always moved in upward (progressive) direction, with frequent promotions at company until he was struck hard by life. Suddenly his well-organized, “complete” life falls apart and at times he struggles even to make ends meet. But out of blue comes a hope in form of Starbucks and starts a new phase of his life at the ripe age of sixties. This autobiography is a tale of a reputed company’s top creative director’s new “Avatar” as a Starbucks partner; his struggle to forget his past and getting adjusted in new life, with new kind of people, new environment and work culture, changing social life and most importantly new JOB PROFILE.

I had read about this book on a blog and instantly conceived it to be an appealing book (Although now I think I overestimated to some extent). After reading about it wanted to get a copy of this book so badly and wanted to finish it ASAP :). Michael Gates Gill is not a professional writer, as some someone can perceive, but has done a fairly good job with words and has managed to narrate episodes in free flowing manner. Book is an easy read, incidents are narrated as it happened. Gill lapses into past sometimes but it barely looks irrelevant to me. Most importantly, what I liked about the book is that it’s full of positive thinking, a particular type that one needs in times of crisis. I liked the way Michael Gill took the opportunity so positively and tried to make the best out of one chance (and possibly the last chance) he got from life amidst the entire crisis.

Only thing that bothered me was more than necessary words of appreciation for “Starbucks”, I mean it’s obvious to feel gratitude towards something that helped save your but over sweetness is bad for health and you know what I mean, right? ;)

But overall you can grab the book and feel good when you are struggling with blue kind of mood and want to read something light yet encouraging.

YAY !!!

“I'm glad I did it, partly because it was worth it, but mostly because I shall never have to do it again” - Mark Twain

This is exactly my feeling when I passed the written exam for driver’s license (Sadly, behind the wheels test yet to go). The full 100 pages drivers’ license rulebook was driving me nuts ever since I first saw it. I just kept wondering how would someone drive and survive cramming whole of this dreaded book that is full of enough rules to distract your balance (Mental if not physical).

But now…. a big sigh of relief as I am through the written exam .

Anton Chekhov Words

Lately I have been reading some short stories by Anton Chekhov and decided to do random googling on quotes by this Russian writer. As usual Google didn’t disappoint me and I could found some brilliant quotes on website ThinkExist.

Below is khichadi of all those quotes I liked, with some mari-masala of course ;)

• “Any idiot can face a crisis, it is this day-to-day living that wears you out.” – Although many will not agree, but who cares!

• “Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” – Loved this one, so true

• “The University brings out all abilities, including incapability.” – I Agree ;)

• “Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness that is not idleness, and only what is useless is pleasurable.” – Finally, I found someone like minded
  

• “No psychologist should pretend to understand what he does not understand... Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing.” – Do you understand that ??!!???

• “To advise is not to compel.” – People… please listen

A Sweet Short # 2

A Day in The Country by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

This is a story of three unlikely friends and a day in their life. Fyokla, Danilka and Terenty are a trio out of which 2 friends far younger (almost children) than the third friend. The day for these three unfortunates (Although, fortunate enough to have each other!) starts with a trouble and as the day progresses they also sail with the day; overcoming little adversities, observing wonders of nature, sharing their experiences and moments together.

Story is so simple and fluid and yet recited with wonderful effectiveness to hold one’s interest. I specially loved the parts where detailed descriptions of nature and country provinces are given. I almost feel that I am living that part; experiencing rain and magical changes in nature.

I liked the story for its gentleness in writing, warmth of relations and beautiful descriptions of Nature.

Story can be found here

A Sweet Short

‘She was always fond of some one and could not exist without loving’

Says the opening paragraph of “The Darling” introducing its protagonist in perfect words. Well, I read this short, but warm and affectionate story “The Darling “ written by 18th Century Russian Anton Chekhov. I found “The Darling” on a very fabulous website treasure called “Classic Shorts” (This website, in real sense, is a treasure of classic short stories from various authors)

“The Darling” is a story (set in era of 18th century) of a Russian lady called Olenka. As the title suggests Olenka was such endearing person that people called her ‘Darling’. She was made to love and to be loved, Love was driving force behind her existence. Story gives you trip of Olenka’s affection towards her relationships and how love drives her life through years; her 2 marriages and 3rd love affair, her loneliness and bare life after their departure of them and finally rejuvenation of her interest in life.

I was almost glued to the story once I started it and finished it just about breathlessly. Later browsing Internet to know more about “The Darling”, I came to know that this short story is a well-celebrated work of its Russian writer Anton Chekhov.

I absolutely adored reading it for warmth of emotions in story and it’s simplicity.


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A Point to Ponder

Although I loved the story and completely understand and agree to its message of importance of love and relations in our life, what I could not relate to is, loneliness or say loss or distance from your loved ones will make you a numb person. As the story says Olenka’s whole existence rested on the pillars, her love interests (3 men she loved) and that was what defined her persona, her opinions, beliefs, views and expressions in life. When her destiny led her to live without them she was a person of emptiness without opinions, interests or feelings.

OK now …I know how parting from loved ones pains the heart and makes you feel wretched but you don’t stop living, you don’t become empty and stop being a person you have been all your life like Olenka. That’s possibly because Olenka never had never been herself, she always molded herself into mold of her better half and when the mold defining her was gone she was left with no shape.

But I think that’s my view and most possibly ONLY mine :)

* Story is available here

Wonderful Words

BHOOL GAYE HAIN KI JOOTE KAHAN UTAARE THE.....

Chhoti-chhoti chhitrayi yaadein
Bichhi hui hain lamhon ki lawn par
Nange pair unpar chalte-chalte
Itni door chale aaye
Ki ab bhool gaye hain ki
Joote kahan utaare the.
Aedi komal thi, jab aaye the.
Thodi si naazuk hai abhi bhi.
Aur nazuk hi rahegi
In khatti-meethi yaadon ki shararat
Jab tak inhe gudgudati rahe.
Sach, bhool gaye hain
Ki joote kahan utaare the.
Par lagta hai,
Ab unki zaroorat nahin.

MOVIE: UDAAN 2010
Image Source

At First Sight by Nicholas Spark: My Take

Plot of Book

This is story about true and everlasting love, which starts just at first sight and embrace you for rest of your life .At first sight starts at the point where two people had already fell in love and their life journey onwards. Jeremy and Lexie two center characters are in love with each other from the very first week they met and decide to tie a knot committing to spend their entire life with each other, feeling obsessed by their not-so-old love.

But as story unfolds you will find whether their love at first sight is strong enough to hold them together in various phases of life that often is like roller-coaster ride. Will this miraculous initial feeling of Love will always triumph over their experience of jealousy, pain, uncertainties and stress?

My take on book

Story has that typical Nicholas Spark feel and is written in simple and lucid language. I wouldn’t say book is a catch as although book has moments where I was carried away by emotions in writing but at other points I found myself yawning and has to resist urge to skip some pages.

I am not a great Nicholas Spark fan and if I compare my this book to my only other Spark read “ A walk to remember” I would definitely like to go for At First Sight, it being more mature and realistic than the other one.

So overall a feel good, comfy and easy read but don’t expect anything exceptional.

Words

I have always loved Quotes, One liners or even dialogues where few words make a whole lot difference. They say words are very powerful. I agree, completely and specially when you feel a few words can make you think for whole day or days or may be for a lifetime. I feel completely mesmerized whenever have come across such wise (or otherwise) words.

Below is one such example that illustrate meaning itself

'Your life is defined by its opportunities... even the ones you miss'

A dialogue from movie A curious case of Benjamin Button

South Asian Challenge 2011

This is something very new to me.

These days I have been reading books on and off but have never dedicated myself to any particular reading experience. I came across this challenge called South Asian Challenge 2011 on site called S. Krishna's Books and found it exciting and worth giving a shot.

I am going to take this challenge. Being my first time I think it would be safe to start from initial level. Let's take it !!

Writing After Ages

This posting is dedicated to my revived interest in reading with New year.

Yesterday only I told someone (not to mention with certain amount of pride !) that I always remember stories I like and even before completion of 24 hours of proclaiming these BIG Words, I prove myself to be wrong :(

The other day I was just browsing through one of the blogs I follow and came across a posting in that blog reviewing the book "Illusion - Richard Bach". I remember reading this book while ago and liking it so much (Although not as much as Jonathan Livingston - A seagull by same author). But I remember I liked it quite a bit and sadly I couldn't recollect plot of book except some really good lines when I read the blog.

I think I will have to start reading it all over again (provided I get time and copy of book) to relive that memory.Hmmm....Sounds good :)