Category: Book Reviews

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Book Reviews Fiction

Book 3 Of Midnight’s Children – Wrapping Up Week 4 Read-Along

One month has passed since I have joined my blogger friend and her friends and her extended friends to read Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”.  I can be a slow reader when the topic gets heavy and indeed, I am happy to have completed my reading in time for the closing of this read-along activity.  When did I finish reading it?  The time is important too.  I could have crossed the finishing line on Saturday evening.  But I was too tired.  A fine book like this does not deserved to be rushed through.  So one fine Sunday morning, to the best of my recollection, the moment has arrived.  Hooray!

Instead of reading Author’s note upfront, I saved it to the end, after I have devoured 647 pages worth of literature.  I wanted to read the book with a rather clean slate of mind, and then I look upon his note for validation.  I don’t find “Midnight’s Children” an easy read at all.  I suspect quite a few friends of mine would have said the same.  When I read the author’s note, this bit struck me.

In the West people tended to read Midnight’s Children as a fantasy, while in India people thought of it as pretty realistic, almost a history book.

I am not from the West.  Neither am I from India.  I don’t see it as a fantasy book because I live in Southeast Asia.  Nor do I possess sufficient tradition and background to understand the Indian history.  Had I read it purely from the fantasy perspective, it would have been quite a fascinating read.  Unfortunately, I was unable to suppress my inquisitive mind.  There is so much I wish to learn and understand – the history of India and the rhythms and thought patterns of Indian language.  I could tell you in plain English that in “Midnight’s Children”, the author attempts to tell the history of a nation and the population of hundreds and millions through one character and leaving the readers to imagine the rest.  That was my expectation before I started reading the book.  But nothing beats actually experiencing it and to really understand what it means by that.  In that sense, this book is a masterpiece.  While “Midnight’s Children” appears to lack in entertainment value (the character or characters are hardly lovable, no offence to India as a nation) – most likely due to the fact that I am neither from the West nor from India and I am neither reading it as a fantasy nor a history book – the construct of the plots and the characters and the carefully researched materials that span a few nations, a few decades; putting this concept in writing that is of a high literature value is respectable.

In book three, Saleem Sinai has moved to Bangladesh.  The story is dark, bloody, and gloomy.  Have a brief and closer look into Bangladesh’s modern history, you can see why this part of the book is written as such.  Book three is also the section whereby the historical figure Indira Gandhi is introduced.  Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the Republic of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, a total of fifteen years (taken from Wikipedia).  Now that I have read the brief note on Indira Gandhi and the related historical events, this entire book makes so much sense.  If the main character Saleem Sinai born on August 15, 1947 denotes the metaphor of the birth of a nation, his son born on June 25, 1975 signifies the Emergency – one of the most controversial times in the history of independent India when a state of emergency was declared.  Now you can see why Indians would read this like a history book while the Westerners may read it as a fantasy.  In my personal life, I have enough Indian friends and colleagues that make me wanting to know more about the Indian culture.  Hence the steep learning curve I am willing to endure.

Back to the author’s note, it is evident that some of the characters in “Midnight’s Children” are inspired by Salman Rushdie’s family and friends.  Is this an autobiography?  Although the author was born pretty close to the birth of India (57 days earlier), I still think that Saleem Sinai is India, more than Salman Rushdie.  What do you think?

External Link: Biblojunkie’s Week 3 Wrap-Up

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Book Reviews Fiction

Book 2 Of Midnight’s Children – Wrapping Up Week 2 & 3 Read-Along

I read somewhere that vocabulary defines one’s wisdom.  In the sense that it is a tool – perhaps one major tool – to express oneself.  The more diverse and vast one’s pool of vocabulary is, the more precise one’s idea can be articulated.  It is observed that most adults after leaving school seldom learn new words.  Perhaps ten or twenty new words a year?  That is the reason why I always get excited when I come across a writer who is gifted with the ability to articulate ideas with exactitude.  Even if I have to research on why certain words are chosen for a given context, I am happy to do so.  It affects the fluidity of reading.  But I hope that in my subsequent reading – same author or same book – I would have a much enjoyable ride.  That also explains why I prefer to stick to a certain set of authors.  Salman Rushie is one.

OK.  I survived book two of Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”; 313 pages in total.  In book one, I have spent much time catching up on the culture and history of India, Pakistan, and Kashmir.  In book one, I have read the story of Saleem Sinai’s grandparents all the way till the time when Saleem is born – midnight of August 15, 1947 when India has gained independence.  Book two is about Saleem’s childhood, all the way till he is 18.  It is a story mashed up with the history of India and Pakistan.  It is chaotic.  It can be confusing.  The chapter “The Kolynos Kid” sheds some light on how “Midnight’s Children” can be read.  A ‘dualistically-combined configurations’ in connecting the characters literally and metaphorically to the fate of nations.  Specifically speaking, actively-literally, passively-metaphorically, actively-metaphorically, and passively-literally.  What a minute, you may say: What are you talking about?

Combining active and literal mean the actions of the characters alter the course of historical events.  That is to say, these are works of fiction.  Nice and simple.  Passive and metaphorical refer to the socio-political trends and events by their mere existence affects the characters metaphorically.  That means to say one has to interpret a certain plot, usually abstract in nature, in an attempt to decipher which historical incident it derives from.  Passive and literal means that the story of the characters happens against a historical background, which is also the most intuitive to the readers (or so it seems because unfortunately, mixing the four modes makes it confusing to read at times).  The last one is active and metaphorical.  It is the most bizarre of all.  Things that are done by or to the characters are mirrored in the microcosm of public affairs – to be symbolically at one with history.  That is when interpretation can often run wild.  To me, understanding these four modes of dualism helps me understand the book better.

One thing I admire about “Midnight’s Children” is the effort Rushdie has put into the planning of the story.  Often, the ending of the sub-plot or the character is foretold and it is a matter of telling the story in reverse.  Rushdie has even planned out where the middle of the story is to be (titled as “Alpha and Omega”).  I have yet to read the author’s note.  If I could ask Rushdie a question on “Midnight’s Children”, that would be: Did you create the storyline backward?  How did you know that “Alpha and Omega” would be the middle of the book?  Do you have a laundry list of metaphors and what they mean to share with me?! OK.  Three instead of one question.

Out of the 15 chapters of book two, which are written in a diverse style, I enjoy reading the beginning of “At the Pioneer Café” a lot.  Below is an excerpt taken from the last sentence of the first paragraph.  In case if you wonder why it is written that way, the narrating character is having a bad fever.

Now only she and I and no more screams the Widow’s hand comes hunting hunting the skin is green the nails are black towards the corner hunting hunting while we shrink closer into the corner our skin is green our fear is black and now the Hand comes reaching reaching and she my sister pushes me out out of the corner while she stays cowering staring the hand the nails are curling scream and mmff and splash of black and up in to the high as sky and laughing Widow tearing I am rolling into little balls the balls are green and out into the night the night is black …

Back to the read-along that Jo is hosting, do head over to her latest post and read the wrap-up and further discussion questions.  After my week one wrap-up, looking back, I think I may wish to answer some of the questions after I have completed my reading.

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

Lovers In The Age Of Indifference By Xiaolu Guo – Neat, Witty, And Melancholy

How effortless Xiaolu Guo has turned indifference into art!  In this collection of 17 short stories of vastly different styles, a few themes persist.  Indifference is one.  And then there are lovers in love, not in love; a prominent linkage to China with geographic locations within China, outside China.  While it is difficult to feel for the characters – short stories after all – especially when the characters do not usually love themselves or others (that is indifference for you!), I am loving Guo’s writing style.  So neat and concise, with a filmography touch.  There is subtle humor in “Lovers In The Age Of Indifference” too.  Often linked to observations through the Chinese eyes.  For example, one story is titled “Winter Worm Summer Weed”.  I starred at the title for like five seconds before I got what she was trying to say.  It is a literal translation of a Chinese herb called “冬蟲夏草”, which is Cordyceps Sinensis in English.  I think Guo’s translation tickles me more.  Her humor extends beyond literal translation.  Take a look at the excerpt below.  It takes place in the morning over breakfast, the narrator is a Chinese girl and she lives with her French boyfriend Pierre in UK.  I chuckled at the punch line, still do.

Pierre has made coffee, and bread is in the toaster.  He has also bought some goat’s cheese from a nearby French deli.  Pierre always complains he can’t find good cheese in London, and when he occasionally does it costs the price of a cinema ticket.  I don’t care about cheese – I think it’s a bit crazy to talk about cheese all the time, it’s like talking about cow’s tits.  I don’t really care about bread either.  Brown or white, what’s the difference?  It’s all made from the same crops.  I’m Chinese.  We eat better stuff than that.

In “Lovers”, some stories are written in email, text message, or letter style.  Some are narrated through different characters, different locations, or different timestamps.  There is even an epic loveless love story cut out from a well-known Chinese legend.  It is hard for me to pick my favorite short story.  It has to be either “Beijing’s Slowest Elevator” – a story of a karaoke mistress, a young man from the thirtieth floor, and an elevator going up, and down – or “Anywhere I Lay My Head” – a story of a school teacher, her boyfriend, her ex-boyfriend, and her ex- ex-boyfriend’s apartment.  Both stories are told as a single day event.  Come to think of it, I like “Anywhere I Lay My Head” better, a more romantic story in a melancholy sense.  If you have read the book, what about you?  Which one is your favorite story?

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

Book 1 Of Midnight’s Children – Wrapping Up Week 1 Read-Along

Before I write a wrap-up of my week one’s read-along progress, I have two confessions to make.  This activity was first conceptualized with Jo – the UK blogger – and I commenting on a list of books that we wish to have started reading but now collecting dust at our bookshelves.  You see, I have Rushdie’s “Satanic Verses” for years and have even downloaded a reference guide (as that book is known to be cryptic in nature) ready to have a go with it.  That never happens.  For reasons beyond my comprehension, I was (still am in a certain extend) convinced that I own a copy of  his other book – “Midnight’s Children”.  Maybe I do have a copy lying somewhere in my house.  Or maybe I have been thinking about reading “Midnight’s Children” for so long that its virtual existence has become closer to my home than, say, a bookstore.  On Nov 12, the Friday that this mini-global read-along began, I was frantically searching high and low for my copy of “Midnight’s Children” but it was nowhere to be found.  Have I accidentally purged the copy during one of my periodic overly enthusiastic spring cleanings?  I hope not.  Cursed at my procrastination (to be fair to Jo, this read-along has been announced months in advance) and my wild imagination of this virtually non-existence book, I reserved a copy from our national library.  I collected the book last Tuesday but the condition of the book is so poor that had “Midnight’s Children” been as light as, say, a chick-lit, I would still be able to mentally bypass its yuckiness and focus on its content.  This book is anything but.  So last Thursday evening, I have decided to invest my 6 days worth of lunch money and purchase a copy.  I am late for the game and that is embarrassing.  But it is better late than never.  My errors in my previous narration of my story thus far are purely unintentional – unlike Rushdie’s treatment to the narration of the book, which I am still undecided if his errors are indeed purposeful or accidental or a bit of both.

My second confession is that vocabulary is never my strength.  And I have this dislike to guess the meaning of words.  In the past, what I would do is to research on every word I did not fully understand and document them into an Excel spreadsheet together with an excerpt of the literature of which that word was used.  Alas!  I lost the password to that spreadsheet and so in finality, I put that obscure hobby of mine to rest, in peace.

Obsession dies hard, and hence, I crawled through the pages of “Midnight’s Children” looking up all the words that are unfamiliar to me.  To be fair, a lot of them are references to the Indian culture – such as pice, hartal, godown, kurta, and the ingredients of food commonly found in India – or to other religions I am not familiar with – such as Hinduism and Islam.  And I stopped my progress numerous times to research further on the buildings – such as Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, and Meenakshi Temple (I even took time to admire the images of these buildings) – and geographic locations mentioned in the book as well as the historic background that is foreign to me.  Like the Burma Campaign, the Rowlatt Act, and the birth of Pakistan and India.  From the historical perspective, the Rowlatt Act enacted by the British has led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.  Rushdie tells a story of the same massacre through one character – the grandfather of Saleem Sinai – in a rather comical manner.  The body count is close to what has been documented in Wikipedia.  Why am I so obsessed with numbers?  Because I am mentally prepared on Rushdie’s method in encrypting certain messages in form of numbers.  If possible, I would cross reference the numbers to the historical events and attempt verify where those segments of the story are based upon.  Still, there are numbers that I am unable to decipher, as of now.  Like that 8,420 pie-dogs or 630,000,000 particles of anonymous (for the latter, is he referring to the population of India back then?).  And still, there are words that do not exist in the dictionaries, that would take me probably another read to research upon them.  I am also intrigued by some of the references to well known Indian stories (not to me of course).  Such as Ramayana and Ravana.  And when Rushdie briefly mentions the curse Babar has on his son Humayun that all [Indian] schoolboys know, I put down the book and switched to Internet.  What is that curse about?  I found two possible explanations.  Either it is a curse of being appointed as a Maghul Emperor and have to face the betrayal by close relatives (Babar or Babur being the first Maghul Emperor and Humayun as the second).  Or more likely, it is related to the Kohinoor diamond that its successive royal owners either suffered untimely death or lost their kingdoms.  Now you know how I read this book.

“Midnight’s Children” is divided into 3 books.  647 pages in total (for my edition).  Book 1 occupies 161 pages of the entire book.  It is a good logical break as far as this 4 weeks read-along activity is concerned.  I am still undecided if the next logical break due next week should be the end of book two – 289 pages in total.  If you have not started reading with us, I urge you to join us today.  This book is a must read, from the literature point of view.  I would not have touched it had I not committed to this read-along.  I am a turtle reader and aim to complete the race one page at a time.  You too can do it!

In book one, Rushdie tells a story through Saleem Sinai who was born on the day when India gained independence, at the stroke of midnight.  And through Sinai’s narration, we travel back in time to how his grandfather met his grandmother, how his father met his mother.  It is more than a journey through time.  It is a journey through Kashmir, Amritsar, Agra, and Bombay; through the old and the new India.  Book one is a complete unit that has a climatic ending – a single celebrated event of the birth of a nation and the birth of the main character.  The author manages to tell a story of a population of millions through one character.  That is remarkable.

Now, back to the read-along activity, my responses to the questions posted by Jo are as follows.  As my reading progresses, I may change my mind for the first 5 questions.

1. Saleem describes himself as ‘handcuffed to history’.  What do you think that this means, and do you think that this is true of him?

Take it at face value (after reading book one), it means that his destinies are chained to those of his country.  He has a strong belief that the events dated all the way from his grandfather’s time have led to his very existence, and would continue to affect his life.  In parallel to this, I think Rushdie wishes to say that the historic events dated all the way from Kashmir 1915 have led to India and Pakistan’s independence, and the destinies of these two countries would continue to be chained by Earl Mountbatten’s act of splitting British India in 1947.

2. The prose of Midnight’s Children has a distinctly filmic quality.  Why do you think this is, and what would be the implications of making a film of the novel?

It does read like a Bollywood production.  Would it work if making “Midnight’s Children” as a film?  Personally I think it would be a difficult task.  As some of the characters I suspect are used to refer to other neighboring countries or concepts.  And the flow of time is extremely fluid in the book.  It would be interesting to see how a filmmaker can transform this book into a film.

3. Unlike many novels, Midnight’s Children is not written using a linear narrative.  Why do you think that Rushdie uses this technique, and do you think that it is successful?

Thank God the story is not told linearly.  Otherwise, it would be rather boring, like reading a history textbook.  This style of narration builds a strong linkage between the present and the past.  I think that is why.

4. Saleem makes many errors in his narrative – both accidental and purposeful.  Why do you think that he does this, and why does he not bother to correct his mistakes?

To be honest, I suspect something is wrong with the narration but I cannot pinpoint in exactitude.  That may explain why there are parts that I find harder to follow.  But say, if his narrative is erroneous, it is not a surprise.  Because any story told in first person form is not to be trusted in totality, compares to a story told in third person form.

5. What is Padma’s role in the novel?

A meta-story, it seems to me.  A way to get readers’ involvement with the narrator, Saleem.  At times, I found myself saying the exact same thing as Padma.  And I giggled.

6. “What is so precious to need all this writing-shiting?” asks Padma (p. 24). What is the value of it for Saleem, do you think?

[Spoiler Warning:] Good question.  Consider the fact that the entire book one Saleem spent on narrating does not even come from his true family!  It is probably a birth story that he would not have hoped for (like the could-have-been unified India).  But since he has fully embrace himself as not only the children of midnight, but also children of time, it would appear to me that the history he inherited is just as important.

7. Saleem often appears to be an unreliable narrator, mixing up dates and hazarding details of events he never witnessed.  He also draws attention to his own telling of the story: “Like an incompetent puppeteer, I reveal the hands holding the strings…” (p. 65).  How much faith do you put in his version of events?

Not much.  That is why I research on the Internet whenever some historic events are being mentioned (for I cannot research on the the fictitious lives of Saleem and his family).  Some characters are real, some are not.  In any case, that is forgivable.  Saleem has not mentioned how his story is based upon (except some photographs).  That is the beauty of it all.

8. “To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world … do you wonder, then, that I was a heavy child?” (p. 109). Is it possible, within the limits of a novel, to “understand” a life?

Not within a novel, no.  But a novel does not need to provide readers all the intrinsic details.  The rest of the details are supplied by the readers (that is why I need to research on the Indian / Pakistan / Kashmir history because I have little).

9. Saleem’s father says of Wee Willie Winkie, “That’s a cheeky fellow; he goes too far.”  The Englishman Methwold disagrees: “The tradition of the fool, you know. Licensed to provoke and tease.” (p. 102).  The novel itself provokes and teases the reader a good deal.  Did you feel yourself “provoked”?  Does the above exchange shed any light on Rushdie’s own plight since The Satanic Verses?

Teased yes, provoked no.  Probably because I do not have a strong opinion on the history and religion of that region?  Since “The Satanic Verses” is published after “Midnight Children”, does that mean that Rushdie has foretold the coming of “The Satanic Verses”?  I am not sure.

10. How much of the novel, do you think, is autobiographical?

After reading this question, I have found out that Rushdie was indeed born in 1947, the exact year of Saleem’s birth.  I have not read book two and three.  If Saleem ends up marrying and divorcing and dating a few women of gorgeous quality like Rushdie does in real life, I may be able to give a more confident answer to that.

External Link: Week 2’s Discussion Questions

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

Maynard & Jennica By Rudolph Delson – You Wouldn’t Want This Love Story To End

Once in a while, I would discover some books that are so unique and you want to know the sad part of the story?  I can never find another book quite like the ones I love, not even from the same author.  Like Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity” and his endless top 5 lists.  I can be a hopelessly romance freak.  And I happen to like “Maynard & Jennica” quite a fair bit.

Reading “Maynard & Jennica” is almost like watching a romance comedy, and it is better.  The book is divided into five parts of uneven length.  Each part consists of a set of interviews conducted with the story’s characters.  Each character tells a fragment of a story from his or her perspective.  At times, the fragments overlap.  And it gets interesting to see how one incident can be recalled from two entirely different viewpoints, down to the dialog level.  I can promise you, when the characters bid their farewell, you really wish that they did not.

The plot centers around the love story of Maynard and Jennica.  And then we have Maynard side of the family, Jennica side of the family, Jennica’s friend side of the family, as well as other characters including Ana – Maynard’s “wife”.  If I read the book correctly, it is also about American Jews in love.  And hence, this unique Jewish culture within, which some of you may or may not be able to relate but certainly makes the story in a way exotic.

“Maynard & Jennica” is not perfect.  There are parts and characters that I humbly think can be edited away.  And the magic does not seem to sustain in the second half of the book, especially when September 11 is being brought into the picture.  There are also quite a few references to America.  I reckon for those who are not living in US, these references may be hard to relate.  These minor notes aside, “Maynard & Jennica” is a heartwarming story, with quite a number of memorable moments (I enjoy reading the part on playing Scrabble a lot).

I wish to quote a part of the book for sharing.  First, I must make some introductions here.  In this scene, Maynard is having an “argument” with his grandmother Rose in the presence of his mother Joan.  Rose is trying to ask how much money Maynard is making from his B-movie which leads to her criticizing Maynard for being a “lazy fool” for delaying his proposal to Jennica.  A part of the script told from Maynard’s perspective.

So – enough is enough.  I decided to explain, absolutely, for the two women who raised me, how I think about myself.  I put my fork down, I drank one swig of beer, and I said, “Gran, the lunch at Phoebe’s – this was the lunch when I tried to explain the following: That the proper aesthetic relationship between an individual of insufficient talent and his art is not a creative one – my mistake, at the forgivable age of ten or twelve – for, say, twenty years, and while those years are lost, I don’t regret them, and am now happy to be able to listen to, say, the first movement of Debussy’s La Mer with only awe, and not with envy or regret.  And that this generosity of aesthetic spirit extends for me into the realm of the moral, the day-to-day, the pedestrian, the aesthetic, as well.  And that as I resign myself to simply listening to Debussy, so too I want to stop demanding behavior – more tasteful, more stoic, loftier, and more dignified behavior – from my companions in life, and start simply enjoying whatever company their – company provides.  And thus it is not with sorrow but with satisfaction that I want to lay aside my struggles and – be nice.”

My mother said, “I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”

And Rose said, “He’s saying he’s a lazy fool, is what he’s saying.”

“Gran, is it possible that I am not a lazy fool?”

Categories
Book Reviews Non-Fiction

The Grand Design By Stephen Hawking – Is There No Room For God’s Existence?

I could not help but to feel somewhat devastated after reading “The Grand Design”.  There is nothing wrong with the book.  In fact, it is one fine book.  A concise yet accessible read on the scientific theories and models from the past all the way to what we have today in an attempt to answer the laws that govern our universe.  I felt somewhat devastated because there was this huge void in my soul (which I can imagine if Hawking was to read this, he would tell me that soul does not exist).  When I first read the media review on “The Grand Design”, I was skeptical.  I thought it was the media wanting to grab our attention with skewed claims.  But the media is right about two things.  One, there is no room for God in the design and existence of our universe.  I would not go as far as to quote Hawking in saying “God does not exist”.  Because he did not write that.  What he says is that throughout the history of our universe, going back all the way to the singularity (i.e. big bang), there is no God.  And beyond that point, it is not a timescale that is of interest to us because time does not exist.  Does it mean that God does not exist?  I think it is meant to say that God – whom some of us come to know as the creator – according to Hawking does not play a role in the creation of our universe.  And Hawking has reminded us on how our notion of God has changed over time.  Maybe we are still finding what God is.  Maybe the scientists are still searching for the grand design (that will come into light after the M-theory is confirmed via observation).

Two, our universe creates itself from nothing.  This piece of information is probably the climax of “The Grand Design”.  The negative energy of gravitation plays a role in balancing out the positive energy needed to create matter.  Overall, the total energy of the universe remains as zero.  And since the gravitational energy shapes the time-space, it allows the time-space to be locally stable (like bodies such as stars and black holes) and globally unstable.  Spontaneous creation is the reason why we exist, why there is something instead of nothing.  And according to the book, God plays no part in that spontaneous creation.  Looking at the theories and models that arrive to this conclusion, I must admit that this concept does sound convincing.  Having said that, I wish Hawking and Mlodinow would spend more time to explain more on the negative gravitational energy, perhaps with more illustrations.  While the authors appear to accuse the scientists of the past to tweak the models in an attempt to make them fit, the way how the modern theories are modified (such as the dropping and resurrection of the cosmological constant) seems to be of little difference to a layman reader such as myself.

Beyond these two claims that have caught media’s attention, as someone who has studied science, “The Grand Design” is a joy to read.  A book that helps to revise on what we have learned in the past.  The laws of the universe are a fascinating topic.  Light was thought as particle, then as wave, and then as both particle and wave.  Buckyballs constructed using carbon atoms have found to exhibit mind boggling behavior of being able to acquire information of the slits in a screen in front when they are shot from a source (1999).  From Newton’s classic theory to quantum theory, from Einstein’s special and general relativity to the modern day string theory and M-theory, “The Grand Design” is a mind blowing read on how far we have come – scientifically speaking.  The fact that I being science trained probably explains why reading this book was a breeze.  But with the diagram illustrations and simple to understand and at times lighthearted writing style, this book should appeal to general readers as well.  It is quite an entertaining read as this book is not all about theories and observations.  There are mentioning of the historical events and the legends and rituals of the past.

I was momentarily devastated because I understand that science at the theory and model level can be cold.  For lack of better words, the laws are indeed cold hard facts that are aligned with the expectations and observations around us, under a certain set of conditions (for example, Newton’s theory works best for objects of our daily lives and quantum theory works best at the minuscule level).  Models are created by man in an attempt to explain our universe.  Under the conditions that are set within these models, I can accept why there is no room for God’s existence.  And if our universe within the realm of multiverse contains countless of possibilities happening at the same time, there is no room for miracles either.  So, what does the theologists got to say about this?

I do not believe that science can explain everything in life.  I have not yet seen how, for instance, love can be modeled and explained.  Where does compassion come from?  What makes one person forgive another?  I have not seen how science can create beautiful literature that inspires.  I would rather choose to believe that people whom I love and I have something special going on, than to think that all these are merely random encounters and one of the many possibilities that exists in the universe.  And I would rather choose to believe in the existence of faith and hope.  Science, in its pure essence, seems too cold to me.  Lastly, not to discredit the authors – because they are highly regarded in their respective fields – as a layman reader, I am still not seeing what the grand design is.  What we have today is a theory (M-theory) that suggests how this grand design comes into light.  A theory that has not been proven wrong so far and a grand design that is yet to be observed.  This book is still a major read not to be missed.  However, read it with the right perspective.

Categories
Book Reviews Fiction

Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles By Will Clarke – This Is Wacky, This Is So Fun!

This story makes no sense.  It really does not.  You know how the opening paragraph of a book set the tone and style of the entire book.  Here is the first paragraph from “Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles”.

Shelby is a slut.  She is also my wife.  And that presents certain problems.  Actually it presents major problems: I just don’t like to think about them.  Mainly because I have no real way of knowing that Shelby is a slut.  I just have these dreams.  And I can’t exactly say to her over breakfast, “Honey, I had this dream last night that Reed Bindler was knocking your bottom out.  And I think this needs to stop.”

It is impossible to put this book down, especially when you get all the time in this world to read.  The plot is unpredictable.  Simply because the ideas are so crazy that you would not expect things to happen that way.  But yet, in this very improbably storyline of psychics and remote viewers, CIA and IRA, Micky Mouse and Lord Vishnu, you cannot help but to fall in love with the equally improbable characters.  The tagline underneath the title of this book is “A Spy Novel (Sort Of)”.  Travis Anderson has a problem (in fact, he has many problems including drinking a little bit too much and paying a lot lesser tax than he should).  He has these crazy premonitions that are driving him insane.  But that is also his gift.  He can, for example, guess the color of the udders in the online game Psychicow.com perfectly (click onto that try it out yourself!).  That leads to him being recruited by a government linked agency and to be trained as a psychic.  That is also when he mets a Hindu holy man who claims to be the final incarnation of Lord Vishnu.  Travis Anderson not only has to find ways to save his company, his family, and his sanity.  But also tasked with the responsibility of saving the world (sort of)!  That is when the story gets wackier and wackier.  And you would have no idea of what to believe and what not to.

“Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles” is a book written for entertainment’s sake.  It is hard to define its genre because the book is part drama, part action, and part fantasy.  There is little morale to derive from.  If I may pick one, I think the book amplifies the human imperfections and makes them acceptable, even attempts to make them beautiful.  Or to better put, embracing life’s imperfections is part and parcel of being happy.

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Book Reviews Fiction

UFO In Her Eyes By Xiaolu Guo – An Original Work Examining China’s Past (And Future) In Guo’s Eyes

“UFO In Her Eyes” is one strange novel, and I am liking it.  I don’t think I have read something quite like this before.  The storyline is strange.  But even more so is the format and the way this book is written.

The story begins in year 2012, in a small Chinese village called Silver Hill.  A 37 years old illiterate female peasant Kwok Yun sights a UFO over the rice field.  Not only that.  She has revived an alien too (who disappears shortly while she gathers herbs with the intend to treat its wound).  This single event has triggered off two things.  First, an investigation by the National Security and Intelligence Hunan Bureau led by a Beijing Agent 1919 and a Hunan Agent 1989.  Second, new funding finds its way into the village now that Silver Hill has made herself known to the central government (and more).

The investigation leaves no stone unturned.  Key figures in the village are interviewed and cross-examined.  From the Chief of Silver Hall to the headmaster of the only school in this poor village, from the farm and stall owners to the butcher and bicycle mender.  The book is written in the formats of minutes of meetings, reports, crude drawings, email messages, and transcripts.  And because of the way this story is told, there are little words to describe the physical appearance of most of the characters within the book.  This bit is unique.  I can’t possibly visualize how “UFO In Her Eyes” can be made into a movie.  What makes the characters memorable is the tone of voice, how they carry out themselves, their unique opinions towards the same thing, and their choice of words that hints how educated or illiterate they are.  If you have Chinese background, the literal translation of some of the Chinese phrases is humorous.  Most I can relate.  Such as “Five Metals” (similar to a Western DIY store?), “Flying Pigeon” bicycle, “Rich and Strong” as a Chinese name, “Five-Pace” snake, “Hundred Arm” tree, and “eat the bitterness”.  There are some strange swearing words too.  Till today, I am still unable to work out what “Dog Sun” means.  All of these to me are unique expressions that add colors to the writing.

In a deeper level, “UFO In Her Eyes” examines the snapshots of modern Chinese history and relive them casually through the characters: from the socialistic revolution in 1949, the Korean War and the liberation of Tibet, China’s First Five Year Plan (1953-57), the Great Leap Forward, the disasters and famine that follows, the 10 years of cultural revolution, Deng Xiaoping, One Child Policy, to the millions of peasants remain in rural China today.  Those who are aware of these key historical events would be able to better appreciate a hint of sarcasm within (or rather a realistic illustration depending on your perspective).  Silver Hill, too, is undergoing a Five Year Plan, amidst 60 years late.  A UFO museum is built, among many other things.  And with modernization and easy accessibility to the neighboring major cities in such an accelerated pace, many are not able to adjust to the change.  When someone commits suicide in this age of advancement, the residents cannot help but to think: We may have lived a harsh life previously (or eating the bitterness so as to speak), may have even eaten grass and roots to stay alive, now that our city is getting better, why do people want to die?

In essence, what the author attempts to do is to relive the modern history of China through a fictitious village called Silver Hill.  For a novel that is merely 200 pages thick, such economic use of words in accomplishing so much is hard to imagine.   And the author has done it well.

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Book Reviews Fiction

Dial M For Merde By Stephen Clarke – A Funny Read Especially If You Know A Little Bit Of French

Some say that the correct way of reading this series is to start with “A Year In the Merde”, then continue with “Merde Actually” and “Merde Happens”.  And then this one, “Dial M For Merde”.  The similar thing I would have said about Kinsella‘s shopaholic series.  But you know how it is like when you step into a library, holding and feeling a rather newish looking book, comparing to the book condition of “A Year In the Merde” that happens to be a lot more … merde, I picked the newer looking book instead.

If you have lived or traveled to France, merde is a pretty common word used, which means sh!t in English.  If the title of his first book is alluded to the bestselling autobiographical novel “A Year in Provence” and the second one is a reference to the romantic comedy “Love Actually”, “Dial M For Merde” is pretty much a James Bond inspired novel in a humorous and non-extraordinary way.  In this installment, Paul West is being invited to South of France by a beautiful blonde, M, whom he has spent a night with.  M has a mission in France.  She – together with a bunch of scientists – is set to uncover the caviar counterfeiting operation.  Meanwhile, Paul – whom the French often mispronounces his name as Pol – is requested by his old friend (or ex-girlfriend?) Elodie to cater for her wedding dinner.  But helping Elodie to gain acceptance into her fiancée’s rich family is going to be a mission on its own.  On top of that, Paul has volunteered to assist M in her mission starting by locating a type of fish called sturgeon and infiltrating the … French commando unit.  The story gets more bizarrely hilarious as it unfolds.

Knowing a little bit of French and understanding a little bit of French culture would further enhance the reading experience.  Because this book is set in France, with Paul being mistaken in all sorts of ways, got himself stuck in all sorts of situations.  Having said that, it is not a must.  The author has done a pretty good job to translate most of the French phrases.  A perfect book if you are traveling or you want to read something light and entertaining.  I found the following paragraph taken from the book pretty funny.  Let’s see if you can guess the name of the saint the author is referring to.

Filling an ante-room was a gilt-framed painting of a semi-naked young saint getting arrowed, his attacker shooting at him from no more than half a yard away.  The archer was a pretty bad shot, too, because most of the arrows were embedded in the legs and arms, with only one hitting the torso, provoking a faint trickle of blood on the porcelain-white skin.  Amazingly, the saint was looking only mildly pissed off with the guy taking pot-shots at him.  I would have been furious myself.  But I guessed that was why he was a saint.

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Book Reviews Fiction

Mini Shopaholic By Sophie Kinsella – Hilarious!

I have a little confession to make.  I have read all of Sophie Kinsella‘s books.  The entire Shopaholic series and the rest of the non-Shopaholic series.  The only books of hers I have not read are her earlier works written under her real name Madeleine Wickham.  I have been doing some soul searching lately.  Does that make me a fan of chick lits?  I think I am more a fan of chick flicks than chick lits, more a fan of  Sophie Kinsella than chick lits.  In fact, I don’t recall reading other click lit writers.  Perhaps I haven’t opened my eyes wide enough.

Onto the 10 years running of the Shopaholic series and onto the 6th book in the series, the heroine of the story Becky Brandon née Bloomwood is back.  And it should come with no surprise that it is a story of Becky’s motherhood.  The development of the entire series has been predictable thus far.  For those who have finished reading the book, we can guess with certainty what the next book is about.

Back to “Mini Shopaholic”.  If you have found the character Becky irritating, you are not going to fall in love with her in this 6th installment.  If you have been accepting her misguided, unpolished, impulsive, and foolish attributes but yet warmed by her tenacity and her refusal to give in no matter how insurmountable the situation seems, you would continue loving her in this book.

I would not divulge too much of the story here.  It is as usual drama filled.  I found myself laughing out loud while reading the book – very often.  That rules out the possibility of reading the book in public or when Cynthia was sleeping.  Sophie Kinsella is gifted as a storyteller.  This book is a page turner.  The characters and down to the clearly chosen company names are memorable.  New to this book are the references to the online technology such as YouTube, Facebook, and Google.  Even down to the modern word usage of unfriend and un-anything (by the way, I find her choice of word “disinvite” strange compares to the more commonly used “uninvite”).  The main character Becky has grown up too.  The center theme is less on the drama caused by the shopping addiction like time and time in the past but on something else.  And I would say the story is more about anti-shopping, more about developing relationship with families and friends.  Sure, Becky still gets herself into unthinkable situations.  Overall, I still enjoy reading Becky’s story no less, looking forward to the next installment.

I suspect for those who take things quite seriously in life may find this book silly and ridiculous.  To me, there are books written for more serious readers.  As for “Mini Shopaholic”, let out a little bit of laughter, loosen up, and the end game is to have fun!  Now, for those who are new to the Shopaholic series, should you start with this one or to start from the beginning?  In theory, you could read “Mini Shopaholic” first because Sophie Kinsella has done a decent job in re-introducing the existing characters as well as recapping on some of the past key events.  However, coming from a fan of the series, one ought to start from the very beginning.