Book Review: The Book Thief

The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak

Are you the sort of person who likes to keep a promise ?
That is not the question.
The question is how far would you be willing to go to actually keep it ?

Do you know the difference between waking up from a bad dream and waking up
into one ?
That is not the question.
The question is what will you be willing to do to change things ?

Are you the sort of person who believes in the goodness inside people?
That is not the question.
The question is - will you still believe when everyone around you is hostile ?

Are you the sort of person who believes that people meet each other for a reason ?
That is not the question.
The question is - will you also then believe that people are taken away from you for a reason?

Are you the sort of person who loves books ?
That is not the question.
The question is - if the world was burning them - would you risk your life and steal them ?

I'm not saying that reading the book thief helped me answer any of these questions.
I am simply not as brave as Liesel.
What I did end up doing - was having an emotional breakdown in the middle of the night and calling one of my closest friends in the world.
Beacuse what the book made me realise was that life was short. Time even shorter. And I didnt want to waste a single minute.
Yes - It is the ones you can call in the middle of the night that matter.
And I am willing to fight darn hard for them.
That I do know.

Soulful Sid

The 43rd week of the year has just ended.
I brought in the weekend by watching “Wake up Sid”. Apart from the Anil Mehta’s brilliant cinematography, Bombay in full form and fashion and the astoundingly refreshing soundtrack – I was utterly moved by this sweet soulful story.
In the interval when I was quiet and smiling and close to tears, my friend remarked to me that I could not be more different that Sid. It was hard to imagine someone as planned and systematic as me to understand what it was like to space out while studying or fail an exam. But it was about much more than that. Sid was reckless. Not just with his exams – also with his friends, how he treated them, reckless about his feelings, wearing his heart on his sleeve, reckless with time and Life. That I do know something about in my own way. About just being a reticent part of a life situation, not taking charge or speaking up until the moment has passed. Being the one left behind while others move on. At times, being the only one to move out. The paradoxical feeling of being in charge and out of control all at the same time.
And he was forced to open the windows and life hit him like a splash of water – cold at first, refreshing at second and mesmerizing at third. And then he couldn’t get enough of it. Life Happened.
But he still fought to preserve his childish enthusiasm. He realized that while reality would bite uninvited, it would be much harder to survive unless he flared what made him come alive. Photography for him. Writing for some others. Dancing for a few. He loved his life and his friends more than ever – but learnt to create space, for him and them. He learnt to understand the beauty of small things – the excitement from breaking an egg to living life sunny side up. To eat humble pie when there was nothing else to eat but still sing karaoke the song of his life. Pehla Nasha No kidding.
And most of all, he tried to create balance. And came out siddier than ever. Goofy, Lovable, Enthusiastic, Hopeful Sweet hearted but focused and directed at the same time.
Somewhere, if we look hard enough there is a little bit of Sid in all of us.
And while we are busy making a life, we should fight darn hard to preserve the best of him

PS: And I wholeheartedly clapped in the movie theatre when Sid expressed hislove for Mumbai in the monsoons - despite the water clogging and traffic and persistent puddles.

Vada Pav Forever

Early am alarm.
Yeh Aakashwani hai.
Bees October, Mumbai se.
Subah ke che baj ke 5 minute ho gaye hai ..aur aap sun rahe hai film Khoobsurat se
Lata Mangeshkar ki Awwaaz main ...
Jugalbandi with dusty shoe laces !
Gym - Shym. Running full on full speed to Daler Remix.
Early morning - bheja fry.
Makeup is warpaint and Mumbai looks better with Mascara.
Rickshaw Rant, Jhankar beats and Road Rage.
Aggarbatti and Jai Mata di in the new age.
Andheri Flyover Iced Tea.
Apni life ki gadi in duniya ka sea.
Yari Dosti and Random smiles
Life ki banao strategy - traffic's gonna be a while
Political Antakshari and G8 like meetings
Waqt, Samay, Time - they are all fleeting.
Chai to the rescue. Last Action Hero.
Back to back analysis and brain power sinks to zero.
Madam - ICICI insurance lo na.
Credit Card ka bill do na.
Len Den and Deadlines ka pain.
Day Dreams at three.
Photofinish at eight.
Din chalu hota hai early ....aur end hota hai late.
Disco station and Khel Khel mein.
Dust and Desperation.
Smudged eye kohl for inspiration.
Kal Ho na Ho aur Kuch Kuch Hota hai
Bumper to Bumper traffic mein public rota hai
Basic Instinct with Raste ka stones.
Wrong way in a one way zone.
Colors and smells.
Fog casting its heavy magic spell.
Dinner with friends takes of the edge
By the 3rd drink - you are all on the ledge.
Random promises and jawaani ka josh
By the time you get home - seedhe behosh.
Life ki Bhel Puri with extra chutney.
Choices apne, Zindaji apni apni.
Phir bhi yaar - Mumbai hai meri jaan.
Vada Pav Forever pe hai yeh dil kurbaan.
Late at night, when I'm done with all the shor,
I set my alarm and say..tommorrow
"Yeh Dil Mange More" !

Jeena Yaha Marna Yaha

"Koi Mile Ke Bhichade
Yaha Kisko Kya Padi Hai.
Sab Log Chal Rahe hai
Duniya ..Yahi Khadi hai"

Stuck in Traffic.
A million cars trying to get home for Diwali.
My rickshaw breaks down.
I step out with half a dozen shopping bags, my laptop and other wordly possessions.
The raw October heat buzzing around my head.
Lights to the left, Lights to the right, a sea of people ..the sound of crackers in the vicinity and the honking of cars.
I decide to step aside and look for a rickshaw when my phone rings and I huddle into a corner dotted with shops alike - ..While on the phone ..trying to convince Vodafone that I have already paid my phone bill ...I catch something ... My ears pick up heart stopping beats, an unmistakable voice belting out a song that cuts through the chase and straight to my heart.
I cant wait to hang up.
The tabla beats are making my eyes mist now...and his voice is taking me to places inside my head that are hard to access ..except maybe when the time is just right ..
My hand is curled around the phone ..but all my senses are focused on the tune drifting across all the mumbai jantar mantar madness and somehow ..almost inaudibly ..making itself heard in the most astounding way ...
I start looking around for the source of the music.
The Vodafone rep continues her tirade against me and my body and mind are in union as they walk around looking for the shop/radio/player thats belting out the soon to become song of 2009 - for me atleast.
Finally - I hang up. And the song is amazing ....and my panic rising at not locating the source.
I'm at a paan wala shop.
"Ek Perk Dena Bhaiya"
And then I let it slip .. "Yeh Atif Aslam hai na ? ... Apko pata hai kaunsa song hai ? "
--Blank Look followed by "Kya Pata - Hoga Koi .."
"Kya yeh Radio pe chai raha hai "?
"Haan Madam, Radio Mirchi"
"Hum yaha rukne wale hai - gana khatam hone tak - Chalega na ?"
"Yeh Bombay hai - sab chalta hai"
So I wait ..and munch on my perk ...while Atif melts the walls I've built carefully over the day and months ...
"Batein Dilo Ki - Dekho Jo Baki ... Aankhen Tujhe samjhayen...Tu Jaaane Na"
The song ends and a perky DJ comes back on air for announcements.
I've got a name - "Tu Jaane Na" and a new mission and a new tune to hum all the way back home till I download my song and listen to it in the quiet of my room in the dark of the night and smile silly.
Mostly I am the one searching for music. And yet - at other times, against all odds...
Music finds me.
And when that happens - Life is wonderful.

Happy Diwali

Of all the Diwali stories I heard as a kid, one particularly made an impression on me.

Legend has it, that they was once an asur King Bali who was preparing for the grandest yagna of all times. Millions of sacks of rice, half of the earth's flowers and fountains of ghee were prepared in anticipation of this auspicious pooja. As he continued with this yagna, people from all over the world flooded his court for blessings and alms and the great king did not let anyone retun empty handed.
It was only a matter of time before Lord Bramha became pleased with King Bali and granted him a boon or two for his service and penance.
Up on the clouds with sterling silver linings - the gods were restless and worried that Bali once privy to so much power would misuse it much along the lines of Ravana, Narkasura and other instances.
Agitated and Worried - the approached Lord Vishnu and pleaded with him to stop Bali's yagna.
Lord Vishnu - crafty as ever took the form of a small dwarf and approached King Bali's court.
King Bali - eager to wrap up the rituals told the little dwarf that any wish of his would be granted.
The little dwarf asked for 3 steps. King Bali laughed and said that ofcourse he could take three steps - and own whatever he covered - hardly a worry with his little dwarfy feet.
So in his first step the little dwarf covered all of the earth.
In his second step, he covered all of the sky.
Then he asked King Bali - where there was room for the third step ?
King Bali realised that he was in august company and bowed before the dwarf and offered his head and the third step.
Lord Vishnu stepped on his head and buried him deep in the earth...granting him allowance to reappear once a year on earth on one of the Diwali days.

Even as a kid, I guess I was prone to be a little more realistic than not, so the usual magic and magnanimity of traditional mythological folklore was handled by me with a dash of disbelief.
So when I read this particular story in a diwali edition of chandamama - I wondered how could it be possible. For a little dwarf to cover the entire earth in one step. And then the sky.
Enjoyed the story with the spoon of pratical questioning that would end up being an integral part of my years to come.

Life has proved to be quite an interesting journey since.
And I have to concede. That it is possible.
Maybe not physically - but metaphorically.
That one small step could be the difference between success and failure,
One small step could be the choice between happiness and sadness.
One small step could be the bridge between friendship and indifference.
One small step could be the turning point when you regained control of the world.
Your world nonetheless.
And even the longest most life changing jounrey - would always begin with the one small step.
Which was the hardest step to take. But the most important one.
Which was not to be discounted or marginalized in any way, because it was this first small step that would change the game.
And in a way that made sense to you and you alone, this one step would conquer the earth and then the next would could take over the sky and change the balance of things in your life slowly but surely.
I have seen it happen. Not in the times of the dragons. But in this life and in this time.
And that is my Diwali story.
Happy Diwali

Paws or Pause ?

I'm in a street shop in Vienna - just finishing up my Latte Machiato and Apfel Struddle.
Its a sunny cold day. Just the sort of contradiction, I'm learning to enjoy and experience on this trip.
Somewhere around the corner, a melancholy street violinist mets out some music that sounds spectacular to my untrained ears.
I smile and enjoy it - when a warm fuzzy bark breaks the melody ..out of the corner of my eye
I see a friendly chocolate brown lab ..sprint down across the street and run towards a scruffy poodle - that looks a bit pekinese. They exchange the usual customary licks ... real ones ..no air kissing here and their friendly twosome soon becomes a trois as they are joined by a rather gentlemanly looking English Terrier.
First barks, then the wagging of tails and soon - no conversation at all.
They are enjoying each others company and the arrival of fall in Mozarts and Freud's city.
I am at my second coffee cup.
Soon our friendly threesome is joined by their respective owners.
Who barely exchange smiles. Leave alone friendly licks.
The four legged ones are definately having a better afternoon than the two legged owners.
It made me wonder.
I know its a silly thought and a terrible idea to actually put this in writing. (Dont you just love terrible ideas?)
Do you think animals in different parts of the world speak different languages ?
Why humans then ?
They;ve been around for longer than us ...are subject to the same distance and time constraints ..so ..when a greyhound from India woofs at a spaniel from Austria .. do they actually get each other ?
Is language a barrier to us and our development ?
What may happen if we somehow find ourselves speaking the same language as everyone else ?
Will we be less unique ? ..and will that somehow make us friendlier towards each other ?
I'm not sure.
What I do know - is that when the sun shines just the right shade of yellow - as he does today ..
one should be careful what one wishes for.
Anything is possible :)

In Vino Veritas

I am in the Rhine Valley resplendent with meandering waters, medieval castles, quaint baroque houses and tiled roads. And the view looks better with a close friend next to me.
Today has been about wine tasting. We walked into a restaurant to sit across a table with an assortment of oddly shaped wine glasses. The Tasting Room had this warm toasty feel to it.
I’ve tried to absorb as much as I could about the moment, learn and understand the different types of wine, sip them …Reluctantly sometimes only to enjoy them later. And vice versa at other times.
On the ride back home, I am silent. Then moon has sent his reflection in the fickle waters to keeps us company for the long bus ride. The lure of a good cup of coffee and meaningful conversation is riveting. My thoughts are in a different place.
The thing is – I love wine tasting. The laughter, the surprises, the anguish and the warmth.
And revealingly so - wine tasting has turned out to have some essential pre-requisites: an open mind, expectant tongue and ability to savor the taste long after the wine is over. God knows – I could learn to approach my own life like that.
What if I could somehow learn to approach different experiences in my life with the same amount of enthusiasm? It now seems unfair to have expected the same constant state in life … perpetually.
I have to understand that the different situations and people that I meet and am moved and affected by are much like these wines.
They come from different regions; have different histories with me and different reactions to situations. Some – like the ice wine I had earlier this evening, tend to bring out the best in a yum sponge cake, while others – like the disastrous red that made my food seem spicier are meant for different occasions.
And regardless of the vintage or harvest – I have remembered the most ordinary glass of wine – because of the company, laughter or love that surrounded it.
The wines that have tasted sweetest – are the ones where the grapes waited the entire season of their life to be picked – only in the stealth of the night in freezing sub zero temperatures. And yet, in life I have so much anxiety associated with waiting.
If only I could learn to appreciate that most situations will be over before I know, and I should make the most of it – regardless of the outcome. The after taste would decide the verdict – not the present in the heat of the moment feeling.
That’s what I love about travelling. That every once in a while – when I cross borders – I am also able to step meekly about of the boundaries I have imposed on my own life and mind.
And when I can toast that with a glass of white and a close friend for company, like this evening… I am suitably humbled and Grapeful.

Alice in Wonderland

If you could only see the world through my eyes, you would see past this little wooden table, a red coffee cup blowing hot kisses to the wind, a grey cloudless sky, the restless blue Vltava, shadows from the facade of Charles Bridge and the orange sun behind the steeples of the St Vitus cathedral as he slips into sleep.
I am in Prague.
For some strange reason, I am restless today. The thing is – I have been to 5 countries in 18 days, packed a suitcase every night and drank coffee out of soggy paper cups galore. And today, my mind is on fire.
The lines have become blurry.
Somewhere along the way – my quest for experiencing new places –has become my search for new ways to think. I am reborn – every day on this trip. Each day, As I wake up in a new bed, a new sensation grips me and I experience what it is like to do and feel something for the first time all over again in a new way. I am like a child. Who doesn’t speak the same language as those around. And it unsettles as well as invigorates me.
The simple things that I am learning to not take for granted– like ordering a cup of coffee. Or thanking someone. The comfort I am finding in the smiles I share with strangers. Until I realize, that its me – who is the stranger in this case. Not the land or its people.
The increasing knowledge about how short life is. About how fleeting time is. And there is nothing that heightens this more for me than watching the sun slowly set into water. The water in my eyes.
This is why man was made. This is how we were meant to be. Savage wanderers. Thirsty for discovery. Moving, Learning and Crossing into new frontiers at a time when there were no borders.
Its moved me to tears on this journey.
The cruelty of man. As well as his nobility. And the knowledge of how I am guilty and capable of both.
The voyage to the world beyond that’s bridged into a passage to the world within.
A soul search or a witch hunt. Or maybe a little of both.
And then it hits me like a freight train.
The awareness – that this journey will end in a few days.
But not the one inside my mind. It’s only just begun.
In a few minutes, I will down this coffee cup, pick up my backpack and leave. Nothing will ever be the same again.