Nimmu's Views: January 2012

2 States - Chetan Bhagat

Hmm... This is a book that I have already read. But the name fits for week 3 and I have not been to the library to replenish my set of new books. So, here goes.

2 States is a book about how to people fall in love and decide to marry with the blessings of both sets of parents. This is easier said than done as the two are from diametrically opposite families, states, cultures and mindsets. And that is the plotline in short.

Now, I've read Chetan Bhagat's books before but this I feel is the best. The narrative is great, characters strong and realistic, the portraits of the 3 cities and their people are very well etched and as for the climax? Brilliant.

There's romance, current affairs, politics, warring parents, about to be 'samdhi' fights. I particularly liked the way in which the extended family and friends blend into the story. These are typical characters littered in each family. Hard not to actually find semblance of people I know in them.

A typical love story with a spicy makeover.

365 Day Challenge

I have formally decided to begin the 365 day challenge by :

posting my views on certain topics. I will post these under 365 Day Challenge- A Post A Day
continuing my Gratitude Journal. Category is Things That Made My Day Awesome.
A-Z project : also continuing under separate page.

The alphabetical list of topics on which I must write each week is as below:
Advertisements ; Adjectives
Bad Habits ; Buying
College ; Categories
Define <something> ; Dictionary
English; Engineering Marvels
Family ; Friends
Games ; Girl I Am
Home; Holidays
India ; Internet
Jewelry ; Just stop <something>
Kodak Moments ; Kids and kin
Library ; Life
Movies ; Marriage
News ; Now in pictures
Opinion ; On Camera
People ; Photographs
Relationships ;
Songs ; Social Media
Teachers ; Traditions
Urban ; Understanding <something>
Valentine Week ; Voice
World Around Me ; Words
Youtube ; Yours Truly
Zodiac ; Z and more

If you notice closely, Q and X are missing. This is deliberate as I am short of 4 weeks for the challenge.

365 Day Challenge Ideas

I just read about the 365 day challenge and it sounds quite interesting. I am quite determined to do it despite the fact that I am short of 30 days. But that is ok, it is the spirit that matters. I was wondering about how to go about it and actually Googled for help. How enthusiastic is that?

Here are some ideas that I mused about:

Gratitude Journal - This was the first thing that popped into my mind. Since I anyway add it in Things That Made the Day Awesome, I need to figure this out.

A Post A Day - now that is something that I ought to be doing daily. But here is a twist I decided to add. I keep one alphabet for every 2 weeks, randomly pick a word beginning from that letter and write on that topic. This one will keep the creative juices flowing.

Posts on People who influenced Me - This will basically have short descriptions on family and friends. Hmm.... Maybe I ought to tell them. So, I get extra pampered. Now that's a sneaky but delicious thought. :P

Make 12 30-Day Challenges - Now, this could include hitting the gym; keeping the house clean; keeping order of my ironing, etc. Ironing will be a tough one as it's always mine that is pending since I do his first [ I have LOTS more clothes]. Others could be read a news article a day. And just write a short line or two about it. It will give me something to write about and indulge a self-opinionated female like yours truly.

Healthy Challenge - Do something healthy. Eat a fruit, have yoghurt; exercise, whatever and write about it. This will be tough to implement as I hate gyms and love junk food.

Photo A Day- This idea made the list only because I enjoy photos, love posing. but I am not that great a photographer nor do I have the Photographer's gene in me. Pity, as it would have made a nice, enjoyable and perhaps relatively less time consuming challenge. Maybe I can do that and just entitle it the World Around Me. I really should explore this a bit more as I will need to walk around and search for proper subjects and settings. Will be good for a couch potato like me.

Happiness is...

Happiness need not be something big like winning a lottery; becoming Head of State or even discovering the secret to Eternal Youth; though I'd love to have that. Life has more delight when you know how to savour the simple joys in life; compound them and you get a truly blessed life.

Here is my list.
Happiness to me is ...

A good book
Singing off-key with the iPod
Doubling up with laughter
Playing Scrabble, Sudoku
Competing over game scores with Hubbyji
Lemony salad with a dash of chilli and pepper
Boiled peanuts
Brightly coloured nail polish
Gazing at old photograph albums
Being pampered by grandparents
Squabbling with siblings
Window Shopping with friends
Watching my First snow
Delicious ice-cream
Freshly baked cookies
Sniffing a fragrant bunch of flowers
Nice, long bath
Big balloons
Toothless babies smiling at me
Making paper boats in the rain
Dipping my toes in a lake
Walkin along a beach
Sunset
Watching the sun rise
Freshly brewed coffee
Munching on chips
Watching a movie with friends and a bag of popcorn
Family gatherings
Long phone calls with Mom
Gossipping with gal pals
The first Paycheck
Cuddling up with my Panda Bear
Watching cartoons
Sipping hot chocolate
Dressing up for family weddings
Biting into delicious cakes
Watching the clouds pass by
Sweet smell of wet earth
A new addition to the family

Hound of Death

Short stories by agatha Christie. Could not complete the book as the stories are a collection of gory and mystery.

But still very compelling and as ever, masterpieces - each one of them. The horror ones are simply terrific and terrifying; remember Endless Night; And Then There Were None?

Read on but with lots of your favourite comfort foods and lots of sunshine.

We'll Always Have Paris

I selected Ray Bradbury as the second book for my A-Z project simply because of the title of his book- We'll Always Have Paris.

I was hurriedly trying to select a book- any author whose name begins with B when I found this. A hasty look at the book jacket showed a beaming Woody Allen kind of a person on the cover. Humour, I thought. I like humour. I stole a quick glance at the back. 'Pulitzer' leaped out at me. Heavy weight praises and prizes won adorned the entire page. The book was a collection of short stories, I gleaned from some serious skimming of the Intro. I made my decision. I'll take it.

The stories range from happy to poignant to scary. There is even a sci-fi one in the collection. All the stories are compelling. Even the Poe-style horror one, I just had to continue reading merely to reach the end.

The stories all just come alive and you can almost see the characters. Everything else but the book kind of fades away. Quite a good read.

My only advice however would be- If you are like me, someone moved by tragedy and horror; read in the daytime.

Twindom

As I mention elsewhere in this blog, am one of identical twins. Above is a picture of me and my twin at age six months.

For today, I write about the FAQs asked by anyone who comes to know about me having a twin sister. That is why I maintain that Twindom [if I may liberally use this non-existent word] is amazing and yet infuriating when you are pestered with the same inane questions over and over again.

Here's a list of the good and the bad. The retorts to the irritating ones I NEVER utter but ALWAYS THINK!

Are you two really twins? No, you're just long overdue for that eye checkup.

Of course, only exception is the middle aged gentleman who saw us AT the optician's while trying on his new glasses. That was the one lone incident where I was happy to myself furnish the statement "Yes, we really are Twins!" Lord, but was that man relieved.

How do people distinguish between you two? They don't! They just guess.
Do your parents get confused between you two? Nope. After enjoying the luxury of nighttime feeding, diaper changing, potty training, baby wailing, food tantrums, teenage trouble all in twos, I really do not think anyone would.
How do you distinguish between yourselves? Um... Dunno? Really now, that IS the dumbest think I have ever been asked!
Can you two telepathically connect? We went to the same school, college, worked for the same company, are now living in the same country. Plus, we both have the same phone plans - so calls are free and we hold Skype accounts. I should think we do not need to.

Do you dress similarly?

Plenty of times. And most people I know love to buy us stuff just so they can experience buying absolutely identical sets- going to great lengths to ensure this. Salespeople, I'm sorry for any inconveniences.

Are all your tastes similar? We are twins not clones.
Do you play tricks on people since you are twins? Actually, we never needed to. Most folks were confused already.
Did you use your being one of twins to bunk classes? Do you even know how much attention you garner when you are one of twins? Do you seriously think my professors would not notice one of our missing beaming faces?
Do you call in sick at work and ask her to go instead? And pray, who will do mine?
Do you fall sick when she does? We have the same genes, travel in the same circles. Is not the answer to that question logically yes?
Does she feel what you do?

This question I am convinced is inspired by too many movies on Twins. Bollywood and Hollywood both are to blame for this question to crop up unfailingly in most conversations.

Being one of twins does not entail twitching, dancing and doing everything at exactly the same time and in same manner as each other. We are not units manufactured on an assembly line. Stop believing those countless dumb movies.

Yes, we are perceptive to each other's needs and feelings, maybe more than regular sibling. We do sync easily and share a bond more intimate and warmer than plain sisters. Add our years of togetherness, of being complementary to each other and you get a wonderful relationship and a great team.

But that is still no excuse to ask me if I will physically feel if you slap her? Honestly, how does one contain one's temper at such moronic but sincerely asked statements. I positively itch to reply, "Oh well, my hand instantly pounds you in reflex." Will that answer your query?

My Favourite Material Things

Books- Mad about them
Music- I need that tape or iPod or iPhone.
Notepad and Pen- I frequently get the urge to write, even if it is utter balderdash.
Chocolates
Junk Food- especially Mumbai street food
Peanuts and Nuts
Soft toys
Earrings- the danglier, the better
Bracelets, bangles, rings
Mehendi and nail art
Salads
Chinese clips

2011

I've really been meaning to write this post since the clock struck twelve on New Year's eve; but somehow the days have just flown by without me actually getting down to do it.

So, without further delay, here is a run down of the year that was. The list is not chronological though.

Twin sister got married. Bidding adieu to my twin of 25 years was one excruciatingly hard thing to do.
But I gained a wonderful brother and a marvelous extended family in the bargain.
I got engaged. The time period between engagement and marriage is indeed rather cute.
Got married to an amazing, considerate, perceptive, intelligent, witty, loving and handsome man. Lucky me! Touch wood!
Travelled across the seven seas to USA to join Hubbyji.
Celebrated Thanksgiving with sis-in-law
Learnt how to cook ; correction, that would be 'Learning'
Learnt how to bake my own cookies and cakes
Celebrated Thalai Karthigai with home-made appams
One Cuz got engaged
Another Cuz was blessed with a baby boy
Scored 162 each in GRE.
A Baby Boy is born to a very good friend
One BFF now in Ireland. What a perfect setting for that awesome gal.
Another BFF in Brussels for accelerated MBA
Yet another Cuz bought a flat.
Hubbyji got promoted.
He was also awarded for his hard work.
He cleared his Insurance exams.
Got back my pending Tax returns. I'm rich!!!
Joined the Indian Trails Library in Prospect Heights. What an amazing institution! Oh, I love the place. Their tagline is so right: So many books, so little time!
Went cruising in Michigan lake, kayaking, ziplining, tandem cycling.
Went hiking in Forest Reserves of Michigan state.
Took a ferry ride to Pictured Rocks. That was one wonderful ride.
Ascended the John Hancock Observatory and viewed Chicago from a height of 94 floors. What a splendid view!
Went to Rockfort temple with Huubyji. Our first outing alone after being married. And that too in a saree. I actually climbed the hill clad in a sari. Ok, so I did cling on some of the way onto Hubbyji's arm , but I'm still proud of the overall achievement.
Learnt how to ride escalators. The credit to overcoming this fear goes entirely to Hubbyji.
Started blogging.

List of My Favourite Cartoons

Ok. I admit I'm 25 which is quite old to be listing favourite cartoons. But hey, like Mark Twain said:
Age is just about Mind Over Matter. If you don't mind. it doesn't matter.

So, here goes the list:

Love Is...
Family Circus
Calvin and Hobbes
Uncle Scrooge
Alladin
Talespin
The Little Mermaid
Asterix and Obelix
Mandrake
Chacha Choudhary
Shikari Shambu
Tantri the Mantri
Kapish, Chamataka and Doob-Doob
The Lost World
Mowgli

List of My Favourite Authors

I read this Facebook post on List of 15 favorite authors. I decided to add the response here.

The authors are not listed in any order of preference and I love reading each one of them.

Agatha Christie
Barbara Cartland
Betty Neels
Jane Austen
Mark Twain
Enid Blyton
Bill Bryson
Isaac Asimov
Alfred Hitchcock
Nora Roberts
Sidney Sheldon
Alistair MacLean
Robert Ludlum
Mary Higgins Clark
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

I read this on the Gutenberg Project site. God bless those folks.

As ever, the stories were amazing. The combination of the 2 characters - the amazing detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr.Watson is truly wonderful.

The stories have to be read to be enjoyed- for the scientific analysis, logical reasoning, the witty dialogues, the effective portrayal of characters and the simplicity of the end of it all. Definitely a must read.

The Secret Adversary

Started my A-Z Project. As part of my enjoyable and yes, hopefully enlightening New Year Resolution, I have finished the first book in the first week.

A is the first letter of the alphabet and A is for Agatha. What better than to start with the Queen of suspense and psychology? I began with The Secret Adversary.

Every Christie novel is a joy to read and her characters lovable. Tommy and Tuppence are not her most famous but definitely the romantic pair are no less thrilling. A formidable pair- their stories involve brains, beauty, intrigue and duty [hey, that rhymes!]. Add to it the ever faithful Albert, the mysterious Mr.Carter, and lo! recipe for danger but a delight for the reader.

The book is a similar, splendidly woven tale of good versus bad, a lot of amateur detective work by the leading duo, lots of confusing leads and a grand final showdown. Loved it!

HunchBack of Neiman Marcus

Author: Sonya Sones

Now this is a book that is truly unassuming but turns out to be amazingly stunning.

Here is the good part about this book:
Funny
Poignant
Touching
Awesome
Chick-Lit
Hopeful
Happy Ending Story

Now, a lot of books can be attributed to having the above qualities except that they do not come with the kind of storyline or supposedly handicaps that this book does.

The book is in verse.
Story is about a 50-year old suffering from soon-to-be-an Empty Nest Syndrome when her only seventeen year old daughter is packing off to college
Menopause is fast approaching but the mood swings and hormonal imbalance already has set in.
Her own mother is diagnosed with muscular and mental disorders, hospitalized with copious amounts of steroids turning her patient and perceptive confidante into a raving, amnesical [is that a word], biting [literally too] shrew.
Add to that her mother's unhelpful doctor possesses an eerie, annoying, high pitched laugh and a sardonic bedside manner.
A major writer's block, a sneaking suspicion that Hubs dear is having an affair with daughter's BFF's glamorous mother, and a best friend searching for true love on the Internet are thrown in too.

After all that, you'd certainly not credit it with those splendid qualities listed above. YET, it turns out to be all that and more. Despite the unhappy plot, the book is heart-warming.

Read the book for:
Nostalgic memories of the daughter as a cute baby
Sweet encounters between an old couple
3 generations of women- all loving and sharing with each other and yes, even squabbling with each other
Romance and rants between the couple- Mills and Boon are great but this is what comforting reality reads like
Recipe for cookies
Happy Ending