Manjumal Boys ~ Friendship

 

"Manjummel boys" is the story of a group of 9 young men from a Kochi suburb (played by Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Deepak Parambol, Balu Varghese, Lal Jr., Ganapathy, Vishnu Reghu, Chandu Salimkumar and Arun Kurian) who go on a trip to Kodaikanal in a Toyota Qualis driven by Prasad (Khalid Rehman).

 Chidambaram made his debut with the blockbuster "Jaan-e-man" that released towards end - 2021.

His second release "Manjummel boys", based on a real event from 2006, has created box office history in cinemas across the world. He is the writer too.

Guna Caves in the picturesque Kodaikanal is back in the limelight 31 years after versatile actor Kamal Haasan’s Guna hit the screens, overshadowing its original name ‘Devil’s Kitchen’.

 The men/boys from Manjummel, Kochi are part of a sports club and are regular participants in local tug-of-war competitions. 

Ahead of the gang beginning their journey, we see Kuttan forcing Subhash to join them. As they are about to leave, Subhash grabs his younger brother's belt from the wall, resulting in a brief verbal spat between the siblings.

They drink and make merry in Kodaikanal and decide to enter the prohibited Guna caves only to have Subhash (Sreenath Bhasi), one of the men, falling into a crevice that is almost 80 feet deep. 

The rest of the group is shocked and aghast and try to take the help of the local police, forest guard, local tea shop owner and finally, the fire brigade. How they manage to save their friend in spite of oppressive weather conditions and the initial apathetic attitude of the authorities, is what the rest of the movie is all about. 

Chidambaram, in a recent media interaction, revealed that this scene originally had more significance to the story than just establishing Subhash's background and reason for Kuttan's moral guilt. It is not just that the family of a single mother and minor brother needs Subhash to get back and that he wouldn't have even reached Guna Caves if not for Kuttan's insistence. 

The belt was crucial to Subhash's survival as it got him stuck somewhere at 180 ft in the pit and stopped him from falling to a certain death. "The belt hooked him to something, that's why he didn't slip further down. In real life, the brothers had fought over Subhash's decision to take the belt to Kodaikanal. If not for it, his life couldn't be saved,"

 

Loud Sixon, the character essayed by Balu Varghese, was crucial in awakening a stuck Subhash. It was Sixon's loud cries that awakened the youth, who had lost consciousness during the fall. This was crucial as it helped the people above confirm that Subhash was alive and stuck somewhere below. "Sixon's loud way of talking often annoyed his friends. In real life, he worked at a metal manufacturing unit. The noisy workplace forced him to talk loudly and it became a habit for him. Incidentally, Subhash got lucky because of this,"

 Ajayan Chalissery is the production designer, National award winner Vivek Harshan is the Editor and the throbbing background score  adds to the tense atmosphere. This is an ode to unbelievable friendship and is also a fitting tribute to Kamal Hassan's "Guna" - especially the placement of the "Kanmani Anbodu Kaadhalan" song in the pre-climax gives you goosebumps 

 All thanks to carelessness and unnecessary daredevilry we get to see such a film.

In an interview Subhash says "I didn’t do anything extraordinary. It was my friends’ actions that saved me. They inspire me. But I will tell this to youngsters: nurture and preserve good friendships. Also, fights between friends are normal. Don’t get hung up on your ego."

Friends/ Friendship in the Malayalam movies these year...

Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc, that started in 1947, two years after the end of World War II and lasted to 1991. The conflict was based on the ideological and geopolitical struggle for global influence by these two superpowers, following their roles as the Allies of World War II that led to victory against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in 1945.

At the end of World War II, English writer George Orwell used cold war, as a general term, in his essay "You and the Atomic Bomb", published 19 October 1945 in the British newspaper Tribune. Contemplating a world living in the shadow of the threat of nuclear warfare, Orwell looked at James Burnham's predictions of a polarized world, writing:

Looking at the world as a whole, the drift for many decades has been not towards anarchy but towards the reimposition of slavery... James Burnham's theory has been much discussed, but few people have yet considered its ideological implications—that is, the kind of world-view, the kind of beliefs, and the social structure that would probably prevail in a state which was at once unconquerable and in a permanent state of "cold war" with its neighbours.

In The Observer of 10 March 1946, Orwell wrote, "after the Moscow conference last December, Russia began to make a 'cold war' on Britain and the British Empire."

The first use of the term to describe the specific post-war geopolitical confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States came in a speech by Bernard Baruch, an influential advisor to Democratic presidents, on 16 April 1947. The speech, written by journalist Herbert Bayard Swope,proclaimed, "Let us not be deceived: we are today in the midst of a cold war.u

 In June 1950, the first military action of the Cold War began when the Soviet-backed North Korean People's Army invaded its pro-Western neighbor to the south. Many American officials feared this was the first step in a communist campaign to take over the world and deemed that nonintervention was not an option.

Duncan White has written a book that manages to be both academically rich while reading like a thriller. In the hands of a lesser writer this effort might not have worked, but the prose deftly conveys the complexity of things like the internally twisted logic of Soviet ideology while keeping the reader wanting to read more. Starting with Orwell, Koestler and Spender's experiences during the Spanish Civil War, the book relies on the intimacy of biography to reveal larger trends in the ideological battle that was the Cold War. This approach works. Instead of simply detailing the myriad ways in which the KGB and CIA leveraged the work of writers (and used them as pawns), White's intimate portraits show these writers to be active, thinking subjects who make choices within the historical contexts in which they lived. The result is a narrative that exposes both sides: the power of institutions and humanity of people that confront them.

"In this brilliant account of the literary war within the Cold War, novelists and poets become embroiled in a dangerous game of betrayal, espionage, and conspiracy at the heart of the vicious conflict fought between the Soviet Union and the West

During the Cold War, literature was both sword and noose. Novels, essays, and poems could win the hearts and minds of those caught between the competing creeds of capitalism and communism. They could also lead to blacklisting, exile, imprisonment, or execution for their authors if they offended those in power. The clandestine intelligence services of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union recruited secret agents and established vast propaganda networks devoted to literary warfare. But the battles were personal, too: friends turned on one another, lovers were split by political fissures, artists were undermined by inadvertent complicities. And while literary battles were fought in print, sometimes the pen was exchanged for a gun, the bookstore for the battlefield.

In Cold Warriors, Duncan White vividly chronicles how this ferocious intellectual struggle was waged on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Among those involved were George Orwell, Stephen Spender, Mary McCarthy, Graham Greene, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, John le Carré, Anna Akhmatova, Richard Wright, Ernest Hemingway, Boris Pasternak, Gioconda Belli, and Václav Havel. Here, too, are the spies, government officials, military officers, publishers, politicians, and critics who helped turn words into weapons at a time when the stakes could not have been higher.

Drawing upon years of archival research and the latest declassified intelligence, Cold Warriors is both a gripping saga of prose and politics, and a welcome reminder that--at a moment when ignorance is all too frequently celebrated and reading is seen as increasingly irrelevant--writers and books can change the world."

The Cold War may have been a conflict of ideas, but imposing those ideas on the enemy through military means was not an option. As Kenneth Osgood writes in Total Cold War, the existence of nuclear weapons meant that “the Cold War, more than any other conflict in human history, was channeled into nonmilitary modes of combat, particularly ideological and symbolic ones.”Each side therefore used various forms of propaganda and disinformation "as a way to undermine the way its enemy organized its own society. Some of this propaganda was crude and, as such, ineffective. But literature was another matter, for it had a more sophisticated power to persuade. In reading Animal Farm, with its allegory of a revolution gone awry, exploited by corrupt and self-serving leaders interested only in consolidating their own power, Polish citizens might begin to question the received truths of their rulers."

Espionage stories  and cold war. A comprehensive account of Philby and the Cambridge spies. 

"Book overview

A novelist wouldn't dare invent the story contained herein. That a son of the British establishment could, during a 30 year secret service career, be a Communist agent is too far-fetched for fiction. Here's the story of how Philby did it, of what he did & its consequences; of how he betrayed his country, service, friends & the class which nurtured, shaped & protected him.

Authors' Preface

Introduction

1. Beginnings

The man in Dzerzinsky Square

Boyhood of three spies

The slave of God

The Cambridge Marxists

Commitment in Vienna

Joining the establishment

2. Penetration

The Spanish decoration

The phony war

The secret world

The rise of Kim Philby

3. Exploitation

The new enemy

The Volkov incident

The priceless secrets

The Albanian subversion

4. Downfall

Crack-up

Getaway

The secret trial

A field agent?

Philby's comeback

Endgame in Beirut

Through the curtain

In a memoir named spycatcher by Peter wright a former British mi5agent few decades back.he alleged that in the 60’s even Harold Macmillan the prime minister was working for KGB.the book is still banned in Britain & economist wrote a review with a blank page on spycatcher with a couple of sentences which said law is an ass

"A minor classic in its laconic, spare, compelling evocation by a participant of the shifting moods and maneuvers of the most dangerous moment in human history." —Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.During the thirteen days in October 1962 when the United States confronted the Soviet Union over its installation of missiles in Cuba, few people shared the behind-the-scenes story as it is told here by the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In this unique account, he describes each of the participants during the sometimes hour-to-hour negotiations, with particular attention to the actions and views of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. In a new foreword, the distinguished historian and Kennedy adviser Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., discusses the book's enduring importance and the significance of new information about the crisis that has come to light, especially from the Soviet Union."

Thanks to Philips Abraham Sir for so much of insight. 

Came across this list shared in Cochi Book Club . Not sure if it is helpful.

General Overviews

1. The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis

2. The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times by Odd Arne Westad

3. The Cold War: A World History by Odd Arne Westad

Key Figures and Leaders

4. Khrushchev: The Man and His Era by William Taubman

5. Reagan and Gorbachev: How the Cold War Ended by Jack F. Matlock Jr.

6. Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power by Robert Dallek

Espionage and Intelligence

7. The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB by Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin

8. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré

9. Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner

10. The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

Military and Strategic Aspects

11. Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety by Eric Schlosser

12. The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy by David E. Hoffman

Cultural and Social Dimensions

13. One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War by Michael Dobbs

14. The Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956 by Anne Applebaum

15. From Yalta to Berlin: The Cold War Struggle over Germany by W.R. Smyser

Regional Studies and Case Studies

16. The Vietnam War: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns

17. We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History by John Lewis Gaddis

18. The Cold War in the Third World edited by Robert J. McMahon

Cold War's End and Aftermath

19. Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire by Victor Sebestyen

20. The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall by Mary Elise Sarotte

Memoirs and Personal Accounts

21. Memoirs by Mikhail Gorbachev

22. The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy by Jussi Hanhimäki

Academic and Theoretical Perspectives

23. Cold War Orientalism: Asia in the Middlebrow Imagination, 1945-1961 by Christina Klein

24. Cold War: The American Crusade Against World Communism, 1945-1991 by James R. Cronin

We - Earth

 

“You are made up of 84 minerals, 23 elements and 8 gallons of water divided by 38 billion cells.

You were built from nothing by the spare parts of the earth you consumed, according to a set of instructions hidden in a double helix small enough to be carried by a sperm cell.

You are made of recycled butterflies, plants, rocks, streams, firewood, wolf skins and shark teeth broken into their smallest parts and rebuilt into the most complex living thing on our planet.

You are not only living on earth... you ARE  the earth !”              

                 

So, please, love, honor, care and respect Mother Earth.

Haruki Murakami

 

Murakami (村上; "village superior") is a Japanese surname, 35th by frequency in Japan.. Murakami, who was born in Kyoto on January 12, 1949, as the grandson of a Buddhist priest, has described writing as being somewhere between cycling slowly and walking quickly. He has said that makes it unsuitable for really intelligent people who like to formulate ideas precisely.While at university, he worked at a record store, which sparked his great love of contemporary Western music and led to him running his own jazz bar in Tokyo, Peter Cat, from 1974 to 1982.

https://harukimurakami.com/author

He was exposed to books from an early age by his parents, who both taught Japanese literature. Murakami spent his childhood in Kobe, a port city with a US military base, which allowed him access to works by Western writers. In 1968, Murakami began studying drama at Tokyo's Waseda University. That is where he met his wife, Yoko, whom he married in 1971 after completing his studies.

Murakami came to writing by accident, as he related in his 2022 memoir/writing guide, Novelist as a Vocation, where he wrote, “[…] I had zero training. True, I had majored in drama and film in university, but times being what they were—it was the late 1960s—I had seldom attended class. Instead, I grew long hair and a scruffy beard and hung around in clothes that were less than clean. I had no special plans to become a writer.” But in 1978, while attending a baseball game in Tokyo, he suddenly had an epiphany: “In that instant, and based on no grounds whatsoever, it suddenly struck me: I think I can write a novel.”

That first novel, Hear the Wind Sing from 1979, promptly won him the Prize for New Writers from the Japanese literary magazine Gunzo. And the die was cast. “I went on to become a professional writer without ever having had to study the craft,” he wrote in Novelist as a Vocation, “It all seemed way too easy.”

Murakami published his first novel in the late 1970s, but international recognition came later. Haruki Murakami's short stories and books share similar writing styles and themes. Murakami often writes in the style of magical realism, which blends real-life experiences with mythical aspects. His stories often examine themes of loneliness and self-discovery as well.

In 1996, in a conversation with the psychologist Hayao Kawai, Murakami explained that he changed his position from one of "detachment" to one of "commitment" after staying in the United States in the 1990s.He called The Wind-up Bird Chronicle a turning point in his career, marking this change in focus.

English translations of many of his short stories written between 1983 and 1990 have been collected in The Elephant Vanishes. Murakami has also translated many works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Raymond Carver, Truman Capote, John Irving, and Paul Theroux, among others, into Japanese.

Exploring Murakami (Meetup #52.1 (Mini Meetup) - 15 June 2024):

On June 15, 2024, Cochin Book Club organised meetup 52.1, 'Exploring Murakami', to discuss the writer and his work. Four readers met at CCD Kaloor and did a deep dive into the oeuvre of Murakami. Attendees were:

Harris

Bala

Meenakshi

Harish

The meeting commenced with each person describing the books of Murakami that they read. It was amusing to note that all four have read some common books. This was significant as the discussion was more relatable to each other, and even the several differences of opinion that arose, emerged from a common platform of thought. The following aspects of the writer were discussed after that:

. The reason for the global acceptance of his work.

. Many accusations of misogyny in his books.

. His place in Japanese literature.

. His differences with Japanese literature and culture.

. Repeating elements and motifs in his plots and their effects.

. How foreigners try to understand Japanese culture through his books.

. His writing style and use of magical realism.

. How relationships are portrayed in his books.

Many of the topics took us into several tangential discussions, and we ended up comparing the cultures, governments, systems, languages, education, and literature of several countries. But we always returned to Murakami and continued to focus on him. The discussion that was planned for 2 hours went on for 4 hours, in which the nostalgic effect of CCD also played a part.

Mystery of the Disappearing Cat ~ Enid Blyton (52 of 2024)

 

The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat (1944) is the second in the Five Find-Outers series of children's mystery novels by Enid Blyton. It was published by Methuen and Co Ltd and follows the first book in the series, The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage. It tells of a stolen cat the group of children work to uncover.

This reminded me of the Malayalam movie Summer in Bethlehem

Luke, a friend of the Five Find-Outers, is working in Lady Candling's garden when her valuable Siamese cat is stolen. The Five Find-Outers and Dog work to solve the case.

It all takes place next door to Pip and Bets Hilton, when Lady Candling's prize cat, Dark Queen (a valuable Siamese), disappears right under the nose of Luke, the gardener's help. Mr Tupping, (the gardener), is a nasty piece of work and the children immediately decide it would be great if he were the thief! But how could he be, if he wasn't even there when Dark Queen was stolen? All the evidence points to poor young Luke, Mr Tupping's helper, but the Find-Outers simply can't believe Luke is the thief.

There are a couple of other possible suspects in Lady Candling's staff, such as Miss Harmer the cat handler, and Miss Trimble, who takes care of the roses. They're all pretty sure it was Mr Tupping... but how on earth did he do it? The answer to the mystery is very simple and pretty clever. Mr Tupping stole Dark Queen in the morning, then painted a small patch of cream-colored paint to another cat's tail to disguise it as Dark Queen, whose tail was bitten by another cat, resulting in the creamy patch on its tail. Then he made Luke work beside the cage all day, so that he could be the top suspect of the case. In the afternoon, Mr Tupping hopped into the cage, rubbed the paint off the cat's tail with a rag soaked in turps, and then announced Dark Queen was gone! At last, Mr Tupping is caught and shows that he had been mixed up with dog thieving cases before.

Birthday Stories ~ Murakami (51 of 2024)

 In this enviable gathering, Haruki Murakami has chosen for his party some of the very best short story writers of recent years, each with their own birthday experiences, each story a snapshot of life on a single day. One man's rebellion against the traditional family birthday dinner of his childhood; the ghosts of a mis-spent youth; unusual guests entertained by an old woman whose son has forgotten her special day - this anthology captures a range of emotions evoked by advancing age and the passing of time, from events fondly recalled to the impact of appalling tragedy.

Birthday Stories: Selected and Introduced by Haruki Murakami, Haruki Murakami,

He provides an Introduction, explaining why he decided to collect some recent stories published prior to short stories on the topic of birthdays. He gives brief descriptions of the stories in the Introduction, and before each of the 13 short stories is a couple of paragraphs about the author. Those paragraphs are not merely a recitation of what the author has published but rather typically includes mention of the writer’s style according to Murakami. You can get knowledge of what the authors have written by googling the authors’ names – Murakami’s two -paragraph intros you can only get from him, and I found them to enhance the reading of the impending short story.

and ...

Birthday Stories is a 2002 short story anthology edited by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Despite the theme's happy connotations most of the short stories have a dark, melancholic atmosphere.

Introduction: My birthday, your birthday, by Haruki Murakami — added to English ed. only

Forever Overhead, by David Foster Wallace - Coming of age, Dreamlike and real

Turning, by Lynda Sexson - A story and another story

The Birthday Cake, by Daniel Lyons -Racism, Is your ego worth everything?

Timothy's Birthday, by William Trevor -An unlikely birthday celebration of a son by two elderly parents and the unexpected guest

Dundun, by Denis Johnson - A accident which went quite wrong for the birthday boy

The Moor, by Russell Banks - *Secrets and kindness

Angel of Mercy, Angel of Death, by Ethan Canin - What could go wrong on your 81st birthday? (Best?)

The Birthday Present, by Andrea Lee - Messed up marriages, infidelity, and the gift idea sucks- Least favourite in the collection

The Bath, by Raymond Carver -Seriously, that open ending isn't the best for such stories. A proper closure would have been better.

Sickness and uncertainties of life

A Game of Dice, by Paul Theroux - Men and gambling

Close to the Water's Edge, by Claire Keegan — added to 2004 edition.- What family means

The Ride, by Lewis Robinson — added to 2006 edition - A father and a son and a secret for life

Birthday Girl, by Haruki Murakami - A girl's weird birthday story

As for this compilation of short stories; they're...different, to say the least. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't expect a collection of soppy, fairytale type stories.  I thought the idea behind it was interesting enough, all stories that somehow are about birthdays. It is not all "Happy birthday" though. Most of the stories have a more serious undertone than that.

Winnie the Pooh ~ A A Milne (50 0f 2024)

 

https://medium.com/@sarinathomas/why-is-winnie-the-pooh-famous-4b36c6eda796

In essence, Winne the Pooh is about a young child going on adventures with his stuffed animals. A. A. Milne first read the stories to his son Christopher Robin at night. Christopher Robin actually owned Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Piglet, and Tigger as toys in his room. Rabbit and Owl were made-up characters. The Hundred Acre Wood is based on Ashdown Forest, where the family would routinely go for days out and holidays.

Winnie the Pooh uses deft wordplay in English and philosophical jokes. Even if some kids don’t understand the stories, they nevertheless find them enjoyable. Actually, not all adults get them, but those who do have a great time with them.

Children would find A.A. Milne’s poetry appealing since it had excellent rhyme and rhythm and kid-friendly vocabulary. Most people probably don’t realize how difficult that is. You never forget his works until you have kids.

He writes in a style that appeals to young readers while addressing topics that appeal to them.

Winne the Pooh is famous because every child sympathizes with Pooh and feels superior to him for not understanding everything, and as they get older, they also value the basic knowledge that enables him to solve his issues.

For young children, Pooh is more lifelike than other novels. That’s really difficult to do, and despite the passage of time, the characters’ and the writing’s fundamental appeal still holds true.

So why is Winne the Pooh Famous?

The original works by A.A. Milne encapsulate Pooh and his companions’ experiences in the Hundred Acre Wood as well as the purity of childhood. All of the characters in the Winnie the Pooh series are appealing and have unique personalities. A diverse cast of characters, including Tigger’s boundless enthusiasm, Eeyore’s endearing pessimism, Piglet’s timidity, and Pooh’s soft and kindhearted demeanor, appeal to both youngsters and adults. The stories tackle universal topics like generosity, friendship, loyalty, and the small pleasures in life. Readers of all ages and backgrounds can relate to these issues.

It is a feel-good fictional universe because it presents a world that would be an ethical and/or philosophical hedonist’s utopia.

The character’s appeal and visual identity have been greatly enhanced by these famous illustrations by Shepard. The whimsical and compassionate quality of the stories is captured in Shepard’s paintings.

Beginning with the 1966 short film “Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree,” Disney’s take on Winnie the Pooh introduced the character to a worldwide audience. Pooh’s appeal has been sustained and grown thanks in large part to Disney’s animated movies and television series.

Winne the Pooh is famous because A.A. Milne writes in a straightforward yet thought-provoking manner that appeals to both adults and children. Different levels of appreciation are possible for the layers of meaning offered by the dialogue and narrative’s humor and wisdom.

Children are taught friendship, empathy, and how to manage their emotions through the usage of these stories in school settings. The stories are perfect for young listeners because they are soft and non-threatening. Winnie the Pooh’s appearance and personality have been mostly constant over time, in contrast to many other characters that experience considerable transformations. This constancy aids in preserving a classic feel.

Although the stories are aimed mostly at children, adults can also find humor, wisdom, and nostalgia in them. Pooh’s attraction to a wide age group contributes to his continued popularity.

Winnie-the-Pooh is a gregarious, compassionate, and pleasant character. He supports and aids individuals in need, like Piglet, who lack confidence. Even though Eeyore is frequently unhappy and doesn’t seem appreciative, he visits him and gives him a birthday present.

Whether it’s his simplicity, his emphasis on friendship, his relatable flaws, his humour, or the nostalgia factor, there’s something about this beloved bear that continues to capture the hearts of people around the world.

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a trip to be experienced. Contented individuals take diverse actions. Our mental and emotional well-being can be greatly impacted by controlling our negative thought patterns.

-------

A lot of the Winnie the Pooh series’ sayings are uplifting and have been extensively shared and used in a variety of settings, including social media and motivational posters. Some of my favourite quotes are;

“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.”

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”

“How do you spell love? You don’t spell it, you feel it.”

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” – Piglet

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.”

“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”

“Sometimes, when I sit quietly in the woods listening to the sunshine, I know that life is just what it is.”

“It’s more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?’”

“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.”

“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.”

“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.”

Last to Eat, Last to Learn ~ Pashtana Durrani & Tamara Bralo (49 of 2024)

 

Pashtana meets a tribal leader to get permission to start a girl's school in that village. He just asks her, what is the need for girls to study. She doesn't have an answer that could convince him. She went back and prepared for some time searching in the history and their culture. She went back, met him again and explained why girls should have education. The leader was convinced and allowed to start the school. His question was a sincere query, to understand something which he genuinely didn't know. 

Pashtana says that convincing patriarchal Afghans is possible. But it was almost impossible to convince the corrupt government.

Saudi friend firmly believes in  beheading in public square and they are morally happy being under such rule. They  say, no theft in society.  They have different rules for hazarras and Pashto people.

Hazzaras must either live under extreme life threatening discrimination or leave their homeland and go to some Western country. When you talk about 'life' with Afghan men it's shockingly surprising how different their attitude to women is. For them, they firmly believe that women need not walk into a school..

Pashtana Durrani was born as the eldest daughter of a tribal leader who had to flee Afghanistan as a refugee to Pakistan. Her father was respected among the refugee community, and he took care that his daughters got an education and the skills for decision-making. We find that Pashtuna is an independent soul, always asking questions and never resigning to the ready-made answers from her elders. At a very young age, she decided to forgo the chance to study at Oxford and started LEARN, an NGO to impart education to rural girls in Afghanistan. 

The book describes her childhood, her struggles in Pakistan as a tribal girl, her time in Afghanistan spent negotiating with a corrupt government, snobbish tribal leaders who cannot see beyond the patriarchal lens with which they are conditioned, and the Taliban, who are out to kill. When the Americans left the country in the hands of the Taliban, she was forced to move to the USA, but not before ensuring that the movement she started carries on and she can continue her work in the US. 

I am enamoured by the writer's spirit, which never fails to get up and fight against all odds that are thrown at her. It takes no little courage to speak out against what one feels is wrong in a traditional patriarchal society that believes in violence as the solution to all problems. Then, it takes more courage and willpower to follow up those words with actions when the odds seem insurmountable. But it's not just her vision that is depicted in the book. We also get a broad picture of Afghanistan—the society, their traditions, the family, the history, the tribal system, and the values they hold. It is commendable that so many insights are packed into such a short book. The language that the writer uses is very energetic and humorous, but it never makes the reader forget the threat of violence that lurks on the next page. 

It is also ironic that Afghanistan, as a nation of such good people, has never tasted peace for centuries. One reason is the inherent strain of violence present in their culture, which is based on tribalism. The second reason is their position as a geographical bridge between east and west, which caused every affluent nation to have a strategic interest in Afghanistan. These incessant interferences and their tribal divide have cost them dearly. The values of Pakhtunwali that provide them all their endearing qualities are also a reason for the development of fissures within themselves, preventing them from uniting and resolving their issues. 

On the one hand, continuous wars and deep corruption have made them languish in poverty for generations and have rendered countless refugees. On top of that, the religious fanaticism of factions like the Taliban has severely curbed their already limited individual freedom. The Afghan women have suffered the most when even their freedom to step outside their home is curbed under Taliban rule, let alone to study or pursue a career. Last to Eat, Last to Learn is an autobiographical book by Afghan activist Pashtana Durrani written with Tamara Bralo about her struggles to set up an NGO that helps educate young girls in Afghanistan. 

Afghans are some of the bravest, steadfastest, and most principled people to walk on earth. Their loyalty and bravery, their sense of community, and their adherence to their value systems are renowned. Compared to any other Muslim nation in its neighbourhood, Indians like me have an affinity for and goodwill towards Afghans because of these qualities. In the Indian psyche, major icons of Afghanistan are Abdul Ghaffer Khan, also known as the Frontier Gandhi, and Kabuliwala, the dry fruit-selling Afghan who befriends a five-year-old aristocratic girl from Tagore's short story. 

Men Without Women ~ Murakami (48 of 2024)

 

"It's quite easy to become Men Without Women. You love a woman deeply, and then she goes off somewhere. That's all it takes." 

'Men Without Women', I studied the cover closely before reading. The cover, two semi-circles, one black and one white, moving away from each other, was on-your-face simple. It clearly spelled out what to expect from the book. The book consists of seven short stories that are bound by the common thread of loneliness. Even though the title pretty much summarises the theme, each story presents a different facet of human experience and a different kind of loneliness. So also said the back cover. 

Invariably, all the men who lost their women in these stories are lost souls. Their loss, sometimes actual but most of the time perceived, makes them act in strange ways. 

In the opening story 'Drive My Car', a character actor makes friends with his late actress wife's secret lover to understand her motivations for adultery. 

In the story 'Yesterday', an aimless boy, unsure of his future, tries to connect with his long time girlfriend with his best friend.

 'An Independent Organ' is about a womanising plastic surgeon who finally falls in love with disastrous consequences. 

In 'Scheherazade', a woman who brings provisions to a man in hiding tells bizzare stories from her past, like the main character of The Arabian Nights, and makes love with him. The more immersed he gets in these stories, the more he realises that she may be lost to him. 

'Kino' is the story of a divorced salesman who opens a jazz bar only to realise his past is catching up on him in more ways than he can imagine. 

'Samsa in Love' starts as a parody of Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' and evolves into a tale of primal love that offers no future prospects.

The last story, 'Men Without Women', takes the readers on a full circle. In it, a stranger calls the protagonist at midnight to inform him about his wife's, the protagonist's old girlfriend's, suicide. He realises that, with the final loss of his one-time girlfriend, who loved elevator music, he is now one of the Men Without Women. With the loss of that one woman, he understands that he has lost them all. 

The seven stories are arranged in an ascending order of weirdness. The initial stories feature regular settings, and each story pumps up the weirdness scale a few notches higher. We also find several regular Murakami tropes, like a lot of musical trivia, magical realism, a streak of humour that takes some time to fully register, and some existential pondering on relationships, abundant in these stories. Another element that surprised me were the clever deceptions and distractions in the stories. Many of the stories evolve very differently from what we predicted at the beginning. A careful evaluation of some stories reveals that we are not given the entire facts and only a single point of view, which need not be even right. 

I have frequently encountered this opinion in the books by Murakami that he fails to portray the ethos of his female characters. I never felt it till now, but after reading this book, I kind of understand the probable reason for that criticism. In this book, the female characters are shoddily portrayed. On the first reading, we may feel that Murakami doesn't understand women. But anyone who has read 'Norwegian Wood' will know that it isn't so. The stories in this collection are centred on men who lost their women. For most of them, this happened due to their own inherent lack of understanding of women. They are failures in their quests and losers, even sometimes when they maintain their relationships. Their failure to comprehend the ethos of women reflects in these stories.

How do you organise your books?

Normally it would be "All over the place"

And yes Favourites are hidden. Rest by language and then by color.

Why hide favourites. Mostly it is some random visitors or acquaintances who lay their hands on my books. Unfortunately, I haven’t had any of my books returned. 

So I protect my favourites by hiding them. Even in my absence they’re safe.

What hurts is that they don’t read either. It is like they’re picking a free collectible for themselves.

Some say: 

 I keep three stacks. 

Books that are not read.

 Books that are read but may be re-read in the distant future. 

Books that are read and will never touch again in life. 

How to arrange  books 😊

 https://youtu.be/8dZznfGPYRY?si=oV2HhHRG7Ha17vfR

https://youtu.be/8dZznfGPYRY?si=oV2HhHRG7Ha17vfR

 what an ending😄

Thickness - most thick - less thick - least thick

 First by author/series if of the same size then I stack by size of the book

By genre first and then alphabetically. Comics are kept safe in boxes away from prying eyes ( and hands ).

Varshangalkku Shesham

The film, as described in a WhatsApp message I received, is commended for its average storyline that is elevated by exceptional direction and superb music. Particularly, the direction skillfully navigates the narrative, making it engaging despite its conventional plot. The music emerges as a highlight, seamlessly intertwining with the story's fabric and enhancing its emotional impact. Dhyan delivers a standout performance, bringing depth and authenticity to his character.

The first half of the film exudes a feel-good atmosphere, drawing the audience into the lives of the characters. However, it is the unexpected entry of Nivin Pauly, in a cameo role, that injects a new dimension into the storyline, transforming it into a delightful comedy-drama. This shift in tone adds layers to the narrative, keeping the audience entertained and invested in the characters' journeys.

The film authentically depicts the struggles and aspirations of young individuals pursuing their dreams in the film industry. It, of course, doesn't possess supernatural elements, instead focuses on portraying the realities of life and the challenges faced by aspiring artists. The nostalgic scenes from yesteryears are meticulously crafted, evoking a sense of nostalgia and adding depth to the storyline.

One of the film's standout aspects is its music, which excels on multiple fronts. Firstly, the music offers a diverse range of compositions, catering to various moods and emotions throughout the film. Secondly, the integration of instruments is beautifully executed, enhancing the overall cinematic experience. Thirdly, the lyrics are poignant and meaningful, adding layers of depth to the storytelling. Moreover, the tone and rhythm of the music seamlessly blend with the narrative, enriching the viewing experience. Did the melodies evoke emotions? Reminded of the Qawwali, ballroom, and tap dance songs?

Lead actors Pranav and Dhyan deliver very good performances, effectively conveying the complexities of their characters. Their chemistry on screen is palpable, making their interactions feel authentic and relatable. Pranav's flexibility in conveying different moods and connecting with the audience is superb. Additionally, the supporting cast, including Asif Ali and Neeraj Madha took good care of their part, contributing to the film's overall impact. Aju Varghese effortlessly embodies the essence of typical producers with his innate charm and authenticity.

While the romance in the film may not reach expected heights, it's a strong reminder that life often unfolds in ways beyond our control. Rather than fretting over unmet expectations, the film encourages us to embrace life's unpredictability and find beauty in its imperfections.

Overall, the film resonates with viewers on a personal level, particularly those familiar with the struggles of pursuing a career in the film industry. Despite its subtlety, the film offers valuable life lessons and insights into the human experience. Vineeth, Abhay, and the rest of the team deserve praise for their adept handling of the storyline, delivering a compelling and memorable cinematic experience.

Directed by Vineeth Srinivasan  Varshangalkku Shesham is the story of Venu Koothuparambu (Dhyan Sreenivasan), an aspiring filmmaker and Murali Viswambharan (Pranav Mohanlal), an aspiring musician who meet by chance sometime in the 60's or 70's in a village in Kannur district, become friends and decide to try their luck at the movies by running off to Chennai. Venu starts doing menial jobs on filmsets and Murali plays the violin for music recordings. They somehow make ends meet and Murali's chance encounter with a producer Keshavadev (Aju Varghese) results in Venu being signed as the director for his next production. At this stage, Murali develops cold feet (for reasons best known to the writer - director), hands over the tunes he has composed to music director Indradhanush (Kalesh Ramanand) and ends up a full time alcoholic regretting his own actions. Venu's debut directorial becomes a superhit, he marries actor Radhika (Neeta Pillai) and the friends part ways. 

Years later, we see Venu as a filmmaker who has lost his mojo and another chance meeting with Murali and an Assistant Director, Pradeep (Basil Joseph), result in Venu and Murali teaming up for a new movie with the struggling star, Nithin Molly (Nivin Pauly) in the lead. Their struggle to create a superhit movie together is what the rest of the narrative is all about. 

Murali seems to drift, makes wrong choices only to regret them later. There is a  romantic track involving Murali and Annie (Kalyani Priyadarshan) with a small role. The first half is butt-numbingly long and suffers from lazy writing and characterization. Music director Indradhanush seems to be the only person respecting Murali's talent and he is described as a villain and a manipulator by the remaining characters. 

The second half has the presence and performances of Basil Joseph and particularly, Nivin Pauly who seems to be having a ball trolling himself, his body shape and his own career. Neeraj Madhav is fun though he is restricted to only 2 scenes. Among the rest of the cast members, Y Gee Mahendra impresses in a brief role while it is good to see Shaan Rahman as an actor embracing the goofiness of his character. 

In spite of having a musician as one of the leads, the music department (generally a strong point in Vineeth's movies) is weak here and apart from the "Nyapagam" song, none of the others stay with you. Cinematography is good and the art department does a good job with recreating the Kodambakkam of the 70's.

Suttle pun here and there is what I loved about the movie. Though many did not like, I felt it was a tribute to Srinivasan and Mohanlal pair. Thanks to OTT-Sonylive could watch the movie today. 

Once there were wolves ~ Charlotte McConaghy (46 of 2024)

 

Inspired by the Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction project, this is the story of Inti Flynn who is on a similar project in Scotland. Brilliant plot combining climate crisis, psychological issues and a murder mystery. 261 pages, but lot of information, going to and fro, past and present. 

Inti Flynn has come to the Scottish Highlands to lead a team of biologists on a mission. They are releasing a pack of fourteen gray wolves in an attempt to restore the ecological balance that has been badly upset by lumbering and killing of the wolves. The local rural community is up against the project as they fear for the lives of their sheep and themselves too, for wolves are a much maligned and feared of animals.

Inti and her twin sister Aggie grew up splitting their time between their father, who was a lumberjack turned naturalist in Alaska and their police officer mother in Australia who deals with crimes against women day in an out. The intense connect that Inti and Aggie has with nature is directly related to their childhood that was spent with their father.

“The forest has a beating heart we can’t see,” Dad told us once. He lay flat on the earth and we copied him, placing our hands on the warm ground and our ears to the underbrush, listening, “It’s here, beneath us. This is how the trees speak with and care for each other. Their roots tangle together, dozens of trees with dozens more in a web that reaches on forever, and they whisper to each other though their roots. They warn of danger and they share sustenance. They’re like us, a family. Stronger together. Nothing gets through this life alone.” He smiled then, and asked, “Can you hear the beating?” and we could, somehow we could.”

This para touched my heart, took me back to my childhood.

All the characters have shades of grey, and there are specific and plausible reasons for what they have done, have gone through. Aggie is catatonic, Duncan, the local police chief is obviously hiding some past trauma, Lainey, the local sheep farmer Stuart’s wife is being abused by her husband regularly but everyone seems to turn a blind eye towards it. The mysteries are solved one by one as the wolves are slowly reintroduced and start acclimatizing themselves to the wilderness. Inti and her team walks on a tightrope, for they know one misstep and the wolves would all be killed. Things come to a head when Stuart disappears. Foul play is suspected, Inti knows what happened, but she cannot disclose it to anyone. It is when Duncan is attacked in a similar manner that even Inti figures out what exactly was happening.

Inti is afflicted with “mirror touch synesthesia,” a rare condition that causes the individuals to feel the same sensations that another person feels. Whether it is the wolves, Aggie or Duncan, the effect on Inti is devastating.

Like the trees, we cannot remain isolated. our redemption is in our connections, in understanding and supporting each other, and turning to each other to find solace, peace and redemption.

Aggie had to go through a lot from her surgeon husband,  there was no end to the pain, suffering and how much the sisters wanted to protect each other and be with each other. 

Then There was a mother, who realise there is more kindness in this world but we tend to focus on the bad. Children who fail to understand the signs. A childbirth in the forest and a horse helping through.  A daughter following the footsteps of her father and Gone Home  👣 Forest.

Wolves might very well be one of the most misunderstood species of animals. They are considered wild, yet they are so close to us, humans. We too were wild once. And we still are, just that we have learned to camouflage it well. McConaghy makes us live with the wolves, feel their thoughts and emotions. 

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolf-restoration.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0DUpQ5RuJoor4fwykcIwl0ibw-0UwurdCTLeol3U6guFrX2XqzRF64kJo_aem_ATwu4wA3OxSrUmcrYhA9P3_cUYBp1-PpVKP6izJBjpTgJulJbr5h0GIU-5YUTA5QrLFrxy7t0_A8BzfXLpsUyvqS

 Long before they killed the wolves, they massacred over 300 native americans and displaced several thousand to establish the yellowstone NP in 1872.

‘This One Wild And Precious Life’ by Sarah Wilson (47 of 2024)

 

This book is a call to action, a call to reconnecting to nature, to stopping mindless consumerism, to stepping outside the zeitgeist. She does it through personal anecdotes and stories from many of her hikes through forests, deserts. It references authors, philosophers, environmentalists, artists and everyday people she met along the way. There is enough data to scare the pants off of you, but there's no info-dumping, not that it's anything wrong with that. Sarah Wilson opens us herself to judging by opening up about some very personal, intimate aspects and events of her life. Luckily, as she said "she doesn't have any more fucks to give about what others think" and she shouldn't. Isn't that one of the perks of getting a bit older and being comfortable with not being liked by everyone or wanting to be liked by everyone?

Everything that is troubling a sane person in these times - climate change, political crises, racial injustice, being disconnected and a sense of moral and spiritual loneliness. Yet it also gives us hope that this very disconnect and sense of alienation that people of similar angst feel, will bring them together and pave the way forward to a better world.

Drawing on science, literature, philosophy, the wisdom of some of the world's leading experts, and her personal journey, Wilson weaves a one-of-a-kind narrative that lights the way back to the life we love. En route, she leads us through a series of 'wildly awake' and joyful practices for reconnecting again that include:

- Go to your edge. Do what scares you and embrace discomfort daily. Use it to grow into your Big Life.

- #buylesslivemore. Break the cycle of mindless consumption and get light with your life.

- Become a soul nerd. Embrace poetry, deep reading, art, and classical music to light up your intellect.

- Get 'full-fat spiritual'. How to have an active practice - beyond the 'lite' 'rainbows and unicorns' - and use it to change the world.

- Hike. Just hike. Walking in nature reconnects us with ourselves, and with our true purpose.

- Practise wild activism. If you can get 3.5 per cent of a population to participate in sustained, non-violent protest, change happens. We create our better world.

The time has come to boldly, wildly, imagine better. We are being called upon, individually and as a society, to forge a new path and to find a new way of living. Will you join the journey?

Migrations ~ Charlotte McConaghy (48 of 2024)

 

There is nothing so disturbing as a creature born to flight being bound to dull lifelessness.

--------------------------------------

A nameless sadness, the fading away of the birds. The fading away of the animals. How lonely it will be here, when it’s just us.

Franny Stone has always been the kind of woman who is able to love but unable to stay. Leaving behind everything but her research gear, she arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica. Franny talks her way onto a fishing boat, and she and the crew set sail, traveling ever further from shore and safety. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool―a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime―it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds. When Franny's dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?Epic and intimate, heartbreaking and galvanizing, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is an ode to a disappearing world and a breathtaking page-turner about the possibility of hope against all odds.

This dystopian story spans Australia, Ireland, Antarctica, and all realms of the heart in between. The main character, Franny, seems to unravel as the pages go on. Her tale is told in real time and in flashbacks. Her marriage to Niall is heartbreaking, with one of the central dichotomies being loving, wandering, and leaving. There are truly unexpected twists and turns that left me breathless. It's wrenching to read but ultimately cathartic and triumphant.

She’s frozen and her tent has blown away but after six days Fran has finally banded her third. Her intention is to follow the migration of Arctic terns as they flee their breeding ground in Greenland and head to their winter quarters in the Antarctic Circle. These birds complete the longest migration of any animal and they complete it twice each year, as they’ll head back again in around six months. Their annual milage is calculated to be in excess of forty thousand miles and it can take up to three months to complete each journey. Fran plans to track them on her laptop.  An arctic expedition and a murder mystery too. Exquisite writing and brilliant plot all in 272 pages.

Terms of Endearment ~ Larry McMurtry (45 of 2024)

"The Success of a marriage invariably depends on the woman," Mrs. Greenway said. "It does not," Emma said not looking up. 

Won't women be captivated by a books that begin like this? So did I. 

Terms of Endearment and The Evening Star are two of Larry McMurtry's best known novels, they are actually books #3 and #6 of his Houston series. Mind you, they are not the Western genre. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry created two characters who won the hearts of readers and moviegoers everywhere--Aurora Greenway and her daughter Emma. Through three very different books (Moving On, All My Friends are Going to be strangers, Terms of Endearment) we see Emma as what women are at their best.  She saw life clearly, and survived her own clear knowledge. This is Larry's last of the Houston trilogy. 

This is about Memorable mother and her feisty daughter who find the courage and humor to live through life's hazards and to love each other as never before. The times depicted here are the early 1960s and 70s in Texas and we encounter wives being beaten by bad husbands, double standards everywhere for women, and too many disappointments to share, but Aurora and her daughter, Emma, also represent, at different times, the maiden, the mother, the queen and the crone. Through them, we are able to see both the limitations and the potential for all women, at all times.   A book with 418 pages, but will not let you down. 

Aurora comes with a very large footprint, big, loud, moody, demanding and argumentative (they’re her good qualities) – she’s also a chronic flirt and has a conga-line of middle-aged men following her around with their tongues hanging out. They’re totally obsessed with her, all craving her hand in marriage and they make no secret of that fact. Aurora Greenway, nearing her fiftieth year, is a very memorable character. Larry McMurty gave us brief glimpses of a woman that has a hard outer core but a soft middle. Aurora has one daughter, Emma, and a string of suitors. She is not very nice to any of them – most of the time! Aurora wants the best for her daughter, but she has a ruthless way of showing it. Emma is married to an absolute tool called “Flap” – a character totally devoid of any good qualities at all. None. What the hell did Emma see in him?  Mother and daughter talk and argue with each other almost daily. When Emma announces that she's going to have a baby, Aurora throws a fit, horribly despondent that no suitor will be interested in wooing her when they discover that the forty-nine year old widow is a grandmother. Emma's husband of two years Thomas "Flap" Horton, an egocentric English professor, is not there to defend his wife through the tirade, though it occurs to Emma he wouldn't have risen to challenge Aurora if he had been there.

When she's not hectoring her daughter, Aurora--who lives in Houston's wealthy River Oaks neighborhood on far less capital than people assume--entertains herself with a parade of suitors. There's Hector, a retired general who lives down the block but tries Aurora's nerve by attempting to regiment her flighty behavior. There's Alberto, an Italian opera star in his twilight whose romantic gestures Aurora is much more tolerant of. Her flirtation even inspires the hopes of Royce, the deliveryman husband of her maid of twenty-two years and best friend, Rosie Dunlop. Aurora returns home to discover that Royce lost his temper with Rosie and hit the mother of his seven children.

A dark horse for Aurora's affection is Vernon Dalhart, a diminutive oilman whose bumper Aurora swipes while returning from breakfast with the general. Vernon, a boyish, laid back millionaire of fifty, has two telephones, a television and an ice cooler in his car, which he uses as his primary residence, docking at the end of each day on the roof of a parking garage he owns in downtown Houston. Vernon tells Aurora that he's in love for the first time in his life, but insecure that he'll tire of her moods quickly and run off to one of his oilfields, Aurora relegates Vernon to the role of Johnny on the Spot, a clutch friend whose resourcefulness she comes to lean on in hard times.

While Emma notices that Flap has been paying her more attention sexually, their marriage is poisoned. Whether her habit of reading the classified ads before any other section of the newspaper is the problem, or his flirtations with Emma's best friend Patsy Carpenter, or that the two hate each other despite bringing a child into the world together, neither of them have the courage to divorce. When Flap finally loses his cool with his bride and tries to push her through their bedroom window, Emma picks herself up and shrugs it off, taking Patsy to her mother's for one of her legendary breakfasts and an update on the soap opera over there.Emma migrates with her husband to Des Moines, where she gives birth to three children but ultimately, discovers her health is more vulnerable than her marriage.

She noticed that everyone in the hospital assumed that she was finished. They were polite; they were not perfunctory, but essentially they let her be. It was her own people, not the doctors, who kept pressuring her to get well enough to go home for a while. They all seemed to think it must be what she wanted, but Emma resisted. If she had had the chance she might have gone home and dug in, but she knew she had no chance--knew it from what she felt, not from what she had been told. Once she accepted that, then she accepted the hospital. For those who could be cured, it was a hospital, but for her it was a depot, a kind of bus station; she was there to be transported out of life, and because it was ugly and bare and smelled bad and was run impersonally by hired functionaries, that which was never easy--a departure--could at least be handled efficiently. She didn't want to go home, because at home the warmth and good smells of her life would be overpowering. Her children would drag at her, with their love, their brilliance, and their needs. She would become vulnerable to her little joys: her soap operas, washing Melanie's fantastic hair, Tommy's newest book and Teddy's hug, a nice dawdle with Richard, some Hollywood gossip from Patsy. If she went home, it would hurt too much to die; also it would hurt those who were losing her.

A strength of Terms of Endearment and Larry McMurtry's epics is their variety. Once the story begins, McMurtry reveals that Aurora isn't so fearless and Emma isn't so submissive. I loved the brush the author paints the city of Houston with, from the mists that roll in from the Gulf to an all-nite diner near the Astrodome that Vernon Dalhart is partial to. His advisers compel him to give Aurora a pet goat, which seems like something that could only happen in Houston or in a Larry McMurtry novel.

The novel is separated into two books. Emma's Mother sprawls across 349 pages The last section called Book II, Mrs Greenway’s Daughter (Emma) 1971-1976 is overwhelmingly powerful, turns into one of the most profound and emotionally vibrant exposes on death.          

“She had made every effort to remain active, to keep open to life, and yet life was beginning to resist her in unexpected ways. Men, some of them decent and good, seemed to march through her life almost daily, and yet they caused so little to stir within her that she had begun to be afraid – not just that nothing would ever stir again, but that she would stop wanting it to, cease caring whether it did or not, or even come to prefer that it didn’t.”

To Emma: “I’ve never allowed myself to be resigned to anything that wasn’t delightful, and nothing about your life is delightful that I can see. You must make some changes.”

About men: “The fact that most men have the same ultimate motive doesn’t mean that they have the same qualities. Desires may not vary that much, but their expressions do.”

“I’m afraid I’ve never marched to any man’s drum and I’m far too old to start now.”

“Well, if you’ve reached the stage where you’ve got to have a woman, you’re going to feel ridiculous the big part of the time anyway. I was never mixed up with nobody from further east than Little Rock neither. I never said more than howdy to a smart woman in my life, and I still went around feeling dumb half the time. They’re smarter than us – that’s what it boils down to.”

“It was inconsiderate, she thought, how blandly people mentioned the future in the sick rooms. Phrases like next summer were always popping out; people made such assumptions about their own continuity.”

This book made me laugh and cry. I liken it as a tribute to women – women of all ages, sizes, and temperaments

The book has engaging dialogue, sharp characterizations, humor, passion, and realistic life situations.

Mother and daughter make their choices. Aurora to take a cranky old general as a lover, Emma to keep her family intact. In the end the selfish mother outlives the unselfish daughter, but not because she is either more or less moral: she just had the good fortune to not get cancer. 

The movie is very different from the book. Movie appears to be comedy, but book is thought provoking too. Readers who know the movie can’t help but hear Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger as they follow their stormy relationship.

Terms of Endearment dazzled critics and audiences alike with its believable, insightful story of two captivating people, mother and daughter, unforgettably played by Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger. From grand slapstick to deepest sentiment, director James L. Brooks masterfully paints scenes from their evolving 30-year relationship.

This movie is available on Amazon see here: https://amzn.to/2tZzTPh

Poor vs. Rich

 She was poor but she was honest

though she came from humble stock

And her honest heart was beating

Underneath her tattered frock

But the rich man saw her beauty

She knew not his base design

And he took her to a hotel

And bought her a small port wine

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

In the rich man's arms she fluttered

Like a bird with a broken wing

But he loved her and he left her

Now she hasn't got no ring

Time has flown - outcast and homeless

In the street she stands and says

While the snowflakes fall around her

'Won't you buy my bootlaces'

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

Standing on the bridge at midnight

She says 'Farewell blighted love!'

There's a scream a splash good 'eavens!

What is she a doing of?

Soon they dragged her from the river

Water from her clothes they wrang

They all thought that she was drownded

But the corpse got up and sang:

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

She was poor but she was honest

Victim of a rich man's game

First he loved her then he left her

And she lost her maiden name

Then she ran away to London

For to hide her grief and shame

There she met an Army captain

And she lost her name again

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

See him riding in a carriage

Past the gutter where she stands

He has made a stylish marriage

While she wrings her ringless hands

See him there at the theatre

In the front row with the best

While the girl that he has ruined

Entertains a sordid guest

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

See her on the bridge at midnight

Crying "Farewell blighted love"

Then a scream a splash and Goodness!

What is she a-doing of?

When they dragged her from the river

Water from her clothes they wrung

Though they thought that she was drown

Still her corpse got up and sung:

It's the same the whole world over

It's the poor what gets the blame

It's the rich what gets the pleasure

Isn't it a blooming shame?

Lyrics from a song in Public Domain