Am tempted to though, because indeed...it has been a while. And when "it has been a while", it also means it has been busy...it has been crazy...and sometimes it means it hasn't been good either. It is 3 months since my last post and I am deeply ashamed.
The good thing though is I have still been reading and I have managed to read 5 books at least. Not too bad eh?
So let's see how well my memory serves me on the first two...
The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble
The main focus of the book is Eve who is English and has just moved to New York with her husband who is taking up a high flying job. Soon, Eve finds herself stuck in the house with not much to do (In bloody NEW YORK????). She eventually befriends Violet, one of her elderly neighbours who is originally from England.Violet has lived in the US for a long time.
INTERLUDE: At this point, I rudely discover that a Peanut butter & Jelly sandwich is really just bread with Peanut butter and JAM...Yes..JAM! Why the Americans call it jelly is beyond me. All these years I have secretly relished having one...even anticipating its deliciousness (otherwise why do they...the Americans.... talk about it all the time?). At this point...I think about Chimamanda Adichie's TEDEx presentation on "The danger of a single story". It takes me reading a book written by an English author and set in America to know this basic fact...that there are no pomp and bells involved in a peanut butter & jelly sandwich! Even recalling this annoys me. Back to the story......
What is the essence of this book then? The Author interweaves Eve's story with that of Violet and all their other neighbours. There is the gay couple (for political correctness I suppose otherwise there isn't much to tell about them) one of whom is a lawyer, then there are the single girls (the introvert, the drop dead gorgeous girl and the diva). There is also the rich boy with a trust fund, the perfect couple with two little perfect children and the imperfect couple who hardly speak to each other any more and are contemplating divorce. There is also the old man who hates the gay couple and would send them to hell himself if he could. He later on dies in his apartment and nobody notices until he has been dead for a number of days. The classic American tale. The book is simply a medley of stories and not a moment of boredom!
At some point in the story, Eve gets pregnant and is happy to have something to focus on. As the story progresses and the readers are busy waiting for the wonderful birth of Eve's baby....the author gives the story a twist. Eve goes into premature labour and delivers a baby girl who lives only for a month. At this point of the story....I have to stop reading the book for a little while because as the story unfolds...it only makes me cry. As a mother, I deeply relate to Eve's anguish and pain. I also like to cry every once in a while for reasons that do not involve my own life. It's healthy. A healthy excuse to cry :-) i.e.! To top it all, the author brings out Violet's own pain and anguish story about loosing her husband and her 5 year old daughter. Am happy when the book finally ends and I can stop crying! YES..YES! I cried about fictional characters Elizabeth Noble created in her head but that right there...THAT is the power of a true author.
All in all it is a good read...though not the kind of book that will keep you up late into the night because you simply cannot put it down.
The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama
The book is set in rural India. First problem....rural India? Second problem...Marriage Bureau? Still...something keeps me going. And here is why.....
Bored with retirement, Mr. Ali sets up a desk, puts up a sign, and waits for customers for his new matchmaking business. You would think with all the online sites available, a matchmaking business (its all analogue) wouldn't make sense at all. But this is India and that is what makes a difference. Any Indian family with a daughter looks forward to finding a husband for her. Its not easy though due to the deeply rooted cultural beliefs THAT COMPLICATE EVERYTHING. Perhaps I should have been born there...then that would be one headache off my mind. I would only need to know these things;Where, What time, What do I wear? Is he human?
Within no time, Mr Ali's business is booming and he makes his first perfect match...then a second...and a third. Soon he is overwhelmed and needs an assistant! It may all sound easy but there is a lot of complexity involved due to the caste system, family preferences, financial capability etc. Not once does love come into the equation. Soon, Mr. Ali is able to get an assistant, thanks to his wife. This book is really about her story.
I will leave you to find out more if you so wish. When I finally finish reading the book, I have a big smile on my face...a high... fueled by a renewed hope and belief in love. It only lasts for the remainder of my evening....but while it last....I ride the wave for all its worth.
Blistering barnacles!!! (You know what am talking about if you followed the Tin Tin series)....I have 3 more books to talk about! Till next time....
