Book Review: The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura

The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We might all have come across an eccentric person or two on a train or a bus or, like our narrator, on a park bench, and wondered what that person’s story might be. The narrator of our story here doesn’t stop at wondering. She takes it up several notches and finds out all she can and some more about the eccentric woman she finds on the park bench everyday.

This is a story of a ‘woman in the purple skirt’, who sits on a park bench every evening and eats her cream bun in complete oblivion of the world around her. This is also the story of the ‘woman in yellow cardigan’, the narrator of our ominous story, who observes the woman in the purple skirt and wants to become friends with her. But she never finds the right moment and instead keeps following the woman and makes it her routine to observe and note important details about her on a daily basis.

This is an interesting and quick read that leaves us wondering how loneliness might drive someone into some weird obsession.
For a 200 page book this one packs a punch. I got pulled into the story and the “deliciously creepy” narration, as Kirkus reviews put it. I think “deliciously creepy” is just what it is. We understand it’s wrong but this woman pulls us all in into her obsession and we definitely can’t put the book down until we know all of it. Highly recommend.

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Book Review: Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Are 400 pages enough to contain the epic that is Mahabharata? Even though it is only from one perspective, that of the woman who might have been at the centre of it all? I don’t know. But Chitra Banerjee managed to have pulled it off somehow, briefly touching over almost all the major plot points of the epic and adding some flavour with Draupadi’s point of view. I liked the book for not showing Draupadi as a perfect person, for discussing her flaws as much as her virtues. I liked especially the chapters during and just before the great war dealing with the tumultuous emotional state of Draupadi.

But, that this is all a long internal monologue somehow didn’t sit well with me. I would have loved more dialogues, more conversations between Draupadi and the other characters, especially, her husbands, between her and Bhishma, Krishna or Kunti. The story also needed more show than tell (e.g., it was mentioned countless times that Draupadi tormented her husbands during the vanavasa, but there were no major incidents depicted graphically to invoke our empathy). Otherwise, this is a decent rendition true to the original epic. Of course it is probably too true in some cases whereas extremely creative with respect to the feelings of Draupadi towards Karna. It is the focal point of this narrative and is shown as one of the forces shaping the course of the story.

As for the title of this book, I wonder why the Palace was chosen. Did Draupadi really covet her Palace so much? Or was the Palace a metaphor to Draupadi’s own mind? I think it’s the latter. The book takes us through a labyrinthine stream of her thoughts conjuring love, anger, hatred, devotion, ambition, ego and envy – all playing tricks on Draupadi and pulling her strings. She was disillusioned only at the end, when it was too late.

Mahabharata is one story we can’t get enough of. Divakaruni lent voice to an important character in the story and added interesting points of view. This is a good read for all mythology buffs and great food for thought and discussion.



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Do not get lost in the infinite scroll

Do not get lost in the infinte scroll
You should rest and relax at close of the day
But not glare at the bright blue screen

Though wise men know being social is right
But no posts can ignite great thoughts, and so
Do not get lost in the infinite scroll

Family men, having signed off for the day
Lie down on the floor, stacking blocks or reading books with the kids, and relax
But do not glare at the bright blue screen

Single men, who are free to chase the wildest of geese
Know that there are more meaningful things to pursue but just
Do not get lost in the infinite scroll

Lonely men, bored to death, having nothing else to spend time on
Learn a new tongue, draw, cook or just dance
But do not glare at the bright blue screen

I implore you all, everyone out there
Read books, colour, take a stroll – seek joy, seek fun but
Do not get lost in the infinite scroll
And do not glare at the bright blue screen.

by Keerthy (July 13 2022)

Well, this one needs a lot of polishing but couldn’t resist posting it here. 🙂 Most would immediately understand that this was an imitation, if not a copy, of the famous poem – “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas. Dylan Thomas’s poem was written in a state of grief, over the impending blindness of his father. It is one of the greatest vilanelles ever written.

This is meant as a tribute to the giant as his work has been on my mind for a while now and I couldn’t hold off of imitating this poem. I know this is not at its best. I will definitely take time to improve this. But for now letting it rest like this. Please let me know how you like it and add your thoughts or criticize, please.

2020 and Me

~ Some long overdue updates on Life, Literature and more.

Hey blog, how have you been? I don’t want to tell you that I was too busy to even think of you all these days. You are always there at the back of my mind as I go about my day. But I just push your thoughts away. Finally made up my mind to put a few words down here. First, some long pending updates.

I had my second baby this year. That’s the single biggest news. The birthing experience here in the US was so different from my first one in India. It was pleasant and definitely less painful. I can’t really believe it’s all over and I am back into my regular lifestyle already. Our family feels complete now with the arrival of our second baby. She is an adorable little fellow. I love the way she smiles at me these days. She is 2.5 months old now. My elder daughter is almost three. She can speak in big sentences and sings her own songs too sometimes, stringing words from multiple songs into one. She is an energetic kid. I don’t really know how to channel her energy into constructive things. I am just winging it. I have been trying to read some parenting books lately. Every time I doubt my way of handling things with my toddler, I scour the internet for help and read all the relevant research articles, suggestions, blogposts and experiences I can find. So I decided to spend some time to find one nice parenting book that deals with my everyday questions and stick to it. Most of the times, a little voice in my head tells me if I am doing okay or not but it helps to read some expert put it into right words.

My parenting dilemmas aside, I am reading Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell now. I was expecting some Daniel Kahneman style behavioral economics/ psychology book but this wasn’t that. I am 50% into the book and I am not really sure if I want to go ahead. This book draws heavily from the author’s insights than any research and uses some bizarre examples to validate and elaborate on those ideas. So far, I don’t see great connection between the author’s hypothesis and the cases he is describing to establish his theory. If I read the book, I will write a more detailed review later.

Besides parenting and reading, I have been spending my time a bit on some crafts. I learnt crochet from my mother-in-law and I really enjoy making things out of yarn. After coming to the US, it has become easy for me to find and buy yarn at local craft stores or online. I made two baby blankets – one I gifted to a friend and another for my little one. I am happy with how they turned out. These were my first big yarn projects 6+ years after learning the craft and crocheting random little things. Will post some pictures in a separate post later.

So this is how I have been spending these days. I love my life the way it is right now. My days are filled with smiles and squeals from my kids and some fun, loving moments with my partner. As my 30th year comes to an end, I am thankful for this wonderful life and the little moments that I get to enjoy each day.

The Name of the Wind (KKC #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am looking for fantasy, fantasy and more fantasy. A new world, a new kind of magic, demons and struggles of the protagonist. I read some good reviews about this on several forums and so I wanted to begin the series despite the delay in the release of third book. The author is inspired by G R R Martin not just in his work but also the delays. 🙂

The book begins in an omnipresent narrative but gently slips into first person after a slow beginning. But after a few “silent” chapters, the story is interesting. It is not a thriller but has its moments of suspense, thrill and wonder. The hero sounds a wee bit over confident but a better part of the story is narrated by him, so I think we can expect that.

This first book left me feeling incomplete, like a story half-told. I expected more towards the ending and was a little disappointed. It is not like the other fantasy series – one adventure / problem after the other, gradually revealing themselves. It is simply a narration of a person’s life with his struggles, confusions, adventures, passions all woven into one. I hope to start the second book soon and find out more about the Chandrian, the legends and other secrets of this Rothfuss world.

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The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nearly 3 years after I read the first novel in the series, The Cuckoo’s Calling, I picked up this one wondering who Cormoran Strike was and how the first book ended. I remember it to be an engaging read and was expecting the same from this one as well. And I should say I am definitely not disappointed. The book is well paced, never boring, no unnecessary details and very good indeed.

Within few pages, the author helped me remember the detective Strike and his sidekick Robin and thereon the story kept me on tenterhooks till the end. It began as the hunt for a missing author upon his wife’s request. The author disappeared right after finishing his latest book Bombyx Mori, and learning from his agent that it cannot be published as it is libellous against many literary figures. As Strike follows one of his hunches to search for the author, he discovers that he is in fact looking at a sinister and grotesque murder. Then there was a list of possible suspects and how Strike will handle it despite the police warning him off it.

What this book does is open you up to the literary world and gives you a sneak peek into authors’, agents’, editors’ and publishers’ working, how wannabe writers desparately aim to be a part of it and how tough it is to make it big in that world. With her experience as an insider, it is easier for her to portray the world but I like the way she has been discreet about how much she is describing the world for us. It was never boring. The story keeps you engaged till the end with a good number of suspects and motives. The author once or twice seemed to distract us from forming our own theories about the murder by cleverly including Strike’s monologues, his discussions with Robin. We also get a good amount of their personal lives that makes us feel more closer to those two souls trying to solve a case amidst their own personal struggles.

All the praise aside, I have one comment or rather question about the book. I didn’t quite understand what the quotes at the beginning of each chapter could have been about. Were they referring to some theme that was going to be discussed in the chapter? Is there something I missed? To be honest, I did not get what the need was to include them. This

And then the ending, it felt quite inadequate for me. I wanted more after the confrontation with the killer. Description of a grand arrest, press reports, people’s reactions to the discovery… It was as if this case was a real one and I was following it thoroughly lapping up all the information I could about it. It might be that I was so much into the case (or the book) that I longed for more even after the author decided to end it. 🙂

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Career of Evil. I think Rowling made an impressive comeback as a mystery writer and I hope we’ll see more from her and Cormoran Strike.

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The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started this book just like that, without any plan, on looking at some person’s 2016 list. But I was really happy that I read it.

It is a simple book which tells the story of a young girl, Mary Lennox, who was an obstinate, nasty child, used to have her own way until she found herself orphaned as her parents and her Ayah succumbed to cholera. From a hot Indian town she was then transported to a rainy Yorkshire Manor where she is puzzled by the mysterious things around her. She finds that there is a secret garden among the many that surround the Manor and sets herself to discovering it and going inside. The story includes her adventures, friendships, and other things that she finds out at the Manor and how she deals with them.

I loved the writing. The descriptions of gardens and the moor during the springtime are vivid and beautiful we almost feel they are real and would want to visit them. Mary and her friends from her stay in the Manor and their conversations are well written. I liked how the author named the chapters. They are very simple yet intriguing titles, often words someone says in the chapter.

The book is a children’s book, which must be read by adults and it feels like a subtle parenting/ caretaking guide even. Playing, mirth filled laughter and jumping about in open lands will do children more good than any medicine in the world. The book shows how a scrawny little wench has transformed into a fine lass with good nourishment, exercise and company of children her age.

There is another person in the book who experiences similar transformation but I don’t like to reveal more than that and one should read the book to get the joy of it. I felt like a child while I was reading the book and couldn’t put it down. The fun, enjoyment, sense for adventure, spirit of rebellion among children is very perfectly portrayed.

I recommend this to anyone looking for a joyous read. This year definitely started well for me. 🙂

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Ganapati by Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham

గణపతి by చిలకమర్తి లక్ష్మీనరసింహం (Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was recommended to me long ago by my husband but I neglected after reading few pages because it was in old Telugu. But I seriously decided this time to complete it and make it the first one for this year. I finally succeeded. I would have missed a great comic novel if I had neglected it again. The language shouldn’t be a hindrance to read the book. One would find it enjoyable after a few pages and can read at normal speed.

Written in old Telugu, this book narrates the biography of a young man, Ganapati, of Pappubhotla family, residing in villages near the Godavari river. The book begins with the way in which the author got acquainted with Ganapati and goes on to describe the family history of our hero. Later he narrates the birth, childhood and later years of Ganapati. It does not carry the entire life story of Ganapati. The author laments that he was unable to get the details of remaining stages of our hero’s life.

This is a very entertaining work from Chilakamarthi’s pen. The narration appears serious but is sarcastic and funny to the core. With 20 chapters, the book is a treat to Telugu lovers. I liked the book very much.

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Prema kanna madhuramainadi

Prema Kanna Madhuramainadi by Muppala Ranganayakamma

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is a compilation of five novellas by Muppala Ranganayakamma which primarily appeared as serials in Telugu weeklies. These stories touch various aspects of women’s life and bring forth the several dilemmas women face in their day-to-day lives.
The first story Prema kanna madhuramainadi (Sweeter than Love) is an exchange of letters between two friends, Rama and Vijaya. They exchange views and the letters portray the deep friendship they share. The friends meet after several months and an incident turns their lives upside down. This story narrates how they both face the situation together.
Another story, Chuttalu (Relatives) is about a housewife who finds it really traumatizing to serve and feed the various relatives that flock to their house frequently. Her husband doesn’t seem to mind her problems and neither does he help her with the increased household work.
The story Aandallamma is about a rich old woman and a young couple who provide her shelter. Gopalam prema katha (Gopalam’s love story)is a funny story about a teenage guy who writes a love letter to a girl.
Palletooru (Village) is another good story in the compilation with its vivid descriptions of village life, and a love story woven along.

One cannot miss the feminist undercurrent in all the stories. The author advocates education for women and encourages men to be helpful in the various household chores that were long considered as woman’s work. Over all, this book is a good compilation of stories and makes for a pleasant read.

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Krishnaveni by Muppala Ranganayakamma

Krishnaveni by Muppala Ranganayakamma
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A story narrated primarily through letters, this book is a nice read for the many love letters. My edition had footnotes from the author revisiting the book several decades later and expressing her altered opinions on various aspects of the book – the characters, descriptions and dialogues. These were a bit distracting because they hinder the flow of the story but as they are given as footnotes, one can revisit them in a re-read. The author also gave in the appendix various types of conclusions to the story that would make it align with her current views.

Published in 1959, this book is definitely modern for its times in terms of the freedom the characters possess. In that way, this book portrays only a small upper middle class section of the society. The central character in the story appears to be deeply flawed (the author agrees with this) which puts the story at a disadvantage.

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