P.S. I LOVE YOU – book review

About the book

Author: Cecelia Ahern

Genre: Romance, Womens Fiction chick- lit

Published: September 1st 2003

Pages: 470

PS, I Love You was a number-one bestseller in the United States, Ireland, and several other countries. It was made into a hit movie in 2007 starring Hillary Swank as Holly and Gerard Butler as Gerry. Ahern wrote a sequel, titled Postscript, released in the United Kingdom in 2020.

Summary

PS, I Love You (2004), a novel by Irish author Cecelia Ahern, tells the story of a young widow who receives a series of letters written by her late husband before his death; these letters help her through her grief, compelling her to embark on a series of fun—and often funny—adventures. PS, I Love You is ultimately a tale of love and marriage, death and survival, loss and recovery, and the eternal bond that can unite two people, even after one of them has passed away. It is also about the very human and awkward experience of moving forward alone after the death of a soulmate.

Holly Kennedy holds the sweater of her husband, Gerry Clark. Gerry has just died at the age of thirty from a brain tumor. Holly smells his sweater to remind her of his scent and presence. But as soon as she does, the reality of her loss hits her, and she feels as if she is going to be sick. Holly cannot imagine a life without Gerry, who had been her junior high sweetheart and her one constant source of love and strength for more than fifteen years.

Holly spends her days alone, wandering from room to room inside the home she had shared with Gerry. Consumed with loss, her sleep is fitful, and she rarely leaves the house. One day, her mother, Elizabeth, calls her to check in. Elizabeth has received a large envelope addressed to Holly; Holly assumes it is just another sympathy card. Her mother’s comment that the words The List are written on the top of the envelope shocks Holly. She suddenly knows what the envelope contains and who it is from.

She flashes back to a scene from her past with Gerry. When he jokes that someday he might not be around to do the little things like turn off the bedroom light before bed, Holly laughingly suggests he write her a list of things to do and leave it in his will. It started as a joke, but now, Holly knows, he followed through, sending the list to her mother before he passed away.

After a visit with her best friend, Sharon McCarthy, Holly decides to retrieve the envelope from her mother. She discovers that it is not really an envelope, but a package with no return address. Above the main address are the words The List. She opens the package. On top is a letter in which Gerry assures Holly that she will be able to go on after his death and that she should open and follow the directions inside each small envelope only on the date written on the front of each one. The package contains ten small envelopes labeled with the months March through December. This month’s envelope tells her to buy a bedside lamp so she doesn’t have to get out of her cozy bed every night to shut off the bedroom light-switch. This letter, like all subsequent ones, ends with the words, “PS, I love you.”

For the next nine months, Holly looks forward to opening Gerry’s letters. She, Sharon, and Sharon’s husband, John, marvel at Gerry’s ability to put this project together. He had been so weak and ill toward the end of his life, it must have required a herculean effort.

In April, Gerry instructs Holly to buy a smart new outfit because she will need it in time for next month’s letter. In May, he tells her to put on her new outfit to face one of her biggest fears: singing karaoke live onstage. In June, he asks her to get rid of his belongings; “I’m already here…always wrapping my arms around you,” he writes. In July, he wishes her a “good Holly day,” which she interprets as an order to get ready to go on vacation. In August, he sends her on vacation to Spain for a week with her friends. In September, Gerry advises Holly—who has a hard time finding a job she likes—to get a career she finds fulfilling. In October, he sends her sunflowers with the instructions to plant more, in order “to brighten the dark October days you hate most.” In November, he encourages her to start dating. Finally, in December, he gives his permission for her to fall in love again.

Throughout these letters, buoyed by Gerry’s love and guidance, Holly emerges from the shell she has built around herself. She starts gradually by shopping for an outfit that will get her out of the blue-jeans-and-Gerry’s-shirts combination she’s been living in. The letters introduce more and more action and engagement, providing the springboard for Holly to reenter life once again. In the end, she doesn’t feel abandoned by Gerry or alone and single at a vulnerable time. She feels reconnected to all the amazing things in her life: her friends, her family, her newfound career in magazine advertising—and the eternal memory of one incredible man.

My Review

It is a very interesting read and very emotional one too. Love is the central theme of the book and it is presented in such a beautiful way. Dealing with the death of the beloved can be devastating but life goes on. You have to be keep on living and learn to be happy again for the sake of your family and friends but most importantly, for the same of your lost love who would never have wanted to see you unhappy.

A beautiful well written story which will make you cry for sure and also make you appreciate your loved ones. Cecilia Ahern has created some compelling characters. Her style of writing is simple and sometimes amateurish but the beauty of the story covers all the flaws. The poignancy of loss, letting go and rediscovery is beautifully captured in this story. Its a touching and emotional story about the long road of healing and finding yourself again after losing a loved one. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves to read chick-lit.

Gently Falls the Bakula

By SUDHA MURTHY

Hello readers.

In the small town of Hubli, Shrikant discovers that he is attracted to his plain-looking but charming neighbour Shrimati, who always does better than him in the school exams. Shrimati too falls in love with the amiable and handsome Shrikant and the two get married. Shrikant joins an IT company and starts rapidly climbing the corporate ladder. He works relentlessly and reaches the pinnacle of his industry, while Shrimati abandons her academic aspirations and becomes his uncomplaining shadow, silently fulfilling her duties as a corporate leader’s wife. But one day, while talking to an old professor, she starts examining what she has done with her life and realizes it is dismally empty…

The way characters and their lives are described is wonderful. Sudha Murthy uses simple language and makes the plot so effective. The story is relevant to Indian society. It gives you a lesson on importance of standing on our own legs, being independent.

At the beginning you may feel it a bit dull but the way it gains the plot keeps us hooked up.All the Indian girls are taught to sacrifice something for everyone either it’s her parents, brother or husband. It’s time we learn to sacrifice some time to ourselves. Learn to become independent and strong (both physically and mentally). It makes you clear about your choices between career and marriage life.

In brief it a great book for people who love to read about dreamers and lovers. It makes you realize that your dreams are very important. Never give up, they give you a purpose. This is worth every penny. Truely recommend.

As I say : Reading books is magic, it makes you live hundreds of lives in a single one. Or atleast that’s what I believe. Hopefully this book too will have an impact and magic you are/ were waiting for. For now I’ll take a leave.

And Thanks. 😇

How much salary does Cognizant pay to software engineers?

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

According to the JobBuzz data, here is the compensation of software engineers that Cognizant offers.

1. Software Developer/ Programmer
Software developers obtain compensation of Rs 2,73,617 per year on the minimum level and Rs 8,58,340 per year on the maximum level. The average salary of a software developer is Rs 4,84,968 annually.

2. Data Warehouse Developer
Annually, the minimum and maximum salary for a data warehouse developer are Rs 2,93,821 and Rs 9,47,472 respectively. The average compensation for the candidates is around Rs 5,30,472 per year.

3. Software Testing Engineer/ Test Automation Engineer
Software testing engineers obtain a salary of Rs 4,74,120 per year. The minimum and maximum compensations are Rs 2,43,227 and Rs 8,11,764 respectively depending on the experience of the candidates.

4. Tech Architect
On average, the salary of a tech architect is Rs 12,04,353 per year. The minimum and maximum compensation depending on the experience of the candidate are Rs 3,31,666 and Rs 23,38,366 annually.

5. Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Software quality assurance analyst compensation is around Rs 4,70,236 per year on average. The minimum compensation is Rs 2,52,693 per year and the maximum is Rs 8,02,490.

Developers dread these programming languages, but which one pays the most?

A portion of the report ranks programming languages by their correlating developer salary. If you’re looking to get paid well, it might be worth your time to learn Clojure and maybe not Dart

On Monday, Stack Overflow published the results of its 2021 Developer Survey. The findings highlight a range of sentiments and economic information such as developer attitudes toward specific “dreaded” languages and how much certain programming languages pay on average. So, which programming languages do developers love, and which one should you learn if you want to get paid top dollar?

Top programming languages: Loved, hated and wanted

Overall, the results are based on a global survey conducted in May and June of this year involving more than 83,000 software developers. Rust topped the list in terms of languages developers love versus the options they dreaded, with 86.98% of responses saying they loved Rust compared to the 13% of responses who dreaded it. Clojure ranked No. 2 in this regard with 81% of respondents saying they loved the language versus 18.88% who dreaded it.

Interestingly, there’s a marked drop-off between the top two and the rest of the field. TypeScript ranked third with 72.73% of respondents saying they loved the language versus 27.27% who dreaded it. In order, Elixir, Julia, and Python round out the top six.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cobol ranked at the least loved programming language, with 84.21% of respondents saying they dreaded it, versus 15.79% who loved it. In order, VBA, Matlab, Objective-C, Groovy and Assembly sat at the bottom of the list as the top six most dreaded programming languages.

A portion of the report identifies the programming languages developers wanted to have in their arsenal. Stack Overflow determined these languages based on the percentage of “developers who are not developing with the language or technology but have expressed interest in developing with it.” Python topped the list by a wide margin with 19.04% of respondents wanting the programming language, followed by runner-up TypeScript (15.29%). In order, JavaScript (14.59%), Go (14.54%), Rust (14.09%) and Node.js (11.9%) round out the top six most wanted programming languages.

“Rust is the “most loved” language for the sixth straight year, and Python was the “most wanted” for the fifth straight year. Though it’s not as “new” as Rust, Python is easy to learn and applicable across industries. It’s one of the most widely implemented languages, and programs tend to be clear and readable,” said Khalid El Khatib, SVP of marketing communications at Stack Overflow.

Top paying programming languages

A section of the report ranks programming languages by their correlating developer salary. To determine this figure, the survey asked respondents to list their total compensation. Clojure topped the list at $95,000 nearly $14,000 higher than runner-up F# ($81,037). Elixir and Erlang both garnered the same pay ($80,077) followed by Perl and Ruby, with both also earning the same pay ($80,000). On the economic flip side, Dart sat at the bottom of the list at $32,986, just a few grand below PHP ($38,916).

10 Interesting Facts About Harry Potter

There’s no arguing that “Harry Potter” is a cultural phenomenon, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a Muggle who’s only seen the movies. Here are 10 interesting facts that you did not know about the Harry Potter franchise.

1. Rowling and Harry Potter share a birthday: J.K. Rowling: J.K. Rowling’s birthday comes on July 31^st; being the author of Harry Potter, Rowling took the advantage of the writing license, and decided to give her birthday (except the year, of course) to her main character.

2. Rowling gave her characters names that reflect their roles in the series: Rowling’s world-building is legendary among fans, and the unique names she gave her characters are no exception. She disclosed on Pottermore that she came up with names for 40 Hogwarts students in Harry’s year, including every member of the Golden Trio, early in the creative process. Harry’s name, for example, refers to his leadership skills, while Ron’s refers to his function as a sidekick. “Harry” is a Middle English variant of the name “Henry,” which has been popular among English kings for ages. Rowling appears to have based “Ronald” on the Old Norse “Rögnvaldr,” a title for a ruler’s adviser. Hermione’s name, which comes from Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” (as well as Greek mythology in general), has less to do with her personal characteristics and more to do with her Muggle parents’ desire to come up with a witty pseudonym.

3. The “Harry Potter” books have been translated into around 80 languages, from Albanian to Hebrew to Scots: The “Harry Potter” books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 80 different languages, including Scots, which is spoken as a first language by 90,000 people.

4. Rowling jotted down the Hogwarts house names on an airplane vomit bag: Many people, including celebrities, connect strongly with a Hogwarts house. Rowling first scribbled the words Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff on the back of an aircraft puke bag, which may surprise you. In 2017, she divulged this tidbit on Twitter.

5. When she invented Dementors, Rowling drew from her past experiences with depression: Rowling struggled with depression when she was in her twenties. Dementors, she said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, are based on the “hollowed-out feeling” of sadness. “I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling — that really hollowed-out feeling. That’s what Dementors are,” she stated.

6. Rowling planned in advance who would meet a grim fate in the series — but she decided to spare one character’s life at the last minute: One of the plot aspects that Rowling planned ahead of time is character deaths. She had intended for Ron’s father, Arthur Weasley, to die in “Order of the Phoenix,” but she altered her mind. In a 2007 interview with “Today,” she said, “I think part of the reason for that is there were very few good fathers in the book.”

7. Some of the most expensive costumes to make were the Hogwarts uniforms: The Hogwarts uniforms were arguably of the most expensive clothes in the series to produce because they contained silk ties and wool sweaters. She previously told Insider, “I never wanted to use anything but the most beautiful material.” “The ties are silk, the sweaters are wool, and the gowns are made of a very expensive material.”

8. Some of the food on set was real: Despite the fact that part of the food in the “Harry Potter” films was painted resin, there were edible things in the mix for the feast scene in “Goblet of Fire.” Try some of the wonderful options at Universal Studios’ Wizarding World of Harry Potter, from butterbeer to bangers and mash, if you want to eat like a Hogwarts student.

9. Edinburgh, Scotland, where Rowling resides, provided a ton of inspiration for the series: The Gothic architecture, cobblestone streets, and tight alleys abound in Scotland’s capital. From Greyfriars Kirkyard, where the “genuine” Tom Riddle is buried, to George Heriot’s School, a private institution whose turreted architecture inspired Hogwarts, Rowling was fascinated by the city’s locations.

10. Like the multitude of spells in the series, Hogwarts’ official motto is also in Latin: Rowling is well-versed in Latin, having studied Classical languages and mythology at Exeter University. The series’ many spells, as well as Hogwarts’ motto, “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus,” (“Never tickle a sleeping dragon”) are based on that old language. “You know the way that most school slogans are things like persevere and nobility, clarity, and fidelity or something,” Rowling noted in a 2005 BBC interview “it just amused me to give an entirely practical piece of advice for the Hogwarts school motto.”

MOANA – BOOK REVIEW

Moana is more than just a novelization of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. In addition to retelling the story, it adds traditional oceanic folk tales between select chapters to highlight the stories that inspired the filmmakers. Adapted by Kari Sutherland, the book is dedicated to all of the people of the Pacific Islands who helped Disney craft this beautiful tale.

Moana’s people are in jeopardy as the fish supply around her island dwindles. When she answers the call of the ocean and follows in her ancestors’ wayfinding traditions, she ends up on an incredible adventure to save her people with the help of a shape shifting demigod named Maui. Now this unlikely duo will have to face real monsters to restore peace to Oceania.

The theme of Moana is self discovery and finding your way. The story is wonderfully written. It follows Moana and her journey of discovering who she is and saving her village. She meets up with Maui(a demi god), and they go on an adventure of self discovery.

This book tells the entire story of Moana. The story gives the reader excellent details about Moana’s growing up. Moana’s gramma tells the tale of the warrior Maui being struck from the sky and losing his fish hook. The tale continues because TeFiti lost her heart. Thus the darkness, lack of fish in the ocean, and the TeKa demons take over the island and the livelihood of the island.
Although this is not an illustrated book, the text is so rich in descriptive language that the reader will easily be able to use their mind to see the action in the story.
The reader will see Moana’s challenges as she tries to solve the problems and face TeKa. She convinces Maui to help even with out his magical fish hook.
Moana’s story is one of perseverance, love of family, devotion to a cause, and courage. I am eager to see the Disney movie now that I have read this story.

There’s no romantic love interest.

But Moana is special, because she don’t need no man! She’s on her own journey to figure out who she is and her place in the world.

Moana is an inspiring, captivating story and this novelization does an incredible job of bringing it to life in a different way. Not only is it a solid story, but it has a tremendous amount of heart and is surprisingly funny. I really loved the short stories peppered throughout, which add a lot of color and culture to the book. The book’s design also adds to the effect with artwork before each chapter that matches the look of Maui’s tattoos.

Speaking of ink, this purchase is sweetened by a sheet of tattoos of Maui, Moana and other icons from the story. Recommended for ages 8-12, this is the most advanced Moana movie tie-in book available and the one I also recommend for adult fans hoping to know the story in advance of the film. Moana is such an incredible tale and it translates into a solid book in this novelization. I would give this book an 9/10.

5 Paranormal Myths

Just because the paranormal is that the realm of the unexplained doesn’t mean there isn’t any explaining to try to do. Humans have always sought to define the planet around us, and even to the worlds which will be beyond us. As a result, throughout millennia, we’ve developed countless theories and told endless stories within the realm of paranormal popular culture, and there are tons of misconceptions that have taken root within the public’s consciousness. Believe it or not, even when handling the mysterious realm of ghosts, aliens, and creatures, there are some things we will fairly confidently label as false. So, to clear up some incorrect assumptions about the unexplained, let’s take a glance at 5 Paranormal Myths.

Paranormal Facts Exist – The term “paranormal” applies to anything currently beyond the range of scientific explanation. So anyone who claims they need access to the rulebook of the paranormal, which they know a foolproof way of creating a ghost go “boo!” is perhaps a charlatan … or close to be pretty famous. many researchers — including reputable scientists — have compelling theories about unexplained phenomena and are trying to use those utilizing the methodology, but thus far, paranormal facts don’t quite exist.

Ghosts Only begin in the dark – There are tons of reasons to ghost hunt at night: the planet quiets down because the day fades away; some locations only allow you to enter after the close of daytime business hours; it’s much creepier at night; and, most significantly, it’s the simplest time to play together with your sweet night-sight camera! But if you would like to chase ghosts, you’ll even as effectively roll in the hay during the day, consistent with most paranormal researchers. It’d even be a simpler time because that’s when the dead were probably most alive.

There’s No Physical Evidence of Bigfoot – While there haven’t been any bodies found, Bigfoot researchers claim there’s quite a little bit of physical evidence to suggest the creatures exists — including hair, blood, tissue, tracks, and, yes, poop. There is also a growing community of scientists who believe in Sasquatch, including famed primatologist Dr. Goodall and Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum of Idaho State University, among others. Eric Altman of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society stresses that, as far because the lack of physical remains (a dead Sasquatch), fossilization requires very specific conditions and Mother Nature has an efficient system of breaking down animal remains in about 10 days — so a freshly-dead specimen of the already-rare creature would be hard to seek out.

Only Old Buildings are Haunted – A decrepit, ancient Victorian mansion with broken windows, creaky floorboards and moldy furniture could also be the simplest haunted house in Hollywood, but it’s not where ghosts necessarily hang around. Beyond just old houses, researchers claim to possess found paranormal evidence in jails, asylums, hospitals, hotels, museums, battleships, cruise liners, cars, roads, and forests. New locations also can be haunted, as can the bottom where a replacement building is established. There doesn’t necessarily need to be a death on the property, either. it’s widely accepted within the paranormal community that objects and other people themselves are often the main targets of a haunting.

America’s Paranormal Fascination is New – Although the paranormal has become quite fashionable with the arrival of investigation-based reality shows, America’s fascination dates back to the origins of the state. The paranormal peaked within the US within the mid-19th and early 20th centuries with the introduction of Spiritualism, a spiritual philosophy that espoused that communication with the imaginary place is positive. Mary Todd Lincoln, Clemens, and Houdini were among the American celebrities who became a part of the paranormal conversation, and therefore the public gathered in homes and auditoriums to attach with the dead in séances. Beyond ghosts, future president Teddy Roosevelt wrote of a frontiersman’s encounter with a Bigfoot-like creature in 1893, and other Sasquatch stories would periodically make their way into the news. Long before the Battle of l. a. in 1942 or The Roswell Incident in 1947, “airships” were reported within the skies above America — and newspaperman S.E. Haydon wrote about the crash of such a ship in Aurora, Texas, in 1897, about 6 years before the Wright Brothers’ first flight.

WHY READING FICTION IS GOOD FOR YOU?

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
– Charles William Elliot

I’m certain that many of you will acknowledge what Charles William Elliot said. No one can deny the degree of power that books hold within itself and what lasting prints it leaves on us.
People usually pick up non-fiction books relating to- self-help, business, health, the lifestyle which are undoubtedly great to widen one’s horizons of knowledge. But fictions, on the other hand, are in a way an untapped reservoir of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, emotions, and countless other things.

If one wishes to develop an exceptional personality then he/she must inculcate the act of reading fiction. These are the most robust way of exercising your brain muscles and being more creative apart from developing a sense of understanding.

Reading fiction is like living many hundreds of life and experiencing all the heat and rain of it.

Ernest Hemingway said, “All good books have one thing in common — they are truer than if they had really happened, and after you’ve read one of them you will feel that all that happened, happened to you and then it belongs to you forever: the happiness and unhappiness, good and evil, ecstasy and sorrow, the food, wine, beds, people, and the weather.”
And only a fiction reader can relate to what Hemingway has said. While reading fiction the protagonist’s life gets affixed with the readers and whatever happens to him is experienced by the reader within himself and this is how the not-the-real story becomes an experience for the reader and it carries this experience throughout his life.

READING FICTION MAKES YOU MORE CREATIVE-

According to research conducted at the University of Toronto, it was found out that the students who read fiction experienced less need for “cognitive closure” (the human desire to eliminate ambiguity and arrive at definite conclusions ) than non-fiction readers.
Reading fiction novels makes the brain active and enables the reader to broaden his creativity and think of a situation or a thing from many different ways and angles.

FICTION HELPS UNDERSTAND OTHERS PERSPECTIVE-

You must have sensed while reading a fiction book a connection between you and the character. You see the situation through the character’s view and not from yours. That is where you blend yourself with the character and understand his perspectives, the way he opines, his actions, his arguments, and his justifications.

A good fiction runs deep in the dominion of psychology and philosophy. You start to accept and justify the other person’s viewpoint.

READING FICTION GIVES YOU WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE-

Many different books have many different stories. Each time you pick a book you are transported back to a completely different time and space. That is the power of reading fiction books.

You experience tragedies, happy endings, downfall, success, and whatnot. And while these experiences, you widen the realm of your wisdom. You clearly see the distinction between true and untrue, good and evil.
“You can never be wise unless you love reading”, says Samuel Johnson, an 18th CE English writer.

For instance, while reading a history academic textbook you just gulp down the fact and dates. But when you read historical fiction you walk down that path, experience the time and surrounding. And after you have put down your book you feel as if you are back in your time with a bagful of experiences and long-lasting impact.
“A good book is an event in my life.” is what Stendhal, a 19th-century French writer feels about reading.

FICTION HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE-

Fiction in its narration exhibits the bigger picture in a minuscule and detailed manner. It familiarises the readers with the ground situation and gives them a wholesome experience.

In the book “The Thousand Splendid Suns”, Khaled Hosseini portrays the life journey of a young girl to becoming an old woman in Afghanistan from the time of Soviet invasion to the reign of Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding.
Through this deep-moving chronicle, the author teaches its reader about the life of common Afghanistani during the time, the hardships she goes through, and a beautiful, gripping description of her feelings and emotions.

Hosseini, through his book, tries to make his readers experience while sitting on their couch the turns and turmoils in the protagonist’s life and learn from the story the life morals, values, and virtues to hold on to.

All in all reading fiction gives you ‘EXPERIENCE’ of many lives and thus helps you in your overall personality.

Pride and Prejudice Novel by Jane Austen – Book Review

A novel that is relevant at all the times is “pride and prejudice ” . This novel was written by Jane Austen in 1813.

You might have read this book at some point in your life time because this book has constantly appeared in the top lists of the famous novels. It is one of the most popular novels in English literature with 29 million copies sold The very first line in this book is very catchy line and it had has inspired many people.” It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of wife”. And, of course, a single woman in search of good fortune must equally be in want of a husband. These lines were true for all the characters in this book. Once if you read this book , you left with nothing but a new out look on life , prejudicing someone is results in great destruction and you could understand what true love means.

The story in this novel is beautifully written. This is a romantic novel. Though it is a romantic novel, the knowledge or the theme that we gained from this novel is more. The plot of the story is marrying for love, not for money or social prestige.

The author also focuses on the social problems. The plot of this novel is the development of relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr.Darcy. Mr.Bennet was the owner of Longburn state. He didnot have sons to inherit his property, so the property will directly goes to his cousin William Collins. Mr.and Mr.Bennets main motive is to get married to their five adolescent daughters. He wanted atleast one of his daughters to marry well , so that one can support others if his father is no more. There came Mr.Bingley, the new tennant of Netherfield Park arrived with his two sisters and his friend, Mr. Darcy. After knowing this, Mrs.Bennet wanted one of his daughters to get married to the wealthy men. People found that two friends personalities are quiet different. Bingley is a good- tempered and kind man where as Darcy is unfriendly and unapproachable. Bingley loves Jane and loves to dance with her but Darcy on the other have who looks all the women with disdain and said that he doesn’t Elizabeth is pretty enough to dance with him. There was a misunderstanding happened between them. The excessive pride of one and the prejudice of other certainly splitted them apart. At the end, Darcy won all the readers heart.

This story also reverses the statement ‘first impression is the best’.Though this book contains an element of humor, they also deals with an issue that the author’s contemporaries would have seen as of significance. The simple plot and the dissimilar characters makes the book even more attractive.

There are few flims based on this novel pride and prejudice and won few awards. If you didn’t read the book or not interested in reading books just watch the flim based on this novel. This is the one of the bestest novels that I have read.The way she used the words to express their love towards each other is alluring.

To kill a mockingbird- Book review

A book relevant at all times through all ages.

You might have read the book at some point in your life. Either due to pressure from others (including google) or due to curiosity. And when you read it you have absolutely no regret you did so. You are left with nothing but inspiration, a new outlook on life, and love for everyone no matter how many times you read it.

The book is through the viewpoint of jean louise and is set in 1930s America. A time of trial and tribulation for the American people due to the great American economic depression. However, the beauty of the book is such that even in such times, in a time of no money, no support, when you feel that the entire worlds burden is on you, even at that time you can still be good, do the right thing and set an example. The book is not just relevant to the Americans, but to every race of the world. Every part of world has a society hierarchy, be it on the basics of colour, ancestors, job, caste, religion, sex or money. The book gives an example of America at a time when racism and woman oppression was quite prevalent in the country, and slavery was just starting to be condemned. The mindset of Atticus finch, his values and beliefs in a town where everyone, even his family were pro racisms and sexism, is quite inspirational. Because of his ethical and not his physical ability, he acts as an unconventional hero and role model. The entire novel shows the theme of morality, very difference from our modern-day movies where heroes are defined on their physical capabilities and looks.

The books highlights the fact that everyone has the capability to change and do the right thing, no matter how bad they are or what has happened in their past. Mrs Dubose for example, is a recovering morphine addict, who suffered and had the constant urge to use the drug, even when her health had given her away and made her despicable. Even a person like her had the will to do the right thing and she decided that during the last stages of her life, she is not going to hold on to the drug. She wanted to be liberated from a thing that had caused her so much of damage, and indeed she did. The book captures the essence of innocence and how just by following your gut instinct a person can come to know whether a thing is right or wrong. This innocence, however, prevails only in a child who is not subjected to the senseless rules and mannerisms of the society. Most of the people, while growing up, succumb to these mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of the society, in an effort to fit in. The few who resist this grow up to be like Atticus finch, not being xenophobic or homophobic but instead changing the mindset of the society and uplifting others. Everyone takes something different from the other, from this book, based on their life experience.

The book is a good teacher to our country India, which is one of the most diverse countries of the world in all aspects, be it colour, religion, caste, languages and beliefs. Our country is divided among itself in a variety of ways. Dowry, the need for a male child, oppression of woman, and superstition are still prevalent in rural areas of the country. However, one thing that is faced by most of India is interfaith marriages and casteism. A country this diverse is bound to have such problem. Understanding and overcoming the peculiar beliefs of people to not marry a person out of their religion or even in their religion but of a different caste is one thing that our country can learn from the lesson of equality the book teaches us. People can live together and follow different religion. Atticus finch is all the social workers who help the needy, all the teachers, and guardians who set good moral standards for their children, all the lawyers who fight for woman injustice and equality, Atticus finch can be the growing population of LGBTQ community and animal lovers.

Everyone is equal. You are a human being and so are the people around you. Hence, before you judge anyone, step into their shoes and see their perspective. And remember, kill all the bluejays you want, if you can, but it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.

Books : Your Friendly Companion

A man cannot simply feel contended by earning bread alone. The mind must be fed with literature, knowledge & ethics for functioning in the right path. One can simply do it by reading books of their favourite genre. And if you are a beginner grab a book that can hold down your interest & a comparatively thinner book. This is the common psychology that every significant reader holds in their initial days.

So after the invention of printing by Caxton, different kinds of books in different linguals have flooded bookstalls in every country. But in recent years, as everything is being sought for its alternatives & so are reading books, journals, magazines & newspapers. One can access all of the above-mentioned through different pages on the internet in blog forms or applications. A good book is defined to be the one that makes readers feel good about it. Reading one may feel the urge to make a difference in their life. Again some books in the market compel readers to hold a different viewpoint to each different reader. Good books are like those of Tagore, Bankim, Shakespeare & Tolstoy that can be the constant companions in their loneliness & even in their weals & woes.

Books of Bibhutibhushan Banerjee or Rabindranath are the kinds that free our minds from depressions & sorrows. While the poetry books of Keats & Wordsworth generate a sense of sweet feelings, pleasant moments & philosophical thoughts. Such books can help one to strengthen their mental power & imparts a calming effect at the time of catastrophes. Again a book on criticism gives us a balanced judgment & appreciation.

On the contrary, a thriller tends to take away all the dullness & boredom from one’s mind. A science book helps one to widen their knowledge of the physical world & makes them keep abreast of the latest phase of human progress. An illustrated book on travel creates a hypnotic influence on one’s mind.

A visit to paradise for a book lover would be a book fair. Moreover, it’s a bonus if it is of a wholesale kind. Such an event provides enough scope for bibliophiles to quench their thirst for knowledge. A swarm of readers from all over throng the place. Even book launch events of certain authors are quite an enthusiastic event for book lovers. This gives them a chance to listen & interact with their favourite authors, totally a fanboying moment.

An Anthropological Critique of Development: The Growth of Ignorance

Development is almost a mainstream word is today’s day and age and because of that, there are also negative connotations attached to it. In this book, such aspects of development have been discussed at length and it is edited by Mark Hobart. The subject of western development models has come under intense scrutiny and criticisms in recent times. In fact, western anthropologists have questioned the application of scientific knowledge in processes of development. They argue that despite investing large sums of money, in reality the experience of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America has been just the opposite. Problems of underdevelopment continue to plague the countries of these regions. Over the last few decades or so, a new paradigm of development has emerged. According to this, local knowledge and very often a ‘bottoms-up’ approach to problem solving are increasingly being advocated and implemented. At the outset, the editor of this collection of essays, Mark Hobart, says that the essays and participants’ voices question the claims of western science to providing solutions to underdevelopment and in understanding the importance of local knowledge and its application.

The 12 contributors to this compendium challenge the Utopian view of western knowledge as the only and successful way in achieving economic and social development. Using ethnographic case studies from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, the contributors examine the ways in which local and indigenous knowledges are often more effective than western knowledge and systems in finding solutions to problems. The essays offer a practical approach of using theory and practice for development that economists, sociologists, and political scientists, among others, will find useful.

The book cogently describes the importance of development in the world today. Development means different things to several people. It is considered ‘important’ for developing nations to receive developmental aid. It is big business for banks and industries. Multilateral agencies help super powers by handing out the promise of loans to developing nations. For many advanced nations, through their development agencies, aid is an important arm of their economic diplomacy. Yet others are able to leverage their aid-giving capabilities to creating markets for their multinational corporations and help further their powerful vested interests in the process. The whole process of development is so one-sided and top-down that it has become the idiom of economics, technology and management. As noted earlier, what is ignored are the knowledges of the peoples being developed.

The essays clearly reveal that local and indigenous knowledge can form the basis of sustainable management and development. Use of technology and western scientific knowledge have to be employed prudently and judiciously. The essays show that local knowledge and a common-sense approach go a long way in problem solving. Local wisdom, sometimes going back in time and history, can still find a place in the modern world. In our own country, Gandhian ideals and thoughts, such as in rural development, self-sufficiency, at the local level and indigenous practices will help our rural areas prosper. These and a healthy mix of wisdom imbibed from our forefathers should help take India forward.

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

So I just got off reading this book & I can surely say, I’ve missed out a lot in my childhood, I guess. There’s this girl called Penny Porter, who I can much relate with. Quite of a private kind, 16-year-old schoolgirl, from Brighton, UK. A girl with fair skin, freckles on cheeks & frizzy auburn curls, which according to her were quite disliking features in her appearance. Her hobbies include photography & secretly crushing over the school’s heartthrob “Ollie”.

She’s kind of not-the-very-girly girl, has certain appearance insecurities, but on the contrary, prefers outfits of comfy & chill kinds. I would lie if I say I don’t love her. But most of all the part I could relate is she wrote blogs. Like a blog about herself, like a diary entry kinda stuff. Especially the kinds when she’s stuck in situations or facing a tough time to deal with. Gradually she had gained enough followers online, who she believed would help her cope with the situation.

One who believed herself to be a total walking disaster to perfect moments, and her fate or she, were no behind to prove it right. Her life in the very initial half was full of guilts and embarrassment. But one thing, that stayed constant was her fire brigade to all the wildfires in her life was her BFF “Elliot”.

Yet another lesson she learns in this journey is how to outgrow her childhood school best friend “Megan.” It’s sometimes okay to feel irritated & not the same way once you used to feel in the past. If smth or someone tends to hurt you, or cause you to disrupt your mental stability, or affects you in any way. It’s normal to leave that person. For, every one of us, is a subject to change in some or other phase of life & once or more. Each one of us is evolving in our best forms possible, to support ourselves for betterment. It may or may not bring out a positive effect on everyone out there. But, that’s ok sometimes. It doesn’t matter!

All of us make a circle of friends in this journey, of life. Some might dive thru you, even after all phases of changes you face & others might lose you in this ocean as you continuously hit a string of waves. Some might stay as per your expectations, others might leave out of the blue. I hope you just learn to stay contended with what & whom, you have beside you & cherish them moreover. Because life is too short my friend, don’t forget to appreciate all you are blessed with.

Back to the point now! And of course, at last, “Noah.” Penny’s ‘inciting incident’ right from New York, USA! Who happens to be a YouTube sensation too. A hopeless romantic & genuine guy, who leaves no stones unturned. Taking every opportunity he can, to make her feel special. And for very certain reasons, she has to look the best. All those dark-messy hair, chiseled cheekbones, fair, dark-eyed & all flattering ROCK-GOD-tastic features. A guy with a gloomy past, who finally finds his escape in her. And on the contrary, who makes Penny realize the concept of ‘self – love’ & most importantly makes her accept the way she is.

Moreover, who’s also in a relationship with “Leah Brown”, a chart-topper artist which she realizes later. This turns to call for a lot of turbulence in both their lives. But as we all know of romantic drama novels, will this will settle down too? Or will they break apart because of a couple of misunderstandings?

Another thing that grabbed my emotions was the part that, no matter what she always has her family’s back. Of course, the family is highly supportive unlike reality, like w most of us proly, but the thing is what really matters is how one reacts to a certain situation. And most definitely, I’m very impressed by the whole of her family. Not that I’m comparing, but I like the plot, whole of it.

This was yet another teenage romance novels, but TBH it was my first from a foreign author. Or moreover, I might say an English vlogger. For long I’ve been sticking to Indian authors only. Not that am a bookworm or so. But it’s just that I read very occasionally & of very cliché romantic kinds.

This might not be a perfect book review, but I just highlighted my moments of interest here. To me, books are a source of improving my vocab. & at times escape from the real world. But this particular novel, that I’ve been reading past a week now. The story happens to be so engrossing & mesmerizing, it happened to hover on my mind throughout the day. I absolutely loved it, except for the cliché ending. But that’s ok! What’s a romance novel without cliché terminations, right?

I could relate myself to the protagonist up to most extents.Another thing that I love about Penny, was her optimistic thoughts even when she was buried deep under troubles. Would like to highlight a certain part here. On her very last blog she says, ” Do smth that adds happiness to the world, & if you think it doesn’t, just quit performing it.” So my fellow mates, the next time you do something, I will be glad to know if you did this too & so will I. ‘Cause you never know what battles people are fighting through every day, adding pain to them & sins in your bucket does no good to either. So let’s focus on making this world a better place by sharing happiness.

So this was my blog about ‘Girl Online‘. If you did like this review & felt amused as much as I did while framing this review out, don’t forget to check out this spectacular novel ‘Girl Online‘ by Zoe Sugg in that case. I can guarantee you will be amazed by the twists & the hint of humour if you are bored this lockdown.

Book Review- The Image of Man

The Image of Man is written by George Mosses. He was an eminent German-American historian, who specialised in the history of Germany, the rise of Nazism and Fascism and Jewish History along with the relationship between the Jewish and non-Jewish sections of German society through history. In this book, Mosse traces the contours of the evolution of the ideal of manliness and manhood in modern Western European society.

The ideal of masculinity was, according to Mosse, served the dual purpose of being both a positive stereotype and also a social function. It was the adhesive that kept the disparate pieces of post-industrial human society from falling apart and it did this by reconciling the desire for progress with the need for order. Order because of its balanced and harmonious appearance, and progress through its decisiveness, activeness, and virility.

Much like the notions of European Nationalisms and indeed the idea of European civilisation as conceptualised through the historiography of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the ideal of manliness fused industrialising Europe’s reverence for the sophistication and greatness of Classical Greece with its faith in Christianity in general – in addition to what Max Weber called the ‘Protestant Work Ethic’ in particular– and pseudo-Darwinian notions.

The ideal male body symbolized a healthy, well-ordered society. The ideal male was virtuous, honourable, and merciful like a good Christian man should be. The ideal male was also strong and courageous, chaste and exercised self-control, much like the legendary men of yore from the epics. This ideal of man has lasted through the decades, evolving with the times but sticking to its core essence, and continues to remain the dominant idea of man today not just in the West, but also in other parts of a now increasingly globalised and westernised world. Mosse dates the appearance of this positive male stereotype to the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Mosses’ analysis is subtle. He does not equate masculinity with the exercise of raw power. Few historians can equal his ability to discern what differentiates one country from another. Very few historians in the world can match Mosses’ depth of knowledge enabling him to pinpoint the differences within one country and among different countries. The book primarily deals with the situation in Pre-Nazi Germany, but also covers the situation in France, Italy, England and the United States to a lesser extent. The comparisons that Mosse makes are constructive. Why were nearly all Frenchmen considered honourable enough to duel, while in German only five per cent could give satisfaction? What distinguished the Italian fascist masculine ideal from its German counterpart? Mosse provides stimulating and convincing answers for these questions but does not consider America in any depth.

The outbreak of the First World War further entrenched the notions of martial fervour and strength as essential to masculinity. Young men were encouraged to fight the war and defeat the enemy, while conscientious objectors were looked down upon as effeminate weaklings or deviants who were parasites in society. The role of women in the construction of the ideal of man is not considered particularly significant, although not entirely absent. The book looks at institutions such as the military, schools, and clubs, which helped in shaping the manliness ideal, but fails to look into the home in any detail.

The Secret Wishlist by Preeti Shenoy

This is a review I wrote 3 years back when I guess I was kind of really obsessed with books & esp. novels of all. Preeti Shenoy is my favourite author of all time. Now if you’ve ever read any of her compositions, you’ll realize her highlight is to develop a story in a simple language filled with an effortless narrative style. Her style holds you and keeps you captive & her plot twists have to be mind-blowing. And right in the end, she just sneakily tugs your heartstrings as she explores matters close to hearts. So here it goes…

Ever since I’ve set out for this new obsession of mine “of being a bookworm” of not very late, realizing I’ve thoroughly enjoyed & loved every novel of her I’ve read. Be it “It happens for a reason” or “ Tea for two and a piece of cake” and some more proly I don’t remember anymore. But “Life is how you make it” stays to be my favourite of all times. Also happens to be my very first novel. But this particular novel “The Secret Wishlist” holds a different niche in my heart. For it has such an appealing story, causing a revolution in my heart, to flip my perspective by a total 180 degree split against the stereotypes set up by society. Amazing right?! And so is the story.

So I had to begin with this blogging with the very first review I have ever written.

Now this novel deals particularly with breaking through the cage of social evils, created by the Indian society for its inhabitants. The thought of extra-marital affair is what the novel describes to be fair. She makes her readers see through the situation by the vision of this lady called Diksha, who is stuck in this web of her duty & her call for her wants, dreams & wishes.

After leading a happy married life with her husband Sandeep, for the past fifteen years. And they have a son, Abhay. Every day she just performs her duties without ever bothering about her feelings & expectations. She doesn’t seem to mind her mundane life either.

But then she now feels frustrated, irritated & tired. Recalling the past, about her little crime she committed when she was sixteen fills her with a mixture of emotions. Finally, this makes her family take a tough decision on her. Eventually made to marry at a very early age, Diksha repents now for her deeds. Feeling, being obedient to her family will simply wash off her sins committed in the past. But what she didn’t realize then, was it would cause her to only accumulate a dozen sacks filled with pain & grudges overtime.

Now a sudden event in her cousin’s life seems to jolt her out. This is the point, where she finally realizes & decides to take some control over her life & form a wishlist. A heart-to-heart conversation between the two, finally makes her jot down the things she dreams of doing. Stuffs like snorkeling, drinking booze & learning salsa.

Diksha, who after approx. 18-years suddenly meets Ankit, her long lost love. Will she ever think of getting back to him? Will, she ever develop the courage to face the society, knowing the things she’s doing, the society disapproves of it? It’s the outlook of a woman, who is tired of acting as an obedient daughter, a befitting mother & a dutiful wife.

After fifteen years of her life when she has finally realized what she really wants from her life, by making her “The Secret Wishlist”, will she ever make it happen? Will she break through the cage of limitations in her heart and fly like a bird again? Well, to answer these questions, yes she does. Life leads her on a new way after this, ticking off each & every itinerary on her list. Naturally, this has lead her to succeed in developing courage & realizing her rights as a woman. She is very close to even realizing her dreams. But will she ever catch hold of her wishes? Will she be brave enough to confront Sandeep about her extramarital affair with Ankit? Moreover, will her parents approve of it?

Even after Ankit insisted on his company, to face her family members together, Diksha rejected his offer. Will she be able to handle the whole situation alone?
Well, for now, this is it. The rest of it is for me to know & you to find out.
So don’t forget to check out this exclusive novel “The Secret Wishlist”
‘Cause my friend, trust me it’s more fascinating discovering things on your own.

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