Moon light shadow (Kitchen) - Banana Yoshimoto

In contrast to Kitchen, Moon light Shadow describes the relationship between Satsuki and Hiiragi, who have both lost their lovers in the same accident and are not able to come to terms with it. Hiiragi wears his lover’s skirt as a means of venting his loss, while Satsuki takes up jogging. Though there is very little ranting over and over on the lovers lost, and more focus on these two, the tragedy burdens us heavily.

The thoughts on death were repeatedly crossing my mind, recently. Everyone knows that they are bound to die, then why do we fear our own death, and brood over those of loved ones. After all death seems to be the grand finale, then why? Seems to be - since it is still unclear. Is it that we are completely switched off, or working so feebly, incapable of communicating, that we are not completely off. Isn't that eerie?

Death or any ending for that matter, is not about its occurrence but rather the way it occurred, or the path of occurrence. Not having waved off a proper good bye, not having communicated enough, not having made our thoughts clear, causes more anguish and stays with us forever. And every time our heart and mind are over with the present, and have some "me" time, this abrupt affair of the past takes over and torments the soul. 

And what ultimately may relieve us, and deliver us from the pathos that swamps us, would just be a proper good bye. Is it possible? Or will it just stand a chance of a hundred years, the appearance of the blue moon, and many other conditions, which when met, may create the magic, and redeem us. Sounds like the conditions apply tag with a double star?

Well... I personally liked Moonlight shadow better.  

Kitchen - Banana Yoshimoto

While searching for some other book, I bumped into this novella. Looking it up in the GoodReads, the reviews were promising. The magical surrealism that is prominent in Murakami’s works is dominant in these stories too. What is it with Japanese writers... they so easily weave such a tantalizing web around the readers? The characters communicate less verbally and more through their thoughts and imaginations. The line towards surrealism is so thin... gravely thin and so artful, it feels like walking around in somebody else’s dreams.

Simple story line, yet bursting with emotions, it did not make me cry, but burdened me with such a heavy heart. Where does this heaviness come from I wonder, and I am not able to point to this or that, the feeling so gently builds up through the narration.There are two stories, Kitchen and Moon light Shadow. Kitchen in turn has another chapter in it - Full Moon. Kitchen has been reviewed by many as the better of the two, and is quite obviously the best. But there is a sort of pathos in the Moon light shadow, that touches your heart straight, and pulls the strings, and guess what, it is her first work, naturally the first work always touches deeper though may not be that well written. 

The story in Kitchen is well planned and flawless. Kitchen is where I find solace too at times, unpacking things, cleaning up, clearing up relieve me of too many pressing and bothering thoughts and add up a liveliness. I end up changing menus, cooking specials or stocking up items. The bothering thoughts simply disappear, and don’t disturb me like they did. And it is in a similar way, the title links up to the story.

Part one is about Eriko, who becomes the mother to his child after his wife's death, and is so perfection personified that he goes about a cosmetic transfer to perfect his feminine look. The author explores the subtle yet powerful relationship between Eriko and Mikage. At the end of the chapter, Mikage moves away to her own residence, but still there is sort of a happiness that permeates subtly.

Part two, briefly describes Eriko’s death (The few lines about her death and her Will are loaded with insights into her beautiful personality), and its effects on Yuichi and Mikage. The fear of death and abandonment looms large over the two. Mikage going to meet Yuichi with the takeover, and finally meeting him feels more like a dream.

Embryo (Embryo #1) , J.A. Schneider

A GoodReads suggestion, with a cover that says it all... well, almost.

The reviews at amazon were catchy, and when I was actually going to buy the same, found a free copy at GoodReads... Lucky me. Mapped under mystery, thriller, science fiction, horror and action genres, and the page count... hardly 250 pages, made me take it up, so that I reach my goal(the 2015 Reading Challenge) faster.

But 20 pages, and I couldn't continue. I simply couldn't register the characters, the Who was who. That was reason enough to shelf the book. After almost a month, I made up my mind to complete it, come what may. And after the first few pages, letting go the terms and descriptions... well, it could be read. But sadly, it is just another thriller novel, where the person who seems to be annoying and villainous is not a villain after all, and the one whom we least(!?) suspect turns up the super villain.

Having read loads of such books, and watched several movies, I could guess the very first time the villain makes an entry. So, it was not a big twist at all. The beginning is confusing, it takes time to identify the main characters, the protagonist. And after the identification, other characters have almost no role. The main character is the only one who senses that something is wrong, jumps to the right places at the right time, understands every thing, solves it all.

And the villain and his sidekick are the usual ones, including the big dialogue villains usually deliver. Other than the many medical terms thrown, all over the pages, not much work for the reader, no need to think, deduce or remember at all, because what happens is the very obvious. Not a great read, just the usual...

Aristotle and Dante discover the Secrets of the Universe, Benjamin Alire Sáenz

When my cousin sent me the e-book, adding, that she saw it in my to-be-read list in GoodReads, I was greatly surprised that I didn't remember when or what made me add this book. It made me look up my list and found that I had added it somewhere in Nov 2014. I usually add books from my GR friends bookshelf, but this ... not many of my friends had added, and the ones that added were at a later date. So, what exactly made me add this ... I kept wondering and I have not figured it out yet.

Set at the back drop of a Latin-American family, it is a beautiful pencil sketch of two teens. Pencil sketch...? Yes, no colors added, that moves your focus to less innate things... simple shades of black and grey, with white interpreted the way you perceive. I simply loved it... right from the first page, the contents, the introduction, the names of the chapters, characters and everything about it. 

After the Book Thief, (which changed my perception of taking pride in my history, nationality, ethnicity, language and culture, it put in my mind that humanity means more than everything else),  this is yet another soulful read.

Set in 1987, which was the year that I stepped into my teens, the things happening around Ari, his parents, his friends... A very nostalgic read, reminded me of my School, schoolmates – the bullies included, my lovely teachers, who still remain my inspiration and shaped me into whatever I am. I think I had/have very few friends... the soulful, best friend types... I am just part of all the funny conversations in most groups... Books have been the best friends that have criticized and influenced me in the most positive way.

The problem with my life was that it was someone else’s idea

A start like this is bound to keep one riveted. Reading this at my age, the irony ... makes me wonder, how many lives have been my idea? But somewhere towards the end, I think it all comes down to the same place where it started. Was Ari’s decision, really his own? Somehow, I feel, he succumbs to other’s decision, one of the ills of being less demonstrative about one’s feelings? It would have been lovelier, if there isn't any push from others... his parents, Dante’s parents, and that he feels it himself. That was one star minus, from my perception.

The one line summary of this book goes... A lyrical novel about family and friendship ... on googling about the author, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, found that he is a teacher, poet... and written so many books for children and young adults... each one of his book titles are poetry by themselves... very eager to read more of his writings.

As I come to the end of this review, running my eyes again through this lovely book... the dedication touches my heart and fills it with love to the brim...  

... To all the boys who’ve had to learn to play by different rules