A Walk in the woods (movie)

 This is a 2015 movie which is on the recommended list on Netflix, based on a very popular book , A walk in the woods , by Bill Bryson. The book covers the epic journey of Bill Bryson as he attempts the 2000 mile Appalachian trail . My cousin had this book and I had read bits and pieces of it long back .

The film is based on the book, but right from the ages of the protagonists, there are glaring differences. Bill Bryson was in his 40s when he attempted the trail .

In the movie , Robert Redford plays Bill Bryson who is a septuagenarian who recently shifted back to the United States after a 10 year stint in Europe . He wants to hike the mighty Appalachian trail to connect back to his roots . Along with his unkempt alcoholic friend Stephen Katz played by Nick Notle , they attempt to hike the trail and get into all sorts of goofy issues old men generally get into . This sure does not fully match with the author’s experiences in the book but if watched standalone , you can have a hearty laugh.

There are lot of good things about the movie , the lead cast is amazing , cinematography is mesmerizing. I personally love the smokies , they are the mountains closest to us in Texas and are renowned for their breathtaking beauty. The wilderness of the smokies is captured beautifully in the movie .

Overall, It’s a very simple movie about two old men who take up a massive challenge and get into trouble. But It’s not a family watch , definitely not for children , the dialogues are not appropriate, there is a lot of slang and loose talk .

If you like hiking and love outdoors, try this movie . Nothing remarkable, but it gives you a peek into a much better world far away from

the gore and violence we find in many movies these days .

Rating : 👍👍👍👍

Independence

 Author : Chitra Divakaruni

I read this book a couple of months ago . Set against the political backdrop of the partition of India in 1947, the storyline follows the life of three determined and strong willed sisters who refuse to give up on their dreams even in the most turbulent of times . Bold Choices have consequences which have to be dealt with . Needless to say, there is a price to be paid . The storyline beautifully captures their agony , hardships and the unbreakable bond between them . The narrative is rich in literature interluded with poems by Rabindranath Tagore . It is a very fast paced book , gripping till the very end . Partition of India witnessed horrific atrocities with thousands killed ,women and infants tortured . This book lends a very powerful narrative to the violence and tragedy faced by many people in those dark times.

The three sisters are exposed to this violence and it takes a lot of grit to stand up to such brutal circumstances and pursue their dreams . I did feel bad for some characters in the book though. Without giving away anything , the strong willed characters seem to get what they want and the kinder characters had to pay a hefty price . But that will remain the way of the world unless kindness becomes a force by itself .

This is a book which should be read in the book clubs , there is a huge scope of discussion and debate on each character. There are lessons to be learnt , tears to be shed . But towards the end , we find ourselves celebrating the life of the three sisters , who have endured it all , and emerged stronger . Thank you Anamika Dutta for recommending this book .

Rating: 👍👍👍

Buy the book online at

West with Giraffes

 Author : Lynda Rutledge

This is a long pending review on a book I loved the most . I did not want to hurry and wanted to pen it with leisure , taking my own sweet time .

A very compelling tale set in United States during the depression era, this story is based on real life events when two giraffes were transported from Africa to San Diego Zoo in 1938. The giraffes arrived on a battered ship surviving a hurricane at the New York Harbor and then were transported in a rig across the country to the zoo.

In the book , the characters who are transporting the giraffes are an old man and a Texan farm boy Woody , who had survived the dustbowl and lost his family and friends . He They are followed by a lady reporter who wants to make a mark for herself in the world of journalism covering the sensational tale . Each one of them has been through a traumatic past and are fighting their own inner demons .

But the limelight of the book is stolen by the giraffes , boy and the girl , as they are named by woody , two colossal majestic beasts , who maintain their composure even under extreme circumstances when everyone around them is loosing their wits .

Off they go on a road trip , Woody driving , with the old man in the passenger seat , facing challenges in each state , crossing them one after another . They encounter different type of perils in each one , the dark tunnels of Tennessee , the steep winding narrow roads of Smokies , the dust bowl of Oklahoma, flash flood of Texas . Wherever they go , people are in awe of the dignified beasts and welcome them with open arms.

In the narrator’s words , in all our lives , there are few episodes which are life changing . These instances will remain with us for the rest of our lives , which are otherwise mundane . You cherish those memories , which enrich your soul and mind and shape you into the person you are .

This book has the power to enrich the soul of the reader as well . After reading the book, there is a certain change , an understanding that there is more to life than the narrow mindset in which many of us live in . Any book with animals is enriching to the soul , and in this book, the two giraffes steal your heart and carry it away with them . It’s lost , forever .

The book establishes a very deep connection between human characters and animals , how much can be achieved if we decide to coexist rather than take control . The narration is beautiful and thought provoking, there are many instances where what the author says hits straight to the heart and makes you reflect on yourself .

It’s a larger than life kind of a reading experience. If you are an animal lover , like to read more about the history of America and have a penchant for adventure and road-trips , go for this book.

Personally , me and my family have gone to more than one zoo the past couple of months, spent quite some time at the Giraffe enclosure and have stared longingly at giraffes and tried to initiate a conversation with them . Magnificent creatures, the Giraffes !

Lynda Rutledge , take a bow !!

Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

Buy the book online

Porter and Midge : Paws for Safety

I picked this book because of a personal experience , when my son went to pet a German Shepherd and got bitten . 

This book resonates with my experience and first things first , I made my son also read this book. Animals are adorable and it is never their fault when they growl , especially the pets . 

There is a way to approach the dogs, first ask the permission of the owner , understand their temperament and then pet the dogs according to how the owner instructs you to do .

In this book , Laura and CJ have two adorable pets , Porter and Midge . This book teaches the kids how to safely engage with the dogs in a very  interactive way . I wish there are more such books for kids to engage with the pets .

Midnight at the BlackBird Cafe

Author : Heather Webber

A heartwarming story about forgiveness, self discovery and finding peace , this book is as delectable as a dessert with the right amount of sweetness . The book has a typical hallmark setting , small town , cozy cafe , nice people , pretty gardens and most important of all , blackberry pies .

Anna Kate arrives at the town of Wicklow to bury her grandmother , who owned the blackbird Cafe . According to her grandmother’s last wishes, she has to run the cafe for 60 days before settling the estate .

But she gradually starts falling in love with the simplicity and the southern charm and finds herself seeking answers from the past , mending broken relationships and finding peace in the town her mother ran away from .

It is a very soothing and an easy read . Especially after a hard day, it’s good to pick up books like this to ease off the stress . I read it along with my book buddies a month ago and we all had an enjoyable buddy reading experience .

My rating: 👍👍👍👍

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All the Lights we cannot see (Netflix Limited Edition)

 It is indeed contradictory to write a review on All the Lights we cannot see, especially during the season of festival of Lights , Diwali, but yet, here we go.

I managed to watch this highly watched and much criticized limited Netflix series last week . The story is based on one of the most acclaimed novel of the decade with the same name, written by Anthony Doerr. Set in the times of World War II, the plot revolves around a blind French girl caught up alone in the town of Nazi invaded Saint Malo, and broadcasts hidden messages to the Allies on an illegal radio show every night. A German Nazi soldier Werner, who is a genius in intercepting messages , is tasked to find the illegal radio operators and destroy their resources. Their paths cross around the D-Day, when France is eventually rescued by the Allied forces. We would anticipate the French and Germans to be enemies, but these two had one thing in common.

In their childhood, they both listened to the broadcasts of a professor, who would send messages of hope and light to the kids in the times of war. So when they finally meet each other, there is more of a connection of hope than the animosity of war between them.

The book is a prolific piece of literature, it is poetry in the war times. It is the sheer magic of words and a lyrical read despite the atrocious times it is set in.

To make an adaptation out of it, is by itself a big deal. When the story is presented on the screen , it is obviously gloomy, the image we built up in our minds about the magical Saint Malo is shattered. The makers have taken a lot of creative liberty with the plot, thus deviating from the book by a large extent. The book had such brilliant lines, I wonder why the dialogues where so shallow. This coupled with some bland acting does make this series a melancholy watch.

But I ought not have the heart to bash it completely yet. It was a sincere effort, a lot of research has gone in making this series, a blind actress with no prior acting experience has been roped in to play the lead role. Aria Mia Loberti does a fantastic job as Marie-Laure. Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie are commendable in their roles and add great depth to their characters. And the movie , like the book, conveys the same message. In the midst of the darkness and horror of war, the "Light" refers to hope.

Perhaps, this season of Diwali and Thanksgiving, we should take this opportunity to look beyond what is perceivable to the eye, and pay attention to All the Light we cannot see. Be thankful and grateful for what we have, as in another part of the world, this very moment, there is more than one war going on. People are clinging on to their dear lives looking for a glimmer of hope, just to survive.

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍

Lessons in Chemistry

This month’s book club read is a book whose popularity precedes its title . Lessons in Chemistry is a book set in 1950s about a woman Elizabeth Zott, whose only dream is to be a chemist . She is a super intelligent woman with strong communication skills and a very clear mind , but the only thing which works against her is that she is a woman . A woman according to the society norms those days cannot be a chemist . She is scorned , admired , looked down upon, loved , loathed and feared , but she is not treated as an equal .

The whole book is about this extraordinary woman’s effort to become a chemist . In the journey, she faces sexual harassment, hatred, love , she becomes a mother , adopts a pet , learns rowing and becomes a cooking show host on television.

She meets many men and women, few support her , many admire her and many hate her guts .

Elizabeth Zott remains the only constant in this complex web of variable equations. She faces many trials , endures immense losses and witnesses many tragedies. Without realizing that she is capable of love , she gives so much love to everyone around her . She is a protagonist, who is absolute in her beliefs . It is either black or white , there is no gray in between . With such a strong and unique central character , how can this book go wrong ?

The book is a piece of art . The narration is smooth and very creative. A chemist becoming a TV cooking show host , explaining the audience the scientific composition of all the ingredients used to make a simple dish, is a stroke of genius . It is laugh out loud comic at few places and heartbreaking poignant at many other places . From cooking with laboratory equipment to teaching vocabulary to her dog , every experiment of Elizabeth Zott is vividly imaginative and creative.

There are certain points made on religion which I did not agree with , but that is a very personal opinion and that does not affect my rating of the book.

A huge round of applause to Ms Elizabeth Zott and her creator , Bonnie Garmus . I cannot wait to hear these words on the television series which is airing on Apple TV , “children, set the table . Your mother needs a moment for herself”!

Bonnie Garmus , take a bow !

My rating: 👍👍👍👍👍 

Buy the book here

The wonderful story of Henry Sugar

 The movie is a very impressive adaptation of the book with some highly prolific actors .

It is a story of a rich gambler who loves hoarding money until he comes across a guru who gains mysterious powers , an ability to see without his eyes . It is then he realizes that there is more to life than hoarding money and decides to be a better person.

Dahl’s imagination is usually out of the world . The on screen adaptation is quite innovative , it’s more like watching a theatrical with narration and props . It boasts of a rich star cast and all the actors have done a terrific job .

It’s a 40 min short film , quite delightful and meaningful. The plot is faithful to the book . If you like Roald Dahl , do watch it .

My rating : 👍👍👍👍

Saturday, 30 September 2023

The Pale Blue Eye

 A gothic murder mystery featuring the renowned poet Edgar Allen Poe as one of the chief investigators , this movie is a period thriller set in New York in 1830s.

A veteran detective Augustus Landor( Christian Bale ) is called upon to investigate the gruesome murder of one of the cadets in the US military academy. The only evidence which Landor has is a scrap of note left in the hands of the victim . He seeks the help of a fellow cadet ( Poe) to assist him in solving few pieces of the puzzle together.

As they together embark on solving the mystery, they unravel something gothic and find themselves in danger . And when they think they have untangled the mystery, another big twist comes up .

This movie has a lot of things to be praised upon . The star cast is outstanding, there are superior performances which we do not come across very often . Christian Bale is a very fine actor and this is one of his finest performances till date . Harry Melling ( Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter movies ) has turned out to be an excellent actor , his performance complemented Bale’s performance very well . The setting is beautiful, full of snow , pristine white . The plot is also intriguing, it is a twisty puzzle .

But where it falters is the number of characters in the story . There should have been a lot more characters to avoid narrowing down the suspicion on a selected few .

Overall it is a good one time watch. If you like gothic mystery and you are up for some seasoned and exquisite acting , this movie is for you .

My Rating : 👍👍👍👍

Monday, 25 September 2023

Love at First Sight

 Oohlala, romance is in the air . Reminded me of the good old movies , you have got mail , serendipity, sleepless in Seattle . Old fashioned romance . There is statistics on one side , there is fate and luck on the other . Good to see both sides of the coin in this beautiful, soulful romance .

Rating : 👍👍👍

All

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

The Gifted School

Author : Bruce Holsinger 

This was our September book club read . A very very interesting novel which lets the readers observe how the competitive spirit and the high ambitions of the parents affect their own lives and the lives of their children , a very common trend prevalent worldwide.

Set in the upscale fictional town of Crystal , Colorodo , four friends decide to enlist their children to a gifted school ( magnet school ) which has newly opened in the neighborhood. Like any gifted and talented program , there are a series of tests to be cleared to get the admission into the school . As the journey begins and the tensions skyrocket , the parents are sucked into a competitive spiral, where at one point , oblivious to their own conscience, the moral compass bends and the relationships become a complex tangled web of secrets and lies

The book is very relatable and also self reflective. Most of us who have school going kids can map the characters to one or another parent who we meet in the school . The subtle emotions we encounter as a parent , the jealousy , vanity, pride is very well captured in this book .

The plot does deviate a bit towards the end , a lot of unpleasant complexities surface between the parents . Those could have been easily avoided and not necessary for the main storyline to progress.

But overall it is a very good read . I would recommend it to every parent who has school going kids .

Parenting is a favorite topic of discussion for many of us . Most of us have very strong opinions and are prone to judging and belittling other parents and their children .

None of us are experienced enough to counsel others on how to raise their kids , but there is a school of thought that helicopter parenting is not very good in the long run . And all of us in our book club agreed on the same yesterday.

Rating : 👍👍👍👍

Buy the book here

All rea

Sunday, 3 September 2023

Last Christmas in Paris

Authors : Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

After Remarkably Bright Creatures , I am fortunate to have found another great book in succession . There is a joy in reading good books back to back , it’s not very frequent I encounter this spree .

I am forever in love with the book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society . So I went around asking for similar recommendations and was rewarded with this beautiful romance , set during world war 1.

This book , similar to Guernsey, is epistolar, written in the form of a series of letters . Two childhood friends , Will and Tom , in a zeal of enthusiasm and higher purpose of duty , sign up for war in the name of their country and the queen . They are posted at the war front in France to fight against the Germans . Will’s spirited sister Evelyn ( Evie ) , a strong feminist writes frequent letters to her brother and his friend to support the two men morally . Based on the controlled news released by the government in England , they all are under the impression that the victory bells are around the corner and the soldiers will be back home by Christmas . Little do they know that it is just the beginning of one of the bloodiest wars which was fought in the history of mankind .

What keeps them alive in all this despair is the power of words , literature and poetry , poetry no less than the likes of Shakespeare , Yeats and Blake . As every year passes and the war intensifies , Evie and Tom keep their hopes up with their lengthy conversations back and forth through letters .

Hopelessly romantic , the lovers secretly and desperately dream of a day when the horrors will end and they can spend time together in the most romantic city of the world , Paris .

To summarize , there is war , tragedy, loss , injuries , bloodshed and politics , things which require a strong morale fiber and supposedly demonstrate the strength of man power . There is also lot of knitting , cooking , parties and gardening , things which women were constrained to in those days, even during war times. But then there comes paper , pen , ink , letters and poetry . Slowly and steadily , the power of words takes over everything and gives hope to everyone , even in the dreariest of circumstances . Literature has the magic to make even the strongest of humans kinder and empathetic and gives the weakest , the strength to stand up and face the obstacles.

Rating : 👍👍👍👍👍

Buy the book here

Monday, 28 August 2023

Dungeons and Dragons

A very fine movie , where everything on the platter is served in the right quantities , a good dose of humor , loads of adventure with a right amount of emotions .

A queer band of adventurers embark on a heist to retrieve a lost relic , which brings back people from the dead . What they think could be a straight forward heist turns out to be an adventure filled with danger , dungeons and dragons . Chris Pine and Hugh Grant steal the show with their charm in this hilarious adventure based on the popular immersive role play game .

The action sequences are amazing and dialogues are very witty , overall a good family watch.

There is no big plot , though the emotional core is solid . If you like fantasy , quests , heists and adventure, do not miss this movie .

Rating : 👍👍👍👍

Monday, 14 August 2023

The Adjustment Bureau

I watched this movie in my flight back home . This one is my favorite genre , romance and action and well , it has Matt Damon . He plays a successful politician , David Norris , who is on the verge of winning an election . The future looks bright and rosy , and he is all set to be a presidential candidate.

He meets a contemporary dancer , and instantly falls in love . What ensues is a bunch of freak accidents . There are a group of mysterious men who are hell bent to keep him apart from the woman he loves . David learns that he is up against the powerful agents of fate themselves . He gets a glimpse of his own future when they decide to confront him and tell him that he is not destined to meet the woman again . David is forced to either accept the destiny as it is or defy fate to be with the love of his life.

This movie is more than a decade old , nevertheless I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is mostly a chase , race against fate , he has to be at the wrong time in a wrong circumstance to cheat destiny . An action fantasy tale, too good to be true . The lead pair is terrific , visual treat to the eyes . The screenplay is taut and gripping . Overall a great watch .

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍

 

Saturday, 12 August 2023

Ticket to Paradise

Beautiful people , beautiful place and a beautiful vibe . Julia Roberts went alone to Bali in Eat, Pray and Love to do some soul searching and found love . After more than a decade she goes to Bali again with her on-screen soul mate , George Clooney and they have a blast together, both on screen and off screen .

They play an estranged couple , married briefly . When their daughter , post graduation goes to a vacation to Bali and falls head over heels in love with a local sea weed farmer , the parents join hands and come running to stop the marriage. They think their daughter is doing the same mistake they did years ago and her marriage will also end soon like theirs . “However beautiful this place may be and however pleasant you may seem , it’s not going to be enough .”

Overall It’s a very easy and feel good movie , no big plot , just some silly , dramatic moments in between . Clooney and Roberts dominate the show completely , their chemistry is amazing .

The dialogues are really witty , few quite poetic , and few very meaningful.

“ Nature, God and people , you balance all three , You live a good life “. We are so off balance, aren’t we ??

So sit back , relax , enjoy the beautiful Bali and the gorgeous lead pair , who seem to have had a blast in this movie .

My Rating : 👍👍👍👍👍

Thursday, 10 August 2023

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

 I started watching this delightful movie yesterday night and couldn’t stop till I finished it . It is an enchanting story about a widowed cleaning lady in London who falls in love with a couture Dior gown and decides that she must buy one for herself . It is 1950s and the House of Dior is still exclusive. With all her war widow’s pension money in her bag and big dreams in her eyes , she goes to Paris . Being a commoner, she does face opposition among the aristocrats and the conservatives. But then the progressive mindset prevails and Mrs Harris wins over every one with her charm and innocence.

It is difficult to find such simple , straightforward delightful movies these days . I was waiting for a twist which never came . I kept watching it with a big smile on my face until the very end .The lead actress, Lesley Manville , is adorable as Ada Harris. It’s so easy to fall in love with her . Elegant and graceful. like a Dior Couture gown . Apparently this movie is based on a book , am sure it will be a wonderful read.

My Rating : 👍👍👍👍👍

All

Sunday, 6 August 2023

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

 It’s hot in Houston and we are all finding ways to chill . Appropriately themed Summer Chills , Alley Theatre is bringing forth very popular mystery and classic adaptations on stage this summer .

Today , we watched one of Agatha Christie’s most popular mysteries , The Murder of Roger Ackroyd in Alley theatre . The casting , the sound effects and lighting - everything is extraordinary .The dialogues are very well written and extremely witty .

The actor who played Hercule Poirot can give David Suchet a run for his money . His gait and accent are perfect.

Do not miss this play , especially, if you are an Agatha Christie fan . It is a murder mystery, so obviously there is murder, a murder weapon and reference to suicide . So please exercise caution if you are taking young children with you .

My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

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