Myriad thoughts on a million things
Reviews
Hot Vampires and Cute Werewolves
3
‘Hot’ Vampires and ‘Cute’ Werewolves sound like oxymorons, but that is exactly what Stephanie Meyer’s ‘Twilight’ series is about. The first book, ‘Twilight’ introduces the reader to the world of Vampires in the cloudy town of Forkes. It starts like a regular book on teenage issues…moving to a new town, the scariness of a new high school, blah… blah. But it quickly turns interesting with the entry of the intriguing ‘Cullen’ family.
Into the narrative steps the ‘Hot’ ‘Mr. Perfect as Adonis’ Edward Cullen. I was having difficulty imagining someone as good looking as the author describes Edward. So I picked up the movie ‘Twilight’ to give the characters in my imagination some shape. (To start with, I only saw the beginning of the movie…just up to the point I had read since I did not want the movie to spoil the fun of the book!)
Robert Pattinson (who btw was Cedric in Harry Porter movies) plays Edward. My first reaction to that was ‘uh huh…not that good looking’. But once you sit through the movie, he sort of grows on you. Interestingly, some info on the net says that the millions of ‘Twilight’ fans were initially disappointed with the casting of Robert as Edward. Stephanie Meyer’s official site says that Hayden Christensen (the actor who plays Aniken Skywalker in the newer Star Wars series) was the first choice for ‘Edward’. I am not sure if he might have been able to carry off the cool marble skinned hot vampire look.
Anyways, back to the book. The story line of a vampire who falls in love with a mortal girl and his internal conflict of wanting to drink her blood vs loving her and wanting her to live, keeps the story edgy and interesting. The book pulls the reader in with the slow unfolding of the mystery of the Vampires, the unraveling of Edward’s character, his unique family and his unique confusions with respect to Bella. To the author’s credit, she has managed to create an epic love story of sorts. Bella’s emotions of being in love for the first time, the breathlessness and euphoria of first physical contact, the indescribable feeling on a invisible connection are quite well portrayed. The anticipation of ‘what next’, kept me hooked. The book is fast paced and I found myself sitting through late nights to just read one more page.
What I wasn’t ecstatic about that the slight whiny edge that Bella has sometimes. Her continuous internal dialogue on how she is unworthy of the love and attention of ‘Adonis’ Edward can sometime get to your nerves. But I guess, having the plainness of the Bella reiterated so often, even the reader is left wondering the same. As the author says, she supposedly plain and as the reader can make out isn’t exceptional witty. The character as described in the book would have still been ok…but when one starts to visualize her as Kristen Stewart (the actress who plays Bella in the movie) is when the disappointment happens. She definitely needs acting lessons and her blinky, unsure, lack lusture portrayal of Bella was really a dampener.
I was quick to pick up the next book in the series -‘The New Moon’. But was as quickly disappointed. The lack of Edward, itself was a downer. The first half of the book is all about how Bella is dealing with the loss. Her whiny self effacing feelings really got to me after a bit. The books picks up with the introduction of the werewolf angle. The twists and turns toward the end are interesting but really not worth the wait. Even the Werewolf vs Vampire angle was not dealt with in an in-depth manner and with the re – entry of Edward in the narrative, Jacob was dropped like a hot potato. The whole first part that built up to the werewolf transformation falls flat ineffectively and it’s sad to see Jacob dismissed with a twist of the pen.
There are two more books in the series – ‘The Eclipse’ and ‘Break of Dawn’. I’m looking forward to laying my hands on them and finally seeing how Bella’s transformation happens.
The series really falls into the ‘Fantasy Chick Lit’ category. I don’t think men would find the detailed introspections into the emotions of a teenage girl all that engrossing… even with a little vampire and werewolf action thrown in. The series are actually hugely popular with the women. There is even a FB test on how much you know about Twilight. I got a 100% on it! J
Bonobo, Bandra
8
When I heard about Bonobo at Bandra and its fancy new concept of ‘Mix-O-logy’, I was intrigued. The review in the papers said that the food was good and the cocktails heavenly. The concept of Mix-O-logy’ was completely new and one could supposedly make one’s own cocktail, pick any ingredient, interact with the bar tender, learn a few tricks and generally have a good time while making their drinks. That itself was enough to get us to try the place.
We decided to go there on a warm sultry April evening and were disappointed to find that it was largely an open air place. There was a small section sealed off in the A/c which was packed with people. The outside, done up tastefully, was still quite sultry and without effective ventilation/ fans was not very inviting.
The initial disappointment overcome and settled in for the evening, we were indeed happy to find a wide range of fresh fruit cocktails on the menu. But the sad part was that there was no one at the bar, besides of course some depressed looking bartenders. The ‘Mix-O-logy’ bar just did not look inviting. There was no one at the bar trying anything. The waiters did not offer any information or invite you to try making your drink at the bar. The new concept was quite downer in reality.
The food was ok. For the starters we had some very nice smoked Salmon. For main course I had some average tasting Bonobo chicken, that is, some char grilled chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. Abhi had some pasta, which though tasty was in such a small portion that he was quite put off. The portions of the food were like the one we see on ‘Top Chef’. Tiny miniscule portions, just enough to fill a little tummy space but never the appetite.
The service was nothing to write home about. Actually it was something one can write in one’s review. We were disappointed to find people on the adjacent table smoking away to death. On being asked, the waiter said that they could very well do what they wanted. I tried to point out that smoking in public places is supposedly banned, but the waiter did not care for any general knowledge on my part or for the law. It actually made me wonder if there was any helpline on which such violations could be reported. Does anyone know of one?
All in all, a decent evening… more credit to the company we had than the place. With a bill of Rs 3000 for 3 people, it was a relatively affordable meal, given Bandra standards. Though I don’t think we will return to it in a hurry.
Unaccustomed Earth – An ‘Indian’ Review!
1
I had read an excerpt of one of the stories of this book in a literary magazine…..and I quite liked it. In a small dose, the excerpt showed Jhumpa Lahiri as an accomplished writer. Her prose is simple and strong with an ability to connect with the reader on a variety of shared emotions. So when I found the book at a friend’s place (Rupa…! Finally I put your name in a post…. happy?! J), I picked it up with much excitement.
A few stories down and for me the book became a good example of how one must not judge the book by its cover (Also made me recall a sermon my dad gave me long ago on why I should pick my friends after a more careful thought through examination). The first few stories are interesting… one is amazed by her artistry with feeling and describing human emotions. The story telling style keeps one hooked and wondering where its leading… but invariably when one gets there, the end is so mundane that sometime’s one is found wondering if the journey through the pages was worth it.
And it’s not just that… After the first few stories…it gets a little repetitive. One can’t but say ‘Enough with the Indian American Immigrant stories with the Bengali people!’ I like variety when I’m reading short stories…. And this book was a disappointment from that angle. Bengali Parents, Macher Jhol, Misfits in American society, Calcutta reveries, Death and changing relationships… yeah…yeah… we get it.
I know she’s an award winning writer and all, but I don’t have to like the book just because of that.
Reading other reviews on this book made wonder if I lacked some emotional depth that other people seem to have. I didn’t feel any of the much touted ‘gripping emotions’ of human relationships dripping through the pages. One Mr Chanakya warns in his review “Don’t be terribly surprised if you find your eyes moist while reading the book since it actually touches you where it matters the most.” Ouch…. For me after the 3rd story, my eyes were moisting with boredom!
World Without End
2
1200 pages in small print…. I knew reading this Ken Follet book was going to be a daunting task. But more than daunting, it turned out to be an all consuming task.
For me books are high involvement items. When I’m reading one, I find myself researching things about it and finding out more about actual events referred to in the book. So after the initial 100 pages, (where I was tempted to throw away the book more the once) the book transformed into a different world that I found myself wondering and researching about.
Set in a small town in UK (Kingsbridge) in early 1300s, the story chronicles the life and times of a cross section of protagonists. Royalty, Peasantry and Clergy…the book shared the struggles and victories of people from different backgrounds and whose lives intertwine through the 50 decades the book covers. The commerce vs the church issues, the basic medical knowledge and treatments, the hardships of peasants, the destruction of the Black Death and the challenges of basic scientific knowledge, made me think about these times in wonder. We take so much of the knowledge and things we have today for granted… its only when we read about these times does one realize that we have so much to thank human endeavor and curiosity for.
I especially found the section on the Black Death intriguing. They made me recall some paintings and models of the plague that I once saw in a museum in Canada. I remember looking at the paintings and wondering about the destruction. Only after reading the book did I grasp the real magnitude of the tragedy. 1/3rd of Europe’s population was wiped out! That’s about 75 million people….
All in all, the book is interesting, a tad long, but worth the time. A book recommended only for the brave hearted.
Watching the ‘Watchmen’
0
Ok, I know…corny title, but I couldn’t help it! I recently saw the movie ‘Watchmen’ (hmm… it’s definitely more fun to say watched the watchmen) and liked it.
And hey, I admit it….As far as super hero movies go, I’m a fan. Not a fan like some of the crazy people on ‘Who wants to be a Super Hero?’ (Where they go trapizing about in spandex going ‘ heeerrreee comes the Fat Momma!!)’, but a fan none the less. I mean there is something so inherently wondrous about having abilities beyond human constraints…it opens up the mind to possibilities and dimensions that one doesn’t usually think about.
Anyways… back to the review. For starters…don’t see it if you don’t like Super Heros. For its Looooong…and if you’re someone who can’t fathom how electrocuting someone can make them blue in colour and give them telekenetic powers, it’s going to be a really long 2 ½ hours for you. But if you’re someone like me… the length of the movie only adds to its appeal. I mean lay it on… I want to see people being teleported to Mars and all the Super Hero action!
Set in the 1980s, the movie chronicles the cold war and how close to nuclear destruction the world came to. After the swinging 60s, the Super Heros have been forced to go underground and when the world needs them, they rise from their ashes and save the world. Yeah… it’s a beaten path, but the execution of the plot with the interlacing stories of the different Super Heros and their pasts makes the movie interesting. Even the dark side of Super Heros is explored and exposed. How can one not hate the Comedian, or wonder about the real personality of masked Rorschach?
The one thing that didn’t satiate my appetite for super powers, was that many of the Super Heroes really didn’t have super powers or this was not adequately covered in the movie. Running about in Spandex and beating up some people doesn’t make the cut for Super Heros (maybe that’s why some people like to refer to them as costumed Vigilantes). But Dr Manhattan made up from everyone else’s inadequacies. Omni powerful, Dr Manhattan could be the ‘Baap’ of all Super Heros! Liked what a news anchor says in the movie, ‘We know that God exists (Ref Dr Manhattan) and that he is definitely American!’ J
Zack Synder’s treatment of the movie is mature. While one might think (being a Super Hero Movie) that it’s aimed at the kids (and the Super Hero Buffs), it’s definitely not suitable viewing for anybody under 18. Overall, I liked the movie and would give is a 3.75 on a scale of 5. For Super Hero buffs, it’s a must see.
Frank Provost Spa and Salon – A Review
5
This review is a little dated but since it’s always a good time to tell people about good things… here it goes J
An all day all inclusive package at Frank Provost Spa and Salon in Juhu, Mumbai, was the divinely thoughtful gift that Husband dear decided to present to me for my birthday. I know… it was really sweet! J And it always helps to hint subtly about something you like and then act super surprised when you get it!
So off I went to get 6 hours of intensive pampering. The spa is at Juhu. It is nicely done up place… in a Spaish kind of way…. Artificial water walls, aroma candles, soft music, earthen furnishings et all. It was a tad small, given that one would expect nice open spaces, natural surroundings etc at a Spa… but this is Mumbai, so I guess open spaces are hard to come by.
The day package included a whole bunch of stuff…body massage, sauna, reflexology, pedicure & a facial. The day started with some relaxing music and herbal tea. The long relaxing body massage was really good and by far one of the best massages’ I have had. The masseur was well trained, knew all the stress points and did a patient intuitive job of it. The facial and the pedicure were also nice and definitely much better than what one could usually get at a local beauty salon. The reflexology, though nice, was really not needed after the body massage. So if you’re going for the package, you could leave the reflexology out. The quality of the products is good and the staff is attentive and unobtrusive.
All in all maybe the Rs 4000/- that it cost was a little over the top, but it made a great gift and it was a heavenly way to spend my Birthday!
While I was looking for good Spas to go to in Mumbai, I came across a list of the best Spas in the world. Check out the list. Going to one of them is definitely on my ‘things to do before I die’ list!
Top 15 Destination Spas
|
Rank |
Name |
|
1 |
Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment, Sedona, Arizona |
|
2 |
Alder Thermae Spa Resort, Siena, Tuscany |
|
2 |
Les Sources de Caudalle, Bordeaux-Martillac, France |
|
4 |
Miraval Resort, Tucson, Arizona |
|
5 |
Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona |
|
6 |
Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand |
|
7 |
Plateau at Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong |
|
8 |
Green Valley Spa & Resort, St. George, Utah |
|
9 |
Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas |
|
10 |
Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico |
|
11 |
Canyon Ranch, Lenox, Massachusetts |
|
12 |
Mayflower Inn & Spa, Washington, Connecticut |
|
13 |
Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pennsylavania |
|
14 |
Maya Tulum Wellness Retreat & Spa, Pueblo Tulum, Mexico |
|
15 |
Golden Door, Escondido, California |
http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/results.cfm?cat=spasdestination
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
013 nominations at the Oscars and only two wins. The fact that the movie didn’t really get the awards didn’t stop us from checking it out. If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be………… ‘Curious’!
A story about a baby being born old and then growing younger with each passing day… it’s an interesting concept. But you know… a whole lifetime to project… it can be a little dull. So the movie was loooong and sometime frankly quite boring. But that said, the Oscar nominations are still well received.
The movie leaves an impression… makes one wonder about life and the transience of time and youth. The scene wherein both Daisy and Benjamin are almost the same age (as if meeting in the middle) and Benjamin wants hold on to the picture of them together, can make ones heart break. Or the scene of old Daisy and toddler Benjamin sharing an innocent kiss…. It’s bizarre, but it’s heartwarming.
The one thing that one cannot help but notice is the amazing job the makeup artists have done in this movie. Depicting the different ages for Benjamin and Daisy left me in awe of their skill with the brush. One does miss the handsome Brad Pitt during most of the movie (I think he’s his current hot age only for about 20 mins of the movie), but he’s done a good job of his acting.
The movie is definitely worth one watch… but make sure you have the patience and some comfort food to get you through it.
The Tales from Beedle the Bard
0I had been waiting for this book… even booked it at crosswords hoping to be the first few to buy it when it hit the stands. 110 pages and retailing for Rs 625. Ok I thought…This is the creator of Harry Porter… she can only write the finest of books….so it’ll be worth it.
And boy was I wrong…! This book was not even worth the Rs 100 photo copy that one can get at the traffic signals in the suburbs. 110 pages… even a quick reader like me had to labour through them and each page had me asking myself, what the whole point of the damn book was.
I know JKR writes for kids… so this book (about fairy tales for Magical children) would be aimed at the kids. Well, so was Harry Porter and it made excellent adult reading. But Tales from Beedle, the Booooooring Bard, had me wondering if JKR had really written this. I think even a ghost writer would have done a better job ( I read the online ghost written version of Deathly Hallows before the real book came out and totally enjoyed it. It was such a brilliant reflection of JKR’s style that I couldn’t have figured that it wasn’t written by her!)
Anyways, after I labored through the book and Professor Dumbledore’s pointless remarks, I came across the real purpose of the book. Hey, it was for a good cause. There was a note at the end by Baronness Nicholson, the chair person of the Children High level Group (a group dedicated to representing the rights of children). It thanked the reader for buying this book and that said that all proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the CHLG. Well, atleast some good will come out of this pain inflicted on JKRs fans.