Project Rosie-

Read this book last night - in one sitting...fairly interesting and more importantly a very easy read. Picked it up because Bill Gates mentioned it in his 9 most important books to read (I have no clue why??!)
http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-favorite-books-2014-10?op=1

Couple of things which struck me as I was reading it were-
1) The book will have sequels - a big turn off!
2) It is a rom - com kinda book which reminds you of the movie "As good as it gets" right from the word go BUT the book mentions that movie in it so I assume the book has been inspired from the movie and not vice versa
3) The book has 2 distinct halves - first which is very coherent and makes sense and a second which goes on a bollywoodish track and not consistent with the characters laid out in the first half

My favorite line / joke from the book is-
Jesus came upon a small crowd who had surrounded a young woman they believed to be an adulteress. They were preparing to stone her to death.

To calm the situation, Jesus said: "Whoever is without sin among you, let them cast the first stone."

Suddenly, an old lady at the back of the crowd picked up a huge rock and lobbed it at the young woman, scoring a direct hit on her head. The unfortunate young lady collapsed dead on the spot.

Jesus looked over towards the old lady and said: "Do you know, Mother, sometimes you really piss me off!

MA

Chetan Bhagat-

Met him yesterday near IFC 2 in HongKong, told him he is doing a good job. He was actually surprised that people recognize him hahaha...I wasn't expecting that, I thought he would be all airy like Sushmita Sen!

He does write entertaining stuff and frankly he should get credit for the last 3-4 watchable hindi movies to come out : 3 Idiots, Kai Po Che, 2 States, Kick (yes, he wrote that screenplay) BUT his books are not "keepable" category. I am carrying out this cleaning operation at home and his books were the first ones to be put down in the "donation" list. He is yet not in the same league as Yann Martel / Vikram Seth OR his books need to have a pseuder book cover!

MA

One of the most bizarre things I came across-

is this -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdXPJWODzjo

I don't get shocked easily but this, kind of beats most of the random stuff I come across easily!
I knew some people are fkked up but this just demonstrates how an entire nation is allowing that fkkedupness (i don't even know if that is a word) to be sustained and doing nothing about it.

On a separate note, I read this book Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami...strange book, as are all his books but this one turned to be a little way too long. What started with a rather interesting plot and a lot of similarity with my life turned out to be fkked up way too much and hence the mention here.

MA

Luminaries-

Read it a while back...probably my only book in last 2 months...I liked it a lot (despite being 800+ pages)
For all those people who like me pick up their books by following the Booker prize, orange prize etc etc winners / shortlists, this one definitely does so much better than say Finkler Question, Sense of an Ending and Bring up the Bodies from last 3 years.

It actually coincided with a series I was following on Nat Geo called "Yukon Gold" and I think that probably played a big part in me liking it.

Have picked up Amitav Ghosh now (really old ones but I am not spending another dollar on buying new ones till I finish my back log of 37 books!). I am waiting for Murakami San's "Dance Dance Dance", I ordered it online and have to collect it next time I am in India.

MA 

Thr is something similar...

abt Rahul Bose and Farhan Akhtar. Both are found interesting and intelligent by most women.

I finally started reading Inheritance of a Loss...i bought this book in 2006 for reading on the flight to HK in May when I was joining BNP. It is not so bad actually...seems to be a little long winded but then since when has that been a deterrent for Indian authors.

MA