An Equal Music - A Review

During my visit to Boston I decided to go to the Harvard bookstore. I wasn't looking for any book in particularly when I went there, just an opportunity to see a famous landmark store. So while in the store I just happened to pick up Vikram Seth's "An Equal Music". On a whim I bought it. I had never read any of his books, though I did get my hands on "A Suitable Boy" once but never got the chance to read it. So without much expectation I started reading it and couldn't stop till I actually finished it.

"An Equal Music" is the story of Michael a violinist and Julia a pianist who run into each other after 10 years of parting ways. The story progresses with a whirlwind romance between the two even though Julia is married and explores their deep love for music and for each other which nothing can change. Though essentially a love story it explores more than love between two human beings, it touches on their love for music, the music which brought them together and their undying commitment to live for music.

What I found remarkable about the book was the narration and the portrayal of the characters, the emotions and the turmoil they go through. The characters are depicted extremely well and almost felt real. Their thoughts, feelings confusions and every emotion was so real. Even London felt so real. I could almost imagine myself walking the streets of London and riding the buses there. After a long time I read a book which was not completely dark and which I could relate to and yes fall in love with. At certain points the book did remind me of "Of Human Bondage" another one of my all time favorite books. Ofcourse there was nothing similar about the two books except that they evoked the same reaction in me.

My trip to Boston wasn't a great trip with all the rain and wind in Boston and the crazy feeling of being intimidated by scholars which I felt constantly but I guess I can finally say it was worth it. I have the book proudly sitting on my book shelf and I am glad I bought it after all.

Trapped in My Mind

A thousand thoughts which will never see the light of day lie trapped in my mind. Some fear, some worry, some anxiety, some ideas, some whims and some nameless thoughts. Without a doubt I am one of those people who loves to spill her guts out when something is on her mind to a close friend but how do I talk about things which I can never put into words, how can I tell anyone when no one has ever felt or will ever feel what I do. Sometimes in my attempt to organize my life I try and organize my thoughts but like a pyramid of cards they come crashing down even before I can complete organizing them.

Sometimes I wish I could rattle away to someone what is pent up within me. But then like someone recently stated we all grow up so selfish that caring for anyone beyond ourself is not part of our true self. It takes an extra super human effort to achieve that and just as I am unable to do it no one will ever be able to do that for me. Here's hoping one day I manage to build that pyramid and clean the mess in my mind.

The New House

A lot has been happening in my life of late, some good and ouch.. and some not so good. Yet I am pretty happy and I believe it's cause I have this awesome new house which we moved into two months back. A list of things which makes my house incredible.

1. I have the biggest room ever, infact so big I find it a pain to walk across to my wardrobe put my clothes in. Maybe it is very big or I am too lazy :P. But yes, now I have room to put my sleeping bag when I have guests over and still walk around comfortably.
2. I have a HUGE wardrobe which fits all my clothes, laundry bag and my junk. It's so huge that it tempts me to buy new clothes. Good incentive, since nothing can be more therapeutic than shopping.
3. I have a laundry in the house. That means I don't waste my weekends doing laundry. I can even do my laundry when I am sleeping. Awesome !!!
4. I have a dishwasher. God bless your soul, whoever invented it. Now I don't end my long day cleaning dirty dishes on the sink.
5. Central heating in the house, perfect. Now I don't have to fret in the heat and shiver in the cold and fiddle with ACs and heaters anymore. Good riddance !!
6. My living room has an awesome view of Empire State Building. Not the best, but good enough to make me happy. I am beginning to learn which lights are turned on different days of the week. And yes, I did see the yellow and red lights which was dedicated to China.
7. With so much space in the living/dining room I get a chance to have my meals with my roomies, feels like home.
8. A bigger house, bigger kitchen means more parties !!! And I am loving it.

If only I did believe in Vastu I would say that the Vastu of the house was perfect. But I guess I am just plain lucky. How often do I get a chance to say that :D

Ode to my Mistakes

My Dad once said "it's ok to make mistakes.. you're young.. you will learn and never repeat them again". 28 years old today and I still make mistakes, some new and some not so new but every time I make one I tell myself first mistake is a mistake, second time and same mistake, that's stupidity. So why do I repeat them again ? Even when I know that they will lead nowhere except where they led the last time. Just like bad news never gets better with time, a mistake doesn't cease to be one after repeating it even a zillion times.

So in my sincere attempt to avoid repeating any old mistake I shall make a conscious effort to change my pattern of life. Well not completely, but some aspects of it. Try and make a change for the better. Handle situations differently and open doors to a new set of mistakes cause no matter what the only people who never make mistakes are the ones who never do anything.

A Summer to Cherish

A month after I came back from California, I realise that I need to pen down my experience of the 3 months stay there. Without a doubt it was the best summer I have had in a long long time and the best period of my stay in US. I spent 3 months building games, just like I had always always wanted to. I spent weekdays in office and weekends exploring San Francisco. It was just perfect. All I want now is to get done with my studies, go back to the west coast and get the dream job I always wanted. I am hoping in 2 years time I will be there. Here's to a promise I am making to myself after all the only promise you stick to are the ones you make to yourself.