To Kill a Mockingbird

Have you ever started reading a book finding it difficult to put it down and wishing that the book never got to the end but yet dying to know how the end will turn out to be? If your answer is no, then I prescribe you the brilliant novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, to be taken in small or large dosages. Prognosis is that you’ll never be able to shake off the after-effects of this wonderful book.

Harper Lee’s debut novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, won her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. It also went on to become a blockbuster motion picture starring Gregory Peck, which earned him an Oscar. Till date, it enjoys a coveted position in the 100 Must-Read Books and other bestseller lists and polls.

The crux of the story is racism—the treatment meted out to Blacks by the rednecks. The story is set in the sleepy town of Alabama; it revolves around the three characters of a White family--Atticus, a widower and a distinguished lawyer; Scout Finch, a tomboyish girl; Jem, her teenage brother. The story is in the first person narrative of Scout describing it from her perspective, which is unbiased and naïve.

The novel picks up pace when Atticus decides to defend a Black laborer, Tom Robinson, in a rape case filed by Mayella Ewell, a White lady. The trial earns Atticus and his family the spite (and threats) from the White community. Although the community is convinced of Tom’s innocence, nobody wants to concede this fact to a Black community, thus widening the disparity and the feud between the two communities.

The coming of age of children —Scout and Jem, who suddenly find their worlds topsy-turvy and begin to see how different things are in the world of their indifferent elders--is beautifully captured. The story narrated so beautifully grips you and grinds you to a gamut of emotions. Each of the characters stay lingering on your mind and heart that you cannot help but wish to have a principled but less pedantic father like Atticus or a fun but fiery sister like Scout or a sensitive and sensible brother like Jem.

This is one book that got me started on a journey into the wonderful world of classics. Whoever says that classics are boring has not read this book.

Verdict: Must-read

Fact or fiction? The book is supposedly an autobiographical account of Lee through Scout. The irrefutable claim that To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Truman Capote, childhood friend and neighbor of Lee is further bolstered by questions as to why this book remains the only published work of Lee and why she lead a life of a recluse shunning media attention by refusing to make speeches or to grant interviews to appear on shows.

BTM Rocks

The once listless BTM main road is now hot and happening. The place is thronged with unisex parlors, eateries, coffee shops, gyms, boutiques, and a variety of other stores. But we are only interested in places that serve food :-)

Welcome to BTM’s 18^th main road! The once desolate and despondent place that only boasted of Udupi Garden (today a famous landmark) that served their most crispy tasty dosas is passé but still doing roaring business. But if you are looking for a place to chill, go further down and you’ll find a nondescript restaurant called Leos, which serves hot rolls for Rs15-25. Opposite is Fooddays, where folks can shop for provisions while youngsters can hang around with a softie and popcorn to drool at the hunks coming out of the gym!

Diagonally opposite is another darshini-cum-chaat joint called Swadisht Sagar. Now take a right and welcome to BTMville where all the action is. On to your right is Laddoos, a small place that serves nearly 30 varieties of chaats (where else can you hear of a Rasagolla Chaat) and sweets and mooli/gobi/aalu parathas. Another place that serves good chaat is Nandhi Bhandar. Beside it is a Chinese eatery (sadly this is the only place where I have never seen customers).

Further down you’ll find some more darshinis famous for South Indian delicacies. For those craving for some North Indian food, there’s Mirch Masala, a restaurant for the economical class.

For saccharine lovers, there’s Sweet Chariot, K. C. Das and Bake Magic. Those wishing to just hang out with a cold coffee or a salad and a sandwich, just drop by at By The Way Coffee.

That completes our grand tour of BTM!

Show of Evil : The Chilling Sequel of Primal Fear

I was pretty excited to finally get hold of the sequel to Primal Fear but that joy lasted just till I started reading it.Those of you who have read the book and watched the movie will concur with me that the book was brilliant compared to the movie (I still cannot put the soft face of Gere against the fiery Vail, but yeah! no one besides Edward Norton could have played the role of Aaron Stampler to the T).

A quick recap of the prequel: Stampler, an altar boy, is arrested for the heinous murder of an archbishop. Martin Vail is assigned to be his attorney, while Jane Venable is the prosecutor. During the course of the trial, Vail discovers that Stampler is guilty of more than one murder and may be a victim of MPD. He wins the case citing that Aaron’s alter ego Ray was responsible for the gory murders and gets him institutionalized. But there’s a twist! You’ll have to read the book to find out what it is. A brilliant thriller that’s a page-turner all the way!

Coming back to its sequel: A series of murders following the same MO of Stampler’s. Is it the handiwork of a copycat killer cos Stampler is still behind high-security asylum or is he orchestrating the crimes from there? Martin Vail suspects Stampler and sniffs his way thru the bloody trail to find the killers. Is Stampler the murderer? Find out from the sequel.

Verdict: Good if not brilliant. Not necessary to read the prequel as this book contains vital extracts from Primal Fear that the reader can more or less figure the original story.After completing a few hundred pages, the book becomes very predictable. No hats off to you for predicting the end.

While the author, William Diehl, concentrated only on one subject, Aaron Stampler, in his previous work, there is more than one trial case, thanks to Vail being promoted as the acting DA, that the reader has to digress several times thus losing the drift. The Stafford case is one such example.

Apart from that, readers can look forward to a blossoming romance between the once cat-and-dog enemies Vail and Venable. There’s also another important character surfacing from the prequel, which I might add was the worst twist that the author could have introduced.

I dunno if I have upgraded as a reader or if Diehl has downgraded as a writer cos this books lacks that special ingredient that made reading Primal Fear a truly bone-chilling experience.

Of Human Bondage

A Fool's Love Story or A Foolish Love Story?

The synopsis reads:
One of the great novels of the twentieth century, Of Human Bondage tells a fascinating tale of sexual obsession . . . The unforgettable love story is as timeless as it s involving, an intimate tale of human relationships that Theodore Dreiser called “a work of genius.”

At the time I read More Far Eastern Tales, I fell in love with W. Somerset Maugham’s simple but lucid style of writing. So when I started reading Of Human Bondage, it was with great expectations. But soon I found that completing the book was not only an onerous task but also an unpleasant one.

Of Human Bondage is a hopeless one-sided love story of Philip and Mildred. Philip, orphaned at nine, is adopted by his vicar uncle and wife. The couple’s strict Christian upbringing leaves Philip yearning for a life filled with adventure. Soon he leaves home filled with hope only to meet failure in every pursuit before enrolling for Medicine at 23. As a medical student, he meets Mildred—an ugly but haughty waitress—and falls in love to such an abysmal depth from where there’s no rescuing him. And the saga of obsession, betrayal and self-realization begins.

Critics claim this book to be Maugham’s autobiography with Philip playing his self. Maugham, orphaned at 10, was raised by his uncle, the Vicar of Whitstable, England. He also studied Medicine at his uncle’s insistence but never practiced it and saw success as a writer. Maugham was a bisexual; his bitter and unsuccessful marriage with Syrie Wellcome led him to portray the women in his novels in a bad light. The portrayal of Mildred is testimony to this fact.

Of Human Bondage (1915) initially received bad criticism both in England and America, with the New York World describing the subject of the main protagonist Philip Carey as the sentimental servitude of a poor fool. However the influential critic, also a novelist Theodore Dreiser rescued the novel referring to it as a work of genius, and comparing it to a Beethoven symphony. This criticism gave the book the lift it needed and it has since never been out of print. [Source: Wikipedia]

This “love” story is neither romantic nor melodramatic that after a while, the reader stops commiserating with Philip’s failures and feels a strong urge for reproaching him for his foolishness. The characterization of Philip as a saint and of Mildred as nothing short of a slut can only be a work of fiction or the author’s addled brains.

As Philip flings himself to the throes of obsessive love to abject poverty, even the most kindest of readers could not care less about the hero finding his true love or his true purpose in life. A fool’s love story or a foolish love story is for you to decide.

Fave Hangouts in Koramangala

Being in a magnanimous mood today, I publish my list of fave hangouts in Koramangala for other foodies:

For short eats

Pizza Hut: Everyone raves about their pizzas, but you must try their neglected cousins--Pasta, especially spaghetti with mushroom sauce (slurp)-- and of course Cheese Garlic Bread.

Beijing Bites: Found at Transit, Forum, this place dishes the best noodles, fried rice and starters for the most sparing pockets. Must try--Boneless Chilly Chicken.

Kaati Zone: Huddled next to big giants like The Paramount and Gangotri, this place serves rolls that rock. Must try-- Chicken Tikka with yummy pudina sauce. A bit overpriced at Rs 50 per roll, its succulence makes it worth very penny :-)

Casa Piccola: The "Italian" hangout that serves Indianized pastas, lasagnas and pizzas but with an Italian bill serves the best fish fingers only for Rs 60.

Desserts

Daily Bread: Situated in the lane parallel to JNC, this place serves the most exotic cakes that turn up only in your fave star’s menu and budget. With a pastry costing Rs 70 and upward, definitely worth the money for its rich flavor and looks.

Cafe Coffee Day: Where else can you get to bite into a Black Forest Cake topped with Vanilla ice cream. A place best known for coffees, don't forget to try their scrumptious pastries and cookies.

Monday 2 Sunday: Another heaven for pastry-lovers. Check out their croissants that just melt into your mouths.

Sweet Chariot: It's a pity that everyone goes there for a Black Forest cos their best includes White Forest, Coffee Walnut Cake, and who cannot drool at the mention of their yummiest cheese cakes (just steer clear from their Vanilla Cheese Cake).
Nilgiris: Who can forget this place when we discussing cakes? Must try Mango Cheese cake that tastes of real mangoes in every bite. So very yummy!

Tewaris: Formerly Haldirams, this joint serves the softest lipsmacking milk products that are better in taste and in cost compared to K. C. Das. For saccharine lovers, everything is a must try especially their rasagullas that just cost Rs 5 a piece. On top is their restaurant that serves good rajasthani food. I am yet to try it.

Anand Sweets: Further up Tiwaris is the sweet stall that's forever crowded for teens can't seem to get enuf of their chola batura or their chaats and of course what makes them so famous--rich yummy sweets.

The Edge: A place that’s copied Corner House from interiors to its menu board, but flavor is even more awesome and so are the prices.

Yo! China

Chinese food. Chinese prices--screams its banners. From what I have hear from pals, authentic Chinese food tastes sweet and as I have never been to the land of the great wall, I wouldn’t know about their pricing. Yo! China is a place for Indian Chinese food at Indian prices.

Ambience: Nothing remotely chinese about the interiors. Yellow seems to be fave color of the fellow who started this restaurant. It’s pretty big and spans across two storeys (upper one reserved for parties). Glass exterior that gives you an ugly view of the jammed traffic. A big-screen TV adorns one wall while posters with punch lines where Yo! does not rightfully belong well adorn the rest of the walls. Air-conditioned, but with half the kitchen in the dining place, one can nevertheless feel the heat and other smells emanating from there. Also a juice counter is beside the kitchen counter. So every time the guy starts to make some juice, please observe a 2-minute silence.

Service: Service depends on whether the food is ready or not. Though the place is swarming with waiters, not one responds to you when you holler. Most times they don’t serve you, so you end up tipping them with a heavy heart.

Cuisine: Tasty Indian Chinese food with lots and lotsa spice that leaves your body secreting liquid from all outlets (and that chink of a waiter isn’t even looking at you when your burnt tongue is screaming for some water).

Presentation: Dimsums and other steamed thingies are served in a nice wooden round box. Started are garnished with exotic stuff whose names I cannot remember.

Cutlery: Regular porcelain ware (thank god! They are not yellow).

Pricing: Now this I have to mention: On opening the menu, everything looks dead cheap because some of the items are priced per piece, for example, Chicken Dimsum per piece is Rs 12. So being the wise person who wants full value for money, you set out to order one starter a piece so as to sample all the starters in just Rs 60. But my friend, there’s a catch: You need to order a minimum of 5 pieces. So we asked the waiter the intent behind such a “brilliant and cost-effective” menu, but he just stood there staring at us with his half-shut eyes.

Their specialty is the combo meal which comprises 1 veg spring rolls (2 pieces) + kimchee salad + choice of veg hakka noodles or veg fried rice/steamed rice. A double combo is still a meal for one but with an additional starter. A veg single combo is priced at Rs 89, while a non-veg single combo is Rs 99.

A la carte meal for two with 1 starter + 1 gravy + 1 main dish = Rs 250 including VAT. Food passes not accepted.

Verdict: Good but spicy food. Must try their Dimsums, especially Schezwan Mushroom. A place worth trying (perhaps we went a bit too early, hence the service wasn't too great).

Location: Koramangala

Mast Kalandar

With glassy exterior and psychedelic interior, Mast Kalandar is a restaurant that will catch your eye even from a distance. Their combo menus are equally eye-catching with funny names that are hung as posters on the walls.

Ambience: Small but spacious; vibrant but warm--with everything in orange, one cannot help but get the feeling of having entered a Hutch showroom when their choice of color was still orange. For those who are waiting for their friends to join in, you can simply choose to listen to some good Hindi music playing in the background or you can simply riffle through the latest editions of magazines neatly stacked on a very fashionable zig-zag rack.

Service: Fast and efficient. The only hitch is that it is self-service, so you need to place your orders and pay upfront. But that does not mean you need to drag yourself every time you feel like ordering for more. Just order and the waiter will serve you the food and the bill efficiently.

Cuisine: It brags about serving authentic North Indian food. Bad news: It serves only vegetarian food. Good news: It serves great veggie food that you really don’t miss much. The food is sinfully tasty and stays hot as it is dashed straight from the kitchen. Indulge in any of the combo thalis (we tried the Punjabi Sinful Paneer Thali and the Rajasthani Kulcha Thali), which comprises a salad, 1 special gravy, 1 dal makhani, 1 chutney, 1 raita, rotis/kulchas/naans. Sad news: No great starters or desserts as part of the combo. And oops I almost forgot to mention, if you ask for the finger bowl you’ll be shown the way to the wash room, which BTW, is just too small and crammy.

Presentation: Kept simple but it’s a delight to see fresh cream floating on the thick gravies in a crescent shape.

Cutlery: Simple stainless steel plates and katoras.

Dessert: Try their seasonal halwas or my personal favorite Mango Rabri that simply tastes like heaven!

Pricing: Every combo thali ranges from Rs 70-80, so it does not pinch your pocket. Food passes are not accepted.

Verdict: Excellent mast khana! Lipsmacking food that just melts into your mouth. Flavor is same as Sachin's but only much cost-effective.

Branches: Bannerghatta, Koramangala, CMH road and Marthahalli.