Saturday, November 04, 2017

The Silence of Happiness

Strife, both within and out
Thrives verses glorious
But why is it that contentment
Shuts out all with its peace?

Those outbursts of pain proliferate
To bring only joys of melancholy,
While happiness with its reticence
Withholds all the bliss, selfishly.

Is it because sorrow shared
Begets calm and sympathy,
While prosperity expressed
Slithers in envy ...
... dressed as apathy?

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Twitter-Compliant Book Reviews - Edition 3

Following the path laid down here and here:

Elantris by Brandon SandersonA rare standalone fantasy. Magic goes bust. Prince goes dark and restores order. Princess foils fascists. Gripping and illuminating.

Shardik by Richard AdamsA huge bear - god or a mammal? Helps fisherman conquer and rule dominions of superstitions. Shamans, mythology, adventure and guilt trips.

With Their Backs to the World by Asne Seierstad, translated by Sindre KartvedtLife accounts of Serbians on either sides and times of Milosevic. Evocative and informative. A peek into the inscrutable human condition.

Stoner by John WilliamsNot about weed. About a teacher of English and a loser in life - travails beset Mr. Stoner. A tender study into a life of quiet desperation.

The Martian by Andy WeirMore scientific and realistic than the movie. Man stranded on Mars to grow potatoes and recycle water. Imaginative and technically sound.

IQ84 by Haruki MurakamiLove story or muddled fantasy? Vast canvas with minute details and unexplained phenomena. Cats and solitude. The lovers never meet, almost.

Predictably Irrational by Dan ArielyThe myth of rationality through experimental studies. The frail mind and its fallacy of assumptions. Funny and delightful for a non-fiction.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. HeinleinA classic and a pioneer. AI heads lunar rebellion against imperialists. An exploration of culture, politics and possibilities. Witty Sci-Fi!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeDefies prejudices of readers and characters. The plays and thoughts of a little girl and her brother. Uncolored depiction of an era. Go Boo!