National Bandh Day

Today was the day of the National bandh. Both the Arien and self opted to work from home. After a few minutes, the Arien brought the silence to my notice. The silence was deafening. Usually, there is a lot of traffic noise all around - horns blaring, brakes squealing, autos honking, people yelling, hawkers selling their wares - it is a regular noisathon! All that was Gaayab - Gone!

I actually managed to make out the sound of a bird chirping which can be heard only early in the morning. I think the bird was probably frightened at the absolute lack of noise. My neighbour took his chuntu dog out for a walk at 2 pm. The time was odd and the Arien made a nasty comment that had us both giggling like goofballs :) Sometimes, one can be so mean :(

The senior Arien also did not go to work today and slept the morning away, happily. I am all for the Bandh for the enormous sense of peace - artificial, of course - that it created today. Am I being the nasty one, now?

How was your day?

Mockingjay -- Book Review

Finished it - finally!! After days of suspense, was happy to see the story end the way it did. There were a few nail-biting elements, a few ohcomeon moments, and a few Egad! moments. While I did not expect the casualty list to be that high - well, who are we kidding - this was a War - so, I guess it was to be expected.

Gale Image Courtesy: http://www.realbeauty.com/makeup/hunger-games-inspired-beauty-gale-hawthorne#slide-9

I wondered who Katniss would ultimately chose, Gale or Peeta.  I also wondered how the series would end as I read Mockingjay. In this book, Katniss is now in District 13 and Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. Katniss spends a lot of time recovering and is unable to shake off the guilt 'bout Peeta's capture. She finds District 13, a very dark, desolate place to live in even though she has her mother, Prim, and Gale for company. After a broadcast from President Snow and Peeta, Katniss agrees to be the mockingjay. 

There are some moments of self-realization, when Katniss creates a game for Buttercup which has been written very well. Some of her asides are so fundamentally Katniss that instead of saying "Uff - will you stop doing that?" you enjoy them.

The scene where she is unable to shoot one of the District 2 members as he falls off the train is again oh-so-Katniss. She runs to save him but is shocked to notice that he has a gun trained on her - albeit with a shaking hand. After a few words, both of them decide not to shoot each other. However, a sniper shoots Katniss and that scene is watched by everyone including Katniss on national television, later.

Katniss Image Courtesy: http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/featured/the-hunger-games-bulls-eye-or-dud

I liked the book. I probably liked Katniss the character. She did not feel like a caricature and was quite real. In a moment of brutal honesty, both Gale and Peeta share that her choice would not be based on how much she loves him or how she cannot live without him but more on whom she cannot live or survive without. Katniss is shocked at their very accurate analysis and promptly forgets about it in the morning.

She is a major contrast to Twilight's Bella who forever is so surprised that someone like Edward can fall in love with her. I like Edward's character very much though and Peeta seems more like Edward whereas Gale is a lot like Jacob. Totally understandable that most folks consider Peeta a very goody-goody boy, a wimp even (so unfair) and Gale to be THE guy.

Peeta Image Courtesy:http://hungergamessingapore.wordpress.com/tag/magazine/ 

If I had to guess the sun sign of Katniss, it would be Leo or Aries. The fire element in the character adds to the co-incidence. A fire sign is a natural fire-brand, an independent worker, and a great ally to have in a game, or in a war :) Peeta must be a water sign -- Cancer or Pisces. Gale, I am guessing is another fire sign, Aries or Leo. What do you think? If I had to choose based on the pics of the actors, Gale wins Hands-Down :D I am so mean :P Peeta looks so good-looking, nice, and Gale looks wild, uncontrollable, and absolutely drool-worthy. I sound like a teen -- Egad!! This is what happens when one reads too many young adult novels :) I enjoyed it - Read the series in order when you have the time.

Catching Fire -- Book Review

**Spoiler Alert--If you have not read The Hungry Games, I may unknowingly reveal some of the suspense in this review**

After successfully winning The Hunger Games, both Katniss and Peeta return to District 12, to a Hero's welcome. Katniss is happy that she is still alive and hopes she and Gale can get back to being normal -- easier said than done. They move out of their old home and move into one of the victor's cottage. Haymitch and Peetha live in the other cottages, separately. Gale has started working in the mines and so Katniss hardly sees him and is unsure what she can say to make things ok between them. They finally meet one day in their forest. President Snow makes an appearance and informs her that he knows about the kiss that she shared with Gale and she better make her love story with Peeta look convincing. President Snow is intent on seeing the marriage between Peeta and Katniss happen. This book introduces a number of secondary characters. It starts with the victory parade as the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss, tour the districts. Katniss realizes that most people view her the person who will help them rebel against the Capitol - the mockingjay. All she wants is to keep her family, Gale, and Peeta safe which seems very selfish to her. This is followed by a series of activities that are part of the wedding preparations to mollify President Snow. Katniss sleepwalks through it all.

Just when you are convinced that that is where the story is headed - the writer throws in a twist of gigantic propotions. President Snow is not likely to forgive Katniss and Peeta for embarrassing the Capitol at the Hunger Games and so at the 75th Hunger Games (Quarter Quell) a huge surprise awaits them.

The book is just as interesting as the first and while I was so sure the author was headed the twilight way with the wedding, I was happy that it did not go that way at all. As you reach the end of the book, you gasp and want to kill the author. Seriously. You cannot believe your eyes and you realize you must read the next book to know what happens next. I was so glad I had the third book with me. Katniss seems very believable. 

The Hunger Games -- Book Review

The Arien spoke 'bout the Hunger Games movie a while ago but I was not interested then. Two weekends ago, when I was browsing the library for a book, I opted to re-read one of my ole favorites Atlas Shrugged and also picked up The Hunger Games.

Dare I say anything 'bout Atlas Shrugged? Naaah. This review is about the other women writer, Suzanne Collins.

The book is based in the future, in Panem, a place that was North America. The narrator is Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12, the district of the coal mines. All the districts live in near poverty, ruled over by the Capitol. Several years ago, District 13 rebelled against the Capitol and was razed to the ground. To prevent other such uprisings, the Capitol comes up with the Hunger Games. 2 participants (1 male and 1 female), between the age group of 12-18, from each district are selected via a lottery to participate in the Hunger Games every year. The participants are placed in an artificial arena and to win they have to kill off the others. While I can understand that that may not be something appropriate for the young adult -- I did not find the book offensive.

Image Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games

Katniss shares information in a very likeable manner -- she shares that she is unsure of her feelings for Gale, her friend of many years. She shares that she is indebted to Peeta when during a really rough winter, Katniss's family was almost dying of starvation, Peeta burns two loaves of bread and throws it out to her amidst his mother's hysterical cries over the burnt bread. Katniss's life changes forever when her sister's name, Prim, is pulled out of the lottery. She immediately offers her name instead. And thus Katniss is pulled into a rollercoaster ride. The other participant is Peeta. While you are sure that Katniss will naturally win, because she is the narrator - the author manages to maintain the suspense. The story couples a triangle love story (Gale-Katniss-Peeta) in a dangerous reality show where you may lose your life. I flipped out for this book. I was reading it late into the night -- and the moment I finished the book, I really wanted to read the other two.

Finally, after a looong time, I am back to reading :)