Book - 34, The Hobbit

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (1937)

by

J R R Tolkein

Book Read: 17-21 October 2015

Note Written: 09 November 2015

The quest to complete the series of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'A Song of Ice and Fire' continues. The Hobbit comes across as more of an adventure fable for children as compared to the strength and mood set by The Silmarillion, which I read before this, from Tolkein's World of Imagination. The Hobbit or There and Back Again takes us through the little 'adventure' that Bilbo Baggins has out of Hobbiton once. Since I had seen the movies already, I knew what was happening. I feel that they unnecessarily stretched the tiny, lovely novel into a long-stretched and often boring trilogy, just because the series could be a cash cow. That was no fair treatment to the novel I felt. Tolkein's World in The Hobbit is light,  witty, exciting and engrossing in each page. How wealth blinds the eyes of men is shown through the nature of Thorin Oakenshield, even though he is gallant, and good in nature. One of my favourite parts of the book is the exchange between Bilbo and Gollum, also the conversation between Bilbo and the deadly Smaug. I had immense fun reading the novel. The song of the dwarves refuses togo from my mind these days. 

"Far over the misty mountains cold,
 To dungeons deep, and caverns old,
 We must away, 'here break of day,
 To find our long forgotten gold."

The illustrations and maps of the edition was lovely and a great help in understanding the setting. The only doubt I had in mind while reading was that why did Tolkein, someone who created many worlds for us and hundreds of names in the process, stick to the Gregorian calendar for months? Is there an explanation? I'll look it up. 

Movie 33 - Baahubali: The Beginning (3rd Time)

Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

by

S S Rajamouli

Movie Seen: 12 September 2015
Place: IMAX Screen, Prasads, Hyderabad
Note Written: 04 October 2015

A third time for Baahubali; this time with Rohith, Divya, and Minu. Got 2nd from last row seats and enjoyed the spectacle once again in it's full glory. This time around, what I noticed more than anything was the background score of the movie. It's a thing right? Each time we watch a movie, we notice something new about it. Depends on the director's as well. Lijo Jose Pellissery and Alphonse Putharen can give a lot of things new each time you watch the movie. S S Rajamouli belongs to this category in a grander scale - a person with true love and passion for cinema. So, the background score. M M Keeravani has done a spectacular job with the BGM of Baahubali and it was really a treat to watch it with the amazing sound system at the IMAX screen. Ramya Krishnan once again blew my mind with her terrific screen presence. That's all I guess. All the things I had to say about the movie I have said twice already. You can find them here and here. 

Book - 33, The Festival of Insignificance

The Festival of Insignificance (2015)

 by

Milan Kundera

Book Read: 16 October 2015

Note Written: 02 November 2015

The Festival of Insignificance is my first experience of famed author Milan Kundera. The book was tiny yet great, I felt. I loved it. I read it again, some days after I read it first. While many people and online reviews say that it isn't that great or come close to his earlier works, I maintain that the book is good. When I write this online note today (08 Dec 2015 - I normally write something in my journal and later put that date when I transfer it online) I have read 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' as well, and guess what I like both. 

I am glad that The Festival of Insignificance is the first book I read of the author since I could approach it objectively, without any expectations or prior notions. The language is simple, yet packed with stuff that makes you think- the wonder at the enigma of the navel, for instance. The story of the Twenty Four Patridges which comes within the book as told by one of the characters, and their reading and analysis of Stalin and his 'trusted' officials presents the era and minds of people whom we consider 'dictators' in a different light. There is no justification to their heinous acts, just that the story reminds us there is a lighter side to people whom we consider evil. 

Being insignificant has its value, sometimes you fail to recognize it, but it is there and it sure has its impact on the world. This tiny book holds many characters with varying layers of thoughts and deeds and brings out the many moments of realization of the 'personal' and how each person is unique. Once again, I loved the book, looking forward to more Kundera.