Posted in Blog on Feb 28th, 2005
(This review originally appeared in Hindustan Times, New Delhi.)
About a fourth of the way into this graceful memoir, and just before he starts to unfold the tale-within-a-tale concerning the eponymous ‘red letters’, author-narrator Ved Mehta admits to a moment of agonizing self-doubt: “In writing a series of books about myself and my family, among other […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 28th, 2005
Didn’t see a movie on the weekend. Reason being, my son has his ICSE Board Exams starting this week. Decided not to watch the Academy Awards telecast today as well, not because of my son’s boards, but because I’m bored. Stiff. Of US glam shows. Which is all the Oscar race really turns out to […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 26th, 2005
That’s right.
Ashok has changed the name of his brand-new blogomobile. Everything else remains exactly the same - all the faltu reviews, the chalu-maal chat, the hocus-pocus about writing, life, the universe and everydingdong.
What for you’re asking why, men? Simply.
We are like this only.
Posted in Blog on Feb 26th, 2005
Finished Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore today. Man, what a book. Blown away, I was. Now I begin to understand why this cat is considered one of the coolest, hippest literary novelists around, and one of the biggest sellers.
The first thing I did was look for his other novel, also considered one of his […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 24th, 2005
Okay, so this is the first official ‘breaking news’ item on this, my official (and only) blog.
The Penguin India editions of the first three books will be out in March. That includes Prince of Ayodhya, Siege of Mithila and yes, Demons of Chitrakut, for the first time in India.
And the good news gets better: Armies […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 23rd, 2005
Just wanted to say that I won’t be creating links for keywords in my blog posts. Takes up too much time. Besides, how do I know if the person reading it would prefer to be linked through to Amazon UK, USA, Canada, Japan, etc, or to not be linked to a commercial bookseller’s website at […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 23rd, 2005
“Coincidence has been cancelled,” says a very famous author who also happens to be a character in his latest novel. (And if you think you can name the author/character/book I’m referring to, click on the Comments link below and tell me.) What he means is that there are no coincidences, only events that are meant […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 23rd, 2005
Finished David Mitchell’s number9dream the other day. Got a signed hardcover copy for Rs 250 at the Strand exhibition last month, talk about a bargain. Really enjoyed the book. Over the years I’ve grown so weary of US-centred books and characters; I mean, it’s bad enough that Hollywood seems to drown us in Americana without […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 22nd, 2005
And saw Ray yesterday too. It was a Sunday, and I love driving to downtown Mumbai on Sundays, only because the traffic is so much less it’s almost (but not quite) like Mumbai back when it was Bombay and there were still more crows flying overhead than cars on the road. Theatre of choice was […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 21st, 2005
Saw The Aviator yesterday with my family - wife and two teenage kids - at a multiplex called Fun Republic in Andheri. We like Fun a lot a better than the other very nice multiplex across the road, Fame Adlabs, only because it has a nice food court and you can sit for a while […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 19th, 2005
There’s a thin line between creating and cashing in. One author’s inspiration could be another’s desperation–desperation to earn big bucks and instant fame. And aren’t we all weary of watching an endless parade of new unknowns flash like shooting stars and preen and glow ever so brightly, mouthing inane cliches about art. Art? Mart, you […]
Posted in Blog on Feb 17th, 2005
Hi. I’m Ashok.
For those of you not from Indian shores, that’s pronounced to rhyme with “A Coke”–though I never touch the stuff, give me plain desi paani anyday. (And that means ‘Indian water’.)
I’m a writer. Or trying to be one. No, I’m not being falsely modest. Some people think I’ve already made it big-time, both […]
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