Month: February 2022

  • Animal farm by George Orwell

    Kindle : 78.27

    Paperback : 163.00

    George was called Eric Arthur Blair. His other books include Burmese Days ,Why i write and many more.

    After reading this book I felt like I was reading about Communism. Basically, the story is about animals taking over a farm run by humans. The animals are not fed well and have to do lots of work.

    The book starts with Major a White Boar giving a lecture to animals about how life is a misery for the animals.He further says that the misery is due to only humans. The reason being that they use animal products and do not produce their own.

    It is declared by the animals that whoever walks on two legs is their enemy. The meeting ends by signing “Beasts of England “ The Major dies but animals are inspired by the Major.

    Soon enough there is a coup against Mr Jones and other farmers, and the animals take over. Henceforth there are reading and writing classes. Everything is so organized. There were committees like the re-education committee.Napoleon a pig becomes the leader.

    Seven commandments are written. Does it mean that Orwell is introducing religion since there are 10 commandments in the bible.? “ All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others “.is one commandment.

    But as time goes on it is clear that all animals are not equal. Life becomes harder for the animals. A wind mill is broken and Snowball is accused of  sabotaging it. Also the animals starve .

    Tactics were used to remove animals that came in the way of running the farm. Snowball was one such pig and was removed.

    Meanwhile the pigs start to install radio and telephone in the animal farm. Also there is news paper in the farm. It looks like a normal society to me.

     The farm was not called Manor farm but an animal farm. The farm was declared a republic. Hence it was decided to have a president. But will the animals manage to run the farm on their own or will they end up fighting and destroying their freedom ?

    After a few years the Humans are invited to the farm to drink. Also the farm is again called Manor farm.

    Orwell was trying to show in the novel about Russian conditions under the communists regime 

    In 1917 Tsar was overthrown by the communist. It is in this context that the book was written. In communism everyone is equal. Everyone works but everyone benefits equally. Joseph Stalin was the leader of communist Russia in 1920s.

    But it became known that this communism was not working. There was not enough food for everyone. People were starving.

    But Stalin and other leaders could not do anything. They kept on reminding people how bad the conditions were under Tsar rule.

    Thought the novel was not for children. But the conditions Russiacan be explained well by reading this novels. Mostly Animals are used in the novel.

    One of the most common technique used in Russia and Animal farm is this.How to manipulate peopleso that they begin to doubt themselves.

    Another technique is that the masses are kept ignorant of whatever is happening. This is how people can be manipulated. This again shown in animal farm.Also so called “fake news” is there at the farm. No one knows the truth and everyone is confused.

    The pigs undo the “all are equal motto”. They think that they are better off and look down upon other animals.

    In this manner, we can see how Animal farm is compared with Russia during communism.

    The book is under 100 pages.

    I like the details about how exactly the farm is organized.

    Paperback

    George was called Eric Arthur Blair. His other books include Burmese Days, Why I write, and many more.

    After reading this book I felt like I was reading about Communism. Basically, the story is about animals taking over a farm run by humans. The animals are not fed well and have to do lots of work.

    The book starts with Major a White Boar giving a lecture to animals about how life is a misery for the animals.He further says that the misery is due to only humans. The reason being that they use animal products and do not produce their own.

    It is declared by the animals that whoever walks on two legs is their enemy. The meeting ends by singing “Beasts of England “ The Major dies but animals are inspired by the Major.

    Soon enough there is a coup against Mr. Jones and other farmers, and the animals take over. Henceforth there are reading and writing classes. Everything is so organized. There were committees like the re-education committee. Napoleon a pig becomes the leader.

    Seven commandments are written. Does it mean that Orwell is introducing religion since there are 10 commandments in the bible.? “ All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others “.is one commandment.

    But as time goes on it is clear that all animals are not equal. Life becomes harder for the animals. A windmill is broken and Snowball another leader is accused of sabotaging it. Also, the animals starve.

    Tactics were used to remove animals that came in the way of running the farm. Snowball was one such pig and was removed.

    Meanwhile, the pigs start to install radio and telephone in the animal farm. Also, there is a newspaper on the farm. It looks like a normal society to me.

     The farm was not called Manor farm but an animal farm. The farm was declared a republic. Hence it was decided to have a president. But will the animals manage to run the farm on their own or will they end up fighting and destroying their freedom?

    After a few years, the Humans are invited to the farm to drink. Also, the farm is again called Manor farm.

    Orwell was trying to show in the novel about Russian conditions under the communists’ regime 

    In 1917 Tsar was overthrown by the communist. It is in this context that the book was written. In communism everyone is equal. Everyone works but everyone benefits equally. Joseph Stalin was the leader of communist Russia in the 1920s.

    But it became known that this communism was not working. There was not enough food for everyone. People were starving.

    But Stalin and other leaders could not do anything. They kept on reminding people how bad the conditions were under Tsar rule.

    Thought the novel was not for children. But the conditions in Russia can be explained well by reading this novel. Mostly Animals are used in the novel.

    One of the most common technique used in Russia and Animal farm is this. How to manipulate people so that they begin to doubt themselves.

    Another technique is that the masses are kept ignorant of whatever is happening. This is how people can be manipulated. This is again shown in animal farm. Also so-called “fake news” is there at the farm. No one knows the truth and everyone is confused.

    The pigs undo the “all are equal motto”. They think that they are better off and look down upon other animals.

    In this manner, we can see how Animal farm is compared with Russia during communism.

    The book is under 100 pages.

    I like the details about how exactly the farm is organized.

  • Meditation and its methods by Swami Vivekananda

    Meditation and its methods by Swami Vivekananda

    Kindle : 34.22 rs

    Paperback : 174 rs

    Swami Vivekananda as most people know was a Hindu. He introduced the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and yoga to western world. But few know about his book on mediation.

    Mediation according to yoga. 

    Mediation is the power to resist things. Nature introduce us to a beautiful smell .I tell myself don’t smell it and the nose does not. When you mediate you can change all this .It is an attempt to change all this.

    Change to getting freedom will come.

    This about that change .Changing anything is difficult.

    The mind is a strange thing .It keeps on wandering away here and there. It might wander off to places where you have been .This will be stopped by the power of mediation. If we can control the mind we can control anything.

    Before any meditation  methods it is important to know where to mediate. Otherwise it is no use to meditate.

    These ideas will work since they have worked for me. Try to follow these ideas as closely as

    you can.

    The environment to mediate

    • Try to have a separate room for mediation
    • Try to place flowers in that room .It will enhance your meditation.
    • Also do not meditate when  you feel  lazy or ill.

    • If you want to burn incense in the morning and evening you can
    • Try not to have anger in that room 

    All these things will help in the mediation

    Whenever you are miserable or your mind is distributed, enter this room and you will be calm.

    Time for mediation

    Try to practice at least twice every day .Best times are towards morning and evening. These are times of calmness.

    Now if you are ready now repeat and i quote “ Let all beings be happy , let all beings be peacefully let all beings be blissful. Do this to the north, south, east and west. When you continue to do this you will feel better.i tired this for a few days and saw it made me feel better.If you believe in god than pray.

    Next look at your body and see how healthy it is.

    Another example of mediation

    Look at your heart, Think there is Space in your heart. In the middle of that space think that there is a flame that is burning .Inside this flame there is another flame.and that is your soul. Meditate on that. I know this is confusing when you read it for the first time. But keep on practicing it and you will understand it better.

    There is another method of meditation :

    First sit in the position that you can sit in for a long time. All the currents that are working pass along the spine. The spine is not intended to support the weight of the body. So the posture must be such that the weight is not on the spine.

    In the end I would say meditation is a means of controlling your mind . Practice meditation for months to benefit from it. Remain cheerful and yes patience is the greatest virtue that man  can have. You will see great transformation through meditation.

    This book has lots of meditation methods. Try all and see which works for you.

    The photo of a person doing meditation is taken from Dreamtime.com

  • Over My Dead Body By Jeffery Archer

    Over My Dead Body By Jeffery Archer

    Kindle Edition : 278 rs

    Paper back : 293 rs

    This is one of the many books by Jeffery Archer. The other being Only Time will tell, As the crow files and many more.

    The character is William Warwick. Archer has written more novels with this character in them.

    The setting is on a cruise ship at first. We see William James and wife Beth on the ship Pligirm Line.

    This is a luxury ship. There is a battle for power at the heart of a wealthy dynasty.

    James Angus is the deputy chairman of the ship. James asks William to tell him how to take advantage of the family. I wonder why ?

    Fraser Buchana is the new chairman of the ship. He is friends with Miles Faulkner and Christina. Faulkner is believed to have died. His funeral also took place. Miles is a thief. Meanwhile, Miles is trying to escape from the police who knows that he is not dead. It is a game of cat and mouse between William and Miles

    One fine morning Fraser and the rest are having breakfast . All of a sudden Fraser it seems has heart attack and dies. But William thinks it is murder.  and tries to tell James who is sitting where at the table that morning. He is trying to solve the murder. There is a cat and mouse plot between William and Fraser.

    In London, the Metropolitan Police set up a new Unsolved Murders Unit—a cold case squad—to catch the criminals nobody else can. longtime undercover DI Ross Hogan, whom retiring Cmdr. Hawksby is grooming as William’s second, develops an altogether more personal reason for going after Faulkner and, at long last, begins to litter the path he blazes to his quarry with the bodies of his agents.

    But Archery has sub-plots in ll his novels. As usual writing is excellent . Archery has not le down his fans in this book.

    Jeffrey Archer is one of the world’s most famous authors, having sold over 275 million copies of his books in a ninety-seven countries. He is also a former member of Britain’s House of Lords.

    
    
  • Fitness habits : Breaking the barriers to fitness  by  Amaresh Ojha and Subhra Moitra

    Pages :192

    Price : Paperback :156

    : Kindle :119.77

    I am not into fitness . But I picked this book up because of a friend. I used to  see her join the gym and then quit. She is a close friend . This happened too many times.So i thought let me read this book and help her.

    This book was written after the authors had researched  more then 100 fitness centres across India.The research involved engagement Enrollment patterns and things like that. With so much research behind them, how could they go wrong.

    Why do people do fitness for a while and then leave it ?

    • No passion
    • No motivation
    • Setting unrealistic goals

    If your body makes you feel better would you not want to continue to do the fitness regime.

    What I got from this book.

    1.It takes time to adopt a habit .

    2.Find out what helps you stay motivated.

    3. How to maintain a habit.

    If you agree to the above then this is the book for you.

    There is an exercise in this book which will help you understand your relationship with fitness.

    This is important, otherwise how will you know if you have any relationship with fitness.

    There are eight secrets in the book that will help you form fitness habits.

    Secret no 1

    Awareness

    In order to build a exercise regime you have to know your present state of health. How healthy are you ? You might think you are healthy just because you go for a walk. Once you do realize that you are unhealthy you yourself will want to make fitness a habit. Again there is a small activity that will help you understand your fitness level .

    Secret 2

    Find your why

    You will want to find out why you want to be fit. Is it because everyone around you is trying to be fit? You should want to be fit because you want it not because everyone is trying. Makes sense doesn’t it ?There is a small activity that will help you discover your why.

    Secret 3

    Go slow but go forward

    In case you want to start on a fitness routine, go slow. In case you try to do a lot of exercise or train a lot you will find it boring. Also your body will get used to any fitness regime in a slow manner. Your body might tear itself out if you do too many things all at once with your body.

    Consistency is important in forming any habit .So do exercise daily according to your regime.There is an exercise to maintain this consistency.

    Secret 4

    Anything will be interesting when you add an element of fun in it. Try not to make fitness a struggle . Try music while exercising .For example Zumba uses music. The tempo of people doing Zumba is high when doing it with music. Try doing something in a group but remember to go at your own pace.

    Try doing various exercises and change it daily . That way it  does not become dull and boring.It will be just a sweat secession but something you will look forward to when you wake up.

    Secret 5

    Planning before performance

    If you plan anything it is likely that you will finish it. With a plan in place you will perform the routine. So plan but keep chaining the plan so as not to make it boring.Plan  would include keeping water and the like.Do you have a plan ?

    Secret 6

    Declutter your Cue

    Wondering what is cue ?

    Simply put  cue is the trigger that initiates a behaviour and says that if we do certain things we will get a reward.

    For example if you eat your pre  workout meal and miss on it due to reaching home late then decide if you want to eat the meal or go for a workout. I know all these things sound complained but Rome was not built in a day . Even your habits will take time to build.

    Secret 7 

    Prepare your environment

    If You need to take a bottle to the gym, do it. If you need to take a small towel then do that. In this manner you are comfortable in your environment. This will help you form a habit.

    Secret 8

    Evaluate your progress

    Whenever you start anything new you will have to see how well you are doing.

    If you are not doing well you will want to have a strategy .

    The best part about this book is that he has given small activities which I feel that will benefit people.

    The image of people doing exercise was taken from vector stock.

  • Every cloud by Connie Chappell

    Every cloud by Connie Chappell

    This is Connie 8th book. She has written mystery and family-based dramas. She loves outdoor activities like golf, walking and more.

    I still have not understood why the novel is called every cloud.

    This book is family drama genre. It talks about four siblings and their lives. Jillian, Gus Betsy and Demetri. Their childhood home is called Moorings.

    Jillian has had many affairs and losing every man she dates. Also, there have been fire incidents in her life. She decides to come home.

    Demetri is a priest who has nightmares. His superior says it has to do with his childhood. He decides to come home. He texts Gus NEED SAM.No sam is not a person. It means summer at moorings. New Zealand is where he lives. 

    Betsy is married and is bossy. She has been having trouble with her in-laws. Her mother in law does not invite her to her home. So she comes to mooring saying she has come to finish her PhD.

     Gus is the person who manages the mooring. He also looks after his father’s business. There was a friendship between Gus and Moorings. Gus had once told his mother that he wanted to live at mooring.

    Then there are sitings of coyotes. Gus and Betsy decide to investigate. 

    The four siblings all have issues in the present context. They come home to try and solve them.

    Artemus Deconcini their father has a huge business. Both of their parents go to a board meeting once a year. After Camilla dies Artemus marries a second wife called Kora. Kora and Gus were the same age when kora was married. 

    This book focus on life complications. Also, there are silver linings.

    Writing is simple to understand.

    Connie Chappell is a bestselling and award-winning author in both literary fiction and the Wrenn Grayson Mystery series. Her books are standalone novels and can be read in any order. She’s a lifelong resident of Springfield, Ohio. When she’s not writing, family and friends find her outdoors, where her home is nestled close to a woodland. During the winter months, she longs to see honeybees hovering over her flowerbeds again. Make contact with Chappell through her website, conniechappell.com

    Editorial Reviews

    Review

    “Chappell is a gifted storyteller.” 

    -The American Reporter

    “This author’s writing sweeps readers into a thrilling world.” 

    -South Florida Sun-Sentinel

    “The plot is engaging and paced with great skill.” 

    -Readers’ Favorites (5 stars)

    “Chappell’s love of words shines through.” 

    -The Times of Chicago

    “Chappell brings her characters to life with the brushstrokes of her prolific imagination.”

    -Myrtle Brooks, author of Songs I Heard the City Sing.

    #drama#writerblock

    Editoral reviews and about connie are from the amazon website

  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

    The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

    The sign reads 

    Opens at nightfall 

    Closes at dawn

    What could this be ? A shop . No. It is a night circus.

    The circus has black and white striped canvas tent.  It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, 

    The book is about illusion. At the same time it is a magical fantasy. The scene opens with a girl being left at the circus. Her name is Celia. She is being trained in Magic. It is narrative in nature.

    Plot is straight forward. There are two magicians Both the magicians fall in love with each other .But.they are meant to be competing against one another,The young magicians are called Celia and Marco. 

     Many people used to join the circus which was a refuge for people with unique abilities. The setting is London.

    Hector trains his daughter Celia. The man in the gray suit chooses an orphan. He is called Marco Alisdar. The duel is between the two magicians. Celia is a kind hearted soul .After Hector dies she gets an envelope”Your Move”. Hmm . Wonder what that is .

    There are other characters also .Frederick Thiessen is sen as the maker of clocks. Later on he becomes entwined with the circus.Isobel Martin is another character who is a fortune teller for the circus.

    Meanwhile theatrical impresario Chandresh Christophe Lefevre has a new idea.she thinks a traveling circus which will tour around the world, is better off than a stationary circus. There are acrobats ,a contortionist who can fold herself into a small glass box, and Celia, an illusionist . Animals are also involved.  

    Writing is gorgeous.  It is written in second person. The  book is unique. The description of the tents are worth a mention.  The imagination is good. When I read this novel it is like a dream. There is romance which will swipe you off your feet. .In the bookt the years keep on shifting from back and forth.. The book will cast a spell over you. The book is narrative in nature.

    The kindle edition is 269 rs.

    Erin Morgenstern has written two fantasy novels. The other is the starless sea, was published in 2019.won the annualLocal award for best novel. She is a 2012 recipient of an Alex Award. Her second book,The Starless Sea , was published in 2019.

    If you are looking for fantasy this is the book.

    #fantasy#Romance#illusion