During the pandemic, literary guides seemed quite the rage or at least that’s what seemed to be the case in our local library. I discovered a few gems myself, notably Sarah Baxter’s Literary places. A beautifully illustrated book, where Baxter Sarah Baxter, a travel writer, compiles a list of famous books that are defined by the places they are set in. Baxter’s list touches upon both traditional yet global collection of classics, acting as literary…
Directed by Clint Eastwood, the two movies ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ and ‘Flags of our Father’, the most horrific battlegrounds of WWII from both the American and Japanese perspective. Letters from Iwo Jima” tackles the Japanese perspective and is a deeply thought-provoking film that delves into the horrors and complexities of World War II. As someone who has always been fascinated by WWII, I approached this movie with great anticipation, and it did not disappoint.…
Do we question mortality only when faced with imminent death? A literary memoir by a dying man raises questions on the very meaning of living. Most of us go through life without contemplating about our existence. Death is inevitable, but it doesn’t feature largely in our daily thoughts. We spend our time thinking about what our day is going to be, what our year is going to be, and our hopes and dreams. Paul Kalanithi…
A Woman Deprived Lady Chatterley Lover’s core theme is about fulfillment (or it’s lack of) of the the mind and body. Lawrence appears to make the case that both are essential and having only one can slowly but surely stifle you. Connie, the protagonist, is a fairly liberated soul, who has had her share of flings before marriage. She marries, Clifford, a titled landlord who dabbles in writing. He constantly aims seek only mental fulfillment…
When I picked this book from my local library I missed “A Novel” part of the title. I thought these were actual journal diaries or letters of Jane Austen. So I was a tad disappointed when I realized that was not the case. The Lost Memoirs Of Jane Austen joins the large pool of professional fan-fiction that has sprouted around Austen’s life and works. I have read and enjoyed few of those, here and here,…
Based on Kazuo Ishiguro, award-winning novel, The Remains of the Day is a riveting two-hour drama that grasps at the evening light of an era gone by. The focus of the story is a middle-aged butler in a British household. Mr. Stevens, played masterfully by Anthony Hopkins, has served at Darlington estate almost all his life. However, the second world war brings the winds of change to England, specifically in Mr. Stevens’s life. Lord Darlington’s…
I have put this in its own section as you could spend an entire day exploring the street markets or just an evening. There is a lot of opportunity for shopping, eating, and photography. One could also spill out the market exploration over multiple days as something to unwind in the evenings. For a three-day itinerary, I recommend covering the markets in one day or over two evenings. We made a walking tour of this and…
