Vipula

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…

Based around the turn of the twentieth century, Howards End deals with the class system of England during those times and the emergence of the middle class. So, What’s It About? The main plot revolves around the two sisters Margaret and Helen Schlegel and their interaction with the very rich Wilcoxes and the poor Basts. The sisters come into contact with the Wilcoxes during a vacation abroad and are invited to visit their home in Howards End.…

A sliver of sunshine lit up the hardwood floor of the cafe as a thirty-something brunette pushed open the door, dragging a laptop stroller behind. She was dressed in business clothes — crisply pleated dark trousers, a collared shirt and a navy blue blazer. She looked out of place in the hippy café with its multicolored chalkboard menu listings, ads plastered over the walls, and local paintings for sale exhibited all over the seating area.…