Culture

Politics and palace intrigue add flair to this medieval murder mystery “The Magician’s Death” is a murder mystery based during the early 14th century. Thought the story starts off in Paris, most of the plot is set in the Corfe Castle in Dorset – an area rife with murders as we will soon learn. The Plot At the start of the novel, we are given a glimpse of the political rivalry between King Edward of…

Wilkie Collins is famous genre-defining novels like The Moonstone & The Women in White – these novels often make it to the top hundred lists. The Haunted Hotel is a lesser known work – a purely gothic story with interesting characters, haunted rooms and scandalous love affairs. Without spoiling the plot, there is a lot making it a page turner. A hush-hush marriage, a scorned lover, rivalry between brothers, missing servants and phantom visions –…

Up in the air. In Suspension. In limbo. This Oscar nominated movie is all about uncertainty. Narrated through the eyes of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) , a corporate consultant whose job is to layoff people. Up in the Air is clearly a movie of the times. On the surface, you would believe that this story is about being a frequent flyer, about calling the airplane your home and about the privileges of being a premium…

Swan Lake I have to say one thing about being in the US of A, it gives us time and opportunities to explore exciting things. I, in my life, never thought that I will go and see a live ballet performance. That too the famous “Swan Lake” by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The St. Louis Ballet Company. Now to appreciate ballet, there are few pre-requisites, something that we realized after the 3 hr…

PD James is quite popular on the blogosphere. I now know why. I was lucky enough to get a hardback edition of “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman’ for less than a dollar at my local library sale . The book turned out to be a Cordelia Gray mystery. Yay for me! I have always loved stories with strong and independent female characters since my Nancy Drew and Anne Shirley days. The Plot The book…

I have been waiting to catch some great theatre since we moved to the United States. We missed some good shows coz we were out of town, or the weather was too cold, or we did not have a car. Also, as the tickets are on the higher side, one likes to make sure that the play will be worth. When I saw that UMSL was presenting “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the Touhill Art…

I have loved reading ever since I can remember. As an introverted child and then an adult, reading provides a natural escape to alternate worlds. But it’s not just what’s on the pages, every excellent book is a puzzle looking to be solved. I am always in search or what’s between the lines, why the author made these plot choices, why the characters behave in a certain way and why write this story at all.…

I did it again. Against my better judgement I let my friends convince me into watching a horror movie. I think I should just admit it that I love a good ghost story – just like anyone else. God knows, I do love reading them. Its highly probable that you have already heard and maybe seen this movie. Released last year by Paramount Pictures, this extremely low budget movie has been one of the box…