Petals!

Book Review of Awasthis of Aamnagri: The unusual book title and its tempting cover showcasing golden coloured mangoes clinched my instant interest. Oozing with the sweetness of mangoes, Shubha Sarma's 'The Awasthis of Aamnagari' is a delightful read. For latest book reviews, subscribe to  Svara's Newsletter !                                            [Source: petalsfromtheheart.blogspot.com ] With the fragrance of old world charm, the Awasthis of Aamnagri is an ode to the old world charm of living in a Indian family ecosystem.  Published by Niyogi Books, the story revolves around the happenings inside the home of a renowned lawyer Pandit Dinath Awasthi, his wife known as 'Mataji' and their seven children, who are married and staying with them under the same roof. The conversations between Panditji and his wife will remind readers of the banter between their own paren...

Books and bookshops have always been a part of my life.  As a child stranded between cultures far too often, it suited me to find refuge in the world of books. I didn't know then that I was an introvert, but it was clear that my escape into the world of books was one of both necessity and protection.  Books protected me. Back then, children of my age who considered themselves to be ''cool" would never sit next to me if I was reading a book - which is exactly the protection I wanted for myself. I wanted to be left alone. As a habit since childhood, I carry books with me everywhere. It particularly helps when I travel - I can forget about my tensions and also get rid of strangers who try to open a conversation with me when all I want to do is escape into a book. Books have been my best companion ever since the early years when I learned to distrust people's intentions - what they said had little to do with what they eventually did - and this...

In one of my recent blog posts, I had written that many Indian writers are going overboard with their social media book promotions. It gives me some relief that I am not the only one who thinks so.  In this article, here are three key points that sync with my blog post: 1. Anyone can publish a book these days, and just about everyone does. But if the supply of writers is increasing at a velocity unknown in literary history, the supply of readers is not. 2. Competition is rather fierce. Result: ceaseless self-promotion by eager beginners. 3. The poet Joseph Brodsky, who wrote that "in cultural matters, it is not demand that creates supply, it is the other way around. You read Dante because he wrote 'The Divine Comedy' not because you felt the need for him; you would not have been able to conjure either the man or the poem."   Read the third point again. It tells us what we suspected all along. Readers aren’t a bunch of idiots who listen blindly to what au...

Reading is considered 'boring' by many children.  Growing up around books is the best way to make your child feel comfortable and confident in the world of books. My biggest worry was that my son would feel the same way and I always ensured right from the time that he was two years old that I took him to the British Library. Here's one of Adi's earliest favorite books that he learned to read: Samira's Awful Lunch.  So, what's the next step? Connecting your child to game changers! Yes, that's probably the best thing you can do to take your child to the next level! Lets see how to do this step by step. Ready? Enrol your kid in a good reading club When I first enrolled my son Jyotiraditya for a Reading Club, I had no idea that he would enjoy it so much or that I would get useful 'expert' advice on how to take Adi's reading skills to the next level.  At the British Council, I had interacted with several teachers who conduct workshops fo...