Numbering the stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Independence is a precious gift. A story of war brings back the realization multiplied to leave a sharp impact. The book emphasises on treasuring harmony while quoting from a letter written by a Danish Resistance leader a night before his execution:

"..you must not dream yourselves to the times before the war, but the dream for you all, young and old, must be to create an ideal of human decency, and not a narrow minded and prejudiced one.."

While reading an account of struggle captures the reader in that world, the writer I assume congratulates herself to have delivered the promise. The idea of putting a small girl at the centre of the story is not an innovative trick but to deliver that innocence, imagination, apprehension and courage in the same soft and chaste tone to appeal to the audience decides the success of the writing.

While the imaginative descriptions of the countries and locations did an excellent job in leaving behind memorable imprints, I for a moment amused myself with the thought of having learnt the entire geography through such descriptions. Then I wouldn't have feared that subject, maybe! :)


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The first dairy account I read

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The diary takes us to its times in a very subtle manner. It is always easy to look at a book which is written in first person. The issue is with the thought of dealing with the idiosyncrasies of a fictitious character.
The story takes us through the life of a Jewish family in Holland during 2nd World War. The 13 year old girl starts with the account of how her life was until the one day when things suddenly changed for everyone. The musings and hopes of the girl and the reactions and circumstances around her mature her into a person with perspectives. The teenage years entangled in the struggle to face unruly constraints and constant fear develop a web of emotions in her heart which she tries to demystify and present in words. The feeling of the constant presence of unease within her intellect is discernible. The young girl with her heart touching innocence deals with her life with constant vigil and enthusiasm.

The book is recommended not for those who are looking for an account of The War, but for those whom the web of human relations, emotions, impressions and contradictions might entice.
Hats off to all those who made through the war years and maintained or regained there sanity!


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Working Notes: On re-realization and mockery

On re-realization:

I strongly believe that the resistance to a lot of thoughts come as a reaction to the impact it had the last time it was witnessed. A lot of clichéd lessons generally relating to self-awareness, create repulsion or a tendency to overlook its applicability. Knowing its validity is one thing, accepting it into our mind is quite another.

The next time I attend a human-values lecture or a self help talk, I will try to put it in the framework where I put aside my prejudice and then listen. To react with irritating or repulsive reaction is the easiest choice. So every single attempt at letting that feeling pass and listen patiently would be a small victory!

After all most of the wisdom reaches us much before we realize it. It also rewinds and replays its lesson untempth number of times, mostly without a conscious effort!!

I was talking to a friend who as I would do too, wanted to convince me on her view-point. While I did get her perspective, it amazed me (re-realization) that one would put in ones entire reasoning and negotiation skill to get through what one strongly believes. Having the last word creates a kind of power that goes beyond happiness! As the conversation closed, when I let her have the last word, I wondered at how powerfully the statement holds:

"When in doubt, exchange roles"

For every problem that she faced, I helped her with comforting words. Every time I faltered, she did the same. The irony being, we almost had similar sermons to quote to each other till their re-realization dawned!

On Mockery:

One thing that I truly loathe is mockery. To laugh or show someone low, for the sake of the satisfaction drawn out of it is appalling. There I just one thought that I have:

"Humility gains its value, for what you mock at today, may be exactly where you stand, and that time could be just a blink away!!"

Let the journey begin!

The idea of letting people know what occupies ones mind needs the willingness to share for the sake of the thought. But the idea of being put to test for your thought is upsetting. The realization, that the thought is indeed its own identity and stands to the interpretation of the onlooker has to be absorbed. Now, that I re-realise atleast seemingly to some extent, the same thing triggered by a warming discussion with a friend, I guess I should ignite the spirit with the introduction into the journey of blogging.

So here we go.... Bon Voyage!!

PS.

There is fun in writing on a notepad instead of MS-word!

You are liable for your grammar, punctuations, spelling errors and sentence construction.

It helps one, or atleast, it helps me to think straight. The thought flow maintains its rhythm. The auto correction to me comes as an obstruction to my writing.

So, when I write, I first put it down on the notepad and then, if the need remains, I copy paste the entire thing once on word, to see if it has to object somewhere.

Pleasantly enough, I haven’t faced many corrections! (I advertently made a mistake once just to check if it is working!)

For the sake of Love.. (3)

People grow with time. And perceptions change. To keep up with the wave of life, struggle to keep up with oneself ensures introspection. A thinking mind is a gift for healthy survival.

He is perturbed about his future. A job doesn't seem to come easily.
She knows she will create something worthwhile, but the worry hasn't overpowered, at-least yet.

He knows that she loves him.
She knows she is loved back.

He needs to get through the fight in his mind, to live his potential.
She needs to keep patient as this happens.

He has to accept himself and the world.
She needs to remain patient.

He has to fight himself at the right times.
She just can wait.

Will he see through his idiosyncrasies and do what needs to be done??
Can she keep her calm and love him for whatever he makes of himself?!!

For the sake of Love..(2)

It has been quite some time which wasnt particularly "quiet". In all the hustle bustle of the city of Delhi, there are lives which lay unsatisfied, unsure, unsafe and still determined to mkae a difference. These lonely souls are on a lookout for something different that would create a pep in their lives. The loud music in friday night DJs is not loud enough to fill the void they carry. It is in such circumstances, that the youth find it even more challenging to concentrate on the task in hand.

She wants to witness loud music and dense crowd.
He detest it all.

She would meet hundred people, and come back distracted.
He would meet not many, but is happy and content.

She wants to move out and admire the paintings, exhibitions and monuments.
He would rather find a food joint.

She would read a light story, mostly to entertain.
He would sit in his quiet room, reading all flavours, mostly non-fiction.
Atleast they read together!

Do such ends ever meet? 

For the sake of Love..(1)

This is a story of a girl who loved herself and a boy who loved this girl.

"A self made man", or so he called himself.
With 23 years of life, he had lived everything he had imagined. Infact he got things, only after he imagined. A sceptic by nature, he carried himself with the confidence of a king. A tough chap one would never want to mess up with. A thinker by attitude, the air around him commanding challenge.

With 22 years of life, she had always realized after receiving, be it an admission or a salary. A devout by nature, she always hid her true self from people. This self loving personality kept herself wrapped in her ego. A fortunate person with all the happiness pouring in, except a true love.

He needs someone who would keep him happy.
She doesnt know how to make someone happy.

He loves with an open heart and even despises with love, unless it is misunderstood, ofcourse.
She loves with a feeling of given. The given of life, the love.

He looks for constant presence.
She takes the presence as a given.

Lets call him a perfect man. someone who would love his wife for her being his wife and nothing less.
Lets call her a "given" girl. Everything she attains, is a given. So no special efforts should be needed to maintain it.

And then they met..

I dont know what this will lead to. But while I come back and take this forward in the next blog, tell me if you have "been there". Comment how this could go forward. Lets see if we can make it work for them..