The Fault In Our Stars- A book review

Author: John Greene

My Take: 

To be blinded by a book that leaves you in tears after every other sentence is a book that very difficult to read. But i accomplished the task which was not only a tremulous ride through the lives of every character in the book but also a journey to remember by. How life is held on to, fought for and let go off because you couldn't fight anymore. But with cancer eating away Hazel' s life, she goes everywhere with her oxygen tank and staying alive is what matters her the most. Her mother wants her to see more of her life and not be depressed about her disease. The cancer support group becomes a blessing in disguise and she finds the "love of her life" in Augustus Waters.

Her obsession to the book An Imperial Affliction leads to her trip to Amsterdam with Augustus's help. He uses the only Wish he could have with the "genies". His love for her is beyond the physical attraction. Their time spend together and their verbal banter over Imperial Affliction makes a wonderful heartbreaking story. You cannot forget the Mom and Dad who are sweet people with just one goal as to keep their daughter happy and alive. Isaac is weird and lovable while making a friend to Augustus. They are kinda there for eachother. His unfinished love story with Monica doesn't leave you cold either. The ups and downs of cancer inflicted people has made me realize that life is precious and you cannot take anyone for granted. The dialogues are truly touching- not the fake tall claims of love but seeing the realistic situation of Hazel and Augustus, they seem the believable couple they are.

The movie has been out and it will be great to put a face on the characters. A no- flaw book, The Fault In Our Stars is life changing book that will change your life.

Rating: 4.5/ 5 

A Vacation In Kerala And Other Places

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Park Time with my toddler

My toddler is almost two years old and the kind of exposure he needs is more than just a television and flash cards at home. So we await the evening time, when all the other kids come to the park in our colony and enjoy a little park time. After taking a tour of the slides and the swings, my son usually takes to bouncing ball here and there. The boy who wants my attention for everything at home, is now on his own now. With the other kids as his playmate, he hardly glances at me at the park.

I realize how important is this time to bond with oneself too even though your child has become such an important part of your life. From children who push each other to the ones who cry for no reason at all, the park time gives them a valuable time to learn and interact with the other kids. My son is usually a menace at times, splashing mud on the older kids because he desperately needs to get their attention. Obviously the little ones aren’t a subject of interest to the boys at all. Girls, on the other hand are more on the kinder side. They have natural motherly instincts to nurture and care. So they run behind the little ones more, wanting their attention now.


I take to observing the other parents who are undergoing the same treatment as me. I see fathers who sit at the bench and let their children free, I see mothers who are on their smart phones and I see grandparents who just wouldn’t leave their grandkids side at all. Some parents just take to catching up with their lives by chatting up with strangers too. Its more of a time for themselves than for the kids sometimes.


When it comes time to go home, I see kids brawling their hearts out, not wanting to go home, some dragging their feet behind because life was going be again eating and sleeping now. Sometimes how I wished myself that life was all play and no work at all.

Marriage- deal or no deal

Marriage after a long long time has come to my mind that really diminishes the romance in your life. you are in the mode of a trance before the legal certificate is out and it only makes you a pawn of the societal sacrifice. It is a beautiful because then all the celebrations, the clothes, the food and the people, the music just drives you crazy. You feel like a celebrity and you the most importance person of the day. Your husband looks like the prince in the shinning armor and you feel like princess Samyunkta where you will be carried away in the arms of a very dashing Prithiviraaj-like character.

The reality sets in.
The house to manage, the maid that comes late and takes vacations in time of need, the bills and the important documents that never are found in time, the TV subscription always seems to show the last date, the breakfast-lunch-dinner pattern sets in and going out only seems like a waste of money. The sex becomes a chore- who will be on top is questionable now.

What women actually think.
Obviously when we see a new bride, all we think of all the sex they must be getting. It only makes us wish that we want to be in her place. obviously she would get to sleep late and the husband will wake her up with sweet kisses, all day long she would just read magazines, the food would automatically be cooked and the maid would be like the fairy Godmother.

What the man thinks.
At last someone to take place of my mother. Here is someone who would give me home cooked meals, she would wake up early (around five-ish) and finish all the housework and make excellent three course breakfast for me. The sex obviously is a perk. But then she is there-always there. So that thing can wait.

But then to be clear. This is not what happening in every marriage. I see happy couples everyday. But then i see them adjusting to the fact that they are willing to take eachother's mistakes and turn them around.  Fights are the worst thing you could do. Pointing fingers is just a bad strategy. Cheating is a bad idea. Communication is your best friend. And you can expect the magic of love happening.

With marriage and all.

MOONLIT MATNIEE- AND LOVE TAKES OVER

Hello its Valentine's Day, 

where Feburary is seasoned as the month of love, 

where heart meets  the other and beats for one another.

Hand holding and fingers entwining,

The head of his shoulder- the most solid support

That stray strand of hair falling over her eyes,

Looks like the most beautiful thing of all.

Teddys and red roses,

Diamonds and chocolates- they all seem like the perfect gift.

But the gift of love is what leaves permanence.

So why not give your love a book of love today.

Here we come with our perfect pages MOONLIT MATINEE

The team of MOONLIT MATINEE has come with wonderful short stories on love, lust and much more. You have to get a copy to know more. 

Here are the 12 authors coming together for you:

To get a copy: You can visit Homeshop18 and give your valentine this gift of love.

What NOT to say to MOTHERS (Part 1)

Its that phase of life when you need to just shut up and not make assumptions about the mothers who are raising their children.

Maybe you care. Maybe you just don’t have another topic to talk about.

SO here’s the list.

1.       Is he Hungry? Why not…(And you become an expert suddenly)

             If the baby is hungry, the mother would know automatically. One cannot leave the little one ravenous but suggesting to breastfeed? Seriously? Noone has the right to talk about boobs in public. Even if it’s a mother’s.

2.       Did he do potty? (And why make him wear a diaper?)

                      Diapers are a personal choice. You can put the cloth ones or the plastic ones but they are going to be there till the mother feels comfortable with the whole training system. There is a thing called diaper rash cream. Its being used. And obviously they are changed when supposed to. You would also have been bought in diapers if your mother had the choice. So being an independent thinker, I’ll make the decision.

3.       Why is he so thin? (And don’t you give him this and that?)

If it was possible, every mother would stuff her child and make him chubby. Who wouldn’t like a Johnson’s and Johnson’s baby ad look alike? But every baby is different and every body is different.  You giving a list of things is not going to change things. A mother already has an encyclopaedia of things that is good for the baby. She has tried and mostly failed to get it inside her little one. So you harping about it just makes her feel worse.

4.      

Why doesn’t he speak words? (And you become a teacher suddenly)

Believe me, when the child says its first word, the mother is always around to hear it. In fact she would pull it out of him. Mamma should be the first word yet she insists on him saying papa first.  But the expectation of a genius child who talks like a pro from you is just plain insulting.  The blah blah suffices as long as the child can communicate.

5.   

    She has already began to say this…(Oh, the other baby…whom I would never meet)

Comparing children is somehow the favourite pastime for several people. And this is not a competition of who is better. A child is unique. He will learn things in his time. So let him be and not make him a part already of our big bad world.

Comfort food- Chinese Dosa

I love cooking. Its one forte that i have excelled after marriage. Being a foodie, I cannot help but make those delicacies that are sometimes heavy on my diet schedule. And when you have a baby, you tend to catch up on that weight thing even faster.

I have sensed that being a mom makes you go for foods that will make your hectic days a bit more tolerable. I have learnt to make things that my son loves too. We share the same palate, especially when he refuses to eat most ones that I make. I have deliberately let go of spice in my life...such is the love of a mother. 

Recently I learnt to make Dosa and its great and nutricious. Just eliminate the potatoes and substitue it for vegetables, becomes a great meal. 

Here is the recipi:

For batter:

1 cup rice

half cup urad dal

half cup hari moong daal

1 spoon Kasuri methi

For filling:

Cabbage

carrots

onions

mustard seeds

kari patta

Salt

Saute the vegetables together and its ready in two minutes. Avoid adding masalas.  

Keep the batter overnight and grind it seperately. Mix it together. Let it ferment for a few hours. Add salt when making the dosa. 

Happy cooking!

Any questions, do ask :)