Rumi's forty rules of love

Many have  heard Elif Shafak speak on TED and become inspired but not many read this book

The Forty Rules of Love

by Elif Shafak

229 Pages, Penguin Group

Genre: Fiction

Ella Rubinstein, a loving mother of three and wife for forty years files for divorce suddenly after she reads a manuscript called "Sweet Blasphemy" by A.A. Zahara sent to the literary agency where she works. Is it possible to fall in love via email, so much so that you are willing to risk it all? What triggers Ella who leaves her husband and grown up children and her comfortable home, family and friends – to leave everything and everyone and move out of her comfort zone though she still loves them? What are the forty rules of love? Elif Shafak asks and answers these questions and much more in her beautifully written novel, "The Forty Rules of Love."

From Baghdad of the 13th century to Massachusetts of the 21st century, the author flits in and out narrating a wonderful tale that holds true for today. As readers, we are made to realize not much has changed in 800 years in the mental makeup of the people of the world. In fact, we need the forty rules of love now more than ever as religiosity and spirituality are assumed to be the same when it is not.

Elif Shafak is a Turkish American author. Her writing style is smart as the story is narrated with a varying pace – it slows down when you need to reflect and picks up speed when you wish to learn what happened next! It is almost like the author is there helping you as you read her book. The multiple points of view of the characters doesn’t confuse the reader and works to advance the story providing insights that are unique. 

This is an inspiring book for all people from any part of the world as it breaks down barriers and brings in better understanding. I cannot think of a better way to start the New Year except by reading this book.

© 2014 by Deepa Kandaswamy

To buy the book go here  

I am Malala

The Noble Prize winner who is talked about a lot but whose book many didn't read - so here is the review

I am Malala: The Girl who stood up for Education and was shot by the Taliban
By Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb.
320 pages, Orion Publishing Group
Available in different formats.
Genre: Non-fiction

Are you aware of the struggle a girl has to go through in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan to get an education? Why was Malala shot? Who exactly are the Taliban? What do you know of Swat valley and the people who live in it? These are some of the questions asked and answered by Ms. Yousafzai in her amazing book, I am Malala.

From a child seated on the lap of her father listening to him and his friends talking politics and education in the Swat Valley before the Taliban to being operated in a hospital in Birmingham, to grilling Pakistan General Kayani about why the army was unsuccessful in capturing Fazlullah to being just a teenager in school who is competitive in class and enjoying picnics with her friends, the narrative of Malala spans decades of political history intermixed with her story laced with humor. It is hard to believe she is just 16 years old as the penmanship is that of a mature political analyst who understands what is going on and is trying her best to explain it to others. Maybe this is because of co-author Christina Lamb who is a veteran journalist covering Pakistan and Afghanistan for decades. Most importantly, it is amazing to see what she has gone through for education and will definitely inspire school drop outs, to think again as many take education for granted in other countries. Throughout the book, her fearless attitude towards the Taliban and her love for her parents shines through, especially for her father.

The style of writing is no nonsense but the prologue sets the mood and tone for the rest of the book as even the most hardened person on Earth will be moved by it. The book's title is Malala's answer to the Taliban. The book is insightful, informative rich with history but more importantly tells the story of a people whose story has not been read and puts a face to people who are just termed "Pashtuns" and to places "Swat Valley" and "North West Frontier Province" which are subjected to American drone attacks. She even explains why Pashtuns don't say thank you as it is just a phrase and they believe kindness should be reciprocated through action and not just words.

Malala Yousafzai is clear about what she wants - education for all but more importantly has a vision for the future of Pakistan and hope she gets to go back and fulfill it as she is no flash in the pan and is a world figure to contend with in the years to come. I truly believe if there is anyone in the world who can defeat the Taliban, it is this girl and girls like her in Pakistan. A must read book.

© 2013 by Deepa Kandaswamy

Buy her books here  

Back again with a Vengance

Hi, it has been years since I posted on this blog. Life caught up meanwhile :)

And the Mountains Echoed
By Khaled Hosseni
216 pages
Genre - Fiction



What would you have done if as a child, you were forcefully separated from the only person you truly loved? How would you react if the people who caused the separation were your own father and uncle? Would you look for the person you lost when you grew up? Would you even remember as you were only a child yourself when the separation happened? Khaled Hosseni asks and answers this and much more in his beautifully crafted novel, “And the Mountains Echoed.”
From the villages of pre-Taliban Afghanistan to the romantic streets of Paris during the hippie days, from a small island in Greece to the sunny restaurants in California, Hosseni tells a powerful story of love and fear, expectation and hope that spans over 60 years in the life of Pari and Abdullah, and through them the ordinary Afghan people and all the others who came into Afghanistan during that time.
The style of writing is simple, elegant, straightforward and unpredictably beautiful. The multiple points of view used works to the advantage as the author slips easily from the Afghan to the Greek, man to woman effortlessly. What is extremely uncanny is it is as if Hosseini can read the soul and mind of a woman! Momentarily, you forget the author is a man until his male characters begin to speak as the story moves forward. The narrator catches you by surprise at every turn at the same time shows the emotional vulnerability of the characters that kills the stereotype most of us use when we think of Afghans and Afghanistan. It also tears apart the stereotype the media feeds us with about Muslims and NATO workers in Afghanistan.
The book is extremely insightful and makes the reader emotionally vulnerable to the various characters and not just one, a rare feat performed with a lack of drama that almost borders on humility that makes this book outstanding. A highly recommended read if only for the simple reason it makes you more humane.

© 2013 by Deepa Kandaswamy

Buy the book here

Weight of Light

Weight of Light
By Andrew Staniland
156 Pages.
Price varies depending on where you are located.
Available on Amazon, Barnes& Noble,Flipkart,eBay,etc.
Genre: Fiction/Literary
ISBN: 1-4116-3409-8

I never realised daily routine like getting up, switching off the alarm clock or just getting ready for work can be expressed so beautifully.

Delphine Romand is a single French woman living in London. The book is about her thoughts, her work, her friends, her music, her likes, her relationships, her family and her life.

The author makes you fall in love with words and Delphine’s world. That he is a poet, gives Staniland the added advantage. His visual style of writing makes the characters come alive. He has a unique style of writing. He uses extremely short sentences, disregards the regular novel format, rebelling against convention adding almost a lyrical quality to the book.

The story is not a poem but prose though the poetic quality is unmistakable. It isn’t narrated directly like Alfred’s Noyes’s poem The Highwayman or the meaning disguised like Robert Frost’s beautiful poem Nothing gold can stay. It is a novel that manages to find midway between the two with a dash of humour. The digs at New Age gurus will make you grin. If you are unmarried or single, you will be able to relate to portions of the world and thoughts of Delphine or her friends. If you are married, it will remind you of someone in your circle of friends or acquaintance who you may have wondered about. It is almost uncanny how the author has managed to get into a woman’s head.

The book reminded me of Bryan Adams’s song “Have you ever really loved a woman”. If you thought literary fiction was boring or just picturesque speech as I did, you will be pleasantly surprised after you read this uniquely lyrical book.

© Deepa Kandaswamy

Elephant Song

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For over two thousand years, man has hunted elephants for white gold but over the last decade they have become an endangered species, especially the African Elephant. What is happening that has dramatically changed the scenario? What is the difference between culling and slaughtering? Where are the markets and how is illicit ivory trade done? Wilbur Smith answers these questions and much more in his fantastic book, Elephant Song.

Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a world famous TV naturalist is in Zimbabwe’s Chiwewe National Park to film the culling of a herd of elephants, accidentally films the slaughtering of elephants. He also comes across the murder of the Park rangers including his childhood friend‘s entire family and the poaching by a powerful environment friendly company. In London, anthropologist and environmental activist Kelly Kinnear is protesting against the ruin that is about to befall the African continent while a powerful conglomerate is holding a shareholder’s meeting discuss on sharing the spoils and ruining the forests and the people. Despite mutual admiration for the other’s work, their paths differ. Will they be able to overcome their differences, mislead their killers and act together to help prevent the catastrophe?

Sweeping from the unforgiving heat of the African Sun to the palatial houses in Taiwan, from the pigmy people in African forests to the powerful conglomerates around the globe, Smith weaves a fascinating tale of greed, compassion, corruption and coups. Combining awesome realism with suspense and pace that would do a Porsche proud, Smith takes you into the beautiful, wild and magnificent continent of Africa which seems to be forever threatened by the destructive hand of man and the brave but unknown African people who rise up to the challenge every time.

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa and writes with a passion and knowledge that can be characterized as truly African. Educated in Michael House and Rhodes University, Smith became a full time writer in 1964 and has since written twenty six novels which have been translated in twenty six languages worldwide.

Elephant Song is an eye opener for most people whose knowledge of Africa is limited to TV channels or shows. Extremely visual in style, Wilbur Smith takes you on a tour of Africa, its politics, its people, its geography, its economy and most importantly its wild life and the magnificent African elephant whose song needs to be heard. After reading this book, you’ll never view a national park, a wild life activist or a nature channel in the same way again.

Copyright by Deepa Kandaswamy

The Zama Codex

The Zama Codex
by Chen Tzu
282 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-4116-3809-9
Available on Amazon.com & Lulu.com
Genre : Fiction

Reviewed by Deepa Kandaswamy

A team headed by archeologist Dr. Ric Caulderon find a codex with encrypted information written by Zama, a Mayan scribe of Mayan sorcery and portals during the peak of the Mayan civilisation. However, the codex is stolen by a secret cult. Will the archeologists and anthropologists be able to retrive the codex in time? What secrets does Zama's codex contain that the cult is willing to kill for it?

From the palaces and rites of Mayans to the 21st century archeological dig sites in Guatemala, from sacrificial offerings and the doomsday prophecy of Singing Lizard to the healing techiques of today's native Americans, the author weaves a seamless tale of sorcery, time travel, ignorance, quest for knowledge and universal healing.

The author seamlessly weaves the story of Zama and Ric, the way time has weaved our history - ancient and modern. His writing style is easy to comprehend. Interestingly, Mayan numbers are used for chapters which proves useful as you learn the Mayan numbering system without being force fed. This is one of those books which during the first read seems like a suspense thriller but on a second read, provides insights and on successive reads makes you contemplate. It is a difficult feat to accomplish but Tzu aka Chensue manages to do so easily.

Is the world really going to come to an end on December 21, 2012 as some predict? Read the book to find out.

Buy the book by clicking on the title of the post.


© Deepa Kandaswamy, All rights reserved.

Gypsy Magic for the Lover's Soul :A Romany Book of Spells, Sachets, Oils and Incense

Gypsy Magic for the Lover's Soul :A Romany Book of Spells, Sachets, Oils and Incense
by
Allie Theiss
150 Pages, Gypsy Girl Press
ISBN 0-9771835-0-5
Available on Amazon.com ( click on the title link above to buy)

Reviewed by Deepa Kandaswamy


The Roma people have always been a misunderstood lot in the West and ignored in the East. Magic and Meditation on the other hand mean different things to different people. The author, Allie Theiss aka Allie L.T, traces her ancestry to the Roma people of Europe and has succeeded in creating a interesting, informative and intriguing book about Roma people and magic.

Easy to read and understand, the book explains what magic means to a gypsy and how the word gypsy itself came about. It contains information on stones, incenses, oils and spells and explains each in detail. It also has warnings and how to go about charging and casting spells of love and healing for friends and lovers. For those interested in magic, real magic being the healing of ourselves and our loved ones and living in harmony with the world, this book offers insight and makes one contemplate.

Crisply written, it makes an interesting read. All of us have something we wish for - healing a broken heart or mending a friendship, a longing for love or friends, a way to break off a relationship amicably, etc.

Since the crux of the book is about this very topic, it is well worth the read.


© Deepa Kandaswamy, All rights reserved.