Two Books

What is the best way to escape reality?
I have found 2 ways. One is to hit the bottle and second to read classics. Nowadays I am doing both vigorously. Sometimes both together. And these are my sweetest times at this point of my life.

To Kill A Mockingbird
I had read about this book for years now in other books and columns. Finally I was able to lay my hands on this book in my favourite library. It is a un-put-downable book, start to finish you have to read. Harper Lee is a master story teller. I would like to nominate this book as one of the all time American Classics. Book interests me not because of the story-line, but because of the narrative. It is a class apart. Not for a second I felt Harper Lee is selling innocense. Though there is less plot involving Legal profession, it is still considered as a legal thriller. For me Atticus Finch is not the hero, as usually made in reviews and by other people - Scout is my hero.

It is a must read for all book lovers and for people like me who want to escape from reality in these recession times.

White Tiger
For the Mailbox of Arvind Adiga
India's Under Belly exposer
Mumbai, India

From the mail box of one of the India's Honest Entrepreneur
Bangalore, India

Subject: Four worst things I did with your money making entrepreneurship - White Tiger

First: As soon as I read in papers White Tiger had won the Booker prize I orderded the book online. Book got delivered to my office as it is my correspondence address for most of my communication. Why did I do this? - My honest thinking that a born Kannadiga can write good books and so I shelled out my money.

Second: Ususally nobody bothers about my correspondence, but this time when I opened the package my female colleague was next to my table and I asked her whether she wants to read it. She said yes and she took it home. When she returned back the book I asked her did you like it? she did not answer affirmatively. She just nodded. I did not understand then what this was about. Today I repent suggesting your book to her.

Third: I started reading your book - that too as soon as I finished To Kill A Mockingbird.

Mr. Adiga, I read few interviews of yours reffering great authors who helped to change England and France. You really are either very naive or you got a nerve of steel to even mention these great names. Please read your book once. Mr. Adiga believe me you will convulse and throw up continously ... even in your dreams. Classics from Dickens or Gorky have society's under belly themes and charecters. But they are protrayed in a class apart.

Not even in your dreams your book comes nearer to being a critique of our society. Your book seems to have only one purpose... namely, to put words to your nasty fantasys. Mr. Adiga your book is nothing but a third rated bed time fantasy book to your chosen brethern of convent educated high schoolers. As soon as they grow even they up will remeber the bad taste your book leaves once somebody reads it.

Of course in India there are contrasts. There is not 2 but many Indias. One more author did try to describe India as area of darkness. He came back again after 25 years and wrote about million mutinies.

India is made up of Entrepreneurs - Honest or Dishonest. These are the guys who keep India going. You meet them at every nook and corner of India. These guys like me come from India's under belly. But we are proud of our honet efforts. For most of us aspirations are not to become rich class, but to make something in life.

They call writing is an art form. I suggest you to take a crash course on Gorky and Dickens and then come back and think about writing.

Write something which even your mother feels comfortable to read. Whether you are exposing under belly or bottoms. It can be done when you the craft of story telling in you.

I feel like disowning you as a Kannadiga.

Fourth: As I have paid for this book, I will struggle and finish reading your book even though it is a pain in the a** to even read one more page.

Mr. Adiga, Happy making money exposing under bellys and bottoms.