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Literary World of 2003
By: Shruti SharmaThe literary world of 2003 was a period for authors to rejoice their book releases. Some books had a tale of strife with them but that too could not stop them to be bookworm`s delight! So, here`s a sneak peek in the world of books of 2003:
By: Shruti Sharma
The literary world of 2003 was a period for authors to rejoice their book releases. Some books had a tale of strife with them but that too could not stop them to be bookworm`s delight! So, here`s a sneak peek in the world of books of 2003: Dilip Kumar: Star Legend of Indian Cinema - The Definitive Biography: Bunny Reuben
A book tracing the actor and persona of the thespian, who set trends and introduced a new school of acting, was launched recently. The biography, written by renowned film critic Bunny Reuben, delves deep into the life and times of the phenomenally talented individual and into his relationship with the film fraternity. The book, which is strewn with interesting coloured picture drawn from his marriage album and several professional and personal moments, attempts to detail how an introverted and inhibited youngster metamorphosed into an actor par excellence by the sheer strength of his determination, perseverance and talent. It brings out in graphic detail how an introverted and inhibited youngster metamorphosed into a thespian par excellence by the sheer dint of his determination, perseverance and capability. This comprehensive study turns the spotlight not only on Dilip Kumar the actor but also on Dilip Kumar the human being as a son, a brother, a husband and, above all, a friend. On Balance: Leila Seth-An Autobiography
Reading this autobiography can be a humbling experience. Not simply because the person who has it has done some worthy things in life that merit being documented and emulated, but because writing one`s own life story requires some wrenching honesty. Not every author can live up to the bill. Those who don`t, however, are not worth reading. Those who do, are likely to become bestsellers while their books are still hot from the Press. That is pretty much the case with Leila Seth`s "On Balance - An Autobiography" released by Penguin Books India. Some people consider her a publishers` delight because she is the mother of the celebrated author Vikram Seth. The entire book doesn`t read as if written under the seal of good housekeeping, though.
Because he is: Meghna Gulzar
The biography, written by Gulzar`s daughter Meghna, is an illustration of a man known for films, his gifts as a story and dialogue writer and lyricist, and for whom poetry remains a passion that colours all his other talents. "Because he is", a biography of renowned film maker and lyricist Gulzar, explores the journey of his career, personal moments of joys and sorrows. In this book, Meghna speaks about her father`s rise to become one of the most respected name in the Indian film industry, a name that has won 17 Filmfare Awards and seven National Awards. The book is an emotional insight, an inside account of her father who has chosen Bollywood as a milieu. The book, published by Rupa & Co, is a rare tribute from a daughter to her father, encompassing 200 pages with visuals of family and industry stalwart
La Maitresse de Brecht (Brecht’s Mistress): Jacques Pierre Amette
Jacques-Pierre Amette, an author who is also literary critic for the newsmagazine Le Point, won the Goncourt Prize, for his book "La Maitresse de Brecht" (Brecht`s Mistress), a novel based on the life of the 20th century German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht. "La Maitresse de Brecht" tells the story of Brecht return to postwar East Berlin after years in exile and his affair with an actress who influences his stage work (Expatica, Netherlands). In the book, the female agent for East Germany`s Stasi secret police is sent to spy on Brecht following his return to east Berlin from exile.
Vernon God Little: DBC Pierie
Ever felt life was nothing but a big joke? According to DBC Pierre`s first novel, it is. Calling itself "A 21st Century Comedy in the Presence of Death," this book tells the tale of fifteen-year-old Vernon Little, held responsible for a school shooting in which sixteen students were killed. DBC Pierre`s first novel was awarded the 2003 Man Booker Prize, edging out literary heavyweight and previous winner Margaret Atwood. Booker winners a decade ago tended to be "art" books that were dense and slow-moving. Recent picks like Vernon God Little and last year`s winner Life of Pie by Yann Martel suggest a shift towards books that are more progressive in style and subject matter. That the Booker committee has taken to awarding the prize to more whimsical works sends the message that good literature can be well-written and fun to read at the same time. Only when literature effectively tackles contemporary issues can it stay afloat in today`s media deluge. DBC Pierre`s Vernon God Little is a step in the right direction for modern writing. Video Stories: Meera Nair
Written by the other Meera Nair (not the one who directed `Monsoon Wedding` and `Mississippi Masala`) `Video` is a debut collection of ten short stories, nine of which are set in India. Nair won the Asian American Literary Award 2003 or `Video` and had previously won the Pen/Amazon Award for the title story but had this withdrawn based to a technicality. It`s hard to browse a bookstore these days without coming across a book of short stories from India or the diaspora. Some such collections may therefore not get all the attention they deserve, and in the case of Meera Nair`s Video, that would be a real pity. It is a remarkable debut. Every story here is distinct. I often end short-story collections with a vague sense of confusion caused by the sameness of the characters. The book basically comprises of all sorts of short stories depicting the tales of day-to-day happening in our lives. Shyam Benegal: Sangeeta Datta
Shyam Benegal is one of the most prolific contemporary filmmakers from India`s New Cinema. This book traces his career with its beginnings in political cinema and a realist aesthetic. From his first film Ankur (1974) through to Zubeidaa (2000), he has explored the contradictions and tensions of a society in rapid transition, with a unique focus on the female protagonists. This book shows how the struggles of women, the dispossessed and marginalized in Indian society find expression in films as diverse as Nishant, Bhumika, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satwan Ghoda and Kalyug. It traces Benegal`s work with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema - Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Govind Nihalani and more recently, Karishma Kapoor and A R Rahman - developing a style and ethos uniquely his. It also explains how the director`s work presents both a stark contrast to Bollywood and yet contains creative continuities with commercial cinema and his distinguished predecessor Satyajit Ray. Perhaps no other director has come close to paining such a compelling and vivid portrait of modern India. A Royal Duty: Paul Burrell
Paul Burrell was Princess Diana`s butler, but he was also her confidant. In A Royal Duty, Burrell reveals new truths about Diana, and gives insight into the complexities of life in the royal family. In the preface, he describes the last time he saw her. Burrell also reveals controversial documents written by the Princess, including one penned ten months before her death which warns.
The English Roses: Madonna
The English Roses tells the story of four little girls—Nicole, Amy, Charlotte and Grace—who are eleven years old and the very best of friends. "They are practically glued to [one another] at the hip," writes Madonna in her book, and they are all "a little bit jealous of another girl in the neighborhood," a beautiful girl named Binah, whose seemingly perfect life makes them "green with envy." However, when a feisty, pumpernickel-loving fairy godmother takes them on a magical journey, they learn to their great surprise that Binah`s life is not nearly as enviable as it had seemed. The English Roses is an inspiring story about the importance of compassion and the rewards of friendship.
Ruskin Bond magic this year!
Rusty: Ruskin Bond
To give a break to Harry Potter, `Rusty` made a comeback this year. Ruskin Bond`s `Rusty` - the quiet, imaginative and sensitive boy from the hills - is back. The popular writer from Mussoorie has come out with two new books in the Rusty series -- `Rusty Runs Away` and `Rusty And The Leopard`, that trace the boy`s development from an imaginative seven-year-old to a young man in his early twenties. For the first time, the Rusty stories have been put in a sequel so that they provide a complete chronicle of the boy`s life. Having randomly written stories about Rusty`s adventures, Bond about a year back set down to create a chronological body of work about the boy from the hills, the first in the series being `Rusty, The Boy From The Hills,` which dealt with his early years in Dehradun. `Rusty Runs Away` is about the five years of the boy`s life during which his world turns topsy-turvy as change after change besieges him. What kind of trauma he faces and how he overcomes the bad experiences in a boarding school where he is forcibly sent away following the death of his father and grandmother is what the book deals with. The restlessness compels him to run away from the school with an ambition to cross the seas and travel the world.
The Rupa Book Of Great Animal Stories: Ruskin Bond
‘The Rupa Book Of Great Animal Stories’- the latest adventure of renowned children`s book author Ruskin Bond, comprises of various stories on a man`s relationship with other creatures. Bond`s book, a part of the series of the author`s short stories, revolves around a man`s experiences of thrilling encounters with man-eating tigers and crocodiles. Brick Lane: Monica Ali
Monica Ali, whose father hails from Bangladesh, is the only writer with Asian roots in the 23-strong booker prize list announced here in which two-time winner South African J M Coetzee seems to be the favourite. `Brick Lane` which narrates the story of a Bangladeshi girl brought to London`s east end for an arranged marriage.
The literary world of 2003 was a period for authors to rejoice their book releases. Some books had a tale of strife with them but that too could not stop them to be bookworm`s delight! So, here`s a sneak peek in the world of books of 2003: Dilip Kumar: Star Legend of Indian Cinema - The Definitive Biography: Bunny Reuben
A book tracing the actor and persona of the thespian, who set trends and introduced a new school of acting, was launched recently. The biography, written by renowned film critic Bunny Reuben, delves deep into the life and times of the phenomenally talented individual and into his relationship with the film fraternity. The book, which is strewn with interesting coloured picture drawn from his marriage album and several professional and personal moments, attempts to detail how an introverted and inhibited youngster metamorphosed into an actor par excellence by the sheer strength of his determination, perseverance and talent. It brings out in graphic detail how an introverted and inhibited youngster metamorphosed into a thespian par excellence by the sheer dint of his determination, perseverance and capability. This comprehensive study turns the spotlight not only on Dilip Kumar the actor but also on Dilip Kumar the human being as a son, a brother, a husband and, above all, a friend. On Balance: Leila Seth-An Autobiography
Reading this autobiography can be a humbling experience. Not simply because the person who has it has done some worthy things in life that merit being documented and emulated, but because writing one`s own life story requires some wrenching honesty. Not every author can live up to the bill. Those who don`t, however, are not worth reading. Those who do, are likely to become bestsellers while their books are still hot from the Press. That is pretty much the case with Leila Seth`s "On Balance - An Autobiography" released by Penguin Books India. Some people consider her a publishers` delight because she is the mother of the celebrated author Vikram Seth. The entire book doesn`t read as if written under the seal of good housekeeping, though.
Because he is: Meghna Gulzar
The biography, written by Gulzar`s daughter Meghna, is an illustration of a man known for films, his gifts as a story and dialogue writer and lyricist, and for whom poetry remains a passion that colours all his other talents. "Because he is", a biography of renowned film maker and lyricist Gulzar, explores the journey of his career, personal moments of joys and sorrows. In this book, Meghna speaks about her father`s rise to become one of the most respected name in the Indian film industry, a name that has won 17 Filmfare Awards and seven National Awards. The book is an emotional insight, an inside account of her father who has chosen Bollywood as a milieu. The book, published by Rupa & Co, is a rare tribute from a daughter to her father, encompassing 200 pages with visuals of family and industry stalwart
La Maitresse de Brecht (Brecht’s Mistress): Jacques Pierre Amette
Jacques-Pierre Amette, an author who is also literary critic for the newsmagazine Le Point, won the Goncourt Prize, for his book "La Maitresse de Brecht" (Brecht`s Mistress), a novel based on the life of the 20th century German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht. "La Maitresse de Brecht" tells the story of Brecht return to postwar East Berlin after years in exile and his affair with an actress who influences his stage work (Expatica, Netherlands). In the book, the female agent for East Germany`s Stasi secret police is sent to spy on Brecht following his return to east Berlin from exile.
Vernon God Little: DBC Pierie
Ever felt life was nothing but a big joke? According to DBC Pierre`s first novel, it is. Calling itself "A 21st Century Comedy in the Presence of Death," this book tells the tale of fifteen-year-old Vernon Little, held responsible for a school shooting in which sixteen students were killed. DBC Pierre`s first novel was awarded the 2003 Man Booker Prize, edging out literary heavyweight and previous winner Margaret Atwood. Booker winners a decade ago tended to be "art" books that were dense and slow-moving. Recent picks like Vernon God Little and last year`s winner Life of Pie by Yann Martel suggest a shift towards books that are more progressive in style and subject matter. That the Booker committee has taken to awarding the prize to more whimsical works sends the message that good literature can be well-written and fun to read at the same time. Only when literature effectively tackles contemporary issues can it stay afloat in today`s media deluge. DBC Pierre`s Vernon God Little is a step in the right direction for modern writing. Video Stories: Meera Nair
Written by the other Meera Nair (not the one who directed `Monsoon Wedding` and `Mississippi Masala`) `Video` is a debut collection of ten short stories, nine of which are set in India. Nair won the Asian American Literary Award 2003 or `Video` and had previously won the Pen/Amazon Award for the title story but had this withdrawn based to a technicality. It`s hard to browse a bookstore these days without coming across a book of short stories from India or the diaspora. Some such collections may therefore not get all the attention they deserve, and in the case of Meera Nair`s Video, that would be a real pity. It is a remarkable debut. Every story here is distinct. I often end short-story collections with a vague sense of confusion caused by the sameness of the characters. The book basically comprises of all sorts of short stories depicting the tales of day-to-day happening in our lives. Shyam Benegal: Sangeeta Datta
Shyam Benegal is one of the most prolific contemporary filmmakers from India`s New Cinema. This book traces his career with its beginnings in political cinema and a realist aesthetic. From his first film Ankur (1974) through to Zubeidaa (2000), he has explored the contradictions and tensions of a society in rapid transition, with a unique focus on the female protagonists. This book shows how the struggles of women, the dispossessed and marginalized in Indian society find expression in films as diverse as Nishant, Bhumika, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satwan Ghoda and Kalyug. It traces Benegal`s work with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema - Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Govind Nihalani and more recently, Karishma Kapoor and A R Rahman - developing a style and ethos uniquely his. It also explains how the director`s work presents both a stark contrast to Bollywood and yet contains creative continuities with commercial cinema and his distinguished predecessor Satyajit Ray. Perhaps no other director has come close to paining such a compelling and vivid portrait of modern India. A Royal Duty: Paul Burrell
Paul Burrell was Princess Diana`s butler, but he was also her confidant. In A Royal Duty, Burrell reveals new truths about Diana, and gives insight into the complexities of life in the royal family. In the preface, he describes the last time he saw her. Burrell also reveals controversial documents written by the Princess, including one penned ten months before her death which warns.
The English Roses: Madonna
The English Roses tells the story of four little girls—Nicole, Amy, Charlotte and Grace—who are eleven years old and the very best of friends. "They are practically glued to [one another] at the hip," writes Madonna in her book, and they are all "a little bit jealous of another girl in the neighborhood," a beautiful girl named Binah, whose seemingly perfect life makes them "green with envy." However, when a feisty, pumpernickel-loving fairy godmother takes them on a magical journey, they learn to their great surprise that Binah`s life is not nearly as enviable as it had seemed. The English Roses is an inspiring story about the importance of compassion and the rewards of friendship.
Ruskin Bond magic this year!
Rusty: Ruskin Bond
To give a break to Harry Potter, `Rusty` made a comeback this year. Ruskin Bond`s `Rusty` - the quiet, imaginative and sensitive boy from the hills - is back. The popular writer from Mussoorie has come out with two new books in the Rusty series -- `Rusty Runs Away` and `Rusty And The Leopard`, that trace the boy`s development from an imaginative seven-year-old to a young man in his early twenties. For the first time, the Rusty stories have been put in a sequel so that they provide a complete chronicle of the boy`s life. Having randomly written stories about Rusty`s adventures, Bond about a year back set down to create a chronological body of work about the boy from the hills, the first in the series being `Rusty, The Boy From The Hills,` which dealt with his early years in Dehradun. `Rusty Runs Away` is about the five years of the boy`s life during which his world turns topsy-turvy as change after change besieges him. What kind of trauma he faces and how he overcomes the bad experiences in a boarding school where he is forcibly sent away following the death of his father and grandmother is what the book deals with. The restlessness compels him to run away from the school with an ambition to cross the seas and travel the world.
The Rupa Book Of Great Animal Stories: Ruskin Bond
‘The Rupa Book Of Great Animal Stories’- the latest adventure of renowned children`s book author Ruskin Bond, comprises of various stories on a man`s relationship with other creatures. Bond`s book, a part of the series of the author`s short stories, revolves around a man`s experiences of thrilling encounters with man-eating tigers and crocodiles. Brick Lane: Monica Ali
Monica Ali, whose father hails from Bangladesh, is the only writer with Asian roots in the 23-strong booker prize list announced here in which two-time winner South African J M Coetzee seems to be the favourite. `Brick Lane` which narrates the story of a Bangladeshi girl brought to London`s east end for an arranged marriage.
Living History: Hillary Clinton
Living History by former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and current New York Senator, has shaped up as one of 2003`s major literary and political events. Clinton`s memoir had already generated a significant amount of hoopla before publication. One of the most recognizable women in the world, Hillary Rodham Clinton remains a mystery to many people. Few outside her inner circle of friends and family know much beyond her role as a political-spouse-turned-politician. Living History offers a window to her many emotions and personal stories that many readers will find interesting. Hillary Clinton`s memoir focuses on her eight years at the White House - what she lived through, how she felt about her experiences then and now, why she made the choices she did - in short, it is a very personal book. It includes details and perspective on the Monica Lewinsky scandal, which brought her husband to the brink of impeachment. Clinton states that she feels it is time to put the record straight on many issues on which she has not been able to speak out.
Clinton will be touring for the book throughout the Summer of 2003, stretching it out in order to accomodate her Senate schedule.
The book covers her principal areas of interest such as the welfare of children, the status of women internationally and social justice. Clinton takes the role of a woman whose steely resolve and intelligence proved the bedrock of her husband`s presidency and whose courage when he let her down impressed women everywhere. Clinton`s determination to succeed in her own right provides a powerful role model.