October Wrap Up - Audio and Watch Lists

Now that October has ended, I'm satisfied with the regular writing habit I have created through #MyFriendAlexa

1. And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie's novels are a treat. Sometimes I feel the urge to consume a suspense packed thriller but do not have the patience to read an entire book on it. I am a rather slow reader. So a mini-series suffices. And oh the thrill, the bated breaths, racing hearts and jumpy me. As I await the movie on 'Death in the Nile' (I have already read the book years ago, but you forget the mystery somewhat), I indulged in the BBC 2015 mini-series based on the novel of the same name 'And Then There Were None'. 

It has a rather strange premise. An ensemble of characters meet in a secluded island, on receiving a letter from a certain Mr. and Mrs. Owen. Some are recruited, some invited for a party. But the sinister announcement after the first days' dinner reveals that they all are guilty of murder. Some justify the deaths, some confess, and mostly they are wary of one another. Then a series of deaths begin. All following a nursery rhyme 'Ten Little Soldiers'. Someone was murdering them, hunting them one by one. 



2. BioHackers

This was a good binge-watch full of futuristic possibilities, and believable. It is about secrets, mysteries, and inventions. And lots of biomedical technologies of the tomorrow. 


3. We Should All Be Feminists

A short audio of about 45 mins. Enjoyed listening, thanks to Scribd. A complementary read to 'Dear Ijeawele'.




4. Dear Ijeawele: A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

It is a guide for a new mother, the author's friend, who has asked her to suggest and advice on how to raise a feminist child. Our author replies to her, through this letter.

I would read this one again and again and again. I want to have a physical copy too. To remember the fifteen suggestions and abide by them. The audio is a little over 1 hour, and the physical copy is about 81 pages. So short and so effective. Adichie's word has power, it is simple enough and makes you sit up and listen. You are bound to pay heed to them. After reading The Purple Hibiscus, I could say, her name was enough to pick up a book. As they say, be it a grocery list written by her, I would pay to read. 



5. The Strange Library

This was a surreal short story where a kid is coaxed into the basement of a library to the so called Reading Room, that's more like a prison cell. It's like many of own nightmares during childhood. And one can tell it's by Haruki Murakami from the onset of the narrative. It is about 1 hour long in audio.

You may also like to read my review of Norwegian Woods by the author, or Kafka on the Shore, or one of my favorites The Sputnik Sweetheart.



6. Dark

Since everyone was raving about it so much, I too decided to give it a try and I did finish watching all the three seasons over a month. It was good at first, but the twists seemed forced, the complexity of the plots and subplots seemed forced too. I liked it to an extent, The Grandfather paradox and many other paradoxes that it dealt with, but may be this was not for me. I was perhaps not the right kind of audience.





In other news, just look at this amazing certificate of recognition from Blogchatter. They do pamper us in so many ways, pushing us to give our best in blogging. 

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju

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