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Four Love Stories for your Watchlist

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  Love. I have read a few books in the genre, but the number is fewer than those in mystery and thriller genre. But I have watched enough movies and shows to recommend it. I list down below few of my latest favorite shows on love, relationship and romance – it encompasses everything – the highs and lows of a relationship, the intricacies of sharing space, trust issues, care-taking, all with love at its core. It’s the adult version of love, along with the teenage version of butterflies in the stomach, and the anticipation. First Love: The Japanese web series was released on Netflix sometime last year. I watched in almost entirely while travelling - flights to Pune from Bengaluru, to Bhubaneshwar from Pune and train journey to Keonjhar from Bhubaneshwar. It was a roller coaster of emotions. The story goes back and forth from 1990s and 2000s. A cute little teenage romance brews between the high schoolers - boy, Namiki, and the girl, Noguchi. The fresh brush of first love. It i...
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A girl thinking - on reading, effortless writing and stories we hear

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A girl thinking When I read, it is like being a voyeur. Bearing witness to someone’s deepest fears, overwhelming emotions, untold miseries, memories held dear, and secrets long buried. It is for a few hours that I wear their skin, reside in their world, see through their eyes and feel through their words on the page. It is almost reimagining a different life. And many a times it makes me think – my own life, rethink my views, revisit my old memories. On Earth We are Briefly Gorgeous - I thought of my grandfather while reading about Little Dog and his white grandfather Paul. That time when we traveled to Nayagarh in the night bus from Rayagada, few months after the birth of my sister. I had some school holidays – durga puja vacations perhaps – so elders suggested I enjoy my vacation with cousins at Nayagarh, while my mother could rest awhile after her delivery with one less person to care after. I had munched fryums, sev, and coca cola, deliriously happy travelling without my parents, ...
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Living a slow life

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  There is a solace in mastering the art of being content and satisfied in one’s life. Finding pleasure and satisfaction in simple things in one’s routine life – a day of reading, a good show, a stroll in the nearby public park, a visit to the temple, the joy of having prasad, or just vegetable shopping from the nearby vendor once in a while without ordering it via the 10 minute app. Or just cooking simple hearty meals at home for your loved ones. “Never Settle” – this adage never rung true to me. Being ambitious is good, for those who want it – but being satisfied in the present too is a life hack. An essential life skill. There is always a need to slow down. I want to be able to afford a slow life. Money wise, yes but also mentally, emotionally. Slow down sometimes with my family. Have good food, from fresh produce. Grow a kitchen garden. Books. Or just be with my thoughts, daydreaming without my phone in reach. Is dwindling ambition to soar professionally is necessarily a bad ...
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2024 Wrap Up

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The blank page seems daunting. Even for jotting down the highs and lows of this year- 2024. But try I will. It’s been long I have blogged just for the sake of blogging, not for a sponsored book review, not for a blog hop, just plain and simple purpose of curating my thoughts. I saw the archives and seems I just posted 5 posts this year. Well, motherhood and mood swings have taken away most of the zeal and enthusiasm from me, and the low readership of the blog does for the rest. All me-time goes to binge watching K-drama while I should be catching up on my sleep schedules. I had the luxury of reading though, through thick and thin. And I managed to clear few interviews and get offer letters and resign at my current company, though I am yet to get onboarded.  We traveled quite a bit with family too. Huge win. And our home couldn’t be more disheveled as it is lively currently with an active toddler who is a few months shy of speaking. So, it’s a cycle of cuddling, throwing, spitting, ...
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Unashamed by Neha Bhatt

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    Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins India (25 May 2024) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages Genre : Psychotherapy / Non fiction Buy At : Amazon   About the Book Dive into a transformative journey with Neha Bhat, the insightful mind behind @indiansextherapist on Instagram, as she fearlessly tackles the intricacies of sex, sexuality, trauma and shame in her groundbreaking book, Unashamed. In a society that often hushes discussions on the most fundamental aspects of human existence, Neha invites readers to explore the uncharted territories of their own desires. With a unique blend of empathy, humor, reflection and unwavering expertise, she dismantles the stigma surrounding sexuality, in turn, asking readers to embrace the full spectrum of their desires without reservation. Unashamed delves deep into the psychological landscape of shame, unraveling the roots that bind individuals and communities to outdated norms. Through engaging anecdotes, rel...
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White Blood by Nanak Singh

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Author: Nanak Singh Translator: Dilraj Singh Suri Publisher: Hachette India Language: English Paperback: 272 pages Genre: History, Religion, Legends Buy at :  Amazon Synopsis White Blood is a significant novel by Nanak Singh, first published in 1932. Recognized for its literary and historical importance, this novel is a milestone in Punjabi literature, steering it towards realism. It intricately portrays Punjabi life, analyzing characters with depth and psychological insight. The plot is meticulously crafted, interwoven with dramatic situations and irony, offering a satirical view on societal wrongdoings. The novel is celebrated for its vivid scenes, such as the hardships of writers, the juggler Rodu's aspirations for Sundri, the illicit wine production by Pala Singh, and the dramatic transformation of Anwar's life. Through these elements, Nanak Singh paints a brilliant picture of early 20th-century Punjab.   Review of the Book White Blood is a masterpiece by...
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What's your Axone? #BlogchatterFoodFest

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  Have you ever been judged for your food choices? Ever had frowning looks bombarding you from every direction for having a chicken sandwich in a hostel with vegetarian majority? Or worse, gorging it on a Monday? Has anyone labeled your favorite delicacy as foul and smelly? Or have you ever scrunched your nose in disgust at someone else’s plate? Perhaps we all would have at least one such experience in our lifetimes. In Odisha, ‘sukhua’ or sun-dried fish generously coated with salt is a delicacy in several places, salt acts as a preservative and it can be stored for months. But the preparation causes such an olfactory havoc, that even someone with closed doors and windows would know that the neighbor is cooking it. There is no hiding or denying the smell. It pervades all nooks and crannies and makes its presence known. Even a child can recognize it. It is that memorable. You will either love it or hate it with a vengeance. Though I do not know how to prepare it, I enjoy the dish ...
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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 – Arundh...
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Empress Ki : A story of an epic scale

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The One To Leave First

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I have always been the one to leave first. Be it luck or circumstance, it has always been this way. Some of the times it has been my decision to venture out of my comfort zone first before all my peers decide to do the same and I am left behind, alone in the old world. The decisions are out of fear of being left alone, most of the times. Or is it self-preservation instead?  I am a person who takes time to adapt, make new friends, get accustomed to new surroundings- an unlikely one to leave first- yet I do. You might think me selfish, but I am just afraid, and I decide to take care of myself first. Some might see this as a major risk-taking attitude, but I mostly see it as fleeing before the 'desertion' hits me instead. Now that's a strong word indeed. I am always in search of safe ground, always so insecure and calculating my moves lest I end up being alone on the island. Paranoiac. Several things bother me at once. What if my peers get on with their lives leavi...
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The Baztan Trilogy

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The first movie 'The Invisible Guardian' begins with the killings of several teenage girls and elaborate staging of their bodies by the river in the damp valley of Elizondo. Amaia Salazar, our protagonist, returns there, her hometown, as the Chief Investigator for the case. She heads the homicide department. The serial killings seem aimed at young girls who don't uphold the traditional norms and have begun exploring their sexuality. Through the case, Amaia grapples with her own demons, her relationship issues and traumatic memories of abuse from her past. We get to know that her mother had abused her, being seemingly senile herself, and was then admitted to a facility. The setting of the damp valley where it rains all hours of the day, the cloudy scenery, the fog covered thick forest maintain a sinister vibe throughout the movie. It is an apt backdrop for a crime thriller, with supernatural undertones. The mythical beast  basajaun , the big hairy beast of the forest, seems ...
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Katla - A mystery series based on Icelandic folklores

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Last weekend I chanced upon Netflix's first Icelandic series released this month. The trailer was what hooked me in. Set in an intriguing yet beautiful landscape, a remote Icelandic village Vik, with the ocean on one side, a river nearby and an active volcano named 'Katla' on the other- the area a juxtaposition of black volcanic soil and white snow, this 8-episode series weaves together several mysterious happenings to form its creepy enigmatic narrative.  The volcano has been erupting for over an year making the place almost uninhabitable. Most of the residents have evacuated or permanently shifted to other places, except a team of volcanologists and scientists, rescue workers, essential service providers, and very few common folk who don't want to leave the place. The mysterious happenings start when a woman is discovered in the restricted area near the volcano- naked -the black mud covering her being entirely. She resembles a lady who used to live in the area 20 year...
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“The Fall” [2006] – A Tribute to the Power of Stories

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   I welcome Arun Kumar of Passion For Movies whose reviews have an identity of their own and shows his undulated love for movies. I thank him for finding time and agreeing to do a guest post in Magic Moments. It's a huge privilege. So here's a guest post by him on one of his favorite movies.   “The Fall” [2006] – A Tribute to the Power of Stories   Sometimes, you make an emotional bond with a film and dissect or interpret its vision in different ways, while a fellow movie-lover would pan it by using the most loathful words. Tarsem Singh’s visually exuberant movie, “The Fall” (2006) falls into that category. Many critics deemed it as a self-indulgent, vanity project; or as a preposterously intolerable, childish story. Does Tarsem have abundant directorial ego that drove the likes of Jodorowsky, Lynch or Gilliam, who all persistently came up with outlandishly inventive visuals? I would say yes. As a movie-lover, this so-called ‘directorial eg...
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F.R.I.E.N.D.S

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I had expected to be bored thinking it to be some over-the-top comedy and quit watching this midway. I had not expected to be sucked into their lives, in upstate Manhattan, and feel their life change over the ten seasons so personally. Ten years in the lives of these characters. And this attachment to that apartment. I had not expected that this sitcom that had been airing globally for ten long years, to not at all be ‘over-hyped’. I wish I had set aside my judgement and for once watched this during my college days. It would have been such a cherished experience. It would have validated all the emotions of those days. Watching the six friends’ personal trajectory from Season 1 to 10, over the ten years, through ten Thanksgivings and Christmases and Hanukah, was such a pleasure. I never knew I could enjoy comedy, and in comes Chandler. I remember how in the first few episodes, I couldn’t even remember their names, and now they feel as real and relatable as any other person. We all h...
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The Maze Runner

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There’s a maze that changes its patterns every night. There’s green fertile land and forest at the center of the maze. It is called The Glade. More than 36 people are trapped in the glade over 3 years- one person is sent up every month, with his memory erased. The only thing that these people remember is their name. The maze is home to The Grievers- the monstrous creatures who come out at night. Their screech is bone chilling. No one has ever returned alive after spending a night in the maze. The only safe place is the Glade. But the only way out of this elaborate prison is through the maze. So there are The Runners who are the fastest of them all. They run through the maze mapping and memorizing it’s patterns every morning when the path opens, making sure to return before evening, before the path closes, or else they’d be trapped in the maze for the night. But all trials over 3 years are in vain. They have found no way out. Yet. And then arrives Thomas. And things start going ...
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