Message sent to twistntales@yahoogroups on 3rd Dec

Hi all,

While our hearts and minds grieve for tragic events that our country is needlessly going through, our hope lies in “the thousand mutinies” (as Naipaul put it) that are happening across the Nation right now. While the TRPs go up on the Mumbai story, another 177 lives have been lost on the east coast of India due to a cyclone. We need to get more sensitive – not just when it affects people like us – and we can go a long way in making ourselves a Nation. While we seek answers, we need to do our bit as concerned citizens – we can start with making sure that our names are on the electoral rolls and go out to vote on D day.

J.K.Rowling can be credited with a lot of new desirable behaviour … getting kids back to reading, for example. And getting us to send this mail to you, after almost a 2 month gap!!! No wonder she is rich! She goads folks to action!

Yes, the “Tales of Beedle the Bard” will be available tomorrow (Thurs, 4th Dec), first thing in the morning. So, wake up early all you Rowling fans … as usual, twistntales decides to keep you awake!

And yes, thankyou for all your queries re. our welfare in these recessionary times… yes, we are doing fine, thanks again. We are using this opportunity to create some back office systems, computerize our records, stocks and inventory. We hope to be implementing our billing software shortly. All in all, we hope to bring you a better shopping experience at our Store.

Before we get on to new books, our Christmas party at Sassoon Pediatric Ward is scheduled for Sat, 20th Dec, 2 pm. For those of you who are new to this, we celebrate Christmas with Santa, Story telling, music and dance at Sassoon Hospital in the Pediatric Ward. A few volunteers like Saira Sikand and Nalini Ramachandran have been working there for many years and have created “Sunshine” for the kids. Every year twistntales carries goodies to Sunshine, sponsored by our customers. The requirement list for Sunshine will be put up at the Store in a couple of days.

Lots of new books have released in the past few weeks, few reviewed below and the others listed below!

New Arrivals:

"The parrot who wouldn't talk and other stories" by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 125/- (106 pgs)

A fresh compilation of works by well beloved, Mussoorie-dwelling Bond, comprising fourteen short tales, both newly written and old favourites. Adventures and misadventures abound as young Ruskin, his grandmother, grandfather (constantly involved in fun-filled trickery), bumbling Uncle Ken and miscellaneous eccentric acquaintances and relatives go about their lives. Among other things they capture a ghost, have an encounter with a hungry tiger, listen to, tell and are part of many stories. Each is a small but wholesome nugget, nourishing with nostalgia, humour and charm in that style which is so inimitably Ruskin Bond.

"Same-sex love in India: A literary history" Edited by Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai @ Rs. 450/- (479 pgs)

The aptly titled compilation not only chronicles homoerotic writings but in fact begins by explicating the significance of friendship in the Vedic tradition. Classified neatly into ancient/ medieval/modern Indian materials (Sanskrit and Perso-Urdu) it attempts to do away with the illusion that same sex love is a recent phenomenon in human history. It is not limited to homosexuality but explores all same sex love finally inclining toward the romantic and the sexual. Extracts from modern writers such as Ismat Chughtai, Bipen Khakhar, Vikram Seth juxtapose with stories from the Panchantantra, Kama Sutra , Bhagvad, Shiva, Padma Puranas, Amir Khusro and even the Baburnama. Varied flavours and shades of the subject are exposed for a time and given breathing room.

"AIDS sutra" by Various (Edited by Negar Akhavi with a foreword by Amartya Sen) @ Rs. 395/- (334 pgs)

Collected writings from eminent pens all exploring HIV/AIDS in some form or the other. Aspects of the disease from how it touches sex workers, how hijras in India deal with the increasing threat to how injecting drug users risk it every time they use are explored. Salman Rushdie, Kiran Desai, William Darlymple, Shobhaa De, Vikram Seth, Sunil Gangopadhyay and more contribute unique stories elucidating the suffering (mental, physical and social) the AIDS afflicted go through. Each piece casts a bit of light stilling a separate hue of the disease on paper.

"Moving out of the box" by Jana M. Kemp @ Rs. 255/- (168 pgs)

Brainstorming sessions often lead to very little action. Moving Out Of The Box details tools that will help management teams forgo futile arguing and ensure constructive thinking. This book provides methods essentially the "ChoiceMarks" way to enforce decisions. ChoiceMarks starts with AntiSurvival, Boxed-In, Neutral, Engaged Enthusiasm, and Extreme Excitement - all different stages of team decision making. A good process to follow to have result oriented meetings.

"Buy.ology: How everything we believe about why we buy is wrong" by Martin Lindstrom @ Rs. 525/- (240 pgs)

"Buy.ology" opens a new window into the consumer mind and serves us a fresh cross-section of what drives a consumer. An anti smoking law will unwittingly induce the opposite. Subliminal advertising ; banned but still everywhere. The reasons as to what advertisments appeal to us are as varied as religious beliefs, childhood memories, even our sense of smell. Prepare to have your established beliefs on consumer psychology skewered.

"The Tao of personal leadership - The ancient way to success" by Diane Dreher @ Rs. 195/- (288 pgs)
Tao, the ancient Chinese belief system accepts change and attempts to create harmony in concert with change. "The Tao of Personal Leadership" blends the ancient wisdom of Tao with recent successes in the world of leadership. With examples, questions and exercises Diane Dreher illustrates and then reinforces age old strategies to succeed in being a leader to yourself as well as challenging those surrounding you to reach their zenith.

"Belonging" by Sameem Ali @ Rs. 350/- (281 pgs)

This is the true story of Sameem Ali. Unwanted as a baby she was sent to a children's home where she grew into adolescence. When she was taken back by her family she was hurriedly married off at thirteen and quickly became a mother at fourteen. This simply recounted tale recalls Sameem Ali's struggle with abuse in both her own family and her husband's as she forges a way to a happier future.

"100 essential things you didn't know you didn't know" by John D. Barrow @ Rs. 525/- (284 pgs)

Brace yourselves for some flabbergasting mathemagic! A spectacular compilation of practical yet thoroughly fun mathematical applications shedding light on the six degrees of separation, why the other queue always seems to move faster, whether an army of randomly typing monkeys can produce the entire works of Shakespeare (yes!), how long things survive, chaos, infinity and everything in between. "100 Essential Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know" proves undeniably that, yes! Maths is in fact very interesting!

"A girl like me" by Swati Kaushal @ Rs. 250/- (338 pgs)

An,Anisha,Ani ; This American born Indian adolescent, recently relocated from the U.S. to Gurgaon with her mum, and memories of a dear departed dad, is your typical tomboy turned bombshell but still too deep in denial to understand why the gorgeous guys are chasing her sometimes shorts clad, sometimes skirt clad derriere. Candidly chronicling her clueless confusion between Kedar, Kunal, quirky classmates, killer kisses, A Girl Like Me is choc-a-block with confessions of this confounded teen drama queen.

"The book of Ram" by Devdutt Pattanaik @ Rs. 250/- (215pgs)

In Hindu culture the love for Lord Ram is unanimous. Eka-vachani,Eka-bani,Eka-patni. He is the King who always keeps his word, the eternally devoted husband, brother, son, pupil, perfectly dutiful in every way. Through The Book Of Ram Devdutt Pattanaik examines Lord Ram and his relationships with various mythological greats; Dashratha, Valmiki, Sita, Lakshamana and more, to the end of asserting his relevance in the modern era.

"Girls of Riyadh" by Rajaa Alsanea @ Rs. 430/- (300 pgs)

The stories of four Saudi girls facing the usual trials and tribulations experiencing the very heartbreaks and heart's desires that are universal to modern young women all over the world. Told via email to a vast online audience, Girls Of Riyadh disillusions those among us who felt the cultural divide to be very great and reveals that under their Abayas - girls,even 'Girls of Riyadh' just wanna have fun!

"A director's mind" by Ujjal Chakraborty @ Rs. 995/- (351 pgs)

True to title "A Director's Mind" explores the methods and thought process of cinematic legends Chaplin, Ray, Kurosawa, Hitchcock (to name a few) Breathtakingly illustrated with stills from cinematic chef d'oeuvres it delves into the genius behind great works of cinema and literature (Graham Greene, Bertrand Russell, Leo Tolstoy, Shakespeare) grooming one in the directorial mindset.

"The partnership - A history of Goldman Sachs" by Charles D. Ellis @ Rs. 995/- (729 pgs)

Goldman and Sachs has weathered every financial crisis right from the Great Depression of the 1927 on. From creative entrepreneurial decisions to disciplined risk taking, intensive recruitment and those colourful individuals (a junior high drop out, powerhouse Gus Levy, two secretaries of the treasure to current CEO Lloyd Blankfein) who add spice to the variety, "The Partnership" lays out a comprehensive history of the firm's rise through time, cementing our admiration and understanding of how it scaled Wall Street to reach its peak.

"Ocean of wisdom - Guideline For Living" by The Dalai Lama @ Rs. 195/- (132 pgs)

Pearls of good, sound advice for all, from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Everyday matters as well as threats to modern world such as impending nuclear warfare and global warming are commented upon. Exceedingly humble and peaceful yet in complete awareness of the need of the hour, each page holds a wealth of wisdom applicable to anyone even those not inclined toward religion or worship.

"Mahatma vs Gandhi" by Dinkar Joshi @ Rs. 250/- (279 pgs)

A novelization of the life of Harilal Gandhi. Eldest of four Gandhi sons, Harilal was the black sheep of this family, with the media often reporting his drunken misbehaviour at the height of Gandhiji's quest for Swaraj. The struggle between the man and the Mahatma, unveiling an unprecedented aspect of Gandhiji as a struggling family man is what "Mahatma vs Gandhi" is about.

"Chandrakanta" by Devakinandan Khatri @ Rs. 199/- (252 pgs)

About a hundred years prior to the conception of Harry Potter, the world of Hindi literature was being vividly painted with the adventures of Chandrakanta. Puffin has now unearthed this treasure and translated it into English for a new generation of readers to enjoy. The love of princess Chandrakanta and prince Virendra Singh is fraught not just with political intrigue but by obstacles of a magical nature. Mustachioed Krur Singh, vying for the affections of the princess, employs the services of spies well versed in the dark arts and masters of disguise to thwart Virendra. Labrynths, mystery, murder and plot, Puffin sees no reason that "Chandrakanta" should ever be forgot!

"ABCs of parenting" by Gouri Dange @ Rs. 175/- (123 pgs)

A guide through an A to Z of phases and techniques of parenting. Gouri Dange uses her experience as a family counsellor to lay out some fundamental concepts that will help parents understand and better communicate with their kids. For parenting there is no short cut, no ABraCaDabra...it is once again a process of starting from the A B Cs.

List of other new books

"Looking Through Glass" by Mukul Kesavan @ Rs. 325/- (378 pgs)
"The Private Patient" by P. D. James @ Rs.695/- (395 pgs)
"The Snowball" by Alice Schroeder @ Rs. 995/- (960 pgs)
"You've Been Warned" by James Patterson and Howard Roughan @ Rs. 295/- (435 pgs)
"The Heretic's Daughter" by Kathleen Kent @ Rs. 520/- (332 pgs)
"Finding Keeper's: The Monster Guide To Hiring and Holding the World's Best Employees" by Steve Pogorzelski & Jesse Harriott with Doug Hardy
"Looking Beyond" by Hugh and Colleen Gantzer @ Rs. 295 (276 pgs)
"Netherland" by Joseph O'Neill @ Rs 295 (247 pgs)
"The First Patient" by Michael Palmer @ Rs 280 (450 pgs)
"Amazing Grace" by Danielle Steele @ Rs 240 (523 pgs)
"Broken Soup" by Jenny Valentine @ Rs 195 (249 pgs)
"Fireflies in the Mist" by Qurratulain Hyder @ Rs 350 (378 pgs)
"Khairlanji- A Strange and Bitter Crop" by Anand Teltumbde @ Rs 190 (211 pgs)
"Our Bodies,Ourselves" by The Boston Women's Health Book Collective @ Rs 450 (832 pgs)
"Inside Druker's Brain" by Jeffrey A Krames Rs @ 1025 (274 pgs)
"By Royal Command" by Charlie Higson @ Rs 350 (354 pgs)
"How Toyota Became # 1" by David Magee @ Rs 499 (236 pgs)
"Sex and Power - Defining History, Shaping Societies" by Rita Banerji @ Rs 450 (415 pgs)
"Closing the Innovation Gap" by Judy Estrin @ Rs 595 (252pgs)
"Performance Leadership - The Next Practices to Motivate Your People, Align Stakeholders and Lead Your Industry" by Frank Buytendijk @ Rs 595 ( 302 pgs)
"For Crying Out Loud! - The World According to Clarkson" by Jeremy Clarkson @ Rs. 395 (288 pgs)
"Success Is Not An Accident - Change Your Choices,Change Your Life" by Tommy Newberry @ Rs 295 (230 pgs)
“You Only Think Twice - The Definitive Guide To Better Thinking Skills For Indian Executives" @ Rs 195 (185 pgs)
"Not Springtime Yet" by Priya Sarukkai Chabria @ Rs 350 (129 pgs)
"Designing dynamic organizations" by Jay Galbraith, Diane Downey and Amy Kates @ Rs 450 (286 pgs)
"Story of astronomy" by Uday Patil @ Rs 80/- (50 pgs)

New Tulika books :

"High in the sky - A Korean folktale" retold by Cathy Spagnoli @ Rs 125/-
"The Tamarind tree" by Lata Mani @ Rs 100/-
"Crocodile tears" by Sandhya Rao @ Rs 125/-

Lots of new books in our Nature/ Wildlife section :

"Tiger and other game" by Colonel A E Stewart @ Rs 450 (308 pgs)
"Tiger! The story of the Indian tiger" by Kailash Sankhala @ Rs 450 (220 pgs)
"Maneaters and memories" by J.E. Carrington Turner @ Rs 350 (190 pgs)
"Jungle trails in Northern India" by John Hewett @ Rs 495 (278 pgs)
"Maneaters and marauders" by John Taylor @ Rs 395 (200 pgs)
"Jungle by-ways in India" by E.P. Stebbing @ Rs 450 ( 306 pgs)
"Mauled by a tiger - Encounters in the Indian jungle" by Arthur W. Strachan @ Rs 495 (279 pgs)
."Ten thousand miles on elephants" by Olive Smythies @ 395 (220 pgs)

We have added all CNBC titles to our Investment section:

1."Invest the happionaire way" by Yogesh Chabria @ Rs 499 (86 pgs)
2."Invest the happionaire way" (Hindi) by Yogesh Chabria @ Rs 299 (113 pgs)
3."The A-list of B schools" - Your definitive guide to the best in management education edited by Dirgha Sampat
4."What your financial agent will tell you and why you shouldn't listen" by Deepa Venkatraghvan @ Rs 499 (218 pgs)
5."Everything you wanted to know about investing" - The encyclopedia of investment and wealth creating intelligence by Kotak and CNBC - TV18

Lots of new books! Take time off and take your pick!

From the team at,

twistntales