Hi all,
Hi there, it’s December and the Spirit of Giving is here! Carol singing, X’mas, and the spirit of giving overwhelms all of us at twistntales!
Our Carol Singing starts today (7th Dec) at the Store (every evening at 7pm) right till Christmas and you are most welcome to join us with friends, family and kids for a robust hour of singing ;-). And if you like to play any musical instrument, please bring it along!
And yes, our Christmas event is on 15th Dec, Sat @ Sassoon Hospital.
Sassoon Municipal Hospital is one of the biggest hospitals in Pune and offers free medical aid to patients in and around Pune. It has one of the largest pediatric wards (120 beds) – where kids 0-14 yrs are treated. It has a neo-natal, a Thalassemia ward, ICU and a regular ward for kids. Patients from Pune and nearby villages travel to Sassoon for treatment. It is a sight to see – families move to Pune and live in the compound of the Hospital while the child is undergoing treatment.
The Doctors, Nurses and other employees are doing a yeoman service working under sometimes very trying circumstances. They are all highly skilled and of course, they have a choice of being in better equipped hospitals. But many of them work on, almost as if on a spiritual calling.
twistntales has been celebrating Christmas every year with the children and staff of Sassoon Pediatric Department. This is our 8th year at the Hospital. Over the years, we have collected donations, toys, medical equipment, and got corporates with CSR requirements in touch for larger projects and so on. The Hospital has been kind enough to allot a room, christened “The Sunshine Room” wherein these toys, books, games are kept. Volunteers come and give their time to these children and help read to kids, have a story session and generally spread some joy and cheer to these sick children. The Sunshine Room is equipped with a carom board, coloring books, and a music system and is generally a happy place. Last year, we have added cupboards to store the toys.
This year, the Pediatric ward is planning to add a physiotherapy unit to the Ward. To create this, some space has been allotted, and the PWD of the hosp. is quoting for the job. Partitions, mattresses, curtain rods, curtains etc. are on the shopping list. Any donation towards this is most welcome!
During our party, the hospital likes our Santa to visit every kid in bed and the doctors insist that Santa visit even the kids in ICU. The Hospital gives us permission to organize an entertainment program for the children, which we happily put together. Our children (who volunteer) perform (sing/dance), we add a puppet show/ magician and lo and presto, with a touch of storytelling, we have a show that all of us enjoy.
Our Christmas Party is on 15th of Dec, Sat at 4 pm in Sassoon Hospital, Pediatric Ward. You are most welcome to join us for the party. If you or any of your children like to perform (Hindi/Marathi songs, storytelling, perform on any of the musical instruments) kindly give us a call (25881465/ 25899745/ 9960639162(Janaki)) and let us know right away in a day or two. Our program will normally last up to 5/5.30 pm.
The Santa bandwagon leaves twistntales around 2.30pm, so if you will like to join us (in your own vehicles), please let us know and be at twistntales by then. Twistntales will be closed on 15th Dec for a few hours in the afternoon.
The donation list will be posted shortly on the blog. Kindly let us know if you/ your friends/ your organization will like to contribute towards any of the items listed. Every contribution will be acknowledged by twistntales and SOFOSH (Society for Friends of Sassoon Hospital), which is a registered NGO. All donations in cash/ cheques are exempt under 80 G under IT Act. Cheques can be drawn in favor of SOFOSH.
Volunteers desirous of contributing time and energy towards this project may also contact twistntales, either for that day or on a longer on-going basis. Kindly get in touch with Saira at twistntales for long term volunteer duty.
Do join us and give generously. Many of you have been very generous benefactors in the past, and we look forward to you spreading the word and adding more donors to this cause. Thank you for being there.
Now, onwards to books:
Fiction
‘N-W’ BY Zadie Smith @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 295)
N-W, Zadie Smith’s latest novel, is a sharply observed tale about urban life in the north-west neighborhood of London. It narrates the stories of Leah, Natalie, Felix and Nathan as they step out of their childhood homes in the local council estate and try to build their new adult lives in modern London a city that is at once harsh and beautiful. Against the backdrop of the public parks, alleys, pubs and offices of London chance encounters change the course of their lives and take them on unexpected trajectories. Long listed for the Booker Prize N-W is gritty, comic and wonderfully engaging.
Indian Writing
“31: A Thriller” by Upendra Namburi @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 372)
Set in the month of March which has 31 days till financial year end this book narrates a thrilling story of Ravi Shastry, a successful Regional Head of ‘Imperial Bank’. It has been a tough year but Ravi and his team has managed to stay on top with grade A results. But soon his hopes to end the year with ease and looking forward to a bigger future are shattered when his bank’s main operations are shut down and he is thrown into 31 most combative days of his life. This is a story of ethics and ambition and an enemy which we face everyday but fail to recognize. Upendra Namburi is a banker and finance manager, his hobby is to take any corporate subjects like ‘loan’, ‘investments’ or even ‘foreclosure’ and turn it into a nail-biting thriller. This book is his first book in the NUMBERS series.
‘Sudershan (Chimpanzee)’ by Rajesh Devraj & Meren Imchen @ Rs. 550/- (pgs 112)
Ever heard of a chimp in Bollywood? Meet Sudershan (Chimpanzee) in the sixties when animal stars of all kinds-dog detectives, loyal Rajput steeds- are all a rage in Hollywood. The story traces Sudershan’s struggle to stardom in Mumbai- the City of Dreams. Deeply moving and darkly comic tale of a chimp in Bollywood and the creatures (human or animal) he encounters on his journey, this is a satire of our country’s film industry in a Graphic format! Rajesh Devrajis a writer based in Mumbai. He has previously written ‘The Art of Bollywood (2012)’. Meren Imchen is an animator and illustrator based in Mumbai. His film ‘Nokpoliba (2007)’ won the 54th National Film Award for Best animation and direction.
‘Thundergod: The Ascendance of Indra’ by Rajiv G Menon @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 383)
‘Thundergod: The Ascendance of Indra’ is the first book in the Vedic Trilogy by actor and screenwriter Rajiv G. Menon. A perfect blend of Indian, Greek and Norse mythology, Thundergod narrates the story of Indra – the son of the Earth Goddess Gaia and Daeyus, the Chief of the Devas. Under the guidance of warrior sage Mitra and with the support of his brothers – Agni, Vayu, Varuna and Soma – Indra launches an epic military campaign to avenge his father’s death and recover his rightful kingdom. With deftly etched characters and fast-paced action, this intensely researched novel is a must read for all lovers of mythological fiction
‘The Fabulous Feminist’ by Suniti Namjoshi @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 249)
Suniti Namjoshi is one of the most influential writers of modern Indian literature. Since the late 1970s – when she first discovered feminism – she has been writing, extensively on issues that deal with gender, human rights and sexual orientation. Her writings include poetry, prose, children’s stories and fables. ‘Fabulous Feminist’ is a collection of her writings right from her early work ‘Feminist Fables’ to her latest offerings such as ‘Magpie’ and the ‘Perspective’. Quirky, humorous, intelligent and insightful this is a book that will delight you and at the same time astound you by its power and intensity.
‘Tower’ by Avan Jesia @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 402)
‘Tower’ is the story spanning three generations of a Parsi family in Bombay since 1920s. Framji Building is at the heart of this epic tale of loss and longing, charged with gothic, supernatural and magical forces. Lyrical and allusive, Tower is a profound meditation on life death and what lies beyond. Avan Jesia has an MA in clinical psychology and she is a teacher and resides in Bombay. This book is a brilliant debut novel!
Others
‘Patriots and Partisans’ by Ramachandra Guha @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 334)
Patriots and Partisans is a collection of essays by the acclaimed author of ‘A Corner of a Foreign Field’ and one of India’s greatest present-day historian, Ramchandra Guha. The 15 essays in the book explore different facets of the Republic of India’s heroic and flawed compact with nationhood and democracy. They range from topics like major threats to the Indian Republic, Hindutva, the Communist left and the dynasty-obsessed Congress party. In the second part this book he discusses writers and scholars of India through self portraits of a magazine editor, bookshop owner, a publishing house and a famous historical archive. Whether writing about sociology, history, politics or even cricket, Ramchandra Guha is definitely India’s most admired historian and public intellectual.
‘The End of History and the Last Man’ by Francis Fukuyama in 1992 @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 418)
Published in 1992, ‘The End of History and The Last Man’ is an international bestseller and has been translated and published in many languages. This is the Twentieth Anniversary Edition of the book. It was the first book that offered a picture of what the coming 21st century (after World War II and threat of Cold War) would look like. Fukuyama analyzed the history and politics of the 20th century and speculated what was to come next. What was originally an article written by Fukuyama in 1988, named ‘The End of History’ evolved into a goliath of arguments on religious fundamentalism, politics, scientific progress, ethical codes and war, and to this day ‘The End of History and the Last Man’ remains a compelling work.
‘There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra’ by Chinua Achebe @ Rs. 699/-
From the acclaimed author of ‘The Man of the People’ comes a long awaited memoir of Chinua Achebe’s history of Biafra, which is a meditation on the condition of war and the struggle for freedom. The defining experience of Chinua Achebe’s life was the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War, of 1967-1970. The conflict was infamous for its savage impact on the Biafran people, many of whom were starved to death after the Nigerian Government blockaded their borders. During the war Achebe joined the Biafran side and faced the horrors of war. Soon after the war, Achebe took refuge in United States and only after forty years did he finally complete this courageous and awe-inspiring memoir. The book has a tense narrative grip of best fiction laced with the intimate character of the writer’s brilliant and bold spirit.
‘Yuvi’ by Makarand Waingankar @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 143)
Perhaps no other cricketer in recent history has captured the heart and imagination of the Indian public quite like Yuvraj Singh. In ‘Yuvi’ well known columnist and cricket administrator Makarand Waingankar chronicles the life and career of Yuvraj Singh. Drawing upon his recollections of Yuvi as a young child and with inputs from his family, friends and peers, Waingankar paints a vibrant and perceptive portrait of not only Yuvi – the brilliant cricketer but also Yuvraj – the courageous man who has fought and won the war against cancer. The book also addresses the important question of what it takes it to achieve stardom in today’s competitive world.
‘Land of Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India’s Geography’ by Sanjeev Sanyal @ Rs. 499/-
In this book, Sanjeev Sanyal, an economist by profession and interested in travel, wildlife and an environmentalist, traces how the geography of India has shaped the history of the Country. After reading ancient texts, writings of medieval travelers and scores of academic papers the author finally discovered true understanding of India’s history in traveling to places he read about for two and a half years. Spanning from the geological beginnings of the subcontinent to present-day Gurgaon, ‘Land of The Seven Rivers explores exciting questions such as: Why do Indians call their country Bharat? Did the great flood of Indian legend actually happen? And why did the Buddha walk up to Sarnath to give his first sermon? Simply written this book is packed with surprising facts of our country’s history in every chapter!
Young Adults
“The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus Series)” by Rick Riordan @ Rs. 499/-
After ‘The Lost hero’ and ‘The Son of Neptune’ comes ‘The Mark of Athena’, the third book in the bestselling ‘Heroes of Olympus’ series by Rick Riordan (author of the Percy Jackson series). With Gaia the earth goddess slowly getting stronger and the Gods of Olympus unable to help, will the Greek and Roman demigods be able to resolve their conflict in time to save the world from destruction? As the 7 chosen heroes – Luke, Piper, Hazel, Frank, Leo, Percy and Annabeth – set off on an epic voyage to the deadly ancient lands, they must battle monsters, giants, gods and their own inner demons. In this rip-roaring read author Rick Riordan brings back some much beloved characters, introduces some wacky new ones (such as Echo & Narcissus), and takes you on a thrilling journey that will have you rolling on the floor one moment and biting your nails the other.
Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novels: Embark on a journey of history laced with mystery with Geronimo in the new graphic adventure titles! : All @ Rs. 100/-
‘The Coliseum Con’
‘The Secret of the Sphinx’
‘Who Stole the Mona Lisa?’
‘The Discovery of America’
‘Following the Trail of Marco Polo’
‘The Great Ice Age’
‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel’ by Jeff Kinney @ Rs. 325/- (pgs 217)
Valentine’s Day fever has spread among the students of Greg Heffley’s middle school. Not only must Greg find a suitable date in time for the school dance but he must also find a way to deal with his little brother Manny’s imaginary friends, his Uncle Rory’s never-ending stay and his elder brother Rodrick’s nastiness! Will Greg’s first date be successful or will wingman Rowley steal the show? Find out in this hilarious and highly entertaining novel – the seventh in the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series – by Jeff Kinney.
Others:
‘Mastani’ by Kusum Choppra @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 274)
‘Playing to Win’ by Saina Nehwal @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 118)
‘Rammohun Roy – A critical Biography’ by Amiya P. Sen @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 211)
‘Dork Diaries: Dear Dork’ by Rachel Renee Russell @ Rs. 225/-
‘One Hundred Names’ by Cecelia Ahern @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 327)
‘Your Complete Forecast 2013 Horoscope’ by Bejan Daruwalla @ Rs. 350/-
‘Who Let the Dork Out?’ by Sidin Vadukut @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 254)
‘Make It Or Break It’ by Partha Sarathi Basu @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 215)
‘The Cherry Tree’ by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 150/-
‘Getting Granny’s Glasses’ by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 150/-
‘Daydreamer Dev Crosses The Sahara’ by Ken Spillman @ Rs. 99/-
‘Revenge of the Pharaoh’ (Book 2 in DOA Detective Files Series) by Sonja Chandrachud @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 191)
‘Guru Dutt – A Tragedy in Three Acts’ by Arun Khopkar @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 153)
‘Poet of the Revolution – The Memoirs and Poems of Lal Singh Dil’ Translated by Nirupama Dutt @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 167)
‘The Professional Companion – How to Make the Best of Your Workplace Skills’ by Subroto Bagchi @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 223)
‘Mohammed Rafi: My Abba- A Memoir’ by Yasmin Khalid Rafi @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 190)
‘Zombiestan’
Enjoy your books,
See you at the Store,
From the team at
