Merry Christmas and Happy New 2013

Hi all,


Thank you all for your tremendous response to our appeal for funds. Our team managed to collect close to Rs. 1.5 lakhs which by our standards is huge and will pay for the Pediatric Physiotherapy Ward and so many other things on the wish list! A note on the event and a list of donors is available at http://www.twistntales.blogspot.in/2012/12/a-big-thank-you.html

Thank you also to many of you who have been joining us for Christmas carols on a daily basis! There is so much joy in participation, and we are having a lot of fun too!

The team at Twistntales wishes you and your family a merry Christmas and a very very happy 2013. May the New Year bring joy, happiness and peace to all our families.

Now for new books:

‘Everest 1953 – The Epic Story of the First Ascent’ by Mick Conefrey @ Rs. 899/-

Foremost among the modern myths of the first ascent of Mount Everest is that it was essentially made by two men: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norway. No serious mountaineer has ever claimed this nor did Hillary or Tenzing, but over the years the rest of the team has been forgotten. Today school textbooks headline ‘Hillary and Tenzing’s ascent of Everest’ and the others go unmentioned. Everest 1953 was a team effort, led by an exceptional leader, John Hunt, Hillary and Tenzing were at the apex of the pyramid but beneath them were the strong shoulders of many other men. This gripping narrative draws first-hand interviews, unprecedented access to archives, letters and personal diaries to reveal the true account of that extraordinary first ascent. It recounts all the controversies faced by the climbers ‘on and off’ the mountain and the victory of human will. Mike Conefrey is the author of award-winning The Adventurer’s Handbook and internationally recognized film-maker for ‘The Race for Everest.’

Other new books:

‘Rammohun Roy – A critical Biography’ by Amiya P. Sen @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 211)

‘Dork Diaries: Dear Dork’ by Rachel Renee Russell @ Rs. 225/-

‘Guru Dutt – A Tragedy in Three Acts’ by Arun Khopkar @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 153)

‘Moin – The Monster Songster’ by Anushka Ravishankar @ Rs. 160/- (pgs 109)

‘Tales from Shining and Sinking India’ by Akash Banerjee @ Rs. 525/- (pgs 328)

‘Diary of a Wimpy Vampire’ by Tim Collins @ Rs. 225/- (pgs 221)

‘Diary of a Wimpy Vampire – Prince of Darkness’ by Tim Collins @ Rs. 225/- (pgs 223)

‘Who Was Roald Dahl?’ by True Kelley @ Rs.150/- (pgs 102)

‘Who Is J.K. Rowling?’ by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 105)

‘The Lilliputians’ by Kirsty Murray @ Rs.295/- (pgs 322)

‘Big Questions from Little People Answered by Some Very Big People’ Compiled by Gemma Elwin Harris @ Rs. 550/- (pgs 317)

‘Rajnikanth – The Definitive Biography’ by Naman Ramachandran @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 290)

‘A Sideways Glance at Hindi Cinema–Diary 2013’ by Nasreen M Kabeer @ Rs. 599/-

‘Love Stories #1 to 14’ By Annie Zaidi @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 314)

‘TATA Log: Eight Modern Stories from a Timeless Institution’ by Harish Bhat @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 200)

‘Yudhishtar & Draupadi: A Tale of Love, Passion and the Riddles of Existence’ by Pavan K. Varma with a new translation by Gulzar @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 175)

‘Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm’ by Thich Nhat Hanh @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 165)

‘The Complete Fitness Guide for Women’ by Mamta Singh @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 233)

‘Red Sorghum’ by Mo Yan @ Rs. 450/- (pgs 359)

‘Kareena Kapoor: The Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva’ by Kareena Kapoor with Rochelle Pinto @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 266)

‘The Hobbit’ (film edition) by J.R.R Tolkien @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 389)

‘Phantom’ by Jo Nesbo @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 547)



Happy Holidays and wish you a great start to 2013,

From the team at

A BIG thank you !!!

Christmas is always special ! It gives us an opportunity to spread joy and happiness. In twistntales we are blessed with abundance. Joy, Fun and happiness (and food !) is always around. Our cup is always overflowing. Christmas time allows to take this overflowing cup and share it with the kids at Sunshine.

Nalini and Saira have created Sunshine (within the Pedaitric ward) and have been working tirelessly for the past 11 years. Twistntales has been supporting this activity for the past eight years. Every Christmas, Santa and the students who work in twistntales (both past and present) make a happy group and put together a variety entertainment programme to take to the kids @ the Pediatric ward. Simultaneously, we work with Dr. Aarti Kinikar, who is now the Head of Department of the Pedaitric Ward, to help identify the requirements that they have and that they can help accomplish with the help of donors.

Every year, we have been overjoyed with the response that we receive from you. This year, we have managed to raise close to 1.5 lakhs, apart from the things in kind that folks generously buy and give! Given below is a list of donors who have helped our cause this year.

Mrs. Geeta Sundaresh


R Systems Ltd.

Kimico Mehta

Hema Wagh

Sachin Samant

Lakshmi Ramamurthy/ Vivek Balaraman

N. Balaraman

Sangeeta Ganapathy

Vaishali Naik

Shuchita Basu

Tripuri Godbole

Rajeshwari Sharma

Namita Waikar

Gomathi Vishwanath

Shipa Kher

Dr. Anjali Raju

Chinar Wakhlaloo

Avanti Doshi

Meena Kalyan

Parag and Vaishali Edwankar

Tripuri Godbole

Thankyou all so much. It is a joy for us to see so many people turn up at our Store, with cheque book in hand/ or with toys/ crayons that our boxes overflow !

And the joy that they entertainment programme generates - Thanks to Lijya, Rucha, Rajeev, Prajakta, Mrinmayee, Chinar, Rukmani, Manmeet - for the joy you have given us all !

And to you, Mrs. Claus - you couldn't have a chosen a better person to marry ;-) Welcome Pritam, to the tnt family - you truly lived your role as Santa ! Thank you Santa !

As a token of appreciation, Nalini and Saira have written to the donors - this is for you :

Dear Janaki,


Sincere thanks from the children, parents and all of us working with the Pediatric department for yet another lovely Christmas Event. We are really overwhelmed with the response this year and the funds generated will go a long way and benefit the kids who most deserve it. The entertainment program was really enjoyed by the children and adults alike and Santa was a huge hit as always. Our thanks to all who contributed to make it a fun filled evening for the kids.

Best regards,

Nalini and Saira
Volunteers, Sunshine Group
Pediatric Dept, Sassoon hospital

Amen !

Requirements for Sunshine

Requirements For Sunshine @ Sassoon Hospital

Sponsors Wanted for:

 

1. Setting up the Pediatric Physiotherapy Ward (quotation awaited from Hospital)

• a. Partitions (3 to 4 half partitions) – 26 k 
• b. Mirrors (5ft X 3 ft – 2 of them) – 5k 
• c. Rexin covering for mattresses (7 to 8 mattresses) – 5 k 
• d. Curtains for windows (approx 8 K)

 2. Thermometers (for all nurses - 40 of them) to keep in their pockets – because they do not have, regular correct monitoring of temperature is not happening, so if we can find a sponsor – all nurses can be given a thermometer to keep in their pockets – so that docs get correct feedback). Cost approx. Rs. 180/- each.

 

3. Volunteers for painting the walls – we have found the volunteers. Token gifts can be sponsored.

 

4. One large item on our wish list is getting the window in the Sunshine playroom replaced with a sliding window with built-in mosquito mesh. Approx cost: Rs. 10 K

 

5. Blankets (80 nos, new, can be bought in bulk from regular supplier) – approx. Rs 250/- each

 

In cash or kind for Sr.nos 6 to 10

 

6. Coloured pencils and crayons (new only)

7. Colouring books

8. Drawing books

9. Story books in Hindi and Marathi (age unto 12 yrs). No textbooks please

10. Audio CD's (Hindi or Marathi) for kids

 

We will not be taking any used toys or clothes anymore as disposing of incomplete games/ puzzles etc is a problem.

 

11. Puppet Show (arranged for 15th Dec for the kids) – Cost – Rs. 2500/-

 

Cheques can be drawn in favour of SOFOSH (80 G exemption under IT Act available) – for details, call Janaki (9960639162) or Saira (9860565850) or twistntales at 25881465/ 25899745.

 

Thank you!

Christmas is here ! So is Carol Singing !

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

Rituals for everyday

Our Saraswati puja was divine.
Given the number of festivals and holy occasions, an enthusiastic Indian wife can stay busy all year round. Every occasion calls for a different process, starting with a special shopping list for every god. Oh, and boy how our relationship with lists goes back a long way! From Checklist (our God) to Shree shopping list, stationery shopping list (lovely), the secret Gayatri mantra list, to event checklist and the infamous lists folder we certainly cherish and treasure each of our lists quite uniquely with our fair share of amusing stories!






Every God has his likes and dislikes the pundits tell. Our Pundit ‘Geetanjali’ with the serenity she imbibes with her yoga and the wind her expeditions on her bike leave her with simply elevated the mood to such levels of flawless beauty that words quite thoughtfully fail to support me.
The smell of the fresh mala (garland) brought in by Saroj aunty wafts through the space. The smell of the books. And the infusion. Ahh, it’s ecstatic. (I can sense the smell fill my nostrils again)
Errors are overlooked as long as you have shraddha (faith).
And we were all wise.
With only our books wiser!

Like Oriflame or Tupperware, the rituals of India can keep one involved, and entertained even.

Invite for Saraswati Puja and Street Plays

Hi all,

Greetings of the season and wishing you great joy and happiness on the occasion of Dussehra!

Our annual Saraswati Puja is scheduled on Dussehra day, 24th Oct, Wed, at 4.30 pm at the Store. Please join us in our prayers to the Goddess of Wisdom and may her blessings be on all of us.

We have two exciting events scheduled for 28th Oct, Sunday. twistntales has been a trendsetter in providing performance space to new groups, street theatre and other awareness/ protest movements. As a part of this endeavour, on Sun, 28th Oct, we present two groups.

The first is a group of school children from Sanskriti School, from classes 8 to 10. These children have put up a street play to create awareness regarding the harmful effects of crackers during Diwali. This will be their first public performance and all of you are requested to join and attend with your children.

The second group is Lokayat. Many of you who are regulars at twistntales know about Lokayat and the various causes that they are engaged in. Lokayat is an NGO based in Pune, and takes up social and civic issues. It comprises working professionals who give their evenings and weekends to a good cause. They use novel techniques of protest, one of them being street plays.

Lokayat members will present a play on Sex Selection

India's daughters are disappearing. New research by ActionAid and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) show that the number of girls born and surviving in northern India compared to boys falls far short of normal expectations, and continues to slide. India is the heartland of the sex selection controversy. Its alarming statistics have spurred official efforts to redress the sex ratio imbalance through legislation that prohibits sex selection, whether at the pre-conception stage or through abortion. What was once seen as a barbaric practice has, chillingly, now become increasingly accepted, albeit sometimes in more ‘technically advanced’ forms. Female infanticide has found a partner in female feticide.

Social causes underlying this have to be highlighted and awareness is required. Please do spread the word around – both the street plays will be followed by a discussion.

The plays will start at 6pm at twistntales on 28th Oct, Sunday

And now for those who can’t make it on that day, there are always new books, some of which have been reviewed for you,

New Books:

“India Grows at Night” by Gurcharan Das @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 306)

From the title of the book the complete quote is ‘India Grows at Night while the government sleeps’. Gurcharan Das implies that as Indians, we are prospering in our private lives but our country’s public issues are a failure. Beginning with Aristotle’s quote ‘The state exists for the sake of a good life, not for the sake of life alone’ he says that as an individual we have a very high sense of responsibility in the Indian home- if you don’t work you don’t eat- this accountability is missing in public life and state affairs. Prosperity is spreading but governance failure is pervading in public life. He offers a solution by suggesting the concept of a liberal state, wherein a state would have legitimate authority to take quick decisive action and also be accountable to the people. But he also points out that this ideal would be difficult to achieve as historically India has had a weak state and a strong society. Provocative and brilliant, Gurcharan Das’ writing makes us reconsider our own opinions and proof-less judgments.

‘Ending Corruption: How to Clean Up India’ by N. Vittal @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 255)

The past few years of India have been years of war against corruption. Heroes and leaders like Kiran Bedi and Anna Hazare have fought and sacrificed for this just cause. N. Vittal, former CVC and author of 14 books, analyses the complete situation after the 2010 mega scams and traces the roots of this growing rot to the decline of accountability in public life, lack of transparency in governance, greed and decline in integrity. Due to his experience as an insider of government for four decades, N. Vittal’s informed insights and systematic assessment of corruption helps us understand the true nature of its roots and the area it covers today and how we as Indian citizens can achieve a clean India.

‘The King in Exile’ by Sudha Shah @ Rs. 799/- (pgs 456)

An absorbing read, exhaustively researched and gracefully written, The King in Exile is the compelling story of King Thibaw, the last King of Burma. He belonged to the Konbaug Dynasty, a line of rulers known as ‘Kings who rule the Universe’ and treated as demi-gods by their subject. In 1885, he was deposed by the British to live in exile in Ratnagiri, a small and isolated town in India. The book traces the story of the King before his exile, when he had power of life and death over his people and after exile, when he was subject to the totalitarian control of the British. A debut writer Sudha Shah has merged her seven year long research with elements of true life drama and tragedy, to produce a work of brilliance.

“My Husband & Other Animals” by Janaki Lenin @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 282)

My Husband and Other Animals is a collection of stories written by Janaki Lenin- an animal enthusiast - on her experiences with her unpredictable husband Rom Whitaker- herpetologist, wildlife conservationist, and founder of Madras Crocodile Bank and Madras Snake Park- and other reptiles of the wild. After traveling the world and dealing with the most dangerous and home invading reptiles they settled in a farm in Tamil Nadu for a quite holiday only to find themselves at war with tree frogs, adamant Russell’s Vipers and a dog eating leopard. ‘With Rom, there is never a dull moment in life!’ says Janaki Lenin. Entertaining and amusing, the stories in this book shed light on the kingdom of beasts and plants, providing insights into animal dispositions and the interactions of humans with animals. Most of all, it highlights Rom and Janaki’s diverse stories with all the ‘wonderful creatures’ small and large. Currently they live with four dogs, a pair of emus, a flock of geese and a pig!

“Dream New Dreams: Reimagining My Life After Loss” by Jai Pausch @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 228)

After her husband Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture imparted us inspiring lessons in living, Jai Pausch teaches us to Dream New Dreams even if we are faced with the most critical loss. Jai narrates a powerful story of grief, healing and newfound independence after her husband, Randy Pausch’s death due to pancreatic cancer. Inspiring and deeply moving, the book reaches out and helps all those who are struggling due to the loss of a loved one.

"Conversations With Mani Ratnam” by Baradwaj Rangan @ Rs. 799/- (pgs 305)

‘There are two things that bother a filmmaker. One, when he is offered a lifetime achievement award and second, when he is asked to do a book on his films’. A genius of a man, in this book Mani Ratnam opens up to Baradwaj Rangan, about his art, as well as his life before films. Often candid, witty and pensive, Mani Ratnam talks about his choice of themes like that of patriotism in ‘Roja’ to the knottiness in urban relationships like in ‘Agni Natchatiram’. He further elaborates on the choice of artful music and innovative methods of lighting; also he discusses the power and impacts of films on society. Complete with profound interviews with Mani Ratnam on each of his films this book is truly a tribute to the filmmaker who built the bridge between old and neo cinema in India. Baradwaj Rangan is a National Award-winning film critic, and currently deputy editor at ‘The Hindu.’

Fiction

‘Silent House’ by Orhan Pamuk @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 334)

In the small town of Cennethisar lives an old widow Fatma. She is looked after solely by her hostile servant Recep – a dwarf and her dead husband’s illegitimate son. The long awaited annual visit of Fatma’s three grandchildren – Faruk the historian, Nilgun the revolutionary and Metin, the high school nerd triggers a chain of events that threatens to change the family’s destiny forever. Set against the backdrop of the Turkish military coup of 1980 Silent House, Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk’s novel (available in English for the first time) is a powerful and vivid narrative of the fate of a family inextricably linked with the struggles of a country on the brink of change.

“The Casual Vacancy” by J.K. Rowling @ Rs. 850/- (pgs 503)

Pagford, with its cobbled streets, picturesque buildings and friendly residents seems to be the quintessentially ideal English town, until the unexpected death of Barry Fairbrother, a local activist, creates a vacancy in the Parish Council. In the weeks that follow the quiet village is thrown into turmoil as wives turn against husbands, children turn against parents and long festering resentments come to the fore. With a panoramic cast of characters and a gripping plot, master-storyteller J.K. Rowling (author of the best-selling Harry Potter series) will take you on a rollercoaster journey in this dark, honest and utterly compelling novel for adults.

“Winter of the World” by Ken Follett (Book two in the Century Trilogy) @ Rs. 399/-pgs 940)

Two years after the international sensation Fall of Giants comes Winter of World the second installment of the epic Century Trilogy by master storyteller Ken Follet. Spanning from 1939 to 1946, this thrilling novel follows the fate of five families – American, French, German, British and Welsh – as they struggle against the tumultuous economic, political and social events that unfold around them. From the rise of Hitler to the war against Communism, from the Spanish Civil War to the bombing of the Pearl Harbour and the ultimate explosion of the atomic bomb, this meticulously researched novel will suck you into its world of powerful characters and fast-moving action until the final breathtaking climax is reached.

“The Krishna Key” by Ashwin Sanghi @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 475)

The blue god successfully brought about countless miracles for the betterment of mankind and when he was gone the entire universe desperately waited for his return. At last our prayers were answered after the most difficult years and he returned but in a different avatar and opposite ideologies. Racing breathlessly from the submerged remains of Dwaraka and the mysterious lingam of Somnath to the icy heights of Mount Kailash, in a quest to discover the cryptic location of Krishna’s most prized possession, Ashwin Sanghvi, best selling author of Chanakya’s Chant, brings you another exhaustively research whopper of a plot, while providing an incredible alternative interpretation of the Vedic Ages that will be relished by conspiracy buffs and thriller-addicts alike.

‘The Chakh Le India Cookbook’ by Aditya Bal @ Rs. 395/- (pgs 157)

For, Aditya Bal, one of India’s best known models cooking has been a lifelong passion. Inspired by his grandmother’s delicious Kashmiri concoctions, he decided to head to Goa to pursue a career in the food industry, where a chance encounter with Monica Narula, executive producer of NDTV Good Times led to the wildly popular TV show ‘Chakh Le India’. Based on his travels across the country ‘the Chakh le India Cookbook’ offers an impressive collection of recipes – from Ladakhi Mutton Thukpa and Himachali Tava Murg to Amritsari Paneer Bhurji and Aam ki Kheer – that effectively capture the very essence of Indian cuisine. A must have for all lovers of Indian food, the mouthwatering recipes in this book are easy to follow for beginners and more experienced cooks alike.

‘Sunlight on the Garden: A story of Childhood & Youth’ by Andre Beteille @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 293)

‘Sunlight on the Garden’ is Andre Beteille’s – a brilliant sociologist and winner of the Padma Bhushan (2005) – eloquent memoir spanning his schooldays and his early years as a sociologist. Written simply, the memoir explores portraits of family members, neighbours, school friends and teachers in a time when India lived through colonization, famine, communal riots and partition. Infused with sociological observations and insights into relationships, caste, class and community, this book opens up the doors of universal human dilemmas and desires.

‘Breaking the Bow’ Edited by Anil Menon & Vandana Singh @ Rs. 395/- (pgs 338)

‘Breaking the Bow’ is the brainchild of author Anil Menon, born at a workshop of ‘Speculative Fiction’ at IIT Kanpur. The epic tale of Ramayan has captured the imagination of the people of South Asia for ages, and over the years it has been retold and reinterpreted countless number of times. What sets apart this extraordinary anthology of twenty five stories is that although they draw their inspiration from the Ramayana, they dare to break the boundaries and explore new realms of fiction – from magic realism to science-fiction and fantasy. With an impressive cosmopolitan group of writers (including Manjula Padmanabhan, Kuzhali Manickavel, Abha Dasewar) some strong new voices, this is a book that is at once mesmerizing and thought-provoking.

‘Paperclips Don’t Grow on Trees’ by Catherine Devrye @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 212)

After decades of growth and prosperity, since the Global Financial Crisis concern about the economy has been a crucial issue. This simple and practical book offers solutions and insights to help sustain a business, cut on costs and add values to operations. In short it teaches you how to eliminate waste and stimulate value. Catherine DeVrye is not an economist, but was an executive with IBM globally for a decade and she is a number one bestselling author, winner of the Australian Executive Woman of the Year Award and thought leader.

Other new books:

‘The Empire of Moghul: The Tainted Throne’ by Alex Ruthereford @ Rs. 599/-
‘The Dust Will Never Settle’ by Mukul Deva @ Rs. 299/-
‘How I Braved Anu Aunty & Co-founded a Million Dollar Company’ by Varun Agarwal@ Rs. 140/-
‘Close, Too Close: The Tranquebar Book of Queer Erotica’ edited by Meenu and Shruti @ Rs. 395/- ‘Joseph Anton’ by Salman Rushdie @ Rs. 799/-
‘Bullshit Quotient: Decoding India’s Corporate, Social and Legal Fineprint’ by Ranjeev Dubey @ Rs. 350/- ‘Let’s go Time Travelling: Life in India Through the Ages’ by Subhadra Sen Gupta @ Rs. 199/-
‘In Search of Oneness: The Bhagavad Gita and the Quran through Sufi Eyes’ by Moosa Raza @ Rs. 399/- ‘31: A Thriller’ by Upendra Namburi @ Rs. 250/-
‘Decoding Rahul Gandhi’ by Aarthi Ramachandran @ Rs. 350/-
‘Indira Gandhi: Tryst With Power’ by Nayantara Sahgal @ Rs. 399/-
‘A Perfect Time for Pandas’ (#48 Magic Tree House Series) by Mary Pope Osborne @ Rs. 450/- ‘Human: The Science Behind What Makes Your Brain Unique’ by Michael S. Gazzaniga @ Rs. 615/- ‘Jamie Oliver’s Meals in Minutes’ by Jamie Oliver @ Rs. 1515/-
‘Sounding Off’ by Resul Pookutty with Baiju Natarajan @ Rs. 399/-
‘The One World School House’ by Salman Khan @ Rs. 399/-
‘Playing to Win’ by Saina Nehwal @ Rs. 199/-
‘Rammohun Roy – A critical Biography’ by Amiya P. Sen @ Rs. 450/-
‘N-W’ BY Zadie Smith @ Rs. 499/- ‘Mastani’ by Kusum Choppra @ Rs. 195/-
‘Lessons in Lean Management: 53 Ideas to Transform Services’ by Debashis Sarkar @ Rs. 350/-

Happy Reading and enjoy your books !

See you at the Store on Wed, for Saraswati Puja and Sun, 28th Oct for the street plays,

From the team at,

twistntales

Happy Holi and Women's Day Event !

Message sent to twistntales@hotmail.com on 05/2/2012

Happyyy Holi! Here’s welcoming spring with the festival of colours. Play safe, with natural colours and conserve water! In a city threatened with water cuts starting now for the next four months, Holi does seem a luxury ;-)

Also, all you women out there, hope you have plans to celebrate your day in fun and style! As part of twistntales celebrations of the International Women’s Day (8th March), we are having a reading and discussion with the author, Saaz Aggarwal. “Songbird on my Shoulder – Confessions of an unrepentant Madam” is the book released recently, and Saaz will be with us to read from her book (book is reviewed below)

As a take-off from the book, we will have noted columnist and author Gouri Dange in conversation with Saaz Aggarwal on the changing role of women today. Don’t miss this! All of us are experiencing this in one- way or the other, so please do attend – and this invite is for men and women!

This event is scheduled for 7pm, Saturday, 10th March. Do attend and make it a fun event!

New books at the Store:

“Travelling to Infinity – My Life with Stephen” by Jane Hawking @ Rs. 399/-
In this compelling memoir Jane Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s first wife relates the inside story of their extraordinary marriage. An open and moving memoir where Jane Hawking confronts not only the acutely complicated and painful dilemma’s of her first marriage, but also the faultlines exposed in a relationship by the pervasive effects of fame and wealth. The result thus is a book about optimism, love and change.

“Behind the Beautiful Forevers” by Katherine Boo @ Rs. 499/-
Set in Mumbai, in the Annawadi slum near the Airport, the book explores the lives of Abdul, a reflective teenager and Asha, a woman of formidable wit and deep scars from a childhood in rural poverty. Both the characters are trying to find “the full joy” but face many obstacles and surprising consequences. This book is a beautiful account, told through real life stories, of the sorrows and joys, anxieties and stamina, in the lives of the precarious and powerless in Urban India, whom a booming city has failed to absorb and integrate. A brilliant book that simultaneously informs, agitates angers, inspires and instigates.

The Monk, the Moor & Moses Ben Jalloun” by Saeed Akhtar Mirza @ Rs.450/-
This book is a novel about a deliberately forgotten history- a history that remains hidden in the hallowed inner sanctums of Western academic institution. Four young students in an American university in 2008 set out to discover those truths on their own: not just because they need to know, but because they see how the past affects their own lives in very real ways. Using intersecting narratives, soliloquies, legends and a host of colourful characters, real and imagined, Mirza dismantles the carefully manufactured European myth about the making of the modern world. He brings to life an Islamic civilization that was flourishing, crackling centre of sciences and liberal arts.

“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” With an Introduction by Lewis Leary @ Rs.175/-
Few men could compare to Benjamin Franklin. Virtually self-taught, he excelled as an athlete, a man of letters, a printer, a scientist, a wit, an inventor, an editor, and a writer, and he was probably the most successful diplomat in American history. David Hume hailed him as the first great philosopher and great man of letters in the New World.

Written initially to guide his son, Franklin’s autobiography is a lively, spellbinding account of his unique and eventful life. Stylistically his best work, it has become a classic in world literature, one to inspire and delight readers everywhere.

“Ganesha on the Dashboard” by V. Raghunathan & M. A. Eswaran @ Rs. 299/-
Can the educated, smart and tech-savvy Indian be surprisingly unscientific in his daily life? This unsparingly critical and analytical book points out the shocking lack of scientific temper among the vast majority of Indians, and that is the hypothesis this book builds on. On reading this book you may just think differently about the Ganesha on your Dashboard!

“Bollywood Quiz Book” @ Rs. 150/-
Here’s a quiz book and that too on one of our favorite subjects - Hindi Cinema! Filled with fascinating titbits and trivia, this book travels through the Hindi Film Industry to give you an entertaining peek!

“Wilful Blindness: Why we ignore the obvious at our peril” by Margaret Heffernan @ Rs. 399/-
What makes us blind to the things around us? What is it in our human nature, in the structure of our brain and our institutions that makes us so prone to the weakness of Wilful Blindness? In this book Margaret Heffernan examines the answers to these questions. She also looks at the comforts and costs of our refusal to see and at the inspiring individuals who prove that we could see better. This thought provoking book forces us to open our eyes to the dangers of willful blindness.

“On Tagore: Reading the Poet Today” by Amit Chaudhuri @ Rs 399/-
This book comprises of a collection of masterly written essays On Tagore from one of India’s finest novelist and critics, Amit Chaudhari. Through his essays he illustrates on how Tagore’s real concern were with life, play and contingency, with the momentary as much as it was with the eternal. It is this strain of unacknowledged modernism as well as a revolutionary life- affirming vision that gives his work, the author argues, its immense power.

“The Puffin Book of Magic Stories for 8-Year-Olds” @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 111)
Meet Amar, the little boy who catches an infection of magic, Dewdrop the fairy who grants wishes and Mogu the magician who forgets his charms. Dragons, genii, fairies and many other extraordinary creatures are ready to bewitch you. So say Abracadabra and dive into a world of enchantment with these funny, amazing, magical stories.

“The Puffin Book of Funny Stories for 7-Year-Olds” @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 127)
Meet a cat named Jawaharlal who goes missing; a dragon called Blaze who spouts water; Gulab and Jamoon, dogs who eat recipes; and Shyam the boy who can bark and moo. It’s a comical world here. So if you are feeling blue, or just need a laugh or two grab The Puffin Book of Funny Stories for 7-Year-Olds.

“The Puffin Book of Animal Stories for 6-Year-Olds” @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 111)
This zooful of animal stories is a treat for all you animal lovers and those who share that special bond with your pets. There’s Aman whose visit to the zoo changes his views on animals; Adil who prevents his pet chicken Noor from being eaten at Eid; and Arthy whose tortoise-theme birthday party turns out to be a hit! So stop monkeying around and get safari with these animal stories!

“The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins @ Rs. 295/-
“Catching Fire” series by Suzanne Collins @ Rs. 295/-
“Mocking Jay” series by Suzanne Collins @ Rs. 295/-

“Everything Begins Elsewhere” by Tishani Doshi @ Rs.299/-
In this, her first collection of poetry since the award-winning “Countries of the Body”, Tishani Doshi returns to the body- a theme she extends beyond the corporeal to challenge the more metaphysical borders of space and time. As much about reclamation as they are about loss, Doshi’s poems guide us through an ‘underworld of longing and deliverance’, where only through the act of vanishing can we be shaped into existence again.

“Emoti-coms: A Marketing Guide to Communicating Through Emotions; From Shouting to Singing your Message” by Xavier Quattrocchi- Oubradous and Charles Bal” @ Rs.295/-
The Marketing strategy is shifting from eyeballs to emotions. A share of heart, not a split second of attention must now be the goal of all marketers. Emoti-coms is the revolutionary guide to this new approach. Lucidly covering the theoretical ground work and introducing actionable ideas, hints and tips for your own emotion based campaigns; it also addresses the ethical dimensions of this new and powerful way of getting your message out to the world. This is a fascinating and provocative read for all marketing and communications professionals.

“Hot tea across India” by Rishad Saam Mehta @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 191)
Travel the length and breadth of India with Rishad Saam Mehta as he interacts with people, places and much more; enjoying honey and saffron infused tea, creating stories and collecting memories along the way! There’s a particular observation he made on his journeys which is that there isn’t a highway, road or dirt track in India where you can’t find a cup of Chai! Chai makes us happy and here’s a book which reinforces the average Indian’s ever willing aptitude for a cup of hot Chai!

“The Illustrated Lives in The Wilderness: Three Classsical Indian Autobiographies” @ Rs. 375/-
Rare Visuals- photographs, line drawings and sketches- this illustrated edition brings together the life stories of Jim Corbett, India’s most well-known hunter conservationist; Verrier Elwin- one of the greatest champions of India’s Tribal Peoples and Salim Ali, the celebrated ornithologist. So read these perennial Classics which rarely lose sight of the long term effects of Human Footprints in the Natural World!

Spartacus The Gladiator: Warrior, Slave, Hero” by Ben Kane @ Rs.550/-
As winter approaches in 74 BC, few traveller are abroad. But one man is making the long and weary last stage of his way home. Large parts of his homeland, Thrace, a land north of Greece, have fallen under the hated power of Rome. This Thracian has fought in the Roman Legions for nearly a decade. Skilled, hardened in battle, a sophisticated fighter: Spartacus. But home is no longer the safe haven of his imagination. When a Roman slave trader comes to the village in search of men who will fight as gladiators, Spartacus is betrayed and sold. His odyssey has begun. The legend that Spartacus has come down to us through the centuries- the story of a man who took on the might of Rome and nearly brought her down.

“The Songbird on my Shoulder: Confessions of an Unrepentant Madam” by Saaz Aggarwal @ Rs.300/-
Around the Occasion of Women’s Day comes this humorous take on life lived as a madam! It’s witty and a quick casual read as the book entails short articles on a wide variety of subjects, surprising perspectives and some wise or un-wise worldly wisdom! A man’s read to be proud of the women in their lives and a Woman’s book to enjoy and bask in the Flattery! A wonderful pick to read through any mood!
Read this book and be a part of the discussion with the Author Saaz Agarwal in conversation with Gauri Dange at twistntales this coming weekend!

‘A Second Sunrise’ Poems by Cheran: Edited and translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom and Sascha Ebeling @ Rs.195/- (pgs 158)
A Second Sunrise showcases some of Cheran’s best works, an accomplished poet of our times. The Sri Lankan civil war looms over much of his work. Poems of the precariousness of love are interwoven with poems of war:
The sea swallowed the sun
Splitting open, spraying
Crimson blood
Over the clouds.
The translators treatment with the poems is both fresh in its particularity and as part of the poets oeuvre. Their English renditions capture the resonance and rhythms that connect Cheran to a long Tamil poetic tradition that spans over two hundred years.

New Books
“And all is Said” By Zareer Masani @ Rs. 299/-
“The Extras” by Kiran Nagarkar @ Rs. 599/-
“Her piece of Sky” – Contemporary Hindi Stories by Deepa Agarwal @ Rs. 295/-
“Inside Apple – The secrets behind the past and future success of Steve Job’s Iconic Brand” by Adam Lashinsky @ Rs. 499/-
“The Masque of Africa: Glimpses of African Belief” by V.S. Naipaul @ Rs.399/- (pgs 324) (Now in Paperback!)
“The Story of Indian Business Series” edited by Gurcharan Das @ Rs.399/-
Titles in the Series:
• ‘Merchants of Tamilakam’ by Kanakalatha Mukund
• ‘Arthashastra’ by Thomas R. Trautmann
• ‘The East India Company’ by Tirthankar Roy
Between Democracy and Nation: Gender and Militarisation in Kashmir’ by Seema Kazi @ Rs.375/- (pgs 222)
‘Women, War and the Making of Bangladesh: Remembering 1971’ by Yasmin Saikia @ Rs.600/- (pgs 304)
‘Shabari: A Novel’ by Vibhavari Shirurkar (Translated by Yashodhara Deshpande Maitra @ Rs.325/- (pgs 181)
‘The Persistence of Caste’ by Teltumbde @ Rs.200/- (pgs 192)
‘Making a Difference: Memoirs from the Women’s movement in India’ edited by Ritu Menon @ Rs. 3502/- (pgs 384)
‘Daughter Deficit: Sex Selection in Tamil Nadu’ by Sharada Srinivasan @ Rs.595/- (pgs 293)
“Anna: 13 Days that Awakened India” by Ashutosh @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 226)
“Mindfulness: A Practical Guide” by Tessa Watt @ Rs.199/- (pgs 216)
“The Other Side: Redefining Bharat” edited by Dominic Emmanuel, Francis Gonsalves and John Dayal @ Rs.495/- (pgs 211)
“Shakti: Real- life stories Celebrating Women Power” by Maloy Krishna Dhar @ Rs.325/- (pgs 381)
“Flight of the Hilsa” by Amit Shankar @ Rs.245/- (pgs 335)
“The Gods of Atlantis” by David Gibbins @ Rs.350/- (pgs 561)
“All about THE FLAG of India: Protocols, Rules, Etiquettes” by Lt. CDR. KV Singh @ Rs.199/- (pgs 108)
“National Motoring Atlas: Get. Set. Explore!” by MapmyIndia @ Rs.350/- (pgs 274)
“Times Food Guide 2012: Pune” by Karen Anand @ Rs. 199/-
“Three Plays: Larins Sahib; Mira; 9 Jakhoo Hill” by Gurcharan Das @ Rs.250/- (pgs 205)
“Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy who became Legend” by Luca Caioli @ Rs.299/- (pgs 311)
“The Prisoner of Paradise” by Romesh Gunesekera @ Rs, 550/- (pgs 389)
“Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose your Mind and create a New One” by Dr. Joe Dispenza @ Rs.399/- (pgs 329)
“TakeCharge! - Building an Entrepreneur Mindset” by Gaurav Marya @ Rs.295/- (pgs 199)
“Tea for Two and a piece of Cake” by Preeti Shenoy @ Rs. 125/- (pgs 265)
“The Forest of Stories (Mahabharata Series Book One)” by Ashok K. Banker @ Rs.295/- (pgs 350)
“The End of Illness” by Dr. David B. Agus @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 335)
“44 Charles Street” by Danielle Steel @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 381)
“The Mine” by Arnab Ray @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 282)
“The Buddha in the Attic” by Julie Otsuka @ Rs.399/- (pgs 130)
“My Way is the Highway” by Urvashi Gulia @ Rs.150/- (pgs 265)
“Kiss & Tell” by Nistula Hebbar @ Rs.150/- (pgs 189)
“No Country For Women” by Taslima Nasreen @ Rs. 325/- (pgs 301)
“The Lords and The New Creatures” by Jim Morrison @ Rs.325/- (pgs 133)
“JS & The Times of my Life: A worm’s- eye view of Indian Journalism” by Jug Suraiya @ Rs.495/- (pgs 340)

Happy reading and see you at the Store,

From the team at,

twistntales

New Street Performance and Happy Sankranti !

Hi all,

Best wishes for a beautiful harvest season and may the festivals of Sankranti/ Pongal fill you with abundance and joy! As the Sun begins its journey, we in twistntales embark on a series of events building up to our tenth anniversary celebrations!

As starters, we have “LOK”, a theatre group from Kolkata performing in twistntales on Sat, 14th Jan. For those of you who attended their show “Dear Ragini” at the same time last year, Soumyajit comes this year with a new offering!

LOK is a national creative arts group for the youth and by the youth. LOK has travelled extensively all over the country (Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Tuljapur, Raipur) performing severally in these cities in alternative spaces like campuses, bookstores, art galleries, shopping malls, cafes, lawns, parks, streets, amphitheatres thus creating a personal idiom of using spaces for live –act exploration. Soumyajit, founder of LOK specializes in musicals and installation theatre, focuses on “arts for change”.

“LOK” was formed by artistically and creatively inclined students mostly from St.Xaviers College, Jadavpur University, Presidency College, Loreto College and some other premiere schools and colleges of Kolkata. It involves young minds engaged in photography, filmmaking, music, theatre, dance, creative writing, fine arts etc. The aim is to connect the Indian youth on a common platform and facilitate interaction and exchange among them.

LOK is embarking on it's 2nd annual national road trip PROJECT YUVA with its performance “Walking Along" (a solo musical play by Soumyajit Majumdar dedicated to the late Badal Sircar - the pioneer of alternative theatre in India who passed away last year).

WALKING ALONG fuses baul, kirtan, doha - Indian folk music forms and experimentally narrates a contemporary tale of a young dreamer standing against all odds and walking alone, yet walking along. It seeks to inspire all those individuals who want to walk differently in the journey of life and all those who still believe that art can be a voice of dissent, art reach the spirit of everyone, inspire individuals to work together, create visions & heal.

Be there for the event, Sat 14th Jan, at 7pm at twistntales!

And now for our books:

Indian Writing

“The Rivered Earth” by Vikram Seth @ Rs.399/-

‘The Rivered Earth’ is a collection of Four Libretti which Vikram Seth wrote for the composer Alec Roth and Violinist Philippe Honore. The First three were about places- China during the Tang Dynasty, the Salisbury house of the English Poet George Herbert and India. And the fourth was about the elements. Accompanied by the poet’s own calligraphy; here is a work of immense beauty. Read it.

“The Average Indian Male” by Cyrus Broacha @ Rs.199/-

Here’s a riotous account of Indian men from India’s favorite funny man! Cyrus is back. And this time as agony aunt and master critic, he has set out to deconstruct a subject we are all familiar with - the average Indian male/ manush/ purush/ aam aadmi/ or Bunty! Pick up; and laugh!

“The Kashmiri Storyteller” by Ruskin Bond @ Rs.250/-

The oral tradition of storytelling may have just about died out, but the written word is still around. In this brilliantly illustrated collection, Ruskin Bond brings alive unforgettable folk tales from the misty hills of Kashmir that are sure to delight and enchant you. And so the Kashmiri Storyteller lives again, telling his ageless stories!

“Narcopolis” by Jeet Thayil @ Rs. 499/-

Narcopolis is a rich, hallucinatory dream of a novel that captures the Bombay of the 1970s in all its compelling squalor. Stretching across three decades, with an interlude in Mao’s China, it portrays a city in collision with itself. With a cast of pimps, pushers, poets, gangsters and eunuchs, it is a journey into a sprawling underworld written in electric and utterly original prose! Completely fascinating, read it!

“The man who would be Queen: Autobiographical Fictions” by Hoshang Merchant @ Rs.250/-

The man who would be Queen is a collection of lyric essays on the self that flaunts itself as autobiographical fiction! Lyrical, erudite, playful and sometimes provocative Hoshang Merchant’s new book is a significant landmark in Indian Writing.

“Krishna Coriolis Series” by Ashok K. Banker

The fantastic adventures of the Hindu God Krishna have entertained and inspired people for millennia and this series sets out to do just that. Playful Cowherd, Mischievous lover, feared demon slayer- the legendary exploits of this super being in human form rival the most rousing fantasy epics! After Slayer of Kamsa (Book 1); Ashok K Banker works his magic again through these second and third books! Read them!
Book 2: Dance of Govinda @ Rs.199/-
Govinda, God-child, redeemer of the World takes on the might of Kamsa in the second of the Krishna Coriolis Series.
Book 3: Flute of Vrindavan @ Rs.199/-
The mischievous God Child weilds the Flute to make Evil dance to his tune in Book 3 of the Krishna Coriolis Series.

“Too Asian, not Asian enough: Fiction from the new Generation” edited by Kavita Bhanot @ Rs.399/-

Here you shall find startlingly diverse and original range of stories; some too Asian, while others not Asian enough. A Frightened traveller wanders the twilit streets of Jerusalem; an argument erupts at a cocaine- fuelled party and a miniaturist unwittingly precipitates the downfall of David Beckham; a jilted lover takes a foodie revenge on his ex- wife and a nosy Grandmother takes spying on her neighbours too far… Here is an anthology of twenty- one stories in which writers such as Gautam Malkani, Nikesh Shukla, Niven Govinden and Bidisha sit alongside thrilling new voices published for the first time!

“Wild Child and other Stories” by Paro Anand @ Rs.150/-

Here is a collection of short stories put together for young teens by Paro Anand. The stories here aim to sensitize and broaden the perspectives of these children who are in the in between stage, to becoming adults. Along the way it leaves them inspired, only to learn and grow!

Other Fiction:

“Death comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James @ Rs.499/- (pgs 310)

Combining a sensitive insight into the happy but threatened marriage of the Darcys and the excitement of a brilliantly crafted detective story Death Comes to Pemberley enshrines psychological and emotional richness of characterization, vivid evocation of place and a credible and superbly structured plot. Recreating the magic of Pride and Prejudice P.D James elegantly fuses her passion for the work of Jane Austen with her talent for writing detective fiction. And the result is extraordinary!

“The Prague Cemetery” by Umberto Eco @ Rs.550/- (Translated by Richard Dixon)

Nineteenth century Europe from Prague to Paris abounds with mysterious plots. There are forgeries, massacres, French criminals, Italian Priests and conspiracies. But what if, behind all these conspiracies both real and imagined, lay just one man? Here is a novel inspired by History and Fiction by Umberto Eco whose first book ‘The Name of the Rose’ was a bestseller.

“The Sea is my Brother: The Lost Novel” by Jack Kerouac @ Rs.699/-

Kerouac began this novel shortly after his first tour in 1942 where he kept a journal detailing the gritty daily routine of Life at Sea and the character traits of his fellow shipmates. After his return to shore, he wove these spontaneous observations into a manuscript which was lost during his Lifetime. Now published in its entirety along with fragments of early stories & letters, ‘The Sea is my Brother’ gives us a unique insight into the young Kerouac and the formation of this Genius. So, here is Jack Kerouac’s first Novel; inspired by his love affair with the Sea.

Biographies/ People/ Places

“Pakistan: A Personal History” by Imran Khan @ Rs.599/- (pgs 389)

Recounting his country’s history through the prism of his own memories, here is a unique insider’s perspective. Commenting on the many subsequent historical developments which shook the Muslim world, the wars with India in 1965 and 1971, the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the current controversial and intractable war in Afghanistan, throughout herein we see these events viewed not only through the eyes of Westerners, but through those of ordinary Pakistanis. Pakistan: a Personal History is also Imran’s personal life history interwoven into the narrative - his happy childhood in Lahore, his Oxford education, his marriage to Jemima, his current philanthropic and political activities.

“Jerusalem: The Biography” by Simon Sebag Montefiore @ Rs.695/-

‘Simon Sebag Montefiore’ reveals here the ever changing city Jerusalem in its many incarnations, bringing every epoch and character blazingly to life. Jerusalem’s biography is told through the wars, love affairs, the authors’ own family papers and lifetime’s study and the many revelations of the Men and Women- kings, empresses, prophets and poets who created, destroyed, chronicled and believed in it! Read and discover how Jerusalem became ‘Jerusalem’- the only city that exists twice, in heaven and on earth!

“Letters to Friends, Family and Editors” by Franz Kafka (translated by Richard and Clara Winston) @ Rs.299/-

This volume presents Kafka as Son, Brother, Student, Friend, Lover, Writer, Critic and reveals his fascination for life in its entire complex, absurd and tragic manifestations. These letters dated from 1900 onwards follow Kafka’s life from his student years through his experience as an insurance clerk to his final days, exploring his many friendships and confirming his place as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century!

“Inside Steve’s Brain: Business Lessons from Steve Jobs, the Man who Saved Apple” by Leander Kahney @ Rs.399/-

‘Inside Steve’s Brain’ explores the principles that guided Jobs when he launched his killer products, attracted fanatically loyal customers [the way we do ;-)] and managed the World’s most powerful brand. Part biography and part leadership manual, here is a fascinating insight into one of the critical business and cultural figures of our time!

“Gandhi: A Manga Biography” by Kazuki Ebine @ Rs.499/-

The life of a true twentieth-century hero told in a vibrant graphic novel format.
Through his quietly powerful leadership and influential use of nonviolent resistance in India's struggle against the British Raj, Mahatma Gandhi became one of the most revered figures of the modern era. While history has recorded Gandhi's words and deeds, the man himself has been eclipsed by maxims of virtuosity that seem to have little resonance in our everyday lives. In Gandhi, the exciting new manga biography, Kazuki Ebine combines a gripping narrative with stunning illustrations to share Gandhi's inspiring and deeply human story with a whole new generation of readers.

“Deep Focus” – Reflections on Cinema – by Satyajit Ray, (edited by Sandip Ray, Foreword by Shyam Benegal) @ Rs. 450/- Pgs 168

Satyajit Ray’s “Our Films, Their Films” published in 1976 remains the only collection of essays articulating his thoughts of Cinema. Published by the Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Films, Deep Focus brings together His Master’s Voice and some of his most cerebral writings on film. The selection of his essays have been done by his son Sandip Ray in association with his favourite actor, Dhritiman Chaterji, Arup K. De, Deepak Mukherjee, Debasis Mukhopadhyay and some of his writings even predates his film making. A wonderful collection, and is a valuable addition to the worthwhile books on Indian Cinema. Must Buy and Keep. Read and Re-read.

Socio Eco Pol

“Moral Materialism: Sex and masculinity in Modern India” by Joseph S Alter @ Rs.499/-

A strikingly new interpretation of Indian ‘maleness’; this book offers an elegant and inventive perspective on the multiple meanings of Indian masculinity. Through the distinct yet interrelated lenses of Nationalism, Yoga, Wrestling, Male Chastity and the concept of Brahmacharya, Alter examines the moral, material and biological roots of Indian Masculinity in this modern age with immense clarity of thought evident throughout this book!

“The Other Country – Dispatches from the Mofussil” by Mrinal Pande @ Rs.350/- (pgs 210)

The huge divide between Bharat and India troubles most of us as we grapple with the issues, whether it is Retail FDI or Rs. 32/- a day. Not since “Butter Chicken in Ludhiana” (1995) by Pankaj Mishra and “Great Indian Middle Class” by Pavan Varma (1998) has an author attempted seriously to straddle the two worlds. No person is better qualified to do this than Mrinal Pande. Having been deeply involved in editing national newspapers in both Hindi and English, she is the most suitable to tell us both about news as we heard it and the phenomenon of “paid” news from the hinterland. The Other Country is incisive, insightful and deeply compassionate. Through chronicle, anecdote and hard hitting reportage, Mrinal traces the many, ever widening fault lines between Bharat and shining India, the small town and the metropolis.

“My Father Baliah” by Y.B. Satyanarayana @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 211)

An extraordinary story of a Dalit family in southern India. Dr. Y.B Satyanarayana hails from a poor Dalit family. A keen academic, he has been a part of several governing bodies including the executive councils of Kakatiya and Osmania Universities. This social history chronicles the life of a family of the Dalit Madiga community of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh. But it is not just a family chronicle. It is a depiction of the lived experiences of the members of the Madiga community over several decades in different places, settings and situations, making it a unique social history of our times. Relying extensively on oral contributions of members of his family and community, Dr. Y. B. Satyanarayana has given us and future generations a treasure trove of history.

Inspiration

“The Bartenders Guide” @ Rs.395/-

The cocktails of today are made with fresh, high quality ingredients, with the intention of producing sometimes subtle, sometimes startling flavour combinations and this book is happy to help you! ‘The Bartenders Guide’ is informative, educational, entertaining, elegantly designed and holds the key to consuming less but tasting more in our health and lifestyle- conscious world! A must have for any aspiring Bartender and equally useful behind the counter of a top city bar or even your coffee table at home!

“Open the Windows to the World around you” by Sukant Ratnakar @ Rs.299/-

This powerful book on self- empowerment and leadership principles offers a wealth of ideas and techniques for achieving success. ‘Open the Window to the World around you’ will unleash the power of your observations and make you look at the World differently. The Author ‘Sukant Ratnakar’ conveys the fundamental principles of Management and the Art of Living in a lucid manner and eventually relates his experiences to India, and talks about how we can grow and refresh ourselves! Read it and kick start the New Year on a positive note!

“The Maths Handbook: Everyday Maths Made Simple” by Richard Elwes @ Rs.299/-

Fret No more at your inability to do even simple mathematical tasks as ‘The Maths Handbook’ is here. Along with elucidating the language of mathematics the book draws our attention to the Basics of Mathematics like Angles, Algebra, Powers, Fractions, Trigonometry, Triangles etc to name a few and works to change the mind of the ubiquitous person who says- ‘I was never any good at Mathematics’. Come, Brush your math skills!

“The Best Thing About You is YOU!” by Anupam Kher @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 228)

Bollywood Superstar Anupam Kher in a new role for you, speaking from the heart and no written script. Using examples from his own life and based on numerous interactions, his basic simple mantras will help you counteract the negativity and stress that exists in this world. Acquiring a positive outlook and realizing the power within you is easier said than done and Anupam Kher uses soothing insightful guidance with practical advice to help you sail through those difficult times!

Others

“SEAL Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden” by Chuck Pfarrer @ Rs.499/-

SEAL Target Geronimo is the story of the relentless hunt for the terrorist mastermind. After talking to members of the SEAL Team involved in the raid, Pfarrer, a former assault element commander of SEAL Team 6, shares never before revealed details of the historic raid and the men who planned and conducted it in an exclusive boots on the ground account of what happened during each minute of the mission- both inside the building and outside. Here is an explosive story of unparalleled valour, clockwork military precision and deadly accuracy, carried out by one of the most elite fighting forces in the World- the U.S Navy’s SEAL Team 6.

“Understanding Michael Porter” by Joan Magretta @ Rs.795/-

Competitive Advantage. Value Chain. Five Forces. Industry structure. Differentiation. Relative Cost – If you want to understand how companies achieve and sustain competitive success, Michael Porter’s frameworks are the Foundation! But while everyone in Business may know Porter’s name, many managers misunderstand and misuse his concepts. The Essential Michael Porter sets the record straight, providing the first concise, accessible summary of Porter’s revolutionary thinking. Written with Porter’s full Co-operation by Joan Magretta, his former editor at Harvard business Review, this new book delivers fresh, clear examples to illustrate and update Porter’s ideas. An added feature is an original Q & A with Porter himself, which includes answers to Managers’ FAQ’s!

Others:

“The Lives we have Lost: Essays & Opinions on Nepal” by Manjushree Thapa @ Rs.350/-
“Girl Meets Boy” by Ali Smith @ Rs.225/-
“How to Love your Body and get the Body you Love” by Yaana Gupta @ Rs.199/-
“Can Love Happen Twice” by Ravinder Singh @ Rs.125/-
“Being Ethical- Ethics as the Foundation of Business” by S. Manikutty @ Rs.299/-
“The Slap: Whose side are you on?” by Christos Tsiolkas @ Rs.350/-
“The Complete Harry Potter Collection” by J.K. Rowling @ Rs.3299/-
“Postcards from Ladybird: 100 Classic ladybird covers in One Box” @ Rs.599/-
“Demand: Creating What People Love before They Know They Want It” by Adrian J. Slywotzky with Karl Weber @ Rs.299/-
“The Marriage Plot” by Jeffrey Eugenides @ Rs.399/-
“Heart to Heart: Remembering Nainaji” by Vidya Rao @ Rs.199/-
“Sold: Can she ever be Free” by Patricia McCormick @ Rs.245
“Delirious Delhi: Inside India’s Incredible Capital” by Dave Prager @ Rs.399/-
“Bird Songs From Around the World: Featuring Songs of 200 Birds from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology” by Les Beletsky @ Rs.1295/- (pgs 368)
“The Guitar Chord Composer: A Mix and Match Music Guide to Practicing and Composing Music” by Ernie Jackson @ Rs.495/- (pgs 128)
“Great American Kitchens Collection: Real Solutions from Award Winning Designs” @ Rs.695/- (pgs 288)
“100 Things to Make and Do”@ Rs.395/-
“Developing Intuition: Practical Guidance for Daily Life: Complete book on CD” by Shakti Gawain @ Rs.595/-
“Why Pandas Do Handstands and other Curious truths about Animals” by Augustus Brown @ Rs.450/- (pgs 301)
“History of Art: Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Graphics, Design” @ Rs.1295/- (pgs 704)
“The Complete Idiot’s guide to Social Media Marketing” @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 332)
“Offshore – How India got back on the Global Business Map” by Gaurav Rastogi and Basab Pradhan @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 225)
“The World in our Time” A Memoir by Tapan Raychaudhuri @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 365)
“Travelling to Infinity – My Life with Stephen” by Jane Hawking @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 488)
“Tao – The State and the Art” by OSHO @ Rs. 399/- (Pillars of Consciousness series)
“Zen – Its history and teachings and Impact on Humanity” @ Rs. 399/- (Pillars of Consciousness Series)
“Confessions of a Serial Dieter – A weightloss memoir by Kalli Purie @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 225)
“Let me tell you about Quinta” by Savia Viegas @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 254)

Happy Reading, and see you at the Store,

From the team at,

twistntales

Navratri and Dasera Greetings !

Hi all,

Greetings of Navratri and the festive season!

Lots of new books to read and enjoy … with a few days break for the festive season, here’s a chance to catch up on your reading!

We are a little short of working hands, and some of you have found us closed in the afternoons. Hopefully, it’s a temporary phenomena and before the Diwali break, we should be back to full day working (10.30 to 2030 hrs).

Kindly join us on Dassera day (thurs), 6th Oct for our Annual Saraswati Puja at twistntales. Hope to see you then.

So many many new books, so lets get on with it!

Grassroots Comics – a tool for democracy and others

There are five comic books from World Comics India. World Comics India (WCI) is a collective of grassroots activists, cartoonists, artists, development journalists and students using comics as a communication tool as well as medium for self expressions.

The titles in this series:

“Grassroots Comics – a tool for democracy” @ Rs. 75/-

Here’s a rather different book and a novel idea! These comics are the voices of commoners from all over the World raising their voices to fight corruption. This Silent majority tell stories affecting their day to day lives which they are extremely passionate about! And their passion is clearly reflected in these comics developed on A4 sized papers with simple, lucid illustrations coupled with the local language which make it an absolute WOW!

“Understanding Gandhi through Cartoons” @ Rs.75/-

These Cartoons are an attempt to provide an easy and effective insight into the making of the Mahatma! The Focus is on Gandhiji’s social concerns and the impact he made on the History of India and the World. Resurrecting Gandhian Values, these pages truly seek to inspire and rekindle in us the hope to a brighter future!
This collection of cartoons are an outcome of a workshop conducted by Shri Sharad Sharma of World Comics India, as part of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti’s Annual Gandhi Summer School.

“Half World Four Frames” @ Rs.150/-

The Comic strips produced here are on Gender. Views on Gender as perceived in different parts of the world- respected and put forth without being Opinionated! Again a creation of a number of Workshops conducted in South Asian Countries by WCI.

“Whose Development???” @ Rs.100/-

These Stories collected from Jharkhand, Assam, Kashmir, Rajasthan, and many other parts of the country present a reflection of the ‘accomplishments’ of development there. The caricatures herein are crude and endeavor to portray the picture as realistically as possible. Come, walk along the path of development, which is the magic word for politicians, as much as it is for us!

“Parallel Lines” @ Rs.100/-

The ongoing Bodo movement in lower Assam, the ugly truth behind the Beautification of Delhi in lieu with the commonwealth games, the legal victory of farmers over BT cotton in Madhya Pradesh and other such contemporary issues has been voiced here, simultaneously resulting in interesting, moving and engaging Comics!

Other New Books:

“A Tangled Web: Jammu and Kashmir” Edited by Ira Pande @ Rs. 699/-

A series of essays by noted social commentators like Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Meghnad Desai, Jagmohan etc. familiarize us with the tangled views on History, Politics, and autonomy pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, thereby examining the various political, cultural, economic and social issues at play. Accounts by various ordinary men and women who have borne the brunt of decades of unrest bring to life the whole picture! Adding to this is the portrayal on the beauty, art and food typical of the area, which flavours this book just perfectly!

“The Book of Answers” by C.Y. Gopinath @ Rs. 499/-

Would’nt it be just perfect to lay hands on a book which will provide you with answers to all of your Problems? That’s just what Patros, the protagonist got his hands onto, or rather inherited! This book is an irrepressible satire about manipulation and corruption in governance! And what all does this ‘Book of Answers” contain and what all trouble does it lead onto, to find out, read this humorously woven narrative!

“Reach For the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting into Space- a Personal History of Aviation” by Richard Branson @ Rs.399/-

It’s a story of Pioneers. From the World Famous Montgolfiers and the Wright Brothers, to the lesser known trailblazers who are today bringing outer space within our reach, Sir Richard Branson explores the History of Flight through the Stories and People who have Inspired Him! It’s a Thrilling tale with a motivational message- ‘Aim for the Stars. Atleast you will have reached the Skies!’

“Partitions” by Amit Majmudar @ Rs.299/-

The Countries- they parted in 1947. And that year the people did too. This book is the story of the people, their unforgettable account of separation and how they stood up, shaped themselves up again and moved on in the journey called - Life! ‘Amit Majmudar’ interjects three story lines here in his Debut; writing poetically with piercing beauty and great Human Dramatization.

“The Bad Boy’s Guide to the Good Indian Girl or the GOOD INDIAN GIRL’S Guide to Living, Loving and Having Fun” by Annie Zaidi and Smriti Ravindra @ Rs.295/-

Who is this ‘Good Indian Girl’? Is she for real? Does she even exist? Yes, yes- here are stories based on real events in Real Women’s lives! Come, discover her, in all her marvelous complexity with Annie Zaidi and Smriti Ravindra as they look around the subcontinent into the lives, limits and longings of Girls who have been born and raised to become - “The Good Indian Girl”!

“The Google Guys: Inside the Brilliant Minds of Google Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin” by Richard L Brandt @ Rs.399/-

‘The Google Guys’ skips past the well- known Google story and focuses on what really motivates the company’s two Founders- ‘Larry Page’ and ‘Sergey Brin’; thereby examining Google’s Business decisions in light of it’s founders’ ambition and beliefs. Through interviews with Current and Former Employees, Competitors, Partners and Senior Google Management plus conversations with the founders themselves, Richard L Brandt demystifies the World’s most powerful Internet Company for us Illiterates! Read it!

“Noon” by Aatish Taseer @ Rs.499/-

Set in the background of a difficult period in India and Pakistan- Join Rehan Tabasssum, the Protagonist in this journey of political upheavals, danger and most importantly ‘Change’! A Compelling, elegantly crafted read!

“Trouble at Taj” by Sonja Chandrachud @ Rs.199/-

There’s some serious trouble at the Taj. The Chief Detective of the Taj Mahal, Ustad Ahmed Lahauri had been kidnapped and the DOA detective agency is out to solve this out–of–this–world mystery. Will they be able to ensure that the magnificent Taj gets built? To Find Out, Read this Witty, suspicious, adventure story, going back into History; by our very own ‘Desi Rowling’- Sonja Chandrachud! Pick your signed copies from twistntales!

After ‘Potion of Eternity’ and ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ this is Sonja Chandrachud’s first book in her New Series- DOA Detective Files. The book makes good reading for children above 9 yrs of age.

“Pilgrim’s India: An Anthology” edited by Arundhathi Subramaniam @ Rs.399/-

‘Pilgrim’s India’ is about Journeys and Destinations; Wanderers, Pilgrims; their trails and the idea of the sacred! It brings together Essays and Poems from the Katha Upanishad, Fa- Hien, Basavanna and Kabir to Paul Brunton, Richard Lannoy, Amit Chaudhuri, Arun Kolatkar and others- about various aspects of trips undertaken in the name of God! It’s Revelation, both Mystical and Magical!

“The Fish on your Plate: Why we Eat what we Eat From the Sea” by Paul Greenberg @ Rs.399/-

Here’s a rather interesting book! Paul Greenberg takes us on an eye- opening Culinary Journey through the Oceans, traveling from fair trade Eskimo Outposts to Norwegian mega Salmon Farms and Down to the Depths of the South Pacific in search of the story behind - the Fish on Our plates! Along the way he feeds us with incredible facts about Fish and why we take, what we take from the Sea!

“Uncommon Ground: Dialogues between Business and Social Leaders by Rohini Nilekani @ Rs.499/-

‘Uncommon Ground’ brings together titans of Industry and Leaders of Civil Society to explore highly relevant themes like Livelihoods and Job Creation, Food Security, Energy, Business and Environment Sustainability and more, and will thereby provide you with a rich, nuanced understanding of the Key Social and Economics Challenges facing India today. Based on Rohini Nilekani’s 2008 show on NDTV, these conversations explore the middle ground between the ideological divisions that often polarize the Business and Voluntary Sectors.

“Three Satires from Ancient Kashmir” by Kshemendra @ Rs.250/-

Corruption in Governance, Hypocrisy in Religion, Superstition, Anomalies in Education and a host of other ills of one thousand years ago in Kashmir are the targets of Kshemendra’s Satires. These find Resonance amongst our lives in India even today.

‘Kshemendra’ is an important Name in Classical Sanskrit Literature and is a prolific, multi faceted writer on a wide variety of Subjects. This book is a translation from Sanskrit by A.N.D Haksar.

“Welcome to Americastan” by Jabeen Akhtar @ Rs.499/-

Thoughtful looking at the Pakistani Community in America through the eyes of the Protagonist ‘Samira’ the story investigates the Double Lives led by the Young who debate the significance of animal sacrifice while sipping Cocktails; Atheists who agree to having a ‘Maulvi’ perform at their Wedding just to please their Parents; and Parties with an Open Bar but Only for the Goras! It’s Hilarious! Come aboard the Ship to “Americastan” and be delighted!

Other new books!

“Undercover Muslim: A journey into Yemen” by Theo Padnos @ Rs.599/-
“Table for Four” by K.Srilata @ Rs.250/-
“Rajiv Gandhi: The Flight of the Scion” by Benny Aguiar @ Rs.299/-
“The Fat Years: The Notorious Thriller they Banned in China” by Chan Koonchung @ Rs.550/-
“The Bourne Dominion” by Robert Ludlum @ Rs.299/-
“The Spy” by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott @ Rs.299/-
“The First Women in Love” by D.H. Lawrence @ Rs.399/-
“Spud: Learning to Fly” by John Van De Ruit @ Rs.299/-
“Gift in Green” by Sarah Joseph @ Rs.350/-
“My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About me” by Hilary Winston @ Rs.399/-
“Flight of the Alone to the Alone: Talks on the Kaivalya Upanishad” by Osho@ Rs.499/-
“Release and other Stories” by Rakhshanda Jalil @ Rs.299/-
“The Spirit of the Buddha” by Martine Batchelor @ Rs.250/-
“The History of Tipu Sultan” by Mohibbul Hasan @ Rs.300/-
“Joothan: A Dalit’s Life” by Omprakash Valmiki (tr. Arun Prabha Mukherjee) @ Rs.220
“Lose your Mother: A journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route” by Saidiya Hartman @ Rs.350/-
“Heroes, Gundas, Vamps and Good Girls: Hindi Pulp Cover Art” by Shelle @ Rs.295/-
“Waking is Another Dream: Poems on the Genocide in Eelam” edited by Ravikumar @ Rs.180/-
“The Rani of Jhansi: Rebel Against Will” by Rainer Jerosch @ Rs.295/-
“Mumbai’s Dabbawala: The Uncommon Story of the Common Man” by Shobha Bondre @ Rs.300/-
“Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming Obstacles between Vision & Reality” by Scott Belsky @ Rs.399/-
“Malabar Mind: Poems” by Anita Nair @ Rs.199/-
“What to Ask the Person in the Mirror: Critical Questions for becoming a more Effective Leader and Reaching your Potential” by Robert Steven Kaplan @ Rs.750/-
“The Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators” by Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen and Clayton M. Christensen @ Rs.995/-
“A Tale of Two Indians” by Maharshi Patel @ Rs.250/-
“The Vintage Sardar” by Khushwant Singh @ Rs.250/-
“I’m Not Stressed: Secrets for a Calm Mind and a Healthy Body” by Deanne Panday @ Rs.199/-
“Egyptian Dawn: Exposing the Real Truth Behind Ancient Egypt” by Robert Temple @ Rs.499/-
“Berlin at War: Life and Death in Hitler’s Capital, 1939-45” by Roger Moorhouse @ Rs.499/-
“Man of a Thousand Chances” by Tulsi Badrinath @ Rs.395/-
“Songs of Kabir” translated by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra @ Rs.350/-
“The Art of Stress- Free Living” by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar @ Rs.299/-
“Bartimaeus: The Ring of Solomon” by Jonathan Stroud @ Rs.299/-
“Our Lady of Alice Bhatti” by Mohammed Hanif @ Rs.499/-
“Aleph” by Paulo Coelho @ Rs.325/-
“A Night in London” by Sajjad Zaheer @ Rs.299/-
“Kiss, Kiss” by Roald Dahl @ Rs.350/-
“The Spell of the Flying Foxes” by Sylvia Dyer @ Rs.299/-
“Sorrows of the Snow” by Upendra Nath Ashk @ Rs.250/-
“Bernie Madoff: The Wizard of Lies” by Diana B Henriques @ Rs.399/-
“Madame Tussaud” by Michelle Moran @ Rs.299/-
“I Never Thought I Could Fall in Love: My journey from Lust to Love” by Chanchaldeep Singh Sandhu @ Rs.99/-
“The Girl in the Garden” by Kamala Nair @ Rs.495/-
“The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh @ Rs.499/-
“The CIO Edge: 7 Leadership Skills you Need to Drive Results” @ Rs.995/-
“Secrets” by Ruskin Bond @ Rs.250/-
“Upwardly Mobile: Behaviour and Business Skills for the New Indian Manager” by Ranjini Manian @ Rs.250/-
“A Monsoon of Music” by Mitra Phukan @ Rs.450/-
“The TCS Story…and Beyond” by S.Ramadorai @ Rs.699/-
“That Used to be US: What went wrong with America- And how it can Come Back” by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum @ Rs.599/-
“Jamie’s Great Britain: Over 130 Reasons to Love Our Food” @ Rs.899/-
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller @ Rs.499/-
“Water: Asia’s New Battleground” by Brahma Chellaney @ Rs.699/-
“The Tailor of Giripul” by Bulbul Sharma @ Rs.299/-
“The Shadow Market: How Sovereign Wealth Funds Secretly Dominate the Global Economy” by Eric J Weiner @ Rs.399/-
“Football- Bloody Hell: The Biography of Alex Ferguson” by Patrick Barclay @ Rs.399/-
“Crushes, Careers & Cell Phones: Quick Notes from a Mum to a Teenager, Rejoinders from 10 to 25-year olds across the World” by Manjiri Gokhale Joshi @ Rs.195/-
“Chapter Eleven” by Amit Shankar @ Rs.245/-
“The Secret of the World’s Worst Cook” by Subhadra Sen Gupta @ Rs.199/-
“Good Food Good Living” by Karen Anand @ Rs.250/-
“The Novice – A remarkable story of love and truth” by Thich Nhat Hanh @ Rs. 450/-
“Beyond the MBA Hype: A Guide to Understanding and Surviving B- Schools” by Sameer Kamat @ Rs.250/-
“Awakening: The Story of the Bengal Renaissance” by Subrata Dasgupta @ Rs.299/-
“B.T.Road/ The Hollow: Two Novellas” by Samaresh Basu @ Rs.350/-
“The Best of Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest: 1000 Quiz Questions, 100 Fun Facts!” @ Rs.175/-“Doing Business in India” by India Briefing (Dezan Shira and Associates)” @ Rs.299/-Constant Craving: What your Food Cravings mean & How to Overcome them” by Dorren Virtue @ Rs.350/-“Time Riders: The Eternal War” by Alex Scarrow @ Rs.299/-
“Tit For Tat to Treat for Tat: A Holistic Journey- No One loves you, you make yourself Lovable” by Dr. Pal @ Rs.250/-
“The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills” by Heather Brewer @ Rs.250/-
“Gods without Men” by Hari Kunzru @ Rs.599/-
“Bishan: Portrait of a Cricketer” by Suresh Menon @ Rs.299/-
“Knocking on Heaven’s Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking illuminate the Universe and the Modern World” by Lisa Randall @ Rs.999/-
“How did That Happen: Holding People Accountable for Results, the Positive, Principled Way” by Roger Connors and Tom Smith @ Rs.550/-
“Controversially Yours” by Shoaib Akhtar @ Rs.499/-
“The Obamas: The Untold Story of an African Family” by Peter Firstbrook @ Rs.399/-
“Far from my Father’s House: Survival is Hard in a Land where No Woman can Live alone” by Jill McGivering @ Rs.299/-
“Capitalism 4.0: The Birth of a New Economy” by Anatole Kaletsky @ Rs.399/-
“1888 Dial India” by Anuvab Pal” @ Rs.150/-
“The Arty Farty Party: 100% Proof High Spirits” by Pratik Basu @ Rs.295/-
“Birds, Beasts and Bandits: 14 Days with Veerappan” by Krupakar and Senani (Translation by S.R Ramakrishna) @ Rs.250/-
“Hive: Aftershock” by Mark Walden @ Rs.299/-
“You Can Create an Exceptional Life” by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson @ Rs.250/-
“The Path of Tibetan Buddhism: The End of Suffering and the Discovery of Happiness” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama @ Rs.299/-
“Wisden on India: An Anthology” Edited by Jonathan Rice @ Rs.599/-
“Babies From the Heart: A Complete Guide to Adoption” by Nandini Sengupta @ Rs.299/-
“The Magic of Reality: How we Know what’s Really True” by Richard Dawkins @ Rs.1099/-

Young Adults

“To the Blue King’s Castle: Adventures in the Underground Forest” by Prasenjit Gupta @ Rs.199/-
“The Magic Thief Found” by Sarah Prineas @ Rs.299/-
“The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising” (book 11) @ Rs.475/-
“Dear Dumb Diary: My Pants are Haunted!” by Jim Benton @ Rs.199/-
“BigNate Boredom Buster” by Lincoln Peirce @ Rs.199/-
“Celebrate Dussehra & Durga Puja: Super Sories, Fab Folktales, Myths and Legends” @ Rs.195/-

Have fun reading and see you at the Store!

From the team at,

twistntales