Nine days more to celebrate!

Hi all,

Yes, we are reaching the last leg of our long and happy journey at twistntales

As we bid adieu to the business, here’s your last chance to pick up the balance books from twistntales! Yes, we have a few good books still left with us, drop in and take a good look.

Our last working day will be 9th of March, Saturday. It’s a day when you are likely to meet almost all the team members who have worked in twistntales through these 11 years. Please do join us as we party away the last few hours of twistntales, and make sure you put your comments in our farewell book, if you haven’t done so already. While we will be open throughout the day on Sat, the 9th, the party will begin in the evening and last past closing hours!

Our email id, facebook, blog and yahoo group will be alive for a while. You can continue to interact with us in the online world. We have completely enjoyed these interactions with you and as we sign off for the last time, here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful prosperous and fulfilling life filled with abundance always!

Thank you,

From the team at,

twistntales.

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 !

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.

The book bunch!

The People who visit a bookstore are varied.
The Good Indian Girl observes..

There are everyday- persons, well almost every day-ers who come to us for the scent- the intoxicating scent of a book, touch covers, and feel. Experience. They come to sooth their nerves amongst books and just be. They keep us good company and so do we (yes, we do!) And along the way some leave us with their valuable movie reviews on a fortnightly basis! It’s just lovely to nurture such relationships!

There are the Every Weekers: Like we know them, who-what-where, their need, preference and taste. They know us too. The information is mutual. Well it has to be, doesn't it? Isn't that what helps us serve you better? I believe so.

Then there are the month people, two three month-ers: Them too we know and service according to their choice. We shower them with our finest putting our best foot forward.

We have bill gates who drops by en route to spotting his favorite cheese and even langoor our neighbourhood monkey friend from the animal kingdom who comes for the sacred banana leaf book!

At the bookshop we kindle sparkling conversations amongst colleagues, customers, boss & family, ex tntians or anybody our wavelength. Here we raise the bar for ourselves at every opportunity as time rolls by. But No, Do not be intimidated.
We are all happy creatures- nice, warm and accepting.
The neighbourhood is open minded and cool. Be assured !

Thankyou for wishing us for our tenth happy birthday !

Hi all,

The tenth birthday celebrations were awesome! Lots of fun, lots of parties, fun and food! Yes, we tntians have a fascinating relationship with food! All students who have worked with us in the past were here in Pune to celebrate what we have.

While the Store itself looked absolutely ravishing and bright, the students who have passed out of the twistntales graduation school decided to all come back and make it an occasion to remember!

"What twistntales means to me" is an essay that each one of them has written and will shortly ask them to post it on the blog themselves! Many have had different contributions to make.

Reshma (worked in tnt in 2006, now an accomplished artist) for instance decided to paint the shutter! Our shutter now looks a beautiful representation of what's inside. The process of painting the shutter by itself was a beautiful one. The work would start at 9pm when the Store closed for the day and many of you have seen the updates on facebook first thing in the morning. Please do make time and see it at night or on any Monday.

Tia (worked in tnt in 2005-2007, now a journalist) wrote this beautiful poem, which is so us! It just fell into place so beautifully in this banner, which became a backdrop for Aakash (worked in tnt in 2005-6, now a film-maker) to make his film on twistntales! Well, when it is ready, you will be the first to know!

All the photographs have been loaded on the twistntales facebook page and you can see them by copy/paste on your browser.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150665759898195.399605.710923194&type=1&l=b3841ce3d2

Our new financial year has begun and so has summer vacations in many schools. Let’s make it a point to spend some time reading with our loved ones. On a break, at home, in the car or at bedtime, choose your time and spot, but do read and feel the awesomeness of reading a good book!

We are ready and well stocked up and we are sure that you will find what you are looking for when you come to twistntales.

New Books:

“The Chilled Parent” by Rita Offen @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 139)

Being a parent can be the hardest job on earth. Many of us are consumed with worry and concerns over our children. In this powerful, information-packed book, expert Rita Offen makes us laugh, gives us tips, and most importantly, gives us hope that we can ‘chill out’ and still be great parents.

“The Habit of Love” by Namita Gokhale @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 250)

The Habit of Love is a collection of stories about the inner lives of women. Some of these women inhibit the ancient past, some the present day, but they share the whimsical humour with which they speak for themselves. Delicately poised between irony and grief The Habit of Love is elegant and acute, arch and melancholic. Namita Gokhale holds a mirror opposite the profound insight into the female mind and in these moving stories she displays both sympathy and understanding as she unveils the workings of a woman’s heart.

“Confessions of a Serial Dieter – A weightloss memoir” by Kalli Purie @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 225)

In this candid tell-all, Kalli looks at weight-related complexes, myths and dilemmas straight in the eye and tells us not just what to do but how to do it. Kilo by kilo. The story of weight lost and a life gained, Confessions of a Serial Dieter will make you believe you can do it, whether it’s losing those stubborn last three kilos or chasing your dream!

“The Flying Man” by Roopa Farooki @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 339)

Meet Maqil- also known as Mike, Mehmet, Mikhail and Miguel- a chancer and charlatan. A criminally clever man who tells a good tale, trading on his charms and good looks, reinventing himself with a new identity and nationality in each successive country he makes his home, abandoning wife and children and careers in the process. The Flying Man is an affecting, evocative and often funny story of the ultimate immigrant, a man who fits in everywhere and nowhere, who cannot help but cause harm to those around him but, ultimately, inspires love.

“The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne @ 399/- (pgs 254)

You hold in your hands the way to a magical life! Remember when you were a child and you believed that life was magical? Well, the magic of life is real and it’s far more breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and exciting than you ever imagined as a child. So read this exciting book and experience the magic within! After her successful debut book “The Secret” Rhonda Byrne has released another breathtaking book which will inspire and motivate everyone to live a full life with a strong hint of Magic and excitement.

“Anna: 13 Days that Awakened India” by Ashutosh @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 226)

Anna Hazare’s fast unto death in August 2011, demanding the enactment of a strong Lokpal bill, was a watershed moment in post-independence India. Coming soon after a slew of corruption exposes, the movement galvanized an increasingly disenchanted middle class like nothing had in decades. Well-known Hindi journalist Ashutosh weaves together the story of the thirteen days that changed India. Evoking the Jayaprakash Narayan movement and Gandhi’s Satyagraha, Ashutosh mines the history of India’s Post-independence politics to understand the phenomenon that is Anna Hazare.

“And all is said” By Zareer Masani @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 236)

In this unflinchingly candid memoir, Zareer Masani draws on the letters and diaries of his parents, charismatic politician Minoo Masani and his gifted wife Shakuntala, to paint an intimate portrait of two remarkable individuals and their prominent but very different families- the Masanis, Bombay Parsis and the Srivastavas, UP Kayasths- united by marriage but divided by temperament, lifestyle and political affiliation. The author writes of his turbulent upbringing as an only child torn between the rival influences and attractions of his parents and grandparents; of the struggle to express his own sexuality in 1960s India; and of the stormy and agonizing breakdown of his parents marriage, which was closely interwoven with the political drama of Indira Gandhi’s rise to power and the Emergency she imposed.

“The Story of Indian Business Series” edited by Gurcharan Das @ Rs.399/- each.
Titles in the Series:
• ‘Merchants of Tamilakam’ by Kanakalatha Mukund
How did the Tamil merchant become India’s first link to the outside world?
• ‘Arthashastra’ by Thomas R. Trautmann
What is the secret of creating and sustaining wealth?
• ‘The East India Company’ by Tirthankar Roy
How did the East India Company change the way in which business was conducted in India?
By editing the original texts and answering these questions Gurcharan Das has successfully portrayed big ideas that have shaped business in South Asia.

“Balasaraswati: Her Art & Life” by Douglas M Knight Jr. @ Rs.599/- (pgs 325)

This book is a gripping account of the hereditary system of transmission in the performing arts through the biography of one of India’s greatest dancers, T. Balasaraswati. It illuminates many of the important issues associated with the emergence of Bharata Natyam in twentieth-century India in both its pre- and post-independence manifestations. The author unfolds many layers of the personal, social, artistic, national and international aspects of T. Balasaraswati’s life. This is a must-book for all those interested in Indian dance, music and cultural history.

“What Went Wrong and Why” by Kiran Bedi @ Rs.399/- (pgs 334)

The victims of society’s atrocities gather courage and find their voice to narrate their stories. These heart-rendering narratives bring alive the pain, the agony, the trauma and the humiliation suffered by the victims in their day-to-day life. This volume provides a revealing insight into the social and economic maladies that adversely affect present-day society in areas such as domestic problems, women’s issues, police harassment, addiction, juvenile matters and crime. The book also emphasizes that hope is not lost and we can take the appropriate actions to change our social problems.

“Urban Shots” by Paritosh Uttam @ Rs. 145/- (pgs 222)

This book offers a collection of wonderful carefully picked stories that talk about different aspects of Urban Life varying from relationships, lifestyles, love, depression, domestic Violence, longing and friendship. Turn the pages enjoying and evoking the urban spirit in this book keeping aside all preconceived notions, clichés and any emotional baggage you may have!

“The Other Side: Redefining Bharat” edited by Dominic Emmanuel, Francis Gonsalves and John Dayal @ Rs.495/- (pgs 211)

The essays written in this book by eminent authors like Mani Shankar Aiyar, Ambrose Pinto and Mark Tully focus on stark realities which India currently faces. This book looks at the traumas and shortcomings of Bharat while celebrating the achievements of India, juxtaposing narrative with some sharp questioning of the difference the nation’s successive government’s have made in the life of the people or failed to make! These essays draw roadmaps that India could follow for a brighter tomorrow!

“The Forest of Stories (Mahabharata Series Book One)” by Ashok K. Banker @ Rs.295/- (pgs 350)

From the Internationally acclaimed author of the Ramayana and Krishna Coriolis series comes another compelling book The Forest of Stories. Deep in the haunted jungle of Naimishavan, Suta a traveler reads out the epic narrative poem called the Maha Bharat to the ashram he has reached. As the night wears on the tales get darker, Suta can feel countless ghostly beings beyond the shadows of the flickering oil lamp, the restless souls of many millions butchered in the climactic war. Based on the original shlokas with an action-packed narration and vivid descriptions that give the reader the feel of a 3D Surround Sound experience!

“Shakti: Real- life stories Celebrating Women Power” by Maloy Krishna Dhar @ Rs.325/- (pgs 381)

Shakti is an exciting anthology which showcases 14 crisp and wonderful stories about varied women whom the author, Maloy Dhar, met during as he grew up. The author delves deep into his labyrinth of his sensitive chords and tries to encrypt the heroic stories of these women. All these stories are as varied as the women themselves and depict how these women fight their way out from the situations they encounter. From portraying the undying love of his friends from college days, to the harrowing account of a riot victim, a famous starlet’s fight for her real identity, the author has woven a beautiful tapestry which throws abundant light on the foundation of all creations- Shakti.

“Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy who became Legend” by Luca Caioli @ Rs.299/- (pgs 311)

Still only 24, Lionel Messi is on course to become the greatest footballer of all time. The 2009 and 2010 FIFA World Player of the Year, he is fast, elusive and mesmerizing. Luca Caioli draws on numerous exclusive testimonies to tell Messi’s story: his parents and extended family; his coaches; Frank Rijkaard and Zambrotta from Barcelona and many other players from Argentina and Manchester City. In the final chapter of this book Messi himself sizes up his own life.

“The Prisoner of Paradise” by Romesh Gunesekera @ Rs, 550/- (pgs 389)

It is 1825, and the age of slavery is coming to its messy end. Under the surface there is growing unease when Lucy, the protagonist arrives in Mauritius- this island paradise poised between Africa and India to live with her Aunt and Uncle. For everyone on the Island, a devastating storm is coming… Can they survive it? Put your Ear to the pages of this book and you can almost hear the Ocean whisper!

“No Country For Women” by Taslima Nasreen @ Rs. 325/- (pgs 301)

This book is a collection of Taslima Nasreen’s essays which revolt against the status of women in this man-made world. The author says that there is no place which belongs to women and hence they have to fight for every inch of ground to get their rightful place. Her fans laud her acuity of observation, sharpness of presentation and boldness of articulation. They are running fan clubs and blogs in her name of which even she is unaware. Even though critics consider her to be a misandrist, she boldly poses arguments like, ‘Who is guilty? Men or Patriarchy? You cannot say that men are good but patriarchy is bad’.

‘Between Democracy and Nation: Gender and Militarisation in Kashmir’ by Seema Kazi @ Rs.375/- (pgs 222)

Focusing on the militarization of a secessionist movement involving Kashmiri militants and Indian military forces in Jammu and Kashmir this book examines the relationship between state military processes at the national level and social transformations at the local/societal level. Seema Kazi underlines why militarism has failed both to ensure security for the state or security and justice for Kashmiris.

‘The Persistence of Caste’ by Teltumbde @ Rs.200/- (pgs 192)

While the caste system has been formally abolished under the Indian Constitution, according to official statistics, every eighteen minutes a crime is committed on a Dalit. This book uses the shocking case of Khairlanji, the brutal murder of four members of a dalit family in 2006, to explode the myth that caste no longer matters. Teltumbde demonstrates how caste has shown amazing resilience - surviving feudalism, capitalist industrialization and a republican Constitution- to still be alive and well today, despite all denial, under a neo-liberal globalization. Through this book the author has created a solid corpus of work that bears witness to the degradation of Indian democracy, and to the capacity of Indian socialism.

Other new books:

“Bali and the Ocean of Milk” by Nilanjan P Choudhury @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 306)
“Grandma’s bag of Stories” by Sudha Murthy @ Rs. 199/-
“Her piece of Sky” – Contemporary Hindi Stories by Deepa Agarwal @ Rs. 295/-
‘The Scattered Leaves of my Life: An Indian Nationalist Remembers Saraladebi Chaudhurani’ (Translated and edited by Sikata Banerjee) @ Rs. 500/- (pgs 195)
‘Writing Indian History: A View from below’ by Achuthan M Kandyil @ Rs.700/- (pgs 448)
‘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)
“Mindfulness: A Practical Guide” by Tessa Watt @ Rs.199/- (pgs 216)
“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)
“Take Charge! - Building an Entrepreneur Mindset” by Gaurav Marya @ Rs.295/- (pgs 199)
“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

Midnite Sale and Celebrations !

Hi all,

Greetings of Gudi Padwa, Ugadhi, Sindhi New Year!!!! May the New Year be prosperous and joyous for all of you and your families.

Thank you for your great response to our Sale.. Many of you timing your work hours to synchronise with our happy hours  Makes us happy too!

And for all those of you who have not yet found the time, yes, there’s happy news for you too. Sat, 24th March is the last day of our Sale, and we will have happy hours from 10pm to 12 midnight. So, be there for our Midnight Sale, on Sat, 24th March when the Store will be open way past our normal working hours. And yes, there will be freebies too!


And please make time for us in the evening hours of 28th March, Wednesday when we actually complete our ten years. It’s been a long journey for us, and for many of you who have been a part of this magnificent journey for large parts of time. Do join us for the mega celebrations at the Store on Wed, 28th March.

For us behind the scenes in twistntales, it has been a joy and pleasure to connect with folks like you and build relationships and understand your book needs, both for you and your kids.

And our model of working mainly with students has been unique and extremely rewarding. Tnt-ians are now all over, accomplished in their respective fields and continue to stay in frequent touch or visit. You will see many of them on Wednesday, the 28th. All of us share wonderful memories of working together and twistntales has had the pleasure of handing over the “first salary cheque” to almost all these students. That these students have done brilliantly both in academics and in the real world is a matter of great pride and joy.

Many of these students are now returning “home” to join us in our party time.

Of them, Reshma Valliappan is one of them, who is truly a creative genius. Reshma is creating a unique graffiti abstraction on our shutter, which is a delight to see. We have been updating the progress on face book on a daily basis. For those who have not seen it on fb, you are most welcome to the Store before/ after Store working hours to see the shutter. We are sure that your kids and you can identify numerous characters on the shutter!

Books are not or have not been a profitable business. When you are faced with a scenario of bookstores closing down around the world, what is it that wants us to go on? Because we have you! Bookstores are a reflection of the times and cultures we live in.

Over time, twistntales has created a niche for itself and is an articulation of the “space” that we crave for. A safe place in the neighbourhood where you can be you, and we can be we. Some conversation, some activity, some re-charging. Something fresh, a liberal thought, a protest activity, a space for disconnects to connect. Yes, we have become a little more than a bookstore and it is your recognition and support for all these activities that makes us feel wanted and supported and gives us renewed energy to carry on.

Sometimes, when we think back and see how long ten years has been, well:

How come we have a hotmail id? Well, then there were only two! Yahoo or Hotmail! how come we have a yahoo group ? Well, msn didn’t have groups and google wasn’t born!

Do you remember a time when there was no google? Well, we have been around from before that?

Do you remember an Aundh with no DAV, no petrol pump, no Bonsai and no Crossword? Well, we have been around from before that!

In many things, we have been ahead of our times. Whether it was our mailer service, which is personally written and sent through yahoo groups or creating a net based book club. Long before Ecommerce became “happening”, our mailers through your inbox allowed you to select books and respond though mail. But we have been slow to allow freedom of purchasing on the net. Soon we shall have all books on the net, and give you the flexibility to browse from home and place orders with us.

We at twistntales feel robust and look to the future with confidence. Currently, we have no plans of adding more outlets anywhere. We prefer to stay small but do a good job. From the numerous responses that we receive from you, we know we are on the right track!

Thank you again for your support!

From the team at,

twistntales

You Can’t Take What We Have! No Way!

This is the third burglary attempt at twistntales, and luckily for us, unsuccessful! In the last ten years, we have learnt our lessons, and inspite of the burglars moving from Plan A to Plan B to Plan C, they have not been successful. Tell–tale signs of every plan in evidence!

What is it they want from us? Books? I will gladly give away free, if they want to read! Money? We don’t have any! Our Ethos, values, love for books, people, brand? Try as hard as you might, you won’t be able to take that away!

Our Mood? For a little while, maybe! Even Yashoda, our maid says, “Mood-uch Karaab kele!” That’s the spirit – our folks keep smiling – you can’t take away that from us!

Diwali Hamper of new books !!

Hi all,

First of all, a big thank you to all of you who joined us for the Saraswati Puja on Dusherra day at the Store.

As school vacations begin and the festive spirit catches on, we at twistntales are ready and well stocked up in all sections. Do pay your favorite bookstore a visit and stock up your reading treasures for the Diwali break!

Lots of new books also happening in the next two weeks – the Steve Jobs (God bless his soul) book, the new Grisham thriller, a brand new book in the Wimpy kid series, the Sons of Neptune book in the Heroes of Olympus series (by Percy Jackson), “Inheritance” in the Eldest/ Eragon series by Christopher Paolini series – make sure you have your monies saved for these books! Do keep in touch for more frequent updates on our facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=710923194

Apart from Chetan Bhagat, a lot has already happened in the past couple of weeks, Julian Barnes, “The Sense of an Ending” which won the Booker 2011 this week, all already in the Store. A few have been reviewed below.

Twistntales will be celebrating Diwali on 25th Oct, Tuesday evening at the Store and you are most welcome to join us. We will then be closed from 26th Oct (wed) to 31st Oct (mon). We will be open for business as usual from 1st Nov. The last couple of months have been tough on us (we are short staffed) and we had to keep the store closed on some afternoons. Going forward, Nov and Dec, we will be open full day as earlier. So feel free to drop in anytime.

Many of you know the many students who have interned with us in the past 10 years. Most of them join us in the first year of college, after 12th class, and stay with us during the first two years of graduation. When they leave, they take with them more than just the money we pay them. Many of them are equipped with basic managerial skills to start work as junior execs in the corporate world.

Lijya is one such person. She completes a year with us this month, and has earned her spurs to be our “Star of the Month” for Oct 2011. She has single handedly supported the operations of the Store, inspite of her own hectic college schedules and exams, all very willingly and with a smile. Kudos to her and she surely is an example to many youngsters on how to manage what you want to do without compromising too much on other things. Do visit the Store and congratulate her for her efforts :-)

Now on to new books:

Socio Eco

“Water: Asia’s New Battleground” by Brahma Chellaney @ Rs.699/- (pgs 386)

The battles of yesterday were fought over land. Those of today are over energy. But the battles of tomorrow may be over water. Nowhere is the danger greater than in water distressed Asia. Asia is home to many of the world’s great rivers and lakes, and the potential for conflict is further underscored by China’s unrivalled global status. Brahma Chellaney, one of India’s leading strategic thinkers from the Centre for Policy Research, presents a pioneering study of Asia’s murky water politics and the relationships between freshwater, peace and security.

“Capitalism 4.0: The Birth of a New Economy” by Anatole Kaletsky @ Rs.399/- (pgs 423)

Has the Global Financial Crisis ruined Businesses, Banks, and Nations and left you distraught? Is the Capitalist system doomed? If you think yes, then well ‘think’ again with this eye opening book by Anatole Kaletsky who explains how this crisis has contributed to the evolution of a stronger capitalist model- refreshed and reinvented; all set to take-off again! Tracing the development of capitalism through three distinct historical phases, Anatole Kaletsky shows us how these transitions, threatening though they may have been; have actually acted as a catalyst fueling Capitalism to emerge stronger, sharper and superior yet again!

Science

“The Magic of Reality: How we Know what’s really True” by Richard Dawkins @ Rs.1099/- (pgs 271) (Illustrated by Dave McKean)

Have you ever wondered what things are made of? Or for that matter ‘What is the Sun?’ The answer to these questions and much more is right here in this book and is sure to leave you amazed, dazzled and feeling inspired! With explanations of space, time and evolution this book presents the real story of the World around us capturing minds of young adults, adults and octogenarians alike! It is scientific reality spiced with magic and is simply wonderful!

“Knocking on Heaven’s Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking illuminate the Universe and the Modern World” by Lisa Randall @ Rs.999/- (pgs 442)

One of the most illuminating Science Books in years, Knocking on Heaven’s Door explains with wit and clarity the latest ideas in physics and cosmology. It tells of the aims of the biggest and most expensive machine ever built: the Large Hadron Collider, the enormous particle accelerator which contains within it the hottest and coldest spot in the Galaxy and features the most powerful supercomputer system of all time. Recounting the thrilling progress in our understanding of the universe and examining the role of risk, creativity, uncertainty, beauty and truth in Scientific Thinking ‘Lisa Randall’ leaves our minds sparked!

Personalities

“Controversially Yours” by Shoaib Akhtar @ Rs.499/- (pgs 280)

Chuuck- Chuuck! : It’s the Rawalpindi Express, with his take on the Game of Cricket, on his Peers, on the fraught tussles between bowlers and batsman and the institutions that control the Sport, including the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board. From the early days of his Struggle to the 2011 World Cup, this is Shoaib’s story in his own words, straight from the heart; making some headlines!

“Bishan: Portrait of a Cricketer” by Suresh Menon @ Rs.299/- (pgs 236)

The name Bishan Singh Bedi conjures up a picture of India’s legendary spin quartet of the 1970’s and here is a fine study of the Connoisseur by none other than India’s well known sports writer Suresh Menon! The biography covers Bedi’s incredulous magic with the ball, his forthright and outward character as well as his clashes and controversies! This is a remarkable portrait leaving no stone unturned!

Inspiration

“The Novice: A remarkable Story of Love and Truth” by Thich Nhat Hanh @ Rs.450/- (pgs 144)

Zen master, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh retells here an ancient Vietnamese Folk Tale. The Story of Kinh- a devoted student and diligent worker at the temple monastery, whose fate, will transform our lives and offer hope is waiting to enlighten you! Read and be inspired!

“The Animator’s Survival Kit: A Manual of Methods, Principles and Formulas for Classical Computer Games, Stop Motion and Internet Animators” by Richard Williams @ Rs. 1295/-

This definitive working manual on animation from the triple Academy Award winning Director of Animation ‘Richard Williams’ provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz needs! Illustrating his points with hundreds of drawings the book is a standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students and fans!

Food:

“Jamie’s Great Britain: Over 130 Reasons to Love Our Food” @ Rs.899/- (pgs 407)

So here is Jamie; wanting to share with you the real essence of British Food, done properly! With 130 of his favorite recipes; some indisputable classics, some versions of classics and others made up by simply picking from the great bounty of regional produce, Jamie’s Great Britain is simply Tempting! Come Indulge!

“Good Food Good Living” by Karen Anand @ Rs.250/- (pgs 188)

The Foodie’s Bible is here; set to satiate the palate of even the most exacting connoisseur. So get set to discover the stories behind those delightful recipes, along with their rich history, with the all important health angle of the food you eat with Karen Anand who brings it out uniquely with her very own original techniques! Slurp!

“Awakening: The Story of the Bengal Renaissance” by Subrata Dasgupta @ Rs.299/- (pgs 480) (History)

Here is a gripping, well researched narrative about the Bengal Renaissance recounted through the lives of its players from Rammohun Roy to Rabindranath Tagore. Well begun with a chronology, ‘Awakening’ tells with colour, drama and passion transporting you into that Golden Era of intellectual flowering!

Fiction
“Gods without Men” by Hari Kunzru @ Rs.599/- (pgs 383)

Here is a journey full with twists and turns of a handful of human lives set in the background of the Californian Dessert- a four year old autistic boy, a British Rock star on the run, a member of an extraterrestrial worshipping cult and a teenage Iraqi Refugee. Characters quite casual; yet wholly complex give Hari Kunzru’s new book that pacy, un-put-down able mysterious plot!
Hari Kunzru is the Best selling Author of ‘The Impressionist’, ‘Transmission’ and ‘My Revolutions’.

“B.T.Road/ The Hollow: Two Novellas” by Samaresh Basu @ Rs.350/- (pgs 294)
(Translated by Saugata Ghosh)

Presenting one of the stalwarts of Bengali Literature to a new readership this translation portrays two rich novellas. The first concentrates around the slum life at the jute mills of Bengal and the consequent trade union movement that grew around them. The second one is a portrayal of society and its mores through the eyes of ‘Biresh’ and his struggle to free himself from the confines of love, family, profession and politics. Absolutely Gripping!

“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller @ Rs.499/- (pgs 352)

Reviving the Heroes of Greece and the classic story of the Helen of Troy Madeline Miller has woven this narrative in a contemporary and startling fashion! The story journeys Friendship, love, fear and tests all which one holds dear!

“Far from my Father’s House: Survival is Hard in a Land where No Woman can Live alone” by Jill McGivering @ Rs.299/- (pgs 311)

After the stupendous success of The Last Kestrel, Jill McGivering is now on to her second novel, on a terrain she knows best. As BBC’s senior news correspondent with assignments in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she is best placed to write on this region with some level of intimacy. It shows again with “Far from my father’s house” which is based in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. Touchingly written and achingly told, this is one of those books that give you an insight into what havoc can be caused if we let extremist elements control our politics.

Young Adults

“The Secret Diary of the World’s Worst Cook” by Subhadra Sen Gupta @ Rs.199/- (pgs 163)
By stumbling upon the secret diary of the world’s Worst Cook, discover how Rohin a boy of fifteen who wants nothing to do with Science realizes what it is that he wants to do with his own life. In a family full of MSc- ies, PhD-ies and Doctorates who have taken it for granted that Rohin is to take ‘the Science Stream’ after class ten, come be a part of Rohin’s journey of self discovery; unearthing on the way some hilarious stories of spotted eggs, lots of khanna and other culinary disasters!

“Really Daft Ideas” by D.I Saster @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 157)

I am sure that you shall roll off onto the floor laughing when you set your humble hands onto this book! ‘Really Daft Ideas’ is just Hilarious! Some ideas that should never have made it further than the half witted minds they originated from are here to make you laugh out loud and cringe!

“Stage a Poetry Slam” by Marc Kelly Smith with Joe Kraynak @ Rs.399/- (pgs 275)

Well its showtime! And ‘Stage a poetry Slam’ explains how to get the stage prepared for groups both large and small! Covering everything from finding an appropriate Venue, to Lighting and Sound, managing Performers and getting Publicity; this book puts it all together proficiently coming from the Father of Poetry Slam himself- ‘Marc Kelly Smith’!

“Take the Mic: The Art of Performance Poetry Slam and the Spoken Word” by Marc Kelly Smith with Joe Kraynak @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 295)

If you have ever climbed up the stage and struggled with the words in your mouth or felt apprehensive staring at that mic; fret not. As it’s here! - Your book, which will teach you everything you need to be a confident performer! From writing a powerful Poem to stage techniques ‘Take the Mic’ is carefully filled with lots of insider tips, backstage advice and tons of examples of slam poems that will surely wake an Audience and leave you inspired!

Other new books at the Store:

“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/-
“TOI Bloggers’ Park” @ Rs.199/-
“Beyond the MBA Hype: A Guide to Understanding and Surviving B- Schools” by Sameer Kamat @ Rs.250/-
“Celebrate Dussehra & Durga Puja: Super Sories, Fab Folktales, Myths and Legends” @ Rs.195/-
“Revolution 2020 – Love, Corruption Ambition” by Chetan Bhagat @ Rs. 140/-
“The Best of Cadbury Bournvita Quiz Contest: 1000 Quiz Questions, 100 Fun Facts!” by Derek O’ Brien @ Rs.175/-
“Doing Business in India” by India Briefing (Dezan Shira and Associates)” @ Rs.299/-
“Constant Craving: What your Food Cravings mean and How to Overcome them” by Doreen Virtue @ Rs.350/-
“Time Riders: The Eternal War” by Alex Scarrow @ Rs.299/-
“The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills” by Heather Brewer @ Rs.250/-
“How did That Happen: Holding People Accountable for Results, the Positive, Principled Way” by Roger Connors and Tom Smith @ Rs.550/-
“The Obamas: The Untold Story of an African Family” by Peter Firstbrook @ 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 3rd Alternative: Solving Life’s Most Difficult Problems” by Stephen R. Covey @ Rs.799/-
“Solving the Ice- Cream Dilemma: Help Your Child Choose the Right Career” by Steven Rudolph @ Rs.299/-
“Late for Tea at the Deer Palace: The Lost Dreams of my Iraqi Family” by Tamara Chalabi @ Rs.399/-
“Mothers Work: How to get a Grip on Guilt and make a Smooth Return to Work” by Jessica Chivers @ Rs.799/-
“Ithaca” by David Davidar @ Rs.499/- (pgs 276)
“The Fatal Eggs” by Mikhail Bulgakov, translation by Roger Cockrell @ Rs.299/-
“The Kite Runner: Graphic Novel” by Khaled Hosseini @ Rs.699/-
“The Death Relic” by Chris Kuzneski @ Rs.299/- (pgs 502)
“Shadow of the Moon” by M.M. Kaye @ Rs.399/- (pgs 614)
“Tattoo Nation: Portraits of Celebrity Body Art” by Rolling Stones @ Rs.695/-
“Garden Getaways: Havens at Home” by Michael Glassman @ Rs. 495/-
“Simply Stunning Beaded Jewelry” by Donatella Ciottic @ Rs. 495/-
“Ideas for Great Decorations” by Scott Atikson, Christine Barnes, Barbara J Braasch, Susan Lang @ Rs.995/-
“The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music: From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to Classical Folk, World and More” edited by Paul Du Noyer @ Rs.1995/-
“Pilots, Man your Planes: The History of Naval Aviation” by Wilbur H Morrison @ Rs. 995/-
“Gross Me Out: 50 Nasty projects to Disgust your Friends and Repulse your Family” @ Rs. 399/-
“The World of Flowers in Wool” by Lily Simon @ Rs.495/- (pgs 128)
“Books: The Little Black Book; A Century of the greatest Books, Writers, Characters, Passages and Events that rocked the Literary World” edited by Lucy Daniel @ Rs.995/- (pgs 800)
“Management Tips” by Harvard Business Review @ Rs.395/- (pgs 214)
“The Sense of an Ending” by Julian Barnes @ Rs.499/- (pgs 150)
“India Inside: The Emerging Innovation Challenge to the West” by Nirmalya Kumar and Phanish Puranam @ Rs.795/- (pgs 177)

Happy Reading and see you at the Store,

Wishing all of you and your families a very happy, safe and prosperous Diwali,

From the team at


twistntales

Mail sent to twistntales yahoogroup members today !

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for your greetings, mails, sms es and your heartfelt wishes for our Ninth anniversary. While we have tried to acknowledge each one of you personally, we may have missed a few… thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. You are the sole reason for our existence, simply no exaggeration here !

As we begin our 10th year of operations, we hope we can continue to bring joy to your reading, get to know you and your family better and fine tune our work processes to service you better. Our emphasis this year will be to use technology to give you a more personalized service.

For the schools, colleges and other library institutions we service, we hope to cut down our response time, give you advance intimation of forthcoming books, so that you can plan your budgeting and purchasing in a more efficient manner.

While we have a few new faces in the team, and some familiar faces move on, rest assured, we at twistntales know almost each one of you and our work practices are designed to ensure that consistency in service quality is maintained (yes, we do whisper the sacred Gayatri Mantra to all new initiates!)

Kshitija who has been our mainstay for the last few years, finished with us this month, and is happily awaiting the birth of her first child. Kshitija worked with us for three and a half years, and her absence is truly going to be felt in the team. A heart felt thanks goes out to her from the team and we wish her all the best for the future. While many of you have met Lijya (who joined us in Oct’10) and Priyanka (Feb’11), a few additional happy folks will join us in June, and we hope to rebuild a new team to take us towards our 10th birthday celebrations.

Going forward in May, we plan to keep twistntales closed in the afternoon hours, as the heat is taking a toll on both our “walk-ins” and our electricity bills! From June 1st, we will be back to normal working hours to 1030 to 2030.

A lot of new exciting books have been released in April, and we have tried to give you a few reviews. Very many exciting books are scheduled to be launched in the next few months, chief among them being, Amitav Ghosh’s sequel to Sea Of Poppies. Be with us on this exciting journey over the next few months.

List of new books:

“Beyond the Invisible Hand: Groundwork for a New Economics” by Kaushik Basu @ Rs.399/- (pgs 273) (Socio Eco)

Kaushik Basu, Economist par excellence, has written a wonderful book that will appeal to both to the professional economist, and the uninitiated. Beyond the Invisible Hand, shows us a new way forward. Free Market economics has provided us a positive surge in growth and employment opportunities, but has not been a panacea for all ailments. Contemporary Capitalism v/s Development Economics is the argument here. An excellently researched book by India’s leading economist, Kaushik Basu enlightens us on the rampant use of the free market policy which has affected the way we craft policy and engage in globalization. A read not only for economists and aspiring students of this social science but for anybody who likes to read and think!

“No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from S.India” @ Rs.599/- (pgs 643) - Socio Eco

This rich and intense collection of translated stories by Tamil and Malayalam intellectuals from the greats of Abhimani, K.A.Gunasekaran (Tamil) to Raghavan Atholi, Sunny Kavikad (Malyalam) is undoubtedly thought provoking! The powerful subject of the book- Dalit literature is brought out beautifully by the thoughtful use of colloquial language giving this book that much required unique southerly flavour! It’s the first of the two volumes, so pick up and read before the next ones out!

“Niche: Why the Market No Longer favours the mainstream” by James Harkin @ Rs.595/- (pgs 250) – Business

From “Positioning” to “Focus” to “Niche” – the markets tell us only one thing, if we care to listen. Stay focused, stay in a Niche, that’s the way the future goes. From the all-in ones, Woolworths style of functioning to a narrow area of expertise and cultivating passionate audiences around them, the twistntales way is the wave of the future! Read it to know more!

Inspiration:

“Across Many Mountains: Three Daughters of Tibet” by Yangzom Brauen @ Rs.499/- (pgs 324) - Memoirs

Born in 1980 to a Swiss father and Tibetan mother, Yangzom Brauen is an actress and political activist. This is the story of her grandmother, who as one of Tibet’s youngest nuns escaped prosecution during the Chinese invasion of 1950, and made the long tedious journey to India on foot like so many other refugees. The journey and after – in the various refugee camps in India, the arrival of Martin Brauen, who rescued both her and her daughter and took them to Switzerland, where Yangzom was born. The story makes remarkable reading, covering the geo-political scenario of the Region and the human angle to it, makes it truly inspirational.

“A Masterful Spirit: Homi J Bhabha” by Indira Chowdhury and Ananya Dasgupta @ Rs.1299/- (pgs 258) - Personalities

An inspirational account of one of India’s greatest Institution builder. Scientist, artist and Renaissance man. Recreated with the help of anecdotes, letters, incidents recounted by close friends, colleagues and family, this biography recreates the spirit of the times. The making of TIFR, the Atomic Energy Establishment – later renamed as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. (in 1966, after his tragic demise in an aircrash), the social, political scene then prevalent all weave together beautifully to create this life for many of us, who have only studied this only in history textbooks Yes, such special people did live in India!

“Mindful Eating, Mindful Life: Savour Every Moment and Every Bite” by Thich Nhat Hanh (with Dr. Lilian Cheung) @ Rs.299/- (pgs 292) – Health

Move over Rutuja Diwekar (Don’t lose your mind, lose your weight), the Guru is here. Thich Nhat Hanh brings mindfulness to our eating habits. Savouring every bite and staying in the awareness of the present moment shows us a mirror to our present habits. Focusing on the roots of these habits, we can develop a guide to transform our actions, and look forward to live a life of abundance. Packed with practical tools and a nutritional guide, this is the book for transformation if you are looking at weight-loss and a healthy body.

“I Want to Live: The Story of Madhubala” by Khatija Akbar @ Rs.399/-

The Queen of Beauty- we have for you the charming Madhubala! It’s the very first biography- truly comprehensive, authentic and captivating! (Includes a Free Vcd of Madhubala’s hit songs!) Indulge into blissfulness and relive the 50’s magic!

“K.L.Saigal: The Definitive Biography” by Pran Nevile @ Rs.299/- (pgs 218)

Firstly, Applause: A Tribute to the First singer superstar of Indian cinema! Did you know that with no formal training K.L.Saigal revolutionized the music industry with 185 of his classic records? All by just trusting his instincts! It undoubtedly takes something beyond the ordinary. This biography will unleash before you the life, music, movies and photographs of this doomed lover (from Devdas) to perfection!

Fiction

“Pigeon English” by Stephen Kelman @ Rs.499/- (pgs 263)

A boy is knifed to death on the street. And an appeal for witnesses by the police draws only silence. That is when young Harrison Opoku, a boy who has newly arrived in England from Ghana decides to investigate the murder himself endangering his mother’s fragile web of protection for family safety! Absorbing the many strange elements of a new city and fascinated by the pigeon who visits his balcony, this story is enthralling for adults and young adults alike!

“Under a Monsoon Cloud: An Inspector Ghote Mystery” by H.R.F Keating” @ Rs.299/- (pgs 238)

Is there a Sherlock Holmes for India? Yes! Presenting Inspector Ganesh Ghote from the Bombay C.I.D --solver of mysteries and agent for seeking justice! This mystery-fiction series is a delight to read with just the right amount of creepiness, suspense and tit bits of comic! H.R.Keating has authored the first nine Inspector Ghote mysteries capturing the whole intriguing world of Bombay even before visiting India with exceptional authenticity! Now that’s true brilliance- a tribute to his ability as a novelist!

“Nothing to Declare” by Rabi Thapa @ Rs.199/- (pgs 172)

This debut by Rabi Thapa is engrossing! A collection of sixteen short stories, this book has been crafted excellently throwing light on the scenes of Kathmandu’s conventional settings! While “initiation” talks about the family’s traditional ritual of initiating a young boy into manhood, Nothing to Declare tells about phoren moved Nepalese and their changing attitudes and habits. A thorough mix of a variety of subjects! An Interesting read!

“Pythogoras” by Kitty Ferguson @ Rs.499/-
“The Cousins” by Prema Raghunath @ Rs.325/-
“The Wandering Falcon” by Jamil Ahmad @ Rs.399/-
“From the Brink of Bankruptcy: the DCM Story” by Vinay Bharat- Ram @ Rs.499/-
“The Poetry of Birds” edited by Simon Armitage and Tim Dee @ Rs.399/-
“The Information” by James Gleick @ Rs.599/-
“How to Think like a Bat and 34 other really interesting uses of philosophy” by Peter Cave @ Rs.399/-
“How to be Compassionate: A Handbook for Creating inner Peace and a Happier World” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama” @ Rs.399/-
“R.D. Burman: The Man, the Music” @ Rs.399/-
“9th Judgement” by James Patterson @ Rs.299/-
“The Gatecrasher” by Sophie Kinsella writing as Madeleine Wickham @ Rs.399/-
“Playing with Fire: Tales of an Extra Ordinary Girl” by Gena Showalter @ Rs.299/-
“The Pregnant Widow” by Martin Amis @ Rs.325/-
“Switch: How to change things when change is hard” by Chip & Dan Heath” @ Rs.399/-
“Bad Ideas? An Arresting History of our Invention” by Robert Winston @ Rs.425/-
“Vengeance of Ravana: Book Seven of the Ramayana” by Ashok K Banker @ Rs.299/-
“Annexed: The Incredible story of the boy who loved Anne Frank” by Sharon Dogar @ Rs.299/-
“The Ascent of Man” by Jacob Bronowski @ Rs.450/-
“Goddess of the Rose: A Goddess Summoning Novel” by P.C.Cast @ Rs.350/-
“Good Business: Leadership, flow and the making of meaning” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi @ Rs.395/-
“The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party” by Alexander McCall Smith @ Rs.595/-
“How to Destroy the Universe and 34 Other Really Interesting Uses of Physics” by Paul Parsons @ Rs.399/-
“Justin Bieber: Our World” by Millie Rowlands @ Rs.350/-
“The Limca Book of Records: Sports Achievers Special” @ Rs.400/-

Happy Reading and see you at the Store,

From the happy team at

twistntales

Students at twistntales !

We have always had students working in the evenings. They bring their joy and energy and really perk us up.

We also have summer trainees ... we take them after Class 12. But this year, we have had parents and kids asking for "something to do" "you don't have to pay us" ! Cute ! Some of them as young as Class 6 !

But no, we will take them after they are 18, and we will make them work ! and we will pay them !

Read a related story covered by DNA here.

Happy 9th birthday celebrations !

Happy Birthday !




Priyanka, Kshitija and Jahnavi




twistntales kids !




Are u happy today ?




Shama, Kshitija and Madhavi




People love us !




Flooded with good wishes !




If wishes were horses ....




Our first customer nine years back !




Gifts for tnt !




Tia and Tripuri




Spiky !




Jahnavi and Anushree




Cheers to 9 years of fun !

Book Launch, "Flute in the Forest"

Leela Gour Broome was excited, so were we with her first book ! Deepak Dalal, our chief guest almost didn't make it - had a flat tyre, driving in from khadakwasla ... but the numerous fans of Nature Trails (we are one too !) and the kids who are grown up, and the kids who are now 12 years - all of us had a real rocking time !

The book too is beautiful. If you love the forests and haven't read this one, pick it up ! We were so glad to be launching the book !

Check out www.fluteintheforest.blogspot.com

Thank you, donors !

We have had a great X'mas party at Sassoon Hospital Paediatric ward on Sun, 19th Dec.

Some song and dance, some magic and loads of gifts ! This was made possible, thanks to the wonderful support and generous donations from many of you, our customers. That twistntales is a community bookstore was made amply evident by so many of your spontaneous gestures of handing over toys, woollens, crayons, games, story books! And of course, all those cheques that came in for the medical equipment. The hospital authorities were overwhelmed by the funds that were raised. A big thank you !

List of Donors :

1.Mrs. Uma Sarathchandran (currently in California)
2.Mrs. Karabi Dutta, Aundh
3.Mrs. Pinal Pandya, Aundh
4.Mrs. Suchita Basu, Baner
5.Mr. Raghu Kulkarni, US
6.Mrs. Gomathi Vishwanath, Mumbai
7.Ms. Avleen Garcha, Aundh
8.Mrs. Sonia Garcha, Aundh
9.Mrs. Prabha Chary, Aundh
10.Mrs. Renu Mahtani, Aundh
11.Mrs. Romy Bedi, Aundh
12. Ms. Shama Lahiri, Mumbai
13.Mrs. Kshitija Bhuwad, Sinhagad Road
14.Mrs. Bani Chaudhuri, Baner
15. Ms. Tripuri Godbole
16. Ms. Gauri Sarjine

And for all those who couldn't make it, thankyou for your encouraging words and letters from Dr. Meera Oke in Ireland to Sarathchandran Aunty in the US. Lots of photographs have been put up in our facebook page, twistntales, Aundh.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=255124&id=710923194&l=f3ae842e8f

Check it out !

A BIG THANK YOU AGAIN ! AND WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR !

twistntales students become achievers !

Tia joined twistntales in her XIIth class and worked her afternoons /evenings spoiling our customers with her book choices.

Now, a journalist, she holds her first published work in "Chicken Soup for Indian Father's Soul"

Navratri and Saraswati Puja

Navratri and Saraswati Puja are always special to us in twistntales. One, because it celebrates learning and the victory of good over evil.

This year, with the combination of CWG games, we decided to run a special feature on Indian Women
Athletes, both past and present. Madhavi did a fine job of digging out info and confirming the facts. It culminated in the Saraswati Puja yesterday.

It's Weed's budday!

Dear Weed,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you and despite everything, we think you're pretty great.

Now, where's the party?????

Congratulations, Srikant and Anushree and welcome Gauri

Often, we have "our" kids in twistntales, growing up, moving out and doing us proud. For many, it's a first job ..... I have had the pleasure of handing over "first salary" to many of the college students or post-college students who intern with us !

These students move on to other towns, take on "real-life" jobs, but keep in touch, and become part of the tnt family for ever. A lot of affection stays on both sides.

Anushree interned with us.... a couple of years ago, just after her 12th class. Even then, as now, she struck me as one of the most focussed, clear, discplined and with a lot of application in her. This morning she called, to say she has cleared Inter CA. She surely is on her way to becoming a ranker. She's much too young to be attempting her finals, she needs to be finishing articleship first. But come May 2011, I am hoping that we will have a full fledged CA. Am proud of you, Anushree, now you know how those 5am classes that u went to, directly from sleepovers, where others slumbered till noon ... paid off. Keep it up, Good Luck.

Srikanth worked evenings at the Store .... At one point of time, he would have been a MSc Physics. Till fate intervened. tnt came by, then content writing.... And soon he was one of the most popular voices on Radio Mirchi ! Yes, its the same RJ srikant on "bumper to bumper". But though he moved on in life, he didn't lose his "connect" with tnt. He continues to be our Santa, year after year, every Christmas.

twistntales celebrates christmas in Sassoon Hospital, in the pedeatric ward, with the children. All children, theirs and ours have a song and dance party, with lots of impromptu performances from both sides. But, for children who are unable to get out of bed to come to the Sassoon Hall, Santa visits them in the ward. This includes the infectious diseases ward, the thalesemia ward and the ICU. Our Santa never flinched. Not even once. Whether it was to hug parents, who fell at his feet at the ICU, or having a smile for babes in arms, Srikanth has done what it takes to spread joy at X'mas.

Srikanth married Gauri on 22nd Jan in bby and today he celebrates with dinner in Pune. Congratulations, Sri and Gauri, may this be the start of a long lovely innings.... Good luck and best wishes. Welcome to the family, Gauri !

Our Little Santa @ twistntales !

For Shibani

Bangles

Hush, she says

It’s my day,

and I don’t want noise

Can’t you stop your clinking?

But they won’t listen

Green and gold and red

She pushes them down

One by one

Carefully

They gleam

Circle her wrist

Cool againstHer warm pulse

Like love

Glass, silver and gold

She holds up her arm

Runs a finger down

The bunch

They move

Against her skin

Restless

Impatient

Each time she moves

They remind her

That she is changed

Ever more intrinsically

That on this day

They are with her

Holding her

I wish I could've been there...

To the "near perfect" couple

Best wishes for all the joys of a lovely wedded life ! From all of us here at twistntales.

To our dear Shibani and Umesh