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

'Mark of Athena' will have to wait..

'Mark of Athena' shall not be releasing tomorrow unfortunately. There has been some mess up folks. And boss just got this message.
The wait shall be longer..
The distributor does not mention a date yet.
Hold your breath. Keep your fingers crossed.

And be assured that the team @ twistntales will let you know the date as soon as they know!

Thus the minions will have to wait for the next opportunity to do their bookworm deliveries!
A little disappointed the smiles will continue! :-)

Oh how for the mark of Athena!

I have moved on from the shop. Physically but my mind she’s still very much there.

Whenever I go back to the shop to meet tntians or have phone conversations with my tnt friends and boss at tnt, believe me, each time (in all honesty), each time I am left amazed with the new projects they undertake/ or a new quirk/ or a new face/ or a new event/ or a different more efficient and creative way of doing something old!
This place just reinvents itself every time!
And the awesome ‘new’ which has caught my attention this time is simply so extraordinary that I just had to sit down and write this out over here.

‘Mark of Athena’ the 3rd book in the Heroes of Olympus series is releasing tomorrow. (Drum roll! Hurrah!)
And the shop has planned to take a 3 day break for diwali starting tomorrow. Damn it!

But oh no-no (nodding head many times), we shall certainly not disappoint our Rick Riordan fans!

The Book is just a call away like pizza or biryani. It shall be delivered to you dear fan at the twistntales gate within 10 mins with a free smile and lots of enthusiasm!:-)

So Run, Run to the gate of the shop tomorrow and call right away! The twistntales minions will bring you the book at once with some wind in their hair and of course their sunny smiles!

Truly the neighbourhood bookshop! I love their resolve, the faithfulness!
How incredibly tnt has worked around this! I am just amazed.

Happy Diwali Riordan fans and everyone!
My diwali is made! Is yours?



P.S: Please read the post above this.

Children's Day, Diwali, Reading Sessions and new books !

Hi all,



Thank you for your magnificent response for the street plays. Both the children of Sanskriti School and Lokayat felt encouraged by the response of the audience. And the interaction which followed the street plays was welcome and thought provoking. Check the photographs on our Facebook page!


We at twistntales feel heartened by the response to our events, and we have something lined up for Nov too! It’s been a while since we did something for young children, so we return to our core constituency, kids! On the occasion of Children’s Day, we are happy to be celebrating children’s month! We have 2 events lined up for you,



9th Nov, 12, Friday,      6.30 pm       7 to 11 years       “Rahi and the Maya Jaal”

11th Nov,12, Sunday,    11 am         Upto 6 years        “School is Cool”, “Have you seen this”



On 9th November, we have “Rahi and the Maya Jaal”

Rahi has returned to her favourite Bandipur National Park, only to find trouble. The animals and birds of this great Indian forest are under the attack of a very clever and evil poacher. What can a little girl do to help her beloved friends? Read and find out!

Rahi and the Maya Jaal is an adventure story full of jungle atmosphere, written by Rohit Nayak, and brought to life by Anusha Menon's beautiful and evocative illustrations..

Rohit is a freelance software engineer and father of two young children who love stories. He is passionately interested in environmental and social issues and enjoys bird-watching and nature. This is his first book.

Anusha Menon, a class 12 student is an artist to watch out for! Many of you will remember her as the girl who illustrated Deepak Dalal’s books, The Sahyadri Adventures. She is smart and she is talented.

Presenting Rohit and Anusha in a joint interaction with the kids. Do get your kids in the age group 7 to 11 years, and get them to hear and ask questions of both the illustrator and author.

On 11th November, Sunday, we have reading sessions for the tiny tots. Tulika books have been a long time favorite with our kid friends at twistntales. Join writer Sowmya Rajendran for a powerhouse storytelling session of School is Cool. Sunitha Thomas will be doing an animated reading of the whacky Have You Seen This?.

Our two events will be followed by a short break for Diwali. We will be closed from Tuesday,13th Nov to thurs, 15th Nov. We will reopen on Fri, 16th November for business as usual.

And for those of you who want to stock up before the Diwali break, here’s a list of new books!

New books:

‘Bullshit Quotient: Decoding India’s Corporate, Social and Legal Fineprint’ by Ranjeev Dubey @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 248)

Indians are generally wired to unquestioningly trust those who are in authority or those who we admire, even if they shamelessly scam us. In this book Rajeev C. Dubey exposes to us the bullshit that surrounds aspects of modern Indian corporate, social, political and legal life. The book offers radical and hard hitting facts of the modern world: Criminal cases are business scores being settled through intimidation. Corruption is necessary so that we may fund our government. And Brands and Trademarks are tools to scam consumers! Ranjeev Dubey is a mainstream commercial lawyer, prolific writer and public speaker. He is also a columnist for India’s leading business magazine ‘Business World’ and writes extensively on contemporary corporate, legal and political developments.

‘Lessons in Lean Management: 53 Ideas to Transform Services’ by Debashis Sarkar @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 289)

The Lean management approach which endeavors to create a profitable and agile business by focusing on what is of ‘value’ to the consumer. This technique does not only make your business profitable but also provides you with an engine for continual/constant improvement and innovation. An example of a company using Lean management is Tatas Using real life case studies and real applications of the Lean approach conducted by the author successfully, this book presents how to implement principles of Lean management and empower people. Debashis Sarkar is a global authority on Lean management and has held leadership positions in companies such as Unilever, Coca Cola and ICICI bank.

‘Days and Nights in the Heartland of Rebellion’ by Gautam Navlakha @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 247)

‘Truth, it is said, is the first casualty of war.’ The India State is at war against the Maoist, and the story of this war comes to us in adulterated version from the Indian State, where the truth is always masked with a creamy layer. Gautam Navlakha, a renowned civil liberties activist, went into the heart of Bastaar to get to know the Maoists story first hand. This book recounts his fortnight experience in the guerrilla zone where the maoist government, the Janatam Sarkar rules. Often shocking, the book reports the nature of this demonized rebellion in an excruciating manner.

‘The One World School House’ by Salman Khan @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 259)

Good quality education is undoubtedly the cornerstone of any prosperous society. However an oft raised question is ‘What is the quality of education our children are receiving and how can we improve it?’ In ‘The One World School House’ – part memoir and part social commentary – Salman Khan, founder of the world renowned ‘Khan Academy’ (an online portal that offers free educational resources for all subjects and levels) puts forth some of his revolutionary ideas about how to make free quality education available to people from all backgrounds and how to effectively integrate technology and learning. Thought-provoking and revolutionary, this inspiring book will transform the way you perceive the modern education system and the role technology will play in shaping it.

‘In Search of Oneness: The Bhagavad Gita and the Quran through Sufi Eyes’ by Moosa Raza @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 240)

'So steep has been this man-made schism that we forget that all religions teach unity'. 'In Search of Oneness' retired IAS officer and Padma Bhushan awardee, Moosa Raza, explores the common threads that connect all religions. Citing examples both from the Geeta - which defines 'daan' as a gift given selflessly and without expectation of return - and the Quran - which carries the concept of voluntary giving to an obligatory tax called 'zakat' - he effectively shows that ultimately all religions teach the same values of brotherhood and unity. His insightful observations are supported by his own experiences and encounters with people practising these values. Thought-provoking and contemplative, this is a book that will urge you to reexamine your own faith and beliefs.

‘Joseph Anton’ by Salman Rushdie @ Rs. 799/- (pgs 636)

‘Joseph Anton’ is the combination of the name of two of his favorite authors which Salman Rushdie chose as his alias during the time he was forced underground due to the fatwa issued by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini. His Crime-he wrote a novel ‘The Satanic Verses’, which was accused of being ‘against Islam, the Prophet and the Quran.’ As a large controversy broke out Rushdie struggled for 9 years as he traveled from house to house with his family, a constant protection of an armed police team and above all the threat and the fear of murder. In this memoir, through his struggle Rushdie brings out the crucial issue of ‘freedom of speech.’ Rushdie believes that memory is selective hence to write this memoir he entrusted his records spanning 40 years in the form of floppy disks, tattered diaries, faded faxes packed in hundreds of boxes to a leading research institute in Atlanta to organize a digital archive so that he could access it all easily through a master index. Honest and compelling this book is a story of ‘how one stumbles and learns to fight back.’

‘Jamie Oliver’s Meals in Minutes’ by Jamie Oliver @ Rs. 1515/- (pgs 287)

Cooking maestro Jamie Oliver’s latest book, ‘Meals in Minutes,’ offers a brand new take on how to achieve a quality meal literally in minutes! According to Jamie all one needs is half an hour, a well-organized kitchen and lots of enthusiasm. In this beautifully illustrated and painstakingly researched book he provides 50 exquisite meals from around the world – from Curry Rogan Josh to Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca and Thai Red Shrimp Curry – that will turn any ordinary day into a celebration of food. The step by step instructions in the book make it ideal for beginners and more experienced cooks alike.

‘Sounding Off’ by Resul Pookutty with Baiju Natarajan @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 408)

A village boy from Kerala, whose resilience and conviction drove him to the most advanced cinematic sound technology; from there to the struggle in the ruthless film world and finally to international renown! This is an inspiring autobiography of Resul Pookutty, India’s best known sound designer and audiographer, won an Oscar for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. Already a bestseller in its original Malayalam script, this book is a celebration of a life in Indian Cinema industry and the rise to glory.

‘Sethji’ by Shobhaa De @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 290)

After ‘Starry Nights’ based on Indian Cinema Industry Shobhaa De next book, ‘Sethji’ is a tale of power set in India’s political ground. Sethji a crucial coalition partner in the government, is shrewd, ruthless and a man who refuses to play with moral codes or lose a single battle. His intelligence and status is challenged by two of the country’s most powerful men team up to destroy him. With no one to trust but Amrita, his daughter-in-law, Sethjis ambition, greed and his willingness to trust is tested. Shobhaa De latest novel exposes and shocks the reader with the dynamics of Indian politics.

Other new books:

‘31: A Thriller’ by Upendra Namburi @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 372)

‘Playing to Win’ by Saina Nehwal @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 118)

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

‘N-W’ BY Zadie Smith @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 295)

‘Mastani’ by Kusum Choppra @ Rs. 195/- (pgs 274)

Enjoy your books!

Do bring your kids for the events, all reading sessions are free!

Wishing all of you and your families a very happy and safe Diwali! And may Goddess Lakshmi help us pay for LPG!

With warm regards,

From the team at,

twistntales

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

The JOY OF GIVING discounts !!

Hi all, The annual Joy of Giving week is here (2nd Oct to 7th Oct) and across the Country, a lot of voluntary effort is engaged in promoting the Joy of Giving. It is a festival of philanthropy that aims to become part of the Indian Ethos. Starting with Gandhi Jayanti, it aims to promote voluntary acts of “giving” through the giving of time, energy, resources etc. We at twistntales are familiar with many of you, our customers who are engaged in actively volunteering your services for Aakansha, Door Step School, Herrmann Gmeiner Shelter for Railway children, Kanyashaala, Sadhana, Jagruti School for Blind Girls, Sathi, etc and so many other NGOs that many of you work with or volunteer with. We at twistntales are very happy to be associated with so many of you, apart from the charities that we support, namely, The Sunshine Room at the pediatric ward @ Sassoon Hospital. Joy, is truly in the giving and to encourage and promote this activity, we are happy to give all of you discounts on all your purchases. GOOD DISCOUNTS WILL BE OFFERED ON ALL BOOKS (inside/outside) TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS. THIS WILL BE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD FROM WED, 3rd OCT to SUN, 7th OCT. Kindly inform all your friends/ family too as this is happening with short notice and we want all to share with us in this JOY OF GIVING endeavor! Hope to see you at the Store, From the team at, twistntales

If you are one, call us !

Welcome Ganesha with new books !

Hi all,

As we welcome Ganesha into our hearts, homes and our streets, here’s to all the catching up in reading that you can do! But make sure, you walk to our Store or park far ahead, our street is in a mess, and will stay that way for ten days till our public devotion leads to some sanity on our streets!

Best wishes for Ganesh Chaturthi and may Ganesha bring in joy, prosperity and happiness to all, including book lovers!

Lots of new books, including the latest books by Gurcharan Das and Salman Rushdie! Some really whacky ones and some really different. Come in and have a good look and give yourself the time to discover some absolute gems that we have here for your reading pleasure.

We in twistntales are looking for a “Booksitter” (see next post) – mainly for the afternoon hours. If interested, please call or write-in. To our last appeal, we have had 2 absolutely wonderful ladies who responded and some of you may have met them during your visits to twistntales. Hema, is a senior citizen, who comes in 3 mornings, works with a smile, and takes all payment in kind for her grandchildren  More strength to such women who step out of home, even at 70.

The other is Saira, again many of you who are regulars at our Christmas event at Sassoon will know her well. Saira volunteers at Sassoon, and now also at twistntales. Yes, twistntales is almost (!) an NGO – and soon we will be asking for unpaid volunteers!

Apart from these 2 ladies, our youngsters bringing in daily joy both to us and you, are Malhar and Richa. We have had to bid a fond farewell to Lijya, whom so many of you were fond of too! As Lijya prepares for her graduation and future studies, we are currently going strong with Malhar, and Richa who has joined us in August. Malhar is doing his Liberal Arts in Symbi and Richa is doing her BSc from FC. Between the two of them, they bring a sense of whacky fun to our evening hours at twistntales.

And now on to new books, some of which are reviewed for you,

Fiction

‘Bared to You’ by Sylvia Day @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 340)

‘Bared to You’ is the second book in the new genre popularly known as clit-lit, after the Fifty Shades of Grey series. Sylvia Day is a New York Times bestselling author and has written more than a dozen books. The book revolves around Gideon Cross- brilliant and handsome yet a person with inner demons. Eva the main character narrates the story of how she falls in love with Gideon and even after she knows his alter ego cannot escape his drug-like charm. A well-written and sexually charged romance, this book keeps you hooked just like Fifty Shades of Grey.

‘Gamble - A Dick Francis Novel’ by Felix Francis @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 418

Felix Francis is the son of Dick Francis, and heir to his stable of best-selling thrillers about the world of horse-racing. The story follows Nick Foxton’s career as a jockey being cut short by a near-fatal fall after winning the Grand National. Back at the Aintree as a spectator, Nick witnesses the assassination of his friend and colleague, Herb Kovak. Though the presses link the shooting to gangland crimes, Nick is convinced otherwise and begins investigating himself. Soon he finds himself face to face with the men who killed Herb only to realize that their next target is he! Descriptive narratives and fast-paced, ‘Gamble’ retains all properties of the original Dick Francis novels: Simple Plotted, entirely guessable and huge fun to read!

Indian Writing

‘Ships That Pass’ by Shashi Deshpande @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 136)

Marriage is a strange thing. On one hand it signifies to the world, the union of two people who will live together and have children, while on the other hand marriage is an intensely private affair. No outsider will ever know what goes on in someone else’s marriage. This is the story of Radhika, who has been engaged to someone she barely knows. As she struggles with her emotions for another man her sister, Tara dies in mysterious circumstances and her husband Shaan is arrested for murder. Originally a story in serialized format written by Shashi Deshpande in Eve’s Weekly in 1980, Ships that Pass is a meditation on the nature of love and marriage.

‘Govinda’ (The Aryavarta Chronicles Book 1) by Krishna Udayasankar @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 458)

In the war torn realm of Aryavarta emerges an unlikely hero-the cowherd turned prince- Govinda. But can he face the demons of his past and find the courage to protect the land and people he loves. A thrilling tale of power and treachery ‘Govinda’ is the first book in the ‘Aryavarta Chronicles’, a new series by the debut author Krishna Udayasankar. Neither a reinterpretation nor a retelling, this unique reconstruction of Mahabharat is a must read for all those who love Indian Fiction.

‘A Current of Blood’ by Namdeo Dhasal (translated by Dilip Chitre) @ Rs. 180/-

Namdeo Dhasal is a poet whose writing reflects vigor, rage and compassion for the oppressed dalits and for the festering innards of his city, Mumbai. He is the founder of Dalit Panther, the militant organization modeled on Black Panther, in 1972. His book Golpitha, a collection of poetry, is a landmark in Marathi literature. This book is takes us on an elegant journey to those difficult spaces of the mind over which we have build mental flyovers and hence fear to explore.

Krishna Coriolis Series by Ashok K. Banker:

Ashok K. Banker reinvents Indian Mythology and transports us to a world of cunning demons and intricate prophecies which are faced by the Protector of mankind when he was just a young mischievous cowherd.
‘Lord of Mathura’ (Book 4 - Krishna Coriolis Series) by Ashok K. Banker @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 283)
A cowherd against the King, a nephew against his uncle- Krishna returns in this witty and engaging fourth book to fulfill the prophecy and protect humankind! Catch the action that unfolds between the boy-God and the evil Lord of Mathura.
‘Rage of Jarsandha’ (Book 5 - Krishna Coriolis Series) by Ashok K. Banker @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 301)
Krishna days as a flirtatious cowherd are over, now it is time for him to rule his kingdom and face a new enemy. Catch Krishna and Balaram combining forces to fight the deadliest enemy yet in this fifth book!

‘Toke’ by Jugal Mody @ Rs. 160/- (pgs 215)

Before handling web and social media for ‘Filmfare’ and ‘Tehelka’, Jugal Mody worked in gaming. As a rule he writes to feel like a dog sticking his head out the window of a moving car. The story is about Nikhil, who while stoned, teams up with his friends, survivors and Lord Vishnu to save the world from turning undead. Mostly ‘high’ they battle zombies, crash a plane in Santacruz and undergo a lot of non-consensual kissing. Hilarious and trippy this debut novel delves into the mind and heart of true pot-heads.

‘The Purple Line’ by Priyamvada N. Purushotham @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 216)

Priyamvada’s debut novel, The Purple Line, delves into womanhood and explores the significance and intricacies revolving around the elusive ‘Purple Line’ that symbolizes pregnancy. The story is about Mrinali, a Gynecologist with Masters from London, who has returned and set up a clinic in Chennai and six women whose lives are unknowingly linked together on a journey that will make Mrinali laugh and cry and teach her the true meaning of Womanhood.

‘Maharani’ by Ruskin Bond @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 180)

We’ve read about the Queen’s in Ruskin Bonds old books. But most of the time they were either creatures of mystery, never coming out of their unreachable palaces (turned ruins in some cases) or just part of third hand stories. But this time, the queen is not mysterious, not part of some fable, and very much a real person with a real life and real fault’s. Maharani HH is a spoilt, selfish, beautiful widow of the Maharaj of Mastipur. And by her side is her friend our own Ruskin! Melancholic, wry and full of charm, Maharani is a delightful novella about love, death and friendship.

Graphic Novels:

‘The Itch You Can’t Scratch’ (A Graphic Novel) by Sumit Kumar @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 178)

This new Graphic Novel describes the life of Sumit Kumar (Author of the book and a former writer of Savita Bhabi!), born in a middle class family. From Entrepreneurship to embarrassment, this is a Honest View of the Life of a Young, Confused Man Suffering from an Acute Case of ‘The Itch You Can’t Scratch’. Insanely and extremely funny, witty and highly captivating, this new graphic gives a whole new outlook and meaning to ‘Comics’ in India. A ticking bomb of simple plots, tight satires and sarcasm to its max!

‘PAO: The Anthology of Comics 1’ @ Rs. 799/- (pgs 300)

Aliens write Science Fiction, hair burns like grass and a city sleeps under the Sleepscapes: Surreal and touching stories merge with image and word to narrate twelve graphic tales in PAO Anthology of Comics Vol 1. The graphics range from raw sketches to professional and provocative images. The anthology features many fresh authors with fresh-talent. The stories are contemplative, profound and gripping- all in all an extremely enjoyable book!

Socio Eco

‘The Curious Case of Binayak Sen’ by Dilip D’Souza @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 186)

In May 2007, Binayak Sen, a public health specialist and civil rights activist was arrested under the accusation of being involved in Naxalite activities. In December 2012, a sessions court in Raipur found him guilty of sedition and cooperating with terrorist organization and sentenced him to life imprisonment. This triggered an outburst of outrage across human rights and citizens’ groups in India and abroad. ‘The Curious Case of Binayak Sen’ boldly addresses issues of state power and individual freedom, issues that are too often censored and obscured with state propaganda. After the acclaimed ‘Roadrunner: An Indian Quest in America’ Dilip D’Souza has produced another work of genius; honest and hard-hitting.

‘The Liberals’ by Hindol Sengupta @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 311)

The Liberals is an autobiography of liberalization of India. It is a private story of a very public middle-class consumption revolution. It starts from 1991 when the Indian economy opened up to the world and unlocked a billion desires and dreams. An entrepreneur and author of two previous books on Indian Luxury Industry, Hindol Sengupta takes us on a journey through social media, Page-3 parties in Delhi, girls who impart lessons in capitalism, Bob Dylan’s jam with murderous villagers and many more unforgettable characters spawned by the needs of the world’s largest democracy. Written with innocence, knowledge and a keen understanding of life, Hindol Sengupta has touched upon the minutest details of the lives of the middle-class.

‘What Young India Wants: Selected Essays and Columns’ by Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat, that cheeky chronicler of ‘Young India’, is back with a compilation of essays and columns. The title is sure to attract markets, because it pretty much states that Bhagat is about to unlock the secrets of our hopes, desires, dreams and ambitions as the next generation of Indians. With this foray into non-fiction, his first, he showcases his spectacular ability to graze and skim the surface of many a subjects. It is here through sections on society, politics and the Youth that Bhagat gives us his opinions on the current state of things and addresses questions like ‘why is there so much corruption in India?’ and ‘Why do our students regularly commit suicide?’

History

‘From The Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against West and the Remaking of Asia’ by Pankaj Mishra @ Rs. 699/- (pgs 356)

The Victorian period, in the West was viewed as a time of confident progress, but in Asia it was a catastrophe. British colonies had spread all over Asia and had torn apart great Empires which once had formed the heart of civilization. In this period they had destroyed the Summer Palace of Beijing, humiliated the rulers of Ottoman Empire and gunned down last heirs of the Mughal Empire. Amidst all the chaos the Tsushima Battle was fought and for the first time since the Middle Ages a non-European country had defeated a European power in a great war. The war inspired many Asian countries and a remarkable group of men from across the continent began to challenge the West which ultimately led to the freedom of them all and has defined our lives today. Mishra leads the reader through the events of two centuries through the eyes of journalists, poets, radicals and charismatics who through their ideas have build the infrastructure which lie behind the Asian nations of the twenty-first century. This fascinating and highly entertaining new book will take you on a voyage of epic learning of the history of the modern world.

Science / Personalities

‘The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen’ by Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 255)

Brian Cox, professor of particle physics at University of Manchester and employee at CERN laboratory in Geneva with Jeff Forshaw, professor of theoretical physics and winner of Physics Maxwell Medal in 1999 come together to explain to us the real science behind the bizarre and mind-boggling atoms and energy that make the cosmos. The world is a strange place and through science our closest understanding of our world- so far- is quantum physics. The main question addressed is: what is quantum physics and how does it help us make sense of the universe? Written simply and with passion this book strives to teach us more about our mysterious world and reveal to us how everything that can happen does happen.

‘S. Chandrasekhar – Man of Science’ edited by Radhika Ramnath @ Rs. 350/-

To coincide with the centenary of S. Chandrasekhar, his niece Radhika Ramnath, put together this book to salute one of India’s greatest scientist. The world recognizes this Nobel Laureate as one of the most outstanding astrophysicists. She paints a picture of the greatest man as that of a caring uncle, devoted husband and a compassionate brother. The book is divided in two sections. The first section is a compilation of his most famous essays and lectures that lays before the reader Chandrasekhar’s love for science and his motherland. The second section is a string of memoirs by his family members. The added bonus is the foreword by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, whose apt words sum up the reason for reading this book, “… In a globalized world distances have shrunk, but the need for bonding is felt more urgently.

Management/ Inspiration

‘Insanely Simple: The Obsession that Drives Apple’s Success’ by Ken Segall @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 225)

For Steve Jobs simplicity was not only a religion but also a weapon. It was Apple’s obsession with simplicity that today separates Apple from other technology companies in the market, in terms of innovation, customer friendly and devoid of all complexities in their products. ‘Insanely Simple’ gives the reader an insider’s view Apple’s organization and reveals ten elements of simplicity that has driven apple’s success- which can be implemented by you to propel your own organization. Ken Segall has worked closely with Steve Jobs as ad agency creative director for NeXT and Apple. He also is the person who named the iMac!

‘Heart, Smarts, Guts and Luck: What it takes to be an Entrepreneur and Build a ‘Great Business’ by Anthony K. Tjan, Richard J. Harrington, Tsun-Yan Hsieh @ Rs. 795/- (pgs 236)

The author’s ‘Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test’ identifies entrepreneurial DNA and explains how heart, smarts, guts and luck mesh in various ‘I want to build it’ personalities. What type of a business builder are you? Hearts: vision and value driven and always look at the larger picture. Smarts: excel at analysis and strategy. Guts: focus on action. And Luck : those who are lucky understand that they are not the smartest people in the room and use their intellectual curiosity to acquire and share knowledge through networking. The authors use profiles from successful entrepreneurs to show that there are many ways to build a business- If you understand who you are. The book also provides self-awareness and tools a leader needs at every stage of business from founding to scaling and beyond.

Other new and noteworthy books:

‘Artemis Fowl and The Last Guardian’ by Eoin Colfer @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 306)
‘The Indus Intercept: In The Badlands of Balochistan every Step is a Minefield’ by Aruna Gill @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 330)
‘The Tiller of Waters’ by Hoda Barakat @ Rs. 375 (pgs 200)
‘Ending Corruption: How to Clean Up India’ by N. Vittal @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 255)
‘The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty’ Dan Ariely @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 283)
‘Swaraj’ by Arvind Kejariwal @ Rs. 99/- (pgs 175)
‘The Price of Inequality’ by Joseph E. Stiglitz @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 414)
‘Powder Room: The Untold Story of Indian Fashion’ by Shefalee Vasudev @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 332)
‘Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2013’ @ Rs. 1190/- (pgs 787)
‘The Krishna Key’ by Ashwin Sanghi @ Rs. 250/-
‘The Small Print of Success: The little details which will make BIG difference to your career’ by David Thompson @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 188)
‘Titans of History’ by Simon Sebag Montefiore @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 656)
‘The Puffin Book of 100 Great Indians’ @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 343)
‘Manga Martial Arts’ by David Okum @ Rs. 495/-
‘Blast Lab: 20 Great Science Experiments’ by Richard Hammond @ Rs. 399/-
‘Confessionally Yours’ by Jhoomur Bose @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 210)
‘Jinnah vs. Gandhi’ by Roderick Matthews @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 330)
‘Stuck on 1/Forty: A New Collection of Poems’ by Pritish Nandy @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 100)
“There is an I in Team’ by Mark de Rond @ Rs. 995/- (pgs 184)
‘The King in Exile’ by Sudha Shah @ Rs. 799/- (pgs 456)
‘The Illicit Happiness of Other People’ by Manu Joseph @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 343)
‘Days and Nights in the Heartland of Rebellion’ by Gautam Navlakha @ Rs. 299/- pgs 247)
‘The Timekeeper’ by Mitch Albom @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 226)
‘The Taming of Women’ by P. Sivakami @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 254)
‘The Book of Destruction’ by Anand @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 242)
‘The Empire of Moghul: The Tainted Throne’ by Alex Rutherford @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 438)
‘Dream New Dreams’ by Jai Pausch @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 228)
‘The Dust Will Never Settle’ by Mukul Deva @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 365)
‘Music of the Spinning Wheel: Mahatma Gandhi’s Manifesto for the Internet Age’ by Sudheendra Kulkarni @ Rs. 595/- (pgs 713)
‘How I Braved Anu Aunty & Co-founded a Million Dollar Company’ by Varun Agarwal@ Rs. 140/- (pgs 249)
‘My Husband & Other Animals’ by Janaki Lenin @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 282)
‘Close, Too Close: The Tranquebar Book of Queer Erotica’ edited by Meenu and Shruti @ Rs. 395/- (pgs 216)
‘Sexy@Sixty: Health and Beauty at Every Age’ by Namita Jain @ Rs. 200/- (pgs 202)
‘Poor Little Rich Slum’ by Rashmi Bansal and Deepak Gandhi @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 189)
‘The Chakh Le India Cookbook’ by Aditya Bal @ Rs. 395/- (pgs 157)

Happy Reading and see you at the Store,
From the team at

twistntales

Read independent publishers available at independent bookstores on Independence Day !

Hi all,

As we celebrate the closing of one of the greatest sporting spectacles and get ready for the season of the Gods in our country, here’s a look at what lovely books we have in store for you to pick up to read on your Independence Day holiday!

Some lovely, some whacky and some absolutely wow books here, some of which reviewed for you.

WOW

‘dates.sites: Project Cinema City Bombay/Mumbai’ by Madhushree Dutta & Shilpa Gupta @ Rs. 995/- (pgs 234)

‘dates.sites’ presents a timeline of the city of Bombay/Mumbai in the 20th century, anchored to its most adored public institution: cinema! The text and images have been stitched together from formal/informal, acknowledged/discarded sources, public domain or personal archives. The relationship between text and image, far from being umbilical is playfully associative making these snippets from the past of Bombay cinema an absolute WOW!

This book is under the ‘Majlis Project’, a centre for rights discourse and multidisciplinary arts initiative based in Mumbai.

‘The Obliterary Journal: Volume 1 A Blaft Joint’ comic by Straatkunst @ Rs. 695/- (pgs 269)

Here are snippets from the pool of graphic novels which ‘reign supreme’. I say this as the Obliterary journal seeks to eradicate lengthy passages of unadorned text. Instead they want to fill the world with comics, picture books, graffiti and wacky art! Come check out their awesome book and if you agree you can support them in their revolutionary mission!

‘Random: Thrills! Suspense! Romance! Gajras!’ from Twenty Onwards Media Pvt. Ltd. @ Rs 495/- (pgs 158)

India’s longest running humor anthology ‘Random’ present together for the first time ‘Simpoo’ Sodhi and Lola kutty! This new avatar (No, no references to those blue people) of Random is definitely out of titanic proportions… only an alien will not find this funny! This book contains everything humorous, lots of lola-ness and attempts to get countless more generations to abandon their responsibilities and laugh like the legend of Random laughs!

Pop Culture Graphic Novels: Pop Culture Graphic Novels are comics with a Desi twist. Some are crude, some are filled with Indian superheroes doing extreme stunts and some are even jam-packed with gooey emotions, but rest assured they all are extremely funny!

‘The Best of Quest’ Edited by Laeeq Futehally, Archal Prabhala and Arshia Sattar @ Rs. 695/- (pgs 660)

In 1954 a new magazine appeared out of Bombay with Nissim Ezekiel at its wheel. This magazine was called Quest, a magazine which was led by an ideologically free-wheeling enterprise. It survived for nearly two decades till its collapse during Indira Gandhi’s emergency. ‘The Best of Quest’ contains the most remarkable essays, poems, stories and even advertisements that appeared in the quarterly issues of the magazine. Quest was born and flourished in a time when independent thought reigned supreme. Hence, while reading passages from the book, even though it may be from a long time ago, the relevance of themes and ideas to the present world are striking. The reader is compelled to understand the ideas and visions of writers who have broadened the horizons of literature by setting a strong landmark in Indian Journalism.

Fiction/ Indian Writing

‘Pantheon’ by Sam Bourne @ Rs. 325/- (pgs 426)

In a frantic search for his wife and young son, James Zennor a brilliant young Oxford don travels through wartime England (1940), across the Atlantic and finally into the heart of America. There he stumbles upon a terrifying plot: one that could swing the balance of power in a volatile world. Now he is a man who not only is searching for his wife and children but must also save his country… In a fast paced, action-packed thriller, Sam Bourne, one of the most successful British writers, takes us on a journey where we are balancing on the edge.

‘Days of Gold and Sepia’ by Yasmeen Premji @ Rs.399/- (pgs 419)

This is a story of a penniless orphan boy born in the desert homeland of Kutch, who later grows up to fame and fortune as ‘Bombay’s Cotton King’. Set between 1857 and 1947 the book not only covers India’s struggle for Independence but introduces vibrant characters- merchant’s, maharaja’s, courtesans, soothsayers, pirates, freedom fighters and rulers of British Raj. And in the midst of these difficult times unfolds the story of Lalljee Lakha. ‘Days of Gold and Sepia’ is a gripping tale of pain of the passionate, the doom of love and human frailty. In her fiction debut Yasmeen Premji, wife of Azim Premji has already mastered the art of storytelling and reflects a rare sensitivity to the many shades of human passion and suffering.

‘Goat Days’ by Benyamin @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 255) (Ind‘Goat Days’ by Benyamin @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 255) - translations

While pursuing his dream to work in the Gulf and earn enough money to send back home, Najeeb is hurled into a grim and absurd, slave-like existence herding goats in the middle of the Saudi Desert. Tormented by his anguish to return home, Najeeb finds his solace in his companions, the goats. After much torment he plans a dangerous escape from his desert prison. Benyamin with his tender style of storytelling transforms the strange and bitter comedy of Najeeb’s life into a tale of loneliness and alienation. ‘Goat Days’ was originally published in Malayalam and instantly became a bestseller. Benyamin is one of the most brilliant writers in Malayalam literature today.

History

‘March of the Aryans’ by Bhagwan S. Gidwani @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 657)

Based on his imaginations and oral history tradition (ancient songs from prehistory which are not recorded physically but are ingrained into the traditional memory of people from Egypt, China, Tibet and many other countries) as his only source of information Bhagwan S. Gidwani author of acclaimed ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ transports us back to the dawn of civilization (8000BC). He reasons why the Aryans left India -their homeland- for foreign shores and paints a portrait of their victorious return to India. ‘March of the Aryans’ consists of over a thousand characters who wage wars, are consumed by love and who determine the rise and fall of civilizations. Through this tale of kings and poets, gods and seers, Bhawan S. Gidwani has again cast his magic and written one of the greatest historical fiction novels ever.

‘The Last Crusade: The Epic Voyages of Vasco Da Gama’ by Nigel Cliff @ Rs. 550/- (pgs 547)

The trip to India from Portugal led by Vasco Da Gama, is the longest and one of the most perilous voyages known to history. Traveling across the Indian Ocean these brave sailors discovered the fabled wealth of the East in India. But the discovery was not only at the price of facing death by storm or diseases, but also facing death in wars that were fought over six years between the Muslim ruling East and Vasco Da Gama’s small forces. In two battles that spanned over six years over the sea, ‘The Last Crusade’ narrates the story of spies, treachery and intrigues. As the East was dominated by the Mughals and it was a time when old hostilities between Christianity and Islam had intensified, hence book also explores the issue of one of the oldest religious and cultural disputes, which are even observed in present society.

‘The Second Empress’ by Michelle Moran @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 353) – Historical fiction

The courts of Napoleon have some terrible news for the empress’ family. He intends to divorce his wife of thirteen years who has failed to provide an heir and take a younger bride, an Austrian princess. For Napoleon’s sister Pauline Bonaparte, it is yet another woman stealing her brother’s attention. For his new wife, it is a horrible duty she must take on in her father’s name. Their lives weave arousing Napoleon’s history, thereby painting a vivid, colourful story!

Inspiration

‘Tubes: Behind The Scenes at the Internet’ by Andrew Blum @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 294)

Andrew Blum says that the Internet is not a concept or a culture and he says that it is certainly not a ‘cloud’. Instead it is a bunch of tubes. He explains how thousands of miles of optic-fibre across the globe, pulsing with trillions of photons of light, makes an e-mail appear just a few seconds later on the other side of the globe, after you have hit ‘send’. The book portrays Internet as you’ve never seen it before, introducing us to remarkable people who design run the internet. A ‘wow’ book which enlightens us on one of mans greatest creations in a profound style.

‘Rabbit Rap: A Fable for the 21st Century’ by Musharraf Ali Farooqi and Michelle Farooqi @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 296)

Rabbit Rap is a fable for Adults. It is set in an age when Rabbits lived in happy freedom and were the ones who ruled and tamed Nature. But some of them seeked to liberate themselves from their old ways and hence confided in Rabbit Hab, a modern head rabbit. But as Hab made changes for the better with ambition and a futuristic vision, he was faced by opposition, sabotage and other vile plots. This fable is about politics, ecology, feminism and greed for power. It is a tale relevant for our day and age.

‘Seriously Strange: Thinking Anew About Psychical Experiences’ Edited by Sudhir Kakar & Jeffrey J. Kripal @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 306)

After ‘Dreams and Dreaming’, ‘Seriously Strange’ is the second volumeof a series on ‘Boundaries of Consciousness’ which explores the uncharted territory at the end of our current psychological knowledge. Though many of us don’t believe in the ‘paranormal’, it is a topic which has intrigued us for centuries. In ‘Seriously Strange’ a group of nine people have complied some of the most baffling experiences (physical paranormal experiences) on record. Through essays, they tell us how these experiences can be broken down as an object of scientific study. They also shed light on Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud’s perceptions on the matter and recount the humorous memoir of a physicist who spent over a decade running a secret psychic spying program for the US during the Cold War. A mind-bending and extraordinary book for all those who are intrigued by questions of the ‘Paranormal’.

‘Dare to Do: For the New Generation!’ by Kiran Bedi @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 257)

Putting forth her own track record on how she converted challenges into opportunities and refused to buckle under pressure from some of the most influential people in the corridors of power she leads by example to motivate today’s youngsters. In this volume, she has added a highly relevant chapter on the empowerment of women to explain how, in several situations of their own making, even educated women disempower themselves. She emphasizes on the fact that qualities of honesty, dedication, diligence and commitment to one’s profession are vital if one wants to succeed in life and drives home the point that there are no shortcuts to success! Read and be inspired!

‘Dreaming of Baghdad’ by Haifa Zangana @ Rs. 375/- (pgs 169)

Here is a story of a brave woman who in the 1970s dreamed of a better Iraq and hence was one of the activists who stood in opposition to the Baath party and its charismatic leader Saddam Hussein. She writes of her first days in exile, of the heady days of her activist youth, confinement in Iraqi prisons and a forced departure from family and country. Deftly sketched and simply poetic Zangana’s story is heartbreaking, but her clarity and resilience inspire awe. A must read for one who wants to understand the sociology, culture and politics that has formed the ‘Iraq’ of today.

Travel

‘Tso and La: A Journey in Ladakh’ by Vikramajit Ram @ Rs. 325/-(pgs 232)

During the start of summer of 2009 Vikramajit Ram, author of acclaimed ‘Elephant Kingdom’, with his friend Manoj Bawa drove to Ladakh. He was grasped by the beauty of the land and decided to abandon his work of fiction and began writing about this trip. Mixing elements from art and architecture, history and biography ‘Tso and La’ is a book that is truly a tribute to this unfathomable corner of India. Also compiled with pictures of their trip the author strives to discover Ladakh beyond the prayer flags, child-monks and magpies, hoping to find peace for their jaded senses.

Personalities

‘Endgame: The spectacular rise and fall of Bobby Fischer’ by Frank Brady @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 450)

Who was Bobby Fischer? What motivated him from such a young age, and what was the source of his remarkable intellect? How was it that the ‘Mozart of the Chessboard’, a mind so famously disciplined could unravel so completely? From Fischer’s meteoric rise to an utterly dominant prime and his eventual descent into madness, ‘Endgame’ paints a complete picture of one of America’s most enigmatic icons, a fascinating man and an extraordinary life!

New Books

‘Nani A. Palkhivala: A Life’ by M.V. Kamath @ Rs. 499/- (pgs 524)
‘Oriental Mythology’ by Joseph Campbell (Volume two in The Masks of Gods Series) @ Rs. 750/- (pgs 560)
‘Occidental Mythology’ by Joseph Campbell (Volume three in The Masks of Gods Series) @ Rs. 750/- (pgs 564)
‘The Purple Line’ by Priyamvada N. Purushotham @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 216)
‘You Have to Stop This’ by Pseudonymous Bosch @ Rs. 295/- (pgs 360)
‘Radhika Takes the Plunge’ by Ken Spillman @ Rs. 125/- (pgs 56)
‘Wings of Silence’ by Shriram Iyer @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 244)
‘The Daughters of Joy’ by Deepak Chopra @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 237)
‘The Indus Intercept: In The Badlands of Balochistan every Step is a Minefield’ by Aruna Gill @ Rs. 299/- (pgs 330)
‘The Small Print of Success: The little details which will make BIG difference to your career’ by David Thompson @ Rs. 599/- (pgs 188)
‘Titans of History’ by Simon Sebag Montefiore @ Rs. 399/- (pgs 656)
‘Negotiate To Win: Talking Your Way to What You Want’ by Patrick Collins @ Rs. 175/- (pgs 202)
‘The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk’ by Sudha Murty @ Rs. 199/- (pgs 212)
‘The Tiller of Waters’ by Hoda Barakat @ Rs. 375 (pgs 200)
‘A Current of Blood’ by Namdeo Dhasal @ Rs. 180/- (pgs 118)
‘The Itch You Can’t Scratch’ (A Graphic Novel) by Sumit Kumar @ Rs. 350/- (pgs 178)
‘Melodrama and The Nation: Sexual Economies of Bombay Cinema 1970-2000’ by Karen Gabriel @ Rs. 595/- (pgs 390)
Pop Culture Comics
‘The Adventures of Timpa: Operation Rescue’ @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 38)
‘The Adventures of Timpa: The Red Hooded Gang’ @ Rs. 150/- (pgs 34)
‘Widhwa Ma Andhi Behen’ written by Adhiraj Singh with artist Harsho Mohan Chattoraj @ Rs. 125/- (pgs 31)
‘Munkeeman’ created by Abhishek Sharma (Director of ‘Tere Bin Laden) @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 63)
‘Retrograde’ written by Akshay Dhar with artist Avik Kumar Maitra @ Rs. 125/- (pgs 24)
‘Zombie Talkies’ written by Anish Patel with artist Harshvardhan Kadam @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 73)
‘Chairman Meow’ written by Anant Singh with artist Abhijeet Kini @ Rs. 250/- (pgs 51)

Enjoy your books,

See you at the Store!

From the team at,

twistntales

किताबे

They peer from beyond
Glasses of locked cupboards,
They stare longingly
For months we do not meet
The evenings once spent in their company
Now pass at the computer screen.
They are so restless now, these books-
They have taken to walking in their sleep
They stare longingly

The values they stood for
Whose batteries never died out
Those values are no more found in homes
The relationships they spoke of
Have all come undone today
A sigh escapes as I turn a page
The meanings of many words have fallen off
They appear like shrivelled, leafless stumps
Where meaning will grow no more
Many traditions lie scattered
Like the debris of earthen cups
Made obsolete by glass tumblers

Each turn of the page
Brought a new flavour to the tongue
Now a click of the finger
Floods the screen with images, layer upon layer
That bond with books that once was, is severed now
We used to sometimes lie with them on our chest
Or hold them in our lap
Or balance them on our knees,
Bowing our heads as in prayer
Of course the world of knowledge still lives on,
but what of
The pressed flowers and scented missives
Hidden between their pages,
And the love forged on the pretext
Of borrowing, dropping and picking up books together
What of them?
That perhaps shall no longer be!



- गुलज़ार







(From 'Selected Poems' by Gulzar titled 'Books'
Translated by Pavan K Varma)