Book Review written and Posted by Ranu

Yesterday I was able to finish reading the book, “A Long Way Home”.  The author is Saroo Brierley. It’s published by the Penguin Group.

The author was thirty years old when he wrote the book. He has very vividly described the trials he faced as a child. It’s hard to imagine a five year old boy remembering early years of his life in such great detail.

While reading the book I felt he was an extraordinary boy, he looked after his year and a half old sister, while his mother went away to work in an unknown place for days, so she could provide food for her family of five, three sons and a daughter.

He was left alone most of the time with his sister, while his brothers also looked for work.

Saroo the main character was always curious to know where his brothers go everyday. He managed to convince his brother to take him. This was the beginning of the little boy’s arduous journey,  who came close to death a few times but was  saved by unknown strangers.

His older brother had told him to stay where he left him, but Saroo somehow moved from there and ended up in strange  places and was unable to find his home, he did not know the name of the place where he lived, tried his best to describe it to strangers who were busy with their own life and paid no heed to a poor little boy.

Eventually he was lucky an Australian couple adopted him. he had never seen anything good in his life before this, he was surrounded by poverty, coming to Australia exposed him to a life he had never known, he actually could have a room where he could sleep and get meals without asking for it.

All the comfort and good life did not stop him from thinking about his brothers and his sister and mother. Every day he reminded himself about his family he longed to meet. He did not want to forget them and the place he came from. It’s as if he captured the memory of his five years in India, safely tucked away in a corner of his mind, his determination to remember his family was a priority.

His adoptive parents took good care of him fed him clothed him and gave him the opportunity to go to school. He loved them and did not mention the family he left behind, because he did not want to offend them.

He grew up and soon was able to use a computer, he used it to locate the place he came from, it took years to be successful, he did not give up, in the end he was united with his family

I was amazed to read how dedicated he was. When he left India he was only five years old, to be able to find his family after twenty five years is nothing short of a miracle!

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/book-review-posted-by-ranu

DP Daily Prompt: Writer’s Block Party

When was the last time you experienced writer’s block?what do you think brought it about—and how did you dig your way out of it?

I am accustomed to do the prompts each morning, I seldom have writer’s block , if I did not have the prompts I know I’d have writer’s block and I’d have a tough time getting out of it.

365 Writing Prompts: Everything Changes

Walking down the street, you encounter a folded piece of paper on the sidewalk. You pick it up and read it and immediately, your life has changed. Describe this experience.

It was a summer morning, the weatherman predicted another hot and humid day, I was trying to think if I should go for a walk while it was cool or wait till late evening, my neighbor raised her hand from the other side of the street to see her.

I was about to cross the street when the wind blew a folded piece of paper on my feet, irritated I picked it up and noticed there was a message inside. I was torn, do I read what’s inside or dump it in the trash can? Knowing I’d always wonder what was inside I unfolded it and started reading it.

Wow I exclaimed I am invited to attend a party hosted by my favorite tennis player, Roger Federer , I was advised to pick up a package along with instructions from the nearby sports store.

I yelled out to my neighbor Gail, ” I’ll catch up with you later, I have to take care of something.”

I took the bus to the sports store and asked the salesman for the package waiting for me. The salesman was a very agreeable man, he handed me the package and stated, “have an enjoyable trip.”

I was stunned , “enjoyable trip” I mumbled , where am I going?

“You’ll see,” he said, he then  turned around to take care of a customer waiting for him.

Meanwhile I headed home, I must open this when I get home, I told myself.  Upon arriving home  I found Raphael and Gabriel  were  waiting for me, they were hungry and wanted food ASAP. I gave them their food and came to my bedroom. I was anxious to open the package. I slowly opened it and found tickets to fly to Zurich,next morning.

I packed my bag and left instructions for my neighbor to take care of the kittens while I was away with my house keys in her mailbox.

Early morning I boarded the flight to Toronto , from where I was to change to another flight to Zurich. I arrived at Zurich early afternoon. The flight attendant told me I would be received by Mr. and Mrs. Federer at the airport.

When the door of the aircraft opened, the flight attendant addressed me she asked me to go to the airport lounge and wait. I didn’t have to wait too long, I noticed some people were coming towards me, when they came closer I saw Mr. And Mrs. Federer with their children.

One of their daughters handed me a huge chocolate bar it was a gift to me from the kids. I was overwhelmed with the attention I got. There was more they invited me to accompany them to their home.

Their home was something that looked like one from the fairy tale. I was exhausted Mrs. Federer showed me the room where I’d take rest for a few hours.

Next day Federer had a tennis match against Stan Wawrinka another Swiss player. I was delighted I’d be able to watch both in action. The result was as I hoped, Federer won, we all wanted to celebrate his victory. Mirka Federer’s wife took us to a posh restaurant where we had a lavish dinner. The children were well-behaved they did not have any temper tantrums, Mrs. Federer I assumed trained them well for this day.

The week went fast they took me to all the important places in the city. I had a marvelous time. The week went faster than I wanted it too.

It was time for me to leave, they gave me a lot of gifts and also some cute toys for our kittens.

When I landed back in my city, I found my neighbor waiting for me. She wanted to know about my unbelievable trip!

k: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/365-writing-pr…ything-changes/