365 days Writing Prompt: Might as well jump

What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take—but haven’t been able to? What would have to happen to make you comfortable taking it?

The biggest risk I’d like to take is to write a fiction, where the characters would resemble my family members i.e my siblings. The reason I haven’t tried it yet, because I’m not sure it’ll go over very well.

Everyday I come close to writing it, my inner voice keeps warning me, “Not a good idea,write something else.”

But something else cannot be as interesting as my siblings, when my mom was fed up  with us, she’d always say, “How did you turn out to be so different from each other?”

During those days we actually got along with each other, we helped, we shared, we were not selfish.Today we are so different, it’s amazing. 

Nothing can happen to make me comfortable taking this risk!

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/365-days-writi…t-as-well-jump/

Writing Prompt: Second time around

Tell us about a book you can read again and again without getting bored —- what is it that speaks to you?

 

I recently finished a book, the title is ,” The Art of Hearing Heartbeats”, it’s a novel written by Jan–Philipp Sendker. He was born in Hamburg in 1960,was the American correspondent from 1990 to 1995,and its Asian correspondent from 1995 to 1999. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats is his first English novel.

The novel is set in former Burma now Myanmar. It is a rare novel which tells the story of a blind young man’s journey through a world  where he used his auditory sense to replace his blindness. It is a magical tale of hardship and resilience.

Usually I pick a book by its title and if it appeals to me I buy it. I did the same with this one and I can read this book again and again and would still feel,I haven’t had enough of it. The author’s description of Tin Win the male character and Mi Mi the female character is remarkable.

When I was reading the book I felt as if I was a part of the story, their conversation , their affection for each other was simply magical. They went through difficult times but remained loyal to each other.

 

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/april 26-writing prompt-second time around/

 

“The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini Post by Ranu

First paperback edition book cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I read Khaled Hosseini’s, A Thousand Simple Suns and ,And The Mountains Echoed, each one was different. His first book,”The Kite Runner”,I finished reading an hour ago. My intention is not to criticize or applaud any part of the book.It is to write how I felt when I was reading it.

When I was a child I used to follow my two brothers to see what they will play next. It was not what I always thought,they changed their games ,on the basis of their own personal whim. One day I saw my brothers with some tissue paper,thread, little bamboo sticks. They were going to make their own kite and fly them. When they were playing with their kites,I thought it was a neat game. I helped them by holding the paper,I could not fly the kite,but loved watching my brothers.

When I finished reading, A Thousand  Simple Suns, everyone asked me is it better than the ,Kite Runner. I was not in a position to answer that question. Now that I feel I am, I have opted not to, but let them read and decide.

The kite Runner reminded me of those childhood days,when I watched my brothers make their own kite and fly them.  After reading the first few pages,I couldn’t decide whether I should continue or stop. I chose the former.I am not sorry I did.

It is commendable how Hosseini vividly portrayed some of the characters in the book. But then again we know there are good and bad people everywhere in this world.

There are three occasions in particular when my glasses kept fogging up. One was Sohrab’s earnest request to his uncle,not to send him back to the orphanage,the second one when Assef beat Amir mercilessly and Sohrab used his sling shot to save Amir. The third one when Amir prayed to God and promised he would never stop praying,will pay zakat,go for pilgrimage,he wanted God to save Sohrab . It was heartbreaking  when Sohrab said, ‘I want my old life back’.

I liked all his books. The Kite Runner, taught me about human nature and ultimately the lesson that if one sincerely asks God for help,he/she will not be denied!

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” Book Review by Ranu

A small section of Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” is a novel by Khaled Hosseini.

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan.This is his second novel. His first one was,”The Kite Runner”.

The story revolves around ,Mariam,the main character in the story. Besides her the other characters are:

1. Jalil: her father

2.Nana : her mother

3. Mullah Faizullah: teacher

4. Rasheed: Maryam’s husband

5. Laila: Rashid’s second wife

6. Mammi and Babi:   Laila’s parents

7. Tariq: Laila’s childhood friend

This is the story of two women, Mariam and Laila. They did not see eye to eye in the beginning, this changed gradually.They  started  depending on each other. This friendship made life much more bearable for both of them.

The story took place in Herat and Kabul,Afghanistan. The author is from Afghanistan. He was able to portray the life and customs of the common people in a way which will not be possible for someone living outside the country. The book is mostly fiction. Some parts are true . The mixture of both makes the story very interesting.

I found the story educational, it is a male dominating society,women have no voice whatsoever. They cannot complain even if they are battered and bruised.The political situation is deplorable. The presence of external forces are not helping the situation at all.

It is a powerful story which shows if one is determined,he/she/they can turn it around in their favor regardless of all the deterrents facing them.