THAT THING - S B AMALJITH

As a child, I always wanted to get on to that thing you see on that picture. But every time I went to a park, many things stopped me from doing that. What will people think of me, what if I fell down, what if my pants get torn, what if it gets damaged, so on always kept me away from that thing.  I will definitely climb on to that the next time, I used to say to myself. But to this day, I failed to keep that promise. Now it has come to that stage in which I can't do that anymore, even if I very badly want to. 'Only for children below the age of 12', they say. So, if there is something that you want to do, do it now, because tommorow never comes. Want to thank someone, do it now. Want to hug someone, do it now. Want to tell your brother how much he means to you, do it now. Want to do a get-together, do it now. Want to express your love to someone, do it now, because, you can make a bigger grid for someone who is above the age of 12 to climb, but, some beautiful things in this life, once lost, are lost forever.

BUT SHE FAILED - S B AMALJITH

Neha Krishna Kumar always wanted to become a doctor,a paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon to be more precise. She has never been in love with anyone,but she was madly in love with the medical professional. She loved every single bit of it. Thinking about sleepless nights spent in the operation theaters always excited her. Thinking about the smile on the face of her patients always motivated her. Thoughts about times when she was going to stand between life and death of a patient always pumped up the adrenaline in her body. She used to walk around wearing her sister's white coat and stethoscope, with a toddler's fascination. She even decided her abbreviated name to be printed on the OT coat- NKK. Jr, after her sister Nita Krishna Kumar, who is presently an MBBS student in AIIMS Delhi. She even changed her signature accordingly. 'Jr.', to Neha meant that she will always be a junior to her sister, not by just age alone, but even in the silliest aspect of life. Being a subordinate to her sister was not about dominance to her, but that there will be her sister's guidance throughout her life.

But then Neha failed. She failed miserably, once as a fresher and twice as a repeater. She had no other option but to give up on her dream, to break up with her love. She failed in everything she did, including her three attempts to commit suicide. She was now a well known example for everyone in her locality. People started telling their children not to be like her so as to not become a failure in life. She had no idea how things got this worse, she was always one of the best in her class.

She failed.

6 years later...

Nita after graduation, is now an intern in a primary health centre in Punjab. It was then that a cyclone broke out. Nita and some of her colleagues got their appointment letter to a relief camp. The letter was counter-signed in green, NKK. Jr.

GROUP 4 - DESCRIBING A PLACE

GROUP 5 - THE NAVKID

DIRECTED BY SEENA MARY THANKACHAN

GROUP 3 - DESCRIBING AN EVENT

GROUP ACTIVITY TEAM 2, TOPIC : DESCRIBING AN OBJECT

Group 1 - Describing A Person’s Appearance

TEAM 6 GROUP ACTIVITY (TOPIC: DESCRIBING PEOPLE)

Topic: An interview board interviewing candidates and describing their abilities, temperaments, attitudes etc. 

2 STATES- UNNIKRISHNAN.R

BOOK REVIEW-2 STATES - CHETAN BHAGAT.

'2 states- The story of my marriage' is a novel writtern by Chetan Bhagat. The own writer took inspiration from his own life ,but the novel is a work of fiction. The novel is based on the story of a couple ,who belongs to different states,castes and religion and wanted to get married. How they meet at IIMA campus and the way they convince their parents for their marriage is the actual plot of the novel.2 states ,as it is commonly called,is a very interesting novel,which is light and seems real as every second couple in india can relate to this story.
                 Two main characters of the novel are Krish and Ananya. They meet at the campus mess and soon they become friends and their friendship turns into love and they start to live together. After the course both of them get job. Then Krish proposes Ananya for marriage.While both of them were ready but not their families.They start trying to convince their parents and take turn to win each other's families.Somehow they manage to convince their parents for marriage.
                  The entire plot of marriage between individuals from two different states and their cultural differences have been very interestingly depicted. The book really questions the prevalent racism in India and how a couple like Krish and Ananya has to struggle for a marriage. The book is so compelling that I completed it in one go. The language used is very simple and easy to understand with a humorous tone.

Muttathe Muvandan

The beautiful novel written by Rasheed Parackal vividly explains the relation between nature and man. The life of a person from childhood to his young age is depicted in the novel in which the nature get united with human hearts. The life cycle of a person is closely linked to nature.

The love, affection and quarrel between the relatives of the boy named Sameer, the pond, the mango tree in their courtyard, the lantern etc. symbolises the past generation. People lived in joint families got split into nuclear families which shows the end of old culture. The boy who started his life with past generation has now got placed to a new style and order where there occurs disturbance in the relationship between man and nature. The story includes two life stages and we can see the transformation that takes place in the treatment of nature by man. The new generation tries to destroy the pond and the organisms in that particular ecosystem. The mother nature is suffering beyond endurance for the sins committed by her children.

The life'e feelings and emotions of migrant Keralite workers were also depicted in the novel through the character Sameer who travels to Gulf for a job;The workers who works hard in a strange land for their families. The struggle between society and culture can be seen throughout the novel. The transforming culture is a common theme in Rasheed's novels. The man who lived depending on nature at the early  stages of life began to show the signs of change. This drastic change resulted in the transformation of human culture.
                       
                       ARUN ANILKUMAR
                                  6222

BOOK REVIEW - KEERTHANA P.S.

VERUKAL

MALAYATTOOR RAMAKRISHNAN

Verukal is a Malayalam semi-autobiographical novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1996. It is widely credited as one of his best works. It won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 1967.

Verukal tells the story of a family of Tamil speaking Iyers who settled in Kerala. Raghu is the protagonist of the story. The pivotal event on which the novel turns is the return of Raghu to his native village after a lapse of several years, to raise money to build a city mansion for himself by selling his ancestral home. He sets about this reluctantly, under pressure from his shrewish and domineering wife. In the village, as he meets his sisters and others among whom he grew up, a flood of memories overwhelms him, and he abruptly changes his mind about selling the property.

The novel gives us a beautiful picture of village life in Kerala, its innocence and simplicity. It shows the importance of family relationships and also gives us a clear distinction between life in a city and that of a village. It reminds us not to forget the roots of our life as it is upon this base that everything else in our life is built on. Verukal by Malayattoor is a must read.

English assignment book review

The Prophet  (Gibran)

The Prophet, Gibran's most famous  work, has sold more copies and been translated into more languages than any of his other writings. Its popularity has been attributed to its simple style, metrical beauty, and words of wisdom. It focuses on human relationships—with others, with nature, and with God.

Almustafa, a young prophet, has lived in Orphalese for twelve years and is waiting for the ship that will take him home. The townspeople beg him to stay, but Almustafa remains firm in his decision. Then they ask him to speak to them one more time, to share his words of wisdom on love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death. His final words are a promise that he will return to Orphalese.
While the structure is narrative, the language is very rhythmic and biblical in style, using such phrases as “You have been told . . . but I say unto you” and “Verily I say unto you.” The repetition of such words as “but,” “and,” and “for” helps maintain the thought and logic of the theme as Gibran moves from response to response, as one idea suggests another. 

                             submitted by  Nithin paul

സൗഹൃദം Ahsanunnisa beegum

                                           
                       

                                            സൗഹൃദം 

          

                      സ്‌നേഹതിന്  നീസ്വാർത്ഥ ഭിംഭാമായി  നിൽക്കുന്ന 

                      സൗഹൃദതെ  മറക്കില്ല മരിക്കുവോളം. 

                    

                       ഒരു  നറു  പുഷ്പതിന്ന് ഗന്ധം  പോലെ 

                      നിറഞ്ഞു നില്കുന്നു എൻ സൗഹൃദം. 

                      വിടരുന്ന പൂവില്ലും  കായിക്കുന്ന  കനിയിലും 

                       നിൻ  സൗഹൃദതിന്ന്  സ്മരണകൾ  ഓർക്കുന്നു. 

                      ജീവൻ തുടിപ്പ്  എവിടെയുണ്ടോ  അവിടെയുണ്ട് 

                      സൗഹൃദം. 

                        ഇയ്യ പിരിയാത്ത  സ്‌നേഹയത് സ്നേഹമാണ്   സൗഹൃദം. 

Book Review-Kavya Sunil

The Fault In Our Stars- John Green 
                                         
   Hazel Grace Lancaster has been living with cancer for three of her seventeen years of life. Despite this, she is a girl with a vibrant mind, biting wit, and incredible empathy for the position into which she puts her parents of having to care for her. Her cancer began as thyroid cancer but spread to her lungs, causing her to need to breathe oxygen from a tank at all times throughout the day. She attends a support group at a church; there, she meets a friend named Isaac and a romantic interest named Augustus. Augustus has been in remission after losing his leg some years prior, so Hazel hesitates in starting a relationship with him, not wanting to hurt him if her illness takes another turn for the worse. She introduces Augustus to her favorite book, and he forms a plan in which they will travel to Amsterdam together (using the "Wish" given to him by a foundation for children with cancer) to meet the reclusive and mysterious author and find out what happens after the book's end. They are able to take this trip, but when they arrive to meet the author he is drunk and surly. At the end of the trip, Augustus reveals to Hazel that his cancer has come back and is much worse than the previous time. They return home and Hazel stays by his side until his death. The author attends Augustus's funeral and tries to apologize to Hazel; she realizes that his book, which is about a young girl with cancer, was based on his daughter who died. Hazel copes with Augustus's death, comforting herself with the strength of her family and a letter about her that Augustus sent to the author before his death.

BOOK REVIEW - INTO THE WATER - RUTH SUSAN JOSEPH

Book review

“Into the Water” is a fictional novel by Paula Hawkins, a British author. It is her second full-length thriller after the successful “The Girl On the Train”, and the story is almost equally as captivating.
“Into the Water” is a book written from the first-person POV of several different people, each which gives a new perspective to the story. It follows the events that took place in a little town called Beckford, after the apparent suicide of a woman, who seemed to have drowned herself. The book follows the emotions of her sister and her teenage daughter, as well as the thoughts and fears of the police and other inhabitants of Beckford. It delves into past suicides and draws a clear line of connection between events that seem distinctly separate. It deals with human emotion and reaction, and the lengths that people will go to save themselves and their family. It speaks of the struggle of unhappiness and mistrust, as well as the constant need to maintain appearance and reputation. The book is truly a work of art.
As a thriller, it has a constant air of mystery that remains a clear undertone until the very last sentence of the book, wherein all confusion is clarified. Paula Hawkins has taken one event and made it several different stories, several different perspectives, and one huge mystery. The entire book will thrill you to your core and it is a book that cannot be put down until you’ve read the whole story. I would definitely recommend it as a read to anyone who loves fiction and is looking for something interestingly new.

Book review - Divya K.G.

                                                             ബാല ഒരു പൂമൊട്ട് 

                                                                                         - സീന സുഗുണൻ
                 
                      പെൺജന്മം പുണ്യജന്മം എന്നാണ് ചൊല്ല് . പക്ഷേ ഓരോ പെൺജന്മവും താണ്ടേണ്ടിവരുന്ന സഹനങ്ങളുടെ വലിയ മണലാരണ്യങ്ങളുണ്ട് . ' ബാല ഒരു പൂമൊട്ട് ' പെൺജന്മങ്ങളുടെ കണ്ണീരുപ്പ് ചുവയ്ക്കുന്ന ഒൻപത് കഥകളുടെ സമാഹാരം . കൃത്രിമമായ അലങ്കാരങ്ങളോ വളച്ചുകെട്ടലുകളോ ഇല്ലാത്ത ആത്മാർഥമായ രചനാശൈലി . അനായാസമായി കഥപറഞ്ഞു പോകാനുള്ള സീനയുടെ മിടുക്ക് ഈ കഥകളെ വായനക്കാർക്ക് പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടവയാക്കുന്നു .


                                    - ദിവ്യ കെ .ജി     6259 

Book review Aswathy Anandhakumar

വൈക്കം മുഹമ്മദ് ബഷീറിന്റെ പ്രശസ്തമായ കഥകളിലെ ഒന്നാണ് ഭുമിയുടെ അവകാശികൾ.സകല ജീവികൾക്കും ഭുമിയിൽ ഒരേ അവകാശമാണ് ഉള്ളത് എന്ന ആശയം ഈ കഥയിലുടെ ഇദ്ദേഹം സരസമായി അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. മനുഷിന് ഭുമിയുടെ മേൽ അധികാരമുണ്ട്ന്ന മിഥൃധാരണയുടെ പുറത്ത് ചെയ്തു കൂട്ടുന്ന  കാര്യങ്ങളാണ് ഇവിടെ കൃത്യയിൽ പറയുന്നത്. ഈ ഭുമിയിൽ ഏതൊരു ജീവിക്കും  എവിടെ വേണമെങ്കിലും  ജീവിക്കാം എന്ന ആശയമാണ് ബഷീറ്  ഇവിടെ ഫറയുപറയുനനു. തന്റെ വീട്ടിൽ വരുന്ന  ജീവികളെ  പുറത്താകാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്ന ഭാര്യയോട് എതിർത്ത് നികുനനിൽ ബഷീറിനെ കാണാം.

Book Review - Shilpa Venugopal

The Godfather (Mario Puzo's Mafia), Mario Puzo
The Godfather is a crime novel written by American author Mario Puzo. Originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, the novel details the story of a fictional Mafia family based in New York City (and Long Beach, New York), headed by Vito Corleone. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955, and also provides the back story of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood.
The wisdom of Don Vito Corleone is disarming, it arouses feelings of respect also in the readers, making the godfather one of the most charismatic characters ever.
One of my all time favorites and one of the most gripping novels that I have ever read. the Godfather is compelling in the intensity of the emotions of the events it depicts and the casual, neutral style of narration serves as an excellent foil. The complete lack of any moral verdict or judgmental coloring by the author leaves the reader free to draw his or her own conclusions about the characters and it is perhaps this reason that has most endeared it to the legions of it's readers.

The Prophet- Book review

                                                             The Prophet-Khalil Gibran 

God himselfs pen his words through some chosen and beloved persons.One such example is Khalil Gibran whose magical works still echo in the hearts of the thousands. Some creations, are master pieces in themselves ,so is 'The Prophet '.
 Gibran opens the horizons of his imaginations and the wisdom he obtained ,through the touching words of Almustafa ,the chosen and beloved prophet .The wisdom that was shared to the people of Orphalese ,the city opens our eyes to a new self realization. From the love to the farewell ,all the phases of human life is touched in the magical poetry.
 The Prophet is an essence of the beauty of human lives .Through Almustafa ,Almitra and numerous citizens of the beloved city of Orphalese,Gibran catches our heart and inject the bits of love and humanity .
The words are magical and some portions even keep on pace with the eastern masterpiece ,Gitanjali of Tagore .Along with the existing concepts of humanity,Gibran amalgamises his wisdom and ideas.
The beauty of this book is isotropic ,that is it radiates in every direction with same magnitude and intensity.At the time of utmost confusion and stress,Gibran's words will evolve as elixir of life .
The Prophet is one of a timeless classics .Every one should read it once in life,and should tell their young ones  and generations hence.It inspires you and let you choose your passion.
It is an absolute masterpiece of writing,some quotes like,"you have a breath in God's sphere,and  a leaf in God's forest,you too should rest in reason and move in passion",explains the beauty even in minute portion.
 Same as Gitanjali it is a quest of oneself and God,but beyond that Gibran speaks more like a vulnerable human being like us.That human sense is what makes you feel this book dissolve into your life.
                                                          -Feby Benny 

Book Review - Arya S

                THE KITE RUNNER
The Kite Runner is a gripping and emotional story of betrayal and redemption. It tells the story of Amir and Hassan, two best friends, as good as brothers. The two boys lived in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. This year they were planning to try harder to win the local kite fighting competition which is a popular Afghan pastime and this is Amir's one hope of winning his father's love. But soon a war breaks in Afghanistan and the country becomes an extremely dangerous place to live in. When the Russians came, Amir and his father moves to California, where Amir becomes a successful writer. As the story builds to the climax ,the guilt and the wish to correct the wrong becomes quite evident. Amir awakens from his comfortable life in Northern California to Afghanistan and rescues Hassan's orphaned son.
The story is fast paced and hardly ever dull. The book completely got me into another world and I could actually see the sad wars that were happening. Hoseini's writing finds a great balance between being clear and yet powerful .But I think the best bit about the kite runner is its sense of fate and justice, of good overcoming evil in the end,though it may sound too cliche.

Aadujeevitham Book Review. Avany

One of my favourite novel is aadujeevitham by BENYAMIN. ... Awesome work by Benyamin.A story that portraits the life of Najeeb who shifts to gulf country in search of job and the hardships he undergoes there.The story is based on a real life character.The novel depicts the life of Najeeb Muhammad, an Indian emigrant going missing in Saudi Arabia. Najeeb's dream was to work in the Persian Gulf states and earn enough money to send back home. But, he achieves his dream only to be propelled by a series of incidents into a slavelike existence herding goats in the middle of the Saudi desert. He is being used as a "slave" labourer and shepherd and is assigned to look after goats, sheep and camels for almost three and half years in the remote deserts of Saudi Arabia. the end, Najeeb contrives a hazardous scheme to escape his desert prison.Najeeb spends several months in the Sumesi Prison before being put on a plane to India by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

BOOK REVIEW THE SOLITARY REAPER - JIJULAL

The Solitary Reaper”, is a poem divided in four different stanzas, and each stanza has eight lines. Throughout the course of the poem Wordsworth’s voice evolves from being an outsider voice into an insider voice; simultaneous, to the evolution of the voice, Wordsworth uses different ways and means to present the spokesman by itself as an emerging voice, which responds to each changing situation. And the poem will flow from an outside perspective into the inside perspective.

From the beginning of the poem, Wordsworth establishes a relationship with us, his audience and readers, which is as important as the relationship he has with the lady. In other words Wordsworth is to the Scottish lass, as we are to him.

In the first two stanzas Wordsworth is going to emerge as an outsider voice. In the first stanza, the author let us know about the Scottish lass, who is working on the field at the same time that she is singing with sadness. But the notes produced by her chant are flowing all over the profound valley. The way it is written gives the feeling that the lass’ voice is going to be heard any minute and enjoy it in the same manner as Wordsworth is starting to re-create the beauty and the strength of her voice.

Also, in this first stanza we – his audience – receive three open commands from Wordsworth, which integrates us into the poem, and maintain our attention into it. The author’s command are open because as readers we can not respond directly to him, we just continue reading the poem, which might be Wordworth’s objective.

In the second stanza, as an outsider voice, Wordsworth fully re-creates the beauties of the chant. And Wordsworth reaches his goal using the comparison as the means of transportation, comparing the maiden’s song with a Nightingale and the newness of the notes and their unique quality. Wordsworth takes us to the extent of our imaginations by saying that it was as exotic, and as far as the sands of the Arabian desert, reminding us – the poet – of the woman’s incredible voice, as graceful as a Cuckoo-bird. Up to this point we – the readers – are listening in our imaginations what the poet transmitted us while he was re-creating the maiden’s chant.

In the last two lines of the second stanza, Wordsworth not just only is recognizing the fact that the maiden is a Scottish lass mentioning the Hebrides. But, the poet is also relating the last two lines of the first stanza with the last two of the first one, because the sound of voice is all over the valley that brakes the serenity of the seas between the farthest Scottish island.

In the third stanza, and in the fourth line, is when Wordsworth make the transition emerging as an inner voice, because the poet mentions a personal and emotional conflict that Wordsworth faced, and he questions himself if the battle was humbly fought or not. And the in the last two lines of this stanza, the poet starts to questioning and speculating about the maiden’s pain, which could Wordsworth pain reflected in the lass’ song.

In the fourth stanza Wordsworth states that whatever might be thrilling to him might not be for the maiden. Also the author stops questioning the reader, and describes his thoughts while he is watching the lady. And we -the readers – will realize that Wordsworth has become the lass, as the writer who is writing the poem. Therefore, Wordsworth is using the maiden as a gate that opens and let his deepest emotions realize into the world as (her) music, because music can express all those feelings that words can not. And again, if relate the last two lines of the previous stanza with the last two of this one, Wordsworth states that he is the singer, or the maiden that sings forever more, because he is one the who feels the “sorrow, loss, or pain.

കുളിർ കാറ്റ്

മെല്ലെ തഴുകിയുണർത്തുന്ന
കുളിർകാറ്റുതന്നെ
അലയടിച്ചു നാശം വിതയ്ക്കുന്നു
ഉലകിലെ ആട്ടം മറന്ന
അവളുടെ ഓർമയെ
രൗദ്രരൂപമായി  ഉണർത്തുന്നു
അവൾ തല്ലിതകർത്ത
സ്വപ്നങ്ങളിലൂടെ
അവൾ തന്നെ പറയുന്നു
ഞാൻ ആ കുളിർകാറ്റ് തന്നെ
കുളിർമയും തളിർമയും
മാത്രമല്ല എന്റെ കൈമുതൽ
ആഞ്ഞടിക്കാനും നാശം വിതക്കാനും
ഈ കുളിർകാറ്റ് മാത്രം മതി
                                   -sreelakshmi . K . A
                                      ( Book review )
                                       6253

മാതൃവാത്സല്യം

വാടാത്തൊരു പനിനീർ പൂവായ്
മനതാരിൽ നിറയുമെന്നമ്മ
മാതൃവാത്സല്യത്താൽ  തഴുകിയുറക്കും
എൻ അമ്മ
താങ്ങായി തണലായി
ഇരുളിലെ നിലാവെട്ടമായി
കൂട്ടിരിക്കുമെന്നമ്മ
പറയുവാൻ വാക്കുകളില്ല എനിക്കിനിയും
പറയാതിരുന്നാലത്
വലിയ നഷ്ടമായി തീർനിടും
കണ്ടില്ല ഞാൻ ഇന്നേ വരെ
ഒരു പുലരിയും
കണ്ടത് മാതൃവാത്സല്യത്തിൻ
പുഞ്ചിരി മാത്രം
                            -മനീഷ മണികണ്ഠൻ
                              (book review)
                               6266

             

മൃതസഞ്ജീവനി - ചന്ദ്രമതി ആയൂർ (book review)

മലയാളത്തിലെ പ്രശസ്തമായ എഴുത്തുകാരി ആയ  ചന്ദ്രമതി ആയൂർ എഴുതിയ കഥയാണ്  മൃതസഞ്ജീവനി. 1999ൽ മികച്ച ചെറു കഥ സമാഹാരത്തിനുള്ള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരം നേടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.കപ്പൽ അപകടത്തിൽ നിന്ന് രക്ഷപെട്ട് ഒരു ദ്വീപിൽ എത്തി ചേരുന്ന  വിഷ്ണു(അപ്പു) എന്ന  ബാലന്റെ കഥയാണ് ഇത് .ആ അത്ഭുത ദ്വീപിൽ അവൻ കാണുന്ന കാഴ്ചകളും അവന്റെ അനുഭവങ്ങളും ആണ് കഥയെ മുന്നോട്ടു നയിക്കുന്നത്.അനവധി വർഷങ്ങൾക്ക് ശേഷം തന്റെ നാട്ടിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ച് എത്തുന്ന അപ്പു തനിക്കു ദ്വീപിൽ നിന്നും പകർന്നു കിട്ടിയ ഔഷധവിദ്യകൾ തന്റെ നാടിന്റെ നന്മയ്ക്ക്  ആയി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു .ശാസ്ത്രം കണ്ടുപിടിതങ്ങളുടെ മേഖല ആണ് . ഇനിയും കണ്ടെത്താത്ത നിരവധി അത്ഭുതങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു മഹാഗോളം ആണ്  നമ്മുടെ ഭൂമി. മരണം ഈ ഗോളത്തിൽ സംഭവിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു മഹാഅത്ഭുതം തന്നെയാണ് . അതിനെ എങ്ങനെ അതിജീവിക്കാം എന്ന് മനുഷ്യൻ ചിന്തിച്ചു കൊണ്ടേ ഇരിക്കുന്നു.അത്തരം ചിന്തകൾക്ക് പൂർവസ്ഥിതിയിൽ സമാധാനം   കണ്ടെത്തിയിരുന്നു എന്ന് പുരാണങ്ങളും ഇതിഹാസങ്ങളും തെളിയിക്കുന്നു .അനവധി ചിന്തകളുടെ സാഫല്യം ആണ്  മൃതസഞ്ജീവനി എന്ന ഈ ശാസ്ത്ര കഥ .

                    - വിഷ്ണുപ്രിയ ബിജു
                        6265

PRETTY WOMAN - Simren Riyaz

BOOK REVIEW OF PRETTY WOMAN 
BY FERN MICHAELS


Rotund Rosie Bliss, is miserable. She has known all along that her husband married her for her money—she runs a successful mail-order business, Nature's Decorations—but she has always lacked the courage to do anything about it. She even lost her best friend and business partner, Vickie, over the truth. In a rare show of spine, Rosie throws out the sorry Kent when he misses their third anniversary dinner. Kent doesn't mind leaving, but he when he comes back the next day when he discovers that Rosie has won the lottery—a $302 million jackpot. As she fights to keep Kent's hands off her lottery money and decides to become the pretty woman he never saw in her, Rosie is cheered on by wonderful trainer Jack Silver, housekeeper Luna Mae, and Vickie, with whom Rosie renews her friendship. Kent s make a plan to get Rosie back and to steal from her, but ends by almost believably growing up, even seeing her transformation as an inspiration for his own necessary changes. Rosie, however, isn't waiting around for him, the rest is a strong finish to an interesting read. 

Book review : Grandmother's tale-Sreelekshmi P S

Grandmother's tale is the novel written by famous indian writter R K Narayan which was published by INDIAN THOUGHT PUBLICATIONS in 1992.
It is the story of his great-grandmother who lived in the later period of the East India Company.Bala, the central character was married at the early age of seven to Viswa a boy of ten.One day, he just left bidding her good- bye,joinning a group of pilgrims going to Pandaripur.Years go by and there is no trace of the boy.Bala,now a young women  finds life extremly difficult with the entire agraharam gossiping  about her husband' s fate.She leaves home,determining to find him
. The ardous journey  she undertakes to poona, her success in locating Viswa and persuading him to return to the South and their long  happy life in kumbakonam, where five children are born to them.Bala's death and eventually Viswa's death dueto poisioning by cook form rest of narrative . The delineation of Bala from an innocent school girl to a firm,determined,aggresive young woman and finally to quiet ,docile ,orthodox hindu wife is fascinating .
The writter himself is the talktive boy in the novel!!

Book review: Hangwoman. Parvathy S

Hangwoman, is a novel written by one of the prolific Malayalam writers, K R Meera, which speaks for women ,their freedom, their rights and their problems. Background of the novel is a thickly populated Street in Kolkata. This novel is unique from every aspects. Kind of language used is unique. The kind of presentation is different and the main theme of the novel is also unique. This novel is mainly based on a girl named Chethana, who is different from other girls. And at a point of time in her life she is forced to do a job that no girl can do. The novel is narrated by the main character itself, her thoughts, her experiences from the society and family, her emotional loss and gain. Chethana is a girl who give more importance to emotional attachments. Thus the novel is about the struggle that she faces when she is forced to do the job , with which she had an emotional bond even before her birth only for money. Here in this novel Chetana's father is a representative of highly dominant patriarchal society against which she is fighting alone. This is actually the story of a girl realising herself and her point of views. This novel is actually the distance between attitude and action or point of views and life, of a girl.

Book Review- Sreelakshmi T S

RANDAMOOZHAM

                          M T VASUDEVAN NAIR

Randamoozham is the retelling of the Mahabharata through the eyes of Bhima, the second Pandava. Written in Malayalam by M T Vasudevan Nair, the book has been translated into English and is currently being made into a movie. This work, which was first published in 1984, won the Vayalar Award for the best literary work in Malayalam of the year. It also won the Muttathu Varkey Award in 1994. Krishna and Arjuna are the heroes of popular Mahabharata. In Randamoozham, it is a different story. The story mainly focuses thoughts and emotions of Bhima. All other characters are second to Bhima, including Yudhishtira, Arjuna and Lord Krishna. The novel shows how Bhima is been sidelined all along. Heis the one who almost always brings victory to the Pandavas. Yet, he never have the fruits of his success, as his turn is the second. The story deviates from the traditional Mahabharata story story as it avoids the divine elements of the ancient epic and re-represents the characters and events realistically. No doubt, Randamoozham is a very good read for all those who wish to see a different perspective about Mahabharata.

മാപ്പ് BOOK REVIEW - MOHANRAJ

മാപ്പ്

ബന്ധങ്ങളേക്കാൾ വലിയ ബന്ധനങ്ങൾ ആത്മാവില്ലാത്ത ചിരി കോലങ്ങൾ ആത്മാർത്ഥമല്ലാത്ത അഭിനന്ദനങ്ങൾസ്നേഹമില്ലാത്ത ഹൃദയ ചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ സ്പടിക കൂട്ടിലെ  സ്നേഹമില്ലാത്ത ഹൃദയ ചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ ഏതോ സ്പടിക കൂട്ടിലെ
കാതോർത്തിരിപ്പുകൾഎന്നോ പറഞ്ഞുതീർത്ത് വാക്കുകൾ നോക്കി ഇനിയും പറയാത്ത വാക്കുകൾ പാതി നിർത്തി ചങ്ങലക്കെട്ടിൽ
മനസ്സുകൾ കോർത്ത് അന്ധകാരത്തിന്റെ നിർത്ത രംഗങ്ങളിൽ ഉന്മാദരാകുന്ന യൗവനങ്ങൾ വെയിലിൽ പണിയും മനുഷ്യൻറെ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ കണ്ടു രസിക്കും കൃഷി സ്നേഹ നാടകങ്ങൾ വെള്ളമുണ്ടിൽ തിരിച്ചെളി തട്ടാതെ ഘോരം മുഴങ്ങും പ്രസംഗ വേദികൾ ഇനി മടുപ്പിൽ കയങ്ങളിൽ മുങ്ങുമ്പോൾ അമ്മേ മറന്നുവോ നഷ്ടമായ നിൻ തൂവലിൻ ആർദ്രതയും പേറ്റുനോവിന്റെ വിങ്ങലും

BOOK REVIEW - KING LEAR

                                                       KING LEAR
       
                                                                   -  WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

             'King Lear' is a Tragedy by Shakespeare.This is a story of a Britain king Lear who had been cheated by his own daughters.
             Lear,the king of Great Britain;who was too old decided to handover his kingdom to his daughters by conducting a task.The task was to describe how they love their father.Eldest two daughters namely,Goneril and Regan just made some false statements and received his appreciation.His younger daughter Cordelia,married by King of France  expressed her true love but wasn't accepted by him as he was not satisfied with her comment.Thus the whole country was handovered to Goneril and Regan.
              But after disposing the country ,king faced a tragedy.His elder daughters behaved so cruely which made him a little bit mad.Atlast he took shelter in Cordelia's palace.During this time, kingdom of Britain became weak which made France to declare war against them .Unfortunately France was defeated also Queen Cordelia died . Hearing this sad news, King Lear also surrendered to death.
              This is a heart touching story which clearly depicts father-daughter relationship.And it also gives us a message that  not to judge anyone by their comment and outlook but of their fine qualities.

Sanjay A. Kammath

Randamoozham-M.T.Vasudhevan Nair : Book review by Katharin Joseph.

Randamoozham is a malayalam novel penned by one of the living legends of malayalam literature, Sri.M.T.Vasudhevan Nair.It was published on 1984.
                                Randamoozham is a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the view point of Bhima,the second pandava. The story takes the reader right from the time of Kunthi and pandava's re entry into Hasthinapura, following king Pandu's death, through all the major incidents stated in Mahabharatha,to a stunning climax.The book beautifully captures the pain and shows Kundhi, Dhroupadhi, Dhronacharya, Yudhishtara, Krishna, Arjuna, Dhuryodhana and all the other major players of this story as mere humans of flesh and blood.Every incidents took place in Mahabharatha is depicted in this book in a new light.The author gave importance to each and every characters.The great cartoonist Namboodhiri gave more life to the characters through his drawings in the book.
                      This historical fiction book won many awards like Vayalar award and Muttathu varkey award.This is one of the Best book I have ever read.while we read this book we Slowly slip into another world.
The original malayalam version of this book is of 300 pages.To non malayalam readers, there is an English translation named ' The second turn'. I recommend everyone to read this book.The Novel probably will be filmed,as Sri.Mohanlal as bheema.

BOOK REVIEW - SHREYA SAJI

DIVERGENT

-VERONICA ROTH

Divergent is a futuristic thriller, first of the divergent series. The book is about a girl named Tris who lives in a society divided into different sections, namely factions depending on their characters. Each faction holds different ideals. Tris leaves her family and faction behind and ventures out alone. She finds that she is different and doesn't fit in any of the factions.

The reader is taken to Tris's world where she faces her fears with her brave heart. She is now in a brutal new world where she cannot trust anyone.

Tris goes through a lot of hardship, hard-core training and life-risking missions throughout the book. She is also marked with a unique characteristic. She displays characteristics of a leader, and she is also selfless and lacks cowardice even though she came from the Abnegation Faction, who are known for their simplicity and 'no pride' policy.

Her character is really interesting. In the beginning she was known as a soft, delicate girl and towards the end transforms into a strong warrior.

Divergent is really difficult to put down, because each character in the book displays strong personalities and characteristics. The story is very engaging as each chapter has something new to offer.

After reading Divergent, it would be impossible not to read the next books of the series, Insurgent and then Allegient as the adventure continues. Overall, this book is perfect for those who love adventure, adore characters that take risks, and delight in uncovering mysteries.

Book Reveiw - Rose Mary Mathew

Bhima : The Lone Warrior 

                                                                            - M.T Vasudevan Nair                                    

Bhima: The Lone Warrior (Randamoozham) is a 1984 Malayalam novel by Indian author M.T Vasudevan Nair, widely credited as his masterpiece . The novel is a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata from the perspective of Bhima, the second pandava, always second in line – a story never adequately told until one of India’s finest writers conjured him up from the silences in Vyasa’s narrative. The story deviates from the traditional Mahabharata story as it avoids the divine element of the ancient epic and re-represents the characters and events realistically. The story begins with the incident of Mahaprasthanika Parva where the pandavas leave for pilgrimage to Himalayas forsaking all the worldly possessions and it continues as a memoir of Bhima's past. The story runs through the eyes of Bhima who faces seemingly severe frustrations as a young man. He is adept at disguising his feelings, but has an overwhelming intuitive understanding of everyone who crosses his path. He was always destined to be second to his weak elder brother Yudishtira in seniority and younger brother Arjuna in fame and popularity. A warrior without equal, he takes on mighty Bakasura and Jarasandha and ultimately Duryodana, thus bringing the Great War to a close. However, all of Bhima’s moments of triumph remain unrecognized and unrewarded.  If his mother saw glory only in the skills of Arjuna and the wisdom of Yudishtira, his beloved Draupadi cared only for the beauteous Arjuna.

Book Review-Anand Francis

     

                                       ROBINSON CRUSOE

                                                                                            -Daniel Defoe

The novel is a fictional autobiography of a young man named Robinson Crusoe, who dreams of going on sea voyages. Defying his father, Crusoe sets out on an adventure that was to change his life. On the journey, misfortune strikes and the ship is attacked by Turkish pirates and Crusoe is taken as a slave. After two years of slavery, he dramatically escapes and lands on an uninhabited island. The rest of the book tells us how Crusoe learns to live his life on an island for 27 seven years. While on the island, he finds a human foot print which is not his, and suspects to be that of cannibal barbarians. Crusoe even witnesses a human sacrifice where one of the men escapes from the barbaric act. Robinson rescues him, and names him ‘Friday’, in remembrance of the day he saved him. Friday is taught to speak English and becomes a great help and companion to Crusoe in his otherwise lonely life. Robinson finally escapes when a ship that has been a victim of mutiny arrives on the island. He helps the captain and the prisoners to retrieve the ship and eventually sets off back to London.


Certain themes in the book can be seen as Biblical and there are also references to God, for at the island Robinson cries out “Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress.”
The parts of the story dealing with ship wreckage, mutiny, pirates and cannibals will surely fascinate the young and old alike. The book tells you a great deal of loneliness and how a man survives on an island with no human inhabitants. The major part of the book shows us how Robinson copes with hardship and overcomes his shortcomings thereby leaning to appreciate his strange life.

BOOK REVIEW - ANIT JOBBY

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
       The  Diary of A Young Girl is an autobiography written by Anne Frank. Anne Frank was born on June 12,1929 in the historic German city of Frankfurt. Frankfurt owed much of its commercial and cultural preeminence to its Jewish community of which  Franks were members. Anne, began to write  her diary at the age of thirteen. 
          In her diary Anne describes those times in 1942 when Nazis occupied Holland. Anne, along with her family, fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding in Secret Annexe of an old office building accompanied by one more family due to the increasing persecution against jews. Anne's diary gives a vivid impression of her experience in the hiding place for two years. She named her diary as kitty. Anne's diary records of the difficulties and harassament that jews faced during those times. For two years, they were cut off from the outside world, faced hunger, boredom, problems of living in a confined place, fear of being discovered by the army men and death. Anne's diary played an important role in bringing out the horrors of wars and degradation of the human spirit. Anne was fifteen, when the family was found and sent to concentration camps where she died. 
                               In her diary, Anne often writes about her feelings of isolation and loneliness. Through the writing she develops her ideas of the world, of faith and of the natural world she misses so much. Frank's diary is especially a story of faith, hope and love in the face of hate.
            The Diary of Young Girl remains one of the most moving and widely read firsthand accounts of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. 

Book Review Sreya Joshy

                                                          Hold My Hand
                                                                             - Durjoy Datta
'  Hold My Hand ' is the simplest yet beautiful book I have ever read. It is the story of an awkward young man named Deep a real introvert who is obsessed with libraries & books.
His dream comes true when he  is sent to Hong Kong to study & test the library cataloguing software at its head office. And there he meets Ahana a stunningly beautiful & outspoken girl with an open spirit  & who suffered from a rare congenital disease leaving her blind & there begins their story. Together they explores Hong Kong Ahana guiding with the smells & sounds of the wondorous city & bringing life to the sights he see.


The novel  is fantastically narrated by the author. And the style of narrating brings the scenes alive & makes the reading experience wonderful. Author  says it through the perspective of story of a Nerd boy & A Blind Girl. The story is not filled up with so many twist & turns but the author makes sure that the reader never gets bored.  All most all the characters in the novel have a positive or optimistic shade & the climax too ends with an optimistic view.As we read the novel the characters becomes much dearer for us.  It's a real heart touching novel which leaves an unforgettable impression my mind.

THE ALCHEMIST BOOK REVIEW - BHADRA ASHOK KUMAR

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve, the fear of failure."
' The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho is one of the international best sellers. It has brought a sense of happiness and have encouraged millions of people around the globe.
Paulo Coelho de Souza is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist and recipient of many international awards. He was brave enough to take risks and experiment something new. Paulo Coelho in his work ' The Alchemist' portrays the importance of taking risks and believing in fate. The writer has beautifully illustrated the need for following one's dram, aspiring about it and finally achieving it. ' The Alchemist' tells the story of Santiago, the young  Andalusian shepherd who dreams of buried treasure in Egypt and embarks upon a challenging and enlightening journey to find it.
Santiago referred throughout the novel as 'the boy' is basically a shepherd. He reaches an abandoned church and slowly falls to sleep and dreams of huge treasure.
In order to reach the treasure, Santiago must first learn to accept change, value simplicity, learn to live in the present moment, to read God's will in different signs and omens, to listen to ones' own heart and penetrate the soul of the world.
During the journey, Santiago falls in love, meets the alchemist, and risks his own life. In the surprise ending, Paulo Coelho teaches us that we should always be aware of the happenings around us. The novel gives us the powerful implication that one should always look in to the roots and foundations of their lives. The novel highlights the importance of trusting our dreams even when they have slipped beyond our reach.
Santiago sees the different perspectives of life during his journey. He was robbed, beaten and nearly killed. Even though the wound leave scars on him, he decides to flaunt it as a tattoo of survival. He never knew what life had kept for him, but the journey to find the hidden treasure, motivates and encourages him to continue. At the end of the story, Santiago undergoes a spiritual transformation. He understands the soul of the universe and language through which it speaks. He believed that he will fly again even if he falls down countless times.

BOOK REVIEW- AMALA ROY

                                  THE LAST LEAF 

                                                            By O. Henry 

                  

                             "The last leaf " is a short story by               O.  Henry published in 1907 in his collection "The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories". This beautifully inspirational tale deals with unselfish sacrifice of how one man was prepared to sacrifice his own well-being and use his talents to save the life of another.

                                Two artists, Johanna (johnsy)  and Sue share an apartment in an artists' community which is soon invaded by a malicious disease which spreads its deadly influence, mowing down many members in this struggling but auspicious society.  Johnsy is infected and soon gives up hope for survival.  She pins her destiny to the survival of one last leaf on a vine which she perceives through her window while lying in bed. 

      

                                 The attending physicians informs Sue that Johnsy's chance for survival is limited unless she has something to hope for. Sue informs Mr. Behrman ,an old fellow artist who is their downstairs- neighbour , about this and he is annoyed that Johnsy has such little hope. He is aware of her wish to die when the last leaf falls. The next morning, after a vicious storm, Johnsy sees the last remaining leaf still clinging to life.  She decides that she wants to continue living: there must be a reason that the leaf has refused to die, and it is a sin to want to die.  Johnsy recovers from her illness. 

 

                               Sue informs her some time later that Mr. Behrman had died of pneumonia and the medics had found a burning lamp, a ladder and a palette containing a mixture of colours similar to that of a leaf, next to his completely wet and collapsed body. He had contracted pneumonia and expired due to his frail condition. It becomes clear that Mr. Behrman had finally painted his long-promised masterpiece- the leaf which saved Johnsy's life, sacrificing his in the process. 

A Sunny Morning in The Lake view Ground- Thanks to Souparnika (III year English)

JUST ANOTHER TEACHER'S DAY WISH - S B AMALJITH

Teaching is not just a profession. It is one of the most noble acts known to man kind. Jesus Christ, though he cured illness was not called a doctor, he brought back the dead but he wasn't called a magician, but he tought us the way the truth and the  life and he was called teacher lovingly and respectfully by his desciples. Teaching is the process of sharing knowledge. And  so if it was not for a teacher, or rather if everybody was really selfish enough to keep their  knowledge to themselves,no one would have ever learned anything. So  simply, teacher is not someone who has a string of degrees and qualifications following their name, but anybody who has the willingness to share what they know, to someone who doesnt.

A teacher should not only be ready to accept mistakes of their students, but also to encourage them to commit mistakes. Yeah, you heard me right,Only when you commit a mistake you will know what is right, and how not to ever repeat them again, and a teacher is the one who will show you what is right and what is wrong.

And on this day from the bottom of my heart, I wish all my teachers and mentors a very happy teacher's day.