tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post7097215296410662201..comments2024-03-08T03:18:48.591-05:00Comments on Lotus Reads: The Assassin's Song by MG Vassanji and "Girls Gone Mild" by Wendy Shalit and...The Winner is!!!Lotus Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-81366781779296318492009-12-11T17:28:23.205-05:002009-12-11T17:28:23.205-05:00Good Day!!! lotusreads.blogspot.com is one of the ...Good Day!!! lotusreads.blogspot.com is one of the most excellent resourceful websites of its kind. I take advantage of reading it every day. lotusreads.blogspot.com rocks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-26576142479456192052007-09-06T07:37:00.000-04:002007-09-06T07:37:00.000-04:00Crazy fun it will be for sure! Take lots of pics!...Crazy fun it will be for sure! Take lots of pics!!!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-36800603064911396222007-09-06T02:41:00.000-04:002007-09-06T02:41:00.000-04:00I've read Moth Smoke a while back and thoroughly e...I've read <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66499731@N00/387655280/in/set-72157594560327970/" REL="nofollow">Moth Smoke</A> a while back and thoroughly enjoyed, I'm sure you will like it.<BR/><BR/>I will definitely enjoy my brother's wedding Inshallah, looking forward for some crazy fun.<BR/><BR/>Lots of love...Stay happy and beautiful :)Sugarlipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09451250784149136535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-8385158051653795902007-09-05T10:18:00.000-04:002007-09-05T10:18:00.000-04:00@Sugarlips ~ I hope you have a wonderful time in ...@Sugarlips ~ I hope you have a wonderful time in Pakistan!!! I shall miss you, you know so make sure you don't stay away too long! Yes, I have read "Dancing Girls of Lahore" and it thrilled my anthropologist's heart to bits! One book I really,really want to read is Mohsin Hamid's "Moth Smoke". How wonderful that he is up for the Booker Prize, would be wonderful if he wins!<BR/><BR/>Enjoy your brother's wedding and you are the sweetest for remembering the salwaar kameez but i know you'll be busy, so don't go out of your way, truly.<BR/><BR/>Much love to you sugarlips!!!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-68624072815159105572007-09-04T11:52:00.000-04:002007-09-04T11:52:00.000-04:00@Olivia ~ you are lucky not to have experienced p...@Olivia ~ you are lucky not to have experienced peer pressure. What do you owe it to? The way you were brought up? Or the people you hung out with in school? My daughter has recently found a new group of friends at school and she is finding they are so uncomplicated and complete opposites of the people she previously hung out with, I am so hoping she stays friends with this new lot.<BR/><BR/>@A Reader ~ I think you will love Vassanji, do try reading one of his books and let me know what you think! As always, so happy to see you here!<BR/><BR/>@Equiano ~ I guess he is more African than he is Indian, but being of Indian heritage we love to claim him as our own! :) He lives in Canada now, so I guess he's a global citizen really! :) Lovely to see you here!<BR/><BR/>@Id ~ I have only one complaint about Mistry and that is, he's not prolific enough! I love his writing even though he writes tomes (and I usually avoid long, voluminous novels).<BR/><BR/>You ask some wonderful questions on your blog and your latest post is no exception. I really don't know for sure why literature doesn't explore happiness as much as it explores darkness and depression, I can only think it's because happiness is so fleeting, does it last long enough to create a whole novel out of it? Also, many writers, especially the very sensitive kind, are more drawn to gloom and doom,not sure how capable they are of holding onto happy moments. I may be totally off the mark here...in other words, I really don't have much of an answer to your question, but I look forward to seeing what the others have to say.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-27532924465341365072007-09-03T23:45:00.000-04:002007-09-03T23:45:00.000-04:00I've never read anything by Vassanji but "The Ass...I've never read anything by Vassanji but "The Assassin's Song" sounds interesting. Your reviews always make me wanna grab the book rightaway :)<BR/><BR/>I'm done reading "Girls of Riyadh" and <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66499731@N00/1290248285/in/set-72157594560327970/" REL="nofollow">The Reluctant Fundamentalist</A> :)<BR/><BR/>Btw, have you read <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66499731@N00/532731357/in/set-72157601268641460/" REL="nofollow"> The Dancing Girls of Lahore </A> ?<BR/><BR/>P.S: I'm going to Pakistan for few months my brother is getting married :) I still remember the shalwar kameez I promised so shoot me an email or inform Nabeel if you need anything :)<BR/><BR/>Hugs...Take care a lot.<BR/><BR/>Stay Beautiful...!!Sugarlipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09451250784149136535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-10236386683200907302007-09-03T15:37:00.000-04:002007-09-03T15:37:00.000-04:00I haven't read Vassanji, but you compare him to Mi...I haven't read Vassanji, but you compare him to Mistry whose 'Fine Balance' I've read. I'm afraid, I wasn't too impressed by the latter. In fact the novel was a page too many for the story he had to tell. Apart from the metaphor of the blanket that he so beautifully fabricated and wove, the rest of the novel was a let down in that the situations presented were so unreal; the novel could've been better researched and definitely shorter.<BR/><BR/>Your write up has sold me on Vassanji and that is why I made this rather long comment above on R. Mistry; sorry for having gone off on a tangent.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment citing schadenfreude as a prime catalyst for obsession with sorrow in Literature.Id it ishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10933156607975500727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-86241221134274516092007-09-03T10:17:00.000-04:002007-09-03T10:17:00.000-04:00Now I am seriously drooling! I love Vassanji and t...Now I am seriously drooling! I love Vassanji and that hasn't come out here yet (there's always amazon of course!). I think of him as a Kenyan writer, isn't that funny?! I'm glad it is so good.equianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13259340054005982291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-28055841808205985522007-09-03T09:07:00.000-04:002007-09-03T09:07:00.000-04:00Hi Lotus, Am yet to read any book by Vassanji, and...Hi Lotus, <BR/><BR/>Am yet to read any book by Vassanji, and my cousins had highly recommended 'Vikram Lall' a few years ago. The Assassin's Song sounds interesting. After reading your review, I am going to definitely check it out. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-73434717563060292712007-09-02T18:19:00.000-04:002007-09-02T18:19:00.000-04:00Hm, not sure what I think yet, but I want to get f...Hm, not sure what I think yet, but I want to get far enough to gather her conclusions.<BR/><BR/>I understand some of her points but not all because when I was a teenager in school and university, I never had to deal with those peer pressures or issues...so I can only imagine. See, I think it's different when you're older.Oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014351759393921274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-79433112413623378702007-09-02T17:51:00.000-04:002007-09-02T17:51:00.000-04:00@Chitts ~ Now, I've got to ask you...which Vassan...@Chitts ~ Now, I've got to ask you...which Vassanji novel couldn't you finish? Chitts, it can be just a little difficult bringing up kids these days, but a strong set of morals and values should see them on their way. I know you'll do a fine job with your daughter!<BR/><BR/>@Melissa ~ I enjoyed this book so completely. It was one of the better books I've read all year, but one man's food is another man's poison, so I am not sure what the rest will make of it. To tell you the truth I haven't even read the reviews yet, so I am not sure if it's being given a warm or frosty reception. All I know is, I like it!<BR/><BR/>@Nancy ~ I have missed you, but I understand completely about not having time to visit. Now that the new school year is here, I am fighting to make time myself. I seem to hearing that more and more parents are disconnecting cable and are much better off for it. Will visit you soon, I just got back from Buffalo and trying to play catch with my e-mails.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-11283213567820024522007-09-02T17:33:00.000-04:002007-09-02T17:33:00.000-04:00@Ek-Rani ~ I love your blog name, I am so glad yo...@Ek-Rani ~ I love your blog name, I am so glad you visited and thank you for letting me know that my blog helps with your book recommendations!<BR/><BR/>@Nix ~ Sorry that "The Gunny Sack" wasn't such a good read for you. Was it the story? The writing? The theme? Can you put your finger on what it was that you didn't enjoy? I ask because I haven't read that particular book, but if I remember correctly it won the regional Commonwealth Writers Prize, didn't it? If you do give him another chance, do let me know!<BR/><BR/>@Cereal Reader ~ Lovely to hear from you! I've already done the meme but thank you so much for asking! I love what you said about "The In-between World of Vikram Lal", that's what I felt too...completely awestruck. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for letting me know about Maharaj....I have tried my hand at creative writing and it was a disaster, I'm not much good at it I'm afraid, but thank you so much for thinking of me!<BR/><BR/>@Olivia ~ Ahhh, "Return to Modestry" what are your thoughts so far? I think it was shortly after she wrote this book that the feminists meanly tagged her "professional virgin"!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-47008107800558882982007-09-01T22:57:00.000-04:002007-09-01T22:57:00.000-04:00Lotus,Sorry I haven't commented, lately! I love y...Lotus,<BR/><BR/>Sorry I haven't commented, lately! I love your new look. The topic of the second book is one that I think about a great deal. What our children are exposed to is so horrifying. We ditched our satellite service when I realized how obnoxious television had become, around the time that you couldn't find anything to watch but reality shows. I hope there will be a revival of innocence - a going mild - but I truly believe that it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Many, many things will have to change.Bookfoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08247136634069540446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-7386006102541808642007-08-31T20:16:00.000-04:002007-08-31T20:16:00.000-04:00for you to call "the assassin's song" a masterpiec...for you to call "the assassin's song" a masterpiece is high praise indeed!<BR/><BR/>it's on my wish list with this great recommendation.hellomelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11109229454400994627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-42614300097443220632007-08-31T20:15:00.000-04:002007-08-31T20:15:00.000-04:00Lotus, Great review as always :) I picked up Vikra...Lotus, Great review as always :) I picked up Vikram lall recently, but never finished it. May be its time for me to go back to it. 'The Assassin's song' sounds like something I would like to read. <BR/><BR/>"Girls gone mild" intrigues me much. <I>"Girls especially are so mean to other girls that are not "like them", they ostracize them and can make their school life hell"</I>. I completely agree with you on this. Its been one of my major concerns. Upbringing a child is quite a challenging experience in itself and now that I have a little girl I often wonder a lot about peer pressure and other challenges she will face in school and society in general. I only hope that the values I inculcate in her will help her make good choices in life.Happy Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05170475118277864013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-67545349763929491712007-08-31T18:36:00.000-04:002007-08-31T18:36:00.000-04:00Wendy Shalit! I am currently (on and off) reading...Wendy Shalit! I am currently (on and off) reading her book "A Return to Modesty".Oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014351759393921274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-26743434443774074552007-08-31T16:53:00.000-04:002007-08-31T16:53:00.000-04:00I loved The In-Between World of Vikram Lall so muc...I loved The In-Between World of Vikram Lall so much I couldn't review it. I was a bit awestruck.<BR/><BR/>By the way, you may be interested to know Robin Maharaj is teaching a Creative Writing course this fall at U of T. You've written so much, with so much thought. Ever thought of giving fiction a twirl?<BR/><BR/>My other motive for leaving you a message is I got meme-tagged by <A HREF="http://www.errantdreams.com/thoughts/" REL="nofollow">Heather</A> at Errant Dreams Reviews to list 8 random facts about myself. Here are the rules. If you want to play along, consider yourself tagged.<BR/><BR/><BR/>1. Link to your tagger and post these rules. <BR/>2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself<BR/>3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them)<BR/>4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.Maaja Wentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13376333360633118312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-80226007391413659422007-08-31T14:03:00.000-04:002007-08-31T14:03:00.000-04:00I'm afraid my previous experience with Vassanji wa...I'm afraid my previous experience with Vassanji was not all that great! I started reading "The Gunny Sac" and no matter how hard I tied, I just couldn't get involved enough and never finished it. <BR/>Perhaps I can give him another chance! <BR/><BR/>and oh, just notice that I'm on your blogroll *thrill*The Pixy Princesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14617559420946186045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-19085470490391885232007-08-31T11:40:00.000-04:002007-08-31T11:40:00.000-04:00I sooo look forward to getting book recommendation...I sooo look forward to getting book recommendations from your site! (There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing about a worthy read). So thank you! These both look intriguing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-85711792510598363632007-08-31T07:28:00.000-04:002007-08-31T07:28:00.000-04:00Hi, Nyssaneala!I think my dress sense was more tra...Hi, Nyssaneala!<BR/><BR/>I think my dress sense was more traditional - long,ugly home-stitched dresses,lol, but that's how everyone dressed back then in India...you could say it was the norm. I see kids in daisy dukes and tank tops all the time these days, but like you so correctly pointed out, I don't think they mean to be sexy, infact, with a lot of them it's furtherest from their minds, but these are not the young women Shalit's book is discussing, she's talking about the ones who dress seductively,even though they are uncomfortable with it, because they feel pressured to do so.<BR/><BR/> I really do value your impressions on Shalit's book and yes, I suppose the conclusions would be more believable had her sample pool been bigger and more diverse (did she say she had interviewed 144 girls for this book?)<BR/><BR/>Another fascinating topic would be to talk about the reverse - those adults so obsessed with youth culture that they want to dress like their teenagers!<BR/><BR/><BR/>@John Mutford ~ Welcome! You're the second person to mention on this blog that "Book of Secrets" did not impress. Unfortunately, I haven't read that one. "The In-between World of Vikram Lall" blew me away and so did his book of short stories, "When She Was Queen". I hope you will read "Vikram Lall", I would love to have your impressions. Thank you so much for visiting!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-70998935577834932122007-08-30T18:42:00.000-04:002007-08-30T18:42:00.000-04:00@Pour of Tor ~ Thank you for sending me your addr...@Pour of Tor ~ Thank you for sending me your address...I put your book in the mail for you this afternoon. Should take between 4-5 days to reach you.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-51811028603246008702007-08-30T14:55:00.000-04:002007-08-30T14:55:00.000-04:00I've only ever read one Vassanji book before. That...I've only ever read one Vassanji book before. That was <I>The Book of Secrets</I> and to be honest, I didn't really enjoy it. However, earlier this week a friend told me I need to read <I>The In-Between World of Vikram Lall</I> and now you're praising up this one. Hmmm. Maybe I should give him another chance- did <I>you</I> enjoy <I>The Book of Secrets</I> and do you think it's possible to enjoy <I>The Assassin's Song</I> without liking that one- I guess what I'm asking is, how does it compare in your opinion?John Mutfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730205221787092204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-50970516270247011172007-08-30T13:33:00.000-04:002007-08-30T13:33:00.000-04:00Not subscribing to cable is a good choice, but eve...<I>Not subscribing to cable is a good choice, but even if you don't have it at home, the kids are bound to be exposed to it in someone else's home. Also, peer pressure is a lot harder to counter than we realize. Girls especially are so mean to other girls that are not "like them", they ostracize them and can make their school life hell.</I><BR/><BR/>I completely agree with you on that! In many ways, I agree with the intent of Girls Gone Mild, I just don't believe she delivered it very well. <BR/><BR/>It seems, that in regards to clothing, there only seems to be two extremes in the argument: girls either dress sexy, or they dress very moderately and conservatively. I fell somewhere in the middle when I was a teenager (I'm 28 now), and I remember my mother defending my decision to some other relatives when in the summer I wore short shorts and tank tops that exposed my belly. I didn't wear them to be sexy, but because it was hot out! And, being a short person, knee-length skirts just aren't becoming to my stature. Looking sexy never entered my mind, and I felt that boys who were rude enough to make suggestive comments were the ones in the wrong, not myself for having the freedom to wear what made me comfortable. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, however, I know there are too many girls out there that don't have the same positive self-image and self-esteem, and are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure and media images, and they are being targeted at a younger and younger age. The answer? I don't profess to know, but don't think Shalit quite captures it either (I also think her sample pool of subjects for her research was not very broad - I would love to see a more extensive study done).Nyssanealahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01880042178848084407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-64560642398534318142007-08-30T10:13:00.000-04:002007-08-30T10:13:00.000-04:00Booklogged ~ Awww, really, you are much too kind! ...Booklogged ~ Awww, really, you are much too kind! We really enjoyed our time with you and Candleman. You've done such a great job raising your kids, how I wish we lived closer, I could certainly use your insights and expertise with bringing up my kids.<BR/><BR/>Booklogged, I can keep my copy of "Girls Gone Mild" for you. Let me know when you might find the time to go through it and I will gladly put it in the mail. I didn't read the whole book, just those chapters that I was interested in. I'd love to know what your daughter thinks of it...it would be great getting a young woman's perspective on these issues.<BR/><BR/>*much love*<BR/><BR/>@Jyothsna ~ I haven't seen "Boogie Woogie" but watching Bollywood movies the way I do, I know exactly what you mean. The choreography has grown increasingly vulgar over the years, so much so, we no longer need a Helen or a Bindu to play the vamp or the seductress, the heroine does a pretty neat job of that herself! :)Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-59423803327671663982007-08-30T09:55:00.000-04:002007-08-30T09:55:00.000-04:00@Saaleha ~ Hi! You know it really baffles me tha...@Saaleha ~ Hi! You know it really baffles me that Vassanji is not very well known outside of Canada, especially as he so deserves to be. Saaleha you will really enjoy his writing. Wish you lived closer I would have loved to have shared my copies with you.<BR/><BR/>@Radha ~ You are sweet. I try to do my best, but there are days when outside influences reign supreme. Like many other readers have noted, as a parent, all you can do is your best and then hope that all the input you made when you child was younger starts to pay off. In most cases it does.<BR/><BR/>@Parth ~ Keeping my fingers crossed that our influence will win over the media and the influence of friends. It can be a tough battle some days, but not a hopeless one.<BR/><BR/>@pointblank ~ Well, the first one is a review, the second one isn't...was just meant to be a discussion :)<BR/><BR/>@Priya ~ Thank you! :)Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.com