tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post907058101382318971..comments2024-03-08T03:18:48.591-05:00Comments on Lotus Reads: The Solitude of Emperors by David Davidar and The 2007 Nuit Blanche in Toronto, Word On The Street!Lotus Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-17204692252008729692007-10-06T01:15:00.000-04:002007-10-06T01:15:00.000-04:00I'm having a busy week/ month as well. Look after ...I'm having a busy week/ month as well. Look after yourself.....david mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-82593876457668518462007-10-03T10:46:00.000-04:002007-10-03T10:46:00.000-04:00Sounds like a fascinating take on events, and a gr...Sounds like a fascinating take on events, and a great way to learn about these issues. I hope you're able to make it to the art night next time!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-24461176812317397262007-10-01T14:36:00.000-04:002007-10-01T14:36:00.000-04:00all art, all night long? it would be fantastic, b...all art, all night long? it would be fantastic, but i need my sleep. all fun and no sleep makes melissa a crabby girl. :)hellomelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11109229454400994627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-51425085080229375572007-10-01T14:06:00.000-04:002007-10-01T14:06:00.000-04:00Sounds like Toronto was the place to be this past ...Sounds like Toronto was the place to be this past weekend! I hope you were able to go and can report back for us! Enjoy your week!Lisa Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096947438461486505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-53571172995658284062007-10-01T13:04:00.000-04:002007-10-01T13:04:00.000-04:00wow the night long event will be amusing.. do tell...wow the night long event will be amusing.. do tell us how it turned out. As for the book, im yet to start on non fiction :( but will start soon .:)diyadearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16816754017778674137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-54822778042696708362007-10-01T08:24:00.000-04:002007-10-01T08:24:00.000-04:00Hello, KerryThank you for the good wishes, unfortu...Hello, Kerry<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the good wishes, unfortunately I came down with a bug on the weekend and wasn't able to leave the house :(<BR/><BR/>There's always next year I suppose.<BR/><BR/>Appreciate your endorsement of "The Lizard's Cage", I will have to make sure I borrow it from the library soon.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-65751981453068448272007-10-01T08:21:00.000-04:002007-10-01T08:21:00.000-04:00Hi, Starry!You're welcome! I really would like to...Hi, Starry!<BR/><BR/>You're welcome! I really would like to read "House of Blue Mangoes", but, as you say, it is the length of it that keeps me from taking it down from my shelf where it has been languishing for a couple of years.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-20054211414998602692007-09-30T19:13:00.000-04:002007-09-30T19:13:00.000-04:00Hope your filled this weekend with good things, no...Hope your filled this weekend with good things, no matter which of the plethora of events you chose. <BR/><BR/>And may I underline the recommendations you received to read The Lizard Cage? It's stunning in its power, and absolutely beautiful.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13169971552802919035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-17158721505985097592007-09-29T18:35:00.000-04:002007-09-29T18:35:00.000-04:00Thanks for the wonderful review Lotus.I have read ...Thanks for the wonderful review Lotus.I have read The house of blue mangoes and enjoyed it.even though it was a bit long and slow.starryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00250437477875291892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-64986559363198460952007-09-29T10:29:00.000-04:002007-09-29T10:29:00.000-04:00hi, Chitts!For a moment you threw me with "Book Cl...hi, Chitts!<BR/><BR/>For a moment you threw me with "Book Closet", I am so used to seeing "Happy Reader" :)<BR/><BR/>I haven't read "The House of Blue Mangoes" but I have been told it's a winner. It was also set in the Nilgiris I believe.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-75613374634113934942007-09-28T23:45:00.000-04:002007-09-28T23:45:00.000-04:00Lotus, I am not sure if I will read this one. But,...Lotus, I am not sure if I will read this one. But, I am definitely planning to read 'The House of Blue Mangoes'. Have you read it? <BR/>'Word on the Street sounds like an exciting event. Oh, I wish I could go :( Esp. I would love to go to Vassanji's reading event..<BR/>Hope you get to make it and tell us all about it!Happy Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05170475118277864013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-47153824133886851382007-09-28T19:02:00.000-04:002007-09-28T19:02:00.000-04:00@Sanjay ~ I'd jump at the chance to listen to Dav...@Sanjay ~ I'd jump at the chance to listen to Davidar read. Unfortunately I just missed a reading that happened in Toronto on the 26th :(<BR/><BR/>@Asha ~ You must have "The House of Blue Mangoes", that was his first book and a really nice one I am told. Wishing you a wonderful weekend too, Asha!<BR/><BR/>@Poodlerat ~ Ahhh, you're going to have so much fun at "Nuit Blanche". I can't wait for my girls to grow up, get their driver's licenses etc. so they are no longer dependent on me to drop and pick them up on Saturday nights. I might just make it to "Word On The Street"<BR/><BR/>@Dana ~ You poor thing, hope your cold subsides, it's no fun being sick on a great weekend like this!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-78459572771392940102007-09-28T17:36:00.000-04:002007-09-28T17:36:00.000-04:00Lauren and I will be going to The Word on the Stre...Lauren and I will be going to The Word on the Street. We love the event. unless.....<BR/><BR/>This cold Lauren has so generously shared with me gets worse. Heaven forbid!<BR/><BR/>I only hope that I can get away without buying any books. Doubt that will happen as I am a book buying addict HAHADanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16673584479164191387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-40006818282746487472007-09-28T16:06:00.000-04:002007-09-28T16:06:00.000-04:00@ml ~ Hi! Usually when a book doesn't impress me...@ml ~ Hi! Usually when a book doesn't impress me in the first 50 pages or so, I pass it up. This time the first part of the book more than impressed me, it was the middle part that let it down, however, like I said, I am glad I persevered!<BR/><BR/>@Sylvia ~ <I> I found myself wanting to give him (the narrator)"a slap up the side of the head". This could have been such a wonderful book. But sadly not for me.</I><BR/><BR/>I had a huge smile on my face as I read that. I agree with you, I found myself wanting to give the narrator a little shake myself. For me, Noah was a much more interesting character.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-53783204183955121922007-09-28T15:45:00.000-04:002007-09-28T15:45:00.000-04:00It looks like I'm going to both. I didn't go to Nu...It looks like I'm going to both. I didn't go to Nuit Blanche last year, so I'm excited to check it out this time. And my best friend's mom is going to be helping out at a booth at Word on the Street, so of course I have to stop by and see her (and of course, that's the <EM>only</EM> reason I'm going!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-26987301539770804642007-09-28T14:41:00.000-04:002007-09-28T14:41:00.000-04:00I think I have one of his books, I have to go upst...I think I have one of his books, I have to go upstairs and check. This book sounds interesting too. We have so many Indian writers today, it feels wonderful.<BR/>Enjoy those events,looks like you have company too to go there!:))<BR/>Have a great weekend Lotus.FHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120251231228218853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-76892460153394816792007-09-28T12:40:00.000-04:002007-09-28T12:40:00.000-04:00Thank you for your response Lotus, I enjoyed readi...Thank you for your response Lotus, I enjoyed reading wat you had to say.<BR/><BR/><I>He tries to tell us that it is in solitude that we can find the answers to even the most difficult questions.</I><BR/><BR/>That is so well said. <BR/><BR/>How interesting that you preferred the "manuscript" within a book. <BR/><BR/>And maybe the Q about the character lack of spirit can be directed to the author if you go to a bookreading? <BR/><BR/>I do hope that you can go to both the events in Toronto.karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-81262858910915541422007-09-28T12:06:00.000-04:002007-09-28T12:06:00.000-04:00Hi, Sanjay!Thank you for your engaging comment and...Hi, Sanjay!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your engaging comment and for asking me questions! I'm glad you like the review, be warned though, "Solitude" is not an easy read, it can get dull in parts, but if you persevere I think you're in for a treat! <BR/><BR/>Yes, "Solitude of Emperors" came from the title of Sorabjee's manuscript, in which he explains that it is in solitude (the same solitude that we spend so much time running away from) that the worlds of Gods and men intersect. He tries to tell us that it is in solitude that we can find the answers to even the most difficult questions.<BR/><BR/>The narrative ploy of a 'book within a book' is a good one. Frankly, I preferred the manuscript to the main book for it contained nuggets of wisdom I will cherish for a long while.<BR/><BR/><I>Is it possible that the perceived lack of spirit may be due to the nature of the narrator’s experiences?Traumatic events can be very debilitating to the spirit and ones psyche, perhaps the lack of spirit might have been meant deliberately to convey the burdens that Vijay bears due to what he witnesses and to find his beliefs being shaken to his very core? </I><BR/><BR/>I think you're onto something here, Sanjay! It could be that Davidar deliberately sought understated prose to show us how being an eyewitness to the rioting had affected Vijay. I don't know. I wish I could ask him that, but I think your theory makes a lot of sense.<BR/><BR/>Oh my gosh, yes, I remember that interview with Paul Watson and yes, I guess even if you're a seasoned reporter there are times when it's difficult not to want to add an op-ed to the facts you are recording.<BR/><BR/>I do believe "Nuit Blanche" had its genesis in Paris and then went to Madrid, Toronto and some other European cities. If I go I promise to return with a bunch of pics!<BR/><BR/>Sanjay, thank you so much for your comment and for the interest in the review. It always makes for a fun discussion!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-37958079323822085122007-09-28T11:45:00.000-04:002007-09-28T11:45:00.000-04:00@Heather ~ I hope you get to go to both events! ...@Heather ~ I hope you get to go to both events! If I do make it to "Word On the Street" you will most likely find me at the MG Vassanji reading.Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-3577469428847606022007-09-28T11:41:00.000-04:002007-09-28T11:41:00.000-04:00Anjali:So pleased to see your words on "Solitude"....Anjali:<BR/>So pleased to see your words on "Solitude". As you said:-<BR/><BR/>"This sounds like a very engaging book doesn't it? So why didn't I enjoy it as much as I expected to? I think it's because the narrator lacked spirit and that seemed to drag the narrative down. I'm glad I didn't give up on it however because Davidar addresses some very important issues that I think are very relevant everywhere in the world today"<BR/><BR/>I totally agree, Davidar does address important issues, but for me the narrator did not do them enough justice. I found myself wanting to give him (the narrator)"a slap up the side of the head". This could have been such a wonderful book. But sadly not for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-45695855740790804752007-09-28T11:40:00.001-04:002007-09-28T11:40:00.001-04:00Hi, Nix!Man, I would give my right arm to be able...Hi, Nix!<BR/><BR/>Man, I would give my right arm to be able to go to "Nuit Blanche" and to follow it up with "Word on the Street", but so much depends on what my two lovely daughters have planned for Saturday night! If I can make it I'll be sure to give you a shout, I hope you will take lots of pictures and blog about it, it looks soooooo good! Also, don't forget to add to the ongoing "Story of Toronto" the opening lines of which will be penned by none other than David Miller! The whole story will be online soon, I'd love to see your name there!<BR/><BR/>If a miracle occurs and I am able to come to "Word on the Street" I'll be sure to let you know!<BR/><BR/>Have fun Nix!Lotus Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02081192215823615529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-10038173931732785092007-09-28T11:40:00.000-04:002007-09-28T11:40:00.000-04:00Lotus, great review! You're right, it does sound ...Lotus, great review! You're right, it does sound like it would be an engaging book. I'm glad you stuck with it to then end and still got a lot out of the book. I would have given up :)MLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818786098417686889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-83896980408980872072007-09-28T10:51:00.000-04:002007-09-28T10:51:00.000-04:00Lotus, I have to say a most wonderful post. You pa...Lotus, I have to say a most wonderful post. You paint for us a wonderful picture of what “The solitude of emperors” is all about and also how the book spoke to you. <BR/><BR/>When I heard about this book, I wondered about where the title came from and your book review helps me understand that. Thank you. Was it the title of the book or the author’s previous works that made you expect something grander or larger than life?<BR/><BR/>It was truly horrifying to read about the cruelty of man against his fellow being. Even animals who hunt for sustenance look for a quick kill don’t they? <BR/><BR/>I loved the narrative ploy of using the manuscript the way the Davidar does. Neat indeed! It is also good to see this book written perhaps as a defense of secularism which is under assault at a lot of places the world over, in response to rising fundamentalism often causing misguided responses from majorities. <BR/><BR/><I>I think it's because the narrator lacked spirit and that seemed to drag the narrative down.</I> <BR/><BR/>Is it possible that the perceived lack of spirit may be due to the nature of the narrator’s experiences? Traumatic events can be very debilitating to the spirit and ones psyche, perhaps the lack of spirit might have been meant deliberately to convey the burdens that Vijay bears due to what he witnesses and to find his beliefs being shaken to his very core? <BR/><BR/>Like you I am encouraged to see Indo-Anglian writers step outside the box so to say.<BR/><BR/><I> # Should a journalist ever get emotionally involved in an assignment he is sent to cover?</I><BR/><BR/>I think I might respond to that by saying it is very hard especially for journalists covering conflict and strife. When I heard Paul Watson (A Canadian) talk about his book “Where war lives”, he was asked this question, and he said it was very difficult to not be affected. His interview on NPR <A HREF="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13970206" REL="nofollow"> here </A> says it all. So while he was able to document it professionally he was not untouched by it.<BR/><BR/>From that link <I>Canadian journalist Paul Watson won the 1994 Pulitizer Prize for his photograph of a dead American soldier being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu,Somalia. His war-zone work leaves him suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress, and he says the Mogadishu photo still haunts him.</I> <BR/><BR/>Thank you for telling us about this interesting book. <BR/><BR/>I do hope you get to go for “Nuit Blanche”, what a novel way to experience the city, it’s arts and culture!! Did the French come up with this idea? I also hope that you can go to “The Word On The Street” too and also tell us all about it. I wish they have something like this in our neck of the woods, maybe they do and I just have not looked. <BR/><BR/>Thank you again for an excellent post.karmichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10973922761187532706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-15995172713449091032007-09-28T10:37:00.001-04:002007-09-28T10:37:00.001-04:00I'm hoping to go to both events - we'll see.I'm hoping to go to both events - we'll see.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979896448183348883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12738985.post-43700544997483756412007-09-28T10:37:00.000-04:002007-09-28T10:37:00.000-04:00I'm hoping to go to both events - we'll see.I'm hoping to go to both events - we'll see.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13979896448183348883noreply@blogger.com