The Blog of Small Things

Name :  Sol Theendi Pazhagu Author : Charu Nivedita Year of Publication : 2022 Genre : Non-Fiction, Essays Rating : * ( One star out of 5) The book is a collection of random essays serialized in a weekly magazine trying to cash in on the saleability of the author and this reviewer also fell into the attractive trap. In the very first essay, he starts waxing eloquent about why South America is such a wonderful place one must travel to but gets lost in the quagmire of his silly and personal troubles. One page is about a Chilean Dictator, the very next page he jumps to Kamal Hassan and ten pages later, he complains about how drilling works downstairs makes him lose sleep at his Chennai apartment. Before one gets exasperated, he is recommending Tamil literature classics to the actor Suriya for no clear reason. Charu Nivedita's writing can be intoxicating but this book reads like it was written by Charu Nivedita when he was intoxicated.  

  Name :  Moondram Pirai Author : Mammooty, Translation by K.V.Shylaja Year of Publication : 2010 Genre : Non-fiction, Memoir Rating : *** ( Three stars out of 5) The book is an assorted collection of essays by the Mollywood superstar Mamootty on variegated memories and topics. While Indian film stars try to create an indestructible aura around them both off and on the screen (The master of it is MGR as researched by M.S.S.Pandian in the scholarly "The Image Trap"), Mamooty emerges out of this book as a fallible and normal human being like how everyone else is. He candidly underlines his arrogance and coolly admits that he has no right to question politicians as he has never even cared to check the voter list at times. The politically incorrect tone makes this memoir special and also ensures that one looks forward to his full-fledged autobiography in the coming years.

  Name :  Vaadivasal Author : Si.Su.Chellappa Year of Publication : 1959 Genre : Fiction, Novella Rating : *** ( Three stars out of 5) A bullfighter succumbs to a famed bull and his son enters the arena few years later to tame the same bull. The plot is decent but what makes the novel a classic is it's intimate and intricate detailing of how Jallikattu unfolds. Right from the first page, we are transported to the smells and sights of the Jallikattu arena. A rare work of fiction without a single female character underlines the masculine nature of the game. That the novel does not wear a critical hat on such aspects is the only pitfall in an otherwise enriching read.

  Name :   Indhiya Aatchi Paniyum Cinemavum matrum naanum Author : Gnana Rajasekharan Year of Publication : 2022 Genre : Non-Fiction, Memoir, Cinema Rating : *** ( 3 stars out of 5) The author's interesting career choices reflect in the diverse experiences in the book. In the first few pages, he is pleading the Chief Minister of Kerala to rehabilitate displaced tribals; few pages later, he is getting into heated arguments with Kamal Hassan over some scenes in "Hey Ram" and finally, he is trying to cast Kamal Hassan himself in his movie as Subramaniya Bharathi but settles for a Marathi stage artist instead. As this reviewer himself is a Kerala cadre IAS officer hailing from Tamil Nadu, most of the experiences shared in the book are easily relatable. The book gives a sneak peek into the career of a person who shone as an administrator due to his compassion and as a filmmaker due to his passion.

  Name :  Ezhuthuga Author : Jeyamohan Year of Publication : 2022 Genre : Non-fiction, On Writing Rating : *** ( Three stars out of 5) The veteran writer distills decades of wisdom into this short book that serves as a guide for aspiring writers. The format of this book is that of a conversation between Jeyamohan and youngsters who seek his advice on how to write. Some of the striking portions are where the author ridicules unquestioned allegiance to an ideology/movement, illuminates as to how unlearning is as important as learning and clearly explains as to how writing is , first and foremost, an expression of one's own  personality. As Sundara Ramasamy has written elsewhere, "Ezhudhu, adhuve adhan ragasiyam" (Can be poorly translated as "Write and you shall unlock the mysteries about it").

  Name :  Thaneer  Author : Ashokamitran Year of Publication : 1973 Genre : Fiction, Novel Rating : *****( Five stars out of 5) The author wonderfully juxtaposes the water crisis that crippled Madras with the stories of Jamuna, Chaya and Teacheramma, three women who strive to overcome the injustice of their lives by being there for each other. Ashokamitran's pithy style does not waste time on backstories and explains entire lives in a single page. By the end of the novel,  the water crisis is not over, even street lights are not working, drainage water has mixed with drinking water, Jamuna is pregnant, her lover is still trying to exploit her sexually, Chaya's husband is not coming back any time soon, their mother has gone senile, Teacheramma is suffering her sick husband - Despite such negativity all around, the novel somehow instils hope in us and that is the hallmark of great literature.

  Name :   Natchathiravaasigal Author : Karthik Balasubramanian Year of Publication : 2019 Genre : Fiction, Novel Rating : **** ( Four stars out of 5) A rare Tamil novel based in the Information Technology sector. The non-linear narrative and the multitude of characters provide a kaleidoscopic view of the emotions, the loneliness, the hard work,the office politics in the IT sector without resorting to the convenient devices of booze,sex and frolic. A work of fiction based in a contemporary setting becomes great when it does not judge or arrive at generic conclusions. Rather, it tells a story, allows us to soak in the ambience/characters and makes us silently contemplate the world we lived in while reading the story. This debut novel by Karthik does just that.