Hands Up!

“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.” ― Franz Kafka

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka touches upon themes like conditional love, hypocrisy within families and alienation.

However, during this conversation we expand the scope of the conversation which recognises the fact that men do feel disposable when they are of no use to a specific person or a family.

(Of course, the same logic can be applied to both genders)

Shubham and I try to explore how we felt when we read the story and understand why Kafka's works are relevant even today.

It is quite entertaining to read a book that tells you why the poor are not killing us. Not that I was ever afraid of being killed by a poor person. The book is enjoyable and readable. It might even make you feel intelligent. But it’s not. That’s the opinion of my guest Abhishek Pisharody, a political consultant. Read his detailed review here.

“Math has proven the existence of God, because it is absolute and without contradiction; but the devil must exist as well, because we cannot prove it.” ~ Yoko Ogawa

In this episode, I discuss the book “The Housekeeper and the Professor” with Srishti Khurana. The book is based on a quirky character who loses memory every 80 minutes.

In addition to the story involving the lives of the housekeeper, her child and the bond which they share with the professor, the author manages to philosophize about math and truth.

The book is a great read for those who hated math and failed to see it as an artistic pursuit. This conversation might just egg you to pick this book.

“God had a full beard, Satan had a goatee” ~ Marion Poschmann.

The ‘Pine Islands’ is a page turner that tracks the journey of a young Japanese man and a German national (who is a beard researcher) through the forests of Japan.

It explores thoughts of Basho, Haikus and German character’s fraught marital life. Though I read the book with some curiosity, I felt it was a muddled narrative. However, my guest Nikita feels it was enjoyable.

Drop into this conversation, and maybe read the book to know more about this unconventional book.

After recording a podcast about the first book "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" by Satoru Yagisawa, I discuss the sequel to the book with Deeksha Sharma who studies Computational Social Sciences at IIT Jodhpur.

In this episode we discuss independent bookstores, a brief summary of the sequel and 'slice of life' genre. We also debate whether reading can be a viable escape, book clubs and something about Deeksha's own "Morisaki Bookshop" in Delhi.

However, this episode doesn't dwell so much on the book or its characters and has no spoilers. It may not be so relatable to those who have not read both the books.

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky in The Brothers Karamazov

In this episode Nikita and I discuss the nuances of characters in the novel, moral dilemmas dealt in the book and the challenges of reading a huge book like The Brothers Karamazov. As we shared thoughts about faith, human emotions and our reaction to story, we discovered new ways to interpret this monumental piece of literature.

"She knows that no single specific experience led to her loss of language. Language worn ragged over thousands of years, from wear and tear by countless tongues and pens. Language worn ragged over the course of her life, by her own tongue and pen.

Each time she tried to begin a sentence, she could feel her aged heart. Her patched and repatched, dried-up, expressionless heart. The more keenly she felt it, the more fiercely she clasped the words. Until all at once, her grip slackened.

The dulled fragments dropped to her feet. The saw-toothed cogs stopped turning. A part of her, the place within her that had been worn down from hard endurance, fell away like flesh, like soft tofu dented by a spoon.”

~ Han Kang, Greek Lessons

While reading of the most unstructured books in my recent memory, I have felt my emotions quite intensely. I can’t put my finger on it. My friend Nikita Pathak agrees.

In our very chaotic, yet passionate attempt to talk about admiration for this book, Nikita and I share thoughts that the book evoked.

During this discussion about the ‘Greek Lessons’, we touched upon the significance of being in touch with other humans and enjoying the senses gifted to us in a world that is advancing technologically but regressing and in terms of genuine human relationships.

Mahabharata the epic is a forbidden text in Indian households. I did not know the story completely till I read it on my own at the age of 24.

But my friend Prajukta Pradhan has a deep knowledge of the text as her father cut off the cable connection and fed his children with Mahabharata serial CDs.

Prajukta's deep knowledge of the text and the details that she remembers kept me hooked for almost three hours.

I finished an entire packet of dry fruits as I heard the story like a little kid. I hope you enjoy this episode.

We will be back with a second part where we will discuss some of my unanswered questions.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." ~ Jane Austen.

In this episode with Dr Angana Moitra, professor at Jindal Global University I discuss the classic 'Pride and Prejudice', its characters, the nuances and its relevance for modern day readers. We also discuss aunties, the institution of marriage and choosing to enter it without jeopardising personal happiness.

“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground

“Notes from Underground” is a powerful and intense social commentary and monologue of a very frustrated former government servant.

The book is written in a certain social and political environment where “determinism” was presented as an ideal.

In this conversation with Deeksha I explore the nuances of the work and the emotional impact it has on readers. We also discuss the challenges in crossing the chasm between thought and action.

During this conversation we also talk about the abrasive impact that insecure people can have over their surroundings.

You can also read my post about this book here.