Nirupama P.R.V.'s Blog: Catty Opinions of a Book Loving Couch Potato, page 4
June 21, 2021
Monday Motivation
Be Kind. For everyone you meet, is fighting a harder battle. – Plato
June 14, 2021
Monday Motivation
Don’t wait!
The time will never be just right.
– Napoleon Hill
June 13, 2021
Madness
This post explores the theme of “Madness” in Agatha Christie novels, following the Hercule Poirot story ‘The Cretan Bull‘.
Agatha Christie is a master at using madness, temporary and permanent to craft stories that scare, intrigue and mislead. The Queen of Crime used the template in many stories and novels.
– In 3 Blind Mice, a childhood tragedy morphs a young boy into a villainous psycho. The trick to unmask him was to unravel who he had become.
– In Pocket Full of Rye, an old vengeful streak is suspected to be the cause of a seemingly crazy series of murders. The principal character unmasks how it is not.
– In Thumb mark of St. Peter and the Lemesurier Inheritance, madness meet meticulous planning. A slowly engaging lunacy is at the heart of almost perfectly committed crimes.
– In House at Shiraz and The Egyptian Tomb, madness is a secondary point woven into the stories, but is still powerful enough.
Allied to this theme, the book or more accurately story, I’d like to share is Edgar Allan Poe‘s The Tell Tale Heart.
Short yet gripping, the story is a first person narrative of a fictional character. The central figure is a murderer, who recalls how he planned and executed the crime he committed, all to prove that he is sane, unlike the verdict brought against him.
The conversational style draws into the story, especially with the detailing of the victim and crime but vagueness on everything else. It’s a brilliant piece of work! I don’t like horror as a genre but the story is so lasting. Decades after reading it, I still recall the story and the creepy feelings it gave me.
If you have read the story, you probably could see the ‘evil eye’ and listen to the beating heart!
The story is touted as one of Poe’s finest and I completely agree. This Wikipedia article is an extremely detailed analysis of the story and devices used within the plot, in case someone wants to appreciate the genius in the story.
How about you? What story or novel comes to mind when you think of madness?
What is your favorite Christie novel or short story exploring this theme? Let me know in the comments below.
If you have read the story, you probably could see the ‘evil eye’ and listen to the beating heart that have away
June 7, 2021
Monday Motivation
Reach Higher like the Dancing Girl Sculpture
June 4, 2021
Deception
In today’s post, we delve into another theme inspired by Agatha Christie’s Labors of Hercules. The theme is Deception.
Deception is an obvious and strong vein in any thriller and crime friction. And of course, none nail the element as amazingly as the Queen of Crime.
Noteworthy examples are of course:
Of Parker Pyne short stories, House at Shiraz and Gates of Baghdad are amazing stories that cleverly work on the concept of deception but for the main character and villain respectively. It’s amazing how she used the same element but with a contrary spin.The Affair of the Victory Ball is a short story featuring Hercule Poirot where the villain uses time and deception to fool everyone.A similar point is used in Pocket Full of Rye and Evil Under the Sun featuring Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot as the principal investigators.Another marvelous story hinging on deception is the story After the Funeral with a brilliant unmasking by the famed Poirot.My favorite of course is the crime fiction N or M. Set against the backdrop of the brink of World War II, espionage is the perfect setting for deception of all sorts. Who is true and who is not? Brilliant piece of drama and action by the middle aged Tommy and Tuppence- this one keeps you guessing till the very end. The last few pages too have a surprise twist and reveal an unexpected deception- this one is surely for the read and re-read category.After that analysis, it’s time to talk about a different author’s novel that rings true to this same theme and is of equal if not greater brilliance.
That novel is Inferno by Dan Brown.
Set across Europe and meandering amid History, Art, Culture, Science and Espionage- this book has it all. Action, drama, deception, chase scenes, philosophy and the unmistakable intensity characteristic of Dan Brown’s writing.
While some may find distasteful, given we are in the midst of a pandemic, the setting is a better escape into fairly milder story than what we are currently viewing.
And hey, the characters are splendid. The puzzles are marvelous. The descriptions of the countries and places are spectacular. For all us resigned to being at home and venturing only close by, this makes for a great read to assuage that wanderlust.
Like the rest of his books, this one is long. But it is so riveting, you will be racing from each scene, just waiting to know what is next. In that sense, 450 odd pages are just right if not too little.
I loved the novel and think it is a perfect contender for the theme of Deception. How about you? If you have read the book, do you agree with the points made here.
What book comes to your mind when you think of “Deception“?
Leave your responses in the comments below.
May 31, 2021
Monday Motivation
What is this life if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare!
… No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, How they dance…
– W. H. Davies
May 24, 2021
May 21, 2021
Force of Many
Continuing with our themes of Hercule Poirot’s Labors, today’s theme is Augean Stables or Foce of Many.
We see this theme of collective corralled forces in many stories.
In Cards on the Table, Hercule Poirot is joined by Mrs.Oliver, Battle, Captain Race. The story itself has multiple stories and less important but interesting characters like Elsie Blatt, Rhoda Dawes, Shaitana and more.In Murder on the Orient Express, we see Hercule Poirot investigating into what seems like a split personality criminal. And of course, (spoiler!) it is simply multiple people committing the same crime but working together to keep each other safe.In Curtain, the same holds true but in a villainous way. Norton instigates everyone so all the characters act worse than they would normally, leading to more hate, violent thoughts and criminal intent. Who but the Queen of Crime would think up such a masterpiece?I have to point out here that readers get a special treat in all these stories because it’s not just the collective brains and investigation we get to enjoy but also the myriad chief and supporting cast we get to view. What a great indeed up journey for any book lover!
Coming back to the theme of force of many, the book I am referring to today is Motherhood Diaries 2!
The book has 25 beautiful stories about the funny, bitter sweet and mortifying parts of motherhood. Like the journey of being a mother, this book is a roller coaster of emotions and perspectives. And like life after the gift of a child, you will be changed- subtly without realizing you did.
There were parts I laughed with, parts where I wanted to give the mother sharing her thoughts a big hug and somewhere I turned wide eyed at my children and thought, I am blessed! (I know, I know, we all have little angels . Mere mortals like me simply don’t realize it’s a test of faith and all that! But my blog, my rules!) 
This is a marvelous read and definitely on my read list for another dive in session. The best part- the chapters are stand alone – so they are just right for bingeing in little bursts of time between raising fine young citizens of tomorrow!
What book comes to your mind when you think of force of many?
How about the examples on Agatha Christie novels? Any favorite that would have been a better fit?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
May 17, 2021
Monday Motivation
Sometimes, when there is an arid patch in your way, it means the path has already been forged for us. #positivity
May 14, 2021
Mighty Adversary
Today’s post is a book review on the theme of “mighty adversary”.
In the Hercules Poirot story, mighty adversary stood for an extremely sly and intelligent, almost untouchable enemy.
Agatha Christie has developed this theme in some of her stories such as the last showdown in the Tommy and Tuppence short story series. The story of course is The Man who was No.16It’s also seen in Nemesis featuring Miss Marple.The best example of course is Curtain, another Hercule Poirot mystery where literally Poirot admires the handiwork of an ace criminal while still working with great determination to deter the psychopath murderer.However, in this post I’d like to review a book that explores an adversary that is insidious and extremely difficult to curb.
The critic in our minds.
And the book in question is The Bitch In Our Heads.
Written by Dr. Jacqueline Plumez based on her techniques that improved the lives of many of her patients, the book draws on her vast experience and clinical methods.
Basically, a lot of times we critique ourselves extremely harshly and severely for things that we would not mind in our own best friends. Dr. Plumez states that were it a BFF, we’d ask them to stop being so severe and cut themselves some slack. But when it comes to our own failures and mistakes, we scrutinize deeper and magnify even trivial errors. Awareness about our flaws and mistakes that is not bad but having extreme negative inner talk that stops us from trying new ideas, experimenting and taking leaps of faith certainly is.
The whole idea behind TBiYH is that when we verbalize this intent self critical behavior and give it a form and name; it is easier to focus on this attitude, start recognizing while it happens and eventually correct it.
Dr.Plumez identifies several facets of our life where we may be vulnerable to such self-defeating behavior- work, marriage, parenting, etc. She also has specific techniques to combat the messaging for each.
I really enjoyed the book and the takeaways- as we evolve as people and professionals, insecurities, impostor syndrome, perfectionism and many other feeling creep up to form these negative inner critics and knowing just how to curb them is handy intel to have.
How about you?
Have you read the book? What are your thoughts?
Also, What book or books come to mind when you think of a mighty adversary?
Let me know in the comments below.
