Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 287

Top 5 Books From 50

It’s only August and I have already finished my goal of reading 50 books this year. Here are the five books that I enjoyed reading the most from them.

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid – This novel was so breezy and enjoyable that I stayed up all night to finish it. It’s something I hadn’t done in YEARS. Reid’s story deals with racism and how even the most well-meaning people can be total dicks. The debut novel made it to the the Booker Prize 2020 longlist last month. So happy for Reid! Heartstopper by Alice Oseman – Okay, this is not one book, but a three book series which is absolutely adorable. Set in an all boys high school, Hearstopper is the story of how openly gay Charlie falls in love with the clearly straight jock Nick, only to realize the feelings are mutual. If you are looking for some cute LGBT material, this is it. Are You My Mother by Alison Bechdel – This graphic novel memoir by Bechdel is painfully honest, self-introspecting and is peppered with a lot of insights of a famous psychoanalyst. She grapples to explain her relationship with her mother and does a pretty good job of it. Her mother doesn’t really approve. Of course. Jerusalem by Guy Delisle – Another graphic novel, I can’t help it if I love the medium too much. Delisle gives us glimpse of the politics, religious tensions & internal conflicts in the region in his unique comic book style drawings and refreshingly personal perspective. The Nasties by Mark Hurst – This novel falls in the horror genre and is the story of how a 10-year-old is tasked with fighting sinister monsters devouring children in his sleepy little town. In an earlier book review post I had mentioned how the book reminded me of Stephen King’s ‘It’, and well King is the King of Horror, so that’s obviously meant to flatter the author.

P.S – I published my second book ‘Love, Loss, Lockdown’. It’s a collection of short stories set against the Covid19 pandemic in India, get a copy if it piques your interest.

Solitaire – A Review

I loved, loved, loved ‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman, so it was but obvious for me to get curious about her other work. Solitaire’s cover proclaims it is not a love story. True. Here’s what it is instead – a cliched, irritating, repetitive story of Tori, a girl who constantly tries to convince us that she is “different”, but she is nothing but a whiny, ordinary, introverted teen with no real problems of her own (her younger brother Charlie has some real issues though).

It’s pretty hard to like the book if you do not warm up to the protagonist, and Tori is just a very mediocre character. Oseman tries really hard to make the heroine of the story seem ‘cool’. And the plot is not very intriguing either. It’s about how an anonymous blog called ‘Solitaire’ starts orchestrating pranks in Tori’s school. Slowly, the pranks get sinister and a new boy at school called Micheal Holden believes that the blog has something to do with our heroine. So Michael Holden decides to solve the mystery with Tori (who is not interest) of the anonymous blog and this leads to an uncanny friendship.

The writing style is nice, nothing too impressive, but keeps you interested in flipping the pages. Like I said at the start, some of it is repetitive & irritating, for example, Tori keeps saying things like – “I don’t do much at all”/”I don’t want to do much at all”. We get it. She really doesn’t do much at all. The only bits I really enjoyed were Tori’s interactions with her younger brothers at home. They are filled with genuine sibling affection and makes the reader smile.

It’s commendable that the book attempts to explore issues like mental health problems, eating disorders, bullying, homophobia, but doesn’t go into the depth of the matter. So you have a very ‘touch & go’ approach to them and don’t feel emotional about what is happening. At one point, I just kept reading because I wanted to know what happens at the end, not because it was enjoyable. There’s a difference between “ooh, so exciting, I really want to know what happens in the end” versus “ugh, can we just get to know what happens in the end please?”.

The biggest problem with the book is that it pretty predictable. There is one minor unexpected twist after the major one in the end, and it is so pretentious that I sighed out loud and skipped paragraphs. The end reminded me a little of Stephen King’s Carrie, you will only understand why if you read the book.

To Alice Oseman’s credit – she wrote ‘Solitaire’ when she was only 17. Well, that’s amazing and maybe that explains the immaturity plaguing the story. Doesn’t change the fact that this book was a disappointment. It’s a three on five for me.

FYI – This is book number 50 for the year!

Life On The Line

The Japanese mini-series ‘Life Senjou no Bokura’ also known as ‘Life on the Line’ is a cute little love story about two teen boys – an over-imaginative Nishi and the more restrained Ito. It charts their relationship from their high-school days to adulthood and is a little unconventional.

When I started watching this series, I had no idea that it was based on a manga. But when you watch the first episode, as a viewer you get the sense that this series a literal adaptation of a comic book. It starts off with Nishi taking careful steps on the white markings on the sidewalk on his way to school. He likes to imagine he is treading on a dangerous pole, one wrong-step and he could fall into the jaws of sharks or something more sinister that would result in instant death. His life gets more interesting when he bumps into Nishi, a boy from a different school who likes to walk on the white markings too. What starts off as a strange friendship, soon evolves into more.

While some stuff is borders on being slightly unrealistic, most of the story-line is believable and doesn’t have the usual exaggerations of Japanese dramas. The only thing I didn’t really like was the hair-style of lead actor Raiku who plays Nishi; while he is quite adorable, the hair is just ‘ugh!’. Shirasu Jin who plays Ito, is damn good in the role of a young man who is pining for something more serious with the boy he falls in love with.

The two eventually start a relationship in earnest and live a largely happy life. I loved the fact that this series unfolds over several years, showing us a gay couple in a steady relationship. Nishi & Ito start living together after finishing college and spend years in relative peace & bliss. But obviously it cannot be all hunky-dory forever, as they get older Ito finds himself torn between his love for Nishi and his parents who expect him to marry a girl & give them grandchildren. You will have to watch the series to know what happens.

I really liked the pace of the series, I have seen some users complain that it was too short, but in my opinion it was near-perfect. There weren’t any needless sub-plots, or unnecessary scenes for comic relief. The focus is on the lead couple and the highs & lows of their relationship. Their story will tug at your heart and make you want to root for them.

If you are looking for a short LGBT series to watch, ‘Life on the Line’ is just the thing you need for some weekend watching.

Dear Life – A Little Diary

Before I begin writing my thoughts on ‘Dear Diary’ by Alex Jo Haber, I must declare this – despite writing a lot of poetry myself, I rarely read poetry books. Also, I almost never review them, because poetry for me is something very personal, something that cannot be critiqued. But now that I’ve read this book, I am going to pen down what I thought.

‘Dear Life’ reads like a personal diary, as if you are peeking into someone’s raw emotions and thoughts. It felt like I had picked up someone’s notebook from their bed without their permission (and I am capable of that). This is the first time I am reading a work that delves into someone’s gender transition. The pages are a mix of emotions, while some exude a sense of calm and acceptance, others are laced with rage and despair.

There’s a tinge of innocence to some of the text, as if you are reading the inner thoughts of a troubled teen. It’s amazing how some writers aren’t scared of sharing a piece of their heart with the world and do not mind giving them a glimpse to the darker parts of their minds. Some of the poems capture the angst of being trans, of being judged and being misunderstood by those you love.

Only one or two poems struck me as a little odd, because they didn’t have the personal element like the others, for example – there is one about a farmer struggling to make ends meet. But apart from those anomalies, the rest of the book is in sync with what the writer wants to share. Alex covers a lot of themes, including love, complexities arising at home, mental health issues, eating disorders and the struggle to accept oneself for who they are.

‘Dear Life’ is a nice little book for youngsters who want to read some raw, emotional poetry.

Sunday Giveaway

It’s Sunday in my part of the world and I am giving away my debut book ‘Death & Darker Realms’ for free. So the e-book is basically free to buy on Amazon kindle stores across the world today. Not just of kindle unlimited members, but for everybody. So grab your copy now. Leave a little review if you read it.

Here are some country specific links –

Amazon US
Amazon India
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Amazon France

Little about the book – it’s a collection of 40 poems exploring themes like death, depression & dysfunctional relationships. The poems in it have been written over a decade and weren’t penned with the intention to publish.

Japan Sinks – A Review

It took us three days to finish ‘Japan Sinks’, the latest anime series to hit Netflix. Directed by Masaki Yuasa, this 10 episode show focuses on how a series of earthquakes wreak havoc in Japan and tracks the journey of a family struggling to survive.

The first episode starts with a mid-air scene, where a chubby man is reading a newspaper on the plane, the headlines talk of the Olympics. The scene then changes to a high-school sports ground, where the viewer is introduced to the protagonist Ayumu, a teen athlete who is aspiring to be part of the Olympic team. In the very first few minutes, devastating tremors ripple through the ground in Tokyo, leaving most of Ayumu’s team dead. The bustling city resembles a post-apocalyptic nightmare, with crumbling buildings, uprooted trees, burning skylines and dazed citizens.

Ayumu runs away from the bloodbath in her locker-room and manages to re-unite with her father, gamer-brother Go and their chirpy mother, who turns out to be the chubby man on the plane. “Oh, the boy is a woman!” I exclaimed while watching the scene. I am mentioning this misunderstanding on my part to highlight the weak animation. To somebody who is used to watching Studio Ghibli movies from Japan, the animation in this series was not very impressive.

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What makes ‘Japan Sinks’ interesting is the fact that the makers do not hold back in showing very graphic scenes, that help heighten the impact of the tragedy unfolding around the central characters. It’s rightfully rated 18+, with ample blood & gore. Almost every episode has some gut-wrenching deaths and unexpected twists. Dramatic events take place in quick succession. You have problems, problem-solving and more new problems. The characters do not have the time to grieve for those who are dead.

While I haven’t read the novel this series is based on, the story explores a lot of themes – teen love, family ties, alienation, sexual abuse, racial prejudices, eerily idyllic cults and attachment issues. But none of the themes are explored beyond the surface, because there is no time. Fair enough. But from episode 5, the series suddenly slows down and our pack of survivors, which includes Ayumu’s family and two other young men find themselves welcomed in ‘Shan City’, which is inhabited by a cult-like community. The characters finally get to spend some relaxed hours, but even then, as a viewer, you don’t really establish a connection with any of them.

Towards the end of the show, some of the stuff just stops making sense, especially Aymu and her brother’s incredibly good luck – they find everything they need to survive miraculously. So the climax wasn’t as great as it could have been, neither was it moving enough. For example, a few days back, I saw the animated film ‘Your Name’ and was moved to tears in the end. But ‘Japan Sinks’ doesn’t have any powerful cathartic moments, despite being a tale of human resilience in the face of disaster.

This original Netflix series however does make for good weekend watching with a feel-good ending. Ordinary people are the heroes of this series. Had the animation been a little better, it could have been ground-breaking.

Lockdown Blues

Here’s some trivia – there are at-least five books called ‘Lockdown Blues’, some fiction, some non-fiction. Since my debut fiction book is called ‘Love, Loss, Lockdown’, Amazon usually shows me ‘similar books’ on the sides, that’s how I know this. Although, it makes one wonder why people don’t do a simple google check before deciding on the name of their book?

Anyway, that’s not what this post is about. What I really wanted to write about is how the restrictions owing to the Covid19 pandemic is slowly beginning to bring me down. I feel a lot less motivated to write these days. All I want to do is drink coffee and then sleep. The irony!

Here’s what has really upset me though – the state where my publishers are based at is under lockdown again, till August 31st! Which means, readers cannot order paperbacks for another month. Like I said once earlier – I can’t really complain about lockdowns if my book is about it. I am allowed to feel a little low about it though.

The only positive way to look at it is – at least there are the e-books! So if you like reading general fiction, please get a copy on the kindle store. And if you get the book, do leave a rating/review, it means a lot to independent authors like me. Following are some links (it is also available for kindle unlimited members) –

Amazon India

Amazon U.S

Amazon UK

Amazon Germany

Amazon France

If I’ve missed your country, look for it on Amazon or on your kindle store.

Fangs. It’s Cute. That’s it.

If you are on Instagram, chances are high that you’ve seen someone share a comic by Sarah Anderson. She makes these simple but adorable doodles that are very relatable. Owing to her popularity, she has ventured into publishing too. I finished reading a comic series called ‘Fangs’ by her.

So ‘Fangs’ basically chronicles the relationship between a vampire girl and a werewolf boy. Smells a little like twilight, doesn’t it? What disappointed me about this book was that it’s more like a scrapbook than a ‘comic series’. It’s just a bunch of funny/cute banter between the vampire girl who loves to dress up and the werewolf boy.

You have plenty of cartoonists out there making adorable panels that scream ‘hashtag relationship goals’. Sarah Anderson pretty much does the same in this, except that her protagonists aren’t humans. Here is a sample panel from her instagram account –

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If you are looking for a coherent tale, you won’t find any. However, if you are in mood for some random adorable Vampire-Werewolf romance to just pass some time, take a bite of ‘Fangs’.

In Awe of ‘Your Name’

Once in a while I will watch an animated film that cannot be reviewed, just because it’s so damn good that you might not have the right words to appreciate it. The 2016 Japanese film ‘Your Name’ (Kimi no Na wa) directed by Makoto Shinkai is one such gem. I want to stab myself in the eye for watching it four years later, despite seeing the trailer all those years ago.

This Japanese film is about teenagers Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu, while the former is an aggressive Tokyo boy, Mitsuha is a soft-spoken country girl longing for a more exciting city life. In the trailer it’s pretty clear that the two of them randomly keep switching bodies. A concept that is not new in cinema. I really enjoyed watching the 2006 body-swapping Hollywood film ‘It’s a Boy Girl Thing’ as a teen. But unlike the American romantic-comedy, ‘Your Name’ despite being quite humorous in parts, makes for a very poignant and deeply emotional movie watching experience.

The story arc is brilliant. What starts off as a funny, light story about two teens swapping bodies randomly, soon evolves into a fantastical tale about love that transcends time & irrevocable tragedies. The movie has some delicious twists, you would savor some of the unexpectedness with all your heart.

What makes this film even more exceptional is the beautiful animation, some frames are like live moving paintings. Makoto Shinkai the director, who also wrote the story, says he was by a town he visited in 2011. So a lot of scenes in the animated films are sketches inspired from real places in Japan, that gives the animated landscapes a touch of almost magical realism.

It’s no surprise that ‘Your Name’ went on to become the highest grossing animated film to be made in Japan. If you are an animation enthusiast like me and haven’t watched this film yet, you know what to do.

P.S. You can find me on  Facebook, Twitter  and Instagram 

Old Mails, Teen Me

Do you still have an e-mail account that you used back in school?

My first email account was on Hotmail (now known as Microsoft Outlook – guess they figured out just how shady Hotmail sounded) and I had created it when I was probably thirteen. So freaking long ago. There were a couple of weird Yahoo email accounts in between, all long-forgotten. But guess what – I still have access to my first Hotmail account.

I used the same Hotmail account till I was in college, after which I pretty much stopped using it. It continues to exist because my Facebook account is linked to that email. Here is the deal, I am the sorts that rarely checks emails. My last job as a TV journalist involved minimal mailing too. So only recently did the realization hit me – that the first account is a small treasure trove of correspondence that contains the remains of my teenage self.

Yesterday, I was looking for an old short story that I had written when I was probably seventeen and had to go way way back into my outbox list to find it. So glad that my teen self was smart enough to email some of my fiction to myself. I wish I could have done it with all the stuff that I wrote. Sigh.

Not only did I find the short story I was looking for, I also found some more that I absolutely have no memory off. One of them reads like “Goosebumps” met “Mills and Boons”. Hard to decide if that’s a good thing or bad.

But here’s a screenshot of the most interesting email I found amidst all the other nostalgic stuff –

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This 2008 email was sent to the ‘Opinion’ team of Deccan Chronicle, a leading south-Indian newspaper. I honestly have no memory of the show. Especially because I pretty much quit watching television in 2011. But there was a time when I was a total couch potato, who consumed a LOT of Bollywood films and shows.

Here is the text of the mail, since the screenshot is not very clear –

‘It is hard to believe that the celebrity participants are actually professionals who work in popular tv serials. They are always ready to pounce on each other and fight at the slightest opportunity. It might be a gimmick for trp’s but it only makes you want to switch to some other lesser irritating show.‘

Got to say, I chuckled at the mail and was proud of my teen self. They did not publish my silly opinion but here’s the fun part – seven years later, I landed a job with the same publication in Mumbai and pretty much headed the online team of Deccan Chronicle.

P.S. You can find me on  Facebook, Twitter  and Instagram