Top reasons why I would never buy an e-reader

In this age of facebooking, tweeting, texting, you-tubing, and yes, blogging - I like to think that there are some things that can be done the old fashioned way... like reading. If there's one thing that takes you away from tiny little screens, big screens, keyboards and keypads - it's a book. That final sanctuary where the turn of a page can take you a million miles away from the ordinary. You might say that an e-reader does pretty much the same (except that you don't really turn a page - that difficult task has been automated by the touch of a button), plus it offers the added benefits of having all of your favorite titles in the same place. But before I start sounding like a commercial for an e-reader, let me just state for the record: I refuse to buy an e-reader. I refuse to buy an e-reader just for the sake of having one more electronic toy with a touch-screen. And here are some other reasons why:

- I like the feel of a book in my hands.

- I like turning the pages, and making dog-ear marks to indicate my favorite passages.
- I like seeing the books I've read on my bookshelf. I like opening up an old book and seeing my name or a message scrawled on the inside of the book cover.
- I like walking into a bookstore and seeing shelves of shiny new book covers.
- I know I can count on a book even when a coffee shop doesn't have Wi-Fi or a power outlet.
- I don't have to turn it off during take off and landing.

Here's hoping that more people decide to turn a page, instead of pressing another button......

The Informant - Kurt Eichenwald

A PhD from Cornell, a lucrative career at a Fortune 500 company, a 3 year stint as an FBI informant, and almost 10 years in federal prison.. Mark Whitacre's story as described by Kurt Eichenwald is as bizarre as it is true.

Eichenwald takes the reader through Whitacre's role in the biggest antitrust case ever tried in the United States. Whitacre's employer, ADM, is a global supplier of agricultural products. In their own words, "the competitors are our friends, the customer are our enemies" - and in the spirit of this prinicple, ADM engaged in a price fixing scheme with some of their largest international competitors. That may sound humdrum, but Eichenwald's description of the FBI investigation, that involved secret tapings of top executives at these price fixing meetings, across 5 different countries for 3 years, is only the beginning of a complex case that has more twists and turns than a John Grisham novel. But it's even better than a John Grisham novel, because it's all true! The first half of the book focuses on the FBI investigation and Whitacre's role as an informant. There is chapter after chapter of incriminating evidence which the author diseminates in an engaging narrative.

And it doesn't end there. Whitacre's credibility as a key witness for the prosecution is called into question when allegations of fraud and money laundering are brought against him. Eichenwald sifts through mountains of research material - audio tapes, video tapes, interviews, court documents - to examine Whitacre's motivation as a whistle blower in light of all these accusations. Eichenwald does a good job of being unbiased and laying out the evidence as it is. It's for the reader to judge whether Whitacre is an unsung hero, a crook, someone with serious mental health issues, or simply human.

An Education - Screenplay by Nick Hornby

Three of Nick Hornby's novels have been adapted into films ("High Fidelity", "Fever Pitch", "About a Boy"), so I guess it took a while for Hornby to realize that he could just write a screenplay of his own!

"An Education" is the coming of age story of a 16-year old girl, Jenny, living in 1960's England, and the way her world is irrevocably changed when she is swept of her feet by David, a mysterious, world-wise, older man. Jenny is an intelligent, attractive young woman who dreams of living in Paris, listening to French music, smoking cigarettes and having conversations in French about art and culture with interesting people.. an average teenager who wants to put as much distance as possible between herself and her humble surroundings.

I haven't read a screenplay before so I can't really judge Hornby's merits as a screenplay writer, but I have to say that the dialogues are full of his signature wit. I especially liked the development of Jack's character (Jenny's father), he is hilariously sketched as the type of father who lacks an appreciation for sarcasm, and who can't seem to provide a strong enough argument for his stolid support for a "good education" to the rebellious Jenny.

And that really is the question that nags Jenny during her misadventures.. what exactly is the point of her education? It's a question that has nagged every teenager at some point or the other.. can the lessons of life be learnt within the confining walls of an institution, why can't we be free to experiment and get a taste of the finer things in life through first hand experience?

Hornby's screenplay attempts to showcase Jenny's personal journey to come to her own conclusions.. the story is simple, one that will no doubt resonate with young and older adults alike. Can't wait to see the film!

Amelia: A film by Mira Nair

Most professional reviewers share the same conclusion .. the following sentence boils their reviews down to one sentence: the movie stinks.

But I'm not a professional film critic. I'm the average film buff who watches movies for one main reason: to be transported to a different place or time by a story that could be inspiring, gritty, funny, emotional, romantic, thrilling or horrifying.

This movie was not perfect.. yes, there were some cheesy dialogues and not enough background on Amelia Earhart's passion for flying. But these shortcomings were made up by spectacular cinematography (breathtaking views of the Victoria Falls), authentic airplanes (they used a version of the 1937 Lockheed Electra that Amelia used on her last fateful voyage), brilliant acting (Hillary looks and acts the part to a T) and resonating music (by Gabriel Yared of "City of Angels" fame).

I'm going to take the 5th as far as Mira Nair's hand in this film is concerned. I've seen this director use more originality to bring fiery screenplays to life on the big screen ("Monsoon Wedding", "The Namesake"), so there does seem to be a disconnect between "Amelia" and her previous films.. I'll say no more :)

Don't write off the movie based on the negative reviews. Watch the film for its real appeal - the story of a courageous woman, ahead of her time, who seized every opportunity to live her dreams, whatever the consequence.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII - by Alison Weir

I'm a fan of Showtime's "The Tudors", but you don't need to subscribe to cable to enter the Tudor world of political intrigue and drama - just pick up a copy of Alison Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII". The book will take you through the foundation of the Tudor monarchy to the death of its most enigmatic ruler (Henry VIII), weaving academic research, opinion, engaging story-telling and vivid descriptions into a deeply rich tapestry. The focal points of the story are the wives of Henry VIII, and the author has drawn back the curtain to reveal the fascinating personalities of these incredible women.

The turbulent times of Henry VIII's rule were defined by his choice of bride, and his choices would signal shifting loyalties, power struggles and religious turmoil not only in his own kingdom but those of his neighbors. In an age when marriage was viewed as a political strategy, the wives of Henry VIII created their own destinies, and their own identities. From Katherine of Aragon to Katherine Parr, the wives of Henry exhibited their share of personal courage, shrewd maneuvers, passion, intellect, charm - it is these qualities that make for such an interesting breadth of stories with unexpected twists and turns. Follow up this magnificent read with another one of Weir's books - "The Life of Elizabeth I".

The Shadow of the Wind - a novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I have to begin by saying that no review will ever do justice to the magnificence of this novel. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is not just a writer, he is a craftsman and his is the age old craft of story telling.. where the author uses a magician's tricks of smoke and mirrors so that the more you read, the more you are mystefied... where the advancement of the story only leads to more complications of the plot till you are in the middle of a labyrinthine web of stories, rich with character and atmosphere.

David Sempere is the son of a bookseller in Barcelona. In 1945, when he is 10, he discovers a novel "The Shadow of the Wind" by an unknown writer, Julian Carax.. and over the next decade Daniel carries his obsession with the doomed author. Daniel is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Julian and protect Julian's legacy of literature from complete destruction at the evil hands of Lain Coubert, a mysterious figure who has threatened to burn every copy of Julian's books. The sinuous path of the story leads the reader to a host of characters who offer clues of Julian's existence: his star-crossed love affair with Penelope; the loyalty of his lifelong friend, Miquel; the unrequited love of Nuria; and the treacherous intentions of his lifelong enemy, Inspector Fumero.

One of the most unforgettable characters in the book is Fermin .. Daniel's friend and ally .. the self confessed admirer of all things female, whose wandering eyes belie a steadfast and loyal heart. Fermin's contempt for the anti-democratic Nationalist forces that came to victory after the bloody Spanish civil war of the 1930's, serve to showcase the tumultuous times of the novel's setting. But those events are not at the center of the story - at its core, the book is a gothic mystery, and the imagery conjured by the author of dark, sinister houses, shadowy figures, and ominous symbols will both shock and delight your senses. The story is an experience, an exercise of the reader's imagination.. the author will take you on a journey that comes full circle, and on the way you will be spellbound by the sheer magic of his story telling.

Grey Gardens

They created a world that was bizarre, isolated, eccentric, yet, it was their very own.. no one else could lay claim to it. Theirs was a tale of chances not taken, escapism and the cruelty of time. "Grey Gardens", the HBO film, was inspired by a documentary produced in the 1970's based on the true lives of Edith Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter Edith ("Little Edie"). Big Edie was the aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy and enjoyed a life of privilege and wealth till her separation from her husband in the 1930's. Edith's daughter, Little Edie, had visions of becoming an actress on Broadway, but somehow lacked the drive or the star power to achieve her glamorous dreams - she came to live with her mother in the 1950's in Grey Gardens (their once-magnificent home in East Hampton, New York). And thus commenced the beginning of the end - a reversal of fortune, and a mental state of denial that would cause the decay of a beautiful home over the next twenty years or so.

The movie goes back and forth between the happier times of former glory to the years of decline, constantly comparing the beauty and richness of the past to the emptiness and squalor of the present. Even though her wealth, beauty, good favor and fortune diminished, Big Edie would rather live in the dilapidated shell of her previously opulent home than see it torn down. Little Edie could have left for a life of her own on several occasions but chose to stay... whether this is from fear of failure, loneliness, or perhaps the realization that her mother needs her - we cannot say.. but we do know, that at her core, little Edie was a poet, artist and someone who craved a life filled with travel and adventure - who just lacked the motivation to step outside her own world of eccentricity.

Jessica Lange (Big Edie) and Drew Barrymore (Little Edie) were phenomenal in their roles.. especially, Lange, who imbibed the haughty and dogged nature of Big Edie so well. Even though Barrymore's accent is somewhat distracting, she still manages to depict the sadness and frustration felt by Little Edie as she witnessed changes in her appearance, her transformation from a young, free-spirited beauty, to an aging, trapped woman.

Rachel Portman's musical score for the movie is one of the best I've heard - it captures the mood of seclusion, exile and anguish that characterizes the story, and yet at the same time hints at the fleeting moments of delight and playfulness that are also apparent in the lives of these two women.