Thursday, May 26, 2005

Finished Shogun

I finished Shogun yesterday night. Have penned my thoughts about the book in my personal blog. Check it out here.

posted by Gautam Satpathy @ 10:38 AM 0 comments

Monday, May 23, 2005

Gore Vidal

Any Gore Vidal fans out there? My first Vidal was Creation. Followed by Julian, Kalki, Messiah & The Judgement of Paris. I have 1876 but haven't read it yet because I want to acquire the entire American Chronicles series first and read them in sequence.

Which is your favorite Vidal novel? Chosing is difficult because of the range of his work, but my vote goes to Creation.

I found this nice page on Gore Vidal today while looking for data on Creation this morning.

Does anybody have a copy of Myra Breckinridge?

posted by Gautam Satpathy @ 1:32 PM 0 comments

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Whirlwind by James Clavell

I was pleasantly surprised this evening to find a hardcover copy of Whirlwind by James Clavell in the pavement shop near Akshara (Banjara Rd. No 2). It cost me Rs. 150/- and the book is in immaculate condition. I am nearing the end of Shogun and was kind of hoping to find this book.



Another picture of the book. I really am thrilled with this find. And no, none of you can borrow it till I am done with it :-)



I am using Hello with Picasa2 to post pictures to my blogs. Picasa2 and Hello are really neat tools. Check them out.

Pictures by Gautam Satpathy. All rights reserved.

posted by Gautam Satpathy @ 9:59 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Rather dull in here

Too busy ? Too lazy ? Hey people, this blog is almost dead !!! Come on, find a little time to share you thoughts.

At the very least tell us what you are reading these days. I am still on my re-reading spree. Currently enjoying "Shogan" by James Clavell. The only new book I have read in the last couple of months is Ashok Banker's "Demon's of Chitrakoot", the third book in his 7 part Ramayana saga.

Waiting for the 6th Potter book to be released in July. Does anybody have the exact date ? Most of the bookshops in the city are taking advance bookings for "Half Blood Prince". Akshara (Banjara Rd. No. 2, below QMart) is offering a 15% discount if you book now. Don't know about the other book stores like Walden and Crosswords.

I have been planning to pop down to Crosswords for some time now. I have a couple of Crosswords gift certificates but haven't been able to find the time to go. Maybe this weekend. Has anybody visited recently? Any book suggestions?

Does anybody have Whirlwind by James Clavell? And King Rat. I have a softcopy of King Rat but I have never seen Whirlwind in any of the bookstores.

By the way who is blogging under the "Oracle Book Club" alias?

Challo people. Bye for now. Do blog.

posted by Gautam Satpathy @ 4:44 PM 0 comments

Friday, May 13, 2005

List of Indian authors

This link is good - it gives an update of the current Indian writers:
http://www.mamohanraj.com/india.html

posted by pratima @ 7:34 PM 1 comments

Monday, May 02, 2005

Man's Search for Meaning

By Viktor E. Frankl

This is a work by the great Viennese, who endured years of unspeakable horror in Nazi death camps.

The following quotes from the short book conveys what the man's search for meaning means.

He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.

What is really needed is a fundamental change in our attitude toward life. It does not matter what we expect from life, but rather what life expects from us. We need to stop asking the meaning of life, and instead think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life. – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in thought and meditation but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answers to its problems and to fulfill the tasks it constantly sets for each individual.

We can discover meaning to life in 3 different ways:

1. By creating a work or doing a deed
2. By experiencing something or encountering someone
3. By the attitude we take towards unavoidable suffering

posted by Anonymous @ 12:27 PM 0 comments