Stranger Things gets its villain

The popular fantasy TV show set in the 1990s is back with its newest season after two years! The episodes have become even spookier with deadlier monsters. The ever-more haunting narrative constantly keeps the audience on edge. Besides the dark side, the goofy chemistry between Steve and Dustin, the fun observations of Robin, and the...

Laila in ‘Sunlight on a broken column’

Laila is the fictional narrator of Attia Hosain’s ‘Sunlight on a broken column’. It is a book set during the partition of India and narrated through the perspective of Laila. In this turbulent time, Laila is considered a passive and inactive participant in the Indian freedom struggle. Her choice of going to the hills in...

Careless words and ‘The god of small things’

“That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.” This might be the most quoted sentence from Arundhati Roy’s ‘The god of small things’. This quote was said by the mother, Ammu, of the twins. However, it was the careless words uttered by Ammu herself that haunted the twins. Ammu had...

Drawing a line between self-care and narcissism

Many of the narcissistic traits fall in the ambit of selfish behavior. The focus on the self and self-image creates a space devoid of empathy. Narcissistic people lack consideration for others. Their need for adoration and an inability to accept negative feedback make them look past their flaws. In some ways, their tendency to avoid...

The modern self-care is a distraction

The self-care activities like yoga, nature retreats, bathing, etc., are hygiene/healthy living practices that are turned into products for marketing and consumption. It includes expensive products and extravagant vacations in wellness retreats. It is dragging us towards a materialist lifestyle that is the opposite of what their product tagline claims. Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com...

“They also serve who stand and wait”

The obsession with productivity in this fast-paced world is ever-increasing. People seem to have a short attention span and an ever-growing need to reach society-driven goals. Patience is hardly regarded as a virtue in this “hustle” culture. Staying idle is usually frowned upon by society. In inhabiting such a mindset, it seems like people are...

The Creative Freedom in Sita – Warrior of Mithila

Amish Tripathi’s ‘Sita – Warrior of Mithila’ is the second book in Ram Chandra’s series. The creative freedom in this mythological piece captures the essence of this novel. Anyone familiar with Ramayan will be shocked by the events in the story. Some of these instances are empowering to the characters, while others seem unnecessary renditions...

The accountability of dreams in Murakami’s ‘Kafka on the Shore’

“We are such stuff/ As dreams are made on, and our little life/ Is rounded with a sleep.” These lines were said by Prospero in Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest. The last soliloquy is often read as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage. A sense of impending doom for humanity and the fickleness of human endeavors...

The Predictability in ‘A Quiet Place’

Suspense and thrill are essential ingredients that make a horror story. The feeling of horror can either be created by the gruesome depiction of unpleasant creatures/monsters, or an unexpected turn of events that shocks the audience. In this regard, the feeling of intrigue is closely connected to the feeling of horror. Therefore, the mystery becomes...

The Midnight Library and Henry David Thoreau

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Matt Haig’s recent book, The Midnight Library, through audible (audiobook app). It was my first experience with an audiobook and undoubtedly, thoroughly amazing. There is an immersive quality of audiobooks that easily engages you in the narrative. The experience is equally dependent on the tone of the...