Review: The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by Thich Nhat Hanh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent book to read to understand the core fundamentals of Buddhism. It covers the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, in a good amount of detail. It also goes further than that, drawing on key concepts which are common to most variants of Buddhism.

I liked the fact on how Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the need for depth in life - developing it by living the values, the Buddha taught and practised. Mindfulness is expectedly a strong theme throughout the book.

The only aspect which could have been better is that while many sections do have good anecdotes from either Thich N hat Hanh's own life or the Buddha's, there are a few sections which are entirely theoretical and dry. Hence, while reading a portion of a book, it feels like simply reading the obvious.

Overall, an excellent introductory book to the essence of the Buddha's teachings, and well worth a read.

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Review: Shobhaa at Sixty: Secrets of Getting it Right at Any Age

Shobhaa at Sixty: Secrets of Getting it Right at Any Age by Shobhaa Dé
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This books is about how Shobhaa De felt on turning 60, and how she built a positive outlook to her age. The start is good – with Shobhaa writing about how turning 60 felt uncomfortable – after it is the doorstep to old age. She then goes on write about how she built a positive attitude to age – be it being busy with her profession, family relationship, diet or her fitness regime.

The problem is that, though the book starts well, it goes into a very preachy tone in the middle and later sections. It would have been fine, had it been only about attitudes and behaviors. However, there are elaborate sections on diet and fitness as well. While the advice may still be valuable, there are better sources for reading about these topics. It would have been better had there been more discussions on her personal experiences – be it with people she dealt with professionally, family or friends.

I used to find Shobhaa’s fiction books to be good to relax with. This book, however, was a disappointment. It somehow comes across as a book written in a hurry.


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Review: Scandalous

Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first of Tilly Bagshawe’s books that I read. I liked the fact that it is fast moving and there is something to look forward to on almost every page.

The central characters of the story are Theo Dexter, Sasha Miller and Theo’s wife Theresa. Theo is a great looking professor with a magnetic personality. It is easy for students to fall for Theo’s charms – and Sasha soon becomes a victim as well. Sasha is a brilliant student, and discusses new physics theories with Theo, who steals her work and becomes famous. Sasha leaves the college in disgrace with no one to support her – but later builds her life. Theo is soon a media celebrity and is divorced from Theresa after yet another affair. A broken Theresa moves back to UK, and rebuilds her life as a professor of literature again.

While, Sasha & Theresa both manage to build fairly successful careers, their past with Theo continues to haunt them. In an unlikely twist towards the end they meet, and become friends, with the aim of seeking justice for what they went through with Theo.

The book is very readable – and the characters are well formed. The new relationships Sasha & Theresa build later however do not come across as very natural. Overall, a good light read.


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Review: Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir

Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir by Padma Lakshmi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book about Padma Lakshmi's life and struggles which went with it. It is very moving for the large part as she writes about the attitude of a few insensitive men she gets into relationships with. These sections which deal with her personal trauma do make you feel for what she has been through, dealing at the same time with endometriosis.

It is not easy making it as a model in the west when you are an expat, but she persists and finally makes it. The book is interspersed with a few recipes quite randomly. This of course is to outline her interest in cooking - she also hosted the "Top Chef" show.

After her troubled marriage and later relationship troubles, it is refreshing to about her relationship with Teddy. He is one who gives are the respect she deserves. Yes, as you read you, you see that she has made her mistakes as well and it would have been worthwhile devoting a few pages to some introspection.

I found the book lose steam, continuity and narrative in the middle. Some of the cooking passages are also random, and only slow the book down. However, to understand her life and struggles, it is still a worthwhile read.



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