Friday, January 31, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Book review :The Steradian Trail
The Streradian Trail by M.N.Krish, makes for an engrossing read ! From the contents of the book ,it appears to be the first novel penned by the author & that is what is indeed admirable.The author who is from IIT has written for business magazines earlier.
The cover is yellow which goes to yellow brown & towards the top it is brown.Currency symbols are scattered in no particular order on the yellow brown cover.A reddish brown geometric symbol made up of many squares is also featured on the cover.It is just like a bird in flight, with wings spread out.The title of the book is stated on the cover followed by an infinity symbol.It says that that this is book 0 of the infinity cycle ! Follows that, the writer hopes to write infinite books !
This story is about professor Joshua who is visiting India & as he plans to return to US ,his home ,he is held back for his safety.He starts investigating & is soon embroiled in a mystery ! His classmate Lakshman, is his confidant in this mission which has already taken away the life of one of his students.Initially,the duo face no dangers & as the plot progresses,their lives are in danger.
This is also the story of Divya who is knowledge personified & nothing misses her keen sense of Mathematics. Her friend Veenu helps her with crucial inputs in demystifying the riddle.Do they succeed ? What happens to Joshua & his friend ? Do they remain alive as they dig deeper & deeper ? What is at stake which puts their life in danger ? This book is also a tribute to Ramanujan ,the world famous Indian mathematician.
I loved the read,as it is laced with humour.The author uses the tryst with destiny speech of our erstwhile Prime Minister Nehru in a very different context & it makes us guffaw loudly.Another instance is of the monkey menace in the laboratory which makes the reader smile a lot.The practice of bestowing honorary doctorates to all & sundry is featured in the book.And it makes a mockery of the people who are scholars This is indeed, a sad state of affairs. Instead,doctorates are generously granted to businessmen,politicians,etal who have no relationship,whatsoever with learning.
The book lists the cultural practices of the brahmins in Chennai with their idiosyncrasies like Sri Ramajayam,their faith in Gods ,their places of pilgrimage,vegetarianism, filter coffee etal. This makes it very delightful .The author seems to be in favour of vegetarianism though he tries hard not to preach it.
Though Mathematics is the subject tackled here,the author keeps it light & hence the book does not get boring or dull. The description of degree coffee of Kumbhakonam,where Ramanujan's house is makes it very compelling to visit Kumbhakonam just for tasting the degree coffee !
The author laments that a museum dedicated to Ramanujan is hardly known to many, even in Chennai & is all due to the efforts of a school teacher.
The language is simple & the book is divided into small chapters The result is, that I was egged on to finish the chapters as they were small.It is devoid of technicalities of Mathematics & hence interesting.It makes me take pride in the work of Ramanujan.
I would recommend this book to one & all as it is humourous & has mystery & lots of drama.It informs us that the Ramanujan's theories are being discussed & debated even today so many years after his death ! In India ,we seem to have forgotten him.
I am thankful to Storizen for giving me this opportunity to review this book !
The cover is yellow which goes to yellow brown & towards the top it is brown.Currency symbols are scattered in no particular order on the yellow brown cover.A reddish brown geometric symbol made up of many squares is also featured on the cover.It is just like a bird in flight, with wings spread out.The title of the book is stated on the cover followed by an infinity symbol.It says that that this is book 0 of the infinity cycle ! Follows that, the writer hopes to write infinite books !
This story is about professor Joshua who is visiting India & as he plans to return to US ,his home ,he is held back for his safety.He starts investigating & is soon embroiled in a mystery ! His classmate Lakshman, is his confidant in this mission which has already taken away the life of one of his students.Initially,the duo face no dangers & as the plot progresses,their lives are in danger.
This is also the story of Divya who is knowledge personified & nothing misses her keen sense of Mathematics. Her friend Veenu helps her with crucial inputs in demystifying the riddle.Do they succeed ? What happens to Joshua & his friend ? Do they remain alive as they dig deeper & deeper ? What is at stake which puts their life in danger ? This book is also a tribute to Ramanujan ,the world famous Indian mathematician.
I loved the read,as it is laced with humour.The author uses the tryst with destiny speech of our erstwhile Prime Minister Nehru in a very different context & it makes us guffaw loudly.Another instance is of the monkey menace in the laboratory which makes the reader smile a lot.The practice of bestowing honorary doctorates to all & sundry is featured in the book.And it makes a mockery of the people who are scholars This is indeed, a sad state of affairs. Instead,doctorates are generously granted to businessmen,politicians,etal who have no relationship,whatsoever with learning.
The book lists the cultural practices of the brahmins in Chennai with their idiosyncrasies like Sri Ramajayam,their faith in Gods ,their places of pilgrimage,vegetarianism, filter coffee etal. This makes it very delightful .The author seems to be in favour of vegetarianism though he tries hard not to preach it.
Though Mathematics is the subject tackled here,the author keeps it light & hence the book does not get boring or dull. The description of degree coffee of Kumbhakonam,where Ramanujan's house is makes it very compelling to visit Kumbhakonam just for tasting the degree coffee !
The author laments that a museum dedicated to Ramanujan is hardly known to many, even in Chennai & is all due to the efforts of a school teacher.
The language is simple & the book is divided into small chapters The result is, that I was egged on to finish the chapters as they were small.It is devoid of technicalities of Mathematics & hence interesting.It makes me take pride in the work of Ramanujan.
I would recommend this book to one & all as it is humourous & has mystery & lots of drama.It informs us that the Ramanujan's theories are being discussed & debated even today so many years after his death ! In India ,we seem to have forgotten him.
I am thankful to Storizen for giving me this opportunity to review this book !
Monday, December 30, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Go the green way ....Pratsmusings......
I am the secret elf, to review Pratsmusings. Such a wonderful blog it is ! The byline sums up her funda of life " Stay Green .Be Happy ! "
Her blog is nicely divided into four categories :Lifestyle,DIY,Kids & tots & For home.She is a stay at home blogger with two hyper twins who are boys ! She is on a mission, as her blog gives fine details about going organic.
Image copy pasted from Pratsmusings.
Pratibha G is gung ho about organic & green living.In Lifestyle ,she blogs about de cluttering which is a boon in these times as we have such small flats.We must recycle so that we waste not & want not. Her de cluttering ideas have been featured in Deccan Chronicle.
She has Whimsical Wednesdays wherein she posted pictures clicked by her ! And it is obvious that she has an eye for what makes for a superb click !
Her DIY ideas are so simple & easy that they can be tried by all.She writes about everyday common ingredients like honey,cinnamon.I love them both & Pratmusings enlightened me on how both these simple things can heal my acne,help me detoxify ,add aglow to my skin & so much more !
She does brand reviews as well .Her reviews are frank & useful.She informs in her blog ,that she found a particular product too much aromatic & some products which she uses again & again.These are really useful tips.She endorses after a detailed research & usage.This is so positive & so thoughtful of her !
She blogs about organic clothing for children ,immunity in kids, etal. The knowledge, she shares is invaluable to parents as we all are too pressed for time & yet want to give the very best to our generation next !
She has some great ideas about gifting for festivals,arranging our homes & many more ...simple & easy steps to have neat & tidy surroundings !
And the best thing is, that everything she writes is, about going green ...going back to nature ! I am sure, many have benefited from her blog .And many like me, who have discovered her blog recently, will continue to gain, from her ideas !
Her blog is nicely divided into four categories :Lifestyle,DIY,Kids & tots & For home.She is a stay at home blogger with two hyper twins who are boys ! She is on a mission, as her blog gives fine details about going organic.
Image copy pasted from Pratsmusings.
Pratibha G is gung ho about organic & green living.In Lifestyle ,she blogs about de cluttering which is a boon in these times as we have such small flats.We must recycle so that we waste not & want not. Her de cluttering ideas have been featured in Deccan Chronicle.
She has Whimsical Wednesdays wherein she posted pictures clicked by her ! And it is obvious that she has an eye for what makes for a superb click !
Her DIY ideas are so simple & easy that they can be tried by all.She writes about everyday common ingredients like honey,cinnamon.I love them both & Pratmusings enlightened me on how both these simple things can heal my acne,help me detoxify ,add aglow to my skin & so much more !
She does brand reviews as well .Her reviews are frank & useful.She informs in her blog ,that she found a particular product too much aromatic & some products which she uses again & again.These are really useful tips.She endorses after a detailed research & usage.This is so positive & so thoughtful of her !
She blogs about organic clothing for children ,immunity in kids, etal. The knowledge, she shares is invaluable to parents as we all are too pressed for time & yet want to give the very best to our generation next !
She has some great ideas about gifting for festivals,arranging our homes & many more ...simple & easy steps to have neat & tidy surroundings !
And the best thing is, that everything she writes is, about going green ...going back to nature ! I am sure, many have benefited from her blog .And many like me, who have discovered her blog recently, will continue to gain, from her ideas !
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