Thursday, November 11, 2010

Avannuku Naan Azhagu!!!



This is one of the novels that were written by fellow friends out there, however I have no idea who wrote it, so PLEASE let me know if you know the AUTHOR so they can be rightfully acknowledged for it!!!
 A couple of years ago I was very hesitant to read anything from anyone other than RC, UB, CB, KJ and other established writers.  A couple of my friends had emailed me some of the novels that were written by fellow friends just like me, the first novel that I read was Itharku Peyar Thaan Kathala by Viji and Meena and I have been hooked on to these book since. What a talent that these individuals possess, it really amuses me, the time, the effort and creativity that they put into these stories! I mean you can argue that all authors invest all these, but atleast they get royalty for their books whereas these individuals write these novels for fellow readers like me, expecting nothing in return. Hats off to all writers out there, I would for sure show my support for your books by buying them if they are published, so please let me know if you plan to or have already published them.
Now getting back to the review, an amazing book, which I enjoyed very much. We have our heroine, Sowmiya, who is just out of college, an only child to her parents.  Sowmiya’s father reunites with his childhood friend at a wedding, and that friend asks for Sowmiya to come as his daughter in law. Sowmiya’s parents are really interested in this proposal but Sowmiya refuses.  Giving in to her parent’s tears and begging, she finally reluctantly agrees to the wedding, with an idea that she can talk to the groom and ask him to stop the wedding, when they come to finalize everything. Her plans are ruined when the groom, Udayprakash, refuses to talk to her and the wedding is fixed in just 15 days. The rest of the story revolves the married life of Uday and Sowmiya, more importantly focussing on Uday’s love for Sowmiya, and how she  accepts it.
One reason that I enjoyed this book so much was because, Sowmiya did not fit into that typical ideal heroin character, and instead she was childish, playful and realistic. There were many instances and situations in this book, when I can say OMG this is just like what happens to me. I could relate to so many family moments where Sowmiya is interacting with her in-laws. All those were really realistic and highlights the importance of family (not just husband and wife but extended as well) to the readers. It was very well written and flows very well! Once thing I would like to say though is that the character of Uday, seems to be too good to be true! He fits the profile of every woman’s dream man!
Once again Hats off to the writer and I would really appreciate if you can let me know the name of the author! Share your thought s on this story as well as others written by fellow readers like us!

TI

Monday, November 8, 2010

Ithayam Theetiya Oviyamae


Author: Uma Balakumar
Year: 2010
Genre: Romance
Second story in Njambaham Poo Mazhai Thoovum
Summary:
We have our Heroine, Sanyogitha (Satha), who lives with her father, finishing her final year at college. One day when she comes home from school her father informs her that a family is coming to see her and talk about marriage. We learn that the mother of the groom saw Satha, at her cousins wedding some time ago, and attracted by her good nature and personality wants to marry her to her son. They were supposed to come 6 months ago to fix this marriage but it was delayed as their son had to go abroad to finish his studies. As she is waiting for the groom and his family to arrive, Satha gets a phone call from the groom, Prithviraj, asking her to say that she doesn’t like him and call off the wedding because there is someone else in his heart. He hangs up the phone before she can ask why he can’t do the same. However when they reach the bride’s house everything seems normal, so Satha begins to suspect that the call was from someone else, to add to this she is attracted by Prithvi at first sight and agrees to the marriage. After the marriage we find out that, Prithvi, is still in love with a girl he met when he was young and can’t place anyone else in his heart in her place. Satha on the contrary is head over heels in love with Prithvi, the rest of the story is about whether Prithvi’s young princess ever comes back into his life or if Satha manages to change his heart...
Once again, I am fan of Uma Balakumar amma’s writing and I like it that she always makes the female character stand up for what she believes instead of listening to the male characters. As per UB’s ideal female character, Satha is fond of nature and is able to get along with everyone. It would be nice to get a story from this author where the character of the heroine is different from ideal. Share your comments and thought on this novel as well any others that you have recently read.

TI

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Njabaham Poo Mazhai Thoovum


Author: Uma Balakumar
Year: 2010
Genre: Romance
Summary:

Wow what a weekend, I got time to read two of my favourite authors! I am beginning to eagerly wait for Uma Balakumar amma’s novels! She seems to be writing only about 1-2 novels a year! After her last novel ‘En sorgham nee penne’, this is her first novel for the year 2010. Once again two marvellous stories Njabaham poo mazhai thoovum and Ithayam theetiya oviyamae. I just finished the first one so I will give a summary for that one now.
This book takes place in a remote village where our heroin Kavin Malar is appointed as a collector. It has been her dream to become a collector and we are told that her parents have been a great support for her to attain her goal. In the same village we are introduced to our hero, Illangkathir, who also cares much for the village and has attained so much for the village by himself without expecting the government.  Malar is impressed by Kathir’s nature and social services and they both become good friends. Soon, as expected, love blossoms in Kathir’s heart and he is sure it is also reflected in Malar. However, the story takes an unexpected turn when he goes with his family to ask for her hand in marriage and the rest is about how/if he succeeds in his love.
There is also a sideline love story between Kathir’s  brother Anbu and their managers daughter. I thought this story was well written although the main plat reminds you of other titles.  I find that Uma Balakumar  has a unique way of describing village life, starting in Imaiyaga naan irupaen, the magic continues in this story. Her love for nature is also evident in her writings and may be thats why I am very fond of her writing? If you have read this book please share your thoughts....
Watch out for the summary of Ithayam theetiya Oviyame very soon!!
Till then
TI

Muthan Muthlaha Paartha Pothu

Author: Ramani Chandran
Year: 2010
Genre: Romance
Summary:
I started this book last night and finished it in one go, this alone should tell you how much I enjoyed the book. As with most of Ramanichandran amma's fans, I like her old books more than the new ones.
The main reason I enjoyed it was it starts off like one of my most favourite books by her, Kaathirukiraen Rajakumara, with the hero, Kathiravan, and heroine, Surabi, meeting when they were both young at a resort.  Surabi is in her teens (15) from a wealthy family, and is there for the holidays with her parent, brother and cousins. Whereas Kathiravan is there with his sister and niece, Elilarasi (also Surabi’s age) and he works as the mechanic on the resort. Surabi’s cousins in their adolescent years is awed by Kathiravan’s looks and is disappointed that he doesn’t even look up at them, consider it an insult to their beauty.  Through Elilarasi, who is impressed by their style and mannerisms, they try to learn about Kathiravan. One day Surabi and her cousins were waiting for the driver to come to take them shopping, they spot Kathiravan working and try to make him notice them by teasing him, and he accidently scratches himself with rusted metal. Concerned for his health, Surabi asks his sister later that day if he got mediation for the wound and learns that he just washed it, because he can’t afford the medication costs and also learns more about his past life. Feeling sorry for him, she grabs some medication from the first aid kid in their car and goes to find him, and finds him in the mechanic shed sleeping. As he may get tetanus from the scratch she tries puts some medication on his wound without waking him. She almost succeeds but he wakes and yells at her, stating that this is the typical behaviour of a rich, spoiled girl, scared that he might hurt her, she runs back to her room but she is not sure why he yelled at her like that. For the remainder of the holidays she avoids him. Eight years later she meets him again in a completely different atmosphere, and realizes that she had not forgotten him and loves him. Unlike other stories her parents are not opposed to the marriage but something else stands in the way. The rest of the story is about whether Surabi defeats the obstacle that stands in the way.
As I mentioned before, I think I like this story because it reminds me so much of Kaathirukiraen Rajakumara, that being said it only has slight resemblances to it and main story is different from the previous one. I certainly liked this one more than her last two books Kaatrinilay aval thendral and Kathalil oruvanai Kai pidithean.
TI

Monday, November 1, 2010

My first MS novel: Unnodu Oru Naal

Author: Muthulakshmi Raghavan
Genre: Romance
Summary:
Our hero, Hariharan, is from a very wealthy family, he runs his own successful business both is India as well abroad. His parents fix marriage for him with a modern girl (Theeba) from a family of equal status. Hariharan is fond of the Indian culture and does not like Theeba's love for the western culture, so he tells his father to stop the wedding, but the father goes ahead with the engagement even in the absence of the groom. Upset by his father’s action our hero decides to visit his friend in the country side for some peace of mind for a few days and leaves without telling his father.
Sowmiya, is born into a very orthodox family in a village and is loved by her parents and two elder brothers. She is completing her final year and is home for the study break. The wives of her two brothers, who are jealous of her beauty and pampering, try to arrange marriage with Sowmi and their respective cousin brothers, who are up to no good. A competition arises of who she will marry when both cousin brothers are invited for lunch at Sowmiya’s house on the same day without the permission of her parents, before things get out of control Sowmiya’s ‘murrai maaman’ Paraman, shows up and states that as long as he is alive no one else is to marry Sowmi. He also states that IF he is to give up Sowmi to another groom then he must be more intelligent, wealthy and good hearted then he is! Upset that their plans were ruined by Paraman, both of Sowmi’s sister-in laws tell their cousin-brothers to kidnap Sowmi and marry her when she leaves for school the next day. Sowmi manages to escape from them and run into Hariharan.
 The rest of the of story is about the encounter between Hariharan and Sowmiya and how the one day that they spend together changes their lives.
My View: I thought this book was well written, I really liked the village slang that was used in this book, it also takes us into the intimacy and innocence of villagers, which I enjoyed most. It was well written; I thought it was more like Uma Balakumar’s books then Ramani Chandran’s.
Please let me know if anyone has read this book or recommend any other books by this Author.