Dance Like a Man by Mahesh Dattani | Review

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Name: Dance Like a Man

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Author: Mahesh Dattani

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Genre: Drama/Play

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Pages: 75 pages

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Format: Paperback

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Publishing Details: 1st January 2006 by Penguin Books

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Summary: Jairaj Parekh and his wife Ratna, aging Bharatnatyam dancers, are engaged in finding a substitute mridangam player to accompany their daughter Lata at her performance at a high-profile dance festival. Lata, in the meantime, nervously awaits the meeting between her parents and Viswas, the young man she wishes to marry. When the four meet, and in the conversations and discussions that follow, the fissures in the relationship between Jairaj and Ratna begin to explode into high-strung battles which lead back to their own youth and the tragedy that lies at the heart of their discord. The younger couple have their own issues to contend with: the obvious mismatch between the two sets of parents, the arguments over Lata’s career as a dancer after marriage and most unsettling of all, Lata’s attempt to balance her parents’ ambition with her own needs and desires. A brilliant study of human relationships and weaknesses framed by the age-old battle between tradition and youthful rebellion, Dance Like a Man has been hailed as one of the best works of the dramatic imagination in recent times.

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Review: This play may seem very drab in the beginning but there are gems of conflict, repression, dedication, feminism, patriarchy, the love for art, prostitution, politics and much more underlying it.
The characters have different voices and opinions. They view the events unfolding in their own perspective.
Ratna, the mother has been through much grief in the past. But what stays prominent is the jealousy she harbors towards the success of her only daughter, wishing fruitlessly that she had the fame that her daughter was getting.
She not only loses something very important to her blinded by the need for fame, she also feels the same pull now. Its difficult being a mother as well as trying to make a name for yourself in that year in India. Even today, its something that not many achieve. Feminism creeps into the story without making an entrance.
Jairaj, the father has lost his will and desire to dance after the fateful events. Even so, unlike Ratna he is proud of his daughter and all that she has achieved. His relationship with his own father has molded him into the ever-supporting father and even though he hates his old man, he can’t help but remember him.
Lata, the daughter is walking down the path that her parents once set on, and then laid out for her to go on. She’s a strong independent woman who does nor back down from her opinions even if her fiance or anyone else for that matter objects to it.
Viswas played a small role. So no thoughts for him.
Overall, a great play.

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Rating:  

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Inside Out Book Tag

Since I am a big fan of Disney and Pixar movies, I thought I’d do this tag. Better late than never! I really enjoyed the movie. The concept was unique and as usual the visuals were absolutely stunning.

This tag was created by Kristina over at Kristina Horner originally. You can find the video here.

Let’s get on with the tag, shall we?

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1. Joy – A book that makes you happy or brings you the most joy.

I had to go with FANGIRL by RAINBOW ROWELL for this one. Actually any of her books really. I get this gooey warm feeling whenever I pick that book up. Plus we can all agree that Cath is like the most relatable character ever.

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2. Disgust – A book that grossed you out the most.

For this I couldn’t really find any proper answer cause I’ve never really read something utterly revolting. (Except Game of Thrones of course cause the amount of gore tbh)

So I decided to go with HORRID HIGH by PAYAL KAPADIA. The book features rather horrible teachers and rather horrible food. ‘Nuf said.

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3. Fear – A book that scared the crap outta you.

For this I HAD to go with A MAGIC DARK AND BRIGHT by JENNY ADAMS PERINOVIC.

The book made me stay up all night after reading it because I was afraid some ghost would pop out inside my bedroom in the dark. Freakishly scary. *shivers* Do not be fooled by the pretty cover!

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4. Sadness – A book that made you cry like a baby.

I’m guessing a lot of people would choose this book. Of course its HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K.ROWLING! Tell me you didn’t cry during all those painful, miserable, unnecessary deaths! *sobs*

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5. Anger – A book that pissed you off.

I recently read the first book in this bind up and I was SO disappointed! Every one seemed to love it and I went in with good expectations and BOY WAS I WRONG! I just hated it.

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2016 Reading Goals

Better late than never!

I read 150 books in 2015, even though a lot were graphic novels. Since its my last year in college along with work, I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to read.

So I put my Goodreads Goal – 100 books.

I really want to finish a series per month, so 12 in total. If I don’t feel like continuing with the same, I might jump on to some other series. Here are the series I’ve chosen as of now:

• Uglies (1/4 done)
• A Song of Ice and Fire (hopefully) (1/5 done)
• Eragon (1/4 done)
• The Winner’s Curse (1/3 done)
• The Infernal Devices (0/3 done)
• Marked (re-read)
• The Lunar Chronicles (1/5 done)
• The Raven Boys Quartet (0/4 done)
• The 5^th wave (2/3 done)
• Half Bad (0/3 done)
• Daughter of smoke and bone (1/3 done)
• Lux series (2/5 done)

I’d also like to read more Classics and Literary Fiction novels. I thought I’d do that with the next challenge, cause most of the books will include in both.

The Rory Gilmore Challenge

For those who don’t know what this is, the protagonist from Gilmore Girls is really into reading, and someone made a list of all the books mentioned or seen on the show. There are around 340 in total, but I picked out some I was interested in reading. I’d really like to read at least 15 out of the 25 I picked.

Ze List:

• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
• Carrie by Stephen King
• The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
• The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
• Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Emma by Jane Austen
• Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Rapunzel by Grimm Brothers
• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
• The Shining by Stephen King
• Snow White and Rose Red by Grimm Brothers
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
• The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

 

That’s all folks! What are your goals this new year?

Drool-Worthy Covers #8

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

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Note: This book looks perfection! Its expected to be published on 7th June 2016. Is anyone flipping out yet? 

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The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.
As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.
When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.
A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

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Creatures of the Night | Book Tag

This Tag was created by Katytastic over at Booktube, and since we’re approaching Halloween now, I thought why not do this tag!

With each creature mentioned I’ll be recommending a book which features it. So let’s get started!

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1. Vampires

I know most people would go with Twilight but I’d rather choose this book.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

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2. Werewolves

Again, no Twilight. Let’s not be cliche. I’m going to go with a book series which includes all of these creatures.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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3. Zombies

I haven’t read any Zombie books unfortunately. But there’s a book I’ve been told that includes Zombies and is very good. So here you are. Let me know if I should read it!

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

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4. Ghosts

I HAD to choose this one for Ghosts. I mean seriously, how long could I have avoided this book series? I could answer this for everything if I could..

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling

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5. Spell Caster/ Wizard/ Witch

I could use Harry Potter for this one again but I won’t. 😛

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

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6. Fae / Faeries

These scare the shit outta me, so I’ve not read many books about them. There’s one series focused on them –

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

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7. Demons

Technically this book series includes both Angels and Demons. But ah well.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

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8. Angels

I absolutely love this trilogy! If you haven’t read it yet, please do!

Angelfall by Susan Ee

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9. Aliens

Other than the Lux series by J Lyn, I think this book trilogy is great too! Can’t wait for the movie. 😀

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

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10. Super Power Humans

I thought hard about this one. I read this book recently, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

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Are there any books featuring these creatures that I should read? Or any thoughts about the choices I made for the tag? Let me know in the comments below!