#28 Teaser Tuesdays- The Playgroup by Janey Fraser

"Gemma shivered. Kitty was the only one who knew her secret. The only one aware how important this December was to her."

Page: 85

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists!

Cliff Walking @ Howth ~ A Picture Post for Saturday Snapshot!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. It’s easy to participate – just post a picture that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland.  It has one of the most picturesque and panoramic views of the sea.We went there for cliff walking last week. Here are some pictures:

 Howth Head standing tall and majestically

Different Shades of Blue

 Can you spot the people?

 Howth Head again (taken in Sepia mode)

Lucky Library Picks#8 ~ The Indian Clerk by David Leavitt

This week for Lucky Library Picks, I have picked only one book. My book shelf is overflowing with books from the library. Some of the books I had bought during my India visit are still waiting to be read. I thought it would be better to clear the backlog of books before picking more from the library.

You can see other posts of this series here.

I have picked up 'The Indian Clerk' by David Leavitt this week. Of late, I am really inclined to pick books which has an Indian element in it, hence this pick.

 

I am quoting a little from the blurb to give an insight about what the book is:

"On a January morning in 1913, G. H. Hardy--eccentric, charismatic and, at thirty-seven, already considered the greatest British mathematician of his age--receives in the mail a mysterious envelope covered with Indian stamps. Inside he finds a rambling letter from a self-professed mathematical genius who claims to be on the brink of solving the most important unsolved mathematical problem of all time. Hardy determines to learn more about the mysterious Ramanujan and, if possible, persuade him to come to Cambridge. It is a decision that will profoundly affect not only his own life, and that of his friends, but the entire history of mathematics." 

Isn't that intriguing? I have read a few reviews of this book and many suggests that it needs a patient reading, but in the end it is worth it. I am really looking forward to reading it. 

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers! 

Apple and Dried Cranberry Chutney

 I had seen this chutney recipe in one of Nigella's show and tried out instantly. It was long time back and since then I have been making it regularly. I love it. Try it to check yourself ; pretty easy and delicious.. Although it can be made with any type of apples, I prefer to use Granny Smith Apples only; as stated in the original recipe as they are tart and that adds to the tangy taste of the chutney. Lets move on to the recipe:


Apple and Dried Cranberry Chutney
Click here for printable version

Ingredients:

2 granny smith apples, peeled cored and diced.

¼ cup dried sweetened cranberries.
2 tbsp oil.
½ tsp nigella seeds.
1 green chilli (optional).
salt to taste.
1 tbsp sugar (optional).
¼ tsp dried ginger powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder.
½ tsp red chili powder.
½ tsp coriander powder.
½ tsp cumin powder.
2 tbsp lemon juice (or vinegar).

Process:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add the nigella seeds and green chilli.

2. Now add the chopped apples, cranberries and all the spices, sugar and salt. Let it cook in a slow flame. The apples will cook and give out it juices as it get cooked. It will take about 15 minutes.

3. Mash them and add lemon juice in the end.

4. Let it cool completely before storing in a sterilized jar. Keep well for up to 7days.

Have it with parathas or rotis. Also goes well as dip for chips or spread for toast.

Variation:
1. Cranberries can be replaced by raisins, sultanas or dried cherries.
2. This recipe can also be tried in a microwave.

 

 Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Home by Manju Kapur

I had read a good lot about the author, Manju Kapur and hence when I saw this book in the library I picked it up.
Home by Manju Kapur is a tale of three generations, of a traditional cloth merchant family in Delhi. After braving the partition the family had to leave Lahore and start their lives anew in Delhi. The novel chronicles their lives through three generations and how with the changing times the traditions and values of the family were put to test and changed to accommodate in the modern world.

Here is the blurb from the book:

"When their traditional Delhi business-selling saris- is threatened by the new fashion for jeans and stitched salwar kameez, the Banwari Lal family knows it must adapt to the changing world outside. But can it change, when tensions at home are so strong? so, begins a series of struggles- to have children, to find education or love, even to manufacture pickles- that will see the family tested to its limits."

I found the novel frustrating. The narration is slow and their is an aura of gloom, doom and resignation throughout the novel. In fact the whole story line seemed to be of one of the drab Hindi soap opera. The characters are well sketched, but none of them will make a place in your mind. The over-all feeling, while reading it was overwhelmingly negative and it took me quite a long time to read it. I just kept on reading this book with the hope that something will happen in the end. But, even the end took me for surprise by being so dull, it just ended for the sake of it!

I have seen some reviews of it saying it is 'insightful' and anyone interested in knowing Indian culture and traditions should read it. I DO NOT think so. The impression this book gives about Indian society is one side of the story, almost like half truth which is dangerous. India is huge and traditions, food, language etc changes when you travel from one state to another. The problems and issues narrated in the novel may be relatable to many but that is not similar to understanding the essence of Indian culture.

It was a dull, boring and unenthusiastic read. Not recommended.

Linking it to A2ZChallenge for Letter H and South Asian Challenge.