1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (Book 1, 2 & 3)

It has been a while since I read this book, but some how couldn't put my thoughts together to write a review. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami is a huge book, it is the first book by the author that I have read.

It was first published in three volumes in Japan in 2009–10. The novel quickly became a sensation, with its first printing selling out the day it was released, and reaching sales of one million within a month. The English language edition of all three volumes, with the first two volumes translated by Jay Rubin and the third by Philip Gabriel, was released in North America and the United Kingdom on October 25, 2011. (Source-Wikipedia)

It can be categorized as a thriller and a fantasy love story. To be able to appreciate this novel fully, the reader has to believe in what the author is trying to convey. That becomes a challenge in the later part of the novel.

The story is set in year 1984 and spans over the year. Book One starts with the female protagonist of the novel, Aomame (a name which literally means green peas in Japanese) in a taxi on a Tokyo highway. There is a huge traffic congestion and vehicles are moving slowly. To be able to reach for her scheduled appointment Aomame, on the advice of the taxi driver takes a short cut. That seems to work fine but after a while, she discovers seriously puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She realizes that on taking the short cut route, she has entered a parallel existence which she calls 1Q84,Q for question mark. This world has two moons in the sky(that is evident from the cover). There are a lot of questions in this world that Aomame has to find answers to and time is not on here side.

Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo Kawana takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author, Fuka Eri that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled. The novel Air Chrysalis makes it to the top of the chart, only to complicate things for every one involved in the projects. From one thing to another, the author conjures up a complicated plot that successfully keeps the readers hooked.

The pace created in Book One carries well into the Book Two. Murakami is an author with huge creativity and vivid and fantastic imagination. One would not be able to predict what turn the story is going to take. At the close of Book Two, both Aomame and Tengo finds themselves in precarious situation, threatened and confused. There are many loose ends in Book Two which I was hoping would be addressed in Book Three and hence I promptly borrowed the Book Three from the library.
 

In Book Three, Aomame and Tengo are pursued by people and forces that seem to be from some other world. They try to decipher the strange world around them and soon realize their destinies converging. What they cannot surmise is if they would be able to find each other before they are themselves found. What actually happens is the thing to find in the book.

Book Three did not live up to my expectation. Fantasy is fine but loose ends are what leaves me unsatisfied. The author didn't even try to convince as to why things were happening the way they were. It actually left me squirming in uneasiness and for a while I couldn't decide if it was a good thing or bad. Finally, I felt that I must be able to picture things in the novel to understand them fully, like I have no idea who these little people, what they want, from where they come. May be the author wanted to keep it to the imagination of the readers, but it didn't work for me. The whole plot seemed to concentrated on making Aomame and Tengo meet, but why take them to a different world to make that possible. I enjoyed the first two books, they kept me dangling by a thread. But, Book Three disappointed me. Certainly, I don't understand the hype around the book. I would give it a balanced 3/5 overall rating.

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers 

Veg Chow mein Noodles ~ A Popular Indo-Chinese Dish

Indo Chinese Food is very popular in India. It is basically a fusion cuisine. Veg Chow mein is perhaps one of the most popular Indo Chinese dishes. From road side carts to posh restaurants, this humble noodles finds a place in many menus.

When ever, I prepare this dish, the first person who comes to my mind is my little sister, she loves this dish. DH likes it too. When I am not in a mood for elaborate cooking, I resort to making it. It is easy, yummy and filling too. Only task that can be cumbersome about making this dish is the way the veggies are sliced. It can take a lot of time if you are cooking for a lot of people, but for the two of us, it is not much work. Lets hop of to the recipe now-

Veg Chow mein Noodles

150 gm Chow mein Noodles
1 tbsp soya sauce
2 tbsp chilli sauce( add more if you like it spicier).
1 tbsp vinegar
Salt and black pepper to taste
1" inch ginger grated
2 cloves garlic chopped

Julienne cut vegetables (Amount may vary, I generally add about 1/4 cup of each)
Onions
Bell peppers (I used red, green and yellow)
Carrots
Cabbage
Beans
Thinly sliced baby corn
Peas

Spring Onions for garnish (That you had grown on your window sill)

Process:

1. Cook the noodles as per the instructions given on the box. Make sure you cook it upto 80%. When it is sautéed with veggies, it will cook further.
2. Heat oil in a pan. When heated add the sliced onions. Fry them till they are slightly translucent. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté it for 30 seconds. Now add the carrots, beans and baby corn. Add salt and stir. Cover it and cook for 2-3 minutes, so that the carrots, beans and baby corn are tender. Now add the cabbage, bell peppers and peas. Stir and add some more salt and pepper.
3. Now add the cooked noodles and give it a nice stir. Add the soya sauce, chilli sauce, vinegar. Give it a good stir. Check seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Cook for another 3-4 minutes and take it off gas.
4. Serve it hot with Sweet chili sauce or ketchup or both! Enjoy!

We had it with Chilled Sweet Lime Soda..

Note: You can also add tofu or paneer pieces.

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Powerscourt Gardens Pictures ~ For Saturday Snapshot

This week for Saturday Snapshot I am sharing a few pictures from our visit to Powerscourt Gardens last week. I will elaborate about the trip later, for now enjoy the pictures. I had shared a few pictures of Roses from the Rose Garden there for Wordless Wednesday. Do check them as well!

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.

 On the way..

 Lake at the Italian Garden..

 Dolphin pond..

 Lovely Lotus!

Italian Garden

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Roses!

Linking it to Wordless Wednesday

[From the Rose Garden at Powerscourt Gardens, Wicklow, Ireland]

Growing Spring Onions On Your Window Sill - Easy and Economic

Growing Spring Onions on window sill is one of the many things I have got to know because of Pinterest.   
If you are not on Pinterest yet then you are missing quite a lot of fun ideas and things. Do join in.

Growing spring onions at home is easy, economical and the best part is you don't need anything fancy. Just a glass jar and water and good amount of sunshine.

I use spring onions quite often, be it for garnishing or in Indo Chinese dishes or in stir fries, I need it often. So, when I saw this simple trick of growing it at home, I decided to try it straight away. I am growing my own spring onion for quite some months now and I am absolutely delighted to see them grow. It comes in real handy when you need just a sprig for garnish dishes.
 

 Next time you buy spring onions make sure you do not throw the white root part away. All you have to do it take a glass, add half a cup of water, take the spring onion roots (snip off the green part completely, we just need the white part with the roots) and put them in the water.

 Make sure the water doesn't submerge it completely, the top ends need to get some air! Keep it on your window sill that gets good sunshine and watch it grow to its fully glory in just a week.
Add and change water is 2-3 days. Snip off the greens and keep the whites in water and it will grow again.

Note: I have realized that after 5-6 growth, the greens come out very thin. So, I usually discard them after 5-6 times and start over again with new roots.

Isn't that easy?

Do try it yourself and let me know how it works for you.

Do you have any other such tips? Will love to hear.

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!