Reflections of Passions

Image Courtesy: www.ibnlive.in  Book: The Man Within My Head Author: Pico Iyer Pages: 245 Publisher: Penguin India ISBN: 0307387569 The book "The Man Within My Head" by Pico Iyer begins with the declaration: "there is another within me". The book sets out to explore the influence of English writer Graham Greene in the field of literature and his role in influencing Iyer's literary sensibilities. Little wonder then that the book is smartly juxtaposed with contrasting views of Iyer and Greene. The title is seemingly borrowed from his literary father's work "The Man Within". The theme of self-exploration as a literary device, is used well. It is also an attempt to examine the concept of dislocation. There is absolutely no doubt that this book is a reflection for Pico Iyer which is laced with fine prints which make it an absolute delight to read. It helps the reader in understanding facets of Graham Greene. Despite its underlined theme

Title: The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine Author: Michael Lewis Genre: Finance Pages: 266 Publisher: W.W. Norton and Company  ISBN: 9781846142574 The 2010 non-fiction book "The Big Short: Inside The Doomsday Machine" by Michael Lewis is about the run up towards the housing and credit bubble of the 2000s in the financial markets of USA. The book effectively maps and informs readers about the real players in the bubble who were primarily credit default swaps in a market that sought to bet against collateralized debt organization bubble. Thus, they ended up profiting from the financial crisis of 2007-2010.  In a country like India where financial literacy is not well-advocated, the book is a welcome change. In fact, you don't even have to understand the intricacies of the complex business of sub-prime mortgages to be gripped by "The Big Short". Indeed, the less you know to begin with, the more remarkable results the book can produce. Michae

I was recently at a poetry workshop and I must admit I was fairly embarrassed at myself. I lack the wisdom and expertise to rate or write a good poem. I had been to the library the other day and I came across this lovely poem called "Father In A Dream" by acclaimed painter and poet Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh. It has been translated from Gujarati by the poet himself and Saleem Peeradina. It is sourced from an anthology "Signatures" which has translations of 100 Indian poets. Father In A Dream Father I saw you again, yesterday thousands of miles away from home, here on the shore Of the Baltic where I lie asleep. You stood by my bed in this strange land in the same patched, wrinkled coat you wore when you reconciled quarrelling brothers. On grandfather's death you must have stood exactly like this holding the lonely old man's shrivelled hand. When did you migrate from Kathiawar to join the refugees of Crimea? Leaving behind the Bhogavo river, crossin