Jade Chronicles

Monday, June 27, 2016

Reflections on Watteau

Playful, elegant, romantic; idyllic outdoor scenes in pastel shades; a theatrical feast for the eyes that revealed the sensuousness of indulgent lifestyles… that was <a href="http://www.identifythisart.com/art-movements-styles/pre-modern-art/rococo-art-movement/" target="_blank">the world of the Rococo painters</a> and none captured this better than Jean-Antoine Watteau.<br />
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An 18th century French painter and draftsman, Watteau rose from provincial obscurity to become one of the most recognised Rococo artists in the world. He is most known for two things: <i>fêtes galantes</i> and <i>trois crayons</i>, wherein lies the true testament of his originality and contribution to Rococo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezVJWuSD1Rv5CuXkdsanisf5oP9-sFuh_zsgXhs8ghTXCJ4zefUlR59uXiUzl5-4BiCKEhlDUeL44kZqcIY1pXqNEwK_Pb8oEI1R86xWR1kvAg3FjK2hCMG3Tlas8q9c2r2jIQi7IBZw3/s1600/Watteau_Ceres+%2528Summer%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezVJWuSD1Rv5CuXkdsanisf5oP9-sFuh_zsgXhs8ghTXCJ4zefUlR59uXiUzl5-4BiCKEhlDUeL44kZqcIY1pXqNEwK_Pb8oEI1R86xWR1kvAg3FjK2hCMG3Tlas8q9c2r2jIQi7IBZw3/s400/Watteau_Ceres+%2528Summer%2529.png" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceres (Summer), ca. 1717/1718<br />
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington</td></tr>
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The Rococo movement</h3>
The movement traces its origins to early 1700 France. It may be fair to say that as an artistic style Rococo did not enjoy the public appeal of the Baroque era that preceded it or the revolutionary ideals of the Neoclassical movement that followed it. As is the case with all art, it captured the essence of an era – that of Regency society, but often in what was absent from the canvass rather than what was on it.<br />
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There was the disastrous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XV_of_France" target="_blank">reign of Louis XV</a>, the influence of his <a href="http://www.madamedepompadour.com/" target="_blank">infamous royal mistress Madame de Pompadour,</a> the apathetic reluctance (or is it haughty refusal?) of the French aristocracy to address rising socio-economic issues among the working classes, and a burgeoning upper middle class that desperately wanted to be taken seriously.<br />
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In the midst of all this tension and a wider world that was happy to imitate the French (widely considered to be the trend-setters of the day) Rococo flourished in art, architecture, interior design and sculpture. It was fun, frivolous, colourful, dramatic and it aimed to please.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbSeTHqXhhyphenhyphenX_NyN2mQHipEQez39xUVg1fxo-27RVUL5IKACXkrIckW3XSsW3p0Cq5cy_lbzYsnG51M5sED7mEKnFn7tzbkINgLt2OGalXLz3x_8KSzR7dLJ02Ihqm7CGoX6RTzMDxJFp/s1600/Watteau_The+Festival+of+Love.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbSeTHqXhhyphenhyphenX_NyN2mQHipEQez39xUVg1fxo-27RVUL5IKACXkrIckW3XSsW3p0Cq5cy_lbzYsnG51M5sED7mEKnFn7tzbkINgLt2OGalXLz3x_8KSzR7dLJ02Ihqm7CGoX6RTzMDxJFp/s320/Watteau_The+Festival+of+Love.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Festival of Love, about 1718/19<br />
© Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Elke Estel/Hans-Peter Klut</td></tr>
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<h3>
Watteau: elegance and emotion</h3>
Watteau’s work was so innovative that when the prestigious <a href="http://www.academie-des-beaux-arts.fr/histoire/royale/peinture.htm" target="_blank">Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture</a> in Paris awarded him the Prix de Rome, they did so under a new category: <i>fêtes galantes </i>(courtly scenes in an idyllic country setting).<br />
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What was so original about Watteau’s works? After all, he was a product of his time and a Rococo artist – he too aimed to please. Where he excelled was at blending harmony and colour, portraying intimacy and emotion, and balancing luxury with elegance. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7yuIQxZVCxsA4CHAPKDqRx8GPokHwy_swzZasgQTzpeECKzvvZr3svFvvz_EZnX3HybCBqczvw7NR1fA6tzv_4npA_-v0sfnc25DSr9FuWByuc8KuCnMIuJaXphY0EIDcHmdCoMGO4aU/s1600/Watteau_Pe%25CC%2581lerinage+a%25CC%2580+l%2527i%25CC%2582le+de+Cythe%25CC%2580re.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7yuIQxZVCxsA4CHAPKDqRx8GPokHwy_swzZasgQTzpeECKzvvZr3svFvvz_EZnX3HybCBqczvw7NR1fA6tzv_4npA_-v0sfnc25DSr9FuWByuc8KuCnMIuJaXphY0EIDcHmdCoMGO4aU/s400/Watteau_Pe%25CC%2581lerinage+a%25CC%2580+l%2527i%25CC%2582le+de+Cythe%25CC%2580re.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pélerinage à l'île de Cythère (Pilgrimage to Cythera), 1717<br />
© 2009 Musée du Louvre / Erich Lessing</td></tr>
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It was also not without a hint of regret. Take a second look… mingling with the busy cupids, passionate lovers and the statue of Venus, is the woman who looks back with what appears to be nostalgia, couples who seem to be leaving rather than arriving as the title might suggest, and the question of whether there’s a class narrative depicted through clothing.<br />
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<h3>
…and then there were three</h3>
Watteau was also a master of the <i>trois crayons</i> (three chalks) technique, which uses red, black and white chalk for drawings on paper. Though it was first made popular by the likes of <a href="http://www.peterpaulrubens.net/" target="_blank">Rubens</a> and <a href="http://www.thearttribune.com/Charles-de-la-Fosse-1637-1716-Le.html" target="_blank">La Fosse</a>, it was Watteau who seemed to have made the most of the art form, blending the three colours in chalk to create the effect of mass, of tone and of depth. <br />
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These drawings seem paintings in their own right, in the way the colours blend, the shadows dance and the light falls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sRc8XLNk5-0kPxZyIr8ifq4geS4e96mdrcS9cZWcCAEyjX-C0U1-Wm9Z6nJVQENJuY6R9oZK4xvvu05rwjIz57eH7TEqAfYcQfpLz_H7pnS4TQMTqn7VEsreL69ZMad03Y4etgenA5OK/s1600/Watteau_A+Man+Reclining+and+a+Woman+Seated+on+the+Ground.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sRc8XLNk5-0kPxZyIr8ifq4geS4e96mdrcS9cZWcCAEyjX-C0U1-Wm9Z6nJVQENJuY6R9oZK4xvvu05rwjIz57eH7TEqAfYcQfpLz_H7pnS4TQMTqn7VEsreL69ZMad03Y4etgenA5OK/s400/Watteau_A+Man+Reclining+and+a+Woman+Seated+on+the+Ground.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Man Reclining and a Woman Seated on the Ground, ca. 1716<br />
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington</td></tr>
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<h3>
Discover Watteau’s art with artsy.net</h3>
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If you’re looking to learn more about Watteau and his art, <a href="https://www.artsy.net/" target="_blank">artsy.net</a> is a great place to start. They have <a href="https://www.artsy.net/artist/jean-antoine-watteau" target="_blank">a page dedicated to Watteau</a> and 29 of his works.<br />
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You can explore the works by the institution that has Watteau’s works currently on display (the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, USA lays claim to most of his works), by time period (from 1700 to 1730) or by medium (most of his works are on paper). <br />
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While none of the works are up for sale, it’s helpful to know where they are, so if ever you’re in the vicinity, a detour might be in order. It’s also worth keeping an eye on their ‘SHOWS’ section to see if any special group showings are coming up.

Reflections on Watteau

Playful, elegant, romantic; idyllic outdoor scenes in pastel shades; a theatrical feast for the eyes that revealed the sensuousness of indul...

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Inheritance of Loss (2006)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ6MZevYg873j9hycESKglg0Xu4Sqeph_-AhOJqbStqckY0fI7Tn876VBNc0i9c_ydosOk18QGbaNh7_dbpKQ6VVNGhogkG23JsDYUXcyQ7fIJzwPU55MeFZqtDmX0N9FRX_wcS3EWo_o/s1600/The+Inheritance+of+Loss_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ6MZevYg873j9hycESKglg0Xu4Sqeph_-AhOJqbStqckY0fI7Tn876VBNc0i9c_ydosOk18QGbaNh7_dbpKQ6VVNGhogkG23JsDYUXcyQ7fIJzwPU55MeFZqtDmX0N9FRX_wcS3EWo_o/s1600/The+Inheritance+of+Loss_cover.jpg" width="211" /></a>In ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ two things unravel: as one generation is physically displaced and emotionally dispossessed from their colonial inheritance, another generation is struggling to find its <b>place</b> in a post-colonial India, coming to terms with its history and place in the world hierarchy.<br />
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Kiran Desai’s second novel, ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ is set in Kalimpong, at the foot of the Himalayas. It’s the mid-1980s and everyone’s lives are about to get engulfed by a Nepalese <b>uprising</b> for an independent state.<br />
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<b>Sai</b>, a teenager propelled by circumstances to live with her embittered grandfather and his cook, is in love with Gyan, her Nepalese maths tutor. Cocooned by the majestic and sprawling landscape, Sai is shaken out of her self-absorbed reflections and wandering life to confront the realities of a betrayal – one that marks a turning point of her sense of ‘self’ and her way of life.<br />
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<b>Jemubhai</b>, Sai’s grandfather and a retired judge of the Indian Colonial Service, now spends his time with the ironically-named Mutt, his beloved dog, his sole companion. Sai’s arrival pushes him to retrace his personal history, confront his buried memories of his much-maligned wife Nimi and question the path he has chosen to take in life.<br />
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Sai and the judge are both looked after by <b>the cook</b>, fiercely loyal to the family he serves and never questioning the demands and standards expected of him. Caught between the protesters whose conditions he tries not to confront, and a master whose treatment is nothing short of ridicule and contempt, for me, he is the most tragic character in the novel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrKb2FQYT1SSXBAI7-RLsc1izeYSre-jxArSHQh8rqINUkjXFogJKXoK23WdvhOZC67xaSoxIzw74_lvAVjYUoEllrhjxmJppf6cp6H0myJHjYD4aMAYe-plrTJDvvAIEMhF_Oa9e3CMy/s1600/Kiran+Desai+with+her+winning+title+%EF%BF%BD+Belinda+Lawley(C)%2BAll%2Brights%2Breserved%2Bby%2BTheManBookerPrizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrKb2FQYT1SSXBAI7-RLsc1izeYSre-jxArSHQh8rqINUkjXFogJKXoK23WdvhOZC67xaSoxIzw74_lvAVjYUoEllrhjxmJppf6cp6H0myJHjYD4aMAYe-plrTJDvvAIEMhF_Oa9e3CMy/s1600/Kiran+Desai+with+her+winning+title+%EF%BF%BD+Belinda+Lawley(C)%2BAll%2Brights%2Breserved%2Bby%2BTheManBookerPrizes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiran Desai with her winning title <br />
Image by Belinda Lawley © All rights reserved by TheManBookerPrizes</td></tr>
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<b>Biju</b>, is the only child – and the only hope – of the cook. Having been given the ‘opportunity’ to make a better life for himself, as well as his father and his community, in the US, Biju lives a life of abject misery, moving from one menial job to another. He yearns to go back, but how will this changing India receive him?<br />
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Their neighbours Father Booty, uncle Potty and the ageing twins Lola and Noni are part of a coterie desperate to cling on to an old worldview, and its aesthetic and material constructs. They want the old India back and they also want old Britain back – but as both disappear, can they <b>adapt</b>?<br />
The novel explores topical themes of migration, nationalistic sentiment in a post-colonial world, the rights of oppressed communities, the realities of political protest, the divisions of class and caste to name a few.<br />
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What really drew me to ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ is Desai’s keen sense of observation and razor-sharp <b>sarcasm</b>. Nothing really escapes her, whether it’s the first flush of a teenage romance, the unquestioning exuberance of a dog’s life or the raw ambition of those in line to get a visa to another promised land, the US. Desai won the 2006 Man Booker Prize for her novel – no mean feat!<br />
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Watch Desai talk about the novel:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tvK3X7U5d54" width="480"></iframe>

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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">© </span>2007MTA, YouTube<br />
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All these characters are facing the brunt of a shared history, and as they each try to cope with the changes around them, not one will escape unscathed. In a sense, they have all inherited and experienced loss, but their personal and passionate <b>struggles</b> to carve a place for themselves within an uncertain national reality is what will win them our compassion.<br />
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What next?<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/books/review/12mishra.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">Read Pankaj Mishra’s 2006 review of this novel in The New York Times</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780141027289?redirected=true&viewCountry=AU&selectCurrency=AUD&gclid=CKTPtu2I-cACFYqTvQodiH0AnA" target="_blank">Buy the book at Book Depository</a></li>
</ul>

The Inheritance of Loss (2006)

In ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ two things unravel: as one generation is physically displaced and emotionally dispossessed from their colonial ...

Saturday, August 9, 2014

A short escape to Millthorpe

I stumbled across Millthorpe almost by accident. M and I were looking for a short getaway that was within driving distance, was picturesque and that took us away from the steel and glass monotones of city life. Et voila! There was scenic <a href="http://www.millthorpevillage.com.au/" target="_blank">Millthorpe</a>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1ew0pxoUUPxEEXpe9xANMMk_WtKhXcwVriF1UHyMEYm1yCe7CoiGApDB9Md-1HtOfaRdSs15xKG0fdl28ORnxinITah1K1Gf3_uGfIIKtkAX6nbJxx2CAIH2qjIeJV8rcr4ZqmcwE_Ew/s1600/MillthorpeMM_IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1ew0pxoUUPxEEXpe9xANMMk_WtKhXcwVriF1UHyMEYm1yCe7CoiGApDB9Md-1HtOfaRdSs15xKG0fdl28ORnxinITah1K1Gf3_uGfIIKtkAX6nbJxx2CAIH2qjIeJV8rcr4ZqmcwE_Ew/s1600/MillthorpeMM_IMG_2501.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So thrilled to be in Millthorpe! © Mahesh Markus</td></tr>
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A little gem tucked between Orange and Blayney, driving into Millthorpe, I felt like I was stepping back in time. It's a village full of eclectic charm, boutique shops, beautiful gardens, heritage architecture and a cool climate. <br />
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The first order of business was a place to stay and we chose the <a href="http://www.millthorpetruffles.com.au/" target="_blank">Truffle Shack</a>. A rustic and simple 'shack' with all the quiet comforts of life, it was one of the most endearing places I've ever stayed in. It embraced us in its quiet solitude and made us feel like we were the only two people for miles around. I often think of the 800 oak trees that border the little shack and the grassland stretching in front far into the horizon – if it sounds romantic, that's because it is. I highly recommend a stay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdLdwXl1FrXw2zoMb9IPcKyndJpuBAkvnqmOnkYdzc60DLiSJfRQqm1cOZZHGglbNtcEQHXTdTpbuWGiO7dW1bKV6fTrYQLz4DlcTlM1uBTLLWkdN4X-zGwIv_mlBFZFxu9SfvjCj3Jm_/s1600/TS_IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdLdwXl1FrXw2zoMb9IPcKyndJpuBAkvnqmOnkYdzc60DLiSJfRQqm1cOZZHGglbNtcEQHXTdTpbuWGiO7dW1bKV6fTrYQLz4DlcTlM1uBTLLWkdN4X-zGwIv_mlBFZFxu9SfvjCj3Jm_/s1600/TS_IMG_0061.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to want more... © Millthorpe Truffles</td></tr>
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Millthorpe's very existence is closely woven with its history, and a visit to the <a href="http://www.millthorpemuseum.com/" target="_blank">Golden Memories Millthorpe Museum</a> will give you a better understanding of how and why the place came to be. Run by volunteers who are deeply passionate about the history of their beautiful village, the museum showcases Aboriginal history, local family and business archives, arts and crafts, rural technology and more. I especially loved the old collection of tractors, and was glad to see that they had allocated the space to what some may call a dust-gathering exercise!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXNIwypSnur2UD9H_DvRnU4qkjHsybXTbZuU6DDBerhypDhvJ65XN3da814y8cMQC3N5rXjgxnrl5DuSAMPNWzqG5HEMltZPc3w64KusWrvbnFQPzRkksYuw2JNZuI4puT1KDh11ol86m/s1600/MillthorpeAD_IMG_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXNIwypSnur2UD9H_DvRnU4qkjHsybXTbZuU6DDBerhypDhvJ65XN3da814y8cMQC3N5rXjgxnrl5DuSAMPNWzqG5HEMltZPc3w64KusWrvbnFQPzRkksYuw2JNZuI4puT1KDh11ol86m/s1600/MillthorpeAD_IMG_2531.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love my tractors!</td></tr>
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Cross the road and a little further on is the cemetary, where John Lister is buried. Lister and William Tom brought national attention to Millthorpe, when they discovered payable gold at Ophir in 1851. There's a long and painful story to their adventures, which I will let you discover on your own, but suffice to say, Lister's grave is worth the visit in its peaceful Anglican church surrounds. <br />
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Time for a spot of lunch? May be a homemade beef and shiraz pie, served with hand cut chips and fresh salad? Open seven days a week for coffee, cakes and long lunches, <a href="http://www.theoldmillcafe.com.au/" target="_blank">The Old Mill Cafe and Restaurant</a> is the ideal haven to rest those tired feet and refresh for the evening ahead. Located on Pym Street, there's a vibrant buzz to the place, made all the more intense by the mouth-watering aromas of great food. You can count on friendly service and a warm welcome too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh so tempting... © The Old Mill Cafe</td></tr>
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If you have the time, there are two walks that take you through a slice of life in Millthorpe. There's the railway walk that's 2km and takes 25 minutes, and if you have the time, the village/country walk is 3km and takes 40 minutes. We took the latter and spent time wandering around the inside streets, along the railway and just admiring the well-cared for homes and gardens. </div>
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The local pub to go to is <a href="http://www.gerryscommercialhotel.com.au/" target="_blank">Gerry's @ The Commercial </a>- the staff are super friendly and the atmosphere is ever so welcoming. Their calamari rings were so delicious, we went back for dinner as well! We were told by more than a few to have dinner at the <a href="http://www.tonicmillthorpe.com.au/" target="_blank">Tonic Restaurant</a>, but unfortunately it was closed... so that's for next time.</div>
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In fact, that's one thing to keep in mind. As would befit its historic bent, things get very still and quiet in the late evening. If you want dinner, you have to eat early – and fair enough. Or you, like we had to do one night, will have to drive to Orange. It was a pleasant drive and we were in no hurry to get anywhere fast – and we ended up having dinner at the trés cool <a href="http://www.unionbank.com.au/" target="_blank">Union Bank Wine Bar</a> in Orange, located in the historic stables of Orange's Union Bank building on Sale Street. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFcII2RKYbP4cXQOBZVDVrQgaow6yoIDdtxcZoFrfU4XAmlUYK_o4CDS4_cTsd3eW85LeLQjO1TcqXWPB18fJNJvRuZO_v2dBtRdDJEF_5_56_Fv6DPzntPOjK9TaE44GbD9Q3Ib5o9wJ/s1600/MilthorpeAD_IMG_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFcII2RKYbP4cXQOBZVDVrQgaow6yoIDdtxcZoFrfU4XAmlUYK_o4CDS4_cTsd3eW85LeLQjO1TcqXWPB18fJNJvRuZO_v2dBtRdDJEF_5_56_Fv6DPzntPOjK9TaE44GbD9Q3Ib5o9wJ/s1600/MilthorpeAD_IMG_2533.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue skies and wild roses...</td></tr>
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We left Millthorpe with some lovely memories and experiences, and we hope to go back.</div>
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A short escape to Millthorpe

I stumbled across Millthorpe almost by accident. M and I were looking for a short getaway that was within driving distance, was picturesque ...

Saturday, August 2, 2014

The Hungry Ghosts (2013)

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK9an0R-6K01sCi4ZV2-vQpkI7eQvjpsvvAJXuRhV3k_YxPSLes13CRk1gLFHwlNBeMnmjS9OyfTUzEv1DtdhFGejxe1nGaEgkML5THbaKoPxPSO3jrrQ5z3F6E3nT9NXRWjmo-1lHove/s1600/The+Hungry+Ghosts_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK9an0R-6K01sCi4ZV2-vQpkI7eQvjpsvvAJXuRhV3k_YxPSLes13CRk1gLFHwlNBeMnmjS9OyfTUzEv1DtdhFGejxe1nGaEgkML5THbaKoPxPSO3jrrQ5z3F6E3nT9NXRWjmo-1lHove/s1600/The+Hungry+Ghosts_cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
Reading Shyam Selvadurai's novel <i>The Hungry Ghosts</i> made me feel that here is a writer who has that rare ability to put our thoughts into words - in all their minute and private glory or shame. Often, people react to situations, say things or make decisions, and not many have an articulate conscience to have a rational perspective on why.<br />
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To me, this is the best quality of this novel - that ability to track the pace and work out what confluence of emotions take a person from one moment to another.<br />
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The novel centres around Shivan Rassiah – a lost soul... when one first meets him. His present life is interspersed with flashbacks of the past and his struggle to make sense of the course life has taken. As with life in general, the relationships in his life are complicated – mother, sister, partner and above all his grandmother.<br />
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Shivan's grandmother is a powerful, and at times ominous, presence throughout the novel – in fact, her dominating and single-minded personality hovers over everyone's lives, whether her involvement is welcome or not.<br />
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She has a vision of herself as the matriarch of her family, bolstered by her own private history and struggles. As a result, she remains blinded to the tragic consequences of her self-centred actions, and how they only serve to drive those closest to her and those struggling to honour her place in their world.<br />
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A recurring theme that the protagonist picks up from his grandmother is that of hungry ghosts – a <a href="http://www.audiodharma.org/" target="_blank">buddhist</a> myth that symbolises unsatiable desire. Like these hungry ghosts that cannot ever fulfil their desires, the desire of the main characters to love, own and control others destroys the very people they try to protect.<br />
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Linked to all this and adding another layer of confusion and frustration is Shivan's sexual identity that he must hide from those around him, especially his grandmother. His mother and sister are more accepting of his life choices, but the socio-cultural constructs that surround him prove harder to navigate. The challenge is what he does in response, and whether he can find it in himself to forgive and move forward.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dkcM23Sb7P04Nr6Dg6ndi5-12oAPi-0P11GNOEgWU7wcokYx6tcImExuFCh0SzGBK0UL1c4xJNVUCdNBWlEOLSTIkfLetUbBMiQ-k92rVS6DQDO2FXR6qDiwUMutBAE9JeJ7xZwqHjf5/s1600/Shyam_Selvadurai_by_Kevin_Kelly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dkcM23Sb7P04Nr6Dg6ndi5-12oAPi-0P11GNOEgWU7wcokYx6tcImExuFCh0SzGBK0UL1c4xJNVUCdNBWlEOLSTIkfLetUbBMiQ-k92rVS6DQDO2FXR6qDiwUMutBAE9JeJ7xZwqHjf5/s1600/Shyam_Selvadurai_by_Kevin_Kelly+2.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The author<br />
By Kevin Kelly © shyamselvadurai.com</td></tr>
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The backdrop to Shivan's life in Sri Lanka, <a href="http://www.iom.int/cms/home" target="_blank">migration</a> to Canada and visits back is the political movements of Sri Lanka. Personal responses to these movements often precipitate what happens to not just Shivan and his family, but also his relationships with his partner and co-workers. In this, Selvadurai has captured the private vs public struggle of everyday life, where you must make sacrifices to stay true to your principles. <br />
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Shyam has also positioned a <a href="http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Y-xQ8qk9mgYC&dq=NGOs+sri+lanka&source=gbs_navlinks_s" target="_blank">non-governmental organisation (NGO)</a> at the heart of the story, which I found quite telling in the face of NGO activities and the sub-culture these organisations have created within the social milieu of Sri Lanka. These organisations often generate much debate about their contribution to internal politics and the influential roles they play in the socio-cultural fabric of Sri Lanka. In a very constructive way, Shyam continues this debate. <br />
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Here's Shyam talking about <i>The Hungry Ghosts</i>: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UQXDJZELLLU" width="560"></iframe>

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">© CityTV Official, YouTube</span></div>
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Another interesting factor in the novel is the references to what life is like for newly arrived migrants in their host country. It's heart-breaking to see Shivan and his family, newly arrived in Canada, slowly come to realise that this new life is no less gut-wrenching than the one they've just left behind. The socio-cultural struggles, the divisions among fellow countrymen and women, the sense of isolation and questions around where one fits into the larger picture are all there.<br />
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<i>The Hungry Ghosts</i> is a great read and it has a plot that keeps you deeply engaged with its humanist approach that entreats us to empathise and understand. I feel there's a Shivan in all of us – and the triumph would be to not just acknowledge this, but also to find the strength to be honest about it.<br />
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You can find more details about Shyam and his writing at his website <a href="http://shyamselvadurai.com/">shyamselvadurai.com</a>.

The Hungry Ghosts (2013)

Reading Shyam Selvadurai's novel The Hungry Ghosts made me feel that here is a writer who has that rare ability to put our thoughts i...

Friday, April 18, 2014

Wolf Hall (2009) Bring Up the Bodies (2012)

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnuo9CegGIpCjBjVhfxPapL0XGJwCB1G8bxMz7G4xdmDdbcXD5Cfl5-gDL45qlO_VasejhNknN1Epg7I4mGyAXrcsreUI788N4_kUW1lk9QTbWhHquQL8hkRxoLBHPmoa9UDmwocypZtl/s1600/Wolf+Hall+and+Bring+Up+the+Bodies_covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnuo9CegGIpCjBjVhfxPapL0XGJwCB1G8bxMz7G4xdmDdbcXD5Cfl5-gDL45qlO_VasejhNknN1Epg7I4mGyAXrcsreUI788N4_kUW1lk9QTbWhHquQL8hkRxoLBHPmoa9UDmwocypZtl/s1600/Wolf+Hall+and+Bring+Up+the+Bodies_covers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I generally don’t like to read books where I already know the storyline, but these two books were the exception to that rule. Written by Hilary Mantel, an award-winning English writer, <i>Wolf Hall</i> and <i>Bring Up the Bodies </i>are beautifully written, thoroughly researched gems that you will not want to put down – especially if, like me, you are a fan of historical fiction.<br />
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The books chronicle the life and times of Thomas Cromwell during Henry VIII’s reign. They offer Cromwell’s version of events, which I feel is only fair, in the face of the unsympathetic treatment he generally receives from history.</div>
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<i>Wolf Hall</i>, the book, covers Cromwell’s rise within Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s circle, his role in the events that have forever marked Henry’s rule – the divorce from Catherine of Aragon, re-marriage to Anne Boleyn, the killing of Thomas More, the establishment of the Church of England and the dissolution of the monasteries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQRUQX4n9VhlZEIoSw9xtHYDlRrVw3DNxWM8yOU32KWVAhZyMeUoh8Tt-I0L6bylpYgGJb5MXWlvDHTYhnyM0eBHTPUVDD3FFGP0_ZikLDK-Wj675btcYVjIJrivIHOkCwgfrJQmJ4CM/s1600/Hilary_Mantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQRUQX4n9VhlZEIoSw9xtHYDlRrVw3DNxWM8yOU32KWVAhZyMeUoh8Tt-I0L6bylpYgGJb5MXWlvDHTYhnyM0eBHTPUVDD3FFGP0_ZikLDK-Wj675btcYVjIJrivIHOkCwgfrJQmJ4CM/s1600/Hilary_Mantel.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
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Wolf Hall, the place, is the 17th century manor house of the Seymour family, but it’s not prominent in the novel. It’s the Latin saying that is central to the novel – ‘Man is wolf to man’. It’s the perfect embodiment of life in the Tudor world and what Cromwell fought to guard against in all he did.</div>
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Everyone’s an opportunist – whether man or woman, young or old, rich or poor. Together, they all seek the King’s favour and that favour seems to change constantly too. Promises are made to be broken, secret deals are carved out among the same people who betray them the next minute, battles are lost and won, and a constant stream of people are put to death for all manner of reasons. Morals, ethics and legal arguments can all be twisted around to suit the King’s desire, so there’s a constant undercurrent of anxiety running through the novel.</div>
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Cromwell is a logical thinker and a master tactician. He has learnt from experience and he has an uncanny ability to predict and circumvent human behaviour. The details of his private life, the love and respect he receives from his family and friends, and the keen sense of loss perpetuated by family tragedies make him more human and give him a sensitivity that you would have otherwise completely missed.  </div>
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Here’s a short film made by the BBC featuring Mantel for the Man Booker Prize 2009:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">  (Source: TheManBookerPrize, 2009, YouTube)</span></div>
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The sequel <i>Bring Up the Bodies</i> is no different – the King wants to marry Jane Seymour and needs a good reason to be rid of Anne Boleyn that will hold up muster in the eyes of the world. It’s only the practical, level-headed intelligence of Cromwell, who can gather and re-shape the kernels of court gossip into legal charges, that wins the day for Henry and destroys Anne.</div>
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Mantel’s telling of the battle of wills between Boleyn and Cromwell makes for riveting reading. Powerful and magnetic characters in their own right, they both owe each other for the places they have gained beside the King, but now one must fall for the other to succeed. Cromwell’s unforgiving nature and hard-edged loyalty also comes to light, in the way he is able to target all those who brought death and humiliation to Wolsey. And, oh how they fall… one by one their ‘bodies are brought up’ from The Tower to meet life’s fatal end.    </div>
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I read both these books one after the other – I had to, because they were so well told. There’s a clarity to Mantel’s writing that I have always admired in great writing. There’s none of that unnecessary, descriptive, flowery wasteful words that just fill up pages. Here, every word counts. </div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2012/dec/21/hilary-mantel-wolf-hall-podcast" target="_blank">Listen to this Guardian book podcast, where Mantel speaks about <i>Bring Up the Bodies</i> (Presented by John Mullan and produced by Tim Maby)</a>: (© theguardian.com, 2012)</div>
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We all know these stories, but it’s re-told in such personal way that you feel as if these events are unfolding now and you find yourself wondering whether something will change at the last minute. That’s the power of Mantel’s writing – fresh, bold and honest.</div>
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Delve into Mantel’s world in this BBC Culture Show Special (Directed by James Runcie, photography by Tim Cragg, produced by BBC Arts):</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: Tim Cragg, 2011, YouTube)</span></div>
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Among many other awards, both books won the Man Booker Prize, <i>Wolf Hall </i>in 2009 and <i>Bring Up the Bodies</i> in 2012. These books are the first two of a trilogy and the third one titled <i>The Mirror and the Light </i>is expected to be out in 2015. That’s one book I will certainly want to read!</div>
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Wolf Hall (2009) Bring Up the Bodies (2012)

I generally don’t like to read books where I already know the storyline, but these two books were the exception to that rule. Written by H...

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

New Year musings from Sri Lanka...

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFtiuMlq3qb4xhnFH-WYuyF9TLyR1eDz_pDidsdpOGKdADGj9qRgb9RjEm7oWIryc02o0SzwwDqEcvJjSbVlntwwDB9uI0Zn3mzPogbUNF2L3FPPsRzMF6tkJlWFPdLnyeQ6Bs9QSwntu/s1600/Gerberas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFtiuMlq3qb4xhnFH-WYuyF9TLyR1eDz_pDidsdpOGKdADGj9qRgb9RjEm7oWIryc02o0SzwwDqEcvJjSbVlntwwDB9uI0Zn3mzPogbUNF2L3FPPsRzMF6tkJlWFPdLnyeQ6Bs9QSwntu/s1600/Gerberas.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some beautiful Gerberas to brighten up my day...</td></tr>
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Twenty one days into 2014 - and I'm just back from a long and relaxing holiday in Sri Lanka. Some highlights...<br>
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<li>A romantic dinner at <a href="http://www.paradiseroadhotels.com/tintagel/dining.php" target="_blank">Tintagel - Colombo</a> to celebrate a special occasion: A rather majestic 
looking house known for its history. A serene atmosphere with good food. </li>
<li>Fireworks on New Year's eve: Need I say more... :) </li>
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New Year musings from Sri Lanka...

Some beautiful Gerberas to brighten up my day... Twenty one days into 2014 - and I'm just back from a long and relaxing holiday in S...

The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e_DmGFFHL_XMh9Bd7qkS0Vlb0bU4_M8fB-P6l9f8L-gGqydP3FCDg-upphGxnL7KQSwqRULCJXJP-4BGuHUzj4rRXI33ZqLGxkk-TpH2XufhbS-TtMhZ3nBpoAv08RyubOXt4Vn7FYFw/s1600/the+Elegance+of+the+Hedgehog+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e_DmGFFHL_XMh9Bd7qkS0Vlb0bU4_M8fB-P6l9f8L-gGqydP3FCDg-upphGxnL7KQSwqRULCJXJP-4BGuHUzj4rRXI33ZqLGxkk-TpH2XufhbS-TtMhZ3nBpoAv08RyubOXt4Vn7FYFw/s200/the+Elegance+of+the+Hedgehog+cover.jpg" width="127"></a>What a charming work! I’m yet to read a better book with such a carefully-worded satire for anyone nursing high-handed notions of class and the assumed privileges of wealth.<br>
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The story of <i>The Elegance of the Hedgehog</i> revolves around two seemingly different individuals trying to hide a very similar secret—their attempt to suppress their knowledge and opinions, so they can fly under the radar of the pretentious bourgeois society around them, while trying to stay true to who they are.<br>

The Elegance of the Hedgehog (2006)

What a charming work! I’m yet to read a better book with such a carefully-worded satire for anyone nursing high-handed notions of class and ...

Honour (2012)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uKWNOHcBj1_yH_GsG5yOCf6NUgIRGeO7LKrKErdtaKuG2f5isZHq4Dw_i7bqk8eNxb5gUvqGiCbUqZdRCvTEzzbxmgXl-4iP0r9pibXaofL8IO_91m5Xsulb3fGdgiV7Zuhn0b62JGcx/s1600/Honour+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uKWNOHcBj1_yH_GsG5yOCf6NUgIRGeO7LKrKErdtaKuG2f5isZHq4Dw_i7bqk8eNxb5gUvqGiCbUqZdRCvTEzzbxmgXl-4iP0r9pibXaofL8IO_91m5Xsulb3fGdgiV7Zuhn0b62JGcx/s200/Honour+cover.jpg" width="130"></a>There are several great things I love about Turkish writer <a href="http://www.elifshafak.com/" target="_blank">Elif Shafek’s</a> book <i>Honour</i> – the fascinating locations, the warm and passionate characters, and the various twists and turns that take you back and forth in time, place and memory.<br>
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At the heart of the story is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_killing" target="_blank">honour killing</a> – a mother killed by a son, and a sister trying to come to terms with the brother who committed this heinous crime. Now, he is getting out of prison and she has to welcome him into her home. It’s a delicate situation, fraught with simmering emotions that remain unexpressed and repressive social values that need to be unpacked and confronted.<br>

Honour (2012)

There are several great things I love about Turkish writer Elif Shafek’s book Honour – the fascinating locations, the warm and passionate ...