My take on Inferno – book by Dan Brown

Image November 5, 2013 jcisnowjs 3 Comments

Inferno – Book by Dan Brown

I can proudly say that I have read all the books by Dan Brown. Yes, all of them. Journey started from “The Da Vinci Code”. I liked that book and then started reading every other book coming out of Brown’s closet, but never find the passion that first love (first book) had.

Inferno, like all other Brown’s work, has so much to offer in terms of art and cultural details from the eyes of Robert Langdon. Oh Mr. Langdon, I love you. I love you for the pure genius that you are. Although, I do not believe that you would be as athletic or as charming (looks wise) as depicted in the book. But, still I love you. Love you for the sheer knowledge explosion that you are. Love you for the company that you can give while visiting breathtaking arts exotica.

This time also Langdon got a beautiful travel companion, Sienna. What is different is, his journey. Journey to hell, Inferno. Book is a downright dedication to Dante’s Inferno the Divine Comedy. The way story unfolds it makes you wonder if you are really going to hell and going to meet the three-headed monster called Satan. It’s an amazing journey when you are running through the magnificent museums in Florence, that too with Mr. Langdon.

Journey started with the projector that Robert found, showing Map of Hell. An altered map of hell, giving clues to where to go next. As in most of Langdon adventures this too has lots of clues and secrets hidden in plain sight, secrets leading to the amazing journey of investigating masterpieces of art through the streets of Florence and later to Istanbul.

Mostly what I like in Brown’s book is the information about some secret societies and cult sciences that he offer. This book also has that but it’s not that intriguing as in earlier books. However, I like the burning idea of growing human population as the basic theme of book shown in contrast to Dante’s hell and Black Death. The way past integrated so beautifully in modern times of medicines and WHO is wonderful.

Problem that I had while reading the book was, in the end it became very repetitive. It looked like author wanted to convince everyone with Zoborist’s point of view and to put forward a horrifying picture of our future. Done well, but way too much, according to my reading style.

Next thing that I am waiting now is to see this one also as a movie (hopefully coming in 2015). Actually to see the handsome Tom Hanks playing – The Robert Langdon. 🙂

Life

Sickness Cravings

Image October 31, 2013 jcisnowjs 3 Comments

Yes, this is to tell the world that I am sick today. So, please sympathize with me and send me loads of get well soon wishes. (Money is also accepted)

My running nose and feverish body is telling me to relax and go to sleep. But, even sleep is eluding my eyes. So, what better way to pass the time then to write about something you are craving for.

What do you crave for when you are sick?

Some crave for hot cup of coffee, some a warm hug, some a nice cozy touch and some for peace and quiet. I crave for all the above and more. Too demanding 🙂

When I was little (little as in a kid), I used to eagerly wait for this time. Time when I would get a small fever or catch a cold. Reason was my Mom. She used to just left every house work to take care of me and pamper me. Ohhh… I so much crave for that pampering.

She would have gotten me a full glass of hot milk and would have rubbed vicks vaporub all over me. Yeah, seriously all over me. Sometimes she’ll put that in my hairs too and I used to scream at her the very next day when getting ready for school. J

She used to push down all the medicines through my throat. She knew the moment she will look the other way, I will throw them in the sink. 🙂 I was a very unmanageable kid. Hmmnn…. my kids have turned out much better then me as a kid. Thank God and thanks hubby for your genes 🙂

Now that I don’t have my mom to pamper me, I feel that getting sick is no more fun. Its bad, really bad. As not only everything hurts, also I have to take care of my three kids, still taking care that they do not catch it.

Craving never ends. So, now I am craving for my hubby to get home and take care of me. Or at least take care of kids, so I can make a hot cup of ginger tea and go to bed with a book on my side, peacefully.

Come soon and come fast, dear.

Books, Life

Dante’s Inferno or my Hell-licious

October 27, 2013 jcisnowjs 4 Comments

Hell-licious

Dante’s Hell or Dante‘s Inferno. Hell glorified or shall I say Hell demystified. Reason why I came to know of it, is obviously my new read – Dan Brown‘s Inferno.

Inferno means Hell in Italian. Dante’s poem “Divine Comedy” popularly knows as Dante’s Inferno, showcases the journey of Dante along with poet Virgil, through the Hell.

Its one of the classic and masterpieces of poetry in terms of its elaborate and horrendous depiction of the underworld. Journey is depicted through nine layers of hell, where each circle denotes a dissimilar nature of punishment for every sin. The greedy have to push heavy weighed bags of money with their chest and the adulterous blown away with heavy storms.

Concept of hell is in itself quite mesmerizing and to think of it structured through various layers, each guarded by fallen angels and mystic figures like Cerberus the “great worm“, is quite stirring.

Most contradicting thing that I have noticed is, Satan shown as a mere prey of his own hell, receiving punishment for his deeds (Personal treachery against God). He is a beast in captivity, having no control of surroundings. This is bizarre as mostly Satan is shown the creator and regulator of Hell, controlling every life/death around it.

I must say that the words in poem puts a very horrifying picture of hell and the punishment for sins. But, I have no recent plans to enjoy that experience, so why talk about it.

Coming out of it, I remembered how we were told in our childhood that the Hell is just down below the earth. So if you dug up the earth and go at the opposite end, you will land in the Hell. To my amazement, I have heard so many times that, since America is directly below where we are (India), so technically America is hell. Interesting J

It was also called “Pataal Lok” in Hindi, meaning the land of ghosts or dead souls.

I am not a child anymore ( maybe from the heart, still ) and now when I am writing this, I am laughing in my mind. What the Hell we used to think?

Now, I am sitting in this Pataal Lok – America, and smiling.

If this is hell, I would say it’s hell-licious. I would definitely not mind much, if after death I would be awarded hell for all the sins that I have done (Confession – I have not done any single one of them, and I will go to heaven for sure. But, just in case J )

It’s a long wait till then…. will sure update you, from heaven or from The Inferno.

Life

Alison Gertz: Lady who was once a girl

October 25, 2013 jcisnowjs 3 Comments

Today I read about Alison Gertz (Wikipedia random, its a good way to learn new and random stuff).

I goggled more about her and got to know of a movie made on her life story. To quench my thirst of curiosity I watched “Fatal Love” the movie.

How precious life is? This question we never ask our self until and unless we are faced with the dilemma of losing it. Who could have thought that a mistake that you did when you were sixteen, could lead you to the arms of death. Death which should not come to a twenty six year old girl.

Alison Gertz, was diagnosed with HIV in 1988. She was a girl with full of hope, love and dreams, and all it took was one bad decision, one bad night for her to contrive this deadly disease. What has made her death apart from all the others is the fact that she did not hide herself and her illness. She took it into her stride and told the world about it, educated them. That was worth a million years that she could have lived. She was also awarded with Woman of the Year award by Esquire magazine.

Strange thing with us is that we do not discuss death, we do not discuss sickness. We want to avoid such conversations. We actually want to avoid the person who is sick. Does it matter? Yes, it does. It does matter when we lose someone dear to a chronic illness. But, we never think about it, as if it does not exist.

Time is changing and so are we with time. But, still I have seen so many people who does not want to talk about HIV. I am pretty sure, If they will know a person who has contracted this disease, they will never talk to him/her again. Nevertheless, ignoring something or someone has never ever helped in any situation (unless you are ignoring really really dumb people J ).

About the movie, Fatal Love, I love the way story is portrayed, without much of drama or blame game. Moll Ringwald who has played the part of Ali in the movie is quite extra ordinary in the role. She has done restrained acting, very thoughtful. I really like the scene when her father cried seeing a small girl coming out of elevator talking with her father, or the scene when she saw her boyfriend in the shower cleaning himself rigorously after having sex, and the scene when she asked her mother “What did I do?”.

What we can do? We can certainly open up. Talk about everything just everything, live a healthy life and live our life. Live it to the fullest. 🙂