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Thursday 22 June 2017

Book Review




Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities 








I finished reading Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities when the days are long and the nights are short. Heat blazes everything uncovered, and I had nothing else to do but read. It was from my favorite classic writer but I wasn't impressed by this one as much as the rest of his works.


While reading, it was really hard for me to continue with the book initially, I couldn't form a road where it was leading. It merely seemed like a scientifically woven book describing the age, people, occasions and incidents.I read merely through the surface until the half way of book 2. Thence onward my interest started growing when the story started developing. Before this point, the book is all about incidents, politics and characters that connect later in the novel. The last part is the most intriguing, full of human emotions and that is where the real story lies. Towards the end, it wasn't allowing me to leave it even for a moment or to go to sleep until I was done reading it.


Besides, I would like to convey my share of appreciation towards Dickens for his sublime and versatile characters. Some of them were full of meanings, symbols, dark, mysterious, metaphorical and their actions were significant always indicating something important. My literary favorite character yet the character as a reader that I hated in the story was of Madame Defrage for she was the evil of the story but the way Dickens sketched her was what made her my favorite too.


Furthermore, the language of the novel is very deep, meaningful and the element of foreshadowing is presented rather merged into the story quiet beautifully. Nonetheless, it might be hard to get hold of it for some readers initially. Whatsoever, there was a touch of something while reading which I cannot explain in words but this book definitely has something in it which makes you read it despite the uninteresting elements present.


Additionally, the plot of the novel is wisely and tightly knitted. The characters from the two cities in the story are brilliantly and intelligently linked keeping the past and the present before. It definitely gets confusing in book 1 when the reader does not know much about the characters and the plot. Moreover, characters in book 1 are presented more like puzzles though they unfold as the story progresses.


The phenomenon perfectly implies on Dickens of which I was taught and I heard of lately that if you read Dickens, you don't need to read the history of the age. Dickens peculiarly and accurately pens it down. As for me, I was always a confused nerd about French Revolution also I could never remember the slogan fairly well either. After reading this book, my perception of French Revolution is no more blurred. I am quiet clear about how it happened and what actually happened, not only this I could easily connect the historical consequences with the fictional ones. Apart from that,I remember the slogan now! (No kidding!) Thus, I found the popular notion about Dickens befitting after reading this particular piece of his.


Moreover, this book cannot be recommended for beginners or absolute fiction lovers because it needs a reading caliber that beginners don't have. Other than that, fiction lovers cannot digest such a scientifically penned piece, in my opinion. Though it will be a treat for History readers and also Literature lovers who loves to read and say, "Hit me with it, I can take it." For it has History and it has Fiction plus a large portion of Literature has tinged the drink beautifully.


To sew it up, I liked the book, it was interesting but I didn't love it. Though, it still has kept me in the dark and dirty alleys of France. I still think about it and how it all happened. Like any good book, it certainly keeps the reader trapped in its net for a long time.


My favorite quotes from the book are:


"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"


"A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other."


"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."


"And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, heap of ashes that I am, into fire."


Nevertheless, it was a good read!




PS.That's all based on my personal opinion and personal taste; one may not generalize it.



Wednesday 25 January 2017

The Malignant Surprise


Image result for famous surreal photography




The Malignant Surprise




The silent stories, the words, the whispers

The eyes, the movements, the actions,

In the dark tunnel underground,

Are all measured and bound.

They aim for the blue sky above

Everyone shipshape for a surprise at the other end

The malignant force surprises them

Rather in a different form.



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Monday 16 January 2017

The Yellow Eyes



pixie cold eyes - Google Search:


"The Yellow Eyes"





In the yellow eyes was only dirt
I could smell the tobacco within
The dark facade, narrow like a tunnel
Deep like a well caught me
Like a pitcher plant catches an insect.



Enslaved by the words
I refused to open my mind
To thine self which was so white
All I did see was the black face and the dirty skin.



When shackled within, I saw a flame,
It was candlelight!
Oh! You were burning to lighten me!
I cried, I cried but you were dead.



Your soul whispered before it left
"O Man! O Man! See...!
In the dark tunnel, a candle burns
It is black with yellow eyes
Let it burn you too...!"


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