Crime Novel Returned After 28 Years
Posted on | Wednesday, January 18, 2012 | No Comments
A crime novel is returned to a library after 28 years! Read all about it here.
Category:
life
An End To The Hiatus
Posted on | Monday, December 12, 2011 | No Comments
Starting a new career and moving back to the city has taken up more of my time than I'd like. As a result, this blog and my writing have taken a backseat to the humdrum of daily life. I was chatting to a friend about it today (who said rather pointedly) that work is taking precedence over some aspects of my life.
I realised then that it is not what I do for a living that alone defines me. There are other sides to me that need nurturing, namely my writing self. It reminded me of a post I read recently in Writing on Wednesday about "using the moment". I won't go into details, but if you want to read the post visit the link via my blogroll.
On another note, The Seattle Times has published their list of best mystery novels for 2011 (yay!) It'll give me an excuse to shop come January. (Never mind that I have a pile of Rebus novels that remain untouched). Read the Seattle Times' list here.
I realised then that it is not what I do for a living that alone defines me. There are other sides to me that need nurturing, namely my writing self. It reminded me of a post I read recently in Writing on Wednesday about "using the moment". I won't go into details, but if you want to read the post visit the link via my blogroll.
On another note, The Seattle Times has published their list of best mystery novels for 2011 (yay!) It'll give me an excuse to shop come January. (Never mind that I have a pile of Rebus novels that remain untouched). Read the Seattle Times' list here.
Category:
life
Why We're Addicted To Crime
Posted on | Monday, August 29, 2011 | 1 Comment
May I add also that by "we" I refer to the not-so-average human being who can't go a day without watching a crime drama or reading about crime in the newspapers or crime novels (one of them being me, of course!)
Yesterday, Indian newspaper The Hindu interviewed a psychiatrist (how apt!) who had this to say about why people are fascinated by all things crime:
Dr. V.R. Madhukar, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, St. Marthas Hospital puts any fears we might have about the fixation for this murky world, to rest, “For starters people have become numb to the whole idea of crime, and so the idea of watching crime shows do not frighten them. Also anything that arouses, be it sex, crime or sensationalism will always have an audience, and ensures ratings. It is a natural curiosity and everyone is interested in the plot, planning and exhibition of the incident. There is something about these shows and films which are gripping and also the element of suspense, and curiosity about how criminal minds work. This does not mean that everyone takes to crime; it is only people who are already vulnerable and have an inclination to crime already who might succumb.”
Yesterday, Indian newspaper The Hindu interviewed a psychiatrist (how apt!) who had this to say about why people are fascinated by all things crime:
Dr. V.R. Madhukar, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, St. Marthas Hospital puts any fears we might have about the fixation for this murky world, to rest, “For starters people have become numb to the whole idea of crime, and so the idea of watching crime shows do not frighten them. Also anything that arouses, be it sex, crime or sensationalism will always have an audience, and ensures ratings. It is a natural curiosity and everyone is interested in the plot, planning and exhibition of the incident. There is something about these shows and films which are gripping and also the element of suspense, and curiosity about how criminal minds work. This does not mean that everyone takes to crime; it is only people who are already vulnerable and have an inclination to crime already who might succumb.”
Category:
life
The Higher They Climb, The Harder They Fall
Posted on | Tuesday, August 9, 2011 | No Comments
Ok, who am I kidding here? Certainly not myself. Call it wishful thinking that the high and mighty get their just desserts under the super speedy law of karma. But you and I both know it doesn't happen that way in real life.
What am I going on about? Manners. The lack of common courtesy among those who consider themselves the "upper crust" and hence feel they are entitled to be rude to "everyone else". Well, since this is a rant I better make it a good one, I wish them a prosperous fall--because the higher they climb on someone's back (or several backs) to get the higher rung, the harder they fall.
When you're on the receiving end of bad manners, it's easy to feel that there's something not right with you. I've felt it (not today, because I was hopping mad), but in the past. You may question yourself: is it me? Did I say something wrong or not look the way I was supposed to? Did I not wear the right clothes or shoes?
Do yourself a favour. If someone is rude to you, don't offer the other cheek. But do walk away. It's your god-given right to. No human being has the right to demean or demoralise you just because they can. I'm not asking you to run him or her over with your car. I'm saying: experience it and let it go. Buddhism has several teachers who preach the art of letting go. And it works.
I tried this today and I hope it helps you to let go of the unhappiness when something (or someone) throws a spanner in the works. Letting go, according to the late Buddhist monk Ajahn Chah, used the analogy of the flashlight to demonstrate this. He said it is about holding but not clinging:
When we see a flashlight we wonder: "What is this?" So we pick it up: "Oh, it's a flashlight." Then we put it down again. We hold things in this way."
What am I going on about? Manners. The lack of common courtesy among those who consider themselves the "upper crust" and hence feel they are entitled to be rude to "everyone else". Well, since this is a rant I better make it a good one, I wish them a prosperous fall--because the higher they climb on someone's back (or several backs) to get the higher rung, the harder they fall.
When you're on the receiving end of bad manners, it's easy to feel that there's something not right with you. I've felt it (not today, because I was hopping mad), but in the past. You may question yourself: is it me? Did I say something wrong or not look the way I was supposed to? Did I not wear the right clothes or shoes?
Do yourself a favour. If someone is rude to you, don't offer the other cheek. But do walk away. It's your god-given right to. No human being has the right to demean or demoralise you just because they can. I'm not asking you to run him or her over with your car. I'm saying: experience it and let it go. Buddhism has several teachers who preach the art of letting go. And it works.
I tried this today and I hope it helps you to let go of the unhappiness when something (or someone) throws a spanner in the works. Letting go, according to the late Buddhist monk Ajahn Chah, used the analogy of the flashlight to demonstrate this. He said it is about holding but not clinging:
When we see a flashlight we wonder: "What is this?" So we pick it up: "Oh, it's a flashlight." Then we put it down again. We hold things in this way."
Isn't that beautiful? I just wanted to share that with you because I had an encounter of the rude kind today and didn't really feel that much better until I arrived home and read this analogy. Before that I searched my mind, conversations with friends who comforted me and the past for some comfort. All the while it was lying right next to my pillow, in a little book called "A Tree In The Forest" by Ajahn Chah.
So now it doesn't feel that good anymore to curse that person, far from it. I wish the person a good climb, may he land on his nice cushy butt when the time comes. Amen.
Category:
life
