The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Over the last week, I had picked up 'The Color Purple' from our Classics section to read. We had seen the movie a long, long time ago and even have a DVD at home. But, the book is something else.

It is the story of segregation, oppression (within the Black community and between men and women and sometimes within the same family) and undying love between sisters. There is also a huge impetus that the protagonist Celie gets from love and appreciation shown by Shug (Celie's husband's first and evergreen fling). The book is set in 1940s and is a Pulitzer prize winner. It is written as a series of letters. Celie writes to God and Nettie writes to Celie and the twain shall not meet for a long time.

What stood out for me is the intensity of unconditional love that is pure and innocent betweent the sisters. Adversity brings them closer, I guess.

A few pearls that I would like to remember:

• "When I don't write to you I feel as bad as when I don't pray, locked up in myself and choking on my own heart. I am so lonely, Celie" says Nettie from Africa to her sister Celie languishing in the America's South.
• "If she come, I be happy. If she don't, I be content. And then I figure this the lesson I was suppose to learn", says Celie while waiting for Shug and the good times to return. She says this with the wisdom that comes from her long suffering.

See the contrast in the language and it doesn't seem to matter as the spirit in Celie speaks clearly through it all while the language and the grammar gently step aside.
A very touching book. A long way from then to next week's inauguration of Obama as US President indeed! A definite read.

The Music Room

What a lovely book and how lovingly the author (Namita Devidayal) has written it. It is her first book and is a true account of the lineage of her music Gurus (Jaipur Gharana) especially Dhondutai, her direct Guru and the deep, affectionate and of course musical relationship they shared. The language is so lucid and flowing that the movie rolls on smoothly on your inner screen. I stumbled upon this in our local library and resolved to read it during the music season. Just finished it.

Some pearls from the book:
"Faith is everything you know...If you have faith, nothing can touch you" (Dhondutai says to her student Namita who is caught between rationalism and faith)

" I don't know if you have achieved name and fame, tai, but your music has definitely reached the Gods" ( an old acquaintance tells the sole survivor of Jaipur gharana in her last performance in the Kolhapur temple where Alladiya khan had once performed)

After her travels around the world, Namita is continuing to learn from Dhondutai in Mumbai.
A definite 'READ' for any one associated with music.