Captive

Deepa,

When we relocated to a new place, we had to leave behind a lot of things that “belonged” to us. Some, that I was fine letting go, some, that I had no choice but to let go and some which I have kept in safe custody. Our entire collection of books fall in the third category. I do miss standing in front of the book shelf and staring at it, not able to decide which book I wanted to read next. I miss all the books that I have not yet finished reading. I miss all those bookmarks which are kept in those unfinished books.

As soon as we moved into a house and got a document of address proof, we got a membership at the nearest library. So now we have our home filled with books. And now,  I stand in front of the pile of books staring at it and deciding which one to read next.

Like I mentioned in the earlier blog The Book Shelf, the type of books I read keep varying from time to time. Now, I am inclined to reading (Auto)biographies of women achievers. So, during my first visit to the library, I picked up ” Her Again : Becoming Meryl Streep”  and “Song of a Captive Bird”.

How do you describe a book which makes you want to hug a good friend and shed a few tears when you finish reading it? It has happened to me a few times earlier. And that is exactly what I felt when I finished reading “SONG of a CAPTIVE BIRD” by Jasmin Darznik. The book is a portrait of the Iranian Poet Forugh Farrokhzhad, who defied Iranian society to find her voice and her destiny. The author has written it so beautifully that I almost thought it was an autobiography. Like one of the writers said, the book is a tragic, but ultimately inspiring act of remembrance.

People do what they are destined to do, irrespective of where they are born and how they are expected to live. They grab the opportunities and make the best of what they have. Negative remarks and oppositions only strengthen their spirits and determination to do what they have to do. Forugh’s life was a long tale of struggles, of rights and wrongs and of gains and losses. The rebel in her fought everything and everyone. Did she win in the end? I am no one to judge. All I know is that my thoughts have been held captive by The Captive Bird’s Song.

What have you been reading recently and how has it had an impact on you?

Published by Deepa

20 Comments

  1. I recently read, “Bunny Bunny Gilda Radner, A Sort of Love Story” by Alan Zweibel. It’s a short book consisting of conversations between Alan (a comedy writer for SNL and other shows) and Gilda, as their careers developed in the 70s and beyond. Through their conversations, feel you’re part of the friendship that evolved over time.

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  3. Aw I hope the relocation is going well. I’m currently reading Beartown by Fredrik Backman. So far it’s really good. I’ve looked forward to picking it up every day since I’ve started it.

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  4. I’m going to have to look for that book! And I can only imagine how hard it must be to have to give some of your other books away, although it sounds as if you are handling it well. At the moment I’m reading A Gentleman in Moscow and enjoying it very much!

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  5. I just finished reading All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and absolutely loved it. It is so beautifully written and the story is heart breaking but told so well and accurately. Like you, I couldn’t be happy without books – thank heavens for libraries!

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  6. I’m glad your home is once again filled with books. I know exactly how you feel when you are looking at your books and deciding which one to pick. I carry a book in my purse where ever I go because you never know when you will have a few moments to read, and I feel almost lost if I forget to bring it. I am going to put a hold on The Captive Bird’s Song online at my library right now! I just finished Before We Were Yours, an historical fiction novel about an orphanage in Tennessee during the 20s-50s that in addition to legitimate adoptions, had some very sinister practices. I couldn’t put it down.

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  7. Always happy to bump into another book-lover like myself. 🙂 I love standing in front of a pile of books, deciding which one to pick up and immerse myself within. It’s one of the most basic, and delicious, pleasures of life for me!

    I’ve been wanting to read Meryl Streep’s autobiography (or is it a biography written by someone else?). Did you like it?

    I’m currently reading fiction – Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale”, which is quite captivating.

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    1. Thank you Sindhuja. Happy to have met you too. Will visit your place to find out more about you. “Her Again” is a biography and I did not like it much. When I read about someone, I like to get a feel of that person, emotionally. That is missing in this book. It os more about the facts and numbers and dates and everything else except telling us more about the inside of Meryl Streep, the person we all adore.

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