Best Books of 2012

Its time for top 10 lists. Here i have compiled Top 10 books list from sources where i read about books.These are the sites which i read regularly to find out new books.I have read only 1 book in these lists and im reading another one now but i have bought some books in these lists, hopefully will read soon.

Top 10 books in Amazon

No.	Book	Author
1.	Fifty Shades Freed: Book Three of the Fifty  Shades Trilogy	E. L.James
2.	Gone Girl	Gillian Flynn
3.	Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty  Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed 3-volume Boxed Set	E. L.James
4.	Bared to You: A Crossfire	Sylvia Day
5.	No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden	Mark Owen
6.	The Marriage Bargain (Marriage to a Billionaire)	Jennifer Probst
7.	Reflected in You: A Crossfire	Sylvia Day
8.	The Racketeer	John Grisham
9.	Defending Jacob	William Landay
10.	The Innocent	David Baldacci

Top books in iTunes 

No.	Book	Author
1.	Fifty Shades of Grey	E. L.James
2.	Fifty Shades Darker	E. L.James
3.	Fifty Shades Freed	E. L.James
4.	Gone Girl	Gillian Flynn
5.	Bared to You	Sylvia Day
6.	The Lucky One	Nicholas Sparks
7.	Kill Shot	Vince Flynn
8.	Reflected in You	Sylvia Day
9.	The Innocent	David Baldacci
10.	The Racketeer	John Grisham

Top books chosen by Publishers Weekly

No.	Book	Author
1.	Building Stories	Chris Ware
2.	Bring Up the Bodies	Hilary Mantel
3.	The Round House	Louise Erdrich
4.	Happiness is a Chemical in the Brain	Lucia Perillo
5.	The Devil in Silver	Victor LaValle
6.	Detroit City Is the Place to Be: The Afterlife of an American Metropolis	Mark Binelli
7.	All We Know:Three Lives	Lisa Cohen
8.	People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo	Richard Lloyd Parry
9.	The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America: The Conflict of Civilizations, 1600–1675	Bernard Bailyn
10.	Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945–1956	Anne Applebaum

Top 10 books of  New York Times

Fiction

No.	Book	Author
1.	Bring Up the Bodies	Hilary Mantel
2.	Building Stories	Chris Ware
3.	A Hologram for the King	Dave Eggers
4.	NW	Zadie Smith
5.	The Yellow Birds	kevin Powers

Non-Fiction

No.	Book	Author
1.	Behind The Beautiful Forevers	katherine Boo
2.	Far From The Tree	Andrew Solomon
3.	The Passage of Power	Robert A Caro
4.	The Patriarch	David Nasaw
5.	Why does the World Exist?	Jim Holt

Top 10 Non -Fiction books chosen by Time magazine

No.	Book	Author
1.	Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945–1956	Anne Applebaum
2.	The Passage of Power	Robert A Caro
3.	Far From The Tree	Andrew Solomon
4.	My Friend Dahmer	Derf Backderf
5.	Are you my Mother?	Alison Beckdale
6.	Wild	Cheryl Strayed
7.	Dearie: The remarkable life of Julia Child	Bob Spitz
8.	People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo	Richard Lloyd Parry
9.	The First Four Notes: Beethoven’s Fifth and  the  Human Imagination	Matthew Guerrieri
10.	The Black Count	Tom Reiss

Top 10 Fiction books chosen by Time magazine

No.	Book	Author
1.	The Fault in our Stars	John Green
2.	Bring Up the Bodies	Hilary Mantel
3.	Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk	Ben Fountain
4.	At last	Edward St.Aubyn
5.	The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and  Led the Revels There	Catherynne Valente
6.	The Casual Vacancy	JK Rowling
7.	Building Stories	Chris Ware
8.	NW	Zadie Smith
9.	Where’d You Go, Bernadette?	Maria Semple
10.	This Is How You Lose Her	Junot Diaz

Slate Book Review Top 10

No.	Book	Author
1.	Behind The Beautiful Forevers	katherine Boo
2.	Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk	Ben Fountain
3.	Bring Up the Bodies	Hilary Mantel
4.	Every Love Story is a Ghost Story	D.T. Max
5.	Gone Girl	Gillian Flynn
6.	Journalism	Joe Sacco
7.	The Lifespan of a Fact	John D’Agata and Jim Fingal
8.	NW	Zadie Smith
9.	The Real and The Unreal	Ursula K. Le Guin
10.	Wild	Cheryl Strayed

Goodreads Choice Award 2012  - The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling

நடுவுல கொஞ்சம் பக்கத்த காணோம்

Atlast a full length clean comedy movie! Watch and laugh loudly! Its even more interesting when we realized that this story was based on real life of the director's friend, who was the cinematographer of this movie C.Premkumar.

The story is about a guy who loses his memory just before a day of his marriage.The series of events that unfolds during those three days will make us laugh like anything. The four friends Premkumar, Bagavathy(Bugs),Balaji and Saras were typical good today's friends who takes life easy and enjoy each other company.When Premkumar loses his memory while playing cricket , the other three decided not to inform to his family and go on with marriage.

The movie is full of serious scenes but the director bring the subtle humor out of it, hats off to director Balaji Tharaneetharan.Even though many dialogues repeating many times i did not get irritated rather i enjoyed those scenes and laughed.Vijay Sethupathy as Premkumar was awesome, his repetitive expression and dialogue modulations were big plus point for this movie.Rajkumar as Balaji with his innocent look and stupid questions was excellent-specially when he asks "why Prem is not listening to me but to you?".Bugavathy Perumal as Bugs with his 'punch' dialogues and looks was hilarious.Vigneswaran as Saras did his role neatly. Gayathri as Dhanalakshmi did not had much ,nevertheless she did her role perfectly.

Background score by Siddarth Vippin was good.Cinematography by "real" Premkumar was perfect in some scenes(slow motion scenes during cricket match) and not-so in some other scenes ,not bad.The director did not deviate from the story line, it was linear and perfect, there is no sub-story or unnecessary flashbacks etc including songs,well done director.

Overall a perfect comedy to relax...!!

Thattathin Marayathu - Malayalam Movie

The meaning  of the title "Thattathin Marayathu " is Behind the Veil... very opt title.Wikipedia says this movie is a genre -"Musical Romance", i completely agree that. Awesome music after a long time ,i was hooked to a malayalam movie's songs from the moment i heard it .This is director Vineeth Srinivasan's second movie after his successful first one "Malarvadi Arts Club"- a movie which i enjoyed a lot. 

This is a romantic story of Vinod , a middle class,an average Hindu student, who falls in love with Ayisha , wealthy girl from a influential Muslim family.Even though i guessed the flow of the  story after 15 minutes, i still enjoyed the movie, may be because of comedy and songs.The guy-next-door look hero is a big plus point for this movie, you can immediately feel for/with him.

Nivin Pauly as Vinod is perfect for this role and he really did justice to his selection.Aju Verghese as Abdu,Vinod's friend was excellent, he really brings laughter out of everything. Manoj K Vijayan as S.I Premkumar did his role neatly. Isha Talwar as Ayisha is gorgeous and did act well.

Even though the story is age old and lack intensity, the director with a help of cinematographer Jomon.T.John made this movie a watchable as well as likable one.Do not expect any logic, just immerse in love and beautiful and soothing music. Music by Shaan Rahman was excellent one of the best in recent times. The songs "Anuraagathin Velayil"  and "Muthuchippi" keep on playing in my iPod.The first song was sung by the director himself and he is really a good singer. He already won lots of accolades for his singing. 

Vineeth Srinivasan - Director

Overall watch it, even if you don't like these kind of stories..,watch just for music and cinematography...!!

நீர்ப்பறவை (Neerparavai)

I had high expectations on this movie, simply because the story happens in our place (Rameswaram Islands). After director Seenu Ramasamy's "Thenmaerkku Paruvakaatru" ,i hoped that this one will be even better.I was bit disappointed.

 The story is nothing new but the location and people are new. I believe that the director did not capture the livelihood of fishermen effectively, on the screen looked artificial.But the casting is spot on. I can see the familiarity with most of the characters with my own people .

Kudos to director for boldly telling the world about our fishermen's struggles against nature and more importantly against the Srilankan navy. No other countries fishermen faces this brutal enmity from neighboring country.

Vishnu had done a great job as a alcohol addict and latter as a good husband, he really brings the essence of fishing youths from our side- typical dress and the innocence. Its sadly true that many youths are addicted to alcohol and the elders do not know what to do except admit them in some hospitals, mostly hospitals run by nuns and priests in Tuticorin area. But only 2 out of 5 remains sober and leads healthy life. I have seen many youth running away from hospitals and readmitted as in this movie.

Typical meeting in church..

Nowadays the catholic church is not playing a big role in decision making as old days. Now people are separated by faith and there is no unity among us.As Samuthirakani says in this movie " We, the fishermen do not have unity among ourselves". Its very true.Most of the problems would have been solved and can be solved if we are united. But it does not look like that all the fishermen will unite and fight for their rights in near future.

Nandita Das ...

"poo" Ramu as Vishnu's father was awesome, he looks like one of us.As an angry father and latter as a loving father , he really varies his expression beautifully.Sunaina as Esther too , did her role to perfection.For me the most memorable character was of Samuthirakani, his dialogues are apt and essential for this story. Pandi, Thami Ramaih and Nandita Das did their role neatly.

Cinematography by Balasubramaniyam was excellent, he captured the beauty of sea and shore beautifully. Music by Ragunanthan was good.Lyrics by Vairamuthu also good specially "para para" and "Devan Magale:.

Overall not a great movie but a worth watching! 

Sunday Clicks - 1

A Path

A Scene At Airport

Singapore Marathon

A Canal

A Mushroom..

A Lost Bicycle

Empty Cans..

First Advent Sunday Candle

Sky

My Favorite Inspirational Movies

Some movies  we want to watch all the time, here are my list of inspirational movies.I have almost all these movies DVDs , whenever i feel like watching , i just randomly choose a disc and play.Recently Channel 5 played "The Lion King", i introduced 'Simba' to my little daughter she laughed a lot for sometime ,then she started her own things. Here is my list:

1. The Pursuit of Happyness

A real life of story of Chris Gardner .Never give up your dream and don't never let anyone tell that you can't do.

Director : Gabriele Muccino
Cast: Will Smith, Jaden Smith

2. Pay it Forward

A story of a boy who creates a good-will movement- he helps three people and asking them to do the same for others.

Director:Mimi Leder

Cast:Kevin Spacey,Haley Joel Osment

3.The Lion King

Whereever and whenever  i get chance i watch this wonderful movie.This movie always inspires me.Awesome concepts and creation.

Director :Roger Allers,Rob Minkoff

4.Forrest Gump

A man who inspires everyone! A lovely storyline and beautiful acting Tom Hanks made this movie, one of the best in recent times.

Director:Robert Zemeckis
Cast:Tom Hanks,Robin Wright,

5.The Shawshank Redemption

A man's twenty year effort to escape from the jail.An incredible tale which shows if we have hope and never give up attitude we can realize our dream.

6.Good Will Hunting

This is a story of Will Hunting,a unrecognized math genius.He is a laborer and is forced to go through therapy session, which changes his life.

Director : Gus Van Sant
Cast : Matt Damon, Ben Afflect, Robin Williams

7.Finding Nemo

A mother's never-give-up journey to find her abducted son.Heart warming and funny!Wonderful movie to light your day!

Directors :Andrew Stanton,Lee Unkrich

8.Life is Beautiful

A tragic comedy.The use of humour to win girl's heart and to secure his son from Nazis.Superb!

Director : Roberto Benigni
Cast : Roberto Benigni

9.Remember the Titans

My all time favorite sports movie.A true story of Afro-American coach who unites the racially disintegrated football team.Awesome acting by Denzel Washington.

Director:Boaz Yakin
Cast : Denzel Washington,Will Paton

10.The First Grader

The true story of Kimani Maruge who at the age of 80 enrolled in elementary education.I really liked the old man's spirit.

Director :Justin Chadwick
Cast : Naomi Harris,Oliver Nitanto

There are some more on the list specially faith related movies. I will try to list those movies latter.

Ustad Hotel

Ustad Hotel -A delicious kerala meal for you. I love this film for the simple story line and the way the director executed it.This movie is a great starting(i think second film) for Mamooty's son Dulquer Salman.

This is the story of Faizi, only son of the rich man.His father was desperate to have a son, that gave him four daughters and atlast Faizi. His mother died after giving birth to Faizi. He was taken care and brought up by his four sisters.He spent most of his time in kitchen with his sisters and he is fond of cooking. As he grows up ,he wants to become a chef.But his father want Faizi to do MBA and open a Five Star Hotel .

Faizi lied to his father about his studies.He opted and finishes catering course instead of MBA.When his father came to know about his studies he was disgusted and confiscated his passports and credit cards.This force him to go to his grandfather who is running a loss-making small hotel namely "Ustad Hotel". Of course there is a love story too.

The girl who rejected Faizi because of his profession-Chef, latter loves the same Faizi.Faizi learns the secret of life as well as the business from his grandfather Kareem Ikka. The grandpa taught him that "Its all in mind".The grandpa sent Faizi to Madurai to meet a chef who left his high earning job for social work. This teach him life's reality. I think Madurai chef's character is based on Narayanan Krishnan who was nominated for CNN Heroes in 2010.He slowly started loving the people and environment of  Ustad Hotel. The rest of the story is about how Faizi and co saves Ustad Hotel from closing down.

The great Thilakkan as Kareem Ikka was simply superb. I felt very sad that this great actor is no more. May his soul rest in peace.Dulquer Salman continues his good form in this movie too.Hope he will get better as his father.Nithya Menon as Sahina was lively and apt for this role.All the characters played their role as needed, credit goes to Anwar Rasheed, the director. Anjali Menon's script is engrossing and neatly layered.

On the technical side, cinematography by S.Lokanathan was good , he captured the moods of the seashore brilliantly.Music by Gopi Sunder was good, i like all the songs, except one.

Ustad Hotel is bewitching , engaging and entertaining! A feel good movie!

Snail Watching -2

After a long time, i got a chance to watch garden snails but this time in different environment. As we were walking towards the food court  i saw something glowing(greenish) in dark,immediately i took my mobile phone and switch on the torch light. Wow.. sight to behold(!?) I thought those snails were mating (not sure!). I took some snaps then we went passed those snails. After almost 15 minutes when i went to the same spot and saw, OMG the snails were in same position!!

My one year old daughter scared, in fact i too was scared a bit(dont know why??!!).Nevertheless, Snails are beautiful creatures, i love them moving/sliding!!

படித்ததில் பிடித்தவை -3

Last couple weeks read some wonderful poems in various websites and magazines.

1. A Short Biography  by Manushya Puthiran

2.Without A Passport by Rashid Hussein

3.My Shadow And The Earth's by Adonis

4.Water's Drawing by Ravi Udhayan

5.Father's Garden by Mounan