Yesterday (August 15th) was Indian Independence Day. Its only the third year I've been in the US on this day, but it is the first, that I've felt so foreign here. Oddly enough, it was because I was in the midst of a huge crowd of Indians at Penns Landing, where there's an annual independence day celebration, complete with musical and dance performances, food, clothing and jewellery stalls, and massive, milling crowds of Indians on a hot summer afternoon, just overlooking the sea, to add to the Elliots Beach like atmosphere.
And yet, I've never felt so little at home. I could talk about the strangeness of being in one country, and celebrating another's independence, of people, who have chosen to live here, change their citizenship, sing (or make their children sing) about another land. Its not hypocrisy... there's no reason you can't call two places home... but its just a little strange. Its a dichotomy that many of us, will have to make our peace with at some point.
As for me, I found comfort, but no answers, when I came home and listened to 'Vaishhav Jan To"
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Pride and Prejudice, the BBC version
I got the complete Pride and Prejudice BBC drama version from this cheap discount store that's just opened up in King of Prussia. It stars Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Now, while I grew quickly accustomed to Colin Firth playing Darcy, it took me a while to get used to Jennifer Ehle playing Elizabeth. Somehow, she wasn't really what I'd had in mind. By the time the movie drew to a finish however, she had completely converted me, to the point where I cannot conceive of anyone else in the role.
A few minor quibbles, that only a major fan of the book would have:
1. Elizabeth looks prettier to me- granted beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but still...
2. Could have done without the gratuitous Darcy dripping wet in the pond scene. It's not there in the book. Believe me, those who watched this drama were not doing so for the sake of Colin Firth's (admittedly attractive) wet appearance.
3. They cut short the Elizabeth and Darcy finally get together scene! Where was the "I am excessively sorry... blah blah"!!??
4. I thought Colin Firth was a little wooden in that scene too...
Anyway, the great parts- I loved, loved(!) the scene where Lady Catherine comes to confront Elizabeth. Loved(!) the portrayal of all 5 of the Bennett girls, their matchmaking mama and their uninvolved father. The character and flaws in each comes out so well!
All in all, it was a pleasant couple of evening spent before my computer...
A few minor quibbles, that only a major fan of the book would have:
1. Elizabeth looks prettier to me- granted beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but still...
2. Could have done without the gratuitous Darcy dripping wet in the pond scene. It's not there in the book. Believe me, those who watched this drama were not doing so for the sake of Colin Firth's (admittedly attractive) wet appearance.
3. They cut short the Elizabeth and Darcy finally get together scene! Where was the "I am excessively sorry... blah blah"!!??
4. I thought Colin Firth was a little wooden in that scene too...
Anyway, the great parts- I loved, loved(!) the scene where Lady Catherine comes to confront Elizabeth. Loved(!) the portrayal of all 5 of the Bennett girls, their matchmaking mama and their uninvolved father. The character and flaws in each comes out so well!
All in all, it was a pleasant couple of evening spent before my computer...
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Concert and more summer reading....
On a sudden whim I took and (expensive) fancy to go to the Elton John-Billy Joel Concert in Philly on Saturday, the 1st of August. The most exciting part, I have to admit, was selling my spare ticket off, at about the third the price I paid for it, to the scalpers outside the stadium. About half an hour after I went inside, the gentleman who had the misfortune of buying this ticket at about twice the price I paid for it, showed up, and we spent the half an hour or so, commiserating with each other about the concert.
The concert itself, was very good, even if Elton John's accent made him half-un-understandable, half the time; if I hadn't already deciphered the lyrics of his songs on the radio, I would have not understood a word. Billy Joel came out, and did ridiculous things with the mike. He is more of the showman of the two (or maybe just without the British reserve?), and he had some really good accompanists.
Got lost on my way back post-concert (its a given... when have I ever reached anywhere without getting lost first?) and got back home at a horrendous 1 o'clock at night (no, not a party animal).
Next day went to NY which was rainy and horrible (The first time I've said such a thing about that city), this summer has been an absolute wash out.
I bought a book to read at the concert which also proved to be an absolute wash out. Its A Little History of the World" by E.H.Gombrich. I was expecting something like Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"... but this is decidedly a book for pre-teens only. Anyone know any pre-teens with an interest in History?Yeah, me neither.
Also read Jefferey Archer's "Paths of Glory" and I find, that while his books are still readable, his characterizations annoy me more and more. Why are his heroes flawless paragons of virue, while thier foils are inevitable fatally flawed (or at least not well-born - with Archer the sins are virtually the same) . Besides which, I'm growing tired of his plots- which are increasingly similar. Kane and Abel was amazing the first time I read it, but having found that formula, all his books follow the same path, more or less...
Then, I read "Brokeback Mountain". I'd seen the movie (and wept copiously), and approached the slim volume, that really didn't look like it would make much material for a movie, somewhat dubiously. At first read, I admit, I didn't care for it. But it got me thinking. I realized that the movie was just a love story- replace one guy with a girl and you get same old, same old. That doesn't happen with the book. Its really clear, they're both men, and you can't replace one and get the same story. Also- that size is perfect for a movie- most movies take an enormous book and condense it, whereas what they should be doing is taking a small sized book and just doing it as it is. So much of what's in a movie is visual, a fat book that contains all those scenes which in words just take up a few chapters, can take an hour in a movie.
The concert itself, was very good, even if Elton John's accent made him half-un-understandable, half the time; if I hadn't already deciphered the lyrics of his songs on the radio, I would have not understood a word. Billy Joel came out, and did ridiculous things with the mike. He is more of the showman of the two (or maybe just without the British reserve?), and he had some really good accompanists.
Got lost on my way back post-concert (its a given... when have I ever reached anywhere without getting lost first?) and got back home at a horrendous 1 o'clock at night (no, not a party animal).
Next day went to NY which was rainy and horrible (The first time I've said such a thing about that city), this summer has been an absolute wash out.
I bought a book to read at the concert which also proved to be an absolute wash out. Its A Little History of the World" by E.H.Gombrich. I was expecting something like Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"... but this is decidedly a book for pre-teens only. Anyone know any pre-teens with an interest in History?Yeah, me neither.
Also read Jefferey Archer's "Paths of Glory" and I find, that while his books are still readable, his characterizations annoy me more and more. Why are his heroes flawless paragons of virue, while thier foils are inevitable fatally flawed (or at least not well-born - with Archer the sins are virtually the same) . Besides which, I'm growing tired of his plots- which are increasingly similar. Kane and Abel was amazing the first time I read it, but having found that formula, all his books follow the same path, more or less...
Then, I read "Brokeback Mountain". I'd seen the movie (and wept copiously), and approached the slim volume, that really didn't look like it would make much material for a movie, somewhat dubiously. At first read, I admit, I didn't care for it. But it got me thinking. I realized that the movie was just a love story- replace one guy with a girl and you get same old, same old. That doesn't happen with the book. Its really clear, they're both men, and you can't replace one and get the same story. Also- that size is perfect for a movie- most movies take an enormous book and condense it, whereas what they should be doing is taking a small sized book and just doing it as it is. So much of what's in a movie is visual, a fat book that contains all those scenes which in words just take up a few chapters, can take an hour in a movie.
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