Born a Crime

I’m usually skeptical about picking up biographies of tv/ movie celebrities, weary of a “dramatized” version of a rather simple rag to riches story topped with some celebrity scoops. I’m a big fan of Trevor Noah on tv though, so picked this book up on a whim, and quite loved it. Growing up in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, the book revolves around a really tender mom-son relationship (that could be why I loved it too). I read it  in Trevor Noah’s voice, and it turned out to be like his comedy acts: hilarious but also insightful/ intelligent; and a bewildered but empathetic  outsider’s view of someone who doesn’t fit into any of the  traditional categories. A great read!

Mixed Media

Some new art...H & I made this together. I'm a pacifist, he's a nationalist. I'm not sure it's about our thoughts on Kashmir;  I think it's about being able to hold opposing views and still working together. Or maybe it's about Kashmir. 

"The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Undoubtedly my new favorite book, this one! I realise I'm late to the party here, and besides, I'm too spent by discussing this one with H, so I'm just going to stop by saying this: my new favourite book.

La La Land

So it's been a long while since a movie inspired me into blogging, but then we watched "La La Land" last night! What a magical, even poetic movie. 

It's not easy making a romance these days, our brains are already so cluttered with these good-looking, witty, lovable characters from so many other romances we have already seen or read. Boy-girl love story is kinda done so often, it's very challenging to keep it interesting. Very cleverly done in this movie though. It's an homage to retro-style movie romances in general, where holdings hands, dancing together and that first kiss do more than any sex scene could. And the only thing that keeps it from being cheesy is that the movie and its characters are completely aware of its excessive romance and even own it. Don't we all want to be in love with a man who says, "what's wrong with romance? You say it like it's a bad word!".... even though we know that no such man exists in the real world! Because its so outrageously blatant about not being real, about being above all a romantic homage to romances, this movie really works for me! 

That, and Ryan Gosling.

P.s. It's kind of hard to believe (but then again also easy to believe) that this movie is made by the same person who made Whiplash. So different. Or so alike. Depending on how you see it.