FunderfulWorld

A delightful narrative about the events that unfold during a summer of the author’s childhood. With beautiful descriptions of the French countryside, hilarious narration of complicated situations that the family finds itself in and an excellent account of the complex emotions in a family, particularly between the father and son, this is a fun-filled book. I love Marcel Pagnol’s writing style in this book. Simple and yet, so wonderfully descriptive, it brings to the fore, lovely childhood memories.

The author takes the reader along on her journey of self-discovery as she determines her identity, her passion for the beautiful French language and her world encompassing everything French.  I loved reading this book, and would highly recommend it to all Francophiles. From the immense joy of pronoucing the ‘r’ correctly to the travails of her research efforts, the author has described events in her life, in a very honest and refreshing way.

Our long-planned trip to Odisha or Orissa, finally materialized in January 2011. The weather was perfect, the destination was charming. During the taxi ride from Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneshwar, to our hotel, we remained rivetted to the windows. In this city, arts and crafts emporia abound, beautiful sculptures adorn lawns and small gardens, vibrant paintings cover walls, bridges, flyovers. A veritable artist’s haven. The next day, we were ready to set out and explore the state.

The colourful kite festival, delicious jalebis & ‘undhiyu’, vibrant bandhani, bustling markets, the grandeur of Akshardham… – this year, we celebrated Makar Sankranti in Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar. Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) in Gujarat is a delightful experience! The markets are abuzz with activity, flooded with kites of various hues and sizes. Families gather on terraces – some ready for intense competition, others enjoying a leisurely experience. The winds are perfect, the music is loud, the skies are dotted with high-flying kites, the mood is festive: a vibrant celebration, indeed.