Book review: 45 days in a cancer hospital

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing

ISBN-13: 9789381576823

ISBN-10: 9381576823

No. of Pages: 298

Format: Paperback

Language: English

About the book:

Well- it was on long suffering and melancholic- but thanks to the thrilling plot. Medical novels especially those from overseas- have drawn my attention away from my musical pursuits. Alka Dimri Saklani in her debut novel 45 days in a cancer hospital – gives a thorough image of what transpires in a cancer hospital. Here I am focusing on the misery of the cancer patients. How they fight for life and finally succumb to their ill fate.

The writer has explicitly defined pain and trauma through the pages. But if we were to read just about saddening aspects of life- the book would have made me cry out loud. Interestingly- there is more. Good for me- I didn’t have to read about pathetic love lines- the suspense thriller tone received a warm welcome. The characters were well formed. Though at times, I wished for more on behalf of the cancer patients. Somewhere the writer could have involved them in finding the culprit. For example Dr. Anhsuman- seemed one such potential character- who might have played a greater role- but the workings of the evil doers out casted such opportunities. Similarly the presence of the nursing staff was too peripheral. I can understand the attachment of Dr Chatterjee with his Umeed Hospital. And was floored by the way the writer addressed his predicament.

Medical novels are hard to find in India. People are warning up to a few medical dramas aired on TV- but those are packed with high end story lines which hardly seat with the middle class psyche. Thus a book of the plight of the so called common man- does create a new avenue. Heard my teacher say one day- “One form of art influences- another”. If this is true- I would wish Alka Dimri Saklani  brain children-Ashritha and Animesh- have their casting and 45 days in a cancer hospital turn into a TV series- but with brushing and retouching at place. A good read otherwise- subtle and more or less compact.

The reviewer is a young man with a musical ear. His love for flute, guitar and tribal beats gives him the time to read out of the box books as well.

 

MUSIC REVIEW - Kisses on the Bottom

(c) www.gamerzines.com 

Paul Mc Cartney, a memorable name and one among the four famous Beatles member is as we know a musician, singer, songwriter and composer. His new album “Kisses on the Bottom” released on February 6, 2012 is his fifteenth studio album and his first since 2007's Memory Almost Full, breaks the mold of the typical standards album by a rock performer.

What if it rained?

We didn't care

She said that someday soon

The sun was gonna shine

And she was right

This love of mine,

My Valentine

As days and nights

Would pass me by

I tell myself that I was waiting for a sign

Then she appeared

A love so fine,

My Valentine …

….the lines from his album track “My Valentine” floats over you recalling moments of oneness on a fine breeze.

If only my love was here

I'd be taking the time to feel it

Washing over my body and soul

If only my love, only my love was here

I wish that my heart was strong

I'd be letting it beat, much faster

At the thought of you holding me near

I wish that my heart, wish that my heart was strong….

….yet another lines from his song Only Our Hearts absorbs the love and pain in his voice.

The album contains Fourteen (14) tracks that are intimate and tender for ages to come. Among these numbers, the tracks “My Valentine" and "Only Our Hearts" are written by the singer itself whereas the other tracks include other famous song writers. McCartney also plays acoustic guitar on "Get Yourself another Fool" and "The Inch Worm" but otherwise contributes only to vocals. The album also includes the lead track "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”, originally a hit for Fats Waller in 1935.

Even at the age of seventy, his voice is almost as youthful as in the Beatles’ glory days .All of his songs has a ring of classic and marks itself to be the number one block buster in the US Billboard after days of its release.

His life long achievement include his name in the Guinness World Records as "the Most Successful Composer and Recording Artist of All Time", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million albums, 100 million singles, and a writer's credit on forty-three songs that have sold over one million copies each. In 2008, he received a “BRIT award” for Outstanding Contribution to Music, as well as an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale University. He also has won Grammy awards along with many other honors and in 2012, he became the last Beatle to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jack White and The Blues

“By the time I was about 18, somebody played me Sun House. And that was it for me.” That was the moment when Jack White was born. Most prominent as one half of the now defunct band, The White Stripes, Jack White has since been part of The Racountuers, Dead Weather and also collaborated with Bob Dylan, Jeff Beck, The Rolling Stones and Alicia Keys among others.

Slash: A Modern Legend

On July 10, 2012 Hollywood Boulevard saw yet another addition to the Walk Of Fame – Slash. So that’s about the twenty seven thousandth feather on Slash’s (top) hat. No wonder he never takes that thing off. It must weigh about a million pounds by now.

Believe: Bieber's Transition Into Musical Adulthood

I always find it a little amusing how people seem to have such strong feelings about Justin Bieber, They either love him or they can’t stand him. From his debut album, we have been hearing on and on about how his voice does not appeal to many, his music is not matured and so on. But, with this recent album, chances are that people will start taking this teenage pop start a little more seriously. His newest album ‘Believe’ shows that the star has truly matured in terms of his music and dishing out some work that is worth praising.

New John Frusciante Record For 2012

After a 3 year hiatus, John Frusciante is back with his 12^th solo record. Letur-Lefr, releasing on 16^th/17^th July 2012, is a 5-track EP from the ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist.  Frusciante had shown commendable mastery of studio techniques in his last solo record, The Empyrean and carries on in the same vein with his 12^th release. If you’ve heard tracks from The Empyrean, the use of analog synthesizers in his songs should not be new to you. Having said that, Letur-Lefr is nothing like its predecessor. The EP is filled with synth sounds and guitar tracks are, to be honest, a minority. Then again, that’s John Frusciante for you, always going for something new, ever-surprising.