Dear Friends,

I would like to sincerely THANK YOU for all your support in making Expressions a well reviewed and cherished coffee table Poetry Book.

EXPRESSIONS

I would also like to thank the Times Of India team & Amazon for having faith in my work and helping me make it my first publication success. It’s been three years almost since the first launch and the reviews and ratings are only getting better, thanks to all of you.

I have asked through TD Studios to release one of the chapters from the heart of EXPRESSIONS for your viewing including it’s symbolism artwork.

You can also read few of the readers reviews here: Reader review

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER:

For Indian residents: Purchasing a paperback copy inside INDIA is available for a special price of Rs.150/-* till March 25^th, 2010 only.

Write to us at: admin@techdivine.com for more details

* Courier charges Extra as applicable - Will be delivered at Your place of residence

Again, a sincere thanks for all your trust and faith.

Thanks and Regards

Ananth V

Product Consultant

TECHDIVINE Creative Services

ananthv@techdivine.com

Book Review – 2 States: The story of my marriage – Chetan Bhagat (CB)

The book, 2 States – The Story of my Marriage, lives up to what we have come to expect from the Chetan Bhagat stable. In the true sense CB had proclaimed that he was writing a book meant to be made into a typical Hindi movie. Movies of these days which have a strong dose of comedy sprinkled by largesse of love and family drama with a bit of rona-dhona thrown in for good measure. This is the very essence of this book that traces its way back to IIM where the protagonists of the story meet. A few meetings later they both fall in love with each other, the only problem being him from the North & her from the South.

The boy is a typical North Indian guy with loads of education and class. The girl is a typical generation Y Southie who has a penchant for non-veg and the like. Both have to convince each others families of their choices and this is where the fun part of the story lies. Both families have their own characters be it Ananya’s (the girl) super studious brother or the boy’s retired  father. Did I mention he was a retired army man. Ahem!

This coupled with a typical Punjabi marriage and the Delhi way of celebrating it in great style and splendour as also the various different ways in which the boy and girl go about impressing on their families about their choice forms the core of the book.

Since I would not like to play spoilsport and delve into the specifics to annoy the author, I suggest you lay your hands on a copy of the book & enjoy a fabulously good read.

A good source for Your Purchase too: Buy it here:CB’s 2 States

Enjoy!

Mani (a.k.a. Ananth S)

Are you Creative?

Can you think, create & put into words amazing stories, plots and characters

Then be a part of this unique Contest: Write, Design and get a chance to

win Fabulous Prizes

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WIN Fiction Novel selected from Amazon’s

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Creative Spills Cafe’ writing Contest – Gist of the contest:

“Think of a Topic of your choice: Write it in the form of a novel / story with plots and characters: Depict it with a design or artwork”

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You get a chance to Win Novel, Creative e-kits…..

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Creative Spills Cafe' Writing Contest

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Techdivine Creative Services is here with its 4^th CONTEST

(Celebrating TD’s 10,000 member registrations at our Blog / Forum & website)

Celebrating TD’s 10,000 member registrations at our Blog / Forum & website, we are very excited to launch the new Creative writing mascot & the contest with us: Creative spills café’ writing contest.

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Your email’s subject will read: “Techdivine Creatives Creative spills café writing contest” ABC DEF (Women’s Rights)

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Register in our blog, mail us the required info (given below in detail) to our ids: techdivine@gmail.com & cc: admin@techdivine.com

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The Lost Symbol review: The Book

Read Dan Browns other novels first if you already have not. My personal recommendation: Angels & Demons & then Da Vinci code and so on… finally this one, The Lost Symbol.

The Lost Symbol: Released in September’09 – BANG!

Million copies sales crossed on day one.

Now coming to the cast and characters of the novel:

The Hero: The legendary Robert Langdon.

Professor Langdon, a celebrated Symbol specialist with a key to every puzzle. But this novel brings forth a simpler & human side of Langdon where he gets stuck a couple of times in between the whole Search game. Even he needs help.

The Muse: The fine wine:  She is a 50 year old woman. Brilliant to the core.

Villain: Can’t reveal the name but undoubtedly, this novel of Brown gives us the best villain of all times. In this novel, the villain is the heath ledger of the Joker kind, amazing and fantabulous.

Basic gist of the plot:

The Secret Society: Freemasons – that’s right, a real organization an Institute of Noetic Studies which engages in secretive rituals and is believed to be protecting a great secret.

Again, some real cool and amazing facts are unraveled in the book. It’s a pure thriller. Peter Solomon, the professor’s mentor gets kidnapped. The ransom is for Langdon to unlock an ancient secret protected by the Freemasons.

Positives:

The Lost Symbol is a fast paced novel.

The beginning till the end, that’s right, it keeps us on the edge of our seats.

It puts forth many dares and the ins and outs of the details make us go “Know more” over alta vista or Google for the cool facts it puts forth.

The continuous ups, downs twists & turns make it a great read.

The not so good part:

Honestly, the final mystery ain’t much worth the effort.

The end could have been a million times better.

After reading the whole book, it was as if, it was written for the kick of it without a though and enough effort to the final storyline.

Cost of the book – INR Approximately Rs.700/ – INR

Ratings: 3/5

Honest feedback about the book: Don’t rush to buy, Wait for the paperback version, trust me!

Dear Readers,

TD Studios first Publication is now available for Purchase also from AMAZON

Link to pages:

Details / Product Info 

Amazon

Lulu Publishers International Edition

Expressions TDstudios publication book coverpage

Why do we cry for the onion?

Many centuries ago, a tomato, a capsicum & an Onion were best friends.

One day, their master felt hungry & was looking out for them. As soon as he saw the tomato his pangs of hunger shot up.

All the three friends tried to flee but the master caught the tomato. He cut it into slices & ate it. The capsicum & Onion started crying for the poor tomato.

Next was the capsicum’s turn & he too was cut into slices & eaten by the master.

The Onion started crying for the capsicum again.

Suddenly, a spirit appeared in front of the Onion & asked him why he was crying.

The Onion said that his friends Tomato & Capsicum had been cut into slices & the Onion had cried for them. Now that he was all alone, there was nobody to feel and share his pain.

When he will be cut into slices, nobody would cry for him. The spirit blessed him & said that anyone who cuts you will from now on cry for you.

So the next time we slice onions, we know why we shed those tears, don’t we?

Aishwarya Venkat

Age:10 years

School Dr. Radhakrishnan

_________________________________

Do post in your comments and views below

MY TRIP TO TAMEN NEGARA

IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAIN JOURNEY

Toot! Toot! The train was about to leave as we scrambled to our bunks. There were 2 bunks on top of each other on both sides of the train with a pillow and a curtain. There was also a small light. At first we had to stay on our own bunks before we went into Malaysia but later we could go on to each other’s bunks for a game of cards. My friend Cole forgot to bring food so we all had to contribute to his dinner. After eating dinner, we went on to each other’s beds for some time to play. At 8:00pm, the teachers asked us to go to sleep. It is not easy to go to sleep on a bumpy train that keeps rocking all the time. I managed to sleep for about 3 to 3 and half hours. After we woke up at 3:00am, we took a short 10-minute walk to an inn. We had 6 people in our bunk with one single bed and one queen sized bed. That evening was tough!

ON THE RIVER SEEN FROM THE BOAT

“On you go, Rama’s group!” said Mrs.Ziemer, as we climbed onto the boat and got partners. My partner was Ahan. As we sat on the boat we put on our “Neil Pryde” life jackets, which Rama said was our responsibility till we reach Singapore. The boat ride was exactly 2 hours and 34 minutes (I timed it with my own watch!). On our way to Tamen Negara, we saw monkeys on islands, water buffalos and cows eating and bathing in the water and many more exiting things. After a long time of staring out, we finally reached Tamen Negara, the world’s oldest rainforest. The boat ride was really exiting and I think you should go too☺.

THE TREK TO TERESEK HILL

Puff! Pant! “ Not much longer!” shouted our local guide, Max. We tried to start the trek with out bottles full of water, but unfortunately, the water didn’t last us to the top of Teresek hill. We had to hike 1.7 km up the mountain and 1.7 km down the mountain. Long way! On our way up, our guide thought us how to get medicine out of a plant to cure leach bites, what wood to use to start a campfire, a juice called risen that comes out of a special tree that gives a wonderful scent when burnt, which vines to use to drink water (vines contain water; you need to cut it open to get it), many interesting facts about animals and many more fascinating and useful things. We stopped halfway up the hill, at the first view and the second view (the views were exquisite mountains), which was the top of the mountain. The trek was difficult but we made it!

SHOOTING THE RAPIDS

In the activity shooting the rapids, we got on to our boat to go to an island to play some games there. Soon after the boat started the driver at the back who was controlling the motor suddenly went really fast. But I realized that we weren’t the only ones. The other boats were speeding too! Suddenly, when our boat was next to another boat, the guide put an oar into the water and the whole boat next to us got drenched. Soon all the boats started doing this and we were all soaking wet. It was more fun when we reached the current because the water splashed a lot further. After we reached the Island, we played two fun games. The way back was not as interesting because nobody splashed anyone. That was super fun!!

THE CANOPY WALK

For the canopy walk, we hiked for about 30 min, until we reached the canopy walkway. The canopy walk was on a narrow bridge in which we had to stay 5 or 10 meters away from the person in the front. This was because the bridge could hold only a certain amount of people. The bridges started swinging and it was great fun as we tackled 5 bridges. The total distance was around 500 to 800 meters. The bridge was 45 to 50 meters away from the ground. Phew! That’s high! The activity was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.

In conclusion I would say that this trip was a super duper hit and the best I have ever been to so far! I just loved it and I think you should go there too.

Aditya Krishnan

Age: 10 years

__________

Do post in your views and comments below….                                           

MY TRIP TO TAMEN NEGARA

IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAIN JOURNEY

Toot! Toot! The train was about to leave as we scrambled to our bunks. There were 2 bunks on top of each other on both sides of the train with a pillow and a curtain. There was also a small light. At first we had to stay on our own bunks before we went into Malaysia but later we could go on to each other’s bunks for a game of cards. My friend Cole forgot to bring food so we all had to contribute to his dinner. After eating dinner, we went on to each other’s beds for some time to play. At 8:00pm, the teachers asked us to go to sleep. It is not easy to go to sleep on a bumpy train that keeps rocking all the time. I managed to sleep for about 3 to 3 and half hours. After we woke up at 3:00am, we took a short 10-minute walk to an inn. We had 6 people in our bunk with one single bed and one queen sized bed. That evening was tough!

ON THE RIVER SEEN FROM THE BOAT

“On you go, Rama’s group!” said Mrs.Ziemer, as we climbed onto the boat and got partners. My partner was Ahan. As we sat on the boat we put on our “Neil Pryde” life jackets, which Rama said was our responsibility till we reach Singapore. The boat ride was exactly 2 hours and 34 minutes (I timed it with my own watch!). On our way to Tamen Negara, we saw monkeys on islands, water buffalos and cows eating and bathing in the water and many more exiting things. After a long time of staring out, we finally reached Tamen Negara, the world’s oldest rainforest. The boat ride was really exiting and I think you should go too☺.

THE TREK TO TERESEK HILL

Puff! Pant! “ Not much longer!” shouted our local guide, Max. We tried to start the trek with out bottles full of water, but unfortunately, the water didn’t last us to the top of Teresek hill. We had to hike 1.7 km up the mountain and 1.7 km down the mountain. Long way! On our way up, our guide thought us how to get medicine out of a plant to cure leach bites, what wood to use to start a campfire, a juice called risen that comes out of a special tree that gives a wonderful scent when burnt, which vines to use to drink water (vines contain water; you need to cut it open to get it), many interesting facts about animals and many more fascinating and useful things. We stopped halfway up the hill, at the first view and the second view (the views were exquisite mountains), which was the top of the mountain. The trek was difficult but we made it!

SHOOTING THE RAPIDS

In the activity shooting the rapids, we got on to our boat to go to an island to play some games there. Soon after the boat started the driver at the back who was controlling the motor suddenly went really fast. But I realized that we weren’t the only ones. The other boats were speeding too! Suddenly, when our boat was next to another boat, the guide put an oar into the water and the whole boat next to us got drenched. Soon all the boats started doing this and we were all soaking wet. It was more fun when we reached the current because the water splashed a lot further. After we reached the Island, we played two fun games. The way back was not as interesting because nobody splashed anyone. That was super fun!!

THE CANOPY WALK

For the canopy walk, we hiked for about 30 min, until we reached the canopy walkway. The canopy walk was on a narrow bridge in which we had to stay 5 or 10 meters away from the person in the front. This was because the bridge could hold only a certain amount of people. The bridges started swinging and it was great fun as we tackled 5 bridges. The total distance was around 500 to 800 meters. The bridge was 45 to 50 meters away from the ground. Phew! That’s high! The activity was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.

In conclusion I would say that this trip was a super duper hit and the best I have ever been to so far! I just loved it and I think you should go there too.

Aditya Krishnan

Age: 10 years

__________

Do post in your views and comments below….                                           

As I pondered at the starry sky for the moments that were spent I could plainly see the spills on the carpet and the stains on the mattress. I kept thinking I needed to improvise, a change would be good said my sanely perplexed brain.

Again, the dove flew off like the starry night before. Today, it reminded me of a work of art from one of the famous Italian painters and my mind wandered into one such artists words. He had said that an object that has been assimilated or formed and now needs no addition, no editing and no change is pure beauty…

Thank god for those famous quotes by artists.

That’s what I felt today, at the end of the day… it was beautiful… it was stunning… it was pure and perfect ….. simply because it was “SIMPLE”

My brain came to the present and looked at the wonderful things that were gifted to me till date.

It did not make me overlook the demands and the twinge, but gave me enough nerve to keep fighting, never go down on hope and have a conviction, a stronger faith in myself.

I had a horrible yesterday but had an awesome day today.

Had an amazing and astounding 10 hour sleep (keeping in mind my usual sleep of not more than 4-5 hours), woke up fresh, had a glass of my favorite mixed fruit Tropicana, did some workout and had a stupendous brunch fit for a king with a great friend of mine who also is an important part of my routine, someone from whom I take a lot of advice.

The day ended perfectly with a call from my side to a very kind and sweet relative wishing him on his birthday today which is a huge deal because of the fact that I barely remember even my own birth day.  

At the end of the day, I had good food, great friend, amazing family and an awesome book to read not to mention my grand day with loads of real keeping fit routine and some virtual game plays on my computer.

So, I had grown up a bit today but with zest and loads of energy.

I was responsible for something that was not part of my job, I was with and around those who cared and vice-versa, I put enough energy into my physical and mental training today and after a long time could write a simple post for a blog, not too long and just like my day, could keep it simple.

So I guess, it’s not just the remarkable mind blowing things that make impact on us. It’s also these simple aspects from our everyday that make us cheerful, gives us hope and courage to face life with belief, dedication and optimism.

So….

When things go wrong

And life gets crude

Hang on to the soulful hope

That never keeps you aloof

Kiss her hand and breathe in her heart

Sing a song to the blues

and play your part!

— Ananth V

god bless and be well

Image source: http://ananthvclicks.wordpress.com

Ananth V