Book Reviews 2017.5

Reviews of books that I read in 2017 -

21. Right Ho, Jeeves - P.G. Wodehouse
P. G. Does it again, situational comedy at its best, I am giving it 4 stars as my man Jeeves does not appear in most scenes, I want more of him. Can not wait to read the next in this series. 4/5.

22. The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks
Gave it half way. That says it all.

23. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Peterson
This is more like a kid's book that is written for kids (unlike Harry Potter which everyone enjoys). 2/5.

24. An unsuitable boy - Karan Johar
Do not like his movies but loved his autobiography. 4/5.

25. The Colossus Rises - Peter Lerangis
I volunteer at a library and the colossus rises is a superhit book amongst the school children, I picked it up out of curiosity. After reading it I am wondering if the school children specially under 10 really understand this book. There are many elements that are hard to understand. It is a 3 book series, the story doesn't end in this part but I am not too keen on reading the next one, I give it 3 stars.

Time?

Do we have time? Or is it time that has us?

Delirium

In many parts of the world, women are distinctly seen as inferior sub-humans, who should stay confined at home, behind a veil, cook, produce children, take care of the in-laws and entertain their husbands. 

It becomes intolerable for men with male chauvinist mindsets when young women begin to challenge such stereotypes by stepping out and surpassing them in education and employment and by asserting their independence, opinions, financial freedom and demanding equal treatment.

Some men do not even stand close to the merit, strength, intelligence or grace of the women in their life and yet they live in a delirium of being a better species. Tch. Tch.

People Pleaser

It is human nature to want to fit-in, to belong, to be part of the ‘in’ crowd. A lot of you would accept (at least to yourself) that you are people pleasers.

I, amongst many others that I know, do not spend time pleasing people because

1. I am okay with being disliked,

2. People have bizarre kinds of expectations and objections, even though they never are up to the mark themselves. I am sure you have been through situations where you thought that people can have such nonsensical expectations and objections? I will give you one example, I took my own blankets and pillow to someone's house for a sleepover, because I wasn't sure if they would have enough for so many guests coming over to their house that too in winter. Can you guess what the host gossiped about me... that I carried my own blankets, while they should have been happy that I was considerate. I till today laugh at the whole thing... how bizarre can people's objections and observations be... It in a way shows how people need to grow up.

Anyway, the point is it is impossible to please all the people all the time, and some negative people can never be pleased whatever you do, a lot of people lack empathy. We should rather do our own thing and some will be pleased, at least some of the times ;-). 

If everyone likes you, then someone is definitely lying to you :) Do not feel the need for anyone’s approval and be undeterred by people’s opinions. Be clear about what you like and dislike, the kind of people you would want to meet and not meet. 

There are so many better things one can do with the time that they have, be it as trivial as taking a nap.…or read/write/paint or be around amazing people than to spend time fulfilling bizarre expectations.

As they say ‘You can not be afraid to not be liked. This fear limits you from being ALL of you’. I just want to live being me and be able to do things according to the circumstances and situations in life without being worried about what people are expecting from me or what are they objecting about. 

I do not have any intention of wasting this short presence on earth thinking about trivial objections, life is so vast, so BIG, there is so much one can do with time. I feel being a people pleaser restricts us from creating what we want to create and do what we want to do.

Expectations!

I have the least possible expectations of people. It doesn't mean I have given up on mankind. It only means that I like to give everyone some space to be whoever they want to be and whatever they want to do. It is not easy but not impossible either. 

Every time I feel a 'grudge' or 'bitterness' growing inside me, for someone failed me or didn't live up to my expectation, I tell myself 'everyone is doing the best they can!', I also like to cut people some slack, for example, if I am visiting someone and they are not welcoming enough or not the perfect hosts then I understand and say 'it's okay, they have kids to take care of and busy, stressful lives to be asking for attention.' I don't whine about it.

There is already so much stress in life, simply to even exist, why add to the drama with unnecessary expectations? The problem arises when people do not realize that they themselves were never up to the mark and express their grudge against you for not living up to their expectations - meaning they would expect a birthday card from you even though they themselves never wished you on your birthday. Lame example. But that is how lame expectations are.

Anyway, I think you get the gist, before you blame people for not doing something, ask yourself if you had done anything for them, also cut some slack - people go through ups and downs, depression, sickness, newborns, crazy work schedules, various phases and basically people have issues that you don't know about - think from their perspective before you jump to conclusions - give them benefit of doubt. It will give you some peace of mind...

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