JustBooks Connect - October 2011 newsletter.

1. Volume 2 Issue 8
www.justbooksclc.com
blog.justbooksclc.com CONNECT October 2011
For limited circulation
A JustBooks Publication
Potter: More or Less? Pg 10
Quiz
Pg 14
Just
Kids
Anindita Sengupta
Pg 15
Dursleys, McGonagall's early love affair-
these are the tidbits hinted. Going by
Rowling's tone, it's going to be one gim-
JK Rowling has announced
Pottermore, an online store and fan
micky ride. She has tied up with Google Author
books for this and will be selling eBooks
website, which Anindita Sengupta without paying the dark lords of Amazon
Profile
feels could be the beginning of writ- or eBay. She has also indicated that the
ers taking marketing into their books will be DRM-free (free of Digital
hands. Rights Management ) and available for all
eBook devices including the Kindle and work the internet just like everything else
T
he release of Harry Potter and the iPad. does. Writers must not only be savvy
Deathly Hallows II, eighth and According to the official release: "As the with web stats, FB pages and site hits,
final edition of the craze-inducing Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that they must also be willing to hustle.
movie franchise was one of the biggest it should include further products designed It has not been greeted with unequivo-
movie news. Millions queued to watch specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a cal enthusiasm.
bespectacled Harry meet hard-to-name potential outlet for Sony products and servic- Some discomfort lies in our unwilling-
nemesis Voldemort. Daniel Radcliffe has es related to Pottermore." ness to look at writers as professionals
morphed into a hot, tormented man and As Jason Kincaid at TechCrunch.com who need to make a living just like any-
Hermione holds her own. The movie, points out, besides being the first outlet one else.
most agreed, was the best in the series. for Harry Potter eBooks, it will also be the We prefer them in the age-old role of
Meanwhile, JK Rowling calmly and not- first official HP fan base on the Internet. the mystic, the bard, the eccentric beard-
so-quietly announced Pottermore. Kincaid predicts that it will be driven by ed or long-haired person in an attic.
Pottermore is a website that promises the HP video game which Sony may Rowling abolishes these stereotypes. She
Harry Potter fans continued and everlast- release in the future or perhaps, a HP- is out of the tower and on our TV screens.
ing excitement. It will not only offer themed social network. Either way, She seems as cozy with the market as she
eBooks but also dish out gargantuan Pottermore points to a trend of writers is with the muses.
amounts of back story. About 20,000 taking marketing into their ink-stained I have mixed feelings. Some of the ...
words of it. Details about the dreadful hands. It seems to say that books must contd on pg 2...

2. 2 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
contd from pg 1...
From the Editor’s writers peddled their own
Desk books aggressively:
Woolf set up Bloomsburg
Press, Dickens wrote weekly
H
serialised novels. They were
arry Potter. Much and working the market. But the
then some, has been writ- dynamics of promoting
ten about its books and work have changed in our
movies. And just when you times, become more
thought what more can one talk demanding.
about Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling In an earlier column, I
came up with Pottermore! wrote about the interview
For Potter fans, this is great glut syndrome, the writer as
news. For those who grew up celebrity in an age when
reading the series, this site might celebrity comes at the click of
give a sense of continuity of their a button. It is not entirely innocent terri- ture of our times.
relationship with Harry and his tory. There are trigger-happy opinions, The internet is often blamed for taking
world. The aspect we tried to distracted responses, views aired without people away from books and toward
explore in this edition is how this enough forethought. With marketing games and social media. Pottermore
whole Pottermore concept could added to the task list, some writers may might prove that it can cut both ways. (To
be one of the ways for the writers feel additional pressure. some extent, we're already seeing this in
to take up marketing and control Plus what happens to writers who are a niche genre like poetry where online
of their books and characters in not so marketing-savvy? Will great books journals have connected poets every-
their own hands. suffer for lack of their author's ability to where and created a global network. In
We all know well, how good churn out the promo jinks? Some stories the absence of publishing and distribu-
marketing and packaging can give lend themselves to video games, quizzes, tion systems, readers hunt through cyber
high visibility and help a book emoticons, merchandise and other alleys to find poems they may enjoy.
break into the list of best sellers. peripherals. Others less so. Not all great Often, this leads to book-buying if they
The increasing visibility of Indian writing is cult material. like a poem enough and want to read
books and authors in different lit- Are we liable to miss out on books that more of the same poet.)
erary festivals and book fairs rais- generate less noise? Coming back to the Whatever else, Pottermore does
es a debatable question —Has book at hand, there are concerns about demonstrate the enormous potential of
Indian writing arrived on the Harry Potter overshadowing all other the internet. It takes power away from
world stage? Everyone has his or child heroes thanks to its persistent pro- online shops and puts its back where it
her opinion on it. We talked to motion machine. Pottermore is another belongs-with the writer.
some, inside and outside the writ- cog in this wheel. It also lights up the way to new and
ing community to find out what is It's not all bleak. We know popular potentially unbounded freedom for writ-
the general consensus and why. movies act as bait for people to read the ers to do whatever they want with their
And here is some exciting news books they were based on but what about books.
on our upcoming literary maga- games, websites and other hoopla? Whether this will mean pressure, profit
zine. We are planning to bring out If new people read the book because of or pleasure remains to be seen. Like
our first edition in the next couple something they see on Pottermore, it says many good things in life, probably a bit
of months; its focus will be on joys interesting things about the reading cul- of everything. 
of reading.
As we stated before, the main
goal of bringing out this magazine
is to promote reading.
At JustBooks we believe, if we
can bring out the various facets of
our literary, publishing and print-
ing industry and people involved
in them, in form of interesting sto-
ries, feature articles, interviews,
etc. and put them together in a
magazine format; it might inspire
people to take up a book.
Lastly do tell us what you think
of this edition and don't forget to
send your contributions to our
newsletter.
You can avail the one month
reading-fee free offer if your con-
tribution gets published here.
Write to editor@justbooksclc.com.

3. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 3
Love in a Headscarf The Good Muslim
Shelina Zahra Janmohammed Tahmima Anam
Amaryllis Penguin
Pushpa Achanta Anindita Sengupta
I T
n her delectable, intriguing and can- here have been few books writ-
did first book, popular radio and tel- ten in English about the war
evision commentator, columnist and between Pakistan and
award winning blogger Shelina Zahra Bangladesh despite the intriguing
Janmohammed opens up herself to the politics and history of the country.
world. Tahmima Anam's second book deals
While tracing her prolonged quest for a with the aftermath of the war of 1974
suitable life partner, she reveals interest- when East Bengal gained its inde-
ing and humorous tidbits about herself, pendence and became Bangladesh.
her girlhood dreams of marrying John The Good Muslim unravels the
Travolta, her family, faith, interests and story of war but also of interpersonal
ambitions. conflict as Maya, the liberal idealist,
As the various attempts to select a hus- clashes with her brother Sohail who
band through their contacts do not bear fruit, Shelina and her has become a religious conservative.
friends attempt to find them through blind dates, matchmaking What emerges is an exploration of conflict, escapism and the
websites et al. dodgy lines of idealistic certainty.
And, from time to time, Janmohammed wonders if she is ask- There are many good reasons to argue with religious con-
ing for too much while her father wisely advises her to be a bit servatism. Maya does allude to some of them but she muddles
flexible. All is well when she finally meets and marries The One, along the rest of the time focusing on inconsequential or irra-
half unexpectedly. tional blaming.
While one may sometimes question if it is necessary to try so The language is eloquent in many places and some of the
hard to seek a mate, people would empathize with the author descriptions of wartime incidents both stark and affecting.
and enjoy and admire her frankness. Janmohammed manages to There are points though that the narrator's inherent dislike-
hold the attention of her readers by interspersing her personal ability distracts from the story. I had to struggle past my irri-
stories with various facts about Islam.  tation. Was it worth it? I suppose so. 
A Mercy Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits,
Toni Morrison Passion, and Purpose
Knopf Tony Hsieh
Business Plus
Anindita Sengupta Manjula Sundharam
F T
or the first time since her much- ony Hseih, shares his decisions,
acclaimed novel Beloved (1987), experiences and lessons while talk-
Toni Morrison returns to ing about profits, passion and pur-
America's past to examine its most pose of his life.
lasting stain: slavery. Set in the 1680s, Written in an autobiographical style,
A Mercy goes back further than its the book engages the readers with anec-
predecessor to a time when slave dotes and quotes.
trade was in its infancy. Jacob Vaark, Delivering Happiness is not just a ref-
an Anglo-Dutch trader, arrives at a erence book for the new hires at Zappos;
client's home to learn that the man it is an inspirational read for all aspiring
cannot return the money he owes business leaders.
Jacob. Instead, he offers him a slave Discussing his knowledge and views
from his retinue. Jacob has little use on the science of happiness, the author
for a teenage girl in too-large shoes but guided by different encourages businesses to make their customers and employees
kinds of mercy, he agrees and acquires Florens. When a free happier.
African blacksmith comes to the farm, she falls in love with He says happy customers and employees would help grow
him. And later, when her mistress falls ill, she is sent after him their businesses.
because he knows a cure. With his engaging narration, the author takes the readers
In the telling of Florens' story, Morrison illustrates the fragili- along on the roller coaster ride he had been through in business.
ty of all these lives, so helplessly flung about by forces beyond Entrepreneurs, Customer service executives and Human
their control. This tight novella packs into its pages enough Resource professionals would find Delivering Happiness an
love, reality and pathos to last a while. So the next time you inspiring read and the author leaves the reader with this inspir-
want to juice a lot of wisdom from an hour or two of reading, ing note: "Work towards maximizing the happiness of yourself and the
pick up A Mercy.  people you have relationships with." 
For the full reviews check out justbooksclc.com

4. 4 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
3 Novella’s
The Moment of Possibility
while her real passion for Oriya writing
The Artist of Disappearence especially the work of Suvarna Devi
moulders in the recesses of her soul.
Anita Desai Her chance encounter with a school
friend who runs a publishing house
Random House
launches her into translating Suvarna
Devi's short stories.
The success of the translation embold-
Geetanjali Singh Chanda ens her to cross the fine line between
translation and transcreation and ends in
disaster and a return to the monotony of
her previous existence. The final story
A
from whence the title — The Artist of
nita Desai's The Artist of
Disappearance is the story of Ravi who cre-
Disappearance comes some 7
ates a natural secret garden, a bower that
years after her last novel The Zig
is an artistic expression of his oneness
Zag Way. Desai is a leading name among
with nature. A bunch of activists — envi-
Indian writers in English and has been
ronmental film makers ruin this sanctu-
referred to as the Virginia Woolf of India
ary by "discovering" it and exposing it to
for her deeply psychological novels.
the public gaze. weary despair as he walks through the
Her exquisite writing style and delicate
In each of the stories in The Artist various rooms in the Mukherjee home
sensibility are evident from her first novel
of Disappearance recalls Tara's sense of claustrophobia
Cry, the Peacock to the latest The Artist
when she revisits their crumbling, ances-
of Disappearance and dozen or so in
tral Delhi-home, "where everything was
between. Desai has been
preserved here as if this were the storeroom
thrice short listed for the
of some dull, uninviting provincial muse-
Booker Prize and has won
um." Similarly the theme of the hierar-
other numerous prestigious
chies of languages that was so beauti-
awards. Her children's book
fully delineated in In Custody (which
The Village by the Sea
was also made into a film by Ismail
(1982), won the Guardian
Merchant) is re-examined in
Children's Fiction Award.
Translator Translated.
Currently Desai lives in the
Translator Translated is the most
United States and teaches cre-
evocative, complex and poignant
ative writing at the
story in this collection.
Massachusetts Institute of
It can be read as a story that cap-
Technology.
tures a moment of possibility in the
This collection of three novel-
otherwise dull life of the protago-
las or long short stories share the
nist Prema. It plays her along and
same elegiac and regretful tone,
then lets her fall back into a life
other than that they are not linked
that she describes as stretching
to each other. The first story The
out before her "like an empty,
Museum of Final Journeys recounts a
unlit road."
young government officer's strange
It can also be read as an ele-
encounter on his first posting in a
gant philosophical examina-
remote outpost. An old caretaker
tion of the privileging of
visits him to seek his help in main-
English writing and the lan-
taining an old house and family
guage itself over regional or
museum. A once wealthy land-own-
bhasa literatures. And finally
ing family gradually declines as first,
it demonstrates with empa-
the father dies and, then the young son
thy how easily a faithful
leaves his widowed mother to run the
translator can cross the line
place. He sends her cartons of a won-
from translation to transcre-
derful assortment of kitsch and collec-
ation.
tors' items from his journeys. Ultimately
it is possible to In Anita Desai's work, as she has noted,
the widow also abandons the home to
trace certain tropes or themes that survival is often heroism enough. One
live in Varanasi leaving the loyal caretak-
recur hauntingly and with some insis- does not therefore look for heroes in her
er to manage the house.
tence in Desai's other works. novels. But a Prema becomes a hero
The second story Translator Translated
The Museum of Final Journeys for because she is a survivor. However, all
recounts the story of Prema, a middle
instance vividly recalls The Clear Light three novellas leave one wondering if this
aged college teacher, who teaches canoni-
of Day. The young officer's sense of kind of survival is enough. 
cal English texts to her bored students

5. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 5
Re-invention
Is Management Education too important to be
left to Management Schools?
Rethinking the MBA S Another concern is about 'peer learn-
ing' and 'outside class learning' being
perceived by students as more significant
tanford offers compulsory courses at
three different levels to cater to stu-
dents with different levels of prior learn-
Srikant Datar, David A.Garvin, than classroom learning. Worse, the cur- ing and experience. This avoids students
and Patrick G. Cullen riculum changes being introduced seem wasting their time in their first year.
Harvard Business Publishing to support this view: 'Exchange pro- However, it raises the question whether
grams', 'Immersion' trips to foreign the 'core' requirements of an MBA is
shores, 'out bound ' programs outsourced merely a credit quota requirement. After
Dr. Rajagopalan to others etc. all, European Business Schools like
To be fair to the business schools, they INSEAD have been offering equally
are more vulnerable to criticisms from effective MBA programs of just 10
T
his book is based on research con- society. They are expected to fend for months! It is a well-known secret, at least
ducted in the centenary year of the themselves in raising resources. Unlike amongst Indian management schools,
Harvard Business School. It gives long established disciplines in physical that the second-year is a virtual washout
us a summary of impressions from a and social sciences, academics in profes- as far as classroom learning is concerned.
broader survey of opinion amongst In the U.S, they call it 'networking',
business leaders, academics and stu- 'internships', 'interviewing for jobs',
dents. 'global immersions' etc.
Six detailed case studies of the That raises the question of the relevance
changes being introduced in leading of Rethinking the MBA to the Indian
management schools in the USA and context. The need for periodic curriculum
Europe offer additional insights. revisions and innovations in manage-
There seems to be a decline in the ment education is clear. However, the
popularity of the two-year, full time regulator, All India council for Technical
MBA programs. Recruiters seem to education (AICTE), is a disaster stifling
value the selectivity of MBA pro- any innovation and differentiation. This
grams more than the value added by came out quite clearly in a conference
them. The business schools are being held recently to discuss the implications
forced to revamp their curricula and of this book for management education in
broaden their concerns beyond share- India. Like for politics, there is no legally
holders' profits, especially after the required education for becoming a
2008 financial crisis. manger. If so, why should the education
This book would be of immense for management be regulated? A large
interest to two types of audiences. number of participating institutions in
MBA aspirants would get a wealth of that conference described several innova-
useful insights from the six chapters tions they are trying out, in spite of
in Part 1 which can help them make AICTE and not because of it.
an informed choice. Academics in Intentions apart, availability of suitable
business schools can learn why and faculty is essential to sustain any reforms.
how they need to periodically renew The authors cite this as the major chal-
their curricula, pedagogy and lenge even in significantly better
research programs. endowed management schools in the
Some of the changes highlighted sound sional education like management are not USA and Europe, who are free from reg-
merely as old wine in a new bottle. It is a yet seen as rock stars amongst ulations. A more acute faculty shortage
long held view that education should tar- researchers and are still fighting for their looms over IIMs and other well-known
get improvements in knowledge, skills as place under the sun. management schools in India. Is a less
well as attitudes (KSA). This book calls it
knowing, doing and being. Nothing S ome of the management schools, like
Chicago Booth and Harvard, are
banking on economies of scale of large
ambitious reform agenda a more reason-
able immediate goal for management
education in India? Is an AICTE approval
much seems to have changed. Student
engagement in curricular activities comes class sizes to fund their activities. being used as a mere official fig-leaf by
only second, after hunting for jobs. The Introducing any change in such pro- fly by night educational entrepreneurs
grip of those rooting for the status quo, grams is a logistical nightmare. making a fast buck?
among the faculty, continues to thwart Something has to give in. In Chicago, Unlike business, it seems better if edu-
any fundamental redesign of the MBA. A both students and faculty enjoy a 'free cation has only one stakeholder to be
'you scratch my back, I will scratch yours' market', with very little compulsory com- served: the student. Are the management
attitude dominates the old as well as the ponents in the curriculum; Harvard has a schools ready for it? The same questions
revamped curricula. regimented first year and case pedagogy, have become relevant for engineering
Do whatever, as long as one's own never mind the heterogeneity amongst education too in India because of the
course or pedagogy can be kept as it is! entrants. dominance of IT recruiters. 

6. 6 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
In conversation
Has Indian writing come of age?
Pushpa Achanta awards are not the single defining bench- in their native languages, when they
mark, they certainly contribute to the could express themselves in multiple
popularity of a writer. tongues.
The term "Indian writing" general-
ly refers to the literary work of peo-
What the Booker prize did to the likes of
Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Kiran
Desai and Arvind Adiga is well known.
B ut to their credit, they are famous
across the country and the world
thanks to the rendition of their work in
ple who trace their ethnic origins to Of course, Vikram Seth may not have other languages by themselves or others.
our country or identify themselves received too many awards but he is "When one talks about Indian writing, one
with it. The primary subject of these among the most "sought after" interna- must consider publications in English and the
literary works is this land and any- tional Indian writers. And let's not forget vernacular medium including translations.
Amitav Ghosh, Rohiton Mistry, Many Indian languages have treasure troves
thing connected with it - people,
Ramachandra Guha and Jhumpa Lahiri. of literature", said Nandula Suseela Devi a
nature, traditions, politics, religions Telugu novelist, short story
et al. It includes contemporary and writer and social worker.
ancient works penned by Indians, in So how did these authors
English or any other Indian language. achieve so much fame and fan
With the global acceptance, recog- following? It is a combination of
nition and demand for Indian writers various factors such as the
of fiction and non-fiction especially appeal of the story or poem, the
in English; a flourishing local pub- speciality of the theme, unique-
ness of the presentation style, the
lishing industry and Indian authors
distinct characters etc. For
experimenting with digital releases - instance, R. K. Narayan grew
an interesting question arises. Not into a popular writer due to the
just amongst the literati but all of us. imaginary town of Malgudi he
Has Indian writing arrived on the created. Many readers believed
world stage? that this town actually existed!
It looks like it has, if you were to Vikram Seth is renowned for
believe me and some of the avid read- employing lyricism, wit and can-
ers and authors I know of. dour as seen in The Golden
Gate and A Suitable Boy.
In the case of Mahasweta Devi
Indian writers on the world (Hazar Chaurashir Maa or
map Mother of 1084) or Khushwant
Singh (Train to Pakistan) it is
A yesha Aleem, a journalist and winner the richness of the language and
of this year's Deccan Herald annual the poignancy of the subjects
short story contest says, "As a reader, I feel chosen.
that Indian writing in English has come of age Nowadays, fine marketing, an
in some sense. Becoming more comfortable attractive book cover or out-
with English, Indians use it to articulate their standing design and illustration
thoughts frankly.” increases a book's saleability.
She adds, “However, I've noticed that All these modern gimmicks
unless the author has lived overseas consider- require astute and experienced
ably, his or her account of Indian life is too literary agents, publishers and
rudimentary. Authors probably require that talented graphic artists.
external vantage point for a meaningful or "Indian writing would be won-
interesting perspective. For instance, derful if it were more sophisticated,
Maximum City by Suketu Mehta, Sonia vibrant, colourful, hearty and soul-
Faleiro's Beautiful Thing, Red Carpet by ful while remaining simple. The last
Lavanya Sankaran and Anand Girdhardas' makes it more enjoyable and is one
India Calling evince this thought. But the of its most striking qualities." adds
writers hardly seem Indian enough in the con- Aleem.
ventional sense as an extended period of time Writing by Indians has always
abroad can greatly affect one's sense of identi- been appreciated in places like
ty. So, as a reader, I'd like more "Indian Then there are legends such as Amrita Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Nepal due to
Indian" authors capture the spirit of the Pritam (Punjabi), Munshi Premchand shared histories, culture, geography,
Indian scene in a language that rises beyond (Hindi), Mahasweta Devi (Bengali), food, wildlife, etc.
basic." Kamala Das alias Madhavikutty And the presence of the Indian or South
Some believe that Indian writing in the (Malayalam), Sadat Hussain Manto Asian diaspora in various parts of the
vernacular medium came of age when (Urdu) and Kalki R Subramaniam (Tamil) globe enhanced the popularity of Indian
Tagore won the Nobel Prize. Though who have lived here and wrote primarily

7. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 7
(Oriya poems and translations),
writing. Literary festivals like the Rastrakavi Kuvempu, (Kannada
ones in Hay-on-Wye, Edinburgh plays and poetry) and Vijay
or in Jaipur and book fairs like Tendulkar (Marathi plays).
those of London and Frankfurt
that attract established foreign
novelists and large publishers
T hen there are internationally
established English authors
such as Anita Desai, Gita Mehta,
played a good part in showcas- A. K. Ramanujan, Ved Mehta
ing Indian authors and its litera- and V. S. Naipaul, who have
ture. also penned novels, poems and
These events continue to pro- works of non-fiction based on
mote Indian English and vernac- this country irrespective of
ular writings onto the global where they are.
stage. It is probably difficult to find a
On the other hand, reviews of writer with roots in India whose
Indian writings in reputed inter- work is not influenced by the
national literary publications country.
like the New York Review of In fact, the books of Ruskin
Books and The Times Literary Bond, Mark Tully and William
Supplement, is providing a Darlymple, who have chosen to
major boost to the demand and be in India, are often about this
credibility of Indian writing. land.
People who believe that
Indian writing is all about
Writing from India - Shobhaa De, Chetan Bhagat,
and the Rs. 99 per book "Metro
through the ages Reads" or the "chick-lits" that are
flooding the market are perhaps
not aware of the depth and vari-
M ulkraj Anand, Raja Rao
and R. K. Narayan are
often believed to be the initial
ety of works by Indian authors
and poets.
For vernacular writers, gain-
stalwarts of Indian writing in ing acceptance in other lan-
English. But before them were guages (Indian or foreign) is
Kalidasa (Sanskrit), Sant tough.
Tukaram (Marathi), Allasani But that is sometimes also
Peddanna (Telugu), true of English writing as it
Thiruvalluvar (Tamil) — all needs to be translated into other
renowned vernacular gurus of languages to increase its reach.
their respective times. Sunday Herald's book review-
Apart from the extraordinary er and regular contributor,
literature of these geniuses, their Melanie Priya Kumar sums up
lives, contemporaries, environ- aptly, "Indian writing in English
ment and influences are studied has certainly come of age since the
in India and abroad even today. themes are local and there is no
In the 20th and 21st century, longer any hesitation to speak of
Indian vernacular writers who issues that were earlier swept
won worldwide acclaim consist- under the carpet.
ed of people like Ishmat Chugtai The interesting thing is that
(Urdu novels, short stories and writers from the diaspora are also
essays), Volga (Telugu essays choosing India-related subjects.
and novels), Meena Kandasamy I think the country has always
(poetry, feminist and political had a strong base of regional fic-
writing in Tamil), K tion, which has been mature and
Satchidanandan (Malayali robust -there is no question of com-
poems, translations and literary ing of age here !” 
criticism), Sitakant Mohapatra

8. 8 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
Reader’s Reader’s contribution
Adventures on Uncle Ram’s farm
Voice Valli Kamath
adopts as a friend and pet. But he cannot
take Lakshmi back to the USA with him
on a plane, so he leaves her behind at
Uncle Ram's farm, promising to return
F
every year. Reuben's next round of
or Ram Halady, it all started as a
I
adventures brings him two more friends
am a real bookworm and my mom hobby. He began writing entertain-
- Ali, the crocodile and Moti, the dog. He
was finding it hard to keep buying ing stories for his nephews, Reuben
also discovers that these animals talk to
books (we have so many that my and Andrew. It was a happy revelation
children all the time. You only have to
mom would say that we will need more for him, that he could write short stories
listen! Reuben's older cousin Andrew,
bookshelves than wardrobes). I was for children. It also provided him with a
also visits the farm and together the
done with most of the books at home wonderful escape from his business and
cousins have other encounters with more
and was wishing for a good library. professional life. Although Ram relocat-
animals. With each adventure, they gain
Surprisingly JustBooks opened after the ed from India to Chicago almost 20 years
new friends and learn something along
first term holidays in the next street and ago, he carried with him fond, childhood
the way.
my mother, most willingly agreed to memories of visiting his uncle's farm.
become a member. In each of us, there lives a child who
Reuben's Adventures on Uncle Ram's
She wanted to try it first so we became longs to have adventures with unusual
Farm Book 2
a basic plan member and have been reg- pets, but safe within the circle
Cousins Reuben and
ularly using it. It not only has a wide of a protective and loving fami-
Andrew love to spend
collection of fiction but also has good ly. So Ram based his stories on
their long summer
quality non-fiction. It has helped me in a real family, at
vacations visiting their
my school projects to read them. The an imaginary
Uncle Ram's farm in
things I like about JustBooks are: farm in India.
India. This is their sec-
1. People are very friendly and help He put the chil-
ond visit to the farm
me select books. I am now allowed to go dren in charge
together and Reuben
all by myself to select books. of this world,
had loved the summer
2. We can borrow in any branch and assisted by ani-
he had spent there the
return in any branch of JustBooks. mals that could
year before. There were
There is one near my grandparents communicate,
so many things to do at
place; this has really been useful during especially with
the farm - so many
vacations. them.
places to explore in the
3. We don't have a last date for return, The success of
surrounding country-
so I can do my reading at my own pace Ram's first
side - and so many friends like
without my mom worrying about the attempt at writ-
Lakshmi,the elephant, and Moti, the
fine. ing and pub-
dog. There was also Ali, the crocodile.
4. I always look forward for the activi- lishing a collec-
And this time, Andrew had bought along
ties that they come up with. Once I par- tion of short stories for children,
his pet fish - Speedy. Through the hot
ticipated in a drawing competition and Reuben's Adventures on Uncle Ram's
summer days, the cousins meet different
even won a prize in that. Farm, led to a second book in the series.
animals in the course of their adventures
5. I can request for the books and they In these tales, Reuben and Andrew, visit
their uncle's farm in Bangalore, meet dif- and learn big and small things - about
get it promptly. The books here are
clean and free of dog-ears. ferent animals in the course of their the animals and about themselves.
JustBooks is an amazing library and I adventures - and learn small and big Valli, an avid reader, is a member of
hope to be its member always. things along the way. JustBooks Frazer Town. Reading this
series of books created a special world
Sahana S, 13 years Reuben's Adventures on Uncle Ram's which took her back to her childhood
Malleshwaram  Farm days. She wanted to share her delight-
When five-year-old Reuben visits his ful experience with those who enjoy
Uncle Ram's farm near Bangalore, in reading books. "Thank you, JustBooks,
India, he has a small adventure and for the extensive collection of books
meets Lakshmi, the elephant, whom he that brings such joy to all book lovers."
she says.

9. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 9
Reader’s contribution
The life and love of Kamala Das
The Love Queen of Malabar :
Memoir of a Friendship with
Kamala Das
Merrily Weisbord
McGill-Queen's University
Press/Research Press
Arati Koppar
Merrily Weisbord is the perfect instru- for love, like "alms looking for a begging
ment, encapsulating in lyrical prose the bowl."
many moods of this brilliant, yet much- Although Das's writing is now pre-
misunderstood writer. scribed reading at universities in India
Using lines from Das's poems to accen- and abroad, this book is a must-read for
tuate her writing, this memoir is as much those seeking deeper insights into what
a freewheeling conversation about the made Das who she was, and most
perils of being woman, as a tribute to importantly, what made her write what
surviving the same. she wrote.
Weisbord is an accomplished writer, Das's life, as she so candidly revealed
"My Hindu relatives and friends keep a and has won many accolades interna- in My Story, her autobiography from
distance from me. They wish to turn me into tionally. Yet in the interviews that ensue 1988, provided ample fodder for the sen-
a social outcast. My sister visited me twice between the two so-different-yet so-simi- sationalist tabloids when it was first pub-
but wept all the time. I cannot visit my old lar women, Weisbord offers Das the lished. It was they who labeled her 'The
mother. Otherwise life is exciting…" spotlight, and Das obliges with her Love Queen of Malabar.'
R
charismatic presence that seeps through But, the memoir is a compassionate
eferring to her conversion to the pages of the book. look at Das, the abused woman who
Islam, Kamala Das wrote these The memoir begins when Das was served her sick husband until his death;
words in a letter to Merrily widowed and continues till her death it is a gentle re-telling of betrayal; it is
Weisbord, the author of The Love three years ago. also a candid account of sexuality, and
Queen of Malabar : Memoir of a Along this eventful journey, the two Das's quasi-erotic verse.
Friendship with Kamala Das. Das's tor- women reexamine their own under- All said and done, Love is the one ele-
rid encounter with organized religion is standing of what constitutes woman- ment that holds the book together; Love
just one of the many delicate issues that hood. between man and woman, Love between
Weisbord boldly deals with, in what can Weisbord simultaneously encounters mother and daughter, Love between two
safely be called, a biography of Kamala the turbulent writer in Das, and the frag- soul sisters whose paths cross to result in
Das. ile, sensitive soul that speaks of looking deep, cathartic expression.
Provocative in content and evocative in This is a fascinating look at what
its style, The Love Queen of Malabar “The memoir is a compas- makes women, and writers, and women
effectively captures the spirit of perhaps, writers tick. Read it. For love's sake.
India's most controversial writer. Das's sionate look at Das, the
words flow through this book like gentle abused woman who served her Arati Koppar, a JustBooks member
wind passing through a hollow bamboo. sick husband until his death; of Vijayanagar branch, is a German
Sometimes the music is bittersweet, as Language Trainer.
Kamala speaks about the status of wid- it is a gentle re-telling of Having lived in Germany, she is
ows in India. betrayal; it is also a candid Bangalore-based now. A qualified
Sometimes it's soft and lingering, as account of sexuality, and journalist, she has also been a
she speaks of love and its many manifes-
tations. But never is it discordant. Das's quasi-erotic verse. “ German-speaking Tour Guide. 

10. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 10
1. What is the full name of 4. What is the spell to light the end of a wand?
Professor Dumbledore? Lumos
Albus Peter Wilbur Brian Accio
Dumbledore Confringo
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian
Dumbledore 5. Name the 3 magical schools participating in the Triwizard
Albus Peter Wulfric Brendan Tournament.
Dumbledore  Hogwarts, Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts,
Durmstrang
2. What is the number of the Gringotts vault in which the  Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang
Philosopher's Stone was kept? Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Wizarding Academy of
713 Dramatic Arts
317
173
3. Half horse, half eagle. Name the
creature.
Blast-ended Skrewt
Thestral
Hippogriff
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, 713, Hippogriff, Lumos, Hogwarts; Beauxbatons and Durmstrang
JUSTBOOKS JustBooks Founder involved in a
shooting!
TOP 5
B
efore you go into a fit of curiosity, let us clarify that JustBooks
Founder, R. Sundar Rajan was shot for an episode of CNBC's
N EW A RRIVALS popular television programme, 'Young Turks' at our
1. Aleph by Paulo Coelho Marathahalli office.
2. Crescent Dawn by ‘Young Turks’ puts the spotlight on young entrepreneurs poised to
Clive Cussler be tomorrow's leaders. The show traces their journey from who they
3. The Beautiful And The were to who they have become.
Damned by Siddhartha ‘Young Turks’ has been awarded the Best Business Talk Show
Deb Award twice at the News Television Awards, has been recognised
4. As I See It by Lal by the Villgro foundation and also conferred the Karmaveer
Krishna Advani Puraskar for Citizen Action.
5. Unusual People Do Things Hosted by the popular anchor, Shereen Bhan, the show has com-
Differently by T.G.C. Prasad pleted over 350 episodes featuring over almost 800 young and
dynamic entrepreneurs.
R ECOMMENDED
1. The Girl In The Garden
by Kamala Nair
2. Netherland by Joseph
O'Neill
3. No God In Sight by Altaf
Tyrewala
4. The Women Of The Mahabharata
by Chaturvedi Badrinath
5. India Calling by Anand
Giridhardas
R ENTALS
1. Only Time Will Tell by
Jeffery Archer
2. The Secret Of The Nagas by
Amish Tripathi
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Book
3) by Jeff Kinney
4. The Kane Chronicles (Book
2) by Rick Riordan
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Book 2, 4, 5)
by Jeff Kinney From JustBooks blog - http://blog.justbooksclc.com 

11. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 11
Book Launch
If you follow all the rules, you will miss all
the fun
and remembered
Sapana Rawat her as a studious,
dedicated and fun
loving student.
B
ased on friendship, fun, freedom, Geetanjali read
faith, and fashion, Geetanjali Jha her favorite para-
launched her debut novel titled F graph from the
Factor in Reliance TimeOut, book and answered
Cunningham Road last month. a variety of ques-
Geetanjali Jha is a member of tions from the
JustBooks, Koramangala. The young 25- audience pertain-
year old residing in Bangalore was born ing to her book.
in Jharkhand. She completed her four- She wrapped the
year course in NIFT, Kolkata. Geetanjali event by signing
always loved writing and decided to the books for the
write a college memoir in form of F audience.
Factor. She sent a couple of chapters to Addressing the
Leadstart publishers, who readily agreed audience Geetanjali
to publish her first book. Jha, said, "The book
Apart from writing and reading, makes for an interest-
Geetanjali Jha with her NIFT teacher Mrs. Shubholaxmi Krope
Geetanjali loves cooking,
photography and travel-
ling and is currently Book Excerpt:
working on her second
“
book titled Trajectory -
If you follow all the rules, you
Path To Oneself. She is
will miss all the fun. This was
a Visual Merchandiser
the first thing which caught my
by profession.
eyes when I entered room number
F Factor aims to con-
twenty four, which was my address
nect to all the college-
for next four years. I tried to have a
goers, graduates and
better look.
those who are yet to go
A computer with speakers every-
to college.
where was kept on table. Posters of
The fun-frolic move-
Archies and a mood board with
ment is based on friend-
graphics, designs and silhouettes, and
ship of the protagonist
one picture board covered the walls.
Ojal with her fab four
There were pictures of five school
friends - Max, a straight
girls in white shirts and coffee col-
forward, practical, any-
ored skirts, one picture of mother and
thing-for-friends type of
daughter in Darjeeling, one picture of
guy; Karan, a kool,
a smart girl with smarter Aditi
kalkulative, no-nonsense
Govitrikar, one picture of NIFT
type of guy; Stuti, a girl
entrance with logo prominently shin-
who is NIFTian in every
ing in back drop.
sense and Ojal's first love
I noticed that there was no picture of
Sam.
Daddy and daughter. This was the
Along with them are
start of my journey to be a NIFTian
the faculties, fest, fashion
and belong to that place.
shows, family, future
Will a simple, small town girl adapt
dreams, campus, fights,
herself to the big, bad, glamorous and
and their journey in overcoming every- ing read for all those who believe in living
glittering world of Fashion? Will this
thing to achieve their dreams and dis- each and every moment to the fullest. I am
studious girl successfully match up to
cover themselves. sure many of the readers will be able to relate
the limelight of the Fashion industry?
Reliance TimeOut organised an exclu- to Ojal, the main protagonist in the book."
Haunting questions, but only was to
sive launch of F Factor. The event start- "This is one of the proudest moments of
be answered by future. ”
ed with Geetanjali's friend and colleague my life and thanks to everyone who has been
Sneha introducing the author, and show- a part of this beautiful journey," she con-
ing of a video on story of F Factor. cluded.
The book was then unwrapped by her F Factor is available across all Reliance For more information on book and
NIFT teacher Mrs. Shubholaxmi Krope, TimeOut stores and priced at Rs. 250. author: http://www.facebook.com/
who was all praise for the young author pages/Ffactordbuk/163190093694051 

12. 12 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
Musings
Your own home library
Ram Mohan Susarla Flipkart and Infibeam type online book does not happen overnight or even in
stores will help. weeks.
Acquiring rare titles and out of print Instead, one needs to start slow, gather
books for the collection requires patience the titles patiently and then continue the
H
aving a home library full of and effort. process at length.
one's favourite titles is indeed a Since many out of print books are It would be advisable to keep looking
boon for many. There is this lux- available in the nooks and corners of out for books to buy whenever one is
ury of picking up any book from the col- bookstores that specialise in these kinds out either shopping, relaxing or travel-
lection as and when the mood strikes of books, a visit to such stores is a must ling.
and reading that book at leisure. as well as spending enough time there to Bibliophiles would attest to the quest
The joy of owning books of one's browse their collections. for collecting books that is almost an
favourite authors and on topics that are In Bangalore, there are dedicated ingrained and subconscious trait for
close to one's heart is indescribable. bookstores like Select, Bookworm, them.
Given these benefits, it is only natural to Blossoms and English Edition catering One of the most important points to
ask: How does one start his or her own out of print and used books, these can note when one is building a home
home library? be the treasure trove of books for a library is to keep track of the books
To start with, one bought and have an
needs to have a fair inventory.
idea of what books one Building a library is
wants in the library. one thing and main-
This is easier said taining is another.
than done as the mind- So, even if one has
boggling array of titles succeeded in collect-
and the sheer variety of ing a large number of
topics that are available titles, care has to be
in the market means taken to not lose the
that one needs to pick books.
and choose. Have a safe storage
Given the fact that place for the books
publishing all over the which will ensure that
world has taken off in a the books will not fall
big way in recent years, prey to termites or
there is no dearth of become damp and
titles. dog-eared.
So better to first pre- Considering that
pare a list of topics and many of the collec-
authors whose books tions would be com-
one would like to have posed of used books,
in the library. which have changed
Rushing to pick up hands, it is necessary
all the available titles to take steps to pre-
by a single author is not advisable, as home library. vent their decay.
many bibliophiles will vouch that once In other metros, one can consider Finally, building a home library is a
done with a book by a particular author, going to: Luz (Chennai), Park Street time consuming yet fulfilling process.
the subsequent books of the same author (Kolkata), RK Puram (Delhi), Dadar The reward of seeing the books neatly
might not really appeal to our tastes the (Mumbai) and Abids ( Hyderabad). lined up on one's bookshelf and the joy
way the first or the second book by that The art of collecting books and build- of reading them whenever one desires is
author did. ing a home library is something that something to be savoured.
Hence once gotten used to a par- The feel of leafing through cover
ticular writing style, having more to cover is something that needs to
books by the same author would be be experienced.
repetitive and trite. Of course, this “Building a home library is a Whether it's a novice starting out
caveat does not extend to those time consuming yet fulfilling or a seasoned book collector, every
"paperback kings and queens" who process. The reward of seeing the new addition to a home library is a
never fail to excite us even if one is pleasure and hence, to all those
reading the nth title published by books neatly lined up on one's aspiring bibliophiles who want to
them. bookshelf and the joy of reading build their home library, the advice
The next step would be to devise a them whenever one desires is is that do not get bogged down by
strategy for procuring the books. the numbers and just collect books
Visiting the famous book shops of something to be savoured. “ for books sake. 
the area, or ordering through

13. JustBooks Connect - October 2011 13
Venturing out
Finding his true love
Sapana Rawat ations and issues and ofcourse our mem- simply loved the new collection in the
bers have been very understanding. branch and got their friends to join too. I
guess everybody was happy to see a
This time we met and talked to Mr. Why and how did this franchise option clean, airy, big space filled with books to
Subhash Bhushan, head of the tech- happen? the brim, contrary to the "garage"
nology department of Strata Retail Sundar had ingrained this thought in libraries they have been to earlier. Most
and franchise owner of JustBooks me that people who believe in a concept, were also thrilled to see the technology
should show their commitment by enablement in library space that enabled
Indiranagar. Subhash is also a regu-
investing in it. It so happened that them to quickly issue and return books
lar contributor to JustBooks Connect. Indiranagar area was available at the without the hassle of waiting in long
time I came in, and as luck would have it, queues.
Tell us a little bit about yourself . I found a real good property. I must also
I am a member, a franchisee and an say, deep down inside, my love for books What do you think will be a great addi-
employee of JustBooks. Born, brought up, probably inspired me to take the risk. tion in terms of value to your existing
studied and now working in members?
Bangalore. I have spent a good We have a huge collection of
part of my childhood loafing 12,000 books, which gets replen-
around areas close to my ished every month with latest
home and school, searching releases and newer copies. While
for libraries. No sooner would that happens, we need to bring in
I find one, when it would be more clarity in our classification
time to move on as I would and search mechanisms. I am
have read all the books in also looking out at options of set-
there! ting up a coffee shop or juice bar
I can be called a bookaholic close to the library.
and given a chance, I would
love to laze around at home on How much of your time
a couch, with a book. I am also do you spend at the
a techie for whom music is an JustBooks outlet per-
integral part of his life and so sonally? How reward-
is travelling. ing is the experience of
JustBooks also helped me interacting with your
find my true love! My wife members?
Sumedha, used to handle Initially I used to
Indiranagar franchise when we started in operate out of
2009. She will don the role of a franchisee Indiranagar branch. But
soon, and she has been gearing up excit- now handling
edly for it. Technology depart-
ment at Strata makes it
What were you doing before joining very difficult for me to
JustBooks as an employee? spend time with my
I joined Strata (or just JustBooks then) own franchise. A capa-
in July 2009 after doing stints at i-flex ble team goes far in
(now known as Oracle Financial Services) Indiranagar started its operations on 16th maintaining a branch in good condition
and Logica CMG. Sundar Rajan, my col- Sep, 2009. and I have always aimed at getting the
league and founder at JustBooks, used to right people in. I still keep in touch with
be my boss at i-flex. How has been the customer response to our first members, but my interactions
JustBooks as a concept & your library, in with new members have reduced drasti-
How has your experience been on work- particular? cally. Though I make sure they are heard
ing full time and taking care of the fran- In general, customers love the concept when they have any issue.
chise? of JustBooks. And my branch was the one
JustBooks Indiranagar has 2400 mem- of the initial ones, 4th to be precise, so What is your advice to book lovers who
bers and its still growing. Handling this most of the customers who came in had would like to turn entrepreneurs through
kind of scale is difficult, especially while not experienced anything like this. They JustBooks?
working full time. When the branch was were delighted to see a nice modern If you love reading and you have
being setup, I had to do a lot of running library in their neighborhood. Many of grown up reading, you already know
around and we faced many challenging them were just glad they did not have to how deeply knowledge influences peo-
moments. Some capable staff members at buy books anymore etc. But many more ple. If you want to play a role in shaping
the branch helped it grow steadily in its had felt the need for a community place people's lives and influence a generation,
earlier days and managed everyday oper- where readers could just chill. Children JustBooks is one solid avenue. 

14. 14 JustBooks Connect - October 2011
Just Kids
The Ruby in the Smoke The Rajah's ruby naturally is the centre tasies like His Dark Materials to quaint
of attention though only to Sally and Chinese tales like The Firework Maker's
someone else. Daughter. He used to be an English
Philip Pullman In one of the most desolate areas of teacher, but is also a notable science
Age group: 16+ years London, this someone else in the form of buff, which can be seen in His Dark
Pages: 230 an incredibly sinister old woman wants Materials trilogy.
Laurel leaf books the ruby so badly that she is prepared to It is quite commendable that Philip
do anything, even things beyond mur- Pullman managed to script this story in
der to lay her hands on it. Will Sally a way which closely resembles the writ-
manage to survive the encounter? ing style of the 1850s. Conventional sto-
Jayanthi Harsha Read on to find out what actually hap- ries these days rely on astral characters
pens! and improbable events.
This book was first published in But this novel, typical of the 1850 style
L
ong ago, in medieval India there of writing makes simple things look
was a great Rajah who had in his meaningful like Sally's ability to use a
possession a ruby of incalculable gun is seen as remarkable. Romance is
value. It was said to have destroyed also simplified without many complica-
more lives than any other precious tions.
stone, even the Kohinoor. The flaws in this story are relatively
The Rajah, however guarded the minor, the only thing of concern is the
stone well and it stayed safe for years, violence involved. The opium trade
until a fateful event —the 1857 seopy plot of the story is not exploited to its
munity — led to the his murder and fullest potential. But these flaws pale in
the stone's disappearance. significance, seeing the way Pullman
This story is about sixteen year old portrayed the main villain, the old
Sally Lockhart. It begins with the news woman, Mrs. Holland. She has a pow-
of her father's death in a shipwreck. erful sinister aura about her, which
Sally suspects that there is more to her makes even the most courageous reader
father's death after she receives a mys- fear her.
terious note, talking about the 'Seven Overall this book is an incredible
Blessings'. read, filled with tense situations involv-
These 'Seven Blessings' turn out to be ing conflicts between the main charac-
fatal - leading to the death of one of ters. The reader feels a constant sense of
her father's friends after it was men- apprehension; as the story is told from
tioned. Soon after, Sally finds herself both Mrs. Holland and Sally's point of
entwined in a much greater mystery of view and these two central characters
deeper proportions than she had expect- appear to draw closer with every pass-
ed, involving several people of all walks September 2002 and later re-published ing page towards a final conflict. The
of life. in June 2004. author successfully manages to bring
It brings to light the state of things in The author, Philip Pullman is a highly about an ending which the reader could-
the Victorian era - the complex criminal experienced, versatile author who has n't have professed beforehand. That is
system there, betrayals made readily for written stories of all types throughout what makes the story all the more cred-
money, and the dangerous opium trade. his career, ranging from magical fan- itable. 
JustBooks Picks for Young Readers
Rangoli by Anuradha Ananth Monkey Magic by Grant S. Clark How The Whale Became by Ted
Hughes
A Twist In The Tale by Aditi De Lord Ganesha's Feast Of Laughter by
Meera Uberoi Jatayu by Anu Kumar
Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson
& Axel Scheffler The Yellow Bird by Lila Majumdar, The Keys To The Kingdom: Lord
Trans. by Kamala Chatterjee Sunday by Garth Nix