Can't Wait To Get To Heaven

Ooh, I chuckled over this book. Smiled through its words. And felt deliciously happy reading it. A small slice of reading heaven is what Fannie Flagg's Can't Wait To Get To Heaven offers.

Those who have read Fannie Flagg's bestseller - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - was an instant bestseller. I love the rich, warm, humor in Flagg's writings. It's such a rich tapestry of life - her books are peopled with ordinary characters, no extraordinary heroes or heroines for her.

Elner Shimfissle is as lovable a character as any I have come across. Curious at the world, charming with her neighbors, and kind as a Labrador to all. Of all people, she also seems just the right person to take a trip up to heaven, and have a tete tete with two "supreme beings," one a woman who makes her wonderful cakes, which she carries in her apron all the way back to earth!

In between, Flagg throws in thoughts about life, death, its meaning, and the world and the many problems we create so unfailingly in the lightest, most conversational tone you can find. I finished the book in 2 days, and that was an achievement, considering that most of the books I seem to pick up these days make me drag through the pages for weeks. I am not stopping with Flagg - my bookshelf will feature every one of her novels, if I can. They are not classics, but who cares? Book reading need not be all drama and seriousness. Fun...don't look further than Flagg.

Video: Trailer of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Last Seen in Lhasa

The recent protests in Burma brought to the fore the issue of marginalization of cultures and the oppression of a race. Tibet too is once again in the news with the Dalai Lama's tete tete with Bush in the US. Last Seen In Lhasa : The story of an extraordinary friendship in modern Tibet is an engaging glimpse into a dying culture - yet at the same time it transcends its theme of discovery of Tibet through travel - at its deepest core the book remains spiritual.

Claire Scobie weaves a brilliant narrative thread - her seven passages through Tibet's heartland captures beautifully its changing landscape. As a journalist, she finds herself plucked from hep London to one of the most obscure places on earth - Pemako. The search: an almost mystical red lily, an eponymous symbol for her own search for that BIG question - the meaning of it all.

Through the course of it, Claire finds herself drawn to a Tibetan nun - Ani. In a way, the book is as much Ani's story as it is Claire's. Ani's peace and her wonderful capacity to find the joy in life lights up the book.

Last Seen In Lhasa is a story of courage; of truth; of despair; and drawing one's own path.

It is a also book that made me wonder if Tibet's fight to reclaim itself may already be a lost one. It is heavy reading for sure - not the sort of "let me read it while having chocolate and coffee" kind of book.

But gripping. Absorbing. And very very special.

Scarlett

Men fall for her like flies. Women look at her with pure unabashed envy. Society regards her as a sinful one. She is Scarlett O'Hara and she is back with more chutzpah in the sequel to the worldwide favourite Gone with the Wind. Although not much acclaimed, Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley does not quiver with lack of intensity or passion. She explores a Scarlett who is mature and sensuous with the flush of womanhood. Ripley traces the growth of Scarlett the fiery girl to Scarlett the lady who has realized her self. The reader gets lost in her struggle with her love for Rhett and her despair in being unable to reach out to him. And in her epiphany of understanding what love is all about.

Most readers will pick up the book to know what happened to Rhett and Scarlett. But as one makes progress the question takes a backseat in front of Scarlett's passionate self, sweeping the reader along through her fortunes and misfortunes. Most of all the book is a fascinating picture of the psychological ups and downs of a soul who has to battle myriad emotions of love, yearning and pride. Although the book is a good read, the ending leaves much to be desired. After a racy read it comes to an end with definite soppy predictability. However, its a good book to pick up just for Scarlett.

This review weighs the pros and cons of Scarlett.

Amazon has some good thoughts.