Somewhat Original

Dan Brown has been my favourite since The Da Vinci Code. (obvio!) As I have mentioned earlier, I have read all of his novels - including The Lost Symbol and Inferno (which I haven't mentioned in my past posts), but, I found his latest novel Origin, much better than the last two.

After Inferno, I had got rather bored of Dan Brown's style as he was being stereotyped. Lost Symbol and Inferno both were a slight change of storyline with series of similar events happening with Langdon. Origin, however, is little more different than just that.

  

Langdon enters the story rather late and in some not-so-dramatic way. This probably is the first Robert Langdon adventure where I was more curious about what Langdon is gonna do than what happens to him, where I was more anxious about other people than Langdon himself. Robert Langdon is not the center of the universe for Origin.

I think, after a certain point, DB tries desperately to put the focus back on Langdon, but by then we already become far more curious about whether and how he completes the mission or not; than whether he is alive or not! (that's not very humane, you know?!) Origin has a storyline that is less about symbology and church than any Langdon books so far; the novel revolves more around science and 'today' than church and history. This reminds me, that the Digital Fortress also was a science fiction and even the Inferno was a sci-fi dressed-in-symbology package but Origin has much less technical details than any of them and more about the utility of technology. This part is really much more fascinating than having to go through all those terms which we don't understand about science, art, technology, symbology, church, etc., that is at the heart of DB books.

Like all the DB books, the story of Origin also has multiple storylines going on at the same time. All the storylines are equally interesting and as a natural spellbinder, DB has once again managed well to hold us and keep us intrigued. All the characters behave non-melodramatically and don't stretch it to test readers' patience. But unlike this book, in rest of all DB books, the stories come together in the end -rather naturally, whereas in Origin they feel like being pressed together in the end. 

And last but not the least, Origin has a really lame ending. All the fuss about a great scientific discovery and the actual discovery proves to be absolutely charmless, a story-told-too-many-times science fiction. All about Artificial Intelligence seems far more breathtaking in the book when it comes down to euthanasia, rather than the big bang scientific discovery; and in that regard, the title of the novel appears rather missing-the-point. (wrong is the word!)

Long story short, I'd say, Origin is like that famous saying - "the journey is what brings us happiness, and not the destination." So, enjoy the reading journey with Origin but don't expect anything from the destination.

A Mountain-top

I love some accidents. They take me to some of the most amazing things I could experience. Recently in such an accident during some late-night channel-surfing I came to watch a beautiful movie called "Brokeback Mountain".

I love watching action movies, suspense-thrillers, (rarely horrors), fi and sci-fi, rom-coms (or romedy), drama (without melodrama); in-short all sorta movies and yet as per my observation I almost always pref watching action-fictions. (Marvel superheroes are favourites!). Despite all this, after a somewhat hectic day, and bit of surfing, I chose a ten-year old (2005 release) "Brokeback Mountain" over "the walk among tombstones" (mwah.. Liam Neeson!) by just checking the critic reviews and ratings. Actually, in my honest opinion, critic reviews usually reflect how boring a non-action movie could be - higher the ratings and reviews better the 'critically' important things but more (could be) the boredome (I'm just a viewer, people! No critic!)

Well, but despite of critic ratings, what more made me choose the Mountain, was one of my beloved actors "Heath Ledger". Just as he appeared on the screen, he won it over Liam Neeson almost immediately; and "Brokeback Mountain" is totally worth it.

I noticed "Based on" in the end credits and off course, I read the book the very next day. Anna Proulx's 1999 published short-story by the same name, was easy to find online and beauteous to read; and reminded me the entire time, of shots and dialogues from the movie. Movie poster is deliberately adapted from "Titanic" and it's totally symbolic just as many aspects of the story - though, easily comprehensible. Watching the movie is pleasant both on eyes and mind. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal (and others) stand absolutely true to the expectations (by the story and by me.. haha) or better. But above all (being a hardcore book-lover), never before have I seen a book adaptation to motion picture so line-to-line or so splendid. (Well, I just read that it received the Oscar for this - Best Book Adaptation!)

   

Two ranch hands - Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist - meet for sheep herding on the Brokeback Mountain in summer of 1963. They develop a sexual and romantic friendship there and set on their separate ways after spending that summer together. They make contact again only after four years during which each of them has got married and has kids. But with the contact initiated, they realize how much they've missed each other and what they mean to each other.

When they meet first none of them's gay, and yet, when they meet again they know they'll do anything to preserve their relationship. That they've found long-yearned love only with each other. It's a story to make us aware that, gay or not, what matters (or did - back in 60s and 70s) to people is love, a special understanding which makes them want to stick together. While giving brief account of their personas - Jack, bit inclined towards careless and passionate whereas Ennis, introverted, deep within longing for Jack's warm love and understanding; story is a smooth ride along the emotions of characters, getting us involved, captivating, making us want to know what happened next - over the span of twenty years (and all that without an action-sequence!).

However, Brokeback Mountain also sheds light on the situation of gay people back in 1960s, 70s and 80s. Now, in the 21st century, it's much easy to accept someone's love for another person of the same sex but back then, Ennis is scared for their lives and shaken when his fears come true.

It doesn't have the adrenaline rush and action and sense of leaving-u-blownoff, but rather like a soft touch creating slightest ripples in your mind. Movie's something you'll miss big time, if not watched and a mere 30 pages short-story helped me understand the expressions better, at a point or two. It said in a movie review (which I read much later), "A film in which love feels as if it were being invented. It's also a rare crowd-pleaser with the potential to change hearts and minds." I thought it couldn't be put a better way.

It's said that a visit to mountains cleanses and calms your mind. 'Brokeback Mountain' has become my new mountaintop.

From Idris, With Love #03

# And with attachments from LA, Alicante and around the World

After roaming around Idris and the rest of the Shadowhunter universe for so long, it was rather obvious to get my hands on ‘the Lady Midnight’ (the Dark Artifices Series #01), ‘the Bane Chronicles’ and ‘the Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy’.

Sadly, after the IDs culminating like that, I found everything else a shade or two to the dull side.

‘Lady Midnight’ is good one-time-read even for fantasy’s sake and to know what happened next to our got-so-beloved Shadowhunter universe after MIs; whereas ‘Bane Chronicles’ stand to tell the historic background (almost up-to MI) for Shadow-world (making a reason of all-time hottie Magnus).

I almost fell in love with Magnus’s Charm after the Chronicles (but, though a hottie, he’s rather too old for me!). Chronicles soothe the itchy intrigues about the practically spell-binding warlock, though they’re not meant to satisfy at any point; keeping the character still equally charming.

The Tales too, open up and point at so many shadowy-secrets’ existence, keeping it engaging otherwise, except some parts like the ‘parabatai chapter’ seem to be a fantasy-overdose. Shadow-History and Simon go parallel and in a gripping way. Somehow, I felt the Tales to be more or less like a magazine (or newsletters) that brings the news of (my newly-beloved characters of) Shadow-world post-MIs.

Importantly, somehow these books (referring all of eleven ‘Chronicles’ as a single book and all the ‘Tales’ as the other) don’t accurately keep up with shadow-timeline. The Lady Midnight also gets timeline-sloppy at occasions. Now, I understand, reader is supposed to keep the brain on flight-mode while reading fantasy; but such easily avoidable errors might spoil it for you a bit by getting you confused. (P.S. thus, you won’t be able to top in Shadow-World-History Class).

But in all, I loved Cassandra Clare’s style and her imagination. I’d say it for sure that she has her own way of storytelling. She has created a nice, intermingled universe, with shadow-world exclusive places like Idris (the Nephilim Country), Silent City, Adamant Citadel, Spiral Labyrinth, Brocelind  Plains and Forest (sounds like Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, right?), which is rather amusing though not fascinating. 

However unfair it seems but I could not help comparing Harry Potter with the Shadowhunter Series (as I call them all-in-one) which includes:

The Mortal Instrument Series (6 novels)

The Infernal Devices Series(3 novels)

The Bane Chronicles (Short-story collection)

The Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (Short-story collection)

The Dark Artfices Series (still to get completed)

And I am yet to read ‘the Shadowhunter Codex’ which apparently the textbook for being a Nephilim (- if I choose to be one - which means, now u know why I haven’t read it yet).

Even without the creation of vast and meticulous parallel universe; with engrossing and continuous storytelling Cassandra Clare could possibly be the next J. K. Rowling. But unlike HP, where magic-world mostly prefers isolation from muggle-world, Shadowhunter Universe mingles with the mundane world rather amiably.

From Idris, With Love #02

# And with Infernal Devices

After finishing Mortal Instruments Series I was practically bookless for a day with my leisure time thoughts occupied by Shadowhunter universe and their motto ‘all the stories are true’. In that whim, I googled for Cassandra Clare books and found out her publications, in sequence. ‘Infernal Devices’ is her next complete series.

The Clockwork Angel

The Clockwork Prince

The Clockwork Princess

I read the three-book series again in continuity, and found it really better than the Mortal Instruments.

Infernal Devices are much more riveting than Mortal Instruments with characters introduced and taken away with every book (and not just in one), lead characters behaving in what we call as makes-sense ways and above all, drama packed and maintained without melodrama (which I had actually anticipated at higher scale because of the Victorian timeline chosen for the story). Funnily enough, I was expecting use of mobile phones (and having my expectations failed every time - haha) at the beginning and it took me a bit of time getting used to the story timeline and location. But once gotten it correctly, I was absolutely held by the Devices.

Capturing from the very first step, Infernal Devices start with a murder discovered in an alley and end with a happy twist, not losing the grip throughout. Story of Tessa Gray, James Carstairs and William Herondale is a prequel to the ‘Mortal Instruments’ Series revealing so many secret corners of the latter. The series revolves warmly around these three while holding tight hands with Jessamine, Nate, Charlotte, Henry, Sophie, Gideon, Gabrielle, Cecily and Magnus.

This series explained to me the Nephilim Concept of ‘Parabatai’ as I later thought it should’ve been in MIs itself. Inevitable part of emotional tangle is bit more yet much gracefully handled in this series as compared to MI (not-taking-into-account Will’s sometimes-overpowering martyr-fever).

But regarding that, I must mention, YAs of the IDs behave at a rather different maturity level than the MIs YAs. I assumed it’s because of the generation gap between the two. The restrictions that mundane and Nephilim society put back then were subtly pointed out in almost everywhere starting from everyday wear for ladies to the weapons they can carry. Progress of Nephilim community, which again highlights the different era, is carefully indicated by Shadowhunter gears, things such as under-development Portal-Tech and their refusal to get along with downworlders at ease – even after the accords.

Well, what’s more to say? After completing the two series, I recommended IDs first, to my fantasy-lover friends, and not just for the sake of chronology. (wink!)

From Idris, With Love #01

#And with Mortal Instruments

I didn’t use to like YA (the Young-Adult literature) much, some time back. (In-fact, depending on the storyline I was on the hate-it Que). Then one not-so-differently-fine day, I came across a movie ‘the mortal instruments - city of bones’. The movie said to be adapted from the book with same title by author Cassandra Clare; and the movie sucked as much as any book adaptation could possibly suck; but it got me intrigued about the book.

The title itself suggested fantasy, and story revealed presence of loads of mythical creatures. With some internet research I came to know that ‘The Mortal Instruments’ is a series of six books as:

City of Bones

City of ashes

City of Glass

City of Fallen Angel

City of Lost Souls

City of Heavenly Fire

I downloaded all six books greedily and read first four in a row over a week.

A young girl Clary Fray living in New York with her Mom with only her best Friend Simon and a family friend Luke as the other important people in her life. One day coming across a strange set of events – and people – she realizes that she is one the extraordinary of extraordinary people called the “Shadowhunters”. The book series is her journey of early times and adaptation to the life as Nephilim or Shadowhunter.

Storyline revolves around Clary, her mundane bestie Simon, her Shadowhunter family - Jocelyn and Valentine, indirect family – Luke/Lucian, the Shadowhunters she has her first encounters as the actual Guardian Nephilims – (‘it’s complicated’-)Jace, (watching six for all-)Alec, (warrior princess the sexy-)Isabelle, etc. and the hottie warlock – Magnus Bane.

It was good and pretty entertaining to read overall. But ‘hero’ Jace is much too complicated (and over-emotional at times) that he becomes irritating even for a reader sometimes (heaven knows how Clary puts up with him!). Magnus Bane, Alec, Isabelle appear to be far more bearable and (maybe that’s why) far more ‘engaging’ characters than Jace. Clary and Jace’s story goes such weird angles that initially it becomes difficult to gulp those twists (at least till the time when you develop that understanding that ‘it’s possible’).

And yet, I’d say it’s a good-to-read series. Because apart from the ‘emotional-atyachaar’ (that’s melodrama in Hindi) story is rather good, imagination is impressive and overall fab no-worries-fantasy to read, who doesn’t want that?

The Mortal Instrument series was mine too, first encounter with the Shadowhunter Universe. After reading four books in a single go, the fourth one ended for me with a shock and above that a little “now what?!” feeling, which resulted in, me forsaking the series, for a while. But I missed them. I completed the series after taking a break of few months before last two books. I liked the way intensity of climax and the way of storytelling keeps climbing up with each of the MI books.

I must say the last book of the series ‘City of Heavenly Fire’ appeared to me rather different than the other books. I mean, the rest of the books of the series go all in one flow, one color; revolving around Clary and a fixed set of characters. Whereas, ‘Heavenly Fire’ has so many new colors mixed. ‘Lost Souls’ too has introduced some new characters but ‘Heavenly Fire’ has tried and gone further to explain those new characters, partially; probably because of connection with so many of her other Shadowhunter series which were released or were upcoming by then.

चार पोरी

हल्लीच एक सुंदर चित्रपट पाहिला. सुंदर पुस्तकावरचा सुंदर चित्रपट म्हणून माझ्यासाठी जास्त महत्त्वाचा. क्लासिक इंग्लिश. "Little Women".

सर्वप्रथम या 'लिट्ल विमेन'ना मनापासून सॉरी. कारण ही माझी पोस्ट फार आधीच यायला हवी होती. मी वाचलेल्यापैकी दुसरी तिसरी कादंबरी असेल ही. 'शांताबाई शेळकें'नी अनुवाद केलेली 'लुईसा मे अल्कॉट' च्या दोन पुस्तकांची एकत्रित कादंबरी "चौघीजणी".

या चार पोरींशी माझी ओळख "प्रबोधन" मासिकाच्या पुस्तक-विशेष मधून झाली होती. पण ती नुसती तोंडओळख. मग त्यावर आईसोबत चर्चा. तिचासुद्धा "प्रत्येकाने वाचायलाच हवं" असाच विचार. पुढे सातवीनंतरच्या उन्हाळी सुट्टीत आजीच्या पलंगाशेजारी (तिच्या हाकेच्या अंतरावर) बसल्या बसल्या वाचायला पुस्तकं हुडकताना कपाटात "चौघीजणी" हातास लागलं, आणि मग अख्खी सुट्टी त्या पुस्तकाची नुसती पारायणं झाली! आणि फक्त त्या सुट्टीतच नव्हे तर नंतरच्या प्रत्येक उन्हाळी सुट्टीत आणि आम्ही पुस्तक विकत घेतल्यावर तर वेळ मिळेल तेव्हा आणि नाही मिळाला तर वेळ काढूनसुद्धा!!! (फारच 'आणि' झाले!!)

"Little Women" आणि "Good Wives" या लुईसा अल्कॉट च्या दोन पुस्तकांचा हा एकत्रित मराठी अनुवाद. चार बहिणी, त्यांची आई, युद्धावर गेलेले वडील असं 'मार्च' कुटुंब, त्यांचा शेजारी 'लॉरी', जॉन ब्रूक, मिस्टर लॉरेन्स, आंट मार्च, आणि अधून मधून ये जा करणारी बाकीची (पात्र)मंडळी यांच्या बरोबर, त्यांच्याभोवती कथा फिरते. आणि ही कथा 'फिरते'; रेंगाळत नाही.

मार्च मुलींच्या रोजच्या आयुष्यात, किशोरावस्थेतून तारुण्यात पदार्पणाभोवती तसंच त्यानंतर घडत जाणाऱ्या या घटना रोमांचक नाहीत, थरारक नाहीत पण तरीही सुंदर आहेत. साध्या-सरळ असल्या, तुमच्या-आमच्यासोबत घडणाऱ्या असल्या तरी किंवा त्यामुळेच, जवळच्या आहेत! लुईसा अल्कॉटच्या मूळ रंजक लिखाणाला शांताबाईंच्या प्रतिभेची जोड म्हणजे अगदी दुग्धशर्करा योगच आहे!

पुढे जाऊन (म्हणजे मी इंग्रजी वाचायला लागल्यानंतर) मी मूळ 'लिट्ल विमेन' पुस्तक सुद्धा घेऊन वाचलं आणि मला तेही अतिशय भावलं. पण पुन्हा पुन्हा जेव्हा वाचायचं असतं, 'गरज' म्हणून जे वाचायचं असतं (फक्त हाडाच्या वाचकालाच ही भावना नेमकी कळणं शक्य आहे) , 'पुस्तक हेच मित्र' म्हणून ज्याकडे जायचं मला असतं ते मात्र 'चौघीजणी'च!!! (हा कदाचित मातृभाषेच्या वात्सल्याचा परिणामही असू शकेल..)

या पोरींची रूपं शांताबाई सुरुवातीलाच आपल्याला सांगून टाकतात, पण तेव्हाच हे ही सांगतात की त्यांचे स्वभाव कथेच्या ओघातच उलगडत जातील. आणि अगदी त्यांनी म्हटल्याप्रमाणेच, या सगळ्यांची व्यक्तिमत्त्वं आपल्यासमोर अलवार उमलत जातात. कथा पुढे सरकताना आपण नकळत 'मार्च पोरीं'मध्ये गुंतत जातो. जबाबदार असूनही कुटुंबाच्या निसटलेल्या श्रीमंतीच्या आठवणीत चुकचुकणारी आणि पुढे सहजपणे, श्रीमंती स्थळे सोडून, मध्यमवर्गीय पण प्रेमळ 'जॉन ब्रूक' सोबत संसारात रमणारी मेग (मार्गारेट), पुरुषी म्हणवण्यात, सवयीत, वागण्यात आनंद असलेली आणि हळूहळू एका बिनधास्त मोकळ्या तरुणीत रुपांतर होत गेलेली जो (जोसेफाईन), हळुवार जीव लावता-लावता एकदम जीवाला चटकाच लावून जाणारी साधी भाबडी बेथ (एलिझाबेथ), चिवचिव करता करता अचानक सुंदर आणि समजूतदार होऊन जाणारी एमी. 

या पोरींच्या जोडीला, कथेइतकाच पोरींचा आणि परिवाराचा अविभाज्य भाग असणारा लॉरी; सळसळता, उत्साही, थोडा अविचारी, थोडा समजूतदार पण अतिशय लाघवी आणि लोभस! मार्च घराचा भिंतीइतका सहज भाग असलेली हना, कडक शिस्तीचे असले तरी संवेदनशील मिस्टर लॉरेन्स. अबोल, हळवा आणि मेगच्या प्रेमात असूनही मर्यादशील असा जॉन ब्रूक. पटकन येऊन झटकन महत्त्वाचे होणारे 'प्रोफेसर भाअर', डेझी आणि डेमी! आणि हो, माझ्यातल्या (तेव्हाच्या) 'टीनएजर'ला 'खडूस म्हातारी'ची प्रतिमा अचूक रेखून देणारी आणि पुढेपुढे (मला) थोडी थोडी कळू लागणारी 'आंट मार्च'! (खरं सांगायचं तर, तेव्हा 'आंट मार्च'ची 'खडूस' हीच प्रतिमा इतकी कोरली गेली मनावर की बाकी सगळ्यांचे मनावरचे ठसे बदलत गेले तरी आंट मात्र अजूनही 'खडूस'च राहिलीये कुठेतरी. म्हणजे तिने 'जो'ला तिची भली गडगंज 'प्लमफील्ड' इस्टेट दान करूनसुद्धा तिच्या नशिबात 'उदार' हे लेबल माझ्याकडून नाहीये; बिचारी!) 

एकोणिसाव्या शतकातील अमेरिकन आणि ब्रिटीश श्रीमंतांच्या संस्कृतीची चुणूक दर्शवणारी मॉफट, गार्डीनर, वॉगन मंडळींचा सुद्धा उल्लेख हवाच.

किशोरावस्थेकडून तरुण होत जाणाऱ्या मुलामुलींसोबत घडणारे हे प्रसंग, त्यांच्या महत्त्वाकांक्षा, युक्त्या-कल्पना, त्यांच्या चुका, जबाबदारीच्या जाणीवा आणि त्यानंतरच्या सुधारणा हे सगळे फारच ओळखीचे वाटतात. यातल्या माणसांतला जिव्हाळा गोड आहे, दाट आहे पण त्याचं अजीर्ण होत नाही. त्यांची भांडणं-गैरसमज हे अगदी 'आपल्याच' वाटणाऱ्या पद्धतीने कोणत्याही उपदेश किंवा तात्पर्याशिवाय सुटतात. या पुस्तकातल्या कोणत्याही घटनांबद्दल लिहिण्याऐवजी त्यांच्या परिणामांबद्दल लिहून मी बरोबर करतेय की चूक माहित नाही, पण माझ्या मते प्रसंगान्बद्दल लिहिलेलं वाचण्याऐवजी मूळ प्रसंग वाचणे केव्हाही अधिक उत्तम. शिवाय, या पुस्तकाचा मला इतका लळा आहे की त्यावर किती आणि काय लिहू असं होतंय माझ्यासाठी. म्हणजे मी एका प्रसंगाचा उल्लेख केला तर दुसऱ्यावर अन्याय झाल्याची बोच राहील मला. (आणि 'एवढं' लिहूनसुद्धा काही व्यक्तींचा उल्लेखचं राहिल्यासारखं मला वाटतंय!)

हे झालं पुस्तकाबद्दल, आता चित्रपटाबद्दल. अर्थातच इतक्या चित्तवेधक कादंबरीवर (आणि त्या कथेवर आधारित) अनेकदा चित्रपट बनले. त्यापैकी १९९४मध्ये चित्रपट प्रदर्शित झालेला चित्रपट मी पाहिला. 

गूगलवर मी जेव्हा शोधत होते तेव्हा या चित्रपटाबद्दल 'क्रिटिक रिव्ह्यू'मध्ये  म्हटलं होतं, "लिट्ल विमेन आणि गुड वाईव्ज या पुस्तकांवर तोपर्यंत बनू शकणारा हा सर्वात सुंदर चित्रपट आहे" आणि मी या मताशी पूर्णपणे सहमत आहे (वेल, मी इतर चित्रपट पाहिले नाहीयेत). किंबहुना मी म्हणेन पुस्तक वाचताना 'वाचकाचे कल्पनास्वातंत्र्य' या नावाखाली मी काही 'काहीच्या काही' कल्पना केल्या होत्या. (म्हणजे एकोणिसाव्या शतकातली माझी 'जो' बरेचदा जीन्स किंवा हाफ-स्कर्ट मध्ये असायची आणि लॉरी टी-शर्टमध्ये; आंट मार्च उगाचच पायाने अधू होती, मिस्टर मार्च माझ्यासाठी कायम धर्मगुरूच्या पायघोळ झग्यात असायचे तर मिस्टर लॉरेन्स नेहमी टाय आणि कोटात.) या माझ्या भ्रमांना चित्रपटाने छेद दिला तरी त्या विरूप होण्याऐवजी सुधारल्या.

चित्रपटातली सगळी मंडळी (त्यांना 'पात्र' म्हणणं मला जड जातंय.) म्हणजे अगदी माझ्या मनाशी एकरूप होत गेलेलीच - चार पोरी आणि त्यांच्या आजूबाजूची - माणसं आहेत. तत्कालीन पद्धतीन्प्रमाणे सरसकट लांब लांब ड्रेसेसमध्ये वावरणाऱ्या असल्या तरी मार्च मुली त्यांच्या वागण्यातून त्यांचे वेगवेगळे स्वभाव तितकेच स्पष्ट करतात. माध्यमाच्या बदलासोबत कथेतले काही प्रसंग (आणि काही दुवे) वगळावे किंवा बदलावे लागले आहेत. पण तरीही मार्च पोरी, मार्मी मार्च आणि त्यांच्यासोबत लॉरी, हना, मिस्टर लॉरेन्स, मिस्टर मार्च, आंट मार्च, मॉफट-गार्डीनर-वॉगन कुटुंबे, मिसेस कर्क आणि प्रोफेसर भाअर हे सगळे जसे वाचताना मनासमोर येतात तसेच वागतात. त्यांच्या दिसण्यातल्या (कल्पनेच्या भरात झालेल्या) चुका सुधारताना ते कुठेही परके होत नाहीत. (अर्थात, चित्रपट कितीही सुरेख असला तरी जातिवंत वाचक असल्याप्रमाणे माझं पहिलं प्रेम पुस्तकावरच!)

सुदैवाने मला खूपच उत्तमोत्तम पुस्तकं वाचायला मिळाली आहेत; पण चार पोरी माझ्यासाठी फक्त पुस्तकाची पात्र नाहीयेत. लुईसा अल्कॉटने मार्च बहिणी आणि लॉरीच्या व्यक्तिरेखा या ती, तिच्या बहिणी आणि त्यांचे शेजारी यांच्यावरून उचलल्या आहेत. पण मार्च मुलींशी माझं मैत्र गहिरं व्हायला त्यांचं मानवी उगमस्थान हेच कारण असावसं वाटत नाही. शांताबाईंची अनुवादशैली तर तोडीचीच (किंवा सरस सुद्धा म्हणता येईल.) पण तेही कारण अपुरंच. मुळात वाचताना वाचकाची पुस्तकासोबत एक वेगळी दुनियाच निर्माण होत असते (माझ्यामते, अपरिहार्यपणे!); तसं 'चौघीजणी'सोबतही माझं 'जग' आहे.

आणि खरंतर, या पुस्तकाशी माझे संबंध केवळ पुस्तक, कथा-कादंबरी अशा स्वरूपाचे उरलेले नाहीयेत. माझ्या किशोर-वयापासून गेली कितीतरी वर्षं हे पुस्तक माझी सोबत करतंय. ही फक्त 'वाचका'ची दुनिया नाहीये आता. कागद आणि काळापलीकडे जाऊन या सगळ्या माणसांशी मी भावनांनी बांधली गेलेय असं वाटतं मला. प्रत्येक माणसावर प्रत्येक पुस्तकाचा होणारा परिणाम वेगळा असतो हे मान्य केलं, तरीही, या पुस्तकाचा  तुमच्यावर होणारा परिणाम कसा आहे हे जाणून घेण्यासाठी तरी ते वाचायलाच हवं.

विस्तारलेला 'टिपकागद'

"ब्लॉग मूळ मराठीतच असणार आहे" असं मी सुरुवातीला म्हटलं खरं; पण 'डिसेप्शन पोईंट' वर मराठीत लिहिल्यानंतरही माझ्या असं लक्षात येतंय की इंग्लिश पुस्तकांवर इंग्लिशमध्ये लिहिणं जास्त सोयीस्कर आहे. 'टिपण काढणे' हा या ब्लॉगचा मूळ हेतू साध्य करताना ज्या त्या भाषेचा वापर अभिव्यक्तीसाठी आणि माझ्या व्यक्तिगत भाषाज्ञानाच्या समृद्धीसाठी अधिक प्रभावी ठरेल असं वाटतंय.

या व्यतिरिक्त, अलीकडे मला असंही जाणवलंय की, मी काही अतिशय सुंदर चित्रपट सुद्धा पाहिलेले आहेत ज्याबद्दल मला आवर्जून लिहून ठेवावसं वाटतं. शिवाय अनेकदा पुस्तकांवर बेतलेले चित्रपट पाहिलेले असतात. त्यात मग कधी पुस्तक वाचून त्यावर बेतलेला चित्रपट मुद्दाम शोधून पाहिलेला असतो, तर कधी चित्रपटाचं कथानक खूप भावल्याने मूळ पुस्तक शोधून वाचलं जातं. अर्थातच, पुस्तकाचं चित्रपटात रुपांतर करताना येणाऱ्या मर्यादांमुळे अनेक उत्तम पुस्तकांना न्याय मिळत नसल्याच्या भाबड्या समजुतीदाखल मी 'पुस्तकावर बेतलेला' प्रत्येक चित्रपट पाहिल्यानंतर मूळ पुस्तक वाचणं हे माझं कर्तव्य मानते आणि त्यादृष्टीने प्रयत्नसुद्धा करते. 'ओनलाईन', 'सोफ्टकॉपी', 'डाउनलोड्स', असल्या नावाखाली पुस्तकं 'हाताशी लागणं' माझ्यासाठी अत्यंत सोयीचं झालेलं असल्याने माझे हे कोड पुरवलेही जात आहेत.

म्हणूनच, 'टिपकागद' हा केवळ पुस्तकांची टिपणं काढण्याचा प्रयत्न न ठेवता, सर्व प्रकारच्या 'साहित्याचा मागोवा घेण्याचा प्रयत्न' करण्याचा विचार अनेक दिवसापासून मनात घोळत आहे. त्यावर काम तर चालू होतंच, आता यापुढे दृष्य कृती करतानाच, 'टिपकागद' वर पुस्तकांसोबत चित्रपटावर सुद्धा लिहिलेल्या पोस्ट पाहायला मिळू शकतात. शिवाय, पुस्तक आणि त्यावर बेतलेला चित्रपट याचं टिपण एकत्र घेणं, हे केव्हाही उत्तम. त्यात थोडी तुलनासुद्धा असेल आणि थोडी सोयसुद्धा!

तरी, माझ्यासारख्याच, वाचन मनापासून एन्जॉय करणाऱ्या मित्रांनो (म्हणजे मित्र आणि मैत्रिणींनो!) चला परत एकदा भिडूया पुस्तकांना, नव्या उत्साहाने आणि नव्या माध्यमासह!