The story of a man who turned into a roach!

The Metamorphosis 
Franz Kafka

‘Gregor Samsa woke up one morning to find himself to be a giant cockroach.’ The opening line of Franz Kafka’s literary classic ‘The Metamorphosis’ had me interested to find out more about the strange plight of a human being who turned into an enormous insect. What followed was a tumultuous voyage of Samsa due to his unusual transformation.

The plot begins with Gregor Samsa, a dejected not-so-successful salesman opening his eyes one fine morning to discover himself transformed into a huge cockroach on his bed. This discovery obviously shocks him. Added to the misery is the physical discomfort of having to manage three pairs of legs, couple of antlers and an itchy back that he can’t scratch.

While Gregor Samsa is transformed, he is hidden inside his room fearing his family’s rejection of his horrible situation. And when they do see his plight, Samsa isn’t wrong at all. He cowers into the darkness of the room hiding himself behind a large sofa. The happenings that unfold outside the room  around the Samsa family is for Gregor Samsa to hear and the reader to visualize.

Samsa’s family comprises his parents and a younger sister, Grete. The family is hit financially and his transformation adds to their misery. With no earning member, the family’s condition deteriorates. Despite the landlord’s warnings and burdens increase they trudge along. Through the course of events, the family undergoes a metamorphosis of sorts as they bond with each other and become self sufficient.

Kafka’s beautiful allegory of the metamorphosis is a real treat. The transformation may have been physical to Samsa, but his family too goes through a different kind of metamorphosis. The younger sister, who is timid, dependent and is unable to make decisions for herself, eventually stands up for herself. His parents, father in particular, learns to adapt to the changes and be more thankful to little mercies. As for the mother, she also becomes self-reliant. It seems as though the metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa was meant for the positive changes in the family.

Franz Kafka’s style may have been a little too cerebral and heavy to digest in the beginning. However, as I read on, I found myself engrossed in the story. Brevity may be the soul of wit but Kafka will tell you otherwise. His attention to detail and clarity of description in just a single sentence equivalent to a half-page worth paragraph will leave you stumped. The name metamorphosis may well be suited for the reader too, who will gradually start feeling for every character he created, Gregor Samsa in particular.

What happens to Gregor Samsa, his emotional turmoil, of loneliness and isolation – will he turn back into a human being or will he be content in his new form? This story is for you to read and find out for youself!

Bow-Wow Marley!

MARLEY & ME: Life and love with the world’s worst dog 

John Grogan

They say, dog is man’s best friend. However, if the dog is maniacal, looney, thick skulled, and is clueless about obedience, does he still enjoy the same status? Well, as far as Marley and his master are concerned, the answer is an emphatic YES.

John Grogan’s debut bestseller ‘Marley & Me’ is an emotional tale of the relationship between man and beast interwoven with humorous anecdotes from their life. His journey through the professional and personal life gains a new meaning with the presence of his ebullient mate Marley, whom he bought as a pup and matures into a full-grown 97-pound Labrador retriever. For the Grogan family, there never is a dull moment after the entry of boisterous Marley into their household.

A journalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Grogan’s narrative as a harried owner of a dysfunctional dog is engaging and entertaining. Told in the first person, with large doses of slapstick comedy, Grogan takes us along some of the craziest adventures of Marley. 

Chewing furniture, emptying trashcans, drinking out of the faucet and gulping down almost anything including jewellery are some of Marley’s routine indulgences. Marley’s misadventures at the obedience school are sure to bring about bouts of laughter. His unimaginable antics and effervescent behaviour at the film audition are hilarious.

Quirky Marley emerges the show stealer at the end. Ultimately, one begins to experience feelings of empathy for the owner of this neurotic dog. At the same time, with an explanation for the way he is, you would not miss to sympathise with Marley for all his outrageousness. The sober moments of Marley’s life towards the end will leave you teary eyed.

Despite being called ‘the worst dog’, Marley epitomizes unconditional love and unwavering devotion towards his master. ‘Living life to the fullest’ seems to be the message that Marley sends out to everyone.

The book has more to offer with umpteen moments of bonding between Marley and his master that have a fleeting reference in the movie. With simple language and funny instances, the book is certainly a treat to anyone who is a dog lover or otherwise. 

Travel with the Thunderbolt Kid

The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid 

Bill Bryson

If you are not an American, if you weren’t born or grew up during the 1950’s or if you have lost any memory of your childhood, fret not. For here is an interesting guide who will stand by you and take you on a tour around America in the 1950’s, a trip down history, a childhood of the Thunderbolt Kid. Des Moines is the place and your guide is none other than the Thunderbolt Kid a.k.a. Bill Bryson. 

While you imagine yourself being transported in time, you will see the land of opportunities, the Americans’ obsession for cars, electronic goods and themselves from the view of a fellow citizen.

Bill Bryson’s fantastic humour makes you wonder how interesting, a boring place like Des Moines, can be. As a child, Bryson morphs into this fictional comic hero, Thunderbolt kid to wage war against the adult world. Confused? I was for the first time as I did not relate to many characters from TV shows, movies of yester years of their land. But, interesting narration of growing up years, the pranks kids play, the boyish antics and many such incidents make you relate and recall your childhood memories.

Even serious issues like racism, women empowerment, child delinquency, politics, and nuke race get importance and touched upon with sensitivity and good humour. The book can be said to be both informative and hilarious at the same time. One moment you are laughing your head off when Bryson, with his brilliant style, whacks you right to the ground reality and then again lets you take off on boyish fantasies.

The book is a memoir of Bryson and he narrates his school days and the kid world with such alacrity that everyone that has went through a childhood will relate to at least one incident. His indignation towards his mother’s cooking skills, the vivid description of Uncle Dee’s masticated gooey liquid flowing out of his throat, why Lumpy Wilkinson got his name and his long time friend Katz’ eccentric nature make the characters come alive with Bryson’s wit and effective 

narrative style.

With so many angles to childhood and incidents around the town, you’d most certainly want to look at your own town with a new perspective. The undiscovered path leading to your school, the regular hangout that now has transformed into something modern, the creaky old building where you thought the watchman was the ghost are possibly incidents every child will remember. Reading this book will not only take you to Bryson’s childhood but will let the floodgates of your own memories as a child, open. Beware!

Get Organized Gals, Save Time!

A Modern Girl’s Guide to Getting Organized 

Sarah Ivens

I was browsing through the enormous book shelves of the British Library where this book caught my attention. So, it was out of curiosity that I picked this up to find what lay inside. Well, it was not a revelation but surely something that most women would relate to.

Situation 1: It’s time for the date you have been waiting for and you cannot find those beautiful piece of jewellery you bought last week.

Situation 2: The boss has asked for an important document to be presented at a meeting. You know for sure it is somewhere among the pile of papers. If only there was enough time to dig through them!

Add many more such situations from your life, multiply the stress levels and you will realize how difficult life can turn out to be for a woman to manage her home, career, relationships, and social circle yet not forget her own self in the process.

A Modern Girl’s Guide to Getting Organized from Sarah Ivens offers the busy woman useful handy tips to get organized, multitask and stay on top of things. The author has combined a variety of guiding tips for the modern woman to tackle stressful situations in different areas of her life. Be it at work or home, throwing a party or planning a holiday, managing the essential ‘ME’ time or with partner, these practical, easy-to-follow tips help one to deal with everyday and special situations.

Not out of the ordinary yet essential, this book does offer a quick guide to organize life with a planned approach to fulfill everything you wish to do minus the stress. Read it if you want an effective guide to put you back on track when you feel inundated with incomplete chores, missed appointments or an overflowing wardrobe. It is not sermonic and is interspersed with personal stories of women who have been able to cope with messy situations. 


Overall the book seems to me like a compiled version of all the ‘useful tips’ section in women’s or health magazines. Makes for a light read during a Saturday afternoon when you are not running chores or worrying about them so that you can plan your next week well in advance!

Author Sarah Ivens is the former Editor-in-Chief of OK! Magazine in America and has been writing for leading magazines such as Tatler, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Men’s Health, Instyle, The Daily Mail and the Mirror. She was born and brought up in London and now lives in New York City. It is quite obvious that the book is written in the American context. However, Indian readers will need to modify suitably to their situations.