Scripting Visual Stories
Reviewed by Aruti Nayar
Two Mothers and Other Stories
By Khalid Mohammed. Om Books International. Pages 264. Rs 295
What could be more dramatic than a life that lends itself to the script of a film? Zubeidaa, was based on the writer’s own life story. And so is the title story Two Mothers. The title story is the most powerful of the collection and underscores the writer’s skills as a raconteur. All those who have followed Khalid Mohammed’s career as a journalist, film critic and editor of Filmfare would be conversant with his journalistic style.

New light on old civilisation
Reviewed by Parshotam Mehra
The Monk, the Moor and Moses Ben Jalloun 
By Saeed Akhtar Mirza. Fourth Estate. Pages viii plus 247. Rs 450
Here is a striking work of fiction about a "deliberately forgotten" history.  The narrative revolves around four students in an American university in the year 2008, setting out to discover all that has been forgotten. And this largely because the search affects their own lives in some very real ways.  A parallel tale inextricably interwoven with this narrative is that of young Rehana, an Iranian from the 11th century, who has a number of passions: Her husband, her teacher, her culture and above all an insatiable quest for learning.

New ‘Che’ comic 
How to Feed Your Child (and enjoy it)!
Fun Recipes for Young Moms
By Tabinda J. Burney. Niyogi Books. Pages 213. Rs 395
The most famous photo ever taken of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was shot by Alberto Korda in 1960, an image so endlessly reproduced it became not only a political icon but a marketing and advertising asset. That photo is the point of departure for the new graphic novel about the "Comandante," now being published in Spanish.

Cooking, the fun way
Reviewed by Seema Sachdeva
How to Feed Your Child (and enjoy it)!
Fun Recipes for Young Moms
By Tabinda J. Burney. Niyogi Books. Pages 213. Rs 395
Once upon a time, the big fat Indian family flourished with numerous siblings and cousins living together. Home-cooked food was the acceptable fare. However, in the present nuclear setup, eating out is becoming more popular. With an increasing number of women opting to work, there’s not much time left at the end of the day to prepare lavish meals for their children. Add to this, the easy availability of junk food. Thus, inculcating healthy eating habits in children is a difficult task indeed.

Listening to all voices
Reviewed by Jayanti Roy
Changing Minds 
By Cole P. Dodge and Gavin Bennet. Academic Foundation. Pages 192. Rs 695
The policies of our country which are to be implemented at the hot and sweaty grassroots-level are framed in the cool and sanitised environs of air-conditioned luxuries, that is why they fail— this is an oft-repeated comment. There is a general opinion that this top-down and centralised approach is the bane of our governance. The failure of our family-planning initiatives that looked at the problem from an authoritarian viewpoint is a classic example to cite. It was only when the paradigm shifted to an individual-centric approach that it became acceptable to the community.

When wanderlust strikes
Puneetinder Kaur Sidhu
The Alluring North, one of four books that make up the ‘Intriguing India’ series, is neither a travelogue, nor a guide-book, nor even a retelling of ancient folklore. It is a little bit of all three. It is, in deed, the vivid journey of India’s ancient history, culture and customs, brought to life through two well-informed people who have travelled, questioned, and analysed.

Conflict novels in thick of fight for Orange Prize
Nick Clark
This year's battle for the Orange Prize for fiction could be particularly brutal. Despite what judges called the "stereotype" that women can't write shortlisted titles for the (pounds sterling) 30,000 female-only award.

Cultural crusader
Critic, poet and cultural activist Ashok Vajpeyi, whose zest for life expresses itself in many forms, feels the compulsions of electoral and representational democratic structures militate against excellence in arts
Nonika Singh
Just as a tiger won’t change its stripes, critic, poet and cultural activist Ashok Vajpeyi will remain quintessentially himself. Candid and not the one to mince words, he cares two hoots about rubbing people the wrong way. Be it dear friends Gulzar and Javed, who he calls "overrated poets" or the art academies in the country (some of which he has been at the helm), nothing escapes his censure. In a nation that propagates mediocrity, he is dogged in his pursuit for excellence.

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