Oct 30
Two Nice Books
On a whim i picked up this book called Wings by Aprilynne Pike from the children’s section in crossword. (secret: I get most of the things i like to read from there 
) …
Aprilynne Pike
It’s about Laurel a rather strange (by american standards at least) girl. She is vegan (i love books about heroines who are vegan), never feels cold, is 15 years old and still has not started to menstruate, etc … and her friend David, and the reason for her strangeness … quite a nice quick read with lots of magic and trolls and faeries … Won’t spoil the surprize for you, by telling you about her … but then don’t read the amazon review that the link points to coz, they tell…
Chetan Bhagat
The other book i picked up was 2 States by Chetan Bhagat. Five point someone was superb. The next 2 books were utterly forgettable. And the only reason why i picked this one up was it’s price. Just Rs 95. I am so glad i did. It’s quite a nice romp about how he got married to the girl of his dreams. He is a punjabi delhite. She is a tam bram iyer from Chennai. They want to get married with their parents blessings. Super hilarious situations written with quite a bit of tenderness and maturity. Also there are at least 3 places in the book where i found my eyes moist …
Having traveled to both places and taught extensively and knowing the vast differences in the culture, i could really appreciate the trouble they muct have gone through to bridge the gap… He does use the f**k word here and there … but i don’t blame him… i would have used it myself in those circumstances…
Only one small crib: Over and over, he equates “having fun” to eating non veg and boozing… Never did the Art of Living course, i guess.
Still it’s very nice
Please do read it…
Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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I loved 2 States…especially coz its not a story of rebellion but of total struggle…and amazing perseverance..i mean if i ever have to face such a situation (GOD FORBID
)..i guess i won’t be able to show so much restraint..
Also Chetan Bhagat really writes with his heart..which is an amazing thing…
How adding two * to a four letter word make it any less offensive or acceptable? Or is it like a censor board filter for kids so they are like….”ummm what starts with a f and ends with a k and has two stars in between?, till they decide to turn on the latest season of Big Boss.What say Bau?
i guess it doesn’t … i still prefer it
thanks much.. was just wondering yesterday if Chetan Bhagat came up with a new title.. I loved his Five Point Someone.. I read One Night.. was okay.. haven’t read The 3 Mistakes though.. seems from your review its worth a miss
look forward to reading 2 States and Wings
JGD!
btw, He has moved to Mumbai now, hopefully he ends up taking the Art of Living course with you
I feel the same.. ‘Five Point Someone’ was v.good, ‘One Night @ a Call Center’ was mediocre, ’3 Mistakes’ was a mistake [:)] where the author tried to conjure up all the themes that he thought would SELL, like cricket and other things i can’t even remember.
Good point about Chetan Bhagat moving to Mumbai, N!! I’m taking the liberty to say that the Mumbai Ashram welcomes him
Wow awesome!
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My sister just gifted me “2 States” yesterday.. on my Birthday!
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Unbelievable!
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But for now, I’m reading Guruji’s “Narada Bhakti Sutras – The Aphorisms of Love”
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Jai Gurudev!
love,
Varun.
What a coincidence! i gifted ’2 States’ by Chetan Bhagat to my brother on his birthday which was just yesterday! Now i’m waiting for him to finish reading it so i borrow it right back
i hope you are reading this, Varun! 
Bau…five point someone is thoroughly overrated..
its more of a loo break book..not really good..but gets done quickly.
im hoping 2 states is as good as u say it is… im pretty sure I can relate to it:-)
You ahve not been to IIT … soo you simply cannot appreciate it … you read it in the loo, i read mine on a flight
And I cudnt stop reading and appreciating it once I was done! Its a fab one according to me!
And I checked out the places mentioned in the book for real… Great fun
I want to read 2 States (and you know why
) but it’s not available here!!! 
Flipkart.com doesn’t ship outside of India. Do you know any place which ships to the US?
i can ship it to you
you’re the bestest of the best!!
I’m emailing you right now …
I believe that reading Chetan Bhagat’s last two books were a waste of time! But will surely try reading this one
Thanks!!..
Hi Bawa,
I do not understand what is wrong in eating nonveg and drinking socially. I know the effect it has on earth etc. But what if someone is eating or drinking once or twice a month. Isn’t an action that is done with full awareness and without any guilt fine.
Just curious as I am sick of this debate of not eating eat and not drinking and comparing it to morality, though people may have all the stupid thoughts in the mind.
So ya in short, just eat, drink and be happy. Enjoy life and help others.
Let me know ur thoughts…
…SK
I dont subscribe to those thoughts of yours … i have written and talked at length why non veg is no good for you, the planet and our economy … read … if u want more, read up the food revolution by John Robbins … as far as boozing is concerned, i get a far better high with Kriya and i dont have to spend money everytime i want to get the high
Jai Guurdeva!
love
bawa
jai gurudev.
Bau u are too mast.
after reading sudhir, i wud have politely asked his adress and KILLED this guy.
This idiot says “I do not understand what is wrong in eating nonveg and drinking socially.”
but u r still cool…hats off…
ok now the 2 of you dont get into a galli fight on this blog
you be cool too
Jai Gurudeva!
love
bawa
Bawa they were not getting into a fight, 1st one asked a question, you gave your reply, 3rd one got involved. Please I would hope you would moderate some of these comments more closely for violent threats like Shikhar gave. @shikhar accept others as they are, your rudeness is not appreciated.
My question is: Seeing kriya as getting a high… isn’t that the same mindset as drinking/drugs?
even if its the same mindset, it cannot even be remotely compared to drugs or drinking … i myself stopped drinking bcoz i got the exact same high with Kriya that i got from booze … over time i realized that Kriya was much more than just a “high” generator … so its fine to start Kriya and continue it, just as a super substitute for booze
shudhir hv gone NUTS.
{“Isn’t an action that is done with full awareness and without any guilt fine.”}
>what awarerness are u talking about??
awareness after drinking??or what??
{“Just curious as I am sick of this debate of not eating eat and not drinking and comparing it to morality, “}
>i think u are not sick of this debate,u are really SICK Sudhir..
2 States was awesome, un-putdownable even better than 5 point someone which was also too good. One night was a nightmare on paper and 3 mistakes, I found, was just ok. Guys can relate more to 5 point, IIT or not, than girls.
Aamir khan, John Abraham and Madhavan are acting in the on screen adaptation of 5 point, titled ’3 Idiots’, from the Director of Munnabhai, so it will be a nice watch too.
I had my eyes moist too on at least two occasions. Even the office scenes
are v funny. Yes didn’t like the girl eating non veg (boy too), there is esp. something about women having non veg that is disgusting.
Being from North and staying in Chennai (and in love
I could really relate and appreciate the cultural differences and nuances of both states and the situations they face.
Very nice read.
P.S: Bau, Dan brown’s latest talks about Bhagwad Gita, power of intentions, water messages, upanishads etc. and how science is re-discovering what we already knew some time back, but forgot. V engaging read just like his other books.
~ Ashwani.
@ Ashwani True.. Lost symbol is really nice book. I loved it.
@ Bau.. 2 states i have been having the book for 2 weeks now but yet to open! guess i will start it today!
Jgd Bau
You know I hated reading (in spite of the fact that I am a lecturer):-After entering the AOL, I started reading Guruji’s books (sometimes I just wonder, how can Guruji make me read so much!), and found them damn interesting! Will definitely read these 2 books as well. Yes!+ at Indore is just rocking!
Love
Meghana
Havent read both the books …Thanks for incrementing my ‘to read’ list.
\\secret: I get most of the things i like to read from there
Really strange !! children section Bau !!!
) totaly screwed it up.
How can you tolerate …I now don’t even dare to go there …
I tried hard reading Alice in Wonderland ..couple of days ago..but was a real nightmare..the science,my logical brain,my age(not too much though
Occasionally i still pick up my Enid Blytons … there is nothing to beat the enchanted wood series, the st. clares and mallory towers, the naughtiest girl, the wishing chair and dear old mr. pinkwhistle
i guess i never really grew up … how does it feel for all of you to have grown up, so u cant enjoy these books any more?
Sweetheart there are pleasures of growing up also
but honeshly if one feels that one has grown up enough not to enjoy childhood books / mischief anymore then reporting for an Advance Course is overdue
… also its time to look into one’s 4S urgently..
Oh bau, I used to love Enid Blytons toooo esp The Famous five but later the 3 investigators took their place and then it was Sherlock holmes …Its not that I will not love reading these books now…but while reading them I will keep on feeling that I am missing much more sensible stuff.
You are here on this planet for too short a while to be “sensible” !!!
Couldn’t agree with you more, Bawa, regarding Enid Blytons….they still are the” bestest ”
Have not read a single book by Chetan Bhagat ….the guy is popular among my students… Must pick up one of his books…Two States may be a good choice…”.Wings” looks interesting… Thanks! Hi to Dinesh. Take care. Jai Gurudev!
Love,
Sudha
after reading ur post… i am definately going to read these 2 novels..
Bau(and Dinesh bhaiya if u read this[:)])….did u read “Eragon”, inheritence cycle?….Well it’s all about dragons,dragon riders and magic!!!…Unlike in many fantasies,the author actually cared to explain where from the energy for magic coming from(though i did’nt fully understand
)…His theory,which says magic uses ur own reserves of energy,reminded me of the same energy principle we r taught.I got d same feeling while reading these books dat i got when doing d advanced course.. our body is a storage cell of energy..every act we do either gains or dissipates energy{though advanced course is much more thrilling:)}….and also in the second book there r many fascinating chapters about master-student and rider-dragon relationships,about ancient language(for me it seemed like Samskrit),about elves being vegetarian ….In more than one way i found coincidence with the AOL ideas in these books……..finally d elves way of living is very fascinating….if u hav already read the series,i’d like to hear comments from u
Jai Guru Deva,
Love,
Sharath Koundinya
I have read it… and i think i have posted a review too
Bau ….i felt the same: 5 point someone was very good…
But somehw found one night @ a cc intresting too…hehe….
May b i need to reread it after so many -ve opinions….. LOL…
JGD
Kumar
It was an absolutely ok types book .. please dont re read it
Alright bau!! i am gonna finish these by tomorrow..
jai gurudeva!!
and bau!! whats the progress on youth fest..? how can we contribute in it before we reach ashram?
Dear Bawa,
Planning to buy 2 states from the gift cupon will read it and let u know But I liked One night at call centre than 5 point someone
3mistakes was just OK Ok Only
Luv u Bawa
Sudha.P
I heard Chethab bhagat as an yoga teacherapart from working in bank and how come he talks about Nonveg & boozing ? No idea wings i will surely read let u know
Bau, i got 2 STATES in just 75 bucks..!! Discount..!!!
m gonna read it 2nyt,n thn will leave my comments on d book..
too short a while here to be “sensible” !! ??
most of us .. and the world .. don’t quite know how to be otherwise !
learn learn!
ps guess it takes a lot of guts and being very much in touch with your self ..
Very true bau, I bought this book for the same reason Rs95. Its a superb book.I really loved bau the way u have expressed your comments about reading it.love u bau
Dsn Challenge.
read 2 states one week back n i really liked d book…i like d msg given by chetan bhagat that we r indians n not maharashtrians,gujaratis,bengalis etc…love has no caste..i hope after reading this,it’ll help in changing our mindset towards these issues.
jai gurudev…
hi to dinesh bhaiya n bawa..
.
just got done with the book bau ,, a couple o multiples of 10 mins before office ,, and a couple o multiples o 60 min after office ,, and the book was done ,, just could not stop once i started ,, 2 states is a nice fast read ,, i really like chetan bhagat for the amateur style of writing ,, without the use of cliched expressions and gives it a common man appeal
thank you bau for recommending
PS : we had a nice satsang here last sunday ,, found 2 new talented singers ,, waiting to have the yes plus crowd back here to get a big one organized here
Thnx Bau,
This was the last place i would visit, i thot,
And you didn’t let me down.
I will surely read the 2 Sates by CB and also have a look at the children’s one wen i get the mood.
But having read ur review revived all those memories and esp the way you talk… rather the mind talks.
Tc Bau..
Lv
Jgd
Hello everyone,
I recently discovered “Sounds Interesting”… n it is REALLY interesting!!!!!!
I liked all the ‘Chetan Bhagat Books’…
Five Point Someone was the best… 1 Night at call center was OKAY.. but 3 mistakes of my life is also a good book.. the way Chetan has took the THREE major Disasters (WTC Attacks, Earthquake n Gujarat riots) as the backgrond.. n their effects on a common man.. its a good book.. I liked 2 states as well… its worth reading… n yes.. the Movie Three Idiots was ultimate!!!!!!!
Jai Gurudev!!! keep smiling…
I read ‘Wings’ last week in one sitting. Its nice.
Hey friend can i publish some part of your article on my little blog of university.I have to publish a good articles out there and i do think your post Fits well into it.I will be happy to provide you an source link as well.I have two blogs one my own and the other which is my college blog.I will write some part in the university blog.Hope you do not mind.Greetings