“Kicked off with a special crossword challenge, which initially left everyone scrambling to figure out book clues. Rohan started consulting the PDBC bookshelf…”
POCKET DIARY BOOK CLUB
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
YEAR 2024
08/09/2024 03:00 PM
Edition No. : 41
Venue: Akshat Drama Group Studio
Facilitators: Mitesh & Priya
Written by: Tanvi
Edited by: Priya
Theme: Crossword Special
This edition kicked off with a special crossword challenge, which initially left everyone scrambling
to figure out the clues related to book titles. However, what began as an
individual effort soon turned into a collaborative one. Rohan started
referring to the PDBC booklist, which was then shared with the group,
leading to the final answers being cracked.
Rijuta captivated us by reading a beautiful passage from The Forty Rules
of Love by Elif Shafak. The passage explored the
theme of love and perception, expressing how the true beauty of an
individual can only be seen through the eyes of a lover. She emphasized the
profound line, “One must see Laila from the eyes of Majnu,” and her
delivery was both heartfelt and poetic. After Rijuta finished, Priya played a
song from the movie Laila Majnu, perfectly complementing the reading.
This sparked a lively discussion, with many members, including myself,
vowing to add the movie to our watchlists.
Then, I shared a passage from Pet Sematary by Stephen King. The scene involved a father
explaining the concept of death to his five -year-old daughter, who is terrified of losing her
beloved cat. The vulnerability of the child and her fear of mortality resonated deeply with
Meghna, who reflected on how hard it would be to part with her own pets in the future. This led
to a broader discussion on death, with Abha sharing a personal story from her childhood. She
recalled wishing her baby brother would sleep forever, only
to be harshly reprimanded by he r mother. At the time, she
hadn’t understood why, but the significance of that moment
only became clear to her as she grew older. Mitesh then
lightened the mood by recalling a humorous memory from his
own childhood, where he once lifted his baby brother and
jokingly said, “Ram Naam Satya Hai,” causing the group to
burst into laughter.
Next, Rohan narrated a humorous excerpt from Me Talk Pretty One Day by
David Sedaris. The passage had everyone smiling, especially when the
protagonist, reluctant to play his guitar, quipped, “He wanted me to jam, so I
jammed it in my closet.” This led to a playful conversation about naming guitars,
with a particular guitar on the PDBC library wall remaining sadly nameless. As if
the humor weren’t enough, a discussion on the book Yellowface ensued, where
someone asked, “Is it about emojis?” I couldn’t contain my laughter.
Kiranjot’s recitation of Banarasi Saree by Kaka Hathrasi followed, and
her delivery did complete justice to the poem. Her lively narration had
everyone smiling, and this naturally led to a discussion about the
simplicity of art and its ability to capture everyday experiences,
bringing joy to pe ople’s lives. The group reflected on the idea of “art
for art’s sake” as Rijuta introduced Varun Grover’s work. She shared a
short story he wrote about Karijwa, a Banarasi rasgulla, and the
lengths a young boy went to in a post -apocalyptic world to taste i t.
Meghna added that her favorite thing about Varun Grover, however,
was his cat.
Abha’s rendition of Mark Antony’s speech from Julius Caesar was nothing short of
theatrical. She came prepared, complete with a gold tiara, fully embodying the
character. Her dedication drew admiration from everyone, and the speech sparked
an insightful discussion about the power of oration and the early origins o f
democracy in ancient Greece and Rome.
Anushri captivated the room with her selection from Brotherless Night by V. V.
Ganeshananthan, a deeply moving narrative set during the Sri Lankan civil war. The passages she
chose skillfully highlighted the ethical complexities faced by doctors who, regardless of their own
beliefs, were compelled to treat patients on both sides of t he conflict—even Tamil Tigers. Her
reading wove together different moments from the book, offering a snapshot of how deeply
personal and political the story becomes as it unfolds.
Akanksha then read excerpts from What You’re Looking
for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, a charming book
that fit perfectly with the theme of the day. The
characters’ search for meaning mirrored our own search
for crossword answers, all of which were found in the
PDBC Library itself. Akanksha spoke about how deeply
she related to the characters and highlighted the
transformative power of books, leaving us all feeling
reflective and poetic.
Meghna read from Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch
Albom, a heart -wrenching account of a terminally ill
man’s reflections on life and death. Her reading was emotionally charged, with pauses between
passages that allowed the weight of Morrie’s words to sink in. The line “Why are we embarrassed
by silence? What comfort do we find in all the noise?” left a lasting impression on me. On a lighter
note, Gautam joked about proofreading his own eulogy, which brought some much -needed
levity to the somber mood.
Gourav’s reading of Raat Pashmine Ki by Gulzar left the room in a contemplative silence. His
narration of Gulzar’s delicate portrayal of love —sparked by a simple accident involving falling
books—felt like something straight out of a rom -com. The beauty of Gulzar’s work was deeply
appreciated by all.
The session concluded with Gautam reading from Albert Camus’s The
Myth of Sisyphus , which plunged us into an existential debate.
Questions about the justification of suicide, the never -ending pursuit
of life’s purpose, and even a tangent comparing Thanos the god of war
with the Marvel character were all discussed. We ended the meeting
on a philosophical note, agreeing that, ultimately, “we don’t know
anything.”
Books Read:
• Gautam – The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
• Rohan – Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
• Tanvi – Pet Semetary by Stephen King
• Akanksha – What you are looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
• Kiranjot – Banarasi Saree by Kaka Hathrasi
• Rijuta – Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
• Anushri – Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
• Gourav – Raat Pashmine Ki by Gulzar
• Abha – Mark Antony’s speech from Julius Caesar.
• Meghna – Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Turn the page, for clues!