Shrutinandan
By Ajoy Chakrabarty
Macmillan
Rs 295
This square format, cardcover book by Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty of Kolkata is a unique effort, worth buying for libraries and gifting to oneself and to the secretaries of cultural organisations. The eminent Hindustani vocalist, now at the height of his prowess, writes an unusual and highly readable tract on the approach to and experience of music. Peppered with quotes that range from Sanskrit slokas to Henry Miller, not only does the book explain the concept, philosophy and ideas behind classical music, but also gives practical suggestions on stage set up and hall acoustics, even to the correct placement and use of mikes. Panditji rightly chides media for its inconsistent and gossipy attitude to music coverage, for this does a great disservice to the listening public which relies on the press for genuine musical clues and cues. The basic message: listen and learn, because the rewards are mindboggling!
Renuka Narayanan
Granta,76, Music
Published by Granta
Price: pound; 6.50
Those passionate about music western classical particularly will find this compilation of 17 essays by eminently regarded writers delectable and informative. Whether it8217;s the piece on the locale that inspired Frank Sinatra8217;s final encore or the aspirational piece on Mozart by Alan Rusbridger, the book is a repertoire of fascinating anecdotal information. Novelist Amit Chaudhuri, a Hindustani classical singer himself, with his piece on the pains and pleasures endured by a young Indian girl being rendered classical lessons by a ruminative masterji has allotted a sneak into the Indian musical scene. Meanwhile, a descriptive essay on musical notions such as 8216;resistance8217; adopts a stance of educating the layman. It ends up as a read whereby the reader doesn8217;t feel insulted.
Divya Srivastava
The Wise Monkey and Other Animal Stories
Author: Geeta Ramanujam
Publishers: Puffin
Price: Rs 199
After years of reading Enid Blytons and Roald Dahls, Indian kids finally have a collection of fables from their own backyard. Years of not wanting to read Indian story books simply because the drab illustrations and packaging was so bad is finally turning around. The attention given to each illustraton which accompanies the stories is not only impressive but a definite first for Indian literature, which has so far largely ignored it. The tales themselves are perfect reads, especially for parents wanting to get their children hooked on to the fast dying hobby oof reading, as the stories are short and catchy. Interwoven in each tale is an easy to grasp moral, a le Aesop8217;s Fables.
Esha Roy
1 min read 
