When I left you on Friday, I did nothing. Except veg out and plow into the home-stretch of book reading. And some time during Friday night, while still reading the book, I ended up face down in my pillow, sobbing my eyes out.
It's been a long time since I’ve read anything quite as disturbing as Elie Wiesel’s ‘Night’. If you haven't discovered this guy, ‘Night’ is the perfect place to start. Books just don't get any disturbing than this.
If I could go back and right any wrong in history - historic or personal - without having to worry about any of that ‘Heroes-Hiro-Nakamura’ past changing the future paradox shit, I believe that the holocaust would be one of the things that I would have liked to never have existed... and any other hate crimes motivated by race.
I was bummed out when I finished this book, not because it wasn’t good but because it make me feel sickened, bewildered, troubled and vaguely pissed off. But that’s what Wiesel intends to do the reader, fight against Holocaust denial and encourage more awareness-raising both on the level of political elites, on the level of history teaching and the media, to restore collective memory and make known the difficult truth about the Holocaust so that something like that won’t ever happen again.
Moving onto Saturday. I had the good fortune of being invited for a small show at Herbs & Spices featuring Naina Kundu and Floyd Fernandes, a fine blues and soul duo from Mumbai. The location was cozy. Not big, on the side of small but we got ourselves a table at the back with a good view. The show started at 9 when Naina Kundu got up on stage with a guitar that looked bigger than her, to perform “These Days” (by Jamie Cullum). Her voice was very warm, smooth and deep and her songs have an unusual blaze to them which is very appealing. Add in good looks and her set was great. Usually I'm wary of covers but she didn't let anyone down, doing a slow, easy on the ear job on ‘Another Day’ (Jamie Lidell) with her own particular unhurried jazz style. Unfortunately it was raining quite terribly all day so I didn't get to take out my camera.
What else can I tell you other than that from the opening track to the end of the concert every second was worth listening to. Here’s Naina Kundu and Floyd Fernandes with ‘The Truth’. It’s a live track, not a studio recording, so be prepared for a little crowd action and clapping.
Until the next time around keep reading and, as always, enjoy the music.
I was bummed out when I finished this book, not because it wasn’t good but because it make me feel sickened, bewildered, troubled and vaguely pissed off. But that’s what Wiesel intends to do the reader, fight against Holocaust denial and encourage more awareness-raising both on the level of political elites, on the level of history teaching and the media, to restore collective memory and make known the difficult truth about the Holocaust so that something like that won’t ever happen again.
Moving onto Saturday. I had the good fortune of being invited for a small show at Herbs & Spices featuring Naina Kundu and Floyd Fernandes, a fine blues and soul duo from Mumbai. The location was cozy. Not big, on the side of small but we got ourselves a table at the back with a good view. The show started at 9 when Naina Kundu got up on stage with a guitar that looked bigger than her, to perform “These Days” (by Jamie Cullum). Her voice was very warm, smooth and deep and her songs have an unusual blaze to them which is very appealing. Add in good looks and her set was great. Usually I'm wary of covers but she didn't let anyone down, doing a slow, easy on the ear job on ‘Another Day’ (Jamie Lidell) with her own particular unhurried jazz style. Unfortunately it was raining quite terribly all day so I didn't get to take out my camera.What else can I tell you other than that from the opening track to the end of the concert every second was worth listening to. Here’s Naina Kundu and Floyd Fernandes with ‘The Truth’. It’s a live track, not a studio recording, so be prepared for a little crowd action and clapping.
Until the next time around keep reading and, as always, enjoy the music.
5 Pulses Say:
After your comment on my blog and this post, I really really want to pick up Night. Mostly because I want to know that I can still feel and that I'm not getting hardened by the city, time, life, whatever...it will be nice to read a book that can shudder through the mere power of words...
Take care Eve...hope the rest of the week goes well :)
Ohhhh! I like Naina, I Like. Sheesh cannot believe I missed it. But I was kept busy elsewhere, you know I would have made it otherwise.
I like this, except what seemed to be a odd guitar note .
Holocaust denial- I cannot bring myself to watch "The Pianist" and other Holocaust movies till the end..The one who turns the other way when an injustice is being done is as much to blame as the perpetrator of the injustice, so they say. Guess I need a reality check.
ooooooooh, i love jamieeeee cullum! naina doesn't sound bad either :)
@Anupama: I purchased a few books on Saturday. Although I'm not quite sure if I'm at your level - yet!).
'500 Comicbook Villains' by Mike Conroy - huge departure from my regular book-reading genre. But it's a great read for any graphic novel lover.
Tc, Anupama. Wishing you a great week ahead too.
@shouldifollow: I don't know how startling this is since I'll admit it again and again. I ♥ Naina Kundu's music. What is startling to me is that I still don't own her fine piece of music. :(
@Ku2: How can anyone doubt such a wide scale of slaughter is beyond me. And like you said, denying is just as bad; it would be an affront to the entire civilized world.
@mentalie: The music was good and if you're at all interested in some good bass, you need to catch her in concert.
Speaking about Jamie Cullum... perhaps this requires a separate blog entry. :)
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