Monday 18 March 2024

WHY WE LOVE TO SPEND TIME IN A BOOK STORE?

  


 

 

Physical bookstores help you use not one sense organ but many. You read (vision), smell, touch altogether making it more of a happy experience. Books not only appeal to explicit but also implicit memory. It gives warmth and comfort and helps to get relaxed.

 The good reasons for going to a bookstore is to be around books. To be in an environment where it's quiet and where you can grab a cup of Joe, and take your time to browse the different sections of books. Oh my, I love going in bookstores to look at all the books, to wish I could have the time to read them all

 Part of the joy of going to a bookstore is that you can browse thousands of books all at once. Sure you can do that on Amazon, but what you can't do is pick up a book and read it. The smell, the fresh feeling of the pages as you flick through the book, replaced by a collection of images on a carousel.

 BOOK STORES SMELL GOOD:

Paper is an organic material, and with age the components are broken down by acid hydrolysis, giving off volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which may have hints of vanilla (vanillin), almond (benzaldehyde) or musky florals (ethyls, tolulene, and hexanol).

 PURPOSE OF A BOOK STORE:

 The main purpose of a bookstore is to provide a place for people to discover, explore, and purchase different types of written content. Whether it's fiction, non-fiction, self-help, or educational materials, a bookstore is where people can go to find all these options in one location.

 

 Thus from the sensory experience of browsing the shelves to the personalized recommendations from knowledgeable staff, shopping at a physical bookstore is a delightful experience. It also benefits the community, including supporting local businesses, building a sense of community, and preserving a cultural institution.

Sunday 17 March 2024

A TEMPLE WHERE ONAM IS CELEBRATED IN GRAND SCALE

  


 

The Divya desam TIRUKAKKARAI (tirukkatkarai) is located 14 kms from Irinjalakuda on Trichur Eranakulam railroad in Kerala. The presiding deity is katkaraiyappan also called vamana. The Goddess is perunchelvanayaki. The scared water is Kapila theertham and the sanctum sanctorum is Pushkala vimanam.

Legend has it that Mahabali symbolically offered land to Lord Vishnu with the water from Kapila Theertham at this Kshetram.

There is an interesting story that plantains in an orchard got destroyed regularly. The owner prayed to Lord Vamana and offered a plantain tree made of gold. From then on trees grew and gave plenty of fruits. This variety of plantain is called Nendram vazha

Onam festival is celebrated in this temple, on a grand scale.

Saturday 16 March 2024

THE LESS YOU PREACH THE MORE YOU LEARN

   




 A book is a number of pieces of paper, usually with words printed on them, which are fastened together and fixed inside a cover of stronger paper or cardboard. Books contain information, stories, or poetry with or without pictures.

We can learn about history, philosophy, values, and science by reading books. A habit of reading builds our knowledge and contributes to intelligence. For many people, reading books is a stress relief exercise and an escape to different world they can enjoy. For kids, books build language skills and imagination.

 Yes, this is a general idea about a book. Here is one very interesting book with a lovely cover and illustrations at appropriate junctures making readers glue with it and enjoy reading till the last page.

 The purpose of writing a book can vary depending on the author's goals and intentions. Some authors write to educate, some to entertain, while others write to inspire or persuade. Ultimately, the purpose of writing a book is to share a story, idea, or message with readers.

 Here the author duo has done an extensive research and provided the readers with an invaluable asset in the form of a book on APHORISMS.

 Aphorism is a short pithy statement. It is a concise statement of a principle; a short pointed sentence expressing a truth, precept; a terse saying embodying a general truth or principle.

 Aphorisms also generally have the quality of broad applicability, ringing true for many people and many different circumstances. They allow writers to concisely convey a truth—either earnestly or in an ironic fashion—through humorous means. These statements are generally easy to remember and frequently applicable to a number of different situations, granting them universal appeal.

 This book carries totally 222 aphorisms finely divided into 18 chapters with clear titles specifying the matter it holds in it.

This cute colourful book cover is equally impressive like the content it encompasses.   This book has got a memorable quality that will stick in readers' minds, giving people tangible results of their reading to consider for a long time to come.

 For regular readers of English Literature, they will be familiar that while characters sometimes state aphorisms, it's often the authors who like to pass on a bit of witty insight in the form of an original aphorism. Mark Twain was famous for his aphorisms, either spoken by characters in his novels or by the man himself.

 Aphorisms distill complex ideas and observations about life, morality, and the human condition into memorable, easy-to-understand phrases. This makes them effective tools for conveying wisdom and sparking thought and discussion.

 Thus aphorism is one of the most beautifully crafted sentences an author can construct; they are practically written art. A well thought out aphorism provides a piece of life's wisdom that becomes more clear to understand the more it is read.

 This book with its unique style attracts and engages readers thoroughly to read, understand and absorb the wisdom of life.

 A book of versatile means sure to aid intellectual gain.


Friday 15 March 2024

TAKE YOUR TIME & HURRY UP

 

  

Author : Joey Kidney

Publisher: Penguin

Genre: Non -fiction

TAKE YOUR TIME & HURRY UP- Means that you can spend as much time as you need in doing something, or that you should slow down. Don't rush. People use this expression to let someone politely know that there is no need to hurry.

With the apt title itself the author gently encourages his audience to find comfort, mindfulness, guidance and connection. A clear theme is woven through each passage: a reminder to slow down. After all, what’s the rush.

The font and the colour of the book cover is amazing and that works as a sign of indication of the contents of the book. In less than 200 pages the author engages the readers with his lucid writing style along with short and crisp poetry on Love, life and loss.

Author of this book JOEY KIDNEY is a social media star who uses his self-titled channels to inspire others to find their own happiness in their everyday lives.

Book dedications is a usual process carried out during the publishing of a book and they are about expressing gratitude. Authors often include a dedication to acknowledge the person or people who inspired the book or to thank someone who supported them during the writing process. Some authors dedicate a book to the memory of a loved one or to a cause or idea.. Some authors will dedicate a book to their readers or to an author who inspired them, even if that author is no longer around.

 But here in this book, the author has left the page blank and asked the readers to dedicate it to someone who will be benefitted from the book. This is a unique gesture which will make the author stand out as he extends his support through this book for all those who are in the transition period of teens to adult.

 The author has dealt with almost all the issues which the Young adults may experience,  like a great deal of shame, problems with self-esteem, withdrawing from social connections, an unwillingness to try at anything (work, school, etc.), depression, anxiety, substance use, and even total isolation.

 The flow of the book is smooth and it is truly designed in sync with the target readers. The book in a friendly way assists the readers like an anchor to navigate their sail into adulthood. A person may be experiencing great difficulty (disorganization, denial, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.) and may not seem to be able to make a healthy transition to adulthood. This is usually because they have not been able to develop the necessary emotional, socio-emotional and psychological tools. At this juncture, continuing the habit of reading, widely, into their teenage years helps teens to: deal with their increasingly complex world and understand some of the adult issues they will have to grapple with. Know they are not alone — others may be thinking and feeling the way they do.

Many people believe that adolescence is a difficult time in a child's development. But, this is not necessarily true. Many teenagers pass through their adolescent years smoothly and victoriously, passing into adulthood relatively unscathed. Still, there are many steps you can take to help your teenager and yourself make a seamless transition.

One will be to definitely read this book. Do buy a copy of the book here on Amazon.


(This blogpost is  a part of Blogchatter/s Book review program)


 (This blogpost is part of the Bookish League bloghop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile: https://bohemianbibliophile.com/)

Thursday 14 March 2024

A POETRY BOOK THAT GAVE A NEW EXPERIENCE

 





POETRY is always an interesting option to simply make a quick read and the one we can turn to when we are in dire need of a feed for the mind.

Poetry often sticks with us, making us to re-read and even memorize the words. Poetic words tend to be easier to memorize than non-poetic ones, and it can help improve a person's memory and make it more receptive to remembering other information as well.

  It is so because Poetry is connected to aesthetics, or anything that is beautiful in the world. It can also help increase cultural awareness, as the poetry of a culture offers insight into that culture's history and values. Poetry can also help writers express their emotions and can in turn help readers connect to those emotions.

 With the same flow my eyes caught the attention of the poetry book SELECTED POEMS BY PABLO NERUDA in the library and without making any further delay I took the book.

 The book is a paperback published by Penguin UK with a total 487 pages.

 

OCEAN

 

Body more immaculate than a wave,

Salt washing away its own line,

And the brilliant bird

Dying without ground roots

 

This is one of the short and sweet poem from the book.

 

The book is distinctly remarkable in its content as it carries both the original Spanish version of the poem alongside the translated one in English. There are nearly 117 poems on diverse topics.  Wine, Gold, ode to the book, fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks, The portrait in the rock, The Lion, The long day called Thursday, The water song ends were the few among the gems that this treasure holds in itself.

 The repute of the poet is well known to all and he needs no bigger introduction. This Chilean poet’s poems about love were expressed through metaphors and images of nature. He was accomplished in   a variety of styles in his poetry, ranging from erotically charged love poems to surrealist poems, historical epics, and overtly political manifestos.

 Literary critics state that Pablo has made sure that the polychromatic and vibrant mix of stylistic elements and literary devices such as personification, symbolism, imagery, repetition, etc., that he incorporates every time keeps the reader zealous.

 The book was well received among readers of poetry and here I quote a review of the book:

“Selected Poems contains Neruda’s resonant, exploratory, intensely individualistic verse, rooted in the physical landscape and people of Chile. Here we find sensuous songs of love, tender odes to the sea, melancholy lyrics of heartache, fiery political statements and a frank celebration of sex. This is an enticing, distinctive and celebrated collection of poetry from the greatest 20th century Latin American poet.”

Reading this book bestowed me a new experience to view the finer perspective of an all-time great poet and the secret of poetry’s tight hold on the readers.


(This blogpost is a part of BLOGCHATTER's #TBR2024 for the month of March)



Wednesday 13 March 2024

STYLE YOUR SPEECH WITH SWEDISH PROVERB

 



The above lines are a translation of a Swedish proverb.

 Proverbs have been part of human culture for thousands of years. Some of those from China, Africa, and the Middle East, for example, were first coined long before the Roman Empire. Some proverbs from other countries may sound familiar to you. It is common for countries to have their own versions of a proverb.

 Stylistically set apart from regular speech, they are often metaphorical or symbolic in nature. Speakers can use proverbs to impart knowledge, offer advice, teach or reinforce morals, make an argument, relieve interpersonal tensions, aid in understanding, or to console or inspire others.

 Proverbs serve as broad guidelines for moral and/or proper behavior. Additionally, they tend to mirror the cultural beliefs of the society or tradition from which they originate. Here in this context

 Swedish (svenska [ˈsvɛ̂nːska]) is a North Germanic language spoken predominantly in Sweden and in parts of Finland. It has at least 10 million native speakers, the fourth most spoken Germanic language and the first among any other of its type in the Nordic countries overall.

 There are approximately 10.5 million speakers of Swedish around the world, and more than 90 percent of them live in Sweden.

 Swedish is a beautiful and melodic language with a unique set of sounds and grammatical features. It is known for its relatively simple noun declensions and the use of definite and indefinite articles before nouns. Swedish also uses the Latin alphabet with a few additional characters like å, ä,

 Some Swedish idioms are similar to our own, more or less, for example in place of there's no place like home comes borta bra men hemma bäst (away is good but home is best). But then there are beauties such as köp inte grisen i säcken – don't buy a pig while it's still in the bag.

 Use Lingvanex applications to quickly and instantly translate an Swedish English text for free. Lingvanex provides an accessible alternative to Google translate service from English to Swedish and from Swedish to the English language.

 Swedish is one of the easier languages for an English native speaker to learn, with a lot of vocabulary and grammar in common.

 Being able to speak Swedish fluently can increase your chances of getting a job in Sweden. Sweden is a beautiful country with a rich culture and history. Learning Swedish can help you understand and appreciate the country's culture and traditions.

 Would you like to try your hand at learning Swedish language ?  Do share it in comments.


Tuesday 12 March 2024

WHAT'S THE CONNECT BETWEEN CHOCOLATES AND PETS AT HOME

 

 


To love, and to like many things in our daily life is so exhilarating and enjoyable. The most common thing that we all like mostly is chocolates and pets we own. That too with whole lot of variety of chocolates available around the global and the celebration of world chocolate day bring zing and zest to crave for more chocolates.

 But our two loves, love each other?  Can we share our chocolates with our pets?

 As many of us know that though they like each other also, it’s not safe for the pet.

BE aware and alert

 Although many people are aware that dogs can't eat chocolate, it is actually a very common intolerance for most mammals. From ferrets to pigs, cats to poultry, accidental ingestion of large amounts of the cocoa-based product could result in chocolate toxicity, which can be fatal.

 Chocolate contains two substances called theobromine and caffeine, which are harmless for humans but toxic for dogs, cats and rabbits as they struggle to metabolise them. Dogs are especially at risk of chocolate poisoning as cats are usually too discriminating to eat large amounts of chocolate.

 Chocolate contains cocoa, and cocoa contains the compound theobromine. Theobromine is toxic to dogs and other animals at certain doses. Chocolate poisoning is a problem that occurs mainly in dogs but also occurs occasionally in cats or other animals.

 Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains theobromine and to a lesser extent, caffeine. Humans metabolize theobromine easily, but dogs don't. Dogs process theobromine and caffeine slowly, which allows these toxic compounds to build up in their systems and cause clinical signs associated with chocolate toxicity.

 Clinical signs depend on the amount and type of chocolate ingested. For many dogs, the most common clinical signs are vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, and racing heart rate. In severe cases, symptoms can include muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure.

 Even if your dog doesn't get sick from eating small amounts of chocolate however, it's still best that they avoid it. One study found that repeated theobromine exposure led to the development of cardiomyopathy (a chronic disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood) in dogs.

 

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE:

No, dogs can't eat chocolate. Although not all canines are as susceptible to becoming ill from eating chocolate, it isn't good for any dog. Feeding your dog some of your Easter egg as a treat will probably have the opposite effect that you intend, and can result in some hefty vet bills.

 If your dog eats chocolate, you should monitor them closely and seek veterinary attention if they show any symptoms, or if they are very young, pregnant or have other health concerns.

 ESPECIALLY DOGS ARE AT HIGH RISK:

Chocolate toxicosis may result in potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and CNS dysfunction in animals. Chocolate poisoning occurs most commonly in dogs, although many species are susceptible. Contributing factors include indiscriminate eating habits and readily available sources of chocolate.

 IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT:

In most cases of chocolate poisoning, your vet will initially make your dog vomit, wash out their stomach and then feed them activated charcoal to absorb any Theobromine left in the intestine. Please do not be tempted to make your dog vomit yourself, this should be done by your vet in a controlled manner.

 DOG SAFE CHOCOLATE ALTERNATIVE:

Since carob is similar to chocolate and doesn't contain caffeine or theobromine it is a safe alternative to chocolate that your dog will love! Carob is one of the most popular dog-safe alternatives to chocolate because of the similarity between the carob bean and the cocoa bean. Reach here to know about the chocolate alternatives.

 CHOCOLATES FOR BIRDS:

However, even in very small amounts, chocolate can be toxic to birds. Chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, increase heart rate, result in hyperactivity, induce tremors and seizures, and even cause death in birds.

 

 In addition, many of the foods that humans enjoy, such as chocolate, are toxic to wildlife and can cause serious health problems or even death.

 So just think before you feed your pet or any other animal.


(This blogpost is a part of Blogaberry Creative Challenge for the month of March under the theme: CHOCOLATE)

Monday 11 March 2024

READ ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE

 



 

"The mind is like an umbrella. It's most useful when open." Meaning that the mind works better if you keep an open mind. & with an open mind, comes great things. This is a Quote by James Dewar

 

What is the best way to open your mind?

Seek out new experiences:  

Try something you've never done before, learn a new skill, visit a new place, and meet new people. You might discover a new passion or purpose that you would have had no idea existed without opening your mind to this new experience!

 In another way it means being flexible and adaptive to new experiences and ideas. It involves listening and always considering other points of view. By being Open Minded you allow yourself to adapt, evolve and have the ability to see other solutions and outcomes where others struggle to overcome.

 

You learn to empathise and compromise:

 An open mind makes you more willing to accept others as they are and work with them on that basis. It also helps you understand and respect people's boundaries and professional needs. As a result, you're less likely to engage in conflict as you're more willing to empathize with others and make compromises.

 So, open-mindedness is a key trait that can help us to grow and develop as individuals. By becoming more self-aware, seeking out new experiences and perspectives, actively listening to others, and being willing to change our minds, we can become more open-minded and receptive to new ideas and ways of thinking.

 

You Consider New Possibilities:

Being open-minded makes us feel vulnerable because we may not know “everything” but this is a good thing. Too many people think they know it all (and they clearly don't). I find it refreshing and exciting that I don't know everything and I am open to new possibilities all the time.

 

A Positive Quality:

Being open-minded is generally considered a positive quality. It is a necessary ability in order to think critically and rationally. If you are not open to other ideas and perspectives, it is difficult to see all of the factors that contribute to problems or come up with effective solutions.

 Keeping an open mind and being ready to learn as much as you can are therefore the most important skills you can have in your life. An open mindset refers to a tendency to be receptive to new ideas and information. Having an open mindset means being objective when you approach new things, listening to other points of view, and being willing to admit what you don't know.

 

SO these are the whole package of benefits we receive when we have an open mind. If you are already on to it, then it’s fine or else let us start to be so without any further delay.


Sunday 10 March 2024

A FAMOUS TEMPLE TOWN CALLED TIRUVALLAVAZH IN KERALA

   


The Divya Kshetram TIRUVALLAVAZH (Tiruvalla) town is near Kottayam in Kerala. The presiding deity is Kolappiran also called Sri Vallabhan in standing posture.  The Goddess is Selvathirukozhundu Nachiyar. The sacred water is Kandakarna theertham and the sanctum sanctorum is Chathurangakola Vimanam. There is a shrine for Viswaksenar.

According to the sthala purana Shankara Mangalathammai used to observe Ekadasi vratham and feed one Brahmachari on the Dwadasi day. Tolakarana, a demon was creating hurdles to her vratham. Responding to her prayers the Lord killed the demon and came for the feast in the form of a Brahmachari, and later gave darshan to her with Lakshmi adorning His chest and gained the name Tiruvazhmarban. The place Tiruvalla originates from the presiding deity Vallabha.

Saturday 9 March 2024

SAFEGUARD YOUR INNER PEACE BY SETTING A LIMIT

 


 

Is this really possible? I wonder.

The Dalai Lama repeats this advice to us over and over as a powerful reminder that we allow people to suck away our energy far too often. By giving someone else the power over the way you feel about yourself, you are letting go of the wheel of your well-being.

 Walk away if possible and if required: If anything disturbs your inner peace, remember it is not worth spending time on. If staying around negative people can be avoided, do it. Exit and don't look back. You don't need to prove your strength to anyone but battling the bullies everyday.

 Expert’s advice to Use mindfulness tools, rather than automatically reacting, we can learn to choose a meaningful response. Since this is very difficult in the moment, the first step in mindfulness is often to simply STOP and take a pause before reacting. This may be a few moments or a few days if needed.

 Focus on your own personal growth and let go of those who hold you back. Stop allowing people to rob you of your peace of mind. Set boundaries and surround yourself with positivity to protect your mental and emotional well-being.

Finding inner peace is more challenging with our busy schedule, hectic lifestyle, and everyday stressors, but it's completely possible with an initial little step like setting a limit. A limit is a guide to your response to someone else's behavior. You can't control someone else, but you can decide what you are willing to do, what you're not willing to do, or what you are willing to put up with from someone else before you remove yourself.

So do focus on these points to be at peace by not allowing others to disturb us. Good luck


WHY WE LOVE TO SPEND TIME IN A BOOK STORE?

       Physical bookstores help you use not one sense organ but many . You read (vision), smell, touch altogether making it more of a happ...