With love, for every Ama
About 4,700 kilometers from a war-ravaged Gaza Strip and thousands of kilometers from other war zones around the world, Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche, the author of the book titled Living Fully: Finding Joy in Every Breath and president of the Universal Peace Sanctuary, laid the foundation for a universal peace sanctuary to be developed at Lumbini on a beautiful Saturday afternoon (Dec 16) in the presence of a peace-loving crowd.
The crowd had gathered at the birthplace and the sacred land of meditation for Shakyamuni Buddha and several of his previous incarnations for the occasion themed ‘Make peace more fashionable than war’ from far and wide. Droves of people, including dignitaries, laid stones for the construction of the sanctuary dedicated to Mayadevi, the mother of the Buddha and wife of King Shuddodhan.
The sanctuary symbolizes the supreme sacrifice of Mayadevi, who, as prophesied, died after giving birth to Prince Siddartha, who went on to become the Buddha by ultimately renouncing the worldly trappings associated with a prince, and all mothers for giving birth and nurturing life.
Good Reads
Good Bad Girl
Alice Feeney
Thriller | Mystery
Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth. Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at 80, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything. Edith’s daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door and their intentions aren’t good. With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.
Welcome To Paradise
Twinkle Khanna
Short Stories
These are rich narratives that explore the depth of loneliness, heartbreak, and deception. Huma’s divided family – Team Cemetery and Team Crematorium – clash hilariously over matters involving pigs and penises as they decide what to do with Amma’s body. Madhura Desai writes an email to the chief justice of India, urging him to choose a ‘nice cut-off age’ to die, sending shockwaves across the nation. Along the shores of Satpati, Nusrat grapples with the loss of her son, and her voice. Amita tells her husband about her breast implants but not about Bua, Bangalore, and beautiful men. Perfectly observed, shot through with light and shadow and wry humor, Welcome to Paradise confirms Khanna’s reputation as one of India’s most masterful storytellers.
Independence
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Historical Fiction
Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it. Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status. Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals. Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home. When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic—and dangerous—change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, and Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.
Winter style: Your guide to looking fab this season
Thick pants, jackets, and boots might be winter staples but that doesn’t mean your winter style has to be boring. You don’t have to compromise on fashion for warmth and comfort. Invest in some key pieces and learn how to put together some good outfits so that you look sensible and stylish at the same time. We bring to you some ideas to get you started. These are just some tips and suggestions and not rules. The key to looking good is feeling good in what you wear.
Start with thermal basics
It’s getting colder by the day and the trick to staying warm is wearing good quality thermals underneath your clothes. No one looks good when they are cold and shivering, no matter how nice their clothes are. This tip might sound basic but it’s easy to overlook. Buy a pair of thermal or wool tights that you can wear under your jeans and a nice cotton camisole to wear under your top (this will give you a layer of warmth without the bulkiness) and you’ve got the basics of winter style sorted. If you opt for a thin thermal layer underneath your outfit, you can get away with wearing what you usually would without worrying about being cold.
Invest in some important pieces
A long coat, a warm jacket, and a couple of sweaters in neutral colors like brown, beige, or white and you have laid the foundation of winter dressing. A trench coat is one of the most iconic and timeless pieces of clothing. You can wear it as a dress, with high boots. Or pair it with tapered denim or even bell bottoms. It’s also good to have at least one denim jacket and a puffer jacket in your winter wardrobe arsenal. Denim jackets work well with woolen cardigans as well as lighter inner layers. Puffer jackets are perfect for freezing winter when you don’t want the cold to get you. Plus, it looks stylish and works well with all kinds of clothes.
Layer your clothes
Layering can make you look put together while giving you the option to put on or take off clothes according to how cold or hot you feel. But it doesn’t just serve a purpose, it can make quite a statement too. You need a base layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. What’s important is to plan your look from the base to the outmost layer so that each layer works on its own too. Find some lightweight options to use this technique with during winter. A cotton shirt with a cropped sweater on top and a long coat to finish with can make for a great look. Purposeful layering allows you to play with a mixture of patterns or textures and curate different looks every single time. You can also play around with the length of your layers like wearing a shorter jacket over a longer top.
Don’t forget footwear
It’s easy to overlook footwear and slide into that pair of comfortable boots or running shoes when you have to go out. But put in some effort to match footwear to your ensemble.
For an edgy look, go for some chunky heeled ankle boots and thick wool socks. Long boots work well with skin-tight jeans or skirts. Sometimes just switching your footwear can make a huge difference in your outfit. Some styles to include in your wardrobe for this season would be chunky soles and lace-ups. In terms of color, red and brown are also great choices instead of the regular black. Shoes need to be practical but there’s no harm in having at least one fun pair of boots in your wardrobe.
Pick the right accessories
A great winter jacket or trench coat might be the foundation of your winter outfit but accessories are what complete your look. With the right accessories, you can express your personality and create a more polished look. Gloves, hats, scarves, and belts among others can elevate your look and take it to a whole new level. Buy your accessories in neutral colors so that they can be paired with most of the outfits. You can go for bright-colored scarves and hats to add a bit of cheer to your neutral ensemble. A scarf can be a beautiful accent piece. Think soft cashmere, chunky knit pieces, or neck wraps. Belts can do a lot more than just hold your pants in place. Accentuate your look by using a great belt to cinch your long coat at the waist.
Good reads
Radha: Wrath of the Maeju
Rishi Amatya
Fantasy Fiction
Radha is the first-of-its-kind fantasy fiction set in Patan. The book is about a young girl who is excited to spend a quiet Saturday in Patan Durbar Square with her brother and uncle. But an earthquake brings her dreams crashing to the ground—along with Patan’s temples and palaces—and unleashes forces that threaten everyone she loves. As the armies of darkness await at the border between the worlds, Radha must find the strength and resolve to do everything it takes to restore the balance. An adventure unlike any before, Radha is the story about how the titular character must overcome her own doubts before she can know what it means to be a god.
Sweet Bean Paste
Durian Sukegawa
Contemporary | Japan
Sentaro has a criminal record, drinks too much, and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory. He spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling pancakes filled with sweet bean paste. But everything is about to change. Into his life comes Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted. She begins to teach him her craft, but as their friendship flourishes, social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue’s dark secret is revealed, with devastating consequences. Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship.
Bright Young Women
Jessica Knoll
Thriller | Mystery
January 1978. A serial killer has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence couldn’t be further from the minds of the vibrant young women at the top sorority on Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee. Tonight is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher, president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home—a decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence—two of her sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that’s captivated public interest for more than four decades.
