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We crave change. We want to be fit and healthy, become better, do better, and be happy and content. The allure and the modus operandi or marketing strategy, if I might say so, of self-help books lies in people’s inherent desire to make their lives better. There are plenty of books that make lofty promises—you will be happier, you will learn to navigate relationships, you will thrive at work, etc. But reading about concepts and ways to change your life won’t actually do a thing unless you are willing to put in the hard work. And even then, what’s the guarantee that the things that worked for the author and his/her friends will work for you? This is one of the main reasons why I often steer clear of self-help books.

However, self-help books that are rooted in scientific or research-backed suggestions appeal to me. It puts me in the right mindset, one that makes me want to listen to the advice and implement them in my life. In that sense, ‘Everyday Ayurveda’ by Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya is one of the best books I’ve read. Dr Bhattacharya is a licensed, board-certified physician who has been incorporating ayurveda in her treatments for the past 25 years. Her work was featured on The Discovery Channel’s documentary, Healers: Journey into Ayurveda.

My interest in ayurveda probably comes from my mother. She is a medical doctor who has always supported the ayurvedic way of life. Watching her practice and recommend ayurvedic ways of healing has made me believe in its powers. I already knew many of the things mentioned in the book but it was still a good reminder of what I needed to do to be more active and agile. The book is divided into short chapters and the tone feels conversational and not preachy at all. The author is knowledgeable and the writing is thus convincing. Backed by evidence and anecdotes, Everyday Ayurveda makes for an interesting and eye-opening read.

Delving into the principles of ayurveda, Dr Bhattacharya tells us why and how we should listen to the signs our bodies give us. She urges readers to focus on self-care, building healthy habits, and following ancient wisdom and practices for sound health. You will pick up some helpful tips on how to turn your life around. Most of these tips don’t require much effort. They are just some basic modifications in your current lifestyle. Everyday Ayurveda, I believe, is an essential guide to a deeper understanding of yourself and the ways in which you can live a more fulfilling life.

Everyday Ayurveda

Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya

Published: 2015

Publisher: Ebury Press
Pages: 298, Paperback

In Nepal, most of us grow up eating ‘dal, bhat, tarkari’. The meal is so intricately woven in the fabric of our existence that if we don’t have it for a few days (because we are traveling or just haven’t had the time to cook the often-elaborate meal) we feel something is amiss. My father can have dal, bhat, tarkari three times a day. Yes, even for ‘khaja’. He says twice is a must, thrice is better. There are many others, relatives and friends, who feel the same way.

 During my school days, I had dal, bhat, tarkari every day, often for lunch and dinner. I used to hate it. It might be a balanced meal but I never liked it very much. I enjoy rice and curry but an ensemble of different things never appealed to me. So, I would often say I don’t like Nepali food. I was equating Nepali food with dal, bhat, tarkari. Much later, I would realize that Nepali food is diverse and, in many cases, nutritionally dense as well and come to love it.

I came across Prashanta Khanal’s cookbook ‘Timmur: Stories and Flavors from Nepal’ while waiting to consult a nutritionist at her office. The coffee table book caught my attention because of its interesting title. Also, I love the spice timmur, which is a flavoring ingredient that gives dishes a tangy touch. Upon flipping the book, I was enthralled. There are full page photos of dishes accompanying the recipes which are divided into nine sections.

The book could be considered an introduction into the various cuisines of Nepal. There are concise introductions delving into the history and traditions of the different cuisines featured in the book. There are recipes for Thakali, Khas, Magar & Gurung, Newari, Sherpa, Tamang, & Tibetan, Tharu & Maithil, and Rai & Limbu cuisines in the 297 glossy pages of the book. There are brief introductions to each dish which made me feel really knowledgeable about the food I was about to make. Did you know ‘momo-cha’ was brought to the Kathmandu Valley from Tibet by Newa traders and has been adapted to local tastes using buffalo meat and local spices?

There’s an entire section devoted to achaar or pickles. For someone like me who loves achaars and can have them by the bottle, this section was a delight. The ease to replicate recipes meant I could whip up anything I was in the mood for anytime I wanted. I tried the ‘Karelako Achaar’ and ‘Dalle Khursaniko Achaar’ among the 17 recipes in the section. They came out really well. Thanks to this arsenal of recipes, I never need to buy packaged pickles anymore or trouble my mother by asking her to make her signature ‘mula ko achaar’ or chili pickle.

The book is a visual delight as well with stunning photos by Nabin Baral and Gagan Thapa. It was actually the photos that made me want to buy a copy of the book which has, since then, become a handy tool to have in the kitchen. The recipes are easy to follow and most of the ingredients mentioned in the book can be found in our pantries. The good thing about Nepali food is that you can tweak it to your liking, by tinkering around with the ingredients, and it will still taste good.

Timmur

Prashanta Khanal

Published: 2022

Publisher: Fineprint

Language: English
Pages: 297, Hardcover

The Instagram page of Penguin India has quite a few posts of celebrities and readers talking about ‘None of This is True’ by Lisa Jewell. And everybody raves about it. It’s Jewell’s most recent release. I had previously read ‘And Then She Was Gone’ and it quite literally yanked me out of my reading slump. So, I wanted to read her other books too, but not back-to-back as reading thrillers in a row can get tedious. Having finished None of This is True I have a strong urge to buy more of her works and read them. Jewell has a knack for telling gripping stories and crafting characters that you will come to care about.

None of This is True is about two women—Alix and Josie—who share the same birthday. They are the birthday twins. They meet by chance at a restaurant where Josie takes a strange fascination with Alix who is a podcaster. She interviews women from all walks of life about the hardships they faced and how they overcame them to become who they are. Josie persuades Alix to feature her in her new series. She tells Alix that she is on the cusp of great changes in her life. Alix agrees and they start the interview process. Alix decides to call the podcast ‘Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin’ which is what Josie says to Alix when she first meets her.

However, there is something unsettling about Josie. Her story is strange and complicated. She comes across as both the victim and hero, and you have an inkling that it couldn’t be so. Everybody else—her mother, her husband, and her two daughters—seems problematic. As Josie tells Alix her story you discover she has been hiding some secrets that could threaten her family. Josie also starts interfering in Alix’s life as she develops an unhealthy obsession with Alix and that’s when things take a sinister turn. But things were already set in motion when Alix and Josie first met, or even long before that.

The book alternates between the main plot which is the story as it happens and the transcripts of the podcast. This lends it a dark vibe because you get the feeling that things aren’t as black and white as Josie is making them out to be, that she is perhaps crafting a narrative that best suits her. The other characters you meet like her husband Walter, her daughter Erin, and Alix’s husband Nathan are also shifty. Walter is almost thirty years older than Josie. Erin spends all her time gaming and never comes out of her room. Alix’s husband has an alcohol problem. There’s a lot going on that just keeps you turning the pages.

[Spoiler alert] The book doesn’t have a happy ending. In many ways, you don’t get a sense of closure. This works to the book’s advantage though because readers will find themselves thinking about it long after they are done with it. To supplement your reading experience, Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin is an actual podcast, available on Apple and Spotify. I listened to it and it gave me the creeps. But I loved the concept. It elevated my reading experience. The publishers definitely knew what they were doing. I can see myself buying every book Jewell has written so far, perhaps without even reading the blurb. I have a feeling I won’t be able to stop myself from binging on them.

None of This is True

Lisa Jewell

Published: 2023

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Pages: 390, paperback

We at ApEx are great believers in people’s list of favorites. We’re always asking friends and relatives to recommend their favorite books, music, and movies. The thing about reading books, listening to music, and watching movies that come recommended by someone is that we are 100 percent sure that we will love them. We have made up my mind that these will be fantastic experiences and so we always have a good time.

Recently, one of us was talking to a friend about a book ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin that we were reading together and we somehow got on the topic of movies. She mentioned that she isn’t much of a movie person and that she rewatches the same 10 movies, mainly because they provide comfort but also because they have great costume designs.

We asked her to share the list and watched a few of those movies over the weekend. We had a blast. They get your mind off things. For the several hours they lasted, some of us forgot all our worries. We’re sharing five movies from the list hoping the stories will lighten your mood.

Clueless

‘Clueless’ is a timeless PG-13 romance comedy with witty dialogue and many fashion takeaways. Alicia Silverstone, in her role as the protagonist Cher, is endearing. The movie is a feel-good classic that never fails to entertain. The 1995 American coming-of-age film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel ‘Emma’. Our friend apparently knows all the dialogues by heart. They are witty one-liners so we can understand why. Though the movie was primarily aimed at teenagers, we believe it will appeal to everyone with a sense of humor. 

Sabrina

If you were to google you would find that there are several movies titled Sabrina. And we actually like quite a few of them. But our friend recommended the 1954 American romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder. The movie stars Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden. In 2002, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’. The movie has a lot of drama and romance and a fair bit of intrigue. The characters are charming, gluing you to the screen. 

Howl’s Moving Castle

Read the book and watch the movie for a wholesome experience. The movie is perhaps one of the best works to come out of Studio Ghibli. The Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki is loosely based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones. An under-confident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch. Her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his weird companions in his legged, walking castle. A brilliant execution of a great plot makes it a gripping and entertaining watch.  

Under the Tuscan Sun

Based on Frances Mayes’ 1996 memoir of the same name, the movie is about a recently divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim. Frances Mayes is a writer whose seemingly perfect life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that her husband has been cheating on her and that his young lover is pregnant with his child. Her best friend Patti worries that Frances might never recover from the traumatic divorce and urges her to go on a vacation. At first, Frances refuses. But then later she decides it might be a good idea to get away for a while and goes to Tuscany where she buys a villa on whim hoping it will change her life. Diana Lane received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in the movie. 

Funny Face

This musical is just what you need on a gloomy day when you don’t feel like doing anything. The 1957 romantic comedy is filled with vibrant performances by Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn. Funny Face is fascinating though there are quite a few loopholes in the writing. The movie has a lot of nonsensical elements between the dance numbers which is why it sticks to your mind. It does feel a tad bit misogynistic at times—the male character is the same throughout the movie while the female lead is the one who learns a lesson and changes. But the good thing is you don’t need to invest a lot of mental energy into the film and will definitely be entertained.