Book Review: Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

  
Last Chance to See is a book written by Douglas Adams (an English author and humourist) and Mark Carwardine (a zoologist). It comes under the genre of travel and wildlife. 

Douglas and Mark travel the world finding rare animals. Be it a mild kakapo or a ferocious Komodo dragon, Douglas and Mark are trying to raise the population of these creatures from passing on to extinction. This book is a humorous and factual book where the reader understands the danger of certain animals due to poaching.

If you are an animal lover and keen on wildlife, then this is the book for you! Even if you haven't the slightest idea on what this kind of a book is like (like me), it will still enthrall you with it's humour and story.

The story starts with Douglas 'not expecting' the fact that he was travelling to Madagascar with Mark Carwardine to find the aye-aye which no one had seen in years. It then unfolds into their journeys and their stays in various places.


The best parts are when Douglas and Mark miss a flight, or Douglas unable to cope with mosquitoes, or his ignorance of birds or one of those moments when the person you are speaking to doesn't understand what you are saying and you don't understand what he is saying.

Personal views- The book is one of the many other great books by Douglas Adams and, I think, is just as good. Once you get drawn  towards the book, you won't rest until it's over. So sit back and explore Komodo, Mauritius, China and more!

Another book by Douglas Adams is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which is another comedy sci-fi novel divided into five parts.

That's it for the book review on Last Chance to See. Hope you all enjoyed!

Keep reading!
Avathanshu

Book Review: Crossroads by Vinayak Mittal

Hey everyone!
Fourteen year old boy, Vinayak has written a book! These are my reviews on Crossroads. Enjoy!

Crossroads by Vinayak Mittal

Suröta clan has hopes on finding important information log lost in the Arctic. Jaden, a ten year old boy, Frank, a teenager and Jaden's best friend, Rose, A girl who can excels in stealth and Athur, the teen king of Suröta, all meet together and set off on this deadly voyage. On the way they face mythical creatures, powerful enemies, allies and much more! But can they find this information and, for Jaden alone, can he find his father? Find out in this book by Vinayak Mittal, aged 14.


I would recommend Crossroads to all fiction lovers and it also has a touch of fantasy. This is also enjoyable for comedy. It has a taste on the olden times (Katanas and swords). It has a great plot and is very enthralling for everyone out there!


Personal experience: I really liked the characters, their goof-ups, sacrifice which you will find out as you progress through the book. I have a good liking to Olden timed books, so to me, reading this was an execellent pastime. It could have had less amount of  interventions. Sometimes there are abrupt ends to important parts, but it is still relevant to the story and does not make any major changes.

I would also like to add that this book is extraordinary, if looked from the point of view that it is published when the author, my buddy Vinayak, was thirteen years old. So, hats off to you, Vinayak, for writing a splendid book of the kind. I am also awaiting the sequel Crosstimes. Wish you all the best and may your writing go a long way! 

Keep reading!
Avathanshu Bhat

Joy of losing

Come on, who wants to lose?? After all the purpose of a game is to win. It really is terrible to walk out of the tournament hall while watching out of the corner of your eye your opponent telling all their friends about their victory. Those fake handshakes, and fake smiles on your face. No one enjoys losing!

But what I feel is while winning will get you more achievements (or maybe even fame) losing makes you wiser. It also helps in remembering your flaws more precisely than the wins.It is hard to recollect wins as easily as it is for a loss.  I remember those mini heart attacks than those winning shots!

Losing gracefully is the first step towards joy. I remember an incident where I was in Taiwan for Asian Schools and I was in a forced mate position (my opponent could mate me in the next move). I still had plenty of time left on my clock. I decided to wait there because I didn’t want to come out as an early loser. Also they were distributing chocolates at the other end and I would miss it if the game ended then. And just when I thought my plan was going to work, the arbiter came and said, “If there is nothing you can do and now, you have to make a move now.” I went red in the face and had to make my move leading to my loss. Later on, I went to the arbiter and sheepishly admitted that I was waiting till my time was about to run out and called my opponent, asking if he wanted to analyse. Voila!! What I got in return? Beautiful game analysis, pat on my back, a good friend who was my opponent few minutes back, and handful of chocolates! This is when I tasted the joy of losing for the first time. And it means a lot to me even now.

So now what does all this mean? Losses make you stronger and wiser. I have lost many games than won. Losing has its own charm. It can make you understand and retrospect mistakes occurred in past. After all losing isn’t as bad as most people think. It is soothing to hear “its okay boy! We can still try next time!” It gives you an opportunity to buck up. Sometimes it is painful, but there is nothing better than analysing with your coach who is always on your side. After all what’s a big deal in analysing an already won game?

So just enjoy the way it goes. How boring the life would be if there were only wins. No wonder chess has black and white, both equally important. Let us celebrate both. Is there anything more precious than your mama’s hug at the end of a lost game? Is there anything more pacifying than your papa’s calm voice miles away? Is there anything more soothing than having someone else to share your misery with? Is there anything more heavenly than that extra cheese pizza, or that day out at the movies after a loss? 

Losing is fun when you have lovely people around and  a free mind to accept the challenge.

Keep Playing
Avathanshu

The life of a young chess player

The Life of a Young Chess Player

I never imagined that chess was going to be part of my life when my mother opened a chess board gifted by somebody to me on my fourth birthday. She knew little chess and was able to teach me how to play. But that interest didn’t last for long as most of the time we ended up in messing up the place with pieces scattered all over the house. A chess sir who taught me in kindergarten told my parents that I was doing well in the game. He even gave me a CD for practice. My parents ignored it. They thought it was just a marketing trick. The CD went straight to scrap, and the chess pieces were back in their pack.
Bobby Fischer teaches Chess was the book that really got me interested in the game. My father had bought it for me and we would sit down and try to solve the book. I was so interested in it; the book only lasted for a day with all the positions worked out.

My first chess book

My mother enrolled me for a small chess club called Lighthouse where I began to learn even more about this wonderful game. Around then my mom was wondering about playing a tournament in Mulund organised by Mr. Vaze. My coach Pushkraj advised me not to play as I was still too much of a beginner. But my mom thought that it would be a great experience.

That was when I first tasted the reality of how grueling it was to be a chess player. Yes, the coach was right. The venue was jam-packed with kids running around, anxious parents peeping through the glass window to look at their kids’ game, the security guards trying to chase them away and the arbiters inside disciplining the kids and people struggling to secure the chairs. Nevertheless, when I got one of my first certificates for scoring 3.0/7, it was all that was needed to make my day. Maybe the passion for chess inside me was budding.

My mother was the first one to figure this out and she knew that it would be best to put me in an academy. She soon found some good chess players going to a training centre in Thane. It was a tough decision to enroll me there as it consumed up money, time and energy. Powai (the place where I stay) to Thane is almost 18 kilometres away from my home. But my parents decided it was worth the risk and thus began our Powai-Thane-Powai ordeal.

Those classes held under Abhijit Joshi were great fun. I think that was when I started taking chess seriously. We used to drive all the way almost every day, and I played games under dim light, mosquitos everywhere, being so hot and sweaty, with the fans sometimes not working. But I never complained. Whether it was hot, cold, raining or I was sick or I had exams, I would always be there at 6.30 p.m. sharp. Sometimes I would go to a camp in the morning, rush home, take a small break of half an hour to one hour and then immediately rush for the evening class. I would be very tired when I came back. But still I never gave up and continued going to the Thane classes for a year and a half.
In between I played State U-7(Aurangabad), Nationals U-7(Pondicherry), Sangli and Jalgaon. In simple words my chess grind had just begun!  Success was far from me, yet, I was not bothered about the outcome. I still cherish those memories. In fact, I remember some of the games, such as the first round of Nationals U-7 where I was up a queen for a rook and was completely winning. When my opponent threatened a back rank mate, I pushed my a-pawn instead of the h and got duly checkmated! What days they were!

Yay!! I got a certificate! at Pondicherry 2011

My parents thought we needed to take my passion further and then we found IM Sagar Shah. This was the turning point in my chess career. Unfortunately, Sagar thought that I would be too much of a beginner for his Saturday classes, though he did say I could go to Amruta Mokal (A WIM-elect, and a chess photographer), his fiancée at that point and now his wife. Of course, in three months’ time, I was promoted to his class!

Amruta Mokal Shah and Sagar Shah are the coolest people I know. They are not just coaches, but my family. We as a team work upon chess: we share wins, losses, miseries, victories. Staying in their house for almost six to seven hours, having lunch together, exchanging stories, cracking jokes are all the things that make the class fun.

Asian school at Taichung Taiwan 2013

                             

Framed with India's finest young chess players at world youth chess championship ,Al ain UAE 2012

Punctuality, right mannerism, perseverance and honesty are some of the qualities that I have learned along with chess from them. And that just winning doesn’t make you a champion, being a good human being comes as a responsibility. They took me under their wings the way I am, not bothered about my flaws.
                                   

So in these five years journey with chess, what have I gained? No, I am not a state or a national champion. My name has not appeared in TV or newspaper. But I am proud to be what I am. I am exposed to a lot of realities in life probably more than many kids of my age have had. I have travelled to many places – national and international for chess. I made new friends during my trips. I have met lot of people who have devoted themselves to chess. I have tasted the bitterness of a loss and the sweetness of a win. This beautiful game has given me an identity which we have built through all these years for me and my family.

My chess family

                             

Chess is not just a sport or a hobby to me. It has become a part of my life, my routine, my everything. Yes, I miss my father terribly when I go for tournaments (usually my mother accompanies me). I miss my school, teachers and friends.I also sometimes miss going to the lobby to play with my friends, videogames, sleepovers and birthday parties. But when I see the 64 squares in front of me I forget everything. I do not want to stop here. I love this game; I love the people around me. I can give my entire life to this no matter how much hard work goes into it. Of course I always have a beautiful family,  loving coaches and my school to support me.

My school (Podar international Powai) always supported and loved me unconditionally

                             


Here I remember a quote from one of the movies I saw when I was younger:
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”
Winnie the Pooh from Winnie the Pooh movie

How a chess player can benefit from the Olympics

Hey everyone!!

Have you ever watched the Olympic games? It is the fight between the best of the best, fastest to fastest, finest to finest and the ultimate sports event the world can ever witness. It may be swimming, athletics, badminton, hockey, football, archery or more. We may usually consider watching it for our own entertainment. But have you considered the Games, or the players, as inspiration to players interested in games not included?

 If you are a non sport person you may not even enjoy watching it. Let us take Chess as an example. It isn't included in the Olympics as it is considered as an indoor sports or may be a mental game or whatever reason would it be. But there is a lot to learn for each and every chess player. We all know the toppers such as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic. We consider all these legends as 'fine, fantastic or phenomenal" but here in Olympics they are "inspiration" to next generation!(Many people must have taken out their badminton racket lying unused in the corner of the house after seeing Sindhu!) Imagine how much hard work must have gone in for that perfection. It is not  about their wins or loses, but the effort gone into it just be there in that big battle.There were upsets, shocks, surprises and drama  in Olympics. I loved the passion,aggression, loss, win, determination focus  all here.The best was beaten by the better and the best became even better.

What I felt after watching Rio 2016 Olympics is that  there  no reason to think of what is going to happen when you are competing with someone better than you. There shouldn't be a single doubt about your capability when you are fighting it out for that big win. For all those of you watching the Rio 2016, remember the  swimming event between Joseph Schooling and Michael Phelps? Schooling was just a young boy, great fan of Micheal Phelps, who was a world champion at that time when he took a picture with him.Who would have thought that this  21- year old Singaporean would actually beat the person he admired the most? Not me for one. In the end it was he who won the gold, leaving Phelps in silver. 

Also remember how tight the match was with P V Sindhu and Carolina Marin in the badminton final? Although she lost in the end, recall how Sindhu had won the first set?  This is not only an example of "when you gain an edge you must have a tight hook on it", but also of "The game is not yet over until it is all over and there is no reason to back out. The tables can yet be turned"(here I remember Sakshi Mallik clinching that bronze in the last five seconds!). The best thing to learn from them is the humility they show. How grounded they are even after their historic victories.

All these must be utilized in other games like chess. Anyone can be up there at the top as long as you are your own mentor. Perfection does not just leap onto your lap, but has to be earned through loads of hard work and dedication. A chess player, or in that matter any player, should never be under prepared or under estimate the opponent (here I remember the game between P V Sindhu, world number 9, and Nozomi Okuhara, world number 3). It can be very dangerous and can lose you an otherwise winning match. Also, if you do win something, you must be consistent with that win. Lastly enjoy the battle just like Deepa Karmakar who finished it with that million dollar smile after coming so close to medal. It is not easy to take the defeat after reaching so close yet so far. Nevertheless, she won billions of hearts for her love for the game.

So, the next time you face an opponent stronger than you, remember to be like Schooling, Phelps, Bolt, Sakshi, Deepa and Sindhu and never back out. If you do, then you will lose the battle even before it starts. 
Here I remember a poem that I love and read over and over even in my lows by John Greenleaf Whittier:

Don't Quit

"When things go wrong, as they sometimes will;

when the road you're trudging seems all uphill;

when the funds are low and the depths are high;

and you want to smile but you have to sigh.

When all is pressing you down a bit-

rest if you must, but don't you quit.

success is failure turned inside out;

the silver tint on the clouds of doubt;

and you can never tell how close you are;

it may be near when it seems far.

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-

it's when things go wrong that you must not quit"

Keep Playing!!

Avathanshu

Book Review- The Hobbit

Hey everyone!

This is going to be the second book review on this blog.

This one is going to be on The Hobbit.  Enjoy!!

The Hobbit

The Hobbit is a book written by J.R.R. Tolkien and is divided into three parts: An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies. This book is an award winning classic work of fiction.  

The description:  When Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, turns fifty, the wizard Gandalf, accompanied by thirteen other dwarfs, lead by Thorin Oakenshield, appear on his doorstep to take him with them on their journey to hunt and raid the treasure of  Smaug the Magnificent, a dragon who killed Thorin's father and grandfather and stole a lot of treasure. Bilbo was chosen as the burglar. But there are problems... They soon learn that an army of goblins and wargs(The wild wolves of the west) are following. Read through this exciting tale and you shall be transported to the wonderful world of Middle Earth!! 

Contents:

·       All three parts of The Hobbit

·       Maps: Thror’s Map, Map of Wilderland

Recommendations: If you wish to have a taste of Old English(with words like ere, whither etc), then this is the right book for you. However, I would not recommend it to someone who likes comedy. Also if you're a fantasy lover, this is just the right thing for you.

Personal punch: I read this book when I was ten years old and I really liked its fluent language which also pushed me to reading The Lord of the Rings, the sequel, to this book(Also note that The Lord of the Rings may not be so simple to understand without reading The Hobbit first).

I also loved the characters, such as Bilbo for his timidness, yet thoughtful, Thorin for his occasional arrogance and long speeches, and Gandalf for his wisdom and mysteriousness.

That’s it for the book review of The Hobbit. Enjoy reading!

A Day in the Life of a Dog

A Day in the Life of a Dog

Bark Bark, Woof Woof.

(Translating doggy language)

There we go! Hello friends! My name is Dog. Sorry about that. I was just trying out a barkslator to talk to you guys! I ordered it from… Petkart was it? No, it was… yeah Dogazon! I just remembered. Anyways let me show you my house.

There we go! That’s my house! Cool isn’t it? It is homely. It is actually a mansion. But it is a rat’s paradise. I think you guys call it a dump. I even have a phone and it is awesome! Anyway, let’s explore someplace else. I shall introduce you to my neighbors.

It is a long walk, so let us chat. Oh we need to cross the road! What a bother! Lights turned green… (Car whizzes by) Hey, you crazy man! Haven’t you humans learnt not to break rules?? Oh well… I guess they’ll never learn. Ooh we’ve reached my neighbors.

Hey Pussy! Hey there, Rhino! This is my new friend. Pussy is training to become a real-life artist. It means that she likes to let her imagination run wild and turn the house which she lives in topsy turvy. It is a fine sight, I must say! And her pictures move. The people scream and shriek and it is epic!

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce Rhino! Rhino’s real name is Rhino the Hamster. He likes to go around in a ball. I still remember all those play dates we used to have when I was a puppy. He dreams of becoming a Hamsterlete (or athlete is what you humans call it). Hamsterletes are supposed to roll on their ball till the finish line. These occur in the animalics (or Olympics for you).

Aaargh!! Those people are launching wireforks into the air and it hurts our ears, it does. Wish they would stop someday.

Whoa! What is going on! It is almost midnight! My fears may come true. What if… what if those animal trappers come to get me? They give me the creeps. Bye Pussy and Rhino! Bye guys! I will have to catch you some other time. Bye friends and goodnight!