The Darkest June (Book review)

Author – Karma tenzin (Yongba)

The Darkest June is a fictional story about how Wangduephodrang Dzong was ablaze. It has nothing to do with the fact. It is purely a creative writing.

The story says how a boy, known by his pet name Jambo, from Trongsa runs away from his home at night and takes himself to lead his own life. From the day he sees the Wangduephodrang Dzong, he sees a recurrent dream about the dzong being in ablaze with him in the courtyard of the dzong.

The story is written in parallel (Fractured Tandem), one being the story of the boy and how he spends his life in Bhutan and Jaigoan-the border town to Bhutan, and the other story is about how a group of Europeans after knowing about the presence of a very rare diamond in Wangdue Dzong, plans to get it.

In the climax, the men of these Europeans happen to visit Bhutan through Jombo’s travel agency. Jumbo is somehow linked with the robbery of the rare diamond rock from the dzong and its blazing. Jumbo’s recurrent dream was the omen for this incidence.

I love the way our own Bhutanese writers are making an effort to publish more and more books. As a Bhutanese, we should support and encourage more Bhutanese writers to come up with their publication.

Kudos to all the writers!

Sengdhyen

The Alchemist –By Paulo Coelho (Book review)

“The Alchemist –By Paulo Coelho” was the first novel I had ever read back in 2007. Novel was never a choice of book for me but when I saw this book lying on my friend’s desk, I picked it and went reading it throughout. I remember reading it as if I had to appear the exam about this book, the next day.

Now, it has already past more than a decade. When I saw this book in the school library a few days ago, I had a flashback memory of then. I could not remember the story inside rather I was more curious, what it was that made me read this book in one go. I choose to read again.

The Alchemist is a story of a boy who wanted to travel around the world; hence he leaves his house and becomes a shepherd so that he can travel. The boy sees a recurrent dream of a child talking about finding a treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. His dream leads him to meet a Gypsy woman (dream interpreter) and an old king who suggests him to follow his dream.

The boy sells his flock and proceeds to Africa. He encounters a thief who steals all his money and flees. The boy works for a crystal merchant for almost a year and make some money. Believing in the omen he opts to move towards his treasure than to return back. In the desert, in the oasis he finds his love Fatima and his ability to interpret the omen makes earns him lots of gold. During his journey towards the Egyptian pyramids through the desert, he had to risk his life. However, he learns many lessons too.

Finally, after crossing the deadly desert and taking much risk, when he reaches the pyramid to get his treasure he is surprised to know where his treasure actually was. To know it, you should read the book as I did.

Had the boy given up on his dream, he wouldn’t get his treasure. Had I given up, I wouldn’t have known the full story. Now, if you want to know, do not give up. Just get the book and start reading. It is worth reading.

Sengdhyen

My Reading & Writing Habit

It is yet for me to develop a good reading and writing habit. This means I am neither a regular reader nor a regular writer, but I endeavor to be one. Let me share about my Reading & Writing Habit.

During my primary classes, I loved reading Lady Bird Books, Moral Stories and Twinkle Comics. Later I choose Goosebumps series and Famous Five. When I was in eighth standard I remember my Liberian (Changzamtog LSS, 2003) keeping my Ramayan series ready for me. When I reached my high school (Yangchenphug HSS), I was crazy to learn more on Mahathma Gandhi. So, I was hunting for Gandhi’s Biography and his works. I was inspired by Gandhi after watching his documentary in one of my lower secondary teacher’s house (Mrs. Dechen Dolkar). Reading about Gandhi when I was in standard IX really helped me for standard X History, as it was a part of curriculum in Indian History. After I read the book “Who will cry when you die- by Robin S Sharma”, I interest in reading diverted towards self-help books.

However, after I reached standard XI, we had no library class, though we were issued card and had access to library. Since taking library was not compulsory for us, I hardly took any. After which I lost the reading habit. After standard XII, I have hardly read any books. If I am asked to list them, I can count them in my fingers because they are very few. Since, 2016 I have been trying to redevelop my reading habit and hence I could even read novels which I never liked to read before; because of its lengthy story. Now on I will be reading the books as well write the short review on them.

To talk about my writing habit, it was only for school and collage works that I had written till my graduation. Even after my graduation my writing habit is almost to NIL. I created my blogger account in 2011 but I rarely have write-ups to be posted in my blog. There are few occasions when my heart urges me to write.

However, as I have opted to make reading and writing my habits of life, I am starting my writings with this piece. Henceforth, I will also be writing book reviews of all the books I read.

Good Luck to myself to be a regular reader and a writer.

Sengdhyen