Payal Patel

The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life

andrea — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Rob Preece does a convincing job of bridging Jungian psychology to Buddhist practice in The Wisdom of Imperfection. Preece explains how Carl Gustav Jung’s notion of Individuation—the process of the personality’s growth and expansion into the wider psyche towards a potential state of wholeness, coincides with Buddhist ideas of bringing the ego into greater presence and awareness into one’s life. He illustrates the similarities between these philosophical angles by using examples from his own life experience, and this sincere exploration enhances the quality of his discussion.

Not quite a page-turner, but a book that slowly carries you deep into thought page after page, offering light-bulb moments for those who already have a basic understanding of Jung’s thought and the Buddhist way. A text I’d therefore strongly suggest for those with some knowledge of the two fields—though a glossary is provided.

As a feminist thinker, I felt critical of the author’s use of western mythologist, Joseph Campbell’s study of the hero’s journey as the model for the spiritual path of gradual awakening. The hero’s adventure is a metaphor of the Individuation process in Jungian psychology. Typically in myth the hero, usually male, responds to the call to leave home, encounters a dragon he must slay and returns home with renewed perspective or enlightenment. What is troubling is that the archetypal patterns described in this quest are based on men’s experiences of the world. Women as central characters experience a different reality—one that is neglected by Campbell’s view. His study approaches the female element in the journey as either the prize or the engulfing presence. Equally disturbing is the assumption that the woman can simply model her spiritual path on male rites of passage and psychological transformation.

So, I was happy to read of Preece’s vigilant awareness of patriarchal bias in both Western and Eastern beliefs. However, the process of Individuation is mostly described here through examples of male heroes. This is understandable since he relies on thinkers who have constructed their thought around a male structure of psychological reality. Also, I was a little sceptical of the idea of the hero (the personality or ego) who must severe ties with the mother archetype in order to begin the adventure, when French feminists such as Luce Irigaray insist that this relationship be healed not broken in order for men and women to respect the feminine. The daughter should certainly not break away from the mother (psychic or real) if a woman is to develop a healthy relationship with herself.

Still, The Wisdom of Imperfection makes a great effort to marry Western psychotherapy to Eastern spiritual thinking and quite clearly informs the reader of the need to address patriarchy in both cultures when seeking one’s own truth. With engaging drawings of Buddhist deities throughout the book, Preece offers the reader insightful wisdom for those on the path to self-discovery, particularly those struggling to negotiate their Buddhist practice with Western reality.

Written by: Payal Patel, December 13th 2010

Apple Spice Vegan Lip Balm

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Vegan Soap Kitchen

Calling all Vegans! You’re in for a treat. This Apple Spice Lip Balm I’ve got has a mouthwatering flavour that’s good enough to eat, which might happen as your tongue seeks a trace of that delectable apple spice scent. The first thing you notice as you pop open the cap is its deliciously sweet aroma, which is created out of a mixture of red delicious apples and cinnamon for supreme flavour. If spiced apples don't have an appeal, there are more tantalizing flavours to choose from, including iced pineapple, chai tea, asian pear, and mango peach fusion. Yum!

The second thing you notice, as you smooth the balm over your lips, is how soft and cushion-y they’ll soon feel. The ingredients are all from natural sources: jujoba oil, sweet almond oil, candelilla wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter, natural flavor oil, and natural stevia. The Apple Spice Lip Balm is addictive; you can’t help but inhale its wonderful aroma, and unlike pure petroleum jelly, there’s no need for frequent application. The balm lasts a reasonably long time, and you won’t get that shiny look. It’s plain, simple, and effective.

This product is brought to you by the Vegan Soap Kitchen, which has an online store on Etsy, a community of independent creators who sell handmade goods. The Vegan Soap Kitchen also sells other great items, like soaps made from vegetable milk. Glancing at the images of her products, you may mistake them for food, and if they look that scrumptious, surely they must be healthy and good for your skin!

Vegan Soap Kitchen is a great place to shop if you’re not a carnivore—and even if you are!— because owner Deborah Dana creates the stock in her own non-smoking soap kitchen where no kind of animal product is used. The Apple Spice Lip Balm ships from the United States and costs $2.50. Is it worth it? Yes!

Written by: Payal Patel, December 12th 2009

BooBoo Unisex Wrist Bracelet, Orange

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:35:00 +0000

By Truth

Functional. Fashionable. Fun. The BooBoo wrist cuff from Truth is oh-so-cool—according to me, anyway. It’s a deep orange—a colour that has grown on me over time—and has an almost faded look. Created from distressed acrylic and cotton webbing, this BooBoo is size small, fitting me with ideal precision.

These genuine non-leather bands, amusingly named “BooBoos,” are manufactured in Canada by a company called Truth. Appealing to the vegan audience, designer Renia Pruchnicki takes an environmentally friendly approach to her many products, which include t-shirts, belts, and necklaces in addition to these trendy wristlets. All come in a variety of colours, textures, and looks—woven, mess, faded, and shiny prints—and can be fastened with a simple click of two adjacent buttons.

The BooBoo gives the wearer a definite punk rock air, and the great part is that it’s unisex! There have been times when I’ve disliked that tag because I’ve found, especially when shopping for t-shirts, that the unisex label really means "made for men," as these products tend to cater to a larger, male-shaped body. Whilst most of my friends loved the orange band around my wrist and the way the shade contrasted well with my turquoise outfit, one comment went like this: “That looks like a guy’s band! It’s manly, and it doesn’t look like it should be on you.”

But so what? It’s interesting how we assign things to that “masculine” or “feminine” construct, the implication of that comment being that a female should stick to “feminine” products. Don’t you just get frustrated when people absentmindedly think like that? I do! Especially since men seem to get the best commodities sometimes. On this occasion, I don’t feel the BooBoo is “manly”; it looks equally stylish on a girl!

Truth values vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. The company’s website reads, “Live your truth, and respect others”—a simple yet powerful philosophy.

Written by: Payal Patel, December 7th 2009

Dragon Ladies: Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Edited by Sonia Shah

South End Press

Incredible. Insightful. Inspiring. These are the words I use to describe Dragon Ladies: Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire, the pivotal textbook on the growing politics of Asian American women. Essays embrace wide-ranging issues that include domestic violence, health, exploitation in the global trade, the role of spirituality, and punk-rock culture—all in the light of organizing and activism.

The anthology’s key concern is with the attitude of mainstream feminism whose individualistic and essentialist views are at odds with the affairs and experiences of Asian women. Sonia Shah, editor of Dragon Ladies, believes that a singular Asian American feminist movement is essential in representing Asian American women’s interests. The term ‘Asian’ is problematic in that it corresponds to a diaspora of ethnic identities, but Shah nevertheless manages to take into account the realities that females face from this walk of life.

As Juliana Pegues points out in “Strategies from the Field,” unlike white activists, Asian women have to deal with invisibility as well as “exotic” racial stereotypes and labels like “well-behaved,” “hard-working.” and “obedient.” The trouble is that Asian women’s perspectives are ignored when race is viewed in terms of black and white. When it comes to organizing resistance, “groups in many cases act as all-white groups internally, and white perspectives and standards are the norm.”

Purvi Shah’s article “Redefining the Home” is very engrossing, though the entire text is by no means an easy read. In fact, a lot of the material is tough, but if you’re passionate enough about this topic, you’ll fly through it. Shah discusses the belief that the personal is political when it comes to abuse within the home. Community elites seem to be the culprits in seeding the idea that culture and politics are separate issues—matters of the Home/Marriage for instance are cleverly disguised as tradition; these leaders are in essence threatened by organizations that challenge their norms. Rightly so, Shah proposes that “a home in which violence occurs is a public space” and a political problem that is affected by a range of factors like social, cultural and environmental.

Many prominent figures have come together to comprise this collection of interviews, personal essays, and eye-opening historical and current facts such as on the slave-like treatments of overseas Filipina workers. The joint mother-daughter article “Bringing Up Baby: Raising a ‘Third World’ Daughter in the ‘First World’” was a piece I found quite amusing and relevant to my own view of reality. Shamita Das Dasgupta and Sayantani DasGupta talk about balancing their different identities—Indian immigrant and American-born Indian—against Western culture. The idea of community is important to Indian culture and therefore for Indian women, it forms part of their identity; adopting the model of western feminism whose emphasis lies on the ‘individual’ would inevitably further alienate them; the issues concerning white feminists do not always apply to women of Asian origin.

Dragon Ladies: Asian American Feminists Breathe Fire in itself deconstructs the Asian woman stereotype conveying instead an image of the “virangana”—the ‘warrior woman’ thirsting to battle for change and victory. The contributors are good role models to rouse the next generation to self-reflect and take part in some form of action to empower the disadvantaged. From a spiritual standpoint, Cheng Imm Tan makes an important assertion: “When activism is fuelled by anger and hatred, we end up objectifying the ‘enemy’ just as we have been objectived.” What Tan then subtly suggests is that injustice can be met with compassion, and an intent to transform our aggressors rather than destroy them.

Certainly, this is a book with great ideas from women who not only breathe fire but speak with absolute conviction.

Written by: Payal Patel, July 14th 2009

Trivia: Voices of Feminism, Issue 9

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Edited by Lise Weil, Hye Sook Hwang

What a journal! Trivia: Voices of Feminism, Issue 9 is a beautiful and inspiring electronic resource. Thinking about Goddesses is this edition’s theme. Editors Lise Weil and Hye Sook Hwang present fourteen articles made up of personal essays and poetry complete with moving artwork and pictures. What is Goddess worship? As a follower of Jungian theory, I am intrigued by the concept of the divine feminine—a fundamental force in the human psyche existing to be made conscious—a sacred element that brings unity with one self and nature, ultimately bringing balance to the masculine energies that have usurped our culture. The writing featured in this journal suggests that the urge towards spirituality advances the feminist cause rather than undermines it.

“My journey to Goddess was not about searching for something to believe in but more about looking for how to believe in myself,” writes Vanita Leatherwood in her personal essay "Testify," in which she recalls her battle between religion and sexuality and how turning to the Goddess led to greater “self-alliance” and empowerment. The same idea resonates throughout many of the fabulous works presented. There is a sense of wonder as you read these women’s stories; most of the writings here are fluid and embody a tone of profound sensitivity. Each of their personal philosophies seem to secrete from a place of deep knowing and you can’t help but feel that these women have become stronger as a result of reclaiming the lost feminine element in their lives.

Two essays particularly ensnared my curiosity. First, in "When hens were flying and God was not yet born," Luciana Percovich questions the responsibility of women and not just men in facilitating the climate of oppression. Acknowledging the opposing masculine and feminine forces, yin and yang, within the female body is vital in awakening consciousness; balancing these aspects would be to challenge “deadly envies” and “hierarchy” which exist in our society. In her current research about female cosmogonies, she discovers that in the same way as the X chromosome contains the Y, creation stories in the Early Times before God regard a ‘She-energy’ that encloses the male—the first sex is female, not male, as the ancient male narratives uphold.

The second remarkable proposal by Judy Grahn contends that menstruation lies at the root of all cultural practices. In "Goddess is Metaformic," she puts forward in convincing fashion the theory of Metaformic Consciousness—whereby any object natural or material holds menstrual significance; an object as simple as a pot becomes a symbol of the womb. And of course these objects or “metaforms” include deities. Exploring this notion in the context of South Indian society, Kerala in specific, where Grahn conducted her research, she explains that girls or “maidens” are worshipped as Goddesses during menarche (the first menstrual period). The powerful and primal energy of Shakti is evoked at this time and believed to flow through the adolescent who undergoes a menarche ritual that is celebrated as a kind of awakening or rebirth of consciousness as well as a transitory period.

In an interesting contrast, the poetry by Katie Manning, "First Blood," "Well" and "The History of Bleeding" encapsulates the shame and guilt felt by women in biblical times, where patriarchy construed the natural cycle as something unnatural and unclean. I am nonetheless quite gripped by Grahn’s idea as it contructs a female experience of the world and this is the feeling you consequently get after considering each of these passionate academic, personal and creative articles. By connecting everyday objects and the natural world to the sacred and feminine, we begin to respect, revere and heal our self and the Earth. As the title of this issue of Trivia suggests, Goddesses are entirely worth “thinking about” for this reason.

What is problematic about the reliance on the feminine principle however is the return it signals to the polarization of gender—the factor at the root of patriarchy. Whilst "feminine" is not equated with "woman" nor "masculine" with "man" in the context of the divine, they are still intimately allied. As the Goddess experiences in this installment unearth, this spiritual predilection is still a positive step towards creating a system that values a woman’s experience of the world. I loved learning about Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun Goddess and Inanna—a Mesopotamian deity with an array of attributes that include aggressive lover and warrior, and, in reading about how these powerful symbols influenced and strengthened the lives of these authors, I found the material enlightening.

Trivia: Voices of Feminism is an authoritative journal of great worth. The bonus: it’s free to access.

Written by: Payal Patel, June 20th 2009

It Doesn’t Count If… It’s the Last One: And 204 More Reasons Why You Can Eat That

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:26:00 +0000

By Daisy Westmoor

Clarkson Potter

Fat is not just a feminist issue; it’s everyone’s concern. We’re in an age where good health equals happiness—not a bad philosophy, but for our society's increasing problem with the relationship we have with our food. What we consider to be fat is often misguided; bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Yet, people go on unnecessary diets and eating obsessions to attain that "perfect" Western body sold to us by the higher powers.

The word diet itself has negative connotations: to not eat, to lose weight, to lose something of the self. The body doesn’t wish to be deprived, so nine times out of ten, the diet will fall short. That’s why Daisy Westmoor’s It Doesn’t Count If… It’s the Last One is a refreshing alternative to media-saturated messages of holding back being the key to self-worth and success.

In this anti-diet hardback, Westmoor provides over 200 reasons to eat those forbidden foods we all crave. It’s a humor book—and it succeeds. Among the funniest excuses to consume are, it doesn’t count if… "it’s raining and you’re sad," "it’s sunny and you’re sad," and "it’s past its expiration date."

The content is very much a rebellion against conventional ideas of feminine delicacy. It’s okay to put on the pounds, seems to be the message, but it also gives the illusion that there aren’t any adverse consequences of indulgence. Paradoxically, telling women to "eat that" does not give back their sense of power or control over their bodies.

What makes It Doesn’t Count If… It’s the Last One sparkle are its illustrations by Mary Lynn Blasutta. Without these quirky images Westmoor’s lines wouldn’t hold as much humor: "It doesn’t count if… your scale is broken" is accompanied by a sketch of a woman standing on a broken scale (no surprises there) with the speech bubble "Sweet." And "It doesn’t count if… it comes on top of lettuce" is complemented by the portrait of a woman ready to tuck into a super-large burger.

It’s a bit unusual that the publishers chose to pick an illustrator known for her designs of thin women; it is almost as though the book is speaking more to slim women who are trying to maintain their figures. Regardless, these pictures grant the book its fun and edge. Pages are splashed mainly in red, white, and pink, which gives this creative work the feel of a sugary treat itself.

It’s a pleasurable break for those who battle everyday temptations to resist nutritionless food, and of course, Westmoor’s 204 reasons to indulge in a cake or two shouldn’t be words to live by; eating with regard for health does matter, especially if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. It Doesn’t Count If… It’s the Last One makes an ideal gift for someone who’s always roller coaster dieting, giving them a humorous relief and release from the prison of guilt.

Written by: Payal Patel, March 22nd 2009

Smile Pin-Up Girl Tee

admin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:17:00 +0000

By Furlesque

As soon as I fixed my eyes on the Smile Pin-Up Girl tee, my initial reaction was: simply gorgeous. When I put it on, it looked even more stunning; its wonderfully soft cotton fabric enwrapped me like a polite hug, and its earthy hue ensured an effortless appearance, with the pin-up girls motif adding just enough glamour. My second reaction was of disbelief: I couldn’t get over how perfectly the small size fit me. Every contour matched my own body shape; I was destined to own it!

Sculpted with a round neck and long sleeves, the tee has a cool turquoise and orange print, making it a must for summer days, yet its surrounding darker tone means it’s also perfect for the fall. It can also be worn in the gloomy winter months as part of layers, and the bright ‘smile’ lettering will work magically to overturn that frosty frown. To add to this sparkling list of attributes, now that I own three fabulous Furleque tees, I’ve also found that they don’t shrink in the wash either!

Furlesque tees are not just shirts; they are works of art. Skilfully crafted and designed by Maggie Maki and Dion Macellari, each striking t-shirt is as unique as the person fortunate enough to own one. Feminine and delicate, yet bold and brash, both textile and artwork seem to contradict one another—and boy does it work. Not only does Furlesque cut their tees in an exaggerated way to flatter your figure, but their inside-out seams and raw-edge hems will show the keen observer that you’re certainly not part of the crowd.

I guarantee these t-shirts will become something of a cult favourite for women who require an outlet for this male-dominated reality, as well as those who live on the fringes of society and need to express their individuality. I’ll be surprised if they don’t; they’re edgy and daring after all—leaking confidence and character, and ultimately making you feel good. So if you’re feeling particularly optimistic and want to ooze some serious sass, then show off with the Smile Pin-Up Girl tee! This is one funky and fearless store to keep a watchful eye on.

Written by: Payal Patel, November 28th 2008

Lonely Planet Southeast Asia: On A Shoestring

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:42:00 +0000

By Lonely Planet

Published just two months before the cyclone disaster in Myanmar (Burma), questions of safety regarding whether or not to go to the politically and ethically wrought country are best answered on the Lonely Planet website. Along with Myanmar, this impressive 14th Edition of the Southeast Asia on a Shoestring travel guide addresses the Southeastern kingdoms of Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. If you are off on a backpacking trip, and are strapped for cash, this small, but heavy gem of a book is what you are looking for.

Southeast Asia on a Shoestring is written by a group of experienced traveller-adventurers and covers a range of ‘need to know’ material on each country. These include what to see, quick facts, and recent events, which is followed by historical and cultural information, religion, arts, environment, and transport. The rundown of each kingdom’s historical background is outstanding; the authors have done a great job in compressing thorough accounts of the past and present in such limited space.

Splayed across double pages at the beginning of this paperback is a coloured map of the continent with helpful descriptions of top sights to visit or activities to do at particular destinations. Local maps mainly of central cities too are provided—good eyesight however is recommended as street names are printed in what seems like microscopic fonts. Scams to avoid are also highlighted and there is a section for women and gay travellers with useful notes on dangers to watch out for.

The guide’s humorous approach throughout makes it an amusing and light-hearted read. Some pages though may invoke a slight annoyance owing to a repetitive moral tone in such sections as "Responsible Travel" and "Do’s and Don’ts" and other 'should or should not' language that suffuse the writing, most of which is common sense practice—like telling western women not to bathe topless in Islamic-run areas.

The Southeast Asia directory wonderfully summarises toward the end of the book what you should expect from your stay abroad, with information offered on climate, accommodation, toilets, electricity, activities, courses, and volunteering – all of which are given greater attention in earlier chapters.

Southeast Asia on a Shoestring is a valuable guidebook that, additionally, lists important everyday phrases in the nine main languages spoken in the region. Still, best not to rely too much on every fact that is presented, as some details are likely to be outdated from the time of writing. But all in all, this is a well-structured and condensed manual with easy to follow and convenient information. This storehouse of a book is surely for keeps.

Written by: Payal Patel, June 17th 2008

Mineral Eye Shadow

admin — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 18:41:00 +0000

By Jenulence

Hypoallergenic: chemicals, preservatives and fragrance-free—this product was good to my oh-so-sensitive skin! As someone who likes to experiment with make-up, White Pearl Shimmer Eye Shadow by Jenulence was fun to try out. Especially on my brown complexion! “It looks great,” says a friend. Another agrees, “But it’s better if you wear it to a wedding or a party,” she tells me as we meet up for a morning coffee. “I know! I know,” I tell them, trying to convince them that I wore it at this time solely for their reaction!

The White Pearl colour is best for a bright and bold look, and even better for highlighting the arches under the brow. Admittedly, the mineral’s translucent quality wasn’t appealing at first—it took a while to apply enough powder to gain complete eyelid coverage. On the other hand, its natural translucent quality would look effective on lighter skin tones. What I loved most was its soft and silky texture and long-lasting results. White Pearl Shimmer would be an ideal shadow to own. You could blend it with other darker or light colours, depending on the effect you wish to create.

Made with powdered minerals like oxidized mica and serecite, this handcrafted, pure and non-toxic product can be applied wet or dry. Jenulence’s motto is: If you can’t eat it, then don’t use it on your skin! What a lovely, environmentally friendly idea.

Written by: Payal Patel, August 19th 2007

Art Cards

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:46:00 +0000

MWAH! Creations

Fun and spirit cheering: I love these cards so much that I don’t want to give them away! They totally rock. Not only because the art design on one of the cards – a bird perched under a tree – is cute and effective, but also because its simplicity evokes a kind of ethereality. The art feels like a poem on a page. The other card I admire has the caption "always trust yourself" written in a thought-bubble that dribbles from a black and white photograph of a woman bearing a confident and resolute expression.

Crafted from post-consumer recycled card, they measure a good 4 x 6 inches and come with professional-looking off-white envelopes. Not everyone, I feel, will appreciate these handmade beauties. They are nature’s products after all; crude and made with that special ingredient—love. Go to the stores if you’re looking for those mass-produced expert print-cards. For my part, I’m sticking with Tanis Alexis Laird’s unique style.

Write your own heart-felt words inside, as her cards are left blank. Who wouldn’t be grateful for a personalised message?

Truly inspiring, I guess I’ll have to let mine go, eventually…

Written by: Payal Patel, June 15th 2007

Four Songs

admin — Thu, 03 May 2007 01:13:00 +0000

By Blue Velvet

Phratry Records

This New York-based instrumental sextet is unlike your typical rock band. Experimental and percussive in approach, Blue Velvet’s image is organic and minimal: Their music has no vocals, no electric bass, no standard rock-drum kit and no loops or samples. Is it then worth listening to? Hell …Yeah! “Docile 1” and “Docile 2” from their EP Four Songs has a Hitchcock-style to it: strings cut harshly and are repetitive, producing a drony and eerie quality. Definitely music suited to a scene in the classic Psycho. “Untitled (Two)” resembles these tracks, but is less grating and more perplexing in its use of instruments.

As if to declare their oddness, the artists in “Blue Cannon” thread a sound that is inconsistent with the above three pieces. Folkier, it’s gentler on the ear and can be placed within the blues genre. With the exception of this single, it’s easy to picture the album accompanying a psychological thriller as the music imagines an atmosphere of suspense, danger and confusion; its rhythm and fast tempo lingering long inside your head.

The band’s desire to be regarded as real and natural is reflected in its prettily printed cardboard CD case - also known as a discfolio. The whole package is adorable in its simplicity.

Their influences are The Zombies, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and Tony Conrad, among others. The record is noisy, strange, interesting and distortion-free. Four Songs challenges the boundaries of convention – all the more reason to give this post-rock band a chance.

Written by: Payal Patel, May 2nd 2007

The Last Empress

admin — Tue, 01 May 2007 12:41:00 +0000

By Anchee Min

Bloomsbury Press

An ancient sage once foretold, “China would be destroyed by a woman.” Historians described Empress Tzu Hsi of the Qing Dynasty as an evil leader hell-bent on the usurpation of power. This much-documented image later served to affirm the age-old prophecy. The Last Empress by Anchee Min is the sequel to the acclaimed _Empress Orchid _(2004). Set towards the end of Imperial China, Min continues the heartbreaking tale of the country’s downfall at the hands of merciless foreigners. Tzu Hsi or Orchid, as she is previously called, first enters the Forbidden City as a concubine then reluctantly but out of necessity gains control of the throne after the Emperor’s premature death.

Contrary to history’s cruel depiction of China’s central female figure, Min successfully weaves a portrait of a woman whose love is bountiful as a mother and a ruler. The Empress portrayed in Min’s novel is truly human and is liberated from her profound demonization.

Adhering to strict traditional codes, Orchid remains a life-long widow. Prohibited to enter another relationship, her objective becomes to raise her son Tung Chih as Successor. The story not only illustrates female oppression, but also demonstrates the brutal treatment of eunuchs—the palace servants who are castrated from an early age to ensure that concubines and wives produce the Emperor’s “seeds” alone. No one is to be trusted inside the Forbidden City. Bribery and betrayal is common amongst the eunuchs and the threat to Orchid’s survival is often.

Steeped in tragedy the author crafts a fictional account of the Empress’s private character and life, challenging the prevalent conception of her as a bloodthirsty monster and thereby restoring a sense of her dignity. Rather than causing the empire to crumble, as is history’s assumption, Orchid tries desperately hard to maintain order despite outside invasions and internal rivalry. Through her strong will, wisdom and self-sacrifice, she single-handedly holds the dynasty together by its remaining threads.

Told through first-person, the narrative is written in beautiful prose bordering on the poetic. It provides an insight into late 19th and early 20th century Chinese culture and politics and unearths a deep power struggle between the sexes and, indeed, against Western Civilisation.

Engaging and intriguing, The Last Empress has the feel of a memoir. Lovers of Memoirs of a Geisha would relish this rich historical fiction that will make you think twice about accepting the male view of history as truth.

Written by: Payal Patel, May 1st 2007

Small Gods

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:35:00 +0000

By Swati

Bluhammock Music

As the guitar plays airily in the track "Dodge," soloist Swati sings, “I believe in karma, I believe in brutal honesty, why do so many of you break my heart? Maybe I’m crazy …” and these words characterize not only the general mood of her debut album, but also her individuality. New York born with Indian roots, the 32-year-old enthralls the listener with angst-ridden lyrics that expose her feelings of despondency and loneliness like those evoked in "2 O’clock in the A.M." and "Stay." But there’s also an aggression about her songs that’s expressed through vocals that are both gentle and rough, carrying with them curses amidst an acoustic-metal sound that blows it completely out of any confining genre.

This guitar-driven music has a raw, ethereal and unorthodox quality about it. "Big Bang" and "MF" stick out sorely with unpredictable yet awesome funk elements. You can hear similar electro-acoustic picking in the opening of "Money" where Swati sings raspy-voiced in tune with brutal riffs. Listeners will find that Swati and her guitar are one entity. Her vocals would feel naked without the soul of her instrument, which she strikes with great passion and fury that makes her music both empowering and cathartic. Irritated in "MF," she sings, “no motherfucker don’t bring me down again, no motherfucker no motherfucker don’t” with matching repetitive picks. But watch out, for she claims, “I’m a motherfucker too.”

Coming from a similar cultural background, I imagine my Indian-born parents shaking their heads in disapproval at this cursing language, whose meaning they would take as literal. As a result of socio-cultural differences, they don’t quite understand that exploiting curse words can be emotionally powerful, playful and creative.

Exuding a less than hopeful and devil-may-care attitude reminiscent of Alanis Morissette, Swati’s intelligent guitar playing and her confessional and dark lyrics are nevertheless real, relatable and liberating. If you’re tired of the plasticity of mainstream music that doesn’t express your melancholic moods, then I strongly recommend you nourish your soul with the paradoxical mix of melodious folk rock and intense electronic riffs that is Small Gods.

Written by: Payal Patel, April 2nd 2007

Venus

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:27:00 +0000

By We are the Fury

One Big Spark/East West Records

The opening and strongest tracks on Venus. “Venus” and “Now You Know,” from this five-piece band from Ohio are catchy, energetic and fun, setting the atmosphere for the rest of this pop-punk album. As the title implies, the songs are about love, but so much so that it delivers a kind of monotony, which drives the listener away at times.

“Blue Coat, Black Hair” reminds me of Billy Talent with its faced-paced, hardcore sound and screaming vocals. Songs switch between slow ballads and music that has a definite ’70s glam-rock feel - like that of “Still Don’t Know Your Name” and “Hey Love,” which makes me think of David Bowie.

I find myself wanting to hear more variety in the over-the-top upbeat vocals and its melodramatic consistency. “So Physical” is probably the weakest single, with an overly polished quality that’s reflected throughout much of the 12-track CD. Singer Jeremy Lublin’s voice dominates, as do the drums; the electric guitar pieces are pushed to the background, but its openings are great, especially in “Camera Tricks.” I prefer the slower melodies like “Close Your Eyes” and “You’re My Halo,” which you can imagine being a soundtrack to a musical like Grease!

Overall, if you like Hot Hot Heat and enjoy listening to a playful, dance-y, glam-rock sound then you may find Venus quite infectious.

Written by: Payal Patel, March 30th 2007