Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus - Dave Barry

Delightfully funny as always.

Some of the questions he asks - what makes people want to eat animals they would never consider petting? Where do the world's three most boring people meet? How does Oprah have the power to turn a 1957 toaster manual into a No 1 bestseller>

And other such important stuff.

Thanks Raja.

The Thong Also Rises - Edited by Jennifer L. Leo

A delightful compilation of women travelers and their travails. From a first time nudist who is thrilled with having thrown off all her baggage and walks into a bar on the beach to get a beer - only to find the bar full of men and fully clothed to the dilemma of a young lady who is wondering how to congratulate a naked bride and groom in Jamaica, it is full of fun tales.

Not every story is about nude beaches of course. There is one on wooden puppets in Prague, a hot night with a yogi who is teaching Bikram yoga, trying to explain the hidden sex toy on the baggage to airport security and blaming Mom are some of the other stories.

Quick, easy, delightful read. Realised it's the third of a series. I think there should be potential in an Indian version too.

Killa - Movie

2015 Marathi. Checked it off the list. Nicely done coming of age film.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu - Movie

Zero expectations and zero knowledge of the Pokemon's except buying one for Anjali as a gift. Thankfully she gave me the inside stories. Pleasant. City Pride at Deccan is rather run down.

Under Suspicion - Movie

It's a 2000 film with Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Monica Bellucci. After the movie I ended up trying to figure what happened really. Big let down.
Avoid.

Three Writers in Mumbai

Recently when I was in Mumbai, I caught up with Piyush Jha, my pal from the Hampi retreat. Piyush was his usual large hearted self and invited me over to the Soho House where he is a member. We ate some fine lunch and headed out. Instead of parting ways I asked him if he would like to meet another friend of mine who also lives in Bandra - Dilip D Souza. Piyush was game and we did. Since we had a half hour to kill before Dilip got back home, Piyush gave me a ride about the Pali Hill area which is infested with all sorts of personalities from films.

Piyush, Dilip and me

And then we spent a delightful hour with Dilip and Vibha at their house. Dilip's house is overloaded with books and he is a wonderful guy to chat with. Both he and Piyush have this thing for record players - Piyush apparently has five. During the course of the day, I met a few more people who have record players and collect vinyls.

Column in the Sunday HANS - Mobile Girlfriends

The Mobile Girl Friend!

https://epaper.thehansindia.com/c/39111851