Saturday Feeling: A reading list on freedom, films to watch and stories to read this weekend

Mint

2 days ago

For as long as I can remember, there's been much hand-wringing about the 'loss of reading habit', the dirges linking the decline to every other evil in the world. The Kerala government is worried enough to have elevated it to a policy issue. A few days ago, it decided to 'give grace marks' to students who 'engage in activities that promote reading habit', as the state's education minister announced, somewhat ironically, on Facebook, which has probably contributed disproportionately to our rejection of reading and engaging with anything meaningfully. In this age of wonderful and ever-changing imagery that comes straight into our hands, it is easier to view than to settle down, focus and take in alphabets, sew them into words, and then string out sentences full of ideas, logic, insight and knowledge. Reading seems like it needs superhuman strength and powers of concentration, but not every idea or thought can be captured in images, and very often, that wonderful imagery starts its life as words on a page. Reading is another kind of freedom, as countless writers, poets and thinkers have said many times over and in various ways. To mark Independence Day, therefore, we've compiled a list of books for children—which could as easily appeal to adults—to start them on this path of freedom. We have suggestions from the Lounge team as well as books that have left a lasting impact on well-known writers, book illustrators, publishers and editors. Taken together, that's close to 50 books to put on your reading list—no matter if that list is analogue or digital. We've curated a list of close to 50 books to put on your reading list this Independence Day.
What to watch this weekend
There are quite a few shows and big-ticket films out this weekend, among them the Rajinikanth starrer 'Coolie' and YRF's spy-verse movie. Find all our recommendations for weekend watching here. We also have reviews of Saare Jahan Se Achcha and War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. by Uday Bhatia.
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A mixer named Sujata and other chefs' tools
A mixer named Sujata, a refrigerator that goes by Sexy Karen and a noodle machine called Yamini—they're all in the kitchen and pulling their weight. Chefs and kitchen staff name their favourite gadgets and appliances to make the high-stress environment of kitchens a bit more fun to navigate, writes Ruth Dsouza Prabhu. Read more.
MG Cyberster review: Fast, green and pretty
MG Motor's first electric roadster, the Cyberster, is fast and sleek enough to be James Bond's getaway car yet clean and green enough to be Greta Thunberg's ride. Striking butterfly doors and a retractable roof makes it so Instagrammable that it adds to its desirability. It does 0-100kmph in 3.2 seconds, making it great for therapeutic drives, but not for your everyday routine, decides Rishad Saam Mehta. Read more.
Retro games get a new avatar
While gaming has undergone drastic changes, retro games have never truly disappeared, and one doesn't need an old console to enjoy them. They are now available in different formats. Re-releases are compilations of classic titles made available on modern platforms with few or no changes. From remasters of old games to being released on new platforms, classic video games have gained a new lease of life in various formats, writes Shrey Pacheco. Read more.