Janaki Lenin
2012
Westland
pp. 282
The book is a collection of anecdotes based on her life experiences with, well, her husband and other animals. I had never imagined living in harmony with nature would be like this. And although it sounds charming, I don’t think I have the courage to try. Nor can I imagine living with someone who breeds crocodiles and catches snakes for a living.
Having said all this, I think this is one of the most entertaining books that I have read. I love the content and the narration. I remember reading some of these in her column in the paper but there were many that I hadn’t read. There is no other book in which I have seen such deep issues being presented in such a simple manner. I wish science books were written like this. I have learnt about toxoplasma, temporarily transvestite snakes, frogs, crocodiles and red ants, among a hundred other things. It was an engaging read. Somewhere at the back of my mind, I kept looking for order in the anecdotes. They aren’t organised in themes, or chronologically. It made me wonder if I have become too urbanised and I am looking for order, ignoring the beautiful chaos!
An afterthought- all biology teachers should read it.