bookwatch

Wizard’s tale

Mridu loves the old house she lived in. Dad and Mum had gone away to Muscat and had left her with Tatha, Tapi and Ammani. It is here, in this old house, that she discovers Goruchaka, a magical being, one sleepy afternoon. Goruchaka, of course, was not outlandish in any way ? he wore a shirt and a pair of shorts and looked like any other young boy. But soon after Mridu meets him, strange things begin to happen. Poring over old family photographs, Mridu walks into one taken 50 years ago and stands with her grandparents who have just got married. With Goruchaka, she can join a line of ants walking along the window sill. So, how does Goruchaka get these powers? To find out, get a copy of Mridu in Madras: Goruchaka Turns Up. Written by Vasantha Surya, the book has been brought out by Rupa & Co and is priced at Rs 80.

zoo story

Behind bars

How does an animal feel when we stare into its cage in a zoo? To give humans an impression of this, the Zagreb zoo in Croatia has decided to keep two cages empty ? and to lock up visitors to the zoo. According to the authorities, it’s part of an awaremess programme to show humans how animals feel in their cages. There’s a note in the cage which reads: “The most dangerous best on the planet”.