Once

We generally love small-budget independent films (while not disliking the big-budget Hollywood films) and 'Once' is about as good as it gets. No, it breaks no great ground or brings no new principles to life nor does it present any great new idea that would never appear in a regular film but 'Once' is like one of those light, refreshing drinks (like fresh Coconut water that I recently had) that merely exists as a sliver of time , a shooting star that ends before you've fully begun to enjoy it. Mild and memorable, 'Once' is a modern musical, a look into the lives of two individuals in a made-up small-town Dublin that explores the possibility of romance between two essentially lost souls connected, loosely, via music and gentle sensibilities. The two try to find meaning to their otherwise mundane and gently decaying lives via their natural interest in another human.

Watch 'Once' but you will probably want to watch it twice.

Complications - Atul Gawande

It is something about New Yorker staff writers that I end up liking all the books that they write apart from their articles in the magazine. James Surowicki, Malcom Gladwell, Adam Gopnik and now Atul Gawande.

I've always enjoyed reading Atul Gawande's articles in the New Yorker. He alway seemed insightful, circumspect and curious about a profession that I look at gingerly at best. In 'Complications: A surgeon's notes on an imperfect science', Atul Gawande takes it even further. He seems much more in control here given the much larger canvas of the book to present his thoughts in a cohesive and meaningful manner. He lists interesting anecdotes, presents great insights and tells stories with depth and understanding of both patients and doctors. He talks about what makes it so hard for doctors to be good at what they do, he speaks about the mystery and uncertainty of the profession and ultimately ends up both scaring you and liberating you in some sense.