Alchemist

Alchemist
Writer:Paul Cohelo
Genre: Management/Inspirational

"When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."That line made me read this book and I ended up re-reading it so many times. I have had many friends who disliked the book because they thought it was too preachy. I dont disagree with them and I would suggest you read it yourself to decide if you like it or not. Dont let anyone else's opinion be a turn on/off for you.

It's a story about a boy names Santiago who dreams of some treasure hidden near the pyramids. The boy who is a simple shepherd overcomes so many difficulties and fear to reach his destination. Yeah!!! thats how simple the story is. But the book has a fabulous collection of quotes, a few of which I jot down here.

- If you start out by promising what you don’t even have yet, you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.

- Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

- The world’s greatest lie is that: “At a certain point in our lives, we lose control oh what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.”

- You see the world in terms of what you would like to see happen, not what actually does.- Whoever believes in dreams knows how to interpret them.

- Is Wine prohibited? It’s not what enters men’s mouth that’s evil, it’s what comes out of their mouths that is.

- Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.

- There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.

- When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
There are many more but these are my personal favourites.

Grab a copy, read it and I hope you enjoy it!!!!

My experiments with truth - M.K.Gandhi

A completely wrong book to dissect because for this book I think the saying -" To each his own" would hold completely true.

But I loved this book and I loved the honesty that goes into the book. It takes courage to write something like that when you are labelled as the 'Man of the century', the 'Father of the nation', etc.

I am not a Gandhi follower nor am I a firm believer in non violence and I am sure many from my generation aren't either. But I also believe it takes too much of courage to follow it :)
I had read a book where the author asks a twenty someone to name the biggest gift of the previous century and he surprisingly answered 'Non-Violence'.

My only suggestion about the book - Read it, to comment about it. Whatever your idea/notions about the man the book is about, read it to understand the human part of the man the world idolizes.

Book Review - Shantaram

Writer - Gregory David Roberts

Just started reading this book and the initial reaction is euphoric. The pace is just right and so is the writing. Not the ideal time to review the book but I'll just jot down some of the fantastic lines that i have read so far.

1) Civilization after all is defined by what we forbid, more than what we permit.

2) The truth is a bully we all pretend to like.

3) Most loves are like that Your heart starts to feel like an over-crowded lifeboat. You throw your pride out to keep it afloat, and your self-respect, and your independence. After a while you start throwing people out.

4) What we call cowardice is often just another name for being taken by surprise and courage is seldom any better than simply being well prepared.

5) The facts of life are very simple. In the beginning we feared everything - animals, the weather, the trees, the night sky - everything except each other.


The book is full of so many other beuatiful one liners.

Now that i have finished reading the book i am going to reccommend this book to anyone who bothers to listen to my opinion. Its a great book with the length and the writer's obsession into detailing being the only hindrances. But you can skip that enjoy the book right till the last page. Believe me, there is something or the other going on even till the last page.

Grab a copy folks........you wont regret it.


Update:


Some more quotes as I re-read the book

• Fate always gives you two choices, the one you should take, and the one you do.
• Some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again.
• The sane man is simply a better liar than an insane man.
• Happiness is a myth, which was invented to make us buy things.
• The difference between news and gossip-News tells you what people did, gossip tells you how much they enjoyed it.
• If fate doesn't make you laugh, then you don't get the joke.
• One of the ironies of courage, and the reason why we prize it so highly, is that we find it easier to be brave for someone else than we do for ourselves alone.
• Luck is what happens to you when fate gets tired of waiting
• Sometimes the lion must roar, just to remind the horse of his fear.
• A politician is someone who promises you a bridge, even when there is no river.

Introduction

This is an old idea taking shape after lots of procrastination, but the eternal optimist in me asks me to be just thankful, for making this blog.

The title of this blog says it all. I am an avid reader and time and again I end up writing reviews about many books and/or articles in my other blogs. The whole purpose of this blog is to keep a track of my readings (and hopefully writings which have taken a backseat in the past years) and review the thought process of the writer and not just his/her words. The two when applied in the correct proportion are a deadly combination and not many are good at it.

I have traveled the reading lane on a fast pace, all thanks to tons of friends around who are avid readers themselves and I have regretted not picking up the reading habit in the early stages of my life.

I hereby declare that every review/comment that i would write here is a complete personal opinion and i don't mind bouquets/brickbats till everyone keeps up decent comments.

So here i go.........