Joker in the pack

Autors: Ritesh Sharma, Neeraj Pahlajani
Genre: Fiction


What is it with these IIT, IIM folks? Everyday, somebody or the other seems to be writing a book. This is the 3rd one that I read (5 point someone, keep off the grass being the others).

The story of Shekhar Verma, a brilliant chap who gets into the IIM just because the IT bubble has burst and MBA seems to be the only alternative to a high profile, jet-setting job.Yeah! thats how easy it is for him to clear CAT and get calls from 3(?) IIMs. The book then covers his cliched schedule and cliched self doubt at being in one of India's premier institutes.

The book is great in terms of a one time read. I especially like the middle class nuances put forth by the authors. Being a small book, it wouldnt take much efforts to finish it off in one read.My rating though is an average :)

Tough Choices

Writer: Carly Fiorina
Genre: Autobiography


When an Ex-CEO has to say something it is but natural for people to sit down and listen. And thats what you do with this book. As Carly traverses thru' AT&T, Lucent and HP, she takes us along a ride into the the corporate culture. How she overcomes the gender bias, the prejudices associated with being a woman at the top post, the book is a good read.


I dont know, but I expected more form the book. She seems to have concentrated more on her business strategies than on her (which I would have preferred). I mean I was seriously impressed when she became the HP CEO and hence the inquisitiveness to know more about this lady remains :) I had read every written article when she was sacked, read all the untowards comments directed at her and I thought she has carried herself well....I guess she must have learnt it already, being a woman at a top post but, she was good.


Again as usual, I did not form an opinion about anything because its the author's point of view. If you want some inspiring stuff, this one is for you but dont take it up if you arent fond of autobiographies.

Keep off the grass

Writer: Karan Bajaj
Genre: Fiction


An investment banker in manhattan who decides to pursue his MBA in IIM Banglore! A typically confused immigrant who tries to identify his existence and wants to battle his daemons in his own way, by smoking marijuana that is!

If you had liked Five Point someone, chances are you will find this book quite similar. It’s a good read, no doubt but it isn’t exceptional. I mean Chetan Bhagat has already started the trend and Karan Bajaj seems to be following it. But the trajectory journey of Samrat will surely be liked by many. Since it’s a small book, its quite a fast read. Grab a copy but not with too much expectations.

Mrutunjay

Writer: Shivaji Samant
Genre: Fiction/Classical


If you like the character of Karna in Mahabharata, this book is for you. Translated into more than 5 languages the book tells the story of Karna as he battles destiny humanely.
I do not think there is anything that I could write about the story. Everything about it is known to everyone. So I will just stick to the style of writing.

I read the book in Marathi, and the lucidity in the book had me hooked. The narrative is exemplary and the era is built up in an amazing manner. The book is divided into sub sections and each sub section is dedicated to a central character in Mahabharata. The character takes the story forward in the first person kind of narrative. Possibly the first time that I read this kind of narration! If you know how to read Marathi I would suggest you to pick up the Marathi version rather than any other language.

I am just happy to have it in my collection.

The Ployester Prince

Writer: Hamish McDonald
Genre: Biography


The book is a fabulous collection of statistics as India tried to establish herself in the post independence era. The controversial rise of Dhirubhai Ambani and his Reliance industries forms the crux of the book. The book covers his meteoric rise from the small village of Chorwad to the spunky office at Nariman Point.

Being a biography, as usual I read it with a detached sense of belonging for I usually never form an opinion or comment on a second person's view about a third person :)

Read the book, do not let tthe statistics scare you. The book has some big names like Ramanth Goenka, Gurumurthy, Rajiv Gandhi, Pranab mukherjee, etc being mentioned quite often. You will really find it quite accurate if you manage to google the facts. A good read whatsoever

Mahashweta

Writer: Sudha Murthy
Genre: Fiction

Many years ago there was this Marathi serial that used to be telecast on Doordarshan titled ‘Mahashweta’. It had the lovely Aishwarya Narkar playing the lead and she had hooked me to this serial. As it happens with all the serials, it got boring with time and I stopped watching it. Later I came to know that it was based on some book and that search lead me to buy this book. Now, let me clarify that it was actually based on a Marathi novel by Sumati Kshetramade (which I would lap up soon).

Anyways, reasons apart, this is a small book and deals with much of the bias set in the society against luekodermic people. Anupama, a beautiful and talented small village girl gets married to the extremely handsome Dr. Anand in what one would call a Cinderella like wedding. Everything seems to be just perfect for the couple when all of a sudden Anupama’s world crashes as she is diagnosed with luekoderma, a skin ailment which completely disfigures her and mars her beauty.

As she deals with her family, the society and more importantly with herself, identifying her strengths and giving up her weaknesses for a calm and composed existence is what the book is all about.

Definitely a good buy if you want a quick read.

The Ugly Duckling

Writer: Amita Mukherjee
Genre: Fiction


A complete I-Me-Myself book which narrates the story of Mia Makarand, an Interpreter in France. As she copes with everyday problems and tries to become more practical and social, it dawns upon her that nothing is more important in life than self-respect.


No drama, no climaxes, it is just an everyday account of a woman’s life. Don’t think anyone would enjoy it but I appreciated it for the exact reason. No frills and fancies is its USP for a big-time drama and chase sequences fan like me ;)

Rage of Angels

Writer: Sidney Sheldon
Genre: Fiction

A Sheldon book that I re-read a few days back! I have read almost all his books and I always thank him for introducing me the fiction genre. Previous to him I had read Danielle Steel and I thought I would never touch a fiction again.

The story revolves around the female protagonist Jennifer Parker and her complicated but determined life. The book begins when she is set up by the tactful Mafia to deliver a dead canary to a terrified witness which almost leads to her disbarment but falls sort of evidence when there is an honest enquiry conducted by Adam Warners. After that life takes a dramatic turn for Parker as she copes with the after effects and decides to succeed in life.

It’s the only Sidney book with a ‘not-so-happy’ but practical ending. I know one thing, I have loved this book and when I recently bought it I lapped it up in a single day. Sidney never gave me a strong, confident and vivacious female protagonist as Parker till he etched Tracy Whitney in ‘If tomorrow comes’. But this book still remains one of his most fantastic writings. Even critics would not argue otherwise!!!!

The Blue Horizon

Writer: Wilbur Smith
Genre: Fiction

Next in line with Monsoon, The Blue horizon is the story of the second generation Courtney’s as they explore the wild Africa and deal with their own destinies.

Tom and Sarah’s son Jim Courtney and Mansur and Yasimini’s son Mansur are the central characters and the book is essentially about them with some flashbacks about their respective parents.

The African wilderness is as usual well captured and you will not mind reading the book even if you haven’t read its prequel.

It’s a typical Smith book and you will like it if you have like his style of writing, I do ;)
And if you haven’t read a single one yet, time to grab a copy

p.s. I have read many Smith books but this blog came into existence much later and I decided not to include any old ‘reads’ here

Raja Shiv Chatrapati

Raja Shiv Chatrapati - Babasaheb Purandare
Language - Marathi
Genre - Classics

My brother once told me that history would be fun but for the dates. Although I do not completely agree with him, I don’t disagree either. I remember my school days where history was the most boring subject and I never ever touched a History book once I left school.

But soon I picked up many history books and have been savouring them till date. Tracing the lives of Hitler, Mussolini, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Churchill, and Thatcher has been one of my favourite pastimes. Near home I love reading about the Mughal dynasty, the Rajputs as along with Raja Ravi Verma.

Raja Shiv Chatrapati is a book written by Babasaheb Purandare; about the famous maratha warrior Shivaji Bhosale. A one man’s fight for independence! A one man’s trust in his culture and god! The story of a man who taught us the difference between slavery and loyalty!!!

The book traces the life of Shivaji and also Maharashtra (right from the time Ram stepped onto the land then known as Danadkaranya). Some of the most noticing and my favourite events in Chatrapati’s life include –

1) Battle of Pratapgad – Slaining of the great Bijapur warrior , Afzal khan.

2) Battle of Panhalgad/Pavankhind - Routing of Bijapur forces led by Siddhi Johar. Shivaji actually ran away from Panhalgad to Vishalgad right under his nose leaving the Johar red in face

3) Lal Mahal Attack – The daring attack on Lal mahal where Auranzeb’s uncle Shaistakhan had been living. Shivaji cut of his 3 fingers and he escaped death only because of the darkness.

4) Fleeing from Auranzeb’s captivity – He mocked the Mughals when he fled from Auranzeb’s captivity in a fruit basket. Daringly hilarious ;)

If you want to know more about this great warrior check out the wiki page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji

The book is a classic and will be on the shelves for a long time to come. Babasaheb Purandare has done a thorough research and leaves no doubt about the sincerity of his efforts. I hope someone translates the book into English so that it gets a wider audience.

Here’s a paragraph I got from some link –

Shivaji was religious, he wasn’t fanatic. He was strong, he wasn’t violent. He was adventurous, he wasn’t careless. He was a businessman, he wasn’t aimless. He was dreamer, but he also had strength to bring those dreams to reality. He was never a collector of paintings or art, he didn’t have any poets in his court. His contemporaries were ignoring draught, poverty, English invasion and were busy erecting monuments. Shivaji could not ignore these things, he neither had time nor money to build Temples or Ghats or hospitals. It was said at the time that since he did neither of the above, there wouldn’t have place in the heaven for him. But taking care of people as whole is any King’s first obligation. For that he has to fight, compete, rise to the occasion, make concessions at times, make some promises and break some promises. These are king’s duties. One that satisfies these duties gets well wishes from his people and that is what opens the doors of heaven for him. A King does not have personal love/hate, honor/dishonor.

Playing For Pizza

Playing for Pizza – John Grisham
Fiction

The latest book by Grisham is a decent one and definitely not in the league of Firm or Partner. It does not have the ‘I-need-to-finish-this-today’ kind of plot nor does it have the high voltage chase sequences which I have adored in his oldies.

The book sets its own pace and you have to be patient in the beginning. But if you have liked Grisham and have been his reader for quite some time you can trust him as he leads you to the inner world of Rick Dockery, a NFL quarterback.

The book begins with the nadir Rick has bought his career into and how he is nicknamed “The Greatest Goat ever” after he takes real efforts to lose a winning game. Ridiculed and humiliated, he packs his bag and moves to Italy where the game is played for Pizzas. The story then moves as Rick places his life together and plays for the enjoyment of the game and comes to terms with being satisfied in Life.

Read through it as it strikes a chord with our lives. It’s no different although not each one of us plays football ;). It’s slow but it is definitely not boring once you get a hang of it.

Recommended for all Grisham fans but I am waiting for a fast paced book Mr.Grisham
I hope your next book “The Appeal” is what I have been waiting for….