Writer: Dan Brown
Genre: Fiction
Ok, Angels & Daemons and Da Vinci Code were great but that’s because it was the first time (at least for me) somebody ventured into the lost world of symbols, ambigrams, secret sects,etc. Too much of anything is definitely boring!
In the Lost Symbol, you have Robert Langdon again, trying to avert a national crisis and at the same time help his friend Peter Solomon, a very prominent freemason. The setting, however, is Washington D.C. The book then essentially is running around all of the US capitol uncovering hidden symbols and secret rooms with a lot of symbology thrown here and there. The freemasonry ideas are distributed all over and Noetic Science makes its presence felt. As with his many books he again tries to bridge the gap between religion and science saying they are essentially one but have lost their meaning as humans progressed.
The book is huge and someone who hasn’t read brown would lap it up because the chase around Washington with all the secrets is fun. The problem is - I have done all that already! His previous books were the same. To add to woes the climax is not so riveting either.
No harm in reading it but do not expect something spectacular. It is same in-line as his famous two books.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Anthem
Writer: Ayn Rand
Genre: Fiction
The efforts I took to buy an original copy of this book were fruitful. Ayn Rand with her individualistic philosophy yet again! This time however, the book is just 100 pages long. Yeah, considering her epics like Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged this one is way too small but it can still hold you perplexed till the last page. If you are a hopeless fan of Rand that is!
Set in some dark age where mankind exists with its irrationality and collectivism you can’t help but notice the plural pronouns used as the book begins. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist is asked to be street sweeper by the World Council although he himself is more inclined towards becoming a scholar because of his undying curiosity. He, however, accepts the council’s decision and does his job religiously before he stumbles upon a tunnel left over from what the author terms as 'Unmentionable Times'. The discovery changes his course of life as he takes out time everyday to get into the tunnel, read scripts left behind and eventually rediscover electricity. He is soon caught and imprisoned for his transgression. He escapes and decides to submit his findings to the Word Council of Scholars with the hope that they will understand its importance.
The council however rejects his findings saying that they disrupt the equilibrium of their world. Disillusioned Equality 7-2521 runs into a forest where no man has been before and stays there and devours the manuscripts and ideas that he comes across in a house left back from the ‘Unmentionable Times'. He is joined by Liberty 5-3000 who is his love interest and understands his ideas and principles. The book ends as the protagonist rechristens himself as ‘Prometheus’ and discovers the meaning and usage of singular pronouns.
It’s crisp and talks of the same philosophy that her other classics spoke. For Rand fans, you need it in your collection definitely!
The classic line from the book –
"I need no warrant for being and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction."
Genre: Fiction
The efforts I took to buy an original copy of this book were fruitful. Ayn Rand with her individualistic philosophy yet again! This time however, the book is just 100 pages long. Yeah, considering her epics like Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged this one is way too small but it can still hold you perplexed till the last page. If you are a hopeless fan of Rand that is!
Set in some dark age where mankind exists with its irrationality and collectivism you can’t help but notice the plural pronouns used as the book begins. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist is asked to be street sweeper by the World Council although he himself is more inclined towards becoming a scholar because of his undying curiosity. He, however, accepts the council’s decision and does his job religiously before he stumbles upon a tunnel left over from what the author terms as 'Unmentionable Times'. The discovery changes his course of life as he takes out time everyday to get into the tunnel, read scripts left behind and eventually rediscover electricity. He is soon caught and imprisoned for his transgression. He escapes and decides to submit his findings to the Word Council of Scholars with the hope that they will understand its importance.
The council however rejects his findings saying that they disrupt the equilibrium of their world. Disillusioned Equality 7-2521 runs into a forest where no man has been before and stays there and devours the manuscripts and ideas that he comes across in a house left back from the ‘Unmentionable Times'. He is joined by Liberty 5-3000 who is his love interest and understands his ideas and principles. The book ends as the protagonist rechristens himself as ‘Prometheus’ and discovers the meaning and usage of singular pronouns.
It’s crisp and talks of the same philosophy that her other classics spoke. For Rand fans, you need it in your collection definitely!
The classic line from the book –
"I need no warrant for being and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction."
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
2 States
Genre: Fiction
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
Finally the author has come up with something that will ring a bell with all Indians. The cultural differences in a our single country is so huge that we could write volumes about it. If you have a nice sense of humour you could put some laughter in those volumes too.
That's the USP of this book. Its witty and sarcastic, something that is very difficult to achieve when you are writing a book. The story about Krish Malhotra who falls for his IIMA classmate Ananya Swamintahan is probably the story that could be enacted anywhere. Punjabis vs Madrasis - there is no dearth of humour. How this couple finally get the two sides of the nation on a single platform is what the book is all about. That is all that exists to the story. The climax is too predictable and almost ruined my read but I will still recommend this book for the remaining part. The conversations are hilarious and more so because they are day-to-day conversations. We always hear those remarks around us. Some get offended, some take it with a pinch of salt.
Chetan Bhagat has got his statistics right, the book is a very small one and costs much less than most of the books in this genre. So people who don't usually read would lap it up too. I, personally, have never liked anything apart from 'Five Point Someone' but this one is good. Its an Indian writer showing us a mirror and teaching us to laugh at our idiosyncrasies......have a good laugh!
Writer: Chetan Bhagat
Finally the author has come up with something that will ring a bell with all Indians. The cultural differences in a our single country is so huge that we could write volumes about it. If you have a nice sense of humour you could put some laughter in those volumes too.
That's the USP of this book. Its witty and sarcastic, something that is very difficult to achieve when you are writing a book. The story about Krish Malhotra who falls for his IIMA classmate Ananya Swamintahan is probably the story that could be enacted anywhere. Punjabis vs Madrasis - there is no dearth of humour. How this couple finally get the two sides of the nation on a single platform is what the book is all about. That is all that exists to the story. The climax is too predictable and almost ruined my read but I will still recommend this book for the remaining part. The conversations are hilarious and more so because they are day-to-day conversations. We always hear those remarks around us. Some get offended, some take it with a pinch of salt.
Chetan Bhagat has got his statistics right, the book is a very small one and costs much less than most of the books in this genre. So people who don't usually read would lap it up too. I, personally, have never liked anything apart from 'Five Point Someone' but this one is good. Its an Indian writer showing us a mirror and teaching us to laugh at our idiosyncrasies......have a good laugh!
Maximum City
Genre: Non-Fiction / Narrative (tell me if there is better genre)
Writer: Suketu Mehta
A lovely book with some great narration. The writer talks to the set of people who essentially make up what we call the city of Mumbai.
One section of the book deals with the gangsters and mumbai police. Interviews and point of views is what makes up this section. The coldness with which people kill and the brutality of their everyday life perhaps numbs your senses so much that you wish they had a more personal aspect to the killings than just money. But that would be a filmy expectation I guess! There are some big shots names that aren't probably changed because we all know about them.
There is a section dedicated to the dance bars of Mumbai. The character of Monalisa, a bar dancer, is probably a very interesting one because of the various layers of her personality. The trans gender Honey is another well etched character.
The section where Mehta talks to the Shiv sainiks and its supremo is another one that probably had me hooked but yeah I would rather not go by a someone else's account of some person.
How can you talk about Mumbai without talking about Bollywood? There goes another section with some interesting anecdotes. Personally, I think this section is comparatively dry when compared with others because the personalities in this section are too predictable and already well dissected thru' the newspapers and media. I didn't want to know anything more about them ;)
Finally, spirituality comes into a picture as a very wealthy businessman decides to take Sanyas along with his family. This section is another good read.
If you think with so much information clubbed together this book would be boring, its not so! Somehow, the writer has captured Mumbai as she would have liked to be captured......lively! The first person narration, the characters being spoken to as if they were his everyday friends, anecdotes being shared - some of them what we have probably read in newspapers, all of these things make this book fabulous. The writer must have had the time of his life talking and interviewing all these people and getting to know their perspective on life, death, money and love.
Grab a copy, you should have it in your shelves....Its that good :)
Writer: Suketu Mehta
A lovely book with some great narration. The writer talks to the set of people who essentially make up what we call the city of Mumbai.
One section of the book deals with the gangsters and mumbai police. Interviews and point of views is what makes up this section. The coldness with which people kill and the brutality of their everyday life perhaps numbs your senses so much that you wish they had a more personal aspect to the killings than just money. But that would be a filmy expectation I guess! There are some big shots names that aren't probably changed because we all know about them.
There is a section dedicated to the dance bars of Mumbai. The character of Monalisa, a bar dancer, is probably a very interesting one because of the various layers of her personality. The trans gender Honey is another well etched character.
The section where Mehta talks to the Shiv sainiks and its supremo is another one that probably had me hooked but yeah I would rather not go by a someone else's account of some person.
How can you talk about Mumbai without talking about Bollywood? There goes another section with some interesting anecdotes. Personally, I think this section is comparatively dry when compared with others because the personalities in this section are too predictable and already well dissected thru' the newspapers and media. I didn't want to know anything more about them ;)
Finally, spirituality comes into a picture as a very wealthy businessman decides to take Sanyas along with his family. This section is another good read.
If you think with so much information clubbed together this book would be boring, its not so! Somehow, the writer has captured Mumbai as she would have liked to be captured......lively! The first person narration, the characters being spoken to as if they were his everyday friends, anecdotes being shared - some of them what we have probably read in newspapers, all of these things make this book fabulous. The writer must have had the time of his life talking and interviewing all these people and getting to know their perspective on life, death, money and love.
Grab a copy, you should have it in your shelves....Its that good :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
The God Delusion
Writer: Richard Dawkins
Genre: Non-Fiction
Anything that comes from Dawkins does not need an introduction, does it? The British biologist comes up with some hard-hitting questions for people with religious affinities. He focuses directly on a wider range of arguments used for and against belief in the existence of God(s).
If you are a religious fanatic skip it. You need an open mind to understand the rationale behind his non acceptance of god. I read the whole book, liked many parts in it but it did not turn me into an atheist. He has criticized religion only because it seems to be the major contributor to conflicts everywhere. All he asks for is people to be able to question beliefs that have been handed over to them by century old traditions. Come to see it have we all not chosen our religion because our parents made us do it. I mean nowhere in the world is a kids religion determined by his/her own beliefs. As I said there are many things that get you thinking.
But just reading an atheist does not make you an atheist. Atleast i feel so! If you believe your faith why are you so scared of people scrutinizing or questioning it? Humans cannot exist without faith..... Some believe in god, some in nature, some in human mind.....but the bottom line is you have to believe in something. Probably I would not be able to state arguments for my faith the way Dawkins does against it. But what the heck? Someday probably I will if not today!
It’s a great book with real good arguments. Read it if you know you can digest it, don’t run asking for the writer's head. Faith that runs scared on questioning is no faith at all :)
Check also: The blind watchmaker
Genre: Non-Fiction
Anything that comes from Dawkins does not need an introduction, does it? The British biologist comes up with some hard-hitting questions for people with religious affinities. He focuses directly on a wider range of arguments used for and against belief in the existence of God(s).
If you are a religious fanatic skip it. You need an open mind to understand the rationale behind his non acceptance of god. I read the whole book, liked many parts in it but it did not turn me into an atheist. He has criticized religion only because it seems to be the major contributor to conflicts everywhere. All he asks for is people to be able to question beliefs that have been handed over to them by century old traditions. Come to see it have we all not chosen our religion because our parents made us do it. I mean nowhere in the world is a kids religion determined by his/her own beliefs. As I said there are many things that get you thinking.
But just reading an atheist does not make you an atheist. Atleast i feel so! If you believe your faith why are you so scared of people scrutinizing or questioning it? Humans cannot exist without faith..... Some believe in god, some in nature, some in human mind.....but the bottom line is you have to believe in something. Probably I would not be able to state arguments for my faith the way Dawkins does against it. But what the heck? Someday probably I will if not today!
It’s a great book with real good arguments. Read it if you know you can digest it, don’t run asking for the writer's head. Faith that runs scared on questioning is no faith at all :)
Check also: The blind watchmaker
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
If tomorrow comes
Author: Sidney Sheldon
Genre: Fiction
My favourite Sidney book after Rage of Angels (I probably like only these two).Tracy Whitney, a character I love almost as much as I love Jennifer Parker. No feminism here....just some fantastic storytelling and ideologies that you identify with.
All set to marry her wealthy and famous boyfriend Tracy doesn’t have any issues in life. Just as she is thinking that life couldn’t get better there comes a phone call informing her of her mother's suicide. Before she knows Tracy is caught in a web of lies and betrayals and lands up in prison.
Probably her jail trauma is the best part of the book. She is broken and almost gives up but a momentary thought that it’s no fault of hers makes her accept life and she chooses to live it her way. That’s when the book turns around as she plans and executes an amazing revenge against those who betrayed her. That completes half of the book.
The final part takes you on a whirlwind tour of some daring and brilliant robberies committed by Tracy sometimes together with Jeff. Read the chess plot carefully and you will admire Sheldon's ingenuity :) That what started for survival now has Tracy hooked and she loves it. But there are people who must stop her before she makes a fool of the entire system. This is a predictable part but yet has amazing humour and probably the optimist in me likes the part and the climax too.
This one is a must for your collection. It’s just amazing story telling with well defined characterizations!
Update: There is another Sidney book that I love - Tell Me your dreams (This time I am sure I adore only 3 of his books ;) )
Genre: Fiction
My favourite Sidney book after Rage of Angels (I probably like only these two).Tracy Whitney, a character I love almost as much as I love Jennifer Parker. No feminism here....just some fantastic storytelling and ideologies that you identify with.
All set to marry her wealthy and famous boyfriend Tracy doesn’t have any issues in life. Just as she is thinking that life couldn’t get better there comes a phone call informing her of her mother's suicide. Before she knows Tracy is caught in a web of lies and betrayals and lands up in prison.
Probably her jail trauma is the best part of the book. She is broken and almost gives up but a momentary thought that it’s no fault of hers makes her accept life and she chooses to live it her way. That’s when the book turns around as she plans and executes an amazing revenge against those who betrayed her. That completes half of the book.
The final part takes you on a whirlwind tour of some daring and brilliant robberies committed by Tracy sometimes together with Jeff. Read the chess plot carefully and you will admire Sheldon's ingenuity :) That what started for survival now has Tracy hooked and she loves it. But there are people who must stop her before she makes a fool of the entire system. This is a predictable part but yet has amazing humour and probably the optimist in me likes the part and the climax too.
This one is a must for your collection. It’s just amazing story telling with well defined characterizations!
Update: There is another Sidney book that I love - Tell Me your dreams (This time I am sure I adore only 3 of his books ;) )
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The English August
Writer: Upamanyu Chatterjee
Genre: Fiction
Agastya Sen, a half Bengali, half Goan IAS is posted to a small hinterland called 'Madna' for his one year training. Coming from Delhi and Calcutta, the place turns out to be quite a shocker for our English thinking Agastya. The fact that Agastya is lost and wants to understand his purpose in life does not help and his life seems to be all about marijuana, Marcus Aurelius.
Thats the entire plot of the book. And if you think there is no story you are right! But this book has some great satire and sarcasm. The punches are many and you just need to be a connoisseur of words to appreciate them.
Recommended for some nicely written punches!
Genre: Fiction
Agastya Sen, a half Bengali, half Goan IAS is posted to a small hinterland called 'Madna' for his one year training. Coming from Delhi and Calcutta, the place turns out to be quite a shocker for our English thinking Agastya. The fact that Agastya is lost and wants to understand his purpose in life does not help and his life seems to be all about marijuana, Marcus Aurelius.
Thats the entire plot of the book. And if you think there is no story you are right! But this book has some great satire and sarcasm. The punches are many and you just need to be a connoisseur of words to appreciate them.
Recommended for some nicely written punches!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Writer: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Fiction
The writer's second book after the extremely popular - 'The Kite Runner'. If the later was about the relationship between a father and a son, this one is about mother-daughter kind of relationship.
The story chronicles Afghanistan from the time women were working as university lecturers, doctors till date when you don’t see the female species without the burqa. It covers the soviet war, mujahideen war, Taliban war - almost everything and you are left wondering (like in Chetan Bhagat's 3 mistakes)...is that a little too much? It almost becomes a Manmohan Desai movie plot.
The two protagonists in the book are Mariam and Laila.
Maraim, Jalil's illegitimate daughter is completely besotted by him and doesn’t believe her mother that he is just trying to 'play' a good dad. Circumstances suddenly change as her mother dies, and she is married off to a much older man, Rasheed. Life goes on in the same disappointed way for her as she cannot give Rasheed a boy.
Laila is very much younger to Mariam and is her neighbour. Laila has a whining mom who doesn’t get out of the bed because her sons have gone to fight the holy war, a father who is university professor and teaches Laila that education is the most important thing in her life and a childhood friend Tariq who is the epicenter of her existence.
As the war in Afghanistan deteriorates, Tariq leaves for Pakistan and Laila becomes Rasheed's second wife and bears him a daughter and a son. Her equation with Mariam moves from extreme hatred to gradual acceptance and finally to that of extreme daughterly love. Towards the end Laila renites with Tariq, and Mariam is publicly executed for a crime she doesn’t repent.
I am sure this small synopsis must have reiterated the fact that it looks like a Manmohan Desai's film plot....but if you really read the book, you get an insight into the Afghanistan that’s falling into pieces. How life must have changed for the common man and how he must be wanting to get back his good old country - that’s the bottom line of the book. And that’s exactly where it scores! I may have not liked the plot but I could somehow relate to the writer and his protagonists going thru’ the phases of what would have once been a wonderful country.
The USP of the book - every 4 pages there is a twist and you have to turn the pages to fulfill your curiosity but still it’s not a classic. It’s a good book but a notch lower than the writer's first book. Read it, it’s not difficult to interpret, quite an everyday writing style and a decent one
Genre: Fiction
The writer's second book after the extremely popular - 'The Kite Runner'. If the later was about the relationship between a father and a son, this one is about mother-daughter kind of relationship.
The story chronicles Afghanistan from the time women were working as university lecturers, doctors till date when you don’t see the female species without the burqa. It covers the soviet war, mujahideen war, Taliban war - almost everything and you are left wondering (like in Chetan Bhagat's 3 mistakes)...is that a little too much? It almost becomes a Manmohan Desai movie plot.
The two protagonists in the book are Mariam and Laila.
Maraim, Jalil's illegitimate daughter is completely besotted by him and doesn’t believe her mother that he is just trying to 'play' a good dad. Circumstances suddenly change as her mother dies, and she is married off to a much older man, Rasheed. Life goes on in the same disappointed way for her as she cannot give Rasheed a boy.
Laila is very much younger to Mariam and is her neighbour. Laila has a whining mom who doesn’t get out of the bed because her sons have gone to fight the holy war, a father who is university professor and teaches Laila that education is the most important thing in her life and a childhood friend Tariq who is the epicenter of her existence.
As the war in Afghanistan deteriorates, Tariq leaves for Pakistan and Laila becomes Rasheed's second wife and bears him a daughter and a son. Her equation with Mariam moves from extreme hatred to gradual acceptance and finally to that of extreme daughterly love. Towards the end Laila renites with Tariq, and Mariam is publicly executed for a crime she doesn’t repent.
I am sure this small synopsis must have reiterated the fact that it looks like a Manmohan Desai's film plot....but if you really read the book, you get an insight into the Afghanistan that’s falling into pieces. How life must have changed for the common man and how he must be wanting to get back his good old country - that’s the bottom line of the book. And that’s exactly where it scores! I may have not liked the plot but I could somehow relate to the writer and his protagonists going thru’ the phases of what would have once been a wonderful country.
The USP of the book - every 4 pages there is a twist and you have to turn the pages to fulfill your curiosity but still it’s not a classic. It’s a good book but a notch lower than the writer's first book. Read it, it’s not difficult to interpret, quite an everyday writing style and a decent one
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Rage
Writer: Wilbur Smith
Genre: Fiction
Hmmmm!!!! The safest bet when I am confused about what to read next is to pick up a Courtney book from Smith.
Rage is next in line after 'Power of the Sword'.
The book begins with the half brothers Sasha Courtney and Manfred De La Rey pitched against each other in the political arena. Sasha who is married to Tara, has 4 kids (Sean, Michael, Garrick, Isabella) while Mafred is married to Heidi and has a son named Lothar De La Ray (He has daughters too...but they aren’t covered at all). Soon Manfred and Sasha join hands when Shasa Courtney is lured to his side with the one bait the Shasa cannot resist - A Ministerial post and the promise and power the position will bring. But the ploitical unrest in Africa is boiling and along with Moses Gama there are new leaders who have emerged - the most prominent being Mandela.
Manfred and Sasha together face a lot of heat from the rebels and unknown to each other become formidable pals although Sasha is not aware of why their destinies are so intertwined - not until the end. The story has Tara being seduced by Gama to spy on her own husband and she eventually causes the death of her own father before being packed off to England by Sasha. She even bears a son for Moses named Benjamin Africa. Sean is sent to remote Africa to avoid an arrest warrant against him. Micheal leaves the family tradition and becomes a reporter for the black cause. Garrick however carries the Courtney tradition. Isabella falls for Lothar who has himself gained a reputation as the tough cop.
The books end on a not so happy note where Sasha gets to know the truth about the 'White Sword' and before he could do anything with the information Manfred plays the trump card and reveals that he infact is his half brother. Confirmed by Centaine they both decide to part ways and give away the power that they both cherish. Manfred dies in his country home and Sasha moves to England as the ambassador for South Africa. Moses Gama is killed by his own people because he betrayed them against a death sentence and there are new people choose to take a different path to revolution.
Its one of the gems in the Courtney series and unless you are a Courtney and smith fan I don’t think you would have heard of it. Although its a part of a chain it doesn’t matter if you have read the predecessor or not. The narrative is fast paced and compelling as with every book in the series. Africa is the centre piece and it’s something that you won’t keep down once you start it.
Genre: Fiction
Hmmmm!!!! The safest bet when I am confused about what to read next is to pick up a Courtney book from Smith.
Rage is next in line after 'Power of the Sword'.
The book begins with the half brothers Sasha Courtney and Manfred De La Rey pitched against each other in the political arena. Sasha who is married to Tara, has 4 kids (Sean, Michael, Garrick, Isabella) while Mafred is married to Heidi and has a son named Lothar De La Ray (He has daughters too...but they aren’t covered at all). Soon Manfred and Sasha join hands when Shasa Courtney is lured to his side with the one bait the Shasa cannot resist - A Ministerial post and the promise and power the position will bring. But the ploitical unrest in Africa is boiling and along with Moses Gama there are new leaders who have emerged - the most prominent being Mandela.
Manfred and Sasha together face a lot of heat from the rebels and unknown to each other become formidable pals although Sasha is not aware of why their destinies are so intertwined - not until the end. The story has Tara being seduced by Gama to spy on her own husband and she eventually causes the death of her own father before being packed off to England by Sasha. She even bears a son for Moses named Benjamin Africa. Sean is sent to remote Africa to avoid an arrest warrant against him. Micheal leaves the family tradition and becomes a reporter for the black cause. Garrick however carries the Courtney tradition. Isabella falls for Lothar who has himself gained a reputation as the tough cop.
The books end on a not so happy note where Sasha gets to know the truth about the 'White Sword' and before he could do anything with the information Manfred plays the trump card and reveals that he infact is his half brother. Confirmed by Centaine they both decide to part ways and give away the power that they both cherish. Manfred dies in his country home and Sasha moves to England as the ambassador for South Africa. Moses Gama is killed by his own people because he betrayed them against a death sentence and there are new people choose to take a different path to revolution.
Its one of the gems in the Courtney series and unless you are a Courtney and smith fan I don’t think you would have heard of it. Although its a part of a chain it doesn’t matter if you have read the predecessor or not. The narrative is fast paced and compelling as with every book in the series. Africa is the centre piece and it’s something that you won’t keep down once you start it.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Inheritance of Loss
Writer: Kiran Desai (won a booker for this one)
Genre: Fiction
My second booker read the first being Roy's - God of Small Things. Things havent changed and I sincerely think I am just not the booker kinds. I am a hopeless fiction fan and although I do not entertain melodrama I dislike those touchy kinds too. If you keep talking about emotions all the while I can’t bear it. Ok! Let me get back to the book
Set in Kalimpong, a hill station in the Himalayan foothills this book is primarily a story of 3 people. One - a retired judge, Jemubhai Patel; second – his grand daughter Sai and third – Patel’s cook’s son, Biju.
The judge is a quite fellow staying with his cook when suddenly he is entrusted with the responsibility of his grand daughter who comes to stay with him after her parents demise in an accident. Sai, as she is called is not exactly welcomed into the household but manages to become a part of their existence. The judge’s cook has a son named Biju who is in America and is managing to meet ends and his letters are the only hope for the cook.
The book talks about these 3 people in a forward and reverse manner. The judge’s story is a flashback, how he was sent to England so that he would become an ICS and help his community. He however turns out to be more British and upon his return is unable to adjust his living to the standards of his family. He eventually ends up leaving all of them including his wife and is happy with his lone existence.
The cook has managed to send his son abroad to America with the hope of a bright future but Biju is completely at loss in the USA. He tries hard to cope with the pressures of an illegal immigrant and always misses his homeland. This is is the only section of the book that made sense to me.
Sai, meanwhile starts a love affair with her Maths tutor Gyan who is also member of the rebel group demanding an independent state for Gorkhas. The ego clashes between Gyan and Sai was the best part of the entire book.
The book, like many others has a snail’s pace and I think the last 200 pages are where the stories build up. Maybe it’s just that I am not yet able to understand these type of books. If you are a terrific reader with versatility being your USP try this one out. First timers and leisure readers skip this one…..this one is probably for the veterans.
Genre: Fiction
My second booker read the first being Roy's - God of Small Things. Things havent changed and I sincerely think I am just not the booker kinds. I am a hopeless fiction fan and although I do not entertain melodrama I dislike those touchy kinds too. If you keep talking about emotions all the while I can’t bear it. Ok! Let me get back to the book
Set in Kalimpong, a hill station in the Himalayan foothills this book is primarily a story of 3 people. One - a retired judge, Jemubhai Patel; second – his grand daughter Sai and third – Patel’s cook’s son, Biju.
The judge is a quite fellow staying with his cook when suddenly he is entrusted with the responsibility of his grand daughter who comes to stay with him after her parents demise in an accident. Sai, as she is called is not exactly welcomed into the household but manages to become a part of their existence. The judge’s cook has a son named Biju who is in America and is managing to meet ends and his letters are the only hope for the cook.
The book talks about these 3 people in a forward and reverse manner. The judge’s story is a flashback, how he was sent to England so that he would become an ICS and help his community. He however turns out to be more British and upon his return is unable to adjust his living to the standards of his family. He eventually ends up leaving all of them including his wife and is happy with his lone existence.
The cook has managed to send his son abroad to America with the hope of a bright future but Biju is completely at loss in the USA. He tries hard to cope with the pressures of an illegal immigrant and always misses his homeland. This is is the only section of the book that made sense to me.
Sai, meanwhile starts a love affair with her Maths tutor Gyan who is also member of the rebel group demanding an independent state for Gorkhas. The ego clashes between Gyan and Sai was the best part of the entire book.
The book, like many others has a snail’s pace and I think the last 200 pages are where the stories build up. Maybe it’s just that I am not yet able to understand these type of books. If you are a terrific reader with versatility being your USP try this one out. First timers and leisure readers skip this one…..this one is probably for the veterans.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Associate
Author: John Grisham
Genre: Fiction
Just when I thought my fav writer could not give me a book that I would not be able to keep down, he came up with a pretty decent one.
The Asociate is Grisham's latest book and is yet again on what he writes best about - law! The plot revolves around a final year law year student who has planned his life after law school. But just when he thought that everything would end as he wanted, the past catches up and takes him on a roller coaster ride ,albeit unwillingly. He dodges the thin line between the two sides of law with efforts for he knows that a small mistake would put him on the other side of law with no escape.
The book has a great pace but it has a lacklustre climax. It is practical but I always expect stories to have a definite end. This one doesnt and thats the place where it disappointed me. Again its nowhere near Firm or Partner but then if you like his writings you would not find it that bad.
Non grisham fans skip it, others go ahead! Its better than many of his recent books
Genre: Fiction
Just when I thought my fav writer could not give me a book that I would not be able to keep down, he came up with a pretty decent one.
The Asociate is Grisham's latest book and is yet again on what he writes best about - law! The plot revolves around a final year law year student who has planned his life after law school. But just when he thought that everything would end as he wanted, the past catches up and takes him on a roller coaster ride ,albeit unwillingly. He dodges the thin line between the two sides of law with efforts for he knows that a small mistake would put him on the other side of law with no escape.
The book has a great pace but it has a lacklustre climax. It is practical but I always expect stories to have a definite end. This one doesnt and thats the place where it disappointed me. Again its nowhere near Firm or Partner but then if you like his writings you would not find it that bad.
Non grisham fans skip it, others go ahead! Its better than many of his recent books
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D.Salinger
Genre: Fiction
Did you know that this book had quite a controversial launch? It had been banned and disliked for many years because it was considered corny by many. And today its a considered a masterpiece!
It is a rebellious account of a guy named Holden who is thrown out of his latest school and is just own his way to his house to confront his parents. Thats precisely how long this book is! Yet it covers his insecurities, his teenage angst, his dislike of anything that is phony and his 'sick' state as he likes to call it. The book ends on a weird note too with no happy or sad ending. Its abrupt and thats exactly what is its USP.
Its a different book altogether and I am glad to have read it. The book definitely deserves the 'masterpiece' tag that it has got!!!!
Genre: Fiction
Did you know that this book had quite a controversial launch? It had been banned and disliked for many years because it was considered corny by many. And today its a considered a masterpiece!
It is a rebellious account of a guy named Holden who is thrown out of his latest school and is just own his way to his house to confront his parents. Thats precisely how long this book is! Yet it covers his insecurities, his teenage angst, his dislike of anything that is phony and his 'sick' state as he likes to call it. The book ends on a weird note too with no happy or sad ending. Its abrupt and thats exactly what is its USP.
Its a different book altogether and I am glad to have read it. The book definitely deserves the 'masterpiece' tag that it has got!!!!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Time to Die
Writer: Wilbur smith
Genre: Fiction
One of the books in the second sequence Courtney series. The story is about Sean Courtney Jnr. and Claudia. Type the name of the book and you will get the details. I mean I didnt like it , so in no mood to review it. It got boring with time and I have an unspoken rule of never ever leaving a book halfway, only that made me finish it.
Although the courtney series it didnt have the adventure spirit that could captivate me. But no issues, it wont stop me from lapping his other books. I Plan to finish every courtney book written by Smith :D
Genre: Fiction
One of the books in the second sequence Courtney series. The story is about Sean Courtney Jnr. and Claudia. Type the name of the book and you will get the details. I mean I didnt like it , so in no mood to review it. It got boring with time and I have an unspoken rule of never ever leaving a book halfway, only that made me finish it.
Although the courtney series it didnt have the adventure spirit that could captivate me. But no issues, it wont stop me from lapping his other books. I Plan to finish every courtney book written by Smith :D
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