Origin

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Where do we come from? Where are we going?

The fundamental questions that plague humankind forms the basis of this thriller. It has all the Dan Brown ingredients - code, history, religion and an elusive mastermind killer.

Edmond Kirsch is technology's prodigal son. He is killed just when he is about to make the announcement that he promises would change the world. Its left to Robert Langdon and curator Ambra Vidal to get the secret to people. Ambra is the fiance of Spain's prince who is also a prime suspect for Kirsch's murder.

Combining history with todays keywords of AI, qunatum computing, etc Dan Brown has created a fast paced thriller.


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Twisted

Author: Jeffrey Deaver
Genre: Fiction, Short stories

A fantastic collection of short stories for the thriller lovers.

A Midsummer's Equation

A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I choose to read all Keigo Higashino books simply because I like the way his books are :)

A very nice paragraph from the end of the book -
Every problem has a solution but there is no gurantee that the solution will be found immediately. The same holds true in out lives. We encounter several problems to which the solutions are not immediately apparent in life. There is value to be had in worrying about those problems when you get to them. But never feel rushed. Often, in order to find the answer, you need time to grow first. That's why we apply ourselves, and learn as we go.


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The Three Ravens

The Three Ravens by Ed Kirwan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A quick thriller for the inherent fiction fan in me. The world is under threat from a nuclear explosion and only the three most brilliant people can stop it. They must overcome adversaries who are at powerful positions and always a step ahead of them.




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Zero to One

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting book. Usually I find management books a drag but the ideas and anecdotes shared by the founder of PayPal makes this interesting.


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The Rogue Lawyer

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sebastian Rudd is a lawyer who will not let truth come in the way of justice. This is how the book is advertised and its an interesting mix of plots with Rudd being the central character in each. An engaging quick read, not Grisham's best but it does have its page turning moments.


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The rooster bar

John Grisham, Fiction

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Grisham uses the educational loan crisis in US as an example to create a plot where 3 friends start practicing law without actually graduating. Hoodwinking the system is the primary plot. Though it sounds interesting it's not like usual Grisham novels. It needed efforts to finish this one off


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Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind

Author: V.S. Ramachandran, Sandra Blakeslee
Genre: Non-Fiction


The complexities of the brain explained in a simple layman format. The examples are intriguing and the probable reasons extremely fascinating. Its a real gem of the book. 

One of my favourite lines in the book - Natural selection can only explain the emergence of actual abilities that are expressed by the organism - never potential ones.

The code of the Woosters

Writer: P. G. Wodehouse
Genre: Fiction

Bertie is invited to Totleigh Towers by Gussie to help save his engagement. His aunt Dahlia, meanwhile, wants him to pinch an antique cow-creamer from Sir Watkyn Bassett, the owner of Totleigh Tower. Can Bertie do all that is expected of him and much more? Well, with Jeeves help he does exactly that.

Parva

Author: S.L.Bhyrappa [English translation by K. Raghvendra Rao]
Genre: Fiction/Mythology


We have a perception of all the stories that were told to us. It takes a long time for us to develop our own perspective. Some never develop any!
Mahabharata, Ramayana, are such stories. They have been told/retold in a particular fashion and any deviation from the so called standards is never tolerated.
Well! This is changing off late. Many Indian writers are retelling the stories in their own way.

Parva is one such book that is a reinterpretation of the Mahabharata. Any attempt to explain it is a waste of energy. It’s a book that one should simply relish. With an open mind of course! The dedication and devotion of the author can be felt as one goes thru the pages reliving the various stories in this classic epic from the various protagonist's point of view. The detailing is amazing and so are the thoughts. They seem to connect instantly. The famous war which forms the climax of the book is explained in such practical terms that I was simply awestruck. Ever wondered how the soldiers who rush into each other identify who is friend and who is foe. I always had such questions which were never answered ;) Those small nagging thoughts I had at the back of mind were bought to the front and some explained in practical terms.

It's a huge book but every word is just as it should be :)