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!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
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
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
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 :)
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 :)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
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.
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.
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