Of Books and Reading
I invite you to have a look at the long list of books I have read this year (2013) and I strongly recommend them for reading. This year a total of 27 more books are added to my personal library.
I invite you to have a look at the long list of books I have read this year (2013) and I strongly recommend them for reading. This year a total of 27 more books are added to my personal library.
- Geetanjali (Song Offerings) by Rabindranath Tagore
- Ranu & Bhanu (The Poet and His Muse) by Sunil Gangopadhyay
- That Calcutta…Those Bongs by Dipanwita Mukherjee
- Young Tagore by Sudhir Kakar
- Mahanayak Revisited: The World of Uttam Kumar by Swapan Mullick
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
- Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre And Javier Moro
- Calcutta: Two Years in the City by Amit Chaudhuri
- The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
- A Wanted Man by Lee Child
- Phantom by Jo Nesbo
- The Shining by Stephen King
- Duma King by Stephen King
- Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
- Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
- A Delicate Truth by John Le Carré
- The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish Tripathi
- The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi
- Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho
- The Sunset Club by Khushwant Singh
- A Time to Kill by John Grisham
- Death Benefit by Robin Cook
- P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
- Kill Me If You Can by James Patterson
- Zoo by James Patterson
- Like It Happened Yesterday by Ravinder Singh
Following is my personal take on each book I have read this year.
Geetanjali (Song Offerings) by Rabindranath Tagore:
From the pages of history -
Wilfred Owen, a leading British Poet of the First World War and a soldier, inscribed Rabindranath Tagore's poem Parting Words in his pocketbook when he was killed on active duty in France during the First World War. Allow me to show you the poem:
"Parting Words -
When I go from hence
let this be my parting word,
that what I have seen is unsurpassable.
I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus
that expands on the ocean of light,
and thus am I blessed
---let this be my parting word.
In this playhouse of infinite forms
I have had my play
and here have I caught sight of him that is formless.
My whole body and my limbs
have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch;
and if the end comes here, let it come
---let this be my parting word." - by Rabindranath Tagore
Ranu & Bhanu (The Poet and His Muse) by Sunil Gangopadhyay:
Ranu & Bhanu is a story of Lady Ranu Mukherjee and Rabindranath Tagore's relationship. The book is really a heartfelt reminder of what great personal misery the poet had been going through in his long life. Though the book is about his muse, his inspiration behind some of the most iconic love songs ever written, I particularly felt deeply about the personal loss of his family members even as his own life was inextricably engaged in personal, social, and political responsibilities. This is a deeply felt book.
That Calcutta…Those Bongs by Dipanwita Mukherjee:
The stories are not much eclectic but they reveal the subtle ironies and emotional undercurrents that shade many lives in the great, grandiloquent city of Calcutta.
That Calcutta...Those Bongs is a good book to be read on a quiet evening. And if you can have the pleasure of a cup of tea then it makes for a tasteful experience.
Kill Me If You Can & Zoo by James Patterson:
James Patterson is a master thriller writer. I have read 4 to 5 of his books and all of them have thoroughly entertained me, kept me glued, and had me totally enthralled and spellbound in equal measure. I cannot possibly miss his thrillers. They are great entertainers.
Patterson's books have sold millions across the world. At last count, over 200 million copies have been sold! Now that's what I call a bestselling pulp-fiction writer you can't afford to miss following! No wonder he is one of the best of the best - a top-selling, top-rated, New York Times bestseller writer! His novels mostly feature Alex Cross, the forensic psychologist or investigator of crimes. Patterson wrote other stand-alone novels which are very unmissable! Kill Me If You Can is one such quick read. Some of his books have been made into top Hollywood films.
The point is: that among the most wanted things I desperately seek out is to indulge in reading the thrillers by one of the world's greatest thriller writers James Patterson. "Kill Me If You Can" is a mad-goose chase right from the first line of the page. You will never be out of the suspenseful fury that the story in the book has to offer until the last page is revealed. Pick it up and you will know the 'thrill ride' I am talking about.
On second thought:
James Patterson is the top-selling author. His books sell in the millions. Always! Zoo and Kill Me If You Can are clearly not the best of his works. It was never meant to be, I guess. Just another potboiler stuff. If you are looking to read some 'crime stuff' then you may buy these quick reads and finish reading them, but there are so many others in the bookstores. The problem with James Patterson is that he is increasingly becoming repetitive in his approach to the storyline, plot setting, and execution style. I call this kind of work a 'belligerent novel' which is solely devoted to slam-bam-thank-you-mam kind of assembly-line entertainment stuff that is nothing, not even remotely, suggestive of being 'literary' in any way. Oh well! wake up and smell coffee! Ha ha ha. I know I know, James Patterson is probably sold out to producing entertaining reads left, right, and center: it is his take-it-easy policy!
On second thought:
James Patterson is the top-selling author. His books sell in the millions. Always! Zoo and Kill Me If You Can are clearly not the best of his works. It was never meant to be, I guess. Just another potboiler stuff. If you are looking to read some 'crime stuff' then you may buy these quick reads and finish reading them, but there are so many others in the bookstores. The problem with James Patterson is that he is increasingly becoming repetitive in his approach to the storyline, plot setting, and execution style. I call this kind of work a 'belligerent novel' which is solely devoted to slam-bam-thank-you-mam kind of assembly-line entertainment stuff that is nothing, not even remotely, suggestive of being 'literary' in any way. Oh well! wake up and smell coffee! Ha ha ha. I know I know, James Patterson is probably sold out to producing entertaining reads left, right, and center: it is his take-it-easy policy!
Young Tagore by Sudhir Kakar:
The book is a masterly "psycho-biographical" account of Rabindranath Tagore. I think it is impossible to use the above-quoted words to describe a decent biography such as this as something related to "psychoanalysis" which it is not. It is called, as the author clarifies, an "inner biography" of the genius Nobel Laureate. Mr. Kakar throws new light on Tagore's growing up years in the sprawling Jorasanko Thakurbari mansion in Calcutta.
Especially engaging is the account of Tagore's childhood experiences, his private solitude, his youth, and his inspirational post-afternoon ruminations in the deep and dark corridors of his grand residence. Young Tagore is a very good addition to the already huge collection of accounts that are written and read today by Tagore lovers worldwide. I love this book; a 10-on-10 perfect!
Especially engaging is the account of Tagore's childhood experiences, his private solitude, his youth, and his inspirational post-afternoon ruminations in the deep and dark corridors of his grand residence. Young Tagore is a very good addition to the already huge collection of accounts that are written and read today by Tagore lovers worldwide. I love this book; a 10-on-10 perfect!
Mahanayak Revisited - The World of Uttam Kumar by Swapan Mullick:
Uttam Kumar is Bengal's most idolized male actor. This short biography written by Swapan Mullick, a veteran film journalist, portrays the personal and professional life of one of the most prolific actors India has ever seen. Uttam Kumar was a genius and in Bengal, particularly Calcutta he even surpasses the Hindi film stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan or Dilip Kumar. Personally speaking, his achievements in the memorable films he did during the 1950s and 1960s were truly dazzling; who can forget his films with the great Satyajit Ray.
Sadly, Uttam Kumar was never given an Oscar for the kind of films he did; he truly deserved several of them. But then he wasn't achieving what he was achieving to get an Oscar for that matter. I would say he deserved "Bengal's Bharat Ratna" if there is one. Pity, the rest of India will never know what a lovely hero he was, what a genius actor he was in his myriad acting capabilities, and what a lovely person he was. Alas.
A review of the book had appeared in my blog Pebbles on the Beach earlier. Please click on the link to view it: http://arindammoulick.blogspot.in/2013/06/notes-from-here-and-there.html
Life of Pi by Yann Martel:
If you have not read Life of Pi then what have you read in your life? I pity those unfortunate ones who haven't read the book.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a marvellous book. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2002 and what an achievement. The film version is truly outstanding as well. But I prefer the book. Give me a high five!
A head-scratching combination of Piscine Molitor Patel or Pi from Pondicherry, a 500-pound Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker and the Pacific Ocean is truly unforgettable. A marvellous book.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez:
You will be amazed by reading this book. As I was. Nobel Prize-winning Gabriel Garcia Marquez's seductive prose will refuse to leave you long after you've read the last line of the last page. The story will never let you go. You'll think about it, you'll dream about it, and you'll even try to live in the world you will discover in the pages of the book. Reading this novel has changed many people's lives. Mine too.
And it brought me up to face numerous unanswerable questions about love, or better still, true love. What is love after all? I still don't get the hang of it. Measly me! Did you? Love in the Time of Cholera is one of the most-read and most-loved books of all time.
Now read what the author gracefully says in the book: "She would defend herself, saying that love, no matter what else it might be, was a natural talent. She would say: You are either born knowing how, or you never know." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, Love in the Time of Cholera
Another one:
"There is no greater glory than to die for love." - - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, Love in the Time of Cholera
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro:
Much has been written about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world's deadliest industrial disaster that killed thousands of innocent people and maimed a hundred others for life. One of the authors of this book Dominique Lapierre is one of the finest chroniclers of our time. Nothing escapes his keen sense of truth and mankind's unspeakable apathy towards his own kind.
Many years ago when I read his book the City of Joy which was based on a small slum called Anandnagar located a little outside of Calcutta (now Kolkata) I kind of figured that Mr. Lapierre would venture into writing a true account of the Bhopal tragedy. And thank God and him for his yeomen service to mankind (and his incorrigible ills) that he wrote an excellent account of the industrial disaster with the story (of the people who were deeply scarred by it and died on that fateful day and others somehow survived the disaster) crisscrossing the book.
The book Five Past Midnight in Bhopal is a special book. While I read the book, I couldn't help but recall reading about the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Disaster that occurred in the town of Chernobyl in Russia.
Calcutta: Two Years in the City by Amit Chaudhuri:
The book is about the author's years in Calcutta, the once-great city that is often called the Eastern Metropolis. It is about his personal experiences after he returned to live permanently in Calcutta leaving Bombay (or Mumbai as it is called now) for good. Quite aptly, what Calcutta is to Amit Chaudhuri is what Dublin was to James Joyce.
If you have visited Calcutta's uber-cool places such as neon-lit Park Street, Free School Street, etc. (which I have) you'd want to make another visit to the place. Chaudhuri writes with candour; talking about ethnic Bengali cuisine, good Italian restaurants that dot Calcutta nowadays and the food chefs there make. Altogether, a unique memoir-like perspective, a non-fiction account, or whatever you'd prefer to call it. This book has been delectably presented with the author's personal experiences of the grand old city. A must-read for anyone who professes undying love for Calcutta and its unforgettable streets, places, and landmarks. I strongly recommend it.
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson:
The first book in the Millennium trilogy The Girl with the Dragon Tatto had met with critical success around the world. It took the world of crime fiction by storm.
Jack Reacher is trying to hitch a ride in the middle of the night.
A car stops with 3 people inside it. Two men and a woman.
The Two men looked suspicious and the woman fidgety.
Sounds interesting? It is.
The plot is set and now the action begins.
Mind-boggling suspense with racy action is the staple of the novel.
This is Jack Reacher's seventeenth outing.
The question is: can you handle it?
A good racy read you don't want to miss.
I have been reading Lee Child novels for the past few years and I have never been disappointed by what he has to offer. A Wanted Man sold millions of copies around the world. In fact, whenever Lee Child publishes anything it becomes a major event in itself.
Phantom by Jo Nesbo:
The Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbo's Phantom is a crime novel featuring the detective hero Harry Hole. The novel has been translated into English from Norwegian.
'Phantom' is not an all-out gut-wrenching crime thriller but there are many moments when you feel the story pulsing with great suspense and action, especially in the last few chapters.
Jo Nesbo's books have created a phenomenon worldwide and we in this part of the world are only feeling the first few big waves of it.
The Shining by Stephen King & Duma King by Stephen King:
Who hasn't read the book 'The Shining'? Half of the world had already read it and the other half is beginning to discover it anew. I remember, I have even seen the film version of the popular book on TV and I don't think the film was any good compared to the book. Well, it usually so happens! Nothing unusual about that. Books are always the best when compared to films.
If the story centers around the life of Jack Torrance then it is also equally about his little son Danny. To put it simply, (and I dare do it), horror, horror, and godawful horror! comes in slow-mo. The first 200 odd pages are taken to set the stage and then oh! it comes...!
The other book I read is Duma Key also by Stephen King. I swear you'll be spooked hard! As I was thoroughly and lived to tell this tale. Don't get me wrong, but I strongly suggest that you don't dare read these books if you have a weak heart in your chest, because if you do then, trust me, you will not be able to survive the horror! So weaklings, be warned; please excuse yourself, now! Okay, jokes apart, The Shining is NOT just a book, it is Horror itself! Without a doubt, Stephen King is not just a great writer but an astute genius.
Kane and Able by Jeffrey Archer:
Kane and Abel is the kind of book that will stay with you forever. And what a beautiful story. One of the best facts about this book is its dazzling story! I have never read anything like it before. Its mind-boggling story of two warring brothers: 'Kane' and 'Abel' will keep you hooked throughout the novel. Unputdownable! Jeffrey Archer wrote this novel way back in 1979 and therefore the story is at once so unique in every sense of the word. Jeffrey Archer is a master storyteller.
Archer tells two parallel stories; one of Kane and the other of Abel. I felt torn between the two main characters and never was able to take sides if I had to. But still, I liked Abel Rosnovki's life story better. His growing up years and the kind of poverty-ridden life he had in Poland during the World Wars are very fascinating to read indeed. A superb story! Don't miss this book.
The book is now on its 93rd reprint! Now show me which book, dear reader, is on its 93rd reprint? It's not every day that you find such a book being reprinted again and again across the world to satisfy people's hunger for reading great books. I have a lovely blue paperback edition. Exactly like the one shown here. And it's a prized possession.
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan:
Sweet Tooth is a story of betrayal and intrigue in the time of the cold war. Set in the early 1970s England, the lead character, a lady, of the novel interns with the MI5 and gets offered a chance to take part in a cover op named "Sweet Tooth". She finds herself romantically involved with a university Professor while at the university.
The story is nothing to write home about; in fact, there's nothing in the storyline that will dazzle you, far from it, but McEwan's elegant prose will no doubt dazzle you and probably will leave you wanting more. You'll know you are reading an Ian McEwan book when you read this novel.
A Delicate Truth by John Le Carré:
A Delicate Truth is a spy novel set in contemporary times. John Le Carré's sterling prose is to die for.
That being said, the story is about the joint American-British covert mission (a counter-terror operation) on the Rock of Gibraltar.
The major part of the novel is pretty outstanding but, I thought, it tapers off in the end.
All in all, this is a brilliant novel but in the end, it tapers off a bit.
Le Carré is a wonderful writer; he tells a gripping tale with great elan in his latest novel A Delicate Truth.
The Oath of the Vayuputras & The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi:
Well, honestly, I really liked the last part of the trilogy The Oath of the Vayuputras. I don't know why some people did not like it. Everybody has his own opinion and reading pleasure I am sure. I think I was kind of relieved that it was over. No, I do not want to demean in any way the great blockbusters Amish Tripathi has produced and I thank him for writing such entertaining reads. The Immortals of Meluha (the first book) and The Secret of the Nagas (the second book) have been great works of precocious thriller writing.
Now I know: From the first book's title "Immortals..." one could take a guess what would be the 'evil' behind the entire story of the trilogy. Yes, the alleged "Somras" is the 'evil' and not a demon or any expendable evil King/Queen that the demigod Shiva encounters every step of the way. No "Somras" can make you "immortal", not of this earth. There's nothing, at least not on this earth, that could get the man his useless seeking of immortality through drinking "Somras". Methinks, one should drink a glass of sparkling water and cool down a bit!
Amish has taken the idea of "Indian mythological thrillers" to a new high. I as a reader would credit him with that honour. Many 'mythological thriller authors' came later, but he started it all. I want him to keep writing more books and entertain us with his way of storytelling which is quite endearing. I am waiting for his next new book (Will it a trilogy again? Better be) which I presume is in the making.
It took a lot of effort to complete reading this book. I did not expect this book to be such a huge bore as it turned out. Robin Cook's medical thrillers have always appealed to me and they read like a real thriller.
I would give just 2 out of 5 stars and if you ask me that's being more than generous of me! I know I am sounding a little arrogant but without wanting to sound like a book-snob my review is honest. Death Benefit is nothing to write home about. I ask: Where are the great Robin Cook's staple of magical writing and that world full of thrilling medical suspense? Ignore this book.
Sadly, Uttam Kumar was never given an Oscar for the kind of films he did; he truly deserved several of them. But then he wasn't achieving what he was achieving to get an Oscar for that matter. I would say he deserved "Bengal's Bharat Ratna" if there is one. Pity, the rest of India will never know what a lovely hero he was, what a genius actor he was in his myriad acting capabilities, and what a lovely person he was. Alas.
A review of the book had appeared in my blog Pebbles on the Beach earlier. Please click on the link to view it: http://arindammoulick.blogspot.in/2013/06/notes-from-here-and-there.html
Life of Pi by Yann Martel:
Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a marvellous book. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2002 and what an achievement. The film version is truly outstanding as well. But I prefer the book. Give me a high five!
A head-scratching combination of Piscine Molitor Patel or Pi from Pondicherry, a 500-pound Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker and the Pacific Ocean is truly unforgettable. A marvellous book.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez:
And it brought me up to face numerous unanswerable questions about love, or better still, true love. What is love after all? I still don't get the hang of it. Measly me! Did you? Love in the Time of Cholera is one of the most-read and most-loved books of all time.
Now read what the author gracefully says in the book: "She would defend herself, saying that love, no matter what else it might be, was a natural talent. She would say: You are either born knowing how, or you never know." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, Love in the Time of Cholera
Another one:
"There is no greater glory than to die for love." - - Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, Love in the Time of Cholera
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro:
Many years ago when I read his book the City of Joy which was based on a small slum called Anandnagar located a little outside of Calcutta (now Kolkata) I kind of figured that Mr. Lapierre would venture into writing a true account of the Bhopal tragedy. And thank God and him for his yeomen service to mankind (and his incorrigible ills) that he wrote an excellent account of the industrial disaster with the story (of the people who were deeply scarred by it and died on that fateful day and others somehow survived the disaster) crisscrossing the book.
The book Five Past Midnight in Bhopal is a special book. While I read the book, I couldn't help but recall reading about the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Disaster that occurred in the town of Chernobyl in Russia.
Calcutta: Two Years in the City by Amit Chaudhuri:
If you have visited Calcutta's uber-cool places such as neon-lit Park Street, Free School Street, etc. (which I have) you'd want to make another visit to the place. Chaudhuri writes with candour; talking about ethnic Bengali cuisine, good Italian restaurants that dot Calcutta nowadays and the food chefs there make. Altogether, a unique memoir-like perspective, a non-fiction account, or whatever you'd prefer to call it. This book has been delectably presented with the author's personal experiences of the grand old city. A must-read for anyone who professes undying love for Calcutta and its unforgettable streets, places, and landmarks. I strongly recommend it.
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson:
Almost overnight Stieg Larsson, the author of these staggering bestsellers began to be regarded as one of the great crime writers the crime fiction world has ever seen in the recent past. If you are a lover of crime fiction (as I am) then the world of Steig Larsson will most certainly appeal to you. The crime fiction book you should be reading is this. The story of Lisbeth Salander (the original girl with the dragon tattoo) is the most important fictional character of the three novels. Micheal Blomkvist is the other one. I strongly recommend this book.
A Wanted Man by Lee Child:
Jack Reacher is trying to hitch a ride in the middle of the night.A car stops with 3 people inside it. Two men and a woman.
The Two men looked suspicious and the woman fidgety.
Sounds interesting? It is.
The plot is set and now the action begins.
Mind-boggling suspense with racy action is the staple of the novel.
This is Jack Reacher's seventeenth outing.
The question is: can you handle it?
A good racy read you don't want to miss.
I have been reading Lee Child novels for the past few years and I have never been disappointed by what he has to offer. A Wanted Man sold millions of copies around the world. In fact, whenever Lee Child publishes anything it becomes a major event in itself.
Phantom by Jo Nesbo:
'Phantom' is not an all-out gut-wrenching crime thriller but there are many moments when you feel the story pulsing with great suspense and action, especially in the last few chapters.
Jo Nesbo's books have created a phenomenon worldwide and we in this part of the world are only feeling the first few big waves of it.
The Shining by Stephen King & Duma King by Stephen King:
Who hasn't read the book 'The Shining'? Half of the world had already read it and the other half is beginning to discover it anew. I remember, I have even seen the film version of the popular book on TV and I don't think the film was any good compared to the book. Well, it usually so happens! Nothing unusual about that. Books are always the best when compared to films. If the story centers around the life of Jack Torrance then it is also equally about his little son Danny. To put it simply, (and I dare do it), horror, horror, and godawful horror! comes in slow-mo. The first 200 odd pages are taken to set the stage and then oh! it comes...!
The other book I read is Duma Key also by Stephen King. I swear you'll be spooked hard! As I was thoroughly and lived to tell this tale. Don't get me wrong, but I strongly suggest that you don't dare read these books if you have a weak heart in your chest, because if you do then, trust me, you will not be able to survive the horror! So weaklings, be warned; please excuse yourself, now! Okay, jokes apart, The Shining is NOT just a book, it is Horror itself! Without a doubt, Stephen King is not just a great writer but an astute genius.
Kane and Able by Jeffrey Archer:
Archer tells two parallel stories; one of Kane and the other of Abel. I felt torn between the two main characters and never was able to take sides if I had to. But still, I liked Abel Rosnovki's life story better. His growing up years and the kind of poverty-ridden life he had in Poland during the World Wars are very fascinating to read indeed. A superb story! Don't miss this book.
The book is now on its 93rd reprint! Now show me which book, dear reader, is on its 93rd reprint? It's not every day that you find such a book being reprinted again and again across the world to satisfy people's hunger for reading great books. I have a lovely blue paperback edition. Exactly like the one shown here. And it's a prized possession.
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan:
The story is nothing to write home about; in fact, there's nothing in the storyline that will dazzle you, far from it, but McEwan's elegant prose will no doubt dazzle you and probably will leave you wanting more. You'll know you are reading an Ian McEwan book when you read this novel.
A Delicate Truth by John Le Carré:
A Delicate Truth is a spy novel set in contemporary times. John Le Carré's sterling prose is to die for. That being said, the story is about the joint American-British covert mission (a counter-terror operation) on the Rock of Gibraltar.
The major part of the novel is pretty outstanding but, I thought, it tapers off in the end.
All in all, this is a brilliant novel but in the end, it tapers off a bit.
Le Carré is a wonderful writer; he tells a gripping tale with great elan in his latest novel A Delicate Truth.
The Oath of the Vayuputras & The Secret of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi:
Well, honestly, I really liked the last part of the trilogy The Oath of the Vayuputras. I don't know why some people did not like it. Everybody has his own opinion and reading pleasure I am sure. I think I was kind of relieved that it was over. No, I do not want to demean in any way the great blockbusters Amish Tripathi has produced and I thank him for writing such entertaining reads. The Immortals of Meluha (the first book) and The Secret of the Nagas (the second book) have been great works of precocious thriller writing. Now I know: From the first book's title "Immortals..." one could take a guess what would be the 'evil' behind the entire story of the trilogy. Yes, the alleged "Somras" is the 'evil' and not a demon or any expendable evil King/Queen that the demigod Shiva encounters every step of the way. No "Somras" can make you "immortal", not of this earth. There's nothing, at least not on this earth, that could get the man his useless seeking of immortality through drinking "Somras". Methinks, one should drink a glass of sparkling water and cool down a bit!
Amish has taken the idea of "Indian mythological thrillers" to a new high. I as a reader would credit him with that honour. Many 'mythological thriller authors' came later, but he started it all. I want him to keep writing more books and entertain us with his way of storytelling which is quite endearing. I am waiting for his next new book (Will it a trilogy again? Better be) which I presume is in the making.
Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho:
I think I am not a great fan of the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, but surely I am a fan as a fan can be. I read his The Alchemist a few years ago and had felt nice about the story. I have also gifted a couple of The Alchemists to my friends. They too like it for sure.
Well, if you really are a serious Paulo Coelho reader then you'll probably get disappointed a bit with what is on offer here in the form of his latest book named Manuscript Found in Accra. This is of course not one of his great books in comparison to his previous bestsellers.
The book is not another The Alchemist if you know what I mean. It is a simple book with a simple story. That's what it is. Nothing more to write home about.
Well, if you really are a serious Paulo Coelho reader then you'll probably get disappointed a bit with what is on offer here in the form of his latest book named Manuscript Found in Accra. This is of course not one of his great books in comparison to his previous bestsellers.
The book is not another The Alchemist if you know what I mean. It is a simple book with a simple story. That's what it is. Nothing more to write home about.
The Sunset Club by Khushwant Singh:
This is Khushwant Singh's last full-length novel, aged 99 years. The novel is about three octogenarian friends and their deep longstanding friendship. There's nothing dramatic about the book. It is a light read about good memories and bad memories these old farts share among themselves, and memories and anecdotes talking of which Khushwant Singh has prodigious amounts.
The old friends sit on a bench ("Boorha Binch") in Delhi's Lodhi Gardens and talk away about their life gone by. And who can forget the "Barha Gumbad" akin to a woman's bosom! The book has its own light moments of loud cackles and banter, constipation, politics, scotch, sex, and scandalous affairs. Typical Khushwant!
A Time to Kill by John Grisham:
I first saw the book A Time to Kill back in the year 1990/91 in one of my friend's hands reading from it furiously. At that time, I confess, I did not feel interested in a new author's work. Oh, God! What an idiot I was. In spite of being told by this friend of mine that it is a "great book" I simply could not borrow it from him nor could I buy it from a local bookstore.
Anyway, years later I began to discover John Grisham's books at the bookstores and had read quite a few of them ever since. Now I don't ever miss a John Grisham novel. I am a great fan of his fiction. For me, A Time to Kill was an eye-opener really. The book is thrilling to read. It's about an African-American girl viciously raped and beaten (almost to death) by two white racists. The girl's outraged father decides to kill the two rapists in a fit of anger to avenge his daughter and he kills them. The beleaguered father is tried in the court of law for 'capital murder', no less. What follows is a very interesting legal battle to save the father (through the trials and tribulations of the court's judgment and his largely non-white jury members) from the impending gallows. One of the most fantastic books I have read in my life. A strong favourite of mine.
Death Benefit by Robin Cook:
The old friends sit on a bench ("Boorha Binch") in Delhi's Lodhi Gardens and talk away about their life gone by. And who can forget the "Barha Gumbad" akin to a woman's bosom! The book has its own light moments of loud cackles and banter, constipation, politics, scotch, sex, and scandalous affairs. Typical Khushwant!
A Time to Kill by John Grisham:
Anyway, years later I began to discover John Grisham's books at the bookstores and had read quite a few of them ever since. Now I don't ever miss a John Grisham novel. I am a great fan of his fiction. For me, A Time to Kill was an eye-opener really. The book is thrilling to read. It's about an African-American girl viciously raped and beaten (almost to death) by two white racists. The girl's outraged father decides to kill the two rapists in a fit of anger to avenge his daughter and he kills them. The beleaguered father is tried in the court of law for 'capital murder', no less. What follows is a very interesting legal battle to save the father (through the trials and tribulations of the court's judgment and his largely non-white jury members) from the impending gallows. One of the most fantastic books I have read in my life. A strong favourite of mine.
Death Benefit by Robin Cook:
I would give just 2 out of 5 stars and if you ask me that's being more than generous of me! I know I am sounding a little arrogant but without wanting to sound like a book-snob my review is honest. Death Benefit is nothing to write home about. I ask: Where are the great Robin Cook's staple of magical writing and that world full of thrilling medical suspense? Ignore this book.
P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern:
I have seen the movie version by the same name and had also read the book. I think the movie was just about OK and as usual, the book was far better than the movie could be.
I have mixed feelings about the book because I think I found a large part of this 'girly book' boring and repetitive, especially in the middle.
The best part, however, is very clear that one should have the strength to move on in life and try to live what is remaining of it. All in all, a good read.
One other book I have read this year is:
Like It Happened Yesterday by Ravinder Singh:
I have read his previous book Can Love Happen Twice? and one other book edited by him Love Stories That Touched My Heart. Since I found them palliative enough to read so I picked up the latest one.
Like It Happened Yesterday is a light read like it can be only so when the book is branded as Penguin Metro Reads. In this book, the author gives an account of his growing-up years in some quaint little town in Orissa. Nothing unusual about Singh's writing skills; you know, they are all the same and come in hordes these days to publish such 'stories' they say are their life's work! This is not a novel as it pretends to be. It is full of some low-grade high-school essay writing stuff. If you are a serious literary type, then... Hello? What are you doing here?
By Arindam Moulick
Pix courtesy: Internet
I have mixed feelings about the book because I think I found a large part of this 'girly book' boring and repetitive, especially in the middle.
The best part, however, is very clear that one should have the strength to move on in life and try to live what is remaining of it. All in all, a good read.
One other book I have read this year is:
Like It Happened Yesterday by Ravinder Singh:
Like It Happened Yesterday is a light read like it can be only so when the book is branded as Penguin Metro Reads. In this book, the author gives an account of his growing-up years in some quaint little town in Orissa. Nothing unusual about Singh's writing skills; you know, they are all the same and come in hordes these days to publish such 'stories' they say are their life's work! This is not a novel as it pretends to be. It is full of some low-grade high-school essay writing stuff. If you are a serious literary type, then... Hello? What are you doing here?
By Arindam Moulick
Pix courtesy: Internet
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