At First Sight – Nicholas Sparks (Book)

At First Sight – Nicholas Sparks (Book).

The problem with sequels that I face personally is either they are too good, surpassing the prequel or they are simply too bad, shooting down the built up in its prequel by a big margin. The exceptional books with their equally or better sequels in my personal reading experience in last couple of years are of-course the Harry Potter and Lord of the rings as well as Clifton Chronicles by Archer (which worked for me big time and kept getting better barring the last book in the series but thats forgivable). When it comes to love stories they mostly do not work, look at the examples of “Me Before You” and the debacle of its two other parts, “The Notebook” and its sequel “The Wedding” (again by Sparks). Unfortunately with this one I had very high hopes as I had recently read its prequel “True Believer” and expected so much from “At First Sight” as name suggested that it will be a love story yet again after the protagonist meets the girl of his dreams and settles with her in the sleepy town of Boone Creek (North Carolina) but the way story goes forward in this one, it simply falls flat and for the first time ever by the pen of Nicholas Sparks comes a book that I am sorry to not to recommend to anyone especially to those who have read its earlier part and loved it too. Or may be this was a little too practical love story which was hard for me to digest as it reminded me so much of “Before Sunrise”, “Before Sunset” and its third part which was exceptionally real “Before Midnight”.

Even as an independent book it fails to make its mark on me when I almost expect nothing but just a good love story from it. So, the story goes like Jeremy Marsh an article writer in a science magazine moves from New York City to Boone Creek in quest of uncovering a ghost story from the sleepy town’s cemetery which he does but falls in love with the local Librarian (this was the high point). They do get married amidst a little drama and all that as it always happens in the love stories but the lame plot and whatever little suspense was so predictable that I could actually see it coming from a mile. And that’s what doesn’t work in the favor of the book and the story which should have touched my heart making me all emotional but it fails big time. The big move, compromise, sacrifice, love, affection, marriage, child birth and step ahead is all so slow or may be boring that the book with hardly 200 pages felt like an over stretched affair. Jeremy Marsh the atheist, who doesn’t believe in God and all that takes a U turn is what the rest of the story. I guess all good love stories should come to an end on Marriage or before marriage I will say as this one where Sparks tried after marriage is like showing the reader his own life which makes it such an uninteresting read. I couldn’t believe that I was reading my own life story being enacted by the main two characters of the book. There was no fun in it as there was hardly any connect with their insecurities after marriage. And when a book becomes too predictable the magic goes out the window and It just drags to the cheesy ending where everything has to fall in the right place (again).

If you have read this and liked it, do tell me how you liked it but if you didn’t like I did, you have my full sympathies. First time after may be 15 odd books that Nicholas Sparks magic has failed to work on me. Although I have half a dozen more of his books to read and I am really looking forward to get another kick from him in his next work (Dear John).

Penance - Kanae Minato (Book)

Penance - Kanae Minato.

I love Japanese and Korean movies simply for their honesty, how brutal it may be for the audience, they will never left any stone upturned in showing it on screen at times it does becomes cringe worthy for a person like me who isn't so much used to see it the way they show it onscreen. That's precisely what Kanae Minato has achieved in her second novel which I finished back to back after her first one called "Confessions" that I read and reviewed last week. Confessions was more of an account of a fifth grader, what goes inside the mind (and heart) of a kid when tragedy strikes in any form. Whereas "Penance" takes it one more step forward by telling us what goes inside the mind of a parent whose kid (again a fifth grader) gets brutally raped and killed in the school premises. Going by the title I had no idea what I was getting into but as soon as I started it and a couple of pages down the line I could very well imagine where it was going to go but was I correct? O boy, she has some imagination and the way she kept throwing the twists and turns, every ten pages that I actually went numb after midways and was totally engrossed to read what came next. Superb psychological thriller this one turns out with so many twists and turns that it actually became almost the best revenge thriller that I have ever read in the recent past. Although she kept her style of narrating the same story from five different angles intact in this one too as that makes it way too interesting and engrossing to read till the very end.

Emily, a fifth grader, out of town girl gets raped and killed while playing with four of her friends after school hours in the school premise itself. But the turn of events is such that her friends had no idea how that happens so near to them and they have no recollection of the person who actually walks up to them, takes her along and does it. How that impacts the life of not only Emily parents, but the friends in question who are not able to help solve the case makes up the rest of the incredible story stretched around 15 years of time. Murderer at loose is scary not only for the mother who seeks revenge but for the other four girls too and what happens with them in due course of time makes up for an unbelievable story. What I love (and hate equally) about Kanae's narrative is the same story told from five different angle's takes a toll on the reader but never gets repetitive, although unlike "Confessions" I felt a little over stretched but still I wasn't able to put it down as my mind kept asking me to get an answer whether they will ever find the murderer or the reason why she or he did that? Will the girls and Emily's mother ever be at peace with themselves? You've got to read the book to get the answer but be ready for some real twisted story that actually made me think that how could someone write so honestly as what comes to her mind and as the situation demands. That was one heck of an effort and I will say Hats off to her for the superb story telling.

This is her second book in a row with a very touching subject as it happens in a small town of Japan. Giving us outsiders quite a glimpse (may be in form of fiction) of what happens thousands of miles away from us which sounds no different than what we all hear day in, day out in our part of the world. If you have read this, do let me know what you felt about it and I really wonder what is she going to come out next with? I will be waiting for her next very eagerly.

To the Light House - Virginia Woolf (Book)

To the Light House - Virginia Woolf.

My first Virginia Woolf book that I randomly picked up last year from "Blossoms" just like that to get a hang of her writing and if I have to explain my feelings today after finishing up (took me a week) it is simply "Mind-blowing". Another book that made me feel incapable of putting into words how and what I feel about it. I had no idea before I picked up the book that what I was getting into as I never read a blurb, introduction or a foreword as mostly they are full of spoilers (some times unintentionally). Imagine this one has an introduction written by some Saransh Sharma for some reason and goes on for about 30 odd pages, I am glad I skipped it before reading the book and read it after I finished last night, shockingly it turns out be one huge review of the book and his own interpretation as what Ms Woolf wanted to say from her book (like seriously a reader wouldn't be able to make out on his own??). I am shocked to know that Virginia wrote this at the age of 18 and it took me some serious effort to grasp at 42, she is simply Wow. I am not much into poetry but trust me when I say this, it is actually pure awesome poetry stretched to the size of a novel (180+ pages) with as short as 5 word sentences to 300 word sentences, as short as two and a half sentence chapters to as long as 30 odd pages with paragraph of paragraph thrown at the unassuming reader much to my delight though (by mid time) which put a huge huge satisfactory grin on my face by the time it ends. I couldn't believe my eyes to read that someone at that age can be this philosophical, understanding and mature about life, hats off to her for this incredible piece of literature which is considered to be one of the best from 20th century.

Going by the title and its beautiful cover I thought it is going to be an amazing love story and undoubtedly it turned out to be one of the most beautiful love story of Mrs and Mr. Ramsay. Although Mr. Ramsay is superb carved out like a total chauvinist pig by Ms. Woolf (I gave his character some slack as it was written 100+ years ago) but still my heart cried out for Mrs. Ramsay's love, respect and adoration for the man, the way she handles him and the way he is show, totally hell bent on proving her wrong and snubbing her at the first instance possible still the way they love and admire each other by not saying anything but just by little gestures and of-course this is not a spoiler when I say this that she has a very small dream about the Light House, which she keeps working on and how or does it gets fulfilled? how and by whom? for that one needs to read this incredibly beautiful story. Ramsay's go to their holiday home every year with eight of their kids and a couple of close family friends, a beautiful house near the beach over looking the Light House on a small island nearby. Entire story is stretched over the fifteen years of their life and keeps shuffling back n forth between the perished present and the beautiful past. I loved the way Woolf throws her own philosophy towards life and so many things through her characters. Totally amazing stuff. Loved the way she puts across her love of Arts, Writing and especially Shakespeare by comparing his work with a simple pebble which will outlive the masters writings. So much she has covered by this small book and story that it was simply mind-blowing. our purpose of life, the futility of being alive and trying to achieve one's dream and the inevitable end. Incredible it is.

I so much want to talk about so many characters which make such an amazing unforgettable impression in my heart and I totally fell in love with of-course other than the two best Mr and Mrs Ramsay. Their son James who hates his dad like anything, to the extent of he even imagines stabbing his heart with a knife at times :). Their daughter Cam who admires her dad big time. Also Lily the family friend who is making the painting of a life-time and who sees her own mother in Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Carmichael the poet and little love stories that Mrs. Ramsay helps start up during their vacation in her dining hall. The entire story is so full of life that this will be one of those very few books which I would love to read again in very near future just to enjoy it more and what a meaningful read it is. A must must read for all. One of the most important thing that I and her kid James kept looking forward to the trip to the light house and reason why it had to be done. How long it actually takes and the reasons behind it was something that invoked so many feelings and touched me so much. At times I felt too close to the character of James myself as it was my story and I am yet to find or reach my own Light House.

Initially as I started reading, I was totally turned off by her language, so many characters to track on and the third party narrative. It was actually hard to keep up as whose side of story she was telling but as I kept ploughing forward for the love of reading, it made heavy dividends after I was a quarter into the book by beautiful flowing words, sentences and para's that I kept going back at least 2-3 pages every-time I took a break and picked up the book again. Hence it took me close to one week to finish a book of mere 180 pages that too when the book's physical size too is too small. If you have read this and loved it exactly the way I loved it, do let me know how you liked it and if you haven't read, you have no idea what you are missing, but do remember, it isn't an easy read from any standard. I will certainly be taking a break from her works for now before picking up "Mrs Dalloway" before anyone jumps and recommends it :).

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith (JKR) - Book

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith (JKR).

Last year after falling in love with Harry Potter series, head over heels, I decided to read everything ever written by J K Rowling but somehow after "The Casual Vacancy" took a kind of break before picking her next series of detective stories that she wrote with the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. This one is the first of the series (of four books) so far, although not as magical as the HP Books for sure but nevertheless was a damn good read. She has that magical ability of making her readers fall in love big time with characters one after another. The readers loyalty keeps swaying from one character to another as she kept on unfolding them with great details, now thats one thing that I love about these British Authors. Awesome detailing, dollops of humor even in a suspense thriller cum murder mystery and she indeed gives a superb ride around the city of London too. It is a huge co-incidence that I am watching the TV Series FRIENDS (all 10 seasons) back to back these days and couldn't believe my eyes to see as many as four characters named after four important characters from the TV series, it could be a huge co-incidence but imagine there is a Ross in here as well as a Rochelle (Rachel), even a Joey and an Ursula too :) and that did put a big wide smile on my face throughout. Who knows, she may be a big fan of FRIENDS too. Another terrific thing about JKR's story telling is that she totally able to keep the reader under suspense so much that imagine up-to half the point there is no mention of who is she referring as "Cuckoo" actually and what's it's or his / her's calling?

Story is pretty much straight forward of a Super model's Suicide / Murder, which a terrific detective Cormoran Strike has to uncover in toes with his new assistant, the amazing Robin who is his temporary assistant and on her first job. How they go about the whole suspense is an amazing ride although no comparisons with Ms Christie or Sir Doyle for sure as she is coming from a YA Fantasy genre to thrillers. Otherwise its a superb read and was able to keep me hooked throughout the 388 pages and I kept looking forward to predict the outcome and I was almost partially right in guessing the outcome or the culprit behind it. What works big time in the favor of the story and the book is its amazing characters, totally lovable, one's that I will never be able to forget any sooner especially the lead Cormoran Strike, estranged son of a Rock-star who the whole of London knows but lives a life a recluse after getting thrown out by his girl-friend with no money and no future. An Ex Army mid 30's man, you need to read the book to know why he is Ex Army as the story keeps going back n forth very briefly into flashes of his past and keeps giving the reader amazing glimpses from his past. Even Robin has her own little parallel track and a developing story which I hope goes ahead in upcoming parts. JKR leaves no stone upturned in involving me so much with the story that I wanted to get inside it make them do what I wished they would do but to no avail and for the betterment of the story I guess. Totally loved the way she handles the characters and make them so strong yet so believably life like. I was throughout hooting for Cormoran knowing very well how it is going to end for him personally (full marks to Author in that department) that made me thing big time of Prof Snape and the final outcome for him :).

If you have read this one or any other of Cormoran Strike novels, do let me know how you like it and if you haven't, trust me, this isn't something you should miss. I am going to take a very brief break and pick up the next of the series as I am literally too excited to know what happens next to Robin and Cormoran. I am looking forward now to the three episode TV series that they made on this book, Yay!!

Evading the Shadows - Rajesh M Iyer (Book)

Evading the Shadows - Rajesh M Iyer.

How do you over come a heartbreak that one book gives you by going way below your expectations or if it turns totally sad? I usually read another book on the exact same subject hoping that it will bail me out, so far it has worked out pretty well. Last week I read Anand Neelakantan's "Ajaya: Roll of the Dice" and was totally put off by the way he made the entire Kuru clan a huge villain just to make his protagonist "Suyodhan" a hero. It turned me off so badly that I was on the lookout for another book on the same subject (Mytho Fiction) so I could get away from it's sad memory and Rajesh M Iyer came out to my rescue by sending his book "Evading the Shadows" based on the adventurous one year of "Agyaatvas" by Pandav brothers as they place the deadly game of hide and seek with Kaurava's. What a superb read this one turned out, a total cat and mouse chase game. Right from the very first page to the very end, it was able to keep me engaged, thrilled and on the edge of my seat. The best part is that even when I already knew the outcome, it had that magic that for quite a few moments I expected it other way round too. Another reason why this book was able to keep a smile on my face throughout was that I have a weird habit of looking forward to the use of title in the story if it happens to be a unique one as it is in this book's case. I kept reading with a keen eye as how many times he is going to use the word Evade or Evading and he didn't disappoint me by precisely using it (Only) five times :) (just too good).

As I said earlier too quite a few times that Mahabharat and Ramayan are two most loved epics from our part of the world and every-time a new book comes out, it excites me to imagine how and what the Author must have done to make it more exciting for the reader. And with that hope I have read so many books on both that I will be completing a sort of PhD in next coming few months by reading the last of the few books which are highly recommended on the subject that I am yet to read. Now this one straight goes up my recommendation list especially for those who loved the "Mahabharat" in totally new light concentrating on that one year of Agyaatvas :) as Rajesh has turned it into a superb thriller. As Pandav brothers go in hiding in hiding for one year with their wife Draupadi, the game of cate and mouse chase starts. Both the teams have their own set of spies helping them uncover for Kaurava's and keep them in hiding by helping them from Pandava's supporters. Now, with five brothers, one wife and the team of Duryodhan, Shakuni, Dushasan, Karn and Yuyutusu in toes, there are at-least more then half a dozen tracks running parallel to keep the reader totally hooked. The pace of the book was so superb that I actually had a great time keeping up with it. Every para would throw a twist my way and before I could go on with anything else in life, I had to read its repercussions or get a closure before moving on or else I would keep on thinking how they are must have handled the problem?. Very smartly indeed the Author has handled all the episodes from that time period to make them a part of his own retelling. I never expected it to be this superb, although the book is no way short from any angle (350+ pages) but it never feels that long.

Take a bow Rajesh, this is your second book that I have read and I am totally hoping that you are writing more as I post this :) as I will be more than keen to read what you come out next with. For those who haven't read this or his earlier work (Hari and Friends - A Holi Adventure), both the books are terrific read(s) and not to be missed. I am surprised that I never saw any mention of this one specially but I hope it gets its due in due course of time. Oh! and before I forget to mention as you can see from the image that its cover too is simply superb :) as its a bit dark you will have to look closely for the Pandav brothers with Draupadi evading the shadows :).

True Believer - Nicholas Sparks (Book)

True Believer - Nicholas Sparks.

Disclaimer: I am huge huge Nicholas Sparks fan and so far even after reading a dozen of his books, I am not able to "Not like" any of his books. Also, I have about half a dozen books more from him to read before I run out of reading material unless he is writing another book as I post this :). For me, he is the master of romance, although time and again I keep mentioning how I refuse to forgive him for "Message in a bottle" and another of my favorite romance writer Jojo Moyes for "Me Before You", but what say or control do we mere readers have on how an Author thinks of his or her own characters and what all they do with them. That is one reason I am not too sure of his books and stories anymore till I reach the last page and take a sigh of relief to see that he didn't ditch me yet again. So far, as Mr. Sparks is concerned, I have read a plethora of romance from him, he has tried his hand on a thriller too (The Guardian), personal memoirs (Three weeks with my brother) and hence the only genre left for him was Spooky or Horror and to my shock, surprise and amazement, he actually tried that in this one. If you have read my earlier posts, you know that I am a little afraid to pick up horrors and unfortunately as I refuse to read blurbs these days, I had no idea what I had in story for me with this one. A totally romantic story with a spooky background (ghost town) but fortunately it wasn't that scary as I am happy to be alive to tell you the tale.

Jeremy Marsh is an investigative journalist who specializes in uncovering the truth behind those people with supernatural powers telling the past, present and future of their audience. How his character gets built up is a hilarious episode of how he finds the facts with the help of his cameraman and an agent who gets him his first break on a television channel. He goes to a small ghost town (Boone Creek, North Carolina, Sparks favorite state) to find the facts behind the ghosts living in town's cemetery who make appearances at specific times on some special days while the town goes through a thick fog. The only help he has in the town comes in the shape of a beautiful girl Lexie and changes the course of the story altogether. Jeremy in mid 30's, divorced living a recluse life but so is Lexie with too many broken relationships yet happy in our simple life of town's only Library. What I most loved about the book was the life as depicted in small town, its sweet people their not so interesting lives and what not makes up for a beautiful story. How he uncovers the truth and gets involved himself while dealing with the facts makes up for the rest of the story. The only downside of this book was that Nicholas Sparks for the first time gets diverted from the main plot and the sub-plot actually takes the story forward, if you've read this, I am sure you will agree with me but the way it is done, it still turned out quite beautifully for me at-least and as this book as a sequel, I am so much looking forward to it now.

The book does gets philosophical too in between and I loved that. The way he has compared the life in the world's busiest metro (NYC) Vs in Boone Creek, a sleepy town, yet people are content and happy. It was quite a short, fast and predictable read yet it was able to keep me hooked to the most part and engrossed till the very ending. If you have read this, do let me know how you like it and if you haven't, go ahead, give it a try and see how Mr. Sparks handles the spooky romantic story.

PS: What a co-incidence this is that a light-house kept getting mentioned in the story quite a few times and my next read is actually a book named "To the Light-House" by Virginia Woolf (my first from her).

Confessions - Kanae Minato (Book)

Confessions - Kanae Minato. 

I am pretty sure now that in my last birth I was born in Japan and my name was Tihor Amrahs (does that sounds Japanese?) I had a vision :) as fortunately I love so much about Japan. Earlier I read a lot about Hiroshima Nagasaki fiasco, then I was in love with a Geisha (literally after reading the memoirs), I want to see Mt. Fuji before I die and then Mr. Murakami happened to me. Even my Kiddo has some Japanese connection as all the time she is making plans what all she is going to do and visit once we go there, whenever that happens :). As I am taking a break from Murakamis, came across this debut book another terrific Japanese Author. Even my mother kept on coaxing me now and then back then as and when any of the electronic item in our household will go bonkers. She will always say "If this was Japan, one of you kids will open this up, either make it work or properly screw it up before going to that guy in the repair shop. Look at where Japan is today in progress chart and where we are". I totally agree with her now as they are so far ahead of us as I believe no one goes to a repair shop in Japan and even kids are brilliant inventors. Look at the number of Robots they have in Japan. But you must be thinking hows is this all related to the book in subject? That means you haven't read the book otherwise you would be smiling like me :) there are pros and cons of everything and this brilliant book (fiction) gives in great details the accounts of one such kid who could have been a brilliant scientist but that's not to be.

Unbelievable and gripping story of eighth graders from a small town of Japan. The entire book (too short) is covered in only five chapters, different account of same episode by five different people. A couple of student's, a sibling's, a mother's and a retired teacher's account. Told in the most riveting manner, once I started the book, just couldn't put it down as my mind was doing the math as where this story was going and what kind of experiment the kid(s) performed on a very young girl, its repercussions and relation to the teacher who retires after the accident / incident. What happens next during the course of the year is totally amazing, unpredictable story of revenge, hatred, suspense, drama and mind-numbing climax. In my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine to what extent a kids mind works that too, this young, which proves that in today's time this world is a dangerous place to live in and trust anyone. Especially the kids and how they perceive what goes inside their own home's closed doors, who they blame for it and with whom they take the revenge, how they take it with their own siblings, parents and how they vouch for attention and their subsequent actions. Wow that was a lot more than what I expected by the title "Confessions". Although its a work of fiction but the story is so believable that I had goosebumps going through most of it and I totally believed it isn't so much impossible that it could be based on the real incidents, who knows.

To my surprise this is Kanae Minato's debut work. I am sure if you have read Japanese books and have seen their movies, you will agree that they are simple, straight to the point and they aren't afraid of blood, gore and brutal killings. This is a terrific example as it actually takes the reader in a kind of a trance by the time we hit the end and made me think hard as what was going on. No doubt on all the acclaim and praises she got for this book. I am totally up for her next book too as the friend who had sent me this one was kind enough to send me the second one too. If you have read this, do let me know your thoughts and if you haven't and you are as mesmerized by Japan and Japanese as I am, you need to read this big time. Its a pretty short book and can be finished in one or max two sittings, depending upon how much you can take it at one time.

PS: If you are a Harry Potter series fan. This one has decoded one of my favorite and an important characters name in great details and in a such a convincing manner.

The Adventures of Rusty (Collected Stories) - Ruskin Bond (Book)

The Adventures of Rusty (Collected Stories) - Ruskin Bond.

We the Pune Raccoons did our own short and sweet "Secret Santa" amongst a dozen members, collected at one of more bigger hearted Raccoons place and rocked the total evening exchanging books and eating the delicacies, some prepared by our host, some brought in by members and what not. You can just imagine what happens when a dozen odd book readers collect at one place and exchange books covered with wrappers and no names on them :) and this is the book that I received that day. I still do not know who was my amazing Santa that night But whoever you are, just know that you are super Kool and I am totally glad to restart my Ruskin Bond journey with this superb book, totally loved it. The last that I had read of Ruskin Bond was way back in early 2000 when my nephew was studying in a Boarding School in between Dehradun and Mussoorie. We used to visit him alternate weekends (compulsory family visit) from Delhi and I was the official driver, thanks to my love of driving and since I had nothing much to do during those breaks but read a book or two while his parents (my cousins) meet him. Now at that time any book store in Dehra as well as Mussoorie were full of his books, I had no idea why, till I read that he actually used to live there (he still does) and my journey of reading his books and dreaming to come across the man himself started. Till today, that dream isn't fulfilled yet but after reading this collection of stories about Rusty (himself), philosophy and part biography, I really want to see him once if not meet.

Ruskin Bond is one name that makes you feel absolutely at home (absolute India) with his writings and the best part back then and even today is that you do not need a dictionary to read his stories and books. I so much love his simplicity and the straight from the heart stories. It never feels like a guy with that kind of a foreign name (and background) is writing them, it actually feels like these are our own childhood stories as narrated by our own Grandma to us and nothing else. The trees, fruits, birds, hills, train journeys, the India and the way he covers life in here is simply out-standing. It actually kept me smiling throughout and even made me laugh out loud big-time, other than a Wodehouse, no book so far has achieved that I actually rocked the chair I was sitting and laughed that hard but Mr. Bond has that magic in him (watch out for the chapter dedicated to his Grand Father and his histrionics right at the very start). I am sure if you have read any of his works or this one, you will surely agree. Rusty as I said is nobody else but him and what a heart warming story(s) this is with him being a mere ten year old kid to his adolescent years, struggling with the loss of his father at quite a young age, broken family, a step dad (and his end) from one relative to another and then losing out on the last of the family members, living the recluse life still working hard to fulfill his dream and finally achieving it. This is his childhood stories with him in school and the adventures that Rusty had with his friends in toes, he makes so many friends and relations while going through all that, that it tells so much to us about Bond's character. Although the reader needs to be a bit careful of the timeline and do the math himself but it simply is too good.

What I loved most about the book and the stories was that they no way feel his, they rather feel my own, one way or the other :), Bunking school, going for movies, running away from home, going broke, finding friends, discovering the village, town, cities even country on his own, I guess we all have done that at that age and his adventures were no different but simply too good. I had such a great connect with the book and it's so many loving characters and so many of them stand out that I will never be able to forget them ever. If you have read this or any of his other works, do let me know which one is your favorite. But if you haven't, you better get it ASAP and read them too. And I am sure quite a few of us must have met the man in person too as he is so easily accessible to public at a book store in Mussoorie and his home at Dehradun. Looking forward to meet the man one day in person. Now I am too keen to read his Autobiography "A Lone Fox Dancing" which gets a little mention in this book.

Ajaya: Roll of the Dice - Anand Neelakantan (Book)

Ajaya: Roll of the Dice - Anand Neelakantan.

Mahabharat and Ramayan are two of the most loved epics from our part of the world and I have read almost half a dozen of the new-age versions in the name of Mythological Fiction which sells like a hot cake in today's time. Some of them are damn interesting, some I totally loved, liked and even lived with but there are a very few which I actually end up hating for various personal reasons (call it my personal opinion, like or dislike) and this one unfortunately falls in that sad category where I don't want any book to put in as far as I can. But this one is an epic disaster of sorts for so many reasons that I would not be able to point out in here because if I really do that, it will not remain a blabber but will turn out to be a book of epic proportions and a comedy of errors of sorts. Also, there are a very few books which make me furiously sad and I swear in the end to never pick anything else from the same Author ever in future, how so much critical acclaim they may gather as they have had indeed shot down some of my all time favorite and loved characters in the name of fiction and fame. This is one such book, if you intend to read this because you may have heard of so much praise for it, you can stop here and get back to doing what you were doing and I will go on blabber a little more about this unfortunate accident and I am not even talking about poor editing (or lack of it - I love this term), spelling mistakes or cringe-worthy grammatical mistakes - I am no expert on any of them anyways, still couldn't not notice.

I love my mom to teach me one thing very clearly and that is engraved somewhere deeper in my heart that to make my line longer, I am not supposed to erase someone else's line and make it shorter. If I have to succeed I do not have to make others to fail. Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for Anand or his parents may have taught him differently, so in quest of telling Duryodhan's version of the Epic Mahabharat, he has gone overboard in making almost every other character a solid villain and he is pretty good in sketching those characters damn dark. He actually succeeded big time as so far from the versions that I have read, Karn is my all time favorite and now he has made Suyodhan to become my second favorite for sure with his book but unfortunately everything else is a disaster in this story (call it mytho fiction as that's precisely what this is). I just couldn't believe my eyes when I read something like Bhim calling Suyodhan a "Blind fool, Son of a blind fool", howsoever hatred he may have for his father in his heart, this is impossible. The terrific lines his characters kept on mouthing like "I will make an offer you will not be able to refuse", or Karn trying to bribe the security guards to enter a Kingdom. Pandava's walking besides Uncle Vidhur and trying not to touch him mistakenly since he was an "Untouchable". Or the epic disaster of Suyodhan kissing Subhadra (mind it - lip to lip) right below the nose of brother Balaram, that was like a "Wow" moment of the entire book. Or even the best archer of the world mighty Arjun, blinding a dog to prove his prowess in archery or blinding the lover birds at the drop of a hat. I mean, you get a hang right? he left no stone upturned in turning the Pandava's or almost everybody else from the epic to be a villain and the hero is only one man and that is the great "Suyodhan" who was misunderstood all this while. Guess the Author actually found a temple of Suyodhan down south in India where people treat him like a god, I believe him as that is awesome.

Of-course in the name of Mythological Fiction and retelling anything and everything is allowed since there is no censor board so far monitoring the kind of literature coming out from anyone's pen. This one actually left the same taste in my mouth as a movie like "Slumdog Millionaire" leaves on every Indian's mouth of showing India in poor light even in bloody 21st century. Indraprastha (Pandava's part) and Hastinapur (Kaurava's part) was no better than the current Dharavi of Mumbai (Asia's biggest slum) if you already not know that. The epic details in which he has covered the life of downtrodden untouchables from the two states and holds Krishna and Bhishma responsible for what happens in the story is simply beyond me. On the positive side as always the case is with these fictional accounts, I will give him his due by calling it a very smartly written book with a damn good pace that it almost works like a good page turner. I just couldn't keep it down or trash it mid-ways, had to complete it to know how he decides to end it. This one unfortunately ends at at a point where the reader is totally stuck to know what happens next and the rest would be covered in the sequel that I have sworn not to read (over my dead body). But the damn sad or good thing is that he has converted me into fan of Suyodhan, I would never be able to call him Duryodhan again ever. The guy was totally misunderstood is what I always believed but that does not makes everybody else a villain, I am sure of it.

Some priceless lines and mentions that I will remember for life from this book will be like Balaram telling Karn "Godspeed Karn". And Suyodhan shouting back on Guru Drona saying "You have eaten Hastinapur's Salt....". And I already mentioned the legendary God Father's line mouthed by Mama Shakuni was the best of the lot. Karn actually getting an Armour as a gift from the followers of Lord Sun :). Lord Indra living a life of a recluse with untouchables as for some reason he was no good to be a God anymore.

If you have read this and loved it, I welcome the brickbats but if you have hated it like I did, here is a Hi5. But if you haven't read it so far, I will seriously say, stay away man! As we have far better versions to read about the epic. I will definitely move on to Mrityunajaya soon as that's been on my TBR for quite a while, saying this before everyone jumps and recommends the same to me :). But do let me know your thoughts on the book if you have read it. It's a Goodbye Good-riddance to Anand Neelakantan from me here.

A Dog's Purpose - W Bruce Cameron (Book)

A Dog's Purpose - W Bruce Cameron.

I got and read this book at a perfect time as we are still a couple of months away from our next and my Kiddo's first Dog, it just couldn't have been better. I still have some vague memories of our first Dog, a German Shepherd that my dad had while I was a mere kid of all 4-5 years :). If my Granny was to be believed, Sheru used to carry my dad's lunch to his office everyday without fail, a good 5-6 KMs distance hanging on his collar. The last experience that I had with a couple of German Shepherds was in mid 2000, one of my best friends had two of them and I used to spend so much time with them mostly over the weekends for good couple of years. Then we moved to our jobs, I got married, had a kid and all that. I still remember the day my daughter met them for the first time after so many years, I wasn't sure how they will react once they see me and had no idea how they are going to react to her. What we went through as I stepped in his house with her crawling behind me (she was too young to walk) I can just not put that in words, so much love, so much affection, they bloody totally remembered me all these years and the way they played body guards to my daughter, let her ride on their backs and always (Always) hanged around her during our total stay with them was totally heartening. I am totally in Awe with W Bruce Cameron, especially the way he has written the book and the entire story, it is unbelievably believable and so damn close to reality on any given day when it comes to Dog's.

I guess this is the first book that I have ever read on life from the perspective of an animal, a Dog here and a much cuter at that. Right from the very birth to getting adopted by a family, living life with other creatures and family members to actually finding a purpose in life and then fulfilling it with superb style. This guy has to be loved the way he actually is and what an amazing story he had to tell all of us, with so much to learn from it. I loved the way he was always hungry :) and almost his entire universe revolved around something to eat. My kiddo saw the movie way before I read the book and I remember how she was totally excited as she narrated the whole story to me as she knew that I was not going to watch the movie before reading the book. The Dog in question (Bailey) is such a cute and good dog that he reminded me so much of Mr. Nakata (from Kafka on the shore) for his love (or lack of it) towards Cats, you've got to read about his histrionics with cats :) and it also reminded me so much of our own Ove (from A Man Called Ove) for his brooding behavior not only towards his own unresponsive family but to other pets in general. Now imagine, how cute is that that the dog actually names his own siblings too :) while narrating the story to us, totally hahalarious character he was. I had a jolly good time reading this book, I actually laughed out loud so many times while reading the book that my Father in law actually looked at me, from top of his own newspaper thinking that I may have gone crazy with that little device I keep hanging on to all day :). Throughout the book I had a wide grin on my face and yes, it was a tear jerker to at times when Bailey learned some lessons hard way. It was so much emotional yet so meaningful.

This book actually gave me a great idea of how animals especially Dogs are so much more sensible than us in reality. I am sure Bruce must have told this story from his personal experience more than the total imagination. Bailey could actually sense so much when he met new people for the first time, their feelings, the danger, the happiness and so on, it was totally too good. It actually made my pact stronger of getting one soon, as soon as I could and now I know what to do with them too :) and it also tells us what they expect from us. If you have a pet especially a Dog, you already know what to expect but if you haven't and have not even read the book, you really need to read this "Good Dog's" story ASAP without fail. It's a terrific story and a total breeze to read over a weekend with so much to learn and cherish about later in life. Also, it tells us big time what is actually a Dog's purpose on this planet. Do not miss it at any cost.

Movie Adaptation: Time and again this has happened but I refuse to learn a lesson even after watching so many blunders in life. This time too, I just couldn't resist watching the movie right after I finished the book and all I could do after I saw it was shake my head in disgust and try to forget that I ever saw this movie. Now, as a stand alone movie for those who have no idea of the book's existence, yes it will work like a wonderful movie. It actually was able to give me some smiles and good moments but they were far and few in between. It actually gets a big boring in between as they so much over did somethings and missed out on so many important points that it isn't a quarter as good as is the book, but still a little above average as an independent movie. I guess I need to stop watching the movie adaptations in totality to keep myself happy and my expectations in right place. But as they say, Old Habits Die Hard. If you have read the book, skip the movie for couple of months.

The Soul - Anurag Sharma (Book)

The Soul - Anurag Sharma.

Never judge a book by it's cover and I will add up something to it that never even judge it by it's title either :). As this was an Author sent and as usual I was always as happy to oblige but this time looks like I am going to get some firing :). Going by the title "The Soul" I was excited that it would be a good fiction with some philosophical touch, unfortunately the only thing that's missing in the entire story is a "Soul" but if this is the Author's philosophy what he wrote then it isn't something I identify with. Another reason why I was super excited about this one is that the entire story takes place in a city called "Indore" which I have frequented during my school and college days and it still is a second home to me. Unfortunately, barring a few mention of "Holkars" there isn't one thing that he has covered in the entire book, no history, no background, nothing at all, it was a super turn off for me. Author happens to be a big fan (I am guessing) of Dickens as so much usage of terms like "Presently", "Countenance", "Discourse" and so many others did put a smile on my face but were a little over used, I mean imagine, almost every alternate page had someone's Countenance moving from here to there. Also, the way he has used the super solid tough words almost making me think so much of much loved Mr. Shashi Tharoor for a good measure during the course of the novel. Guess he wrote down like a 1000 words in advance and took a vow of using them all, one word per para :).

Original story is set in the early 90's and covers the four important years of four engineering students completing their degree from the city of Indore. Of-course two boys and two girls, plus a couple of very important characters criss-crossing their stories. Unfortunately after a very good start, the story takes a nose dive and never picks up. The character which appealed most to me was a Carriage (Horse Cart) driver, whose only source of income goes in jeopardy as then Government bans the usage of carriages in the city and he is left with no source of income, his struggle and pain was something which touched my heart but the solution that Mr. Author had, shocked me to the core. His friend(s) another poor couple who die in a road accident leave behind their two kids to his care, one of them is a beautiful but mute and mentally retarded girl, you can imagine her fate even then, what all she goes through, the daily struggle, survival with no-one to look after was heartening but again the ending left me shaking my head. Even the college students, I thought will give me some interesting memories or respite but that wasn't to be, some of them are so orthodox and some are totally 21st century but taking weird turns. The most unfortunate thing about the whole story is that it was half cooked, he didn't let any character develop at all. Imagine, there is no mention of any family for the leading three characters at all, no idea what background they come from and why they all come to Indore to study.

As I said, that the "Soul" was totally missing from the book or I will say that the story didn't have a heart in it. In a book of 200 pages, the first 130 pages have no mention of the word "Soul" but suddenly after 130 pages, the word "Soul" makes an entry and then every para had it but by that time it had already lost its meaning and never picks up. I am shocked by the handling too that (Not a spoiler), he actually ended killing characters left, right and center to his own whims and fancies (of-course it is his book and story) but I seriously want to ask the Author "Did you read the whole book yourself after you finished it?". I felt cheated by the way he actually killed the protagonist and let some characters disappear just like that with no explanations. But anyways, to each of his own, but a book like this breaks my heart thinking that it was such a good opportunity royally wasted. Hope he comes out with a better book in future but this was a complete disaster.

I am not going to ask if you have read it, but if you actually have, tell me who was "Afia", Where did "Rhea" disappear? and what happened to "Rajiv Mehta?" how can his character be ended simply in one para in italics. And if you haven't read it, trust me, its not worth it. Give it a miss.

Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck (Book)

Of Mice And Men - John Steinbeck.

The utter ignorant unread fool that I am, I have no idea how many more times I will have to confess that this is my first book from the acclaimed such and such writer(s) that I've been planning to read for last so many months and years. Thanks to my good friend who actually sent me the little book of magic that I finished in a single sitting to my own shock and amazement and it made me all emotional, happy, teary eyed with a huge lump in the throat thinking of the lead characters, shaking the head in the ending and glad that Steinbeck (the heavier the name) totally worked wonders for me. I don't know why but every-time I attended a book club meet in our town and as soon as someone asks "What are you reading?" and someone else will say proudly "I am reading a Steinbeck", everybody else who will hear the response will go all "Awww Awww and more Awww's" and it will make me think, when am I going to get those "Awww's", so guys, time has come for me to proudly declare that I have crossed the hurdle and I have read my first Steinbeck, let the "Awww's" come my way please. You see we all love some motivation at the end of the day and I need more before I pick up a "Sigmund Freud" now that name I guess sounds so much full of more "Awww's", although again as my luck runs hard, I haven't read any of his works too (Yet). But this was the easiest and I guess the simplest yet the most meaningful books of the year for sure, although a lot has to be read this year but I am sure none of the books will take that away from this one. Its that beautiful. If you have read this or any of his other works, I am sure you will agree with me on that.

Now the problem with a heavyweight name is that these days when they publish their books, they always include an Introduction and Foreword by some big shot, not only giving away the whole plot, spoilers, they even force on us lesser mortals their own opinion of not only the writer but their works too. Now this book in question is hardly 115 pages long with an Introduction lasting almost 30 pages, can you believe that? After reading the first 15-16 pages, I realized the mistake I was doing and I totally ignored it all and straight dived to the original story and now I thank God for giving me that sane thought right on time. So, if you plan to read this, ignore it all like a plague, don't even read the blurb or any reviews, just get the book and read it. You will not be able to put it down for one moment before you finish it in its entirety. Story is set during the time of great depression (early 30's) about two friends George Milton and Lennie Small (nomads) who move from town to town in search of work and live a hand to mouth life depending on their good for nothing hardcore labor income. All they dream of is a little piece of land of their own, where they may have a pig and a cow, couple of goats and hen with a few rabbits who Lennie would love to pat on their heads throughout the day with pigeons flying over their windmill now and then. Such a simple dream yet quite a bigger one because they need a big amount of money to go about it, how and what they do or what happens in the due course of time is the rest of the heart touching story.

I have never read a better or more beautiful story of two friends ever before this one and I guess no one will come ever close to this one for sure in future too. The way George takes care of his friend Lennie Small (who happens to be huge but mentally challenged). The best part is the way he keeps telling Lennie's dream to him in his own words as Lennie can't just remember anything beyond a day but remembers only what George says :). How beautiful was that, I was so mesmerized by the way he repeats the story for him so many times, yet I kept asking just one more time for him to tell it all again as it all looks so easy to achieve yet an impossible dream for them. And what a brilliant brilliant ending and for that Mr. Steinbeck, you my man, Take a bow!

If you have read Stephen King's "The Green Mile" and you remember the character of John Coffee (the death-row inmate), I can vouch that King has taken the inspiration from Steinbeck's character Lennie Small and as a dedication he called him "John Coffee" first name taken from John Steinbeck, Although I haven't Googled it yet but I am dead sure about that. If you have read both the books, do tell me that you too felt the same, it just can't be any other character but Lennie that King made into Coffee. I wish I could ask Mr. King and get an answer :).

If you have read "Of Mice and Men" do let me know how you like it and if you haven't (just like me), Boss, you just can't miss it anymore. And if you like or love Mr. Steinbeck the way I do now, do let me know which one is your personal favorite from him and I would love to read it ASAP.

Avengers - End Game (Movie).

No Spoilers!!

Okay! So we watched "Avengers-End Game" finally.
Now, unfortunately there is no way you can talk about the movie and not give out spoilers :D. So, I am not going to talk about the movie.

Simple, I lost count after 5 times as how many times I choked, tears welled up in my eyes three times, almost beyond my control, stopped breathing for quite a few moments, felt like kissing my kiddo sitting a row ahead (twice), hold my wifey's hand tight (twice), slapped myself on my thighs (lost count), punched in air (lost count), shouted, tried whistling (which again I have to learn - at least air came out). So on so forth.

This is one of those very few movies (literally) at least in India where the entire audience almost watched in pin-drop silence and almost no one was disturbing anyone, rather even if someone said a word or something, the rest nodded their heads to it.

I guess I will have to wait for another month or so to come back and share my actual thoughts with some names to it as I really don't want to be a spoilsport for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.
Two of my colleagues called asking if the salary is going to credit today :D and I told them to forget about salary and bloody watch the End Game, they promised they will watch it as salary is sure to come tomorrow.

PS: As we walked out of the theater, I guess I and my wife realized why we do not need a second kid :D as we can watch an Avengers movie again and wake up that bloody kid in me yet again. It is magical.

PS2: I am going to watch it again but this time in Hindi :D.