A Dangerous Fortune - Ken Follett (Book)

A Dangerous Fortune - Ken Follett. The days of lock-down are not coming to an end any sooner :) and with that I have changed or rather slowed down my reading speed a bit so the remaining books should last me a while longer than usual. I have decided going forward to not to read more than 10% of a book in a day and while following that rule I was able to stretch this one (a mere 600 pages) to almost 10 days ;). That too my first of its own kind Ken Follett drama, I didn't know he wrote dramas too. Title-wise it sounds like a proper thriller and as almost all Follett's go, once you start, they usually take you on a thrilling journey at a break-neck pace and make you relax only after you finished the very last page. But this one was totally a different ball game, written in a very easy way with few romantic angles in between with a banking family in the front, all happening around late 19th century. Hence I was able to go easy not only on myself but also on the book and totally enjoyed the story of family rivalry, cousins and friends leaving no stone upturned in cutting each others throats for a few million dollars fortune. I totally love the way Follett develops his characters, like in this book too right from the teenage till they become through professionals (or crooks) running a financial empire with so much happening from their school days (a few murders), treacheries, plotting, political connections, betrayals, lost loves, lost families and so much more. I can almost make a list of half a dozen characters that I actually loved. And with the story developing in mid to late 19th century, city of London plays a super amazing character on its own and loved the way it is portrayed, hansoms, carriages, restaurants, lives of rich and famous, mansions and not to forget the families finding it hard to survive when their investments go bust. The two lead characters (cousins) my favorite Hugh (Kane) and Edward (Abel), one whose father loses it all when he moves out of the family business of Banking to other's gain but the other is not capable enough to run the empire to success. How they fight with each other for their own rights and the way their families take it on themselves with friends coming to their rescue on their own dangerous ways is the story all about. Again, Follett's women are simply terrific and her reconfirms my belief on the same with two amazing women, a mother who will go to any extent to make her son a super success to a friend who will support hers to the end of time, simply too good. I never expected this one to have a love story of a different kind which kept me hooked to their fates to the very end. It was total fun to read two Ken Follett's back to back (Night Over the Water). Now I need to pick up another Wilbur Smith to call it even before I go back to my favorite King :). Have you read A Dangerous Fortune? Do let me know how you like it and who was your favorite character (if not Hugh). Any other Follett you would like to recommend with a love story in the background, do let me know as I would love to lay my hands on it.

More Unfairy Tales - TF Carthik (Book)

More Unfairy Tales - TF Carthik.

What happens when an avid reader or call him a sort of a Bookaholic turns into a writer? A man with a wildest imagination or a man with a mission to even further better the characters that not only he himself loved or still loves since childhood but we also love the same characters. In my wildest imagination I have dreamed of seeing a fight sequence between Batman and Superman and the best thing is that the makers actually delivered it to us a few years back. I have even imagined how the discussion will go if John Galt meets Howard Roark someday :) can you beat that. And guess what, Author has fulfilled that imagination through his Unfairy tales, not exactly the same characters but the Fairy characters and how beautifully :). These days there comes hardly a book which is able to keep a smile on my face throughout its length (barely 140 pages in this case) and makes me stare in blank space thinking about it. And on top of that Author's way of story telling is so beautiful, simple, philosophical and what not that I felt as if he was talking to me sitting right in front of me and not that I was reading the printed words. He has already proved his mettle with his first book which was totally awesome and so is the prequel but again I have serious complains about this that it is too too short and no ways writers like Carthik should be allowed to come out with a book with only 140 pages, they should be forced to not to come out with anything less than 300 in one outing, if only that was in my powers.

Not to give out any spoilers but if you have read his previous book, you already know that all these Unfairy Tales are told from the point of view of the oddest characters that we could ever imagine :) and that is the beauty of it, as we really need to read carefully to know who the person is who is telling the story :) I wish I could tell you more about it. On top of that Mr. Carthik is climbing the ladder quite fast to become my favorite Author from the current times by not giving anything away not in Index or the story titles - can you beat that? I hate those books where the chapter titles gives away at least half of it but here he has done it so smartly that I was left guessing as what could the story be about? Like I said that Roark and Galt connection, imagine a character from this story tries to shoot down the other character from other story on the ground that his or her is way better than the other one's :) Hahalarious it was and such a unique idea. And I want to stand up and clap for the supremely talented man for the choice of character names :) I am craving to tell you but won't as that will spoil the fun for you people. Have you heart of a Nazi shoemaker? You will love him if you get to read his story.

We all love the Fairies but is there a story which makes you fall in love with a Witch? Please tell me about it, I would love to read it and you need to read this as I just told you about the same. Although he calls them the Unfairy Tales :) but you get a hang why he calls them that. One line which stuck with me big time in one of his stories was so beautiful that I will never ever forget in my life meaning "Hope is such big betrayer". And there are so many little gems thrown to a very good measure in every story especially when non humans talk about us humans. Oh! and before I end this and forget the most important part, you've got to read the Acknowledgement section in the end, even that will put a big smile on your face especially if you belong to any Book-reader's community in the online world.

Have you read "Carthik's Unfairy Tales" or "More Unfairy Tales", if not, you've got to get both and read them back to back and I so much wish that the Author takes Writing as his full-time job in the very near future and write a full fledged Novel with at-least 500 pages if not more.

PS: Do not miss that terrific short story cum futuristic upcoming book (hoping) on an "Indian Religion" that will put a big smile on your face by the time you decode what it is about.

The Diamond Hunters - Wilbur Smith (Book)

The Diamond Hunters - Wilbur Smith. The first book of Wilbur Smith Omnibus that I picked up last year after reading first of his "River God" series which I totally loved. Although I am yet to read the remaining five of the series and looking forward to the same very eagerly in near future. I am now totally sure his period dramas are way better than contemporary fiction that he has written, guess I can say that after reading this one which didn't excite me much. First heart-break for me was its size, only 250+ pages :( as that is something which excited me very much thinking how much one can wrap in that short size and I wasn't wrong enough. On top of that the title is pretty intriguing as my imagination started working while I was making my first mug of tea for the day before starting the office work (I usually read first 50 pages on day 1 of any book that I pick before starting my regular day). I assumed it to be based out of Africa (not wrong there) with a good guy finding some awesome diamonds and bad guys chasing him not only for those precious stones but for the love of his life too :). But on horses with some wild dogs and our good guy leaving no stone upturned in beating them, killing them with his sword or some sort of period weapon before living the rest of his life full of love, laughter and lot of diamonds to spare :). Although a few facts and figures thrown about diamonds, the entire extraction process and where to find them was pretty interesting but even that wasn't enough for me to love this book. And the actually story turns out not totally different from my imagination but more modern touches (which were a turn off from Wilbur Smith's standards). An orphan trying to prove his love and devotion towards the one who takes care of his childhood needs after he loses his parents. Falling in love with the man's daughter and making her brother jealous right from the start when it comes to taking over the family business of Diamond extraction from family mines, acquiring new business. It all turns out fiercely competitive once our good guy designs and amazing titanic kind of ship which will find diamonds from the depth of the sea and which promises to make them rich at the drop of a hat. As expected, it doesn't turn out to be a cakewalk for the man who is about to not only lose his own wife but his love interest too in the quest of proving his loyalty to the big man after an earlier misunderstanding which screws his life almost for good. The story although revolves around the three lead characters, brother, sister and her lover but never becomes a great story from any standard but just about remains a good. Wilbur Smith's detailing of the Diamond extractor too was just about average and not at all thrilling and I found that heart which is always there in all his stories totally missing from this one. Totally forced love triangle of sorts which wasn't needed but was a pretty lame attempt at proving some twist that too at a time when its already too late. Or may be I had too high an expectations based on his earlier books that this one didn't work for me the way I expected. Have you read "The Diamond Hunters"? or any other contemporary fiction from Wilbur Smith which worked for you. I love his period dramas already so I guess I will stick to them only and hope that the second of the Omnibus works for me big time (A Falcon Flies). Do let me know which one is your favorite Wilbur Smith book.

Shopaholic & Sister - Sophie Kinsella (Book)

Shopaholic & Sister - Sophie Kinsella.

Finally, I have read my first Sophie Kinsella :) and I lived to tell the tale. All credits go to Mr. John Steinbeck for making me read a Kinsella after-all but I have no regrets. 368 pages of sheer fun, mad as she sounds being a Shopaholic who has to have almost everything she lays her eyes on, space where she is going to keep them or money as how she is going to pay for it is almost a no concern for her. Of-course a Kinsella is no PGW or anywhere near it but laugh it did made me throughout and especially the way it ends put a big wide grin on my face with expectations of another outing with her. I am not sure but there may be a sequel already out after this one as it is this one was a fourth of a series. I think I had bought this book from a sale (Bookchor or Bookthela for sure) as I wanted to get a hang of the Author in question. Thick book but a breeze to read as I guess I finished it in three sittings after a hard hitting book as I needed a break. And Sophie is an amazing writer I must say as almost a majority of her characters are super rich with no dearth of money and they very well know how to spend their money, making it way more hilarious for the readers, keeping me totally glued to it with new surprises in every chapter.

Protagonist Rebecca (another of my all time favorite names) is loving referred as Becky :) is of-course a Shopaholic, recently married and on a year long honeymoon with her husband, can you beat that? Imagine what all she ends up buying while travelling around 15 countries (including India and they do visit my hometown too which was totally unbelievable). Life takes big turn for Ms Becky Bloomwood as her parents give her a huge surprise after she returns from her long Honeymoon in the form of a (half) Sister which she never knew existed. Becky goes on a dream sequence as her life is definitely going to get better with a sister of her own with who she is going to go further wild, shopping, movies, chit-chat and what not. You've got to read the book to know how (kool) her sister turns out to be. Her best friend ditches her for another friend and Becky takes it up on herself to prove that she is way better than anyone else. Ground breaking is the way she stops herself from shopping (or at-least she tries) I had a laughing great time reading that and swiping my own credit card as I had to shop a few things for my office and kiddo this week myself. Every-time I took out my card to swipe for some reason Becky's face kept coming to my mind (Reese Witherspoon in blonde avatar).

I can't say I loved the book or going to read the prequels or its sequels but I must say that I loved the Sisters and Friends bonding big time in this one and really missed not bonding with my own brother(s) anymore. The way Becky tries to keep up with her half sister and prove her love and support for her was totally amazing. I was shocked to see to what extent she goes and tries to work it out was unbelievably beautiful and I must confess that I didn't expect that much depth from Sophie Kinsella, I am all Respect for her now. On top of that, I have exactly one person in my mind (my nephew) who must read this book as that guy I tell you, cannot stay away from a Shopping mall almost every weekend. I am going to force this book down his throat and I am totally sure that he is going to love it and will see himself in it as how we see him, not that we don't love him or anything.

Other than the fantastic story from the point of view of Becky where she keeps talking to herself, one must read this book for the letters that she writes to various banks, shopping mall managements and the brands :) and their responses, they are totally laugh out loud on floor stuff. Have you read Shopaholic & Sister or any of its prequels or sequels? Do let me know which is your favorite Sophie Kinsella.

Night Over Water - Ken Follett (Book)

Night Over Water - Ken Follett. Another book which was collecting dust for almost a year or longer :) I get to finish it this week, all thanks to Lock-down still not lifting. I bought two Omnibuses @ 150/- each from Blossoms, one of Ken Follett and another from Wilbur Smith, both my favorite writers of their own genres. Since March mid, I have finished two of the fattest of my reading career this year :) and these two Omnibuses are no petite beauties :) I decided to read them back to back, one of Ken Follett to start with, followed by one from Wilbur Smith followed by second from Follett and finishing it with Wilbur's second :) isn't it fun when you have all the time in the world to read so many books without much disturbance (call it going to office and working). The only disturbance in today's time is number of times wifey wants me to make my special tea for her and a few rounds of washing utensils a day :) I tell you, it isn't much in comparison to travelling to office and spending half a day at work. "Night Over Water" was just about 650+ pages and as we all know what kind of books and stories Follett is famous for :), it was no cake walk. He almost kept me going through the dead of the night to uncover the suspense that too the story starts at the very start of second world war when Hitler declares war on England. A dozen odd characters trying to go as far away from England as possible that too in the very last flight of a Seaplane Boeing B314, luxury wise it was a perfect match to Titanic with wings. The entire description of Cabins, sitting area, dining area, bunks to sleep and the walk around aircraft given by crew to anyone interested was totally amazing. I have read a few Ken Follett's books in recent times and I must say that his books may not have break neck pace or thrilling right from the word go but his stories have so much heart in them that the readers takes away so much from each one of them. And his women are way more stronger than his men for sure :) this is the second book in a row where he made me fall for his amazing women. I guess Follett has a mastery in writing stories from early to mid 20th century, especially revolving around second world war. "Night Over Water" is an incredible story of a transatlantic flight in 1939 taking a little over 30 hours time from Southampton (Britain) via Foynes (Ireland), Newfoundland to New York. The last flight from Britain to USA after Hitler declares war on the country. All the characters taking flight have their own reasons to catch the flight without fail with their own challenges. A German nuclear physicist has to get so far away from country so Nazi forces don't catch him to make their bombs. A half heart Nazi has to catch the flight to save himself and his family from the tough times as he doesn't have the guts to join neither Germans nor British in defying. Although his two daughters have their own agendas against him and how they take him was totally amazing. A local crook who dreams of making it big from millionaires travelling in the last flight with a fake ID to steal what he can to make his future. A runaway wife with her boyfriend being chased by her Husband who tries his level best to board the flight to win her back. A women running a multi-million dollar American company being shot down by her own brother on vacation in London as he plans a hostile takeover while she is stuck. An FBI agent extracting a gangster from Britain, but his friends have a totally different plan for him before the aircraft lands in New York. An Airline engineer whose wife's life is in line and what he is forced to do to save her was something that kept me totally hooked to the developing story at its own sweet pace. If you think all that makes up for a superb thriller only, think again when I tell you there were a few love stories too developing amidst all that chaos. What I loved most about this book as I said earlier other than of-course having so much heart in the characters was the entire description of the luxurious Airplane. Especially in the year 1939, I couldn't imagine that something of this sort could actually exist back then and in the very end how Follett discloses the facts, totally shocked me. And not to forget the incredible lifestyles of a few rich and famous from the days including a film actress were a treat to read. Have you read "Night Over Water"? If you have, do let me know who was your favorite character. And do you have a favorite Ken Follett? Do let me know that too as I would love to give it a read as soon as possible. Eagerly waiting to finish my first Wilbur Smith from his Omnibus before picking up another Follett :).

The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (Book).

The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck.

My first Steinbeck was "Of Mice and Men" and let me tell you that I was totally in love not only with the man, his stories, the way he weaved it so beautifully but also he gave me a character whose memory I will take to my grave. Big Sam. A most innocent man (not by the look) and totally misunderstood character who pays for someone else's crimes but the way his terrific friend (whose name I forgot) keeps up with him and tries to keep him away from harm's way was incredible. I am huge huge fan of Stephen King too and after reading his "The Green Mile" I just couldn't not draw parallels between Big Sam and King's John Coffee, so much so that I even wrote an email to Mr. King (Of-course I got no response) asking if he was inspired Steinbeck's character as John Coffee was an exact replica of Big Sam and even their stories had an uncanny resemblance. On top of that, let me state this too that if you haven't read a Steinbeck, you have no idea what you are missing, as one Steinbeck is good for life and to get the impression of one of the most gifted writers of all times. I just finished the my second from him and totally clueless as how to tell you about the book that I finished. Although the book was published in the mid or late 30's yet it is so relevant in today's time. As if he actually saw the future and wrote it 90 years back.

I have read a few travel books in the last couple of years but no story comes any closer to the Joad's journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life. Simple farmers by profession living a day to day life toiling someone else's land taking it as their own, how it all changes with the industrial revolution when one Tractor makes the entire generation go jobless in no time. With a family of a dozen to feed, a daughter on the verge of having her first child, a son who is just out of prison after serving his sentence for a murder he did commit (but how and why), a recluse preacher who is no more a preacher in toes with them, a rickety truck to take them across the thousands of miles of journey which may conk off anytime. It is no less than a perfect thriller but the way their story touched my heart, gut wrenching scenes totally choked me up and the only thing which kept me going was the inevitable predictable ending which I kept hoping against all my hopes that it would never come. I will not call it a sad ending or a depressing book from any standard but it was indeed one of the most eye opening books I ever read.

Grandfather Joad with his two sons and their kids has only one dream to reach the land of the future (California) which will solve all their problems and give them a superb life. His dream is to just to have a bathtub full of water, do nothing but sit on it all day and eat grapes (so aptly justifies the title in the end). Exactly same story in today's time when we see thousands of people moving to big cities in hopes of a better future is no different than the story of Joads. But its not all bad let me tell you as I was so touched to read in between the lines as Steinbeck so clearly says that if you ever need help go to poor people as they will certainly take you in and help you to the best of their abilities. The kind of help they get, the little dreams, luxuries of life they witness and the pains they go through, throughout the journey and the incredible ending that I am so craving to tell but can't. If you have read The Grapes of Wrath, I am sure you will be able to understand but if you haven't, you've got to read this without fail that too at the earliest. One of the most incredible stories and a book that I will never forget ever in my life-time.

OK! After so much praise I must say that Steinbeck is not at all easy on his readers as he refuses to give the timeline neither the location where they are or from where they are moving and who exactly are the Joads. There are a lot of clues that I had to gather and put a two and two together still there was a few characters whose stories he deliberately refuses to divulge i.e. Uncle John, what happens to his wife? what was his sin?. And as I said he is not easy on his readers that includes the way his characters talk :), initially it was tuff for me to follow as it hampered my speed (I am no speed reader but he made me read his book fast) but a few chapters down the line it works so beautifully that I started enjoying the way they spoke. And the way they talk, told a lot about who the Joads were and where they belonged - how smart of Mr. Steinbeck :).

Have you read The Grapes of Wrath? who is your favorite character? I am going to get a few more Steinbeck's shortly, do let me know if you have a favorite too. Also, let me mention this too that my next was a Thomas Hardy but now that I have read this one, Sir Hardy will have to wait as I need a little break from heavy stuff and read something lighter.

The Stand - Stephen King (Book)

The Stand - Stephen King. Stephen King is undoubtedly one of my all time favorite writers. Although his books do give me sleepless nights (at times for weeks) but still I keep turning back to them whenever I want to have some thrilling fun. This one came as a surprise gift from a very dear friend (raise your hand:D) who I met for the first time last year :). On top of that this one isn't that kind of creepy horror rather a terrific one to read in current times. Also this book kind of became a record of sorts, the longest that I have ever read as it has some 1320+ pages with 20+ amazing shadow sketches in between. I started this last month I guess and it has taken me almost good 25+ days to finish which I thoroughly enjoyed too. First time this one was published in 1978 where King claims that his editors made him drop some 400+ pages out of it to make it a better read. Fortunately that copy my friend got for me has those pages included as King wanted to once publish it as it is basis as he wrote it :) Super lucky I am for sure. As I believe in more the merrier as long as its my favorite writer. On top of that this book is based on a plague that hits America in 1990 which wipes off its entire population starting from west coast to east coast, with hardly two groups of 2000+ people left to survive on its own who are for some reason immune to the disease he calls "Captain Tripps" or "SuperFlu". A superb premise to be read in the times of our own Covid19 threat wherein we are locked inside our own homes for last more than a month and a half now :). When I started reading this, I had no idea, it was just another thriller cum horror that I was expecting from King which will make me pass time during lock-down. Right from the very first chapter it got me hooked big time as the way story moves forward at break-neck speed and people falling dead in no time totally shocked me. Horrifying was the scenario how it starts, spreads and reaches to what end in almost no time at all. Looking at the size of the book I was sure that he is going to give me almost a dozen or more characters to root for and he actually does that. Imagine when the world is coming to an end and the mother earth decides to recycle itself after getting so much crap from the humanity, one person has to come to the rescue of us lesser mortals. I don't want to give out the suspense but you have to read it yourself to know more about the Motherly and the Fatherly figure, one who comes to the rescue and the other one who comes for further destruction. I assumed a quarter into the book that since it was America in question, why there is no nuclear war? but Mr. King decides to make me happy and impressed to know end by giving me something totally out of this world, at least way beyond my feeble imagination for sure. There is a line in the Bible which reads "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" this story was a terrific example of that and survivors stories are heart touching and journey forward from almost nothing was simply mind-blowing. There is a wannabe pop-star right after his first hit single, there is a young pregnant girl whose boy friend is no good, a deaf and mute young man with no one to look forward to, a few not so bad hooligans briefly going through a sentence, a dumb young man who is yet to make a mark on his own friends and a few more such life like people that I totally fell in love. And on top of that all are those two people in two different areas pulling the survivors towards them, of-course one has to be bad and the other one has to be good to keep the story going forward. Actually speaking Stephen King has written this one very smartly :) It works like a perfect thriller with enough love story, a bit of horror here and there, never too much, a perfect apocalyptic start with a little hope of a future. I personally love those stories where the protagonist travels from one place to another and this one was totally a travel tale that too with coast to coast travel of people not only on foot but cycles, bikes, cars and what nots. Mr. King was amazingly able to keep me hooked to the entire length of the book, although I am not too happy about the ending but that is something worth a debate with someone who has read the book :) still it takes nothing away from a terrific book. I am hoping this may have a sequel in coming years if not already out yet. Have you read "The Stand"? Do let me know how you like it and if you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do that immediately as you will be able to finish it off before the lock-down is lifted :). PS: A book like that and today's situation in real life made me contemplate for a long time that how fast our priorities change with time. Today in reality when we are going through a crisis, it doesn't even matter, where we work, how much money we make or who we are in management hierarchy, all that matters is to survive another day with loved ones safe at home. All that we need is food on our tables and smiles on our faces, rest all is practically immaterial.