Forget Me Not, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty (Book)

43/100 of #100bookpact Forget Me Not, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty

The Third and the last book from the Trilogy that I finished today to put my soul to rest finally. That is one thing I like about thrillers if they are aptly written - it was totally able to keep me glued to the very (Americanish) ending - which didn't work for some of my friends but worked for me, if Dan Brown and John Grisham can make a brotherhood - why can't we? Although it will be a crime using those names here but never mind - at some time some one can use those greater ones for inspiration - no harm in that. Finally the story of Rivanah comes to a conclusion and the stranger is revealed and the reasons are disclosed as to why someone was helping / blackmailing / forcing her to amend what she did in her past (knowing or unknowingly) and how she pays for it is the rest of the story covered in concluding part. I must say that the writer was able to keep me guessing the character till the very last chapter and it wasn't that easy (I wasn't right I can confess). So, if you like thrillers and have couple of days in hand to finish off in a jiffy - pick this series. As I go back to one of my heaviest reads after this.

All Yours, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty (Book)

42/100 of #100bookpact All Yours, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty

Second book from the "Stranger Trilogy" and almost equally engrossing, was able to keep my interest alive till the very end and still since its a trilogy - it sent me away looking for the third book of the series to set the score straight. Its a very nice cat (Protagonist) and mouse (Stranger) chase heading for an explosive finale - I hope it opens up the Pandora's box by the time it ends to my satisfaction. Journey of Rivanah from college in Kolkata to Job in Mumbai, from first crush to a serious relationship, family pressure, blackmailing by Stranger. And I am doubly sure that these books will make up for good Bengali movies if not Hindi in very near future as Bengali movie makers are anyways good in making detective / suspense / thrillers. The question still remains as whether Rivanah (whose story this is) is going to get? Will she be stuck with her past (her Ex) or will she move ahead and get her present (present boy friend) or is she in love with the Stranger. I am going to get the answers in next 24 hours as just picked up the third part and just couldn't wait to finish.

Marry Me, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty (Book)

41/100 of #100bookpact Marry Me, Stranger - Novoneel Chakraborty

I have a habit of challenging myself by picking up heavy subjects (Books) and it takes me some time to digest them thoroughly hence I kindda take a break by picking up this kind of books in between just to refresh my mind. Hence I picked up this "Stranger Trilogy" recently and thought of giving its first part a try yesterday. The book is written in such a nice way that it was actually very hard for me to put it down although nothing great but yes the writer has seen too many Bollywood and Hollywood thrillers that is inevitable - it races to the finish in no time. I totally loved its pace which was no less then watching a perfect thriller - almost every chapter ends with a new twist that you just cant not read the next and the next till you finish the book. Story of a fresh graduate traveling to Mumbai for her first job, her love affair, betrayal and help by a stranger (who is actually the hero or may be heroin) who never comes in front. There is a price too that she needs to pay if she doesn't fulfill his / her demands from time to time. Will she ever get the love of her life? who is this stranger? why is he helping her? what's his agenda? Is she falling for him? It raises too many questions and Another point that I really liked about the book was the writers knowledge of Mumbai geography and areas that he has captured - Perfect. For someone who has lived almost a decade in Mumbai - this works wonders - as I could actually visualize where it all happened. Its a very nice one time read - Imagine I am almost at the ending of the second book as I post this.

Inscrutable Americans - Anurag Mathur (Book)

40/100 of #100bookpact

Inscrutable Americans - Anurag Mathur

I am way way later in reading this one as it came highly recommended by a NRI friend (Of-course American) that it was a hilarious read as per her that too a decade back I guess. Today when I finished it - I felt like it has certainly lost its charm in time, initially it was a good read although sounds a lot exaggerated in todays time but midways it loses its steam and becomes boring by the time it ends. Yes in the early 90's when it was published first - it must be a unique book giving a first hand experience of a small town (read village) guy landing in USA for a year - getting cultural shock and all that. The protagonist is actually a little too dumb I felt or may be writer wanted to project him this way to make it more entertaining for us, didn't work for me. Finished it in flat two sittings. 

Whitenights (And other stories) - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Book)

39/100 of #100bookpact Whitenights (And other stories) - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(Whitenights) I am sure I have seen at least 3-4 movies based on the same story by Fyodor Dostoyevsky but none comes half as closer to the original story. Again I love the simplicity and a very straight forward way of telling a story by these Russians. Also, if you have read this one - did you notice that the main character (Our Hero) has no name. What a fantastic (Read heartbreaking) story - truly awesome and whats love if there is no sacrifice in it. A typical boy meets girl who is already in love with someone. Their friendship blooms in no time as they spend a couple of nights (talking their hearts out) and we get to know of them in a better way. And a twist in the end seals their fates forever. I am going to sit tight and read the other stories more carefully to see if he actually doesn't name his main characters in the upcoming stories. (Underground) I believe every writer (read person) goes through a phase where he or she contemplates his purpose of life - earlier I read a "Confessions" by Tolstoy as he went through this dilemma and now him. The second story which isn't a story in reality - may be chapter taken out of his personal life is a kind of confession by him of his so called wretched life which abruptly comes to a halt as he believes that its too much for us readers to go through it - although I kept asking for more and he does hints that it all doesn't end in here and may let us know the rest at a later stage in the book or may be in some other book - but those ramblings are too good and too real to life. Couldn't believe that someone as acclaimed as him would have gone through it too what we all go through in our daily lives. (A Faint Heart) Third story and back to back a sad ending - I wonder if he ends all his stories in that gloomy fashion. No doubt that I was touched but was hoping against a hope that it should end on a happy note. Poor Vasya (the lead) totally a lovable character, such a good soul - imagine he just couldn't take what life had in offer for him and succumbs. Right when everything starts falling in place for him, a great friend to support, almost about to get married to an amazing girl - all hell breaks upon himself or rather he crashes to his own insecurities - a very touchy story. Hoping the last one turns out to be a good one with positive ending with something to cheer about the book. (A Christmas Tree and a wedding) A very short story indeed on what sheer unbelievable things people do just for some money, Shocking.