Lemoncella Cocktail - Rene Natan (Book)

Lemoncella Cocktail - Rene Natan.

My little brother enrolled me into an online book club and this was the first ebook that I received from them in exchange I have to put an honest review of the same. Going by the title and the cover, I thought it will be some kind of a love story with a little action of sorts (you see a guy swimming on top) but what it turns out to be is a Hodge-podge of a thriller cum comedy of errors. I couldn't decide I was laughing on the book or with the book? Initial 20 pages were good enough for me to know that this is another run of the mill, going nowhere story but unfortunately so far I have a record of never leaving a book midway (barring an exceptional occasion when one book flew out of my 15th floor window). Hence I read it full and still am in a sort of a hangover of what actually the Author wanted to tell us from the story. And who was the actual protagonist in this one. Story of a girl Amelie who witnesses an illegal deal between his boy friend and some crooks. As soon as they realize she had seen them, everyone wants her dead and here comes our hero Patrick as a good Samaritan to save the girl and the family too. I expected it to be at least an average thriller with cat and mouse chase between the good guys and bad guys.

Unfortunately, this one looks like written by someone for a writing competition or as a college project with no research but if this is how Canadian Police and Secret Service works, I am never going to Canada in my life for sure. I mean imagine there is a situation where the bad guy is on the lose to kill the girl who witnessed the episode and wipe out her entire family. The secret service guys go home and sleep saying they will see what they have to do next morning :). I was like laughing out loud but kept going forward with the hopes of something good to come out. Imagine the bad guys actually blow off an Airplane with the entire family in it and they pay like a thousand bucks to the guy who fixes the bomb, can you believe that? On top of that there comes a super rich grandmother who tells a stranger that she has 25 Million Dollars in her bank and yet her son is gone extreme west to make his career (the poor guy has a credit card debt of 280K), I was like Wow!! this is really happening. I cant even tell you how much ransom the bad guys ask for her kidnapped grand daughter and even that looks like a silly change to the old woman :). I mean the Author was totally not serious what she was writing if she really wanted her readers to believe the story. Writing is so freaking casual that I couldn't believe my eyes. The characters, even the secret service guys are so dumb that it was hard to believe even in fiction.

Hilarious is the ending of the book, I mean I don't want to put the spoilers for anyone who may still want to read it. But if you do and reach the end, do let me know if you actually fall of the chair you were sitting on while reading the book by that ending :) as I actually did. The only positive that I could gather from the book was that its hardly 160 odd pages and written in short 2-3 page chapters and since I had read a heavy thrilling trilogy (Larsson) before this, it was a jolly good refresher for me. But not a book that I will recommend it to anyone.

The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson (Book)

The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson.

Second book of the series and what a ride this one was, simply amazing, engaging and thrilling. There are a very few sequels which actually not only live up to the original but supersede it too. This is one of those books which not only is almost as good as the first one but in a way goes ahead and feels even better than the first one in many ways. Also, almost after every chapter I had a wide grin on my face and missed someone around me with who I could jump and do a Hi5, this was that great. I was like "You go girl and do what you do best, kick some more....". And Stieg Larsson, you take a bow man, why you had to die so soon, you could have given us some more of Lisbeth :(. The way he ends his books I can say now after reading two of them is that the story ends at the very last page of the book and all you have left is the back cover to look at. No epilogue, no conclusions, no cover ups, just 'The End" and you shut the book, even that kept making me ask for more and I kept the third one quite near me in preparation. I am jumping straight to the third as soon as I post this. This I believe this is the third occasion that I am this keen to read the next after Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Clifton Chronicles (Jeffrey Archer), Any other Book(s) never had this magic on me ever.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ends and Lisbeth goes on a long long vacation (she becomes a millionaire overnight) and breaks all connections with Mikael Blomkvist. A new journalist at Millennium is about to uncover a dark secret behind the sex trade in Sweden and a lot of people are about to be named, somehow Lisbeth's name gets involved in killing of three people including the journalist. Also, her past comes haunting her and Mikael back and comes big time as every one believes she is not the killer and even Blomkvist believes she is capable of killing but his heart says she wont (even I kept praying). How the reality gets uncovered (shockingly) is just a terrific ride a little deeper inside Lisbeth's life as well as into whats goes on in the world around us. This one was such an amazing page turner that my eyes kept cheating, like I was actually at the top left page and my eyes will go to extreme right in the mid to see whats happening ahead :). Just couldn't control it. Stieg Larsson has a habit of overstretching the stuff to my delight and will never give someone something straight on a platter. For example, a world-class boxer who is a Lisbeth fan (and coach) is about to hit one final blow to a guy, may be killing him but it will take two pages of explanation in between telling us what was going through his head while he hit that final blow.

The first book was about 500 pages long, second one goes ahead and crosses 550 pages and as I type this, just checked and imagine my 32 teeth smile because the last one has about 760 pages of fun to unfold :). Have you read these yet? If yes, you already know how and what I am feeling and if not, Oh Boy! You have no idea what you are missing.

Movie Adaptation: One word - SUPERBAD. Oh My God!! What do I say, three hours and this is what they came out with. What a total crap this movie was. So much wished that Fincher was signed up to do the second and third movie too, this one feels like a B grade movie made for television. Almost a disaster of an adaptation, no background score a all, leaves so much which is desired big time from the book to be told untouched and some characters which aren't even mentioned in the movie. And it goes on for about 3 hours or a little longer :), I had to see it because I just had to, but please ignore if you have read the book as it is such a heart break. I am seriously contemplating not to see the movie after I finish the third and the last book of the series.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (Book)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson.

My first Stieg Larsson book and my reaction to it as I progressed was like: (After 100 pages), Is this The Stieg Larsson that people so much brag about, this is no thriller, so slow, still developing characters. (After 275 pages), WHOA!! what just hit me, so this is how it was to be crossed, O boy, what are they gonna do since they have joined hands, totally couldn't put it down now. (After 400 pages), its office time let me take it to office, big deal eh? I can read in my cabin with the door closed, whose gonna look at me? and finished it same night :). Now that my dear friends is Stieg Larsson, by the time it ended, I was not only in love with the lead character Lisbeth Salander but also with Mikael Bloomqvist around who the whole story revolves as they uncover the truth behind the murdered girl. Also, my heart cried out for Stieg too, a damn good writer gone too soon, wish he was around to take this series forward or should have written more wonderful books like these. Imagine he wrote this trilogy which was published after his death :(. It came to my attention only in 2011/12 when David Fincher made the movie (remake of original Swedish) and our own Censor board advised him three dozen cuts which he denied outright and didn't release the movie in India. I had to get an illegal copy then too to
watch it and compare it with its Swedish counterpart. Had no idea then that this was based on a book and only this year I got to lay my hands on the trilogy and now I am totally hooked to it. As I compose this, the second of the series is waiting for me to pick it up right next to my laptop (that too in office) :).

The first part of the trilogy is totally dedicated I guess to the character building of Mikael Bloomqvist, an investigative journalist and part owner of the magazine "Millennium" whose career is in a soup because he uncovers the dark truth behind a Billionaire when his sources go haywire. Lisbeth Salander has her own story to tell (although they don't tell much and one needs to read between the lines - beautifully) as why she is what she is but behind how she looks and behaves, she is a super intelligent investigator cum hacker and has her own support world too. How she tackles her own personal problems and their paths cross when an Industrialist (Hanrik Vanger) appoints / offers a huge sum to Bloomqvist who is taking a break from his journalism to write his own Biography. But it isnt that simple as it looks like and what happens next is an amazing cat and mouse chase game between the recluse Vanger family, Lisbeth and Bloomqvist, the vanished girl, killer at lose, Billionaire with dark secrets behind them all the time and so much more. Although I loved the relaxed pace of the novel too much, never for a moment I felt like I was reading a thriller the way the story is told but it kept taking me deeper in it with every page I turned. After mid ways, it actually picks up the pace so much that it was too hard to put it down, the second half of the book is simply an awesome read with a super finale that I couldn't predict in my wildest dreams. The way Larsson has given enough footage to the entire Vanger clan was simply outstanding and reminded me so much of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who will always have a dozen of characters but will always do justice to all of them.

The town of Hedestad (Fictional) is one of the very important characters in the story. The way he covered its geography, I can only visualize it but it sounds to beautiful and real that I actually was imagining if I could visit Sweden and go through it myself. Also, the little nuances that he leaves in the story for the reader to decode i.e. Lisbeth's Tattoos and story(s) behind them, you've got to read it to understand it. I hope and look forward to the second part to see if he uncover them or totally leaves them to the reader to make their own theories but this was an amazingly written awesome book that thriller and suspense lovers should read and watch the movies too. Do let me know if you have read the trilogy as how you like it and any other book from Larsson which you feel is equally good like this one. I would certainly look forward to read it too.

Movie Adaptations (Swedish 2009): Saw both the movies today back to back, first I saw the original Swedish and this was almost 3 hours long. But believe me when I say this that even after that length I kept asking for more and not for one moment I felt like it was too long although it missed out on so many details totally breaking my heart. Totally loved Michael Nyqvist who plays the central character Mikael Bloomqvist and Awesome Noomi Rapace who was a perfect fit for Lisbeth Salander's character. One heck of a movie, although it still no ways comes close to the book but works on most counts.

English (2011): Finally, I saw the movie today and called my wifey and this is how our discussion went. Me: You know who is my favorite Director?
She: (In a fraction of a second without thinking): Quentin Tarantino.
Me: Yes, He was but now today onwards it is David Fincher :) if someone ask you who is yours, please say the same and I will show you a movie this weekend, you will
love it.

No doubt, the David Fincher version is way way better than the original just because of the way it is "Scripted", I mean he has (almost) picked up everything from the book of-course barring the ending and made the reader in me grin from ear to ear that too when his movie is 20 minutes shorter than the original Swedish. Hats off to the man, impeccable casting, mind blowing expressions, amazing editing and what a killer background score. This is going to be my all time favorite Movie adaptation of a book I read and loved ever, now onwards. Still I will maintain that Noomi Rapace was a couple of notches better than Roony Maara in playing Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version but this one is a better movie of the two.

Stardust – Neil Gaiman (Book)

Stardust – Neil Gaiman.

All thanks to our impromptu Book club meet that I came across this awesome book by Neil Gaiman, my first from him and I am totally bowled over by his imagination. Trust me when I say this that this little gem of a book actually gave me the same kind of pleasure what I last got from Harry Potter (series) and Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is indeed that great, although way bit shorter (hardly 200 pages) but he has wrapped up so much in these many pages that I wished he had written a huge huge book with great details. The mysterious setting, visual spectacle of a background, magical characters, super kool gadgets, Witches, Princes(s), King, Lovers and on top of that a falling star which is the best part about the entire story. It had so much wrapped up in the little book which took me no time to finish but it will definitely become one book that I will never forget and will read it again for sure. I have never read a book twice barring of-course (To Kill a Mockingbird – no one can come close to Atticus Finch). But this one, I am definitely reading again and eagerly waiting for its prequel as he has promised to write it one of these days, if not a sequel for sure. Before this book, I had no idea what actually Neil Gaiman wrote and as is I practice never to learn a review or even a blurb before picking up the book I want to read, this was a big big surprise and now I will be hooked on to his writing(s) till I finish all his books one by one.

Stardust is a terrific love story cum fantasy story of Tristran Thorn, his entire life is a big mystery. A simple boy who works at a grocery store one days falls in love with beautiful Victoria Forester, hilarious is the way he proposes her and makes a thousand promises if only she will accept his love. What she asks him is nothing else but a fallen star and his journey starts. The poor simple guy who is good at heart actually crosses the “Wall” beyond which no one has ever stepped out for 100’s of years. The only respite in the life of the villagers is a “Market” which takes place every nine years. I don’t want to disclose much but this all takes place in the very initial 20 odd pages and he sets his course for the terrific journey ahead. There are two more parallel (very interesting) tracks too, three almost four hundred year old Witches almost at the end of their life-time need a heart of a star to revive their youth and powers which they are losing by the day. A King, whose kingdom is right across the “Wall” is on his deathbed, with three of his sons dead out of seven. The rein of kingdom will go to that surviving son who will fetch him the Topaz he throws in the same direction where the star falls from the sky. And the hunt begins. How their paths criss-cross or do they have a history of relations earlier too makes up for a very interesting and intriguing story. It has everything as I said from Magic to terrific (lovable) characters to the eye popping situations. I totally loved it and the way it all ends was beyond my wildest imagination but was very pleasing.

If you have read the book, do let me know how you like it and if you haven’t read it or are as ignorant fool as I am to have missed Neil Gaiman so long, you better get this and read it ASAP. You have no idea what you are missing in life. Also, keep an eye on the Epilogue, Prologue, Credits and Question Answers in the end of the book – they are totally Hahalarious. Neil Gaiman has some sense of humor and I am totally in love with the guy and his work(s). Looking forward to read all of his works like NOW, do let me know what I should read next.

Movie Adaptation: As I sat reading the book, a friend told me about its movie adaptation too and I got it before I started to read the book (as usual). If you have read the book and watching the movie in comparison with the book, its a big heart-break (as usual) but if you watch it as an individual attempt, its damn good and a visual treat. On top of that they have roped in Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer and host of other stars, even the current Super-Man plays a character. I saw the movie with my kiddo (11 years) and even she loved it, as it came highly recommended and I actually wanted to give faces to the characters as I imagined. Mostly it worked but the movie feels like a very fast forward version of the story and they have made quite big changes in the story too, I wonder why they feel their audience is not so smart to make out the story on their own and end up explaining everything through a voice over, time constraint may be. But I am glad that the even the voice over was done by Gandalf (LOTR) / Magneto (X-Men) that put a wide smile on my face. But the climax takes the cake, they have done it very well almost at par with the book or even better visually at least. The setting of the village, The Wall, The Market, Journey and the Beautiful Star, were something that I will never be able to forget. A must watch if you loved the book but be ready for the liberties that they take to make a movie out of a book.

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) - Movie.

Spider-Man Homecoming (2017) - Movie.

I guess there is something seriously wrong either with me or with the Super-Hero movies that I am being served these days. I couldn't believe my luck when I watched "Spider-Man Homecoming" today, as it became the third disaster Super-Hero movie for me flat in one week. Followed by Transformers The Last Night (Yesterday) and Justice League a few days back. Oh My God!! Whats with the makers? I so much expected that I am going to love this one as a lot of friends said it was a good movie unfortunately that wasn't the case, not for me at least. I know that Spider-Man is now a part of Avengers but how much stake Avengers are going to have in a bloody individual Spider-Man movie? First I was pissed by Tony Stark (Iron-Man) in this one and then I was super pissed by the way he has advanced the Spider-Man suit to give him more powers and what not. And then I cant even describe in words as what I felt by watching a third actor in I believe last five years who is now the New Spider-Man. Why was he so desperate to impress Iron-Man so he gotta be a part of Avengers? Wow! I cant believe this. That's alright that they have now changed the guy, I have no issues with that but what about the re-boot of a re-boot? Didn't they re-boot it couple of years back when they fired Toby McGuire from the role and took the new guy? Why this new guy is still in college and isn't yet aware of his super powers? Why is he still training and doing almost the same stuff? Going behind his classmate whose dad has to be a villain, hiding from the world that he is the Spider-Man?

On top of that, they have screwed another of my all time favorite actor (Michael Keaton) by making him a villain. The guy is too good to play bad and he had my full sympathies, unfortunately he took his last acclaimed role of "Bird-Man" too seriously and they made him a Bird-Man yet again in this one. Even that didn't work for me in totality and left me asking for so much more, guy literally had nothing to do in this movie but go after Iron-Man's stuff to hi-jack, C'Mon man, are all the writers dead in the west that they couldn't come out with a better idea? Marisa Tomei as Peter Parker's new aunt was a pleasing surprise but even she has hardly anything to do in the movie and totally wasted in such an inconsequential role, though I loved her presence for as long as it lasted. Even the reason why Keaton was behind Tony Stark looked like a fluke, not convincing enough reason to become what he becomes and we already know the fate by the time it all ends. The only two things that worked for me in the entire movie was the background score at the very start, the old tune of Spider-Man animation relived was too good and the ending, what Peter Parker does with Tony Stark was a shocker and I was happy about it :). Hope they make the next Spider-Man movie as an individual Super Hero movie with nothing to do with Avengers (I pray).

The only good thing about the movie that actually put a huge smile on my face was the girl Michelle, the one who reads a book throughout, helps them win the quiz and goes on to become the team lead in the end :). That did made me happy and by the looks of it, I can predict she will come back in the next part or may be she will become the love interest of the dumb Spider-Man that we have. Also, whats with the title of the movie? Homecoming? They didn't explain it anywhere and it didn't make any sense to me, barring of-course I noticed a huge banner being put in the college with "Homecoming" on top, what does it mean? I really wonder what others felt about this movie? If box office collections are concerned, I am sure it must have made a huge profit but as a movie it never works. May be they should put a disclaimer on trailer releases now a days claiming that if "You are born in the 70's, do not watch this". I will stay away from these movies now and will watch them as and when just for the curiosity sake. I was so inclined to watch "Thor Ragnorak" but I guess I will pass it for now.