Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (Book)

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott. The Shining is one of my all time favorite Stephen King book and the movie based on it is one of my all time favorite Kubrick thrillers that we the entire family watch every year religiously (to keep ourselves brave enough). Now you ask me what is the connection between The Shining and the Little Women? Here's the story behind it all. "FRIENDS" is one of our favorite TV series and we are right now watching its fourth run :) and of-course Joey is our favorite character who is so afraid of "The Shining" that he keeps the book hidden inside the freezer of his refrigerator :). His friend Rachel's favorite book is "Little Women" and somehow Joey ends up not only reading the book but the story makes him so emotional (almost equal to a horror novel) that they both decide to keep it inside the Freezer :) with The Shining. Now, how cute is that :) and that is precisely why I decided to read the Little Women before the year comes to a close for me. I totally loved the way they both talk about those two amazing books who now are my favorites. Especially the way keep throwing spoilers to each other :) fight over it and in the end, he is all emotional and teary when the story takes a sad turn. Other than this, of-course it is one of the most acclaimed classic anyways and I am shocked that this is the very firs time that I read this book, how unbelievably insane is that. But I am glad that I finally read it as it indeed is one of the most beautiful stories ever told and I totally loved it. And I believe the movie based on the book is right round the corner :) how amazing it will be to put faces to the much loved characters. Although I am not expecting much from the movie but won't miss it for sure. I may be the last person on this planet to read this book so late as I am totally sure that all of you must have read it once if not more. How can one not fall in love with the four sisters and their next door neighbor who they call "Our Boy". wow!! simply beautiful and heart touching story a family going through different phases from a missing father to a sick sister to a love triangle of sorts and so much more. Story has so much heart in it and it connected so well with me that it genuinely put a smile on my face, gave me tears of pain and joy at different times and choked me up big time at least twice. A typical middle class (to lower middle class back then) story of four sisters, their mother and an aunt. Each one of them is right opposite from the next yet the bonding that they have and how they always standby each other was totally heartening. And their terrific neighbors are like a cherry on the top with cute Laurie coming to their rescue as and when needed. It sort of sent me back in time to my own childhood when life was so different than how it is nowadays. Where one could actually walk in to their neighbors house at ease especially the way Beth (one of the sister) uses Laurie's Piano and becomes his Grandfather's favorite. How he spends so much time with the little girls and never misses his own parents. I loved the way Author makes her characters fall in love totally unpredictable for the reader in me and how beautiful it turns out in the end. Especially the understanding of the sisters and the ease with which they sacrifice everything (for a greater cause) right from the very start. The very first breakfast the start of the story when they were so young makes so much sense by the time the story comes to an end. It was a wonderful experience reading such a simple story which is not at all predictable and it has its own (sweet) twists and turns to keep the reader hooked to it big time. Right like the way Joey is shocked with the story, I too was much amazed by the way Author keeps the reader in suspense of sisters fate and future. I had a fantastic connect with the story as we too are four brothers (not at all like the sisters though) similarly fashioned in our current lives. Little Women will now show up in my top 100 all time favorites for sure, a book that I will recommend every one to read at least once. If you have read it, do tell me how you like it and who was your favorite character other than Laurie for sure :).

My Dream of You - Nuala O'Faolain (Book).

My Dream of You - Nuala O'Faolain.

How frequently you come across an Author or a book that you never want ever to end? And on top of that how frequently you come across a book that you actually want to give a good five star rating and really look forward to reading it again very soon. And has that ever happened with you that you come across a book which is so unbelievably like your own story that if you plan to write some day, it will look exactly the way the writer has written her or his book. I am a miser when it comes to rating a book 5/5, but her books definitely get a good 5/5 from me back to back twice in a row. The only other book which got a 5/5 from me was "To Kill a Mockingbird" a decade ago I guess. And if that is not all, her thoughts, antics, philosophies, love life, thinking and so much more is a 100% match with your own. Never in my life I have found a book that magical that it will touch my heart, made me cry alone in the dead of the night not because of the pain faced by the character but for the way I could connect with it so genuinely. A book that you would like to share with no one but gift it to someone you genuinely love and admire big time.

Couple of years ago a very dear friend visited us from Jhansi (UP) and since he knew my passion towards books, promised me that he will get me a few good books. I had no idea what kind of books he is going to bring for me and I underrated his choices before even coming across them :) (I am a lousy human after all). And he introduced me to one of the most terrific writers that I have ever read in last three decades of my reading career. The book that he brought in was an Accidental Memoir of a Dublin woman as the Author liked to call it and that book catapulted her to unbelievable fame and fan following. That was the second part of a two book series that she wrote. She wrote three more (lovely) books and passed away in 2008. She starting writing at the age of 60 (2000) and only wrote five books. This is my second from her and I am totally smitten in love with everything about her and not just only her writing, story or characters.

The entire story as narrated from the point of view of a fifty something female (Kathleen) who moves back to her own country Ireland after living in London for good thirty odd years. Working for a Travel magazine she has already traveled the length and breadth of the world already. Never married, no family to fall back on and almost no friends of social life whatsoever. Even in the work of fiction as she likes to call this and I refuse to accept it as that, she has hardly as many characters as you can count on your fingers but each one of them is one character that I fall in love with big time. Her gay colleague who she loves big time and they go around the world hand in hand, becoming each others strength in the time of the need and how she loses him wrecking her own life. Her memory of her friend and how he would have taken on a situation head on plus her reminisce' of their time together was so heart-touching, it made me cry all the time. Her lovely boss is another awesome character, who she partially dislikes at times but on other times admires too big time and how she ends the book with him still around was another thing that I will never forget ever in my life. Kathleen with a heart of Gold that she was, the way she takes care of her handful of friends, still tries to find her lost family and see how she could help in their ongoing lives is another up-lifter in the book.

The most important point why she moves to Ireland is to find about a world famous divorce case of Talbot Vs Talbot from the mid 19th century, the period of great famine where a rich man divorces his wife on the grounds of adultery with their carriage driver (a black-man). The writing is so beautiful, poignant and suspense too at times that is very hard to tell which one is the main track. Her own wreck of a life, the way it chugs forward, goes nowhere, falling in and out of love, ditching people and get ditched by some or the fact finding mission that she is on to find out if the poor man was really responsible for the breaking of the marriage or he was just a scapegoat. How she uncovers the truth behind the case by going through documents, old news papers, the passed judgement some 120 years ago or with the help of a handful locals whose families still have vague memories of how it happened makes up for a very interesting read.

Another beautiful thing not only about this book but for that matter with any of her books (I have read two of them now) is the brutal way she writes them. No time lines, No years, No places that she mentions clearly as where she is or the characters are, the reader has to put his own two and two together and to use his or her brains to understand that. The ease with which she goes time travelling in the past, present and dreams of a future, left me totally awestruck with its beauty, although some may find it very challenging to read as there are hardly any dialogues but the prose is so beautiful, it made me read some pages twice, some para's more than that but in the end it did put a huge smile on my face and made me fall even deeper with her. Although she calls her protagonist as Kathleen but my heart says its her and no fictional character, it is indeed so amazing. The way she opens up as a writer in telling about her own personal family life or love life or infidelity was totally amazing. She does what she wants to do throughout her life, in the end she may have some regrets but she is never sorry about what she did, even if that means making love with a man right across the corridor from where she lived with her current boy-friend, just because she wanted to do something, she would do it without thinking of the repercussions. The way she hates her own dad for taking out his belt and beating up the kids as and when he wanted to and the way one fine day she takes a stand and never looks back, come what may, I admired her even better for the same. If these weren't reason enough for me to fall in love with the amazing lady, she even draws a very beautiful line between Love, Sex and Passion, and does it so beautifully that now I will quote her for the rest of my life whenever a discussion goes that ways :).

This I guess is the first book that I have read from Ireland or based in the Irish country and no doubt, her books will be the first things which will come to my mind whenever the country will ever get a mention in front of me. Looking forward to read her three more books as soon as I could lay my hands on them. They are unfortunately quite expensive (upwards of 1500/- a piece). The first one I got as a gift, this one I picked up for a measly 80/- in second hand market, looking forward to sellers of the remaining three to thrown them away so I can grab them at the earliest.

In the end, I will say with a very heavy heart, I wish she had written more.

Have you come across a writer like that ever? If yes, do let me know more about him or her so I can try as Nuala O'Faolain my favorite is no more to write books anyways. Have you read any of her books? If not, you have to read them without fail that too at the earliest.

PS: As far as my memory goes, I've been reading books since last 34 odd years and trust me when I say this. I have NEVER read a book twice (intentionally). But her books, I will proudly read again unless I don't gift them already to my lovely friends or whenever I get them back again.

Karachi, You're Killing Me! - Saba Imtiaz (Book).

Karachi, You're Killing Me! - Saba Imtiaz.

I haven't read a book on Pakistan or for that matter even from Pakistan in a long long time :) So, I had to make a start somewhere. Also, after watching the movie "Noor" with gorgeous Sonakshi Sinha as Ayesha from the book, which totally disappointed me, I had to read this. Now after reading the book I really understand what Movie never worked in the first place is because you can't do a Karachi in Bombay for sure and they changed everything else as well which made it a sad overall experience. The only good thing in the movie was Sonakshi who played the character of Noor (Ayesha from the book) to the T. The book was totally shocking in a better and hilarious way. As I said I haven't read book from the neighboring country in a long long time and have no first or second hand experience of life out there, this was a total shocking account. Imagine, not once the words like a Burqa, Mosque, Azaan, Maulvi, Five time prayers, Eid, Marriage etc were used. On top of that the lead character the journalist Ayesha does all her life (six months of book's timeline) is Eat (Chips), Sleep, Drink (Beer, Whiskey, Wine, Gin, Rum, Scotch etc), Smoke, Smoke and report the news for the paper she works for. And I thought Pakistan was not only a conservative country as far as women were concerned but was a dry state too just like our Gujarat. Although that's a different matter altogether that as many times I visit my friends in Gujarat, the first thing they ask us is "What do you want to drink?". The book is a breeze to read, too short, sweet, hilarious and shockingly fantastic account of an early 20's girl based out of Pakistan. For some reason her wiki page claims she is born in 1950 and is 68 years old :O

Ayesha is 28 year old girl from Karachi who has practically no life :), no friends (just two), sucking job, worst ever boss, no car, no bank balance and on top of that her father, a single parent loves his cat more than his daughter :). Can things get any worse for her? Her survival mantra is to smoke, drink and dream of getting laid by a cute foreigner working for CNN. How things turn out on work, love, country and on getting laid front, you have to read this hilariously fast paced book which is too short and gets finished in a jiffy. Dog eat dog world of journalism is very well captured too, guess the world over situation remains same. The story gives quite a glimpse of the Pakistani way of life (read modern) and no doubt impressed me big time with the happenings in the book. I just couldn't believe (or say digest) that I was reading a book from across the border where people get mugged at the drop of a hat especially on traffic signals. She claims that is one reason why everyone drives faster in Karachi, so they don't have to stop at the signals hence saving themselves from mugging :). What I loved big time about the story is the character of her Father, totally underrated character but the way he stands up in the hour of need and the way he treats her throughout to shock and amazement of not only Ayesha but me the reader too, was simply too good. I am yet to come to terms with my father when it comes to drinking (I quit smoking long back) and the way she smokes and drinks in front of him is totally unbelievable. Pakistan (may be in fiction only) as a country has seriously come of age if this is what the definition of freedom and modernism is. Ayesha's no holds barred approach towards her sex life shocked, amazed, surprised and even made me happy.

My mother is definitely going to love the book big time as it has so much of Imran Khan in it :) Guess all the females from across the borders especially from her generation had/has a huge crush on the man. And their crush on Bollywood stars, movies and music is so much fun to read too. Karachi, You're Killing Me sounds more like a beautiful introduction of not only the city, state, its people and the believable characters. Saba Imtiaz's commentary on Pakistani politics and blame game is another point which mightily impressed me. Book is amazing but what it lacks is a solid story which I kept looking forward to which unfortunately never comes as the protagonist's life goes on from a day to next keeping me glued to what's going to happen next. I will be eagerly waiting for her next book which I believe will be a story she would like to tell us (hopefully).

Have you read "Karachi, You're Killing Me!", do let me know how you like it. I will be on the lookout for some more from the contemporary Pakistani Author's now as I am mighty impressed by this one. Any recommendations will be highly appreciated.

PS: I wonder what was the general reaction of people in Pakistan on this book.

PS2: I have decided not to send the book to my mom as this will not only change her opinion of Pakistani girls (and definitely not for good) as well as it will break her heart a little. Since we had an arranged marriage (Girl of her choice) and she has asked me thrice in last five years if my wife drinks and smokes. My response: Silence.

The Girl in Room 105 - Chetan Bhagat (Book)

The Girl in Room 105 - Chetan Bhagat.

The very first page of the book says that Chetan Bhagat is the author of eight bestselling novels (including this one - of-course) which have sold over twelve million copies and have been translated in over twenty languages worldwide. Not only that but also that The New York Times has called him "The biggest selling author in India's history". I am not sure how true this claim is but thats what is published as his introduction and so much more like so many successful Bollywood movies based on his books, his column writing prowess and public speaking talent and how can we forget his acclaimed degrees from India's prestigious IIT and IIM :). On top of that what hurt me the most (post reading the book) is that he is still writing meaningless stories which will not qualify as "Literature" from any standard and this one fails big time even on entertainment grounds. I will call it the weakest of his books which is way below and boring than his own worst "One Night @ The Call Center". I guess his name is big enough that neither his editors spend anytime on his writing nor the proof readers or publisher. I am no expert but if I am able to point out a dozen grammatical mistakes and so many spelling mistakes and I am not even talking about the plot here (or lack of it as some of my friends will say post reading or some may claim without reading too). A complete disaster from the very start, which just drags, goes no where, gives nothing to the reader and refuses to end. The most challenging book ever written by Mr. Bhagat so far and I guess my last from him, I will certainly not look forward to any more books from him now-onward. This is Goodbye and Good-riddance to Mr. Bhagat from me.

I don't know why but I seriously expected that he will not mention IIT in this book :) right from the day it was declared but as someone said "You can take a man out of IIT but you can never take IIT out a man from IIT" :D. Here the main protagonist is a loser from IIT who doesn't gets a campus selection even after passing from IIT, if that is some respite for people like me :). Not only that, he ends up coaching in a institute where they prepare candidates for IIT entrance exams :). So Mr. Loser has a girlfriend, who breaks off with him, meets another guy (super successful IITian), goes around with him and then she dies or gets killed. With Mr. Loser as the prime suspect and Delhi police investigating (read not doing anything) on the case. How Mr. Loser takes it on himself to solve the case on his own Ex Dead Girlfriend makes up for the rest of the book. He even has a Watson with him for support and that guy actually is a savior of sorts on this sinking boat with every page. If not for his comic timing, this would have become the second book in the history of my reading to have flown out of my 6th floor window. But I must say rather I guarantee that Mr. Bhagat has never touched a Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle for sure, let alone touching them, he has never ever read a Surendra Mohan Pathak even. If he had, he would certainly have written a better cat and mouse chase game or could have at least made it a little interesting for his readers. Now after reading this, I am actually ashamed to confess that I was clueless as for who are these people that he is writing these gems? What tortured me in the course of finding the killer and the reason behind all that was happening, was that he picks the most important character from Kashmir (A Muslim girl on top of that) and has no opinion whatsoever on the Kashmir conflict :) as he keeps steering clear of it throughout with his characters saying nothing about the political situation out there. I guess he should have chosen a girl from Manali to be safe and opinionated.

Main characters to look forward to, if you plan to read this book: A loser IITian (Hindu), A (Muslim) girl who refuses to join MIT and stays back for her love doing a PhD from IIT, A Super successful IITian (Dark South Indian Hindu), A not so corrupt Delhi police inspector, A ready for Padma Vibhushan IIT professor (wont go to Harvard or Stanford), A Jihadi, A very handsome Army officer. Still the story just doesn't take off or flies at all. Hindu Muslim inter-cast marriage is still not a cake walk in India. The only way Mr. Bhagat can can think of empowering his women is by letting them have sex with multiple partners (twice in a row now).

As the book comes to a conclusion, Mr. Bhagat proves that IIT not only churns out good writers but is also capable of giving us detectives too. If you plan not to read this book, I will still very highly insist that you go to your nearest book store, pick up the book and the read the very last page :) it gives out nothing about the story or the book but you must know what Mr. Holmes and Mr. Watson do in the end. How he delivers his punch line "An Unlove Story" deserves a standing ovation. As that was the only point where I actually laughed out loud in the last four days of me reading this.

If you have read "The Girl in Room 105", you know that you have my sympathies for spending your precious money and time but if you haven't read, you are lucky and please keep it that way. But if there is anyone who has read and liked it, we really need to talk.

Although, I am an atheist but I prayed as I finished the book that "God, if you exist, please please please make sure that no movie maker buys this book's rights and makes a movie on it, please, mercy". Amen to that.

PS: To the darling Friend who sent me this book, OK, lets not debate on how I would have thrown it out of the window half read. You know how much I love you for saving my precious money ;) so lets skip the debate.

Calling Sehmat - Harinder Sikka (Book)

Calling Sehmat - Harinder Sikka.

Majority of times when we watch a movie based on a book (especially these days) they usually fall in between underwhelming to lousy :). Now that I have read the book and loved it as it gave me an in-depth idea on the character of Sehmat Khan as well as how and why she did what she did, I can very well say that the movie is Fantastically made and almost at par with the book if not better. I wanted to read the book before the movie came but the time was so short between the trailer, release and book becoming famous in no time, that I just couldn't squeeze it in my busy schedule (of reading books of-course). Hence I finally managed to finish it today and I must tell you that I started the book yesterday only. Either the book is too short, or the pace is so nice that it took me only two sittings to finish it and I will very highly recommend it to everyone, especially to those who have seen and loved the movie. It is a totally unbelievable yet true story of Sehmat Khan a Kashmiri girl who goes to impossible heights in fulfilling her father's last wishes to save the country from an imminent enemy attack.

I don't think I need to talk much about the plot as the Movie has already made it pretty famous. What I loved about both, the movie and the book is the way they have shown so beautifully as how it was all done that too in the late 60's to early 70's. Bravo!! The ease with which Sehmat a girl in 20's takes up the challenge and on top of that comes out a winner in the end is simply superb. The movie was an edge of the seat thriller yet it leaves so many questions unanswered which book responds in greater details, of-course it is again a fictionalized account of how it all must have happened. It also actually made me wonder if the Syeed's (Sehmat's In-laws) were actually so simple, yet were in those high positions in Pakistani Army and ISI, that they were fooled by a simple almost untrained girl, was a little unbelievable. But I will not counter or criticize it as it makes up for a superbly thrilling story in the end. We will never know the reality behind it as the real life Sehmat Khan, who never got her due has already passed away. The way it is done in the book, I really couldn't believe that a R&AW agent who does something like that will ever get a Red-Carpet Welcome in our country at any point of time and will not be killed by the enemy country's agent who are roaming around us since last three decades or more. But again, its a work of fiction with some reality in it, so we better take it with a pinch of salt and cherish it.

The philosophical touch in the end was very nice and the great details as what Sehmat does for the country while in Pakistan and how it all pays back heavy dividends was simply mind-blowing. The things that movie lacks in, the book fulfills like I said earlier. Even in the character development department, background story and aftermath is so beautifully done in the book. I totally loved it.

Have you read "Calling Sehmat"? Do let me know how you like it. As per you, which one was better? The Book or the Movie?