The Sialkot Saga - Ashwin Sanghi (Book)

49/100 of #100bookpact The Sialkot Saga - Ashwin Sanghi

After reading his earlier three works almost back to back and loving them too, I had to finish his latest book too and I am shocked by what I read. His earlier books were fantastic (Only the first one "The Rozabal Line" was good but not great), totally loved the "Chanakyas Chant" and the "The Krishna Key" - were able to keep me glued hanging over to race to the ending. Current book - he has actually picked up a subject which was kind of beyond him or he picked up too much stuff that he wasn't able to adjust somehow. Unbelievable that he was earlier compared with the likes of Dan Brown and all. The book is spread over almost 60 odd years, starting from India's partition in two (later three) countries. Throughout the narration it has that "been there done that" feel as he has almost roped in everything from Nehru's death, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, India's cricket world cup victory, Sachin's entry, Bhopal Gas leak, making of BJP, Babri Masjid, Mumbai attacks of 1993, USA 9/11, Mumbai 26/11 and what not. Imagine two of the leads who are arch business rivals and no awards for guessing that one is Hindu whereas other is a Muslim go through all those episodes here and there passing through in their lives (read 50 years), till finally they actually criss cross each other leading to a lackluster finale. The book was never able to keep me gripped unfortunately I have never left a book midways so kindda finished it with a predictable ending. After a couple of above mentioned episodes I realized he is going to make those things keep coming every 10 odd pages to keep the readers interest going but it becomes a little too much. I will call it a dead bore and a big turn off. Way way lower then my expectations from him.

The Time Machine - H G Wells (Book)

48/100 of #100bookpact The Time Machine - H G Wells I will call this as one of the wildest imaginations of the human mind coming true. But the way it is narrated is simply out of this world and the best part is the year when it was written - I just couldn't believe my eyes when Google said 1895. WHOA!! A beautiful book with a mind-blowing story. Just imagine if someone made a real time machine like the "Time Traveler" in this books makes one and travels. The main character has no name but is always referred as "Time Traveler", what he goes through with his machine is the entire engrossing story. Supremely written again I will say its simply unbelievably Unputdownable once you start. The year that he travels first time is about a thousand or more ahead of his time, just imagine what will happen of the humans, how will this world look like, what if he decides to travel a further thousand year ahead, what if he loses his machine in one of his trips? or what if he meets someone that he falls for? It has so much covered in merely the length of the book that is amazing the impact it makes on the reader (Midways I actually wanted the book to be a 1000 pages long). Totally loved the ending and actually kept looking for more, While reading the epilogue I was wishing that

Wells had written a sequel. It would have been such an amazing thing.

Conversations with God - Neale Donald Walsch (Book)

47/100 of #100bookpact Conversations with God - Neale Donald Walsch

Isn't the title itself too lucrative to just pick up the book and go for it? Also, it came highly recommended in an article I read not so long ago, since then it was a part of my "to be read" list. A series of three books written by Neale Donald Walsch as his personal one O one conversation with God. Unfortunately I got the first two books (e Copies) only and am glad that the third one is available in stores. It doesn't matter one believes his theory or not but trust me that there is not one thing that you can disagree with in the whole of the first book. It amazingly answers all the possible questions one can have to be asked from God - just in case we find him someday talking to us. No ways, I could actually read that he was asking precisely the same questions those keep cropping up in my own mind pretty often (You see age is catching up I guess). Commendable is the way he has recorded the whole conversation, too friendly, humorous and in a very easily understandable way, never gets too preachy. It almost covered everything like Career, Money, Goal, Reason of living, Love, Satisfaction and what not. This was another of those books which as per me is simply unputdownable, I will call it no less then an engrossing thriller of sorts. And I totally loved the way God talked to him. I am totally eagerly waiting to read the other two parts but just need to give myself some time to digest what this one talked about.

Just so you know what is covered in all the three books: Book One is to contain basic truths, primary understandings, and address essential personal matters and issues. Book Two is to contain more far-reaching truths, grander understandings, and address global matters and issues. Book Three is to contain the largest truths you are now capable of understanding, and address universal matters and issues—matters being dealt with by all the beings of the universe.

After You - Jojo Moyes (Book)

46/100 of #100bookpact After You - Jojo Moyes. Imagine even books have sequels - just when I thought they only made movie sequels and screwed the originals, came across this book which was a sequel to the authors last book "Me Before You" which I read about a month ago right before the movie on the same book released. The Book (Me Before You) was simply fantastic, amazing love story with although a sad ending - what could one expect from the love story of a underrated, non adventurous girl who has no career or dreams whatsoever with a guy who is at the pinnacle of his career - totally outgoing adventure loving character but an accident leaves him stuck to a wheel chair for life. Shockingly sad but predictable ending had me also thinking - whats going to happen the girl? Will she be able to move out of his shadow ever? Is she going to move on, get a life, love again? settle down? The sequel "After You' is actually her story forward as what happens a couple of years down the line in her life. It isn't half as good as the first part, almost drags initially, has a good mid part and an ending which simply refuses to come. I had a terrible terrible time finishing the last three chapters as it simply wasn't coming. But...... like her other book - the author was able to keep me hooked to the story that I had to finish it in flat 24 hours only. It works in parts but definitely doesn't works like a whole book and has no repeat value as such - am definitely not going to read again (Would love to read the first part though even after knowing the ending). Again the author was able to keep the reader guessing about most of the story, I wasn't sure what is going to come from his past which is going to sweep her off her feat and give her a reason to fight. Is she finally going to overcome the memory / grief, even when his own family had moved on. Is her dysfunctional family will ever come to her rescue? The book answers all the questions, does puts a smile on my face more than a couple of times and was a quick read too. If you like reading love stories - you can definitely consider both the parts back to back and enjoy you. I would love to know someone else's opinion too of the sequel though. Is it me only to who it didn't appeal like the way it should have? or there are others too thinking the same. Hope they make a movie on this one although I am yet to see the one they made on the first book.

Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (Book)

45/100 of #100bookpact Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist is going to be one of my all time favorite books not only by Charles Dickens but by and by general standards too (You see I started using his language too). Mind-blowing isn't the right word to describe the feeling I had throughout the narration - superb writing by any standards - it gave me everything, lump in the throat, sadness, put a smile on my face lot of times and finally had me grinning from ear to ear by the way it all ends. It just cannot be called any less then a perfect thriller too - although its a perfect piece of literature but amazing is the way he has written it with so much going on simultaneously. Some superb characters - even the villains portrayal is done in such a way that by the time it all comes to an end - reader actually has a sympathy or shall I say empathy for them. I kept wondering about the name initially why "Twist" in his name but as the story progresses and secrets are revealed I totally agree with it - his life was so twisty that he just cannot have a better name. Simple and sweet story of an orphan and as they say the story of Oliver Twist from rags to riches. If you haven't read this one - you haven't read nothing. Go for it and I am sure you are going to love it. I am definitely going to read it again some time soon even after knowing the ending, its going to be a great read. Looking forward to some more from him soon, totally in love with him (and of-course his writings).