Kane and Abel - Jeffrey Archer (Book)

Kane and Abel - Jeffrey Archer.

I still remember reading this book way back in early 90's as soon as it landed in our school library. Also, this was the book which made me identify with one of its lead character (Abel) big time that I actually started sleeping without a pillow back then and the habit still continues... to my wife and kiddo's amusement nowadays, one wakes me up and tells me to come up to the pillow and other one laughs all the time seeing my weird position sleeping either below the pillow or way out of its reach and at times I actually roll it over to the floor and sleep peacefully :). Such was the connection with the guy that I read, started following it and totally forgot about it. As I read this one again last week and was totally amazed to know that this was the book which is responsible for my weird habit. All thanks to a friend who was not able to read any book and we decided to read it together and exchange views everyday in the evening. The friend is absconding since then and I have already finished the book in flat one week. I am shocked, surprised, sad and what not that how come this book is actually considered one of his best works. I so much tried to like it and get thrilled or entertained and what not but to no avail. Also, it answered a question which was in my mind for quite a while that why "Jeffrey Archer" could never become a "Ken Follett". And why his books will never be called "Classics" not "Timeless Classics" for sure. This was written in 1979 and I am sure it was a rage back then or may be for a decade or more till it reached us. Anyways, it totally doesn't work anymore (Although my loyalty goes a long way with Archer Uncle) but I am going to complete the trilogy.

As the title suggests, its a story of two guys born on the same day in two different parts of the world. Kane is born in a super rich family of bankers and Abel is born somewhere in Poland, an orphan with no roots to look back to. This is actually Abel's story from rags to riches and the cross connection with Kane. I so much assumed or tried to remember if they will become the best of friends or the sworn enemies for life (and why?) or they are actually brothers lost at birth (somehow) that was the only point which kept me hooked to the not so thrilling story which Jeffrey Archer to my shock and sadness so much over did that I just couldn't believe it. He wrote this story in 1979 and it basically covers 60 odd years of their life starting from early 20th century. Every twenty pages, Archer throws a name or an incident that indeed put a smile on my face but he kept on doing it to no end. Imagine a Mr. J P Morgan actually makes an entry. And our rich bankers actually support someone called a Henry Ford who is about to start a car company :). In the background we hear of a Don called Al Capone too and one of the important family members actually dies as Titanic sinks. If that was not enough we have Siberian prisoner camps, Sigmund Freud too gets a hilarious mention. But the cherry on the cake belongs to one of my all time favorite characters from the history of United States of America - JFK. Imagine in early 70's one could actually pay a quarter of a million dollars to get an hour of his time exclusively to yourself :) Wow, that was a little too much. Even when their paths criss-cross (how many times is good enough?) initially its exciting but later it becomes predictable as well as futile too at one point and I couldn't even think of a reason why it was happening at all.

Jeffrey Archer, doesn't specialize in suspense writing but whatever I have read of him in the past and recently too (Clifton Chronicles) was / is able to hold my interest up-to the very end. But in this one, I could actually predict the outcome a mile ahead and lets not even talk about the literary liberties he has taken specially with the banking laws (they cant be that lackluster even in 70's). I expected it to be a joyride of 600 pages but after half the way it just becomes a big drag and tried as hard he did or I wanted to enjoy, just couldn't. Somehow I reached the ending hoping that it's sequel should be good "The Prodigal Daughter" and the end of trilogy "Shall we tell the president". Do let me know if you have read them as I have no memory of this story going anywhere forward after Kane and Abel. I am totally sure that this book will not work for people born either in 70's (like me) or even in 80's. I would really like to know from the people who are born after the 90's if any of them have read this and did they actually like it? Need to find some and ask. Do let me know your thoughts if you have read it recently, how did it work for you?

At First Sight – Nicholas Sparks (Book)

At First Sight – Nicholas Sparks (Book).

The problem with sequels that I face personally is either they are too good, surpassing the prequel or they are simply too bad, shooting down the built up in its prequel by a big margin. The exceptional books with their equally or better sequels in my personal reading experience in last couple of years are of-course the Harry Potter and Lord of the rings as well as Clifton Chronicles by Archer (which worked for me big time and kept getting better barring the last book in the series but thats forgivable). When it comes to love stories they mostly do not work, look at the examples of “Me Before You” and the debacle of its two other parts, “The Notebook” and its sequel “The Wedding” (again by Sparks). Unfortunately with this one I had very high hopes as I had recently read its prequel “True Believer” and expected so much from “At First Sight” as name suggested that it will be a love story yet again after the protagonist meets the girl of his dreams and settles with her in the sleepy town of Boone Creek (North Carolina) but the way story goes forward in this one, it simply falls flat and for the first time ever by the pen of Nicholas Sparks comes a book that I am sorry to not to recommend to anyone especially to those who have read its earlier part and loved it too. Or may be this was a little too practical love story which was hard for me to digest as it reminded me so much of “Before Sunrise”, “Before Sunset” and its third part which was exceptionally real “Before Midnight”.

Even as an independent book it fails to make its mark on me when I almost expect nothing but just a good love story from it. So, the story goes like Jeremy Marsh an article writer in a science magazine moves from New York City to Boone Creek in quest of uncovering a ghost story from the sleepy town’s cemetery which he does but falls in love with the local Librarian (this was the high point). They do get married amidst a little drama and all that as it always happens in the love stories but the lame plot and whatever little suspense was so predictable that I could actually see it coming from a mile. And that’s what doesn’t work in the favor of the book and the story which should have touched my heart making me all emotional but it fails big time. The big move, compromise, sacrifice, love, affection, marriage, child birth and step ahead is all so slow or may be boring that the book with hardly 200 pages felt like an over stretched affair. Jeremy Marsh the atheist, who doesn’t believe in God and all that takes a U turn is what the rest of the story. I guess all good love stories should come to an end on Marriage or before marriage I will say as this one where Sparks tried after marriage is like showing the reader his own life which makes it such an uninteresting read. I couldn’t believe that I was reading my own life story being enacted by the main two characters of the book. There was no fun in it as there was hardly any connect with their insecurities after marriage. And when a book becomes too predictable the magic goes out the window and It just drags to the cheesy ending where everything has to fall in the right place (again).

If you have read this and liked it, do tell me how you liked it but if you didn’t like I did, you have my full sympathies. First time after may be 15 odd books that Nicholas Sparks magic has failed to work on me. Although I have half a dozen more of his books to read and I am really looking forward to get another kick from him in his next work (Dear John).

Penance - Kanae Minato (Book)

Penance - Kanae Minato.

I love Japanese and Korean movies simply for their honesty, how brutal it may be for the audience, they will never left any stone upturned in showing it on screen at times it does becomes cringe worthy for a person like me who isn't so much used to see it the way they show it onscreen. That's precisely what Kanae Minato has achieved in her second novel which I finished back to back after her first one called "Confessions" that I read and reviewed last week. Confessions was more of an account of a fifth grader, what goes inside the mind (and heart) of a kid when tragedy strikes in any form. Whereas "Penance" takes it one more step forward by telling us what goes inside the mind of a parent whose kid (again a fifth grader) gets brutally raped and killed in the school premises. Going by the title I had no idea what I was getting into but as soon as I started it and a couple of pages down the line I could very well imagine where it was going to go but was I correct? O boy, she has some imagination and the way she kept throwing the twists and turns, every ten pages that I actually went numb after midways and was totally engrossed to read what came next. Superb psychological thriller this one turns out with so many twists and turns that it actually became almost the best revenge thriller that I have ever read in the recent past. Although she kept her style of narrating the same story from five different angles intact in this one too as that makes it way too interesting and engrossing to read till the very end.

Emily, a fifth grader, out of town girl gets raped and killed while playing with four of her friends after school hours in the school premise itself. But the turn of events is such that her friends had no idea how that happens so near to them and they have no recollection of the person who actually walks up to them, takes her along and does it. How that impacts the life of not only Emily parents, but the friends in question who are not able to help solve the case makes up the rest of the incredible story stretched around 15 years of time. Murderer at loose is scary not only for the mother who seeks revenge but for the other four girls too and what happens with them in due course of time makes up for an unbelievable story. What I love (and hate equally) about Kanae's narrative is the same story told from five different angle's takes a toll on the reader but never gets repetitive, although unlike "Confessions" I felt a little over stretched but still I wasn't able to put it down as my mind kept asking me to get an answer whether they will ever find the murderer or the reason why she or he did that? Will the girls and Emily's mother ever be at peace with themselves? You've got to read the book to get the answer but be ready for some real twisted story that actually made me think that how could someone write so honestly as what comes to her mind and as the situation demands. That was one heck of an effort and I will say Hats off to her for the superb story telling.

This is her second book in a row with a very touching subject as it happens in a small town of Japan. Giving us outsiders quite a glimpse (may be in form of fiction) of what happens thousands of miles away from us which sounds no different than what we all hear day in, day out in our part of the world. If you have read this, do let me know what you felt about it and I really wonder what is she going to come out next with? I will be waiting for her next very eagerly.

To the Light House - Virginia Woolf (Book)

To the Light House - Virginia Woolf.

My first Virginia Woolf book that I randomly picked up last year from "Blossoms" just like that to get a hang of her writing and if I have to explain my feelings today after finishing up (took me a week) it is simply "Mind-blowing". Another book that made me feel incapable of putting into words how and what I feel about it. I had no idea before I picked up the book that what I was getting into as I never read a blurb, introduction or a foreword as mostly they are full of spoilers (some times unintentionally). Imagine this one has an introduction written by some Saransh Sharma for some reason and goes on for about 30 odd pages, I am glad I skipped it before reading the book and read it after I finished last night, shockingly it turns out be one huge review of the book and his own interpretation as what Ms Woolf wanted to say from her book (like seriously a reader wouldn't be able to make out on his own??). I am shocked to know that Virginia wrote this at the age of 18 and it took me some serious effort to grasp at 42, she is simply Wow. I am not much into poetry but trust me when I say this, it is actually pure awesome poetry stretched to the size of a novel (180+ pages) with as short as 5 word sentences to 300 word sentences, as short as two and a half sentence chapters to as long as 30 odd pages with paragraph of paragraph thrown at the unassuming reader much to my delight though (by mid time) which put a huge huge satisfactory grin on my face by the time it ends. I couldn't believe my eyes to read that someone at that age can be this philosophical, understanding and mature about life, hats off to her for this incredible piece of literature which is considered to be one of the best from 20th century.

Going by the title and its beautiful cover I thought it is going to be an amazing love story and undoubtedly it turned out to be one of the most beautiful love story of Mrs and Mr. Ramsay. Although Mr. Ramsay is superb carved out like a total chauvinist pig by Ms. Woolf (I gave his character some slack as it was written 100+ years ago) but still my heart cried out for Mrs. Ramsay's love, respect and adoration for the man, the way she handles him and the way he is show, totally hell bent on proving her wrong and snubbing her at the first instance possible still the way they love and admire each other by not saying anything but just by little gestures and of-course this is not a spoiler when I say this that she has a very small dream about the Light House, which she keeps working on and how or does it gets fulfilled? how and by whom? for that one needs to read this incredibly beautiful story. Ramsay's go to their holiday home every year with eight of their kids and a couple of close family friends, a beautiful house near the beach over looking the Light House on a small island nearby. Entire story is stretched over the fifteen years of their life and keeps shuffling back n forth between the perished present and the beautiful past. I loved the way Woolf throws her own philosophy towards life and so many things through her characters. Totally amazing stuff. Loved the way she puts across her love of Arts, Writing and especially Shakespeare by comparing his work with a simple pebble which will outlive the masters writings. So much she has covered by this small book and story that it was simply mind-blowing. our purpose of life, the futility of being alive and trying to achieve one's dream and the inevitable end. Incredible it is.

I so much want to talk about so many characters which make such an amazing unforgettable impression in my heart and I totally fell in love with of-course other than the two best Mr and Mrs Ramsay. Their son James who hates his dad like anything, to the extent of he even imagines stabbing his heart with a knife at times :). Their daughter Cam who admires her dad big time. Also Lily the family friend who is making the painting of a life-time and who sees her own mother in Mrs. Ramsay. Mr. Carmichael the poet and little love stories that Mrs. Ramsay helps start up during their vacation in her dining hall. The entire story is so full of life that this will be one of those very few books which I would love to read again in very near future just to enjoy it more and what a meaningful read it is. A must must read for all. One of the most important thing that I and her kid James kept looking forward to the trip to the light house and reason why it had to be done. How long it actually takes and the reasons behind it was something that invoked so many feelings and touched me so much. At times I felt too close to the character of James myself as it was my story and I am yet to find or reach my own Light House.

Initially as I started reading, I was totally turned off by her language, so many characters to track on and the third party narrative. It was actually hard to keep up as whose side of story she was telling but as I kept ploughing forward for the love of reading, it made heavy dividends after I was a quarter into the book by beautiful flowing words, sentences and para's that I kept going back at least 2-3 pages every-time I took a break and picked up the book again. Hence it took me close to one week to finish a book of mere 180 pages that too when the book's physical size too is too small. If you have read this and loved it exactly the way I loved it, do let me know how you liked it and if you haven't read, you have no idea what you are missing, but do remember, it isn't an easy read from any standard. I will certainly be taking a break from her works for now before picking up "Mrs Dalloway" before anyone jumps and recommends it :).

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith (JKR) - Book

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith (JKR).

Last year after falling in love with Harry Potter series, head over heels, I decided to read everything ever written by J K Rowling but somehow after "The Casual Vacancy" took a kind of break before picking her next series of detective stories that she wrote with the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. This one is the first of the series (of four books) so far, although not as magical as the HP Books for sure but nevertheless was a damn good read. She has that magical ability of making her readers fall in love big time with characters one after another. The readers loyalty keeps swaying from one character to another as she kept on unfolding them with great details, now thats one thing that I love about these British Authors. Awesome detailing, dollops of humor even in a suspense thriller cum murder mystery and she indeed gives a superb ride around the city of London too. It is a huge co-incidence that I am watching the TV Series FRIENDS (all 10 seasons) back to back these days and couldn't believe my eyes to see as many as four characters named after four important characters from the TV series, it could be a huge co-incidence but imagine there is a Ross in here as well as a Rochelle (Rachel), even a Joey and an Ursula too :) and that did put a big wide smile on my face throughout. Who knows, she may be a big fan of FRIENDS too. Another terrific thing about JKR's story telling is that she totally able to keep the reader under suspense so much that imagine up-to half the point there is no mention of who is she referring as "Cuckoo" actually and what's it's or his / her's calling?

Story is pretty much straight forward of a Super model's Suicide / Murder, which a terrific detective Cormoran Strike has to uncover in toes with his new assistant, the amazing Robin who is his temporary assistant and on her first job. How they go about the whole suspense is an amazing ride although no comparisons with Ms Christie or Sir Doyle for sure as she is coming from a YA Fantasy genre to thrillers. Otherwise its a superb read and was able to keep me hooked throughout the 388 pages and I kept looking forward to predict the outcome and I was almost partially right in guessing the outcome or the culprit behind it. What works big time in the favor of the story and the book is its amazing characters, totally lovable, one's that I will never be able to forget any sooner especially the lead Cormoran Strike, estranged son of a Rock-star who the whole of London knows but lives a life a recluse after getting thrown out by his girl-friend with no money and no future. An Ex Army mid 30's man, you need to read the book to know why he is Ex Army as the story keeps going back n forth very briefly into flashes of his past and keeps giving the reader amazing glimpses from his past. Even Robin has her own little parallel track and a developing story which I hope goes ahead in upcoming parts. JKR leaves no stone upturned in involving me so much with the story that I wanted to get inside it make them do what I wished they would do but to no avail and for the betterment of the story I guess. Totally loved the way she handles the characters and make them so strong yet so believably life like. I was throughout hooting for Cormoran knowing very well how it is going to end for him personally (full marks to Author in that department) that made me thing big time of Prof Snape and the final outcome for him :).

If you have read this one or any other of Cormoran Strike novels, do let me know how you like it and if you haven't, trust me, this isn't something you should miss. I am going to take a very brief break and pick up the next of the series as I am literally too excited to know what happens next to Robin and Cormoran. I am looking forward now to the three episode TV series that they made on this book, Yay!!