My Favourite Couch

The French Lieutenant's Woman

2007-07-21T19:07:00.000+05:30

Title: The French Lieutenant's Woman
Author: John Fowles
Year of Publication: 1969

What could have been a simple novel about a poignant romance, set in a meticulously recreated Victorian England, is transformed into so much more by a great writer of our times.

I recall the famous "Woman in the red dress" scene from "The Matrix", where Morpheus freezes reality and then proceeds to calmly walk amongst the frozen characters, discoursing upon a world that has been created for us. Likewise, Fowler often freezes the narrative and leads us into his mind. He then reveals his quandaries about letting a particular character react a certain way, provides insights into the popular mindset of the times, and contrasts them with our own. He reminds us constantly that we are in fact, reading a novel, and frequently talks about the world that he has created from his own viewpoint. His genius lies in not letting this skewed and unconventional narrative become a hindrance to the plot, instead helping us understand the characters from the perspective of their creator.

Charles Smithson is a young aristocrat, heir to his uncle's estate and engaged to the beautiful Ernestine. He arrives at the town of Lyme Regis to be near his beloved and to further indulge in his study of fossils. It is here that he learns the story of Sarah Woodruff, whom locals refer to as the French Lieutenant's woman. He learns of her brief affair with an injured French soldier named Varguennes, and of how he left her, promising to return one day. He sees her walk past the seashore each day, looking longingly into the distance. He begins to grow obsessed with her, and is startled to find that she has taken a fancy to him as well. These feelings grow between them until Charles finds himself torn between his duty to his betrothed and his passion for this strange and mysterious woman. Sarah isn't all that she seems, though. Will Charles unravel the depths of her true nature? Will he bow down to society's norms or risk everything for a woman whom he does not even fully understand?

Sarah Woodruff is one of the most captivating female characters I have encountered in literature. Not since Scarlett O'Hara has a woman so effectively commanded my attention throughout the length of a book. The author does a fantastic job of maintaining the mystique of her character throughout, letting you understand Charles' fascination with her. Further, the emotional thread that Sarah provides is so strong, that when the author returns from one of his many stylistic and descriptive digressions, you have no difficulty in picking up where you left off.

The author liberally quotes from the literature of the time - Tennyson's "Maud", Matthew Arnold and Thomas Hardy in particular. The allegories to Victorian England are themselves understated, but unmistakable. The emergence of free thought in science and the gradual transformation and modernization of society are pervading themes throughout the book. We learn that Charles Darwin has just published his "Origin of the Species" and that scientific acceptance of his theories is still in its infancy. The hypocrisy of society is highlighted repeatedly - perhaps most strikingly in the contrast between the sexual repression in high society and the prevalence of brothels frequented by members of the same aristocracy. The stentorian Mrs. Poulteney is symbolic of the still cold and unforgiving society, while the learned Dr. Grogan is the intellectual quietly coming to terms with the rapid changes happening around him.

Fans of Victorian English fiction will delight in the extraordinarily detailed re-creation of an era. The author conjures up vivid images, ranging from the idyllic English countryside to the grime and feelings of claustrophobia evoked by the less honourable parts of London. You chuckle at the fact that Charles' manservant is named Sam, bringing to mind at once Mr. Pickwick's faithful Sam Weller. You are further amused when, in decidedly un-Victorian literary fashion, the author himself points out this similarity in the next paragraph.

The author plays God with his protagonists and settings: he builds, develops and analyzes them in turn. What's more, he even lets us have an occasional peek into this process. Whether this is a true account of the author's thoughts while writing the novel, or a complete fabrication as is more likely, it is certainly captivating writing.

The Kite Runner

2006-03-06T16:03:00.000+05:30

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Fiction
Rating : 7/10

..."Would I ever lie to you Amir agha?"
Suddenly I decided to toy with him a little. "I don't know. Would you?"
"I would sooner eat dirt," he said with a look of indignation.
"Really? You'd do that?"
He threw me a puzzled look. "Do what?"
"Eat dirt if I told you to," I said. I knew I was being cruel; like when I'd taunt him if he didn't know some big word. But there was something fascinating--albeit in a sick way --about teasing Hassan...
..."If you asked, I would," he finally said, looking right at me. I dropped my eyes. to this day, I find it hard to gaze directly at people like Hassan, people who mean every word they say.
"But I wonder", he added. "Would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?".....
....I wished I hadn't started this conversation. I forced a smile. "Don't be stupid, Hassan. You know I wouldn't."
Hassan returned the smile. Except his didn't look forced. "I know," he said. And thats the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.....

This conversation probably sums up the whole book.
Hassan, is the ever loyal, innocent servant/friend of Amir. He is one person, Amir can trust his life on.
Amir, on the other hand is a dreamer. A boy not cut out for the dog-kill-dog world. A coward.
Amir, is witness to a horrible truth and he has two choices. The easy way out, that of avoiding the truth, deleting the object that reminded him of his cowardice from his life, or of accepting the truth and losing his whole way of life, falling in the eyes of his Baba. Amir takes the easy way out, but as the author says

...That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.....

Amir gets a chance to redeem himself after 25 years....

The book is written at a quick pace, in a free flowing style and offers a great view of the Afgan lifestyle, Afgan culture (and Afgan cuisine!!)

Roughly the book can be cut into two halves. The first half describing Amirs childhood, is defnitely the better half.
The events of the childhood, the events that lead to the day that turns Amirs life upside down, the childish mischieves, the insecurities of Amir, the loyalty of Hassan, has been potrayed brilliantly and with honesty. You will shed silent tear drop ass you read the events that unfold after the kite competition.

Comparitively, the second phase of the book, Amirs redemption, lags in narration, the plot is not believable and the narration is repetitive and contrived. The author could well have finished the stoty earlier and the final 60-70 pages are a bore.

However, the books gives a good description of Afganisthan in the 60s-70s andd of the Taliban regime. Many small poignanat moments make the book a good read,

Finally, the author, Khaled Hosseini, writing his first novel, has used his words cleverly and imaginatively, coming up with some great lines, worth remembering and quoting, like
"Afganisthan today has a lot of children, but no childhood." and "A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything".

All in all, it is not a book that will make you sit up and think, neither one that will make you cry nor laugh out loud, but, surely its a book whose taste will linger on, long after you have finished the book.

Life of Pi

2005-10-19T15:33:00.000+05:30

Title: Life of Pi
Author: Yann Martel
Genre: Fiction
Readable : At your own risk

Life of Pi. Winner of Man Booker Prize.When i picked up this book to read I was fully prepard for an amazing experience. After all, the book was an award winning one. Had received rave reviews from all and sundry.I was to be disappointed.

The book had a promising beggining. It starts with a recount of the life of Piscine Molliter Patel ( known as Pi). His childhood,his experiences with religion, his relationship with his parents,teacher and priests is beautifully expressed by Yann Martel.I was riveted right upto the point of his being stranded on a lifeboat with a menagerie that was made up of a zebra, an orangutan,a hyena and a tiger. The book then takes a rather bloodthirsty and cannibalistic turn.A friend of mine told me the book is fantastic if you skip the gross pages. I do not deny the fact. The book does a make a very good read if you were to skip the gross pages. The problem lies in the fact that probably 250 pages out of 300 is filled with nothing but repellant descriptions of drinking blood,tearing out of intestines, beat this... eating faeces ( that it is that of a tiger, is no redeeming aspect!!!).I might be a prejudiced reader. But I cannot believe that even a confirmed meat-eater could digest ( excuse the pun ) the contents of this book.
On the whole i found Life of Pi unpalatable.

Adventures of a Curious Character

2005-09-13T10:38:00.000+05:30

Title: Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman - Adventures Of A Curious Character
Author: Ralf Leighton
Genre: Non fiction
Rating: 4.5/5

Adventures of a curious character indeed! If you happen to be one of those who has an appetite for Non-Fiction and are ready to appreciate the little adventures that one has in life, one who can enjoy with the joy others get with the little nitty-gritties of their lives, you must read this book.

It’s not a masterpiece of literature, and hasn’t got any of those adventurous thriller stories with shrewd plots and characters – the only thing this book has is entertainment, and that too, in plenty.

Contrary to the suggestion that one can get from the title of the book along with the cover page, this book is NOT written by Richard P. Feynman. It’s a collection of anecdotes and stories from His life as complied and edited by Ralf Leighton over the 8 years of association he had with Feynman. The book is packed with a bundle of funny and intriguing incidents and adventures that Feynman had almost all the time.

As stated already, this book cannot be rated or reviewed on the general lines of any literary work. But you can definitely have an insight into the mind of one of the greatest geniuses of modern Physics. You would surely appreciate the child-like curious and inquisitive mind of this champion and would understand why is it that he managed to become what he was! Starting with the stories of his childhood, to the college days, and his famous association with the Los Alamos project, to his Cornell and Caltech days, this book has so many narrations with so many different facets of this genius that one can simply not avoid being in awe.

If one manages to read and interpret the stories properly, not only would one be able to adore this rather eccentric scientist, but would also get to analyze his character properly. A man with no hidden face and motives, this person was a living legend. While some of the stories reflect his passion for science and his uncanny ability to associate everything with Science, the others mirror his brilliance in appreciating the other beauties of life and his never ending zeal to learn more.

What a reader would surely appreciate is Feynman’s talent in being a storyteller. He manages to narrate such intricate details of Physics as well as his philosophy of life, with such an ease that you almost get lost in the stories. It would need a very alert mind to figure out the pun he intends, and the frustration he has with the system. Adamant to the core in defying the regular pattern, he makes you agree on most of his reasons for being a rebel by choice.

The language is extremely simple, much like a regular conversation. The chapters have been organized in a little chaotic and unrelated fashion, but the entertainment each story packs, and the lesson that one observes at the end of every such story compensates for it all. What I appreciated the most in the book was the fun and adventure each story brought, and Feynman’s quality to learn something useful from every adventure of his life.

A great read – value for one’s money – as I would put it. I really wish and try to make my life as adventurous and as colorful as Feynman’s was. I adore this person, and so would anyone who reads the book.

Contact

2005-09-06T01:52:00.000+05:30

Name: Contact
Author: Carl Sagan
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 1985
Rating: 4.3/5

Sometimes, movies are born famous because they are based on good books; but sometimes, books are made more famous by the making of a movie. Contact is a great book, but it belongs to the latter category; it broke out of the universe of Science Fiction geeks and became really famous because of the movie. And Jodie Foster.

Yet, I can talk about the book without pausing to think or speak about the movie at all, because the movie makers made it very, very different from the book, but still did a great job of it.

Carl Sagan's writing style is not for the impatient. If you were expecting to be sucked into a roller coaster science fiction adventure with aliens and lasers, you will be very disappointed. The book strolls along leisurely, building up the characters, the plot and the scenarios in acute detail. Every new location, every new character is devoted a couple of pages of description so that you may better appreciate the events. Such breaks from the plot were initially annoying, but once you accept that you will not be sitting on the edge of the chair for this one, prop up a pillow and relax, and enjoy the novel. It took me more than three days to read the novel, which is not overly large by any standards; and considering that at the end of it I really liked the book, that time frame is a record for a guy who's known to finish thousand-page novels in a day.

In a refreshing departure from the traditional way of writing Science Fiction novels, Sagan spends a lot of time on the human psyche: exposing it in all its pettiness, narrowness, irrationality and self-destructiveness, especially when it comes to mass behaviour. The book is not about the triumph of the spirit of one woman, nor is it about the triumph of science. There are no triumphs and no tragedies, but there is hope. A lot is spoken about the divine, and about faith; but nowhere is it ridiculed or disproved. A true scientist cannot be an Atheist, as he/she will not accept the absence of God without proof. I felt a strange sense of satisfaction on hearing the book reinforce my own views. Truly, the conversations between Ellie, the protagonist, and Palmer, the man who became a priest after he died and lived to tell the tale, are the high points of the book in my opinion.

The SETI project picks up a radio signal from the constellation Vega - one fine day, all of a sudden. It consists of beats counting out the prime numbers. Hidden within that signal is a re-transmission of the first television broadcast from Earth: that of Adolf Hitler declaring the Olympic Games open. It appeared that the transmission had taken 26 years to reach Vega, and had been amplified and sent back. 52 years for the round trip, and the message was clear: there was intelligent life out there. And they were saying Hi.

Of course there had to be more to it. Hidden further within the signal are thousands of numbered pages of data. Until their message is discovered, every Messianic and Apocalyptic Cult and Religion in the World gets whipped into a frenzy. The Earth becomes a teapot on the verge of exploding. And then, the message is deciphered to contain instructions to build a machine that can carry 5 people on some unknown mission.

Diplomacy, Science, Religion, Politics and Madness make for strange bedfellows. But the leaders of the world find themselves no choice but to build the machine, and choose 5 people impartially from every point of view to sit on those enigmatic seats, at the risk of simply not knowing what it was they would be missing.

But what were they going to do with the tale told by those 5 when the task was done?

Ellie: ...are you willing to put your life on the line for your faith? I'm willing to do it for mine. Here, take a look out that window. There's a big Foucault Pendulum; the bob must weigh 500 pounds. My faith says that the amplitude of a free pendulum can never increase. I'm willing to go there, put the bob in front of my nose, let go, and have it swing away and then back toward me. If my beliefs are in error, I'll get a 500 pound smack on my face. You want to test my faith? In turn, would you be willing to stand a foot closer to this same pendulum and pray to God to shorten the swing?
.
.
The sealed note read: "Meet me at the National Science and Technology Museum, 8:00pm tonigh. Palmer Joss."
Joss was nowhere to be seen. If you had to meet Palmer Joss in this museum, she thought, and the only thing you had ever talked to him about was Religion and the Message, where would you meet him? Of course... "Does this museum have a Foucault's Pendulum?" she asked the guard.

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

2005-08-14T16:12:00.001+05:30

Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus...the book reveals various behavorial n emotional aspects of both the sexes. It shows how different men n women really are n hw because of this their communication sumtimes results in heated brawls n frays. John Gray compares males with the martians n females with venusians n these comparisons itself show hw contrasting their needs n aspirations can b at times! n hw combative they can become without any reasons..!!

I picked up the book contemplating that it'd show hw 2 understand our realtions with colleagues, partners or friends even better. I found everything logical n accedable bt sumtimes few things appear a bit illogical n crass!! I mean whenever u r passin through a stage of frission, u jus cant sit back n relax n think that u shud respond this way in this particular situation! anyways, bt still the book is nice n worth givin time. It surely enlightens its readers about building lasting and loving male-female relationships, liaisons n hw intimacy can be given a chance to grow even in adverse conditions..

The book's facade is quite interesting n conveys right...

"you can't live with them, and
you can't live without them! "

Not for Muggles!

2005-07-29T11:18:00.000+05:30

Name: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2005
Rating: 4 / 5

Note: I've avoided giving away important plot spoilers so that anybody can read this review. Still, I cannot avoid giving away some minor spoilers on the content of the book, so if you havent read the book and want the complete experience, don't read further!

JKR churns out yet another long novel, as HBP crosses the 600-page mark. In this regard and a lot of others, the book is just what the fans ordered! No longer does JKR try to explain any circumstance or place or spell already mentioned in one of the previous books. Another significant change in that she does not neatly tie up all loose ends at the end of the novel. There's a lot to look forward to in the final book!

Mostly, HBP is another rollicking Hogwarts adventure, with Harry and his friends continuing to learn new spells, playing quidditch, and growing up in general. Harry seems to have settled down from his touchy attitude in Order of the Phoenix, but JKR persists in including a lot of sinister elements and violence in the book. Thankfully, the Mahabharath-type wand-pointing and spell-exchanging is toned down but the teenage crushes, relationships and "snogging" are all annoyingly increased. One can understand JKR wanting to portray the process of growing up as inseparable from such things, but she could definitely have handled it better.

One more let-down is the fact that the identity of the Half-Blood Prince is not important, and not even central to the theme of the book. Further, it becomes guessable midway through the book, even though it is fully revealed only at the end. Still, the idea of Harry learning things from the Half-Blood Prince is well done, even though one wonders how Harry manages to learn difficult, including non-verbal or "silent" spells, so quickly, when he takes weeks to learn most spells in school!

Nevertheless, the good things about the book outweigh the bad. A really good insight is given into the psyche of Lord Voldemort, with glimpses into his childhood. One understands how he becomes the cruel, power-hungry wizard that we know him as. The key to his immortality is also uncovered, and Harry finds out exactly how difficult and daunting the task of killing him actually is.

JKR has also given some thought to the character of Draco Malfoy, who is more than just an obnoxious school bully in this book. It appears that Draco will play a vital role in the final book. Another thing to look forward to is the identity of Harry's mysterious benefactor, known only by the initials RAB. Anyone who has read the last three books can make an educated guess as to his identity, but knowing Rowling, one can never tell for sure!

Perhaps the best thing about the book is the ending. It is absolutely stunning and unexpected. Even after reading the book fully, I am not completely sure whether the whole thing is real or a ploy orchestrated by the Order. Either way I will give JKR full credit. If it actually happens, I congratulate her on her boldness, and am extremely curious to know how Harry handles things from now on. If it is just a ploy, then full marks to her on conceptualizing such a devious plot!

Overall I would deem the book not as brilliant in plot as Prisoner of Azkaban or having the sheer adventure value of Goblet of Fire, but definitely a must-read for anyone who has read the previous books. Oh well... its not as if I needed to say the latter in words anyway!!

Burn 'em All

2005-07-19T16:37:00.000+05:30

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury
Year of Publication: 1953
Genre: Dystopia/Sci-Fi

I have a general affinity for dystopian novels. These are worlds of the future in which things do not work out as well as we hope they will, worlds which are not happy, worlds in which the utopia of our dreams has gone terribly wrong. Like Brave New World and 1984, Fahrenheit 451 is considered one of the classics of this genre.

This book tells us the story of one such world, in which books are banned to the people, primarily because they promote independent thought and hence, conflicts. Television shows are reduced to mindless dribble and all books objectionable to anyone (which roughly includes all books) are burnt, giving no occassion for dissent.

In this world, firemen are no longer employed to control fires - they are paid to start fires, each time a house with books is to be burnt. Guy Montag is one such enthusiastic fireman who enjoys his job (particularly the smell of kerosene). One day, he meets a strange young girl named Clarisse, who asks him disturbing questions like "Are you happy?". She teaches him to smell the grass and taste the raindrops - in short, she introduces him to the beauty and complexity of life. Montag begins to doubt everything he believes in, to the chagrin of his chief, Beatty and his wife, Mildred. He seeks out a former professor named Faber (whom he had once caught in posession of books) to help him understand his changing beliefs.

While I found it hard to accept the author's core argument - that the rule of censorship was a natural consequence of development and was imposed by the people themselves rather than by an autocratic government, I was also impressed by many aspects of it. In particular, the number of characters was kept to a minimum and each of them was subject to a good analysis. The society of the future is also well-described, particularly in the conversations between Montag and Clarisse. There are also some nice touches in the book - Faber is named for the pencil-maker Faber-Castell and Montag is named for a paper-manufacturing company (the author claims in the afterword that these choices were made subconsciously!).

The novel varies in its brilliance - spectacular at the beginning and the end, agonizingly surreal when describing Montag's thoughts and even boringly mindless during the police hunt for Montag. Also, the book's claim to being a sci-fi novel is hard to justify, given the scarcity of technological ideas it discusses. However, one could forgive the author for some of these parts - in the afterword, he mentions that he wrote much of it on a rented typewriter for which he had to pay by the hour.

Despite all this, the book is dark, engrossing and thought-provoking, as any self-respecting dystopian novel ought to be. A good read if you are into censorship issues or generally dystopian works.

The book that made him the King of horror

2005-07-17T21:38:00.000+05:30

Name: Carrie
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Published: 1974

I picked up this short novel (about 250 pages) expecting not to be stirred one bit. It's about a misunderstood high school girl, Carrie White, born with telekinetic powers and a victim of abuse from a mentally imbalanced mother. An unfortunate turn of events turns the usually shy and tormented Carrie wild, and leads her to a violent rampage seeking revenge during the night of her school prom.

Bah, I thought. Innumerable books and movies I'd already experienced were based loosely on the same theme, although I did note that this early work from King might have in fact been their inspiration. In any case, I didn't expect to be surprised.

King didn't let this feeling last 10 pages through the novel. Following his usual style of writing, King turns a simple theme into an experience filled with horror and disgust. Using words to create vivid disturbing images in the reader's mind, he manages to impress. It's a novel which disturbs you enough to want to put the book down, yet at the same time you are drawn to move on.

(momma stop don't i can't breathe o my throat o momma i'm sorry i looked momma o my tongue blood in my mouth)...
Momma coming back, coming for her, Momma holding Daddy Ralph's long butcher knife
(cut it out i have to cut out the evil the nastiness sins of the flesh o i know about that the eyes cut out your eyes)

King concentrates on developing the characters of Carrie White and her mother Margaret White, not bothering too much with anyone else in the story. This does allow him to give the reader a good glimpse into the mind of the tormented school girl yearning acceptance and later revenge. Ficticious news clippings are sprinkled inbetween, unravelling the story rather interestingly.

Not an excellent book, but it is guaranteed to make your stomach curl. And that's what impresses me the most about Stephen King. I'd give this a 3/5.

To kill a mockingbird

2005-07-14T01:31:00.000+05:30

Title: To kill a mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Published: 1960

What do you expect from a classic? That it inspires you. That its characters stay with you long after the details of the story have faded away. That it touches you in a way nothing else ever will. That it makes you wish the story could have gone on for ever, the characters becoming a part of your life. "To kill a mockingbird" does all of this, but it also makes you laugh!

The story is set in the "South" of America, after the Yankees have won and set the Negroes free. It is narrated in the words of an eight year old, Jean-Louise "Scout" Finch. Through her we are introduced to her elder brother "Jem" with whom she shares a bond that is only possible in childhood, her father Atticus, a lawyer, whom she finds "satisfactory", Calpurina, their negro cook who manages a lot more than the kitchen, Dill, the boy who comes every summer to live with one of the neighbours and of course Boo Radley. The boy next door who has done something terrible a long time ago and has not stepped outside his house ever since.

As Scout describes everyday incidents in her life, her school, the neighbours, the characters in the story begin to take shape. Atticus emerges as the "hero" of the book - a man of principles. Jem is a boy growing into a man. Scout herself is very much a child, convinced that there is no problem that a good beating will not solve.

Atticus is asked to defend a negro who is accused of raping a white girl and this changes their lives. For Atticus, it is a time when all his principles are put to test. For Jem and Dill, it is a shocking introduction to the real world. For Scout, it is an invitation to get into a fight with anyone who dares to speak against her father, even though she'd rather he not fight the case. The scene where scout talks to the mob in the jail is beyond adjectives!

Harper Lee manages to teach us so much using an 8 year old! Scout's innocence, Atticus's principles, Dill's anguish and Jem will remain with me for a long long time.

Naked Feet on Metal

2005-07-08T13:12:00.000+05:30

Title: Five point someone
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Genre: Fiction
Year of Publication: 2005

I am surprised how a book that has more or less become a cult icon, has escaped the scrutiny of most of the blog members. It has been the best Indian seller for months now and is soon on its way to become a major film too. five point someone by Chetan Bhagat has probably been the cleanest and most gripping tale about IIT geeks. And it shatters a lot of myths about the hallowed schools of India too.

The story begins as a first person narration…the events as seen by Hari, the main protagonist of the story. It is all about 3 guys who make it to the IIT after 2 years of toiling and then just when they think that life is now a bed of roses, reality strikes. None of them ever manages to get more than a 5-point grade in anything, which is what explains the title. Soon, hell breaks lose and they realize they are trying to drink water from a fire hose. The pressure climbs and until a moment when it no longer hurts them. They try to do everything that one should not do at an IIT. Booze, drugs, sex (with the Head of Dept. daughter), you name it and they have done it all. The story culminates quite unpredictably and sometimes you feel happy that not all books end like a Jurassic Park, where the good guys always escape without a scratch.

However, the high point about this book is not its story but the language. A very direct and well-understood dialect. Of course, it is not Queen’s language and Rudyard Kipling would be turning in his grave at the usage of some of the terms. However, all is well as long as the point is conveyed. Makes a very easy read, often a 3-4 hrs read. The narration is very friendly and I believe he has done a good job in turning a first person narration to his advantage. And most importantly, the way of recording subtle moments in words. “Naked feet on metal can be enormously sexy”. The vivid image that a single sentence can conjure up is amazing. A lot more of such subtle, sweet, sometimes funny moments that have been so beautifully captured by Bhagat. Be it the ice cream parlour dates Hari has or the heart wrenching moments with Alok’s family, Bhagat sure knows how to weave a web of images in your mind.

A must read for every engineering student, a must read for all college goers, a must read for all IIT aspirants, a must read for all teachers, a must read for every parent and a must read for every person who has always felt that he messed up his college days and could have done better. Have I missed somebody?

The Curse of the Mistwraith

2005-07-07T21:49:00.000+05:30

Name: The Curse of the Mistwraith
Author: Janny Wurts
Series: The War of Light and Shadows (Book One)
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1993
Rating: 5 / 5

"It ought to be illegal for someone to have so much talent," says the blurb on the back cover. Yeah right, I sniggered. Especially since the series had a title as trite-sounding as "The War of Light and Shadows".

Twenty minutes and an equal number of pages later, I found myself hooked. I didn't let the book out of my sight until I finished all 800 pages of it. I've read too many fantasy series in this lifetime for my own good, but in my opinion this one beats them all hands down.

The story starts off in the midst of a war in which a nation of islands and sparse resources relies on acts of piracy on the richer mainland nation for their very survival. Divided by countless generations of strife, fate brings the princes of the rival kingdoms, half-brothers by blood, together as they are cast through a portal into a deserted world. Gifted with the ability to control the elements of Light and Darkness respectively, by virtue of their common blood on their Mother's side, they fight their way through the cursed planet and reach the portal to yet another world... only to find that they were expected there.

The world of Athera has its skies covered by an unnatural, sentient mist whose complete dominion was thwarted centuries ago by a Fellowship of Sorcerers who have acted as its guardians for several Millenia. Now, it finds itself on the brink of conflict as the relations between the people who live within the cities and those who live without, sour steadily and irreversibly. Its only hope lies in the prophecy of the return of the heirs of the royal families who were banished from their world during an age long past: the very princes Arithon s'Ffallen, Master of Shadows, and Lysaer S'Illessid, Lord of Light, newly returned from an exile they hadn't been aware of, to a world they never knew existed. Together, their powers can destroy the mist and bring light back into the lives of the millions on the planet after five centuries... but the Fellowship foresees that the mysterious wraiths of the mist will have their revenge, and curse the Princes into hatred and war for the rest of their magically prolonged lives: five more centuries of strife, into which every soul on the planet will be sucked in. The alternative: doom the planet into eternal darkness.

A brilliantly conceived series, Wurts plans to write it in the form of five trilogies, of which two are already written. This is the first book, and is good not merely because she creates fantastic worlds with its peoples and places described in vivid detail; not merely because the nature of the magic that pervades the series is utterly captivating; but because of her skill as a weaver of stories and characters, that is as great as her skill in conceptualizing fantasy. The plot is full of startling twists, cruel ironies, far-sighted planning and breathtaking deception. The characters are stripped to the bone in front of your eyes, their every facet outlined in such a way that you will find yourself living their ecstacies and anguish.

Suitable for people of all ages, this is one book; nay, one series; that no fantasy fan must miss.

'The Picture of Dorian Gray'

2005-07-07T16:19:00.000+05:30

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Author: Oscar Wilde

Genre: Classic

Year of Publication: 1890

Verdict: Excellent read

Caution: For the patient ones only

The novel is set in England in the nineteenth century and it's the story of a young gentleman (can we call him that at the end of the story...I doubt), who is greatly influenced by a man, Lord Henry, who hates the English Society and its hypocrisy. The main character, Dorian Gray nearly escapes being murdered because at the age of forty, he still looks like a twenty year old boy. His boyish charms and his beauty save his life. He is a beautiful boy who has a face that convinces everyone of his innocence and purity. But it is the same beauty that makes him arrogant and gives him a new meaning to his life, self-love. And deeply in love with the realization of how beautiful he is, he makes a wish. A wish that turns him into the most evil, wicked, sinful characters that England ever saw. Its a wish asking for his beauty to never die, of never having to bear the guilt of his sins and instead his portrait be the mirror of his soul. And curiosuly the wish is granted and as time passes by, the portrait which he keeps locked away, bears his sins and all his wrong-doings. It ages as time passes, the mouth gets horrifyingly twisted, lines of old age, of stress, of remorse and guilt appear on his face....

And Dorain continues his deeds that force many reputed men to lead a shameful life. He spoils the lives of many married, unmarried young women and men. They are all equally influenced by him and fall for his charms. And Lord Henry only continues to tell Dorian how its perfectly allright not to feel guilty!

* * * * * * * *

This is the only novel written by Oscar Wilde (he is more known for his short stories) and it's well known for being in a controversy for being capable of demoralizing the society. I would say it has the capacity to do that. It had to be revised and republished. The book is full of epigrams spoken through Lord Henry. He represents his theories in the most credible fashion telling you how its prefectly okay for you to be doing what your mother, life and society taught were wrong. It could almost convince you!

Its certainly not the fast moving thrilling adventurous story where you cant wait to turn the page. You will want to turn the page not to know what happens next in the story but to know what Lord Henry has to tell you about life and to know how Oscar Widle has woven the words into a sentence. To know what fact Henry is going to tell and how he is going to support it that will make you believe his theories. This novel can get out from you...pity, horror, shock, spite and inspiration to write.

Everything about something cannot be good. There are certain parts in the novel that are unnecessary and could bore one, especially because the book requires that one read every sentence to appreciate it. It becomes tedious reading about certain things that are irelevant to the storyline. And the constant philosophy at every corner in the book could tire you. Its a different thing that this philosophy is something that you and I would have never pondered on.

Pick up the book if you are the kind who has patience and time.

I read, therefore I am!

2005-07-05T22:30:00.000+05:30

You might worship your copy of The Godfather every morning, or perhaps stubbornly believe that Ayn Rand has changed your life. You may think Coelho has a poorer vocabulary than Coolio, or that Douglas Adams should have Hitched a Hike to some remote part of the Galaxy before writing any of his ghastly books.

No matter what you thought, reading a book certainly moved you in some way. And that's all that's needed to be a part of this blog.

Express your views. Help promote the beauty of reading. And get your 15 comments worth of fame!

To join, simply mail arjunkarande [at] gmail.com

Rules and guidelines:

1. Please review in English only. Portugese and Esperanto are strict no-nos.

2. The 'English' in point 1 means proper English. pls don rite lik this cuz itz annoying!

3. Please indicate possible spoilers clearly, prior to writing them.

4. Respect opinions and avoid flaming. We readers should stick together!

In short, be nice!

Happy reviewing!

Methuselah's Children by Robert Heinlein

2005-07-05T14:48:00.000+05:30

Title: Methuselah's Children
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Genre: Sci-fi
Year of Publication: 1941

I knew that along with Asimov and Clarke, Heinlein is considered one of the three "greats" of science fiction. However, I picked up this book as a consolation, not being able to find the more famous "Stranger In A Strange Land" by the same author.

The story follows the experiences of a group of individuals called the Howard families, who have an average life expectancy of 150 years. The title is a reference to Methuselah, who is mentioned in the Book of Genesis as being the oldest man, having lived for 969 years. The families are shown to be a product of a carefully controlled genetic experiment, in which genes contributing to long life were preserved by interbreeding. The secret of their existence is kept closely guarded for almost two centuries, but is finally revealed and things turn nasty for the families. Unwilling to accept that there is no secret of eternal life, the rest of humanity is bitterly against the families and demand that the "secret" be extracted from them at any cost. How the families deal with this and the adventures that they embark upon as a result form the bulk of the plot.

The characterization in the book is not particularly revolutionary, with each individual seeming almost one-dimensional. The charismatic Lazarus Long, Libby the technologist, Ford the administrator and the rational Mary Sperling are all characters who seem familiar to us from years of reading science fiction and watching Star Trek. Also missing is a good supporting cast - except the obnoxious Bork Vanning, a telepathic kid and an over-protective mother, not many minor characters appear - despite much of the story describing the actions of more than a hundred thousand induviduals cloistered together. The characters are still likeable though, and Lazarus Long's deadpan humour enlivens the narrative at many stages:

Bork Vanning: "As for you, sir, your primitive manners have led you into serious trouble. You will be arrested shortly."
Lazarus Long: "Reminds me of a patron in Venusburg who wanted to have me arrested."
Vanning: "Well?"
Long: "I've outlived him quite a piece."

It can be seen that the genre was itself in its infancy when this book was written - the social and scientific details are there, but appear intermittently and disjoint from the story at times, unlike in the polished prose of Asimov and Clarke. The pace of the story is also uneven - ranging from thrill-a-minute episodes to long, descriptive passages. Despite its shortcomings, the book is a pretty good read and a must-read for sci-fi fans as an early example of the genre.