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3mausergem
My top reads of 2012 (not in any order)
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Chip Chip Gatherers by Shiva Naipaul
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Imperfectionalists by Tom Rachman
Currently reading
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Chip Chip Gatherers by Shiva Naipaul
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Imperfectionalists by Tom Rachman
Currently reading
The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare
4karspeak
I look forward to following your thread again this year! I don't comment much, but I'll be around;).
5msf59
Happy New Year, Gautam! I love your best of list. Some great titles on there. I plan on finally getting to A Fine Balance in July.
6kidzdoc
Welcome back, Gautam. I bought The Chip-Chip Gatherers after I read your review of it last year; I'm looking at it now, and I'll read it very soon (I'm tempted to start it today!). I don't own A Fine Balance, but I do have Family Matters and Such a Long Journey on my TBR pile, and I plan to read at least one of them this year.
Rohinton Mistry is featured in the January/February issue of World Literature Today, as he was the recipient of the 2012 Neustadt International Literature Prize, which is sponsored by the University of Oklahoma, the publisher of this literary journal. His prize lecture is included in this issue, along with three essays about him by contributing writers, one of which is available on the WLT's web site.
Rohinton Mistry is featured in the January/February issue of World Literature Today, as he was the recipient of the 2012 Neustadt International Literature Prize, which is sponsored by the University of Oklahoma, the publisher of this literary journal. His prize lecture is included in this issue, along with three essays about him by contributing writers, one of which is available on the WLT's web site.
7mausergem
>4 karspeak: - Hi Karen, thanks for visiting.
>5 msf59: - Hi Mark, I recently heard on the Readers podcast, A Fine Balance being mentioned as the great Indian novel capturing the vibe of the country and I partially agree.
>6 kidzdoc: - Hi Darryl, just been through your thread. Loved the review and was boggled by the extensive list of forthcoming novels.
>5 msf59: - Hi Mark, I recently heard on the Readers podcast, A Fine Balance being mentioned as the great Indian novel capturing the vibe of the country and I partially agree.
>6 kidzdoc: - Hi Darryl, just been through your thread. Loved the review and was boggled by the extensive list of forthcoming novels.
8kidzdoc
Thanks, Gautam. That list of the most anticipated books of the year by The Millions is both exciting and overwhelming.
I'm currently working my way through the shortlist for the 2013 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, as the winner will be announced at the Jaipur Literature Festival later this month. The shortlist is a very strong one this year, as I've read four of the six titles already, and I plan to read the remaining two, The Walls of Delhi and Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, over the next two weeks. The ones I've read are The Wandering Falcon, River of Smoke, The Good Muslim and Narcopolis, which were all very good. Have you read any of these books?
I'm currently working my way through the shortlist for the 2013 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, as the winner will be announced at the Jaipur Literature Festival later this month. The shortlist is a very strong one this year, as I've read four of the six titles already, and I plan to read the remaining two, The Walls of Delhi and Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, over the next two weeks. The ones I've read are The Wandering Falcon, River of Smoke, The Good Muslim and Narcopolis, which were all very good. Have you read any of these books?
9mausergem
>8 kidzdoc: - Hi Darryl, you introduced me to the DSC prize and I intend to be well informed and well read in the literature from my region but sadly I'm not. I intend to remedy that.
10mausergem
Book 1 - The Curious Incidence of the Dog in the Night time by Mark Haddon
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is the story of Christopher, a 15 year old boy with Aspergen syndrome which is autism with high analytical capabilities. Christopher cannot sleep at night so he wanders the streets. One night he discovers his neighbourer's dog Wellington stabbed to death with a pitch fork and immediately decides to investigate the murder.
This leads him to some startling revelations about his own parents and the neighbours. This is excellent peek into the life of a patient with autism from their own perspective. But sometimes the writing seems to be pretentious and over smart.
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is the story of Christopher, a 15 year old boy with Aspergen syndrome which is autism with high analytical capabilities. Christopher cannot sleep at night so he wanders the streets. One night he discovers his neighbourer's dog Wellington stabbed to death with a pitch fork and immediately decides to investigate the murder.
This leads him to some startling revelations about his own parents and the neighbours. This is excellent peek into the life of a patient with autism from their own perspective. But sometimes the writing seems to be pretentious and over smart.
11mausergem
Book 2 - Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare
Rating - 2.5 *
This is a poem about the mythological figures of Venus and Adonis. It is quite short and I am not writing a review because I think that I haven't grasped it completely and will probably require a couple of readings more to really appreciate it better.
Rating - 2.5 *
This is a poem about the mythological figures of Venus and Adonis. It is quite short and I am not writing a review because I think that I haven't grasped it completely and will probably require a couple of readings more to really appreciate it better.
12alcottacre
Glad to see you back with us again, Gautam!
13mausergem
Book 3 - The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht
Rating - 5*
Review - A young doctor while on a field trip to a far away monastery to vaccinate kids finds out that her grandfather has died alone in a unknown dispensary away from the family. She is very close to her grandfather and shares his confidences. She takes a detour from her work and finds this dispensary and retrieves his belonging. During this journey she recollects a couple of stories told to her by her grandfather.
These stories are of the "deathless man" and "the tiger's wife". Her grandfather plays a part in these surreal stories.
The novel is beautifully written and takes us into the realms of magical realism. This is the author's first novel which won the Orange prize in 2011 and has the distinction of been the youngest author to win the prize at the age of 27.
Rating - 5*
Review - A young doctor while on a field trip to a far away monastery to vaccinate kids finds out that her grandfather has died alone in a unknown dispensary away from the family. She is very close to her grandfather and shares his confidences. She takes a detour from her work and finds this dispensary and retrieves his belonging. During this journey she recollects a couple of stories told to her by her grandfather.
These stories are of the "deathless man" and "the tiger's wife". Her grandfather plays a part in these surreal stories.
The novel is beautifully written and takes us into the realms of magical realism. This is the author's first novel which won the Orange prize in 2011 and has the distinction of been the youngest author to win the prize at the age of 27.
14Donna828
Hi Gautam, I am eagerly awaiting Tea Obreht's second novel as I thought The Tiger's Wife showed great promise. She's young and has plenty of time so I won't rush her. Lol.
I've read quite a few on your "Top Reads of 2012" List, but there are several I need to check out. I have a feeling my wish list is going to expand.
Wishing you a year of great reading!
I've read quite a few on your "Top Reads of 2012" List, but there are several I need to check out. I have a feeling my wish list is going to expand.
Wishing you a year of great reading!
15mausergem
I was away on vacation in Kerala, India. I spent less time reading and more time taking in the sights but still managed to finish a book. But now as I sit to write a review I'm finding it difficult to recall the plot as it was quite complicated. Hence no review but it was definately a good read. I'm surprised to see the author is not more popular here in LT.
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Book 4 - A Night of Errors by Michael Innes
Rating - 3.75*
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Book 4 - A Night of Errors by Michael Innes
Rating - 3.75*
16msf59
Hi Gautam- I am glad you loved the Tiger's Wife. I have had that one saved in the stacks for a long time. Might have to move it up now. Hope you had a nice vacation.
17mausergem
Book 5 - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Rating - 2*
Review - It's a world of mages and sorcerers and witches. Every village has its own sorcerer to help them in their day to day life spinning spells for small cures and blessing for their live stocks and everyday activities. Once in a while the mage need to fight dragons.
In this world Ged is a natural born man of magic. He proves his power when he saves his village from invaders by weaving a spell of mist and rain. Later he is send to a school of magic. Here to show off to his friends he chants a forbidden spell which releases a shadow from the underworld. The shadow weakens him and for the rest of the story he has to chase this shadow to destroy it or it will destroy him.
It a fast paced story but never pull you in. An average read. I like an occasional fantasy novel but this one did not do it for me.
Rating - 2*
Review - It's a world of mages and sorcerers and witches. Every village has its own sorcerer to help them in their day to day life spinning spells for small cures and blessing for their live stocks and everyday activities. Once in a while the mage need to fight dragons.
In this world Ged is a natural born man of magic. He proves his power when he saves his village from invaders by weaving a spell of mist and rain. Later he is send to a school of magic. Here to show off to his friends he chants a forbidden spell which releases a shadow from the underworld. The shadow weakens him and for the rest of the story he has to chase this shadow to destroy it or it will destroy him.
It a fast paced story but never pull you in. An average read. I like an occasional fantasy novel but this one did not do it for me.
18mausergem
Book 6 - Tell-All by Chuck Palahnuik
Review - 2.5*
Review - This is Chuck Palahnuik's tribute to Hollywood. A big aging Hollywood star, female, attracts an admirer who wants to tell her life story and scandalize her after her death. She with her friend, secretary, guardian angel thwart this plan. But there is a twist in the end.
There is a lot of name dropping in this book which I don't relate to hence I did not like it and also it becomes quite repetitive.
Review - 2.5*
Review - This is Chuck Palahnuik's tribute to Hollywood. A big aging Hollywood star, female, attracts an admirer who wants to tell her life story and scandalize her after her death. She with her friend, secretary, guardian angel thwart this plan. But there is a twist in the end.
There is a lot of name dropping in this book which I don't relate to hence I did not like it and also it becomes quite repetitive.
19whitewavedarling
Just as a quick note--the Wizard of Earthsea series if Much better after the first one, which never pulled me in either (I think I only read the second one because it had been given to me along with the first, actually), so if you didn't hate the world, you might consider giving the second one a try some time...
20mausergem
Thanks Jennifer for visiting and thanks for the rec. I will get to the subsequent parts when I get the urge for some fantasy fiction.
21mausergem
Book 7 - Because it is bitter and because it is my heart by Joyce Carol Oates
Rating - 2*
Review - The novel is set in the late 1950's and early 60's in Hammond and Seracuse, New York. Gracie Curtney is a white girl coming from a dysfunctional household with a gambler father and an alcoholic mother. She lands herself in a soup when she finds herself being chased by the local loony kid, Red Garlock. She seeks help and in turn is helped by the local basketball hero and a black boy, Jinx Fairchild. In the scuffle that ensues, Red is killed and Jinx disposes of the body. This incidence haunts both of them throughout their life. It pulls them together but also pushes them apart partly due to racial considerations and partly due to fear of detection. Both of them go their separate ways in a sort of incomplete, inattentive way.
The story is dull and the characters are not well developed. The author leaves a lot of thing to the reader to interpret as he desires. Some novels with ordinary characters and ordinary lives work like The Chip chip Gatherers by Shiva Naipaul which I had recently read but this does not.
Rating - 2*
Review - The novel is set in the late 1950's and early 60's in Hammond and Seracuse, New York. Gracie Curtney is a white girl coming from a dysfunctional household with a gambler father and an alcoholic mother. She lands herself in a soup when she finds herself being chased by the local loony kid, Red Garlock. She seeks help and in turn is helped by the local basketball hero and a black boy, Jinx Fairchild. In the scuffle that ensues, Red is killed and Jinx disposes of the body. This incidence haunts both of them throughout their life. It pulls them together but also pushes them apart partly due to racial considerations and partly due to fear of detection. Both of them go their separate ways in a sort of incomplete, inattentive way.
The story is dull and the characters are not well developed. The author leaves a lot of thing to the reader to interpret as he desires. Some novels with ordinary characters and ordinary lives work like The Chip chip Gatherers by Shiva Naipaul which I had recently read but this does not.
22kidzdoc
>21 mausergem: Bleh. Thanks for that useful review of the JCO, Gautam. I've been mildly tempted to read one of her books, and this was one of the ones I had heard the most about, but I'll definitely pass on it, and her, for the time being.
23mausergem
Book 8 - March Violets by Philip Kerr
Rating - 3*
Review - This novel is set in the 1930's in Nazi Germany. Bernie Gunther is a private investigator and an ex cop. He is brought in to investigate a double murder and robbery of jewels. The father of the murdered girl is a steel magnate and he is the one who brings in Bernie to investigate the crime. In his investigation Bernie unravels a more complicated puzzle concerning some important documents and betrayal. He gets into trouble with the authorities and gets away.
This gives an insight into Nazi Germany leading into the Second World War. The novel reads like a classic American detective fiction. So anyone who is a fan of that should read this. Otherwise it's just ok.
Rating - 3*
Review - This novel is set in the 1930's in Nazi Germany. Bernie Gunther is a private investigator and an ex cop. He is brought in to investigate a double murder and robbery of jewels. The father of the murdered girl is a steel magnate and he is the one who brings in Bernie to investigate the crime. In his investigation Bernie unravels a more complicated puzzle concerning some important documents and betrayal. He gets into trouble with the authorities and gets away.
This gives an insight into Nazi Germany leading into the Second World War. The novel reads like a classic American detective fiction. So anyone who is a fan of that should read this. Otherwise it's just ok.
24mausergem
Book 9 - Chotti Munda and his Arrow by Mahasweta Devi
Rating - 4.25*
Review - This is a historical novel depicting the adivasi struggle (one of the aboriginal tribes) of north east in the twentieth century. The novel was originally written in Bengali and later translated in English by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
The central character is Chotti Munda born in the year 1900 in Chotti village in the state of Bihar. The struggle of the adivasis and the untouchables during the British rule, the lack of compassion and understanding by the government pre independence, the unrelenting exploitation by the landlords and contractors seeking cheap labour and the cruelty by the Indian government and its agents post independence is beautifully depicted here.
Chotti as a representative of the adivasis suffers many atrocities like seeing his father hang himself after being humiliated by the landlord, his son going to jail for petty crime and he being linked to the Naxalite struggle.
A touching story of the adivasi tribe in India.
This book is probably not for everyone. I don't think that anyone who does not have a basic background of the caste system in India will get it. Secondly, the translation is not the greatest and gets some time getting used to.
Rating - 4.25*
Review - This is a historical novel depicting the adivasi struggle (one of the aboriginal tribes) of north east in the twentieth century. The novel was originally written in Bengali and later translated in English by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.
The central character is Chotti Munda born in the year 1900 in Chotti village in the state of Bihar. The struggle of the adivasis and the untouchables during the British rule, the lack of compassion and understanding by the government pre independence, the unrelenting exploitation by the landlords and contractors seeking cheap labour and the cruelty by the Indian government and its agents post independence is beautifully depicted here.
Chotti as a representative of the adivasis suffers many atrocities like seeing his father hang himself after being humiliated by the landlord, his son going to jail for petty crime and he being linked to the Naxalite struggle.
A touching story of the adivasi tribe in India.
This book is probably not for everyone. I don't think that anyone who does not have a basic background of the caste system in India will get it. Secondly, the translation is not the greatest and gets some time getting used to.
25kidzdoc
Nice review of Chotti Munda and His Arrow, Gautam. Given your comments in the last paragraph and its $40 price tag in the US I'll pass on it, though.
26Donna828
I enjoyed reading your latest reviews, Gautam. Joyce Carol Oates is definitely a hit-and-miss author for me. Sorry this one was a 'miss' for you. I'm glad your latest book was more to your liking.
27mausergem
Hi Darryl, I'm surprised that this book is even available in the US.
Hi Donna, I was going through a lean patch with some dull books. Hopefully my luck will change.
Hi Donna, I was going through a lean patch with some dull books. Hopefully my luck will change.
28msf59
Gautam- March Violets worked better for me and I'll be continuing the series. Hopefully, you get back on a better book-roll. Good luck.
29mausergem
Book 10 - Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr
Rating - 3*
Review - Professor Grimaud with some of his friends is sitting in his club when he is threatened by a man who claims to be his brother. Three days later this same man comes to the professor's house and enters his study. After ten minutes a shot is heard and the professor is discovered in his study shot through his chest and no trace of the assailant is found. Later this same man is discovered in the middle of a street with witnesses around to have been shot dead with no trace of the murderer.
Dr Fell, Inspector Hadley and their young friend Rampole come and solve these incredible murders.
This novel is published in 1935 and is one of the first novels of the locked room mystery genre. It is set in London and the characters are a bit dull. It's an average read.
Rating - 3*
Review - Professor Grimaud with some of his friends is sitting in his club when he is threatened by a man who claims to be his brother. Three days later this same man comes to the professor's house and enters his study. After ten minutes a shot is heard and the professor is discovered in his study shot through his chest and no trace of the assailant is found. Later this same man is discovered in the middle of a street with witnesses around to have been shot dead with no trace of the murderer.
Dr Fell, Inspector Hadley and their young friend Rampole come and solve these incredible murders.
This novel is published in 1935 and is one of the first novels of the locked room mystery genre. It is set in London and the characters are a bit dull. It's an average read.
30mausergem
Book 11 - Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
Review - 4*
Review - This a story of four friends Henry, Pete, Jonsey and Beaver, from childhood who share a common telepathic bond with each other and with a Down's syndrome boy called Duddits. They also have intuition and premonition for events which they cannot explain. They go on an annual hunting trip in Maine. This particular region has recently been in the news for UFO sightings. Jonsey comes across a guy who has been reported as a lost hunter and whom he and Beaver discover to have been infected by a bug brought in by the aliens. Pete and Henry who are hunting in another place also come across a similarly infected female. What follows is a lot of gore and mayhem. In the meanwhile the US army special force is hunting down the aliens. The story goes through a lot of twists and turns presenting a picture of alien invasion which spans 50 years.
Stephen King has a way of making day to day things like farts and bacon sandwich, seem eerie. The last third of the book seems a bit stretched out but overall it's a good read.
Review - 4*
Review - This a story of four friends Henry, Pete, Jonsey and Beaver, from childhood who share a common telepathic bond with each other and with a Down's syndrome boy called Duddits. They also have intuition and premonition for events which they cannot explain. They go on an annual hunting trip in Maine. This particular region has recently been in the news for UFO sightings. Jonsey comes across a guy who has been reported as a lost hunter and whom he and Beaver discover to have been infected by a bug brought in by the aliens. Pete and Henry who are hunting in another place also come across a similarly infected female. What follows is a lot of gore and mayhem. In the meanwhile the US army special force is hunting down the aliens. The story goes through a lot of twists and turns presenting a picture of alien invasion which spans 50 years.
Stephen King has a way of making day to day things like farts and bacon sandwich, seem eerie. The last third of the book seems a bit stretched out but overall it's a good read.
31Donna828
It looks like you might become a King fan, Gautam. He's weird but in a good way. I still have quite a few of his books to read including Dreamcatcher. I may pass on that one. I don't do gore well. Thanks for the warning.
32msf59
Hi Gautam- I am glad you are enjoying Mr. King. I have not read this one and it's not considered one of his best, so you have many of his classics to enjoy.
Sorry about all the weather talk on my thread. LOL. Let's hope it will be over soon.
Sorry about all the weather talk on my thread. LOL. Let's hope it will be over soon.
33mausergem
Book 12 - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Rating - 5*
Review - The story is narrated in the first person by Davis Copperfield who describes his birth to start things off. His mother is a timid creature who fall for the wrong person and marries him. This person along with his sister terrorize David and his mother. After his mother's death David runs away from his house and goes to stay with his eccentric aunt. Here he gets an education and as young man studies law. But in the meantime he discovers that he can write and makes a huge success of himself.
The book is mostly satirical but has its moments of sadness. Most of the characters are eccentric but oh so lovable. Dickens' narration flows like a river and is very crisp.
A slow but great read.
Rating - 5*
Review - The story is narrated in the first person by Davis Copperfield who describes his birth to start things off. His mother is a timid creature who fall for the wrong person and marries him. This person along with his sister terrorize David and his mother. After his mother's death David runs away from his house and goes to stay with his eccentric aunt. Here he gets an education and as young man studies law. But in the meantime he discovers that he can write and makes a huge success of himself.
The book is mostly satirical but has its moments of sadness. Most of the characters are eccentric but oh so lovable. Dickens' narration flows like a river and is very crisp.
A slow but great read.
34mausergem
Book 13 - 12 chinks and a woman by James Hadley Chase
Rating - 2*
Review - Enter the world of the American thrillers of the 40's and 50's where all the men are mean and cruel and all women are slutty. This is one such novel where a private detective enters into a town in Miami and destroys the underworld there.. Just like that.
Unrealistic, repetitive, boring.
Rating - 2*
Review - Enter the world of the American thrillers of the 40's and 50's where all the men are mean and cruel and all women are slutty. This is one such novel where a private detective enters into a town in Miami and destroys the underworld there.. Just like that.
Unrealistic, repetitive, boring.
35mausergem
Book 14 - In a Free State by V. S. Naipaul
Rating - 3.75*
Review - In the first story, "One out of many", a young man a cook who stays in Bombay is happy. When his employer gets transferred to Washington, he has a choice to follow him or go his own way. He chooses to follow his employer and finds himself in an alien environment. He makes a series of wrong decisions which he regrets when he gets a grip on things, some life decisions which he will regret forever.
In the second story,"Tell me who to kill", a black man who comes to England to take care of his brother looses his own self.
"In a free state" is a story set in an African country in the southern part of Africa. There is a power struggle between the president of the the country and the king. We are in the final stages of this struggle and the winner is the president who is moving in for the kill. In the midst of this struggle, a gay English man who works for the country's government is driving across the country along with the wife of a collegue to their compound in the king's territory.
The narrative reveals the foreigners' ignorance, fear and complete lack of understanding of the natives. Naipaul has described this in stages. We are spectators in this road trip and are left to interprete the events our own way. There is no internal dialogue and no insight into the characters' minds.
Al the stories deal with the immigrants in a foreign land trying to come to terms with it and failing. Naipaul has a detached and impersonal style like a person describing himself after stepping out of his body. There is a strong depressing feel to these stories.
Rating - 3.75*
Review - In the first story, "One out of many", a young man a cook who stays in Bombay is happy. When his employer gets transferred to Washington, he has a choice to follow him or go his own way. He chooses to follow his employer and finds himself in an alien environment. He makes a series of wrong decisions which he regrets when he gets a grip on things, some life decisions which he will regret forever.
In the second story,"Tell me who to kill", a black man who comes to England to take care of his brother looses his own self.
"In a free state" is a story set in an African country in the southern part of Africa. There is a power struggle between the president of the the country and the king. We are in the final stages of this struggle and the winner is the president who is moving in for the kill. In the midst of this struggle, a gay English man who works for the country's government is driving across the country along with the wife of a collegue to their compound in the king's territory.
The narrative reveals the foreigners' ignorance, fear and complete lack of understanding of the natives. Naipaul has described this in stages. We are spectators in this road trip and are left to interprete the events our own way. There is no internal dialogue and no insight into the characters' minds.
Al the stories deal with the immigrants in a foreign land trying to come to terms with it and failing. Naipaul has a detached and impersonal style like a person describing himself after stepping out of his body. There is a strong depressing feel to these stories.
36mausergem
Book 15 - Bank Shot by Donald E. Westlake
Rating - 4.5*
Review - The Capitalists' and Immigrants' Trust Corp bank is undergoing renovations and they have shifted their base to a trailer mobile home. Dortmunder and his friends steal the trailer to rob the bank and we hitch on for a fun ride.
Hilarious and very readable.
Rating - 4.5*
Review - The Capitalists' and Immigrants' Trust Corp bank is undergoing renovations and they have shifted their base to a trailer mobile home. Dortmunder and his friends steal the trailer to rob the bank and we hitch on for a fun ride.
Hilarious and very readable.
37mausergem
Book 16 - Actions and Reactions by Rudyard Kipling
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This short story and poem collection has everything a pet tale, a fable, a science fiction piece, a satire and a horror story. The stories are quite ordinary and don't make any impression and sometimes the language is hard to follow.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This short story and poem collection has everything a pet tale, a fable, a science fiction piece, a satire and a horror story. The stories are quite ordinary and don't make any impression and sometimes the language is hard to follow.
38mausergem
Book 17 - Decoded by Jay-Z
Review - 3.5*
Review - I'm not a hip hop person and I don't have much exposure to Jay-Z. But I'm interested or just say curious about the gangster rapper life. Hence I picked up this book.
Jay-Z seems like a grounded person and he writes about his music, the lyrics, their deeper meaning, life on the street, the music industry, other musicians, God andthe black American president. This book is just long enough to give you an insight into his life without being over the top.
Review - 3.5*
Review - I'm not a hip hop person and I don't have much exposure to Jay-Z. But I'm interested or just say curious about the gangster rapper life. Hence I picked up this book.
Jay-Z seems like a grounded person and he writes about his music, the lyrics, their deeper meaning, life on the street, the music industry, other musicians, God andthe black American president. This book is just long enough to give you an insight into his life without being over the top.
39mausergem
Book 18 - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Rating - 3.5*
Review - Jacob Jankovski, a veterinary student, after his parent's sudden death finds himself broke and unable to continue his education. Distraught and confused he lands on a circus, The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on the Earth, which goes from town to town on rails. Here he takes care of the animals and their new elephant Rosie who just understands Polish.
Here he falls in love with Marlena the performer with animals who is married to a paranoid schizophrenic. Through many ups and downs their loves succeeds.
There story is narrated in the first person by the young Jacob and Jacob at the age of 90 or 93. The book is fast paced and quite readable.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - Jacob Jankovski, a veterinary student, after his parent's sudden death finds himself broke and unable to continue his education. Distraught and confused he lands on a circus, The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on the Earth, which goes from town to town on rails. Here he takes care of the animals and their new elephant Rosie who just understands Polish.
Here he falls in love with Marlena the performer with animals who is married to a paranoid schizophrenic. Through many ups and downs their loves succeeds.
There story is narrated in the first person by the young Jacob and Jacob at the age of 90 or 93. The book is fast paced and quite readable.
40kidzdoc
>38 mausergem: Interesting comments about Decoded, Gautam. Although I'm African-American I have absolutely no interest in rap music, which I find to be largely misogynistic, vulgar and violent, so I almost certainly won't read Jay-Z's book.
I haven't been sufficiently tempted to read Water for Elephants yet.
I haven't been sufficiently tempted to read Water for Elephants yet.
41mausergem
Book 19 - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Rating - 4.25*
Review - This novel published in 1958 is one of the first English language works telling the story of Africa. Set in a village in Nigeria, this novel recollects the ancient traditions of the villagers and the transformation that took place after the advent of the white man.
The novel tells the story of Okankwo in a very simple language and provides an insight into his life. A very interesting read.
Rating - 4.25*
Review - This novel published in 1958 is one of the first English language works telling the story of Africa. Set in a village in Nigeria, this novel recollects the ancient traditions of the villagers and the transformation that took place after the advent of the white man.
The novel tells the story of Okankwo in a very simple language and provides an insight into his life. A very interesting read.
42mausergem
Book 20 - Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam
Rating - 3.5*
Review - Can a 54 year man and a 11 year old girl share love?
This is a story of David Lamb and Tommie. David is a 54 yera old accountant who is a risk taker and flamboyant person. He is very intelligent and has led a hard life and seek thrills like having an affair with his boss and taunting her for it and keeping her on an edge. Tommie is a seventh grader who lives with her mother and her boyfriend. On a dare from her friends she one day comes up to David and asks him for a cigarette. David immediately analyses the situation and befriends Tommie. Later he convinces her to take a trip with him to his cottage in the mountains.
It reads like a psychological thriller. Every reader has to interprete whether David is manipulating the girl or is free will at play. If we think from our tradition perspective Tommie was molested but if we think out of the box it's an love story.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - Can a 54 year man and a 11 year old girl share love?
This is a story of David Lamb and Tommie. David is a 54 yera old accountant who is a risk taker and flamboyant person. He is very intelligent and has led a hard life and seek thrills like having an affair with his boss and taunting her for it and keeping her on an edge. Tommie is a seventh grader who lives with her mother and her boyfriend. On a dare from her friends she one day comes up to David and asks him for a cigarette. David immediately analyses the situation and befriends Tommie. Later he convinces her to take a trip with him to his cottage in the mountains.
It reads like a psychological thriller. Every reader has to interprete whether David is manipulating the girl or is free will at play. If we think from our tradition perspective Tommie was molested but if we think out of the box it's an love story.
43mausergem
Book 21 - Talon of the Silver Hawk by Raymond E. Feist
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is the story of Talon whose family was massacred when he was just a boy. He is found by Robert who is a part of the Conclave of Shadows and brought up. Talon learns many things from cooking to sword play and is finally unleashed upon his enemies.
A quick entertaining read.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is the story of Talon whose family was massacred when he was just a boy. He is found by Robert who is a part of the Conclave of Shadows and brought up. Talon learns many things from cooking to sword play and is finally unleashed upon his enemies.
A quick entertaining read.
44mausergem
Book 22 - In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Rating - 2.5*
Review - I did not know what to expect of this book when I started it. It is a narrative non fiction book which tell the story of of William Dodd, a historian, who is appointed to be the ambassador of Germany in 1933, the year Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany. With the help of letter and diaries the author pieces together a linear narrative for us.
Ambassador Dodd very early sees the threat posed by Hitler to the world but being an outside in the foreign department is neglected and sometimes criticized for his views. He was finally asked to resign in 1937.
This is also the story of Martha Dodd who gives a different perspective on Germany being young and outgoing. She has affairs with a variety of characters and comes to be a staunch communist. She too discovers the danger which the Nazis possess when initially she is pro Nazi.
The book does not tell us anything new or unexpected. A dull read. I thing it's most suitable for a history buff but not for others.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - I did not know what to expect of this book when I started it. It is a narrative non fiction book which tell the story of of William Dodd, a historian, who is appointed to be the ambassador of Germany in 1933, the year Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany. With the help of letter and diaries the author pieces together a linear narrative for us.
Ambassador Dodd very early sees the threat posed by Hitler to the world but being an outside in the foreign department is neglected and sometimes criticized for his views. He was finally asked to resign in 1937.
This is also the story of Martha Dodd who gives a different perspective on Germany being young and outgoing. She has affairs with a variety of characters and comes to be a staunch communist. She too discovers the danger which the Nazis possess when initially she is pro Nazi.
The book does not tell us anything new or unexpected. A dull read. I thing it's most suitable for a history buff but not for others.
45mausergem
Book23 - Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
Rating - 4.5*
Review - The story begins in 1937. Kristo Stoinev, a Bulgarian is recruited by the NKVD, the Russian secret service, after he runs into trouble with the local Fascist group in his home town of Vidin. Here he trained in the art of espionage. He make friends with various people of differing ethnicities. He is send to Spain to run an agent. Due to personnel and policy changes in the NKVD, he comes under suspicion and is forced to flee from Spain. He lands up in Paris determined to lead a straight life but is pulled into a net of con men and plans a robbery of gold from a Russian embassy personnel. The robbery goes well but he once again comes in the radar of NKVD. the NKVD catches up to him but in return to valuable information he is allowed to go but has to leave France and his girlfriend behind. On the run he is recruited by the OSS, the American secret service but is abandoned in the field. By this time it is 1945 and the war is at its end and Kristo seeks to go back home.
The beauty of this book lies in the details. The author lays stress on the little things and puts us on the ground with Kristo. Being a spy is not about the style, it is a constant struggle for survival. An excellent read.
Rating - 4.5*
Review - The story begins in 1937. Kristo Stoinev, a Bulgarian is recruited by the NKVD, the Russian secret service, after he runs into trouble with the local Fascist group in his home town of Vidin. Here he trained in the art of espionage. He make friends with various people of differing ethnicities. He is send to Spain to run an agent. Due to personnel and policy changes in the NKVD, he comes under suspicion and is forced to flee from Spain. He lands up in Paris determined to lead a straight life but is pulled into a net of con men and plans a robbery of gold from a Russian embassy personnel. The robbery goes well but he once again comes in the radar of NKVD. the NKVD catches up to him but in return to valuable information he is allowed to go but has to leave France and his girlfriend behind. On the run he is recruited by the OSS, the American secret service but is abandoned in the field. By this time it is 1945 and the war is at its end and Kristo seeks to go back home.
The beauty of this book lies in the details. The author lays stress on the little things and puts us on the ground with Kristo. Being a spy is not about the style, it is a constant struggle for survival. An excellent read.
46kidzdoc
Night Soldiers sounds interesting; I'll keep my eye out for it.
47mausergem
Book 24 - Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This book contains three stories. These stories are set in Africa and France. In the first story a middle aged woman, a lawyer, who hates her father and thinks him as the devil, is called by her father to come for a prolonged visit in her hometown. She being curious goes from France where she lives with her seven year daughter, her boyfriend and his own daughter. She comes to the town in Tanzania where her father lives just to discover her brother being accused of killing her stepmother. The story has touches of surrealism and is about a father's hold, the devil's grip, on his children.
The second story narrates an eventful day in the life of Rudy Descas, a lazy, incompetent, vile person who wallows in self pity. He is given to flights of fancy. He fights with his wife and on his way to work, is afraid of her leaving him. At work after creating a ruckus he is asked to visit an client where his faulty designs have messed things up. Sure to get fired he romes about town. Throughout the whole story he pieces together his life and the gradual degeneration of his principles and values.
The last story is about a dreamy widower. She has no means of supporting herself and stays with her poor in laws. Here she sells utensils at the market with her sister in laws. One day she is asked to leave and go to her cousin. Arrangements are made but she runs away. She meets a younger boy who promises to take her to Europe. She never reaches her destination and is betrayed by all.
The book is less about the stories but more about the internal dialogue each protagonist has in his mind. All three of them live in their own world and try to make sense of the going ons in thir life with poor results. A slow but engaging read.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This book contains three stories. These stories are set in Africa and France. In the first story a middle aged woman, a lawyer, who hates her father and thinks him as the devil, is called by her father to come for a prolonged visit in her hometown. She being curious goes from France where she lives with her seven year daughter, her boyfriend and his own daughter. She comes to the town in Tanzania where her father lives just to discover her brother being accused of killing her stepmother. The story has touches of surrealism and is about a father's hold, the devil's grip, on his children.
The second story narrates an eventful day in the life of Rudy Descas, a lazy, incompetent, vile person who wallows in self pity. He is given to flights of fancy. He fights with his wife and on his way to work, is afraid of her leaving him. At work after creating a ruckus he is asked to visit an client where his faulty designs have messed things up. Sure to get fired he romes about town. Throughout the whole story he pieces together his life and the gradual degeneration of his principles and values.
The last story is about a dreamy widower. She has no means of supporting herself and stays with her poor in laws. Here she sells utensils at the market with her sister in laws. One day she is asked to leave and go to her cousin. Arrangements are made but she runs away. She meets a younger boy who promises to take her to Europe. She never reaches her destination and is betrayed by all.
The book is less about the stories but more about the internal dialogue each protagonist has in his mind. All three of them live in their own world and try to make sense of the going ons in thir life with poor results. A slow but engaging read.
48kidzdoc
Nice review of Three Strong Women, Gautam.
49mausergem
Book 25 - The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is my first book by Mark Twain. It's a fictionised story using some real characters like King Henry VIII and his son King Edward VI.
Tom Canty, a begger boy, is very keen on seeing the prince Edward who is the same age that he is. One day when he is roaming in the vicinity of the King's palace, he sees the prince. He is invited into the private chambers of the prince and seeing their remarkable resemblance they decide to play a jest. They exchange clothes and try to act each other's part. Things take a wrong turn and the real prince is thrown out on the streets and Tom is considered as the prince. What follows is a merry adventure for both of them.
The conversations in the book are in old English which take a bit of time getting used to but overall it's a fun read.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is my first book by Mark Twain. It's a fictionised story using some real characters like King Henry VIII and his son King Edward VI.
Tom Canty, a begger boy, is very keen on seeing the prince Edward who is the same age that he is. One day when he is roaming in the vicinity of the King's palace, he sees the prince. He is invited into the private chambers of the prince and seeing their remarkable resemblance they decide to play a jest. They exchange clothes and try to act each other's part. Things take a wrong turn and the real prince is thrown out on the streets and Tom is considered as the prince. What follows is a merry adventure for both of them.
The conversations in the book are in old English which take a bit of time getting used to but overall it's a fun read.
50msf59
Gautam- Sorry, you didn't care for the Larson book. It's my least favorite of the four I have read but I didn't think it was bad. I have not read that Furst, so I'll have to get to that one.
Still HOT, there?
Still HOT, there?
51mausergem
Book 26 - Naked in Death by JD Robb
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is a romantic mystery novel set in the near future. Eve Dallas is no nonsense detective who is investigating murders of three prostitutes.
The novel starts off well but as the love interest creeps in it becomes a bit too distracting from the main plot. This is a novel for the habitual chic lit reader only.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is a romantic mystery novel set in the near future. Eve Dallas is no nonsense detective who is investigating murders of three prostitutes.
The novel starts off well but as the love interest creeps in it becomes a bit too distracting from the main plot. This is a novel for the habitual chic lit reader only.
52mausergem
Book 27 - The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Rating - 5*
Review - Asne Seierstad is a journalist who spent some time living with a Afghan family in Kabul. This book is the product of her observations depicting different facets of the lives of an Afghan family.
Sultan is a bookseller, a liberal in an otherwise orthodox society, ambitious, hard working and interested in the preservation of the literature of the Afghanistan. He lives with his wife, mother, sister, brother and few children. He is the head of the family and his word is the rule. He in time take a new wife half his age.
In the course of the book we get insight into the lives of all the members of the family, their inner and outer trials and turmoils.
The author has exactly pinned the interpersonal relationships in the family. A compelling read.
Rating - 5*
Review - Asne Seierstad is a journalist who spent some time living with a Afghan family in Kabul. This book is the product of her observations depicting different facets of the lives of an Afghan family.
Sultan is a bookseller, a liberal in an otherwise orthodox society, ambitious, hard working and interested in the preservation of the literature of the Afghanistan. He lives with his wife, mother, sister, brother and few children. He is the head of the family and his word is the rule. He in time take a new wife half his age.
In the course of the book we get insight into the lives of all the members of the family, their inner and outer trials and turmoils.
The author has exactly pinned the interpersonal relationships in the family. A compelling read.
53kidzdoc
The Bookseller of Kabul sounds interesting. I'll keep an eye out for it.
54mausergem
Book 28 - The Store by Bentley Little
Rating - 3.25*
Review - The store is a story of multinational companies and chain retail stores exploiting and manipulating the local populace. In a small town of Juniper The Store announces its arrival. Animals mysteriously die on the construction site. When the Store finally opens it initially provides lots of variety to the people at a cheaper rate. As time passes the local businesses go belly up and the Store expands its tentacles to engulf the whole town. As most of the people are direct or indirect employees of the Store no one dares to lift their voices to object. The voices which are raised are silenced.
Bill Davis, is a resident of Juniper who always found the Store suspicious and was opposed to it right from the start. Later when the local businesses went bankrupt he with his friend energetically oppose the Store to no avail. He is one day invited to visit the Store's headquarters in Dallas and there is convinced by the CEO Newman King to be a manager of the Store and gave him complete autonomy. Bill uses his power to bring Juniper to its former state and cast away the Store's shadow which puts him in direct conflict with Newman King. They have a final confrontation with eerie results.
Sometimes the narrative is unbelievable but its a horror story and such liberties are allowed.
Rating - 3.25*
Review - The store is a story of multinational companies and chain retail stores exploiting and manipulating the local populace. In a small town of Juniper The Store announces its arrival. Animals mysteriously die on the construction site. When the Store finally opens it initially provides lots of variety to the people at a cheaper rate. As time passes the local businesses go belly up and the Store expands its tentacles to engulf the whole town. As most of the people are direct or indirect employees of the Store no one dares to lift their voices to object. The voices which are raised are silenced.
Bill Davis, is a resident of Juniper who always found the Store suspicious and was opposed to it right from the start. Later when the local businesses went bankrupt he with his friend energetically oppose the Store to no avail. He is one day invited to visit the Store's headquarters in Dallas and there is convinced by the CEO Newman King to be a manager of the Store and gave him complete autonomy. Bill uses his power to bring Juniper to its former state and cast away the Store's shadow which puts him in direct conflict with Newman King. They have a final confrontation with eerie results.
Sometimes the narrative is unbelievable but its a horror story and such liberties are allowed.
55karspeak
I actually very much preferred Nine Parts of Desire to Bookseller of Kabul, and would highly recommend Nine Parts.
56mausergem
Thanks Karen for the rec. Actually The Bookseller of Kabul is not centered on women. It's about a family and each individual member has his own story.
57karspeak
True. Nine Parts IS about women in Muslim countries, of course, but I also thought the author showed great insight and knowledge about the religion of Islam and the cultures of various Islamic countries. It was definitely a stand-out for the Islamic culture/religion/issues genre.
59mausergem
Book 29 - Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is a story set in a small town of Holt near Denver, of a school teacher Guthrie, his two sons, his estranged wife, a pregnant teenage girl, two old cattle farmers and minor characters. Guthrie after being estranged from his his wife tries to move on and find new female partners while getting into a tussle with a unruly student. His two sons are getting used to the fact of a home with no mother. A teenage girl decides to keep her baby and is thrown out of her house by her mother, goes to live with two elderly cattle farmer brothers.
My first impression was that this book and the authors writing style had many negatives. There is no background stories of the characters, no internal dialogue and no explanations of their actions. But still there a strong kinship with these characters as they are so real. A totally new and novel reading experience.
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is a story set in a small town of Holt near Denver, of a school teacher Guthrie, his two sons, his estranged wife, a pregnant teenage girl, two old cattle farmers and minor characters. Guthrie after being estranged from his his wife tries to move on and find new female partners while getting into a tussle with a unruly student. His two sons are getting used to the fact of a home with no mother. A teenage girl decides to keep her baby and is thrown out of her house by her mother, goes to live with two elderly cattle farmer brothers.
My first impression was that this book and the authors writing style had many negatives. There is no background stories of the characters, no internal dialogue and no explanations of their actions. But still there a strong kinship with these characters as they are so real. A totally new and novel reading experience.
60mausergem
Book 30 - The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This mystery is a police procedural set in Paris. Adamsberg is the commissaire and a dreamy eccentric person. He investigates a person who draws circles around stray objects on street with a hunch that he will go on to bigger things. And he does .. murder. Adamsberg and his colleagues solve this crime.
The book is filled with eccentric characters and lots of tangent soul searching. A slow but entertains read.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This mystery is a police procedural set in Paris. Adamsberg is the commissaire and a dreamy eccentric person. He investigates a person who draws circles around stray objects on street with a hunch that he will go on to bigger things. And he does .. murder. Adamsberg and his colleagues solve this crime.
The book is filled with eccentric characters and lots of tangent soul searching. A slow but entertains read.
61msf59
Hi Gautam- Sorry, Plainsong wasn't a stronger read for you. It's one of my favorites. I NEED to get back to Ms. Vargas. I am way overdue.
I'll be hosting a Group Read of A Fine Balance. Finally getting to this beloved classic. Hope all is well.
I'll be hosting a Group Read of A Fine Balance. Finally getting to this beloved classic. Hope all is well.
62mausergem
Hi Mark thanks for dropping by. A Fine Balance was a 5 star read for me. Hope you enjoy it.
63mausergem
Book 31 - On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
Rating - 4.5*
Review - This book is set in the 18th century on the open sea around the Caribbean. The book is filled with all the pirates, magic, voodoo and villains you can take. Very entertaining.
Rating - 4.5*
Review - This book is set in the 18th century on the open sea around the Caribbean. The book is filled with all the pirates, magic, voodoo and villains you can take. Very entertaining.
65Donna828
Hello, Gautam. I am moving The Bookseller of Kabul up to the top of the TBR stack on your recommendation. It's been neglected by me far too long.
I have started Shantaram on the recommendation of two friends in two different places. One traveled to India and got the book after her tour guide raved about it. It's over 900 pages and I plan to take my time with it. Have you read it?
I have started Shantaram on the recommendation of two friends in two different places. One traveled to India and got the book after her tour guide raved about it. It's over 900 pages and I plan to take my time with it. Have you read it?
66mausergem
Hi Donna, thanks for stopping by. Shantaram is good, fast paced. I love the parts set in Mumbai not so much the parts in Afghanistan.
67mausergem
Book 33 - The Illicit Happiness of Other People by Manu Joseph
Rating - 4.75*
Review - The story takes place in Madras now Chinnai in India in the mid 80s. Its a story of Malyalam Catholic family living in the midst of Tamil Brahmins. It's a story of a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic journalist father and a schizoid housewife mother. Their eldest son, a cartoonist and a thinker but overall a confident happy person, had committed suicide three years ago. When the father discovers his last comic which he had finished on the morning of his death, he begins to look for a reason by confronting his friends.
It's a story with elements of mystery, surrealism and pathos. The ending does not live up to the buildup but overall it is a fantastic read.
Rating - 4.75*
Review - The story takes place in Madras now Chinnai in India in the mid 80s. Its a story of Malyalam Catholic family living in the midst of Tamil Brahmins. It's a story of a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic journalist father and a schizoid housewife mother. Their eldest son, a cartoonist and a thinker but overall a confident happy person, had committed suicide three years ago. When the father discovers his last comic which he had finished on the morning of his death, he begins to look for a reason by confronting his friends.
It's a story with elements of mystery, surrealism and pathos. The ending does not live up to the buildup but overall it is a fantastic read.
68kidzdoc
Rats; I wish I had looked at this review on Thursday! I saw The Illicit Happiness of Other People at the London Review Bookshop earlier this week, and almost bought it. Fortunately it's also available in the US, so I'll plan to get it next month.
Have you read Serious Men?
Have you read Serious Men?
69arubabookwoman
Delurking to say I just finished Serious Men, and I liked it very much. I reviewed it on my thread. I'll read The Illicit Happiness of Other People when I clear a few other books on my TBR list.
70mausergem
Hi Darryl, just been to your thread. Love your antics in London.
Hi arubabookwoman, thanks for visiting. I need to get to Serious Men. Soon.
Hi arubabookwoman, thanks for visiting. I need to get to Serious Men. Soon.
71mausergem
Book 34 - The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a comprehensive history of different cancers, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, causal agents, molecular biology and novel therapeutic methods of treatment chronologically. Through patient examples and the scientists trial we get a pacy narrative of cancer.
The language is simple and the theories can be understood by a lay person. Though the subject is deary the book is great.
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a comprehensive history of different cancers, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, causal agents, molecular biology and novel therapeutic methods of treatment chronologically. Through patient examples and the scientists trial we get a pacy narrative of cancer.
The language is simple and the theories can be understood by a lay person. Though the subject is deary the book is great.
72mausergem
Book 35 - Zoo Time by Howard Jacobson
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is my first book by Howard Jacobson. The book is written in the first person by a writer of novels (not unlike the Howard Jacobson), who has had moderate success writing satirical novels. The novel follows his journey trying to find and new inspirations for a new novel. He tries to write about a husband, wife and mother-in-law love triangle but discards it. He then tries to write about a rich playboy with brain tumor but ends with discarding it. He finally writes about a mother daughter duo who are bound together by the love of a mentally retarded brother.
The novel is full of moody wife, sexy mother-in-law, neurotic agent, bi-sexual brother, dementic parents and suicidal publishers. It's funny if you like that kind of funny.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is my first book by Howard Jacobson. The book is written in the first person by a writer of novels (not unlike the Howard Jacobson), who has had moderate success writing satirical novels. The novel follows his journey trying to find and new inspirations for a new novel. He tries to write about a husband, wife and mother-in-law love triangle but discards it. He then tries to write about a rich playboy with brain tumor but ends with discarding it. He finally writes about a mother daughter duo who are bound together by the love of a mentally retarded brother.
The novel is full of moody wife, sexy mother-in-law, neurotic agent, bi-sexual brother, dementic parents and suicidal publishers. It's funny if you like that kind of funny.
73mausergem
Book 36 - The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin
Rating - 5*
Review - This is the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is old and lives alone in a far away place. The followers of Jesus come to her and want her to remember any of the details of her life and her son. She is a simple lady and not enlightened by the faith. She remembers the time when her son goes to Jerusalem and she hears about him from a cousin, Maurice. Maurice tells her to warn her son of his growing popularity among the people and the dissatisfaction of the ruling Romans. She decides to go to Jerusalem for a wedding where her son is expected to come and take him away from that city.
Just before the wedding Jesus resurrects a dead man and at the wedding turns water into wine. She sees that her son is a different person than what she knew and is unable to convince him of his follies. She returns home dejected. Later from Maurice she finds out that Jesus is arrested and as punishment for his deeds is to be crucified. She reaches Jerusalem to be at his trial and his crucification. Being surrounded by spies and fearful of arrest she escapes Jerusalem and reaches a far off land to spend the reast of her days in annonimity. Later she hears of his resurrection and repents about the fact that she escaped for the fear of her life and was not with her son when he was buried.
The prose is lyrical and free flowing. Once you pick up this book it's hard to let go. It's not about religion but about a simple mother caring for her different son. A must read.
Rating - 5*
Review - This is the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is old and lives alone in a far away place. The followers of Jesus come to her and want her to remember any of the details of her life and her son. She is a simple lady and not enlightened by the faith. She remembers the time when her son goes to Jerusalem and she hears about him from a cousin, Maurice. Maurice tells her to warn her son of his growing popularity among the people and the dissatisfaction of the ruling Romans. She decides to go to Jerusalem for a wedding where her son is expected to come and take him away from that city.
Just before the wedding Jesus resurrects a dead man and at the wedding turns water into wine. She sees that her son is a different person than what she knew and is unable to convince him of his follies. She returns home dejected. Later from Maurice she finds out that Jesus is arrested and as punishment for his deeds is to be crucified. She reaches Jerusalem to be at his trial and his crucification. Being surrounded by spies and fearful of arrest she escapes Jerusalem and reaches a far off land to spend the reast of her days in annonimity. Later she hears of his resurrection and repents about the fact that she escaped for the fear of her life and was not with her son when he was buried.
The prose is lyrical and free flowing. Once you pick up this book it's hard to let go. It's not about religion but about a simple mother caring for her different son. A must read.
74kidzdoc
Nice review of The Testament of Mary, Gautam; I liked it nearly as much as you did, and I plan to give it a second reading next month. Zoo Time sounds about as horrible as I suspected it would be. I liked The Finkler Question, but I thought that No More Mr. Nice Guy was execrable.
75mausergem
Book 37 - Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean
Rating - 2.5*
Review - A spy thriller set in the Second World War. Fast paced and entertaining.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - A spy thriller set in the Second World War. Fast paced and entertaining.
76mausergem
Book 38 - Mirror, mirror by Gregory Maguire
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is novel which mixes fairy tale with real life historical personalities. The fairy tale is "Snow White and the seven dwarves". Put in Lucretia Borgia as the the evil Queen step mother and you have a fast paced story with a twist.
The writing is ordinary and the story is not improved by adding novel characters. It's a ordinary read.
Rating - 2.5*
Review - This is novel which mixes fairy tale with real life historical personalities. The fairy tale is "Snow White and the seven dwarves". Put in Lucretia Borgia as the the evil Queen step mother and you have a fast paced story with a twist.
The writing is ordinary and the story is not improved by adding novel characters. It's a ordinary read.
77mausergem
Book 39 - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Rating - 2*
I don't want to write a review because I did not get this book. I think you need to be both Irish and Catholic to understand this book. Me being neither just could not get it.
Rating - 2*
I don't want to write a review because I did not get this book. I think you need to be both Irish and Catholic to understand this book. Me being neither just could not get it.
78msf59
Wow, Gautam you are reading some terrific books! Are you a fan of Lahiri? I just finished the Lowland and it was very good and worth the long wait.
79mausergem
Book 40 - Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a story of a metropolitan city Shanghai told from the perspective of five individuals have come to this city for various purposes. Some come to better their lives and some come to escape. Their lives intertwine and sometimes just brush each other. Some fall, some triumph, some fail and soar to great heights. Some struggle on and some leave. The metropolitan is a hard mistress and she is exacting. There are no short cuts or getting around her.
This is a beautifully written book. The author perfectly captures the vibe of the city. The narrative is pacy and does not slack at any point. A good read.
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a story of a metropolitan city Shanghai told from the perspective of five individuals have come to this city for various purposes. Some come to better their lives and some come to escape. Their lives intertwine and sometimes just brush each other. Some fall, some triumph, some fail and soar to great heights. Some struggle on and some leave. The metropolitan is a hard mistress and she is exacting. There are no short cuts or getting around her.
This is a beautifully written book. The author perfectly captures the vibe of the city. The narrative is pacy and does not slack at any point. A good read.
80kidzdoc
Glad to hear that you also enjoyed Five Star Billionaire, Gautam.
81mausergem
Book 41 - TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
Rating - 4.75*
Review - The story jumps in time and between people to narrate the story of four generations of Irish women. The story starts with the first transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown in their modified Vikers Vamy, a First World War bomber. The story of these four women comes full circles. Lily Duggan, a servant girl, migrates to America to better her life. She leads a hard life and after losing her son in the American civil war she marries again to have a daughter, Emily. Emily is a journalist and settles in Newfoundland. Her daughter Lottie, her mother's travelling companion and a tennis enthusiast marries an Irishman and comes to Ireland. Her daughter Hannah also loses her grown up son and after that cannot move on in life and from her land.
This tale has some sections which have real life characters like Fredrick Douglass, Alcock and Brown and Senator George Mitchell. All sections have the narration from the point of view of the central character. It's a beautiful book and a must read.
Rating - 4.75*
Review - The story jumps in time and between people to narrate the story of four generations of Irish women. The story starts with the first transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown in their modified Vikers Vamy, a First World War bomber. The story of these four women comes full circles. Lily Duggan, a servant girl, migrates to America to better her life. She leads a hard life and after losing her son in the American civil war she marries again to have a daughter, Emily. Emily is a journalist and settles in Newfoundland. Her daughter Lottie, her mother's travelling companion and a tennis enthusiast marries an Irishman and comes to Ireland. Her daughter Hannah also loses her grown up son and after that cannot move on in life and from her land.
This tale has some sections which have real life characters like Fredrick Douglass, Alcock and Brown and Senator George Mitchell. All sections have the narration from the point of view of the central character. It's a beautiful book and a must read.
82mausergem
Book 42 - The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Rating - 3.75*
Review - "The Moonstone" is considered as the first novel in the English language to involve a detective. A large diamond is brought from India under suspicious circumstances. The diamond, the Moonstone, is inherited by Rachel a young heiress who loses it the same night and what follows a long and winding story of the investigation to find the missing Moonstone.
An entertaining story with a Dickensonian tone.
Rating - 3.75*
Review - "The Moonstone" is considered as the first novel in the English language to involve a detective. A large diamond is brought from India under suspicious circumstances. The diamond, the Moonstone, is inherited by Rachel a young heiress who loses it the same night and what follows a long and winding story of the investigation to find the missing Moonstone.
An entertaining story with a Dickensonian tone.
83mausergem
Book 43 - Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
Rating - 2*
Review - There is a world of dreams where you can go if you have a special map shaped mark on your skin anywhere and you have sex with a similar individual. The special mark is bistowed in a group of four in a special ceremony. In the real world if you can find all four individuals you can emigrate to Palimpsest for ever.
It is an interesting concept but the the book goes nowhere.
Rating - 2*
Review - There is a world of dreams where you can go if you have a special map shaped mark on your skin anywhere and you have sex with a similar individual. The special mark is bistowed in a group of four in a special ceremony. In the real world if you can find all four individuals you can emigrate to Palimpsest for ever.
It is an interesting concept but the the book goes nowhere.
84mausergem
Book 44 - The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is the first book of the police procedural series called Rizzoli & Isles. There is a hunt going on for a serial killer who kills rape victims and collects their uteruses as trophies. Two years ago, Catherine Cordell survived a similar attack and killed her attacker. So is this a copy cat or was there a subordinate.
This book has it all. A serial killer, police procedural, getting into the minds of the cops and lots of gore. It's a nice start to a promising series.
Rating - 3.5*
Review - This is the first book of the police procedural series called Rizzoli & Isles. There is a hunt going on for a serial killer who kills rape victims and collects their uteruses as trophies. Two years ago, Catherine Cordell survived a similar attack and killed her attacker. So is this a copy cat or was there a subordinate.
This book has it all. A serial killer, police procedural, getting into the minds of the cops and lots of gore. It's a nice start to a promising series.
85msf59
Gautam- I also loved TransAtlantic. It's one of my favorites of the year. Have you read Let the Great World Spin? If not, do so...please.
86mausergem
Book 45 - The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Rating - 2*
I do not want to write a review of this book as it has been a real disappointment. It is too long with too many characters. It starts with a mystery but the final revealation is disappointing. The only good thing is the atmosphere which is created. It hardly deserves a Booker. The worst Booker winner amongst the ones I've read.
Rating - 2*
I do not want to write a review of this book as it has been a real disappointment. It is too long with too many characters. It starts with a mystery but the final revealation is disappointing. The only good thing is the atmosphere which is created. It hardly deserves a Booker. The worst Booker winner amongst the ones I've read.
87mausergem
Book 46 - Slaughter house 5 by Kurt Vonnegut
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a story of Billy Pilgrim, a optometrist, told in first person. Billy is an American prisoner of war in the later part of Second World War. He witnesses the carnage at Dresden. Later in life he is abducted by aliens from Trafamidore who live life in four dimensions and they teach Billy that in life time is not linear but it's like a huge canvas, you just turn your gaze and you can be at any point in your life. So Billy Pilgrim becomes a time traveller. This helps him to deal with the horrors of war and life in general.
Witty, fast paced and short.
Rating - 4*
Review - This is a story of Billy Pilgrim, a optometrist, told in first person. Billy is an American prisoner of war in the later part of Second World War. He witnesses the carnage at Dresden. Later in life he is abducted by aliens from Trafamidore who live life in four dimensions and they teach Billy that in life time is not linear but it's like a huge canvas, you just turn your gaze and you can be at any point in your life. So Billy Pilgrim becomes a time traveller. This helps him to deal with the horrors of war and life in general.
Witty, fast paced and short.
88mausergem
Book 47 - Little Black Book of Stories by A.S. Byatt
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is a collection of five short stories which marginally intrude in the realm of the supernatural and the fantastic. In all these stories there is an element of things unsaid and the reader can interprete it as he likes which I enjoyed. The stories are not brilliant but quite good.
Rating - 3.75*
Review - This is a collection of five short stories which marginally intrude in the realm of the supernatural and the fantastic. In all these stories there is an element of things unsaid and the reader can interprete it as he likes which I enjoyed. The stories are not brilliant but quite good.
89mausergem
Book 48 - Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
Rating - 5*
Review - This is a very funny novel in the same vain as PG Wodehouse. It is set in a university town were our hero Jim Dixon is a lecturer in the department of history. As so often happen Jim is harassed by his head of the department about a article he is supposed to publish, a neurotic collegue who is recovering from lost love and an attempted suicide. While on a stay over at his head of the deparment's house Jim is attracted towards his bosses' son's girlfriend. All he'll breaks lose but being lucky Jim comes out with flying colours and the girl on his arm.
Rating - 5*
Review - This is a very funny novel in the same vain as PG Wodehouse. It is set in a university town were our hero Jim Dixon is a lecturer in the department of history. As so often happen Jim is harassed by his head of the department about a article he is supposed to publish, a neurotic collegue who is recovering from lost love and an attempted suicide. While on a stay over at his head of the deparment's house Jim is attracted towards his bosses' son's girlfriend. All he'll breaks lose but being lucky Jim comes out with flying colours and the girl on his arm.
90mausergem
Book 49 - Harvest by Jim Crace
Rating - 3.5*
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Book 50 - The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
Rating - 3.5*
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Book 51 - Blood Red Sari by Ashok K Banker
Rating - 3.5*
This is a good enough thriller set against an Indian background with women protagonist. It is fast paced and entertaining. This book is on par with any James Patterson or Sydney Sheldon. A big thumbs up for Ashok Banker.
Rating - 3.5*
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Book 50 - The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
Rating - 3.5*
-----------------
Book 51 - Blood Red Sari by Ashok K Banker
Rating - 3.5*
This is a good enough thriller set against an Indian background with women protagonist. It is fast paced and entertaining. This book is on par with any James Patterson or Sydney Sheldon. A big thumbs up for Ashok Banker.
