My 2015 Reads

Hey Everyone,
It's been a while (oops, hehe). I was busy focusing on college and now that I have a better handle on that, I am back with a bang! I'm sorry to have been away for so long, but I have been really
good and have been reading constantly.
There are *LOTS* of reviews coming your way in the next few weeks! Just to give you a sneak peak, I figured I'll list the books I'm going to review. This year has been the best book related year for me. I found so many fascinating books and discovered amazing new authors. I cannot wait to share everything from this year with you all.
I will be writing a review for each of these books, so look out for those!

The books I read this year so far (in no particular order) are -

1. All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
2. The Inconvenient Indian - Thomas King
3. Make Your Home Among Strangers - Jennine Capo Crucet
4. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
5. The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
6. The Ocean at the End of The Lane - Neil Gaiman 
7. The Giver Series - Lois Lowry
8. No One Belongs Here More Than You - Miranda July
9. Adultery - Paulo Coelho
10. The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison
11. Post Office - Charles Bukowski
12. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
13. A.D: New Orleans After the Deluge - Josh Neufeld 

So as you can see, I've been pretty good!
I'm currently reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and boy, it's an amazing read.
If any of you have read any of the books listed above, please let me know what you thought of them! And as always if you'd like me to review a book, let me know in the comments below.

I'll be back with a review VERY soon. So keep a lookout for new posts.
Till then, keep reading!

Lolita - A Mid Review

Hello!
So I've been sleeping/writing/eating and enjoying big cups of chai, while the weather where I am currently living is literally perfect, and all this while reading Lolita.
What a great book! It is definitely so far sooo good. The authors style of writing is absolutely enthralling all while staying true to the inner conflicts he is constantly facing. He explores conflicts and resolutions bit by bit always keeping the audience in the loop. His thought process is brought out rather jarringly and paradoxically.
At one end he is conflicted and at the other he is convinced but the beauty of the book is how well he balances the two. The books subject is no doubt very disturbing.His fascinations, as one is made aware of right from the start, continue to engage you yet disgust you.
This book challenges your notions of 'correct' and 'incorrect' societal norms and so far, even though my stance is clear my argument wavers with the authors amazing story telling.
I would have have tagged it as an 'easy' read, however the internal battles that this book enables, I think this book, though quite short, is a rather fulfilling read.
That is all about Lolita so far.
I'll keep up updated soon enough!
Till then, don't forget to tell me what you've been reading!

50 Shades of Grey - Final Verdict

These Shades of Grey are more exciting than The Book ever will be. 

 “I gasp, and I’m Eve in the Garden of Eden, and he is the serpent, and I cannot resist.”

If I were to quote every sorry excuse for an analogy from this book, I’d probably be left with only 2 pages worth of a book, both pages containing vivid details of sadistic love making. I read  the first 250 pages in misery and the rest in pure agony, there is only so much bad writing I can take and with this book my quota of bad writing is full.This book was a total downer for me. This is a short and to the point book review and  I’ve broken it up into categories for you. Take what I say with a pinch of salt for my style and preference in, and for a book may be totally different from yours. However, give the review a read and see what I have to say!

Here goes:

1.     Writing Style And Story Pace

The writing style is one I never comment on, for everyone’s style is unique. Just so that you know this authors style is informal and to the point.

One thing the books that was bang on was pacing. The story was evenly paced and kept abreast throughout the cruel 300 something pages of wasted paper.

2.     The Plot

Wait. Plot? What is that? Is it a new kind of food? In short, there is no plot. The characters shallow, the places boring, and the sex unappealing (who knew that was possible, right?). The sex comes off as exciting to begin with, as it presented in segments, but in retrospect the sex is nothing unheard of, or unusual. There are no twists nor turns and unfortunately (but expectantly) the book is super predictable and boring.The male and female protagonists alternate between half hearted conflicts and 'rough' contract based sex. 

3.     Characters

The characters are straight up shallow. There is no depth of character. There is a hint at a moral conflict within the protagonist, but that conflict is never explored making the reader feel disconnected from the character and her thoughts. Actually none of the characters have any kind of connection with the reader. I can say this without a doubt that Winnie the Pooh had more depth in him.

 There are no dilemmas, frustrations, conflicts, nothing. They lack an identity except that she’s a 21 year old virgin, and he’s a 26(?) year old billionaire. There has been no ‘showing’(except for the raunchy sex scenes) of the personalities in the book, it’s only barking at you.

      4.     Story Line

Rich billionaire brat with issues, falls for a middle class college going 21 year old virgin with lesser issues. At first it's for sex and then he falls for her innocence.  Her conscious calls her a ‘ho’ (that is her deepest level of conflict) every so often and every time it does, she goes and sleeps with her billionaire boyfriend/master again. That is pretty much it. 

Of course, this sounds rather brutal, and some of you may disagree. I, however, have endured enough of the book and have plenty ammunition to combat your best defenses.

This is coming from someone who values plot, character, and story line very heavily. If you couldn’t care a rat’s hoof about any of that, you might like the book! Who knows? I know 100 million people did.

My final verdict: 50 Shades of Grey gets a 1 out of 5 in my books. (See what I did there?)

50 Shades of Grey - Review Part 1

Hello Everybody,

Firstly please bear in mind that this book review might not be suitable for children. It may have explicit words or connotations. 

That being said I've been reading 50 Shades of Grey and 169 pages into it, I can honestly say, I'm not charmed. I get the whole-  ultra rich unattainable gorgeous guy who falls for a poor okay-ish, never been touched 21-year-old American virgin. I get the appeal of it. You know how a lot of us would like a hot rich dude to fall for us and  look at us like the sun shines out of us and etc, etc but there is a lot more that can get a book moving and or juices flowing. There is so much more that could have been done with it! Character given depths, stronger plots and sub plots, better, more apt, more colorful characters, vivid scenery, some office politics, but nope, it’s a good old straight up mills and boons with added sexual ammunition.  

I don't care about the sexual content in the sense that it doesn’t bother me. The author wrote a book filled with sex, okay well then. Who doesn't like explicit, brash, unsophisticated, raw sex that seems to be written by a 17-year-old high on sexual fantasies ? Well I don't but doesn't mean you shouldn't. What I do have an issue with is the style of writing with the lack of character depth or plots or sub plots or actually anything at all. The author seems to have made  NO effort what so ever to give the characters depths. We know their traits and that one questions too much and the other takes good photos and that's it, but who are they? What are their stories? Why are they relevant to the plot, or the book or to the protagonist? We have no idea. Where does she live? What does it look like? Is the wind too strong? Is her coffee to dark? Something so small that just a mere sentence could have sufficed and yet so important that it would’ve given the reader the full picture. She goes straight from sex, no sex, sex, email, bad email, sex. I mean you get the point.

So far, I must say it's an utter disappointment. If, however you couldn't care less about writing style then this books isn't atrocious.

Let's see what else this book has in store for me. 

On the good end of all of this, I picked up a good ol' P.G Wodehouse! So I'm not in tremendous literary pain. 

More when I finish the book! 

Till then, keep right, read loads!

NEW UPDATED READING LIST!

Hello everyone!

So I have a confession to make. I might have tweaked my reading list..maybe.. 

Oh! I couldn’t stand the fact that I might be reading books that I have no interest in. Of course, every book deserves a change but I really don’t want to compel myself to read what I don’t want to.

That being said my tweaked version of my summer list is now ready.

ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU SURE?

Okay here goes:

1.        1. Bourne Supremacy (Yup it stays. Wohoo!)
              2. The Fault in our Stars (Aww yeah)
                   3.       Lolita (Ah well..)
                               4.  50 Shades of Grey                   5.The Way to Dusty Death (Well it’s daddy’s recommendation)                                                         6.         Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves (I needed a P.G Wodehouse!)

     Let’s see how these 6 go and then add more if time permits! 

Why I Write

My relationship with writing is a tumultuous one.  Sharing one minute, hiding the next. 

Writing is a release and an escape, it's a compulsion, it's a habit, but most of all, it's a seeker. Seeking the deepest emotion I sought to hide. The conniving clever ways in which it cajoles me and convinces me to dwell upon and dive into it. To let go of inhibitions and pen down my guarded secrets.

Writing is not a hobby, it's a way of life, an expression of who we are, where we stand and what we wish the world to know. It's an art, undertaken by many, accomplished by few.  It is a fire that warms you and the same fire that consumes you. Writing is not just words, it's  a process, to provide meaning from those sentences and touch upon hearts while doing so, to be able to form a picture every time it is read, to be so unique that no two pictures are the same, though  the same words are. 

A writers true achievement in not in communicating, but in deriving, not in telling, but showing. When a reader can derive meaning from writing, when the words mesh so beautifully that they flow seamlessly, when the words are no more mere words but emotions and sensations to be felt, that is when an author has succeeded.

It is towards that goal, towards that sensation, towards that understanding that I strive and for that I write. 

And so it starts! Bring it summer!

I'm back!

Hey everyone! 

How has everyone been?

I'm sorry about my year long (gasp!) absence. But I am back and ready to roll! 

I have decided to keep this blog for articles as well as book reviews and even movie reviews. That being said I have a list of 7 books to read this summer. I’ve mixed them up and hope to get all the way through! Also any suggestions? 

Let me know! 

Here goes:

1. Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum

2. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

3. Gandhi vs Jinnah – Roderick Matthews

4. The Way to Dusty Death - Alistair Maclean

5. The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri

6. The Scarlett Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne  (Maybe)

7. (And if possible) The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Miss Shumway Waves a Wand - My Views

This book is a quick-paced, witty, fun filled book that guarantees loud, rather inappropriate laughs! This was the first time I heard of James Hadley Chase  as my father recommended the book to me.

The book has aspects of black magic, romance, comedy and many failed stratergies, that leave you a little agitated at first.

It’s an inexpensive book and totally worth every paisa (cent) that you pay for it.

I loved the character and their distinct personalities. The ease of narrative depends on the person as a few lines are typical expressions of the older days and may take a little time to understand.

The story is very well written with the right explanation and right amount of twists and turns. It’s a simple and effective book that makes for an amazing read.

All you newcomers there, should definitely get this book, if you haven’t already!

Nine Lives- My Views

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple
It's about 9 different people and their way of living which is-as the name suggests it- nine different ways. By ways I mean religious beliefs which in turn then include society and their interaction with it or their understanding of society.
It's a very good book though the author seems disgusted at the lives that his various protagonists lead.
It was upsetting to see that the author wrote about the men and women of different, sometimes unconventional, religious beliefs with such a narrow minded perspective towards them. It shows through clearly from his language and choice of words.
I do not expect him to understand the lives of his protagonists but I did expect him to be tolerant and respectful towards them, especially since he willingly chose to write about them and their lives.
Anyway, the book by itself is not spectacular but the stories are.
I hope I read more books like this but by better authors.
Give it a read, but do so with an open mind. 

Kane And Abel - My Views

I loved the book. I wasn’t a fan of the author but this book changed that.

To the point, lots of twists and turns, apt attention to detail and a smooth flow makes the book a favorite of all my fiction books yet.

The stories are brought out with dignity that they deserve and with a narrative that leaves you satisfied but wanting more.

This book though it’s longer in text and pages than Midnights Children, is an easier, more satisfying read and seems to be of an author who is more comfortable in his skill.

I may be completely off course here, but that’s the feeling this book gave me.

I have only praises for this book.

The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks - My Views

The title as intriguing as it was, was perfectly apt as well as ironical. The protagonist died an anonymous, unknown death, in an unmarked grave while her cells live on, famous worldwide and a necessity in science even today.

The author has done a great job in explaining and emphasizing the importance of the protagonist and her cells in the book and the author’s decade of research clearly shows through.  

I loved the simplicity of the way in which the book is written and the various explanation the author provides as and when needed.

The author showed the moral and ethical confusions prevalent at the time of the protagonists and how it affected her life but more importantly the lives of those around her. What her family went through, their struggle for recognition and more importantly their struggle for health insurance which they were too poor to afford. It brings out the inherent irony wherein Henrietta’s cells lead to miraculous discoveries in medicines that cured millions worldwide while her family couldn’t afford to get cured of simple ailments.

The book left me feeling inspired and yet rather embarrassed of how doctors and scientists functioned in the name of “research”. The atrocities that these doctors put their patients through and how callously they claimed that it was for the good and benefit of  future generations while ignoring the pain and discomfort they put their patients through.

Upon reading the book you’ll realize what I’m referring to and maybe feel the same way.

It was only after the introduction of laws that doctors and scientists were compelled to adhere to certain guidelines, which they did rather reluctantly.

It left me wondering whether man was inherently bad? Well whatever was the case, the book is a good read and one I’m glad to have in my first list of books!

MidNights Children - My Views

A wonderful book which I finally managed to finish! I started my summer with this book and that was a big,big mistake. Though the book is well written, curiously thought provoking.  It’s long wound with a story spanning a few rather detailed generations. The book gets exhausting rather easily and since the end of the book seems so far the will to read it dwindles many times during the book.

I’m compelled to think that various reader might disagree with me, but at this stage in my reading career, it was definitely a bad choice to start with.

The book is however interesting and leaves you feeling satisfied. All the characters and their stories have beautifully and creatively been  given their due and there doesn’t seem to be any unnecessary character or story.  

There is very little to say anything else about the book.

It’s a good read but not for a beginner.

Aleph - My Views

It’s difficult to imagine what the author claims to be real. I am a believer, so it’s easy for me and this book is for those who are willing to accept, not necessarily believe, in the possibility of a different way of life and also keep their views open to something they may not believe in.

The book is in many ways a stark contrast to my religion but is very much in sync with my beliefs. I say this because religion to me is between me and my God and my beliefs are not completely as per my religious background. It’s important to bring this out because if your religious views and beliefs overlap with your personal beliefs which do not accept reincarnation then this book may leave you frustrated and annoyed.

Also if you’re skeptical of the idea of a parallel universe and don’t believe in spirits then this book may be a good idea for a light read but i would personally suggest not reading it as it may be a waste of time for you.

If however you are open to the possibility of an alternate spiritual universe and like the idea then this book leaves you feeling happier and more content in your belief and state of mind.

A good book, a quick and easy read with a little emotional side here and there.

Since it’s a true story, it’s more fun to read and imagine if ever you went through the amazing experience the author did!

For all you spiritual believers give it a read. it’s not the best book out there, but it’s a good in between book.

Summer List

I have a SEVEN book goal this summer:

1. Midnights Children
"Born in the hour of India's freedom. Handcuffed to history."
Midnight's Children is an epic film from Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta, based on the Booker Prize winning novel by Salman Rushdie. At the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, as India proclaims independence from Great Britain, two newborn babies are switched by a nurse in a Bombay hospital. Saleem Sinai, the illegitimate son of a poor woman, and Shiva, the offspring of a wealthy couple, are fated to live the destiny meant for each other. Their lives become mysteriously intertwined and are inextricably linked to India's whirlwind journey of triumphs and disasters. From the unlikely romance of Saleem's grandparents to the birth of his own son, Midnight's Childrenis a journey at once sweeping in scope and yet intimate in tone. Hopeful, comic and magical – the film conjures images and characters as rich and unforgettable as India herself.
The synopsis is taken from: midnightschildren.com
Picture Source: internet

2. The immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010) is a non-fiction book by American author Rebecca Skloot. It is about Henrietta Lacks and the immortalcell line, known as HeLa, that came from her cervical cancer cells in 1951. The book is notable for its accessible science writing and dealing withethical issues of race and class in medical research. Rebecca Skloot writes in her book that some of the information was taken from the journal of Deborah Lacks, Henrietta Lack's daughter, as well as from "archival photos and documents, scientific and historical research"(xiii). It is Skloot's first book.
Synopsis taken from: Wikipedia
Picture source: internet

3.Kane and Abel
Kane and Abel is a 1979 novel by British author Jeffrey Archer. The title and story is a play on the Biblical brothers, Cain and Abel. Released in the United Kingdom in 1979 and in the United States in February 1980, the book was an international success. It reached No. 1 on the New York Timesbestseller list and in 1985 was made into a CBS television miniseries titled Kane & Abel starring Peter Strauss as Rosnovski and Sam Neill as Kane.
Synopsis source: Wikipedia
Image: Internet

4. The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy (Italian: Divina Commedia) is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between c. 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature,^[1] and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature.^[2] The poem's imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language.^[3] It is divided into three parts: Inferno,Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

On the surface, the poem describes Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven;^[4] but at a deeper level, it represents allegoricallythe soul's journey towards God.^[5] At this deeper level, Dante draws on medieval Christian theology and philosophy, especially Thomistic philosophy and the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas.^[6] Consequently, the Divine Comedy has been called "the Summa in verse".^[7]

The work was originally simply titled Comedìa and was later christened Divina by Giovanni Boccaccio. The first printed edition to add the word divine to the title was that of the Venetian humanist Lodovico Dolce,^[8] published in 1555 by Gabriele Giolito de' Ferrari.

 Synopsis source: Wikipedia

Picture: Internet

5. The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. The story primarily concerns the young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his quixotic passion for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. Considered to be Fitzgerald's magnum opus, The Great Gatsby explores themes of decadence, idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of the Jazz Age that has been described as a cautionary tale regarding theAmerican Dream.^[1]

Fitzgerald, inspired by the parties he had attended while visiting Long Island's north shore, began planning the novel in 1923 desiring to produce, in his words, "something new—something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned."^[2] Progress was slow with Fitzgerald completing his first draft following a move to the French Riviera in 1924. His editor, Maxwell Perkins, felt the book was too vague and convinced the author to revise over the next winter. Fitzgerald was ambivalent about the book's title, at various times wishing to re-title the novel Trimalchio in West Egg.

First published by Scribner's in April 1925, The Great Gatsby received mixed reviews and sold poorly; in its first year, the book only sold 20,000 copies. Fitzgerald died in 1940, believing himself to be a failure and his work forgotten. His work, spearheaded by The Great Gatsby, experienced a revival during World War II, and the novel became a part of high school curriculum in the following decades. The book has remained popular since, leading to numerous stage and film adaptations. The Great Gatsby is widely considered to be a literary classic and a contender for the title "Great American Novel". The book is consistently ranked among the greatest works of American literature.

 Synopsis source: Wikipedia

Image source: Internet

6. Aleph
The new novel by the author of The Alchemist. Aleph marks a return to Paulo Coelho's beginnings. In a frank and surprising personal story, one of the world's most beloved authors embarks on a remarkable and transformative journey of self-discovery. Facing a grave crisis of faith, and seeking a path of spiritual renewal and growth, Paulo decides to start over: to travel, to experiment, to reconnect with people and the world. On this journey through Europe, Africa, and Asia, he will again meet Hilal-the woman he loved 500 years before-an encounter that will initiate a mystical voyage through time and space, through past and present, in search of himself. Aleph is an encounter with our fears and our sins; a search for love and forgiveness, and the courage to confront the inevitable challenges of life.
Synopsis by: Waterstones.com
Image: Internet

7. The Scarlett Letter

The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is considered to be his magnum opus.^[1] Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes oflegalism, sin, and guilt.

Synopsis Source: Wikipedia

Image: Internet

Review #1: The Family At Red Roofs

Since it's my first review, I want to write about one of my most cherished childhood authors, Enid Blyton.

The Family At Red Roofs, was my favorite book for the longest time ever and though it didn't add much to my limited and rather stubborn perspective, it did leave an impression on me. Well enough of an impression for me to write about it, almost ten years after reading it! 

What  I loved was the simplicity of words, the emphasis on family values and the carefully crafted lessons in human psychology. 

This book exposes the young mind to countless possibilities, believable characters and deep, moving emotions of love and loss. 

Picture Source: Internet

I haven't read the book recently but still have vivid memories of and from it and will hopefully read it soon.