Books - 2018

1. Dozakhnama: Rabishankar Bal
2. A Spot of bother: Mark Haddon
3. Joy in the morning: P.G Wodehouse
4. Dead of Jericho: Colin Dexter
5. The eleventh commandment: Jeffrey Archer
6. And the mountains echoed: Khaled Hosseini
7. The dog who came in from the cold: Alexander McCall Smith
8. At Bertram's hotel-Agatha Christie
9. Relentless: Dean Koontz
10. Animal Farm: George Orwell
11. American psycho: Bret Easton Ellis

Book 2016

1. Haroun and the Sea of stories-Salman Rushdie
2. The Odessa Files-Frederick Forsyth
3. Sri Sai Satcharitr- Shri Hemadpant
4. The Hungry Stones & Other Stories-Rabindranath Tagore 
5. Emma- Jane Austen
6. The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- R.L. Stevenson
7. Go Set A Watchman- Harper Lee 
8. The House of The Spirits- Isabelle Allende
9. The Woman in White- Wilkie Collins
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- J.K.Rowling
11. Adultery- Paulo Coelho (incomplete)

Compared to the last few years, I've read the least number of books this year. In fact there has been a downward trend which I want to remedy.

I've diversified in the genres (fantasy, short stories, sci-fi) and the authors (all new authors this year) which is a good sign.

The book that impressed me most was The House of the Spirits. I read it as part of a book club and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did watch the movie based on the book and it was horrible.

Keeping my fingers crossed to have a much longer list of books for next year. Some of the books and authors on my wishlist for 2017 are:

• The Moonstone
• Choker Bali
• Selection Day
• Palace Walk
• Nabokov
• Allende
• Wilkie Collins

Lolita: Book Review

I chanced up on 'Lolita' in the local library and was intrigued by the review blurb at the back of the book which read " Nabakov writes prose the only way it should be written: ecstatically!" and in that instant I knew I had to read it.

From pop cultural references I had already gathered that Lolita is a tale about an older man's obsession with a young girl. This is the premise of the book but there is so much more to it than the moral aspect of it. The prose for one is a literary treasure. I was completely engulfed by the powerful writing and fell in love with the characters. The viciousness, desperation, helplessness, innocence and love won me over and it was hard to put the book down.

There is not much happening by way of story yet I found myself turning the next page with curiosity and interest. The book does not wish to bring morality into question and is simply told from the perspective of one character. Humbert Humbert the narrator of the book feels so real, honest despite his crimes. There is no denying or making excuses-only narration. Lolita is also equally complex-an adolescent who is promiscuous, manipulative and victimized.

We know at the beginning of the book that a murder has been committed and also who committed it but the identity of the victim is revealed only in the end. Each episode and character is brought to life by the magical writing. So influenced was I by the book that I was ready to reread the book as soon as I finished it. I have never felt this way about any other book. Nabokov has instantly moved into my five favorite authors list. I intend to read as much of his works as possible.

Bombay Time: Thrity Umrigar

I had heard about Thrity Umrigar in a discussion about Indian writers during one of my hikes. Naturally, when I saw a book by this author at the book sale, I picked it up.

Bombay Time is a story based on the lives of a group of middle class Parsis in Wadia Baug, Bombay. During the wedding reception of one of the members' son, everyone gathers and the story unfolds in the form of memories and reflections about the past, their youth and the various incidents that lead to their present circumstances in life. It has several interesting characters like the once ambitious Rusi Bilimoria, Dosamai-the gossip, 'Killer Breath' Tehmi, unhappy Coomi, successful Jimmy Kanga and many others.

I was floored by the strong and powerful writing. Every emotion is portrayed with ease and effectively so. I was impressed particularly by the unique quirks of each character and their interesting back stories. My favorite of all the different stories was Soli Contractor's simultaneous falling in love with Mariam and classical music.

The only gripe I have with this novel is that it has way too much sadness for one book to handle. There is death and frustration in every character's life. A little bit of happiness and fun would have helped to ease out the negativity. That being said, I'm very keen to read other books by Thrity. 

Memories Of My Melancholy Whores-Book Review

Yet another brilliant book by the Novel prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I finished this novella in two hours straight.

The protagonist of this novella is a 90 year old journalist who decides to celebrate his ninetieth birthday with a virgin prostitute. The book showcases what happens when he falls in love with the girl. It is no ordinary love-a surreal, dream like love expressed in the darkness of the night in a small dingy room rented out for the night with the object of his affection sleeping peacefully. Novels are read, poetry recited, paintings exhibited, gifts showered-all while the girl sleeps and he relishes those precious hours at night.

It is the magic of his writing that brings the entire novel alive. The old man's hopes, desperation, desire, jealousy and passionate love are all portrayed beautifully. I don't have much more to say except that this is yet another literary gem that lingers in the heart long after you've finished reading it. 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency-Review

This book was recommended by my doctor during my latest India trip.  'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is a popular series written by Alexander McCall Smith. Based in Botswana, it is a story of a detective agency started by the protagonist Mme Precious Ramotswe.

Mme Ramotwe is a wise woman, proud to be an Africa and loves her country for all its natural beauty, history and traditions. She often comments on how things have changed compared to life during her childhood. Her remarks in the most simple words reflect profound truths and observations about life, living and love which touched my heart and made me wonder what magic the writer has weaved without using any flowery language!

The novel is a collection of the different cases Mme encounters and solves using her sharp mind and common sense. The cases vary from the common place to the sinister-missing husbands, abducted children, cheating doctors, fraud employees etc. It gives the readers an insight into life in Africa, the traditions, social structure, modernization and lifestyle in Botswana.

The novel paints a vivid picture of Mme's personal life starting from her father's experiences as a mine worker in South Africa, her childhood filled with nurture and care by her father's cousin, the unhappy wedding and the setting up and operation of the detective agency. This helps the readers to feel more connected to Mme Ramotswe as opposed to focusing on one single crime until its resolution-the usual style of most detective novels.

My most favorite line in the book is: He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to cat, pumpkins, chicken, the smell of sweet cattle breath, the white sky across the endless, endless bush, and the giraffe that cried, giving its tears for women to daub on their baskets; O Botswana, my country, my place.

I have bought a couple more books in the series and I'm very excited to enjoy the adventures of Mme Ramotswe.

Books -2013

For quite some time, I've thought about making a list of all the books I've read this year to keep track of my reading. The ones I can remember so far are:

1.  Jonathan Livingston Seagull-Richard Bach
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Stieg Larsson
3. Deception Point-Dan Brown
4. God of Small Things-Arundhati Roy
5. Love in the Time of Cholera-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
6. Chronicles of a death foretold-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
7. One hundred years of Solitude-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
8. Trading Up-Candace Bushnell   
9. The Girl who played with fire-Stieg Larsson 
10. And Then there were none-Agatha Christie 
11. The Good Conscience-Carlos Fuentes 
12. The Girl with a pearl earring-Tracy Chevalier 
13. Death on the Nile-Agatha Christie

I hope to see at least a couple more added to this list by the end of this year. Will keep updating.