The Hobbit (Book Review)

We have already reviewed the first two installments of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Movie Trilogy.

The Hobbit is essentially a children's fantasy novel written by Mr. JRR Tolkien. It was published in 1937.

The Hobbit serves as a prequel to The Lord of The Rings. It is how it all begun. While The Hobbit is lighter in its tone (considering it is a children's novel), The Lord of The Rings is much more serious and dark.

The Hobbit chronicles the story of the journey and adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, from Hobbiton, Shire.

Hobbits are peaceful people who don't like any adventures. One day, a Wizard - Gandalf and a company of Dwarves (under the leadership of Thorin Oakenshield) visit Bilbo and offer him a job of 'burglar' for their mission to Lonely Mountain. In Lonely Mountain waits the fierce dragon – Smaug, The Magnificent.

Smaug is the one who destroyed Erebor, the prosperous city of dwarves under the Lonely Mountain. Now, dwarves seek the revenge and want to reclaim their gold and treasures stolen by Smaug.

They visit dangerous forests, misty mountains, deep dungeons, elven capital, Woodland Realm, Beorn’s house and Gollum's cave during their journey. They are confronted by Trolls, Goblins, Wargs, Giant Spiders and many creatures along the way.

It is a typical Tolkien book. A modern classic and a must read.

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Gone Girl (Book Review)

Gone Girl is a novel by Gillian Flynn. It is supposed to be a modern thriller. It is a story of a marriage gone wrong. The story of sinking relationship between Nick and Amy Dunne!

Nick comes from relatively poor and fractured family whereas Amy belongs to a wealthy family. Nick and Amy have to leave New York, after losing their respective jobs in media, for a small town of Carthage.

They, both, write their accounts, through which the novel moves ahead. What appears to be a routine story of marital conflicts and differences develops into a thriller of greater magnitude. It is a tale of cheating, lies and deceit.

Initially, we found it hard to generate interest in the story. Then, suddenly it gripped us. After some pages, we again started  to loose the interest. In the final sections, Gone Girl again made a solid comeback!

Gone Girl has appeared in the New York Times Best Seller list for many weeks.

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The Immortals of Meluha (Book Review)

I had read a lot about 'The immortals of Meluha', a novel by Amish Tripathi. And to tell you the truth, it has got an amazing concept.

But sadly...that is the only thing which I found interesting about this novel.

‘The Immortals of Meluha’ is a first part of Shiva Trilogy. It is a journey of ‘Shiva’ – a Tibetan Tribe Leader, who becomes a savior of people of Meluha. 

Is he the Neelkanth as mentioned in the Prophesy? Would he fulfill his destiny?

The major distraction for me was the language. Since it was supposed to be a mythological novel, I had certain assumptions and expectations (may be 'wrong') before starting the reading.

It happens in 1900 BC. You cannot expect Shiva and other characters to use modern-day dialects and expressions. There is one instance where a lady doctor (?) of Meluha asks Shiva if he is free right now for taking the instructions. Shiva answers - 'I am free right now. But I may have to charge you later'. Funny, huh???

Sometimes, it was like reading a formal e-mail. A big letdown for me. I am Sorry. But this is not my cup of tea.

Another issue with 'The Immortals of Meluha' is that it does not move forward fast. We wait, wait and wait for some action, twists and turns. Alas, they never come. 

There are too many meaningless, technical (!) and unfruitful dialogues (again, my opinion). Each character is given a specific characteristic. And it follows the same predictable path religiously.

However, it should not mean that the book is bad. If it were so, it would not have gathered so much success in the market. Many people are buying and reading 'The Immortals of Meluha' as well as its two sequels. I have also heard that it is soon going to be adapted into the movie.

May be it is not my genre. May be I am too much into 'The Lord of the Rings' mould, when it comes to the mythological novels. May be I had too many expectations.

But still.....I did not find 'The Immortals of Meluha' up to the expectations.

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Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account (Book Review)

Auschwitz: A Doctor's Eyewitness Account is a memoir of a Jewish Doctor Miklós Nyiszli (from Hungary) who was transported to notorious Auschwitz concentration camp by the Nazis.

Auschwitz was a Nazi extermination camp. More than 1.0 Million Jews were killed in this camp. Every Train arriving at Auschwitz brought number of Jews from across the Europe. 

At the station, they were separated. Families were parted. Children, babies, women, elders...no one was spared. 

Those deemed unfit for (extermination through) labor were sent to the left. From there, they were sent directly to the crematoriums and killed in the gas chambers. 

Others were sent to the right. They were sent to work (and die) in the forced labor camps, where they were literally tortured to the death.

Dr. Nyiszli was selected by Dr. Josef Mengele (Angel of Death) to work under him and carry out various '(human) medical experiments' and perform autopsies.

This book covers Dr. Nyiszli's experiences in the camp. It also gives a detailed account of lives of the Sonderkommandos. He comes to know about ‘different ways’ of killing invented by the SS Officers. 

Does he manage to escape? Does his family survive?

It is not an easy read. It will disturb you. It will take you back to the holocaust era. To one of the darkest hours in human history…. It re-emphasizes the fact that how barbaric, brutal and devilish the Third Reich was!

A must read!

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Inferno (by Dan Brown): Book Review

Inferno is a typical Dan Brown Novel. It is not in the same league with 'Angels & Demons' and 'Da Vinci Code'. However, it is better than 'The Lost Symbol'.

For me, 'The Lost Symbol' was a disaster. I could not even complete reading the book. Hence, 'Inferno', for me, is a sort of comeback by Dan Brown. And one of the plus points of 'Inferno' is that it comes back to Italy. This time, it is - Florence (& to certain extent - Venice).

Surprisingly, I followed the same path, that was followed by Robert Langdon in Inferno while moving from Florence (Firenze in Italian) to Venice (Venezia in Italian), during recent travel. So, it made much more impact.

Brown tried to explain the city of Florence in detail (in fact, Inferno can also be used as Tourist Guide for Florence ;)). It is a lovely city and no words can fully justify its beauty. It was the heart of Italian Renaissance. There are countless magnificent artworks and historical structures in the city. Il Duomo stands out! This huge structure with its unique Dome adorns the skylines of the city. Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) offers the marvelous panoramic view of Florence.

So.....

Our Protagonist, Harvard Symbologist- Robert Langdon, travels to Florence to save the world. The antagonist, a mad scientist, is inspired by the work of Dante, especially Divine Comedy. Langdon follows the clues/codes based on Dante's literature. He travels across countries to solve this mystery. As in every novel of Dan Brown, Robert is assisted by a strong female character - Sienna Brooks.

Langdon comes across many people during his journey. Are friends really friends? Is he good or bad? Will he succeed in stopping the maniac? Can he decipher all the codes in time?

You will get the answers in 'Inferno'. It's a typical Dan Brown entertainment with familiar twists, plot and direction. It takes a while to start. Then it catches the speed. It is fairly successful in holding the interest of the reader. The end is not what we expected for. It shocks you. It catches you unawares.

I still maintain that 'Inferno' is no 'Angels & Demons' Or 'Da Vinci Code'. But at the same time, it is a good read. Inferno has all the ingredients of typical Dan Brown Thriller. An amalgamation of spirituality and futuristic science!

As reported by HollywoodReporter, Inferno will be adapted to the big screen by Sony Pictures and made into a movie (Proposed Release Date: December 18, 2015). Tom Hanks shall reprise the role of Professor Robert Langdon, while Ron Howard shall be back as the Director.

We are glad that Dan Brown is back with 'Inferno'. Let Robert Langdon take you through the secret passages of Florence and Venice with the company of famous artworks of magnificent artists, like - Dante, Botticelli and Michelangelo!

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Papillon: Book Review

Papillon is young and he is condemned to life imprisonment for the murder he did not commit. He has two options. Accept his fate and spend rest of the life in prison. Or retaliate against the injustice and get his life back! What will he do?

Papillon is an autobiography by Henri Charrière, a French convict. He decides to fight back. An escape from the penal colony of French Guiana….Will he be able to conquer the might of Devil’s Island or surrender? The answers lie in the novel!

It is not possible to guess the percentage of truth in the book. But it does not necessarily play spoilsport. It seems impossible for a single man to do so many adventures in his lifetime. Most probably, it is an ensemble of experiences of various prisoners in French Guyana. So, we can say that this novel is an indirect tribute to all those unknown who fought hard to reclaim their freedom and to start their life anew.

Forget about the amount of truth in the story….. It's a gripping tale. A tale of grit and determination of a framed French convict who tries to get his freedom back! A fight of human being against the enforcement and the nature!

It will inspire you. You will not be able to put the book down until you finish. It's fast. It's entertaining. It's thrilling. It's better than Tarzan. It opens a different world before you. An ugly face of the society and governments….

After finishing the book, you would crave for more. And there lies the success of this novel.

It is no surprise that Hollywood made a movie based on the novel, starring Steve McQueen. However, it is one of the worst movie adaptations. It is surprising (and saddening) that it happened with this exciting book. It is still waiting for the justice by Hollywood.

Are Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg listening????

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The Racketeer: Book Review

A federal judge, Mr. Raymond Fawcett, is murdered in his remote lakeside cabin. FBI is unable to trace the killer. And the pressure is mounting.

Enters Malcolm Bannister- Former attorney & now a prisoner. (As always) our innocent man is framed by the crooked (!) federal agents and wrongly imprisoned. His personal life is destroyed. Now, he wants the revenge.

Excitingly stale….isn’t it?

Bannister knows about the Fawcett’s killing. It is his chance. He will tell everything to the FBI. But not before they agree to his demands. The Racketeer is born. Or was he always there?

The Racketeer is supposed to be a legal thriller. The funniest part about it is that there’s nothing thrilling. You wait for the twists and turns which never arrive! The revelations are not exactly the revelations. I already knew all the secrets long before they were disclosed in the novel.

The plot is not tightly woven. I hardly got involved in it. The Racketeer lacks the punch. The research is not adequate. It is too straightforward.

To cut a long story short, it is too Un-Grisham. I have read many novels by John Grisham, and none of them failed to keep the interest intact. He always captivates us with his expertise and vast knowledge in the legal field. It is no fluke that most of his novels are adapted into films.

I do not mean that The Racketeer is boring or completely hopeless. It’s just that it is not what we expect from John Grisham.

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Book Review

This is the first of three novels in Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Other two being: ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire’ and ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest’.

One characteristic we immediately realize about this novel is its intelligent design. The author, Stieg Larsson, never assumes the readers as witless creatures.

Novel has two major parts. First story covers the fight of investigative journalist against a powerful businessman. Second story revolves around the mystery behind sudden disappearance of a girl four decades ago. Second story is longer, more interesting, riveting and unpredictable of the two stories.

Mikael Blomkvist is an investigative journalist and part-owner of the magazine- Millennium.  He has just lost a libel case against the investment tycoon Wennerström. Mikael wants to overcome this embarrassment. He wants to strike back and seek the redemption.

Enters Henrik Vanger, who is in his eighties. An ex-CEO of erstwhile conglomerate (and now struggling) Vanger Corporation. He wants Mikael to investigate the sudden disappearance of his grand-niece Harriet Vanger, apparently murdered, almost four decades ago.

What initially appears to be a silly task turns into a serious investigation. Very Soon Mikael realizes that there are people who do not want him to dig into the matter. Situation is worsened by non-cooperation of weird and eccentric members of Vanger family. The troubles increase with the progress of the case. He is assisted by an anorexic and strange girl – Lisbeth Salander. All characters, including Mikael and Lisbeth, have their own secrets. Will Mikael and Salander succeed in their errand? It will not be easy. How many twists and turns will the story take before we come to an end? There are subtle clues. Few leading, other misleading.

Slowly but surely the novel grips you. The character development is extremely good. Each character, irrespective of its length, stays in the memory.  You cannot put down the novel till the Harriet mystery is resolved.

While the Vanger story is intriguing, the Wennerström affair appears prosaic. It lacks the thrill, nuances and twists in the Vanger mystery. But it is just a minor hiccup in otherwise a very brilliant work.

Overall, it is one hell of a novel. You will be spellbound. There is no surprise that this novel (and entire Millennium Trilogy) has been a huge success across the world.

Unfortunately, Larsson did not survive to see his work being adored by the people. His novels were published posthumously.

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The Fountainhead: Book Review

Marvelous work by Ayan Rand.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. 

The protagonist, Howard Roark, is an individualistic young architect who chooses to struggle in obscurity rather than compromise his artistic and personal vision.

The complex relationships between Roark and the various kinds of individuals who assist or hinder his progress, or both, allow the novel to be at once a romantic drama and a philosophical work. Roark is Rand's embodiment of the human spirit, and his struggle represents the triumph of individualism over collectivism.

ULTIMATELY.. MAN'S EGO IS FOUNTAINHEAD OF HUMAN PROGRESS.

Those who like to read about Honesty, Integrity,  human spirit, individualism, Egoism  and philosophy must  read it.. 

Go for it... don't wait!

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