Each month I try to read at least one book and write my feelings about it on this page. It's not a review, but an overview of what I thought while and after reading the book. Here are more reasons why I started this page.
November 2018
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
A book about how to choose which things to focus on, how to not worry about everything else, and how to realign your values so that you realize where true happiness lies. The crass language and repetitive ideas may get a bit boring at times, but overall gist is quite clearly explained with help of real life examples of the author along with some referenced stories.Personally, I would have liked less swearing in the book. Due to the fact that it's a rewritten version of collected blog posts, some chapters may feel like essays. But I do understand what the author is trying to get to, and is quite effective in reaching his goals. Highly recommended to read. It's a short book, and definitely not a waste of time.
September 2018
Origin by Dan Brown
This is the fifth book in the series of mystery novels written with the protagonist Robert Langdon. Dan Brown talks about religion and science in this novel, and creates a setting with his usual style of describing the picturesque architecture and people in this novel containing one of the most interesting plots I've come across. The novel was overall well received, yet some critics were not too keen about it as they thought it's an expected plot with the usual twists and turns in a Robert Langdon story. Frankly, that's what I was hoping for as Robert Langdon stories are quite entertaining on their own. The character is written true to itself, and at least I was not able to guess the plot. The end of the story is quite well brought together, and the overall effect of the story is pleasant yet troubling.For Robert Langdon and Dan Brown fans, this novel is a treat. For others, I'd still recommend starting to read the book and see if the plot is appealing.
June 2018
John Bonham: The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin by Mick Bonham
The author, Mick Bonham, the younger brother of John Bonham, wanted to write to right the wrong written by those who didn't know John well. He wrote this book describing the life with John as a brother, a drummer, and a family man.Mick wanted to rewrite the book to make better, but sadly passed away before he could do so. His widow decided to keep the writing as it is to honor and encapsulate the true nature of the life shared by both brothers.
It's a casual tale, told by a simple, funny, and hard working man about the life of an international icon who himself was a family man above all. The interviews and stories give a nice depth to the characters, and provide some fond memories of Bonzo. The humor is subtle, and makes it an easy read.
This book is definitely recommended for the fans of Led Zeppelin, and more so for the fans of John "Bonzo" Bonham.
May 2018
Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik's Cube Solving by Ian Scheffler
This is the author's journey about solving the Rubik's cube in under 20 seconds, which is considered the 4 minute mile in Rubik's cube speedsolving, and his adventures and stories about the people he met during the process. It's not a manual or a handbook about how to solve the Rubik's cube.The book is really well written, and contains a lot of great stories about various personalities, and how they dealt with the world of Rubik's cube speedsolving. Due to the niche nature of Rubik's cubes and their terminologies, unfamiliar audience may become uninterested with the jargon used throughout the book, but the author does his best to explain most of the phrases from time to time, so the reader is not left alone.
I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and the journey, and hopefully the world of Rubik's cube speedsolving also benefits from the author's adventures.
May 2018
The Pope of Physics: Enrico Fermi and the Birth of the Atomic Age by Gino Segrè
Enrico Fermi, the brilliant physicist from Italy, was revered in the field of atomic physics, and this book takes the reader on the journey of how Fermi became Fermi.The authors have taken their time to establish all the aspects of Fermi's life, including how his family dealt with the associated name and fame. It's a detailed account of Fermi's chronicles, one to be definitely read to delve deeper into the world of atomic physics as it was being born.
February 2018
Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner
A fast paced, well narrated murder mystery with an element of surprise for the reader that in a way there are two novels being read for the price of one.And I truly did not see the twist coming.
January 2018
1984 by George Orwell
A story that begins with a stifled individual of a totalitarian regiment trying to wriggle free of its shackles, continues through patches of his struggle to break out, and ends the journey on an unexpected note.The passages where the protagonist is reading the manifesto are central to the understanding of the journey through which the author takes the reader. Just like the protagonist, reader is aware of what is happening behind the scenes, yet may not be able to put the explanations in words.
The structure is sound, and the execution is brutal. The reader will go through plethora of emotions along with the story.
Perhaps not the ending I hoped for, but the ending it deserved.
December 2017
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
This was a great plot, and really well narrated story. Written based on a bet that it's impossible to keep the readers in the dark from the mystery when both the detective and the reader have access to the same clues, the author has taken great efforts to hide the clues in cleverly constructed words. Until the end of all the chapters, readers such as myself would be clawing at thin air in order to perceive the identity of the culprit. Not only did the climax make sense, but it also finished with a flourish after connecting the little nuances of each character's behaviour to their innermost desires and wants. The introduction to Hercule Poirot in such a sleek manner must have created an excited anticipation of his return when the story was first published, and it would do the same for any new reader including myself.October 2017
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
I saw this novel mentioned on an episode of The Mentalist. I started reading it, then abandoned it, then started again. Finishing this novel has been my own chase of the White Whale. Considered as one of the greatest American novels, this is one of the longest books I have ever come across. The other one I remember was about investments (in which I had no interest; pun intended,) and I didn’t even finish one chapter from it.Herman Melville has written the story based on his own experiences as a sailor, but I didn’t realize that he paid such detailed attention to his job until I read the book. He has described each and every aspect of sailing and whaling. His grammar, sentence construction, and narrative style gets a little too curvy at times. There are more semicolons in this book than number of whales alive today. Certain passages are true depictions of the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words'; Melville has used thousand words to paint just a part of the picture. It’s like watching a movie where each scene is followed by a documentary narrating how and why that scene was shown.
I'm ecstatic that I read this, and absolutely relieved that it's over. I could very rarely focus through some of the incredibly detailed descriptions. It's a great novel, no doubt, but not for everyone. Especially if you are a mystery enthusiast, it's really hard to convince you to start reading this 900 page leviathan. One thing I didn’t anticipate happening was my renewed interest in the story as I reached near the end. It was almost the same feeling as when a long haul trip is about to be over. That’s what it was - the longest trip in the sea of imagination.
In order to keep my attention invested while reading the old style of writing, I resorted to reading the story out loud, thereby giving myself time to imagine the story as it happened. I’m glad to have found this technique as I’m sure this is not the most drawn out novel of all time.
July 2017
The Hard Way by Lee Child
Jack Reacher gets involved in another crime, and this time he does not resist too hard to get out. His ability to tell time without looking at a clock, his investigation capabilities, and his practical approach to problems stand out in this plot set in the city of New York. Lee Child has outdone himself in this novel, and I had no dull moments while reading this story. This being the tenth book in the series, it's recommended that previous novels are read to get a better idea about Jack Reacher, but the novel stands on its own anyway.June 2017
One Shot by Lee Child
This book became the first movie made from one of the Jack Reacher book series. There has been discontent within the fanbase of the books about the casting of the 5'7" Tom Cruise as the 6'5" Jack Reacher. But truth be told, the author Lee Child himself has supported Tom Cruise's casting. Here's the excerpt:Explaining the casting decision, author Lee Child said that it would be impossible to find a suitable actor to play the giant Reacher and to recreate the feel of the book onscreen, and that Cruise had the talent to make an effective Reacher. Child also said, "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way." Of Cruise's relatively small stature, Child said, "With another actor you might get 100% of the height but only 90% of Reacher. With Tom, you'll get 100% of Reacher with 90% of the height."
When the creator of the series has no problem with the choice, I have no issues either. Lee Child certainly has a better placed opinion than I do.
I read the book before watching the movie, so I noticed the obvious and not so obvious differences in the plot. In general I enjoyed the movie and the book at the same level. The book has some obvious elements of the usual Jack Reacher story arc. It's never surprising to see Reacher get out of tight situations, but always surprising to see how. It's great to see consistency in the character from the author even after 10 books.
November 2016
Open by Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi, the rebel, the hard-hitting tennis player that hated tennis, speaks honestly in his appropriately named autobiography 'Open'. I had a fascination with Agassi from my childhood. His flamboyant hair, brilliant smile, and aggressive game that covered the whole court was so enthralling, that even though I didn't play tennis, I wanted to every time I saw him play. He talks about how quality mattered to him over quantity when he mentions winning all grand slams was more important than winning most number of grand slams. He has an amazing recall of all the games he played. J. R. Moehringer, the journalist who penned the autobiography for Agassi, has created a masterpiece. This was the first autobiography I have ever read, and I loved it. Highly recommended.August 2016
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Amid the tremendous hype generated by the novel written by a former journalist, it became almost impossible to get this book from the local library. There were at least 45 copies in the library, and I could get my hands on none of those till this year. Such was the popularity and demand that putting a hold on it meant waiting for 20 people to get done with it first.It was late in July 2016 that I finally had time and enough interest to sincerely start reading this thriller set in London. The story began as a fascinating narrative into the life of an average girl taking a train from her home to her office. Slowly we are introduced to the tragic world of her imagination, or perhaps her delusions as she starts to discover soon. The narrator, an alcoholic, has a hard time keeping her life straight. Her only solace is the life of others as seen from the train window. We walk with her through her disheveled life. And soon we are introduced to more such narrators, each having their own issues, their own perspectives, and their own stories. The stories start interlinking, and reveal a mystery that has been the central part of each of their lives.
I was not expecting this to be an out and out thriller that will keep me on the edge. I thought the plot was interesting and mysterious enough for me to delve into it. I really liked the writing and connections between narrations. The author does a fine job of creating a mystifying if not thrilling plot. I was always intrigued about what happens next. The story never felt boring. I felt sorry for the main character, and it gave me an insight into the lives of alcoholic and out of control individuals trying to get their proceedings back on track. Even though it's not the best mystery out there, it's good enough for me to recommend reading once.
February 2016
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
I felt disturbed when reading this book. This is a brilliant trilogy written by a mastermind who knew how to connect dots. The way story of first and second novels in the series is connected in this third installment is mind boggling. But it’s not difficult to understand. In fact it’s so straightforward that it becomes one complete story. I know that is how it was intended, but how many times do you see one story behind a trilogy? With each page I grew restless. With each twist my heart beat faster. Every character is well defined. They all have a role to play. But the most well defined and well rounded are the main protagonists. I wish Stieg Larsson had lived on to see the legend his work has become. I wish he had been here to write more. His attention to detail and penchant of explaining fiction with a factual tone is addictive to me. It makes me sad to see this story come to an end.January 2016
Signal by Patrick Lee
The second book in the Sam Dryden series does not carry any elements from the first one, Runner, other than the protagonist. I had some issues with the first novel, namely print errors and abrupt changes in writing styles. These issues don’t appear to have carried over to the second novel.The story unfolds quickly. I was completely engrossed in the plotline. The descriptions are vivid, and easy to visualize. The plot might seem stretched thin to accommodate the main thread, but I think the author handled it very well. I was not too surprised to find out who the antagonist is, but it seems like the handling of the story itself was much more important than revealing secrets. The end is different from what I imagined it will be. I definitely recommend the novel for anybody with an interest in mysteries and thrillers.
January 2016
The Chimera Vector by Nathan Farrugia
Nathan contacted me through GoodReads.com and asked me if I was interested in reading his book. He didn’t even ask me to give an honest review! Seems like a nice guy.I was impressed by the plot. It has all elements of a technothriller - fights, secret organizations, double agents, threats to the world. Moreover, the technical details in the story are well described. I don’t know if they can work even in theory, but in a fantastical mystery novel, I don’t expect it to make sense.
The author, Nathan Farrugia, is what I would call a method author. He goes through intense training, gruesome exercises, and various survival camps in order to gain greater understanding of situations to write about in his novels. That is some serious dedication. I also got to know that there is a test that determines whether a work of fiction contains at least two female characters who converse about topics excluding men. Mr Farrugia gets an ‘A’ rating on that test. Impressive!
I enjoyed this book, and the different style of storytelling. The premise is promising, and hopefully the next books in the series continue to improve upon the plot.
January 2016
Animal Farm by George Orwell
George Orwell knows how to make a normal person uneasy. I believe I’m not a normal person. George Orwell made me uneasy. Therefore, either I am a normal person, or George Orwell knows how to make anyone uneasy.It started off as a simple short story, but turned into a completely metaphorical take on reality. Orwell has captured the essence of our beings. The interpretations can be plenty, but I know one thing for sure.
I will never look at pigs the same way again.
November 2015
The Martian by Andy Weir
My initial plan, as always, was to read the book before the movie releases. Those were the dreams. Reality made me watch the movie and realize its awesomeness. I was tensed at the end but the space did bend to lend a smile for the money I did spend. Heh.Back to the book review. Watching the movie made it easier to visualize the book as I read. That does not diminish the value of reading the book whatsoever. A couple of plot point are different in the movie from the book. The changes make sense in the movie, and the original plot is better as a written story. I love how innovative, snarky, and sarcastic the main character is. Andy Weir did extensive research to ensure this novel is as scientifically accurate as possible. That, in my book, coupled with the fact that it’s his first novel, is impressive.
The book delivers a crisp and fast paced story. It switches well between narrative by main character and story told in third person. The main character is very relatable, and the entire plot is very gripping. Even though reader might guess the ending, it’s still worthwhile to read as Andy Weir wrote. The science in the book, if boring, can be skimmed over without losing any value.
It’s a must read for everyone.
September 2015
Blink by Malcom Gladwell
Ever heard of the term ‘Too Much Information’? Ever gone to a meeting where they tell you to get as much data as possible? Ever caught yourself in a pressure situation frozen with the overwhelming amount of choices to sift through? Blink explores the reasons behind why having too much to think about can be harmful when it comes to split second decisions.I started the book with no expectations about its content. I have been told on a couple of occasions that this book is quite informative but borders on ‘meh’ in terms of impact. My personal opinion however, is completely different. This book shows that it’s possible to explain the gut feelings and hunches and instincts. The ability to make decisions with seemingly fleeting glance at the situation is not magical but rather explainable based on the unconsciously observed patterns when hours and hours of study is put in. It contains plenty of real life stories and examples of how snap judgments have good and bad effects and how they can be explained.
The stories are fascinating and informative, while the explanations are not extensive. Reading this book feels more like a long article in a magazine; there is enough content to pique your interest, but not enough to cover all bases. It’s definitely worth another skim if not a reread.
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