The Little Warrior by P G Wodehouse

A nice story of a young English damsel who loses all her wealth due to a care-free uncle and hence ends up in a Broadway chorus (opera). Very good characterization and a clean read.

Rating: 2

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Perhaps because I had already seen the movie. Perhaps because I had very high expectations. The book seemed to be a bit of a bore, compared to the action pack movie. The ending too was not satisfying. Perhaps I would have different opinion if I had read the novel first.
Rating: 2.5

Bill The Conqueror by P G Wodehouse

An explicit Wodehousian novel - full of twists and turns and romance and broken engagements, some fights, etc. Damn funny!

The World of Mr Mulliner by P G Wodehouse

As Wodehouse himself says, he is worried about how heavy the book is going to be. He also says he has made the short stories as funny as possible. On both counts, he is true. It is very heavy (622 pages - 42 short stories) and it is extremely funny. Definitely worth reading!

Bertie Wooster Sees It Through by P G Wodehouse

:-)

What a novel! Typical setting in Brinkley Manor, of lost necklaces, of engagements, of policemen, and of course of Jeeves' brilliance! Sprinkled with beautiful English! Awesome read!

Angel Cake by P G Wodehouse

A very nice light hearted novel about how Barmy gets money and loses it all and earns it all back again. Of course, a touch of romance and friendship. Wodehouse at his best.

America, I like you by P G Wodehouse

This is not completely but almost an autobiography of Wodehouse. He did not want to write a conventional autobiography and hence he has added some humorous instances but it isnt really humorous.

Mostly Sally aka Adventures of Sally by P G Wodehouse

Its a nice long story. One of the longest novels I had ever read of Wodehouse. Although did not feel bored, I felt it could have been condensed. Also it was not altogether as funny as his other novels. And hardly any complications and interconnected entaglements.

Mike and Psmith by P G Wodehouse

A beautiful novel about school and cricket. Enjoyed it thoroughly. It reminded me of Blyton's St Clare's and Malory Towers.

Plum Pie by P G Wodehouse

A collection of short stories. The last story of 'Life with Freddie' is the longest and the best...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Very nice book. Really enjoyed it. Made me go back to my schoolhood days. Awesome linguistic accent used and nice adventures.

Peril At End House by Agatha Christie

Very nice plot. Puts off the reader, and even Poirot for most part. In fact, one gets the feeling that Poirot has indeed lost the case as a life is lost even after Poirot is on the case. A number of twists and turns makes this book a page turner.

The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie

Poirot's first case. Book by Agatha Christie. A nice read. Pretty interesting. Much much better than that Miss Marple I had just read. In fact, I had to really muster up courage to read another Christie book after Nemesis!

Nemesis by Agatha Christie

An ok-dokey novel. Story is good but I somehow dont like Christie's narration. Perhaps its more so in this novel because main character is Miss Marple who is too old and every other sentence talks about her having to take rest, about having to stroll in the garden and such lot. Readable once when there is no other novel to be read...

Avenger by Frederick Forsyth

Excellent story-telling. Liked especially the names of each chapter. The previous Forsyth novel which I had read (Dogs of War) had disappointed me but this one tops the chart. There is a story behind each character and each story is fascinating. Details of many post-Second-World-War wars of the world are covered in this novel, like the Bosnian war, the Afghanistan war, the Vietnam war, etc. The Tunnel Rats concept during the Vietnam war is mind-chilling. The concept of being the 'avenger' is good. And like a counter-balance, 'Lesser good over bigger evil' also is good. But I felt the ending was more of an anti-climax. The heretofore powerful villain suddenly seemed extremely vulnerable in the end. But, very significantly, the novel ends on 9/10/2001, a day before World Trade Center was hit by terrorists.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

If it were two boys in The Kite Runner, it is two women in A Thousand Splendid Suns. It is again set in Afghanistan, the writing continues to be good and emotionally deep. Too many disappointments, too many sad things happen, but there is always a silver lining lurking. But then I guess thats the reality in Afghanistan, with each and every Afghan over the last so many decades. Worth a read, but rather felt it is stretched to an extent.

The R Document by Irving Wallace

Reminded me of Hardy Boys! Very amateurish but, after a long time, enjoyed reading a fast paced novel. A good read, and a very good subject to write a novel. Rather unique.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Dubious and weird it seems but at times it also seems to have some stuff in it. Its nothing but Shankaracharya's Adwaitha Philosophy. All about how everything is in one's mind and how anyone can get anything that they want just by focusing on the item or object of desire and asking for it from the Universe, and believing it and really feeling it as if received. Yeah, I know! Its more of a documentary of comments from various people than just notes from Rhonda. Not really a must read.

The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth

I didnt like it. Started well and is a meticulous book, as in any Forsyth novel, but ending was an anti-climax, with nothing great happening than expected. All through the book, more emphasis lay on managing the money that the mercenary was given and the thing about Spanish Harlem was amateurish. Long ago when I read the Day of Jackal and Negotiator and Devil's Alternative, Forsyth was right up there at the top. Or is it that the writing has always been this way and my way of looking at normal fiction has changed...?

Oct 2008

Five Point Someone

by Chetan Bhagat

The Dogs of War

by Frederick Forsyth

Review of books read recently:

1) Life of Pi: A must read. Fascinating imagination. Amazing narration. Although the story is just a simple tale of a cast away boy in the middle of Pacific Ocean.

2) Five Point Someone: An awesome novel of what not to do in IIT! Extremely hilarious and real cool way of looking at life.