The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth

Sequel-of-sorts to Avenger. Mainly because same main characters used in The Avenger re-appear in The Cobra. Excellent story-telling again. In-depth coverage of cocaine. How it is manufactured, how it is exported, how it is imported, how payments are made, who are the major players and how vast its tentacles are spread. And of course, how it makes Bill and Buffet look like paupers. Like most of Forsyth's novels (including The Day of the Jackal which I first read), the first half of the novel is all about preparation. Second half is striking and finishing. Perfect use of BAMS technology and what it can achieve. As always, although fiction, Forsyth gives insight on what is occurring in the world, and what technologies and laws can be used to make it a better place.

A Few Quick Ones by P G Wodehouse

Collection of short stories featuring Oofy, Bingo, Freddie, Wooster including few golf stories. Pleasant read.

The Heart of a Goof by P G Wodehouse

Only Wodehouse can combine mild romance and humor with golf. Wonderful short stories - all revolving around golf.

The Old Reliable by P G Wodehouse

Set in Hollywood and with new set of characters. But underlying themes being Wodehousian Constant: Romance, Burglary, Butler, etc. Enchanting read.

The Butler Did It by P G Wodehouse

Based on a slight deviation of Tontine principle, the novel revolves around couple of about-to-be married folks, set in country side of London and, of course, beautiful English and unique set of characters. Extremely funny, wonderful set of twists and turns and a page-turner. Must-read.

Spring Fever by P G Wodehouse

New characters but similar surroundings and schemes - romance in old-world castles, with important-seeming butlers buttling around, etc. Excellent English, of course, and a jugful of humor.

Uncle Dynamite by P G Wodehouse

Jovial as usual. Enough twists and turns with romance popping on and off, impostors, policemen, robbery, etc to make it a page turner. And of course the English language. Must-read.

No Nudes Is Good Nudes by P G Wodehouse

Absolutely topper! Even the title is apt. Blandings Castle, Uncle Threepwood, Lord Emsworth and his pig, Duke of Dunstable, Beach, a couple of romantic hearts and of course 'The Reclining Nude' - a perfect composition of an excellent novel. Add "Wodehouse at his best" and this book is unputdownable.

The Meaning of Life

This book by Bradley Trevor Greive contains less than 120 pages and has one sentence per page. Yes, just one sentence per page. Rest of the page is covered with animal pictures which is why I took the book for my daughter. But as it turned out, this is a book for adults. When I started reading it by chance, I could not put it down till I read the whole thing. It is a page-turner and hard-hitting. The message is wittily put across in less than 10 mins of reading the book.

Lord Emsworth and Others by P G Wodehouse

Rib tickling short stories. Thoroughly enjoyable. Some golf stories too. Only Wodehouse can combine golf with funny love entanglements.

Young Men in Spats by P G Wodehouse

Short story collection involving many of Wodehouse's brightest and funniest heroes. Comical read.

Laughing Gas by P G Wodehouse

A different kind of a novel by Wodehouse. Sci-fi-ish soul-switching incident that happens, as Wodehouse says in 'Fourth Dimension' leads to a laugh riot. Extremely comic page-turner! A must-read.

Just Us Girls by Moka / Sunscreen Books

For lack of any other book, I read my wife's choice of 'Just us girls'. Being father of a daughter (she is less than one now!), it was interesting to know what my daughter will go through a decade later! A good read, actually.
Rating: 2

Blandings Castle and Elsewhere by P G Wodehouse

A collection of short stories of Blandings Castle, Mr Mulliner and Bobbie Wickham. Enjoyable. A snippet (the start of the novel) reproduced below - the English, the setting, the light humor - all wodeshousian Classic!

Lord Emsworth had his eye to a powerful telescope and Beach, the butler, was beside him.
"Beach," said Lord Emsworth.
"M'lord?"
"I've been swindled. This dashed thing doesn't work."
"Your lordship cannot see clearly?"
"I can't see at all, dash it. It's all black."
The butler was an observant man.
"Perhaps if I were to remove the cap at the extremity of the instrument, m'lord, more satisfactory results might be obtained."
"Eh? Cap? is there a cap? So there is. Take it off, Beach."
"Very good, m'lord."
"Ah!" There was satisfaction in Lord Emsworth's voice. "Yes, that's better. That's capital. Beach, I can see a cow."
"Indeed, m'lord?"
"Down in the water-meadows. Remarkable. Might be two yards away."

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

After a long time, I wanted to experience Grisham's legal battles in the court but when I chose this book off the shelf, little did I know that this was nothing to do with legal eagles. It was all about NFL and super bowl in Italy. Half the book is like a tourist guide to Italy and half the book is like a sports magazine on American Football. Totally time pass novel - not something I wanted to read.

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens (abridged)

Time pass. Good to read to get a feeling of the old world charm. It is a collection of adventures of Mr Pickwick and his friends. They go from one city to the other, make friends, attend weddings, have some adventures and move on. Total time pass.

French Leave by P G Wodehouse

Not set in rural England. No Ukridge, no Lord Emsworth, no Wooster, no Psmith, no Uncle Galahad. New set of characters, new location (Roville and St Rocque in France) and new plot although the misunderstandings, lovers tiff, etc is in abundance. Enjoyable. My 50th Wodehouse read.

Thank You, Jeeves by P G Wodehouse

Absolutely topper. There is something about Jeeves and Wooster novels that brings the best out of Wodehouse. A must-read. Cannot help but give an extract of one of the hilarious passages from the novel:

There was a knock at the door and in floated Jeeves.
'Excuse me, sir', he said, shimmering towards old Stoker and presenting an envelope on a salver. 'A seaman from your yacht has just brought this cablegram, which arrived shortly after your departure this morning from the yacht. The captain of the vessel, fancying that it might be of an urgent nature, instructed him to convey it to this house. I took it from him at the back door and hastened hither with it in order to deliver it to you personally.'
The way he put it made the whole thing seem like one of those great epics you read about. You followed the procedure step by step, and the interest and drama worked up to the big moment. Old Stoker, however, instead of being thrilled, seemed somewhat in the impatient side.
'What you mean is, there's a cable for me.'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then why not say so, damn it, instead of making a song about it. Do you think you're singing in opera, or something? Gimme.'

Money in the Bank by P G Wodehouse

Wonderful! Again the Wodehousian formula: romance, missing diamonds, beautiful girl engaged but not liking the adventurous spirit of her Boy Handsome but bowled over the Master Orator, set in a country house, few scenes of attempt-to-burgle and getting caught in the cupboard, etc. Never fails to bore the reader.

The Mating Season by P G Wodehouse

Topper! Its always a pleasure to read the conversation between Jeeves and Wooster and this novel has lots of it. Set in a country hall, Wooster finds himself in the midst of four couples' tiffs and his name being changed to Fink-Nottle! Full of entertainment!