The Help - Kathryn Stockett

Date of Reading: 27/08/2013

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Publisher: Amy Einlarn Books

Place: New York

Year: 2009

          
        Once I had this nagging fear: what if all the classics run out, and I don't like these post-modern books? Well, 'The Help' has helped to put a rest to that fear and I am glad that the movie experience didn't ruin even the teeniest bit of its charm. Mammy's side of the 'Gone with the Wind', that is what Skeeter describes her work, which is true to the entire novel too. The entire female dominated perspective puts forth the nostalgic feeling of a 21st century Jane Austen novel (oh, not in the case of romance) with its unraveling of  some complex minds.

           Friendship, mother-daughter love, career and boyfriend troubles and most of all racism -- Stockett has put forth a string of themes. And when it comes to the leading role, I am still confused. Skeeter or Aibileen? It could be the movie's influence, I was waiting for all the Skeeter chapters (and Minny of course).

           

"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends", says Dumbledore in Harry Potter series. Its that courage that puts Skeeter along with Aibileen and Minnie. The sudden realization that your friends are no longer following the right path, the moment when the blindness is lifted of the eyes, is hard for a 22 year old. The fact that you don't have any friends left may not always be your fault. When you stand up for what you think is just and right, you may not get much company behind. Its always easy to lead life according to other's wishes (you just have to put your self respect behind), not so if you want to live it in your way.
           The novel is moored around the stories of three women: Miss Skeeter, the 22-year old Ole Miss graduate, Aibileen the wise black maid who has lost her own son and is now bringing up her 17the white child and, Minny the sass mouthing black maid who by the way is also the best cook in the entire Mississippi. Year is 1962; protests are going on under the leadership of Martin Luther King.

         Skeeter has just come back from college and finds that her childhood friends Hilly (who rules the entire Jackson) and Elizabeth married and settled with children. Her own long stature shoos the boys away and her mother is constantly worried of her ringless fingers. With the intention of being a writer, she takes a job in Jackson Journal. She is to maintain the housekeeping column for which he seeks the help of Aibileen, Elizabeth's help.
         Hilly's insistence on separate toilets for the coloured help kindles an old spark, and with the encouragement of Elaine Stein, the editor of Harper & Row, she decides to make a book of interviews of black help in Jackson. Aibileen agrees reluctantly but they need a dozen more.
         Minny is Aibi's best friend and her sass mouthing and I-don't-care nature puts her into conflict with Hilly and nobody is ready to take her to a household. Finally she is taken by Celia Foote, the pretty new wife of rich Johnny who is not accepted into the lady's circle due to her low birth. Her new changed circumstances where she is considered as an equal in every way, makes her too enter into the book project. But the others still lack courage.
         When Hilly's maid Yule May is arrested for stealing a ring to pay her sons' tuition fees, other maids are aroused to narrate her love and hate stories in White households -- how it is to raise a white child when your own child is looked after by others. Skeeter is alienated from her Hilly due to her stance against the separate toilets and the entire Jackson puts their back on her. On hearing about the secret book project her boyfriend backs away from the intended proposal but she continues the lonely path.

           Harper & Row publishes the book as The Help with limited copies and without revealing the writer's identity. And names of the maids and also that of the town is also changed. Suspicions grow around but Minny's episode with Hilly saves the impending disaster. As a revenge on the toilet issue and spreading lies on her Minny has mixed her shit with chocolate pie which Hilly eats with relish. Hilly, ever afraid of this secret to be in the open, declares that the book is not on Jackson.
         

Kathryn Stockett

The Help gets a reprint and Skeeter is off to New York for her new job with Harper. Minny leaves her drunken, beating husband at last; Aibileen loses her job because of the book but she feels free and decides to be a writer.

--- The 2011 film adaptation of Tate Taylor got four Academy Award Nominations and Spencer won the Best Supporting Actress award for playing the role of Minny.
           

            

Chat Love - Justine Faeth

Date of Reading: 08/07/2013

Author: Justine Faeth

Publisher: The Small Press

Place: Texas

Year: 2012

From: The author in return of an honest review

      

           A 'Beauty and the Beast' fairy tale or in modern terms a Rhett Butler - Scarlett story is, what can I say, always enchanting. And so does Faeth's 'Chat Love'. From beginning to end we are glued to the pages (or to the laptop screen, as in my case), and the figure of Lucia gets entangled with our own lives. One that is always seen but never much noticed.

The intimate narrative style of Faeth often reminds me of Kinsella, but she lacks in the act of perfect plot making. Searching for the Mr. Right everywhere and at last finding him in the Byronic colleague, is a common but fascinating theme. The tiny glitch was that from the moment Jackson is introduced, we get the flow of the story and there is no surprise. Even the episode of Jack in the chat love website is too easy to guess and there is nothing original. Whether the title is suitable for the novel is debatable, but most of the chat love dates felt like a digression from the main plot (without contributing anything) rather than an entertainment.
           Even within these limitations, Faeth has produced an outstanding work of chick lit. I did have a good time with the kindle edition.
          Lucia Fabbo is a 28 year old Italian beauty who hasn't found her Mr. Right yet. Her dates are collapsing one after the other while her friends walk towards the altar or enjoy seducing the opposite sex. Her younger sister is pregnant and the pressure is mounting up.
         As the last attempt she turns to chat love, a site where people who look for serious relationships talk and arrange dates. She had a crush towards her British colleague Jackson, but as he is not a faithful husband material the case cannot be prolonged. That won't retract Jackson though. Gradually they come to know of each others stories, but a relationship is still at bay.
          Lucia continues with the chat love dating and the novel continues with the humorous situations she encounters. She gets a friend to share her thoughts too -- a mystery man named Jack. They get fond of each other and he is turned out to be none other than Jackson who is also surprised by these turn of events. 

Justin Faeth

           But Lucia is afraid of another heartbreak (which happened with her former relationships) and it takes her sometime to realise the love towards another who too had suffered like her once. The lovers are united and the story ends with the amazing proposal of Jackson.    

Perverse - Larry Rodness

Date of Reading: 22/06/2013

Author: Larry Rodness

Publisher: Ithoh Press

Place: USA

Year: 2012

From: the author in exchange of an honest review

My Rating: 3.5/5

            Hmph! . . . I am not exactly a fan of vampire stuff (well, except for 'Twilight Saga'), and this cover page almost scared me off. But tempting is the offer of a free book and so here I am. Larry is indeed blessed with an enchanting language, the narrative is so gripping that it is impossible to put it down without finishing.

          Some of the plot can be predicted, but not the climax. And isn't their some truth in Laszlo's question? If there is a devil that sucks your blood out and turn you into a blood longing vampire, shouldn't there be a God to cure the virtuous? Too bad this book too follows the age old dictum; once a vampire, always a vampire.

            The total atmosphere is eerie, which suits to the theme. But I would have preferred some comic relief in between. There is the absence of a parallel plot which is often felt as the story goes on in the same place circling around a few characters. On the whole a good book for one time reading and much better if you are travelling.

            Emylene Stipe is a rare second generation Goth and as she finds that her parents have already revolted against the existing social system, she revolts against the parents. With her friend Nancy she does some perverse attempts to experience the stage between life and death which when found  by adults results in the separation of two.

           As a teenager she moves out of her home and starts working in a textile shop. She comes into the friendship of a man called Stelio who is twice her age, but the absence of a romantic interest from his part frustrates Emylene further. Once when he shows interest on an anique picture, she wins that from the reluctant shopkeeper.

         

She hangs the picture on the room and a girl appears who seems to be pursued by the men inside. Emylene helps her come out and names her Poinsettia, but things begin to change on her arrival. Stelio dies suddenly and her store and apartment is burned in fire. Poinsettia persuades her to take her place in the picture as she nothing is left for her in this world. Emylene goes in, too late in understanding the true nature of her friend; people believe her to be dead and the place comes under the influence of her vampire friend.
           After two years she is saved by the shop owner Laszlo Birij who gives the real story of Poinsettia. Her real name is Mira and she was his wife. After the attack of a vampire during her honeymoon, she too is turned and is put into the picture until a cure can be found.

         Now the city has become a ghost town, but Emylene succeeds in finding her mother alive. Father is still under the clutches of Mira and so they set out for a final battle together with Laszlo. The surprise comes in the form of Stelio who turns out to be the master vampire. With the help of her parents Emylene destroys him and Laszlo stabs Mira. When they burn the whole town to demolish other vampires, Laszlo gets trapped. At the end of the novel he is seen to be feeding Mira in their secret place.          

Ring the Bell against Child Marriages!!!

               

            I have been to a conference in Durgapur, West Bengal last week and I remember watching a pregnant woman with her little child taking rest on the platform.

          "How old can she be?", my friends were whispering.

             "Not more than sixteen, for sure".

          Not an unusual sight you might say, and I can't contradict. When Indichange has asked me to write on child marriages, I searched my memory; Hmph . . . none of my friends have got into that misfortune, they have fought well with the support of our teachers.

             

Indian law says a marriage below the age of eighteen is child marriage. Will a girl turn into a grown, emotionally matured woman by the age of eighteen? For God's sake, she will be in the first year of her graduation (that is, if she is born into a cultured society where women are educated). While her male counterparts travel through colleges with PhDs and Post-PhDs, she is deprived of her platform to perform, succeed and be independent.

            A marriage before or after eighteen won't matter, if her status remains same. In a country where the usual law of marriage is disregarded quietly, it might be fruitless to talk about a raise in the age of marriage, but it should be done; so that no girls will have to write their exams with bulged bellies and morning sickness again; so that they won't be ashamed of their birth as a woman and unhappy in their role as a mother.

           As always reform should start in families; so let each mother and father take the pledge of bringing up their boys with respect to women and their girls with respect to themselves. Its a small step, but one that will go far.

          

Shoes of the Dead - Kota Neelima

Date of Reading: 10/06/2013

Author: Kota Neelima

Publisher: Rainlight

Place: New Delhi

Year: 2013

Rating: 4.5/5

             Each book in my shelf has an outside story; a tale through which they came to my life and this one is going to be special. Thanks to BlogAdda's Book Review program, this third book of Kota Neelima was my constant companion throughout my train journey which extended to three states -- Andrapradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. 
             As one of the members of new generation who is acquainted with agriculture through the plays of Farmville, a political novel on farmer suicides is an eye opener. Rains may not come, and crops might wither but there won't be any free gifts or mystery babies to wait for. The green fields with lotus ponds and the waving children covered in mud whom I can watch through the train window presented a contrasting picture to the one I was reading. Nonetheless, the story is about them, a time they might have passed and wish to forget -- the time of rice water survivals. By the time the story reached the meager survival of Gangri, the severe food poisoning episode has taught me hunger and my experience of the book was complete.

            Neelima's career as a journalist has quite evidently helped in the writing task. Nazar Prabhakar, the sharp journalist works as the writer's unconscious and his occasional repartee is the most cherished moments in the story. There are three story's running simultaneously -- Nazar and Videhi's, Gangri's and Kayur's -- but author hasn't let the reader stray from the central theme, debt related farmer suicides. 
             Author has avoided the usual cliches of blaming the democratic system and the political representatives, instead a middle path is taken to know the ways that make them forcefully corrupt to adapt to the political tides. The writer expects some fruitful action, not another discussion with fancy words in the news room. A fast paced serious work which will leave its trace on you and is much recommended in this turbulent times.
             

The district of Mityala is witnessing an increased number of farmer suicides due to successive crop failures and the burden of debt. When Sudhakar Bhadra succumbs to this same fate, the powerful district suicide committee of Mityala which governs the interests of moneylenders and traders dismisses it as aptra and refuses compensation to his widow.
            Sudhakar's brother, Gangri, who was working as a teacher in the city resigns his job and vouches his life for the justice of other farmer suicides. He becomes a member of the committee and influences others to vote rightfully.

             This increase in the suicidal rates engenders the political future of Keyur Kashinath, the first time MP of Democratic Party from Mityala. As the son of Vaishnav Kashinath, party's general secretary, he is heir to his father's power in Delhi politics. His intention to oust Gangri from the committee through foul means catches the eye of the young journalist Nazar Prabhakar and the news creates ripples in Delhi politics.
            Keyur is forced to investigate the issue personally and his contact with Gangri turns him against moneylenders. Farmer suicides of the past years are reconsidered and the deserved ones are given compensation.

             

Kota Neelima

Meanwhile Gangri's nephew dies of malnutrition and fever and a heartbroker Gangri commits suicide. Keyur resigns his MP position and comes to Mityala to implement Gangri's plans. 

Something to ponder:  
"The increasing toll is bound to trouble the people in power because farmers like us are not supposed to be visible to the government. . . But now our lives are drawing attention because of our deaths." - 93

This review is a part of the biggest <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank"> Book Review Program </a> for <a href="http://www.blogadda.com" target="_blank">Indian Bloggers.</a> Participate now to get free books!           
            

War Horse - Michael Morpurgo

Date of Reading: 29/03/2013

Author: Michael Morpurgo

Publisher: Egmont 

Place: London

Year:2010 (as e-book)
Rating: 3.5/5

           May be I am a little too old for children's fiction, but here we are. I have watched the Steven Spielberg movie, so thought its time to lay hands on the book too. All in all its Black Beauty gone to war; except for the introduction of  World War I, there is not much difference from Anna Sewell's work, Spielberg at least has succeeded in producing a reunion theme out of it.

           One thing puzzles me though, how can this horse understand three languages? (English, German, French). And his narrative voice is much like that of  a full grown homo sapiens, not of a horse. Pretty impressive!!! 

            Joey, the horse is narrating his life story and it begins with his separation from his mother. His master turns out to be a gentle boy, Albert, who trains him as a farm horse and also rides him well. With the outbreak of World War I, the situation changes.
            Joey is sold to the army where his superior abilities attains him much respect. A new friend -- Topthorne -- comes to life. Joey's owners (first Captain Nicholls and later Trooper Warren) gets killed in the war and soon both horses find themselves in the hands of the Germans. They are used to bring the wounded back from the battlefield.
             

           Emilie, a little French girl, becomes their guardian while they are camped at her grandfather's farm. But the friends are soon parted as the horses are taken away to pull the artillery. Topthorne dies in the no-man's land leaving Joey run for safety. He gets wounded and in a surprising turning point in the story, a soldier from both sides come to help him. They toss a coin for the ownership and the English side wins Joey.
             

He is transported to the vetenary hospital nearby where he finds his Albert waiting for him. He has joined the army for the sole sake of finding his companion. Joey is nursed through difficult times and the war too gets over. Horses are auctioned in public and Albert loses Joey to Emilie's grandfather. She is dead and Joey is the last part that is associated with her memory. Hearing about Albert's devotion to the horse, the old man hands over Joey asking him to take care of him till his life's end.
           

Michael Morpurgo

Albert returns to his farm at Devon and marries his sweetheart. Joey says she never liked him.


--- the story is adapted for screen by Steven Spielberg in 2011 and film won six Academy Award Nominations including that of Best Picture.              

Tantra - Adi

Date of Reading: 11/04/2013

Author: Adi

Publisher: Apeejay Stya

Place: New Delhi

Year: 2013

My Rating: 4/5

             I did have my premonitions on seeing the cover page of this book, but fortunately the story fared better. A female action figure from an Indian English fiction!!! A feast to the mind indeed. Adi has left some loose ends, but considering that a sequel is expected, we might know the answers soon.

           An obsessive sadhu using the evil tantric techniques to conquer the world is not a new story when it comes to Indian movies and regional literature. The twist here is an intermingling of East and West and the introduction of a female savior. Anu is a no-nonsense professional vampire killer and her male allies are not jealous of  her powerful reputation.The usual difference that irritates me so often when a male author writes on a girl is not even felt, but the sad part is, should we need to be brought up in America to become an enlightened heroine?

           

Setting could be Delhi, but as all the characters seems to be well versed in American English, this seemed unreal (where in Delhi we can find these kind of people, who can crack good Western jokes, is beyond my imagination). One reminder is the usual criticisms of India -- bad computer facilities, dirty slums, ignorance and fear. 

          Over all Adi has succeeded in maintaining a rhythm and balance, and a wise selection of characters adds to this gleam. Somewhere in the middle we might feel that his knowledge on tantra is a bit shallow, but that could be forgiven for this excellent plot. As a thriller cum spiritual reader, this is an interesting one for everyone interested in the genre. Thank you BlogAdda for giving me a free copy through your book review program. Now to the story.
            Anu Aggarwal is a professional guardian with a reputation for killing the most dangerous vampires in New York city. When her enemies murder her lover, Brian, she puts in for a transfer to New Delhi where she expects to find the killer.
           But things in India is more than she has bargained for. For one, her fellow operatives have made a truce with the vampires to keep a balance in the city. Now the children have started disappearing and Anu suspects vampires. Dr. Sharma, a University Professor gives another thread and she finds out the one responsible -- Baba Senaka, the renowned spiritual leader. He needs the spirits of children to store the energy he has accumulated through tantric ways.

             In order to stop this evil, Anu starts training with Dr. Sharma in sattivic way of enlightenment. On the day of Chotti Holi, the epic battle takes place. Baba has realised Anu's potential and has wanted her on his side, and with this intention he kidnaps her new friend, Gaurav. With Dr. Sharma's abilities combined with hers, Anu uses Brahma Astra and Senaka gets defeated. Sharma agrees to teach Anu the tantric techniques.

Something to Think:

"God is on everyone's side. It is up to us to tip the balance to the one we favor". -- 257

"Most people would have to be told by someone that they were special, with a unique gift that would allow them to rise above the rat race". -- 269

This review is a part of the biggest <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank"> Book Review Program </a> for <a href="http://www.blogadda.com" target="_blank">Indian Bloggers.</a> Participate now to get free books!
          

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

Date of Reading: 22/02/2013

Author: Khaled Hosseini

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Place: New York

Year: 2007

         Exam times produce miracles; songs we don't usually care sounds truly meaningful, scenarios that we usually pass with a dry glance opens with a new beauty and oh, what to say even I wait for news time everyday (only time allotted to TV). Something similar got in me while reading this book; while scrolling through each page I felt  someone like my hostel warden is going to catch me (obviously I was supposed to do something else). Even the mess bell sounded a burden. Sure, the novel has its charm, along with one more feeling -- depression.

             I had a friend in hostel who used to say "Being a girl itself is a curse, and I will never pass that to anyone else. So all my children are going to be boys. A man's 'silly' act can ruin a girl, and a day that vanishes that fear will never come". As usual in the spirit of  youth, I used to argue for hours on this, but a tiny voice inside used to whisper, 'isn't there some truth?'. Yes, at least in war times when the animal takes the better of man, when reason gives way to blind obstinacy and each afraid of the other, it is a fact; One will regret this birth as a girl. That is what dear reader, this story is all about.
           And today it is woman's day, around me there are the beginnings of festivities and awareness programs. Let's hope that a time will come without anymore woman's days, leaving all days to them.

           Novel revolves around two women -- Mariam and Laila. Mariam lives in a kolba on the outskirts of Herat with her embittered mother and her rich father Jalil is in the city with his three wives and nine children. He pays a usual visit on Thursdays. As a harami (illegitimate child), little Mariam is not acceptable to the outside world. But on her fifteenth birthday she breeches this unwritten rules to go and see Jalil, and is fated to spend the night outside his home in cold. She finds her mother hanging from the tree on returning home, thinking that her only daughter has deserted her. Jalil marries her off to Rasheed, a shoemaker from Kabul, who is thirty years her senior. But when she fails to produce a heir, there begins the days of beatings and silent suffering.
         Laila and her friend Tariq also live in the vicinity; she has lost her two brothers to the war between Mujahideens and Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union disintegrates at last, everyone anticipates peace, but now the Mujahideens are cutting each others throat. Tariq leaves the city with her parents and their emotional farewell ends in the consumption of love.
          Laila'a family too decides to leave in the end but as they are packing, a rocket comes down destroying her house and killing her parents. A severely injured Laila is taken by Rasheed and Mariam.
          On recovering she finds that she is with Tariq's child and the news of Tariq's death shatters her, though it didn't prevent her from eagerly accepting Rasheed's hand for her unborn child. She gives birth to a daughter, Aziza, and soon Rasheed gets suspicious. Laila strikes a friendship with Mariam and together they try to run away but gets caught.
            By the time Laila has given birth to Rasheed's son, Zalmai, Taliban has assumed power and tyranny reigns on Afghanistan. A drought that follow makes life unbearable and Aziza is sent to an orphanage. Tariq's unexpected appearance from Pakistan and lovers' reunion gives new twist.
            Hearing the news Rasheed starts to beat up Laila, but this time Mariam intervenes and kills him with a shovel. Taliban shoots her dead; and Laila and kids live with Tariq in Pakistan till the fall of Taliban. She visits Mariam's birth place and finds the money that Jalil leaves for her on his death. The pair returns to Afghanistan and Laila assumes the position of teacher in the orphanage which sheltered Aziza once.

Something to think:

          "Had she been a deceitful wife? she asked herself. A complacent wife? A dishonorable woman? Discreditable? Vulgar? What harmful thing had she willfully done to this man to warrant his malice, his continual assaults, the relish with which he tormented her?

           Had she not looked after him when he was ill? Fed him, and his friends, cleaned up after him dutifully? Had she not given this man her youth? Had she ever justly deserved his meanness?     

Khaled Hosseini

        The belt made a thump when Rasheed dropped it to the ground and came for her. Some jobs, that thump said, were meant to be done with bare hands." -- 182


"Listening to Naghma, Mariam remembered the dim glimmer of cold stars and the stringy pink clouds streaking over the Safid-koh mountains that long-ago morning when Nana had said to her, Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam." -- 191

Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott

Date of Reading: 05/06/2008

Author: Sir Walter Scott

Publisher: Peacock Books

Place: New Delhi

Year: 2005

Rs. 85

            Reading Scott is an acquired taste and I don't think anyone will disagree if I say this is his best one. I bought this in exchange of my medicine money (books are always better than antibiotics), and happy to say Scott didn't disappoint me a bit.

          What is the difference between history books and historical novels? One gives facts on dead people and the other puts some life to it by adding some tales (most of the time imaginary) which makes them personal. Since its publication in 1819, 'Ivanhoe' has enjoyed a unique popularity as it had brought together Britain's two most popular heroes -- King Richard I (also known as the lion-hearted) and Robin Hood. And it is his first novel to be set in England with its Norman - Saxon conflicts and the plight of Jews under Christian rule. Story is thus:

          Cedric, the Saxon noble, is displeased with his son Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe for showing interest in his ward Rowena whom he intends to marry off to Athelstane, a youth of royal Saxon blood. Ivanhoe goes away and joins in crusade where he comes in contact with King Richard. Meanwhile, King's brother John, who is in charge of the kingdom in Richard's absence, tries to occupy the throne with the support of the disloyal Norman barons.
            His plans are however thwarted by the timely return of Richard who in disguise, helps Ivanhoe at the tournament to defeat John's knights including Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert. The latter is infatuated with Rebecca, the beautiful Jewish girl, whom he has seen at the tournament. She, along with her father Isaac, Rowena, Cedric, Athelstane and the wounded Ivanhoe are captured by Norman barons and kept imprisoned in Torquilstone Castle.

           While the King with the help of Robin Hood storms the castle and rescues the prisoners, Rebecca is smuggled away by Bois-Guilbert to the Preceptory of Templestowe. Though his designs on Rebecca fail owing to the arrival of the Grand Master of the Order, Rebecca is accused of witchcraft. In order to save her from burning alive, Ivanhoe appears as her champion in accordance with the custom and fights a last duel with Bois-Guilbert. Bois gets killed by his own sword.
             Story ends with the marriage of Ivanhoe and Rowena. Rebecca too was in love with the hero and she remains unmarried and devotes her life to help the needy. 
--- Novel is adapted to several movies, the most popular being the 1952 film starring, Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor as Ivanhoe and Rebecca; Joan Fontaine plays the part of Rowena. It is nominated for three Academy awards. The 1982 version, half an hour longer than the 1952 film, is starred by Anthony Andrews.
             

Nicola and the Viscount - Meg Cabot

Date of Reading: 27/12/2012

Author: Meg Cabot

Read as: E-Book

Rating: 1/5

          I have no idea why I wasted my time on this. A completely predictable plot (from beginning to the end), flat characters, boring love story which tries to introduce some comic elements which is not connected with that historical period -- aah, that sums up the book. May be I will have to search for 'Princess Diaries' to be impressed by Cabot.

           Year is 1810. Nicola Sparks has completed her studies in the female academy and is ready to plunge into the social life of London. Though an orphan, her small inheritance is ample to sustain her now and her dream husband (whom she nicknames as 'God') is also at hand. Lord Sebastian Bartholomew is his name and Nicola is passionately in love with him. So when his parents invites her home for that season, she jumps in; and everything goes according to the plan and they are engaged.

           The only glitch is Nathaniel Sheridan, her friend Eleanor's brother who warns her of this priced fiance's character. When the first excitement is over, Nicola too begins to piece together a few things and a secret visit to the Viscount's father's chamber confirms the intention of this awkward marriage proposal. They need her family home to build a rail road through it.

Meg Cabot

           Nicola backs off from the engagement and runs to the safety of Sheridans' home. But Viscount kidnaps her to a desolate place and tries to marry her by force. She convinces her cousin who has unwillingly joined in the plan to inform her guardians. She puts off a brave fight and Nathanies and the guards come on time for rescue.

          Culprits are arrested and in the end Nicola recognises the true love of Nathaniel Sheridan with whom she engages eventually.

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Date of Reading: 31/05/2008

Author: Charlotte Bronte

From: www.pinkmonkey.com

Year: 1848

         They say pigs will fly when literary critics and common populace agree on one book. Well, the pigs at my home are still waiting for that chance, but 'Jane Eyre', like its enchanted heroine, has succeeded in opening up new literary interpretations to satisfy the so called academicians while providing enjoyment to anyone who can read.

         What is so special about this? For one, its bildungsroman (can be considered as kunstlerroman too as the growing up protagonist is an artist), which makes the heroine intimate to us as one in the family. Jane is brave and she has got some principles that she won't surrender even to the one she loves. In other terms, 'she has got character'. It has mystery, romance, friendship; too good a treat to miss.

         Story is close to my heart as this is the first e-book that I have read. A new reading experience that I will cherish always. Books will survive this digital age too; ways and forms might differ, but as long as man has the wish to communicate literature will never vanish.
          As an orphan girl Jane Eyre is brought up by her aunt. Her father, a poor clergy man has fallen in love with the wealthy Miss Reed and their consequent marriage disinherited her. When they die after two years of  marriage, little Jane is left in the hands of her maternal uncle Mr. Reed who in turn leaves her with his wife in an untimely death.

        Mrs. Reed cannot find any empathy to this plain child and her children too made life hard for Jane. At the age of ten she is sent to a charity school called Lowood where she lived for eight years, six as a student and two as a teacher. Freedom came at last when the job of a governess is offered in Thornfield Hall. Its master is Mr. Rochester.
           The pure, plain girl wins the master's heart and they get engaged. But on the day of the marriage, it is revealed that this Edward Fairfax Rochester is already wed to a lunatic wife, Bertha Mason. She is kept hidden in upstairs, so as not to harm anyone. Jane flees from there in the cover of darkness and takes refuge in the house of St. John Rivers, the clergy man. She identifies herself as Jane Elliot and soon makes friends with St. John's sisters Diana and Mary.

          Jane works for sometime as a village school teacher and then an unexpected inheritance changes the situation. Her uncle John Eyre has made her a heiress and she finds out that the Rivers are her cousins. She divides the wealth in equal among them. St. John expresses his wish to marry Jane as he needs a wife for his missionary work in India.
          But Jane's mind is still in Thornfield and to there she returns. Bertha has burnt the place and killed herself; Mr. Rochester has lost his eyesight and is turned into a cripple in the incident. Jane marries him.

         St. John remains unmarried but continues as a missionary in India; by the end of the novel he nears his death. Mr. Rochester has got the sight of his one eye back and a son is born to the couple.
--- movies based on the story are really good, especially the 2011 film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga.

Netherland - Joseph O'Neill

Date of Reading: 17/12/2012

Author: Joseph O'Neill

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Place: London

Year: 2008

          There are some times when our voice is not heard. Oh, this is not about family. Suppose I write a review of James Joyce's 'Ulysses' (never been able to read that), and declare it not worth the trouble, will that change anything? No, I will be considered a stupid lad with not much standard.

         This book is such a sad case; it has got good reviews, but I don't like it. Why? Eventually, as in 'Waiting for Godot', nothing happens, 'nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful'. Story (if you think there is one) concerns the situation of New York after the attack on World Trade Center. Novel fails to provide that feeling of loss to one that live far away from the issues connected with it. Like the narrator, Hans, author too seems confused or too  reluctant to make a daring statement which might cause some political controversy.

          Except for the protagonist, and perhaps Chuck too, all the characters are underdeveloped. No chronological order is followed which makes it really hard to keep with the times. All in all it looks like a verbal play with words we have to look continuously into the dictionary, to make some sense out of it.

          Hans van den Broek, a Dutch born London settler, moves to New York when his wife Rachel who works in a law firm, gets transferred to there. He is a family man with few friends outside, and when Jake, his son is born his life revolves around him. Then the 9/11 attacks happen and their life is turned upside down, fear and security sirens permeates the area. Rachel, fearing their son's safety, moves back to her ancestral home in England and Hans is left alone with the eccentric inmates of Chelsea Hotel while his wife requests time to think about their marriage.

           Now Hans' refuge in weekends is cricket, the game he played as a child in Holland while his mother keeps watch; the sense of order and justice is still retained by the game which reassures him that there is something that is unchanged.
         It is in one of these matches he meets Chuck Ramkissoon, the Trinidadian business entrepreneur. He is proud to be a citizen of America and cherishes a plan to civilize this new home country by teaching them cricket. His intention is to turn Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn to a cricket stadium (which he terms patriotically as 'Bald Eagle Field') and Hans too join in the work. 
         Once in every two weeks, he travels to London to be with Jake. Rachel soon finds a new boyfriend -- Martin; in order to win back his wife, Hans finally decides to leave this adopted country. Meanwhile he has found out that Chuck's gambling business has its dark side and was therefore not at all reluctant to leave that friendship.

Joseph O'Neill

          Everything goes according to plan, and with Rachel stability too comes back. Then in 2006, he gets informed that Chuck's remains are fished out from Gowanus Canal. This brings back old memories and this forms the novel.