My sister recommended this book to me, and I'm so glad she did! I am hooked!
It tells the story about a brave young girl called Katniss, who lives in District 12. It is set in Panem, which has arisen from what used to be North America. They are ruled by the Capitol, and have to abide by the law set down, which includes offering two tributes every year from their children for the Hunger Games.
You will not be able to put the book down once you start reading it. It's not that there is much character development - but its fast pace and excellent story line make it well worth the read. Also well worth the Rs 250 I paid for it!!
Online shopping people - that is the future of the book trade I think!! Why would anyone pay full price for a book when they can get it cheaper!!
FYI: The movie is also going to be released soon!! Hopefully my baby will get on the bottle by then so I can go drag my husband to see it with me!! That is, if they release it in India alongwith the world wide release!!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
I read this book recently this year. And I was inspired. I thought so highly of Greg Mortenson and the power of the individual. How one idea can lead to a mini revolution. How one person can change a life.
I even wrote another blog about it - you can see it on facebook on the Timeless Books page, if you get time.
That's why I was surprised when another person I admired - Jack Krakauer, has criticized Greg Mortenson and the Central Asian Institute and accused him of lying. Of fabricating most of the story in order to sell books.
I love the mountains and I love trekking. I wish I could do more for the mountains. I wish I could trek more.
I think I'll get the full story by reading Three Cups of Deceit, written by Jack Krakauer. In that he documents his findings and arguments. That will be an interesting read.
I even wrote another blog about it - you can see it on facebook on the Timeless Books page, if you get time.
That's why I was surprised when another person I admired - Jack Krakauer, has criticized Greg Mortenson and the Central Asian Institute and accused him of lying. Of fabricating most of the story in order to sell books.
I love the mountains and I love trekking. I wish I could do more for the mountains. I wish I could trek more.
I think I'll get the full story by reading Three Cups of Deceit, written by Jack Krakauer. In that he documents his findings and arguments. That will be an interesting read.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
I loved this book. I have been recommending it to people LEFT RIGHT AND CENTRE!! If there is one book you should be reading - it is this one!! Without a doubt!!
I don't think everyone should have a project - I just think that the book gives you a lot of time to think about your life, your priorities. One of my favourite quotes from that book is: The days are long but the years are short. How true that is.
My baby doesn't give me time to read much, but I manage a few hours here and there. This book is quite a fast read, and I think the author has done a great job by incorporating her own personal accounts in it. What I liked about it was that the book really resonated with me. I don't have much in common with Gretchen - I'm from India and live in Delhi, I have had an arranged marriage and I work in a salaried job. New Delhi doesn't offer the same charms as New York does. But still there was so much I learned. It just goes to show that you can still learn, no matter what your age.
One common factor between the author and me though was that I too love to read. I keep reading - and I keep talking about what I've read. I'd started this blog to discuss the books I read. I tried to start a book group but was not successful. Ah well, not all of life is success!!
I don't think everyone should have a project - I just think that the book gives you a lot of time to think about your life, your priorities. One of my favourite quotes from that book is: The days are long but the years are short. How true that is.
My baby doesn't give me time to read much, but I manage a few hours here and there. This book is quite a fast read, and I think the author has done a great job by incorporating her own personal accounts in it. What I liked about it was that the book really resonated with me. I don't have much in common with Gretchen - I'm from India and live in Delhi, I have had an arranged marriage and I work in a salaried job. New Delhi doesn't offer the same charms as New York does. But still there was so much I learned. It just goes to show that you can still learn, no matter what your age.
One common factor between the author and me though was that I too love to read. I keep reading - and I keep talking about what I've read. I'd started this blog to discuss the books I read. I tried to start a book group but was not successful. Ah well, not all of life is success!!
Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
Set in the backdrop of World War I, this book explores the lives of a set of individuals in Europe and America. It has everything - a love story(ies), politics, intrigue, war, battle, sadness, mirth. I was quite taken in with the romance between a young German diplomat and a British feminist. I never really thought about what would happen to relationships across borders if the countries went to war.
We live in peaceful times, so it gets difficult to understand what happens in war.
This book is the first book in the century trilogy. It is interesting now how authors are publishing books in parts. And the intrepid reader must read all of them! Thankfully we have a library in our housing society, so you don't have to buy the book - you can just borrow it! Having a library is such a great idea and such a great way to use money. I donated all my Agatha Christies that I'd accumulated over my childhood to the library. I also gave all my Kathy Reichs to them. I actually felt better when I'd done that!!
We live in peaceful times, so it gets difficult to understand what happens in war.
This book is the first book in the century trilogy. It is interesting now how authors are publishing books in parts. And the intrepid reader must read all of them! Thankfully we have a library in our housing society, so you don't have to buy the book - you can just borrow it! Having a library is such a great idea and such a great way to use money. I donated all my Agatha Christies that I'd accumulated over my childhood to the library. I also gave all my Kathy Reichs to them. I actually felt better when I'd done that!!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Think Like Da Vinci by Michael J Gelb
If you think you think like you oughta think, this book is a must read for you.
It is a little about history and a little about common sense, observation, having a curious nature, being positive, having positive affirmations, enjoying your senses, making full use of your potential.
For some reason some parts reminded me of the Sunscreen song.
It didn't take very long to finish this book surprisingly. I thought it was a bit dense at first, but when you get into the chapters it doesn't take very long. The exercises in the book are easy to follow and don't require much time.
All in all, 8/10. A good read and practical.
It is a little about history and a little about common sense, observation, having a curious nature, being positive, having positive affirmations, enjoying your senses, making full use of your potential.
For some reason some parts reminded me of the Sunscreen song.
It didn't take very long to finish this book surprisingly. I thought it was a bit dense at first, but when you get into the chapters it doesn't take very long. The exercises in the book are easy to follow and don't require much time.
All in all, 8/10. A good read and practical.
Friday, August 12, 2011
River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
Having read Sea of Poppies, I was totally excited when this book was coming out. So much so that I pre-ordered it so that I would be one of the first few to read it.
Alas, it was a little disappointing. All the characters, barring a handful, were new. I saw an interview with Amitav Ghosh where he had said that this book could be read in isolation from the first - and it is true. It could have actually been called "The tale of Bahram" because at the end of it that was the only character that was developed.
In Outlook's review of the book they criticized the use of the letter writing technique. Now I thought it was a good way of getting the story across, but after a while - particularly in the last chapter, I found that it really was wearing the reader down. In fact, the ending seemed a bit hurried to me.
What is fascinating is that Ghosh took one chapter of history - the First Opium Wars (1839 to 1842) and reconstructed all the foregoing events that led up to it. It is amazing the extent to which the British went to in order to quell the trade imbalance. Egad, it really makes one think!! Opium - you don't approve of it in your own country, but it's fine for the Chinese!! And how the British used India - where it was chiefly grown!!
"Although the Chinese had used opium as a medicine, there was no widespread addiction before the British arrived." - Robert Trout
Friday, July 1, 2011
Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs
Set in Hawaii, well, mostly.
What else can I say? Kathy Reichs is all right - good for reading a chapter a day at a time. Literary genius she may not be but she spins a good story.
In this one, there was a bit of a cross over between a CSI episode I've seen and the book's plot. I liked the parallels drawn between the war in Vietnam and that in Afghanistan. There was a lot of reference to gang warfare within the US itself, with young kids getting killed over drugs and other such nonsense.
I found it amusing - the references to Law and Order, CSI and Bones - all TV series that I watch.
I would give this book a 6/10. It held my interest, but I don't like her writing style too much. A bit too abrupt in some instances. I prefer prose I think.
Plus you can't really read this book listening to Vivaldi. That's another thing I don't like about her writing.
What else can I say? Kathy Reichs is all right - good for reading a chapter a day at a time. Literary genius she may not be but she spins a good story.
In this one, there was a bit of a cross over between a CSI episode I've seen and the book's plot. I liked the parallels drawn between the war in Vietnam and that in Afghanistan. There was a lot of reference to gang warfare within the US itself, with young kids getting killed over drugs and other such nonsense.
I found it amusing - the references to Law and Order, CSI and Bones - all TV series that I watch.
I would give this book a 6/10. It held my interest, but I don't like her writing style too much. A bit too abrupt in some instances. I prefer prose I think.
Plus you can't really read this book listening to Vivaldi. That's another thing I don't like about her writing.
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