"The housekeeper and the Professor" by Ogawa Yoko

 "The Housekeeper and the Professor"

by "Ogawa Yoko"

Overall Rating:    5*

Grip Factor:         5*

Writing Style:      5*

Engaging Plot:     5*

Characters:          5* 

Satisfying End:    5*

 

What we learn from this book:  We do not need to be kind and loving towards a person to get something in return from him/her.  We do not even need him/her to remember us or our kindness.  If we take this learning and move forward, the world would be such a better place.  

This book is a Japanese vintage classic book.  I find it to be such a sweet, cute and lovely book. I can read it again and again to get a view on the simplicity of life.  How exactly can a man live on the basis of eighty minutes of memory.  Reading the book, living through the life of the Professor, the housekeeper and her son gives a very calm affect and makes you realize that it is the little things that make or break our life.  

The narrator is the housekeeper of a professor who has a rare condition due to which his memory refreshes after every eighty minutes.  The simple acts of remembering things with the help of post-it notes and little reminders here and there makes up the book.  The housekeeper along with her son tries to bring little joys to the life of the professor.  She and her son get attached to the professor and his way of life and a friendship is formed between the three of them.  

The story is built around the professors love for numbers.  How he is able to see everything from the point of view of numbers and is able to seek comfort in the same.  The author has written this story so beautifully with such a great level of understanding and love.  The characters of the professor, housekeeper and her son each fill their roles to the best.  

I listened this book over audio.  So much so is the aura of this book that I plan to buy the entire collection of Japanese vintage classics.  

"The Exiles" by Christina Baker Kline

 The Exiles

by Christina Baker Kline

Overall Rating: 4.5 * 

Grip Factor:       4.5

Writing Style:    4.5

Engaging Plot:   5

Characters:        4

Satisfying end:  4

A world where transport to a third world was still a punishment.  People were moved half way across the world for minor offences such as stealing a spoon.  A world where a single, young woman had no way to recover and no one to catch her if and when she falls.  This is what this book is - story of the struggles faced by all those young women who made little mistakes and were punished by being moved to Australia.  

Unfortunate hand of fate: I hate the book so many times while reading that I actually get angry and put it down.  Specially in areas where fate played with Evangeline or with Mathinna.  Why would fate be so cruel to people who just want to lead simple lives.  The stories of all these women is heartbreaking and it feels more sad because we know today that these are part of actual facts which happened in the past.  These stories are inspiring as well as since it teaches us to rise above our dire circumstances.  Each of these women suffered the worst but were still able to rise from the ashes and make their lives again.  

The book is well written but sometimes it is so heart wrenching to read about the stories of these women.  The book is well researched and takes facts into consideration.  Taking away half a star since the author was too cruel to Evangeline and Mathinna.  I hope they were given better chances.  

View into the Australian and British history: This book covers two facts from world history - one related to the British colonization and its impact.  The other part is the Australian history as to what happened to the original settlers of the great land.  

This is a perfect historical fiction which people should pick up.  It has got the correct mix of historical facts, places, characters as well as a story to work around with all these things.  

"Under the Whispering Door" by T.J.Klune

 Under the Whispering Door

by T.J. Klune

Overall Rating: 4.5*

Someone is there to aid us in moving on: Life as we know it is temporary, so much that we don't know what will happen in the next instant.  Still we plan for years in the future.  We plan for a future we never know if it will come or not. How much a reaper and ferry man can help you and how much can you understand about your own death. It is so difficult to accept that you are dead, that life as you knew about is finished and that you have to leave everything and move on.  Apart from things that you gathered, you have to leave your relationships behind, your own behind.  Even if you want you can not share the pain of your own death with people you have shared everything in your life.  Death breaks things for the living and for the dead.  

Dark and light brought together beautifully: The book is full of all emotions, pain, loss, acceptance, fear and humor.  I could never think someone could combine such dark feelings with so light instances such easily.  How do you live up to the fact that you are dead.  All dreams, plans for the future gone.  It just almost feels incomplete - How will I do whatever I intended to do if I die today.  The moment you actually feel this and realize this, it becomes a moment of truth.  

Very well written with characters doing exactly what they intend to do.  The concept of introducing a person to take you forward has been ever existing in the Indian mythology.  We have since children heard of Yamraaj.  The international version being the ferry man and the reaper is being discussed here.  Life after death and moving on are areas which have always been a mystery for humans.  These are well handled in the book.  It is good to see that even after that the book is interesting and difficult to put down.  

End being made beautiful without need: I have deducted half a point from my rating just because of the ending.  The end has been turned and made to look and seem all positive and beautiful.  This was not required in my view.  What has to end must end and what is the due course of nature should meet its end.  

Moral of the story - Live today, enjoy today, love today, whatever you want to do; do it today.  I am going to do exactly that.  

The Silent Patient by "Alex Michaelides"

 The Silent Patient

by Alex Michaelides

Overall review: 4*

"Only she knows what happened.  Only I can make her speak."  What a surprise at the end, never could have even thought that this could happen.  So what appears from the outside never is and things can change in a second.  Amazing story, amazing twist; a crazy turn no one could even think of.  The author has not even wasted a single word anywhere in this book and has narrated this story in the most simple and clear words.  In fact I should say that this is the simplest way anyone could shock anyone.  

There are times in the book when you feel, why are there two stories going on and why is the author going away to some personal crap.  Well needless to say there is nothing which is unnecessary here and each and every word points towards the twist about to come.  I took a long time with first few chapters and then the rest just flowed through.  

The story does have some loops and gaps but in the light of the juicy details, I am willing to overlook all of them.  Some better editing to ensure better grammar would have been good.  It does seem to be written very fast as if the author got this idea and could not wait to share with others.  

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

 The Lost Apothecary

by Sarah Penner

Overall Review: 5*
Let me begin by saying this book has one of the most beautiful covers.

A star in historical fiction
This is one of the most amazing reads since some time. Historical Fiction and full of surprising twists and turns, this book just reels you in and makes sure you stay with it. It has rekindled my love for historical fiction again after a long time. The basic premise of a secret apothecary and its research and find after a period of 200 years is intriguing. I can not find any fault in the story line nor can I find anything which needed to be changed or moved in this book anywhere.


Slow to start but holds well later: In the beginning of the book was different and I even felt bored in certain instances. However, after a time I felt I could not stop thinking about it. The transitions between the past and present were done very neatly. The characters were well thought of and each one of them played their role well. The apothecary which existed 200 years ago and helped women provide solutions to their issues with men. At the same time its mere discovery and research provides solace to a woman in the current century.

Lovely ending, hoping for a sequel:  I like the end also a lot. The fact that it does not say much but still says everything is something I am loving. As I am writing it, I just cant make myself to pick up another book. I just hope there is a sequence to this story and we get to read a lot more about the old London streets and the various secrets it holds.

"A man called Ove" by "Fredrik Backman"

 A man called Ove

by Fredrik Backman

Rating: 4*

Death of a loved one can change us to the extent that we are ready to forget the world and kill ourselves with the hope of being near the ones we loved.  This is a story of a man who lost his wife to something he had no control of.  That lack of control is something which he struggles through every day of his life.  He wants to kill himself but there are event happening in his neighborhood which stop him each and every time.  Slowly and gradually he realizes that life still has some meaning even though his partner is not with him.  

It was a slow read in the beginning but picks up pace towards the end.  It is entertaining and heart warming to see such little things in life getting noticed and appreciated.  There is something in this book which keeps you going back for more and more.  The first impression of Ove is that of a grumpy old man but as we go through the book, that perception changes.  One realizes that to be able to know a person, a mere quick study is not enough; you have to know the complete story.  Who Ove was and who he became in love and what changed when that love left him.  

I wish though the book could have been more interesting in the beginning.  I was about to abandon it since it seemed nothing but a rant from an old grumpy man.  However, I think that is the crux of the story.  That is how we view people in real life also.  Maybe this is a life lesson to give people opportunity and benefit of doubt before judging them.  

"The Guest Cat" by Takashi Hiriade

 The Guest Cat

by Takashi Hiriade

Overall Review: 3.5*

I had been wanting to read something from a Japanese author since a long time.  Every country and region in the world have some or the other mythology, history, cultural relationship and significance.  In Japanese folklore, cats have protective powers and symbolize good luck and fortune.  Due to this reason I had this book in my reading list since a long time.  A husband and wife living in a small rented apartment find a reason in their life when a cat owned by the neighbors start visiting them.  Both of them have started working from home for their literary careers and the cat provides meaning to their monotonous life.  They are able to see the wonders of the nature, the house, the garden all due to the cat.  

This is a short book and I had thought I will finish it in one weekend.  However, it was tough to read.  You need to slowly soak in what the writer is trying to say and focus on the wanders both husband and wife are experiencing.  Such simple things are written beautifully in this book.  Small things as insects coming in the garden, cats playing together etc. are events which are nothing but can provide happiness and meaning in our lives.  

This is a difficult book and everyone might not enjoy it.  The writing is not about a story but discovering life as is depicted in the book.  Apart from the cat the book also talks about the house, the little marvels in the house and couples attachment with the area and the surroundings.  I am also sad that this is given a sad ending.  Wish the ending could have gone towards a more fun direction with the cat here.