"The Sialkot Saga" by Ashwin Sanghi

"The Sialkot Saga"

by Ashwin Sanghi

Overall Review:  3.5 

Grip Factor:         4

Writing Style:      4

Engaging Plot:     4

Characters:           3

Satisfying End:    3

Goodreads Review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3712754712 

 

We can call this book as falling in historical fiction or politics genre both.  It has covered entire spectrum of Indian history from just after independence till the year 2000.  It has also covered old Indian history running thousands of year old relating to Ashoka's 9 men and also covered secret organizations ensuring ancient history carries on.  

Two stories running in parallel

Two stories run in parallel here - one which is few thousand years old and one which runs from 1947 till 2001.  They both do sit well however, personally I feel there was no need to put the older story in the midst to make the modern main story good.  They have been written in a manner which relates them but that did not seem necessary.  The modern story seem more like a hindi movie where two kids separate from their mother at the time of partition and end up becoming rivals. 

All events in story are linked to historical facts of the nation

I liked the linking of the story to the historical facts and I also liked the part where they were explained and described more.  People tend to forget even the most recent events and soon things as far back as 5 years old just become some historical fact to be ignored and moved on from.  Reading about the death of S. P. Mukherjee, emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, forceful works of Sanjay Gandhi, 1984 Massacre by Congress, Gujarat riots, election and non election of Vajpayee ji, 9/11 attack, Mumbai attack... all certainly give you goose bumps.  There are all the events you have lived through and it feels surreal to read them all together in a book.  The linking of the love/hate story around all these events is flawless in the book.  At many points it is difficult to put the book down since I have wanted to know more and more about these events.  

Main story is a love/hate story

Two kids who are separated from their mother at the time of partition end up becoming business rivals.  Their kids end up falling in love and getting married.  At the end it is identified that they were from the same village in Pakistan and got separated when they were forced to move to India at the time of partition.  The ex of one end up marrying the other in an all so obvious twist.  Not to forget that these kids were saviors of some long forgotten sect tasked with protecting a long lost secret from Ancient times.  I can only call it a love/hate story but certainly feels it comes straight out of a movie.  

"The Rabbit Girls" by Anna Ellory

 The Rabbit Girls

by Anna Ellory

Overall Review:  4

Grip Factor           : 4

Writing Style        : 4

Engaging Plot       : 4

Characters            : 4

Satisfying End      : 4 

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3014393961

When you pick the book, you don't have the faintest idea where would this term be used "The Rabbit Girls".  This is such a harmless reference to such a cute animal and the usage is entirely different.  World war II and Hitler have so many stories hidden; it will take a lifetime to know all.  The book is set during the time when the wall between east and west Germany is taken down and a young daughter is taking care of her father.  She uncovers an old war mystery for her father and while doing that identifies a fact about her own life.  During this process she finds out about some girls who were chosen for experimentation at camps, their struggles and their lives.  She also surprisingly finds out new things about her relationship with her parents.  

More of a love story rather than WWII

The book is more of a love story and less of a story related to WWII.  There are certainly places where the book describes what is happening at the camps to the character but majorly focuses on love.  One might think that this book is written with a view to giving voice to the Rabbit girls.  However, that is not the case and instead a major portion of the book is more  of a love story and has no historical reference.   

Hidden letters uncover a bitter truth

The thought that I can find old crumpled, folded, rolled letters inside the seam of a dress gives me goose bumps.  A series of letters found in her mother's old dress forces her to look at the history of her country, her mother and her father.  Living in modern day Germany when Miriam finds these letters she had no idea her parents could have suffered at the hands of the Nazis.  Her initial thought coming from the assumption that only Jews suffered in those times.  However, this book brings out a separate group of people who were political prisoners, people who were not Jews but were punished simply because they did not support Hitler or his policies.  

One area which I hope this book could have improved upon was certainly touching the topic and the story of the Rabbit girls a little more.  The book is named after them but does not deal with them for even half of the narration.  

Certain scenes which don't leave my mind after putting this book down are - Finding crumpled letters hidden in the dress, Facing domestic abuse even in times of father's illness and lastly finding a friend for support in the times when she was at her lowest possible. 

"The Nightingale" by Christin Hannah

 "The Nightingale"

By Christin Hannah

Overall Review:  4.8

Grip Factor           : 5

Writing Style        : 4.5

Engaging Plot       : 5

Characters            : 4.8

Satisfying End      : 5 

Goodreads Review:   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3001566800 

Fight of women who fought with bravery in second world war

A story of two sisters who are heroes each in their own way in the second world war.  The book celebrates their bravery and their struggles while trying to survive the German occupation of France.  This is certainly an inspirational story where the women showed incredible strength during their contribution to the war.  Nightingale is the code name given to the woman who helps downed pilots flee the Nazi controlled regions to safer space.  Her zeal of love for her nation and support her country men in whatever way she can lead her to meet people and find out new and risky opportunities.  

Fighting need not be on the front only, the chain at the background is key

Taking danger head on is certainly brave but sneaking around and smiling in the face of danger pretending to be all well is braver, something which the women in this book have done.  Nightingale could not be caught and even though she was a young girl, she was not hesitant to leave her identity, her family, her life and take a new name for her nation.  She kept on finding pilots and leading expeditions across mountains to take them to safety.  She knew she is constantly in danger but that could not stop her from causing harm to the Germans.  Historically in every war women have provided equal  support and played crucial roles in the whole process. 

A story on war but love sneaks in 

I could never think a book on war could have love story but there is.  Love has made its way in the lives of both the sisters in such dire situations.  One think I like the most about the book is the two sisters who come from the same background perceive life in such largely different way.  Their reaction to war events, their handling of situations, their dreams and the point of action towards what is wrong is world apart. Even though I am not a romantic, I felt disappointed when both romances ended a little quickly.  I also felt incomplete with the relationship of the two sisters. The book could have shown more of a bonding between these two.   

Some Excerpts

"In love we find out who we want to be, in war we find out who we are"

Do we really know ourselves.  Situations bring out the worst and the best in us.  

"Of course, men always think war is about them" - When have men thought anything was for anyone other than themselves.   

"The Institute" by Stephen King

"The Institute"

by Stephen King

Overall Review: 4

Grip Factor:        4

Writing Style:     4

Engaging Plot:   4

Characters:        4

Satisfying End:  3 

Goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3503651566

A thriller loading with all sorts of emotions

Every year thousands of children are abducted world across and are never found.  The reasons for kidnapping are many and this book has brought forward an area completely unknown and scary.  This book is about a shady organisation which takes kids with special abilities and puts them to use for their benefit.  An amazing read, a page turner for me certainly.  The book is not only a thriller but it brings forward many emotions such as loss, friendship, first love.  How a small event or person or thing pushes the kids to fight for themselves and bring out victorious is amazing.  

Starts small and post all twists turns big

The starting of the book seems very ordinary with a small town and a person running away from past.  How that is tied to the main story of the kids is wonderful.  When both the stories are brought together, you actually go back to the beginning and realize you have been reading the same book.  The tale of the institute is dark, scary and unfair where the kids are exploited.  

Brings together multiple stories with ease

Multiple stories are intermingled in this book together very beautifully.  There are stories about the kids, the main character Luke, the caretaker who helps them, the lonely police guy who helps them.  There are even short stories about the side characters and none of them seems incomplete.  Every story has its space and every story contributes to the main story of the book.  The beauty of the book is this all is done very easily and is so smooth that you do not even see it happening.  

Ends with too much drama

The ending of this book however, could have been better according to me.  There were lots of guns, lots of people shooting other people then kids moving and re-shaping the whole buildings.  At one point it becomes too much and I was glad at one point that things finally ended. The ending could have been made a little less dramatic and realistic.  

The Shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Shadow of the wind

by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Overall Review: 3.5

Grip Factor:         3.5

Writing Style:      3.5

Engaging Plot:     3.5

Characters:           3.5

Satisfying End:    3

Goodreads Review: 

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3387863848

Classic literary thriller which ends with a thud 

This book has all the elements - Thrill, love, lust, politics, war, torture.  There are parallels between the main character Daniel and Julian Carax.  The lives of both of them end up being very similar, in terms of family history and also in terms of how their life end up eventually.  The mysteries continue for a long time in the book and they are finally resolved in the end by way of a long letter.  Till this point the story was very riveting for me.  After that letter though it felt as it things ended just like that.  It was as if the writer is now in a hurry to finish and reach the climax.  

Concept of a cemetery of books

How many times have we come across a situation where we are able to go to a space where we have endless rows of books; ones which are forgotten by people.  The books which we can pick and devour to our hearts content.  This experience only got the boy interested towards literature, not only literature but also the author whose book he liked so much.  Such experiences can be life changing for anyone.  I personally have a soft spot for those books where so much attention is given to reading and literature.  

Many surprise twists

At some times it feels it has too Many characters, on other times all of them seem perfectly placed.  The book is actually a love story or several love stories to be honest.  However, it is written as a mystery.  They mystery goes on for a long time in the book and with the numerous characters the book has, it does become a little confusing.  There are surprises here and there where we end up discovering new things.  The biggest surprise however, is the letter which solves everything.  I wish the author should not have closed everything in the letter.  This was the most disappointing thing in the book.  The letter does not even seen genuine.  You can clearly feel the writer is trying to close the book.   

A look into the literary society of Barcelona

I have always wanted to go to Barcelona for a trip.  This book wants me wish for that trip even more.  I feel like going there and visiting the book store and roaming on  the streets.  The book is written in an almost artistic manner.  The book contains lots of memorable quotes as well.  I can actually refer to those quotes again and again at different places.  

Few Excerpts

"Books are like mirrors. you only see in them what you already have inside you"

"There are few reasons for telling the truth, but for lying the number in infinite"

"The moment you stop to think about whether you love someone, you have already stopped loving that person"  

"In the shop we buy and sell them, but in truth books have no owner.  Every book you see has been somebody's best friend." 

"The Whisper Man" by Alex North

The Whisper Man

By Alex North

Amazing first crime thriller by the writer

Any story which involves a child kidnapping is always a horror for me.  This is the same story whereby random people believe they have a right to snatch away little kids from their parents for their own fun.  A single parent, father of a sweet and innocent boy goes through a lot at all times including the passing away of his partner and fight to continue with his life.  As if this is not enough, a monster comes in their lives and shatters it to the core.  At the same time we have the story of another man who apparently caught a monster responsible for committing a similar crime but still lives in its shadow.  There are some crimes which even seasoned officers are not able to shake off.    

Creepy and Captivating

A spine tingling story which sends shivers across your body all the time while reading.  You can actually start hearing whispers here and there while you are reading this book.  It is tough to shake off the effects of the crime committed in this book and it is also tough to even imagine the mentality of such people in this world.  The book has got many twists which I like a lot for such a story.  This book was creepy for me since the beginning since it involves crime related to a child.  The writing is simple and flowed well.  The good thing is also that all those surprise twists converge in the end and make a satisfying closure to the story.  The biggest twist is the corpse moth which plays such a big part in solving the case.  So much later in the book I understand the cover and it is so well placed.  

Multiple twists and likable characters

The writer has been able to keep the attention of the reader at all times.  Multiple themes run throughout - challenging relationships, grief of loss and obviously a child killer running in the town.  I specifically love the part where the writer brings forward a day from the dead mother into the child's life and ties it to his current day actions.  Everything from the house to the poem he used to rhyme has got a history.  The book shows life from the perspective of Tom, Jake as well as the grandfather Pete.  All have their own flaws and flaws in maintaining relationship with the other.  The main story or plot centers around child abduction and murder stretched across a time period of decades.  The writer has written the short and small stories inside is a beautiful fashion leading to one of the most fastest read ever.    

Few Excerpts 

"Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage requires fear" 

"If you leave a door half open, you'll hear the whisper spoken.
If you play outside alone soon you won 't be going home.
If your Windows left unlatched, you'll hear him tapping at the glass.
If your lonely, sad, and blue, the whisper man will come for you."

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3392970569

Overall Review:  5

Grip Factor:      5

Writing Style:   5 

Engaging Plot:  5

Characters:        5

Satisfying End: 5

The Starless Sea by "Erin Morgenstern"

The Starless Sea

By Erin Morgenstern

Great expectation and magical writing but falls short

After reading "The Night Circus", I had great expectations from this book.  The author does have a good style of writing which takes your places.  Reading one of her books is actually like going into a daze which is slowly taking you away to a different world and tickling you with its secrets.  This book does follow through on a lot of aspects specially when we start getting into the detailed description of the magical space.  A person finds a book in the library and while reading it he finds that the multiple stories in that book contains one story from his life also.  An incident which happened in his past is portrayed in the book as a story.  How?  Things certainly are promising in the beginning of the book and you feel looking forward to a lot happening.  However, most of the time, I was just lost.  There were many places where even trying to figure out what is happening was an effort.  

Non Existent Plot and lacks substance

The book does not seem to have a story to be very frank.  I did not understand the reason and the purpose of anything that happens.  It seems the writer started writing something and got sidelined and just wrote something to complete the book.  This book lacks a purpose.  Now I am all in for magic and mythical spaces and life behind painted doors, but there needs to be some substance to it.  Apart from that, it would have been better if so many stories did not go on at one point.  It is tough to keep track specially when everyone is just doing things and there is no purpose behind any action by anyone.   

Lovely and magical aesthetics and dream like world

The things which I like the best is a harbor full of books from floor to ceiling.  I wish I could get access to such a place which has so many books to read.  The add-on making it even more wonderful is an invisible kitchen which sends you things to eat.  Comfortable sofas, fire, books and yummy food to eat.  This is my dream place.  Only thing in this book is that it is too magical and it gets destroyed in the end.  Only thing I thought at that time was what happened to those books.  

Few Excerpts

Few areas that I love in the book after which I started to get lost.  

"Once, very long ago, Time fell in love with Fate"  Stories are meant to be told but indeed the one who tells the story makes a big difference on how people take it.  

As long as there have been bees, there have been keepers.  So true yet sounds trivial.  

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3375034239

Overall Review:  3 

Grip Factor:     3

Writing Style:  4

Engaging Plot: 2.5

Characters:       2.5

Satisfying end: 3