The Kipling file by Sudhir Kakar

"The Kipling file" by Sudhir Kakar - Disappointed in Kipling, the man!

This book was published by Penguin Hamish Hamilton in 2018 and has 256 pages. 

This book is a fiction about and in the times of "Jungle book" fame Rudyard (Ruddy) Kipling. The story is narrated in flash back by Kay Robinson, Ruddy's editor at CMG and friend.

So how is Ruddy? What makes him? Is he opinionated? How is his family? How does he think?

Rudyard Kipling (Ruddy) is described as witty, genius with eccentricities that can cross line of decency, unsympathetic towards naive Indians, contemptuous towards Hindus and Hinduism but frequenting native Hindu prostitutes, fascinated by Muslims and unafraid to ridicule hierarchy. He is a man with many contradictions. 

Story happens more than 50 years before India got independence. This is the time when the British residing in India, Kipling included, treated India as their rightful colony and Indians as second class, uncouth, untrustworthy blacks. The book confirms British opinion that Hindus don't have the ability,  strength of character, moral convictions, education to rule themselves. Well, current India is a tight slap to those who thought so.

The book tells us about Rudyard Kipling, the person. His fears, his pains, his opinions, his secretive nature, his contradictions, his likes and dislikes. It also tells about the life at that time. What was important and what wasn't. How Anglo-Indians (British residing in India) lived, interacted, socialized and ruled. Author has quoted liberally from Kipling's writing and tried to analyse the person through it. Author, through the character that narrates this book, criticises the English way of child upbringing (shaping,  disciplining) and appreciates Indian way of nurturing children.

I had a good impression about Rudyard Kipling (formed mainly from Jungle Book), but after reading this book and other literature about the author, I was disappointed in Kipling, the person. 

Sudhir Kakar is a psychoanalyst and writer and has won many awards. I wonder what prompted the author to write a novel about Rudyard Kipling?

Why did I read this book? Interesting subject. 

What I didn't like?  Dry narration. 

What did I like? Author brings old India to life. 

Read if this review interests you.  

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith a.k.a. J. K. Rowling

"Lethal White" by Robert Galbraith a.k.a. J. K. Rowling - Lengthy!

This book is published by Sphere in 2018 and has 656 pages. This is Book 4 of Cormoran Strike series. 

The book starts a day after previous book ends. Strike has fired Robin before the end of previous case. It's Robin's wedding to Matthew and Strike makes an appearance. A mentally ill youth tells Strike that he has seen a child strangled years ago. Minister for culture has a job for Strike. 

Why was Robin angry at Strike and livid at Matthew? Is Robin's wedding a happy wedding? Is there any substance in the claims of mentally ill youth? Will London Olympics be disturbed? What's bothering Minister for  Culture?

The story is little out of the way. Strike takes a case to find dirt on a possible blackmailer in hope that this will lead to unravelling of the case of kid's murder. The issue of money, rather the lack of it, is still plaguing Strike and his agency. His landlord has asked to vacate the office and accommodation. Things are grim. Then there is a death and the investigation morphs from blackmail to murder investigation.

Strike and Robin are attracted towards each other but don't admit it even to themselves. Robin is stuck in an unhappy marriage with Matthew. She gets anxiety attacks, after-effects of attack from previous book. Strike is in a relationship with a nice lady who he doesn't love. His amputated leg hurts. 

The story ambles along, keeping the audience interested enough to desist from abandoning the book. Eventually the explanation for kid's murder turns out anticlimactic. Too many suppositions are put forth purely based on deduction without proof. 

Every chapter starts with a quote of Henik Ibsen from Rosmersholm.

There are multiple mentions of 'Dodgy doc' case in this book that goes nowhere. There is also a mention of new case and a house with two swans on the door, at the end. Probably these things are background work for the next book. 

Overall, I think, JK Rowling's writings as Robert Galbraith are not as good as Harry Potter series. But Harry Potter Potter is an unparalleled legendary literary work, would it be correct to compare it with anything else? Even herself?

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Length. Kid's murder. 

What did I like? Deduction.

Read if you have read the series, otherwise give it a miss. 

The 60 second procrastinator by Jeff Davidson

"The 60 second procrastinator" by Jeff Davidson - Tips to overcome!

This book is published by Adams Media in 2003 and has 160 pages. 

Book summary

Procrastination is an act of putting off something for a later time by not starting  the task or not finishing once started. 

Author provides Sixty tips to overcome procrastination.  Some of them are: Approach your task in a different way. Face procrastination head-on. Reframe the challenge. Relate the meaning of your task to something larger. Reflect on past successes. Visualise yourself succeeding gracefully. Feel the fear. Get your thoughts down on paper. Replace limiting language (should, must, ought). Practice creative procrastination. Employ appropriate self talk (most of self talk is negative). Review your priorities and supporting goals. Claim ownership of task or goal. Get organized. Arrange your desk for action. Align your desk for decision. Line up your ducks (make preparations). Stay in the zone. Minimize distractions. Isolate yourself. Stop waiting for the perfect time. Tap the power of scents. Listen to motivation CDs. Break free of too much information. Accept that wanting to start a project is different than deciding to. Find someone who can get you started. Don't wait until you are in the mood. Give yourself a preview. Handle the hard stuff first. 

Begin to choose easily. Build time in for reflection. Establish a reward system. Contract with yourself. Strike a dynamic bargain with yourself. Sleep well and eat healthy. Employ the 3 to 5 method. Set short time limits. Stay fit by making it fun. Go cold Turkey (withdraw from dependency). Record yourself. Find a partner. Look to delegate. Do one thing at a time. Record and listen to your excuses for procrastination. Adopt the heavy half mentality (pause well past the halfway mark). Take off your watch. Put money in escrow. Visit a counsellor. Take byte sized steps. Hide the clock (concentrate on work rather than time). Consider the others affected. Have somebody waiting for your work. Harnessing the power of deadlines. Eliminate multitasking. Post your challenge. Minimize break time. Work in day units. 

End of book summary

Everybody procrastinates. Procrastination can be for minor tasks or major. It can be because of laziness, lack of time management, fear, mental block or other reasons. It's important that the essential tasks are not procrastinated. Author's tips to avoid procrastination are practical, however eventually it's up to the individual to effectively implement them. Moreover, he says that you don't have to go through 60 tips, you just have to find the one to that works for you. 

Most important takeaway from the book, apart from the tips, is to never let bouts of procrastination diminish your self worth or self esteem. If you determine the reason behind procrastination you have a better chance of getting past them.

Some of the suggestions are known, tried and tested. Some are correlated and could have been clubbed. Some of the suggestions are interesting (aroma therapy,  contract with yourself,  record and listen to excuses etc.). It would be worth giving them a try. Some of his points are really important e.g. Intuitive decision is not really intuitive, it comes from everything that you have learned so far. 

This book covers time management, conflict management & resolution, problem solving, motivation and to a certain extent even emotional intelligence. Although the title is The 60 second procrastination, the book is about how to overcome procrastination and it had no relation to 60 seconds. Apparently 60 seconds are added to the title because author has a series of books titled 60 seconds. 

Author quotes various other authors to make his point. Jeff Davidson is a premier thought leader in work- life balance and has written about 65 books. He is also a well known professional speaker. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title.  

What did I like?  Length. Not to long. 

What I didn't like?  Title is a misnomer. 

Worth a read.

The Hunt by Bear Grylls

"The Hunt" by Bear Grylls - Battle in Himalayas!

This book is published by Orion in 2018 and has 368 pages. This is Book 3 of Will Jeager series. 

A Nazi tunnel is discovered. The discovering party is killed by someone. Jeager is at the scene minutes after the execution. Narov is on the trail of Grey Wolf in Dubai. A plan to rule the world is set in motion by the Nazis. A mission involving Jeager, Narov, Raff and Alonso is commissioned in South America to try and recover the lost Nazi uranium and then to Nyenchen Tanglha mountains in Tibet to destroy Nazi headquarters.

What is the Nazi plan? Who is the mastermind? Where did Ruth disappear? Who will Jeager choose? Irina or Ruth? Will the Nazis have last laugh?

Author gives a lot of technical information about weapons and gear, including its historical use in special ops. He also dabbles in special ops lore and how legendary operations were executed, takes a leaf out of them and uses it in this book. Author uses a number of ideas used by SAS in their real operations in this book (e.g. Operation Angledust). However, he is honest to disclose it.

The story is interesting. It keeps you interested. But it does not appear complete or comprehensively thought out. Ruth's inexplicable behaviour appears to be author's artistic convenience to pave way for romance of protagonists. It has no solid reasoning. How Kamler survives is not explained. How Steve and Ruth survive is not explained. Character of Hank becomes irrelevant. The story comes towards end but doesn't end and stretches for another unnecessary climax. 

In previous two books, there were para jumps in jungle and sea. In this book too they jump from an Antonov plane into snowdrifts, but without any parachute. Previous books had jungles and caves to tackle, this one has snowy mountains, valleys and plains. 

The book cover shows universal symbol of radiation, so readers get the drift of the story before they start reading. Although the book ends, author has made a provision for sequel. 

Why did I read this book? Happening story. 

What I didn't like? Stretched end, some flaws. 

What did I like? Technical details. 

Read if you have read the series. 

Trouble has a new name by Adite Banerjee

"Trouble has a new name" by Adite Banerjee - Typical Mills & Boons!

This book is published by Harlequin non fiction in 2015 and has 192 pages.

Rayna Dutt is dumped by Sid Verma. The very next day she has to fly to Andaman Island for her best friend, Milee's, wedding. No time to recover. On the chartered flight to Andaman, she encounters Neel.

Can Rayna overcome Sid? Will the marriage take her away from Sid? How would the wedding pan out? Will Rayna be attracted to Neel on rebound?

It's a boy meets girl romantic novel. But the protagonists are grappling with memories of painful past. Rayna is on a rebound and takes a number of rash decisions hopping from one trouble to another, though, in the end it all turns out good. Neel has erected emotional barriers around him, based on past experience, to ensure no girl can cross them. He has an aversion to commitment and marriage. 

Author deserves credit for choosing perfect backdrop for the story. A grand marriage is a beautiful backdrop for a romantic novel. You get a lot of characters of all types, there are many occasions of willing / unwilling encounters. Destination wedding at a resort on a picturesque island in Andaman adds to the exotic atmosphere and duration wedding is also long (many days together).

There aren't many twists and turns in the story, no major upheavals or surprises yet the story is arresting. The recipe is simple yet effective. Two beautiful individuals, beautiful locations, drama, passion, erotic scenes, heartbreak, misunderstandings and happy ending. 

Why did I read this book? Hadn't read romance for a while. 

What I didn't like? Lack of heart touching emotional scenes. 

What did I like? Backdrop. 

Read if you like Mills & Boons novels. 

The burning maze by Rick Riordan

"The burning maze" by Rick Riordan -  Death of a demigod!

This book was published by Penguin UK in 2018 and has 448 pages. This is Book 3 of Trials of Apollo series. 

Apollo (in his mortal avatar of Lester Papadopoulos) has rescued two oracles in previous books. Now, strange fires are killing dryads and cedars. Apollo must find the source of fires and rescue third Oracle 'Sibyl of Erythraea' from centre of burning maze in the labyrinth. But it could be a trap. Third Emperor of the Triumvirate has a specific goal in mind.

Is the maze a trap? Does Apollo uncover identity of the third Roman Emperor of the Triumvirate? Who is he? What is his ultimate goal? What roles will Grover, Jason and Piper play?

Grover Underwood, the Cedar, and Meg McCaffrey were already in the equation with Apollo. In this book Demigods, Jason Grace and Piper McLean, make an entrance and play their part. Trend of this series is that Apollo gets help of Demigod/s (from previous books of author) in each book of this series. The said demigod/s do not continue in subsequent books. Looks like author is still capitalising on the goodwill of previous series to prop up this series.

After emperors Commodus and Nero it's Caligula. Apollo's new adversary and most powerful of the three. He also has a specific motive. He summons Helios, the Titan of Sun. Real Caligula ruled Rome mere four to five years (AD37 to AD41) before he was assassinated. I was expecting some Roman Emperor more illustrious than Commodus and Nero, but author chose a relatively unknown name. 

Author retains his style of narration. Humorous and witty. He exploits Greek and Roman mythology and History to create the story and humor. Although the story is not profound, it's laced with humour and action and just about ensures reader interest. Apollo starts to understand human feelings and emotions. Will he remember them when his Godhood is eventually restored?

This book too has mythical creatures. Strix are giant owl birds, extremely fierce, night creatures who can't be killed because any one who kills a strix will be cursed. Pandii are demi humans with dish antenna size ears, from India. (Never heard of these creatures in Indian mythology). They can fly flapping their ears, have an exceptional sense of hearing, are master of all weapons and are best mercenaries in the world. Insitatus, the taking horse of Caligula.

In this book Lester starts to show some intelligence, rather than being a pathetic, bumbling, pimply teenager. His quest will continue for the rescue of fourth Oracle in subsequent book. 

Author has successfully milked the tried and tested formula to ensure minimum quality requirements. But he doesn't outdo himself. Although this series is decent, it's definitely not in the league of first two series. 

Why did I read this book? Have read first two.

What did I like? Author's humorous narration and use of Greek and Roman mythology and history.   

What I didn't like? Borrowed demigods.

Read, if you are reading the series.