The housekeeper and the professor by Yoko Ogawa

​"The housekeeper and the professor" by Yoko Ogawa - Beautiful ! 

This book is published by Vintage Digital in 2009 and has 191 pages. This book is translated from Japanese to English by Stephen Snider.

The housekeeping agency assigns a house keeper to the house of a mathematics professor who had an accident in 1975, when his memory stopped. All his new memories last 80 minutes. The professor is immersed in numbers and nothing else. Its a small house, no visitors or phone calls, light meals; ideal for a housekeeper. Except for the host who doesn’t remember her next day, who is whimsical, doesn’t have good table manners and who asks her birthdate, shoe size, zip code everyday. But somehow the Professor likes her son.

How can the housekeeper handle the professor? Will Professor accept her the next day as he doesn’t remember her? Why does he call her son Root? How long will it last?

Professor doesn’t remember what he has for lunch but he can solve the most complex mathematical problems easily. He devises riddles for Root. Root and the housekeeper love this fatherly professor who doesn’t remember them the next day. The three persons create a special affection, based in a microcosm of their own. 

Author takes us into a world of her own. A world confined to the interiors of a small house. But a world with limitless possibilities. World with infinite numbers. The professor can express his feelings and affections only through numbers, but house keeper and Root express it normally. Professor doesn’t understand that. Author unveils the relations and relationships between humans in a very delicate and unique manner. It’s beautiful, poetic!

This Book has only four characters. Professor who I talked about above. Housekeeper, a single mother. Her reaction to professor goes from guarded, strange, empathetic, compassionate to looking at him like a family member. Root is 10 years old. He shares interest in baseball with Professor. His interest in mathematics is kindled due to his association with Professor. Sister-in-law is sister-in-law of the Professor who recruits and plays for the housekeeper but she doesn’t help in any other way, observing from the sidelines. 

My collectible sentence from this book:

I wonder why simple words sound so exotic when used in relation to the numbers.

What is the uniqueness of this book? First it’s a first person narration of the housekeeper. Second, none of the characters have name. Professor is Professor. Housekeeper is Housekeeper. Son is Root. Sister-in-law is Sister-in-law. Third it’s good.

This book sold 1 million copies in two months.  This book won Hon’ya Taisho award and was made into a film. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title.  

What I didn't like? Everything.

What did I like? Umm….

A must read.

Did you see Melody by Sophie Hannah

"Did you see Melody" by Sophie Hannah -Great start!

This book is published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2017 and has 336 pages. 

Cara Borrows, husband Patrick, children Jess & Ollie live in Hartford, England. Sara is pregnant third time, an unplanned one. The family doesn’t want the baby but nobody asks what Sara wants. To clear her head she leaves a note for family and goes to America and stays in Swallow tail resort and spa, Arizona. A very expensive luxury resort. Here she sees a girl, Melody Chapa, who was murdered 7-8 years ago. Her parents are serving sentence for killing her. There are more sightings of Melody.

Is Melody dead or alive? Are sightings real? Where does Cara disappear? Did you see Melody? 

This book can be roughly divided into two sections. One before and one after Cara’s disappearance. First section is good. Author manages to pique the reader’s curiosity. Is it Melody? Isn’t it Melody? Is she real? Is she imaginary? This part is good. Second part is not as compactly written as first. A lot of new characters come in. The kidnapper, a TV host, her assistant, Cara’s husband, Cops. In this part author appears to be undecided if she should focus only on Melody case or also on Cara. Why doesn’t Cara run when she has a chance? As a result, second part is a bit scattered all over the place. 

Nevertheless, the book is readable and you don’t abandon it. So, the time is not wasted. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What did I like? First section.

What I didn't like? Scattered second section. 

Not a must read. 

Lethal Agent by Vince Flynn written by Kyle Mills

 "Lethal Agent" by Vince Flynn written by Kyle Mills- Flawed plot !

This book is published by Simon & Schuster in 2019 and has 384 pages. It’s Book 18 of Mitch Rapp series. 

Mitch Rapp tries to kill Mulla Halabi in Yemeni caves but he survives. Mulla realizes that small time terrorist activities are not enough, he needs to do something big to bring America, Irene Kennedy and Mitch Rapp to knees. An inexplicable decease has erupted in a remote village in Yemen. Halabi sees the opportunity. He gets unexpected help from the monstrous ambition of American Presidential hopeful Senator Barnett, Chief of Senate Intelligence Committee. An attack is imminent. 

What will Mitch do? Why is he embroiled in money laundering, corruption and what not? What is the Mexican drug connection?

This is a run of the mill thriller. The usual actions. Usual weapons and exposition. Biological threat. All the ingredients are there. 

The plot has no novelty. There was a Senator who didn’t like Irene and Mitch in previous books as well. Why does this author reuse the plot of original author? 

The biggest weak link is the plot to infiltrate the drug cartel. It’s so simplistic that it tends to be naive. Such a plot will never succeed in reality, not even close. 

In the final actions Rapp doesn’t appear to be in control of the situation. If your protagonists doesn’t control the narrative, who does?

After death of Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills has written this book to capitalize on the franchise. But he isn’t Vince Flynn. 

Why did I read this book? Mitch Rapp. 

What did I like?  Not much.

What I didn't like? Flawed plot.

Give it a miss. 

Diary of a void by Emi Yagi

 ​"Diary of a void" by Emi Yagi - Change of perspective!

This book is published by Harvill Secker in 2022 and has 224 pages. The book is translated from Japanese to English by David Boyd and Lucy North. 

Shibata, 34, is the only female working in male dominated office at the paper core manufacturer. She is relegated to menial tasks no one wants to do like coffee making, washing the cups, changing the printer cartridge, distributing sweets etc. Long hours, unimportant work and uninteresting single life leads to her declaring one day that she is pregnant, when she isn’t.

What changes after she declares her pregnancy? How long can she put up this charade?

The approach of everyone changes, one because she is pregnant, and two because she isn’t married. People start to notice her, ask about her welfare, share the menial jobs. She starts to go home early, starts to enjoy life. She starts finding little pleasures of life like shopping for vegetables, bubble bath etc. She starts eating better and more. Maternity badge on her bag gets her seat on the train. She also joins a group of expecting moms. But then lie and reality starts to merge. 

Author transforms from lore of pregnancy to real pregnancy seamlessly. At one point the reader starts to doubt if the pregnancy is real or a lie. That’s the exact state of Shibata’s mind.

The book is subtle. At times it takes you through the daily chores of an expectant mother. Pretty routine for an expectant mother but special for Shibata.

Somehow, I was reading this book for more than three months. Due to discontinuous reading, probably, I didn’t enjoy it much.

The chapters are titled as numbers of weeks of pregnancy.

There are some tongue in cheek puns like ‘cutting-edge technology’ when cutting a box open. 

This book won Dazai Osama prize for best debut work of fiction. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb.

What I didn't like? Pace. 

What did I like? Fact-fiction confluence.

Read if you like the review. 

Journey to the throne by Vani Mahesh

 ​"Journey to the throne" by Vani Mahesh - Drags!

This book is published by HarperCollins India in Oct 2022 and has 296 pages. 

Samudragupt rules Gupt empire. He has two sons. Ram and Chandra. Ram is lazy, fond of vices, not brave, loves good lifestyle, considers the throne his birthright. Chandra, the younger, is virtuous, brave, empathetic, hard worker. 

Who will get the throne? The eldest or the most capable? How will it play out? How will Gupt empire fare?

It’s the story of Gupt empire. Ram is the entitled but unsuitable one who gets swayed easily. Chandra is the brave, ideal son and brother, loved by all. He is so virtuous that he reminds us of Prabhu Ramchandra. He is betrothed to Dhruva but she is later married to Ram. The empire has a coterie of reliable, responsible and loyal ministers who put up with adhoc decisions of Ram in the interest of empire. But then, at one point in time, Ram takes a decision that shocks and angers everyone, without exception. Is that the inflection point?

The seed story is a known one. Author tries to elaborate it. The story lacks balance. Sometimes trivial things take a long time and page space making it slow. Sometimes the action (e.g. climax) is over very quickly. The story drags. As a result, although you don’t abandon the book, it also doesn’t interest you. 

Book cover is cartoonish and doesn’t do Justice to the story. 

My collection of good sentences:

Rama felt as lonely as the kitten that sat on the window sill purring for its mother. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. 

What did I like? Umm…. 

What I didn't like? As mentioned above. 

Give it a miss.

City under one roof by Iris Yamashita

 "City under one roof" by Iris Yamashita -A mystery?

This book it’s published by Berkeley publishing corporation in Jan 2023 and has 304 pages. 

DavCon is a single building town of around 200 in remote Alaska. It’s accessible with one tunnel. 

Two body parts (a hand and a leg) are found in a cove. Detective Cara Kennedy reaches there to investigate and the tunnel closes due to snow. She is stuck in DavCon.

Can she solve the murder? Who is involved? Will the inhabitants cooperate? Who’s body parts are they? Why does Spence make Amy lie?

A small town where everyone knows everyone. A godforsaken place in the middle of nowhere. A place where no one wants to spend their entire life. It’s a town of mysterious people, quirky people. Everyone has secrets. No one appears to be in the clear. Even those who aren’t from the town have secrets. 

The story has assortment of characters. Detective Cara Kennedy is federal investigator. She has lost her husband and son a few years ago. She’s claustrophobic. JB is a young handsome police officer helping Cara. Lonnie is an old timer, not quite right in the head. She was institutionalized after her mother’s death. Now her Moose, Denny, is her only companion. Amy, a teenager, has found the body parts. Spence is Amy’s friend. Debra Blackman, Spence’s mom is English and history teacher. Chief Sibly is the police chief. 

It’s a slow story. Very slow. A a result I was reading this book for three months (Pun intended). Lonnie is an interesting character. She thinks of multiple words for every feeling. I liked author’s concept of showing a person who isn’t normal. 

The end of the book is unnecessarily drawn. Asa result the impact of revelation is lost. 

The story ends with an unnecessary twist of a ghost. Wasn’t really necessary. There are two loose threads pointing towards the death of Cara’s family. Probably preparation for a sequel. 

Why did I read this book? Japanese author name +American setting. 

What did I like? Lonnie as explained above. 

What I didn't like? Pace.

Not a must read.

Treacle Walker by Alan Garner

​"Treacle Walker" by Alan Garner - Abstract! 

This book is published by 4th estate in 2022 and has 152 pages. 

A man called Treacle Walker comes to Joe’s door bartering old clothes and bones for pots and donkey stones. Joe who wears an eye patch and has problem with Sun enters into the trade and strange things start happening.

Who is Joe? Who is Treacle Walker? Who is Thin Armen in the Bog?

When you read the book, the first and only thing that comes to your mind is that it’s abstract. Reality and glamour are fused. This book is written at a different level. It transcends writing styles. It fudges reality with dreams and then fudges it with fiction and other world. 

The story is open and it can be interpreted the way you want. Same thing can be interpreted differently. Things are fluid and fuzzy. 

There are only three characters, Joseph Coppock (Joe), the protagonist. Treacle Walker, the man who sets the ball rolling. Thin Armen, the spirit / God or something similar. Actually all the characters are unreal but have the characteristics and tendencies of humans. 

I encountered several English words for the first time in this book like Hurlolomperjobs, Hurlothrumbo, lomperhomock, tarradiddles, macaronics, filliloo, glamourie, flustication, clanjandering, mirligoes, whirligig, lomperwhatsits, alackaday, skrike, tussocks, carnaptious, shent. Google search for some words straight away led to the link regarding this book. 

This book was shortlisted for Booker Prize 2022.

Why I read this book? Small size. Could be read in one day. Recommended by Siddhant and Ansha.

What did I like? Concept.  

What didn’t like? Nothing really.

Recommend reading if you don’t mind the genre.