The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne.

Mandar's book review (24th March 2014)

Completed "The boy in the striped pyjamas" by John Boyne. This book has sold more than 5 million copies.

The story takes place in 1943. This book is the world of a nine year old boy called Bruno. Bruno lives in Berlin in a huge five storied house with his parents and an annoying elder sister.

One day Fury (Fuhrer or Hitler) comes to his house for dinner and his father is transferred to Outwith (Auschwitz - a Nazi concentration camp) as Commandant. He does not like the new place. He is intrigued by people wearing stripped pyjamas on the other side of fence near his house.

He meets a boy who lives on the other side of fence called Shmuel. They strike friendship, each remaining on his side of the fence, chatting with each other. He find out that Outwith is actually in Poland and not in Germany.

Can the friendship blossom? Would someone play spoilsport? Can they play together? Can they be on the same side of the fence?

Bruno doesn't understand why the waiter in their house was a doctor and is not a doctor any more? Why the soldiers treat the people from other side with contempt? Why he has to keep his friendship a secret? Why one of the lieutenant is transferred suddenly? Why Shmuel is always hungery?

There is no violence in the book but there is a strong undercurrent of something sinister. The atrocities on and deaths of Holocaust victims appear to be downplayed deliberately in order to keep the  focus on Bruno's world.

Small Bruno doesn't understand world politics. He does not understand that his father runs a concentration camp. He always thinks of him as a hero. He doesn't understand why mother and father talk in raised voices. Why grand mother is ashamed of his father, her son.

The book leaves a big pit in your stomach at the end.

It's a good book and is only 256 pages long. Recommend reading.

The Princes by Manohar Malgaokar translated in Marathi by B.D.Kher (भा.द.खेर)

"The Princes" by Manohar Malgaokar translated in Marathi by B.D.Kher (भा.द.खेर). This book was first published in 1963.

India was formed by numerous principalities before independence. This is the story of one such fictional principality called Begwad and it's ruling family 'The Bedars'. The princes of these principalities underwent a polar shift from being the most powerful men to becoming a commoner. This novel takes on a roller coaster ride of the transformation on a personal, social and psychological level.

The book shows us the wealth of sansthaniks (संस्थानीक), how they felt closer to British than Congress, how they hunted wild animals, how they partied, how they drank, how they lusted on one hand. On the other the author shows how they ruled, how they ensured justice and how they cared for their subjects.

Down fall of Sansthaniks from ruler to weakened ruler to nominal ruler to a common man and eventually a pariah is shown in this book. The central character Abhayraj eventually comes out as a just person who refuses to show the wealth of Sansthan as his own. However he can not do anything for the Bhilla population in his kingdom who's land goes under the catchment area of the dam.

Although the book has covered one of the most tumultuous time period, it becomes boring often. It could have been more fast paced and interesting or probablya little smaller than its 431 pages. As I read the book I also realized that I had read it when I was in school.

Most of today's readers were not born at the time of independence. So this book gives a good peek in those times.

Not a must read.

Veronica decides to die by Paulo Coelho

"Veronica decides to die" by Paulo Coelho.  This book was first published in 1998. A film, based on this book, was released in 2009.

Veronica, a deluded  beautiful young lady from Slovenia, decides to die by committing suicide. She takes pills but finds herself in a hospital (sanitorium). Here she meets a number of people. The main characters are Zedka a lady who is victim of depression, Marie who was once a well known lawyer before she started getting panic attacks and Eduard who is a schizophrenic and had visions of paradise. They are treated by Doctor Igor, who keeps experimenting on his patients in hope to become next Einstein.

Veronica is told that although she had escaped suicide, her heart has become weak and she would not live more than a week. This is when she forges relationships with the three inmates. She escapes Villet and elopes with Eduard.

What happens next? Is anyone cured? Is anyone released? What does Veronica learn? What are the experiments? Does Doctor Igor prove anything?

Paulo Coelho is a writer who writes at a very different level as compared to other writers. His books are full of philosophy and spirituality and he has a knack of making it simple for the readers.

In this book he has shown what the bland life of a typical young European lady would look like, from becoming young to becoming old, in few pages very effectively. He has also provided answer to 'what it means to be crazy' in a couple of pages beautifully and we can not contest it.

The book explores the lives of mad and deemed mad people. He defines madness as something that is different from the majority. The book asks who is mad? The people branded as mad or the rest of the world? The book ends on a positive note.

This book has a catchy title. Although this book is not bad, it is not as good as some of Paulo's other books. Veronica, the central character becomes a secondary character in the middle portion of the book.

You can give it a miss.

The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway

"The old man and the sea" by Ernest Hemingway. This book won Pulitzer prize for fiction in 1953.

This is the story of an old fisherman, referred to as old man, who goes to sea in his skiff every day. He has gone without a catch for eighty four days. Today is eighty fifth day and he is confident of catching a big one.

He goes out to the sea and hooks a big Marlin. (Marlin is a fish with spear like snout. It can reach 5m in length and 600 to 800kg in weight.) This one is longer than his skiff and and tows his skiff, with the bait and line in mouth, for more than two days. The fish is too big to pull and if he tries to hard the line will break. The old man has to wait till the fish tires.

The old man lives the journey with nothing to eat except raw fish, with a hand and shoulder tied to line and without sleep. He manages to kill the Marlin using only the line and harpoon and ties it to the skiff. Sharks get the scent of blood and attack.

Can the old man save the Marlin? Can he save his skiff? Can he save himself? Can he make it to the shore?

This is the story of fight between the old man and marlin at sea. It's the story of determination and desperation, of hope and despair, of courage, of killer instincts and respect for enemy.

It's a small book of 128 pages. But Hemingway has demonstrated in this book what other may take volumes. This book keeps you on tenterhook (no pun intended). The old man, Marlin, a bird, the sea, sharks, skiff, old man's hand, the line all play characters in the story. You to become a character and sometimes cheer for the Marlin and sometimes for the old man.

A good book. Recommend reading.

The orphan masters son by Adam Johnson

"The orphan masters son" by Adam Johnson. This book won 2013 Pulitzer prize for fiction.

This is the story of Jun Do, a North Korean youth. (I think the name is inspired by John Doe, a name used for a person whose real name is not known, in America) His father is an orphan master (in charge of orphanage). Hence the book title.

This book is made up of two parts. First part is the story of Jun Doe. How he is raised in an orphanage although he is not an orphan. How he becomes a tunnel rat by profession aquiring ability to move in dark. How he becomes a state kidnapper and then radio operator. Then his visit to America as part of delegation that is termed as unsuccessful by North Korean leadership. This visit is the zenith of his life immediately followed by nadir of prison camp.

In second part,  an imposter of commander Ga (Ga is the husband of national actress Sun Moon and is also minister of prison mines) is arrested on charges of killing his wife. He is interrogated as commander Ga. Readers  must have gussed that the imposter is Jun Do. It shows what one can do for his true love. It also shows how state propaganda machinery gives the spin to to the fact and make fiction out of it. This part of book  oscillates between past and present, reality and illusion, truth and deception, fact and fiction.

The book shows how the state controls lives of its citizens. All beautiful girls are taken to Pyongyang as hostesses. If a man dies, his widow is given a replacement husband by state. The citizens who have done acts of bravery are accorded status of hero and get privileges like a motorcycle, wife of choice, shoes etc. Here the story is more important than the person. The person may be lying, it's acceptable if his story checks out. When a patient is very sick, his blood is taken away for others and thus he dies for the state. How the dear leader and great leader always watch them and define their lives. How the loudspeakers installed in every house and all public places give selected news and spread propaganda for state. The picture is horrible. Everyone is out to save their skin and survive. No one can challenge the system.

The author has created a masterpiece of black satire. The book does not make you sit on the edge of your chair, in fact some times you even get bored, but it intrigues you. It's a very dark tale and leaves a pit in your stomach. This book is not for the light hearted.

Read if you are not deterred by eerie novels.

Chandragupta - Path of a fallen demigod by Rajat Pillai

"Chandragupta - Path of a fallen demigod" by Rajat Pillai.

It is year 235 after Buddha. Nand dynasty founded by Mahapadmananda has ruled Magadh for three generations. It is now ruled by Dhananand. Chandra is a palace attendant. On the day of graduation of princes, Chandra is assigned in a team opposing princes. When Chandra fights the princes instead of succumbing meakly, fingers of his left arm are chopped off. On the same day a junior minister of Dhananand, Vishnugupta, is dismissed from job for opposing the king publically.

Vishnugupta and Chandra form alliance with like minded youth, called Karma Sena, with an ambition of overthrowing the Nandas, freeing Magadh and creating a kingdom with good governance. After a number of failed attempts, they take over Patliputra and Chandra is crowned Samrat. He becomes Chandragupta Maurya. His empire stretches from present day Iran to Bangladesh, from Afghanistan to Karnataka. He successfully repels the attack of Macedonian Selucus and governs in exemplary way.

But does the story end there? Who is Chandra? Why does the author call him fallen demigod? Does he rule happily ever after? Is he satisfied? Is there anything that bothers the first Samrat of India?

Author has a 'matter of factly' writing style. It was easy to depict Chandragupta and Vishnugupta (Chanakya) as men without flaws and larger than life. But author has tried to make them as real and human as possible. The author has ventured into description of detailed lifestyle of more than 1800 years ago only to the extent required for the story and thus has avoided the trap of possibly overdoing. The author keeps you interested till end. Although the book is 301 pages long, it is a large size book with small font. So it is as good as reading a 450 page book.

Chandragupta is not a magnificent king but a cursed human being who has a tendency of loosing his loved ones either to death or treachery or both. Thus although he is a Samrat in public life, he is a lonely sad man in his personal life.

On one side he is a brilliant strategist, just king, leader with a foresight. On the other hand he is a grieving husband, shocked friend, a general puzzled by treachery of his most loyal aid.

Reader can not but sympathize with this Samrat for being a sorry and lonely being who is a very disturbed soul in search of inner peace. This search eventually leads to abdicating his throne for his son and relinquishing all comfort to become a Jain monk.

A good book. Recommend reading.

Mirage by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul

"Mirage" by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul. This is the 9th book in Oregon files series.

For those who do not know; Oregon is a high tech ship  disguised as a rusty old tramp steamer. It's the headquarter of private secret service organization called 'The corporation'. It works with CIA and other agencies to stop crime and terrorism. It's headed by Chairman Juan Cabrillo, a superb innovative planner and great leader. The crew has multiple specializations like disguise, deception, combat capabilities, technological expertise, weaponry and daring, that help them get the job done. In short they are good mercenaries.

In this book, The corporation is tasked to steal a prisoner from Siberian prison. The prisoner informs that a rogue Russian admiral, Pyotr Kyenin, has got hold of unknown research work of Nicola Tesla. He plans to sell it to the Chinese and disappear.

Juan Cabrillo and team Oregon stand in his way. Can Oregon stop him? Will he get better of The Corporation? Will the admiral be able to destroy a yacht protected by The Corporation? Will the admiral sink Oregon? What is the research? What is the miracle? Can Oregon save the day? Who wins?

This thriller is true to Cussler's reputation. The story is fast paced, full of action and keeps you interested even when there is no action.

The book includes a prison break, high speed chase on snow mobiles, diving to the bottom of ocean, firing of torpedoes, near death and survival, disguise, rescue, boat chase, deception, harpoon attack and retribution. In short everything that makes a book bestseller. The book does not disappoint on any front. It's a cliff hanger.

Cussler has been churning novels after novels with water theme in general and sea or ocean in particular but had managed to maintain variety. It's amazing.

It's a page turner. Recommend reading.

Maut by Behram Ardeshir

"Maut" by Behram Ardeshir.

Maut is the  deadliest assassin in the world. He is an Indian. He could have become anything he wanted, a doctor, an engineer, a manager, an athlete. But fate has chosen this destiny for him.

Maut is tasked to kill a Russian mobster in Cyprus. He succeeds, encounters Groznetsky who is in charge of mobster's security. Both Maut and Groznetski escape Cyprus without killing each other.

Maut who is a ruthless assassin and cold blooded murderer, had started to show feelings. He had started to help people in distress. Deputy director of Indian intelligence bureau, who is trying to find Maut, is perplexed. Is he a good guy or a bad guy?

This is when he meets Charmaine, his love since his adolescence, who is now married. A number of events take place that put Charmaine in harms way and Maut has to fight the fight of his life to save her. What is the fight? Why Charmaine, who had married an accountant, is in danger? What does Maut do? Can he win? Can he save her? Will he get her?

Behram has created India's answer to Robin Hood, Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp put together. He has succeeded in creating an interesting character who is supremely fit, trained in every martial art, can kill easily with bare hands, is master of disguise and speaks about 12 languages.

Although he describes Maut's fights in detail, readers fail to understand how exactly did he kill the guy. Characters are neatly developed although the reader wonders why the characters can not see what the reader can. There are also a few loop holes and incongruities that could have been avoided with better proof reading.

The author has  provided certain information in two or three chapters again and again, unnecessarily, as if they are different stories. This indicates lack of confidence in readers and becomes an irritation for the readers.

The book is titled 'Maut - The birth of death' and the last chapter explains how Maut became an assassin. Probably Behram wants to create a series and this is the first book. We can expect more from him.

A decent book. Recommend reading for a change.