In an antique land by Amitav Ghosh

"In an antique land" by Amitav Ghosh. This book is published by Penguin in 2009 and has 336 pages. This book is dubbed as 'History in the guise of traveler's tale'.

Amitav Ghosh, a social anthropologist, became interested in a the mention of a slave in ancient documents from catalog MSH6. He was presumably an Indian slave of a Jewish merchant Abraham Ben Yijû who stayed in Indian port city of Mangalore for about 30 years between 1450 - 1500 AD. Author became interested in the history of middle Eastern Jews and started his research. He did not even know the name of slave.

Amitav learned Arabic in Tunisia. Dr. Issa of University of Alexandria Placed him in a small Egyptian hamlet of Lataîfa. Here he interacted with local folk. Understood their beliefs, language, there way of thinking and areas of interest. Then he shifted to another hamlet Nashâwy and interacted with the inhabitants. Damanhour was the nearest town.

He researched documents, retrieved from a synagogue years ago and now scattered all over the world, to retrace the lives of Ben Yijû and his slave. His quest took him to Mangalore and he was successful in finding the name of slave. Where he came from. Where did Ben Yijû go from Mangalore. What happened to his family. What happened to his slave etc.

Author also formed a bond with people of Lataîfa and Nashâwy. He became one of them. He kept in touch with them through letters even after leaving Egypt and visited them twice in subsequent years.

This book can not be categorized in any particular genre. The story toggles between author's stay in Egypt and story of the slave unearthed from ancient documents. Both narratives are fascinating. I started this book with a doubt in my mind. Will I like this unusual off beat book. But I liked it.

Author's writing about his stay in Egypt is factual and unbiased. He simply states the things as they are and as they appear to him without being judgmental. His writing about the slave is factual where document evidence is available and speculative in absence of it, however he declares that this is a speculation.

This book is enchanting. Non fiction readers should read it.

The Accidental Apprentice by Vikas Swarup

"The Accidental Apprentice" by Vikas Swarup. This book is published by Minotaur books in 2014 and has 448 pages. Famous movie Slumdog Millionaire was based on Vikas Swarup's book Q&A.

Sapna Sinha, the only bread winner in her house, works as a salesgirl in an electronic showroom. One day while she has gone to a temple a sudden opportunity presents. Sapna is offered the position of CEO of 8th biggest conglomerate of India by its current CEO Vinay Mohan Acharya. The condition is that she should pass seven tests. If she fails any one, she is out of contention. Six or seven candidates have already failed before her.

Is this a prank? Is this part of aTV show? Is the offer genuine? Will she agree? Will she fail? Would she have to make a deal with devil? How does the story unravel? Who is murdered?

Author has attempted to package this book as much more than entertainment. It contains a story. It has lessons of management and it also tackles the social issues.

The book takes issues like khap panchayats, child labor, corruption, exploitation of women, acid attacks, human organs racket etc.. It also give lesson in soft skills like leadership, integrity, courage, foresight, resourcefulness & decisiveness. Author should be congratulated for this bold attempt.

Only regret is that while trying to balance all three aspects, he has fallen just short on all of them landing in 'Jack of all trades' situation. There were also a few lose ends that should have been tidied up like how does the killer know that Sapna will purchase a knife? How does the killer know that Sapna will go to his house?

Look at it as a social novel disguised as thriller and then you will like it. Not for those who want only fun reading.

Private India by Ashwin Sanghi & James Patterson

"Private India" by Ashwin Sanghi & James Patterson. This book is published by Random House India in Jul 2014 and has 448 pages. This is 8th book in the 'Private' series of Patterson and his first collaboration with Ashwin Sanghi.

Private is world's finest PI agency. Private India is located in Mumbai. Santosh Wagh, ex RAW agent, is head of India office, Private India.  He is a brilliant investigator with encyclopedia like knowledge. He is also an alcoholic since the death of his wife and only child.

A serial killer is killing females by strangulating them with yellow hand woven silk scarves. Private India is asked to investigate the case on behalf of police with a tacit agreement of police assistance in lieu of credit for solving the case.

Are the murders connected? Is this the work of a psychopath killer? Is he a female hater? Is there a common thread to murders? Or there is more to it? Has it anything to do with a cult that dates back 500 years?

Authors don't waste page space for the buildup to the story or to introduce the characters or to create the background. Readers jump into the story headlong from the world go. The background of the characters is provided on the fly.

The characters, the events and the storyline are neatly woven into a fabric that is cohesive, attractive and interesting. Nine murders on nine days of navratri and murderer leaving clues relating to Goddess Durga add another dimension to the story.

Although two writers have written the book, it is uniform and reader can not differentiate the writing styles. Character of Jack Morgan, Head of Private, appeares in the story only to emphasize that this is the book in Private series. Hari's running away seems unjustified and his character was wasted unnecessarily.

The story and narration is gripping. Make sure you have continuous time to read this as you would not like to break. A sequel to this book seems to be in order.

A very good book. Recommend reading.

Land of no rain by Amjad Nasser

"Land of no rain" by Amjad Nasser. The book is published by Bloomsbury in Apr 2014 and has 264 pages. Amjad Nasser is a Jordanian poet journalist and is managing editor of Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper published from London.

Hamiya is a fictional country somewhere in middle East. It's ruled by a dynasty of military rulers. It was a typical iron feasted country. Younis al-Khattat, a revolutionary and a poet, had to leave country after the failed attempt to assassinate the ruler, leaving behind his friends, family and love. He is sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia. This is when the person is split in two. One remains in Hamiya and another leaves and becomes Adham. He makes a living in exile as a writer rather than a poet in another country and marries a foreigner.

Hamiya has a new ruler now and a general amnesty is declared. Younis al-Khattat returns to his country 'Hamiya' & his city 'City of siege and war' after 20 years. The city has changed so much that he finds no reference to his memory. He is filled with aesthetic numbness. He meets his friends, aquaitances, family and his love. Everything has changed but is the same.

The name of cities and countries are suggestive rather than proper nouns like City of red and grey, City of siege and war, Island of the sun, City overlooking the sea, Land of palm trees and oil, City of Sindbad, Star shaped stone building etc.

Unique feature of this book is that the book is written mostly in second person narrative. This was first time I read such a narrative. The story is told by Younis (who lived in Hamiya) to Younis (who left Hamiya). It's a dialogue of the protagonist with his alter ego.

Younis tries to rediscover his identity through his roots, through the places he visits and through calligraphy, which is his family's profession. Author has spent some page space to introduce the readers to Arabic calligraphy and it's history.

It seems that author had based the character of Younis on himself. The similarities between the two are compelling. The longing one feels while staying in a foreign country and the curious feeling upon returning to his country are captured beautifully. The end of book, though, appeared abrupt.

Only serious readers will like it. Give it a miss if you are a casual reader.

The intern's handbook a.k.a. Kill your boss by Shane Kuhn

"The intern's handbook" a.k.a. "Kill your boss", debut novel of Shane Kuhn. This book is published by  Simon & Schuster in 2014 and has 288 pages. Why there are two titles? Because this book is published in US as "The intern's handbook" and in UK as "Kill your boss.

John Lago is an orphan and works for HR Inc. run by Bob. What's their business? To place interns in various corporations. The interns are assigned to a boss. They earn his trust and then kill him. HR Inc. is an organization of contract killers disguised as interns.

John is assigned to kill one of the three partners of a Law firm. He has to identify the one who sells the identities from witness protection program and kill him. This would be his last assignment before he retirees at the age of 25. Here he meets Alice, a beautiful junior associate and decides to use her as an asset to gain entry where an intern is not allowed. He pretends to love her and she intern mobilizes help to find his biological father.

Can John identify and kill the partner? Who is Alice? Can she find his father? Does John retire? Is this his last assignment?

The book is written in first person narrative. John has written a handbook for other interns and told his story through it. It could have been a memoire instead of handbook and still would have made the same impact.

The idea of intern assassin is superb, full marks to the idea. The anonymity enjoyed by an intern, a free worker, is key to gaining confidence of boss without drawing attention and then killing him. Author has written very well. The start of book is engaging, middle portion drags a little bit and end is again interesting. Although you don't read it in one go you also don't abandon it.

Style of writing is different and a good change from usual. Narration is informative and entertaining but a little mechanical at times. Considering that this is the first novel of author, we can expect more good work from him in future.

The cover design and use of eye catching yellow color is very effective. I think the European title is more appropriate.

A good book. If you are a fan of thrillers and want to read something different, this book is for you.

The girl from Nongrim hills by Ankush Saikia

"The girl from Nongrim hills" by Ankush Saikia. This book is published by Penguin in 2013 and has 213 pages. It's a noir.

Donbok (Bok), who stays with his retired parents, is the lead guitarist in a band that plays in Shillong. He has an elder brother Kitdor (Bah Hep) who stays with his wife and kid at his wife's place. Kitdor tries to make quick money by playing a middle man for an arms deal. However he is robbed of 50 lakh rupees. Now they give him 7 days to return the money.

Bok decides to help him. But how? A God send opportunity presents in the form of a beautiful young girl from Nongrim hills. He is to help her steal a bag and she would give him 50 lakh. Easy isn't it? Yes until everything goes wrong.

What's in the bag? Can Bok pull it off? Would there be a double cross? Or a triple cross?  What happens to the arms deal and threat to Kitdor?

This was the first time I read a novel on background of north eastern Indian states. It was a good change from usual metro and rural background of north or south Indian states. I did not know that Shillong is the rock capital of India. The book shows glimpses of life in Meghalay. The people of Meghalay consists of migrants of Assam, Bihar, Nagaland, other NE states and even Bangladesh.

Author has given a detailed description of Bok's travels on bike within Shillong, which road he took, which place he passed, which turn he took and so on. Initially you like it because you are acclimatizing with Shillong, but later on you don't appreciate the travelog and get irritated.

The protagonists keep smoking and drinking alcohol very regularly so much so that you doubt if these things have become part of the culture. They also regularly drive after drinking.

Narration is interesting initially but the story starts dragging later on. Not much happens. Readers tend to take a break from reading. You are no more on the edge of the chair. Finally you just want to know how it ends. A good start but not carried through.

An OK book. You can give it a miss.

The Navigator by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos

"The Navigator" by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. The book is published by Penguin in 2008 and has 552 pages. This is the 7th book in 'NUMA files' series.

Carina Mechada, a beautiful lady, works for UNESCO. Her job is to retrieve stolen historical artifacts. She retrieves number of pieces stolen from an Iraqi museum with funding from a foundation run by billionaire Victor Baltazar. While she is transporting them to America on a ship, the ship is taken over by mercenaries and set for a collision with an oil platform. The mercenaries are interested in an ancient statue called 'The Navigator'. Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala happen to  tow icebergs in the vicinity. Kurt's heroics save the ship, The Navigator and damsel in distress. Kurt and Carina are chased by goons then on.

A file written by former American President Thomas Jefferson is found in American Philosophical Society. It talks about artichoke farming, but in reality is a coded document. Librarian of the philosophical society is murdered.

What's in this statue? What can it tell of a period more than 2000 years ago? Who is trying to kill Kurt and Carina? How does Thomas Jefferson and his friend Meriwether Lewis come into picture? Is this related to Phoenicia and the Phoenicians? Who is the villain?

Cussler has based the story on the possibility that a boat from Phoenicia (Modern day Lebanon and Syria) had reached the shores of North America more than 2000 years ago, much before Christopher Columbus. Though there is no record of Phoenicians having navigational skills to cross the Atlantic, in reality. Story states that the Phoenicians (Particularly sons of King Solomon) had hidden the Ark of Covenant in King Solomon's gold mines, somewhere in North America. Ark of Covenant is a chest containing tablets of gold on which the ten commandments were inscribed. It is said that the ark was built at the command of God, in accordance with instructions given to Moses.

The story takes us from Iraq to Atlantic ocean to America to Turkey and back to America. Kurt lands in life threatening situations and comes out unscathed in each of them and wins Carina over.

Dynasties of King Solomon with queen of Sheba and her handmaid continues for 2300 years and meets in this book. A little far fetched but acceptable for a fiction.

Authors seem to have concentrated more on action than story. The action scenes are written superbly. Historical background and research lends credibility to the story. The reason given by author to keep the Ark of Covenant hidden is not convincing. There are some loose ends that are not tied in properly like who kills Meriwether Lewis? Who opposes Thomas Jefferson? Etc. It's a typical Cussler pot boiler that keeps you interested but it is not one of his better ones.

It's not a WOW book, but you don't get bored. Cussler fans would enjoy it.

Blood red sari by Ashok Banker

"Blood red sari" by Ashok Banker. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2012 and has 300 pages.

Three stories run in parallel. These are stories of three ladies. Anita B. has lost her best friend and is returning from Mumbai to Trivendrum. She finds that her family is trying to kill her. Sheila Ray, an ex investigator, runs a gym in Salt Lake City of Kolkata. She find herself out of business, out of livelihood and declared pariah within a span of two hours. Nachiketa is fighting against in-laws who assaulted her and left her handicapped for life. She finds her office burned, her assistant murdered and herself abandoned by friends with suggestion of psychiatric treatment.

The common thread between them is that each one has been sent a yellow manila envelop upon Lalima's instructions when she was killed.

What's in the envelop? Why is it so important? Who are 'they'? What do they want? Why are they after the three ladies?

This is an all female (main) character novel. It's a curious mix of females. A physically challenged lawyer, a lesbian investigator who was brutally raped when she was 15 years old and an ex investigator and gym owner who was also a victim of brutality. Despite the abuses, they are highly independent and capable women. Incidentally the three protagonists had appeared in previous novel or stories of Ashok Banker.

Ashok Banker has written a gripping story. You are hooked to it and want to know what happens next. Readers get a peek into the past of three main characters but do not get to know it all. The seemingly innocuous lives of the three women are shattered by an external force that is far stonger than any one of them.

Ashok has left a number of loose ends in the book as to what happens to the three protagonists, how did Lalima come into possession of the documents about the biggest conspiracy and business of all. What happens after the book ends.

Apparently this is all deliberate because this book is the first of the series of four. The lose ends will be tied in subsequent books. The human trafficking and terror angle makes a late entry in the book but the reasoning and justification given is not very convincing. Probably more will come in subsequent books. Infact that should be the main theme of subsequent books.

A good book. Read if you also intend to read remaining three, when published.

Girl who saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson

"Girl who saved the King of Sweden" by Jonas Jonasson. This book is published by Ecco in Apr 2014 and has 400 pages. This book is translation of his Swedish book 'Analfabeten som kunde räkna'

Nombeko is a 14 year old black orphan, who lives in Soweto near Johannesburg and works as manager of latrine emptying. She is illiterate but has a way with numbers. She learns to read from a poor man who had a stash of diamonds. When this man is killed, she leaves Soweto to Johannesburg and  is run down on a pavement by a drunk Engineer's car. South African court declares black Nombeko guilty and sentences her to work as servant of the Engineer for 7 years. This Engineer happens to be an idiot and also head of South Africa's nuclear program. Nombeko learns and aquires knowledge equivalent to nuclear scientist in her stay with Engineer which happens to be more than 7 years.

Ingmar is a bumbling and stupid cleark at Sweden's post office. His life's goal is to shake hands with the King of Sweden. Eventually when he does meet the king, he had a change of heart. Now the objective of his life is to abolish monarchy. His wife gives birth to twin boys. Both are named Holger. Holger1, like his father, wants to abolish monarchy without a clue, brains and ability to do anything. Holger2 is cleaver and sane. He understands the folly in his father's goal.

Nombeko manages to escape South Africa with a three megaton atomic bomb by duping Mossad agents and lands in Sweden. Here she meets Holger2. Then starts the action of first concealing and then disposing the atom bomb and later rescuing it.

Nobody knows what to do with the a atomic bomb. Will the atom bomb fall in wrong hands? How long can Nombeko hide it?  How will it impact international politics? How can it be disposed off? Who threatens King of Sweden? Which girl saves him? Can she find love?

Jonas has a unique writing style. He creates humor without appearing to do so. I like his writing style. The book is full of witty commentary and black humor (No pun intended). Author also has a habit of slipping in political commentary and making fun of various politicians or political situations in a humorously sarcastic manner without sounding offensive. The real King and Prime Minister of Sweden and President of China are also characters in the story.

There is a collection of rag tag characters and then there is an atomic bomb. There are intelligence agencies, police and there is chase. The characters, situations and incidents range from improbable to impossible and thus help in creating hilarious situations. Jonas has a way with witty and hilarious writing.

The book covers a long time span of more than 46 years. I would have preferred it to be shorter.

Although you like the book, you don't love it. Especially those who have read his first book 'The 100 year old...' would be disappointed because this book does not  live up to the heightened expectations.

A decent book. If you are reading Jonas Jonasson for the first time, you will like it.

Aastik (आस्तिक) by Sane Guruji (साने गुरुजी)

"Aastik (आस्तिक)", a Marathi novel, by Sane Guruji (साने गुरुजी). This edition of the book is published by Riya Publications in 2011 and has 216 pages.

Everyone knows the mythological tale of how King Parikshit (Son of Abhimanyu and Grandson of Arjun) garlanded a meditating sage with a dead snake. How he was cursed to die by bite of  Snake Takshak (तक्षक). How, despite all precautions, the curse came true. How after Parikshit's death his son Janmejay (जन्मेजय) started a fire to burn all snakes (नाग) of the universe called Sarpasatra (सर्पसत्र). How Indra, the king of Gods, promised protection to Takshak and how Sage Aastik talked sense into Janmejay and stopped the madness.

Sane Guruji has retold this tale in a realistic manner. He narrates it in the fashion it might have really happened. Author has given it a socialist angle and preached for the betterment of the society.

How does the story take place? What do the characters of Vatsala and Naganand contribute? Is there another war like Mahabharata in the offing? What does Sage Aastik (आस्तिक) preach? Can he really stop the madness, forever?

In this story there are no snakes. Naga (नाग) is a race of aboriginals. There is a social divide between Naga and Aryans (आर्य). Marriages between them are not uncommon but aren't encouraged either. Sarpasatra is actually the attempted ethnic cleansing of Nagas by Aryans.

The story is well told. The socialist perspective gives a different angle to the story and the readers think that it may have really happened like this. This story rings true to realism because the problems discussed here exist in today's world in almost all countries with varied  degree of severity.

Marathi language used in this book is very articulate and heavy. Some of the casual readers may not remain interested due to this. Sane Guruji has preferred to preach socialism through the story rather than letting the story convey the message. There are a lot of philosophical discourses in the book. It was possible to let the imagination of author loose in order to make the story even more interesting, but the author has refrained from doing that remaining true to the message.

Don't read it as a novel, read it as an attempt  to improve society through a story. Read it for a change.