The monogram murders by Sophie Hannah

"The monogram murders" by Sophie Hannah. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2014 and has 384 pages. This is the first time some one other than Agatha Christie has written Hercule Poirot mystery.

Poirot has taken a vacation, but stays in London anonymously and shares an apartment with Inspector Edward Catchpool. Three murders are discovered in Hotel Bloxham. Richard Negus, Ida Gransburry, Harriet Sipple are murdered exactly in same fashion. Each dead body has a monogrammed cuff link in its mouth. A note is left on the hotel counter that says 'May they never rest in peace'.

Prime murder suspect is Nancy Ducane, a famous portrait painter. Poirot and Catchpull start the investigation and it takes them into the past and in a village.

Who is the murderer? Is this a revenge? Will Catchpool find the murderer or will it be Poirot? How many love affairs are there? Can the readers guess the murderer?

It's a classic whodunit. There are a number of suspects. Everyone seems to be innocent. No body seems to have a solid motive. Clues are strategically placed all over the book. Largely speaking Sophie Hanna has written the book in Agatha Christie style, thus the readers do not feel alienated.

However since this is a Hercule Poirot mystery, one can not but compare finer details of author's writing to that of the original author, Agatha Christie. All Agatha books are immaculately organized and are very orderly. This book appears a bit scattered or in slight disarray. It's minute, but noticeable. Hercule Poirot is politeness personified in Agatha novels. Here he appears to be a bit harsh. It is not clear why Catchpool refuses to see what the readers can see easily. He is shown to be thick. A bit overdone. Is it done only to show him in contrast to Poirot? If so it should have been done more subtly.

I would have preferred if the book was a bit shorter. Then it would have been more enjoyable. All in all, Sophie Hannah was a good choice to write Agatha Christi novel.

It's a  good book. Recommend reading if you are an Agatha Christie fan.

My kind of girl by Buddhadev Bose

"My kind of girl" by Buddhadev Bose, translated from Bengali by Arunava Sinha. This book is published by Random House India in 2009 and has 128 pages. This book was originally published in 1951. It's a novella.

Four middle aged Bengali strangers (all male) meet in the waiting room of Tundla station, 25 km from Agra, where they have pass the night. A powerfully built Contractor, a bureaucrat, a doctor and a writer on holiday. They see a newly married couple lost in each other, deeply in love. Since there is no train till the next morning, they decide that each one will tell a story about a girl in his life.

Three of the four stories are of what would be conventionally termed as unsuccessful love. Unsuccessful because it did not end in a marriage. But was the love unsuccessful? Not really. Love was there. The feeling and satisfaction was there. So love was successful.

All the stories are about common people. Love that they experienced was made up of a number of small things and incidents. It is the small things that matter. Love in this book is very subtle and delicate. Readers are drawn into the stories. They don't want the book to end.

Though this is a translation of original Bengali book, the lyricism in the narration is preserved. The tender feelings and delicacy remains unadulterated. Nothing seems to be lost in translation. Full marks to the translator. If the translation is so good, how good will be the original? Alas! I don't know Bengali.

Although the book was written in 1951 you enjoy reading it immensely. Love is an emotion that is not bound by time and timing, it's eternal.

An excellent book. A must read.

Shabdanche dhan (शब्दांचं धन) by Maruti Chitampalli (मारुती चितमपल्ली)

"Shabdanche dhan (शब्दांचं धन)" a Marathi book by Maruti Chitampalli (मारुती चितमपल्ली). This (third) edition of the book is published by Sahitya Prasar Kendra (साहित्य प्रसार केंद्र) in 2011 and has 184 pages.

Maruti Chitampalli worked as a forest officer and has written extensively about wild life, flora & fauna and Nature. His specialization is birds.

This non fiction book is a collection of 20 articles. Each of these article was previously published in either newspaper or Diwali magazine (दिवाळीअंक) between 1977 and 1990.

Most of these articles are about a famous personality in the world of literature and/or art. Author has come in contact with some of these personalities in relation with literature or wildlife and author has learned something from each of them. Some are friends of author, some are aquitances, he has met some of them only a few times or even once and he has never met some of them. Each of the personality is nature lover and had some relation to wildlife and birds.

Some of these personalities are Writer Vyankatesh Madgulkar (व्यंकटेश तथा तात्या माडगुळकर), Painter Almelkar (चित्रकार आलमेलकर), Principal Narhar Kurundkar (प्रचार्य नरहर कुरुंदकर), Bird scientist Dr. Saleem Ali (डॉ. सलीम अली), Writer G.A. Kulkarni (जी.ए. कुळकर्णी), Common men like Sumantbhai (सुमंतभाई) and his wife (भाभीजी) and a security guard, Greek thinker Aristotle (अँरिस्टॉटल), Western writers Joy Adamson (जॉय अँडमसन) & Jane Gudal (जेन गुडाल), Saint Samartha Ramdas (समर्थ रामदास), Editor Umakant Thomre (उमाकांत ठोमरे), Writer Jaywant Dalvi (जयवंत दळवी), Japanese writer Sei Shōnagon (सी शॉनगॉन), Ancient Indian writer Hansadev (हंसदेव) and
J. Krishnamurthy (जे कृष्णमुर्ती).

The ones I liked most were Sei Shōnagonche The Pillow Book (सी शॉनगॉनचे दि पिलो बुक) where the author appears in his dream and they discuss her writing. I was amazed by Nisargapremi Samartha Ramdas (निसर्गप्रेमी समर्थ रामदास) who has enlisted about 300 plants (वनस्पती) in one composition (श्लोक) while segregating them by type in each stanza. Hansadevache mrugapakshishastra (हंसदेवाचं मृगपक्षीशास्त्र) was a very informative article introducing readers to a scientific book written by Hansadev, a few hundred years ago, about animals & birds, their classification and behavioral patterns.

Author has covered personalities from various geographical areas (India, Japan, USA, UK) and time period (Contemporary, 50-100 years ago, 300 years ago, 700 years ago, 1000 years ago). Though most of them are writers there are editors, painters and common men as well.

Some of the articles are very interesting and some are not so good. Some articles have a hint of boastfulness, but author has tried to be polite even in that.

Not a must read, but you can read it for a change.

Assassin's breach by O Nicholas Cicero

"Assassin's breach" by O Nicholas Cicero. This book is published by This Street Creations in 2014 and has 274 pages. This is the  series opener (first book) of  Augustus Peña series.

Before becoming a political appointee, Augustus Peña worked for National intelligence cover operations (NICO), a super secret clandestine state (USA) organization. When he starts to write fiction that resembles his work, he has to be silenced. NICO issues an order to kill Augustus and his family.

Can Augustus save his wife Jennifer and their toddler son? Will he revert to his old ways? Will he kill? Can one man fight an organization? Will he get help?

I chose to read this book because plot of this book appeared interesting. The book starts on interesting note. Middle section of the book is decent, but then it starts losing the stream. Author is not able to sustain the flow and keep up the tempo. The end is abrupt, unbelievably naive, strange and an anti climax.

Sometimes the seasoned agents of secret world do comical mistakes. Be it the inability of assassin to understand the message or the 'zero sum event' order by NICO boss, inability of the assassin to kill a toddler from 2 ft or international operatives going to a place where there are cameras to check result of lottery tickets. These things are not keeping in line with the story. Hard to tell if it is by mistake or design.

Character of Augustus Peña also appears under developed. Character of NICO boss panics like a novice and Augustus's wife fights like a professional. Too many contradictions.

Will I read the sequel of this book? I think not. Recommend to avoid this one too.

God is a gamer by Ravi Subramanian

"God is a gamer" by Ravi Subramanian. This book is published by Penguin in 2014 and has 310 pages. This is Ravi's sixth book.

Many stories run in parallel. An influential US senator is assassinated. Credit cards of New York bank are compromised. BPO processing the outsourcing of card transactions is hacked. An internet website selling narcotics is investigated, but no one knows where it is operated from. Bitcoins is used as currency. President of New York bank India operations commits suicide. FBI and CBI start investigations. An online game goes viral on Facebook.

Are these seemingly unrelated incidents actually related? What is the Bitcoin angle? How is the bank involved? Why is US President interested?

Ravi is a master of banking thrillers. Here he has woven a thriller around Bitcoins with banking as background. Since Bitcoins is a virtual and unregulated currency, it's use for  illegal transactions is used as the central theme. Author has a knack of story telling.

Peculiarity of this book is that author has used the persons and companies in real life in this book. Obama, Facebook, Bitcoins, Sony etc appear in the story. Instead of his favorite Great Boston bank, it's the New York bank this time in the book.

Since too many stories run in parallel, readers have to be attentive. Names and incidents have to be remembered till they converge. But readers do it naturally as the story arrests them. Readers are on the edge of the chair as mystery unravels.

However there are some loose ends which are not closed properly. Example: Why was Swami killed and who killed him? Why was cataract of Sarawate introduced at all? How can Satoshi not share profits with other founders? Who killed the hooker? Why Cotton Trail 2.0 was promoted anonymously?

Ravi has tried to maintain the suspense till the end and has introduced a shocking twist at the end, but I was able to guess the culprit. Special mention should also go to good cover design.

An excellent book. A must read.

The extraordinary journey of a fakir who got trapped in an IKEA wardrobe by Domain Puērtolas

"The extraordinary journey of a fakir who got trapped in an IKEA wardrobe" by Domain Puērtolas translated from French by Sam Taylor. This book is published by Random House in 2014 and has 256 pages.

This story is an outrageous idea. An innocent Indian called Ajatashtru Oghash Rathod, who lives by playing conjurer, magician, trickster and small time con man; travels to IKEA Paris to purchase a bed of nails. He has only one fake 100 Euro note, printed on one side. His fate takes him on a whirlwind tour around the world. This book is a hilarious recounting of his experiences on this crazy tour (India - France - England - Spain - Italy - Libya - France).

Will he get the bed of nails? Why does he travel to so many countries? Where does he finally land? Who does he meet?

Author has an easy writing style. Although the book does not make you laugh, it brings smiles to your lips. This hilarious tapestry is also studded with emotions and has a border of benevolence. I thought that author had predetermined that he will take the fair on a whirlwind tour. Sometimes it appears that the change of country was not really necessary.

Another book with a very long name. It appears long names are in fashion. This book is an ideal feedstock for a slapstick comedy movie. I also found similarities in writing style of the author and that of Jonas Jonasson.

Since this is a book about an Indian, it was expected that author has studied India and Indians properly. However authors knowledge of India appears shallow, resulting in contradictions and errors. Author had used the word fakir as a conjurer or a jester rather than its religious connotations. The reason for making a trip to IKEA, Paris also appears weak.

It's a fun book. Read it, enjoy it, forget it.

Our moon has blood clots by Rahul Pandita

"Our moon has blood clots : The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits" by Rahul Pandita. This book is published by Random House India in 2013 and has 272 pages.

This is the  story of Kashmiri Pandits who were subjected to religious persecution, harassed, abused, raped, killed and made to flee. Thus they became refugees in their own country. They were completely ignored by the political leaders, media and their countrymen making them nobody's people.

The uncertain atmosphere in which they have lived for centuries. The hostility they faced. The way they were singled out. The way they were treated like secondary citizens in their own country. It's shocking.

Authors grand parents had to migrate from Baramulla to Kashmir in 1947 when Pakistani tribesmen attacked. Authors family had to migrate to Jammu in 1990, when Pakistan sponsored terrorism targeted Pandits. Government, local administration, law enforcement and army failed to provide protection to Pandits. Readers who have always lived in efficiently or inefficiently governed states can not imagine complete breakdown of administration, unwillingness of people in power to intervene and inability of the Governor to enforce orders  to protect citizens. Pandits fled from Kashmir to Jammu and settled there. Initially they were welcome but later they were harassed by people from their religion and termed as outsiders. This eventually lead to another migration to Delhi.

It is shocking that in hundreds of cases of Pandit killings, not a single person was convicted. Also what is surprising is that there are no incidents of Pandits resisting, retaliating or fighting back. They simply accepted their fate and submitted meekly.

Although this book is about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, their religious persecution and unspeakable torture that they were subjected to, the author is fair in stating that during the rule of Dogra dynasty, Muslim subjects were treated roughly. Author also narrates a few incidents of Muslim neighbors helping Pandits, but they are far too less.

Rahul's return to his home in Srinagar, which is not his home anymore, his nostalgia and his emotional attachment to the house are captured concisely but beautifully.

Author could have been provocative in his language and thoughts. But he has narrated the book matter of factly. The emotion that is most prominent is sadness and impotent rage towards administration and rest of the country for not helping the Pandits in their hour of need. Authors longing for HIS Kashmir is the central theme.

It's an eye opener. Recommend reading.

Tanzeem by Mukul Deva

"Tanzeem" by Mukul Deva. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2011 and has 364 pages. This is the fourth and final book of 'Lashkar' series.

Previous book ended with the death of Tanaz and then Iqbal going away to take revenge. This book starts with an anticlimax that Iqbal turns to Force 22 and decides to go to Pakistan and kill Ameer-ul-Momineem. He has no plan. Force 22 tries to discourage him to no avail. Finally Force 22 inserts him in Pakistan.

He enters the organization of Ameer-ul-Momineem and learns of a mega plot. A meeting of the Tanzeem of Amirs of six continents. Iqbal has to save the world.

What is the identity of Ameer-ul-Momineem? Can Iqbal kill Ameer-ul-Momineem? What is the objective of Tanzeem? Is ISI involved? Will Iqbal be caught? Can he get a word out to Force 22? Can he save the world?  

Mukul Deva is a master story teller. Most of the story happens deep inside Pakistan. Mukul has explained Pakistan in detail. Readers believe that this is how Pakistan must be. Iqbal's journey through terrorist organization is narrated in detail. Author has used real life incidents like terrorist attack on Indian embassy in Kabul in the story and blended it with fiction deftly.

The only complaint is that author has spent more than half of the book to come to the real plot of Tanzeem. This has left Tanzeem and the mega plot starving for page space. Moreover the end comes very fast and readers are deprived of enjoying the climax.

Although book ends implying that Iqbal dies while saving the world, author has left a small window so that there can be a sequel to this book. Readers love Iqbal, his courage, his patriotism and his adventures.

A good book. Read if you have read the first three.

Karna's wife by Kavita Kane

"Karna's wife : The outcast's queen" debut novel of Kavita Kane. This book is published by Rupa Publications India in Aug 2013 and has 295 pages.

Uruvi princess of Pukeya & daughter of King Vahusha and Queen Shubra was a beautiful, brilliant, kind, brutally frank, lively and tempestuous lady. She fell in love with Karna at first sight. When her Swayamwar was due she declared her intention to marry him. Obviously there was a lot of resistance from her parents to marry a low cast and be at the receiving end of insults and ignominy of the society. Moreover Karna was already married and had 6-7 sons. Despite all the attempts to convince her otherwise, she had her way and married Karna to become his second wife (His first wife was Vrushali).

Karna is a classic case of a capable, kind and brave person yearning for recognition. Uruvi understands this, worships Karna for what he is, is indignant about the injustice meted out to him, wants his well but is unable to save him from clutches of Duryodhan and his definition of 'right'.

Uruvi can not believe that Karna can stoop so low during Draupadi's disrobing (वस्त्रहरण) and wants to leave Karna. Author has given an interesting angle to the tale at this juncture that Draupadi and Kunti try to persuade Uruvi not to leave Karna. Her father eventually succeeds in convincing her but can not make her go back to him. This section (her father's speech) is a master piece of wisdom and full marks to the author for putting up such a convincing argument. Another master piece is Uruvi's spirited berating of Bhishma Pitamah for allowing unspeakable and unpardonable things to happen under his watch and not trying to stop them from happening.

It was very brave of Uruvi to marry Karna for love. She knew that he will always be considered inferior due to his parentage and will always be insulted. She being his wife will have the receive same treatment and would be additionally hated by Khsatriyas for choosing a low cast over them. Her anger and sorrow know no bound after Karna's despicable behavior at Wastraharan.

Interestingly, author has emphasized that Karna new the outcome of impending war and his inevitable death since the Draupadi vastraharan fiasco. Uruvi loves him, wishes him well but can not change his destiny.

Mahabharata is full of larger than life characters. It is very difficult to establish an unknown character in the same story and  and that too a central character, in the melee of such personalities. Author has mostly succeeded in this attempt.

I don't know if the character of Uruvi existed in Mahabharata or its a fictional character created by Kavita. As I remember Karna's second wife was Supriya.

A good book. Recommend reading.