Brain droppings by George Carlin

"Brain droppings" by George Carlin. This book is published by Hyperion in 1998 and has 272 pages.

George Carlin was a stand up comedian, social critic, actor and author. He clarifies at the beginning that he is not going to suggest a solution to identified social problem. He will simply state the problem without pretending to know the quick fix solution.

He then goes on to enumerate the problems and comments on a number of things that he doesn't like. Stuff, that we accumulate, stuff means all the physical belongings. He proposes that current Zodiac signs are old and we should have new signs like schizophrenia can person, serial killer, rapist etc. Then he makes a comparison between Baseball and Football. 

He then moves to the differences. Difference between Irony and Coincidence, Momentary and In a moment, Celibacy and Chastity, Sour grapes as rationalization and as non achievability, abbreviation and acronym and so on. He criticizes use of wrong phrases e.g. don't do the same mistake twice has three mistakes and  enlists a number of oxymorons like silent alarm, friendly fire etc. 

He also spells out 15 rules to live by e.g. Stay in the middle third, develop attitude, surround yourself with inferiors, today doesn't count, enjoy yourself and forget responsibility etc. He also shows how a number of figures of speeach sound utterly rediculous when taken literally. He enumerates redundant expressions like general public, new initiative, advance warning, future plan, basic fundamental etc. 

The problems are not in any specific order. It's as if he writes whatever comes to his mind. George waltzes through a number of issues. Readers should take it at face value without trying to find consistency, logic or theme in it. It's a chaos with order.

He tickles, he rubs, he fingers, he criticizes, he curses, he taunts, he blurts and he entertains. He comes out as Intelligent, Observant, Hilarious, one who has good command over English, opinionated and likable. 

Sometimes he uses coarse language and uses the f**** word frequently. But he has excellent timing and great punches. What did he say? Nothing. Did I enjoy the book? Yes. 

Brain droppings! What a title. And I must say that the title is a perfect one because that is exactly what this book is.

Why did I read this book? Title. Author. 

What I didn't like? No take away. 

What did I like? Author's take.

Hear or read it, enjoy it, forget it. 

The conspiracy at Meru by Shatrujeet Nath

"The conspiracy at Meru" by Shatrujeet Nath. This book is published by Jaico publishing house in 2016 and has 389 pages. This is Book 2 of 'Vikramaditya Veergatha'.

Asuras attack Alkapuri with Vyalas. Indra makes a deal with Kuber and unleashes a Yaksha on Ujjaini to take what Vikramaditya has promised to protect. Jayanta, son of Indra, wakes a serpent dragon, Ahi. The council of nine unearths hidden powers provided to them but they can't control them. 

Can Ujjaini sustain the attacks? Will Shukracharya's identity be revealed? What is the conspiracy at Meru?

Narration if the book is fast, interesting and tempting. All the odds are stacked against Vikramaditya. Everyone wants Vishada's dagger. Can a human fight Devas and Asuras, that too at the same time?

The Epic is complex, it has numerous plots and sub plots. Some go together, some independently and some counter each other. There are a lot of secrets, special powers, double crosses, unions, divisions, consolidations, rifts, enticements, revelations and what not. However the author juggles it all expertly without letting any ball fall. He presents a very interesting story that keeps readers wanting to know more. 

The attacks by Deva and Asura on Ujjaini, the fight, the resistance, the action & drama is very graphic. You live the battles. The conspiracy at Meru is hatched towards the end of book, but it is designed to break Ujjaini for good. Will it succeed? 

Author is imaginative. Vyalas, the demon Ahi, Shape shifting Yaksha etc are fascinating and so are the councillors, each with a special power. Book ends at an interesting turn. 

Trilogy name was changed from 'Vikramaditya trilogy' to 'Vikramaditya Veergatha' when Book 2 was published. Why?

In mountaineering parlance, the story has reached the base camp. Third Book should be the summit.  

This Book 2 is better than Book 1. Recommend reading. 

The Disappearence by Annabel Kantaria

"The Disappearence" by Annabel Kantaria. This book is published by Mira in 2016 and has 384 pages. 

1970s, Audry lost her father and arrived in Bombay. She met Ralph, had a torrid affair, married him and moved back to England. 2013, Twins John and Alexandra are trying to plan future of their aging mother in their own way. Present day, John and Alexandra accompany their 70 year old mother on a cruise trip and one of them goes missing. 

Who goes missing? Dead? Why? How?

The story is interesting. Audry's story, 2013 story and present day story run parallely. The stories toggle so that the reader is kept abreast of all three stories. 

Audry is swept off the feet by Ralph. She is in love. But then his moods come to fore. His possessiveness stifles her. Her attempts to break the shackles are thwarted by ruthless husband and innocent children. The twins start seeing Old Audry as a liability. They want her to move to a Sheltered facility. Audry enjoys cruise trip to the fullest with her children. 

Author uses Simple language and emotions but stays away from melodrama. Picturesque depiction is her forte. Toggling between time period does not confuse the reader. The mystery, however, is not hard to deduce. 

Author has adopted an interesting narration style. A number of things happen during the story and the story ends when the book is about 80%. Then comes a series of events in flash back that reinterpret the events that the reader has already read. This section reveals all the secrets. This is an interesting style. 

The book is categorized as Thriller. But in reality it's a family drama with some thrill in it. It's the story of a mother's selfless love towards her children. 

Annabel Kantaria is a British journalist who lives in Dubai. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. High rating by Goodreads. 

What I didn't like? Unnecessary angle of another mother. 

What did I like? Audrey's character. 

A good book. Recommend reading.

The butcher of Benares by Mahendra Jakhar

"The butcher of Benares" by Mahendra Jakhar. This book is published by Westland in 2014 and has 332 pages.

Hawa Sing, Sr Inspector - Delhi crime branch, has come to Benares with his father. He finds the body of an American lady floating in Ganga, impaled with a wooden cross. Hawa Sing is asked to investigate. FBI sends their investigator Ruby Malik. Deceased was interested in Bhrigu Samhita (Maharshi Bhrigu was the first compiler of predictive astrology. Bhrigu Samhita is said to to contain information on past lives and predictions on current and future lives). More white Christans are killed. Each has some connection with Vatican. 

Who is behind the murder? Extremist Hindus or extremist Christans? What's the connection between astrology and astronomy? What is the Vatican angle?

Hawa Sing is a unique police officer. He has a bullet lodged in his brain that can't be removed. As a result he suffers pain and black outs. He is not afraid of dying, in that he is even reckless. He has aversion to technology and does not even have an email account. He is a very good investigator, prefers to work solo and is known to move stealthily vindicating his pseudo name 'Ghost'. 

Other characters are typical. They play their part. None worth specifically mentioning except the fog. Fog plays the role of a character in this book. The dense Benares fog adds to the unknown, the mystery. It also reduces the visibility. 

The female protagonist is Ruby, the FBI agent, who is half Anerican and half Pakustani. If the author brings in a character of such exotic mix in the play, there has to be a reason to it. But her ethnicity does not play ANY role in the story. Then why assign it to her? Why create a potential and not use it?

Bhrigu Samhita is central to the story but it remains unclear why it's existence was hidden from the world. In fact it's revelation would prove that Benaras is the oldest city in the world. 

The reason given by the killer for his killings is a bit lame and there is no direct or hidden reference of it in the story until the killer tells it. Author should have scattered something about it somewhere in the story. Thus killers justification appears artificial. 

Success of author lies in the fact that although I deduced who was not the killer, I was not able to recognize the killer. From the way book ends  it appears that author is planning a sequel. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity.    

What I didn't like? Unrelated details, killer's logic. 

What did I like? Suspense about the killer. 

Read if you find this review interesting. 

The first commandment by Brad Thor

'The first commandment' by Brad Thor. This book is published by Pocket Books in 2011 and has 528 pages. This is Book 6 of Scot Harvath series. 

Five notorious terrorists are released from Guantanamo Bay by US Presidential order. One of them starts targeting people near and dear to Harvath. He is inflicting Biblical plagues in reverse order on them. US President asks Harvath to stand down on the issue. 

Why did the President pardon the terrorists? Can Harvath stand down? Will he defy direct order from President?

It's a typical thriller. The story keeps you interested. Something is happening all the time. Scot is pained to see people close to him attacked. It includes his girl friend and mother. This time it is personal. To add to it, US government has issued orders to stop Scot from pursuing by any means. So he also become a pariah. 

Character of the dwarf who does business of information is interesting. He forges a temporary alliance and vanishes towards the end. I am sure we have not seen last of him. 

The reason given for the capitulation of US government is lame. If this reason can bring US government to its knees, America would have ceased to exist by now and terrorists might have be in the command of this world. 

The handler of terrorist who is attacking Harvath's dear ones is another example of lame logic. The reason given by him for unleashing the terrorist can't be bought. 

Read if you have time. 

The bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

"The bastard of Istanbul" by Elif Shafak. This book is published by Viking in 2015 and has 368 pages. 

Zeliha, a 19 year old girl, who smokes, wears mini skirts, has nose piercing, is not averse to profanities, walks into a clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, for abortion. Asaya Kazanci is a young lady born in Istanbul in a Turkish family full of women and no men. Armanoush Tchakhmakhchian is born in America to an Armenian father and American mother who divorced after her birth and her mother married a Turk.  

Who is the bastard of Istanbul? Will Asaya and Armanoush gel? 

Asaya is a bastard of Istanbul in a literal sense. She was born, out of wedlock, and brought up in Istanbul. Armanoush, belonging to Armenian diaspora exiled from Turkey, is a bastard of Istanbul in a border sense. 

Armenians, alongwith other minorities, faced genocide at the hands of Ottoman Empire around WW I. They were either murdered or extradited from Turkey. Thus a large population of Armenians belong to Turkey but are unwanted there. There is a historical antipathy between Turks and Armenians. Armenians want the Turks to accept that it was a genocide but Turkey refuses to accept it as genocide, although many other countries have.

The book is full of contradictions and idiosyncrasies. Armanoush's realization that Armenian community is living with the memory of genocide passed on through generations whereas Turkish people don't see themselves as responsible because, for them, the atrocities of Ottoman Empire were by someone else, not them, is stunning. Istambulaits consider themselves westerners whereas westerners consider them mid-easterners. An example of such contradiction is a sentence 'A man who looked abnormally normal walked in'.

Readers get A jolt when the ghastly secret is revealed. By the time readers comes out of the shock another secret is revealed. The book suddenly takes a serious turn. 

In her attemp to display the Turkish culture author has given a recipe of a Turkish sweet in the book. Recipe in a novel. Really? 

Author has built a fascinating tale in first 17 chapters but 18th chapter comes as an antithesis. It doesn't add anything to the story. On the contrary the story loses its intensity. The book would have been more effective if either the last chapter was not there or it would have been converted to an epilogue if not more than a couple of pages.

Characterization in this book is rich and vivid. It has numerous but distinct characters. Armenian family members of Armanoush, Turkush family members of Asaya are vividly depicted. Armanoush is an Armenian American girl who is in search of her identity. Asaya is a funky, rebel, iternally full of anger Turkish girl full of contradictions. She loves Johny Cash songs, has multiple lovers at the age of 19 and reads philosophy. Asaya's group in Cafè Kundera is made up of a Dipsomaniac Cartoonist, his Wife, an exceptionally untalented poet, a closeted gay columnist, Nonnationalist scenarist of Ultranationalist movies (there goes the contradiction) and his current girl friend. These characters don't have names they are addressed by their traits. Cafè Constantinopolis is a chat room made up of grand children of Armenians, Greeks and Sephardims exiled from Turkey. The diaspora has a collective memory of Turkish atrocities and they have a common enemy, Turkey.  

Two outstanding things in this book are:

1. In the book, one of the character presents 15 point test of Armenian-ness. This checklist distils the essence of being Armenian and is too good.
2. Author says that on one hand Turks are in the habit of denying their wrong doing and on the other, Armenians are in the habit of savouring the cocoon of victim hood. 

Although I know a few Armenians, I read more about Armenia and Armenians after starting this book. 

Elif Shafak is a Turkish author. She was sued for insulting Turkishness in this book but was later acquitted. 

Why did I read this book? The title, the Turkish author and set up.

What I didn't like? The recipe and the last chapter. 

What did I like? Knowledge about Armenian community, Story. 

A very good book and a must read. 

Skyfire by Aroon Raman

"Skyfire" by Aroon Raman. This book is published by Pan Macmillan India in 2016 and has 245 pages.

Himalayan region on Indi-Pak border has experienced sudden electrical storms. Such events then appear all over India followed by acid rain and pandemics. Orphan Children and homeless adults, from Delhi slums, are disappearing mysteriously. 

Hasan Ali and intelligence community is investigating first and Chandra-Meenu the second. Why is it happening? Who is behind it? Are these two unrelated events?

Chandrasekhar (Chandra)-the reporter, Meenakshi Peerzada (Meenu)-the history proffessor and Hasan Ali-the sleuth, team up again (They were first introduced in Aroon's first book 'The shadow throne').

Weather modification as WMD is not a new concept in literary world but I think it's used for the first time in contemporary Indian literature. The book starts as a very promising story but slowly peters out. 

The plot weakens with an amateurish plan hatched by proffessionals to attack power company. In a nutshell it is 'We will go there and play by the ear'. It's a hairbrained scheme. Why would anyone involve a business magnet in it and why would he accede?

Chandra's obsession for Vaish, just because she looks like his deceased wife, also sounds unreal. That too when he is already in relationship with someone else. 

Who is behind the conspiracy? The characters can't guess it, but even casual readers can easily deduce. 

This is Aroon's third book. The book cover proclaims that Hindustan times has called him 'India's answer to Robert Ludlum'. Author fails to justify his reputation in this book.

Why did I read this book? Previous 2 books were good. 

What I didn't like? Naive plot. 

What did I like? Weather modification concept.

Give it a miss. 

The secret of immortal code by Saptarshi Basu

"The secret of immortal code" by Saptarshi Basu. This book has 168 pages. This is Book 1 of 'Rudra trilogy'. 

Rudrapallam, the master leaf, holding the secret of immortality, protected by Valluvars for centuries, is stolen from library in Tanjavur. Nolan is trying to save his son from a certain death as a result of curse. Eons ago Rudra was upset on theft of Amarkatha. A Great war is fought with Andhakasur. 

What does the leaf say? How did it come into possession of Valluvars? What did Rudra do? Who is behind the theft?

The book has three stories. One of the theft of Amarkatha from Shiva by treachery and resulting war in ancient times. It's the epic war between lord Shiva, Ganas, Nagas and Yakshas on one side and Andhakasur and Asuras on other. Other story is of the Valluvars, who are assigned the task of guarding Rudrapallam a few hundred years ago. Another story of Chief of Naadi Astrologers, Bhadraka, his son Bala and couple Nolan-Jaya in modern times. 

The book has time leaps from beginning of the world to modern times to sixteenth century to again in ancient times, India to America and so on. It toggles between stories and various years within the stories. The leaps are too many moreover there is no time stamp so it becomes confusing as to what you are reading happened before previous section or after.

There are some tense related incongruencies and grammatical as well as English language mistakes in this book. Bad English. It plays a spoil sport. Better proof reading is called for.

Narration varies from good to bad in patches. It's as if the author wrote it over years. Thus it lacks continuity and consistency. It's as if the book was hastily put together, by assembling literature written in bits and pieces, to achieve the publishing dead line. 

It's like a dish where all the good ingredients are available, appropriate utensils are available, correct kind of spices are available, recipe is available and despite all this the taste of the final product is mediocre. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title. 

What I didn't like? Too many time leaps, bad English & mistakes. 

What did I like? Potential. 

Give it a miss.

The Pharaoh's secret by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

"The Pharaoh's secret" by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown. This book is published by Penguin UK in 2016 and has 432 pages. This is Book 13 of NUMA files.

A ship accident releases a black mist on an island and that nearly kills all living beings (A strange coma). Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala are nearby and rescue about 20 people alive. Paul and Gamay Trout are on vacation when they discover that all the aquifers in Tunisia, Libiya and other North African countries are suddenly depleted of ground water.

What is this black mist? Can the affected people recover? What's happening to ground water? Are the two issues connected?

The story takes place mostly in Italy and North Africa. The concept is good. A company called Osiris International, named after the Egyptian God of death, decides to change the governments in Arab countries and install it's puppets by depriving the country of water and instigating water riots. At the same time threatening the world with black mist, a biological weapon, from the times of Pharaoh's in ancient Egypt. 

Kurt and Joe foil their initial attempts. When they understand the reach of Osiris, they rope in Paul and Gamay. They also have the help of NUMA, their organization, and backing of Vice President James Sandecker.

Narration is good. It's a typical Cussler thriller with prologue of about 100 or more years ago, attention to details, fast pace, luck favoring the protagonists, adrenaline pumping adventures, diving to ship wreckage, beautiful female, wise ass cracks between Kurt and Joe, thinking on their feet, action and emerging triumphant. 

The book keeps you interested. Readers do not stray. Initially you think that black mist is the main theme but then water depletion gains prominence. Anyone who likes the thriller genre would enjoy it. 

The character of Italian Doctor is a bit odd. She is a doctor but can dive, knows how to wield gun, has considerable influence in government, is also called a secret agent. Does not go with the profession. Moreover if she is an important figure, she would not get personally involved in adventure but send someone.

Why did I read this book? Clive Cussler.

What I didn't like? Predictability. 

What did I like? Wise ass cracks.

Cussler fans would like it. 

Devlok by Devdutt Pattanaik

"Devlok" by Devdutt Pattanaik. The book was published by Penguin Books Limited in 2016 and has 256 pages.

In this book author answers a number of questions regarding mythology and religion. 

What are Upanishadas? Who was Ved Vyas? Did Ramayan come first or Mahabharata? Where is Shakti? What is the concept of Trimurti? Why is Krishna blue? Is black inauspicious? Why Shiva has no avatars? Who are Yakshas? Why Brahma is not worshipped? Why Indra is not worshipped? Why do Gods have vahan and what is the significance? What does Gita say? What is Vaastu Shastra? Can human beings marry Gods? What does avatar mean? Are all nakshtras female? Why do we break coconuts in temples? What is the difference between Yagna and Puja? Etc. 

While answering the questions he explains the Hindu mythology, philosophy and religion in the context of society. He explains how religion evolved with the changing times. The two main branches are vairagi and grahastha. Shiva is the vairagi and Vishnu Grihastha, householder. Shaiva, Vaishnav, Shakta and later Ganapatya sects had their own versions. Importance of Karma and owning the consequences of ones actions in this birth, previous birth and next birth. Central theme in religion and mythology is that nothing is permanent. 

He explains the repetitive themes like vairagya, paap punya, rebirth, Sanskriti, Prakriti, symbolism, the eternal cyclicity of everything and metaphors. He emphasizes repeatedly not to take the meaning literally but look at the essence (bhavartha).

Devdutt is India's leading mythologist and author. He has written a number of books on mythology. 

This book is based on his popular TV show with same name on Epic channel. In this adaptation author has maintained the format i. e. Q&A. In my opinion this format is good for a live show with multiple episodes but for a book, it created repetition of certain themes in the same chapter. If author had grouped the material according to theme as prose instead of Q&A, it would have become more powerful.

Nevertheless this book helps in clarifying a number of doubts and enlightens reader about a number of known things. It also provides the philosophical and spiritual aspect of mythology and religion.

The book is titled Devlok but ironically there is not a single question regarding 'Devlok'. Some questions, though, touch parts of Devlok. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity. Lure of mythology. 

What I didn't like? Q&A format

What did I like? Information, simplicity, philosophy.

A good trove of knowledge for the interested. Recommend reading.