Saraswati's intelligence by Vamsee Juluri

"Saraswati's intelligence" by  Vamsee Juluri - Original fiction of Hanuman. 

This book is published by  Westland in 2016 and has 327 pages. This is first Book of 'The Kishkindha chronicles'. 

It is the time before the time of man. Kishkindha has as not known conflict and bloodshed for years. Parama dharma is paramount. Hanuman is banished for Parama Dharma apachara. Vishwamitra is externally worried and senses danger from north.

Why was Hanuman banished? Why are Ganas of north threatened? What is the creature? Why does the creature has no 'balance'?

Author takes us into a time capsule. Age where all the beings lived in harmony. Everyone had a balance (read tail in modern terminology). Conflict, If it arose, was about coconuts and mangoes. Life was good. All beings were children of goddess Sawaswati. Saraswati's rules were sacrosanct. Sages like Vishwamitra and Vasishtha were the guiding lights of Kishkindha.

Hanuman is very brave, compassionate, wise and has a burning desire to learn. Vali is brave, valiant, has hubris. Sugreev is better than Vali in virtues but lacks his charisma and power. Vishwamitra has foresight, is friends with everyone and is respected by all. Princess Vaishnavi is beautiful, intelligent and is revered. All of them have a balance.

The story is a bit slower, but does nor drag. In addition to a fiction, author discusses a lot about what is dharma (do's and don'ts). He also discusses the sudden change that happens due to the creature. Peace loving Kishkindhans are forced into war. They haven't fought war for a generation. 

Although this is the story of Hanuman, its not a modern retelling of Ramayana. Ram doesn't even make an appearance. Neither Hanuman is Ram bhakta, nor is he a brahmachari. In fact, he is not what we know him, traditionally, to be. Author deserves credit for not turning it into an alternate Ramayan. He has created an original. Vamsee sees everything very differently, with a very unique perspective. This is the best thing about the book.

Author has given the map of the area. Initially I could not relate to it. When I turned it by 90 degrees, it started to make sense. Attractive book cover shows Gada holding Hanuman about to leap. It peaks the curiosity of buyer in the bookshop. Even the title makes one curious.

This is Book 1 of the series. It was published 2 years ago. Book 2 is still not published. I wonder why?

Why did I read this book? Book cover.  

What I didn't like? Pace: sometimes.

What did I like? Author's world. Originality

It's different. Don't miss it.

Heroes r us by Mainak Dhar

"Heroes r us" by Mainak Dhar - Homegrown superhero!

This book is published by CreateSpace Independent Pub in 2011 and has 188 pages. 

Arnab Banerjee is an assistant librarian. One day he receives severe beating causing head injury. Fate plays strangely and Arnab receives special gifts, superpowers. Mishti likes him for his honesty rather than his money and looks, or the lack of them.

Will Arnab use his superpowers for his good or good of others? Will his relationship with Mishti fructify? Will he reveal his secret to Mishti? Who will his sidekick be? What is operation 5HT?

Normally all superhero stories are a series. That gives the author time to establish protagonist as a simple human being and then take the reader through discovery of superpowers, internalizing them, getting used to them, exploring them and finally using them. Here the hero goes through all of it in a haste because author has to narrate the real story, after all this happens, within the same book. It puts restraints on the author and creates imbalance in the story. 

Narration is good. Story is decent. Apart from helping destitute and fighting small time crime, Arnab also has to foil a big plot and save thousands of lives.

Mainak has given the superhero aspects similar to Marvel superhero Flash. He runs fast and has inhuman strength. He also has night vision. However, he is selfless like Spiderman. In short,  although this superhero is lovable,  he doesn't sound original. 

The quandary superhero finds himself in is: 'Can one man, no matter how strong or with whatever superpowers, change the rot and corruption in the system?'

Aggarwal, owner of Woodpecker, is a flashy liquor baron with salt and pepper beard and a paunch. You know who hernia character is modelled after. 

This book was first published as Herogiri by Randomhouse in 2010. It appears that new publishers were impressed by 'Homes r us' and 'Toys r us', so decided to rechristen the book.

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Indian superhero.  

What I didn't like? Tooth capturing. 

What did I like? Selflessness.  

Read if you like superheroes.  

The Moon is down by John Steinback

"The Moon is down" by John Steinback - WWII classic fiction. 

This edition of the book is published by Penguin in 2014 and has 144 pages. This book was first published by Viking Press in March 1942. This book won Norwegian King Haakon VII Freedom Cross.

This book  tells the story of the military occupation of a small fictional town in Northern Europe by the army of an unnamed nation at war with England (much like the occupation of Norway by the Germans during World War II).

Will there be a war? Is there a traitor? Can the occupiers break the spirit of the town? Will there be a resistance to occupation?

This book portrays the war,  occupation,  violence and  resistance. But everything is portrayed subtly. Nothing is overdone. I wondered why the author resisted from adding some action in it, until I realized that it was written for stage adaptation. 

Characters of occupiers Colonel Lanser, Major Hunter, Captain Loft, Lieutenant Prackle etc. are portrayed as occupiers but also as men who have feelings. Characters of occupied Mayor Orden, Dr. Winter, Molly, Annie etc. are peace loving people who are easily conquered but still their spirit is not broken. 

Although there are inferences that suggest that the occupying forces is German, it is never spelt out clearly.

This book had profound impact on the countries occupied by Germany in WWII. It was translated and secretly published all over Europe in various European languages.

It's a slow story with a strong undercurrent. If one reads the book without context one may or may not like it. But if the context is known,  it gives the story a different dimension. Much like Marathi play 'Seemewarun parat ja'.

Why did I read this book? Curiosity.

What I didn't like? Story is on slower side.  

What did I like? Context.

Recommend reading. 

Gods, Kings & Slaves: The siege of Madurai by R.Venketesh

"Gods, Kings & Slaves: The siege of Madurai" by R.Venketesh - Turks in Madurai!

This book is published by Hachette India Local in 2013 and has 464 pages. 

Veera is a bastard child of Pandyan king Kulasekharan of Madurai. Sunder is the legitimate son. The competition for throne is intense. Ram, a Hindu boy, is castrated by Rana of Gujarat for fleeing with his concubine. Ram is sold to a trader who converts him to Islam. He rises in stature due to his intelligence and shrewdness and is sold to Allauddin Khilji. He becomes his trusted aid and then general, Malik Kafur. He embarks on an expedition to southern kingdoms to loot the gold. The crown jewel of southern wealth is Madurai.

What will Malik Kafur achieve? What will Veera achieve? Will his son succeed him? Will he defend Madurai and Meenaxi temple? Will the two face off?

On one side a young man called Ram transitions from being son of trader to lover of a girl in Rana's harem to becoming an eunuch to being a slave to rising in stature to joining Allauddin Khilji's harem to becoming his trusted aid to becoming general of his army. On the other side Veera transitions from being bastard son of King of Madurai to becoming a warrior of repute to loving a chola princess to becoming a great military leader to be anointed as Crown Prince to becoming a King to be branded as coward. One would expect that at some point the two personalities have to face each other. It appears that the moment is approaching but it never does. 

The story spans over half a century. It traverses the career graph of Malik and Veera. However, the main Characters transform inexplicably. Character of Veera undergoes a sudden transformation. From being a fearless warrior and good king he becomes a lazy and coward for no apparent reason and Vikrama steels the limelight. Malik too undergoes transformation. He starts talking to idol of Meenaxi, becomes paranoid. His trusted men also undergo sudden transformation and turn on him. In short, although author has built the characters,  he is not able to transform them gradually over time and ends up transforming them clumsily. 

It's a long story. A lot of things happen. Author covers vast territory and time period. However, there is no siege of Madurai as the title suggests. Madurai falls readily. The book is set in 14th century when most of India was ruled by Allauddin Khilji. I think it's one of the very free books written about Malik Kafur, the eunuch general of Allauddin Khilji. I was reading this book for last few months.

Author has given political map of India and another one for Allauddin Khilji's campaigns to the south to help readers understand. 

R. Venketesh writes in Tamil and English. This is his first English novel. 

Why did I read this book? Remained on my wish list for long.     

What I didn't like? The way character transformation is handled. 

What did I like? A fiction about events not chronicled, in detail, in history. 

Read if you have free time. 

The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro

"The remains of the day" by Kazuo Ishiguro - Trip down memory lane of an English butler!

This book is published by Faber in 2010 and has 272 pages. This book won Booker prize in 1989.

Darlington hall, a property owned by a true Englishman is purchased by Mr. Faraday, an American. He retains the services of the butler Mr. Stevens and a skeleton staff. Mr. Stevens takes on a motoring trip to recruit Miss. Kenton, a former housekeeper of Darlington hall. While on the trip he takes us down the memory lane.

Will Mr. Stevens meet Miss. Kenton, now married for 20 years? Will she accept the offer? Are they friends? What are the qualities of a great butler?

Initial part of the book highlights the contrast of English (serious,  procedural,  orderly) and American (easy going,  light banter) lifestyles and butler's difficulty in adjusting to new employer.

Stevens is a true blue English butler who is epitome of professionalism and dignity. His profession comes first for him, above anything personal,  including death of his father. He lives for the art of butlering (Don't know if that is an English word). You can not take the butler out of Mr. Stevens.

Miss Kenton, was the house keeper in Darlington hall. Their association starts with friction but matures gradually to a working relationship to semi friendship, until she marries and leaves.

Most of the story is the reflection of the butler of past events, while he is on a motoring trip to try and recruit Miss Kenton. His reflections take us through his personal life, his love hate relationship with Miss. Kenton, political atmosphere in England preceding WWII, contribution of his master and the biggest question 'what is required of a great butler?'.

The story takes place in the first half of twentieth century. The story is slow, it has very little drama and has no action,  yet it is riveting and enjoyable. Reader does not get distracted. Author should be applauded for his narration. The story is on a different plane altogether. No wonder it won Booker prize. 

Why did I read this book? Picked it on a whim.

What I didn't like?  Umm.....

What did I like? Everything.

A must read.

Foreign agent" by Brad Thor

"Foreign agent" by  Brad Thor - Wasted potential. 

This book is published by  Simon & Schuster India in 2016 and has 352 pages. This is Book 15 of Scott Harvath series. 

An operation in Syria,  based on intel acquired by Scott Harvath, goes horribly wrong. US secretary of defence is assassinated in Turkey. A Russian,  posing as ISIS commander, is behind it. Harvath is assigned the charge. Senator Wells (Chairman of Senate intelligence committee) dreams to be the next President of America. 

How did the mission go wrong? Why is the Russian posing as ISIS commander? What is Russia's plot? Can Harvath save the day? Does he have a chance with Laura?

Book starts with a bang. It is followed up with more bangs. The reader is hooked. Once this much is done author only has to maintain the tempo and meet the expectations to keep the graph climbing. However,  this is exactly where the author falters. 

The second half of book,  though good in general,  falls short of expectations. The big show down between Scott Harvath & Sasha Basayev turns out to be a non event. Readers expect a lot but nothing happens. 

Senator Wells & Rebecca also create anticipation but it too turns out to be a non event. Rebecca's character has promise all along but becomes an absurd one in the end. If author had kept her in contention, she could have been a formidable adversary for next book. 

Alexandra Ivanova, who appeared in one of the previous book,  makes a guest appearance for no reason and disappears for no reason. 

In short author has created potential in story and characterization but falls short of finish line. 

Why did I read this book? Brad Thor.  

What I didn't like? Culmination.    

What did I like? Build up.

Not a must read. 

The little stranger" by Sarah Waters

"The little stranger" by Sarah Waters - A very slow affair. 

This book is published by Little brown book group in 2010 and has 512 pages. 

Dr. Faraday is called to an old mansion known as Hundreds Halls, home of Ayres, to treat their servent. He befriends the family. The land lady Mrs. Ayres, a widow. Daughter Caroline, a not beautiful young lady. Rodrig, a young invalid soldier. In a party the docile family dog bites the face off a girl. This starts a sequence of events. 

Why did the docile dog attack the girl? What's special in Hundred halls? What are the black smudges? Is there something?

The stories pace is languid. One starts wondering what the real story is. It takes a very long time for the  mention of 'something'. And it takes inordinately long time for that 'something' to make its presence felt to more than one person. 

Dr. Faraday appears to be strange character. Reader asks himself,  why does he want to cling on to Hundreds hall? Caroline is another mysterious character. Why she does what she does is always a mystery. 

Its a very slow story where nothing much happens for long stretches. As a result reader starts losing interest. The story has little drama,  little emotions but there is an undercurrent of fear. 

Poltergeist, Fantasma, Ghost are all mentioned,  but nothing is confirmed. There is only an ominous presence felt without actually appearing. 

At the end I wondered,  what I read after spending so much time?

Why did I read this book?  Blurb.  

What I didn't like? Pace.

What did I like? Undercurrent. 

 AVOID.