Treacle Walker by Alan Garner

​"Treacle Walker" by Alan Garner - Abstract! 

This book is published by 4th estate in 2022 and has 152 pages. 

A man called Treacle Walker comes to Joe’s door bartering old clothes and bones for pots and donkey stones. Joe who wears an eye patch and has problem with Sun enters into the trade and strange things start happening.

Who is Joe? Who is Treacle Walker? Who is Thin Armen in the Bog?

When you read the book, the first and only thing that comes to your mind is that it’s abstract. Reality and glamour are fused. This book is written at a different level. It transcends writing styles. It fudges reality with dreams and then fudges it with fiction and other world. 

The story is open and it can be interpreted the way you want. Same thing can be interpreted differently. Things are fluid and fuzzy. 

There are only three characters, Joseph Coppock (Joe), the protagonist. Treacle Walker, the man who sets the ball rolling. Thin Armen, the spirit / God or something similar. Actually all the characters are unreal but have the characteristics and tendencies of humans. 

I encountered several English words for the first time in this book like Hurlolomperjobs, Hurlothrumbo, lomperhomock, tarradiddles, macaronics, filliloo, glamourie, flustication, clanjandering, mirligoes, whirligig, lomperwhatsits, alackaday, skrike, tussocks, carnaptious, shent. Google search for some words straight away led to the link regarding this book. 

This book was shortlisted for Booker Prize 2022.

Why I read this book? Small size. Could be read in one day. Recommended by Siddhant and Ansha.

What did I like? Concept.  

What didn’t like? Nothing really.

Recommend reading if you don’t mind the genre.

Daughter of the night by Nandini Gupta

​"Daughter of the night" by Nandini Gupta - India Pakistan story!

This book is published by Ernest publishing in 2021 and has 163 pages.  

Laila, a journalist in Lahore, lives on her own terms. She’s raised by her grandparents after her parents left her. Her boss asks her to go to India to do a story. Here she meets another journalist Rahman and a tattoo artist Gulab. 

Why does she go to India? Will she like India? Who will she meet? Will it be a journey of discovery for her?

The story has several loop holes. It’s evident that this is author’s first book. Things are too simple to be true. The writing lacks finesse. Why was Laila alone, felt abandoned and unloved when she had grand parents? What was the reason for the formation of bond between Laila and Gulab? How can an orphan afford expensive horse riding lessons? Is it common to get tattoos in Pakistan? It appears as if people can go from India to Pakistan and the other way round freely. Reason for Laila’s father leaving her mother is flimsy. Why did Laila’s mother really abandon her?

This book has large font and spacious typeset. That makes reading pleasurable. Had there been normal font, this book would have been smaller. 

Author is an undergraduate student, or at least she was when the book was published. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb.

What did I like? The idea.

What I didn't like? Handling.

Give it a miss. 

Over my dead body by Jeffrey Archer

​"Over my dead body" by Jeffrey Archer -  Choir boy continues.

This book was published by HarperCollins publishers limited in 2022 and has 384 pages. This is Book 4 of William Warwick series. 

William and Beth have taken a much deserved vacation on a cruise to New York. They have taken place of art criminal Miles Faulkner and his wife Christina after Miles died of heart attack in previous book. But Miles isn’t dead. He has undergone plastic surgery and become Captain Ralph Neville and is marrying his wife second time while William is on cruise.

Will the marriage happen? Will William pursue Miles? Where is he hiding? Will William lose his job?

The Hawk has set up a task force to open cold cases where the perpetrator was known but went Scott free due to lack of evidence. Headed by William, it includes Ross Hogan, a former undercover agent, DS Paul Adegia, DS Jackie Roycraft, DC Rebecca Pancurst and Archie.

Ross has fallen for mysterious Josephine. But she isn’t what she looks. Miles Faulkner has a shrewd lawyer. William must catch Faulkner or lose his job. This is when Faulkner commits a crime, a mistake. Operation Masterpiece is set in motion. 

William is what he is called behind his back, a choir boy. Straight as a stick, idealistic, considerate, driven. Ross is the talented, multifaceted, daring cop. Miles is the villain who has taken every eventuality into consideration save one. These three characters carry the story. It’s a straight story without too many twists. Fairly predictable. Not too much action or excitement. Neither boring nor a page turner. 

Why did I read this book? First book was readable. 

What I didn't like? One thing that Faulkner doesn’t anticipate.

What did I like? Overall story. 

Read if  you plan to read the series. 

Race course road by Seema Goswami

​"Race course road" by Seema Goswami - Political Thriller!

This book is published by Aleph book company in 2018 and has 294 pages. 

Prime minister of India is assasinated. His elder son, Karan, is sworn in as PM. Younger son, Arjun, is possibly a drug addict and gay. Youngest daughter, Asha, (half sister of brothers) is a wild child living in London. She comes back. Elections are declared to take advantage of sympathy wave. Asha starts campaigning and becomes an instant attraction. 

Who will win the elections? What scandals will come out? Who will become PM? Who assasinated the earlier PM? What is the nexus?

The book has some interesting characters with uncanny resemblance with some real life figures. Gaurav Agnihotri, an obnoxious TV news anchor who out shouts everyone. Didi Damayanti, a dalit leader from UP who is very arrogant. Sukanya Sarkar, chief of Poribortan party from Bengal. The firebrand, unpredictable street fighter. The defense minister, an old timer who controls the party fund and always remains number two. The assassinated Prime Minister who had come to power on the promise of corruption free good governance. Then there is Karan, heir apparent but without charisma. There is Asha Devi who has flair of her father, who is a crowd puller, who is natural on stage and in front of camera but is not considered family by her step brothers. 

The book is about politics, power, politics of power and power of politics. It starts from declaration of election, candidate finalization, campaigning, scandals, results, cobbling up the majority, coalition politics and deal making. Author covers the whole process well. The story is interesting but it’s not a page turner. 

There are various instances in this book that remind us about real events that happened in Indian politics in the past. That makes it easy to connect to the story. 

My collectible sentence from the book:

The man really was irremediable.

Proof reading of the book is bad. There are several grammatical and syntax mistakes. 

The end of the book doesn’t give satisfaction of reading a complete story. It’s only a pause. The story is still to continue. Author definitely has plans for a sequel. I always believe that if the book is first of the series, it’s authors duty to inform readers beforehand, so they can make a choice to read it or not. Not doing so is a form of cheating. 

Why did I read this book? Politics.

What did I like? Interesting story. 

What I didn't like? Not declaring that it’s first of a series. 

Read if you plan to read the series.