The gilded wolves by Roshani Chokshi

"The gilded wolves" by Roshani Chokshi -  A new old-world!

This book is published by Macmillan in 2019 and has 400 pages. 

The art of forging, powered by fragment of Babel in France is with House of Nyx & House of Kore. Severine, heir to House of Vanth, was declared as not a descendant of the house when he was 10-11 and the house was dissolved. Fourth house was dissolved much earlier because they tried to do what was forbidden. Now Severine runs a hotel and specialises in acquisitions (read theft) with the help of Tristan, Enrique, Zofiya and Laila. One day he is offered an assignment that can restore his inheritance. 

What will Severine do? Will he accept the assignment? Will he make a deal? Will Hypnos betray? Can Laila find the book? Can she become complete?

The cast is interesting. Severine who thinks he is robbed off his inheritance by the matriarch of House Kore and who wants it back at any cost. Laila, an Indian Cabaret dancer who is not complete and is looking for a book whose name she does not know. Enrique, a Historian with Filipina mother and Spanish father who wants to make it big. Tristan, Severin's brother (no blood relation), whose behaviour is somewhat strange. Hypnos, patriarch of House Nyx and Severin's childhood friend, who Severin doesn't trust any more. Zofiya, a brilliant Engineer who is kicked out of school. 

The novel is set in 1878 Paris. Exposition Universelle, for which Eiffel Tower was built, is about to be inaugurated. There are two worlds. One is the world of normal people and another of those who have forging affinity. These worlds coexist. There are two kind of forging affinities: Matter- Influence one of the material states like solid, liquid, gas and Mind - which is banned. Forging is existence hammered into being in the furnace of time. 

It takes some time to get used to this new old-world and understand what forging is. The story is interesting. Readers take Severin's side at the outset. They connect with Laila and also feel for Zofiya. Key to success of this book is in this connection with readers. The old Paris is enticing. Backdrop of inauguration of Eiffel Tower is exciting. There are side stories for Laila, Enrique, Hypnos & Zofiya that the author does not conclude. These may be taken up in the sequel. Severin's story reaches a milestone but will continue in sequel. Author also gives a shock in the very end to pique the readers' curiosity and want them to wait for sequel. 

It's a good book, a little on slower side, but the concept is good and development is also good. It's designed for young readers. 

Roshani, daughter of Filipino mother and Indian father, is an American author. I have read her book 'Aru Shah and the end of time' a few months ago and published book review on my blog. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity. 

What I didn't like? Pace. 

What did I like? Characters and end. 

Recommend reading. 

And the mountains echoed by Khaled Hosseini

"And the mountains echoed" by Khaled Hosseini. This book is published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2013 and has 416 pages. This is Khaled Hosseini's third book.

Pari & Abdulla are siblings. Their mother is dead and father has remarried. Abdulla is five years older and takes care of Pari like a mother. One day they go to Kabul and Abdulla loses Pari. Nabi works as driver, cook and helper to Suleiman Wahdati & his wife Neela. Years later, in Paris, Pari's mother dies. Pari becomes older and gets a call from Dr. Markus from Afghanistan.

What is Suleiman's secret? Why does Abdulla lose Pari? Will Pari retrace her routes? Can she unearth her past?

Is this the story of Pari or Abdulla or Parwana or Nabi or Idris or Markus or another Pari? Well, it's not of any one of them but of all of them. And that's why it appears a bit scattered. Khaled Hosseini has a knack of story telling. In this book he has woven a number of stories and presented us a garland of a novel. Common thread that runs through this garland is Afghanistan and human emotions.

This novel covers more than 60 years. It starts around 1947 or so and continues till  present day. This is a very big time period to cover. Consequently some periods are covered superficially. Half way through the book, Pari's story is narrated in a staccato burst. Very fast, without making it interesting, like a news bulletin with multiple time leaps.

This book includes stories of a number of people. Although the stories are loosely related the book makes a riveting reading. This book is like a kaleidoscope. A number of items come together to form a beautiful design, though it may not be entirely cohesive. Every time you turn it you find a new design that is hardly repeated again. At the end you can not name one design that you saw just that you saw beautiful designs.

A good book. Read if you have liked previous books of Khaled Hosseini.

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.