Love across borders edited by Naheed Hassan & Sabahat Muhammad

"Love across borders" edited by Naheed Hassan & Sabahat Muhammad. This book is published by Indiareads at smashwords in 2013 and has 91 pages.

As you might have guessed, it is a collection of short stories of love across borders, mainly India and Pakistan.

'That 70s Babe' is story of one sided love of a Pakistani with a beautiful Indian girl. Who is she?

'Serendipity' is the story of an Indian girl who loves a Pakistani man. Will they be together?

'One stupid comment' is a story set in future, post war that ended the modern world.

'Anjum' is a Pakistani bride of an Indian man who becomes good friend of an Indian lady.

'Dressed to kill' is a simple but beautiful story that touches you. Probably the best in this book.

'Best friends forever' is the story of two girls, once best friends but separated, who meet on Facebook years later.

'Lost and found' is story of Dilip who tries to find his college friend Parvez in his old age through internet.

'Twelve months' is the story of a Pakistani widow of an Indian man and how she clings to his memories.

'An unlikely Romeo' is story of Romeo and Nafisa who meet in London.

In 'The long interval' a mysterious person contacts old Suresh through Facebook. Who is it?

In 'The old willow' a Pakistani and an Indian meet in a pub in USA. What will they discuss and how will it end?

'Tenements of a rainy day' is a brief encounter of a Pakistani leaving USA and an Indian couple who have recently arrived.

Love, in this book, is used in a broader sense. It is love between friends, a lovely gesture towards strangers, an amorous affair, a goodwill gesture or even an argument.

Concept of book is good. Writers are from both sides of the border and some who stay elsewhere. Message is of love and peace. Basically saying we are all the same.

A number of stories use the social media to reconnect with old acquaintances. Unfortunately all these stories are bunched together causing successive repetition of idea.

I liked 'That 70s Babe', 'Dressed to kill' & 'The old willow' most.

It's different. Read it for a change.

For complete review, please visit:
Mandar's Book reviews 
http://mandarbookreviews.blogspot.com/

The Avenger by Juggi Bhasin

"The Avenger" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin India in 2013 and has 508 pages. This is Book 2 of Suvir Suri series.

Sikandar Khan, a dreaded Pakistani terrorist, executes a horrific terrorist attack in Delhi and manages to escape. A group of grieving industrialists, fed up with the impotence of government, decide to take the situation in their hands and commission a mission to find and eliminate Sikandar. Person chosen for the task is Suvir Suri.

Why is Suvir hiding in forest with Kalpana? Will Suvir accept?  Who will help him? Will he succeed? Will he be released from pain?

This book takes Suvir to Pakistan. Not once, not twice, not thrice but four times. Start of the book is very interesting but after Suvir's entry the story drifts in the general direction of conclusion without a purpose or conviction. It stays that way till the mother of all terrorist attack against India is launched by Sikandar in Pakistan. Here onwards the story picks up pace and becomes interesting again.

The climax is thrilling, action packed and interesting. A thrilling movie can be made out of this book. Author has used the trick of 'revival of incapacitated' twice. It was avoidable.

There are a few incongruencies and deficiencies in the story. They raise certain unanswered questions. Why snipers were not deployed when NSG commandos attacked the plane? How can Suvir fall in love again? Why does the journalist Ipshita decides to help Suvir? Why Nazish, a low level surveillance officer, is allowed to talk to an Indian asset. How Sikandar musters support of armed forces and all the terrorist organizations?

The book might have become more interesting had it been a few pages shorter and had the middle portion been crispy. Even without it, it's a good thriller.

If you have read first book, read this. Third one is already released.

The Survivor by Kyle Mills

"The Survivor" by Kyle Mills. This book is published by Simon and Schuster in Oct 2015 and has 448 pages. This is Book 14 of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series. This one is written by Kyle Mills after death of Vince Flynn.

Rogue CIA agent, Joe Rickman, who was killed by Rapp in previous book has set up an automated system of exposing damaging information about CIA. Pakistan's ISI chief, who is considered a weak man by all, has plans to get his hands on the files and make Pakistan first Muslim superpower of the world.

What's in the files? Who is releasing the information to the media? How damaging is it? What would be the fall out? Why ISI wants it? Will they get it? What will Rapp do?

This book takes off where the previous one ends. The story continues and gets complicated. It's a complex plot where the very existence of CIA is threatened. Author has decided to bump off the character of Stan Hurley and it is done in keeping with the story and the traits of the character. The climax is a bit fast.

A few questions seem to be left unanswered deliberately. How Rickman gets hold of information he is not privy to? What happens to Taj's laptop? What happens to encryption key?

The character of Rapp is shown to be thinking of his future, his death and looking back at the past. In short the effects of age are showing. Is this a change in character with the change of author?

It is not easy to step into the shoes of a successful writer like Vince Flynn. Kyle Mills has accomplished the task really well. Though his writing style is different than Vince, he has remained true to the general theme of the series. It looks like Kyle Mills is acquiring a reputation of taking over literary enterprise of successful writers after their death.

Read it. If you are a Mitch Rapp fan, you will not be disappointed.

The hunt for Kohinoor by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

"The hunt for Kohinoor" by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar. This book is published by Westland Ltd in 2013 and has 432 pages. This is Book 2 of Mehrunisa Khosa series.

Mehrunisa has taken the post of her godfather at Archeological Survey of India. She is still haunted by nightmares; aftereffect of her father's disappearance when she was six.

President of Pakistan and Prime minister of India are in secret talks to establish peace when President of Pakistan is assassinated. The important documents he was going to hand over to India are also destroyed, but there is a copy somewhere. It's code named Kohinoor. Hunt for Kohinoor is on - in Pakistan. Babur Khan, a mysterious American soldier turned Islamic terrorist has surfaced.

Who is hunting for Kohinoor? Where is it? Who will get it? How is Mehrunisa involved?

As in the first book there are a lot of references to renaissance painters and their paintings and Mughal art. The story takes place in Pakistan and India.

The decision to send Mehrunisa, a civilian, to Pakistan in search of Kohinoor instead of her father does not make sense from logical and intelligence point of view. Especially when so much is dependent on the success of the mission, recruiting Mehrunisa seems to be far fetched. It's surprising that Pakistani intelligence can not find Mehrunisa, Raghav and RP Singh but Babur Khan can track them.

The author seems to be confused as to what should form the central theme of the story. Mehrunisa, Kohinoor documents, Agent Snow Leopard or the terrorist attack on Indian facility. In an attempt to cover all, she is all over the place and none of them is covered properly.

Manreet had raised my expectations after her first book. Her first book was profound. The second book however does not stand up to the reputation. It appears like a documentary. It's superficial. It disappoints.

Give it a miss.

Assassins by Mukul Deva

"Assassins" by Mukul Deva. This book is published by Forge books in 2015 and has 416 pages. This is Book 2 of Ravinder Gill series. Book 1 was titled 'The dust will never settle' in India and 'Weapon of vengeance' in USA.

Ravinder Gill had resigned and is trying to come to terms with his life & his daughter's death at his hands. Sisters of Benazir (SOB), a terrorist organization lead by Fatima (Benzir's niece), has contracted assassinations of Pervaiz Masharrat (Dictator of Pakistan at the time of Benzir's assassination) and Abid Zardosi (Benzir's husband), in India, to Leon Binder as they were masterminds of Benazir's murder.

Binder happenes to be a very close friend of Sir Edward Kingsley (Director of MI6) and Ravinder Gill during their college days. Gill accepts to lead the taskforce to prevent the assassinations on Indian soil. Can he stop Binder or will he be humiliated again? What's in the past? What score has remained unsettled? What happens to SOB?

Entire story takes place in six days. There are twenty odd chapters in each day. Some of the chapters are only a page long and some only a few lines long. It's an intelligent chapterization.

Although story is good some things keep nagging the seasoned readers. Thus the story becomes semi engaging. It's unbelievable that a hardened assassin, chief of a terrorist organization and a terrorist mole in Indian intelligence talk freely over unsecured phones using real names (I had same observation on author's previous books as well) and that an assassin meets his employer in person in open. Use of WhatsApp and Dropbox for exchanging sensitive information is also baffling. This is recklessness. The assassin spelling his name backward for his most important identity is laughable.

Generally the protagonists in thrillers are depicted as impeccable superhumans. Here Mukul had given them touches that are more like common humans (e.g. The assassin has a stomach upset, he sleeps in unsecured location due to exhaustion, Gill is ill at ease with computers etc.). Gill, the assassin and the mole all forget to do something vital every now and then that allows the story to go on.

Vishal is shown as an orphan who does not know his parents, then how come he has got a cousin? Looks like an avoidable error.

Pakistani characters are based on real life figures. Author has altered the names only slightly making it apparent, even for a naive reader. Benzir's assassination is described in great detail.

A new thing is a terrorist organization (SOB - Pun intended?) run by women, a sisterhood. However it's not clear why head of such an organization behaves in amateurish way. Binder accepting the assignment despite knowing of the leak and despite having a bad feeling about it is also inexplicable. A professional assassin who has 36 hits to his credit suddenly throws all caution to the wind for the sake of revenge, not convincing.

Ravinder Gill thrillers seem to be a personal matter for Gill. In first book it was his daughter and in this it's his one time best friend. His past haunts him and gives him nightmares. It makes him more human. He also loses his close family member in each book. At this rate, the series can not go beyond three books.

Why is the book titled Assassins? Not clear. Probably a more appropriate title would have been Assassinations!

An OK book, not a must read.

Manto - Selected stories translated by Aatish Taseer

"Manto - Selected stories" translated by Aatish Taseer. This book is published by Random house India in 2012 and has 200 pages. This is a collection of ten short stories.

Manto was born in Punjab, made his career in Bombay as script writer, is considered best short story writer of Indian subcontinent, was controversial and was tried for obscenity. He moved to Lahore after partition, a decision which he later regretted. Translator Aatish Taseer is son of Indian journalist Tavleen Singh and Pakistani politician Salman Taseer.

In 'Ten Rupees' Sarita, a 15 year old care free girl is sent for prostitution by her mother. She spends a day with three Hyderabad youth in Bombay. What happens?
'Blouse' is story of Momin, a servant on the edge of puberty, and the unknown strange feelings generated within him when he sees his young mistress sew and try on a new blouse.
'Khol do' is the story of Sirajuddin who's young and beautiful daughter was left behind in Amritsar during partition and found.
'Khaled Miyan' is the story of Mumtaz, a doting father of Khaled, who is afraid that Khaled will die before turning one. He is paranoid. Will Khaled Miyan die?
'My name is Radha' is the story of Neelam, an actress, who is infatuated with the handsome and well behaved hero.
'Ram Khilavan' is the Dhobi of Manto and indebted to his wife for saving his life. During partition riots, drunk Ram Khilavan attacks Manto. What will happen next?
'Licence' is the story of Nesti, beautiful wife of a coachman who dies shortly after marriage. Nesti decides to drive the coach herself. Can she?
In 'The mice of Shah Daulah' Salima gives up her first born to Shah Daulah for blessing her with children but can never forget her first born. By luck she meets him. What next?
In 'For freedom' Gulam Ali and Nigar are active in independence struggle and enamoured. Babaji (A character based on Gandhiji) announced their marriage and has very high expectations from them. Can they live up to it?
'Smell' is story of Ranjit who had bedded many girls. He can not forget a working class girl and her earthly smell even after marriage.

Of these stories I liked 'Khol Do' and 'License' the most. These stories awaken a feeling in the reader that makes him think of the stories long after.

Three of the stories have author as a character and are narrated in first person. Seven stories have implied, overt or covert sex or sexuality in them. Such stories made Manto controversial more than 60-70 years ago. All the stories are pre independence stories but the period is only a few years before independence.

All the stories have the smell of earth. They are precise and to the point. Manto unhesitatingly puts his point across without floral wordings or delving too much in the background information. Thus all the stories are really short. Sometimes there is a sudden end to the stories that is less comprehensible.

Credit should also go to Aatish Tasir, the translator, for bringing these Urdu stories to the non-Urdu readers.

Good book. Read it to get introduced to Manto.

Resonance by Ajay

"Resonance" by Ajay. This book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2014 and has 377 pages.

A group of corrupt officers from various Indian government agencies decides to collude with Pakistani terrorists and ISI to realize project Tupac II. Son of ex chief of ISI is in love with daughter of India's ambassador to USA.

What is the plot? What is Tupac II? What is the target? Who are the Indian traitors? Is there a mole? What would be the consequences?

It's a long & complex plot, one year in making, but the Indian intelligence agencies fail to unravel the plot almost for the entire duration. There are a number of actors like various Indian Intelligence agencies, ISI, LeT, Pakistan government, FBI, American intelligence, politicians etc.

The story revolves around hydrology, fault lines, water body movement and resonance. The plot is elaborate, consequences are devastating & impact is far reaching. Is that really possible? Hope not.

Ajay has written a good, tech intensive, apocalyptic story however his noviceness is not masked, especially in the build up of the climax and the climax. Characterization is a bit sketchy. The oneupmanship between ISI and Pakistani government is harrowing. Will the real Prime minister of Pakistan do what he does in this book? Improbable though not impossible.

Book cover is good. The intensity in the eyes of the terrorist attracts you to it.

Recommend reading.

The Puppeteer by Arindam Mukherjee

"The Puppeteer" by Arindam Mukherjee. This book is published by Grapevine India in 2013 and has 254 pages.

President of Pakistan has agreed to acknowledge the line of control in Kashmir as international border. This is a big victory for India. Lasting peace seems to be a real possibility. But Pakistani multimillionaire business tycoon and pro Islamist Aamir Ben Kalish is livid. He doesn't like the stance of the President who also happens to be his personal friend. He summons his second in command Zuair and his son Omar to assassinate the President while on tour of India.

Can his plan come to fruition? Can his team infiltrate India? Can they find agents to assassinate the president? Will they succeed? Can Indian intelligence stop them?

This is Arindam's first fiction novel. He has put up a credible effort. The seed is imaginative. Execution is also good. He has managed to churn a decent story. Characterization, though, needed more efforts.

A large portion of the book is spent on elaborating first the reason and then the perpetration for the plot. The Indian intelligence does not get the whiff of the assassination plot until two third of the book is over. This means that the tantalizing cat and mouse game gets limited page space.

It also appears that the Pakistanis had not done their home work thoroughly and they improvise the plot as it develops. Such plots usually do not succeed. Side story of Mafizul and his lust for Salima appears weak.

Author has introduced a special twist in the tale in the epilogue. I don't know why he waited till epilogue for reveling the twist.

OK book. Read if you have time.

Mumbai Avengers by S. Hussain Zaidi

"Mumbai Avengers" by S. Hussain Zaidi with Gabriel Khan. This book is published by Harper Collins publishers India in March 2015 and has 392 pages. This will soon be made into a major motion picture called 'Phantom'.

26/11 attack on Mumbai, by Pakistani terrorists, is itched deep on India's mind. Retired Lt. General Sayed Ali Waris devices a daredevil plan to eliminate four masterminds of this attack. No one from government wants to support. India is a democracy and can not act illegally. Waris puts together a team of six with tactical support of SKY (Chief of RAW).

Will this black ops team clear the bureaucratic and political hurdle? Will the team get a chance of revenge? Can India sustain pressure of world politics? Can the team enter Pakistan? Will India avenge?

The book is fast paced yet simple. The daredevil acts of Indian special agents are thrilling. Narration is dramatic. Cat and mouse game between Indian team and RAW is also thrilling. The book is written keeping in mind that it will be a motion picture soon.

Assassinations in Turkey, Sweden and Pakistan are interesting. Infiltration and exfiltration from Pakistan is also interesting. It includes disguise, deception, chases and lot of ammunition fire. I felt that the very end of book is wrapped up bit too fast.

S. Hussain Zaidi is a well known non fiction writer. This is his first first foray into fiction. Since he has written this fiction based on facts, the transition is smooth.

Any book that kindles patriotism has a good chance of being successful. If it also includes a good story, gripping narrative, daredevil thrills, secret agencies and avenging terrorists; it is a definite recipe of success.

A good thriller. Indians will love it.

Operation Fox-hunt by Siddhartha Thorat

"Operation Fox-hunt" a debut novel by Siddhartha Thorat. This book is published by Shrishti Publishers & Distributors in 2014 and has 188 pages.

ISI, Pakistani intelligence agency, plans a daredevil attack on a strategic target in India. The target is an airport and primary base for 3 squadrons of Air superiority fighter SU 30MKI & HQ of southern command of Indian army. Two teams are formed for attack lead by SSG commandos.

RAW, IB and Military Intelligence of India get the whiff of the attack. But where is it planned? What is the target? What will Pakistan gain? Can India stop the attack? The hunt begins.

This is a good thriller. Attack by Pakistani's on Indian territory and chase by Indian intelligence agencies is sure to entice the readers. Since it is also narrated in an interesting fashion without over dramatizing, you have a good book. Story is woven neatly around the central theme. Characterisation is apt. Author has been able to entice the audience.

Author had provided detailed information about various army and special forces units, their background and history. A lot of research must have gone into writing the book. Amount of support Pakistanis get in India is simultaneously unbelievable and saddening.

Why the attack team does not consider using sea route is inexplicable. Another thing that I did not like is that all the army, special services and bureaucrats are shown smoking. There are more than 20 smoking scenes. There are editorial mistakes in the book like mis-spelling. This could have and should have been avoided.

I purchased this book on impulse hoping that it would prove readable. It proved to be a good impulsive decision.

It's a  good book. 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.

The Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini

"The Kite runner" debut novel of Khaled Hosseini. This edition of the book is published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2013 and has 352 pages. Khaled Hosseini Is an Afghan-born American novelist and physician. This is his debut novel and he has written two more after this

This is the story of Aamir, a motherless child born in 1964-65, to a wealthy father. They live in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ali and his son Hasan are Hazara's and are their servants. Hasan is also a close friend and confidant of Amir. Amir is also close to Ibrahim Khan, business partner of his father. One day there is a kite tournament and timid Amir unexpectedly wins it. Hasan is a kite runner and he runs the last kite Amir cuts for him. But something terrible happens and they do not remain friends anymore.

After Russian occupation, Amir and his father flee to America and start a new life. Ibrahim Khan calls Amir to meet him one last time in Pakistan after 15 years. A secret is revealed.

What marked the end of their friendship? Is Amir repentant? Does he marry? What career does he choose? Who had betrayed whom? Can he reunite with Hasan? What was the secret? Will there be a redemption?

Character of Amir is the most important character. His refusal to acknowledge Hasan as friend when confronted, his possessiveness about Hasan, his repentance about not standing by him in his hour of need, his anger at his own cowardice, his attempts to forget everything, his return to his roots and his attempt at redemption is all captured beautifully.

Khaled's description of war ravaged Afghanistan, the destruction it has caused, the resultant loss of business, loss of jobs, consequent poverty and level to which human beings stoop when defeated by hunger melts your heart but it is also objective at the same time. Readers start thinking 'what have the poor Afghans done to deserve this treatment'. When economy, way of living and life comes to a standstill, hollowness occupies all the spaces. There is no future, no destiny and no hope.

Afghanistan before and after war and the difference of life is depicted powerfully. The period in America is relatively slow and less interesting. Hearts of the readers goes out for Sohrab and they wish him well.

Why Amir's father leaves Hasan behind, why Hasan's letters never reach Amir and why there is little to no control on Afghanistan Pakistan border remains unanswered. I was surprised to find that there are a lot of words common in Hindi, Urdu and Farsi.

A very good book. A must read.

The third world war by Humphrey Hawksley

"The third world war" by  Humphrey Hawksley.

As the name of this book suggests, it's a fiction thriller. Book opens with an attack on Indian parliament on ground and by air. Pro US president of Pakistan is assassinated. There is Islamic uprising in South Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei. North Korean conventional missile strikes American airbase in Japan. An attempt is made on the life of Prime Minister of India. North Korea is in possession of nuclear warheads and biological weapons.

This book does not waste time in preamble. There is action from the word go. Characters are developed during the action and crisis. This is something new.

The author has demonstrated very good understanding of global politics, it's intricacies and fine balance required while making important decisions. He has predicted how each country and it's leadership will react in extreme situation. The book shows how world leaders think only about their country but still call themselves world leader. The speech of Russian President at the informal summit of important head of state is marvelous and sums up world politics precisely.

Some things however seem strange like president of Pakistan deciding to drop bomb on India in person or easy murder of America's national security advisor or character of Lazaro Campbell that acts as field operative and emissary of US president simultaneously or character of Hasan Muda who can breach the security of any country at will.

However the author seems to have lost the control some what after the nuclear war starts. The buildup to the nuclear war is excellent but the actual nuclear war is covered very quickly and author has given a miss to the opportunity to make it more interesting and dramatic. Readers wonder why the author chose to miss this opportunity and preferred to keep it vague, leaving so much to readers imagination.

Behavior of head of states during war sums up authors views on respective societies. American president comes out as unimaginative. Indian Prime Minister as most humane and nonaggressive. Chinese president as intelligent but who does not have absolute power. Russian president as wily. English prime minister as surprisingly firm. Japanese Prime Minister looking to regain pride. Pakistani and North Korean presidents demonstrate brinkmanship.

First  half of this 514 pages long book is unputdownable, second half is good but not unputdownable.  Recommend reading.

The edge of the machete by Abhisar Sharma

"The edge of the machete" by Abhisar Sharma, 2nd book of The Taliban Conundrum Trilogy.

All the terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to come together, at a secrete facility called 'The Beast', to prepare & launch attacks against America and it's allies. This facility is so secret that it's not known to any government or intelligence organization.

CIA has infiltrated 'The Beast' with one of its operative called  Ed Gomez aka Sarfaraz Khan, whose friend has been executed by the terrorist Amir Sherzai. There is a white Muslim (Shaun Marsh aka Shahid Khan), whose mother was a Kashmiri, at The Beast; who wants to be a Jihadi but doesn't know if he can kill. An Indian journalist Rahul Sharma is a captive at The Beast.

How lives of Rahul and Shahid are intertwined? What is the big plan? Does Ed Gomez become Sarfaraz for a cause or has the raw power of Sarfaraz taken over Ed? Can he  avenge killing of his friend?

Author has taken a very big canvas for the book. The story moves between Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, England and America. There are a lot of characters. The nature of plot requires proper development of three main characters and author had to spend considerable space for that. Abhisar has used flash backs liberally to establish the story and relations of characters.

Converging three stories for the finale is a Herculean task and Abhisar has almost succeeded in it. There was a possibility of developing this seed into a fantastic tale. Although the story has come out good, it could have been better.

Abhisar had a fluid writing style and does not allow you to get bored. Portrayal of main characters is good. Sarfaraz and his dilemma of completing the task after infiltration or becoming a mighty terrorist, Shahid and his dilemma of whether his identity is white man or a Muslim, Rahul's state of mind in captivity and Aamir, a terrorist & killer of Ed's friend, who is cruel beyond imagination & who wants to be recognized as most feared terrorist.

The climax is slightly mellowed down and a bit abrupt. Author has created the preamble for the sequel in the end.

An OK read. Read if you have time.

The Ekkos Clan by Sudipto Das.

"The Ekkos Clan" a debut novel by Sudipto Das.

Story starts in Senpara, a village now in Bangladesh, before partition. How a family is devastated by the inhuman atrocities during partition and how a mother, Kubha, makes ultimate sacrifice to save 2 of her 4 children. This account is riveting.

Then there is a time leap to present time. Protagonist is grand son of Kubha. Kubha's family had migrated from Hindu kush region to Senpara long time ago. Kubha tells stories to her children that have been passed to her orally through generations. The same stories are passed on to the present generation.

There is a deep meaning in these stories. What is it? Are the stories very similar to Rig Ved? What does it mean? Someone is trying to kill Kubha's family and decendants. Why? Who is murdering? Is there a bigger conspiracy? What has Russia or a young and beautiful linguist of Pakistani origin to do with it? Who are Kalash people in Pakistan?

Scientific name of horse is Equus caballus.
It is said that before the arrival of Aryans (some say they never arrived, they were always here), India did not know the animal called horse. Hence the title of the book.

Sudipto has done a decent job in narration. The expectations and excitement is set high in the first few chapters during partition, but author could not maintain the same tempo in the rest of the book. Story gets boring at times. Sometimes  characters find very old information very easily which is far from reality. Although the seed of this book is brilliant the execution could have been better.

Chetan Bhagat has started trend of IITans writing books and Sudipto had continued the tradition. We can expect more from his next book.

An OK book. Read if you have time and patience or for a change.

A case of exploding mangoes by Mohammad Hanif

"A case of exploding mangoes" by Pakistani writer Mohammad Hanif. This book received two prizes (Commonwealth book and Shakti Bhatt) in first book category and was long listed for Man Booker prize in 2008.

The book has been advertised as Indian and Pakistani best seller.

General Zia was killed in a plane crash along with his top generals. Conspiracy theories have been making rounds ever since. Hanif has used this incident to write this fiction by adding Hanif another conspiracy to the mix.

It is a story of Zia, his security chief TM, chief of ISI Gen Akhtar and two young officers Ali Shigri (whose father was Colonel Shigri, found hanging from fan) and Obaid Ul Lah.

Author has used his observations well to highlight the contradictions in the Pakistani society in general and army in particular. Gen Zia is portrayed more as a buffoon than a capable general.

It is not clear whether author has tried to write a satirical thriller or sarcastic comedy or comical  suspense. Since the approach appears confused, so is the flow of story and ability to keep readers interested. You often wonder what exactly is he trying to convey?

I had to use a lot of will power in order not to abandon the book, hoping for something interesting in subsequent pages. Alas! it did not come.

I was unable to find what the judges / jury of these prizes could find in the book.

Avoid.

Kill list by Frederick Forsyth

"Kill list", latest thriller by Frederick Forsyth. Forsyth turned 75 in August.

America maintains a list of terrorists to be eliminated covertly, without arrest or trial. A new name 'The Preacher' is added after a series of assassinations of american public servants, inspired by Preacher's sermons. No one knows the identity of the Preacher as he wears a mask while delivering sermons. The job is given to a person called 'The Tracker'.

The story is about how tracker tracks the preacher. Story takes us to Pakistan, England, Djibouti and Somalia. Does he identify preachers real identity? Can he stop the assassinations? Does he find the preacher?

All thought from the advertisements of this book it appears that the real name and identities of Preacher and Tracker are the suspense of the story, in reality their true identities are revealed to the readers early in the story.

Reader gains a good knowledge of the gadgetry, hardware and technology used by America in fight against terrorism. Although the book is rich in content and technical details, it is short in action by standards of a thriller. The story is evenly paced and does not let you abandon the book.

Although the book is good on its own, Forsyth's previous books (The day of the jackal, Fist of God, The icon, The Afgan, The cobra.. to name a few) were better.

An OK read.