Accidental fiancée by Zeenat Mahal

"The accidental fiancée" by Zeenat Mahal - Pakistani story!

This book was published by Indiareads incorporated in 2015. This book is a single short story. 

Akbar Rasul (bad boy) and Khayyam Zafar (firebrand feminist and socialist) were arch nemesis in architecture college. Years later their families arrange their marriage. Khayyam requests Akbar to scrap the engagement. Akbar won't let go the opportunity of lifetime to humiliate her. 

Why does Khayyam accept engagement with Akbar? Why does Akbar call her KK? Who has extinguished fire in Khayyam? How long will the engagement last?

Author develops the lead characters in a very short span. The story becomes instantly interesting. The tussle between the two is palpable. Akbar does what Akbar is expected to do. But why does Khayyam behave contrary to her personality?

The story reaches peak and then abruptly it ends. This sudden death is baffling. It wouldn't have mattered if author had used couple of pages more for smooth landing, but she chooses crash landing. Had this landing been a shock, it would have served its purpose. But it ends very predictably. It leaves a taste of dissatisfaction. 

Faiqa Mansab (Pseudonym Zeenat Mahal) is a Pakistani author from Lahore. She looks promising. Won't mind reading more of her works. 

Why did I read this book? Pakistani author, Indian publisher. 

What I didn't like? Predictability. Sudden death. 

What did I like? Lead characters. 

Recommend as a quick read. 

  

Cold springs by Rick Riordan

"Cold springs" by Rick Riordan - Ambling along!

This book is published by Bantam in 2004 and has 416 pages. 

Catherine, daughter of Chadwick, a school teacher, & Norma dies of drug overdose. Mallory, 5 year old daughter of John and Anne Zedman, was with her at that time. Time leap. Both marriages fall apart. Mallory starts using drugs and befriends Race Montrose, younger brother of Samuel who supplied drugs to Catherine years ago. Anne decides to enroll Mallory to Cold Springs. A dead man comes to life. 

Who killed Thalia? Who is blackmailing John?  Why did the marriages fail? What happened to the millions? What is Cold Springs? Who is behind all this?

The story has interesting characters. Chadwick, 6'8" gentle giant. Norma, his beautiful wife. Anne, childhood friend of Chadwick and Principal of school. John, her businessman husband. Perez, bodyguard and man Friday of John. Mallory, a drug addict frightened teenager. Race, a brilliant black boy whose family has a criminal history. Samuel, his elder brother. Hunter, head of Cold Springs and a man driven by his ambition of reforming kids. 

Concept of Cold Springs is interesting. A school that takes in spoilt, messed up, drug addict rich kids and breaks their ego, teaches them survival skills, discipline, accepting orders and reforms them, makes them fit to go back to the society. 

Rick's writing style is completely different as compared to humorous style of his more famous books based on various mythologies. The narration here is dark and atmosphere is mostly gloomy. There are no real happy moments or light moments. It's a slow burn.

That is the draw back of the story. Slow burn should not slow down. The story slows down considerably on multiple occasions. I was reading this book for a very long time.  Relationship between Chadwick and Anne is strange. 

Identity of the perpetrator is concealed very well. All my attempts with imagination failed to identify, until author zeroed on the real one. 

End of the book is stretched to the limit of reader's patience. It goes on and on. Readers start thinking if it's going to end at all. Title has nothing to do with the story. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Pace of story. 

What did I like? Successful concealment of identity. 

Not a must read. 

Rising Sea by Clive Cussler a Graham Brown

"The Rising Sea" by Clive Cussler a Graham Brown  - The thrill ride continues!

This book is published by Penguin in 2019 and has 464 pages. This is Book 15 of 'The NUMA files'.

There is an unprecedented rise in sea levels in last 6 months. NUMA investigations rule out global warming, melting ice caps and hollowing glaciers. China has a secret mine of Golden Adamant, a living meta material, in East China Sea. China-Japan friendship blossoms. Honjo Masamune, a legendary sword that disappeared around WW II reappears. How sophisticated Robots can be? 

What is causing the rising sea? Is it going to flood the world? How come China and Japan are becoming friends? What is the significance of automatons? Who are Kurt and Joe pitted against?

Book starts with a scene from feudal Japan. A fight between a Samurai wielding a katana forged by master forger Masamune against Shogun sporting a sword forged by Masamune's protégé and competitor Muramassa.

Kurt is investigating the rising sea levels when he discovers an international conspiracy. He has to literally race against a robot car, do wing boarding, fight automaton that moves and looks like real human and what not. Paul and Gamay are declared spies by China. Will they find an unlikely ally?

Story is interesting. It takes the reader from glaciers to America to Japan to China. Reader doesn't have time to relax. Story keeps you interested. It also has an unrelated adventure at the beginning, James Bond style. Chinese General from earlier book 'Nighthawk' makes an appearance. Cussler also drops a hint that one of the next book will unfold in China. 

 Clive Cussler has amazing attention to details, especially technical details. He doesn't disappoint. However there are two loose ends. Although no mitigating measures are taken, why do geysers stop? What is the importance of golden adamant? Cussler leaves these two questions unanswered. Rare loose ends from him, unless there is a use for them in subsequent books. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Loose ends.

What did I like? Everything else. 

Read, if you are reading the series.

Mandodari: Queen of Lanka by Manini J. Anandani

"Mandodari: Queen of Lanka" by Manini J. Anandani - A decent try!

This book is published by Penguin in 2018 and has 288 pages. This is author's debut novel. 

Mandodari is revered as a one of the panchakanya (five virtuous and chaste women) in Puranas, despite being Ravan's wife, in following famous ashoka.

अहल्या द्रौपदी सीता तारा मन्दोदरी तथा |

पञ्चकन्या स्मरेन्नित्यम महापातकनाशनम् ||

This book tells her story. 

How was Mandodari? How was her relationship with Ravan? Did she approve Sita's abduction? Why did she marry Vibhishan?

This author also subscribes to one of the popular theory about Sita's parentage. Anand Neelakanthan has also subscribed to the same theory in his book 'Asura'. Manini has created a background story in support of the theory that is interesting and more convincing than Anand.

Unfortunately same can't be said about rest of the book. Narration is kind of drab. It's neither interesting, nor gripping, neither ornamental, nor flowery. Doesn't capture your imagination. When you narrate a story through a character that's not in the thick of action, narration becomes indirect. Author's job becomes that much more difficult. 

The relationship between Mandodari and Ravan could have been depicted better. Here she is shown as a wall flower, but author could have given it an emotional angle. That would have made it more appealing. Mandodari was the queen and regent but she is never shown making or participating in any important decisions of state. 

The tussle between Mandodari and Nayanadini erupts suddenly and dies equally abruptly. Why was it included in the book as it doesn't help the story in any way. Although Vedavati's story is there in this book, Ravan's rape of Rambha is conspicuous by absence. 

The war is explained well initially but the most important battles where Indrajeet, Kumbhakarna and Ravan are killed are hurried through. Ravan appears defeated before his final battle with Ram. The portion where Mandodari decides to marry the traitor Vibhishan also deserved more space. 

Surprisingly, most of the chapters in the book have a very similar length. Was it by design or luck?

Cover shows half the head of a lady (Mandodari) and remaining four heads of Ravan. It is a curious cover. I thought author would be propounding an explosive theory that Ravan was the face but Mandodari was the real power, after looking at the cover. But author doesn't insinuate anything like that. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting cover. 

What did I like? Story about Sita's parentage. 

What I didn't like? As mentioned above. 

Not a must read. 

Sons of fortune by Jeffrey Archer

"Sons of fortune" by Jeffrey Archer- Like a movie! 

This book is published by Pan in 2014 and has 608 pages.

Susan and Michael Cartwright had twins, Nathaniel and Peter. Millionaires Robert and Ruth Davenport have Fletcher Andrew, after two miscarriages. Both deliveries happen in same hospital. Fletcher dies but a nurse quietly switches him with Peter. Peter becomes Fletcher. The book traces the life and career of these two boys. Nat takes finance and Fletcher law. Both end up in politics and end up running against each other for the post of Governor.

How do their careers pan? Do they get to know each other? Do they come to know the truth? Who wins?

Story is good. Since the author had to cover a span of more than 40 years, there are multiple short time leaps. Their lives are narrated alternatively. They run parallel but not same until they converge. The convergence is unique, murder, of all things!

It has drama, romance, love, suspense, swindling, politics etc. It's a fast and happening story. It's a good script to make a movie.

Some of the events appear to have no particular reason to be in the story. The Yale episode, the way Elliott dies etc. are some examples. The story wouldn't have altered without them. The court drama and the details of the case appear a little weak and could have been better. 

Author has stretched the end a bit till the election result. Had he ended the story when they go for final counting, it would have been more appealing and impactful. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? A few things as mentioned above. 

What did I like? Something is always happening.  

A good read. 

400 days by Chetan Bhagat

"400 days" by Chetan Bhagat - Find the missing girl!

This book is published by Westland in Oct 2021 and has 352 pages. This is Book 3 of 'Keshav Rajpurohit' series. 

As declared at the end of second book, Keshav wants to become police officer and solve cases. At 29 he has only two more attempts left to clear IPS, but prospects don't look bright. His parents wasn't him to settle (proper job and marriage). 

Alia, a stunningly beautiful lady from his colony comes to him with a case. A cold case, 9 months old, of a missing 12 years old daughter, Siya Arora, who was kidnapped from her grand parents home. All her family has given up but Alia just can't give up her child. 

How much remuneration do Keshav and Saurabh get? Is Siya alive? Can Keshav solve this cold case? How will he respond to Alia?

It's a big family with all kind of characters. A balanced patriarch, a matriarch with an issue with younger daughter in law and obsession with family name, elder brother in law who is worried about business, sister in law who is nice, two nephews and a younger daughter, who is witness to kidnapping. Add to it a family priest, a pedophile, a young tutor, opportunist inspector, media circus and the detectives. 

This story has numerous tussles. There is saas Vs bahu tamasha, there is male Vs female progeny preference, there is business Vs Siya tussle, there is love Vs maternal affection, the is logic Vs God man, there is exam Vs investigation conundrum, there is family Vs Police tussle. 

The story is good and interesting. There are two long flash backs necessary to set the background. The pace is on slower side but the interest is maintained. I wasn't able to guess the perpetrator. Credit to author. However Keshav finds the truth through his momentary brilliant deduction rather than a thorough process of investigation and analysis. 

Author has placed strategic clues, false leads and red herrings. A couple of red herrings are left open. Could have been closed. The book is long. I would have trimmed 50-60 pages. That might have improved the pace. Good book cover. It represents the story. 

In first book Keshav was personally invested in the case. In second book Saurabh was personally invested in the case. In this book too, one of them somehow manages to get personally invested in the case. 

Chetan, an author credited for bringing back the reading culture in India, has gravitated towards mysteries three books ago. Looks like he is now settled and wants to continue with the genre. Expect another book in this series in future. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Retained interest. Character of Alia.

What I didn't like? Red herrings are not closed. 

Recommend reading. 

Nighthawk by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

"Nighthawk" by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown - Weapon from space!

This book is published by Penguin in 2018 and has 480 pages. This is Book 14 of NUMA files. 

America has sent Nighthawk, part spacecraft - part aircraft, to space. Now it's coming back after three years. But something goes wrong and the contract with Nighthawk is lost. A massive operation is launched to locate it from wherever it crashed. NUMA joins the search. Russia and China are also trying to acquire it. 

Why such a big operation for Nighthawk? What's so special in this spacecraft? Can Kurt and Joe find it? Why Russia and China are interested?  What's at stake?

It's the cargo of Nighthawk. Something rare, something dangerous, something very lethal. That attracts all the superpowers. What's it?

Emma Townsend, a scientist of NIA, is the new character. She and Kurt are not romantically involved but there's a hint that she may reappear. There is a archeologist who thinks, rightly so, that Europeans destroyed south America by bringing their deceases that local populace couldn't survive. Then there are usual NUMA guys; Kurt, Joe, Rudy, Hairam, Priya etc.

The story is interesting. Concept is innovative. It's told by a master story teller like Cussler. So you remain interested. When everything looks lost brilliant ideas surface and save the day.

The cargo remains. The threat is not eliminated. Id's this going to be a problem in future? Well, we will have to wait and watch. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Concept. 

What I didn't like? Blast. 

Read if you are a Cussler fan.