Blood red sari by Ashok Banker

"Blood red sari" by Ashok Banker. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2012 and has 300 pages.

Three stories run in parallel. These are stories of three ladies. Anita B. has lost her best friend and is returning from Mumbai to Trivendrum. She finds that her family is trying to kill her. Sheila Ray, an ex investigator, runs a gym in Salt Lake City of Kolkata. She find herself out of business, out of livelihood and declared pariah within a span of two hours. Nachiketa is fighting against in-laws who assaulted her and left her handicapped for life. She finds her office burned, her assistant murdered and herself abandoned by friends with suggestion of psychiatric treatment.

The common thread between them is that each one has been sent a yellow manila envelop upon Lalima's instructions when she was killed.

What's in the envelop? Why is it so important? Who are 'they'? What do they want? Why are they after the three ladies?

This is an all female (main) character novel. It's a curious mix of females. A physically challenged lawyer, a lesbian investigator who was brutally raped when she was 15 years old and an ex investigator and gym owner who was also a victim of brutality. Despite the abuses, they are highly independent and capable women. Incidentally the three protagonists had appeared in previous novel or stories of Ashok Banker.

Ashok Banker has written a gripping story. You are hooked to it and want to know what happens next. Readers get a peek into the past of three main characters but do not get to know it all. The seemingly innocuous lives of the three women are shattered by an external force that is far stonger than any one of them.

Ashok has left a number of loose ends in the book as to what happens to the three protagonists, how did Lalima come into possession of the documents about the biggest conspiracy and business of all. What happens after the book ends.

Apparently this is all deliberate because this book is the first of the series of four. The lose ends will be tied in subsequent books. The human trafficking and terror angle makes a late entry in the book but the reasoning and justification given is not very convincing. Probably more will come in subsequent books. Infact that should be the main theme of subsequent books.

A good book. Read if you also intend to read remaining three, when published.

Girl who saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson

"Girl who saved the King of Sweden" by Jonas Jonasson. This book is published by Ecco in Apr 2014 and has 400 pages. This book is translation of his Swedish book 'Analfabeten som kunde räkna'

Nombeko is a 14 year old black orphan, who lives in Soweto near Johannesburg and works as manager of latrine emptying. She is illiterate but has a way with numbers. She learns to read from a poor man who had a stash of diamonds. When this man is killed, she leaves Soweto to Johannesburg and  is run down on a pavement by a drunk Engineer's car. South African court declares black Nombeko guilty and sentences her to work as servant of the Engineer for 7 years. This Engineer happens to be an idiot and also head of South Africa's nuclear program. Nombeko learns and aquires knowledge equivalent to nuclear scientist in her stay with Engineer which happens to be more than 7 years.

Ingmar is a bumbling and stupid cleark at Sweden's post office. His life's goal is to shake hands with the King of Sweden. Eventually when he does meet the king, he had a change of heart. Now the objective of his life is to abolish monarchy. His wife gives birth to twin boys. Both are named Holger. Holger1, like his father, wants to abolish monarchy without a clue, brains and ability to do anything. Holger2 is cleaver and sane. He understands the folly in his father's goal.

Nombeko manages to escape South Africa with a three megaton atomic bomb by duping Mossad agents and lands in Sweden. Here she meets Holger2. Then starts the action of first concealing and then disposing the atom bomb and later rescuing it.

Nobody knows what to do with the a atomic bomb. Will the atom bomb fall in wrong hands? How long can Nombeko hide it?  How will it impact international politics? How can it be disposed off? Who threatens King of Sweden? Which girl saves him? Can she find love?

Jonas has a unique writing style. He creates humor without appearing to do so. I like his writing style. The book is full of witty commentary and black humor (No pun intended). Author also has a habit of slipping in political commentary and making fun of various politicians or political situations in a humorously sarcastic manner without sounding offensive. The real King and Prime Minister of Sweden and President of China are also characters in the story.

There is a collection of rag tag characters and then there is an atomic bomb. There are intelligence agencies, police and there is chase. The characters, situations and incidents range from improbable to impossible and thus help in creating hilarious situations. Jonas has a way with witty and hilarious writing.

The book covers a long time span of more than 46 years. I would have preferred it to be shorter.

Although you like the book, you don't love it. Especially those who have read his first book 'The 100 year old...' would be disappointed because this book does not  live up to the heightened expectations.

A decent book. If you are reading Jonas Jonasson for the first time, you will like it.

Aastik (आस्तिक) by Sane Guruji (साने गुरुजी)

"Aastik (आस्तिक)", a Marathi novel, by Sane Guruji (साने गुरुजी). This edition of the book is published by Riya Publications in 2011 and has 216 pages.

Everyone knows the mythological tale of how King Parikshit (Son of Abhimanyu and Grandson of Arjun) garlanded a meditating sage with a dead snake. How he was cursed to die by bite of  Snake Takshak (तक्षक). How, despite all precautions, the curse came true. How after Parikshit's death his son Janmejay (जन्मेजय) started a fire to burn all snakes (नाग) of the universe called Sarpasatra (सर्पसत्र). How Indra, the king of Gods, promised protection to Takshak and how Sage Aastik talked sense into Janmejay and stopped the madness.

Sane Guruji has retold this tale in a realistic manner. He narrates it in the fashion it might have really happened. Author has given it a socialist angle and preached for the betterment of the society.

How does the story take place? What do the characters of Vatsala and Naganand contribute? Is there another war like Mahabharata in the offing? What does Sage Aastik (आस्तिक) preach? Can he really stop the madness, forever?

In this story there are no snakes. Naga (नाग) is a race of aboriginals. There is a social divide between Naga and Aryans (आर्य). Marriages between them are not uncommon but aren't encouraged either. Sarpasatra is actually the attempted ethnic cleansing of Nagas by Aryans.

The story is well told. The socialist perspective gives a different angle to the story and the readers think that it may have really happened like this. This story rings true to realism because the problems discussed here exist in today's world in almost all countries with varied  degree of severity.

Marathi language used in this book is very articulate and heavy. Some of the casual readers may not remain interested due to this. Sane Guruji has preferred to preach socialism through the story rather than letting the story convey the message. There are a lot of philosophical discourses in the book. It was possible to let the imagination of author loose in order to make the story even more interesting, but the author has refrained from doing that remaining true to the message.

Don't read it as a novel, read it as an attempt  to improve society through a story. Read it for a change.

Think like a freak by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner

"Think like a freak" by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. The book is published by William Morrow in 2014 and is 288 pages long. This is their 3rd book after highly popular 'Freakonomics' and 'Super Freakonomics'.

This is a non fiction book so it hasn't got a story, however it has a theme. The book is divided in various chapters.

1. What does it mean to think like a freak
It means differently, thinking unconventionally. Authors have taken example of final penalty kick may win you world cup. Where will you kick? Right or left or center? Up or down?

2. Three hardest words in English - I don't know.
First thing in resolution of a problem, issue or difficulty is to acknowledge that there is a problem and I don't know the solution. Cost of pretending to know more than you do is high.

3. What's your problem?
Authors emphasis importance of defining the problem. By defining a problem differently, you can push the boundaries. They have taken an example of Japanese hotdog eating  competition winner Takeru Kobayashi (Kobe).

4. Truth is in the roots
Try to find the route cause rather treating symptoms. Authors have taken example of why black Americans have lower life expectancy than white. Why did a young doctor swallow a batch of bacteria to find cause of ulcers.

5. Think like a child
Express your ideas fearlessly, like a child. Don't be ashamed even if it sounds stupid. If the idea is bad, don't act upon it. Recognize the power of thinking small. Here they have taken an example of drunk walking.

6. Like giving candy to baby
Intensivize people, but don't manipulate them. How to determine someone's true incentives. Authors have used example of 'Once-and-done' campaign by an NGO called 'Smile train' and Ping-Pong diplomacy between America and China.

7. What do King Soloman  and David Lee Roth have in common?
Both loved game theory. Both mastered the art of beating their opponent by anticipating their next move. A person who is lying or cheating will often respond to an inventive differently than honest person. Use this to teach your garden to weed itself.

8. How to persuade people who don't want to be persuaded.
Why are better educated people more extremist? Don't pretend your argument is perfect. Why you should tell stories. How many people remember ten commandments from Bible?

9. The upside of quitting.
You can't solve tomorrow's problem if you won't abandon today's dud. Know when to struggle and when to quit. There's nothing wrong in quitting. Let go. When taking tough decisions, flip a coin.

Like their previous two books, this books also makes extensive use of statistical data to drive home the point. And it's hard to refute the point they make. Authors have a knack of convincing the readers. Freak is a word used in keeping the tradition of first two books. It is used with meaning 'different'. The book is simultaneously entertaining, intriguing and enlightening.

You understand and agree with everything the authors say. The key would be in the successful implementation of some or all the ideas. That's the real challenge for readers and successful ones will reap the fruits.

It's a good book. Those who have liked the first two will enjoy this one too. Recommend reading.

The Anza deception by P.R. Ganapathy

"The Anza deception" by P.R. Ganapathy. This book is published by Hachette in 2012 and has 373 pages.

India and Pakistan have worked out a peace deal. There is opposition from both sides. Mr. Kirmani, Pakistani prime minister who worked out the deal with Indian prime minister Mr. Singh, has won a landslide majority in general elections in Pakistan.

Major Anwar Islam is ex military and now works for Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's spy agency. His commanding officer in army,  Colonel Gupta, now heads RAW.

Islam is stationed at Indian embassy in Islamabad and runs a spy network. One day he gets a news that a very important cargo would be transported from Pakistani city to Afghanistan. Islam intercepts the cargo. He is shocked to see a catch of 55 Anza Mark III missiles. These are shoulder fired, heat seeking, surface to air missiles. Taliban or any other terrorist organization has never possessed such an advanced wepon system. India has never got hold of Anza missiles till date. This catch will allow them to study and device counter measures for these missiles.

Gupta informs PMO, that they have acquired 40 missiles. He instructs Islam to take remaining 15 to Xinjiang region of China and hand them over to Muslim Uighur rebels.

Will the Uighur's accept them? Will they use them? Will Kashmiri terrorists get them? Will they deploy them? Will they use them? Will they succeed?

Author has used names of Indian politicians which sounds very similar to real life politicians like Manmohan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Sonia and Rahul. I felt that this was unnecessary.

First half of novel is paced moderately. Once  the action moves back to India, the pace improves. Second half is written like a thriller. Ganapathy has displayed his knowledge of the working of intelligence agencies, bureaucracy and aircrafts.

The plot is good, but the narration is jerky. Some important events like change of prime minister or death of a Major are covered only in one sentence. Fate of Karandikar is left for the readers to imagine. The person who pulls strings from behind the curtain is revealed on the last page, but intelligent readers can guess him about 100 pages earlier.

Although it's a very good first attempt, the amateur style of writing is evident. Finess in writing is still not there but should come in subsequent books.

Full marks to the good cover design. It summarizes the book. Use of blue color is also very effective.

An OK book. Read if you have time.

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai

"Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard" a debut novel by Kiran Desai. This book is published by Faber & Faber in 2012 and has 224 pages. Kitten is winner of Booker prize for her second novel.

Shahkot is a typical town in north India with government offices, schools, bazaar etc. Mr Chawla and his wife Kulfi are expecting a child who they would name Sampath. When Sampath Chawla was born, a number of coincidences happened. An airplane dropped relief aid meant for someone else in their backyard. Suddenly thundering rain came to douse the unbearable heat causes by drought. When he grew up, he was considered good for nothing. He was differently wired. This trait has come to him from his mother's eccentric family.

He drapes himself in women's cloths at the wedding of daughter of his boss. Then enters fountain and disrobes completely. Obviously losing his job in post office. Shamed by his behavior his family does not know what to do. In order to escape from all of it, he takes a bus out of town. Goes to a guava orchard on the outskirts, climbs a guava tree and tests in peace. The news of a man living on the tree reaches Shahkot.

Few people go their to see the spectacle. Sampath spots a couple of persons, whose letters he had read in the post office, and asks them questions based on that secret information. Suddenly people start thinking that this baba living in the tree has special powers. He becomes a cult figure, a baba. He keeps delivering one liners that are absurd and meaningful at the same time. His father shrewdly turns this into a money making opportunity.

What does the baba really know? How do monkeys come into equation? Will baba descend from the tree? Will it become a business or will some good come out of it? Will the atheist spy who is trying to expose baba succeed?

This book is written in the fashion of a satire with parody sprinkled over it for flavor. The characters are bizarre. The book even become melodramatic once or twice. The town society, government, establishment everything is made fun of.

This book sould be read with a different mindset, without applying  too much rationality. It should be looked at as a satire. Various Baba's have come to be in India because of irrational behavior of common public. This book tries to depict one such scenario.

Kiran has written a good book. (Mind you, she and her mother are both winners of Booker prize). While reading this book, I could not help remember a fantastic Marathi story Mhais (म्हैस) of Pu. LA. Deshpande (पु. ल. देशपांडे) written many years before this book.

A good book. Read if you liked the flavor of the story.

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

"Deep Storm" by  Lincoln Child. This book is published by Random House USA in 2008 and has 419 pages. It's a science fiction.

Dr Peter Crane is engaged on a short, special and secret assignment by US government. He is taken to an oil platform called Storm King, in Atlantic. He finds out that the platform is not managed by oil company but by US Navy (Headed by Admiral Spartan) and scientists (Headed by Dr. Asher). After signing secrecy agreements, he is taken to a facility located below the platform embedded in the ocean bed. The facility is called Deep Storm and is 12 storey deep. He is given an indication that they have found Atlantis. Deep storm is drilling into Earth's crust to reach Mohorovicic discontinuity and retrieve something that is transmitting signals. While drilling they encounter small discs that float in air, at the center of the room they are in, and emit light. They are called centinels.

Inhabitants of Deep Storm are facing medical problems ranging from vomiting to lack of concentration to insomnia to psychological issues. Dr. Crane is tasked to find out the root cause. His experience as diagnostician of mysterious deceases under stressful circumstances is considered his unique qualification. There is an attempted sabotage that would destroy Deep Storm under ocean water pressure.

Dr. Asher is close to decoding the message transmitted by centinels. He succeeds but his chamber catches fire and he dies, his laptop burned.

Is this a sabotage too? What is the message? Can Dr Crane find it? Does he get help? Will this drilling help humanity? What is the buried secret?

The book fantasizes about other world civilizations that are far more advanced than humans. Lincoln Child has lured the readers into the realm of sci-fi easily. Unless you know, you do not recognize the story as sci-fi in the beginning. It may also be because the writing style at the start of the book is Clive Cusslerish.

With the way this story was poised at half way mark, there were numerous possibilities to take the story to a different level of imagination, but the author appears to have taken less imaginative route. Thus the climax does not live upto the heightened expectations of readers. The book falters towards the end. It is a Sci-fi and happens under water, so there is a lot of medical and technical jargon. Authors research in that matter is evident.

An OK book. You can give it a miss.