well, this book is the best deal (so far) in the literary fiction. superbly told tale of an indian driver, balram halwai. as the winner of the booker prize 2008, this book clearly shows it deserves every single praise it has received.
basically, this whole book, is a letter to a chinese premier, wen jiabao. having known that he would be visiting India, balram halwai, writes a letter to him. explaining the corruptions in India. calling himself a self-made entrepeneur, he tells his side of story, where he grew up, his job (driver), the murder he had committed, and how (the heck) he managed to twiddle his way out of the crime.
this book surprised me a lot. seriously, i actually bought this book for a friend of mine, but i started flipping through the front few pages. the reviews for this book was three pages full and they were (in my mind, at that time) quite exaggerated (now i know they were the truth). yes, as you have guessed it, i was curious to know the reason for this book to be a favourite of the critics. i was shocked by the plot and everything in the book. (i kept the book and gave another book i already had)
you would not believe it, (i don't really care whether you do or not), i finished this book in three days time. very, very satisfied with it. i kept laughing like a mad fool at some parts (seriously, this book is funny). the language is amazing. the sentence structure, the comparisons, the WORDS, oh my gosh. they were all so perfect.
aravind adiga (yes, this amazing writer has half of my name(oooo, i am so proud) ), is my new favourite in the literary scene.
i am currently reading Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, trying hard not to finish it very fast (yes, i am quite a fast reader), letting each sentence to seep into my soul (muahahahahahahaha). i am at page 270,and so far i am LOVING it.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
the kiTE ruNNEr..bY kHaleed hOSseiNi..!!

(i read this book about 8 months ago....and this review was posted on my other blog, at that time) THIS IS DEFINITELY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN YEARS.The author has this unique style of blending suspense, thriller, romance and a whole lot of other stuff into one very VERY VERY interesting book.
Its about two friends Amir and Hassan. As youngsters they have their ups and downs. At one point something happens to Hassan (i am not going to tell you guys, you should read the book for this part of the story, trust me , you will never expect this coming your way) and this 'something' makes them go on different paths of life. Hassan follows his father to a different part of the country while later in the story Amir will follow his father to a different COUNTRY. Amir finds love in this new place and gets married there. As he was getting comfortable with his life, there was still a discontentment within himself. He hasn't seen Hassan since both of them were about 12 years old. One day, Amir receives a call from a familiar voice (don't worry, its not Hassan) but this VOICE gives information to Amir about Hassan. For the rest of the story you guys have to read this beautifully written novel by yourself. seriously it melts hearts.
Khaled manages to pull all the strings of the cloth that barricades us from seeing the true world and the cruelty that happens all around it. (wow, damn serious, isn't it?). this book will definitely give you the satisfaction of reading. the language is almost like Dickens' ( this author has a very big impact on me....i see his style of writing in quite a number of books).
anyways, i loved this book and i hoped you guys (and girls, of course) will go out and get this book. seriously it's worth it. and yeah, it is really really good.
Labels:
great,
must read,
nice read,
review,
the kite wunner
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Walk (that i will definitely like) to Remember......

Nicholas sparks is the major story teller. this is a book that i read about five months ago, but 'forgot' to write a review (considering the fact that i did not have this blog created, then, yet...). A WALK TO REMEMBER. this is one book that has a special place in my heart.
this book is about Langdon Carter and Jamie Sullivan. here is a short (and i mean very short) synopsis of the book.
langdon carter would never have dreamed of asking Jamie Sullivan out, but a twist of fate throws them together. in the months that follow, langdon breaks down Jamie's natural reserve and begins to know her- and to fall in love. but then he discovers that Jamie has a reason for not letting people close-a secret that will break his heart.
the reason i say that this book has a special place in my heart is because, this book showed (and proved) to me that you don't need BIG words to express meanings. i mean seriously, the author uses very simple words but it manages to touch the heart. i reread this book right after finishing it in one sitting. UNPUTDOWNABLE. of course most of you would have watched the movie by now, (i haven't....hehehehe) but if you get a chance, you should read this book.
the plot is twisted but it has some similarities A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens.
the book is really comforting. the climax was awesome and the ending was beautiful, never expected. this book is never to be missed.
Labels:
a walk to remember.,
great,
nice read,
nicholas sparks
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
..........Salem Falls.............

OK. Jodi Picoult is a magnificent writer.
here is a short synopsis:
Jack St. Bride was once a beloved teacher and soccer coach at a girls' prep school - until a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation and robbed him of his career and reputation. Now, after a devastatingly public ordeal that left him with an eight-month jail sentence and no job, Jack resolves to pick up the pieces of his life. He takes a job washing dishes at Addie Peabody's diner and slowly starts to form a relationship with her in the quiet New England village of Salem Falls. But just when Jack thinks he has outrun his past, a quartet of teenage girls with a secret turn his world upside down once again, triggering a modern-day witch hunt in a town haunted by its own history.
Jodi Picoult has this magic in her writing that makes you want to keep reading this book. imagine, i read finish this book at 3.00am and it was worth choosing this book over sleep. it took me two days. and for that two days all i did was read read and read (except eat and bathe....heehehe). this book is unputdownable.seriously, if you are going to start reading this book make sure you don't have any paperwork or assignment due in a couple of days.
the character Jack St. Bride is my favourite. OK, jack is a little too-good-to-be-true sometimes. the author (i don't know how she does it) paints a vivid picture of the small quite town, Salem Falls, in our mind which makes you really want to live a simple life there. the antagonist Gillian Duncan makes us want to smother her to death with a pillow (a thought that came to me at 2.30am, that day)
overall, this was a great read and i recommend everyone out there to read this book.
here is a short synopsis:
Jack St. Bride was once a beloved teacher and soccer coach at a girls' prep school - until a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation and robbed him of his career and reputation. Now, after a devastatingly public ordeal that left him with an eight-month jail sentence and no job, Jack resolves to pick up the pieces of his life. He takes a job washing dishes at Addie Peabody's diner and slowly starts to form a relationship with her in the quiet New England village of Salem Falls. But just when Jack thinks he has outrun his past, a quartet of teenage girls with a secret turn his world upside down once again, triggering a modern-day witch hunt in a town haunted by its own history.
Jodi Picoult has this magic in her writing that makes you want to keep reading this book. imagine, i read finish this book at 3.00am and it was worth choosing this book over sleep. it took me two days. and for that two days all i did was read read and read (except eat and bathe....heehehe). this book is unputdownable.seriously, if you are going to start reading this book make sure you don't have any paperwork or assignment due in a couple of days.
the character Jack St. Bride is my favourite. OK, jack is a little too-good-to-be-true sometimes. the author (i don't know how she does it) paints a vivid picture of the small quite town, Salem Falls, in our mind which makes you really want to live a simple life there. the antagonist Gillian Duncan makes us want to smother her to death with a pillow (a thought that came to me at 2.30am, that day)
overall, this was a great read and i recommend everyone out there to read this book.
Labels:
jodi picoult,
love it,
must read,
salem falls,
the best.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
david copperfield......!!!!!!
NO!!!!!!! i am not talking about the magician. the classic by Charles dickens. i know its a bit lame but i have to confess, i had not read any of Charles dickens book before.this is because, i was more of a Enid Blyton guy, you know.
i stumbled upon this book ,DAVID COPPERFIELD, on my book shelf recently ,and decided that i would flip through the pages. then, i started to read the About the Author section. it got me interested as they said most of the events in this book were based on his life experiences.
to tell you the truth, i was just being nosey. you know busybody.....hehehehe. i wanted to know what made this man to become the famous author of all times.
and guess what? the book was great. i loved the way he twisted the plot so cunningly. the characters were ( a lot of them) very meticulously detailed. the male characters obviously dominated the book (of course, the author is male). the narration was simple yet touch-heart worthy.
it got me thinking. classics will always be classics. enjoyed all around the world by book lovers everywhere, it will never lose its grace to mesmerize and comfort readers. that's why it is called classic, right?
anyways, to this former-classics-ignorant fool David Copperfield really opened eyes. maybe next time, I'll try one of Mark Twain's, huh? any other classics that i should try?
i stumbled upon this book ,DAVID COPPERFIELD, on my book shelf recently ,and decided that i would flip through the pages. then, i started to read the About the Author section. it got me interested as they said most of the events in this book were based on his life experiences.
to tell you the truth, i was just being nosey. you know busybody.....hehehehe. i wanted to know what made this man to become the famous author of all times.
and guess what? the book was great. i loved the way he twisted the plot so cunningly. the characters were ( a lot of them) very meticulously detailed. the male characters obviously dominated the book (of course, the author is male). the narration was simple yet touch-heart worthy.
it got me thinking. classics will always be classics. enjoyed all around the world by book lovers everywhere, it will never lose its grace to mesmerize and comfort readers. that's why it is called classic, right?
anyways, to this former-classics-ignorant fool David Copperfield really opened eyes. maybe next time, I'll try one of Mark Twain's, huh? any other classics that i should try?
Labels:
charles dickens. loved it,
classics,
david copperfield,
great
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
the god of literature....

OMG. arundhati roy is one heck of a writer man. yes, i know that she only wrote one fiction and loads of non-fiction. yes THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS, is awesome. read it till morning 2 a.m. the book is that good. i just could not put it done. it is so addictive
yeah well, the first ten pages were quite draggy and microscopically detailed but the it got better and better until one point i just had to stop reading it because my mom was threatening to whack me (i was reading like a mad fool until i forgot to take my bath, hehehehee).
anyways the book is told from a child's point of view. it is extremely interesting to see the way she describes all the tiny details with expressions that are new and different. the plot of the story is twisted, spiralling into the lives of ammu(the widow-mother), rahel and estha(the children), baby kochamma, sophie (a cousin of the children), margaret kochamma, chacko and many more characters that will have you crying for and with them. okay, the book is not entirely sad but is quite humorous at times.
the award winning book (it won the Man Booker prize in 1997) is a great read. arundhati roy has painted a beautiful portrait that lives up to the superb praises it has received. this is definitely a must read. so go get this amazing book, guys and girls.
Labels:
arundhathi roy,
asian authors,
books,
love it,
must read,
superb.,
the god of small things
Thursday, November 20, 2008
chicklit or guylit?
well, there is this brand that goes over books that have female protagonist. CHICKLIT. on the front cover you will either see a pretty girl posing or lipstick smudges. ergrrrggrgrghhhh. i think i am about to barf. i mean come on. books are books that are suppose to cater to all reader satisfaction. it does not need some branding (i refuse to call it a genre).
if you are going to tell me that this branding is going to give it more womanly appeal that will make screaming girls want to buy that particular book, i say BULLSHIT.
lady1 :chicklit? (in a very high, girly, girly (errrgh) tone)that is my favourite.
lady2: yeah. look at that book's cover. a gorgeous woman isn't she?
lady1: yeah. i am sure that book is fabulous.
lady2: yeah. this book is going to be great. the shirtless man beside her is quite hot too.
lady1: giggle, giggle,giggle
lady2: giggle giggle giggle.
HELLO. ever heard of the saying NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER (in this case literally). if it is about a depressed woman , it is chicklit. then what's next? if its about a guy playing footbal then it's guylit. (A GREAT BIG SIGH).
i am just trying to say that by creating a sub-genre like chicklit, it is only going to stop many others from reading the book (other than squeaky little girly girls). from the public's eye, if you are reading a chicklit, then you are a chick.(that sounded funny). of course chicklits are not as literary as some other books. but this kind of books might trigger some switch (in that clouded mind) to actually think more about LIFE , while giving you a laugh.
so people of the world, don't cage yourselves into one type of genre. read a lot type of books. guys don't be shy to read a chicklit because truly they are not only for chicks, they are stories about chicks. (you might even get hints on how to win a chick yourself, *wink* *wink*)
thats all people, bye.
if you are going to tell me that this branding is going to give it more womanly appeal that will make screaming girls want to buy that particular book, i say BULLSHIT.
lady1 :chicklit? (in a very high, girly, girly (errrgh) tone)that is my favourite.
lady2: yeah. look at that book's cover. a gorgeous woman isn't she?
lady1: yeah. i am sure that book is fabulous.
lady2: yeah. this book is going to be great. the shirtless man beside her is quite hot too.
lady1: giggle, giggle,giggle
lady2: giggle giggle giggle.
HELLO. ever heard of the saying NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER (in this case literally). if it is about a depressed woman , it is chicklit. then what's next? if its about a guy playing footbal then it's guylit. (A GREAT BIG SIGH).
i am just trying to say that by creating a sub-genre like chicklit, it is only going to stop many others from reading the book (other than squeaky little girly girls). from the public's eye, if you are reading a chicklit, then you are a chick.(that sounded funny). of course chicklits are not as literary as some other books. but this kind of books might trigger some switch (in that clouded mind) to actually think more about LIFE , while giving you a laugh.
so people of the world, don't cage yourselves into one type of genre. read a lot type of books. guys don't be shy to read a chicklit because truly they are not only for chicks, they are stories about chicks. (you might even get hints on how to win a chick yourself, *wink* *wink*)
thats all people, bye.
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