Themes in Aphra Behn's Oroonoko

Themes in Aphra Behn' Oroonoko

[Book Review] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

J K Rowling's first book in Harry Potter series is quite a fast paced journey to Hogwarts all the way from his lonely life at Privet Drive.Harry's first year gives him a second home, good friends, some dangerous enemies and a magical world. 

Rowling's writing style is simple and funny in this one. There were times I really smiled reading it. When compared to the movie version I would say the movie was better as they had eliminated some unnecessary bits and added a few interesting ones. Eliminations and additions did turn sour at some parts but that was rare and I still prefer movie to the book. I certainly did enjoy reading this light one and it was fun to trace it with the movie one. If you are planning to read Harry Potter, I'd recommend you to read the entire one after the other till 7th book. After reading this series in a jumbled way, I sure do wish I had got all the books at the beginning itself. Anyway, this one is a great read for one time and if you are not into reading, at least, go watch the movies. :) 

[Book Review] Why Not Me?

Mindy Kaling's "Why Not Me?" was never in my list of need-to-read books. It was definitely not recommended to me by anyone. So where did I get the book you may ask. I happen to watch "The Office", an American TV series which is all about a paper company run by an eccentric and often despicable boss. The show stars Mindy herself as Kelly Kapoor and to be honest, I did not like that character much; she seemed way too obsessed with herself. But the show is totally hilarious and later did I notice the fact that Mindy herself has written many episodes of the show. I loved the slapstick comedies and cracking dialogues. A few Goodreads exploration later, I found this one. I was searching for a light read at that time so I thought it would be perfect.

This book is a series of random experiences of Mindy's. Some short, some long but nevertheless relatable and humorous. "Why Not Me?" is a fun memoir which won't leave you bored. Mindy talks about her glamorous-not-glamorous celebrity life, her complicated relationships, her personal and professional life and her efforts to keep herself from being fired from her job.

The book is a very light read and so one can skip the boring parts (if there is any) as they are not tightly connected. My favourite three parts were How to get your own TV show (and nearly die of anxiety), A day in the life of Mindy and Soup Snakes. In the first one she talks about how working in a televisional business is really a 'transitioning panics', I found it funny and in the second we can see the less glamorous and more of hardwork lifestyle of a normal girl. The third part is about her complicated relationship between B.J Novak where she describes how B.J can insert interesting facts about people like Mark Twain and Steve Wynn into conversations without seeming like he just looked them up on Wikipedia. I liked certain parts of the book very much but others, not so much. If you are looking for a comic relief involving the life of a women in her late twenties then this one's for you.

[Book Review] Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

I really don't remember from where exactly I got this book. Maybe the cover of the book got me interested in it or it may be the name itself. I was definitely familiar with Aristotle because I had a whole semester around that guy and I vaguely remember Dante too. So what I meant to say was I really think it was the cover. The way the title was written and also the cherry red chevy pick-up truck at the bottom left, both caught my attention and I was glad for that because this book is "gold" and I really mean it.

"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Mexican-American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a small novel that lets you discover the universe by yourself. Funny and confused Aristotle sees the universe as an 'inscrutable' place where he cannot decipher neither his family and friends nor himself. On meeting Dante he decides to add Dante to his 'inscrutable' list even though the very word 'inscrutable' is something that Dante taught him. The forging of a friendship and its transformation into a beautiful universe is what this book has to offer.

“Through all of youth I was looking for you
without knowing what I was looking for”

― W.S. Merwin 

 The book was an easy read with its plain language but nevertheless enjoyable and gripping. The one thing I really liked about this novel is that it has got so many lines which will make you stop reading for a second and sit with that. Two of my favourite lines from the book were- "Turning on the radio and just sitting there was my version of praying" and "Too many intimate strangers"(sorry, I'm really into oxymorons). Talking about the characters- Dante is a sensitive, intelligent and likable guy while Aristotle is a hard guy but equally caring. The parents though similar were different in their own significant ways. To be honest, I really didn't expect anything from this book but it turned out to be the best one that has touched my heart not through the story really but through the thought flow (Stream of Consciousness) of Aristotle that the author has penned down. I also liked Ari's rendezvous in his pick-up truck but I really didn't get the deal about the Mexican thing in the novel but I get it now as the author Benjamin is part Mexican so he must have thought it would be fun but really, I didn't get it. 
This novel is a gnash of everything that's human emotion and touching. There's friendship, the infinite love of parents, the sensitivity of some souls and the stupidity of few others, there's love and there is the whole secrets of the universe waiting to be discovered. I would definitely recommend this one for a casual no-expectation kind of read. It's a small book so that's an added bonus for those looking for small ones (I finished it in two days). It might surprise you, it really did me. Anyway so I'm just gonna wrap this one with two more quotes from the novel.

“I didn't understand how you could live in a mean world and not have any of that meanness rub off on you. How could a guy live without meanness?”

“The problem with trying hard not to think about something was that you thought about it even more.” 

 

 

[Book Review] Wonder

R J Palacio's "Wonder" is an emotional roller coaster of a wonder child who finds his place in this world. The cover page of this small novel is what attracted me. The blue book with a single eye and a face may sound weird but it does look good. 

The novel is about a boy called August Pullman who is born with a rare mandibulofacial disorder. Home-schooled till fourth grade, August decides to enroll in a normal school to start his middle school. Though middle school proved tougher than he imagined, August with the help of his family and friends finds his place in the world. 

The novel was an easy read; the language was simple and I think the author might have aimed for children. It does sound a lot like Children's novel but I think it would be a great one for young adults too. There wasn't much to talk about other characters apart from August and his sister Olivia. August grabs our attention with his noble characters and understanding nature while Olivia realises her self obsession pretty fast and that was interesting for me. I also liked the thing about August and Halloweens and the whole idea that behind the mask no-one recognises him and thus he is free. There were a few comic elements from August's dad and his friends. All in all, the book won't blow you away or anything. It's just an easy and fast read as it's a small novel. 

[Book Review] The Time Traveller's Wife

 

Audrey Niffenegger's 'The Time Traveller's Wife' is a science fiction with the dose of time travelling. The cover would initially look quite confusing but later when you get on with the novel you'll get a hang of the idea that the author depicts countless times throughout the novel. 

The story deals with two main characters - Henry DeTamble and Claire Abshire. Henry knows that Claire is the girl of his life because of his ability to time travel. Along his paranormal journey, he discovers secrets about his own life. 

The plot is quite jumbled up because of the time travelling. It is nonlinear throughout the novel. Sometimes we have two Henrys from different age and timeline. Personally, I felt it quite hard to follow initially but later on things began to get interesting when the puzzle pieces began to fit. The overall storyline is dull; nothing to be much excited about when you take away the element of time travelling from it. I do appreciate the effort the author must have taken to write in nonlinear form. It's really hard and tiring but the novel was worth it. The Epilogue was a tad bit unnecessary I think. It felt like the author wanted to deliberately play with time travelling a little longer. Overall, would recommend this for one time read if you are a science fiction fan and looking for a little extraordinary something. It won't disappoint you if you read it without any great expectations. 

[Book Review] Landline

"Landline" by Rainbow Rowell is the kind of the book you want to read if you want some paranormal activity in everyday life. The cover is really cool as well as dull at the same time. The yellow rotary phone amidst the grey background gives you the gloomy interesting touch, at least that's what I thought. At first sight, you may end up with the same conclusion as me that this book is another teenage high school romantic drama but no it's not. 

"Landline" tells the story of Georgie, a TV drama writer, her husband Neal and her best friend Seth. A week before Christmas, Georgie encounters a weird old yellow rotary phone that changes her broken relations and her life. 

This is the first book of Rainbow Rowell that I read and I really liked this. The plot was really predictable after the climax but the writing made it worthwhile. By the end of the last chapter I was excited and anxious as much as Georgie to see her family. The whole yellow rotary landline thing was interesting but I expected some kind of explanation at the end but I didn't get any. Teeny bit disappointed but I decided to mark the rotary landline under paranormal activity and also the whole plot takes place around Christmas. Maybe Rowell wanted it to be a Christmas miracle or something and who am I to question Christmas miracles. Or maybe it was because the novel is a Fiction ;)
The characters were memorable. I can still see Neal's parenthesis dimples. Another thing that I really liked was that the author managed to take away all the things from Georgie when she was looking for something to hold on to her present life. The plot was simple and the writing was easy and compact. Overall it was a good read if you keep your expectations on par. 

[Book Review] And Then There Were None

 

 

Where to start? I think I'll start with the physical features of the book. So the cover doesn't give you much but the title sure does. And why not? It's Agatha Christie and therefore bound to be mystery but this is so fantastical and so mysterious that you will be wide eyed. This one is a short novel, you will be able to finish it off in a single day and of course, in a few hours if you have nothing else to do. I took two days as I started off in the evening but I was literally waiting for the next day cause I just couldn't understand how the hell it is possible. If you haven't read it, then trust me it'll leave you wondering too. 

Agatha Christie' "And Then There Were None" starts off as any other mystery novel. Ten unusual and peculiar mix of people end up accepting an invitation to the Indian Island. Soon enough, each of them ended up being murdered leaving none and a fantastical mystery on the run. 

This novel was one of the classics that one must not leave behind. The thing I liked most about this one is that it keeps you turning the pages and hence you can understand why I managed to finish it this quick. The characters were very unique and thus the group themselves is a peculiar lot but that just made the whole deal a lot more interesting. The desolate Island gave all the chills and the rhyme about the ten little Indian boys fit just right in; you knew very well how each was going to be murdered but the reality was a bit off the rhyme, though that made it more believable. You will understand what I was rambling about once you read it. Anyway, definitely one of my favourite mystery novel. With no ornamental, elaborate and unnecessary details, this one gets on point real quick. Keeps you second guessing till the end and overall, I really enjoyed and would recommend that you read it too.

[Book Review] My Sister's Keeper

Jodi Picoult's drama novel "My Sister's Keeper" often crosses the borderline of thriller. The cover of the novel gives us an insight into what we're going to discover in the pages. From the name of the book and its unique and rather original looking cover I draw a thin picture of what I was about to read. My first guess was that it's the story of two girls, sisters of course, who have a pocket full of secrets each trying to hide it from others. After reading the book, I sure do feel the shallowness of my thinking. 

"My Sister's Keeper" is the story of Anna who sues her parents for medical emancipation when she's expected to donate her kidney to her sister Kate who is dying of leukemia. 

One of the most striking thing about this novel is that the storytelling is not third person nor is it by a single person. The narration is done by multiple characters each giving their part in first person. This was a really nice way of taking up the storyline as the reader wouldn't be bored and also, we get to see what's in the heads of other characters in a little more detail. The storytelling juggles between Anna, her sister Kate, her brother Jesse, her mom Sara, her dad Brian, her lawyer Campbell Alexander and her guardian ad litem Julia. There are moments when one dialogue continues into another's narration and I found that quite comfortable. We also get a decent view of what a situation really means to different characters. That said I'll close the narration part and move on to the interesting and well defined characters. My personal favourite was Campbell Alexander and his 'service dog' Judge (that's a really nice name for a dog whose owner is a lawyer). Campbell is a humorous guy whose narrative I always look forward to. Anna was a surprising character as we neared the climax. All other characters were quite ordinary and faded. 

The novel had its share of twists which I never expected in a novel like this. The climax was just brilliant that it left me in tears. After reading this one, my initial thoughts were did I really praise 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green? Sorry to say this but compared to Jodi Picoult's the other one was a complete trash of utopian romantic-cancer drama. I'm sorry John Green. I really am. Anyway, I'm very glad I read this one. Definitely recommend for a one-time read. I'm sure you will question what you would have done if you were in Sara's shoes. Much praise for Jodi Picoult for writing such an amazing novel which I'm sure will leave you thinking. 

[Book Review] Great Expectations

Charles Dickens is one of the most celebrated authors in English and 'Great Expectations' being one of the classical novels that must not be missed, I was left with not much choice (not that I wanted a choice). I had a faint memory of reading the abridged version years ago and I distinctly remember that it had a cathartic effect at the end and that too being an abridged one. So I wanted to read the unabridged one which I was sure won't disappoint me and I wasn't mistaken.

A bildungsroman genre novel that followed the life of a boy named Pip who is endowed with riches from an anonymous benefactor to make him a gentleman. Throughout this novel, Pip' life is shaped by discoveries, revelations and sufferings. 

I always had a thing for bildungsroman novels that focused on the protagonist's evolution from a child to be an adult. Every time we give an example for this genre, it's always 'Great Expectations'. I must point out that Dickens' language is much simpler than other writers of his age and for this reason there are things that we can easily understand and relate to. The sub characters were distinctive if not well memorable but the main ones will remain etched in our minds. Miss Havisham was my favourite which I couldn't find in any other novels but Pip was always the likable one. The thing about Dickens is that most of the events were implied rather than directly said; like the last line of the book. I'll close this review with a line from the book said by Pip: "but far more terrible than death was the dread of being misremembered after death". Ponder over this line if you must but it gave me all the chills. 

[Book Review] The Cuckoo's Calling

Robert Galbraith aka J K Rowling's "The Cuckoo's Calling" is a fast paced modern mystery. This one definitely doesn't bore the reader anywhere along the entire book and it is one thing that the reader can always be grateful for. The mystery, though feels a bit roughened by use at the end but the characters were unique and uncommon and this seems to have made up for the familiar ending which mystery novels often seem to repeat. 

When a model falls to her death, detective Cormoran Strike is called to reinvestigate what was initially closed as a suicide case. Strike along with his newly appointed temp Robin works to reveal a dark ancestry and the game of money. 

This is Rowling's first novel as Galbraith and there is an immense shift in the genre compared to the Harry Potter series. The novel was modern in its setting of the entire plot in London. The readers are given a visual treat of London itself and if you belong to London, you can surely relate to places together with the characters. If you aren't London based, you can always walk through the Google Maps.
Another striking thing about this novel is the characters. We have Cormoran Strike as our detective and our hero but unlike the typical heroes, Cormoran is a huge guy who relays on prosthesis. The temporary assistant is Robin who is intrigued by this whole murder business. There are other minor yet important characters who are equally unique. The only thing I wasn't much a fan was of the ending. It's a bit shallow and repeated often in other novels but the whole ride was mysterious. Nothing mind blowing but I would give it a one time read for the sake of its characters. 

[Book Review] Kane and Abel

The first look of "Kane and Abel" got me thinking 'Kane and Abel... that sounds like a good old fight between  two guys' and I have to say that I wasn't wrong but it was a fight of brains not body. Jeffrey Archer's "Kane and Abel" hovers up on almost all genres - Mystery, thriller, historical fiction, romance and what not. 

This is the story of William Kane and Abel Rosnovski. Both Kane and Abel were masters in what they did and were synonyms of success until their lives crossed. Each found other's action unpredictably destroying their career when all they had to do was bury the past and move on.

For me, Jeffrey Archer did a wonderful work of this plot. The way each chronological section moved telling it's piece of story was really a good one. The funny thing about this book is that we get a good glimpse of three generations (or maybe four). The one small thing that got me annoyed was that the novel contains a bunch of banking terms which I had hard time understanding. That's the only thing otherwise everything turned out great. The story unfolded well and I loved the ending (that was my favourite part). I think I'm up for another Jeffrey Archer as long it hasn't got technical unchewable banking terms. 

[Book Review] On the Banks of the Mayyazhi

"On the Banks of the Mayyazhi" by M Mukundan is one of the most popular books in Malayalam genre. Translated into English by Gita Krishnankutty, this book gives us an insight into the lives of people during French rule in Mayyazhi now known as Mahe. 

During the reign of French when horse carriages sped through the roads, when the folklore mingled with the aristocrats, when wine and mythological beliefs flowed through Mayyazhi, a group of young rebels decided to overthrow the French in the name of nationalism. 

M Mukundan brought in a bunch of characters each so unique that without one the other won't exist. Even though our protagonist is Dasan, we have others who are equally important as him. The lives of people - how they live amongst the French nobles is interestingly depicted. Each character is unique through their actions rather than their physical appearance. Characters like Vasutty, Achu and Kurumbi Amma are so real that you can relate to well. Each of them has a striking past and a blurred future they want to cling on to. In the end, there are some who never get the justice they deserved.
"On the Banks of the Mayyazhi" is a fascinating story of Mayyazhi before it became what it is today. This one is an easy read nevertheless captivating. Though the ending seemed a bit rushed up overall you'll enjoy this small read especially if you live anywhere in Kerala (there are more than a bunch of things you can relate to). 

 

[Book Review] The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Finally, got my hands on the classic trilogy of J.R.R Tolkien. "The Fellowship of the Ring" is the first book in the series of 'The Lord of the Rings' and it was off to a good start. This fantasy successor of 'The Hobbit' was equally interesting though they share similar plotline.

Frodo, the niece of Bilbo Baggins journeys from his beloved hometown Shire, to dispose the ring of evil. Joining him on his great quest are eight followers. The unlikely fellowship makes their way through the dark days and good ones to reach their goal.

If you liked 'The Hobbit' then you must catch this trilogy not only because there are references to the previous book but also that this will not disappoint you. The writing style is similar; Tolkien always had the use of lofty and high sounding language. It kinda went well with the story's setting. The other thing I really noted was the fact that Tolkien never used the same set of description to describe a similar view. This is the reason you never really get bored of the book and this is also the reason I managed to finish the book reasonably quick :)
I loved the way the fellowship traversed almost all over the map of The Middle-Earth; quite a lot of miles mind you! :) and by the way the map comes with the book so you can check now and then where the group is headed. I honestly can't believe that Tolkien had all this in his head; the sight of the map is enough to make you sick. He's a brilliant writer for sure and I'm pumped up to start the second one but I would like to squeeze some other books before I begin the second heavy journey. 

Top 10 Books that I have read in 2015

                                    

                                            

10.  THE WHITE TIGER (ARAVIND ADIGA)

The whole book is a letter to the Chinese Premier from Munna alias Balram Halwai alias the White Tiger. The letter tells the story of how Balram Halwai, a halwa maker becomes an entrepreneur. Munna murders his humane master and betrays him by stealing money meant for corrupt politicians and escapes to Bangalore to start a new life.

       

                         

 9. IN YOUR SIGHTS (ELIZABETH KRALL)

"In Your Sights " revolves around the life of Caroline Bready, a widow who tries to bury her past and moves on with her life. When Caroline finds a brutally attacked woman, she is drawn into a tangled up mess of crimes. Soon, Caroline realises that a photography class and a blog may even pave way for the attacker to find her. Things go from bad to worse when she couldn't trust the people whom she trusted and when faith brings her into this web of deep trouble. 

 8. PAPER TOWNS (JOHN GREEN)                                "Paper Towns" is about a boy named Quentin "Q" Jacobsen and his search for Margo Roth Spiegelman; who goes missing after an adventurous night of revenge. Following some unintentional clues, Q and his friends manage to find Margo in a paper town. Slowly, Q realises that Margo is nothing like he imagined.                      

  

 7. THE LOST SYMBOL (DAN BROWN)

This one is another adventure of Harvard professor Robert Langdon. Robert encounters a strange symbol at the venue of his presentation and when Peter Soloman, Langdon's mentor and a great friend, is known to be in serious trouble, Langdon finds himself drawn to a chain of events. Secrets unknown to mankind is at the verge of unveiling. Robert along with Katherine Solomon must decide whether to reveal the secrets or let them bury deep down far from human's reach.

 6. THE GOLDFINCH (DONNA TARTT)

In a nutshell, Theo Decker is a devoted son of an equally devoted mother who is admired by everyone. When Theo loses his mother at a terrorist attack in an art gallery, he manages to gain the painting of Carel Fabritius's The Goldfinch which draws him to a series of events and into a complex stressed lifestyle. The journey of Theo through these events gives him the definition of life and living.

5. CHEMMEEN (T.S PILLAI)

The story revolves around Karuthamma, a fisherman's daughter destined to marry a fisherman of her same caste and religion. When Pareekutty, a Muslim fisherman helps her family, Karuthamma couldn't help herself from falling into the forbidden love. Little did Karuthamma know that fate had other plans for her. "Chemmeen" is a story about hope and hopeless love.

 4. ANGELS AND DEMONS (DAN BROWN)

This book by Dan Brown belongs to the genre mystery-thriller and describes a day in the life of Robert Langdon, a Harward professor of religious iconology. When Langdon learns of the rise of the secret brotherhood Illuminati whose vendetta against their sworn enemy the Catholic Church and the mysterious past, things start to become bitter and gruesome. Along with Vittoria Vetra, a renowned scientist, Langdon tries to stop the greatest invention from becoming the greatest cause for destruction.

3. THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS (DIVAKARUNI)

A historical fictional book, 'The Palace of Illusions' is a recreated version of Mahabharata with its mythological characters. The peculiarity of this book is that the story of the Mahabharata is narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the five Pandava brothers. Her fiery birth and lonely childhood makes her an independent lady who creates an everlasting bond with her brother and a complicated friendship with Krishna, her best friend. When Panchaali marries the Pandava brothers, her destiny unfolds to reveal dark secrets and she creates a torturing blot on humankind which was beyond reversible.

 2. OKTOBER HEAT (DORIS DUMRAUF)

"Oktober Heat" is about Walter Hofmann, a German policeman who encounters a murdered woman which is the starting line for the plot. When Walter comes to know that his best friend Jeff Preston, an American soldier is accused of that murder, he decides to find the real killer and clear his friend's name. In the long run to solve the case, Walter endangers the lives of his friends and family.

1. THE POWER OF NOW (ECKHART TOLLE)

Author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle emphasis the power of 'Now'. According to him, we can unleash the power of consciousness by being completely aware of the present. Through consciousness and surrender, we end the suffering. We accept suffering to enter a place of inner peace which is often veiled behind the egoistic mind. Pain and suffering takes us a step closer to enlightenment. Acknowledgement and acceptance of pain body can take us to a higher level of consciousness away from mind modulated thoughts. According to him, we are the key to enlightenment.

Our Changing Climate

I know this post has nothing to do with book reviewing but it has everything to do with books and life itself. Climate change is a challenging problem which can alter the very existence if not looked into. We need to stop climate change before climate changes us. Please watch this video created by YouTubers Finn Harries and Jack Harries and understand that climate change is a massive problem. We hardly feel the effects of climate change but we may be the last generation who can stop it. #climatechange

[Book Review] Midnight's Children

I really don't know what to say. This book took me so long to finish that I felt like I've lost my reading speed. I started this book in August and look, it's halfway through November already. I can't blame entirely on this book because I've been busy with other things like sewing, studies and assignments, but never in my entire life had I took so long to finish a book like this. It's not the pages, nor the story that slowed me down. It was the writing of Salman Rushdie that dragged me through hell.

If you ask what genre it is,  "Midnight's Children" is a historical-fantasy-fiction novel. You may say 'that looks like an interesting mix' and you're darn right. This is the story of Saleem, who, having born at midnight of Indian Independence, was gifted with a special power just like the rest of midnight's children. Through Saleem's eyes, the history of India will unfold revealing the religious, societal, political and humane ideas and values. Along with a country filled with secrets, Saleem uncovers the secrets of his life and the life around him.

I've always thought of Rushdie as a major figure in modern literature and I've been itching to read a book of his and I must say that he somehow did manage to make a great impression which I'll never forget in my life. The first impression is sort of negative... Okay, wait, let's not sugarcoat it. The first 'impression' is painfully negative because I really don't understand why in the world is he rambling without any course. He gives twenty examples in place of a single one. He gives insane details on things irrelevant, to the story which neither increments the plot nor gives anything new to the characters. Halfway through the book, I no longer wanted to know what the hell happens to Saleem; all thanks to Rushdie's writing. The second 'impression' is good. There were times when I felt like he really brought out excellent comparisons like when he explains about Goa being a pimple on Mother India (which in all sense means Goa's size).
As of whole, if you can bear with the ramblings then 'Midnight's Children' is all yours but if you're like me and want it to be short and interesting then I would ask you to stay a feet away from this one.