Book Review: The Fragile Thread of Hope

Author: Pankaj Giri
Type: Fiction

Thanks to Pankaj, the author of the book for sending me a free copy of the ebook in exchange for honest review.

The story is of two individuals Fiona and Soham who are scarred with tragedy right from their childhood. Life keeps throwing them curveballs and they get hurt everytime. What happens when they two meet and does life becomes any better forms the remaining plot.

Fiona is a rebellious girl who hides her scar in her anger and Soham is guy who has lost all meaningful relationships in life and looking for a soul to get rid of his loneliness. Both their mind-chatters paints a glum mood to the story. There are several others characters who have played vital roles in the flow of the story. Every character and scene blended well with the story and did not break the natural flow. I would even go further and say the sorrow was an overflow every now and then. 

About two-thirds of the book is filled with almost all sorts of sorrows you can think of. After every incident there would be a tiny ray of hope but soon you will feel cheated. The major part of the story travels in an emotional tunnel of sorrow, anger, hatred, loneliness etc. Although I do love novels which brings us to tears, this was a bit exhausting for me. But I liked the way the author has concluded the novel in a positive note. 

The author has a very beautiful way of describing the city of Gangtok portraying its entire panorama. I also observed there had been many brand names like Nescafe, Woodlands, Wagon R and so on. Except in a few scenes, they did not add much value to the plot. 

This book is all about never giving up when we face some really big problems in life and keep holding onto life with hope. It is ofcourse, a fragile thread as the name suggests but it is what also makes us move on in life. 

Verdict: I would suggest this book to readers who like slow and steady paced story with some motivations and inspirations at the end.

The One with Valentine’s Day

Adhering to the customary special day post, here is the one with Valentine’s day.  Love is in the air and everyone is hunting special gifts for their special ones. Though I don't have any plans I am amusing myself in the memories of this day..

Valentine’s day is supposed to be most romantic day of the year. I found some interesting history behind the Valentine’s day here.

It is that time of the year where every restaurant, gift shop, malls are drowned in theme red and hearts. This reminds me of something I used to do. I had a queer habit during my college days where I used to gather collectibles that was heart-shaped. I went way beyond control that my friends had to hide anything heart-shaped from my reach. They ranged from small pendants, key-rings, earrings to heavy paper weights.

There was some funny dress code for the day circulated in my school and college days. Each color would be assigned a meaning to let your loved ones and others what in your mind. This list used to change every year. Everyone was very cautious in getting the color right and not convey the wrong message to the other gender. Funny, I took this shit seriously then. I found the color code for this year too!!

Dress Color                      Meaning

Blue                       Love Applicants Invited

Green                           I am waiting

Red                       Already in Love, Two side

Black                         Proposal Rejected

White                    Sorry, I am already reserved

Orange                       Going to Propose

Pink Color                  Proposal accepted

Purple/Grey        Not interested, Better luck next time

Yellow                              Broke Up

Brown                           Broken Hearts

Now I was thinking how would I want to spend the day with the current mindset. These are my idea of V-Day picks that I would indulge in for a perfect enjoyable day.

The Book - A thing beyond forever by Novoneel Chakraborty

I am sucker for romantic stories with cheesy and disgustingly sweet romance. And if there is a sad ending, it is more likely to be in my favorites.

I have not found a romantic novel that trumps this book in my favorites. This is a sort of unusual fantasy-like novel where the protagonist finds bizarre similarities between her child patient and her dead boyfriend. She has not yet recovered from her past relationship but life throws her haunting puzzles. What she does forms the climax. I was never convinced that this was a debut novel of an Indian author. I read this book overnight and still could not come out of the story. The story is woven around the sweet and innocent love at adolescent and the sting and pain when you lose. The intensity of the story made me forget the flimsy adult racy scene. This is must read for those who want to melt away in romance.

The Movie – Titanic by James Cameron

I think this would be the world’s popular choice for a romantic movie. The ever-praised epic love story wins hands down. The love between Jack and Rose, though short lived has the enchanted the entire world. The amazing visuals and mesmerizing music adds to the effect. This movie also speaks about the class discrimination and social preconception. Every time I watch the movie I hope there is a way Jack was saved. Drown yourself this valentine in the most acclaimed romantic movie.

The Chocolate – Ferrero Rocher

What is a celebration without devouring the silky smooth chocolate? I am not a big chocolate person. I prefer candies and gummy bears to the chocolates. But if you are offering me Ferrero Rocher, I become like the Gollum of the Lord of the Rings. It doesn't flood you with the gooey chocolate but nevertheless leaves you the satisfaction is of having a huge block.

The Destination – Paris, France

Being born and bred in a country where the sun dominates most part of the year. So I always dream of a place where I could enjoy a moderate climate. Paris, it is! There is a reason this city is called ‘the city of love’ and it boasts being the top spot for Valentine's getaways and proposals. The cobbled streets, heritage buildings, elegant and cosy restaurants, comforting croissants and the sexy language adds flavor to the romance. It is my loooong term dream destination and tops my bucket list for tours.

Whew! This listicle is long than I intended. I shall discover more such to-do picks for the V-day magic. May the Valentine's day shower upon us all the love in the world(and gifts!!).

Book Review: The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Dystopian
Type: Fiction

I have been reading so many dystopian novels recently that I have started to fear the future with so many what ifs. I could not dismiss this novel as unrealistic because the story begins similar to the present world if you sequence them in chronological order. 

Overthrowing the previous government by force, a military rule is established in the Republic of Gilead. Women are stripped of basic rights such as choice of clothes, reading, writing, working to earn money and so on. They are divided into different groups based on their purpose. The fertile women (those who could bear children) are made into Handmaids; the Wives take care of the household of the higher ranking men like Commanders; Marthas are domestic servants of the household; Aunts train the handmaids at the Red Centre; Econowives who are wives of lower ranking men like the Guardians and also perform the activities of a Martha and if fertile, a handmaid too; Jezebels are rebellious women who chose to work as prostitutes in secrets sex clubs rather become an Unwoman to work at fields or clean radioactive wastes in the Colonies.

The handmaids are assigned to a Commander with infertile Wives for 3 years to bear a child for them( similar to surrogate mother). They are named after the Commander for the period. The plot revolves around the handmaid Offred who is assigned to Commander Fred. The Wife Serena Joy despises Offred while the Marthas Rita and Cora are not very friendly. Offred lives through the period reliving the 'before' time where she had a family with husband Luke and a daughter. The daughter is taken away from her and her husband is killed when she tried escaping to Canada. She hopes to find her daughter and escape again. In the meantime the Commander starts an illegal and inconclusive relationship with her while she starts liking Nick, the driver of the Commander.  Did she escape from here? Did she find her daughter? Did she get together with Nick? Was she caught having relationship with the Commander? - The answers form the remaining story.

When I came to know this book was from way back in 1980's I couldn't be more surprised. Even today you can relate yourself with the oppression of women. With more awareness created everyday, women are enjoying their basic rights learning, choice of what to wear, reading writing, what to choose as a career. It made me think what if we are taking everything for granted. The handmaids are not given the choice if she should have a child with a man she barely knows and furthermore, she can't own a baby she gives birth to. The commander says 'Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some' The society formed here screams that the women are protected by the laws yet they are made do things which do not respect their wishes or their feelings. The hypocrisy of the laws are similar to laws of the present. I am in a secular country but I can see huge intolerance towards other religions, the liberty of expression is at jeopardy and if we are not careful we could end up being another Republic of Gilead. 

The book deeply affected me that I sometimes I felt like taking a jab at Aunt Lydia during her training sessions. I couldn't overcome the angst I felt and that is how I was affected. If you are a person who are looking for a fantasy dystopian story, this is not for you. The story shuttles between 3 different period of time and it takes several chapters to understand the schema. The vocabulary is simple and natural. The pace is slow and makes you hover over the story for a while.

Verdict: Suits readers who appreciate dystopian story with overwhelming treatment, especially hypocrisy at its best.

My Alleged New-Year Resolutions

Apparently this is my first and last rambling post for the year. I still do not know how my incessant mind did not propagate its chatter in the blog. Well, better late than never!.

New year is right around the corner and the first thing that came to my mind is too obvious - resolutions I took this year (Failed resolutions, to be more accurate). Right from mundane goals to essential targets everything has gone to shambles.

First and foremost, I started with the reading goal of the year. I made a A-Z list of books even before the year started - 2 books for each letter and none of the authors should repeat. Only after the list was ready I found it difficult to the e-books (Hard copies could have made biiiiiggg hole in my wallet). That's when I also realized, there can never be an exhaustive list for books that I wanted to read. 52 was like a drop in an ocean. I could only read 65% of the list and the rest is history. Mind you! I did finish 52 books for  this year. So I get half-a-credit for this one.

Next is the most ill-fated fitness regime resolution. This one has been going on for some years now. I was on and off a walking routine for general health. But my laziness has won the war and I am back to my slothful existence. It suits me better, you know! 😏

In the yesteryear my fervor for trying random things has made me join the driving school, buys books to learn a new language and so on. It has become more a bucket list and less the new-year resolutions.

There was a wave of statements some time ago where people said, 'My resolution this year, is not to have any resolutions.' Doesn't the first part defeat the second part of the statement? 😕😑

Have any of you reading this able to keep-up to the resolutions? What do you think I should try this year? I am thinking of posting something every month from next year to keep the blog alive.

Until next year, Ciao!! 

Book Review: Original Sin

Author: PD James
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Type: Fiction

This was my first ever book of PD James. When I started this book, I thought I was going to witness some quick, intelligent, crime solving. Sadly, the author took her time to plough the field for murder and spin the motive for the string of suspects. The story was set in an era where telephones were the quickest means of communications and everything moves at a snail pace. The author also elaborates on every character, their life, thoughts etc. I think the author was besotted with architectures. She gives quite an elaborate note on every other building in the story which I think could have been brief and I had to skip a few descriptions. The style of writing was similar to some of the abridged versions of classics I have come across. The vocabulary was way out of my league and wanted me looking for synonyms of certain words. The long sentences took time to comprehend and makes this story no light reading.

Some novels make us linger on it even after we have completed it but this one does not make my list. I liked how the characters were portrayed and the intelligently the murder was committed. The revelations in the end were also neat. All the loose ends of the plot and tied together in the end, except, I was not convinced by the climax. I wanted it to be more dramatic and I could not conclude if the murderer was right or wrong. 

Verdict: Do not read this if you need a thriller with goosebumps moments.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Adventure
Type: Fiction

No-nonsense book after a very long time. The story has all the right elements to make it a page-turner. Katniss, the kickass female protagonist has no emotional outbursts despite standing on a knife-edge situation. Being a dystopian novel, I was expecting a very depressing story line. Of-course, there are no joyful incidents, but they do not bring down the emotional state of the readers, rather, it focuses more on how any tribute is going to win the hunger games. The tragic killings of the fellow tributes were shown in a less gruesome manner than I anticipated. So that's a relief. This book is also a first-person account from Katniss and gives us insight of a young girl hardened by life. She is compassionate, selfish at times, dexterous, not emotionless but is not weak. 

I am still thinking why I never attempted to read this book before. I am looking forward to continue the trilogy. The author demands an applause for the designing the characters and the dystopian world in such a way.

My Verdict: This book is a tease for those who cannot handle anticipation

Book Review: The Year I Met You

Author: Cecelia Ahern
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick-lit
Type: Fiction

The book keeps me wondering how some unconventional friendships can change the perspective towards life.The plot explores the love-hate friendship between two neighbors - Jasmine and Matt and gives the first-person account of Jasmine all the way.

The novel is partitioned into 4 seasons - Winter, Spring Summer, Autumn which I think represents the different moods of the story. Starts with the gloomy mood and the Jasmine's coldness towards Matt, moving towards new revelations, realizations, acquaintances and warming up to Matt during the spring, colorful blooming of relationships happens in the summer and towards autumn, ends with the beautiful satisfaction. 

I like how Jasmine compares her life to different plants when she forays into gardening. I was under the impression that this is going to be a boy-meets-girl kinda story but certainly liked the way it broke my assumption. 

The flow is medium-paced and would suit readers who want to read a few chapters and brood over the thoughts. I grew fond of Heather, Jasmine's sister who has Down's syndrome but is confident, finds happiness in every aspect of life, has only short term goal and truly satisfied with life. 

Unlike any other chick-lit I have read, this plot has very little scope for humor. There are places where you can find yourself smiling but cannot laugh aloud. 

This book has a philosophical stand towards life and you will certainly need some time to think. Do not expect a hearty laugh just because it is a chick-lit.