What is it between me and books? Whenever I get a good book, I just drown in it, and forget that there is another world out there waiting for me. (Believe me, I actually used the words, “I’m currently between books” while chatting to my friend.) Well, as I am a confirmed philophile (I prefer this term, others prefer book worm), I think I should start putting some book reviews, with firm hope that I can cure at least some of my friends of philophobia (and get them on my side of fence). So, here goes:
- Executive Orders:The second book which actually holds the dubious honour of being “The Book I cannot finish”. (Trivia: The first was a 12th century management book.) Imagine being around 1/3rd way in the (about 1500 pages long) book, and now I have a vague feeling that Mr. Clancy is about to get to the point of the book.Plotline (till what I have read): The person who doesn’t want to be Vice-President of US suddenly becomes First Person in a twist of fate (or crash of jet, whatever). Then he spends about 100 pages worrying why he is not The Person for the job, the other world leaders take about 100 pages telling each other why he is not The Person for the job. Others are commenting or thinking why he is not The… (75 more pages). Then there is the investigation (with known culprit and known result) about the crash (75 pages). So by the time some people (except the First Man himself) start believing in him, there is some conspiracy starting about killing the Man, thus decapitating the greatest government in the world. (I could not continue beyond this.) By this time you don’t care whether you are the only living being in the whole solar system. (And to think that Sir Jack Too-Honest-To-Be-Buerocrat Ryan was starting to grow on me). Jack Ryan is not even a shadow of his self when he was searching for Red October, or even when he later fights the dragon on the side of bear. Remember the famous Aamir Khan dialogue from Eggs Our Our? The one with “Aap gyani hai, aap ye hai, aap who hai”? Just delete the last line, and its The Swordsman for you.And what is it with Mr. Clancy and India? The portrayal of India in this book and Line of Control has actually put me off Clancy world (The rarest occurrence.), while also proving the fact that when it comes to India, I am as patriotic (who said fanatic, get out of my class) as the next soldier you meet.
Exhibit A: India’s top person (woman, to be precise) conspiring with traditional enemies in the said conspiracy.
Exhibit B: In LoC (not the movie, but the book), Indian security forces attacking their own citizens in almost Hitlersque manner.
Exhibit C: An Indian UN secretary actually planning to drag “forces of good” in court for killing some reactionary elements in UN.I rest my case.
In words of Dorothy Parker, “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
- The Great Indian Novel:In a word, “Great”. I got the rumours of this manuscript existing in the annals of Indian literature from discussions here, and finally it was the first book I bought in US (not counting one other book, which I am trying to forget.) The narration is simply superb, and the application of Mahabharata story to Indian freedom struggle is also good to the point that you actually start seeing the similarities in two. Of course the timeline he uses for Mahabharata makes one wonder whether some characters got hold of time
turner on their way through the department of mysteriesmachine? (Oh sorry, mixed metaphors, or whatever) Anyways, if you have read Mahabharata before, you sometimes get confused about the timeline. Also, some of the original villains become heroes in the “inspired” (or sequel or whatever) story, and vice-versa. Viva le (or is it la?) artistic license!!!And talking about the connection, it is great fun to try to find out “Who is who” in the story. If anybody found out who the Pandavas are except Yudhishthira, please tell me. (Ok, I agree that sentence sounds weird.)And once again, Panchali comes out to be one of the important characters, in fact The Character in the book. Reminds me of the legend I read somewhere, about how Krishna started the Mahabharata war to “appease” Draupadi, who is supposed to be Shakti or Pruthvi or some such goddess.Overall, worth reading. The main negative point, compared to this, Ganapatibappa doesn’t have any role. In fact, he is only mentioned as “narrated to” by the author. I miss Bappa’s wisecracks. (Crystal, wink wink, nudge nudge) - The Historian: Just finished 2 chapters of this book. I was really shocked to find that the start of my story and start of this book (well, the start of story in the book at any rate) is the same. I won’t tell you how it goes, for the fear of spoiling the fun of people who are going to read the book (and in the hope that someday I will be able to finish my story). Go read it, people.Update:
Finished the book finally. The hunt for The Historian by the historians (sorry, could not avoid) is very well written. Of course, sometimes the book feels a trifle long, but then with four stories going parallely, it should expected. But beware, The Historian is looking for somebody to catalogue his library, and those who read about the history are extremely well qualified for the job. I am buying my garlic cloves today.
Quote of the Day:
Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.
-Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
Very nice this blog =)
@Cigarettes: Thanks…
Regarding Pandavs in Great Indian Novel I believe (though I am still 100 or so pages to go) that they represent different sections of India… Journalist, Army, Judiciary etc.. – all ‘sharing’ India!!
But I am still struggling to find many others…
I actually Believe that blog, “A Few Lobster Shells Lazy Habits of Thinking” was indeed good!
I reallycan’t agree together with u even more! Finally looks like Istumbled upon a blogging site really worth checking out. Thanks, Gabriel