Bangalore Stories- The Red Carpet

Eight Stories with Bangalore as the backdrop. I did not like the first three stories because they seemed a bit too explicit. I have Victorian sensibilities. But something made me stick on. And I am glad. Because the remaining five were quite nice. The characters are completely Indian and hence, I could relate to the madi-following Iyer mamis, the young, overworked and harassed software professionals, the clash of mother and daughter, the mentality of the working class.
Though I hope never to meet the maid who is a child-abuser or have my friends (male or otherwise) cussing for all they're worth and using filthy language in my presence, I know that these are portraits of real people abounding in all our cities and towns. The characterization is very strong and that is what makes the book a compelling read. Lavanya Sankaran is pretty cool for a first time author.

Masterpieces in Miniature

I'm in heaven. Agatha Christie is fabulous. A collection of her stories- terrific. A collection containing not one, not two, not even three but four of her principal detective characters. Taste of heaven.

Masterpieces in Miniature is a collection of short stories featuring The famous Hercule Poirot with his immense moustache and egg-shaped head, Parker Pune with his trademark line- Are You Unhappy, the quiet Mr Sattherwaite and the mysterious MrQuin and lastly the unassuming but sharp MsJane Marple.

A delight to read and a pleasure to savour, each story is different just as the detectives themselves are. Let me repeat- totally fantastic.

Mysterious Affair at Styles

Just read Mysterious Affair at Styles

Oh, it was fabulous. Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings under one roof, a murder,  lots of suspects and clues and a happy ending. What more can one ask for?

I've read the last Hercule Poirot case which also is set in Styles and was just as amazing. Ever since then, I really wanted to read this. So, I'm happy that I've finally checked it off my list.

Agatha Christie never disappoints and hence, this too is a must-read.

2 States - Chetan Bhagat

Hmm... This is a book that I have already read. But the name fits for week 3 and I have not been to the library to replenish my set of new books. So, here goes.

2 States is a book about how to people fall in love and decide to marry with the blessings of both sets of parents. This is easier said than done as the two are from diametrically opposite families, states, cultures and mindsets. And that is the plotline in short.

Now, I've read Chetan Bhagat's books before but this I feel is the best. The narrative is great, characters strong and realistic, the portraits of the 3 cities and their people are very well etched and as for the climax? Brilliant.

There's romance, current affairs, politics, warring parents, about to be 'samdhi' fights. I particularly liked the way in which the extended family and friends blend into the story. These are typical characters littered in each family. Hard not to actually find semblance of people I know in them.

A typical love story with a spicy makeover.

We'll Always Have Paris

I selected Ray Bradbury as the second book for my A-Z project simply because of the title of his book- We'll Always Have Paris.

I was hurriedly trying to select a book- any author whose name begins with B when I found this. A hasty look at the book jacket showed a beaming Woody Allen kind of a person on the cover. Humour, I thought. I like humour. I stole a quick glance at the back. 'Pulitzer' leaped out at me. Heavy weight praises and prizes won adorned the entire page. The book was a collection of short stories, I gleaned from some serious skimming of the Intro. I made my decision. I'll take it.

The stories range from happy to poignant to scary. There is even a sci-fi one in the collection. All the stories are compelling. Even the Poe-style horror one, I just had to continue reading merely to reach the end. 

The stories all just come alive and you can almost see the characters. Everything else but the book kind of fades away. Quite a good read. 

My only advice however would be- If you are like me, someone moved by tragedy and horror; read in the  daytime.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

I read this on the Gutenberg Project site. God bless those folks.

As ever, the stories were amazing. The combination of the 2 characters - the amazing detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr.Watson is truly wonderful. 

The stories have to be read to be enjoyed- for the scientific analysis, logical reasoning, the witty dialogues, the effective portrayal of characters and the simplicity of the end of it all. Definitely a  must read.

The Secret Adversary

Started my A-Z Project. As part of my enjoyable and yes, hopefully enlightening New Year Resolution, I have finished the first book in the first week.

A is the first letter of the alphabet and A is for Agatha. What better than to start with the Queen of suspense and psychology? I began with The Secret Adversary.

Every Christie novel is a joy to read and her characters lovable. Tommy and Tuppence are not her most famous but definitely the romantic pair are no less thrilling. A formidable pair- their stories involve brains, beauty, intrigue and duty [hey, that rhymes!]. Add to it the ever faithful Albert, the mysterious Mr.Carter, and lo! recipe for danger but a delight for the reader.

The book is a similar, splendidly woven tale of good versus bad, a lot of amateur detective work by the leading duo, lots of confusing leads and a grand final showdown. Loved it! 

HunchBack of Neiman Marcus

Author: Sonya Sones

Now this is a book that is truly unassuming but turns out to be amazingly stunning.

Here is the good part about this book:
Funny
Poignant
Touching
Awesome
Chick-Lit
Hopeful
Happy Ending Story

Now, a lot of books can be attributed to having the above qualities except that they do not come with the kind of storyline or supposedly handicaps that this book does.

The book is in verse.
Story is about a 50-year old suffering from soon-to-be-an Empty Nest Syndrome when her only seventeen year old daughter is packing off to college
Menopause is fast approaching but the mood swings and hormonal imbalance already has set in.
Her own mother is diagnosed with muscular and mental disorders, hospitalized with copious amounts of steroids turning her patient and perceptive confidante into a raving, amnesical [is that a word], biting [literally too] shrew.
Add to that her mother's unhelpful doctor possesses an eerie, annoying, high pitched laugh and a sardonic bedside manner.
A major writer's block,  a sneaking suspicion that Hubs dear is having an affair with daughter's BFF's glamorous mother, and a best friend searching for true love on the Internet are thrown in too.

After all that, you'd certainly not credit it with those splendid qualities listed above. YET, it turns out to be all that and more. Despite the unhappy plot, the book is heart-warming.

Read the book for:
Nostalgic memories of the daughter as a cute baby
Sweet encounters between an old couple
3 generations of women- all loving and sharing with each other and yes, even squabbling with each other
Romance and rants between the couple- Mills and Boon are great but this is what comforting reality reads like
Recipe for cookies
Happy Ending