Archive | April, 2011

Author: Abha Dawesar
Publisher: Penguin India

This saga of a Delhi family seen through the eyes of a young boy has all the expected passions – the rivalries, the betrayals, the hatreds and the odd moments of loyalty. The silent, observant boy notes his grandfather’s consistent meanness to his sons and his daughters; he watches his uncle’s greed and avariciousness, his aunt’s resigned despair, his cousin’s determined self-destruction. But the boy and his parents have created their small oasis of grace; amid the plywood and plastic of their mean surroundings…

In his essay Why I Write, George Orwell speaks about his love for writing -
“I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings….”
Animal Farm might not be enormous, but it is definitely unhappy. When I first heard of it and decided to read it, all I knew about it was that it was a book about animals on a farm who could talk like people.
List of characters worth a mention -
Major, an elderly pig. He inspires the rebellion and sets down rules for harmonious living.…

Bangalore Calling

Author:      Brinda S. Narayan
Publisher:   Hachette India
Price:         295/- INR (Available for 192/- Re @ Flipkart)

When I had received a mail from somebody from Hachette India asking for my mailing address (to send a book), I was apprehensive on two counts. It is usually the author who contacts me for sending a review copy & mostly there is a build up about the book before a request for a review comes in. In the case none of the two happened and after a few mail exchanges “Bangalore Calling”…

Time travel novels can be a little tricky. A well written one can make you go all around the universe (Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy anyone?) and a poor one can spin your head faster the earth manages to on its own axis. Time Hack brings about a new experience into time travel, amalgamating vatican story with sci-fi. The plot brings about a large number of heroes and villains. It takes some wrapping around your head to get the feel of the book/story since the first few pages seem…

One Inappropriate Statement Can Change an Entire Novel
by Tales Untangled
Book Review : Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Spoiler Alert!
Laurel has lived a secluded life with her parents when suddenly her world is upset by moving. Not only is she sent to a public school, but she feels confused and lost among so many people as she begins to experience unexpected magical changes. She is quickly befriended by David and his group of friends. A bump on her back grows at and alarming rate finally expanding into a blossom…

I Crave Simplicity
Posted on April 14, 2011 by Tales Untangled
Book Review: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe is startled by seeing a van, a white van that seems very familiar in Gaborone. She still longs for her little white van, Grace Makutsi suggests it might be the van’s ghost. Precious has a new client who is a large man, but seems nervous because two of his cows have been killed. The pieces to his problem don’t seem to fit together. Charlie finally…

The Love of a Swashbuckling Tale
Posted on April 26, 2011 by Tales Untangled

Alexandre Dumas was a very interesting man. He was the illigitimate son of Alexandre Dumas and Marie-Catherine Labay, a dressmaker. He was acknowledged by his father, and as the law allowed, was removed from his mother’s custody. He appears to write about women being helpless which would reflect his personal experience with his mother. He strongly felt that fathers should acknowledge their children and marry the mother. Dumas did not generally define himself as a black…

London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza’s dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady’s maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant’s world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen? (From Goodreads)

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the writing, I loved…

Author: Jai Arjun Singh

Publisher: Harper Collins India

In the 1980s, an unheralded Hindi movie, made on a budget of less than Rs 7 lakh, went from a quiet showing at the box office to developing a reputation as India’s definitive black comedy. Some of the country’s finest theatre and film talents – all at key stages of their careers – participated in its creation, but the journey was anything but smooth. Kundan Shah’s JBDY is now a byword for the sort of absurdist, satirical humour that Hindi cinema just…

Audiotape: 2 tapes Abridged 3hrs listening
Genre : Romantic Fiction
Publisher: Random House Audiobooks 2000
Source: From a selection I have languishing on shelves.
Read By : Juliet Stevenson

I have been reading and enjoying the novels of Rosie Thomas for many years now although it is a few years since I last read one. I must rectify this as I have at least four of her most recent novels waiting to be read. It is the usual excuse, so many books so little time, but listening to White has…