completed successfully Reading challenge 2014

I should have written this post in January 2015. Anyway, better late than never. I have actually read 40 books in 2014 reading challenge. My target was 25 books. This is the first time I have completed a reading challenge.

 I have fixed a target of 50 books this year. Last year, I deliberately  kept it a small number for I really wanted to complete the challenge.  The books I read  included most of the genres except Paranormal. But this time, I wanted to take my reading habit  to yet another level. I am a great lover of mystery and suspense books. But my reading always circled around a few authors namely, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark and Dan Brown. Though I am familiar with Patricia Cornwell, Taomi Hoag, Lisa Gardner, I am yet to delve into their books. Hence, this year I have decided to introduce me one new author every month. 

Harlan Coben will be the new author I will get acquainted with in February and I have picked up his ' Caught'. This does not mean that I have given up my favourite authors. I have decided to read every MCH and Agatha Christie books along with Dan Brown. Besides, I have also decided to do research, a bit. Because,one day, I too wanted my name in this list of mystery authors. So I should start toiling and moiling without wasting much time....

So friends, wish me luck....

Harlan Coben Interview

That Frequent visitor - K Harikumar

Why are books written by eminent writers like Agatha Christie, Jeffrey  Archer and Mary Higgins Clark always considered thrillers? It is not because of their lightness but owing to the capacity of these eminent  authors to weave every sentence with such intensity while leaving many things for the reader to ponder that he/she will not be left with any other  alternative but finish reading it at a stretch to quench their curiosity.

The tempo of suspense dwindles hardly till the end. No reference goes unanswered. You can fill every gaps and that too with logic. And, this  definitely needs skill.

Does ‘That Frequent Visitor’ by Hari Kumar, that comes under the category of ‘Paranormal’, fits the bill. Let’s analyse it.

When the story opens, there is a huge protest going on in Delhi against the gruesome Delhi rape incident. Pakhi Dutta, whom the author calls as the most popular journalist of the country working for Manorama 24*7 is covering it.  The author then introduces the character of Jagannatha Varma, the minister touted as the next Prime Minister of India. The story takes a turn when Pakhi Dutta’s brother Parosh Dutta gets an opportunity to write a biography of Jagannatha Varma.

Along with Parosh’s daughter Shiuli, they reach Tripunithura palace at Kochi. There, in a nearby island called Vypeen, they come across a haunted mansion. The mansion soon becomes the main venue where the significant incidents of the story takes place. The outsiders are not allowed after   sunset on the island. But, the little girl Shiuli is often lured to the  mansion where she gets acquainted with the ghost of Richard Baxter. Who is he and what is his story forms the crux of the book.

The book, of course, is readable. But, once the story unfurls, that particular trait which an author needs to make his/her reader glued to each page is seen wavering. It would not be wrong to say that the book   has several attributes that could earn it the tag of a thriller, at the  outset.

The prologue is intelligent. The story opens in a grand way. But, there are certain do’s and dont’s which the author forgets to take care of. Primarily, there are some references which will not go well with serious readers. A good book should always transfers you to another world. It happened here in the initial parts, but all of a sudden, the attempt by the author to give names to certain characters which have direct references to reality severs that beautiful feeling of being in a fictional world.

For instance, an explicit reference to Barkha Dutta (Pakhi Dutta), Manorama 24*7 (NDTV 24*7), Headlines Now (Times Now), Arunab Sardesai could be considered as spoilers of suspense.

It might not have been a problem with foreign readers but definitely not with a serious Indian reader.
Some dialogues such as ‘ Kizhakkeveetil Suresh Gopinathan....you can call me Suresh Gopi’; ‘You look just like my favourite actor, Thala! Very beautiful you are’ looks immature and of course, the author’s constant mentioning of his name and his first book ‘When strangers meet’ in the story could have been avoided.

Besides, when you make a reader run around so many incidents and many characters, she/he would find it difficult to comprehend. It seems that the author underestimated the reader and that’s why he spoon fed many things. That could have been avoided.

The story could have been much better if was tightly written omitting the unwanted. It is a readable story. But to impress a reader who is a hard core fan of mysteries, suspense and paranormal thrillers, the author should have  put forth tremendous efforts.

Welcome 2015

And then there were none - Agatha Christie

There were 10 people who were summoned to the Southern Island -  eight men and two women. And that includes Mr and Mrs Rogers, the domestic help appointed by Mr and Mrs Owen, their host and hostess. Much to their dismay, even after their one day stay in the huge mansion, their host and hostess did not turn up. Apprehension brewed when Mr and Mrs Rogers said that they are yet to see those who appointed them. Things starts getting murkier when they hear a grama - phone recording which accuse each one of them to deaths which it says occurred because of them. Whether any deaths are related to them, we will find out in the end. And things gets out of control when they start encountering death every day. Will anyone remain in the end? That's for you to find out.
Hmmm, well I like every bit of it except the end. There was suspense all through but the end 

Mary Higgins Clark on her Writing Career

Remember Me - Mary Higgins Clark

Book: Remember Me
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Publication date: 1994


When you are so entangled in mundane things and frivolous animosities, it is always good to read something which can take you to a different world, severing all the ties here. No doubt, Mary Higgins Clark often took me to a different world. Besides, Clark has always given me a 'Christmas feeling'. Maybe because I always start reading her when Christmas is round the corner.


So, to talk about the book ' Remember Me' – I loved it. The plot was quite simple but you get the real chill when you reach the last pages. After the death of their son, Bobby, Menley's and Adam's marriage begins to fall apart. But the knowledge that Menley was pregnant again gave them another chance to wedge the gap that distanced them. Despite, all the ruckus that caused in their lives due to the death of their son, their love for each other was something they could not ignore.

Menley was having post traumatic attacks after Bobby's death.  After the birth of Hannah, their daughter, they decided to take a break from the daily routine and shift to Cape Cod for a month where Adam grew up. But Adam had to take a few trips to New York for a client, Scott Covey, husband of Vivian Carpenter who died a few days ago in Cape.


Detective Nat Coogan was on a trail and he strongly suspected that Scott Killed his wife.  In Cape, Menley and Adam were living in a house which was named ' Remember House'. Menley was a writer for a Travel magazine and also a well-established children's book writer. When she realised that Remember House which was built in the 17th century had a story to tell, she decided to make it as the backdrop for her next story. It was Adams' childhood friend Elaine who gave them the ' Remember House' for rent thinking that perhaps the couple would buy it in future. 


Soon, some strange things started happening in the house. There were times Menley felt her late son Bobby was calling out to her. The strange incidents were too intense that she began to doubt her sanity and start seeking explanations for the strange incidents happening right under her nose.
 There were times when one tend to feel the involvement of super natural elements. Many a time I even actually got butterflies in the stomach. 


Long and short, I loved it....

by Shalet Jimmy

Spandikkunna Changambuzha - P I Sankara Narayanan - Book Review

The death of his strict father gave Kochukuttan unrestricted freedom and he exploited it to its brim. One day when he came to his mother with a bleeding hand and in tattered clothes, all hell broke loose. In anguish, she beat him, black and blue.

Surprisingly, the next day, the little boy did not feel even a slight pain of the punishment he got the other day, instead he rode a wave of imagination and wrote “Thrikkanpuramennu Perullorambalam Balakrishnan thante vasadesham kuttichakkalayam veedinte mumbile kuttikkadulla kalipradesham” - and thus he went on completing 150 lines.

This was the first creative outburst of Changampuzha Krishnapillai, the celebrated Malayalam poet of Kerala, says P I Sankaranarayanan in his new work ‘Spandikkunna Changampuzha’, a book written solely with the purpose of getting children acquainted with the acclaimed poet.

Through this book, the author has undoubtedly and beautifully introduced Changampuzha to children. The book opens with two siblings Prasad and Amrita approaching an uncle living near their house to collect information about the celebrated poet. Every morning, they would come to him to learn about Changampuzha right from his childhood days to death.

The author has given more focus to introduce the person himself rather than speaking about his poetry alone. It could have alienated the little readers. Perhaps, the author might have thought that the creative work could be best understood when an opportunity is given to know the author himself. But, he did not forget to introduce Changampuzha’s poems and at the right context.

Sankaranarayanan also leaves valuable messages for children here and there, not explicitly but beautifully interwoven with many stories about the poet. The book evokes nostalgia and also good for grown-ups who do not know Changampuzha. It might prove useful, if an elder reads the story to much younger children.

In fact, this book has made me want to read ‘Nakshathrangalude Snehabhajanam’ by M K Sanu, the biography of Changampuzha Krishna Pillai.

While narrating, the author also introduces other prominent poets and authors. One such is Edappalli Raghavan Pillai.

At the outset, there existed a friction between Edappalii and Changampuzha. But, it gradually faded away as the years flew by. Giving a rude shock, when Edappalli committed suicide, Changampuzha wrote ‘Ramanan’, an elegy which was the one of the best works written by him. Edappalli had confided in him that he had fallen in love with a woman from a rich family. “Nissaramayoru pennumoolam nithyanirashayaal ninte kaalam ee vidham pazhakkukennano jeevithadharmamennathorthunokku,” Changampuzha wrote in ‘ Ramanan’.

But that the same author too fell into the trap called ‘Love’ is another irony, says the author. Though Sankaranarayanan has not written much about various forms of poetry, he has mentioned about ‘Pastoral Elegy’ in the book. ‘Ramanan’ was written in this form.

In the backdrop of an idyllic rural life, the shepherds narrates the story, he puts it in a rather simple way. The author has also mentioned the name of writers like Ulloor, Vallathol, E V Krishnawarrier and Puthezhathu Raman Menon who would definitely prompt children with a creative bend of mind to learn more about them in detail.

The flow of the narration has not been interrupted except once when the all good and prankster little Changampuzha turns into an alcohol addict. The transformation has not been explained well.

It might be because the author only wanted to impart those details about the poet which could be comprehended by the children. It would definitely be a loss, if your child has not read this book. The story ends when the two children along with the uncle pays a visit to Changampuzha Park to visit his graveyard.

In the end, the author does not forget to give Changampuzha’s two famous poems ‘ Kavyanarthaki’ and Manaswini’, the chronology of the great poet’s life and the name of all his works.

published in The New Indian Express, 2014

Homeport - Nora Roberts

My first Nora Roberts' book and I started off with much anticipations. However, it failed me absolutely. It may sound incredible that I literally took 2 years to complete this book. I would go through some of the pages, finding that it was not going to reach anywhere, I would close it down. This exercise went on for two years. Though with a fragile story line , the characters Ryan Boldari, the art thief and Dr Miranda Jones lingered in my mind. It always coaxed me to complete it. Eventually, I did it around two weeks ago.

To talk about the storyline, the plot is nothing unique - Robbery, associated murders and then the culprits. An art robbery takes place right under the nose of Miranda. The story moves ahead when an art thief Ryan Boldari join hands with Dr Jones to retrieve the stolen pieces and finally solving the murders.

From many reviews I read on this book, there are many who still could not believe that a Nora Roberts' book could fail them completely. One reader kept on looking at the cover page to convince her that she was in fact reading a Nora Robert.

Though not an easy time reading it, I still could not believe that I am not reluctant to go for yet another Nora Roberts book.

Little Women - Louisa M Alcott

I think I should have read this book some 15 years ago. Then it would have been different. There are times when I badly wanted to go to the other chapter and there are times when I felt like not reading anymore. Maybe the element of prudence is too much for me. But as I said, it could have made a major difference when I was 13 or 17 years old. I think I resembled Jo a lot. Overall I liked it. It begins with a happy note and ends again with a happy note. I really like the scene when Jo cuts her hair to help her father. She knew that she would not get the same mane again. But she did not show any distress about it. But in the middle of the night, she lets out a moan thinking that everyone were fast asleep. When Meg heard it, she consoles her. This scene was a quite a touchy.

Before this year ends, I would like to read 5 classics and thus I completed 1.

These are some of my favourite quotes

She preferred imaginary heroes to real ones, because when tired of them, the former could be shut up in the tin kitchen till called for, and the latter were less manageable.”

“I don't like favors; they oppress and make me fell like a slave. I'd rather do everything for myself, and be perfectly independent.”

“You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.”

My Jo, you may say anything to your mother, for it is my greatest happiness and pride to feel that my girls confide in me and know how much I love them.”

Detour to Canada - Sunil Nair

‘Detour to Canada’, a debut work of Canada-based Keralite, Sunil Nair has a simple storyline. An Indian student Vinu who has no focus in life dreams of going to the United States of America. But future has something else in store for him. He reaches Canada and he aspires to go to the US from there. During his stay in Canada, his life and perception changes. The elements that bring the change forms the crux of the story. The book is too simple that the question, ‘does the reader need such a simple tale at a time when technology rules the roost’, pops up. It should have been told more than 20 years ago.

Even the fact that this is the author’s debut book could not salvage him from some of the grave mistakes he had committed here. Firstly, home work, a prerequisite for any kind of endeavour is absent. Sadly, it is too conspicuous that it can halt a reader from moving ahead with the story.

There are many such instances in the book that can prove it beyond doubt. When Ramdas’s (Vinu’s father) cousin Raj calls from the USA, the former inquires about the hurricane ‘Sandy’ that has hit America. Ramdas who is unaware of the incident, would have known it from his son who constantly googles about that country. To Ramdas’s query, Raj expresses surprise and replies as follows - ‘You guys already got the news about hurricane? India sure is catching up on international news.’ This is a bit far-fetched. People of India were never that ignorant. The author should have taken pains to know the pulse of changing India. 

The other instance is Vinu dialling 911 instead of 011, the telephone code of India from Canada. Is a computer science graduate from Kochi, that ignorant? Can’t he just simply know that 911 is an emergency number? There is another instance where Vinu expresses wonder over the importance given to Mahatma Gandhi in a foreign land. The author entirely forgot the fact that even the President of the United States has a photo of Mahatma Gandhi in his office cabin. When Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, the whole world interpreted it as a victory of the ideals of Gandhi.

Next comes the language. The book lacks creative flow. Though you read English, you will feel like you are reading Malayalam. A few examples to show that: ‘You are on his side. Just tie him to your sari and keep him with you forever.’; ‘Please don’t start now.’ ; ‘They will kill me then and there.’; ‘There will be fireworks in the house now.’ (here the author is referring to the verbal duel that is about to begin); ‘He is not a typical type....’, the list is endless.

Some portion of the story is like what to do to study in the USA. It seems that the book never went to the editing table. The work of the author could fare better if it paid attention to these details.

Interestingly, even with these flaws, there a was moment in the book that could bring tears in the eyes of the reader.

Even if it’s for a second, the author could bring that emotional element. Mistakes are of course the stepping stone to learning. A big appreciation for the author who took the courage to put it out what he has.

Reading classic challenge for beginners

I have joined Classic reading challenge for beginners, 2014. As only 4 months have left, I decided to read 5 books.

1. Little Women – Mary Louisa Alcott
2. Wuthering Heights - Emilie Bronte
3. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
4. Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain

I am yet to decide the 5^th book

The Lowland – Jhumpa Lahiri

There are many books which I do not review purely for the reason that I love to cherish them. That's why I did not review Jhumpa Lahiri's 'Unaccustomed earth' and 'Interpreter of maladies' . But I decided to talk about her book ' The Lowland ' just because I came across many negative reviews.

Some have even pledged that they would not read her books unless she tries to break out that ' NRI cocoon'. There is no dispute over the subject that too much of the same element can make a reader form his/her own preconceived notions on that particular author. But I really do not think, in this story she had used the ' NRI element' just to create a story. Calling her story trivial on this grounds would be an absolute injustice.

Some commented that the Naxalism described in the book is not suffice. Here I would like to point out that this book does not primarily delve into Naxalism. The characters of the story start their lives' journey from 1960's. Naxalism was at it zenith during that period in West Bengal. Perhaps the only place in India which saw the repercussions of Naxalism at its worst.

The fate of Gouri altered when she left Calcutta for America. The Naxalism rampant in the state pulled the trigger for it. Lahiri spoke about the movement, Kanu Sanyal and Charu Majumdar but not superfluously . The details are enough to get a reader acquainted with Naxalism. More of it would have puzzled them. Besides, the story does not demand Naxalism in detail. It is described to form a back ground and not to talk about the pros and cons of the movement.

I have even read in a review that it is an NRI love story – an emphatic ' No' to that. It would be like closing the doors of opportunities to explore a beautiful fiction. The story revolves around a few characters – Udayan, Subhash, Gouri, Bela. But they are round characters and not flat with loads of emotions to convey. They haunt you for many days. The story starts. But does it end? It is for you to discover.

I did not feel like reading a fiction with a set format. It was a journey along with evolving emotions which was a ride in its own way.