The Assassination Of Margaret Thatcher

Book Name : The Assassination Of Margaret Thatcher
Author : Hilary Mantel

What is it about : A pick of a few of the best short stories from this award-winning Author - fanciful, tightly-bound, authentic and cleverly constructed. In the titled story : sitting down and sharing a cuppa with the assassin of the Prime Minister and having a good old chin wag while he went about his business before he pulled the trigger, would count as rather "fanciful". How about starting your much-anticipated vacation in a far-away exotic land and being picked up at the airport, by a "Moustache Pete" of a cab driver and ended up with an extra passenger in the boot ? Yeh, a story tightly-bound indeed.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The Author sure knew how to spin a tale; from unlikely topics to even more unlikely outcomes. On display were solid writing techniques - show don't tell; plain low-key dialogues in a high-octane situation; story kept on the boil until the last paragraphs when it finally boiled over. The hallmarks of good short stories were all to be found here : taut, no time-wasting, forgo the character building and a quick kill at the end.

Would I recommend this book to you : Because of the break neck pace and suspense-all-the-way, an ideal book for the impatient readers - no need to flip first to the end to find out the ending. A very rewarding and satisfying experience it was indeed. Perhaps take it on the plane as an alternative when the in-flight movies get boring.

Tell Borges If You See Him

Book Name : Tell Borges If You See Him
Author : Peter LaSalle

What is it about : A collection of wide ranging short stories from college academic life, business man on an Latin outing, a love story in Paris and many more of the mundane everyday happenings but with a touch of philosophy, a bit of an adventure and a dose of the wry humour. The author made interesting usage of time-travel, not the Back To The Future type, but as a tool to add dimensions to otherwise ordinary tales; giving the impressions and effects of hindsight, fore-telling and non-linear story-telling. By the way, that's Jorge Luis Borges in the title, a well known Argentine writer, poet and philosopher.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I particular liked the in-depth and convoluted relationships and conversations between the characters and of course the use of "time" as a tool to challenge, out-wit and out-flank the readers perceptions, keeping the readers guessing when the events would actually eventually take place. The stories exploded with genuine flavors, sights and sounds of the countries involved, giving an authentic feel to the events - a hotel room, a local bus, a seaside town or a university campus.

Would I recommend this book to you : Readers should not expect a cheap fast thrill, but nostalgia, lingering regrets and heart breaking events. Read it slow and enjoy the strolling pace, oddly enough, I found reading the book was like watching a cricket match - gentle applause along the way, a few sparkles and turns at un-expected times and entertaining overall.

Gladiators, Pirates And Games Of Trust

Book Name : Gladiators, Pirates And Games Of Trust
Author : Haim Shapira

What is it about : All you had ever wanted to know about all kinds of different games that animals including we, human played and engaged throughout our lives. Ever wondered how best to share the cost of installing an elevator between your upstairs/downstairs neighbours ? Em, no it's not gonna be second floor, twice as much and third floor thrice as much, a bit more thoughtful than that. The author then listed out a whole series of games that we played, including those you were not even aware you had been a player. Many rational human behaviour were also described in this book, including auctioning, traveler's dilemma, prisoners' dilemma, the diners' dilemma, the blackmailer's paradox and so on. The book also contained a goldmine of further reading suggestions from infinity concepts, how statisticians read newspapers and evolution games.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I found the book a concise and fascinating read and I quickly got to grips to a few of the gaming and escalation (dare/chicken) philosophies and behaviours. In one neat single book, the readers would obtain a general, wide-ranging view of the world of games.

Would I recommend this book to you : Absolutely ! Seeing that game theory, probability and animal behaviour being my pet subjects. The readers would surely feel enlightened, entertained and looking at the day-to-day world through a clearer prism.

Reptile House

Book Name : Reptile House
Author : Robin McLean

What is it about : A collection of short stories, seemingly each written by a different author as the breadth and scope ranged vastly from - deadly disease in the future space-age world where people were expected to live till 140; 18 wheelers-trucks causing mayhem; a mysterious old lady venturing out to possibly her last swim; a major cold snap hitting a dreary town with deadly consequences; an awkward dinner with an eventual disappearance of the family car; a menacing disgruntled bus commuter waiting to pounce; and a few more.

Some thoughts after having read the book : It was difficult to put a finger on the readability of this book - from story to story, the mood and texture swung from fascinating to inconsequential gibberish; from follow-able to unfathomably incoherent. The readers would have to judge for themselves. The stories I managed to make sense of, oozed class and delighted the mind; the others I just could not wrap my head around them. Oh yeh, and a twist in the tail type of ending should not be expected.

Would I recommend this book to you : "If-fy" had been the word which came to mind as I thumbed through this book in the local library but decided anyhow to give it the benefit of the doubt. I would recommend that the readers do likewise but be prepared to be enlightened or worse, have a few panadols handy.

Kipling's Science Fiction

Book Name : Kipling's Science Fiction
Author : Kipling R.

What is it about : The book included 9 of Kipling's most weird and wonderful science fictions. These stories included cynical journalists aboard a sailboat and witnessed first hand the struggling and "dance macabre" of sort, of two gigantic, smelly and vicious sea creatures in the faraway oceans; these journalists were unsure regarding the publication of this rather unusual and scary account as the general reading public would surely say "sea monsters, yeh, yeh, sure !"; other memorable stories included talking engines, surgeons testing new drugs based on different timing (tides) as well as other present day phenomena we took for granted like wireless communications.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Amazing that the famous author was so far sighted, back from over 100 years ago. Even though he did not predict the exact technologies that would enable and enrich our 2018 daily lives, his vivid imaginations and human touch made up the rest. Never a straight forward read, I had at times struggled a lot to get to grips to the dialogues, whether these conversations were between monks, talking machines with a bit of an attitude or pilots in command of strange flying objects.

Would I recommend this book to you : I would recommend this book insofar as if the readers would want to make an effort to get to know this famous author's range, skills, choice of words, scene-setting and dialogue-making. But be warned, a tough book to get through as the wordings from a century ago could be intimidating. A high level read to grasp his concepts would suffice.

The Returned

Book Name : The Returned
Author : Jason Mott

What is it about : In cities and suburbs all over our planet Earth, the deceased started returning, seemingly un-altered, un-affected and un-fazed by the fact that they had been dead for some years. On the other hand, the present-day population could hardly make heads or tails about these "Returned" ones, even as the law enforcers tried to come to grips with this rather un-usual event. The existing population started forming opposing pressure groups of "The Truly Living", "Fight For the Returned Rights" etc. Caught amongst this confusion and chaos, families and couples reunited in the hope of one more chance and a few ended their encounters with The Returned disillusioned. The book came to a crashing climax when human instincts clashed and reconciled.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The kind of thought-provoking book which one thought "how come nobody ever thought about writing it earlier ?" Just how one would deal with a long-deceased relative, friend or neighbour who "returned" and paid you a visit ? This book described a few families caught in such a dilemma. Perhaps for a cup of tea and sponge cake, or a good old chin-wag about the old and lost times or perhaps an intention to hang out and carry on where you had left off with that puppy-love teenage affair... At times frightening, at times philosophical and nostalgic - could this be a second chance to say that proper Goodbye or even a chance to right the wrong ?

Would I recommend this book to you : A Big Yes from me! But readers be warned that the book should not be read as with a Sci-Fi in mind as you would not get the "scientific" answers and "The Truth" was definitely NOT out there ! More a book to start you thinking about lost opportunities, relationships and your philosophy and attitudes to Life. Very much recommended !

Blackwood Farm

Book Name : Blackwood Farm
Author : Anne Rice

What is it about : An alcoholic sex-crazed teenage spelt out his life to the vampire Lestat. From having an intimate relationship with an under-age minor, growing up and having sex with with a spirit (Goblin), having sex with a ghost, having sex with domestic helpers, having sex with a vampire which was half man-woman and he himself finally was turned into a young vampire; yeh, you got the gist. In a nutshell, New Orleans became the de facto centre of the universe and the party scene of choice for vampires, witches, spirits, ghosts and Talamasca (the organisation which analysed these entities) and all the drama played out among the city's many different suburbs.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Yes, the author's vampire fans would be seriously disappointed as the actions and menace were nowhere to be found. Basically, the book read like a teenager's rampage through his brat of a life; swinging from one drunken scene to the next, always a beer in hand - when exploring the deadly swamps, confronting blood-sucking vampires etc; ha hum ... Alas, the last 30 pages saved the day and had the genuine feel of the author's original and authentic touch; these last pages told the origin of the Goblin and its eventual dramatic demise; these pages had all the hallmark, strength, fire, tension and horror which this author excelled in her earlier books.

Would I recommend this book to you : A bit of a let-down as I had read the Mayfair Witches, the other Vampire Chronicles and they were almost always excellent; so do yourselves a big favour and go read her earlier novels to re-capture the blood and gore !

The Perfect Murder

Book Name : The Perfect Murder
Author : Keating H.R.F.

What is it about : An honorable Indian inspector in the Bombay police department tried to uncover the truth behind the attempted murder of a company secretary of a well-to-do Indian family belonging to the upper echelon in the society. He was dubiously assisted by a lanky Scandinavian working for UNESCO in his effort to track down and outwit the supposed perpetrator. And as if that was not enough on his plate, his family demanded attention and moreover, a refrigerator for their modest home. As his investigation was well underway, he was lumbered with another extraordinary case of a single Rupee note having gone missing from a high ranking minster's office. Our man Guote had to juggle constantly with his priorities and finally nailed his adversaries.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I had high hopes of a roaring good read as this book came with outstanding credentials (this prize and that prize), but I was for most of the way fairly disappointed as the plot was underwhelming, the characters less than colorful, the pace hardly neck-breaking, suspects not at all cunning, Bombay less than intriguing. Alas, the last 30 pages saved the day with a memorable chase through the markets of Bombay and a grand finale when our Inspector cracked the cases with un-expected logic and a final twist; all this while the monsoon rain came pouring down.

Would I recommend this book to you : Ha hum, what can I say, while away on the beach with a beer and you might just find a good laugh out of this book.

The Turn Of The Screw

Book Name : The Turn Of The Screw
Author : Henry James

What is it about : A private tutor arrived at a stately manor, to provide tender loving care to a pair of impossibly adorable brother and sister, aged around eight to ten. She gradually realised that all was not well as aberrations, ghostly appearances and mysterious sightings were spotted throughout the grounds. Moreover, she discovered that the children-in-care actually were well aware of these horrid presence and that the housekeeper informed her these beings appeared to look like those of the late tutor and the male servant. The story came to an abrupt crescendo when the elder child died in her arms.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Henry James' book started the genre of : private tutor/nanny arrived at a remote home on a sunny day, seemingly innocent children welcomed their latest recruit, the tutor/nanny experienced abnormal situations, children turned nasty, tutor/nanny fought back and succumbed to unknown forces. James' narrative was full of suspense, edge and unexpected sudden turns of events. The masterful pen stroke right at the almost last sentence of the book was un-forgettable.

Would I recommend this book to you : Be very very patient, be prepared to skip the paragraphs of often cumbersome English (the style of the book or a sign of those times) but let the book take you through a chilling journey. One of the original and best in this genre.

The Edenglen 100

Book Name : The Edenglen 100
Author : Geoffrey Tate

What is it about : The book contained around twenty short stories of the life, memory, happenings and romances of the 100 oldies living in a purpose-built retirement estate, somewhere on the coast of Dorset. The actions by and large, took place around The Atrium where coffee and digestives were dished out to these seniors wearing woolly jumpers and cardigans. These stories included whirlwind romantic liaison, both present and war-time, Christmas parties gone horribly wrong and turning into a fiasco and a motley mix of "situation comedies" revolving around the jealousy, bickering and the love and hate between these geriatric members.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The book gave a credible inside look into how such a pensioners' estate would operate and the incidents felt true as to how these end-days counting seniors would behave as well as their attitudes towards inheritance, funerals, hobbies and how they would treat their unreliable memoirs. The stories were written in concise English and always with a wry look at life and a deft touch of humour.

Would I recommend this book to you : I would recommend this book as a primer if you were intending to join one of these retirement homes one day; then you would get a good feel of the daily life and living as well as the characters you were likely to meet "at The Atrium". Of course, the book merited a read just for the humour, insights and uniqueness.

Mr Holmes

Book Name : Mr Holmes
Author : Mitch Cullin

What is it about : Our well-known crime solver approaching his old age and spending more time with his apiary (bee yard) than figuring out another whodunit. Yet there were more mysteries in life when an invitation arrived and he embarked on a journey to Japan to help solve a Japanese man's life-long puzzle - the disappearance of his father in London, after meeting Sherlock Holmes more than forty years ago. On a completely different front, Holmes had to muster all his intellectual and logical deduction powers to figure our the death of his apiary apprentice along with Life's other bigger questions - love, loyalty and its very own meaning.

Some thoughts after having read the book : This book was really about Life as one reached old age and our intellect, memory retention and energy began to fade, what would one make of his/her life ? Of course, the readers still had good glimpses of the Old Holmes in action as he nimbly solved puzzles and accidental deaths and we even had a taste of how our matter-of-fact logical man used his tricks-of-the-trade to tail an alluring beauty. All these descriptions made this book a very worth while read as it differed from all previous versions of the Holmes crimes format.

Would I recommend this book to you : I would highly recommend this book not for its crime-solving suspense but more a book about an old man coming to terms with the loss of loved ones as well as his own fallibility. The parts describing his relationship with his young apprentice were at times joyful and yet heart-breaking. Well worth a read !

The Blue Room

Book Name : The Blue Room
Author : Georges Simenon

What is it about : Set in rural France, on a chanced encounter, Tony met up with his school mate of distant past, Andree when her car broke down and a torrid affair followed when they would make a secret rendezvous in the "blue room" of Tony's brother's hotel. Mayhem followed when Andree's husband showed up one day in the hotel cafe which sent Tony racing through the door half-naked. Most of the story then focused on Tony's arrest and his subsequent interrogations by the local courts; the plot slowly emerged in shape as more details of their dalliance surfaced and Tony found himself an unwitting victim of his own indiscretions.

Some thoughts after having read the book : You could think of the story as "Fatal Attraction" in a small French town with a serious dose of court drama thrown in. The amorous man involved (think Michael Douglas) was made a sorrowful figure, regretting his indiscretion and off-the-cuffs remarks that led Glenn Close to commit her wild fantasy. The narrative method was non-linear with no clear demarcation between present, past, thoughts and dialogue. Through these interrogations, the story slowly unfolded as the pieces fell into place and the description of small rural town sentiments, hunger of the flesh, warped emotions, psychological upheaval, guilt and pleasure, was superb; all helped the strands of the story wove tightly as the plot thickened.

Would I recommend this book to you : Immensely satisfying and for me the first real page-turner as I normally would take my time going over, re-reading and contemplate paragraphs and would take ages to finish just one page; but I could not put this book down and finished it in three sittings ! One word of advice to potential readers, it would help a great deal if readers were not made aware of the ending, even as you might have guessed the inevitable. Highly recommended.

Secret Rendezvous

Book Name : Secret Rendezvous
Author : Kobo Abe

What is it about : The story started with an ambulance arriving at mid-night and took away a man' wife, leaving only faint clues regarding her illness and where-about. The man set off on a journey of "search and rescue" mission and found himself entangled in a world of bizarre sexual experiments in a hospital full of weird happenings.

Some thoughts after having read the book : One of the most un-comprehensible stories I had ever come across. At times fantastical, at times mind-boggling but never straight-forward. The story was peopled by a strange cast : the man-in-charge of the hospital was a half man-horse hybrid; an adolescent girl with a "bone-melting" illness and finally ended up a pulp of flabby human skin at her last gasp of life, a doctor in permanent arousal even in a state of comatose and the mysterious wife-in-question was never fully located. Ha hum.

Would I recommend this book to you : The Readers should not expect to make sense of the story or attempt to find logical coherence; instead if you could not find a better book, then perhaps read this fantasy for its exasperating difference.

The 39 Steps

Book Name : The 39 Steps
Author : John Buchan

What is it about : A bored-with-life London city dweller chanced upon an international conspiracy of gigantic proportion (WW 1,2 and 3 and the end of human race as we knew it, etc.), when a shady neighbor paid him a visit and subsequently died through a stab wound. Our hero was left with a notebook full of cryptic signs and clues and he decided to run for the Scottish border where he thought he would have a better chance of breaking the codes and save his country and the world.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Readers would first have to believe in the power of co-incidence, then move on to have full faith in the kiss of Lady Luck. Basically our man from London would meet up in the Scottish highlands and villages (around a 50 miles radius, I had imagined), all the villains, saviors, old chums, well-intention-ed, no-questions-asked villagers and subsequently ducking out from a few bombs and hairy situations; and then even meeting up with the British ministers in charge of defense, military intelligence and the head of Scotland Yard and they all sat up and would listen to our man as he almost single-handed-ly deciphered the mystery of "the 39 steps".

Would I recommend this book to you : The book was written in the days when at a seaside promenade in the south of England, "donkeys padding homewards...". Readers could experience a really good vibe about the ways and life of England and Scotland in the days of 1915 when the book was written. The style, tone and texture of the written text would also bring the readers back to a bygone era. Beautiful !