Weathercock

Book Name : The Weathercock
Author : Glen Duncan 

What is it about : The book tracked the early life of spirit-seeing Dominic Hood as he stumbled from primary school fights, foul-mouthing his way through university and after much cigarettes, booze, drugs and women, found work in London and reinforced his dirty deeds and indulged in his vulgar sexual desires. Oh yes, should I forget : there's also the minor, rather distracting parts where he spoke to ghosts and witnessed a couple of clairvoyant happenings.

Some thoughts after having read the book : At times, the violent scenes were way too graphic. Apart from a few inspired turns of phrases and story-telling, else, the obscene profanities were too much to bear. Having said that, the part (20 odd pages) where Dominic witnessed the exorcism taking place in a church in India and the "dirty spirit" subsequently being driven out of the child's body was well worth my time.

Would I recommend this book to you : Because on too many occasions, the writing was over-the-top in my opinion of swearing, un-bearable sex scenes and pointless drinking binges, I would look elsewhere for a quick thrill. Also, warning : strictly NOT for minors and the straight-laced !

The Terrible Privacy Of Maxwell Sim

Book Name : The Terrible Privacy Of Maxwell Sim
Author : Jonathan Coe 

What is it about : The story followed Maxwell Sim, our hapless, awkward and confused protagonist as he entered into mid-life as a divorcee, department store post-sales manager with a deflated ego and the recipient of a poorly formed childhood. We witnessed Max stumbled upon pieces of his old life and made connections with a new one as he traveled from Australia to the south of England as a toothbrush sales person, ending up in a hospital with hypothermia in Scotland. When all was said and done, Max found truth, confidence, self-esteem and his true self.

Some thoughts after having read the book : As an avid reader of books of all genres, I quickly noted the multi-themed and the numerous suspiciously casual and incoherent walk-in roles as the hallmark of a writer conjuring up (cooking up) a good old spin with all the bits and pieces from his notebook of weird and wonderful facts which he came across from his daily life. That, of course, was not to trivialise his tremendously successful attempt to underlie all these colorful characters and events with strong, moving and human insights and undertone in the story of Max; the writer never wavered from the central plot of Max's (and every reader's) eternal quest of : who am I ? The ending was somewhat disappointing and I felt the author should have left it off with Max waving a gentle goodbye and saying a silent "thank you" to the Chinese woman and daughter as they disappeared in the Fairlight Beach (outside Sydney) sunset for having started his quest to find his true self.

Would I recommend this book to you : Apart from the rather "bolted-on" and to me, inappropriate anti-climax ending, this book would be one of my top 10 to take to a desert island, for a two weeks vacation. Laugh and cry along with Max over his life, friends and events which shaped him and at the same time, perhaps reflect upon our own lives and find the answer to that eternal question : do I know who I am ? Highly recommended !

Omega Point

Book Name : Omega Point
Author : Don Delillo

What is it about : The story jumped from an art museum showing the film "Psycho" with Norman Bates, Mother and Janet Leigh (because as stated in the book, nobody remembered the victim's name) in R-E-A-L-L-Y S-L-O-W motion as an art piece, to a retired secret war adviser being interviewed in a remote "ranch" somewhere in the American wilderness which ended with the mysterious disappearance of the adviser's daughter. The ending of the book returned back to the museum showing the Psycho film.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Mesmerising, sure ! There were beautiful sentences and sublime philosophies throughout the book; the disappearance of the daughter in the middle of "somewhere south of nowhere" was eerily haunting and the portrayal of a slow moving film "Psycho" (shower scenes and all) in a museum was mind-boggling. By the way, Omega Point was not some military target or operation but the self-styled description of a mental state about consciousness.

Would I recommend this book to you : Described by critics as "structurally satisfying", "demands slow and attentive reading and re-reading", "severely thoughtful" and "one of his least cryptic". So there, an arty book for the purists may be; hot non-stop actions seekers should look elsewhere.

Innocent Blood

Book Name : Innocent Blood
Author : P.D.James

What is it about : Philippa, the strong-willed and independent minded adopted daughter of the Palfreys, decided on her 18th birthday to track down her blood mother. With a bit of digging around, remember that this novel was written in the 1980s', so no short cutting by using Internet search engines, she discovered to her amazement that her blood mother Mary Ducton was the murderer in the infamous Ducton Murder where a teenage girl was raped and strangled. The story then switched to the father of the murdered teen, Scase, who became obsessed with revenge and decided to stalk the recently released Mary Ducton, with a knife handy. The story built up to a crescendo, almost till the last page, when all matters were settled.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The story line was painstakingly strung out, the details full and vivid, the conversations mostly plausible and the plot patiently built. Few vocabularies were repeated, so not only a crime novel at the peak of its art but also English essays writing at its best - the author had to be one of the Sunday Times Crossword Puzzles contributors. One point I found highly critical and dissatisfying was the cry for sensationalism in the Epilogue where Philippa confided in Scase of her "incest" with Maurice Palfrey, her adopted father; that was just an un-necessary red herring and kind of ended a great book with a warped and twisted tangle of mind - I just could not understand why did the author put that in ?

Would I recommend this book to you : It had been a long while since I last got glued to a great book and totally immersed in the story and the day to day affairs of the stalker, the stalked and the by-standers and the complexity in the emotional upheaval and the study in human relationship of trust, deception and the tricks of memory. So whether you read the book for its excellent English, methodical story plotting or insights into the complex human psychology, I would greatly recommend this book.

The Baker Street Letters

Book Name : The Baker Street Letters
Author : Michael Robertson

What is it about : Two brothers rented an office as their legal practice at the famous address of Sherlock Holmes (Baker Street) with a too-good-to-be-true leasing contract; one of the rental conditions however, was to collect, organise and file-away the daily arrivals of Sherlock's fan mail or requests for solving missing cats, disappearing milk bottles to international conspiracies, etc. Nigel, the younger of the brothers took off to Los Angeles vowing to solve one of these sent-in mysteries, leaving Reggie, his older brother with a dead body in the office with the ensuing hounding police detectives. Together with his glamorous actress girlfriend, Laura, Reggie then gave chase after Nigel and uncovered and solved a devious plot.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Fast paced, quick British wit and all ready to be made into a TV mini series. I found the book to be peopled with consistent characters, the dialogues realistic and the plot complicated but plausible. There were annoying bits like Reggie kept taking cabs everywhere he went in LA (what's wrong with just renting a car ?) and Nigel and Laura mysteriously and conveniently appearing on the scene when the actions required their presence; yeh, just a like a mini TV series alright.

Would I recommend this book to you : Ideal book to take with you on the plane, on the beach or just for an evening of chilling out with a glass of red wine. Get the chips ready !

The Quantity Theory Of Insanity

Book Name : The Quantity Theory Of Insanity
Author : Will Self

What is it about : The book included a couple of stories loosely connected detailing the author's (in first person) encounters with various eccentric/insane characters in his life. The clever dude in his class who excelled in researching and investigating the esoteric minority jungle tribe who was best known for the tribe's complete dullness and ordinariness; his friend eventually married one of these dull tribeswoman and both settled in the middle of the London Home Counties; the author's other friend included Jim who was obsessed with the philosophy of "Waiting" or in actual fact "waiting too much" and Jim eventually was converted into a semi-Cult where the main practice was navigating the London streets in a complete trance while finding the quickest way (by driving at a furious speed) from start to finish; the author's own insanity also came under scrutiny by the readers as he met his dead mother who "moved" to "another part of London" after she died; they even had tea and cakes at her "new place" in East London to catch up with old times.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Amusing and at times thought-provoking in that the readers would quickly start assessing the meaning of sanity as the thin grey line which separated eccentricity and madness. In one story, the psycho-therapy in vogue was to swap roles between patients and doctors in a mad-house and the author was inadvertently drawn into the quagmire of turning himself from a visiting psycho-analyst into one of the patients.

Would I recommend this book to you : Witty, dark and at turns I found the stories rather frightening in how one's mind and psycho-well-being could so easily be affected by obsession, therapy-in-vogue and those around you whom you thought harmless or just a bit eccentric and it turned out that in fact, you''re the one going mental gradually under these influences. And by the way, the Quantity Theory Of Insanity revolved around the idea that the "Total Sanity" in a certain society/grouping remained constant depending on the composition of demography of race, age, family units, incomes and so on; sane theory or what ?

Metamorphosis

Book Name : Metamorphosis
Author : Franz Kafka

What is it about : Gregor, a busy body, loyal company man and dedicated worker, known for his punctuality, diligence and considerations for others, woke up one morning after a particularly bad dream, found himself transformed into a giant bug (man size). Unable to get out of bed, maneuver pass his door and get to work, his family and company came knocking on the door for answers. Thus unfolding this classic "Kafkaesque" tale of Gregor's dilemma, broken dreams and eventual bitter end.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Although a short tale, Kafka showed all his talent for describing claustrophobia, frustration, fear and hopelessness when one had been trapped in surreal circumstances; in this case, a human trapped inside the body of a bug. Gregor tried so hard to scream out all his unusual sensation, desperation and annoyance yet all but unheard and to no avail, as he was not able to communicate in any sensible way these emotions - think being cast a voodoo spell and buried alive, then one would get the idea.

Would I recommend this book to you : A good introduction to Kafka and his technique in creating his hallmark "kafkaesque" atmosphere : one long exclamation of "WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ME ?!" A delightful but scary tale - I would not like to be in Gregor's shoes.

The Happy Prince

Book Name : The Happy Prince
Author : Oscar Wilde

What is it about : A few of the most fabled short stories written by this famous author. These included the titled story The Happy Prince where a bejeweled statue overlooking the city witnessed the poverty and derelict conditions and made life better for its citizens with the help of a gentle swallow; The Remarkable Rocket featured a self-centred rocket fizzling out of life when his ability was somehow overlooked; The Selfish Giant initially made life miserable for his garden's visitors but made amends when the Giant was blessed by a Miracle and my favourite : The Fisherman And His Soul where the Fisherman wanted to sell his soul in order to be with his love, a mermaid, only to find his soul returning again and again with increasing tempting offers.

Some thoughts after having read the book : All the stories were charming, delightful and brimming with wit and wisdom as well as colorful characters like talking frogs, a self-pitying dwarf, a family of witty firework members; basically the author breathed life into all the objects in our world. A few examples : "... and the Swallow began to think and he fell asleep; thinking always made him sleepy ..." ; "... the Frog said it liked to do all the talking himself, it saves time and prevents arguments ..." ; "... the Priest showed the Shadow their Pagan God, a magical Mirror which speaks not opinion, but wisdom ...".

Would I recommend this book to you : All aspiring short story writers should read this book as a lesson in how to maximum effectiveness with precise and economical usage of words and sentences. A book for all seasons and all readers - outstanding writing, witty, un-imaginable imagination and the stories awash with super colorful characters, all of them turning your day into a bright and cheerful one.

Conference With The Dead

Book Name : Conference With The Dead
Author : Terry Lamsley

What is it about : Over ten short horror stories, mostly based in rural northern England. A young man applied for what he thought to be an easy job of walking an animal, only to discover the "walking" had to take place after midnight and turned out to be more a feeding frenzy; an enthusiastic cyclist looking for a hot cuppa and stumbled upon an out-of-the-way tea house and being followed back to the BnB by a spirit; a middle-age man inheriting his mother's house and uncovered her dark past and found himself to be the object of an ancient local cult; a child holidaying with his grand parents in a sea-side town where old folks came to live out their remaining years, noticed the strange going-on's at the local old people's home where the staff were un-characteristically more interested in keeping these geriatrics alive.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The themes and beginnings of each story had great potential but the endings fell well short of reaching any climatic explosion. However, the book did have its moments of brilliance in making my hair stand up. Perhaps the stories needed to be better followed through with more coverage, needing perhaps 10 to 20 pages more on each short story to give the stories more oomph, punch and bite. The final endings almost always left me un-satisfied and hung in mid-air, not with suspense of horror, but actually a wanting to be thrilled.

Would I recommend this book to you : An easy read for a plane ride, may be. I certainly did not feel I wasted my time here. But if you're looking for atmosphere, blood, dare and un-stoppable actions, try Anne Rice's The Witching Hour and her Vampire Series.

Our Tragic Universe

Book Name : Our Tragic Universe
Author : Scarlett Thomas

What is it about : All the "hapnings" in the sea side town of Dartmouth, southwest of England with Meg, reporting first hand on the affairs, emotional upheavals and history of her many friends past and present, her dog as well as her own sorrowful / hopeful love stories.

Some thoughts after having read the book : As the book was packed with interesting, dull, comical and tragic characters as well as curious topics and surprising dialogues, the story lines in this book would make great situational comedy (sit-com) materials - with the central figure, Meg appearing on every episode and with the "lesser" characters appearing on and off as when the story reached their parts. Of course, the dog Bess would make a welcomed entry whenever her part was required to liven things up a bit. The sit-com would run for about a year, half-an-hour each night with different stories interspersed into each other - Libby pushing the car into the sea and the local police turning up on her door steps, Meg having constant struggling exchanges with Christopher (come back to bed babe...), leading to their break-up, Tim being spaced out after following the beast of Dartmoor etc. Hey I didn't expect Dartmouth to be SO full of events and sordid affairs !

Would I recommend this book to you : I would recommend this book as a shining example of how one could write a book of more than 300 pages by : jotting down all the incidents and affairs of all your friends and relatives, "google" all the scientific big ideas and re-write them in a layman-understandable sort of way, read and research on the DUMMIES series for Taoism, Tarot cards, and dog psychology and so on and voila !, your very own story-less story as the author had once or twice mentioned in this book. Of course, you would need to be clever to string up these different aspects into one coherent, interesting and enjoyable book and that's where this author excelled. Go read !

The Private Memoirs And Confessions Of A Justified Sinner

Book Name : The Private Memoirs And Confessions Of A Justified Sinner
Author : James Hogg

What is it about : The story centered on a committed clergyman being led astray by A Being from the "Dark Side" and eventually becoming an outcast from his community and found solace and peace only through taking his own life; even this last act of trying to come to terms with his crimes and hopeful redemption were shrouded in dubious circumstances - hung by a rope made of loose hay (straws). The clergyman's life was on a slippery slope the moment his jealousy, mis-understanding of religious teachings and greed were noticed and exploited by The Being in ever-changing human forms and through coercing, chiding and misleading, the clergyman embarked on a series of murders and blunders which led him into a cul-de-sac of Life to the point of no-return.

Some thoughts after having read the book : This book had to be the first in the genre (written circa 1,800 A.D.) of :  the ignorant, the innocent and the weak-willed being tempted, exploited and having been rewarded with the riches, power, status, revenge and vanity which he so craved, was finally meeting his inevitable downfall and sunk into oblivion. Having parallel thoughts in mind, I found that this alarming story had numerous versions, and the first which came to mind was strangely enough, The Little Shop Of Horrors - an evil plant from outer space tempted and half-push-shoved Seymour, "the ignorant, the innocent and the weak-willed" as I had just mentioned above, into committing murder and disgraced himself and finally met his nasty end.

Would I recommend this book to you : Barring some of the dialogues written in Scottish-accented English and local slang being difficult to de-cipher, the book was very readable  and surprisingly, quite a page-turner. I would without a hint of doubt, recommend this book to readers of all persuasions and levels for a roaring good read. The structure of the book was actually very modern in that, the first part was a "Editor's Narrative" (the bystander if you like); the second part was the "Main Protagonist's Narrative" (the sinner and confessor's journal) and the last part returned to the "Editor's Narrative" for completion. This structure gave the story clarity by providing a high-level breakdown, of sort. A word of warning, the parts about digging up grave could be a bit spooky for the faint-hearted.

A Legacy Of Spies

Book Name : A Legacy Of Spies
Author : John Le Carre 

What is it about : My favourite author's latest installment, could be seen as a "prequel" to The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - without a shadow of doubt, the all-time classic spy story. The legendary spy master's right hand man, Peter G., found himself to be the subject of a series of legal finger-pointing. Being recalled back to London from his idyllic retirement haven in France, he was forced to confront all the demons in his younger days and any skeleton-in-the-cupboard thirty years on, not yet out in the daylight. In a nutshell, the offspring of his friends/foes caught up with him and demanded answers and compensation of the innocent blood spilt all those years ago, but was Peter being made a scapegoat or was he really to blame ? Was the fatal Operation in question, a five-star cock-up or was it execution-par-excellence up till the last minute ? Read on.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The danger, nostalgia, despair, manipulation, cynicism, in the world of spy-craft which made this author's novels so memorable, were all there to be found. The description of the helplessness, self soul-searching of Peter and the eventual answers he seemed to have found along the way, past and present, made this book a riveting read. Having read so many of his novels, I treated the characters herein with much familiarity - Control, Smiley, Bill Haydon, Jim Prideaux, Alec Leamas; very much liked to say : hi there, long time no see !

Would I recommend this book to you : I guess as a first book for newcomers to this odyssey into the times and atmosphere of the Cold War espionage years, might be a bit far-fetched, confusing even; as the characters in this book had not been as well and fully formed (except Peter, the narrator himself of course) as in previous installments. In my opinion, however, still very much readable and excelled in capturing your undivided attention, definitely enticing you to start reading from his first novels.

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 !

The Prince

Book Name : The Prince
Author : Niccolo Machiavelli

What is it about : A 14th Century statesman from Florence outlined the strategy, psychology, theory, scenarios, conduct and craft required to rule and govern an empire. The Author peppered his (in)famous book with vivid illustrations from near and afar in both geography and time from Alexander, Roman Caesars, French kings and Italian dukes.

Some thoughts after having read the book : "The end justifies the means" had probably been the first and most famous maxim from Machiavelli's book of statecraft, anyone would have heard of and talked about. Was he simply stating the obvious in human nature, or was he well ahead of his time or perhaps he was the first to simply put down on paper the cunning,  ruthlessness and charm required to be a modern day politician ? At least all of the above would be my answer - present day examples abound with countries taking profit through war mongering, apparent people-elected leaders still ruled by fear or diplomacy had simply been a matter of "truth lies where the shell of a canon would land". I fancied that the long history of China with its many emperors, ministers, premiers, warriors and strategists would be an equally educational arena for would-be rulers.

Would I recommend this book to you : A fascinating book detailing the obvious, darker or the natural side of human behavior. Readers would perhaps gain clearer insights into the field of modern-day politics, diplomacy and the gaming between nation states in our present world of increasingly multi-tiers political theaters. A must-read for would-be students in politics and history.

Fletch

Book Name : Fletch
Author : Gregory Madonald

What is it about : A Californian reporter went undercover as one of the many drifters (Hey Dude...what's up, man...yeh right, whatever, man...), to investigate the drug dealings in the beach areas and found himself being offered a large sum by a wealthy man to commit murder instead.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Clearly a book written in the early seventies, when "real" people were more trusting and "real" readers were less demanding. Basically, this twice-divorced reporter conned, bluffed and drank his way around his subjects and just spun little make-believe stories to gain the inside track and his subjects of interest were just so ignorant and forth-coming with voluntary information that his job of breaking the case was just a walk in the park - never in a million years could that happen, in the present day atmosphere of privacy-consciousness and ID thefts !

Would I recommend this book to you : An easy read to while away a few lazy days; perhaps on the beach, by the pool, plane journeys or over a glass of wine - yeh right, whatever, man...

Anthropology

Book Name : Anthropology
Author : Dan Rhodes

What is it about : A collection of short passages, each no longer than, perhaps a hundred words but all on the subject of Love. Generally written from the a man's or a boyfriend's point of view that love sucks, love hurts, love pains, love kills, love gratifies, love humours, love maddens, love emboldens, love embarrasses, love purifies, love ruins ...

Some thoughts after having read the book : A gem of a little book but big on the ideas of Luv. After reading each passage, I would be left, without exceptions, with a wry smile on my face and a knowing nod in agreeing, understanding and enjoying the different aspects of this "ancient" subject and felt thoroughly entertained and humoured by the author.

Would I recommend this book to you : Try to read a passage each day and think of it like a Far Side (Gary Larson) cartoon in one of those, turn-a-page-each-day calendars, then you would start your day with a wry smile and a humourous mood.

Little Hands Clapping

Book Name : Little Hands Clapping
Author : Dan Rhodes

What is it about : The after-hours happenings in a unique museum where the caretaker participated in a sinister conspiracy with a local doctor. The unraveling of their dark scheme came about when the doctor's beloved hound choked up a massive male organ during a run in the park and both the doctor and the caretaker met their fateful ends.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The plot sounded sinister enough, but the story was written with such emotional detachment, morbid humour, compassion and apathy even, that such sickening subject as cannibalism was made to look "necessary", "understandable" and seemingly no-big-deal. A slice of baby-love gone sour was thrown in with good measures when the girl involved almost ended up on the doctor's dinner plate. The story was peopled by such wonderfully odd characters that would already make interesting reading, a spider crunching museum caretaker to start off with. By the way, the interrogation of a Frau Klopflock by the local policeman produced one the many highlights and laugh-out-loud set-pieces I had ever read; the subsequent scene involving the same policeman chasing after the butt-naked doctor would complete the most hilarious twenty pages of any book !

Would I recommend this book to you : A resounding Yes ! The book ticked all the right boxes - police chase, dark plots, sickening humour, lively conversations from colorful characters and the unique story would be a like a breath of fresh air to any jaded reader.

Simplicity

Book Name : Simplicity
Author : Edward De Bono

What is it about : The expert on Thinking Clearly presented the what, how, why and when on the subject of Simplicity. Philosophy for Life, working manuals for corporations, teaching materials for kindergartens and a DIY self-help course all rolled in one neat book. The details were presented in a simple fashion (or he would have shot himself in the foot), with an all-but-simple message - how many of us make hard work of our simple lives and how to go about simplifying the concepts, targets, processes and results.

Some thoughts after having read the book : I had been a great admirer of the Author since reading his book : Lateral Thinking. The Author's style of presentation and clarity of thoughts and objectives gave the readers meaningful handle bars to latch on, to easily turn words into practice. The book was peppered with numerous day to day examples on how to make your life, company and thinking processes simpler. His humour in quoting these examples and his turn of phrases always hit the mark, to enlighten the readers by illuminating blind corners in our daily lives.

Would I recommend this book to you : Overwhelmingly Yes ! We all should keep this book on our book shelves under the category "Books to turn to for solving problems quickly". I would particularly recommend turning to this book whenever fork roads or confusion arose and you needed a clear voice. Read the book every other month to become better organised and comb out the cobwebs in your muddy thinking.

The Outsider

Book Name : The Outsider
Author : Albert Camus

What is it about : A middle-age man received the news of the death of his mother from the nursing home but felt and showed no sadness at her funeral. Life went on for Meursault thereafter as normal as before until a weekend of drama turned his life into a nightmare. The story climaxed as he sat in his prison cell and contemplated life as the "outsider".

Some thoughts after having read the book : It was gut-wrenching to read the ending of the story where the court passed judgement not on Meursault 's crime (per se) but on his character and how he behaved. One could not help but realised that everyone had, on his/her day been an "outsider" - one who refused to conform to social norms, not paying attention to cultural traditions, not putting on the appropriate emotional mask for the occasion or simply, one could be "an outsider" for being brought up in an "outsider" family. I felt totally sympathetic towards the plight of Meursault as the prosecutor won over the jury for his depiction of Meursault as a heartless son who "went swimming in the sea and watched a funny movie the day after his mother's funeral ..." and successfully turned the trial into one of morality and not about the actual murder. Infamous cases in point kept popping up in my mind as I read, think of the trials of O.J. Simpson, and you would get the gist of the idea. 

Would I recommend this book to you : Yes ! A book written with a clear story line and build-up and the writing style was under-stated in tone and texture - no big statements, no heroic actions. The reader would be taking a ride along side the days of Meursault during the course of a year or so, and you would be rewarded with thumping climax at the end !

No One Writes To The Colonel

Book Name : No One Writes To The Colonel
Author : Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What is it about : A "novella" set in a South American township/island, about the daily life of a retired colonel - edgy exchanges with his asthmatic wife, finding scrapes of foods to feed his treasured bird before the next cock-fighting season, figuring out where the next Pesos would be coming from and most eager of all, waiting hopefully at the dock every Friday (for the past fifteen years) for the news of his delayed pension money.

Some thoughts after having read the book : Despite the book being the length of a short essay, the author showed his masterful pen strokes and painted an intense and colorful story packed with interesting characters together with a taut plot. The readers would feel that they too lived in a shanty town where nothing much ever happened other than placing a tin can under a leaky roof, watching the Friday boat-docking, the wait of the start of the cock-fighting season or a very un-appetizing lunch of mush corn. I would guess the author managed to conjure up such intense imagery in such a short space, by focusing each character into just "doing" or "performing" just one task - the colonel "being optimistic", the wife "being worried", the postman "being un-caring", the cock "just surviving" and the rich land-owner "not being bothered". A good method of writing a short novel.

Would I recommend this book to you : Yes ! If you have a few hours to spare, or wanting to immerse as a bystander in a dream-like South American township or you would like to learn how a "Pro" applied his writing methodology - go get this book out !

Orient Express

Book Name : Orient Express
Author : Graham Greene

What is it about : Not the Agatha version with a detective on board, but a slightly more real life drama with a Jew hoping to close a deal on his business, a chorus girl wanting a part in an Istanbul show, a dogmatic political exile returning to his roots, a fugitive running away from his crimes and a dogged journalist determined to grab the headlines. Their stories, ideals and passion all inter-played out along the different legs of the famous train journey with high dramas culminating towards the end of the book.

Some thoughts after having read the book : On my train journeys, I would never have guessed that there would be a murderer in the midst or a committed socialist on his death tour, or even a fine-figure performance artist romanced by a wealthy Jew making out in the compartment next door; well, it's all happening here in this book. Between these characters on this journey "of a life time", they went through harrowing car chases, fired and dodged bullets, were interrogated by dubious army generals in a make-shift court and amazingly a few of them made it to Istanbul alive. But yes, under the pen of the masterful story teller, everything and anything was possible and all came to life.

Would I recommend this book to you : The reviewer stated in the Introduction of the book that Orient Express was classified as an "entertainment" by the original author. Indeed, the book was entertaining in the sense that it read like a black and white Bogart, Hepburn and Cary Grant matinee. So if that's your thing, this would be an ideal book for your Christmas and New Year indolent days and nights, all curled up warm with a mug of hot cocoa and having a jolly good read.