BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
101 Things Not to Do Before You Die by Robert W.
Harris
Funny and interesting, but not one to be taken too seriously. It's 101 things to ponder about and try for kicks, hopefully until they become a life-time habit to the author's delight (cos it indirectly points to 101 things to DO until you die).
1984 by George Orwell
This book is certainly one of the most important reads of the century. A book that left me shaken and troubled for days after I read the last four words– “he loved big brother”. They struck me like a whetted knife. =)
A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Impostor Poodles to Purple Numbers by VS Ramachandran
One of the greatest expositors in the medical field elucidates on things that are deeply philosophical in as scientific a way as possible by a neuroscientist. Ramachandran delves into an area of science that is mostly speculative as of today, but is equally intriguing to both philosophers and neuroscientists. The book is illuminating, entertaining, charming and insightful. It is a book that changed my perspective on life.
A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
A very simple book with memoirs of Vonnegut that touch on everything from war to environmental destruction to people. It is the kind of book that you casually mull over, your thoughts dancing lightly as you grasp little things that seem profound and yet so straightforward.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
I am a huge fan of Seth's writings, so this is going to be very hard to say. A Suitable Boy is very detailed and thought provoking but it seemed sort of questionable in terms of historical accuracy!
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This short Dickens novel overcompensates for its size with its powerful portrayal of the French revolution. While Dickens remains cautiously optimistic throughout the novel that France can recover, the tone of the novel speaks to the regression of humanity, rather than advertise any real hope for its enlightened progress.
A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich
Heinrich's knowledge of the woods is awe-inspiring, his life in the four seasons is fascinating, and nature is humbling, and that is what you take from the book. I was surprised to see descriptions of everything from tree buds to insects, flowers, ravens and coyotes. Like Henirich says, if you cant recognize a bird or name it, it would for all practical purposes not exist, and that's exactly how I felt when I read the book. My ignorance of every living species he covered meant that it did not (for all practical purposes) exist.
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
This has to be one of the most boring books I have read. The humor is substandard and the author's opinions in general are shallow. Even though I expected the book to make fun of the French, the author’s observation of life in France (the strikes, the dog poop, the people, the women) is superficial and sometimes quite shocking.
Alchemist: A fable about following your dream by Paulo Coelho
This is one of those rare books that is preachy in an inspiring way. A simplistic book with a profound story that is more motivating than any fictional novel I've ever read.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
A well-crafted story where three plots converge into one cohesive culmination, in the most unique way possible. This book takes comic experience to new heights. Both visually and expressively, it is beautiful and thought-provoking. The timeline can be slightly confusing.
An Equal Music by Vikram Seth
Seth is one of the most eloquent writers of this century. His language in An Equal Music is especially inviting. The novel takes us on an emotional ride that is so beautifully written that I literally hunted down all the music pieces that he describes in the novel. Luckily now the music CD is available in all stores. It is a must have.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
A book of great symbolic value on the failure of communism and how power corrupts. A simple fable reduced to a single phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Unfair or not. Very accurate.
Aunt Erma's Cope Book by Erma Bombeck
This is the only Erma book I have read and I really love it. Bombeck is a riot. She is witty and humorous and so relatable. I enjoyed every bit of this book, especially because of my own reluctance to try self-help books, and some curiosity on whether they really help or not.
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Its a story of how the true human spirit emerges in the time of crisis. It's allegorical of a lot of things, especially of political systems, our quest for survival, our priorities and our idea of everyday life. The lack of character names and quotation marks, the overuse of commas to interject reflections in page long sentences add to the chaos that is the timeless and universal disease of white blindness.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Huxley wrote Brave New World as if he had glimpsed in a crystal ball and saw life as it is today. It is the only science fiction book I’ve both read and enjoyed. It is insightful and compelling, much in the lines of Orwell’s 1984. The book holds a disturbing secret behind the highly ordered world, where humans are mass-produced and conditioned.
Buddha by Osamu Tezuka (Vol. 1 & 2)
Osamu's manga comic series dives into the heart of Buddhist beginnings with the first two volumes, exploring societal outlook and the politics of that time in an engrossing tale thats entertaining and enriching. The story is still not about Buddha as much as it is about the social system. For most part, the humor is slapsticky-cheesy, but does not seem to evoke a lot of other emotions. It could have been more stimulating.
Bye Bye Black Bird by Anita Desai
One of the first few books to explore the life of Indian immigrants and their love-hate relationship with a western country. I might have picked the wrong book to get a sense of Desai's writings, because I don't see why she is such an acclaimed writer.
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
A terrifyingly funny novel. It is really not about the madness of war. It is about the moral dilemma of an individual caught up in the mob hysteria of war. The book’s film adaptation is equally riveting.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
This book is pure magic. Should be read first at the age of 5, then at 15 and then at 25... and you know what comes next, but I'm not there yet!
Collected works of PG Wodehouse by PG Wodehouse
Plum’s collected works are clever and full of peculiar characters that find themselves in bizarre muddles that are impossible to fix. Funny and entertaining.
Comics & Sequential Art by Will Eisner
This is not just a book on how to develop a comic strip, but one on how to read a comic strip. very interesting. The book shows us how much effort goes into creating a single strip. It is really about team work than about craft.
Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A history of Comic Art by Robert Sabin
Finally one of the greatest art forms gets its due in this awe-inspiring book by Sabin. This book really changed the way I look at comics. Its a history told with rich text and illustrations. A must read for comic lovers. Simply Brilliant!
Comics with an Attitude: A guide to the Use of Comics in Development Information by Leif Packalean and Frank Odoi
The title says it all. The book illuminates on the communication power of comics for development. Typical of all government works, the lackluster illustrations render the argument unconvincing. The book is not well written.
Complete works of O. Henry
His twisted endings apart, his stories bring out the ambience and the flavor of the setting with such splendor, that things as trivial as a lamppost seem curiously intriguing.
Cooking At Home With Pedatha by Pratibha Jain and Jigyasa Giri
My favorite cookbook by far. It has all the recipes of south indian food that we eat everyday - from rasams and sambars, to podis and pachadis, just the way we cook at home, without overdoing the spices or using complicated techniques. It's just the book to have no matter how long you have been cooking. Like me, Pedatha is also not very fond of sweets, but the book has some good recipes of payasams that I have both tried and enjoyed.
cool green stuff by Dave Evans
A very interesting guide to finding recycled, sustainable and renewable objects ranging from fashion and jewelry to electronic gadgets and home decor. It's a good first step to kick-starting a search for cutting-edge green stuff.
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
A book that every girl in her teens should read. It’s funny and sweet. It’s filled with the kind of stuff that sounds slightly sappy after we grow up.
Development As Freedom by Amartya Sen
His view on substansive human freedoms may seem like common sense, but its importance over the richness of the economy is a stimulating thought. In general, writers on human development tend to go into philosophical tangents, but Sen's conception is only overly optimistic about the possibilities enabled by rationality. The book does not lack objectivity. It's a good read with as little economic jargon as possible by an economist.
Do You Think What You Think You Think? by Julian Baggini
Yes, or at least the book thinks I think what I think I think. A fun book full of interesting exercises to see if your beliefs are in line with your actions.
Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel by Richard H. Minear, Dr. Seuss and Art Spiegelman
It must come as a surprise to see Dr. Seuss so strongly in favor of intervention during World War 2. With wonderful and humorous illustrations, he makes the point with great impact. Minear’s text did well in providing context; only some subtleties could have been expanded on a little more. Racial stereotyping excused.
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
This book is definitely not "time" consuming. It is full of quick interesting vignettes about time, specifically about what it means and what it is in different realities.
Emma by Jane Austen
If I was as flawed as Emma, my life would have been an entangled comedy, full of confusion and intrigue. It is an uphill read but one that is entirely captivating after the first few chapters. I was completely fascinated with the gossip generated from casual name-dropping and all the analyses of people's thoughts. Brilliant characterization and understanding of human emotions and behavior.
Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India's Poorest Districts by P. Sainath
This is Sainath's compelling account of the realities of rural poverty in India. If this does not stir our conscience, I don't know what will. The book left me teary-eyed and feeling completely numbed and helpless. A must read.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Must be read just for his breathtakingly evocative language, the descriptions of the rustic folk and the country, the ambience of the changing times and an enlightened sense of humor.
Flashman's Lady by George MacDonald Fraser
A bit of real history, a lot of adventure, amorous encounters, brevity and cowardice, tons to deceitfulness, horror, daring, humor, stupidity and mischievous behavior. What else can you ask for? This is perhaps one of the most well researched and well written books I have read, with unbelievable attention to detail. The narrative is ornately descriptive, and thought provoking even. There are some instances where Flashman, despite outwardly projecting himself as an insensitive bully, shows genuine "feeling". Poor guy did go through a lot!
I enjoyed all the annotations and end notes with clarifications on Flashman's sometimes dubious recollections, and the authors effort to authenticate the events as having taken place in reality!
Flashman's wife is adorable. Don Solomon and White Rajah are people of character, after all huh! and that Ranavalona - what an evil tyrant witch! (although wikipedia says people in magadascar don't see her as as the Mad Queen!
Fog horn by Ray Bradbury
I read this short story as a recommendation after I read Life of Pi. Somehow I was not impressed.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I have the bad habit of reading reviews before I read classics. With Frankenstein I had to read reviews before and after, because I couldn’t tell why this one is a classic. This book was a difficult read and in the least bit involving.
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple
Im still a little shaken from learning about how whole civilizations disappeared over time as a result of invasion and religious subjugation. Secular countries have been ripped out and cultures erased systematically through a kind of religious genocide and replaced with fundamentalist faith. But, my emotion comes less from the book itself and more from all the side reading it triggered.
Dalrymple travels through the same path in the byzantine area as that of John moschos' in the 5th century, narrating the fate of christianity, which is in the brink of extinction.
I would have liked to learn more about the rich christian heritage and how Byzantine was in the good times when everyone got along, for it seems like even during Moschos' own time, the religion was struggling to survive in many places. Dalrymple also seemed somewhat intolerant towards Islam at times. But what comes through in the book is the culture of silence around the disappearance of the center and of all christianity.
Dalrymple is funny and perceptive but the book does not hold as much interest as you would expect given the volatility of the matter being dealt with.
Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas
Light hearted account of Dumas' life, makes an entertaining read for on the plane or during a relaxed weekend. The stories are funny and her family is so likeable. It's a book that any immigrant will enjoy.
Globalization and its Discontents by Joseph E. Stiglitz
The only book I know that has insightful anecdotes about global institutions and their economy. The book gives a balanced and impassioned view on globalization (and its discontents).
Graphic Storytelling & Visual Narrative by Will Eisner
If you have ever drawn a comic strip yourself or have had the urge to do so, this book is for you.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I read the abridged version as a kid in school and re-read it many years later to find it completely brilliant and engaging. It's a book that a kid should never read until he grows up and can appreciate the infinitely detailed plot and a sense of Pip's class strivings and his personal development.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
JK Rowling's works are nothing less than magical. I haven't read anything that has captured my attention as much as this series. One can only wonder how the plot was developed over seven books almost flawlessly. There are still some holes that need filling up, and that leaves the readers with a desire for more.
House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar
Kerala’s history is a peculiar one. It encompasses the country’s divisiveness, the entrenched caste system and patriarchy, the influence of British colonialism in everything from religion to government affairs. Yet it does not completely represent Indian history and seems like a country of it’s own. Davidar's dramatic writing style with a descriptions of the ambience was riveting for most part, but tedious at times. The book was too long.
How to Land Your Dream Job by Jeffrey J. Fox
This may not get you in the door immediately, but it will definitely motivate you to do somehting about landing your dream job. Most of the tips are really useful, like how to write a resuletter, but some are unreasonable, like sending an image of yourself at work to your prospective employer.
How To Travel With A Salmon And Other Essays by Umberto Eco
For a man who can barely write a sentence that is less than a page long and without digressing from the main subject and nesting points inside points, it is surprising how simple, funny and inquisitive this book is. A good vacation read.
I Moved Your Cheese by Darrel Bristow-Bovey
A parody of Who Moved Your Cheese. It’s quite enjoyable in the context of the original book. It’s preachy in a non-preachy way.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
A badly written book full of torturous pseudo-philosophical fluff. In general I love books on philosophy, but this one almost killed it for me.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Good book to read on a holiday. It is filled with moments that occur in our everyday life that impact the characters in a way that completely alters their lives. The plotlines are great, but parts of the book seem pretentious and the characters are rather flat.
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakaeur
An eyeopening narration of the murderous climb to the Everest, told by Krakaeur who is one of the few survivors of the 1996 disaster. Kraukeur discusses not only the experiences of his team, but also those of other teams during the expedition, going into some detail on the different schools of thought since early days of mountain climbing and how it has impacted the lives of many mountaineers and transformed the sport. I am so affected by the narration that I am unable express the shock and awe I feel towards the people and the sport. There is display of heroism, prowess and also fallacies and self-absorption but what affected me most is how much more mountaineering is than a recreational activity. It is a way of life, the subsistence of many, and has implications that transcend beyond the self - like humanity, politics and religion. Perhaps, I have undermined the book in this review. I can only say I am overwhelmed.
Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
This is another book I read as a kid and completely enjoyed the humor but thought the invisibility far-fetched. Obviously, today I can see why the book is brilliant and appreciate the exhilarating language and his exploration of identity. An intense novel.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
A soul-churning novel, supposedly the biography of Bronte herself. A book that brings out every emotion that we must go through as young adults. It is moving and contemplative.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
This is an improvement over Bach's other pseudo parables, although quite depressing and not very different in content. Luckily, the story of the seagull distracted me from the "moral".
Kant and the Platypus by Umberto Eco
Somehow this book doesn’t go beyond complex rambling about things that can be said simply and in less than 10 pages. It is a layman’s introduction to semiotics, language and cognition- only the writing is too complex for a layman and nondescript for a theorist.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A wonderful book, that is thought-provoking and enjoyable on so many levels, with many layers of interpretation. It raises a lot of interesting soul-searching questions.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
I can never understand the point behind filling a book with the most beautiful language but content that is sadistic and revolting.
Lord of the Rings Series by JRR. Tolkein
A completely captivating series. It flawlessly interweaves an unpredictable plot with thousands of characters in a make-believe world. Tolkein has an intricate sense of history that shines through.
Malgudi Landscapes: The Best of RK Narayan
It's probably the excitement with which I bought this book, or my lack of exposure, but RK Narayan's stories were all disappointing. While the stories themselves were entertaining, they all seemed to end quite abruptly. Even the language wasn't consistently good. His novels and short stories seemed like a poor imitation of O. Henry's.
Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found by Suketu Mehta
An admirable book written by one of the bravest commentators in the country. Also, a blood-curdling one, revealing the dark side of bombay, with untold stories covering every caste and class and everything from population to annihilation. Perhaps a tad obscene at times, but given that the realities of our people are presented as terrifying facts and not opinions, it seemed shockingly enlightening.
Mother by Maxim Gorky
Insightful and emotional in a melodramatic way. Found this book extremely thought-provoking and perceptive towards the war against autocracy in Russia.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
One of the most unpredictable books I have read in recent times. It is filled with every possible emotion that one can feel over a stretch of a few hundred pages. The book is full of action. It is an emotional rollercoaster written in the most beautiful language.
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheeler
One of the most straightforward books I have read that makes basic economic principles sound very interesting, with many thought-provoking real-life examples!
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Only Dickens can make you feel pathos with language that’s poignant and evocative. His characters are real and his story compelling. The book gives an excellent sense of the hardships of the poor in England.
Omnibus Volumes of Dr. Seuss by Dr. Seuss
Rollicking… whimsical… fun funny funtastical.
Orlando: A biography by Virginia Woolf
It is fascinating how the subject in the beginning is a young boy during the Elizabethan era and changes into a liberated woman in his mid-thirties three hundred years later. This is about sexual identity and gender roles in the English society, written in the most surrealistic way possible. Not sure if anyone but Woolf could have written this book. It’s brilliant.
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
Some biographical stories, some fictional, each in some way connected to an element in the periodic table. In most cases, the link to the element is only metaphorical. Levi manages to bring out every emotion in the spectrum. Having lived through fascist regime as a victim in a nazi concentration camp, having seen poverty, and also having enjoyed unique privileges as a result of his profession, and meeting interesting people in many walks of life, he has stories to tell! He is one of the most poetic writers I have read. There are some really delightful and humorous stories as well.
Persepolis 1 & 2: by Marjane Satrapi
A very interesting auto-biography of an Iranian woman during the war in comic form that was illustrated and written by Satrapi herself. The book was both revealing and entertaining. A better version of Donald Palmer’s Documentary Comic Books.
Phantoms in the brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind – by VS Ramachandran
This book really blew my mind. Ramachandran is a fantastic writer. He is witty, extremely knowledgeable and exceptionally gifted. His projection of how the brain works with fascinating clinical stories was awe-inspiring. It is a book that is accessible to non-medical students, but one I suspect most medical professionals find stimulating.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is one of the greatest romantic novels I have read. It has some of the most memorable characters and the wittiest dialogues brought vividly to life. Jane Austen provides a stunning impression of life as it was in 19th century England. The story is perfectly balanced and the language is absolutely delightful.
Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki
Despite the writer’s brilliant translation, never have I regretted not knowing Tamil as much as when I read Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan - once a magazine series, now South India’s classic epic. This is the only epic story I have truly enjoyed. It is historically accurate although completely fictional, culturally enlightening although regionally restrictive, and extremely absorbing despite being hugely descriptive.
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
A quick read (a few minutes). For a wordless graphic novel, it expresses a lot of emotion. It's among a very few books that you spend less time reading and more time reflecting on things (like life, love, failed relationships and moving on). It's sweet, bittersweet, and resonates with everyone and every aspect of life. The illustrations are adorable.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
This isn’t a comment about the book itself but about my observations of life in the 19th century as revealed by Austen and some of the other writers during the period. What makes them all so fascinating is the colorful description of normal life that makes even a events like going for a walk seem so pleasurable. And then again, there are the lavish houses, alluring costumes, the snooty privileged class, the nosy parkers, … Sense and Sensibility is really not an exception. While it lacks the humor element of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, it more than makes up for it with the drama. However, it is really not the only book that is limited to its theme – i.e. the ability to judge situations (sense) and a sensitivity towards aesthetic issues (sensibility).
Shalimar the Clown: A Novel by Salman Rushdie
Not a big fan of his writing style in this book. It was too verbose and full of metaphors, emotional descriptions and superfluous tangents. On the whole it was a bit confusing and unconvincing in terms of the murder not being related to a religious conflict. His portrayal of the Indian army’s rough treatment was also an exaggeration.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
A very insightful book about spiritual consciousness and a quest for self. For it's small size this book takes us on a long spiritual journey that is powerful and inspiring. The narrative is a lot more detached than it is preachy and therefore is more accessible to those who hate being spoon-fed.
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
This is definitely one of the more difficult reads. There's a lot that is implied and very little in terms of rising action. The void that the reader experiences is possibly what Kawabata wants to convey about the Snow Country and the emotional depth of the story. The way in which nature creates the ambience of the story, is captivating and evokes a lot of visual and emotional senses.
Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence
It took me a while to get over the perversion around incest. Now that I see the book more objectively, this is what I have to say: the characters are dull, the moral dilemma is even dated for it’s own time and the language was too colloquial to the point where it had absolutely no charm.
Sophie’s World - The Novel About The History Of Philo by Jostein Garder
This book made philosophy so enjoyable that I suspect it is the culprit behind my fascination for this subject. This book is really a great introduction to philosophy in the form of a novel. It chronologically covers all the major philosophical and theological schools of thought.
Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
Magical isn't the word that comes to mind, given that it is a book of magical tales written for wizards, which is what is most appealing about the stories. They aren't about the triumph of good over evil with the help of magic, but, about the triumph of good over bad through one's personal choices. In that regard, the stories are as applicable to wizards as they are for muggles. Dumbledore's notes are not enlightening as you would expect, but are amusing nevertheless and sometimes serve to augment the message.The tone of the book is iffy - Dumbledore's notes, Rowling's clarifications for muggles, and that it is a translation from ancient runes by Hermione - somehow don't add up nicely. Rownling seems to use the notes more to squeeze all the different interpretations of the stories that she couldn't fit directly into the stories! But, I don't mind all the spoon-feeding :)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Poor Woman by Thomas Hardy
This is my favorite Thomas Hardy book. The story itself is heartbreaking and
I was very touched by Tess’ character that her agony was unbearable at times. As always Hardy uses his pastoral setting effectively to convey every emotion that Tess goes through – be it her excitement or fatigue, her fortitude or despair. This is the only book that I can think of that flawlessly mirrors the historic setting and the theological ideas of its time.
The Best of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
Collected Short Stories of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
It’s not fair on Roald Dahl to be called “like O. Henry” just because I don’t see O. Henry as anymore a genius than Roald Dahl. But they do share the twist in the end. Roald Dahl’s short stories are more dark, humorous, suspenseful and horrific. Even so, there is a great sense of morality, just as we see in his children’s books. This one with more mature content is by far my favorite of his writings.
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
This book is about a lonely suicidal kid, but is in the least bit depressing. It is one of those rare books where you empathize with a character despite the fact that you are nothing like him. That said, we are all irrational or confused, disillusioned or illogical (at times) that some of the things the kid says is amusing in a way that is embarrassingly true of us and the way we react. I liked the book but I still don't know why this is a classic.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I watched the movie before I read the books, but I was still fascinated with the story. The Christian allegory is a lot more obvious in the books, but it’s more refreshing than bothersome. After all, religious books are entertaining, especially fantasy-based/ mythological stories.
The Classic 1000 Indian Recipes by Wendy Hobson
It has every Indian recipe under the sun and yet it lacks that something that makes it completely authentic. I always start with the intention of trying a recipe in the book and then end up making my own. I just don’t trust it enough. It has just too many masalas for my liking.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Roy’s absurd language seemed to distract me from the narrative. The sentences were either too simplistic or complicated, too subtle or too dramatic. It just completely lacked rhythm. It is a pretentious book with a fascinating story , but an incoherent plot. It should have been written by someone else.
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Trilogy) by Philip Pullman
Having watched the film first, I read it only with the expectation that it will cover more ground. Literally, it did. Lyra traveled a lot more and endured challenge after challenge as she lived with Mrs. Coulter, voyaged with the Gypsies, rode on Iorek’s back, rescued the kids from Bolvangar, challenged Iofur, uncovered the secrets of her father (and mother) and moved up to the sky. But, what it did more than I anticipated is take on a theological angle in a fantasy setting, but in a way that feels more real and less magical. Despite the witches and daemons, the narrative seems more than just fantasy-like, which is why it was so powerful and intriguing. It leaves you with so much to think about and is very challenging without obviously seeming so. It’s a very dark book, and you don’t realize it until you come to the very end.
The Golden Gate by Vikram Seth
Only Seth can write a book in the form of 690 rhyming tetrameter sonnets and have us enjoy it and not be intimidated by it. It's witty, it's warm and it's completely brilliant. Some of the phrases he uses are just hilarious.
Taking a walk is such a big deal.
"We're a good match: Liz dresses well;
She's dynamite in bed--but brother!
Her cerebellum's shot to hell."
The Great Cat Massacre: And Other Episodes in French Cultural History by Robert Darnton
For those of us who grew up listening to nursery rhymes, fairy tales and folk stories, this book explains their humbling origins. The essays give a fascinating account of the intellectual contributions during Age of Enlightenment, in 17th century France.
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor
Tharoor is one of the most astute authors I have read. The melange of mythology with pre-independence politics was quite interesting, and leaves you with a lot to think about. There are some parts fo the narrative that are extremely profound and insightful even. But, sometimes it is overwhelming because he touches on a whole array of issues, that keep coming at you one after the other, if not all at once, before you can take it all in. And then there are some provocative parts that almost border on offensive, that make you quite angry! Sometimes, he also seems to try too hard to draw the correlation between mahabharata and Indian politics, which is not necessarily a bad thing, given that it is a daunting task. One couldn't possibly have done much better than he did. But, you are certainly made aware ofhis struggle to make it all come together. But on the whole, it is one of the most perceptive fictional novels I have read.
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen
Very practical doable solutions to living an eco-friendly life. The statistics get annoying after a point. Consuming less of everything is good, is the running theme of the book. But, their suggestion that every aspect of human life can be improved should not demotivate people from improving at least some aspects of their life!
The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, by Joseph C. Jenkins
I am just not mentally prepared to do anything with my manure except flush it down a western toilet. If this book did not inspire me, I don’t know what will. At the same time, I am now more environmentally conscious and am inspired to figure out other ways to be environmentally friendly while being less demanding on my spouse.
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
It was a tedious read, but one that I was completely willing to go through for the exciting story and my love for the characters... I learnt later that Fagles translations are a lot more accessible. Too bad, I am not planning to go back to them in a long long time.
The Island Of The Colorblind By Oliver Sacks
I can’t make up my mind on whether this is a captivating travelogue first or the most intriguing neurological exploration. Oliver sacks travels to the most peculiar Micronesian island called Pingelap, where a majority of the inhabitants are colorblind. The disease is more astounding than unfortunate, and the life on the island is as surreal as the scenery itself. A must read, no matter what you read the book for – the scientific study, the gripping narrative, or the travel expedition.
The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Stories by Oliver Sacks.
Sacks has a knack for making the bizarre sound fascinating. What is astounding is how much the human brain can go wrong and what that reveals about our mind. Sacks has a way with words. His explanations are a real treat for a curious reader.
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
Here is an example of how tiny drops make a mighty ocean. If the saying does not say it, this story certainly will. This book may very well prove the proposition: the size of a book is inversely proportionate to its impact on the reader. It may also prove that a fictional story pretending to be true is just as inspiring as a true story intending to make an impact. The title of the book, if taken literally suggests what it is about, but to elabore, it is about an admirable man who spends his solitary life planting trees in a barren abandoned land, soon to create a forest, replenish the river, and re-establish villages - all in silence.
The Mind Tree: A Miraculous Child Breaks the Silence of Autism by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
One of the most profoundly beautiful books I have read, which is so full of wonder and imagination. I wish I could express myself as eloquently as he does! What's especially amazing is the many different styles of writing that he plays with - theirs the poetic, the biographical, the fictional and the prose, written in first and third person. He even writes little snippets about life from the point of view of challenged kids and a tree! I can't think of a book that has made me smile as much as this one has in recent times.
The Myth of Sisyphus: and Other Essays by Albert Camus
I struggled through this book and I am glad I did. It's almost ironical that I hesitantly rolled the stone up the mountain to appreciate Camus' meaning of life, and then ran down with it to understand philosophical suicide!
The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco
The whole purpose of this book was not its gripping detective plot, but the philosophical tangents that Eco takes during the investigation. That said, it gets annoying sometimes and is a real drag. Eco should learn to let detective novels be detective novels and philosophical books be philosophical books until he learns to do a better job of bringing the two together.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
This book changed my opinion about Lahiri. She is indeed a very eloquent writer. It does not have any pompous language and vague metaphors that are characteristic of recent Indian writers. The Namesake followed the life of a family, with each part of the story seen from different points of view (except the sister's). My heart went out to Gogol's mom as she forgot her gifts bag in the train, I empathized with Gogol's frustration with his name, and his father's perseverance is very relatable to most immigrant Indian men. The only drawback for me is the lack of closure with the mom's story. Also, Gogol's sister seemed so insignificant to the story, that I didn’t see a great need for her character. All in all the book was very enjoyable.
The Nature Handbook: A guide to Observing the Great Outdoors by Ernest H. Williams Jr.
This is the best nature book I have read. Its a small and very colorful book with interesting information about everything from why autumn leaves change color to why butterflies have eyespots. It's extremely enjoyable and one that will change how you look at things around you even when you go on your everyday walk.
The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
An incredible short novel that is vibrant, full of spirit and touching. I know of its religious symbolism, but what really struck home was the humanity and the old man’s endurance.
The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher by Julian Baggini
Each chapter is a short story or scenario that raises provocative questions about our beliefs. It's definitely stimulating if not illuminating, and makes for great conversation.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
A rich and colorful tapestry of life in the 12th century. You almost feel like you are a part of that era. The characters are magnificent. One of those books that looks intimidating at first sight but draws you in from the very first page.
The Roald Dahl Treasury by Roald Dahl
This book has excerpts from Roald Dahl’s greatest children’s novels. I have read a lot of the originals but didn’t want to make separate entries for each, as I have nothing more than words of praise for his works. Added to that this one has some fantastic short stories, rhymes, memoirs and personal letters. He’s just the most brilliant kid’s novelist ever.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The second time I read the book, it was being sold as a Kaplan SAT Score-Raising Classic. I don't know if I want to limit its scope to just that, considering how many books and movies it inspired with it's theme. This is one of those few books whose adaptations are read and viewed a lot more than the original. Stevenson's original is a rich and powerful read that gives us a fresh sense of human morality. Not reading it would be like appreciating Shakespeare's Othello by reading the three page summary of the story.
The Travels of Marco Polo - by Marco Polo and Ronald Latham
This was unputdownable! If you are done marveling at the latitude of places, history and culture that Marco Polo covers over his many years of travel in the East, and have laughed your head off at his wonderment and his blind beliefs in the myths of the time, you will see how observant he was of the events that shaped the religion and politics of countries. He is certainly a person to tell stories and he does that with style.
Let's not trivialize the book by suggesting the "fictitious" aspects of his narration. If anything, they are an indication of the beliefs of the time, including Marco Polo's. But, what is humbling is in fact his travel itself through the worst of situations sometimes, in every mode of transport possible and through many difficult times.
The book is fantasy, adventure, politics and history, geography and environment, religion, culture and mythology all rolled into one. How does one beat that!
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephanie Meyer
At the core of it, it is a teenage vampiric romance novel. And once you have accepted that, it leaves you longing to see Edward Cullen's beautiful face and chiseled body. The book's romance lingers in my mind several days after I've read it. There are thoughts about beauty, of life and death, and what it means to be human. While Bella's narrative felt like being spoon-fed, it still left a lot to the imagination.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A lot of contemptuous gobbledegook. The protagonist's thoughts unrealistically alternate between wide-eyed villager to the worldly-wise thinker. The motive for the murder was unconvincing. That being said, the book gets consistently better after the fourth day with the rooster-coop explanation.
The Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate Ascher
The book covers every aspect of New York's innards, and illustrates how the city is wired in the most fascinating way possible. A dry subject about water, electricity and phone lines, parking meters, pot holes, metro system, traffic lights.. you name it, but written excellently in the most engaging way possible. A great treat and definitely a book to read no matter which city you live in.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book is a masterpiece. It completely changed my life as a kid. Atticus Finch's perseverance and Scout's innocence is awe-inspiring. I have the greatest respect for the characters in the story and a deep sympathy for those who suffered prejudice. The movie is equally brilliant.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Most often books written about comics are either about its rich history or a tutorial on how to create one. McCloud's version is a lucid presentation on appreciating the cultural aspects of this art form. It is also one of the most entertaining books in illustrated form.
Unaccustomed Earth
As with all Jhumpa's books, this one is a visual treat. Her detailed descriptions of ambiance and culture are evocative and elicit a sense of nostalgia. Her stories in Unaccustomed Earth end suddenly (either with a twist, or with an open "such is life" type of statement). The portrayal of NRIs in her books are depressing and sometimes plain negative but very relatable and realistic.
Vegetarian (Best of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library) by Chuck Williams and Allan Rosenberg
This is one of those attractive books with colorful images of food that must be eaten off the page. I have also found that the recipes are very simple and comforting and look as fresh and delicious as they do in the book. While most of it is filled with soups, sides and starters that we are all familiar with and love, the book also introduced me to a world that I have been quite apprehensive to try- like fennels, farfalles, butternut squash, parsnips and adzuki beans.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
This novel is complete, in the range of emotions and actions, the assortment of characters, the representation of 19th century Russia, and in general the depiction of human complexity. The novel has the most compelling storyline, together with tragedy, melodrama and romance. It’s long, but it’s worth it.
Where's Bin Laden by Daniel Lalic
The books is inspired by Where's Waldo, but this is definitely the funnier version. The mission is to find Bin Laden and his accomplices who are hiding in major cities of the world. It's high profile and wacky.
Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson
I don’t generally like preachy self-help books but this one was short and not torturous. More than anything I like it because of it’s parody “I Moved Your Cheese”.
Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book by Donald Palmer
This documentary comic series is just perfect for inquisitive people who want to know everything about everything. From Clowns for beginners to post modernism, these books are quirky and brilliant. You can’t expect to know everything after reading a comic book of 100 pages but you will be surprised at how much you’ll learn and enjoy.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Dark, wicked, brooding and in the least bit romantic. Completely enjoyed it. It was brilliant in an unsettling kind of way.
Young and Hungry: More Than 100 Recipes for Cooking Fresh and Affordable Food for Everyone by Dave Lieberman
This book is as young and charming as Dave Lieberman himself. I like how he gives you a peek into his life and childhood and makes each recipe personal and enjoyable. Not the most useful book, but one that will make you fall in love with cooking. I also like his tips on how to equip the kitchen on a tight economic budget.
Yuganta by Iravati Karve
How many epic interpretations have we read and enjoyed so much that it inspires us to read the actual epic itself? Yuganta was my first of this kind.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig.
This is a book to devour thoroughly, completely and entirely. One of the most gripping narratives written within the philosophical-adventure genre (if such a thing exists).
Funny and interesting, but not one to be taken too seriously. It's 101 things to ponder about and try for kicks, hopefully until they become a life-time habit to the author's delight (cos it indirectly points to 101 things to DO until you die).
1984 by George Orwell
This book is certainly one of the most important reads of the century. A book that left me shaken and troubled for days after I read the last four words– “he loved big brother”. They struck me like a whetted knife. =)
A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness: From Impostor Poodles to Purple Numbers by VS Ramachandran
One of the greatest expositors in the medical field elucidates on things that are deeply philosophical in as scientific a way as possible by a neuroscientist. Ramachandran delves into an area of science that is mostly speculative as of today, but is equally intriguing to both philosophers and neuroscientists. The book is illuminating, entertaining, charming and insightful. It is a book that changed my perspective on life.
A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
A very simple book with memoirs of Vonnegut that touch on everything from war to environmental destruction to people. It is the kind of book that you casually mull over, your thoughts dancing lightly as you grasp little things that seem profound and yet so straightforward.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
I am a huge fan of Seth's writings, so this is going to be very hard to say. A Suitable Boy is very detailed and thought provoking but it seemed sort of questionable in terms of historical accuracy!
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This short Dickens novel overcompensates for its size with its powerful portrayal of the French revolution. While Dickens remains cautiously optimistic throughout the novel that France can recover, the tone of the novel speaks to the regression of humanity, rather than advertise any real hope for its enlightened progress.
A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich
Heinrich's knowledge of the woods is awe-inspiring, his life in the four seasons is fascinating, and nature is humbling, and that is what you take from the book. I was surprised to see descriptions of everything from tree buds to insects, flowers, ravens and coyotes. Like Henirich says, if you cant recognize a bird or name it, it would for all practical purposes not exist, and that's exactly how I felt when I read the book. My ignorance of every living species he covered meant that it did not (for all practical purposes) exist.
A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke
This has to be one of the most boring books I have read. The humor is substandard and the author's opinions in general are shallow. Even though I expected the book to make fun of the French, the author’s observation of life in France (the strikes, the dog poop, the people, the women) is superficial and sometimes quite shocking.
Alchemist: A fable about following your dream by Paulo Coelho
This is one of those rare books that is preachy in an inspiring way. A simplistic book with a profound story that is more motivating than any fictional novel I've ever read.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
A well-crafted story where three plots converge into one cohesive culmination, in the most unique way possible. This book takes comic experience to new heights. Both visually and expressively, it is beautiful and thought-provoking. The timeline can be slightly confusing.
An Equal Music by Vikram Seth
Seth is one of the most eloquent writers of this century. His language in An Equal Music is especially inviting. The novel takes us on an emotional ride that is so beautifully written that I literally hunted down all the music pieces that he describes in the novel. Luckily now the music CD is available in all stores. It is a must have.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
A book of great symbolic value on the failure of communism and how power corrupts. A simple fable reduced to a single phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Unfair or not. Very accurate.
Aunt Erma's Cope Book by Erma Bombeck
This is the only Erma book I have read and I really love it. Bombeck is a riot. She is witty and humorous and so relatable. I enjoyed every bit of this book, especially because of my own reluctance to try self-help books, and some curiosity on whether they really help or not.
Blindness by Jose Saramago
Its a story of how the true human spirit emerges in the time of crisis. It's allegorical of a lot of things, especially of political systems, our quest for survival, our priorities and our idea of everyday life. The lack of character names and quotation marks, the overuse of commas to interject reflections in page long sentences add to the chaos that is the timeless and universal disease of white blindness.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Huxley wrote Brave New World as if he had glimpsed in a crystal ball and saw life as it is today. It is the only science fiction book I’ve both read and enjoyed. It is insightful and compelling, much in the lines of Orwell’s 1984. The book holds a disturbing secret behind the highly ordered world, where humans are mass-produced and conditioned.
Buddha by Osamu Tezuka (Vol. 1 & 2)
Osamu's manga comic series dives into the heart of Buddhist beginnings with the first two volumes, exploring societal outlook and the politics of that time in an engrossing tale thats entertaining and enriching. The story is still not about Buddha as much as it is about the social system. For most part, the humor is slapsticky-cheesy, but does not seem to evoke a lot of other emotions. It could have been more stimulating.
Bye Bye Black Bird by Anita Desai
One of the first few books to explore the life of Indian immigrants and their love-hate relationship with a western country. I might have picked the wrong book to get a sense of Desai's writings, because I don't see why she is such an acclaimed writer.
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
A terrifyingly funny novel. It is really not about the madness of war. It is about the moral dilemma of an individual caught up in the mob hysteria of war. The book’s film adaptation is equally riveting.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
This book is pure magic. Should be read first at the age of 5, then at 15 and then at 25... and you know what comes next, but I'm not there yet!
Collected works of PG Wodehouse by PG Wodehouse
Plum’s collected works are clever and full of peculiar characters that find themselves in bizarre muddles that are impossible to fix. Funny and entertaining.
Comics & Sequential Art by Will Eisner
This is not just a book on how to develop a comic strip, but one on how to read a comic strip. very interesting. The book shows us how much effort goes into creating a single strip. It is really about team work than about craft.
Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A history of Comic Art by Robert Sabin
Finally one of the greatest art forms gets its due in this awe-inspiring book by Sabin. This book really changed the way I look at comics. Its a history told with rich text and illustrations. A must read for comic lovers. Simply Brilliant!
Comics with an Attitude: A guide to the Use of Comics in Development Information by Leif Packalean and Frank Odoi
The title says it all. The book illuminates on the communication power of comics for development. Typical of all government works, the lackluster illustrations render the argument unconvincing. The book is not well written.
Complete works of O. Henry
His twisted endings apart, his stories bring out the ambience and the flavor of the setting with such splendor, that things as trivial as a lamppost seem curiously intriguing.
Cooking At Home With Pedatha by Pratibha Jain and Jigyasa Giri
My favorite cookbook by far. It has all the recipes of south indian food that we eat everyday - from rasams and sambars, to podis and pachadis, just the way we cook at home, without overdoing the spices or using complicated techniques. It's just the book to have no matter how long you have been cooking. Like me, Pedatha is also not very fond of sweets, but the book has some good recipes of payasams that I have both tried and enjoyed.
cool green stuff by Dave Evans
A very interesting guide to finding recycled, sustainable and renewable objects ranging from fashion and jewelry to electronic gadgets and home decor. It's a good first step to kick-starting a search for cutting-edge green stuff.
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
A book that every girl in her teens should read. It’s funny and sweet. It’s filled with the kind of stuff that sounds slightly sappy after we grow up.
Development As Freedom by Amartya Sen
His view on substansive human freedoms may seem like common sense, but its importance over the richness of the economy is a stimulating thought. In general, writers on human development tend to go into philosophical tangents, but Sen's conception is only overly optimistic about the possibilities enabled by rationality. The book does not lack objectivity. It's a good read with as little economic jargon as possible by an economist.
Do You Think What You Think You Think? by Julian Baggini
Yes, or at least the book thinks I think what I think I think. A fun book full of interesting exercises to see if your beliefs are in line with your actions.
Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel by Richard H. Minear, Dr. Seuss and Art Spiegelman
It must come as a surprise to see Dr. Seuss so strongly in favor of intervention during World War 2. With wonderful and humorous illustrations, he makes the point with great impact. Minear’s text did well in providing context; only some subtleties could have been expanded on a little more. Racial stereotyping excused.
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
This book is definitely not "time" consuming. It is full of quick interesting vignettes about time, specifically about what it means and what it is in different realities.
Emma by Jane Austen
If I was as flawed as Emma, my life would have been an entangled comedy, full of confusion and intrigue. It is an uphill read but one that is entirely captivating after the first few chapters. I was completely fascinated with the gossip generated from casual name-dropping and all the analyses of people's thoughts. Brilliant characterization and understanding of human emotions and behavior.
Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India's Poorest Districts by P. Sainath
This is Sainath's compelling account of the realities of rural poverty in India. If this does not stir our conscience, I don't know what will. The book left me teary-eyed and feeling completely numbed and helpless. A must read.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Must be read just for his breathtakingly evocative language, the descriptions of the rustic folk and the country, the ambience of the changing times and an enlightened sense of humor.
Flashman's Lady by George MacDonald Fraser
A bit of real history, a lot of adventure, amorous encounters, brevity and cowardice, tons to deceitfulness, horror, daring, humor, stupidity and mischievous behavior. What else can you ask for? This is perhaps one of the most well researched and well written books I have read, with unbelievable attention to detail. The narrative is ornately descriptive, and thought provoking even. There are some instances where Flashman, despite outwardly projecting himself as an insensitive bully, shows genuine "feeling". Poor guy did go through a lot!
I enjoyed all the annotations and end notes with clarifications on Flashman's sometimes dubious recollections, and the authors effort to authenticate the events as having taken place in reality!
Flashman's wife is adorable. Don Solomon and White Rajah are people of character, after all huh! and that Ranavalona - what an evil tyrant witch! (although wikipedia says people in magadascar don't see her as as the Mad Queen!
Fog horn by Ray Bradbury
I read this short story as a recommendation after I read Life of Pi. Somehow I was not impressed.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I have the bad habit of reading reviews before I read classics. With Frankenstein I had to read reviews before and after, because I couldn’t tell why this one is a classic. This book was a difficult read and in the least bit involving.
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple
Im still a little shaken from learning about how whole civilizations disappeared over time as a result of invasion and religious subjugation. Secular countries have been ripped out and cultures erased systematically through a kind of religious genocide and replaced with fundamentalist faith. But, my emotion comes less from the book itself and more from all the side reading it triggered.
Dalrymple travels through the same path in the byzantine area as that of John moschos' in the 5th century, narrating the fate of christianity, which is in the brink of extinction.
I would have liked to learn more about the rich christian heritage and how Byzantine was in the good times when everyone got along, for it seems like even during Moschos' own time, the religion was struggling to survive in many places. Dalrymple also seemed somewhat intolerant towards Islam at times. But what comes through in the book is the culture of silence around the disappearance of the center and of all christianity.
Dalrymple is funny and perceptive but the book does not hold as much interest as you would expect given the volatility of the matter being dealt with.
Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas
Light hearted account of Dumas' life, makes an entertaining read for on the plane or during a relaxed weekend. The stories are funny and her family is so likeable. It's a book that any immigrant will enjoy.
Globalization and its Discontents by Joseph E. Stiglitz
The only book I know that has insightful anecdotes about global institutions and their economy. The book gives a balanced and impassioned view on globalization (and its discontents).
Graphic Storytelling & Visual Narrative by Will Eisner
If you have ever drawn a comic strip yourself or have had the urge to do so, this book is for you.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I read the abridged version as a kid in school and re-read it many years later to find it completely brilliant and engaging. It's a book that a kid should never read until he grows up and can appreciate the infinitely detailed plot and a sense of Pip's class strivings and his personal development.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
JK Rowling's works are nothing less than magical. I haven't read anything that has captured my attention as much as this series. One can only wonder how the plot was developed over seven books almost flawlessly. There are still some holes that need filling up, and that leaves the readers with a desire for more.
House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar
Kerala’s history is a peculiar one. It encompasses the country’s divisiveness, the entrenched caste system and patriarchy, the influence of British colonialism in everything from religion to government affairs. Yet it does not completely represent Indian history and seems like a country of it’s own. Davidar's dramatic writing style with a descriptions of the ambience was riveting for most part, but tedious at times. The book was too long.
How to Land Your Dream Job by Jeffrey J. Fox
This may not get you in the door immediately, but it will definitely motivate you to do somehting about landing your dream job. Most of the tips are really useful, like how to write a resuletter, but some are unreasonable, like sending an image of yourself at work to your prospective employer.
How To Travel With A Salmon And Other Essays by Umberto Eco
For a man who can barely write a sentence that is less than a page long and without digressing from the main subject and nesting points inside points, it is surprising how simple, funny and inquisitive this book is. A good vacation read.
I Moved Your Cheese by Darrel Bristow-Bovey
A parody of Who Moved Your Cheese. It’s quite enjoyable in the context of the original book. It’s preachy in a non-preachy way.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
A badly written book full of torturous pseudo-philosophical fluff. In general I love books on philosophy, but this one almost killed it for me.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Good book to read on a holiday. It is filled with moments that occur in our everyday life that impact the characters in a way that completely alters their lives. The plotlines are great, but parts of the book seem pretentious and the characters are rather flat.
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakaeur
An eyeopening narration of the murderous climb to the Everest, told by Krakaeur who is one of the few survivors of the 1996 disaster. Kraukeur discusses not only the experiences of his team, but also those of other teams during the expedition, going into some detail on the different schools of thought since early days of mountain climbing and how it has impacted the lives of many mountaineers and transformed the sport. I am so affected by the narration that I am unable express the shock and awe I feel towards the people and the sport. There is display of heroism, prowess and also fallacies and self-absorption but what affected me most is how much more mountaineering is than a recreational activity. It is a way of life, the subsistence of many, and has implications that transcend beyond the self - like humanity, politics and religion. Perhaps, I have undermined the book in this review. I can only say I am overwhelmed.
Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
This is another book I read as a kid and completely enjoyed the humor but thought the invisibility far-fetched. Obviously, today I can see why the book is brilliant and appreciate the exhilarating language and his exploration of identity. An intense novel.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
A soul-churning novel, supposedly the biography of Bronte herself. A book that brings out every emotion that we must go through as young adults. It is moving and contemplative.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
This is an improvement over Bach's other pseudo parables, although quite depressing and not very different in content. Luckily, the story of the seagull distracted me from the "moral".
Kant and the Platypus by Umberto Eco
Somehow this book doesn’t go beyond complex rambling about things that can be said simply and in less than 10 pages. It is a layman’s introduction to semiotics, language and cognition- only the writing is too complex for a layman and nondescript for a theorist.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A wonderful book, that is thought-provoking and enjoyable on so many levels, with many layers of interpretation. It raises a lot of interesting soul-searching questions.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
I can never understand the point behind filling a book with the most beautiful language but content that is sadistic and revolting.
Lord of the Rings Series by JRR. Tolkein
A completely captivating series. It flawlessly interweaves an unpredictable plot with thousands of characters in a make-believe world. Tolkein has an intricate sense of history that shines through.
Malgudi Landscapes: The Best of RK Narayan
It's probably the excitement with which I bought this book, or my lack of exposure, but RK Narayan's stories were all disappointing. While the stories themselves were entertaining, they all seemed to end quite abruptly. Even the language wasn't consistently good. His novels and short stories seemed like a poor imitation of O. Henry's.
Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found by Suketu Mehta
An admirable book written by one of the bravest commentators in the country. Also, a blood-curdling one, revealing the dark side of bombay, with untold stories covering every caste and class and everything from population to annihilation. Perhaps a tad obscene at times, but given that the realities of our people are presented as terrifying facts and not opinions, it seemed shockingly enlightening.
Mother by Maxim Gorky
Insightful and emotional in a melodramatic way. Found this book extremely thought-provoking and perceptive towards the war against autocracy in Russia.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
One of the most unpredictable books I have read in recent times. It is filled with every possible emotion that one can feel over a stretch of a few hundred pages. The book is full of action. It is an emotional rollercoaster written in the most beautiful language.
Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheeler
One of the most straightforward books I have read that makes basic economic principles sound very interesting, with many thought-provoking real-life examples!
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Only Dickens can make you feel pathos with language that’s poignant and evocative. His characters are real and his story compelling. The book gives an excellent sense of the hardships of the poor in England.
Omnibus Volumes of Dr. Seuss by Dr. Seuss
Rollicking… whimsical… fun funny funtastical.
Orlando: A biography by Virginia Woolf
It is fascinating how the subject in the beginning is a young boy during the Elizabethan era and changes into a liberated woman in his mid-thirties three hundred years later. This is about sexual identity and gender roles in the English society, written in the most surrealistic way possible. Not sure if anyone but Woolf could have written this book. It’s brilliant.
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
Some biographical stories, some fictional, each in some way connected to an element in the periodic table. In most cases, the link to the element is only metaphorical. Levi manages to bring out every emotion in the spectrum. Having lived through fascist regime as a victim in a nazi concentration camp, having seen poverty, and also having enjoyed unique privileges as a result of his profession, and meeting interesting people in many walks of life, he has stories to tell! He is one of the most poetic writers I have read. There are some really delightful and humorous stories as well.
Persepolis 1 & 2: by Marjane Satrapi
A very interesting auto-biography of an Iranian woman during the war in comic form that was illustrated and written by Satrapi herself. The book was both revealing and entertaining. A better version of Donald Palmer’s Documentary Comic Books.
Phantoms in the brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind – by VS Ramachandran
This book really blew my mind. Ramachandran is a fantastic writer. He is witty, extremely knowledgeable and exceptionally gifted. His projection of how the brain works with fascinating clinical stories was awe-inspiring. It is a book that is accessible to non-medical students, but one I suspect most medical professionals find stimulating.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This is one of the greatest romantic novels I have read. It has some of the most memorable characters and the wittiest dialogues brought vividly to life. Jane Austen provides a stunning impression of life as it was in 19th century England. The story is perfectly balanced and the language is absolutely delightful.
Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki
Despite the writer’s brilliant translation, never have I regretted not knowing Tamil as much as when I read Kalki's Ponniyin Selvan - once a magazine series, now South India’s classic epic. This is the only epic story I have truly enjoyed. It is historically accurate although completely fictional, culturally enlightening although regionally restrictive, and extremely absorbing despite being hugely descriptive.
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
A quick read (a few minutes). For a wordless graphic novel, it expresses a lot of emotion. It's among a very few books that you spend less time reading and more time reflecting on things (like life, love, failed relationships and moving on). It's sweet, bittersweet, and resonates with everyone and every aspect of life. The illustrations are adorable.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
This isn’t a comment about the book itself but about my observations of life in the 19th century as revealed by Austen and some of the other writers during the period. What makes them all so fascinating is the colorful description of normal life that makes even a events like going for a walk seem so pleasurable. And then again, there are the lavish houses, alluring costumes, the snooty privileged class, the nosy parkers, … Sense and Sensibility is really not an exception. While it lacks the humor element of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, it more than makes up for it with the drama. However, it is really not the only book that is limited to its theme – i.e. the ability to judge situations (sense) and a sensitivity towards aesthetic issues (sensibility).
Shalimar the Clown: A Novel by Salman Rushdie
Not a big fan of his writing style in this book. It was too verbose and full of metaphors, emotional descriptions and superfluous tangents. On the whole it was a bit confusing and unconvincing in terms of the murder not being related to a religious conflict. His portrayal of the Indian army’s rough treatment was also an exaggeration.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
A very insightful book about spiritual consciousness and a quest for self. For it's small size this book takes us on a long spiritual journey that is powerful and inspiring. The narrative is a lot more detached than it is preachy and therefore is more accessible to those who hate being spoon-fed.
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
This is definitely one of the more difficult reads. There's a lot that is implied and very little in terms of rising action. The void that the reader experiences is possibly what Kawabata wants to convey about the Snow Country and the emotional depth of the story. The way in which nature creates the ambience of the story, is captivating and evokes a lot of visual and emotional senses.
Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence
It took me a while to get over the perversion around incest. Now that I see the book more objectively, this is what I have to say: the characters are dull, the moral dilemma is even dated for it’s own time and the language was too colloquial to the point where it had absolutely no charm.
Sophie’s World - The Novel About The History Of Philo by Jostein Garder
This book made philosophy so enjoyable that I suspect it is the culprit behind my fascination for this subject. This book is really a great introduction to philosophy in the form of a novel. It chronologically covers all the major philosophical and theological schools of thought.
Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
Magical isn't the word that comes to mind, given that it is a book of magical tales written for wizards, which is what is most appealing about the stories. They aren't about the triumph of good over evil with the help of magic, but, about the triumph of good over bad through one's personal choices. In that regard, the stories are as applicable to wizards as they are for muggles. Dumbledore's notes are not enlightening as you would expect, but are amusing nevertheless and sometimes serve to augment the message.The tone of the book is iffy - Dumbledore's notes, Rowling's clarifications for muggles, and that it is a translation from ancient runes by Hermione - somehow don't add up nicely. Rownling seems to use the notes more to squeeze all the different interpretations of the stories that she couldn't fit directly into the stories! But, I don't mind all the spoon-feeding :)
Tess of the D'Urbervilles: A Poor Woman by Thomas Hardy
This is my favorite Thomas Hardy book. The story itself is heartbreaking and
I was very touched by Tess’ character that her agony was unbearable at times. As always Hardy uses his pastoral setting effectively to convey every emotion that Tess goes through – be it her excitement or fatigue, her fortitude or despair. This is the only book that I can think of that flawlessly mirrors the historic setting and the theological ideas of its time.
The Best of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
Collected Short Stories of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
It’s not fair on Roald Dahl to be called “like O. Henry” just because I don’t see O. Henry as anymore a genius than Roald Dahl. But they do share the twist in the end. Roald Dahl’s short stories are more dark, humorous, suspenseful and horrific. Even so, there is a great sense of morality, just as we see in his children’s books. This one with more mature content is by far my favorite of his writings.
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
This book is about a lonely suicidal kid, but is in the least bit depressing. It is one of those rare books where you empathize with a character despite the fact that you are nothing like him. That said, we are all irrational or confused, disillusioned or illogical (at times) that some of the things the kid says is amusing in a way that is embarrassingly true of us and the way we react. I liked the book but I still don't know why this is a classic.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
I watched the movie before I read the books, but I was still fascinated with the story. The Christian allegory is a lot more obvious in the books, but it’s more refreshing than bothersome. After all, religious books are entertaining, especially fantasy-based/ mythological stories.
The Classic 1000 Indian Recipes by Wendy Hobson
It has every Indian recipe under the sun and yet it lacks that something that makes it completely authentic. I always start with the intention of trying a recipe in the book and then end up making my own. I just don’t trust it enough. It has just too many masalas for my liking.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Roy’s absurd language seemed to distract me from the narrative. The sentences were either too simplistic or complicated, too subtle or too dramatic. It just completely lacked rhythm. It is a pretentious book with a fascinating story , but an incoherent plot. It should have been written by someone else.
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Trilogy) by Philip Pullman
Having watched the film first, I read it only with the expectation that it will cover more ground. Literally, it did. Lyra traveled a lot more and endured challenge after challenge as she lived with Mrs. Coulter, voyaged with the Gypsies, rode on Iorek’s back, rescued the kids from Bolvangar, challenged Iofur, uncovered the secrets of her father (and mother) and moved up to the sky. But, what it did more than I anticipated is take on a theological angle in a fantasy setting, but in a way that feels more real and less magical. Despite the witches and daemons, the narrative seems more than just fantasy-like, which is why it was so powerful and intriguing. It leaves you with so much to think about and is very challenging without obviously seeming so. It’s a very dark book, and you don’t realize it until you come to the very end.
The Golden Gate by Vikram Seth
Only Seth can write a book in the form of 690 rhyming tetrameter sonnets and have us enjoy it and not be intimidated by it. It's witty, it's warm and it's completely brilliant. Some of the phrases he uses are just hilarious.
Taking a walk is such a big deal.
"We're a good match: Liz dresses well;
She's dynamite in bed--but brother!
Her cerebellum's shot to hell."
The Great Cat Massacre: And Other Episodes in French Cultural History by Robert Darnton
For those of us who grew up listening to nursery rhymes, fairy tales and folk stories, this book explains their humbling origins. The essays give a fascinating account of the intellectual contributions during Age of Enlightenment, in 17th century France.
The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor
Tharoor is one of the most astute authors I have read. The melange of mythology with pre-independence politics was quite interesting, and leaves you with a lot to think about. There are some parts fo the narrative that are extremely profound and insightful even. But, sometimes it is overwhelming because he touches on a whole array of issues, that keep coming at you one after the other, if not all at once, before you can take it all in. And then there are some provocative parts that almost border on offensive, that make you quite angry! Sometimes, he also seems to try too hard to draw the correlation between mahabharata and Indian politics, which is not necessarily a bad thing, given that it is a daunting task. One couldn't possibly have done much better than he did. But, you are certainly made aware ofhis struggle to make it all come together. But on the whole, it is one of the most perceptive fictional novels I have read.
The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen
Very practical doable solutions to living an eco-friendly life. The statistics get annoying after a point. Consuming less of everything is good, is the running theme of the book. But, their suggestion that every aspect of human life can be improved should not demotivate people from improving at least some aspects of their life!
The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, by Joseph C. Jenkins
I am just not mentally prepared to do anything with my manure except flush it down a western toilet. If this book did not inspire me, I don’t know what will. At the same time, I am now more environmentally conscious and am inspired to figure out other ways to be environmentally friendly while being less demanding on my spouse.
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
It was a tedious read, but one that I was completely willing to go through for the exciting story and my love for the characters... I learnt later that Fagles translations are a lot more accessible. Too bad, I am not planning to go back to them in a long long time.
The Island Of The Colorblind By Oliver Sacks
I can’t make up my mind on whether this is a captivating travelogue first or the most intriguing neurological exploration. Oliver sacks travels to the most peculiar Micronesian island called Pingelap, where a majority of the inhabitants are colorblind. The disease is more astounding than unfortunate, and the life on the island is as surreal as the scenery itself. A must read, no matter what you read the book for – the scientific study, the gripping narrative, or the travel expedition.
The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Stories by Oliver Sacks.
Sacks has a knack for making the bizarre sound fascinating. What is astounding is how much the human brain can go wrong and what that reveals about our mind. Sacks has a way with words. His explanations are a real treat for a curious reader.
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono
Here is an example of how tiny drops make a mighty ocean. If the saying does not say it, this story certainly will. This book may very well prove the proposition: the size of a book is inversely proportionate to its impact on the reader. It may also prove that a fictional story pretending to be true is just as inspiring as a true story intending to make an impact. The title of the book, if taken literally suggests what it is about, but to elabore, it is about an admirable man who spends his solitary life planting trees in a barren abandoned land, soon to create a forest, replenish the river, and re-establish villages - all in silence.
The Mind Tree: A Miraculous Child Breaks the Silence of Autism by Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
One of the most profoundly beautiful books I have read, which is so full of wonder and imagination. I wish I could express myself as eloquently as he does! What's especially amazing is the many different styles of writing that he plays with - theirs the poetic, the biographical, the fictional and the prose, written in first and third person. He even writes little snippets about life from the point of view of challenged kids and a tree! I can't think of a book that has made me smile as much as this one has in recent times.
The Myth of Sisyphus: and Other Essays by Albert Camus
I struggled through this book and I am glad I did. It's almost ironical that I hesitantly rolled the stone up the mountain to appreciate Camus' meaning of life, and then ran down with it to understand philosophical suicide!
The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco
The whole purpose of this book was not its gripping detective plot, but the philosophical tangents that Eco takes during the investigation. That said, it gets annoying sometimes and is a real drag. Eco should learn to let detective novels be detective novels and philosophical books be philosophical books until he learns to do a better job of bringing the two together.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
This book changed my opinion about Lahiri. She is indeed a very eloquent writer. It does not have any pompous language and vague metaphors that are characteristic of recent Indian writers. The Namesake followed the life of a family, with each part of the story seen from different points of view (except the sister's). My heart went out to Gogol's mom as she forgot her gifts bag in the train, I empathized with Gogol's frustration with his name, and his father's perseverance is very relatable to most immigrant Indian men. The only drawback for me is the lack of closure with the mom's story. Also, Gogol's sister seemed so insignificant to the story, that I didn’t see a great need for her character. All in all the book was very enjoyable.
The Nature Handbook: A guide to Observing the Great Outdoors by Ernest H. Williams Jr.
This is the best nature book I have read. Its a small and very colorful book with interesting information about everything from why autumn leaves change color to why butterflies have eyespots. It's extremely enjoyable and one that will change how you look at things around you even when you go on your everyday walk.
The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
An incredible short novel that is vibrant, full of spirit and touching. I know of its religious symbolism, but what really struck home was the humanity and the old man’s endurance.
The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher by Julian Baggini
Each chapter is a short story or scenario that raises provocative questions about our beliefs. It's definitely stimulating if not illuminating, and makes for great conversation.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
A rich and colorful tapestry of life in the 12th century. You almost feel like you are a part of that era. The characters are magnificent. One of those books that looks intimidating at first sight but draws you in from the very first page.
The Roald Dahl Treasury by Roald Dahl
This book has excerpts from Roald Dahl’s greatest children’s novels. I have read a lot of the originals but didn’t want to make separate entries for each, as I have nothing more than words of praise for his works. Added to that this one has some fantastic short stories, rhymes, memoirs and personal letters. He’s just the most brilliant kid’s novelist ever.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The second time I read the book, it was being sold as a Kaplan SAT Score-Raising Classic. I don't know if I want to limit its scope to just that, considering how many books and movies it inspired with it's theme. This is one of those few books whose adaptations are read and viewed a lot more than the original. Stevenson's original is a rich and powerful read that gives us a fresh sense of human morality. Not reading it would be like appreciating Shakespeare's Othello by reading the three page summary of the story.
The Travels of Marco Polo - by Marco Polo and Ronald Latham
This was unputdownable! If you are done marveling at the latitude of places, history and culture that Marco Polo covers over his many years of travel in the East, and have laughed your head off at his wonderment and his blind beliefs in the myths of the time, you will see how observant he was of the events that shaped the religion and politics of countries. He is certainly a person to tell stories and he does that with style.
Let's not trivialize the book by suggesting the "fictitious" aspects of his narration. If anything, they are an indication of the beliefs of the time, including Marco Polo's. But, what is humbling is in fact his travel itself through the worst of situations sometimes, in every mode of transport possible and through many difficult times.
The book is fantasy, adventure, politics and history, geography and environment, religion, culture and mythology all rolled into one. How does one beat that!
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) by Stephanie Meyer
At the core of it, it is a teenage vampiric romance novel. And once you have accepted that, it leaves you longing to see Edward Cullen's beautiful face and chiseled body. The book's romance lingers in my mind several days after I've read it. There are thoughts about beauty, of life and death, and what it means to be human. While Bella's narrative felt like being spoon-fed, it still left a lot to the imagination.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A lot of contemptuous gobbledegook. The protagonist's thoughts unrealistically alternate between wide-eyed villager to the worldly-wise thinker. The motive for the murder was unconvincing. That being said, the book gets consistently better after the fourth day with the rooster-coop explanation.
The Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate Ascher
The book covers every aspect of New York's innards, and illustrates how the city is wired in the most fascinating way possible. A dry subject about water, electricity and phone lines, parking meters, pot holes, metro system, traffic lights.. you name it, but written excellently in the most engaging way possible. A great treat and definitely a book to read no matter which city you live in.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book is a masterpiece. It completely changed my life as a kid. Atticus Finch's perseverance and Scout's innocence is awe-inspiring. I have the greatest respect for the characters in the story and a deep sympathy for those who suffered prejudice. The movie is equally brilliant.
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Most often books written about comics are either about its rich history or a tutorial on how to create one. McCloud's version is a lucid presentation on appreciating the cultural aspects of this art form. It is also one of the most entertaining books in illustrated form.
Unaccustomed Earth
As with all Jhumpa's books, this one is a visual treat. Her detailed descriptions of ambiance and culture are evocative and elicit a sense of nostalgia. Her stories in Unaccustomed Earth end suddenly (either with a twist, or with an open "such is life" type of statement). The portrayal of NRIs in her books are depressing and sometimes plain negative but very relatable and realistic.
Vegetarian (Best of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library) by Chuck Williams and Allan Rosenberg
This is one of those attractive books with colorful images of food that must be eaten off the page. I have also found that the recipes are very simple and comforting and look as fresh and delicious as they do in the book. While most of it is filled with soups, sides and starters that we are all familiar with and love, the book also introduced me to a world that I have been quite apprehensive to try- like fennels, farfalles, butternut squash, parsnips and adzuki beans.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
This novel is complete, in the range of emotions and actions, the assortment of characters, the representation of 19th century Russia, and in general the depiction of human complexity. The novel has the most compelling storyline, together with tragedy, melodrama and romance. It’s long, but it’s worth it.
Where's Bin Laden by Daniel Lalic
The books is inspired by Where's Waldo, but this is definitely the funnier version. The mission is to find Bin Laden and his accomplices who are hiding in major cities of the world. It's high profile and wacky.
Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson
I don’t generally like preachy self-help books but this one was short and not torturous. More than anything I like it because of it’s parody “I Moved Your Cheese”.
Writers and Readers Documentary Comic Book by Donald Palmer
This documentary comic series is just perfect for inquisitive people who want to know everything about everything. From Clowns for beginners to post modernism, these books are quirky and brilliant. You can’t expect to know everything after reading a comic book of 100 pages but you will be surprised at how much you’ll learn and enjoy.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Dark, wicked, brooding and in the least bit romantic. Completely enjoyed it. It was brilliant in an unsettling kind of way.
Young and Hungry: More Than 100 Recipes for Cooking Fresh and Affordable Food for Everyone by Dave Lieberman
This book is as young and charming as Dave Lieberman himself. I like how he gives you a peek into his life and childhood and makes each recipe personal and enjoyable. Not the most useful book, but one that will make you fall in love with cooking. I also like his tips on how to equip the kitchen on a tight economic budget.
Yuganta by Iravati Karve
How many epic interpretations have we read and enjoyed so much that it inspires us to read the actual epic itself? Yuganta was my first of this kind.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig.
This is a book to devour thoroughly, completely and entirely. One of the most gripping narratives written within the philosophical-adventure genre (if such a thing exists).
