The first part of a four novel fantasy series called the Inheritance Cycle, Eragon tells the story of young farm boy and how circumstances force him to become a hero, a saviour for a world reeling under the shadow of evil. And in this Eragon (that is the name of the protagonist)  is assisted by his loyal friend and companion, the dragon Saphira whose egg he discovers on a hunting trip. What follows is an intricate journey replete with dragons, urgals, dwarves, magic, elves – in short all the essential ingredients of a fantasy novel. And then there are some new elements like the Shades and the Ra’zac.

A fast paced book, Eragon boasts of some great characters and well described action sequences. Often fantasy novels make the mistake of having too much or too little background. In Eragon, Paolini has managed to keep a fine balance. There is enough lore, enough detail to engage the reader and yet, there is never an over dose of explanations. The characters, their roles, their powers, their history and their parts in the story all unfold gradually and in a beautiful symphony. The plot is intricate enough to excite adults, yet not too complicated or too gory for kids. Perhaps that accounts for its popularity.

Of course, Eragon is no Lord of the Rings and Paolini no Tolkein. There are times when some sequences in the novel just don’t make sense or seem out of place. At places, the story line drags too much and you wish you could just skip a few pages to get some real action. But Eragon’s real beauty lies in its emphasis on relationships. Eragon’s relationship with Saphira, Brom, Murtagh and his uncle are all well developed and show depth. What is also endearing is the fact that Eragon is not born a superhero. He is just an ordinary boy who discovers that he is capable of and meant for extraordinary deeds. In the course of his journey he errs, he stumbles, he needs help and these vulnerabilities make more believable, and more loveable. If he was born perfect, if he could defeat hordes of urgals or fight bands of Ra’zac single handedly then he would perhaps lose his charm . After all, even fantasy requires a touch of reality – an ability to relate to a character and believe that extraordinary adventures can happen to anyone; ordinary people are the people who go on to shape destinies.

Interestingly, the story behind Eragon has been as much in the news as the book itself.  Paolini started writing the book when he was 15 and completed it at the age of 19. He then self published the book with the help of his parents.  It is said that Paolini would don medieval costumes and sell copies of his books in schools, libraries etc, till one day his work was discovered by Alfred Knopf.  That marked turning point of his career.

So read this book if you are looking for a good fantasy read and pay attention to the names for Paolini sets a great store by them. He would sit for hours till he found the perfect name for his characters. The name Eragon he thought was perfect because it is very close to dragon – the other protagonist of this series. Replace the “D” in dragon with an “E” and you have the perfect dragon rider!!!!

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They are immortal descendants of noble birth. Enigmatic, powerful and possessing a thirst for human blood, vampires have featured in some of the most famous books throughout the ages. Their haunting presence has given life and a whole lot of blood to the role of characters such as Jonathan Harking, Dr. Goodweather and Buffy, who, if not for their unnatural rivals, might have crawled into anemic oblivion.

Here, in a match-up between two of the most famous vampires – The Count and young Mr. Cullen go head to head.

Who has a better bite?

So which one is the badder, faster and more powerful of out of the two?

Is it Bram Stoker’s archetypal, caped nosferatu or is it the mysterious teenager from Washington in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight? Participate in our poll and vote for whom you think deserves to win in this face-off between two of literature’s most famous vampires.

Ian Flemming

Think Ian Flemming and automatically the word James Bond comes to mind. But there is yet another popular book-turned-into-movie that Flemming gave us – one much less controversial and chauvinistic – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Yes, it was Flemming’s creation. Over the years Flemming has recieved much flake over the political incorrectness of his novels. Yet, despite the anti-communist, gender insensitive portrayal in his books, the fact remains that the Bond series have been big revenue earners, be it in the literary market or the cinematic one. In 2008, The Times ranked Flemming as number 14 on the list of 50 greatest British writers since 1945.

It is often said that the excessive habits and Devil May care attitude of James Bond was a reflection of Flemmings own character. “But I am greedy for life. I do too much of everything all the time. Suddenly one day my heart will fail. The Iron Crab will get me as it got my father. But I am not afraid of The Crab. At least I shall have died from an honourable disease. Perhaps they will put on my tombstone. ‘This Man Died from Living Too Much’.”

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Maeve Binchy

Born on May 28, 1940, Maeve Binchy is an Irish journalist turned novelist. Her first novel, LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE, made her famous in the UK and USA.

Her popular books include:

Quentins

The Lilac Bus

Gramdmas are warm and affectionate; always full of love, laughter, stories and that hidden stash of your favourite cookies. They support you when your parents get angry and pamper you with all those forbidden goodies. All kids love their grandmoms and should respect them. If they scold you, it is for your own good. But what if your Grandmom is not what she seems to be? What if she is an old grouch who asks you to eat cabbage full of slugs and worms and beetles? What if she bullies you and threatens to torture you with her wicked witch powers? It’s your hyper active imagination, most books will tell you. After all authors who write children’s books have a big responsibility – to instill good values. So they will talk of respecting adults, of how they want what is best for you and how you are misinterpreting them. Not so Roald Dahl. He won’t turn the story to show you how lovely granny really is. He will look at granny from the kid’s perspective and if she is evil, he will make sure that the kid gets his or her revenge. This is perhaps why kids love Roald Dahl. He doesn’t preach. He doesn’t tell them to behave themselves or that adults know best. Instead his stories tell things the way kids would like them. Dahl explains this, “The prime function of the children’s book writer is to write a book that is so absorbing, exciting, funny, fast and beautiful that the child will fall in love with it. And that first love affair between the young child and the young book will lead hopefully to other loves for other books and when that happens the battle is probably won. The child will have found a crock of gold. He will also have gained something that will help to carry him most marvelously through the tangles of his later years.”

And so Dahl’s stories are not just simple and refreshing, but hilarious too. ‘George’s Marvelous Medicine” is no different.

When George’s mean Grandma threatens to make his nails drop off and give him a tail, George decides she needs to be cured of her grouchiness and evil intentions. He creates the most marvelous potion for her. Needless to say his medicine causes a riot in the Kranky household. I won’t say more else it will spoil your enjoyment of the story.  The poems inserted by Dahl as George concocts his magic potion along with Blake’s illustrations add to its allure; a definite page turner you will not be able to put down this book till you have made it to the last page.

Like all of Dahl’s stories, George’s Marvelous Medicine is a fun read. And yet, underlying the wicked humour and mischief are emotions that we all encounter in our everyday lives – a son-in-law’s dislike of his selfish mother-in-law, a daughter’s frustration with her mother battling with her sense of duty, a man’s greed and need for fame, and most importantly, the fact, that adults are not perfect. Perhaps it is these snippets of our everyday emotions that make Dahl such a favourite among not just kids, but adults as well. After all they too were kids once and they too experienced these emotions. In Dahl’s writing they are reacquainted with the child within them – that is his genius.

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Kiran Bedi has dealt with criticizms for being “media-hungry” and controversial. Often, she has been transferred out of offices for trying to turn things around. But despite these complaints, she remains one of the most inspiring Indian public figures.

Packed with punch and spirit, her no holds barred narrative reveals the story behind this woman’s career path as the first woman officer of the Indian Police Service, and her decision to move on rather than become a part of dubious ‘history’. In the realm of recent bestsellers which have cashed in on the poverty stricken image of India and its failing systems, this is a book which will make any reader proud to be an Indian.

From the first few chapters which describe her early career years, it is evident that Kiran Bedi has always dared to swim against the current. Progressing on to her personal life, the book delves a little deeper into her real life roles as a wife, daughter and role model. There are a couple of chapters as well which highlight the dynamic role she played as a DCP in places like Delhi, Goa and the North East. It was during her posting in these areas that she came to be known as a fearless and upright enforcer of the law. Stories about her efforts in breaking break up a 200-year-old illicit liquor trade in Delhi or issuing the Prime Minister’s car a challan for wrong parking deliver some tight, gripping non fiction that is truly inspiring.

As the book progresses, the later chapters describe her novel ways of working. Describing some of her laudable achievements such as transforming Tihar Jail into an abode for education during her ‘dump’ posting, or her relentless fight against the powers that reside in Parliament, each chapter offers valuable lessons in leadership and perseverance. With this book, Bedi beseeches everyone  to fight the wrong and unjust in a very simple but powerful manner.

Written in third person format, the interesting narration style makes Bedi much more believable and convincing. Overall, the book has a very good flow and makes for very interesting reading while maintain its neutrality. With several snaps and related articles, the book is un-put-down able once started. This is a book which once you read will make you start respecting time, women, justice and above all yourself.

A non fiction feature film on Kiran Bedi’s life has been produced by Australian film maker, Megan Doneman. The documentary entitled Yes, Madam Sir has already swept awards in the Best Documentary category at film festivals around the world.

I Dare! The autobiography of Magsaysay Award winner and India’s first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi is available for rent and purchase at the INDIAreads Online Library cum Bookstore.

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Tony Hillerman (May 27, 1925 – October 26, 2008)

An award winning American author, Tony Hillerman is best known for his Navajo Police Detective novels. His novels depict his love for the South West and are generally based in New Mexico and Arizona, sometimes extending into Utah and Colorado. The are filled with references to the cultural practices of the inhabitants of these areas: the Hopi, Zuni and the Navajo.

Some of his best selling books are:

The Coyote Waits

The Blessing Way

Skinwalkers

The Dark Wind

Marijane Meaker (May 27, 1927)

An American novelist who has written books across genres under various pen names: Mary James, Ann Aldrich, M.E. Kerr, Vin Packer. Though she is credited with launching the lesbian pulp fiction genre, she has also written over 20 novels for young adults.

Her popular novels include:

Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!

If I Love You, Am I Trapped Forever?

Little Little

Alone at Night

Take A Lesbian To Lunch

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Anyone who is familiar with JAM magazine will have no doubt that this book by Rashmi Bansal is sure to be a great read. An IIM-A graduate with sharp business acumen, Rashmi is well known for her sharp wit and desi style, the hallmark of her crisp editorials and articles.

Her book Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish is a collection of 25 stories of IIM-A graduates who took the unconventional path of entrepreneurship. Shunning the more conventional and comfortable jobs, these individuals who are diverse in age, outlook and the field they made their mark in, have all become successful  in establishing their dreams. While some rode the wave of the dot com boom, others borrowed funds from friends and family. Yet each story, through its tale of both success and failure, presents a lesson in itself.

Through the brave and unusual spirit of these brave industrialists, the book seeks to inspire young graduates to look beyond placements and salaries. While the main feature of the book is the extensive research about these successful businesses, it is also an inspiring look into how some of the most well known companies are still continuing today because of the belief in one’s dreams. Some of the accounts such as the story of Rajeev Bikhchandani and his venture naukri.com are case studies by themselves. The journey of how his venture with GoI failed and he built naukri.com on the same platform when terms like internet and domain name were unheard of is a popular case study in most B-schools.

Basic principles such as managing the cash flows right, keeping the focus intact and never giving up the idea are coherent in all the chapters. Written in short, simple language that doesn’t require one to be a management student to understand the context, the book is an easy read for anyone. The only drawback is that in certain places, the book reads more like an interview and that other successful icons outside of the IIM-A seem to have been neglected. Hopefully, this is something which will change with either the sequel or another later edition.  More than just a biography or a how-to manual, this is a book which is recommended to everyone, especially to all who are starting out on their career path.

You can rent, purchase or gift a copy of Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish or browse for more related titles at the INDIAreads Online Library cum Bookstore.

The great American author Mark Twain had left instructions not to publish his autobiography until a hundred years after his death. Now, a century   later, his dying wish is finally coming true.

The creator of beloved characters such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn left behind more than 5000 pages of unedited memoirs when he died in   1910. These manuscripts, which have been locked away for years in a vault at the University of California, Berkeley will at last be released to the public, with the first part of its three volumes hitting bookstores in November.

The reason for keeping the firsthand accounts of the writer under wraps for so long has created mixed opinions among experts. While some believe it is because Twain’s personal views on politics and religion clashed with his well-crafted public persona, there are a few others who argue that the time lag prevented him from having to worry about offending friends. The post humous publication with all its bare all facts promises to have a lot of shock value. But another thing it will be sure to include is a lot of witty one-liners , quips and trademark Twain humor from the man himself which are always a welcome  addition to his breadth of literary work.

Alan Hollinghurst

English novelist and winner of the 2004 Booker Prize, his most recent novel, The Line of Beauty, traces a decade of change and tragedy and won the 2004 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. It was adapted for BBC Television by Andrew Davies in 2006.

Some of his works are:

The Swimming-Pool Library  (1988)

The Folding Star (1994)

The Spell (1998)

The Line of Beauty (2004)

Karen Van der Zee

Popular globetrotting Dutch writer of over 33 romance novels, Windela Kilmer writes under the pen name Karen Van der Zee. She also signed two novels as Mona Van Wieren and has received a RITA for her novel Rhapsody in Bloom.

Some of her famous works are:

Sweet Not Always (1979)

Java Nights (1990)

Midnight Rhythms (2003)

The Italian’s Seduction (2005)

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Robert Ludlum

American author famous for his thriller novels, the number of his books in print is estimated between 290-500 million copies. His books have been published in 33 languages across 40 countries. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.

Some of his famous works are:

The Osterman Weekend (1972)

The Holcroft Covenant (1978)

The Apocalypse Watch (1995)

The Bourne Series (1980)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

American essayist, philosopher, and poet, he is best remembered for leading the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. A champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society, his teachings directly influenced the growing New Thought movement of the mid-1800s.

Some of his famous works are:

The Conduct of Life (1860)

May Day and Other Poems (1867)

Society and Solitude (1870)

Letters and Social Aims (1876)

Douglas LePan

Canadian diplomat, poet, and novelist, he is one of only a few people to have won the Governor General’s Award both for poetry and fiction. His work has been included in many anthologies, including The Norton Anthology of Poetry, The Harbrace Anthology of Poetry, and The Broadview Anthology of Poetry.

Some of his famous works are:

The Wounded Prince (1948)

The Deserter (1964)

Bright Glass of Memory (1979)

Far Voyages (1990)

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