I have never read the Mahabharata but as a kid I religiously watched B.R. Chopra’s version of the epic on telly. The one character that fascinated me was Draupadi, and it wasn’t just because of the five hubbies. While not as common as polygamy, polyandry has been the norm in many societies, specially ones where life is a constant struggle, aka Ladakh. No, what always intrigued me was how does it feel to be “responsible” for causing a battle that killed millions; to know that history will always remember and malign one. The soap did not pay much attention to this aspect. So I wondered about it for a while and then gradually forgot about Draupadi. That was till I started reading The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This is, as the book cover states, “Panchaali’s Mahabharat,” and the Palace being referred to is none other than her palace of Indraprastha which became the catalyst for the great war.

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A cosy winter evening with a warm fire blazing. A glass of scotch and the indomitable Khushwant Singh. Ever wondered what it would be like to hear the 95 year old share his anecdotes, his experiences and his “naughty thoughts”? To sit with him evening after evening as he loses himself in a stray memory or thought or as he vociferously opines on a political event?” If yes, then Absolute Khushwant is the book for you.

From his wife’s affair soon after marriage to his views on communal violence, Sikhism, Pakistan, Kasab and 26/11, Singh reveals it all in short and often unconnected chapters. This is one book you don’t need to sit through. Pick it up, select the topic you are in a mood for and just breeze through the chapter, for like all his other works, this too is written with the reader in mind. There are no big words, no attempt at literary one-upmanship because as Singh himself says, to be a good author you need to talk at the level of the reader. Perhaps, it is this readability of his works that makes Singh so popular. That and the innate honesty.

I have often wondered what is it that sells Singh’s books – the gossip, the malice, the scandal, the innate nosiness or the candour. After all honesty is a rare quality in today’s world. To find it in writing must offer some form of solace.

The first few chapters describe in great detail Singh’s daily routine and his sexual encounters. At times, you wonder at the hypocrisy of his candour. Singh criticizes Vikram Seth for publicizing something as innately personal as his homosexual preferences and yet he opens the door of his bedroom for you. He goes on to tell you that a single partner is boring; don’t worry about STDs; romance is useless; and sex is all that matters.

For the politically inclined Singh recounts his encounters with Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nirad C Chaudhari, Manmohan Singh and all the Gandhis beginning with Indira Gandhi, and you see new sides to these famous personalities. Perhaps Singh’s greatest advantage is his age and his experience which spans almost a century. From Partition to the anti-Sikh riots to 26/11, he has lived through it all and in Absolute Khushwant, he gives his uncensored opinion on them. You may or may not agree with his politics but to hear from someone who has seen it all is a real treat.

To sum it up, Absolute Khushwant is like a sampler: a collection of motley conversations on a variety of topics that you might have had with Singh. There is no depth here, no continuity and no explanations; just candid opinions and descriptions. Take them or leave them. If you are interested in the whys, hows and what fors then go back to his previous works. This book provides some quick peeks into the mind of this self proclaimed loner who loves to gossip in his writing but stays away from gossip mongers in real life.

Speaking of Delhi, Khushwant Singh had once said, “You can love Delhi or hate it, but you cannot be indifferent to it.” The same can be said of the man and his works.

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First there was Count Dracula. Then came Edward Cullen, the vampire threat throb who has become the new age “romantic hero.” And now we have Zoey Redbird, a sixteen year old half Cherokee girl who is on her way to becoming the world’s most powerful vamp. Of course in Joey’s world, humans and vampyres co-exist and do so almost peacefully. Any human can be “marked” by a vampyre (yes this isn’t a typo) tracker and chosen to join the ranks of the undead. It requires no vampyre bite, no motive. Only leads to the marked teenager being labelled as a freak by “ordinary” humans. But hey, there are no crosses that are embedded into their hearts to finish them off. The process of transformation to a creature with a blood lust  is painful but not at all akin to Bella’s transformation in Twilight. No, becoming a vampyre is a long drawn process. And in this book, the mother daughter duo of P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast try to make the reader see things from the point of view of a human who suddenly finds herself craving for her ex-boyfriend’s blood. Disgust, horror, denial, shame and yet an almost insatiable all consuming desire for blood.

The House of Night series provides a different take on the Vampyre world. And Marked being the first book of the series explains it as a matriarchal society led by a female Goddess. The men vampires are useful only as consorts and in some cases, protectors. The vampyres summon their powers from the elements of nature- wind, fire, water, land and spirit. Any human who has been marked has to undergo rigourous training at the House of Night, a school that grooms young vampyres and teaches them, alongside history, sociology, spanish, activities like fencing, equestrian training (or in layman’s terms, horse riding), karate, drama, tae-kwan-do. Only good old geometry is missing from the syllabus. And yes, the world’s greatest artists, musicians, actors and actresses are all vampyres. So they are not just hateful, spiteful, blood sucking creatures. They are beautiful, talented ex humans who have developed special powers and the blood that they drink is from donors. Of course there are the “evil” vampyres who crave and drink human blood, but Marked has little of them. This novel is just providing the setting for a new world and so the action is minimal.

The series warns that it is not suitable for young readers under age 16. Perhaps it is due to the fact that there is a little more gore in it that in the Twilight series. Also there are references to carnal pleasures. And yet Marked is a novel written for teenagers. The language is colloquial, the vocabulary akin to that of any American collegiate. Zoey is full of slang. The book is not as well written as the Twilight series and you definitely don’t experience Zoey’s emotions like you experience Bella’s. Yet, the totally different vampyre society that it creates is intriguing. What it lacks in depth, it makes up for in novelty and pace. If you are a vampyre novel fan or are looking for a fun fantasy read, pick it up. But don’t go around looking for romance, at leats not in Marked. Yes, there is a “hero” and yes there is some element of attraction between the main protagonist and him, but that is not the undercurrent of the book. This is no vampyre romance novel and Erik Night, the male vampyre-in-the-making is no Edward Cullen.

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Reviewed by Ruth Zothanpuii

- reviewed by Ruth Zothanpuii

Written by Amy Tan in 1989 and later adapted into a movie, The Joy Luck Club is a wonderfully crafted novel filled with powerful characters from four different Chinese American immigrant families living in San Francisco, California.

‘The Joy Luck Club’ is a name that comes from the club formed in China by a woman, Suyuan Woo, to lift her friends’ spirits and distract them from the problems during the Japanese invasion. When Suyuan migrated to the US, she continued the club, hoping to bring luck to her family and friends and thereby finding joy in that hope. The club would play a game of Majhong and share stories about their lives and problems while enjoying a variety of foods.

The book is divided into four sections to create sixteen chapters.Each part of the book is preceded by a parable relating to the game of Mahjong. Each revolves around three mothers and four daughters. One mother, Suyuan Woo, the founder of the Club, dies before the novel opens and her story is told by her daughter.

A unique book, The Joy Luck Club talks about the relationship between the mothers and daughters; it contrasts the lives of four Chinese women in pre – 1949 China with the lives of their American-born daughters in California. It is heart wrenching to see the daughters trying to come to terms with the tragic stories of their Chinese mothers. Their gradual understanding of the differences in the cultures and of the events that shaped the lives and characters of their mothers has a magnetic pull, something that is almost mystical. I found their story – fascinating, almost magical.

The book is not just emotional but also full of depth. Without being pedantic, it reveals the clash of two cultures and societies and the story of those caught in between. It talks of the gravity that finally pulls the two together – the gift of a culture by the mothers to their daughters. Amy Tan has a unique way of bringing together the themes of women, history and human spirit, to provide an insight into another culture and another time. The characters are strong and very real.

I strongly recommend this book for everyone who looks for that little bit extra in a book. This is not just another work of fiction; it is a story filled with information, values, insights and emotions – one that appeals to both your head and your heart.

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Reviewed by Ruth Zothanpuii

After Stephenie Meyer’s remarkable novel Twilight, reading  New Moon (a sequel to Twilight) was another delightful experience.

Although many think that New Moon works well enough as a stand alone, I still think that the only way to have a better understanding of the story and to get maximum enjoyment is from reading Twilight first.

But if you think that New Moon is essentially the same as Twilight, it may prove to be a big disappointment because, here, we feel the absence of the Vampires ( much to the dismay of many vampire fans,I am sure).

The book begins with the celebration of Bella’s eighteenth birthday. The thought of getting older than Edward who turned a vampire when he was just 17 troubles Bella who, even if she joins him in immortality, will always be physically older than him. Bella desperately wants to be like Edward but he is afraid that she will lose her soul if he makes her like the rest of his family. An appalling incident at Bella’s birthday party makes Edward realize Bella’s fragility when among his family. He is convinced that the only way to keep Bella safe is for her to lead a normal life and for him to leave her. This changes everything. For Bella, Edward was her whole world and his abandonment was something that cannot be repaired easily. Her whole world falls apart and she withdraws from everything else, becoming even more isolated and lonely. But this is also the situation that makes us see Bella more clearly and she is definitely worth a thousand credits. No doubt she is a fighter. While pushing through the agony, and not having enough strength to live for herself, she lives for others – Charlie in this case – this has always been her style.

The next thing I love the most about this novel is the development of Jacob Black’s character. That a minor character in Twilight has developed into such a fantastic character is the great strength of this novel. I love Meyer’s idea of blending the actual Quileute’s legend into this.

A must read if you haven’t already.

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What is a person’s greatest desire in this world? Happiness? Wealth? Health? Peace of mind?

The world’s greatest secret then undoubtedly, is the talisman to attain these. And it is a fairly simple one, or so says Og Mandino. Just remind yourself each day that, “I will win, and I will become a great salesman for I am unique.” That, in short, is the age old secret to “lasting wealth, health, happiness, and most important…peace of mind,” that Mandino shares through his motivational The Greatest Secret in the World.

This is no regular “how to” book. Nor is it a discourse on philosophy or mind control. Though Mandino maintains that this book contains the great secrets handed down to young Hafid (of The Greatest Saleman in the World fame), 2000 years ago, frankly these “secrets”  are oft repeated and oft heard. The greatest secret in the world then is not how to find the road to success, but rather how to journey on it and not go astray. And this is what makes this book unique.

Mandino does not simply preach. He offers you a crash course on success, one that requires 10 minutes of your time, each day of your work week for 45 weeks . If you can do it, it’ll change your life and if you can’t, then in Mandino’s own words, “the money spent on this book has been wasted.”  A burning desire to succeed is not enough. We all dream of a great tomorrow, but that tomorrow never does come.

So Mandino extorts you to sit up and make today great. And you can do it because, “You are nature’s greatest miracle….you are rare and unique and the ultimate product of several million years of evolution.  Both in mind, and body, you are far better equipped than Solomon or Caeser or  Plato to make something beautiful and meaningful of your life. You have a greater potential than anyone who has ever lived before you! ” Of course that also means that anyone born after you will always have greater potential than you, but let’s not get cheeky here.

The Greatest Secret in the World is truely an inspiring book because it relentlessly eggs you on. It is engaging, it is colloquial and it is challenging. It even contains a success recorder diary to enable you to gauge your progress. It is designed as a lesson. You read, you follow and then you record your actions. When Mandino believes that you are on the right track, he takes you to the next lesson and once again you read, follow, record. So it continues for 45 weeks. Of course most people will admit that they read the book in one or two sittings, at least for the first time. It is difficult to pause and wait patiently for the next lesson but it might just be worth it.

Through this book, Mandino teaches you to self examine, to identify your bad habits, to focus on your strengths and to control your moods. He takes you back to the basics -Don’t take others or yourself too seriously. Don’t procrastinate. Live each day as if it is your last- only this time, he ensures that you don’t just preach, but you practice. He constantly questions you, taunts you. Can you do it? Do you have the discipline, the self control? Will you give up? And in proving that you won’t give up you gradually become adept at mind conditioning, which Mandino believes is central to success.

I have just one grudge against Mandino. It might be that at the time he wrote this book, professional women were a novelty but did he think that only men desire success? Only they want health, health and happiness? His books are all addressed to men (Greatest sales man, not woman or person). He tells you to decide what job title and salary you want to achieve at the end of your 45 weeks crash course and share it with no one but your wife.  Disastrous, especially in a world where one has to at least pretend to be gender sensitive.

That apart, The Greatest Secret in the World is one of those rare books that focuses on action, rather than on mere words. Follow it and success is guaranteed because, “failure will never overcome  you if your determination to succeed is strong enough.”

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Reviewed by Ruth Zothanpuii

Twilight is the story of Edward and Bella’s romance. The story is told in first person from the viewpoint of Bella. This is the reason why we only ever get to know what Bella knows and thinks; Edward and his family a mystery to the reader.

At first I was a little biased about the novel which kept me from reading it. I mean, it is a story about vampires; the idea of reading a story on vampire is really truly beyond me … I was thinking that we all fan over fantasy stories a little too much.

But somehow I wanted to give the book a try just out of curiosity. I mean it was all over the place.

To be honest, after reading it, I feel Twilight is simple yet beautifully written. And, it is a page turner for sure. Meyer’s description of Forks is truly amazing. It makes you think you can almost smell the cold damp air, and hear the rain falling outside the window. The romance between Edward and Bella is especially touching, fascinating and appealing, all in equal measure. One of a kind. I’ve read quite a few romantic stories before but this surely is a breath of fresh air.

People say Twilight is “a vampire story for people who don’t like vampire stories.” In my case, this proved to be true. I understand now why different people of different age groups savored this book.

A definite must read!

A half Brit New York Times reporter desperate to save his kidnapped wife, a cabal of fanatics, an age old prophecy and series of murders. This in essence is the plot of Guardian reporter Jonathan Freedland’s debut thriller novel, written under the pseudonym Sam Bourne.

Young New York Times reporter Will Monroe strikes gold when he makes it to the page one of the newspaper with his debut crime story. As he moves around the country, trying to discover the “face behind a crime statistic,” he realizes that good men are being murdered. Suddenly Will must find out why because his wife, Beth, has been kidnapped by a religious cult and the way to his missing wife lies “in his work.” What follows is a series of fabulous twists and turns, of fast paced action, laced with more murders, as Will teams up with his ex-girlfriend TC to rescue the woman he loves. While formulaic, especially in the post Dan Brown age, what distinguishes Bourne’s work is its pace. The reader has no time to sit back and pause. And keeping the book down till you reach the end is near impossible. What the book lacks in novelty, it makes up for in sheer speed. Each page seems to hold a new clue, the promise of unravelling the mystery and yet at least till the end of the first half, you keep coming up with dead ends.

Freedland has made good use of his Jewish background. The book is full of information – most of which the author claims is true and verifiable- on Jewish customs and religious beliefs. Therein lies the book’s other strength. So little is known about Judaism that the insights provided by Freedland are both intriguing and absorbing. Some may claim that the author overdoes the explanations, and yet the novel never seems to be dragging. Not even when you finish one chapter after the other but find yourself no closer to solving the mystery than Will, simply because of your lack of theological knowledge. The lure of ancient mysticism is too strong. After the first half the big picture begins to emerge and you start making educated guesses about the good guys and the bad guys, but till the very end, you have to keep wondering if you are on track. And that keeps you hooked.

Freedland’s years as a newspaper journalist have taught him how to hold his audience’s attention and hold it well. The book may not be a stellar piece of writing, but it is easy to read. Freedland’s one big weakness, however – and this may again be attributed to his journalistic writing skills which concentrate on the story, not on the characters – is the lack of depth in his characters. People come and go in the novel, but you never get to really meet or understand any of them, not even the main protagonist. As such it is difficult to experience their emotions or feel for them even as one tragedy after another befalls them. And the main protagonist is no super hero; not even a brainy intellect “whose mind works faster than the speed of computer.” No Will Monroe is a regular ambitious guy who just happens to find the right people to decipher the clues for him. Some might find this endearing – it makes the character more human;  others might wish for a more inspiring “hero.”

The Righteous Men found itself in mired in controversy,not because of its cultural stereotypes, but because The Guardian refused to publish a critical review of the book. Instead, the review appeared in The Times and the book made headlines. Bourne is often compared to Brown and The Righteous men has been labelled by many as the Jewish Da Vinci Code. Yet, this is not the case. Brown’s cryptographic thrillers often carry powerful political message – be it the DA Vinci Code (an organised attempt to use religion to dislodge women from the mainstream) or the Digital Fortress (who will protect us from the protectors? The Big Brother mentality). there are no such burning political or current issues hidden in The Righteous Men. But there is an important moral message articulated by a Jewish rabbi, “So goodness is not about rules. Or wearing a hair shirt. Or praying hard. Or knowing every word in the Bible. It’s about how we treat each other. Bein adam v’adam. Between man and man. That is where goodness, even divinity resides. Not in the heavens, but right here on earth. In our relations with each other….” The other intriguing concept is that of the tzaddikim, but therein lies the key to the mystery of The Righteous Men and it can’t be discussed without spoiling the book.

So if you are looking for a racy thriller to relax with on a lazy Sunday afternoon, pick up The Righteous Men. It may not be a memorable book, it is enjoyable while it lasts.

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“I recently turned fifty, which is young for a tree, midlife for an elephant, and ancient for a quarter miler whose son now says, “Dad, I just can’t run the quarter with you anymore unless I bring something to read.”

Fifty is a nice number for the states in the Union or for a national speed limit, but it was not a number that I was prepared to have hung on me. Fifty is supposed to be my father’s age, but now Bill Cosby, Junior is stuck with these elevated digits and everything they mean.”

Thus begins Bill Cosby’s second book which he wrote when he hit the half century mark. Our parents are already there. Someday we will get there too; maybe some of us are already there. The time when birthdays are no longer happy events; when the number of candles on the cake begin to weigh it down; when every morning we look at the mirror in horror, desperately trying to hide that strand of white hair, or the wrinkles on the forehead.

Ageing is not easy. After having lived life to the fullest, after having experienced the speed, the momentum, to slow down is not easy. And yet, it is inevitable. All of us will age. And while we can continue to remain “young at heart” and “remarkably fit for our age,” we will invariably not be able to  do as many things as we did previously.But there is no need to despair. It’s natural and Cosby helps us realize this by taking up the everyday annoyances of growing old and laughing at them in his own flamboyant style.  The sagging love handles, the inability tie your own laces, fading memory, declining eyesight,  receding hairline, poor digestion, Cosby shares them all and laces each irritant with a healthy dose of humour.

Written in a chatty, colloquial style, the book is easy to read and relate to. The worries and anxieties described by Cosby are all too real. For those approaching or already past their fifties, Time Flies may well be a tool of acceptance; of learning to laugh at themselves and live with the inconveniences brought on by time. And for those who still happen to be “young,” it might provide a better understanding of what their parents and elders go through. Yet, many a times, one can’t help feeling that Cosby is exaggerating. Often one is tempted to shake him up and say, “Seriously dude, fifty isn’t that old and you definitely don’t go bonkers at that age.” The other thing that jars a little is the overly long introduction by Poussaint. It is way too preachy to be in sync with the rest of the book because for all his grumblings not once does Cosby turn prescriptive. Pouissant, on the other hand, is full of advise and observations which baffle. For instance, he takes President Reagen’s re-election into the White House at the age of seventy three, as a mark of turning attitudes towards the elderly. Seriously? Then we Indians must be really good at respecting our elderly because seventy seems to be the average age of our leaders.

These aberrations aside, Time Flies is a light read that you will probably finish in just one sitting. Pick it up if you are looking for a healthy dose of the All American humour.

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