Dallas, Lieutenant Eve

My one-time favourite fictional character, a creation of Nora Roberts writing as J D Robb. Eve is the protagonist in a series of books called 'in death series' - set in NY circa 2058, a time when real coffee, real meat, real chocolate, etc are luxuries and people normally eat soy-based stuff; communication is advanced, traffic is not just on surface but on air too. People use links and holos and VR goggles and fancy stuff like that. But one thing remains same - the business of murder. Since Eve is a homicide cop, each story is obviously a murder case but through the series you come across characters that develop and stay with you.

Its mostly about the personal journey of Eve into relationships and the life she makes with Roarke, who she marries early in the series. Its a story of survival from a gory past but not quite from the nightmares it causes. Its about the courage and sense of justice that drives the cop that is Eve. Oh yes, its also about her mean streak, stubbornness and extreme discomfort in social settings - dinners, conversations, gifts and get-togethers. Starting from a life where there is just one best friend and the job, Eve soon finds herself among people she comes to love and consider her own, and vice-versa.

Eccentricities like bad dress sense and aversion to decking up in any way, including getting a decent hair-cut, makes Eve all the more endearing. Some of her traits are even child-like, even if she is not so comfortable around children. It reminds that there is something to her beyond being the cop, even if she doesn’t realize it herself. All in all, Eve has become an integral part of my life, in a way that few would understand. I can almost guess what Eve would think / feel / do in specific situations and that’s more than I can say about some of my friends. For creating a character like this, kudos to Nora Roberts. In fact Eve has spoiled me for any other character the writer has ever come up with. I was wondering if someone will take it up for a telly series like ‘24’ but now I have found a near match in Kate Beckett of ‘Castle’ – happy enough!

p.s. also recycled from my other blog

Dancing with Maharaja – Sundar

pilanipictures.blogspot.com is one of the many feeds in my Google Reader account and a recent post made me decide in less than 5 minutes to order this book on Flipkart. (An aside on Flipkart: I discovered the brilliance of it after hunting for ‘An Unquiet Mind’ for almost a year and getting it in less than 2 days after ordering over here. I love! for books at least…). I had another reason to buy this particular book as the author is my senior from SIBM and someone I have really looked up to in my brief acquaintance. More about him in the front cover of the book, so that I can get to the book itself now.

Its the story of an unlikely IAS aspirant (or is he?) who makes a deal with his father to attempt the civil services examination in exchange for a promise that irrespective of the outcome, he will become heir to the family business he so loves (or does he?).

The protagonist Satish, is the son of Rajaraman, a wine shop owner in Madurai (not Prabha wines, if you know what I mean ;-)). We get to know Satish as the spoilt and irresponsible brat whose only worthwhile dream is to inherit his father’s liquor business ‘Maharaja Wines’. So till such time his dream comes true, he spends all his time in those activities that define ‘aimless and useless youth’ in our country. The deal with his father, however, changes his life in ways that even the father could not have envisaged and the book takes us through his journey into IAS coaching classes, life in Delhi amidst a myriad of characters in the world of wannabe IAS / IPS officers, a life-changing journey and the inevitable outcome. The story has a Chetan Bhagat-ish twist to it (I said that about Dork too, didn’t I?)and I have to disagree with one of the Flipkart reviews which says it does not sound like a miracle or a movie. That being said, miracles (and movies) do make our world interesting, don’t they?

The happenings in India and the rest of the world around the time the story is set, make for an interesting background and weave through the story in subtle ways. What is not so subtle is the scene setting when the story moves to a new place (Old Rajinder Nagar or someone’s room for example), by describing too many background characters / objects / activities. It is akin to a movie scene where instead of leaving it to the audience to absorb the background, the camera decides to painstakingly pause at each object / activity till everyone has noticed it. May be that’s the only way to do it in a book – I am not sure – but it kind of obstructs the flow of reading, at least for me. Thankfully, that happened only a couple of times in the book and it sure didn’t stop me from finishing it in one go.

Since you probably know my grudge against Indian style English and obviously the story of an Indian boy is bound to be written in that language, I am not complaining. Interestingly, for a brief while I was reminded of Anbe Sivam, may be because of the similarity to Madhavan’s journey through a disaster which changes his perspective in life. But while the movie combined inspiration with humour and leaned heavily on Kamal Hassan’s character to guide the thought process, this book is more a saga of sober self-discovery. Coincidentally, one of the Flipkart reviews suggests that the book has the potential of being made into a movie! I was rather hoping for a sequel you know, especially since the author has first hand experience of civil services training as well. But I guess that’s not what he had in mind, considering he has shown us a peek into ‘a few years later’…

At the end of 2 hours (yes, its a quick read!) I was vaguely craving to study all sorts of subjects like Indian polity, geography and psychology. Its possibly the nerd in me, but its more likely the book itself, showing endless hours of study and the pressures of one of the toughest exams in a completely different light – one that makes it special and endearing!

Life's Little Ironies - Thomas Hardy

I read this book throughout February in snatches - partly because I was busy and partly because it is by no means a single read. In spite of it being a collection of short stories and the fact that I can read most fiction books in one go. So why?

a) the language - rich yes, but absolutely mind-numbing at times. Fine, call me an ignoramus but I really think the language does nothing to help the stories or the reader

b) talking of stories - Well, I know the theme is irony and all, but please, each character is a bigger loser than the other. Some situations are  actually interesting - one can almost personally feel the if-only's and the could-have-been's, but what could a reader possibly gain by reading 1200 such situations? (alright! some 15 of them)

c) the publisher - a cheap popular classics version (disclaimer: not the one whose cover page I have used in this post) with terrible illustrations that just made the whole experience a highly forgettable one for me

I was very hesitant to write about this book at all, especially since its Thomas Hardy and its possibly text book material for English language or something; or that I may sound incredibly naive and shallow. But what the heck! I didn't like it at all. And the only use for this book I can think of is, as a part of the curriculum in Non-detail or English Paper II as we call it. You will find a treasure of words to be used for the synonyms and antonyms sections. One of the stories starts like this:

'Whether the utilitarian or the intuitive theory of moral sense be upheld it is beyond question that there are a few subtle-souled persons with whom the absolute gratuitousness of an act of reparation is an inducement to perform it; while exhortation as to its necessity would breed excuses for leaving it undone'.

Impressive but surely not my cup of tea! same goes for the book...

Ford County Stories - John Grisham

A collection of 7 stories that form the collage depicting the setting, the characters, the lives, the beliefs and daily adventures of the people of Ford County. A blurb on the back of the book says “Take a journey into Ford County, the fictional setting of John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill.” Fictional? The place is alive and thrumming with life.

The setting of most stories is Clanton, a small town in Ford County, which is part of the ‘south’. If you have read ‘Gone with the wind’ or ‘Roots’ and recall the ethos of the land, Ford County is what it has become in the 20th Century. Small, conservative towns with old families and new, away from the bustle of the glitzy cities, laid back, populated by the whites and the blacks who lead their separate yet intertwined lives, the local watering holes, the gossips, the waitresses, the bad boys, the mammas, the churches, the marriages and divorces and the kids, the crooks and of course, the lawyers.

Each story adds new threads to the tapestry, and by the time you are done you intuitively know the place, its people and their natures. Each story is rich in detail with a pace that is just right – you have time to take in the scenery yet you are eager to know where you are going. And before you reach your destination, you can be sure of a small twist. The beauty is that the twist in the tale is just a bonus. You hardly need that ‘hook’ to read these sumptuous tales – at 50 odd pages per story, it is just the right size between a ‘short’ story and a novel. I have trouble picking out a favourite from these seven. A total treat.

In ‘Blood Drive’ three young men Agnor, Calvin and Roger set out from Box Hill in Ford County, to the neighbouring big bad city of Memphis, with the express purpose of donating ‘blood’ to one of their own - young Bailey who has had an accident. Well, there is the drive, which is an odyssey in itself, running more on beer than gas, with a chase by a police car, gun shots, a couple of visits to a strip club, more alcohol, fisticuffs, arson, cracked skulls and some edge-of-the-seat escape-from-trouble sequences. And of course, there is blood - lots of it - but very little of it is ‘donated’ to save Bailey. Seems like these small town boys don’t even know they are living life on the edge!

‘Fetching Raymond’ also involves a long drive – this time the three travelers are Raymond Graney’s 2 older brothers and his 72 year old mother. They undertake an uneventful journey, the entire family puffing away on cigarettes and talking about Raymond, who is in the infamous Parchman prison and has had several unfulfilled illustrious careers – as a poet, a writer and a musician among others – all during his long stint in prison! His mother is his lone and long suffering audience, who remains clueless about the intent and content of her last born’s literary creations, which include his letters to his mother. These provide for some outrageously humorous interludes for the reader, as the three continue on their drive. They do end up meeting Raymond and ‘fetch’ him home to rest, but after an event that knocks your breath out.

‘Fish Files’, ‘Casino’, ‘Michael’s Room’ and ‘Quiet Haven’ are about crooks of various kinds.

‘Fish Files’ is a story about the lawyer who grabs an opportunity when it presents itself, rehauls his life, trades all that is for what could be – gambling on the legality of many of his actions. Does he pull it off?

‘Casino’ is about a career crook, the wealthy and extremely glitzy Bobby Carl Leach who runs, among many things, a rapidly growing casino. Or is it about the ‘uninspiring’ insurance company employee Sidney who avenges his broken heart and marriage, transforms into this whiz at playing the odds that he single handedly ‘breaks’ the casino and bankrupts it?

‘Michael’s Room’ is again about a lawyer Wade, who comes face-to-face with his own death when he is abducted and confronted by a family that has been grievously wronged – all because Wade is such a good lawyer that he has long forgotten the difference between law and justice. Michael’s room helps him see this difference, his follies and his imminent punishment.

You enter ‘Quiet Haven’, a retirement home, along with Gilbert, who applies for a job as a night-time attendant, taking up the job for a paltry pay. He can’t stand most of his colleagues, but has always liked the inmates – or does he really?

The last story is about a ‘Funny Boy’ – a young white homosexual man who contracts AIDS and has come back home to die, but his own family won’t have him back. He finds compassion and care ‘on the other side of the tracks’, with an old black spinster who ends up understanding herself better, as she sticks up for him right till the end.

2 Stories - Chetan Bhagat

With '3 idiots' breaking all sorts of records and lot of controversy surrounding the extent of credit Chetan Bhagat got for the movie, its timely that I read 2 of his books last week. You have to give it to the guy - his writing style is engaging enough to make you read his books in one go. Beyond the fact that I read really fast and typically stay up till I finish a book, I surely feel that his narration is such that one just can’t put the book down. ‘One night at a call center’ was an exception though. It took me a week to read it in bits and pieces. But in general, this man can tell a story in relatively fewer pages, and it sells for INR 95 which is undoubtedly value for money. The only other books I see at that price range is from M&B (you can read all about 'em here) and that is not even a fair comparison. Thanks to Rupa & Co. for that. And hope other writers follow that route too! It gets them a wider audience and at this price point more people tend to buy a copy for themselves rather than borrow it from someone. Seems so simple, right? But you will be surprised how many people follow it in reality. Anyway, coming to the books…

It is the story of a businessman, set aptly in Gujarat for more than one reason. As usual there is a trio of characters, childhood friends in this case, led by the protagonist (I am not sure if he was meant to be, I usually assume that the narrator is, but you never know with this man!) who venture into a small business – a cricket store. The book takes us through the journey of three youngsters as they start their business and build it amidst a few serious setbacks. Somewhere the religious angle sneaks into the story and takes a turn into communal riots and finally comes to a tragic end. Oh no, that wasn’t the end – I almost forgot that there was something to salvage out of the situation after all. Apparently now, All is Well (LOL!!! Sorry… I really couldn’t resist that one). He manages to keep cricket alive in the storyline throughout and also has a love angle of sorts within the plot. That it has no element of humor is not surprising considering the seriousness of the issues he has taken up through this book; but I suppose funny comes to him a lot more easily and he must have found it a different experience to write without his best weapon.

The quintessential love story, the one we have seen in endless number of movies where parents are against the young lovers’ union for one reason or the other. As is obvious from the title in this case it is the states which the boy and girl belong to. In India, each state (and language and caste and community, etc) has a unique culture and a natural aversion and snobbishness towards people not belonging to that culture. That the boy and girl meet at IIM has no real significance but anyway the story starts there and moves to the respective families who as expected hate each other. The couple takes turns in trying to impress each other’s parents and extended family and after many, many attempts… manage to make it to the wedding stage. Applause! There is a father-son drama to add another dimension to the story but otherwise it’s a pretty smooth ride from beginning to end. Also as a South Indian, my verdict is that he keeps his promise of making fun of people from the South without being insulting. The tone is rather endearing and not so much looking down on them. And of course, here he has the liberty to use humor and he has made the most out of it, I think.

While both books were supposed to be based on real life stories, they still had the cinematic element of miracles – not the bullet-dodging sort but the ‘business does well right away’, ‘girl loves you already’ and ‘here is the key to their hearts’ sort. I would know because ironically both topics are relevant to me personally – convincing stubborn parents for a love marriage as well as running a business of my own someday. The kind of miracles that come by in these 2 stories haven’t happened in my life yet, not even close! But then to borrow and extend a quote – if ‘a book is a book; a film is a film’ then ‘life is life’ right?

p.s.: Since the author insists on having a number in all his titles, (like KJo's K fetish) I thought I will also humor the sentiment with my title :-)

"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

orrowing books from a friend is exciting in an unexplainable way. Somehow borrowing forces you to read a book quicker than if it was your own… oh that’s only if you feel guilty about having a borrowed book collecting dust on your book shelf :) A rain washed cloudy day and what better to do than pull out something from your bookshelf (or a friend’s in my case), get set with a cup of tea and be drawn into the world of imagination and emotions that Ishiguro has created.

The best way to enjoy ‘Never Let Me Go’ is to not know anything about the book just like Ishiguro intended it. The context of the story unveils itself as the book moves forward. An expensive school, guardians who are looked up to, friends to die for, a curriculum in creativity – at first the setting seems perfect for a story of snobbish school students who later come back for a reunion to recount how their lives have changed. Remember ‘The Class’ by Erich Segal? Not that I didn’t enjoy it. But seriously, ‘Never Let Me Go’ is far from such trivialities.

Somewhere midway through the book, you begin to sniff that Ishiguro is up to something. The author seems to revel in providing just sufficient information that fires up your curiosity. Once or twice I found myself turning back the pages to see if I’ve missed something. He writes as if you’re expected to know his world – the world that has just been conjured up for you.

The only thing that disturbs me about the book is the lack of anger or passion in a certain way. It constantly eats me that Kathy does not pursue Tommy sufficiently enough though she is so smitten by him. It worries me even more that she is not angry enough at Ruth for ruining her love life. But then that was the whole idea, I guess. I’m not going to give away the plot or even a sense of it… but if you absolutely need to know – it is a brilliant book.