Immersed in Books…

I had resorted to review immediately each and every book that I read, so that I could pen down my views and the emerging thoughts influenced by the writing onto the blog. But off late, the timing was not enough and bad scheduling have chopped off most of the thoughts. So before I lose them all, let me share few lines atleast for some of them.

Brida by Paulo Coelho:

I had finished this soon after I did the page123 tag. The effect of Paulo Coelho had kinda started to diminish in me one by one. Not that I disliked his theme n all, but I am not that impressed any more. Maybe that’s why I am hesitating to take up the thrid book of his from my bookshelf, “By the river Piedra…”. There had been many instances which I didn’t liked or believed in this book, say for example, the re-birth and the story of Wicca and Witchcraft. I don’t deny or say that re-birth is false, but its just that I have not been convinced yet of those thoughts. The main thing I liked is that, Brida was in search of her soulmate, if it ever existed, just like any young woman and the revelation to her that we can meet more than one soulmate in our lives. The concept of the Dark Forest was also meaningful at times, and I particularly liked the ending (if at all you have the patience to reach there!) , which is almost applicable in the present life.

Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair:

The starting of the book was great, since it spoke of the railway station and train journeys which reminded me of my own travels. There was a fictional part of listening to all the life stories of 5 people in one single night, but nevertheless its a fiction. The stories of all the young ladies strikes a note with present life, but not entirely at some places. Some places it looks exaggerated, but we never know what all happens at urban places or within relationships. The protagonist, Akhila searches for an answer whether is it essential for a woman to get married in life. The unrevealed answer is contained in the open ending, so as to create more depth in the intrigued solutions of the common question. For me, its actually par with the Arranged Marriage, but on the other side, and I feel it portrays unconventional answers, but depicting conventional importance.

Almost Single by Advaita Kala:

I had bought this book for a light read, amongst the deep marriage related books, to release the ease. I was able to read this only in a intermittent way, with blogs, twitter, travels to home and pilgrimage etc in between. I guess therefore, I couldn’t sense the full comedy in it, but I find it quite an easy read with nothing much to think of. It starts with the troubles of woman in early thirties eager to getting married. But more than the marriage tinge, I found examples more of a modern and independent living and thoughts.There was heavy booze usage, gay characters, parties, open dating, etc… It was a plain and fully fictional kinda story, which I don’t think heavy readers would like at any time.

Keep Off The Grass by Karan Bajaj:

From the beginning, I don’t know how, I’ve been attracted to IIT and IIM stories. First it was Chetan Bhagat’s “5.someone” and then “Anything for you Ma’am” and then now this. It was very hard for me to stay back buying “Above Average” , but again, I couldn’t resist the story line. But now, I feel better for buying this. Not that this book is absolutely rocking, but I loved the detailed insights of India and IIM’s from Samrat Ratan, the lead role who plays the NRI investment banker, who left the Wallstreet job to study at IIM Bangalore, in India. The hostel life, school of brains, and the views of the people at IIM, matters of choices, religions and life etc etc. It actually reminded me of someone I knew personally… There are exaggerated fictional pieces into it as usual, but its unavoidable in writing books I guess. The one thing I was happy about was, there was no love-link at all. The ending is quite predictable, but the reasons provided were meaningful too.

Doing a retrospection, I find, I am more attached to Indian Writers and also to new comers. I wonder why. There are more pending books in the bookshelf and I am wondered which one to start with:
1. By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept by Paul Coelho (Started one page, and then dropped immediately…What a long title! phew! )
2. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri ( I had seen the film from half, and it moved me very much that I wanted to read the novel now)
3. The Dark Holds No Terrors by Shashi Deshpande ( Another one from the Marriage times)
4. Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden(Price was tempting me to buy this old famous one)
5. The Client by John Grisham (Yeah.. got tired of serious stuff..)
6. A Painted House by John Grisham ( Trying thrillers now… )

Can you help me choosing one? 🙂