Books

Sweet Tooth: A Memoir by Tim Anderson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As if being a closeted gay teenager wasn't hard enough, Tim Anderson is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In this laugh-out-loud memoir, Tim puts a humorous twist on his painful experiences growing up in the 1980s. If you are into humour, this candid memoir is not to be missed.

Silent House by Orhan Pamuk
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Orhan Pamuk's second novel is set in a seaside town in the months before the 1980 military coup in Turkey. Written in 1983 and translated in English only a few years ago, "Silent House" is ostensibly about an old woman visited by her grandchildren during one summer, but there is an undercurrent of political and cultural tension. Pamuk's technique of having the novel's chapters narrated from the point of view of alternating characters is highly effective. Recommended.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a memorable book about an orphan girl in Nazi Germany. And despite Death making an appearance as the narrator, this is not a morbid read. This is a novel about hope, and the first one set against the backdrop of World War II that I have read from a German point of view. Highly recommended.

Naked by David Sedaris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

David Sedaris is one of the funniest writers alive, and this collection of autobiographical essays is no exception. The 'Naked' in the title comes from the last essay in the book -- about his visit to a nudist colony. Beware! Sedaris can find humour in the most tragic events - his mother’s cancer and some pretty scary experiences while hitchhiking. As long as he can make me smile or laugh out loud, I’m OK with that. Recommended.

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Books

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a dark and disturbing novel that is also unputdownable. Eva Khatchadourian is trying to come to terms with the murders her son commits in a school massacre. "We Need to Talk About Kevin" is an epistolary novel with a narrative composed of letters written by Eva to Kevin's father. Why did Kevin murder those people? Was it because Eva was a bad mother? Questions that will gnaw at you even after you finish the novel, especially after you realize that Eva is an unreliable narrator. Superb. Now to watch the Hollywood movie adaptation.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was just a coincidence that I read this just after "We Need to Talk About Kevin", another novel with the theme of a fictional school massacre. But in "Luckiest Girl Alive", protagonist Ani FaNelli has another secret buried in the past that threatens to destroy her life. Author Jessica Knoll gives readers a flawed heroine and yet we find ourselves rooting for her. Recommended.

Las calles de arena by Paco Roca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Spanish-language graphic novel tells the story of a man who takes a shortcut and ends up getting lost and trapped in a Kafkaesque neighbourhood where he meets strange but interesting characters. There seems to be no escape back to reality but the hombre sin nombre (man without a name) tries his best. The sketches are well done but it's the weird world and its residents that Paco Roca's mind creates with plenty of literary allusions to Kafka, Borges and Poe that make this work unforgettable.

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Helen Oyeyemi's "What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours" is an interesting collection of short stories rich in narrative detail with a dizzying array of characters. The first story "Books and Roses” happens to be my favourite. I liked the one about student puppeteers the least. Oyeyemi blurs the line between the real and the unreal in all nine stories and her writing has an eerie magical quality. Certainly a young British author to watch out for.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A coming-of-age story set in the segregated America of the 1960s, "The Secret Life of Bees" is not as great as "The Help". Nevertheless, this is a heartwarming story of a 14-year-old teenager and her black nanny who run away from home and find shelter with a trio of beekeeper sisters.

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Books

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I knew J.K. Rowling didn't really write this. I also knew that it's a play unlike all the Potter books. And yet, I couldn't stop myself from picking this up to see how Harry Potter turned out as an adult. I did finish it but unlike desperate fans waiting to see what happens next, I took my time and plodded through what I can now describe as an underwhelming piece of fan fiction. I am sure the play would be a visual spectacle, but reading it certainly didn't work for me.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Korean woman gives up eating meat after having a dream. The novel contains three different points-of-view of how this affects relationships with her husband, her sister, and her brother-in-law. "The Vegetarian" is a dark and often unpleasant tale about Yeong-hye's struggle to cope with societal expectations. Short, simple and yet, powerful and extraordinary.

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In her debut, Mona Awad explores the pressures of losing weight to conform to societal stereotypes. In 13 inter-linked stories about the life of Elizabeth/Lizzie/Beth, we are shown a woman obsessed about her body image who takes her diet and exercise more seriously than she should. Does she achieve happiness when she does lose weight? Despite flashes of humour, this is not a fun book to read. You never start loving the protagonist. Rather you pity her as she lurches from one fat-loss remedy to another.

Lords of Finance: 1929, The Great Depression, and the Bankers Who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There have been financial crises since the Great Depression, but none so catastrophic than one that put millions of people out of work and set the stage for World War II. And four central bank chiefs at the time played their part in making it happen. Ahamed's book is not a treatise to be read by economists and central bankers; there are enough insights and anecdotes to make "Lords of Finance" a work to be enjoyed by all. He makes history - and the economics of it - interesting. Recommended.

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time for some humour and who better than Stephen Leacock. The fictional setting of "Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town" (1912) is Mariposa and the stories focus on the characters that populate it. What I like about Leacock’s work is that he's seldom acerbic, and the humour is derived from hyperbole and some fantastic descriptions. This is a book that will appeal to everyone. Recommended.

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Books

Haven't read too many books lately, partly because I spent a month or more reading my first full-fledged novel in Spanish -- armed with a dictionary, of course, and it was slow going. The review of "Como agua para chocolate" below is in Spanish; it seemed unfair to write about it in English. The other novel I finished was the fifth book in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series.

Como agua para chocolate by Laura Esquivel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Como agua para chocolate" is una novela, escrita por Laura Esquivel de Mexico, que se publica por primera vez en 1989. Desde entonces, esta novela ha sido leída por millones de personas en todo el mundo.

Esquivel, como Gabriel García Márquez y otros autores de literatura hispanoamerica, emplea el realismo mágico en su primera novela. Ella usa elementos mágicos en su descripción de la vida cotidiana de sus protagonistas. Por ejemplo, cuando Tita - el caracter central de "Como agua para chocolate" - nacio, lloraba mucho y causó un diluvio en la cocina.

Además, Esquivel comienza los 12 capítulos - uno para cada uno de los meses del año - con una receta mexicana que tiene conexión con los sucesos en la novela. Es interesante el hecho de que el título de la novela se refiera al agua que se hierve para preparar el chocolate.

En resumen, Tita es una adolescente que vive con su madre en un rancho justo antes del inicio de la revolución Mexicana en 1910. Mama Elena dice que Tita nunca puede casarse porque la hija menor de la familia tiene que cuidarla en su vejez. El problema es que Tita y el vecino Pedro se aman y el matrimonio no es possible. Las cosas se complican cuando Pedro se casa con Rosaura, la hermana mayor de Tita, para estar cerca de ella. Otros caracteres importantes en la novela incluyen a John Brown, un médico estadounidense que ama a Tita, y las sirvientes Nacha y Chencha.

Creo que "Como agua para chocolate" trata de una mujer que está atrapada en la contraposicion de tradicion y modernidad. Tita está encasillada en su papel y no puede escapar la influencia de su madre hasta al final de la novela. Su hermana Gertrudis tambien escapa, huyendo desnuda con un soldado rebelde.

El fuego interno del individuo constituye un tema importante en la novela. Es tambien un símbolo del deseo sexual.

"Como agua para chocolate", como "Del amor y otros demonios" de Marquez, es una obra de realismo mágico más destacada en el mundo de literatura hispanoamerica. Es muy recomendable.

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The fifth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series isn't as thrilling as Book 3, and I still haven't warmed up to all the new characters George R. R. Martin introduced in Book 4. Still, "A Dance With Dragons" is an enjoyable read and things do pick up midway. It’s time for me to watch Season 5 of "Game of Thrones". But I still don't get why people were so shocked by Jon Snow's death in the TV series -- he is clearly dead at the end of "A Dance With Dragons" and the book was published in 2011. I don't plan to watch Season 6 till the much-delayed "The Winds of Winter" comes out -- but it might be a long, long wait.

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Books

Open by Andre Agassi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Andre Agassi's "Open" is probably the most non-sports memoir I have read and despite being about a lost childhood and a search for self-identity, it's also an extraordinary book about life on the tennis tour. Add to the mix Agassi's failed marriage to actress Brooke Shields and a lifelong crush on Steffi Graf. Highly recommended and unputdownable - even if you don't like tennis.

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The fourth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series isn't half as thrilling as the previous one, and there are far too many new characters. George R.R. Martin can't help it though - after all, he killed off many of his protagonists in Book 3. Still, "A Feast for Crows" is an enjoyable read. Some really unpredictable things happen in this one and Martin didn't have enough pages to fit in all the characters, forcing him to split the narrative into two books. Planning to read "A Dance With Dragons", the next in the series, before I watch Season 5 of "Game of Thrones". Life is good.

Ladrón de guante negro by Dolores Soler-Espiauba
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cari is the new receptionist at the Hotel Veramar on the Andalucian coast. She finds her co-workers interesting enough, especially Eneko, the motorbike-riding chef. But who is the man wearing black gloves? In this 50-page novella, part of a series for those learning Spanish, there's enough mystery to keep one hooked till the end.

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Go Goa Gone

Hot. Humid. Honey Singh on the beach. His songs, that is. Signboards in Russian. Even the books in Calangute resort library are in Russian. Mills and Boon from the looks of them. Beach. Red flag. Dogs in the sea. Click! Too hot to go out. But we have to. SPF 50 sunscreen melting. Time to buy hats. Fort Aguada (where 'Dil Chahta Hain' was apparently NOT filmed). Anjuna. Vagator. Hurrah! A table at Thalassa Greek restaurant. Waiter looks like Lord Varys (Game of Thrones). We need you to leave by 4.45. Grrr! Food's nice though. At other places too. Chicken vindaloo. Fish. Prawns. Goan sausage pizza. Apple crumble with ice cream. Black Currant crush. London Dairy scoops. Chocolate Mess. This is not good for my diet. Live music at the Infantaria. John Denver. A bit off-key. Walk to Baga another night. Tattoo parlours. Casino. Snow Park. Nah! Too pricey. Crowded beach. Drunk pot-bellied men. Vendors. No, I don’t want a tiara with lights. No bracelet either. And no foot massages. Why, why do shacks play Punjabi item numbers? Could we have the cheque, please. Where’s my Pudin Hara Fizz? Thank God for complimentary resort breakfast. Yippee! Beach, been there, done that. Games people play in the afternoon. Ludo. Taboo. Switcheroo. Oh no, who stole the buzzer? Cuddly resort dogs. Aww! I love it here. I don’t want to go back to Delhi. Driver berating someone in Konkani. Jam. Airport, here already? Flight delayed. Sigh! Back in Delhi, temperature outside 29C. What?

Books

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one's been on my reading list for a long time. Amy Tan's 1989 novel "The Joy Luck Club" features four Chinese-origin mother-daughter pairs living in San Francisco, sharing point-of-view vignettes about their lives as they play mahjong as part of the informal club. The immigrant stories of the mothers were especially interesting, but the absence of good father figures left me wondering about stereotypes. Eager to watch the movie adaptation.

So, Anyway... by John Cleese
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't yet watched much of what John Cleese is famous for, be it the "Monty Python" series or "Fawlty Towers". Not that it mattered while reading his memoirs. "So, Anyway …" has more to do with his life and early career until "Monty Python" made him famous. While series fans might be disappointed, I enjoyed the descriptions of Cleese's childhood and how he strayed into comedy while studying law at Cambridge. Graham Chapman (Yes, I've watched "Life of Brian") and David Frost also feature in it. No matter what Cleese says about writing good comedy, he's really good at it. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in a book tinged with sadness. And yes, I look forward to watching "Monty Python" and "Fawlty Towers" someday.

Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned" by Lena Dunham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Everything that ever happened to Lena Dunham is fodder for her memoir. In a series of personal essays, the creator of the hit series "Girls" documents attempts to lose weight (there's a chapter with her food diary), failed dates, e-mail exchanges, and visits to therapists. Dunham is funny and a good writer -- there's no doubt about that. And she has no qualms about sharing everything from her life. Some parts may make you squirm. But if you liked "Girls", you'll like "Not That Kind of Girl".

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A complex novel with many threads that Margaret Atwood deftly weaves into a layered narrative using flashbacks and multiple time schemes. The Chase sisters seem to have it easy, growing up in early 19th-century Canada as heirs to a button factory. But things go downhill pretty soon. And no, the blind assassin of the title is not the one you think it is.

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Books

Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella "Notes from Underground" has two parts - commentary and narrative. The protagonist is a nameless civil servant in St Petersburg who shares his thoughts in a confessional monologue, followed by a narration of events from his sad life. Perhaps not the ideal introduction to Dostoyevsky's works, but it does make you think. Deserves a re-read.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More autobiographical essays by David Sedaris. As funny as ever. Do not read it on the subway; people are likely to stare if you laugh out loud every few minutes. New entry on my bucket list - I want to read everything he's ever written.



Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Maggot Moon" might be aimed at young adults, but this tale of a dyslexic teenager -- trapped in a dystopian world and out to prove the Moon landing is a farce -- is a powerful novel that will make you shudder. This is not a pleasant read.



A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plenty of deaths in the third book of "A Song of Ice and Fire" to make me yelp on the Delhi Metro and suffer a series of stares. Why is George R.R. Martin killing off his main characters? And choosing such cruel ways to do it. Whatever else the book might be, it's certainly not predictable. Loved it. Best in the series so far. Also watched Season 3 of "Game of Thrones" concurrently. Life is good.

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Books

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Career of Evil is perhaps the best Cormoran Strike mystery yet. There's a serial killer on the loose and Strike's assistant/partner Robin receives a severed leg in the mail. Strike suspects three men from his past. J.K. Rowling (as Robert Galbraith) knows how to keep the suspense going and the characterization is far better than in the first two books. The pace picks up too. And the ending comes as a surprise. Looking forward to the fourth book.

The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If it was anybody else, I would have given up long ago. But there's something mesmerizing about a man left behind on Mars with just enough food and oxygen left for him to stare death in the face. What I disliked about Andy Weir's The Martian were its science-heavy bits, but without them I suppose astronaut Mark Watney's survival wouldn't have been credible. Now to watch the movie adaptation.

Re Jane by Patricia Park
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jane Re is a honhyol (half-Korean, half-American) orphan growing up in Queens and doesn’t quite fit in. In this modern-day retelling of Jane Eyre, our heroine becomes the au pair for the Mazer-Farleys. I loved the first half with the author setting the stage for a coming-of-age novel that explores race, identity and class. But Ed Farley is no Edward Rochester. And after Jane moves to Seoul following her grandfather's death, the novel seems to unravel. Will Jane find a balance between her two cultures? I would say "Re Jane" is a good read, but don't throw away your well-thumbed edition of "Jane Eyre" just yet.

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is too little happiness in Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness". This collection of short stories by a Nobel Prize-winning author deals with pretty serious stuff -- murder, violence, cruelty, self-mutilation and adultery. And yet, there are signs of hope in each tragedy. Munro is a skilled writer who paints her characters with consummate ease. My only quibble is that the last story, the titular one, is a work of historical fiction estranged from the otherwise plebeian lives of small-town Canada.

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