Books: 'Sacred Games', 'Dark Places', 'Advice and Dissent'

Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading "Sacred Games" only after watching its popular Netflix adaptation. And it's a good thing I did, since this 2006 epic thriller by Vikram Chandra is hard to put down despite its 900+ pages. The TV series had either good or bad characters but in the book, protagonist Sartaj Singh is as nuanced and flawed a character as mobster Ganesh Gaitonde. I like what did the show creators did with originally blink-and-you-miss-them parts such as Kukoo, but the novel is packed with a vast array of characters that transform Mumbai city into a living, heaving mass. I will watch upcoming seasons of the Netflix series, but it will be hard for a show to match Chandra's craft and the sheer scale of his magnum opus. Highly recommended.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Often compared unfavourably to the more famous "Gone Girl", this 2009 thriller by Gillian Flynn is the story of Libby Day, the lone survivor of a family massacre in her childhood. "Dark Places" has its moments as a whodunit and is perhaps better plotted than "Sharp Objects", Flynn's first novel. Am yet to watch the movie adaptation starring Charlize Theron.

Advice and Dissent: My Life in Public Service by Y.V. Reddy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nearly half of "Advice and Dissent" is about the former RBI governor's childhood and his life in the IAS. The rest, about his stints at the central bank, are occasionally abstruse but are salvaged by Reddy's sense of humour and the many vignettes focusing on tensions between the government and the central bank. Also memorable are Reddy's interactions with NTR and Chidambaram.

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Book: The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a remarkable omnibus novel about the staff of an unnamed English-language newspaper published in Rome, with each linked chapter focusing on an employee. If like me, you are part of a newsroom, this hilarious 2010 debut novel by Tom Rachman would especially resonate. "The Imperfectionists" captures it all perfectly. Highly recommended.

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Book: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven't watched the movie adaptation yet, but the 2013 novel by Kevin Kwan is a breezy and fun read about the lives of Asia's jet-setting mega rich. Nick Young brings his girlfriend and fellow NYU academic Rachel Chu back home to Singapore without revealing he's the heir to a massive fortune, leading to some pretty awkward moments for our blissfully clueless heroine as she struggles to adjust to the lifestyles of the ultra rich and not necessarily famous.

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Book: Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Less by Andrew Sean Greer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Less" is the Pulitzer-winning heartwarming saga of a gay novelist who travels around the world (including a stint at a Christian retreat in Kerala, India) to avoid attending his ex-lover's wedding. I often find award-winning novels unbearable, but am happy to report this was a thoroughly enjoyable take on midlife crisis and life in general. Highly recommended.

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Book: An Unsuitable Boy by Karan Johar

An Unsuitable Boy by Karan Johar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up Karan Johar's memoirs on a whim during an Amazon e-book sale, and was surprised by the author's candour. "An Unsuitable Boy" (2017) is a breezy read that doesn't dish out dirt on the Bollywood industry. Indeed, if you are looking for kiss-and-tell stories about actors and tinseltown gossip, these memoirs are not for you. The author waxes philosophical about life, love and loneliness as he relates the story of his childhood, anecdotes about his family, friends and the making of his movies. Recommended, especially if you have watched Karan Johar's films.

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Book: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Much of "Sapiens" is extremely interesting and thought-provoking. Harari's take on human history may at times be controversial, but he certainly knows how to keep readers engrossed. Recommended.

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Short Story: The Text by Claire Douglas

The Text by Claire Douglas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"The Text" is a short story, but this thriller by Claire Douglas has enough suspects and twists for a novel. Douglas skillfully builds the suspense in this gripping read about a woman who inadvertently sends a 'threatening' text message to colleagues about her boss, who is found dead the next day. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but I have little else to whine about. Free to download on your Kindle.

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Bumping into hispanohablantes on the Delhi Metro

When I overhear people speaking Spanish on the Delhi Metro, I find myself accosting unsuspecting foreigners who always react the same way.

Their eyes grow big, their minds go into flight-or-fight mode as they decide whether I am a tout, a thief, a Tourette’s patient, or worse - I could be one of those crazy Indians demanding a selfie with fair-skinned Caucasian strangers.

When they finally decipher the words I am uttering (Hola! De donde eres?) they are flabbergasted to hear someone speaking their tongue (albeit in a weird accent) in this alien land. 


Overwrought nerves relax, faces break into smiles and the questions come pouring forth. Who? What? Where? Why? How?

It's fodder for a comic routine, how predictable it all gets. I apologise for mixing up my tenses. They brush aside my protestations and insist I speak Spanish con fluidez.

The Delhi Metro’s Airport Express has been a happy hunting ground for hispanohablantes. On its hallowed platforms, I have bumped into tourists from Buenos Aires to Bilbao.

I wish my newfound Hispanic brethren a happy journey (in Spanish, of course), exchange mutual adioses and let them loose in the city.

Vignettes from a trip to Spain

Book: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another dark and disturbing psychological thriller from the writer of "Gone Girl". "Sharp Objects" (2006) was Gillian Flynn's debut novel and while never as popular as the 2012 bestseller, it may get its due with this year's HBO mini-series of the same name. Crime reporter Camille Preaker returns to her hometown Wind Gap in Missouri to solve the murder of two young girls. But she has her own demons to overcome. I thought the ending of "Sharp Objects" felt a bit rushed, but this is otherwise a gripping and well plotted book. Now to watch the TV adaptation to see if there's indeed a surprise twist at the end.

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