Book Vue

Ruskin Bond's new collection of stories The Writer on the Hill is up for pre order on Flipkart. Pre Order   here .

Rating: 1/5 Title:  First Sight Author: Danielle Steel Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 310 Publisher: Transworld Publishers ISBN-13:  9780593063170 It was sometime during my college days that I read the one and only Danielle Steel book that I read (befire this one). Sadly, I dont remember the name of the book. But it was a good one and since then I have been wanting to try her books again. Her stories are usually about women and their conflicts with romance. Atleast that's what I have come to know. First Sight is about Timmie O'Niell, a highly successful and renowned fashion designer from New York. Despite the fame and riches, Timmie has had more than her share of hardships. The early stages of her life were spent in an orphanage and as if that wasn't cruel enough, she ends up divorcing her husband after their son suddenly dies. Since then she has been totally devoted to her career and her fashion shows. On one such trip to Paris, her favorite city, she m...

Rating: 3.5/5 Title:  Chennaivaasi Author: T.S. Tirumurti Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 270 Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers ISBN-13:   9789350291016 Chennaivaasi is a book by the author T.S.Tirumurti. I read the summary and since it mentioned a TamBram boy, I thought I should give it a go (TamBram meaning a Tamil Brahmin). Being one myself, I found the story and its instances empathizing and closer to home. The story is about Ravi, a TamBram boy from Chennai and Deborah, a Jewish girl from America who fall in love and want to to get married with the parent's blessings. While Deborah's parents agree Ravi's father, on the other hand, is enraged. The tradition-bound and adamant man that he is, Appa (as Ravi calls him) is unmoved by the countless pleads and reasoning by his son and shuns him out of his home and life. Nevertheless, Ravi and Deborah take up jobs and shift base to Chennai hoping to resolve the matter. Subsequently as Ravi's mother come...

Rating: 3.5/5 Title:  Wise and Otherwise : A Salute to Life Author: Sudha Murthy Genre: Fiction Pages: 232 Publisher: Penguin Books ISBN-13:   9780143062226 Yet another splendid book by Sudha Murthy, this time with real incidents out of her experience closet. As is the case with the rest of her books that I've had the pleasure reading, this one too leaves the reader with a distinct humbleness and sometimes, with a disturbing truth. This book is a set of short stories (true occurrences), that took place with the author herself. As the strong, open minded and always-ready-to-help woman that she is, Mrs. Murthy's stance in majority of these stories highlights the plight of the common man/woman in India. Whether it is a rank holder with a poor financial background or an educated and working married woman, the height of helplessness is so prominent that it moved me to tears. On the other hand, there are also tales of those helped by the author reminiscing and be...

Rating: 2.5/5 Title:  Fifty Shades Of Grey Author: E. L. James Genre: Fiction, Romance, Erotica Pages: 528 Publisher: Random House ISBN-13:  9780099579939 I had heard so much about this book being on the bestseller list and all, and one of my friends explicitly suggested reading this one too. I put it on hold because I had to finish reading the other books in hand. But when I was finally done, I thought to explore this particular trilogy. I seriously thought this would be somewhere in the lines of a Mills and Boon but I was astonished! Not sure in a happy way, though. The story is about Anastasia Steele, a university student, who interviews an immensely rich (and insanely handsome) businessman, Christian Grey, for her college newspaper on behalf of her roommate. From the moment they set eyes both are drawn towards each other. Although Grey displays his affection, he is distant and mysterious especially when he says that he cannot touch her unless she signs ...

Rating: 3.5/5 Title:  Falling In Love Again Author: Ruskin Bond Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 208 Publisher: Rupa Publications ISBN-13:  9788129120434 I have always associated Ruskin Bond with ghost stories and haunted houses in the hills, but a romantic book? I had to try this one out! The books contains several short stories of romance and love. The emotions bared by the author are surprising to someone like me because, as I said earlier, I have never come across this  other side to him. All stories expose the colorful sentiments of a lover. Sometimes as a forlorn one waiting for a glimpse of his girl and at times as a passionate boyfriend stealing a kiss. But in all, he is the sincere lover. One who, when loves, does so wholeheartedly. And when there are the Himalayan hills, the oak trees, the little knolls and streams of clear running water in the background, these tales get even more amusing. Well, I am pleasantly surprised and glad that I chan...

Rating: 2.5/5                                 Title: The Reluctant Detective Author: Kiran Manral Genre: Fiction, Humour Pages: 184 Publisher: Westland ISBN-13: 9789381626115 To begin with I would like to say that I had high hopes out of this book. Why? I liked the cover of the book and the summary seemed interesting but that was about it. The story is about Kay (Kanan Mehra). She is a housewife who loves to interfere in people's business. A murder takes place in her neighborhood and she, along with the help of Detective Runa, tries to solve the case. That's about it. Really. Although I wouldn't deny there are a few light moments in this story, the overall book wasn't fascinating enough. This is not a book to read when you want a simple, if not hardcore, murder investigation that will race your mind and move you to the edge of your seat. The characters and circumstances created by the au...