Books Reviews

Now that I have more time on my hands at the weekends , I have been reading a lot more (and even getting sucked into books during the week).

I only managed to bring two books to Germany with me:

Slumdog Millionaire (formerly published as Q&A) by Vikas Swarup
The detail and manner of conveyance found in this book fa surpasses the movie.
I will admit that I watched the movie (which I heard about last year when it premièred at a Film Festival in the USA) before reading the book . This is somehow akin to sacrilege in my own eyes.
However the plot of the movie while similar to that of the book, leaves many gems behind.
This meant that I was able to enjoy the book and appreciate it much more.
It is a shame that it took the movie to bring this book towards the mainstream, in so far as to having the publishing title

and The White Tiger by Araving Adinga.
Winner of The Man Booker prize last year, that is most probably how most have first heard of this book, including myself.
What a book, I spent nearly a sleepless night just to finish it.
Very dark and yet obtusely appealing.
The style of writing in the form of letters addressed to the Chinese premier is particularly effective.
It makes no excuses on character which had the rather profound effect of allowing me to feel deeply compassionate with the protagonist while harbouring secret disgust at his character.
This one is definitely recommended.

That's only two books and now you ask, how am I reading so many books, especially when my German is so poor.

Well it's mostly thanks to The 100 Classic Books Collection for Nintento DS, but I also have several ebooks on my laptop, which are books that I own and keep meaning to read again, especially the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb.

However I hate spending too much time in front of the computer as this is all I do at work.

So in comes the DS. Over the last two weeks I have read:

The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Excellent book.

Vivid imagery and drawing you in very subtly. The Secret Garden has the feel of being aimed mainly at a younger audience. It's ability to charm an older one is no different.

The Adventures of Tom Sayer

Mark Twain

Well I don't know about the accents employed in the conversations which made reading this book a bit sketchy.

I remember watching the cartoons etc. when I was younger.

The book definitely conveys the sense of adventure I remember more finely.

The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn

Mark Twain

Most have acclaimed that Huck Finn's adventures make better reading than Tom's.

In a way they do, there's a more dangerous, exciting feel to this book.

Well, that is until you get to the end.

I skipped the whole ending of the book.

Where Tom was having this great adventure playing with the life of Jim, the nigger it was completely pitiful and frustrating.

The Moonstone

Wilkie Collins

I have not had much experience with the crime thriller genre.

Having read The Moonstone, I can however very much appreciate the mystery.

A very well written book which kept me guessing till the very last few chapters.

That in itself makes this an excellent example of the quality of this book.

Currently I am reading 20,000 leagues under the sea.