Brajesh's Review: White Tiger

My last book of 2011, against a target of 52, I read 35. Looks like underachievement, but against an average of 10-12 a year until 2010, this was a huge jump :) :) Target for New Year 2012 set at 48.

Now to White Tiger - unputdownable, what a brilliant construction around an obvious India-Bharat divide. Insights galore and a flowing narrative , makes this such a pleasure. Surprised to note that I didn't pick this book up to read earlier due to all the hype thinking it will be a heavy read !!! I still judgea book by its cover, I guess :(

Rating: 3.5/5

Brajesh's Review: Revolution 2020

I have never been a fan of CB, but surprisingly have read all his books. Clearly he has something to offer. I feel his simple language and story line coupled with real issues give him acceptability. While lack of depth in characters, plot, language & narrative keeps the critics going. This one is another typical CB

Rating: 2.5/5

Brajesh's Review: God Save the Dork

I love Sidin on twitter, and here was his brand of humour spread out over 200 pages. The book is part 2 of Robin "Einstein" Verghese's adventures in the corporate world. This one set in London, loses none of the trademark edgy humour of Part 1 - Dork. Written like a diary, you will burst-our laughing many a time.

Rating: 3.5/5

Brajesh's Review: Priya - In Incredible Indyaa

 Part 2 of "Paro: Dreams of Passion".

I felt the book would not have lost anything, even if done with a completely new cast. The painting of New Delhi is insightful and honest. Dark for obvious reasons, this book just reaffirms my admiration for Namita Gokhale.

Rating: 4/5
I also just realized had given only 3 to Paro :( :( must revise it to 3.5



     

Brajesh's Review: The Winning Way

Great concept, good stories, average application but a bad book. I think the construction of the book killed it. The book has no flow or continuity.

BTW if you want sports stories and applied learning, there is this brilliant book by Prakash Iyer "Habit Of Winning" - Must Read.

Rating: 1/5 for the book
overall rating of 1.5/5 (0.5 extra for Harsha, as I am a great admirer)

Brajesh's Review: The Rozabal Line

If you are interested in history, religion and/or historical fiction and haven't yet read Ashwin Sanghi, your life is incomplete. I don't say this lightly but the amount of religious history and new insights you will be exposed in this one book is more than enough for a lifetime of research. Still wondering how he did it

Rating: 4.5/5 - half a point deducted for having just too much info in a book. More than any normal human mind can handle. What a writer!

Brajesh's Review: Theodore Boone - The Abduction

Didn't like this half as much as the last Boone. Grisham is obviously trying to built a Potterish franchise - but the book doens't develop the characters or plot from the last one !!! Big opportunity missed. Hope he does better next time, else Boone is not goona get stickyness. Avoid.

Rating: 2/5

Brajesh's Review: The Litigators

Typical Grisham, if you miss this you haven't missed a lot. But if you are a Grisham fan you won't miss this. Typical big pharma company mass litigation, but a completely new angle. Grips you tight but the ending didn't work for me

Rating: 3/5

Brajesh's Review: Cat vs Human

Must read for any cat lover. Or for that matter any pet lover. Hilarious to the core, easy read, one could finish in 30 mins & then laugh for a few hours. You can also follow Yasmine's cartoons regularly on catversushuman.blogspot.com

Rating: 3/5

Also read Kim's Review of this book

Brajesh's Review: 1857: The Real Story of the Great Uprising

I really wish this book becomes compulsory reading for every class 12th student of history. This is what living history would mean. A brilliant translation of the diary of Vishnu Bhatt Godshe by one of my favourite authors- Mrinal Pande.

I have seldom been moved by a book like this one. Set in 1857 UP, MP this true story of a Maharashtrian Brahmin in search of his daily bread is chilling, moving, riveting, philosophical, hair raising, informative and an eye-opener all at once. I think this is only the 2nd (5/5 rating) by me.

Rating: 5/5

Read Kim's Review of this book.