The China Twist- Book Review

This is perhaps the first business related book that came to me for review and obviously I was excited about it. And needless to say, The China Twist did not dissapoint.

The China Twist is the story of how two very young and enterprising Wharton MBA graduates took the bold decision of opening Auntie Anne’s Pretzels chain of snack stores in China. This book is not so much about opening stores in China as their story of keeping it operating in hostile conditions which included local labor laws, health certifications, company registrations and the culture itself.

Asia is now one of the fastest growing markets for American fast food chains and all the brands who are trying to find a place there are racking their brains to come up with new dishes to please local tastes. Wen-Szu Lin and his partner faced the same dilemma as McDonald’s faced when they came to India. With a population over 1 billion no international brand can ignore the fact that India is a lucrative market for them.  In the era of global villages, even hardcore international firms strive to bring their own cultural flavor to a country.

The fact that McDonald’s failed in its first stint as they forgot to take out the ham in the hamburger when they came to India is a case study in itself. They ignored India's cultural aversion to beef and pork and later had to tweak their offering and now has some of the most local menu listings like McAloo Ticki (a burger with patty made out of potatoes, peas, and spices) and Maharaja Mac. Global fast-food businesses now come up with hybrid foods that folks back home don't hear about. This is just an example of how big brands can fail if they do not adapt to local settings and that’s what The China Twist is all about. Cultural issues were just one of the problems Wen-Szu Lin faced when he won his bid for exclusive China Master Franchise rights of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.

The China Twist outlines the challenges that Wen-Szu Lin and his partner faced in China and the lessons learnt throughout their journey which ended with folding up of the chain. The story is interesting but exposes the hard reality of the hardships an alien product faces in a local setting. The book is entertaining in the true sense of the word as the authors take us through a labyrinth of cultural and bureaucratic obstacles. Marketing strategies, cultural sensitivity, bureaucratic stonewalling, labor laws; everything gets a new definition in the process of setting up the chains. I would term this book not as "how not to do business in China" but "how to do business in China".

There are so many case studies in this area where evidence suggests that utilizing both localization and globalization marketing strategies can make these fast food chains treat the world as one market but at the same time marketers should take up a sensitive approach towards local culture, labor laws, social and religious slant. The China Twist so correctly preaches that being sensitive and informed inevitably impacts the business performance positively. The China Twist is a case study with a personal touch and a heart. Go read it!


 Disclosure: I was provided the e-book version of the book by the Author.

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Eviction Notice: Book Review

This book review has taken me ages as I was swamped with other books and some peripheral indulgences. So without much ado, here it is!

An absolute roller-coaster ride is what I would describe Eviction Notice as. Author Robyn Wyrick has taken an alien adventure story and turned it upside down punctuating the storyline with surprises, humor and incredible phantasm. A sci-fi that makes jokes at technology and aliens is a refreshing departure from the usual fare that we have been served in recent times.

Part futuristic, part adventure, Eviction Notice starts with a high school prank that sets into motion a series of events that threatens to break the very fabric of human existence. A high school tradition of creating alien crop circles becomes an open invitation to aliens to swamp Earth and serve an 'eviction notice'. 

Let’s start with the basics first; there is a Glen Fairy, who is a fairy (what else?), who possess the ability to heal the world of its abuses. In a bid to end a war, Glen Fairy was sold to Zorgon and Aloon Zigilbraxis was given the responsibility of delivering the cargo (read Glen Fairy). No issues till now. The problem was when the crop circle matched that of a similarly shaped beacon that would have helped the delivery pod to bring Glen so that Aloon could take her to Zorgon. Now the problem starts and it’s a hilarious problem. Gren Fairy gets delivered to Iowa where the pranksters had created the crop circle. Having lost Glen and told that only one thing could replace the lost Fairy; his death, Aloon takes over Earth and serves an 'eviction notice' to its rightful or unrightful inhabitants.

Since we can't have an all-aliens star cast, a depressed human is brought into picture. Alice Able is about to commit suicide when she is presumed to be the leader of human race because of a hilarious mistake. She is thrown into a race to save the Earth and make it the rightful place for humans as it always has been. The characters are well etched and the story is fast paced and never slacks even one bit and that’s what makes Eviction Notice a must read. Somewhere down the storyline, you would think that it is so unbelievable but if the child in you is still alive, you would take all of it with an incredulous smile and a glint in your eyes. I wish I was imaginative enough to conjure up such a fantastic piece of fiction.

The writing is so descriptive and nuanced that I could see it playing in my head as if it were a movie and I won't be too surprised if it were actually made into one. Humor is the one thing that stands out like a not-so-sore-thumb and is amazingly handled as this is one genre that is not easy to grip without going overboard. Robyn Wyrick has delivered a power packed tongue-in-cheek book that brings a smile to the face and puts forth a mirror to see the child in us. Bravo Mr Wyrick!


Disclosure: I was provided the e-book version of the book by the PR agency

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The Bookie's Son- Book Review

This is one book that has made me wait for the longest time to read and review. I was supposed to get the hard copy of The Bookie's Son by Andrew Goldstein months ago but by some quirk of fate and the amazing efficiency of the Postal Department, I was denied the joy of holding the physical copy of the book. It was my loss entirely since The Bookie's Son is such an amazing story of bonding of a dysfunctional family.

Light but poignant, funny but touching, real but surreal is how I would describe Bookie's Son. It has all the ingredients that make a book unputdownable till the very end. Set in the 1960’s, the book throws us into the Davis’ family drama. And boy what an unconventional family it is. Amazingly depicted, The Bookie’s Son is set in the Bronx and takes us on a ride with Ricky Davis’ and his family’s fight for survival.

Truth is stranger than fiction and this comes forth very clearly in this book. Apparently The Bookie’s Son is based on the author’s life and that’s why it is all the more believable. Ricky Davis is a 12 year old lad with a bookie for a dad, a mother with failed aspirations and myriad aunts, each with idiosyncrasies of their own. One aunt is a kleptomaniac, the other one likes to be operated on and then there are a couple others who are either attention seeker or are experts in getting on people’s nerves. And to top it all, there is a nephew who is a child molester. It doesn’t take more than a few pages of this book to know that we are not in the midst of a normal family but it is so much better and fun to be in this family with its own heartaches and heartbreaks.

With Bar Mitzvah looming over his head, Ricky Davis is a worried boy as life has thrown a curve ball at him sucking him into a whirlpool of turmoil. His father, Harry has messed up big time by getting into a blotched up get-rich scheme that blows up in his face. The mobster (Nathan Glucksman) that Harry works as a bookie for is a despicable man with absolutely no ethics; not that we expect anything other than disgusting levels of ethics from him.

The real problem starts when Harry instead of collecting, gives away the mobster’s money to a tailor. All hell breaks loose and the situation assumes special gravity. Glucksman wants his money back and can go to any extent in either recovering it or let it go for some carnal pleasure. At this point both Ricky and his mother Pearl are thrown into the harsh realization that it is a do-or-die situation for them. As Ricky grows from a boy to a figurative man, he has to become the shoulder that his mother can lean on (sometimes uncomfortably) and explores and exploits Mara, the Hungarian refugee.

I will not go into the details of what happens next and how the drama unfolds but it would be safe to say that this gripping family saga takes its reader into a cocoon of crime, love, trust and hope. The Bookie’s Son is a book about relationships and it so truly conveys that come what may, family should always be first.

Andrew Goldstein weaves this story with a deft hand and delivers an emotional and moving tale that takes the reader into a world of uncertainties of life.

Copyright (c) Pigtale 2005-2012. Images copyright respective holders.

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Poor Little Rich Slum: Book Review

It's always a pleasure reading about the underdogs who have fought against their inherited destiny to survive and that too with dignity. Nothing fascinates us more than seeing people rise up from the abyss of uncertainty to scale heights of success.

Poor Little Rich Slum by Rashmi Bansal and Deepak Gandhi is very different from her previous books. This book is all about the struggles in Dharavi (Asia's largest slum) and their little victories. Rashmi's earlier books too were about successful people but this one is not so much about success than about survival. Much has been written about Dharavi and has even been immortalized in movies but the concept of writing about the entrepreneurs from the slum who used their ingenuity to find opportunities in literal filth or otherwise is pure gold. There is always an element of curiosity when is comes to the narrow lanes of Dharavi but at the same time there is a sense of admiration for the "heart" of the slum that no one cares for.

Divided into four sections called "Dharavi, What Ees?", "The Incubator", "The Cauldron Of Change" and "The Future", each deals with stories about people who have defied odds to show ingenuity and/or marched on the path of selfless passion. The entire book seems to be a guided tour of Dharavi conducted by Tauseef who runs a local tourist business.

Not all stories are about commercial success like that of Jameel Shah or Praveen Sakpal; there are myriad enterprises that look beyond money like SHEHA or the PUKAR Foundations. Poor Little Rich Slum does not give a lopsided view of what Dharavi is all about. It is well balanced by stories about rise in stature (economically) and rising as a human.

In a nutshell it all about what the book rightly mentions, "Dharavi is not just a physical location, it is an emotional entity." I am not one who glorifies slums and I feel that we cannot justify their existence by writing about the success stories emanating from them. The human spirit of survival need not find home in slums; it can be found anywhere. And if the writers meant we need more slums like Dharavi when they said, "Dharavi should be celebrated and replicated", then I beg to differ. Slum is not the answer; it is the question that needs to be answered in the first place.

The writing is simple yet lucid and would have been totally drab if not for the brilliant photographs by Dee Gandhi. This book is for anyone who complains that life is unfair and that it’s their destiny to be downtrodden. Dharavi teaches the spirit of the unbeatable mind and unquenchable thirst for rising from filth and reaching for the sky. 

I am sure that there are a million other stories with a "human" touch to them but for that you will have to visit Dharavi and find out. This book is a start so we need to do our bit and get to the bottom of it. Go ahead! Get Inspired!


 

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at  BlogAdda. Participate now to get free books!

 

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A Calendar Too Crowded : Book Review

Not all books (fiction or non-fiction) necessarily come with a moral. It's up to the readers to decipher what lies beneath. I read A Calendar Too Crowded by Sagarika Chakraborty a couple of weeks back and I feel that I am still carrying the stories in my heart.  And mind you, this is no mean feat for a fastidious reviewer like me.

The tone of A Calendar Too Crowded is not feminist at all; it has to do with being treated as human (irrespective of gender). The stories do not cry out hoarse to treat women equally; it rather puts forth the reality and leaves the rest to the reader. In the course of the stories being told, the reader is posed basic questions like, "Why is it such a curse being born a girl?" or "When will we stop treating women as mere objects?”

The names in the book don't really matter but the voice is so persistent and pertinent, that one can't ignore the seriousness of the issue that most of us brush under the carpet and choose to ignore.

Whether it is the girl child, flesh trade, harassment at work, or inhuman treatment meted out to women, the book covers the entire gamut of the decay that our society is suffering from when it comes to women.

The book I'm sure was written after in depth research and analysis as the content is far cry from being pedestrian. It depicts the various shades of being a woman through various phases in her life. The statistics don't help much as the stories without any numbers are poignant enough to move any stoic heart. The attention to detail is clinical which is sometimes unnerving. It is so easy for books like these to become preachy.

I like the way the book has been laid out; 12 chapters for the 12 months in a year. The chronological events from the birth of a girl leading up to the grave (or beyond) make one think deeply, the difference between just existing and living with dignity.

Society is our creation and so is our culture. How else do we explain the deviation from what was written in the Vedas (where women enjoyed equal rights) to where we are now? I feel that books like these may at least bring back those times but that is something that I don't feel will happen during my lifetime.

Maybe, we will figure out a way to tackle the menace which our self-created society is comfortably ensconced in. Till then give a pat on your back Sagarika! A job well done!

Disclosure: I was approached by a PR firm to review this book.

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Having a Not So Pleasant Journey

OK, take a deep breath and think about this.

• If a book is about nature, is the author a tree?
• If the book is about health, is the author obese?
• If the book is about fantasy, is the author a goblin?

If you have answered "Yes" to any of the above, then your mental faculties are at their imaginative zenith and you need to go someplace else and stop trespassing on this publicly available real estate.

But, in case by some quirk of nature you have answered "No" to all of the above, then why the fuck would someone categorize an author as a pervert or a sex maniac is he/she has written a book about child abuse and the like?

Yes, it kind of baffles me as well. I pity Vadimir Nobakov who wrote Lolita and wonder if he had to go through the same character profiling. So what is the context here?

Well, not so long ago (2010 actually), I had written my first book "Have a Pleasant Journey", the subject of which was child abuse and the subsequent repercussions. It was supposed to be a sensitive story with the abuse serving as the backdrop. Agreed there were some references to copulation (for all the conservative types) and voyeurism. But does that make me a characterless asshole?

How can anyone relate and judge the character of an author by the subject of his/her book? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. The correct answer might be , "It depends". Depends on what, you'll ask. Well, it depends on whether you pretend to personally know the author or not. When I mean "know", I mean, you "think" that you know the author because you work with him/her in the same office for example.

I've noticed that if we don't know the author personally, then all is well. The author can write about someone's mother and get away with it. In my case, the reaction has been the same. People who don't know me but have read the book either liked it or did not like it. Plain and simple. But never have I got any feedback from any one of them questioning my character.

But its not the same for some people who "believe" that they know me "personally" just because I've talked to them in office or during some event. These kind of people are the most dangerous ones. They have nothing else to do; just out of curiosity, they read the book and then issue me a hard copy (in triplicate) of my character certificate. MY character certificate! Thank you but NO, Thanks!

I know what kind of character I have and the people around me who matter know that as well. So you, the random stranger with a spare rubber stamp need not worry about the extend of pervertness I am capable of.

All I can say to these obnoxiously challenged folks that please stay faithful to Chetan Bhagat and remain confined to your perfect world. Literarily, that's the highest you can go, so be happy!

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This Mobius Strip of Ifs: Book Review

This has been long overdue. My apologies to Mathias B. Freese for taking such a long time in reviewing his book, This Mobius Strip of Ifs. But better late than never so here it is!

According to Wikipedia, a "Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orient-able. It can be realized as a ruled surface." Confused? Well, don't be! It is simply a metaphor for randomness that life is and that’s what this book is all about.

Given the fact that Mathias B. Freese is a former psychotherapist and teacher, I would have expected a writing which was laborious with full of teachings. I couldn't have been more wrong. This collection of stories/essays is an unapologetic insight into a man's quest to find method in madness.

The essays touch upon myriad things in life that any normal soul would crave for; dreams, family, relationships, love etc. I love the fact that the author shows his human side with humility when he discusses his regrets and relationship issues.  Mathais discusses various famous people to make us realize what we lost out on in due course of not pursuing what the soul really wanted.

In the course of discussing many things, the book asks many pertinent questions that have haunted all of us one time or another. This fabulous book can be equated with The Fall by Albert Camus and has sparks of brilliance written all over it. This Mobius Strip of Ifs is not only about a single person (the author) but about all of us. We can connect with the essays at various levels and understand the chaos through which the soul fumbles through to find a strong footing.

This is a book that has the potential of becoming our mirror and a cornerstone for finding hope in regret. Amazingly laid out, This Mobius Strip of Ifs is book worthy of a special place in my bookshelf.

 Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.

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Ugly to Start With: Book Review

Ugly to Start With is a series of interconnected short stories documenting the growing years of Jason Stevens. Penned by award winning author John Michael Cummings, Ugly to Start With is full of promises and nostalgia.

The reader is made to take the literary journey with Jason Stevens as the narrator. The setting of the stories is 1970s in Harper's Ferry that come alive with each passing chapter. The stories themselves are very visual and one can relate to them while going through the growing pains and experiences of Jason.

Each of the stories depict a particular emotional turbulence and are so well connected that the whole picture is nothing short of stunning. The various nuances of human nature; be it flaws or goodness come forth vividly through the vignettes.

John Michael Cummings has done an amazing job of bringing back memories of a life we no longer remember or care about. I don't know if it was intended or not but the stories follow a curve with the pace picking up from a dull start. My only complaint would be a missing strong last chapter. I would have really liked John to finish off the book with an upper cut and closing off on things. But that’s the way life is; isn't it. We all are looking for closures and that's what keeps us going.

The layout and quality of the stories are something that any author would envy (including me) and I have no hesitation in saying that this is a book all must read. If you want to see your life flash by, Ugly to Start With is a book you cannot afford to miss.

 Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.

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Catch Me If You Know How: Book Review

Show me a person who has not heard of the Internet and I will stop writing this book review right now. I normally don't accept e-books for reviews as I just love the feel of a physical book (I know it sounds corny). When Travis Morgan approached me to review his book, Catch Me If You Know How, I obviously requested him to ship me a bound copy of the book. It turned out that the shipping cost would have been more than the cost of the book itself. Since the book was interesting going by various reviews, I agreed to review the book in its e-book avatar. I was not disappointed at all.

Travis Morgan's inspiration to write Catch Me If You Know How comes from his intent to help parents keep track of what their children are doing while online. The book doesn't profess snooping but is only meant for parents to keep their children out of harm's way while they use the Internet.

The Internet is full of illicit material, stalkers, pornography etc and it is everyone's nightmare to keep an eye on someone who is not supposed to fall prey to them. The book is very helpful for someone with workable knowledge of computers, browsers and the Internet. For an out and out IT guy, this book is of little or no help. What is in the book is something that a hardcore techie would already know about. If someone has to bypass the system, Catch Me If You Know How or any other book for that matter would be of no help. I'd rather place this book under the "IT Forensics for Dummies" category. Given the fact that Travis Morgan started working on this book a few years back, some of the information seems pretty outdated. Children have become a lot smarter since then.

But all said and done, I would not discount the intent of Travis Morgan as someone who is out there to spread the knowledge and make the online world a little safer. So if you are a parent or someone who has little knowledge of computers and would like to know what you can or can't do over the Internet, then this book is just for you.


Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy in e-book format.

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Shine in Kashmir: Book Review

It's always a pleasure reading about India and its cultural diversity. One book or one author is not enough to capture the various shades of culture that is India. So when I came across Shine in Kashmir, I was obviously thrilled to review it. More so, because it has been written by D. Chris Castanga, who has traveled the world tasting various cultures.

Shine in Kashmir follows Justin Conrad, a 24 year old American through his journey in search of meaningful company, spirituality and the meaning of life. The book is one of the most amazing account of India that I have read in a long while. If you want to know the esoteric aspect of India, its people and culture seen through the eyes of a foreigner, this book is just for you.

All that Chris Castanga has done through Justin Conrad is soak-in the various cultures (and idiosyncrasies) of India and present them in the most vivid manner. In fact the descriptions are so visual, they made me cringe at some sections. Chris has portrayed India in such a realistic manner that it would make most Indians take offense...but that's the beauty of the narrative. It's so real that it's difficult to believe that it has been written by a non-Indian.

Justin Conrad's character is amiable but reserved, gentleman but flirtatious and is entirely believable. He is someone who travels the world absorbing the essence of cultures while appreciating the conflicts that exist within.

When it comes to narration, the flow of the book is smooth and never falters. The descriptions of lovemaking and Tantra are so beautifully captured that they are nothing but amazingly sensual. The characters get etched on to the mind of the readers long after they have finished the story and placed it on the shelf. This book will satisfy ones' curiosity for eastern culture and religious philosophies.

It’s a nice read but there are a few places where Chris infers that Hinduism is all about spirituality and yoga. It's not the case Mr. Castanga but you surely have redeemed yourself by describing India in its full glory. Bless you for that!

Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.

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The Guys’ Guy’s Guide To Love: Book Review

Ok, this has been long due. I received a review copy of Robert Manni's weirdly (but aptly) titled book called The Guys’ Guy’s Guide To Love (GGGLove) a couple of months back but was unable to read it due to piles of other books in the pipeline. Finally I got to read it and found it be as fast moving as the story's setting in NYC.

The story GGGLove is set in New York where the city never sleeps in Madison Avenue. In fact the story is so believable that it could have taken place anywhere in the world.

The book is all about the dating scene where the womanizing Roger and Max sweat it out. The stakes are high and the people are unforgiving in a world of love, sex and power.

GGGLove turns contemporary dating logic on its head by referring that women prefer the traditional type of men than the new-age stud. Now that's some food for thought, isn't it?

And I have no reason to disbelieve the author, given the fact that he speaks from experience. I understand that the young professional women of today may not relate to the struggles their male counterparts face, but they understand their frustration and unhappiness. And this is the reason; they are looking out for the old-fashioned, low risk taking man.

GGGLove presents the story from both the men and women perspectives and provides an insight into the mind of the contemporary women and what they really want.

Robert Manni has done an amazing job with this role reversal fun read. Go read it as it comes from a master.

 
Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.


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The Spirit Whisperer: Harbart (Book Review)

Literary translations are always tricky as it is more of a creative act than just converting one language to another. More than just translation, it is the cultural knowledge that matters. A case in point would be to see "The Mask" with Hindi subtitles. Jim Carrey in one of the scenes says "Smoke Head" and you can't but laugh at what appears in the subtitles..."Dhumrapaan". The translator clearly did not understand the word and it's cultural meaning. And this is where many translators falter and display their weaknesses.

Having said that, it's never easy to translate a book without losing any of its original meaning. Some books can merely be translated but others like Harbart need something more like transliteration. When I started reading Harbart, I didn’t know what to review; the story or the translation (I haven't read the original Bengali version of the book). Maybe, I'll do both.

First about the story. At the heart of Nabarun Bhattacharya's Harbart is Herbert Sarkar or Harbart; an orphan who made a living by pretending to be a spirit whisperer. Little did anyone know that it was the ghosts of his own memories that haunted him.

The story opens with Harbart's death or rather suicide. The description of his death is sprinkled with grotesque details and serves as a diving board for the mystery ahead. The rest of the book gives us the back-story leading up to the suicide and the rather "explosive" climax.

The original book was first published in 1993 and using Harbart's character, Nabarun Bhattacharya throws the readers into an environment where almost everything was wrong with Kolkata at that time. In spite of the stench, decay and general apathy of Kolkata, Harbart rises with subtle aspiration of becoming an entity who is far cry from the city that he was a part of.

It was Harbart's first hand experiences with naxalism, death and humiliation that cajoles him to choose a profession that makes him famous. How the nonchalance of his surroundings finally brings about his downfall is something that I'd rather leave the readers of the book to find out. Nabarun Bhattacharya’s style of writing brought a whiff of freshness. The various nuances of imagery, sarcasm and dark humor makes Harbart a delight to read.

Now a word on the translation. Arunava Sinha does an amazing work in bringing forth the dark humor that Harbart is all about. However, he could have done a little more justice. Arunava, I'm sure culturally understood the story but unfortunately, he didn't belong to Harbart's era. The word to word translations of the poems absolutely did not convey their significance.

It's imperative that a translator should reproduce the original author's style but this is not possible all the time. It wouldn’t and cannot be an absolute translation but the approximate should be aimed for. I am a Bengali who cannot read or write his mother tongue and this embarrassed soul says a Big Thank You to Arunava. I need to hand it to Arunava for making non-Bengali readers get access to an amazingly textured story like Harbart.  Readers should not miss this unusual piece of Bengali Literature.



This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at  BlogAdda. Participate now to get free books!

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The Blogging Affair- Book Review

I spent the last few days reading The Blogging Affair by Amitabh Manu and I don't really think that it was a total waste of time.

According to the author, "It's not really a murder mystery". He was right as I could guess the murderer very early in the book.

So what is the plot? A lady has been found murdered and the paramour is the prime suspect. The suspect is a weird character who is married and thinks from between his legs (now most men do that, don’t they). And then there is the anonymous blogger who confesses to having murdered the lady.

The story moves forward using 3 points of view; the anonymous blogger, the man who is the suspect and the detectives/cops investigating the murder.

I will not dwell deep into the plot as it’s mostly an open and shut case and doesn't try to rise above the obvious. Barring grammatical mistakes and factual errors (since when did the Road Transport Office start having "Marital Status" on driving licenses?), the plot is pretty average.

The characterizations leave a lot to be desired. Apart from the suspect's one-track mind, nothing comes across that would register on one's mind. The anonymous blogger's digressions into religion, homeopathy, and spiritual enlightenment among others were totally lost on me. They did nothing to add or move the story forward or backward (given that the blogs are in reverse chronological order). All I recall are the persistent headaches that the blogger suffered from.

I would say that the only gripping narrative in the entire book is the one based on the cops. There are some unintentional moments of humor but the author at some places went completely overboard with the "word play".

The editing is a classic example of the importance of a good pair of eyes that would pick out the very obvious flaws. I don’t know if Amitabh engaged an editor or not but it is given that all authors need a second opinion, someone to see the obvious and at the extreme, someone to tell them that things need to be fixed. They need to have an editor with credentials and not just their best friend or wife/husband (unless the best friend or wife/husband is an editor).

All said and done, The Blogging Affair was written in right earnest and with all its flaws, the book makes a good read. It could have been a great read.

Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.

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Retelling History: Chanakya's Chant (Book Review)

“There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it.”
                                                                                                                                    ---Chanakya

Spanish American philosopher and author, George Santayana once said, “A country without a memory is a country of madmen." The recent spate of fiction based on Indian mythology by various authors does just that- retell history. Chanakya figures very prominently in our collective memory but Ashwin Sanghi manages to take Chanakya's story to a whole new level.

Time and again we have realized that the past is never dead. It comes back in one form or another and Chanakya's Chant illustrates this in the most vivid way. The shrewdness and ruthlessness that epitomized the then Chanakya is evident in Gangasagar Mishra of today.

Without giving away the details of the story, it suffices to say that just like Chanakya used his intelligence and shrewdness to install Chandragupta Maurya on the throne, Gangasagar Mishra does the same for Chandini Gupta; only this time the throne is the Prime Minister's chair. What happens between the start of the plan and the destination (and beyond) is what the book is all about.

The highly intelligent Chankakya was one of the most cunning strategists that the world has ever seen. Given his cold and calculating mind, he managed to take revenge of his father's murder, take on Alexander and install Chandragupta on the throne of the Maurya Empire and still found time to write his brilliant Arthasashtra. Gangasagar essays the role of the modern day Chanakya and displays rare ruthlessness and wit to become the kingmaker.

Just like his last book, The Rozabal Line, Ashwin Sanghi creates a common thread between the two stories that run parallely in the book. The amazing storyteller that he is, Ashwin Sanghi manages to weave a complex story using historical events and extrapolating them to present world that is full of manipulation. Mr. Sanghi knows his history well enough to find parallels and presents a well researched story. The voice is confident and the story is compelling. The editing is top notch with right dosage of drama and action. To top it all, there are tongue-in cheek statements on the reason for the Sepoy Mutiny or the "beauty of accounting" amongst other gems.

Chanaky's Chant makes us realize that no price is too high and no life too precious but at some places I felt that the author took it too far. Ashwin's flight of imagination made him write some portions of the book that seem implausible. How was it possible for Gangasagar to carry on bumping off people left right and center without anyone raising any eyebrows or objection? Were the people, law of the land and democracy totally impotent to handle the situation? But all said and done, this page-turner keeps the reader on hook, coaxing them to reach the last page.

I am not much into books that run into pages upwards of 400 but this is one of the few books that I wanted to go on and on. Chanaky's Chant is an awesome amalgamation of historical reality and contemporary fiction. If nothing else, these kinds of books will tempt the present generation to go and read the original works around Indian mythology. I have always felt that when it comes to Indian mythology, the more we scratch the surface, the more wonderful stories emerge from them.

 

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Copyright (c) Pigtale 2005-2010. Images copyright respective holders.

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The New Prime Time: The 6pm Slot (Book Review)

Television has long stopped being interested in the business of communication. All it does is deliver audiences to advertisers. TRP is the king- people are just merchandise. 

One can't blame television entirely though. The fact that newspapers have a page two (and television doesn't) makes it all the more necessary for television to showcase even mundane news by airbrushing them to give them the "shock value".

The 6pm Slot by Naomi Datta is what television is all about today. The cover of The 6pm Slot belies its contents. It is in no way a chic-lit.  It is a serious novel delving into a serious issue. Naomi Datta's book manages to portray the nitty-gritty of television the way it presently is. The author's bio page tells that Naomi is a television producer, presenter and film writer all rolled into one. I am not surprised as a book like The 6pm Slot can only be written by an "insider". This book throws the reader into a world full of dirty tricks, titillation and manipulation that is so synonymous with the television industry.

The book has a chequered list of characters of myriad shades. Right from the naive producer (Tania) to the self- appointed messiah of "newsdom" (and everyone in between), Naomi has nailed it. The 6pm Slot takes us through Tania's journey who has been asked to work on a show involving an agony aunt (a babe actually). The brief is clear; make 6pm the new prime time. All that Tania has is a hot host and her brilliantly colorful English. But there is a problem: the panning of camera on various bronzed titillating body parts and nondescript problems of adolescents are not enough to hook the nation.

With the TRP sword hanging on Tania's head, she gives in to creating imaginary callers and their problems. One such brilliantly executed hoax spirals out of control when the nation almost exhausts its candle supply by "performing" the mandatory night vigil/march. How Tania uses her mental faculties to survive the fiasco is what the book is about. I would say that the buildup to the crux of the story is a little too long drawn. The ending is swift and calculated as if the author got fed up and wanted to finish off the story.

Not all creations of God are equal and it’s the same with the characters in this book. Some like Rahul and Harish are carved out intricately. Their descriptions are so vivid that you can almost see them if you close your eyes. Most of the other characters are not so fortunate. It would have been great if Naomi had invested in chalking out the other characters in detail to give a lasting impression.

In terms of language, it can safely be called the Delhi Belly of Indian literature. No, seriously, the language is easy and free-flowing and has dark humor. Naomi manages to explore a very real world of television with real issues in the most lucid manner.

The debut effort of Naomi is commendable as she gets most of the story-telling part right without digressing much. The ending mentions that, "It just keeps coming back in circles" and we wish that Naomi comes back with another one of her "insider" stories. The 7pm Slot! Anyone?

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at  BlogAdda. Participate now to get free books!

Copyright (c) Pigtale 2005-2010. Images copyright respective holders.

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Insinuating Insults

When was the last time you wanted to verbally blast someone but were at a loss of words? If the answer is "last friday", "yesterday" or "now", then there is just the book for you. In fact it has been around for half a century now. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, the ultimate in pot-shots, comebacks, insulting retorts and more; 2000 Insults for All Occasions by Louis A. Safian.

This book also happens to be the oldest book in my personal library. The book was first printed in 1965 by Citadel Press and is as relevant today as it was the day metal press plates were made for the offset printing. I have a 1968 edition of the book.

I don't really recall where I got this book from but it's one of my prized possessions. This book is guaranteed to generate some laughs with its witty insults that are divided into sections like Nudists, Golddiggers, Juvenile Delinquents,  Dumbbells, Husbands etc.

The audacious purpose of this compilation is to give you the opportunity of (at the drop of a hat and gag) shredding someone's self-respect with sharp swings of hard and negative truths. This book is a must for keeping your insult arsenal well stocked for expressing yourselves in situations that demand critical use of your verbal faculties.

Sample this in the "Playgirl" section:

When the little bell on her typewriter rings, she thinks it means a coffee break.

The above might be a little outdated (typewriters, anyone?) but you get the picture, right!

Spiderman's uncle told him that with great power comes great responsibility and I have realized that the great power of "insults" comes with great responsibility. So use this book responsibly and understand that you may need these comebacks sooner that you ever anticipated.

Copyright (c) Pigtale 2005-2010. Images copyright respective holders.

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Book Review of "Zor: Philosophy, Spirituality and Science"

There are three kinds of books one might have come across: One that you can connect with, one that you cannot connect with and then there is the third kind that is confusingly in between. Zor falls in the third category; Simple, lucid and thought provoking, it travels between familiarity and bizarre.

The story starts on a familiar note of an Investment Fund Manager who has seen it all, only to fall into the black hole of complacency and monotony. Then one day, John Brewster, the Fund Manger, chances upon a Haitian dwarf, Zor who changes everything. The equations that John had in his life go haywire when he starts listening and analyzing what Zor had to say..

The two almost always meet at a bar and discuss things ranging from being happy to being self. Strange explanations provided by Zor makes John change the way he has been thinking and forces him to find happiness and contentment and then almost lose all of it (I won’t let the suspense out).

Conversations with Zor lead John to take stock of his life, marriage and everything in between. The most well developed and also the most underdeveloped character in this book is that of Zor. We don’t really understand what or who is he. Mysterious at times but quite profound and crystal clear, Zor swings from Ch’i, mind, body, spirit to quantum physics, neurons and theory of relativity. It’s like moving very fast between fire and ice; suspicion and belief.

One can understand by reading the book that Zor is just a physical allegory to our perception.  Needless to say, it helps questioning our perceptions to break some myths. Simple, interesting and relatable, Zor is a book that questions our basic belief system.

There is not much of a story there in Zor but it has a message that rings loud and clear. Indians who are generally into spirituality would love to relate themselves with what’s in the book. Go read the book: it might not change your life but it will definitely change your outlook.

• Buy: Zor: Philosophy, Spirituality, and Science
• Author: J.B.
• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1452895406
• ISBN-13: 978-1452895406

Disclosure: The author provided me with a review copy.

Copyright (c) Pigtale 2005-2010. Images copyright respective holders.

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