The Kite Runner

Summary – Aamir, the only son of a wealthy father brought up in Afghanistan, has a poor friend Hassan. They had a colorful friendship with memories to cherish. Hassan is as dedicated in the friendship as one could be. They spent days in Kabul, enjoying as kids and their major hobby was kite flying. Hassans father is a faithful servant of Aamir’s father and takes good care of Aamir. Aamir likes Hassan until he starts feeling insecure about his Dad’s concern for Hassan.

A rich naughty boy keeps harassing Aamir for befriending Hassan a lower caste. They did have a few tiffs, but the last one was humiliating and lasted for a lifetime. While Aamir was in the edge of winning a kite running tournament, they ran into the prankster, Hassan wouldn’t let go the kite for the sake of Aamirs victory, but ultimately ended up  by being raped by rich bully Assef. Hassan’s sacrifice however temporarily had a negative effect on Aamir. He was scared if his cowardice would be revealed if anyone came to know what happened and didn’t want his Dad’s love and sympathy direct towards Hassan again. He frames Hassan in a false trap and tries to get rid of hassan. They leave Kabul and after Russian invasion, Aamir and his Dad escape to America. Years later after a successful marriage and career, he receives a letter that tugged his heart and he starts on a journey, what follows is for you to know…

Review – Everything in this tugs your heart. The depth of love, the soul of sacrifice, the essence of humility and a lifetime for love. The storyline may sound cliché. Those who want to criticize may say that the theme is not innovative. But the author has a way to talk with his heart. He knows to get the tears from yours.

Advice – A must pick for all those who have pondered about the real meaning of love & friendship at least once in their life. A simple story in a simple language which will get you thinking of your life and your dear ones days after you have finished the last page.

A Walk To Remember – Nicholas Sparks

Summary - Landon Carter is a fun loving, rich kid. His father is busy making money that he hardly gets to spend time with his father. He surely misses the kind of childhood that his father got to spend where he would go fishing and hiking.

Jamie Sullivan is the daughter of a Baptist reverend. From the day Landon sees her she carries a Bible with her. Though the whole elderly community sees her as a very sweet person, she is not one to be considered as hot among the young!

Landon was not a person against the church, his family does attend the church on Sundays, but he was on the then notorious fun loving lot. He & Jamie was unthinkable & unimaginable till the day he had no one for the dance on prom day! From there slowly & reluctantly the fun loving bloke falls for the tender, religious, humanitarian. What unfolds is all yours to read.

Review – A simple romantic venture. But the first party narration of a guy falling for glamour-less girl is kind of unique and the unfolding of the events of the novel really makes you sit on the edge. It is simple and touching. It is sure to strike a chord in almost all hearts that read.

Advice - Whether you are a reader or want to become one, whether you are in love or will fall in future – pick it! As light a read it is, so subtly a strong message it holds!

Verbivore’s Say – Soup for the Romantic Soul

Messages in a Bottle

Summary: Theresa enjoyed her work as a columnist at Boston Times. She was getting recognized more and more as days passed by. Her role as Kevin’s mother too was gratifying. Kevin sure was a fine little lad. What tormented her was her separation with George. It wasn’t that they dint have a nice time together or George ended up marrying the girl over whom they fought. It was just that moment of faithlessness that turned her off. Deanne her friend and senior at Boston Times has been persuading her to date someone else.  Theresa was just not ready for it or rather she couldn’t believe that anyone could love somebody for life until the day she found those messages in bottles. Her peep into Garretts love for Catherine teaches her a lot more.

Review: I had picked this book in-between serious reading and of course it helped as a light one. Was it a page turner? Well it depends on how desperate you are for some graphically explicit narration. The theme of a person sending love letters wrapped up in bottles into the ocean is cute..and not one that you’d find every now and then. But the story holds in for no more serious twists though the Author has attempted to it.  It was my first Nicholas Sparks novel. I have heard the Author is the favorite among many. But I found the novel no more than harlequin romance series. Perhaps it’s a harsh word to a creative work but I guess I just couldn’t attach any more cedits to the book than a ‘read to while your time’.

Advice: Pick it only if you want just to while your time when you are in a long queue or the traffic is too bad on your way home (if you aren’t riding that is!) or when you need a break from a serious reading. Just don’t bother to buy it anyways!

 

Verbivore’s say – Popcorn..you can have it in intervals. But that’s about it!

 

Life of Pi

Summary – Piscine Molitar Patel is from a humble family in Pondicherry which owns a zoo with interesting animals. Piscine has a confused religious stance as he grows up. He tries and imbibes all the positive that is there in all three religions that he is familiar with. However he becomes a subject of controversy among the the religious priests and a question mark in the minds of his parents. Being a Zoo keeper Piscine’s father makes sure that he has a clear idea of the violent side of the many ferocious animals that they rear. When Piscine is 16 his family decides to migrate to Canada but unfortunately the ship in which they travel drowns and Piscines unbelievable story of survival begins. Piscine along with a hyena, a zebra, an orang-uttan, and Richard Parker (a tiger)..who survives and who loses is for you to see.

Review – Yenn Martel has given us an extremely graphical novel which is just unputdownable. From a small place like Pondicherry into the wide seas the graphic journey is awe-inspiring. The struggle of a child with a strange name. His creativity in making things normal for himself. His curious minds that explore the lives of world. The sensibility of adolescence which makes him imbibe all the three religions that surround him as they were one and finally the struggle and survival that actually sends a chill through your spine. Its truth..but reveals a miracle. Its tragic..but wrapped up in good humour. It is a book written in such a way that you just wont leave it until you finish it and a story that is told in such a way that ‘it’ wont leave you after you finish it.

Advice – Those who love to travel with their imagination, those who need a break from serious literature reading, those who feel books are too complex to handle should go for it.  U wont regret..I’m sure.

Verbivore’s say – There are some tastes that are a must try..without which you are incomplete as a connoisseur. This is surely one of them.

Pride & Prejudice

Summary – The bonnets are a humble family blessed with 5 daughters. The marriage of these 5 daughters is the sole aim in Mrs Bennets life. Mr Bennet however seems more attached to his library than his family – Elizabeth being an exception. The arrival of the wealthy  Bingleys in the neighborhood excites many a positive vibes. Mrs Bennet expected Jane being the eldest and most beautiful to be the center of attraction to the rich, settled and handsome Bingley which sure does prove true in the long run. But Bingleys social ties seem to complicate issues. His friend Darcy is entangled between the vexation of such low society of his friend and strikingly admirable nature of Elizabeth. Darcy earns the reputation of highly proud and unacceptable character. The Bingleys leave the neighborhood with short notice leaving a sad Jane behind. Elizabeth discovering Darcy’s hand in the sudden parting is all the more against this proud, snobbish person.

Elizabeth an observer of character had analysed from the beginning that the Bingley sisters were prejudiced and Darcy a menace to their association to the Bingley family. New rumors of Darcy’s treatment to his nearest kin drives Elizabeth to the point of hating this guy for ruining her sisters life and for the way he looked down upon her family. Heated conversations between them bring out the contempt in her heart and his sarcastic views on her family. And lo unfolds a story of interesting twists and turns and new realization for Elizabeth.

 

 

Review – Jane Austen has weaved a normal household story with exceptional skill. Each character with a different tinge! The burden of the mother with 5 daughters, the silent father who is neither content nor complaining about life. The beauties with brain – the eldest Bennet daughters. The senseless playful younger daughters and mary the studious among the lot! The subtle humor which trails through the unfolding of Mr Collins and his association of Lady Catherine is really amusing.  This is not a thriller..but sure keeps you glued. It is not a romantic flick but gets you smile at the romances that unfold. It is a drama set in a serious tone but the satirical humor is amusing and thought provoking.

Yes it was a feast for the verbivore as you would see. Thoughtful analysis of human behavior and interactions wrapped in alarmingly beautiful words. To give you a subtle taste of it  - “Undoubtedly  there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”

The dawning of the relevance of the title to the entire thread of the story I would say was the dessert!

 

Advice – As I would say for most classics. If you have time and the mind – go for it. If you are really interested the nature of human characteristics and reactions, if concealed emotions pique your interest, if subtle humor amuse you and if you are interested in the intricate web of words! You must read it.

 

Verbivore’s Say – Scrumptous

 

 

GONE With the WIND

Summary – Scarlet O hara is the most manipulative women you can ever come across. And with age and experience her manipulation just rose to greater standards. In her youth she found pleasure when men drooled over her whilst she was actually smitten by Ashley. Scarlet has a long journey from an attractive extrovert, a stubborn girl, unwanted marriages & undesired motherhood to a strong woman who withstands the terrible phase of war and poverty. She manipulates men & marriage her way though her heart knew only Ashley. She hated the roguish visitor from Charleston  – Rhet Buttler but found that destiny kept drawing her back to him. Struggling throughout with the emotions scarlet realizes that her father was right about the love for the soil.

 

Review – What the best of wines would do to your taste buds so did this book do to me. It teasingly intoxicated me and lingered behind long after I finished the book. It acquainted me to the fact that I can fall in love with the evil. The life of Scarlet O Hara from a stubborn flirtatious girl to a strong manipulative women and finally the dawning of true realization was a stunning read. And before Scarlet I think I fell in love with the rouge from Charleston. The ability to portrait a character as a wanton, greedy rogue and yet admirable is I think a great feat! The only regret was the size of the book which dint let me carry it around. As a person far from numbers and dates the historical facts I should confess has skipped my mind. Yet the plight of Melanie was not lost on me. Margaret has sketched each character with immense details and my heart goes out to the soft Ellen nursing niggers & poor white trash, to mammy who could galvanize the most shiftless negro into energy, Ashley – who’s always in a folderol about books & poetry, Melanie – the sweetest gentle woman with a heart-shaped face..but who really captured my heart was the rogue from Charleston who had cool recklessness in his demeanor and a cynical humor in his mouth! She has with great skill brought to life & union – a girl who has seen all possible fate in her life and a guy who has seen all possible girls.

 

Advice – If you are in a nostalgic mood with a long weekend ahead. And all you want to do is lie in your sofa and drift to another world, another age – go for it. It is good for a slow enjoying read. I wont suggest it for those who are looking for something to while the time.

 

 

Verbivore’s Say – Delectable – A taste that lingers.