My Musings

Book Review: The Shadow of the Winds Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Spanish) Translated by : Lucia Graves Genre :   Fiction, Mystery Other books in series : The Angel’s Game The Shadow of the winds is the story of Daniel and his quest to locate the author of a book that he has found and adapted at a secret book society called the Cemetery of Forgotten books. The plot is based in Barcelona, 1945 that is reeling through the aftermaths of the Spanish Civil War and throughout the book you will realize the impact these aftermaths have on the life of the main characters of this story. To sum it up, Daniel, a 10-year old, son of bookseller is lamenting the loss of his mother. His father takes him to Cemetery of the forgotten books to get him a hobby and in turn a new life. Cemetery of forgotten books is a place known by a few and visited by far lesser people where in everybody picks a book, adapts it and makes sure its passed on to a  new generation. Daniel picks a ...

Author : Steve Berry Genre : Historical, thriller, adventure, action Original Title : The Venetian Betrayal Series : Cotton Malone 3rd book ( The Alexandria Link, Templar Legacy) ________________________________________________________ If you love books that deal with treasure hunts, unraveling historical puzzles and stuff; if you have loved Dan Brown’s Da Vinci’s Code then you will fall in love with Steve Berry’s works. Steve Berry’s plots generally pick a historical legend – a man or place and the story revolves around it. In this case, the title TheVenetian Betrayal misleads you to think that this book is all about Venice. This book has a Venetian connection but the central theme is all about Alexander the great. This is the third book in the series featuring Cotton Malone, a retired US justice department employee now running a book store in Copenhagen. Malone with his friends Cassiopea Vitt and Henrik Thorvalsden take on another villain bent on world domination, Irina Z...

________________________________________________ Author: Michael Connelly Genre: Court Room Drama, thriller, adventure, action Original Title: The Lincoln Lawyer Series: Micky Haller Setting: United States ________________________________________________ Introducing Michael Connelly... Michael Connelly (born July 21, 1956, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch. ------------- Now, have you read John Grisham? I am sure, most of you did. Next question, have you read Jeffrey Archer? I will get more Ayes for this question than the previous. Now the killer.. How many of you want to read a book which is a mix of the talents of both these great authors? I won’t guess the answer this time. I’d simply suggest you read Michael Connelly Books. This book, the Lincoln lawyer is a story of Criminal Defense Attorney Micky Haller who operates out of the back se...

_________________________________________ Author : Harlan Coben Genre : Covert operations, thriller, adventure, action Original Title: Promise Me (Myron Bolitar, #8) Series: Myron Bolitar #8 Setting: United States _________________________________________   This book was a random pick and it was my First Harlan Coben book and what a book it was. Like a chocolate that melts when placed in your mouth and the taste grows on you.   Meet Myron Bolitar, the very famous basket ball player from Livingston High school who made to NBA and due to knee injury could get the fame he deserved. There is another side to Myron, a Vigilante, batman like but he doesn’t have the gadgets ,the super hero costume or the batmobile. But what he has is the moral dilemma as akin to Batmans’s (ofcourse not as melodramatic as batman), a will to safe guard the innocent and a psychic, rich, well-trained and well-connected friend Win. The book begins with the spotting of a missing gal, a 18 year old ...

Author: James Frey Genre: Biography, Drug Addiction, Rehab Guidance: May not be suitable for Kids What do you know about addiction, in particular, addiction to drugs? You have seen it in cinema and sometimes you would have read about it as well. But do you really know what addiction to drugs is? What exactly it means to try and get rehabilitated? What and how are these rehabilitation centers? What kind of a fight a rehab patient puts up against the temptation to do it again? Just once? In a small quantity that wouldn’t hurt? Yes, probably you could have read and seen it on TV or in movies but, this book takes it to next level. Intense, unpredictable, explicit and face-the-truth-in-your-face story of Mr. James Frey during the days of his addiction as well as during the rehab, ‘A Million Little Pieces’ is a true account (with a bit of creative freedom) of James Frey’s life. Though there are many rumors of the facts being embellished, the book makes for an engaging read. It talk...

Author: Sally Jenkins, Lance Armstrong Genre: Auto Biography, biography, Motivational, sports Do you think you have faced hardships? The hardest of hardest? Want to be successful? Do you want to know what it takes to be a star, a true-blue star? Do you want to read a self help book which is as good as any fiction novel? Then Read It’s not about the bike – the story of Lance Armstrong, written by Sally Jenkins. This book is the autobiography of Lance Armstrong. It talks about his life growing up in Texas. His upbringing by his single mom, the bike and his passion for riding. The hardships he overcomes to become a famous world-class athlete; the threat to end his career in a single stroke - his testicular cancer that spreads across to other body parts and his fight and sheer determination to live and win the most coveted title of the cycling word –Tour de France Championship. Sally Jenkins is an accomplished sports writer and her prowess is displayed in the way she has portrayed L...

Have you read/watched Robinson Crusoe ? No? Cast Away (Starring Tom Hanks) at least? If you haven’t, do it. Both are wonderful and so is Life of Pi. Author : Yann Martel Time/era of story - 1960's-1970’s Type : Adventures Journal I wanted to read a sea adventure and that is when a friend of mine suggested me to read this book. This is a simple tell-tale about the survival of a 15 year old kid in sea for 227 days in a small life boat with some extra ordinary company of the wild animals – Richard Parker, a Tiger; a female Orangutan, a zebra and a Hyena. The book starts of detailing his life as the son of a zoo owner in Madras, his explorations and affiliation to Christianity and Islam. Then when his family plans to move to Canada, things go awry and a sad shipwreck afflicts killing them all. Piscine Patel or “PI” manages to escape in a small boat only to find out later that he has company, dangerous company – wild animals. From here on, it is struggle for the survival, surviv...

Author: Agatha Christie Lead Character: Hercule M. Poirot Genre: Fiction, Crime Thriller, Murder Mystery Q) What happens when a rich man dies with no proper heir to his property? Ans) Bequeathing of property and some crime associated with it. Think of it and atleast a dozen bollywood movies and few Hollywood movies flash in front of your eyes. This is my first Agatha Christie Novel and above description is exactly what I went through after learning about the plot- Hollywood bollywood movies flashing away. But then I was in for a surprise.This book was written even before the ideas of these movies had had their inception in the minds of the people who made them and is defintely much better than most of the movies based on this premise. Agatha Christie takes this posthumous family drama plot of rich man and brews a wonderful crime story around it. The characterization of the family, their relationship with the dead man, their appearances and their nature has been very well sketc...

Author: Aurthur Golden Tone of book? - upbeat Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Romance/Romance Problems Yes Inside culture (main char) - Japanese Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Outside culture (society) - Japanese Woman's story? Yes (Courtesy: Allreaders) Speaking frankly, I bought this book because of the catchy cover. They say in America ‘Don’t judge a book by the cover’. But that is exactly what I did. I felt when the cover looks so exotic; the book must be worth a try and Lo! I landed up with one of the best books I will ever read in my life. Memoirs of a Geisha, Is more of an autobiography of a small girl Chiyu, who by fate has been sold to Gion (more of a prostitute house) along with her sister and then begins her turbulent journey to become one of the most cherished Geisha of all times - Nitta Sayuri San. The book is very intelligently written and once started you wouldn’t rest it till you finish the last page. O...

Author: Alistair Maclean Tone of story : suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: 1930's-1950's War Thriller: Yes Armed Forces:   Special Forces Specific to - WW II Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book (courtesy: All read) Easily one of the best books by Alistair Maclean and by far, one of the best World War II novels. I will try to summarize the plot without giving out much. During world war II, the axis powers have control over the small Island Navarone. This Island hosts the most powerful guns, guns to which many ships of the Royal navy have fallen prey. On the Island Crete, there are about 2000 British soldiers who need to be evacuated and to accomplish this task the allied forces have to pass through Navarone. All possible means of entering Navarone to destroy the guns have been tried and failed miserably. However, there is one route to enter Navarone which neither the allied forces nor the axis powers would term as possible means to enter ...

Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999 Spying/Terrorism Thriller   -Yes Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - stopping a saboteur/spy - preventing bomb/biohazard/disaster Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book (Courtesy: All reading) John Preston, A senior officer at the MI5 of the British Intelligence system is constantly tossed around to various section by the Deputy head of the MI5 who is nothing but a political animal who wants to secure his position and keep away anyone who is faithful to the current chief of MI5.But as luck would have it, John Preston keeps running into instances which point to a plot to destabilize the British political machinery and disrupt its relationships with USA. There are people out there, bad people who plan to break the fourth protocol; which if broken would lead to severe damage to property, resources and a great loss of lives. And then there are people who hold the strings and make other...