Book Review: The Time Machine

The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
Genre: Science-fiction
Pages: 148
The story is about a time traveler who has travelled through the future and now he shares his experience about the journey. He has worked up a time machine which he uses to visit future – to the year eight hundred and two thousand seven hundred and one A.D. (I don’t quite understand which year the author is talking about).
The author has put forth his imagination of the world of future in a beautiful way. He talks about two different breeds of people who will survive in future : The Morlocks – Undergrounders and The Eloi – Upper-worlders.
The language is simple and comprehensible. But at points the narration is not picturesque. The starting and ending is very strong and impressive. Author has kept me interested and involved in the story. But I think the narration could have been better. The genre is Science-fiction but there is not much of it. You should read the book if the world of future fascinates you a bit.
Rating: 6.5/10

Book Reveiw: The Monk who sold his Ferarri

The Monk who sold his Ferrari – Robin S. Sharma
Genre: Fiction (Motivational)
Pages: 208
The monk who sold his Ferrari is a motivational fiction novel through which the author has tried to shed light on the secret of eternal happiness.
This was my first novel of its kind and also the first one by the author. Before reading this one, I had a prejudice that these kinds of books (motivational ones) are just a waste of time. I mean who doesn’t know what to do and what not to do. These are for people who are not clear with their aims and thoughts. But after going through it my opinion was changed. The book has an ocean of practical knowledge and I think everyone should read such books once in a while.
The book is on the story of two lawyers: Julian and his sub-ordinate cum friend John. Julian is a very successful lawyer and possesses everything one could ever dream of. John reveres Julian and wants to be like him. But Julian is not happy or rather satisfied with his life. He has a heart-attack which changes the course of his life. He decides to go to India in search of spiritual enlightenment and true happiness. It’s now that his life takes a u-turn and becomes more beautiful. The transition from a corporate stooge to a monk is what the story is all about.
Overall there is not much of a story line in the novel. It’s just the motivational part that is emphasized upon. So if you are looking for a good and light story it’s not quite the book for you. Language is always direct but at one point the author has shifted from narration in first person to third person and back to first person which is bizarre.
I’d like to recommend it to people willing to read their first motivational novel. (I haven’t read any other motivational novel and that is why I think so).
Rating: 7/10

Book Reveiw: The Kite Runner : Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hossieni
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 206
The novel is mostly about how the lives of the people of Afghanistan had changed during the latter half of twentieth century. The story revolves around the life of a boy Amir who narrates the story. He was born to an effluent Pastun(Sunni) family in Kabul. He had a love deprived childhood and had only one friend Hassan who was a Hazara(Shi’a). Communities in Afghanistan are divided along the lines of classes in which the Sunni’s are considered as masters and Shi’a as slaves.
As the story moves on, the condition in Afghanistan also changes, first due to the atrocities of the Russians and later due to the brutalities of Taliban and Mujaheedin. On the other hand life of Amir also takes turbulent turns. So I’d say it’s not just about Afghans and Talibs but there is a lot more in it. The story is full of emotional content.
The narration has been done very patiently and elaborately (which at times get boring). The story takes a few unpredictable twists which makes it all the more interesting. But I’d say that the ending was not up to the mark. The author has made abundant use of Farsi phrases followed by an explanation for each one of it. Overall the story is amazing but the language was slightly dull.
Rating: 7.2/10