Book Review 9 - The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter
(Jeffrey Archer)
The prodigal daughter is the story of a girl Florentyna Rosnovski, who is the daughter of a Polish immigrant Abel Rosnovski. The author has described the indefatigable will and enthusiasm of her to live to her ultimate dream i.e. to become the President of the United States. In the first half of the book the author has described the journey of the girl as she grows into a woman who is self-confident, self-assured and self-sufficient. This part is particularly interesting, but as soon as I read through the second half of the story I was deeply disappointed as I found out that it contains nothing but the political struggle of Florentyna to reach the highest office of the U.S., which is not what I would be interested in. The last 200 pages of the 464 paged novel contains detailed description of the U.S. political system which is not what I expected. The book is quite or more of an inspirational one and you could give it a try. The language is simple and comprehensible.
Rating: 7/10

Book Review 8- A romance with chaos

A romance with chaos
(Nishant Kaushik)
The naive writer has somewhat succeded in bringing out the same theme of romance and chaos in a slightly different way as this time its not a student but a professional who falls in love. A MBA Nakul is an employee at an leading IT company and is quite satisfied with his job unlike his accomplice Vishal who keeps sulking. But his frustration ends as he is offered to represent his company for a project at London. This leaves Nakul frustrated as he is not granted this opportunity and this is where the chaos starts. He starts to hate his boss all the more, thinks of quitting his job, looks for a new job, is screwed with a paradoxically orthodox roommate, loses his beautiful girlfriend because she thinks he is not rich enough, falls in love again and soon discovers she's a lesbian and is finally betrayed by his best friend Vishal.
However the chaos is settled as he gets his acts together.
The 291 page book has its own scintillating moments and is palatable if you are looking for some light reading stuff. Book is full of anti-climax and shocking moments as well.
Rating: 7/10

Book Review 7- Paths of glory

Paths of Glory
(Jeffrey Archer)
This was the first time I read a book authored by Archer and I would surely like too read a lot more of him.
This story is very encouraging one in which a man persues his dream after undergoing through much troubles. George Mollary who's the son of a preist Reverand Mollary of the church in an English village. His father discovers soon that this child is different from his other siblings. He has a great appetite and aptitude for mountain climbing. His inclination to climbing is encouraged by his teachers and parents which leads him to become the climbing leader for the first ever mission to conquer the apex of the world: Mt. Everest (Chomalungama hill). But this is only after he proves his skills and ability by conquering various peaks and steep mountains like Mt. Blanc. The first mission however had to be aborted due to a disaster and George decides not to embark again on such a mission in which he has to leave behind his wife Ruth and daughter. But he has to move out again, this time to serve his country as a soldier during second world war. After returning from the war for which his wife waited for what seemed like a lifetime he finally decides not leaving his family again. It was only then, when his friends and wife persued him to fulfill the dream of his life: to reach Chomalungama. He sets off again to his final mission with his team. This time he din't come back losing but is victorious as he becomes the first man to climb the formidable hill. But ................

You feel victorious as you come to the end of the story.
Rating: 7.5/10

Book Review 6 - The White Tiger

The White Tiger
(Arvind Adiga)
The book is actually a one way conversation between the author and an Chinese high-ranked official, in which the author tells him about the secrets to become an entrepreneur in India. Author has also described to him that there exists two India : The darkness and The light.  
Its based upon the story of a boy form Laxmangarh(a small village) or Darkness as the author says. Balram Halwai the son of a rickshaw-puller is from a small village, is different from the rest of his brothers as he has great aspirations. He starts of washing cups and cleaning tables at a tea shop but his desire to change his destiny takes him to Dhanbad. He learns driving and gets a job as a driver by a rich family there. After working honestly and faithfully for his master (Mr Ashok) he is taken along with them to Delhi. This is where he understands the true world.He starts getting cunning and knave. He begins to cheat his naive master. Finally, one fine day, he kills his master and runs-off with his money. The servant now becomes the master. He goes to Banglore and starts off with his entrepreneurship.

The 321 pages of the novel are raw and bold at its display about the realities and truths of life. The rusticity of the language adds to the fun of reading.
Rating: 8.2/10

Book Review 5 - The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray
(Oscar Wilde)
AN ARTIST Basil Hallward makes a picture of Dorian Gray who is in fact a very youthful and innocent person.
But this picture has a secret, that is for you to discover.
Dorian is an innocent person and hasn't seen much of life till he meets one of the friends of the artist(Basil) Lord Henry, and this man with his radical theories changes the outlook of Dorian towards life. The theories given by him are bizarre but if one ponders upon them, one might find it to be truthful and interesting. It might also affect your outlook.
The book itself is very impressive indeed.
Rating: 8/10

Book Review 4 - Crisis

Crisis 
(Robin Cook)
The book is based upon a doctor who gets sued for a medical malpractice. Dr Craig Bowman is rather a dedicated Physician who is sued by one of his hypochondriac-patient's husband. Craig had devoted his whole life for his patients, abandoning his family which consisted of a wife and three daughters. But when he finds that a malpractice suit has been filed against him he is shocked to say the least. He feel embarrassed and helpless. He goes through the worst few days of his life and the daily summons at the court further adds to his distress. Finally his wife and brother-in-law(Dr. Jack Stapleton) comes to his aid to discover through an autopsy that it was not a malpractice but a homicide case.
The author is thoroughly descriptive about each and every event which makes the story draggy at times. If you like to have variety in your book-shelf then this book ought to be there.
Rating: 6.5/10

Book Review 3 - Love Story

Love Story
(Erich Segal)
The story revolves around lives of two people i.e. Oliver Berett IV and Jennifer Cavelleri. Oliver is a hockey player from Harwards and the son of Oliver Berett III who indeed is a very rich banker, while Jennifer is a Radcliffe college student and the daughter of a baker(Phil) not as rich as O.L. III.
Both of them fell deeply in love but their love story doesn't lasts long as the latter is consumed by Leukemia.
It(the book) also contrasts the difference with which the two treat their fathers. Oliver doesn't likes his pompous and nagging father while Jenny's father is her best companion and a very friendly creature.
As you come to the end of the book you are left with a feeling of nostalgia in your heart.
The short novel (hardly a four hour affair) is full of wit and oxymoron's are also in abundance.
The writing style of Erich is simple and expressions are surplus. However if you are into reading soft romantic books then this is quite the book for you.
Rating 6.8/10