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IN BON BIBI’S FOREST STORY-SANDHYA RAO,PICTURES-PROITI ROY

Posted by krth Friday, January 27, 2012 0 comments


Many children these days have no clue about mythology and folklore. The best way for them to learn these stories is through books, colourful, fun and informative at the same time. ‘In Bon Bibi’s Forest’ is exactly that kind of book, beginning with a “Once upon a time” like everyone's favourite fairytale and very detailed illustrations that capture the essence of each character. 


This book narrates the story of Bon Bibi, lady of the forest, a goddess specific to the Sunderbands region. Where the land meets the sea lives the evil Dokkhin Rai, a monster with sharp teeth and striped skin. Everyone lived in fear of him. But every bully has his insecurity and Bon Bibi’s gentle yet stern gaze subdues him. The greatest enemy to Dokkhin Rai and the mangrove forests are nothing but humans filled with greed who take more than their share from the forest. But beware! Those who do not take the permission of Bon Bibi before they enter his forests, Dokkhin Rai still wanders there watching your every move. 

 In Bon Bibis forest is a book every kid will enjoy reading.The book says its for kids 6+ but im sure parents will take pleasure in reading it to those little children who like a bedtime story. The book flows from one page to another making you smile and at one point it makes you laugh. Moral of the story:Go to sleep kids or Dokkhin Rai will eat you.

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Bali And The Ocean Of Milk by Nilanjan P. Choudhury

Posted by Vibha Thursday, January 26, 2012 0 comments

Title : Bali and the Ocean of Milk

Author : Nilanjan P. Choudhury

Publisher : Harper Collins

ISBN : 978-93-5029-125-2



A fiction (The Immortals of Meluha) blew me off completely last year by the sheer magic of its originality of the plot and it did leave a lasting impression on me. I am glad I picked 'Bali and the Ocean of Milk' up, which made me relive some of that wonderful experience once again.


Indrah is gripped in the fearsome fangs of ageing and he seeks the help of the holy trinity to attain back his youthfulness and his omnipotence. His Asura counterpart Bali has his own set of issues too. Many threats are looming large on Bali - from some disgruntled powers within his own territory as well as from the all time enemies, Gods. And a very cleverly planned assassination attempt on him brings to fore the failure of his invincible protective cordon. But there is only one elixir which is the answer to all problems that Bali and Indrah face and that is the Nectar. To extract the same, Ocean of Milk has to be churned by two opposite powers - Devas and Asuras with the assistance of tortoise incarnation of Viru and under the supervision of Jai. The narrative vacillates between Indrah's empire - Amravati and Bali's dominion - Tripura.


The story has everything - treachery, vengeance, tables turning, switching sides, power lust and much more. The intelligence of such authors is evident from the way they create a fictional background yet integrate the same so seamlessly with the well known facts and beliefs such as the Big Bang in this case. The author has clothed the story of manthan in a completely new avatar with contemporary touch by - incorporating political references, astutely naming the churning process - Operation Ocean's Twelve and including the lingo of prevailing times in the narrative - facebook, mobile phone cameras, animal rights violation, low-fat milk and most interesting of all, Indrah having to use hair colour - Molten Midnight by So'Real.


First 2/3rd of the book is a treat to read through - the setting of scenes, the building of characters, the amalgamation of modern age vocabulary with mythology, the witticism, the wackiness, the humour, everything is just perfect.


The initial setting is exceptionally impressive to such an extent that the expectations of readers soar too high for the climax and conclusion but I found the latter part not living upto the expectations. Not that there is any flaw in that part of the story, its just that the remaining 1/3rd fades a little in comparison to the initial section of the book which raises the bar too high. Another grouse that I have against the author or the story is - a very fleeting description of The Destroyer of the famous holy trinity - christened as Jai here. (I think the author is one of the strong patrons of 'Sholay' movie !?) The other being Sambha - the creator (I wonder why he did not pick Gabbar as the creator) and Viru - the preserver.


There are not many occasions when we get to read good English written by an Indian author and I was mightily impressed by the selection of words, phrases and overall expression of Nilanjan. The editor has done a remarkable job too and not a single sentence seems redundant in the whole narration. A true page turner. My compliments to a new rising star in the Indian literary firmament. I surely will look forward to reading more written by NPC.

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Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Posted by Karoline Wednesday, January 25, 2012 0 comments


All-American Tom, golden child Nicki, and outsider Leila live in rural Spring Valley in the not-too-distant future, when oil production has slowed dramatically and the country is running out of oil. People can't get to work because they don't have gas; they're being laid off because of businesses cutting costs; the price of everything is rising; and heat and electricity are increasingly hard to get. Nicki's family is being torn apart by the crisis, and Leila is worried about how to survive the winter on her own. As winter progresses, life in Spring Valley grows more desperate, and people in nearby towns are pitted against one another. The teens must find ways to stop the raids and fighting—and new ways to live without oil. (From Amazon.ca)

The book had all the things I wanted when I felt like reading about the world going down the drain and what happens when stuff hits the fan. So naturally, I picked this one up. It’s a short read, as it’s less than 200 pages.

I wish I could like it more. Yet I couldn’t. Although the situation is realistic and could be very possible, I just couldn’t get into this book. It was dry, and the characters weren’t that great to begin with. There’s also a potential love triangle but the characters just were not likable and there was absolutely no chemistry with any of them that it was almost painful to read.

The plot itself was okay, the subject matter interesting but it just did not have enough to really engage me as a reader. It could be also because the bland characters just didn’t do enough to make the plot flow successfully. It does get a little preachy towards the end, with the environment speech - however I have to add that house and how it was made was very interesting and if only houses like that could be made all throughout, perhaps this type of situation could be avoided.

I’d say take this book or leave it. It is a short read, but because of the dry plot and the blandness of characters the reading took a bit longer than I expected. The idea is unique but more should have been done to make it a more engaging book to read.

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The Canyon Of Souls by Ronald Malfi

Posted by Saumya Kulshreshtha Monday, January 23, 2012 0 comments

Title: The Canyon of Souls (also, The Ascent)
Author: Ronald Malfi
Publisher: Silverfish-Westland
Price: Rs. 225
Pages: 303

 Coincidences in life are can sometimes be amusing, and sometimes a little spooky. It is due to a coincidence that the book 'The Canyon Of Souls' hit off with me instantly. And this coincidence was a spooky one. I had undertaken a literary quest sometime back for understanding the deeper meanings of words like 'Nature', 'Providence', 'Divinity' and 'Man'. Specifically, 'Nature of Man'. More specifically 'Insidious Nature of Man'. In Ronald Malfi's The Canyon of Souls does not lie an understanding of the above mentioned terms-but in it lies a story while builds upon these concepts to skillfully weave together a light thriller, with thrill emanating from both- natural and preternatural sources.

The Canyon Of Souls is what the Tibetan lore accords the status of a beyul. Beyuls are places of mythical significance, the lands between our world and the next, or, between the world of mortals and the world of immortals. Beyuls are believed to be hidden in the womb of Nature, which has a way of preventing man from discovering them. The book narrates an extreme adventure story of a group of seven explorers, who set out in the search of Canyon of Souls, nestled somewhere deep in the belly of the arduous Mountains of the North.

The protagonist of The Canyon of Souls, doubling up as the narrator is Tim Overleigh, a one time famous and dexterous sculptor who abandoned his art after the death of his beloved wife, Hannah, in a fatal car accident. Being chased continuously by her ghost, Tim takes recourse to a number of adrenaline pumping adventure activities. He nearly escapes death while on a spelunking expedition, after which most of his time is spent inside his morbidly dull home. A chance meeting with his long lost acquaintance, Andrew Trumbauer -an enigmatic, adventure junkie- opens in from of Tim an invitation for joining 6 other men on a peregrination through the icy Godesh Ridge in the Himalayas to seek the still unscaled Canyon of Souls. Convinced that this is his one chance to escape the dullness of his surroundings and put his life back on track, Tim and Andrew, and some more explorers set on a journey through not just the unforgiving weather and impossible terrain of Himalayas, but also a journey through Tibetan mysticism, deceit, death and life altering realizations.

The Canyon of Souls, before saying anything else, has one of the most promising plots I have come across in a long time. To add to the glee of a reader uninitiated in the adventure fiction genre, the author Ronald Malfi does a fine job of scripting a tale which becomes towards the middle a compulsive page turner. Quick paced, and laced with vivid imagery, what I like about the book is that it is not an idle read. As much as it makes you gape and tremble with unforeseen twists in the plot, it makes you think too. What begins as an inquiry into the legendary conflict of Man versus Nature metamorphoses into an even darker and enduring conflict of Man versus Man. A little scratching on the fabric of the story reveals the underside of a bevy of thoughts on human psyche- its glory and its darkness, and although this aspect has not been investigated enough in Malfi's narrative, it still feels that these yet incomplete investigations are running like a stream under the very plot of the story.

As it progresses, the storyline transforms from being another of those explorers' diaries to a gory macabre tale which kept me glued to itself. Even though I continued turning pages at a more than decent speed with due intrigue, I still could not help being put off by Malfi's verbosity, unwelcome in places. The author, however, deserves accolades for his brilliant descriptions of Himalayan topography, of the action in the story, and even of the subtle details of Tim's haunting visions. His metaphors and similes are striking and aid the reader's imagination to flow with that of the writer's.

As far as the story line is concerned, it was riveting. I did have an issue with half sketched details of the other characters in the story. The five other explorers with Tim and Andrew included Petras, Curtis, Chad Nando, Hollinger, and Shotsky- and these are people you can picture in your mind only skeletally; knowing not their background, but may be only one defining trait of their personality. In some parts, the book disappoints as it does not reveal few motives for vengeful actions either clearly or convincingly. For curious readers who revel in details, this can be a key low point of a narrative.

As for a definite verdict- the book is nice. For a one time rapid read, it is totally worth its salt. Three stars on five for me it is, for giving me some eye widening moments, and also making me believe in guardian spirits- a dakini- as the author has put it.


Reviewed by-
Saumya Kulshreshtha
@Nascent Emissions

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Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel

Posted by Jyoti Saturday, January 21, 2012 0 comments



When you pick up a book of an author you have previously read and enjoyed, your expectation from his new book automatically increases. I had high hopes from this book - Beatrice & Virgil by Yann Martel. The previous book by the author, Life of Pi is one of my favorite reads of all times. But, all my hopes with his new book came thrashing down as I turned pages after pages of the book with having a clue what the story is all about and then it came to me with a bang. Let me quote the blurb from the back of the book to get started:

"This story is the story of a donkey named Beatrice and a monkey named Virgil. It is also the story of an extraordinary journey undertaken by a man named Henry. It begins with a mysterious parcel, and it ends in a place that will make you think again about one of the most significant events of the twentieth century. Once you have finished reading it, it is impossible to forget."


I was HIGHLY intrigued by this blurb, so much so that I put aside the other books I had been reading and started with this one. Also, since the book was barely 200 pages, I didn't think it would take too long. The story started with a writer named Henry whose previous book was a huge success and he is working hard on a book about 'Holocaust'. He tries to present the stories from Holocaust in a different and 'never told before' style but his style and endeavors are rejected by the publishers. He decides to take a break and shifts to a different city and puts all the thoughts about his book at the back of his mind.

One day he receives a mysterious box containing excerpts from a play by Flaubert and another play which perhaps the sender himself had penned down. Henry traced the letter to a taxidermist and coincidentally his name was also Henry. The taxidermist reads out his play (whose main characters are stuffed animals present in his workshop- Beatrice, the donkey and Virgil, the howler monkey) to Henry.The first scene of the play was interesting where Virgil is trying to explain to Beatrice how a pear looks and tastes like. But from then onwards, the play is a jumble and I found it rather boring, crude and abstract.


And then  a few lines from the book sums up everything:


"Here was irrefutable proof that he was using the Holocaust to speak of the extermination of animal life. Doomed creatures that could not speak for themselves were being given the voice of a most articulate people who had been similarly doomed. He was seeing the tragic fate of animals through the tragic fate of Jews. The Holocaust as allegory."



 That is so bizarrely convenient! Here was an author whose book about Holocaust has been rejected and he comes across a Nazi who had somehow escaped detection and was living a solitary life. I felt aghast as a reader, here I was reading page after page trying to fathom what the author is trying to say and then in just a few lines you sum up the novel. Then in fact, a second thought dawned on me - was the writer Henry in this book Yann Martel himself? I do not know that for sure.


Even though I disliked the book to the core here are a few quotes from the book, I loved and think are thoughts to ponder on:


"To my mind, faith is like being in the sun. When you are in the sun, can you avoid creating a shadow? Can you shake that area of darkness that clings to you, always shaped like you, as if constantly to remind you of yourself? You can't. This shadow is doubt. And it goes wherever you go as long as you stay in the sun. And who wouldn't want to be in the sun?"

" If you are pitched into misery,remember that your days on this earth are counted and you might as well make the best of those you have left."

This review was also posted on Pages


Thank you for stopping by! Cheers 

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HOT TEA ACROSS INDIA by RISHAD SAAM MEHTA

Posted by Booklover Thursday, January 19, 2012 10 comments




REVIEW BY CHITRALEKHA MANAHOR


Hot Tea Across India by Rishad Saam Mehta could not have had a more direct title. Written more like a story than a travelogue, the book features a series of engaging anecdotes of tea shared at India’s most picturesque destinations and its oddest in-between places. Moving backward and forward in time, the author strings together diverse experiences ranging from tea shared with a shepherd in a picturesque valley in Kashmir, to a Bollywood-style quick getaway from Kargil, to photographing un-cooperative wild asses in the Rann of Kutch. Written with  easy-flowing language and a pragmatic sense of humour, the book is a pleasure to read.      

And oddly enough, and it makes me smile to say this, this travelogue appealed to me so much because it was so much more than just travel - it was about people. The book is filled with a cast of interesting characters - starting from the flute-playing cleaner in a highway truck to the English-speaking Prokofiev-loving guide at Chennakesava temple. Each character is sketched so vividly that they provoke a loud chuckle at the most, and a twinge of sympathy (for the author) at the least.

Now that I’ve gotten you all excited about this book - let me throw in some disclaimers here. Don’t pick up this book expecting a research masterpiece or a literary one - this is neither. There are no poignant dips into history or soul-stretching descriptions of sunsets. But I can assure you this: it is immensely readable. Each chapter flows beautifully into the next (even the one with the bike’s point of view), and at no point will you stumble over long sentences tangled in their own pretentiousness.       

Oh, and here’s disclaimer 2 - If you’re a travelling junkie and like roughing it out, this book will give you ideas galore. But if you want a guide on how to get there - this book is not for you. If you are an armchair traveller (like me), and enjoy a good read on a Saturday morning, Hot Tea Across India is a godsend.

Rating: 7/10

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THE ENCHANTED SAARANG by ASHA HANLEY

Posted by vishesh Wednesday, January 18, 2012 1 comments

 



Beautifully illustrated and exciting!
Enchanted Saarang and the six other stories are from the valleys and hills of Kashmir. The book offers an insight into the life in that part of the country through well written and beautifully illustrated stories. Based on morals and virtues, each story has a different feel to it. One can feel the adventurous Marmot's pain when other Marmot ostracize him and children's excitement when they receive Traamkhazaan's gift. Karim is brave enough to take on two thieves while Gulal the pony proves a mother's love by fighting a leopard.

The book brings alive the flora and fauna in the valley. One also gets to peer into the customs and values of its people. In the story of the Black Calf, we can see the men drinking tea and smoking. We see young boys and girls gracing cattle and their attachment to their flock.

In Drin, a Kashmiri marmot, we see the curious and adventurous Marmot explore and almost fall prey to poachers. A narrow escape from them and a forest fire later, Drin is almost rejected by the other Marmots because he still smells of the fire! The story acts as a good opening to the book and the theme. The first scene when you part the curtains, the marmots prepare for winter. "He may have been mained for life...but was also now very, very wise," the author concludes.

In The Enchanted Saarang, Sona is seen grazing his flock when he encounters a girl chased by a demon. He needs to find her Saarang to chase away the demon. Having found the magical Saarang and rescued the girl, he is rewarded by the Naga to king for saving his daughter. In House Thieves, Karim goes after two horse-thieves to rescue Lallo from their clutches. Humza and Fazli are rewarded by the mountain for their selflessness by the mountain Traamkhazaan.

In The black calf, we see Lal Din trying to protect his pony and is in turn protected by it. Power Of Snakes, sees Roger going on an expedition to try to find treasure without heading the warning about snakes and their power and pays for it. Finally in Gulal the Kashmir Pony, we see Gulal the pony fight a leopard to rescue her foal.

The simple yet engaging style of writing has a charm of its own. Proiti Roy's illustration are lovely, detailed and appropriate. I would say the book is fit for children of four years and above. Asha Hanley does a good job of bringing out the morals by telling the story rather than trying to drill them in. 

Educative and thought-provoking, the stories show how closely the fates of people and their animals are intertwined. Entertaining and exciting, the book is a very good read.
Rating:- 7/10

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NEWSROOM MAFIA by OSWALD PERERIA

Posted by vishesh 10 comments


Image from here.

There is a genre of Indian movies with villains clad in dhotis, the hero in non-designer pants-shirt, kick ass music, dangerous looking gundas and cops- fun, fast and exciting.  Unfortunately, they don't make many of these today- take Don 2 for example, the antagonist is surely 'bad' and  Hollywood, the locations nothing even remotely close to home(given they probably flew over the Indian Ocean from Asia to Europe) and the only 'Indian' element seems to be language.

The Newsroom Mafia, on the other hand has familiar aromas-A Dharavi Tamil villain, a super cop, journalists and politicians. The clique is so cliched that one wonders if it would excite and do what endless movies have done. Oswald Pereira manages to do it. The book has that adrenaline rush which ensures one cannot keep the book down.

The book begins with an inside scoop gone wrong. The Super Cop and his forces fail to capture the Godfather Narayan Swamy, who manages to sneak away from under their nose to Mayiladudurai. The journalist Oscar  narrates the story of the acclaimed Don, his methods and the nexus between the Black, the Gray, the White. With copious amounts of money and bloodshed, all is fair in business especially in a world without much ethics to go by-expect maybe a liberal amount of sacred ash smeared on a forehead.

With the help of 'consultants' the Don tries to turn a new leaf, hoping to be seen as a philanthropist and a businessman. But with the Super cop on tow, the firm illicit grounds on which the Godfather's empire is found is threatened.

Dramatic with masala and booze, the book runs well, drawing inspirations from the lives of Varadhabhai, Haji Mastan and others. Told from a journalists perspective, the author narrates the atrocities and horrors of the underworld and the moves by the Supercop with the same vigour and zest.

One can also see how it is tough for a journalist to remain 'clean'. With little income, their need for big stories is exploited by people who plant and fabricate stories for their better purposes. The Don, with his sly, manages to recruit a team of intelligent, smart and ambitious journalists to not only help him with an image makeover but also for doing his dirty linen.

A game of chess with an unfair amount of knights and bishops on one side and an uncanny player who tries to bulldoze with rooks, a <em>queen</em> moves with deft feet to make the difference. Well written and researched, the Newsroom Mafia is a thrilling read.

Rating:- 6/10.

Comment on this post telling us why you want to read the book and you could win a copy of the book! The contest is open to everyone, however the books will be shipped only to an Indian address. Contest closes at 23:59 IST on 23 January 2012.



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Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Posted by Karoline 0 comments


Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy. (From Amazon.ca)

I was glad I picked this book up. It’s such a different story from the other YA I’ve read, and it was a good read, so good, it was hard to put down. The idea of the Fates, and the purpose of the tapestry is very different and it sets this aside from the usual plot hooks you find in the millions of YA books you’ve read - sometimes when you need a break from vampires and werewolves then perhaps you should read Warped.

I liked the time bending fantasy aspect of the book, and how our lives are really all woven into one big tapestry. The story itself is very well written and caught my attention all throughout the book. There’s plenty of magic and action, a very evil villain (well written and extremely evil! she could easily top the list of evil villains), and the romance is well done. It might take a bit to warm up to William de Chaucy, he’s pompous, arrogant, and can be a jerk but as the story goes on, he ended up being one of my YA crushes (his demeanor improves later). I really liked how his character worked out. Tessa on the other hand is a great main character and her chemistry with Will is there, and I liked seeing them both together.

The plot was a most different one. It’s got a great blend of historical fiction and fantasy all mixed in. The pacing isn’t too fast, and not too slow, but it’s gradual and as the story unfolds it gets much more interesting as the reader progresses. Characters are likable, and villain most evil so it fits all the characteristics of a book in this genre but made things interesting by going a step further (by adding in The Fates, and the tapestry).

I most definitely recommend this to other YA readers! take a break from the vampires and the werewolves and pick this book up! you won’t regret it! whether there’s going to be sequel, I’m not sure. It would be fun if there was, it does leave some things left out in the open.

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"Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham

Posted by Rakhi Tuesday, January 17, 2012 0 comments

When I picked up this book, I was at first annoyed by the very slow start of it. But gradually as I moved on, I started enjoying the narration. Maugham has very strikingly captured the various facets of Philip, the protagonist, as he continues his life from his childhood to adulthood. Bearing a club foot, how he faces scorn and when does he stop believing in miracles (as well in God), are all very considerately described. Barring some parts, at which the long narrative seems unwarranted, Maugham has proficiently described the changes in perception, as each time Philip changes his vocation, till at last he takes up the vocation of his father.

Philip, when faced up with various hardships and continuously searching for a meaning in life, comes to acknowledge his existence without any pain and more interestingly, with an increased awareness about the purpose of such deliberations. I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed with the end, because it concluded with a happy note, but somehow going through the whole book, I gather I was looking for something more intense rather than the expected end that it yielded. Here are some of the lines that I really relished.

“Philip thought that in throwing over the desire for happiness he was casting aside the last of his illusions. His life had seemed horrible when it was measured by its happiness, but now he seemed to gather strength as he realized that it might be measured by something else. Happiness mattered as little as pain. They came in, both of them, as all the other details of his life came in, to the elaboration of the design. He seemed for an instant to stand above the accidents of his existence, and he felt that they could not affect him again as they had done before. Whatever happened to him now would be one more motive to add to the complexity of the pattern, and when the end approached he would rejoice in its completion. It would be a work of art, and it would be none the less beautiful because he alone knew of its existence, and with his death it would at once cease to be.
Philip was happy.”

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Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull

Posted by Karoline 0 comments


At the end of the school year, Kendra and her brother Seth find themselves racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Grandpa Sorenson, the caretaker, invites three specialists -- a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper -- to help protect the property from the Society of the Evening Star, an ancient organization determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power. Time is running out. The Evening Star is storming the gates. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world. Will Kendra learn to use her fairy gifts in time? Will Seth stay out of trouble? (From Amazon.ca)

I thought this one was just as good as the first. The action literally starts from the first few pages of the book and grabs your attention. The magic is still there and it’s still fun and exciting. It’s also nice to see a bunch of new characters, but also, some of the previous characters have also returned as well.

The plot was much more engaging and at a faster pace. There was much more character development when it came to both Kendra and Seth (and surprisingly enough, Seth got a little less annoying...). The magic is just as entertaining and I really enjoyed the new addition of the three specialists, it certainly put more emphasis on the magic aspect of the plot and a little more explanation on how it works. There is also some bit of mystery put into all of this (as to be expected) and it certainly was well written and well thought out as I was blindsided as to who the culprit was.

It is recommended you read the first book before jumping into this one there is so much the reader will have missed without reading this in its’ specific order. Highly recommended for Middle Grade readers, or for those who are into the fantasy genre.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Cabin Fever) by Jeff Kinney

Posted by Sneha Sharma Monday, January 16, 2012 0 comments

Book : Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Cabin Fever)


Author : Jeff Kinney

Published : 16th November 2011

ISBN : 9780141341880

Publisher : Penguin Books Ltd

Language : English

Category : Juvenile Fiction


Yeah, finally I got my hands on this lovely series by Jeff Kinney. The sad part is that I read the last book first rather than reading in line. However, the book is a masterpiece. It's cute, simple, connects with you at some level and brings back all those good, not so good and bad middle school life memories. Geff who is a simple and cute middle school student is the poster boy of my school life! I wonder how did Jeff spy on my childhood and come up with this book but then I am sure there are many like me who would wonder the same. By the looks of it you might think that it is a book meant for kids and it surely is. It is for all the kids that live deep inside us so stay put for I am here to take you through this interesting book as I saw it.


It is November in Geff's life and he is not happy about it. After all there is too much pressure involved in holiday season! As rightly put by Geff, mistakes are fine through out the year but any mistake during the Christmas-Thanksgiving period and you have to stress about gifts from Santa. Santa, being Santa rewards only good children. Thinking about this and other embarrassing events that always happen with Geff during holiday season will remind you of all your mistakes due to which you were labelled as the naughty one. Errrr I was always that naughty bad girl throughout my childhood. From weird rituals to old practices, sibling issues to parent stereotypes poor Geff is burdened by all. In addition to the holiday season, Geff discusses his middle school problems, weird play time practices, unique and irritating best friend woes, school and compound bullies, deepest fears with his diary.


We all must have cheated with our gifts some time or other and hence when Geff does the same, I don't judge him at all! In fact, I feel like telling him its okay kiddo your parents might have done the same! Oh and you must read about his weird craze about some of his toys and computer games, I am sure it will remind you of your current addictions with twitter or other online websites.


Geff tries hard to be a good kid this November but poor guy that he is unknowingly lands up in trouble big time! The school property is damaged and somehow Geff lands up as the prime suspect even though the poor guys is innocent, I mean kind off. In a surprise chain of events that include blizzard, being trapped indoors, coming face to face with old habits and some weird antics by family, Geff gets stuck inside for holidays!


It is a lovable read. Simple and sweet with cute illustrations and fonts. The book takes you away from your current tensions making you laugh, worry and think about this cute kid's middle school problems which were once the major problems in all of our lives. Hilarious must read. Pick up a copy today!


Rating : 4/5


This review is also posted here : Journey Called Me...


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