Omerta - Mario Puzo

Classic Puzo. This storyline is exactly what you would expect from a Mario Puzo novel. It reminded me of 'The Last Don' but just wasn't as developed. It's about the rise of one man from nothing to a Mafia Don in modern day USA. It seems like all Puzo novels end in a very predictable way and this isn't one to break the norm.

Its a good read if you haven't read another Mario Puzo novel for a while, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The Alienist - Caleb Carr

Set in the early 20th century New York, its a Holmsian style novel with its primary characters blatantly similar to the Holmes/Watson investigation Duo. This book was a great page turner, with the mystery of the serial killer keeping you engaged all the way till the end. If the investigation slowed down, the 1900 backdrop of Manhattan with hansom cabs instead of sardar taxi's always kept it interesting. The author likes to introduce investigation techniques which are ahead of their time, and taken for granted today, such as fingerprinting.



A little slow on the action, a little heavy on the weird but the author keeps it interesting and explains everything you would need to know about the 100 year old context. This book is a great murder mystery that will keep you guessing and investigating right along with the famous alienist, Dr. Lazlo Kreizler.

The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

ABCDs might relate a little to this book, especially their parents. This book was interesting throughout because I kept trying to find a commonality between me and the main character. Spans the life of the main character 'Gogol' from conception to adulthood. Great storyline with a bunch of emotional 'Thud's along the way.

For some reason though, and I can't pinpoint how I know this, but from her writing I could just tell her Jhumpa Lahiri is a bitch. And simply for that reason, I probably won't read any of her other books. The writing was just pissing me off, maybe I just don't like female writers.

The Bourne Trilogy - Robert Ludlum

These books are nothing like the movies. Nothing at all. The stories aren't even remotely connected, not in the location, the plot and even the characters are different, except of course Jason Bourne. As you progress along the Bourne series the books and movies get even more disconnected.

I read all three Bourne novels in a row and as can be expected, the first one was just mind-blowing. Also, the books offered something that was a major lack from the movies. An antagonist. The yang. Somebody equal, but opposite. Somebody with the skills equal and arguably better than Jason Bourne's, and the ability to take him down. The Jackal. Things get really tense with them by the third book. The war between them spans three books and the entire globe. The fight is also a mental one, a lot of strategic thinking and planning, analysis of weak points etc.

This series is definitely Ludlums best work. I loved all of them, they gave me the kind of goosebumps that only riding a supersport does, or that song that comes on the car radio and makes you engage warp drive. Also, Jason Bourne reminded me of Jack Bauer. The desperate man who has to constantly resort to desperate measures. In a dual between them I think I'd have to lean towards Jason Bourne. Sorry Jack.

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

This is a character-driven book that spans the entire life of an Afghani immigrant that escaped the taliban oppression. I found it very emotional, especially the undertones of brotherhood and loyalty is what really got me. The Kite-Runner character was amazing.

Great read and the movie was very true to the book. Including one of the most powerful scenes in the book , the alley scene.

Gandhi - An Autobiography

I had seen the movies and heard the stories, I read this book to get some perspective on Gandhi the man, not Gandhi the mahatma. Autobiographies can generally be ...well... indulgent (like Bill Clintons), but this guy is actually self deprecating. Which is refreshing to see and it made me have even more respect for him. The other thing this book did was made me realize that Gandhi was just a man. He was a total playboy growing up in england, and very smart (in a smart alecy sort of way). Once he did grow up and start his quest for truth he still never treated his wife kindly. Always putting his own needs in front of hers. Those are the kind of things they don't show in movies and I'm glad I read this book.

The Sigma Protocol - Robert Ludlum

Robert ludlum seems to have a pattern in his novels. You got the smart villian, the bitch who's always hot and smart and ofcourse the bulletproof hero. All thrown into a mix that involves several countries, 1 US government agency and _______. The in this book is something thats been sought after for eternity, which is interesting and I don't want to ruin it for anybody so I won't mention it, but it didn't make it the whole book any special.

Great spy novel but just too standard Ludlum.

Catch 22 - Joseph Hellar

I would classify this book as a dark comedy, or a comedy with a sad commentary. The comment being 'War, what is it good for'. The main character Yossarian is a fighter pilot just trying to get out of the military one way or another. Its hilarious to see the conversations between the officers who're trying to get out of the military and the one's who're trying to keep them in. If you've seen the tv show MASH, the humor is exactly like that. Very sarcastic and logical. And ofcourse there's the Catch 22 logic built into the story.

Reading this book got a little confusing initially but once I got used to the dry humour and writing style, it was really really funny. I'd recommend this book to anybody who likes dry humour and/or M*A*S*H.

The Broker - John Grisham

This book was an utter disappointment. Ther story sounded interesting when I picked it up but there's nothing really there. Either this book was ghost written or John Grisham was high. The story was completely lacking ... well anything. At the end of the book I realized that I spent several hours reading this book and nothing really happened. Whats the pages filled with then ? Painstakenly minute details, such as how many cups of coffee he had in each and everyday for freakin' months.

Rubbish story and complete waste of time.

Kane and Abel - Jeffrey Archer

The story reminded of a Hindi movie, only good. 2 guys destined to be enemies have been brought up in completely different worlds. The description of the contrast in their upbringing is something that kept me comparing them the whole time. After they grew up, had kids and finally met each other their dynamic was very similar to the one between DiNero and Pacino in the movie 'Heat'.

One of the best books I've ever read, very emotional and very gripping.

Rule of Four - Caldwell/ Thomason

The Rule of Four is a great book for somebody interested in puzzles. College roommates at Princeton are trying to interpret a 500 year old book, the 'Hypnerotomachia Poliphili' which even scientists and scholars haven't been able to figure out. The process of decoding it involves a lot of numerology and cryptology.

Incorporate that in a college environment with papers and the perils of college life, this book kept me connected to something or the other continuously. Although I did feel that the emotional shit could've been toned down a bit.

A Prison Diary - Jeffrey Archer

This isn't another fiction novel by Jeffrey Archer. Its his actual daily journal from the first few weeks he spent in a maximum security prison. From his writing you can tell that it was a very humbling experience for him. He speaks about how drugs and suicide are a normal way of life in prison.

An interesting aspect he explored was the differences in behavior of the prisoners who were sentenced for life and the others.

Angels & Demons - Dan Brown

If I had to choose, this would be a much better read than Da Vinci code. This book tries to bridge the gap between religion and science and does an excellent job while attempting. Story-wise it starts off with a bang and doesn't slow down at any given point. This is the kind of book that you'll have to call in sick to stay home and read. Designed more or less like a treasure hunt, the whole book will keep you waiting for the next clue.

Great story, lots of action, smart and high tech. A must read.

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

I picked up this book because I just had to know what all the hype was all about. It turned out to be pretty good. Anything that undermines the very basis of the Christian religion and pisses off the priests was amusing to me. The story did get a bit slow or maybe just a bit disconnected in the middle but the author was able to make a solid ending.

Dan Brown has a very clean and easy to understand writing style and I would definitely recommend reading this book. Since this book keeps making references to 'the event at the Vatican' in the previous year, I would definitely recommend reading 'Angels & Demons' first.