fiction Tag

13 Feb

Posted at 08:17h in fiction
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A read that is fast-paced yet heartbreaking! I have been reading quite a few books based on the same genre and I must say I am looking forward to reading something light and funny or maybe even a murder mystery. I am waiting for my Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile to release here in my city. Now let's get into the review. We have a beautiful family of three, Nuri Ibrahim who is a beekeeper, his wife Afra Ibrahim and their son Sami. Everything was amazing until the Syrian war started and the beautiful city of Aleppo was torn into shreds. Not only does Afra loses her sight but also they lose their beloved son. Yet they travel across Turkey and Greece to ultimately reach Britain which is to safety. They travel there specifically because Nuri's cousin Mustafa had made through the arduous journey and joined his family there. But the price Nuri and Afra had to pay is really devastating! I cannot even comprehend the sufferings of the families who had to go through this nightmare during the war in Syria! Though the story is fictional, it is based on the true events of those who were in the camps in Greece and Turkey during the unfortunate war! The tone and the reading is light making it convenient for all. I wish someday human beings will realise that to survive on Earth, war is not the answer but it is peace, love and harmony we must achieve to survive. Why is it that our...

06 Feb

Posted at 08:17h in fiction
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Circe, the beautiful yet timid Greek Goddess who wishes just to live her life but instead faces unnecessary wrath of both Gods and mortals for no fault of hers. The author has written an amazing fiction novel of the above-said Goddess who was never considered one because of her power in witchcraft. Born to the great Titan, Helios and Perse she was never the favourite of anyone in the palace. When she first met Prometheus the god who was punished for eternity for helping the mortals, she realised she had a kind heart, unlike the other Gods and Goddesses. Circe was later banished from using her wizardry over her lover and her enemy ending in exile on a beautiful island called Aiaia. It is there she realised how ruthless both Gods, Goddess and mortals can be. but she lost her heart to a mortal Odysseus who was a favourite of Goddess Athens eventually bearing a son of his. Circle goes through a lot but yet triumphs to become what she always wanted in her life, to be herself. The book is as interesting as the book cover. it is a medium to fast-paced read. Rating 4/5...

28 Jan

Posted at 04:20h in fiction
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The beauty of a tree lies in the eyes of the beholder! 2020, the year which changed the life of every human being on our planet. My life too changed because I met the book that is going to be my favourite till I die! The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. Not many in the readers world love this book but the story touched my soul. We are not here to talk about that book but yet another beautiful story was written by the same author. The story revolves around the lives of Kostas Kazantzakis and Defne who despite all odds (Kostas being Greek Christian; Defne being Turkish Muslim) get married! They were young lovers who get caught in the civil war in Cyprus in 1974 losing all near and dear. When they are uprooted to London, they not only get a beautiful daughter Ada but also a charming luscious Fig Tree. We see the suffering, the loneliness, the compassion, the love and the trauma of people who are caught in a war that tore a harmonious community into bloodthirsty hounds! The story is narrated by both the characters of the books as well as the Fig tree who was actually a part of another fig tree brought from Cyprus by Kostas! The story is fast-paced and I completed it in a day! I would highly recommend this one to those who love good fiction. In fact, I picked this up from my bookshelf because I was overwhelmed by my previous read! The only...

10 Jan

Posted at 04:56h in fiction
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This is a fast-paced novel but unfortunately not to my liking. The author has done a good job in making me finish the book in a maximum of two days which is a good thing. This is going to be mainly my thoughts rather than a review. The main character of the book is Kate Moore who was also present in the author's previous novel The Expats. She is a former CIA operative and has started living with her husband Dexter and her child Ben in Paris after some disastrous event in her previous assignment. What we find here is she is caught in between an apparent terrorist attack, She realises that it is not what the police officers think and maybe the attack is closer to her than Paris. If more details are given then, this review will have spoilers rather than my views. I am quite surprised by the reviews given by some authors in the book because it is not a heart-throbbing thriller. It is a one time read and I wouldn't suggest you buy it until you are a book collector like me. I got this book only because of the name. Let me be honest I am fascinated by the French and their ways. I have been to Paris only once but it was enough for me to fall in love with the city. Though it is called the city of love I believe for me the city of love is Cairo. I am going off-topic...

07 Jun

Posted at 07:41h in fiction
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The author has best-selling and prize-winning books in his bag such as The Shell Collector, About Grace, Four Seasons in Rome, and Memory Wall. He has also won the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Prize. PLOT HIGHLIGHT: The main character in this book is Marie Laurie who becomes blind after the age of six and Werner who is a German orphan who stays with his sister till he is taken to the Hitler regime. The story revolves from the years 1934 to 1945. Marie Laurie’s father teaches her how to go about the streets of Paris by creating a small miniature of the city so that she can reach home by herself. The small and happy life of her family completely changes when she has to move away because of the war. It is quite an interesting twist how the boy and the girl meet each other and that lies the entire story! REVIEW: The author has done a magnificent job in his book. The writing style is simple yet complicated but easy to read. Though it is a work of fiction, we can easily connect with the characters who are suffering emotional turmoil during the war times. The author has also done his research well as we can see that certain events mentioned in the book have actually happened. The book is actually a gem and I feel everyone should read it. It is truly a literary art and doesn’t go by my words. The truth is dive into the book...

07 Jun

Posted at 07:32h in fiction
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This book has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2004 and also shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2004. The book received the Hudson/Wright Legacy Award 2004. Quite an extraordinary effort for her first book! The author forbids herself to read reviews. It is not that she fears criticism but it may hinder her way of being true to herself in her books. PLOT HIGHLIGHT: The story is about a 15-year-old Kambili, her journey into two extreme worlds and finally finding her true self! Her father Eugene, an orthodox Christian, who has no clue about the difference between love and torture, doesn’t allow his daughter, her bother Jaja, and their mother to have a life of their own. The goal of this little Kambili is just to make him proud and impress him in every feat of her life. It is only after her aunt Ifeoma comes into her life with her cousins Chima, Amaka, and Obiora, she realizes that sometimes letting go also can also be called life! REVIEW: For the author’s first book this is really a good read! The writing style is quite impressive and it is also an easy read. The turmoil Kambili goes through in each chapter is easily connectable and we can also feel the intensity of the civil war that has been explained in the book that is going on in Nigeria. The author has justified totally the sensitivity of faith and religion that is in Kambili’s heart. The book is true to its...

07 Jun

Posted at 07:25h in fiction
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The book is by the author who had many best sellers in her kitty like The Forest of Enchantments and Palace of Illusions. She is not only an author but also an activist and a teacher of writing. Her work has been published widely, in magazines and anthologies. Plus, her books have been translated into 29 languages. So now let’s get into the plot of the book! PLOT HIGHLIGHT: The book is all about Rani Jindan’s journey from her teens to her demise. The book is a work of fiction through the characters in the book are real! The plot is divided into the time when Jindan Kaur comes to Lahore with her father and brother, her marriage to the king, then she becoming the Queen, and finally her demise! Her father being the kennel keeper of Maharaja Ranjit Singh never expected his daughter to be not only the king’s consort but also his favorite. We see in the book how she has to face the wrath of the King’s eldest wife and how most of the courtiers cannot accept her because she is not of the royal bloodline. Each section of the book not only shows the events in the life of Rani Jindan but also the emotional turmoil that she has to go through. The book describes really well the weight that a Queen has to carry when she also wants a life of a regular human being! REVIEW: The book is truly remarkable and it is quite an interesting read. Though...

10 Sep

Posted at 11:34h in fiction
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The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first book where the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is introduced. The narrator in the book is by one Mr. Hastings who knows both the family that's involved in the murder and the detective. The book revolves around the Cavendish family who stays at their country place, Styles Court. The main characters are Mrs.Inglethorp ,her two stepsons John and Lawrence. Accompanied by John's wife Mary, Cynthia and Evelyn who is a constant personality in Mrs. Inglethorp's life. Everything was going smoothly until Mrs. Inglethorp decided to get hitched with Alfred who is 20 years younger to her and everyone knew the obvious reasons why this young man married this old lady, her immense wealth and the fantastic property! When Hastings comes to visit his old friend John Cavendish, the entire household seems tensed about something. In the middle of the second night of his stay, Mrs Inglethorp had an unfortunate incident that lead to her ingenious murder! Everything gets out of control when the family members realise that Mrs.Inglethorp died due to poisoning. And then we have the entry of Hercule Poirot and then let's say you should read it to find out who the culprit is! Though from the beginning it's so obvious who the culprit is, but no way you can be sure of what you think and I can guarantee this book is a good read! ...

02 Sep

Posted at 08:27h in fiction
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'This crime is so complicated that it must be quite simple', declares Hercule Poirot. Ah yes, Hercule Poirot! The author of the book is none other than my personal favorite Agatha Christie. So we all know it a murder mystery and I am a total addict to them. As I have read and have most of her books I will be adding their reviews one by one on my website. It's better late than never right! Before we dive into the review let me assure you that though I am a die-hard fan of Agatha Christie my review of her books is unbiased. With that cleared let's start with the review of 'The Clocks'. We have the narrative of Mr. Colin Lamb who is in the police department. He was an innocent passer-by on the street Wilbraham Crescent when suddenly a girl ramped onto him screaming there is a dead man's body with an old woman walking around him! When he reached the address the girl gave him, he saw a blind old lady Miss Millicent Pebmarsh who owned the house was standing with blood-stained clothes. The girl was right! There was a dead body but the most inquisitive part was the different clocks placed around his body. When Mr. Lamb questioned the girl Sheila Webb of why she was in the house, she said that Miss Pebmarsh had called in their center to send help. But Ms. Pebmarsh denies this statement and says she is completely capable of looking after herself. The police are baffled with the...

17 May

Posted at 08:05h in fiction
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Review in one word, AWESOME! I am a sucker for crime and psychology thrillers but this book just won my heart overnight. Truth to be told I just took this book to read only a day back and I have completed it. The book is truly in every sense a perfect thriller and I am glad that I brought this book. The author, Alex Michaelides is also a screenwriter and it quite unbelievable that it's his first novel. Let's go into the plot of the story. We have two main characters in this book: Alicia Berenson who has committed an unimaginable murder. Theo Faber who is a psychotherapist who assumes that he can make a difference in her life. Alicia who loves her husband Gabriel blindly. But one fine day she decided to murder him cold blood, shot him! Being a passionate artist, she paints her final picture and name it Alcestis. Alcestis is a Princess in Greek mythology who is known for her love for her husband. The tragedy is how she dies and saves his life.When Alicia doesn't speak in front of the court, everyone thinks she is in trauma. She remained silent not just for days but years together. Theo believed he could make her speak and save her.He comes to her rescue at the Groove where she is placed in high sedative condition as she is suicidal. But the question arises if Theo is really ready to hear her and listen to what happened that night? Now the review, I'm crazy about the book...