Category: Book Review

The Wind in the Willows’—-Kenneth Grahame’s effort to personalize animal nature

Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’ is a novel aims at youngsters. The plot is humor of Great Britain. The novel illustrates a fair mixing of the relationships between the human-like animals, and wildlife. The narrative acts as an important milestone in Post-Victorian children’s literature.

The characters featured in this book are Mole, Rat, Toad, Badger, & Otter. Toad is a big headed & childlike traits. Mole shows traits of reasoning and sensible behavior. Badger shows traits of kindness and hospitality. Otter possesses sensibility. All these characters participate equally in the narrative of both thrilling and neo-noir.

“When are you going to be sensible, and think of your friends, and try and be a credit to them?” One of the problems with Toad is that he enjoys crashing motor vehicles. As a result, Rat tries to talk some sense into him. Though, this doesn’t work. Toad is supposed to be a child stuck in an adult’s body. However, Rat always re-enforces the act of growing up onto Toad, and is careful for others.

As a result of Toad’s motorcar crimes, he is sent to a deepest, darkest dungeon to pay for his crimes. “Toad Hall, an eligible self-contained gentleman’s residence. Toad, being the character showing the most affluence owns his own manner house. During his sentence, he started to boast about this mansion.

“Now then, follow me! Mole first, ‘cos I’m very pleased with him; Rat next; Toad last.” Badger starts an invasion at Toad Hall. With this in mind, Mole begins to show traits of maturity. As a result of this invasion, Toad’s behavior illustrates the opposite of Mole. His ordeal is going back to the dungeon, like a child being anxious about going to their bedroom for misbehaving.

“For it has roused a longing in me that is a pain.” While in search of a missing infant Otter, Rat becomes faced with noise coming from a piper. The quote focuses on the main idea of the author’s intention in writing the novel. The focuses being: The reasons which cause life to be worthwhile. The sounds travel through Rat likes blades. With this in mind, the focus is intended to be answered between the lines.

To conclude, the characters have a variety of different personalities and views of the world. Their human-like features are included with their animal-like traits. In terms of Mole has a good sense of smell. The book is aimed at showing animals living British-life, in the summer season. The animals have a justice system, hence Toad was sent to pay for his motor-car crimes. The mansion was invaded by the other animals while Toad was imprisoned and during his escape, Toad’s behavior is terrible and affects the rest of the animals.

The story plays an important part in children’s literature. In modern-day, it is still read by children. The story features human-like animals who all have their own ordeals. Mole and Rat being the kindest animals featured in the story while Toad represents the most immature and self-observed, making this story amusing and eye-opening to a young audience. With British humor and an excellent narrative, it is definitely worth a read, even to a grown-up audience.

Citations: Kenneth Grahame, “The Wind in the Willows, June 15, 1908.

June 24, 2023
The Vanished Painting

A decaying old building once stood in a small town in the rolling hills. According to legend, the castle was once home to renowned painter Frederick Morley, whose passionate works fascinated the world. Morley, on the other hand, had long since faded into disappearance, his works lost in the records of time.

Lily, an aspiring art historian, stumbles upon a vintage store one sunny afternoon and is drawn to a strange painting covered in dust. The artwork depicted a lovely rural scene with a hidden path leading to a beautiful waterfall. Lily had an inconceivable connection to the piece and decided to purchase it.

A strange feeling washed over Lily as she hung the picture on the wall. The colors blurred and the room turned around him. He realized he was standing in his favorable spot as his suspicion faded.

Lily, confused but excited, set out on a journey to solve the mystery of the painting and its artist. He discovered through his research that Frederick Morley had vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind unfinished business.

Lily dug deeper into the mystery, driven by a never-ending fascination, determined to uncover the truth. He discovered Morley’s old diary and expressed his desire to conduct time travel experiments. Could the painting have been a time portal?

Lily slid into the picture, surprised and excited, understanding she was in the past. He looked at the warm earth and immersed himself in Morley’s former world.

Lily discovered a long-lost secret hidden within the castle walls while investigating. Morley had created a masterpiece, a painting so magnificent that it alone had the power to change the course of history. However, the painting was closed and hidden from the public eye, and the artist’s memory faded into obscurity.

Lily’s determination was renewed, and she decided to restore the Morley estate. He revived a long-forgotten image and revealed it to the world. Its beauty fascinated art enthusiasts and awakening Morley’s interest in lost works of art.

Lily’s extraordinary journey taught her the importance of preserving history and the transformative power of art. She had unlocked a world of wonder through the forgotten painting, bridging the gap between past and present and ensuring that Frederick Morley’s brilliance would never be forgotten again.

June 23, 2023
7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, book reviewing a master piece by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Fair Warning: Sorry dear readers, but I’m going to have to pour out my heart while I write about my favorite book. The point is, there will be spoilers and other details that you might want to avoid should you plan to read this book after being intrigued and moved by this write-up (I hope that you will and also, ignore my self-applauding tone)

I’ll be honest about the fact that I cannot be categorized as an ‘avid’ reader or a serious and meticulous bibliophile or to simply say a ‘bookworm’. What I do boldly and proudly consider myself as, is a dedicated ‘binge-watcher’, a Tv-show buff, or a ‘Netflix-o-holic’. But if there is one book that came close to creating an ‘era’ in my life that revolved around it, it would be Reid’s 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Ironically, I finished this book in three days while I was traveling to Nepal by train and then a bus; but the effect this book had lasted like a dreamy bitter-sweet hangover for months, one which I was reluctant to sober-out of. As the title suggests, the novel is about a mysterious Evelyn Hugo and her seven marriages. It was published in 2017 but takes us back to the realm of retro Hollywood, the 50s and 60s to be precise.

The (shallow waters) Summary: The story starts with an amateur, struggling magazine editor, Monique Grant, who is summoned out of the blue by a retired, aged Hollywood legend, Evelyn Hugo, who wishes to share her life story, gossip, and secrets with Monique. As Monique curiously seizes the opportunity and bears witness to the unfolding of Evelyn’s scandalous yet morally conscious life, she gets deeply entangled in Evelyn’s tumultuous dilemmas. With each chapter, we see how Evelyn evolves in the industry from a Cuban-American nobody to a reincarnated and reimagined version of a Marilyn Munroe of sorts. We also traverse through her promiscuous love life, her affairs that sell like hotcakes, and her cryptically complex marriages. By the end, I found myself emotionally whiplashed and painfully satisfied with the perplexingly grey questions and secrets that had been hidden throughout the book, just like Monique.

What I absolutely enjoyed (the deep dive) :

SPOILER WARNING AGAIN! HERE COME THE BIG GUNS!

Celia St.James: What a uniquely impressive character the writer has sketched! Celia starts as a rival to the rising star that is Evelyn Hugo, threatening her, with her versatile and commendable acting skills, only to later become her close colleague and friend and then her passionate partner. Yes, that’s right. The one true love of Evelyn’s life is Celia, neither of her 7 husbands. Now if you look at the society in the 50s and 60s and then contrast Celia and Evelyn’s love story in that background, you will grapple to simply see them grapple to be together. Their journey is simply something one must read because the gravity and agony of Celia and Evelyn are something I cannot put into words. I began rooting for them as a die-hard fan after I read the scene where Evelyn kisses the Tv-screen, chipping her tooth, when Celia wins the award for best supporting actress. Such a heartful moment! It’s fascinating how their relationship develops. Another element I enjoyed is that Evelyn isn’t labeled a ‘lesbian’ or a ‘bisexual’ in most parts of the book. Her character has been given the liberty to choose whatever she feels she is. Another example of this sexually liberating permissiveness is seen in the movie ‘Call Me By Your Name’, wherein neither of the men is homosexual or bisexual, yet they fall for each other. That sense of exclusiveness is what adds more flavor and intensity to the chemistry of two same-gendered people. The gaze this book uses to address female sexuality, may it be the earthly pleasures that the characters engage in or the descriptions of Evelyn’s sexualized roles and physique, is somehow anti-vulgar and addictive. The way Evelyn and Celia grow to genuinely care and sacrifice for each other and how destiny always acts against them is truly a heartbreaking story.

I would love to see Anya Taylor-Joy play Celia St.James (with her hair painted and all)

2. Harry Cameron: After Celia, I think Harry was the closest thing Eveyn had to a family. Out of the terrible six creatures she married, Harry, her close colleague, friend and closeted husband was the best human being in the book, without question. Harry and Celia’s relationship felt like a private magical recipe to prepare an elixir. The span in their lives when Harry, Evelyn (and their daughter), Celia and John (Harry’s lover) live together playing two straight couples for the world but living two wholesome queer couples for themselves is a double-match made in heaven’s moment. Harry always stands by Evelyn and supports her throughout the book. He acts as the foundation to her success and nobody wouldn’t want a friend like him. It broke my heart when John died and then Harry died.

3. Why Monique?: The one question that is answered towards the end is ‘Why did Evelyn specifically ask for Monique (a woman of color) to write her biographical?’ Such types of mysteries tend to have flop answers in most books I’ve read, but not here. We learn from Evelyn that she knew Monique’s father, (a gay, black man) who was Harry’s driver when his accident happened. He was defamed to be a drunk driver after his death but the truth is that he was in the passenger’s seat when the crash happened. Evelyn, who used her financial status to conceal Harry’s involvement in the accident, and left Monique’s father in the problematic situation to take the hit, is guilty of the pain and trauma she caused to Monique and her mother. Monique’s arc with her troubled marriage, her mother, and Evelyn is at its peak towards the end. Evelyn tells Monique that though her father loved another man, he also promised to never leave his wife and daughter because he equally loved them as well. Despite their grievances, Monique’s parents always stuck together. Monique connects the dots as she recollects how her mother had always told her, that she and her father loved each other but had no spice or attraction in their marriage. The underlining message was that despite couples (namely Harry and Evelyn and Monique’s parents) being gay, they managed to satisfy the emotional needs of their partners, sharing warmth and tenderness in each other’s lives and cherishing a happy marriage. The way Reid spreads these sheets of pure humanity onto her characters is too good to be true.

4. The commercials: A very impressive literary trick that I aspire to use one day is the commercial and news column that we see after or before the chapters. They are written in the third person and allow the readers to interpret Evelyn from the world’s perspective. It’s interesting to see how media molds and interprets the life decisions of celebrities so conveniently the way they desire and how strikingly different the reality could be. I enjoyed the creative headlines also because it’s a really smart way to supply essential information to readers instead of slipping it into long, tedious conversations or descriptive paragraphs.

5. The Green-dress aesthetic and consistency throughout the novel: The signature of Evelyn Hugo’s flamboyant personality is her iconic green dress. Even the cover for my copy had a faceless woman in this green dress. Somehow this prop has been used impeccably and builds vivid, unshakable imagery that gives so much realism and coherence to Evelyn. Her brazen dressing style, her speech style, her pattered actions, and their predictably riveting consequences are what makes the character so real and not dislikable and vague. The flow of the novel is marvelously steady. It slows down where we need to recuperate from shocking changes and paces up where we feel we might begin dozing (which I never did by the way). I can very much imagine how a young Evelyn might have been and how she grew up to be the old sardonic and sharp-tongued woman who lost everyone. I even had a casting in mind. I feel Diana Rigg (may she rest in peace) would have played a great older Evelyn and Anya Taylor Joy would have made the perfect younger Celia with James McAvoy as Harry.

Conclusion: I tried so hard really to find something I didn’t appreciate in the book but I failed. Maybe some extracts towards the end were unnecessary and Evelyn’s marriage to Max Girard didn’t age as well as I’d thought it would. But apart from that, I enjoyed reading every word of this novel and I highly recommend it. It’s beautiful how gently the themes of LGBTQ+ issues, racism and humanitarianism have been incorporated in the alluing world of Hollywood so impressively. If you’re looking for a moderately easy read that has glamour, drama, moral ambiguity, mystery, and romance, then I’d say this is your perfect read. Everything is just right on point and in the perfect quantity in this book; yes, even the husbands.

June 23, 2023
The Farmer And The Sons.

In a faraway village, lives a hardworking farmer who has grapes fields. Year after year his grapery gives rich harvest, and the farmer becomes very successful. He has three sons, who are young and energetic but never bother to work. As the farmer grows old, he begins to worry about his son’s future

Then he falls very ill and realizes his death is fast approaching. He calls the sons and tells them,

“Dear sons, I see my death nearing me, but before I bid goodbye to all of you, I want to share a secret. There is a treasure hidden under the fields. Dig the entire field after my death, to find it.”

The old farmer dies, and his sons perform the last rites. The sons begin to dig for the treasure without leaving any part of field but find nothing. However, their digging of field leads to a healthy crop and results in huge earnings. These earnings make the sons realize what their father meant.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Hard work always pays off. Fruits of hard work are always sweet whether or not they are in the form you desire.

June 21, 2023
How to be Successful: Think like a Leader

Do you have any clashes at work or in your personal life? Are you concerned that if you do something great, others will look down on you? Are you anxious that your own family would not support you in doing something you enjoy? Are you unable to complete a task because you are afraid of failing? Do you want to establish your own business but something is preventing you from doing so? Do you seek advice or look for motivating and inspirational films or videos for success stories or tips on how to live a worry-free life?

The book ‘How to be Successful: Think like a Leader’ written by the author, ‘M. Curtis McCoy’ is a motivating and uplifting book. It compiles several interviews and true stories of Jeff Wobig, Connie Wyatt, Paul B. Watson, Eric Payne, Caujuan Mayo, Nathan Schulhof, and Jeff McGregor.

In the fourth chapter, the author has answered a series of interview questions about his definition of success, what steps he took to get to a certain point in life, his greatest strengths, his greatest weaknesses, how he overcame them, what types of books he has read, what types of character traits he values the most in others, what inspires him, what advice he would give to others, and many other topics.

The author has added short encouraging chapters after each interview to motivate the readers such as reward yourself, make others feel appreciated, six keys to building quality friendships, meet new friends, take pride in your appearance, stop wasting your life, the art of saying ‘No’, improve your attitude, develop winning habits and many more.

There have already been many times in your life where you thought you put everything you could towards achieving a specific task but, you failed. The times you came close to success but just fell short. They may seem like failures but they aren’t. Each time we try and fail not only do we learn more about ourselves but we develop strength for the next round. Quite simply you learn from the small battles what it takes to win the war. Remember if it was easy to be highly successful everyone would do it. Achievement is an ongoing process, you need to go over your goals every single day with laser beam focus. A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards it.

Throughout the book, the author has included numerous inspirational quotes that will inspire readers to take action in their lives. Although there were a few grammatical and typographical errors, they did not deviate from the message the author was trying to convey. In addition, the author’s writing style was also distinct and easy to comprehend. The power of prayer and the Christian faith in God are all mentioned. This book is suitable for young entrepreneurs as well as anyone who feels stuck in their career/ job or life situation. I would like to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. “Success is the ability to bounce back from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

June 17, 2023
BOOK REVIEW- Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, the famous detective fiction writer, had me from the first page, hook line & sinker and she never lost my attention until the very end. Even though there are a number of books which are extremely interesting there is absolutely no wonder why this is considered to be one of her very best.

Murder of Roger Ackroyd- a single story filled with suspense, thrill, crime and surprise which becomes extremely difficult to put down once you have started reading it. According to me, it is one of the best books Christie has ever written. Poirot with his ‘little grey cells’ are challenged to an extremity while finding out the killer of Mr. Roger Ackroyd in the little village of King’s Abbot, where everyone is familiar with each other. Before the murder of Mr.Ackroyd which took place in his locked study, there’s a widow Mrs. Ferrars’ sudden suicide which instills rumors among the residents that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secret affair with the wealthy, deceased Roger Ackroyd. Before getting murdered, Ackroyd had received a letter identifying the widow’s blackmailer. Is that the motive for the crime? Who is the blackmailer then? No one knows and these questions continue to haunt us till the end of the story.

As a result of two deaths, one after the other, the village of King’s Abbot is crawling with suspects which include a nervous butler, John Parker, Ackroyd’s wayward stepson, Ralph Paton, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, who has taken up residence in the victim’s home. Even though he has retired to King’s Abbot to garden near the home of a friend he met in London (Ackroyd himelf who promised to keep him anonymous), it is now up to the world famous detective M. Hercule Poirot, who is appointed by the victim’s niece, Flora Ackroyd, to solve the case of who killed Roger Ackroyd (to ensure that the guilt does not fall on Ackroyd’s son) – a task in which he is aided by the village doctor and the narrator of this detective fiction, James Sheppard and also by Sheppard’s ingenious sister, Caroline. Poirot promises to find out the truth circling his friend’s death which she accepts.

The ending (which I will not discuss in explicit detail for the fear of spoilers) is what makes this a 5-star book. Let me assure you: you will not be able to guess who the murderer is. Never ever ever. When the murderer is revealed, you will not believe it. When the murderer goes on to explain his/her actions, you will continue to not believe it. Only by rereading certain important passages will you start to realize that the answer was in front of you all the time, and yet you couldn’t see it. It’s a testament to Christie’s skill as a writer that this is accomplished. As in all of her cases involving Inspector Hercule Poirot, Christie unearths layer upon layer of the case, leaving her readers guessing until the very end. Just when you think that you finally found out who the killer/murderer is, she throws in a twist by revealing a key clue that only Poirot could have thought of. Occasionally, I guess the criminal, but other times I am left stumped. This time, in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Christie leaves me hanging until her final paragraphs, creating a thrilling case. Just as in the other Poirot tales I have read, he uses his little gray cells, stumps the local police, irks the local populace who are happy to be rid of the little Belgian man, yet solves each case in ways that most detectives are not capable of achieving.

Agatha Christie will leave you dazzled with one of her finest mystery that lasts till the last page and ends with an unprecedented plot twist.

November 14, 2021
BOOK REVIEW- Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, the famous detective fiction writer, had me from the first page, hook line & sinker and she never lost my attention until the very end. Even though there are a number of books which are extremely interesting there is absolutely no wonder why this is considered to be one of her very best.

Murder of Roger Ackroyd- a single story filled with suspense, thrill, crime and surprise which becomes extremely difficult to put down once you have started reading it. According to me, it is one of the best books Christie has ever written. Poirot with his ‘little grey cells’ are challenged to an extremity while finding out the killer of Mr. Roger Ackroyd in the little village of King’s Abbot, where everyone is familiar with each other. Before the murder of Mr.Ackroyd which took place in his locked study, there’s a widow Mrs. Ferrars’ sudden suicide which instills rumors among the residents that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secret affair with the wealthy, deceased Roger Ackroyd. Before getting murdered, Ackroyd had received a letter identifying the widow’s blackmailer. Is that the motive for the crime? Who is the blackmailer then? No one knows and these questions continue to haunt us till the end of the story.

As a result of two deaths, one after the other, the village of King’s Abbot is crawling with suspects which include a nervous butler, John Parker, Ackroyd’s wayward stepson, Ralph Paton, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, who has taken up residence in the victim’s home. Even though he has retired to King’s Abbot to garden near the home of a friend he met in London (Ackroyd himelf who promised to keep him anonymous), it is now up to the world famous detective M. Hercule Poirot, who is appointed by the victim’s niece, Flora Ackroyd, to solve the case of who killed Roger Ackroyd (to ensure that the guilt does not fall on Ackroyd’s son) – a task in which he is aided by the village doctor and the narrator of this detective fiction, James Sheppard and also by Sheppard’s ingenious sister, Caroline. Poirot promises to find out the truth circling his friend’s death which she accepts.

The ending (which I will not discuss in explicit detail for the fear of spoilers) is what makes this a 5-star book. Let me assure you: you will not be able to guess who the murderer is. Never ever ever. When the murderer is revealed, you will not believe it. When the murderer goes on to explain his/her actions, you will continue to not believe it. Only by rereading certain important passages will you start to realize that the answer was in front of you all the time, and yet you couldn’t see it. It’s a testament to Christie’s skill as a writer that this is accomplished. As in all of her cases involving Inspector Hercule Poirot, Christie unearths layer upon layer of the case, leaving her readers guessing until the very end. Just when you think that you finally found out who the killer/murderer is, she throws in a twist by revealing a key clue that only Poirot could have thought of. Occasionally, I guess the criminal, but other times I am left stumped. This time, in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Christie leaves me hanging until her final paragraphs, creating a thrilling case. Just as in the other Poirot tales I have read, he uses his little gray cells, stumps the local police, irks the local populace who are happy to be rid of the little Belgian man, yet solves each case in ways that most detectives are not capable of achieving.

Agatha Christie will leave you dazzled with one of her finest mystery that lasts till the last page and ends with an unprecedented plot twist.

December 15, 2017
Book Review: DEAR JOHN by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks, the American writer of bestselling books such as Message In a Bottle, The Notebook and A Walk To Remember, has come up with a new, exciting, romantic plot which will leave its readers crying as well as longing for more.

Waiting for a book that is heartbreakingly romantic? A story that you can cherish forever? Well, according to me, Dear John is the best, suitable and a perfect option for you. A story full of love, bravery and sacrifices, it can have you ‘aww-ing’ at one point and then shedding tears at the next.

Set during the Wars, a young soldier named John- an angry rebel, dropout who joined the army not knowing what else to do- meets a beautiful, young girl named Savannah- a simple, extremely caring girl, living in her own world- at the beach in his home grounds when the latter’s purse falls into the ocean and the former dives into the ocean to retrieve it. As all romantic stories go, John and Savannah talk to each other as well as sense the sparks between them. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love which we youngsters all dream to have. By the time John has to go back to the the military camp, they both are unconditionally in love with each other and promises to stay together through all obstacles thrown in their way. Savannah promises to wait for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who has captured his heart. But they both are tested with the severity of maintaining a long distance relationship by only being able to write letters to each other. But even after successfully doing so for the first few years, the 9/11 changes everything, ruining everything they had fought to keep together, because John feels that it is his duty to re-enlist himself after which something occurs that changes their lives and love forever. I think that adding this extra twist to the tale and sudden turn of events was necessary in order for the overall plot to be gripping as well.

This story, about maintaing relationships at distance as well as love and sacrifices, is heartwarming and becomes a bit sad and tear-some as well as we progress through the book. It is trademark Nicholas Sparks as the book is sad, sappy, redeeming yet filled with love and passion and also because the end of the book is not exactly what we think would happen. Nicholas Sparks writes smoothly with easy language putting together the characters well without making them much complex allowing readers of all age group to read and understand it. He does not delve into the war, writing about its causes and effects but instead shows how it affects the soldiers’ life and their people and relations. The book goes on with a perfect pace, not too slow and not too fast, allowing the readers to connect with it emotionally. The way the scenes are written and the way their romance is shown, in such a natural and pure way, that the readers can’t help but get a feeling of actually being present with them. Somehow or the other it has had a deep impact on me and I’ll always cherish reading it as it gave me a new dimension, a new outlook towards Love. It is a kind of book that leaves you valuing your loved one, the one who has had a deep impact on your life, the one who has brought colors to your life. It encourages those who are fighting distance with their loved one, to keep their faith alive and to ignite the flame of love and romance all through, wherever they may be.

Dear John is an easy read and is recommended for those who prefer reading sappy, romantic comedies, and at times tragedies. It is a perfect book for rainy or winter season, when you are feeling cold and are under a blanket with a steaming hot mug of coffee or hot chocolate and have nothing important to do (except maybe the piles of homework kept at the desk!). Nicholas Sparks has, yet again, proved that he will always remain a bestseller romance writer and that no one will be able to take his place.

November 18, 2017
Book Review: MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

‘Message In A Bottle’ is another intriguing and heartwarming novel by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. It is a story of two people, Theresa and Garret whose lives changed due to the message in a bottle. They would never had met if it is not for the message. For them, it was not a coincidence but a fated message.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

By Nicholas Sparks

352 pages, Grand Central Publication

‘Message In A Bottle’ is another intriguing and heartwarming novel by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks. It is a story of two people, Theresa and Garret whose lives changed due to the message in a bottle. They would never had met if it is not for the message. For them, it was not a coincidence but a fated message.

At the beginning, the author tells the story of Theresa, a thirty-six year old divorcee and a single mom to her twelve-year old son, Kevin. She works as a columnist for a magazine called Boston Times. She lives a monotonous and lonely life. Her life turned upside down when she found a letter in a bottle on her beach stroll. She searched for the person to whom the letter was addressed. She finally gets a lead, she meets Garret on her journey. Garret is a stereotypical Southern sailor who is mourning for his dead wife for three years. His only connection with her are the letters to the sea. Theresa finds an instant connection with him. And eventually, they fell in love with other. But you know, what they say “Love is not easy.” So, read the novel to find out the story of Garret and Catherine and also to find out whether it is happy ending for Garret and Theresa or not?

These are few of my favorite quotes from the novel;

“It is at moments like these that I know what my purpose is in life. I am here to love you, to hold you in my arms, to protect you. I am here to learn from you and to receive your love in return. I am here because there is no other place to be.”

“Nothing that’s worthwhile is ever easy. Remember that.”

“If you like her, if she makes you happy, and if you feel like you know her—then don’t let her go.”

“There are winds of destiny that blow when we least expect them. Sometimes they gust with the fury of a hurricane, sometimes they barely fan one’s cheek. But the winds cannot be denied, bringing as they often do a future that is impossible to ignore.”

“Without you in my arms, I feel an emptiness in my soul. I find myself searching the crowds for your face – I know it’s an impossibility, but I cannot help myself.”

“I know that somehow, every step I took since the moment I could walk was a step towards finding you.”

“As a girl, she had come to believe in the ideal man — the prince or knight of her childhood stories. In the real world, however, men like that simply didn’t exist.”

“If some lives form a perfect circle, other take shape in ways we cannot predict or always understand. Loss has been part of my journey. But it has also shown me what is precious. So has love for which I can only be grateful.”

This is a perfect novel for die-hard romantics. Nicholas Sparks definitely didn’t disappoint his fans after his extraordinary first novel, The Notebook. The story gets better and better after each page. This story is a mix of suspense and emotional intensity. It has a very intriguing plot. Like always, the author keeps you hanging by a thread with his amazing art of storytelling. It is a tale of unbreakable and everlasting love. I found myself enraptured in this tale of love lost, desire and enormous strength of love. If you are into romantic fiction, look no further because this is the perfect book for you.

November 8, 2017
Book Review: THE BEST LAID PLANS

THE BEST LAID PLANS
By Sidney Sheldon
372 pages, William Marrow and Company

Like every Sidney Sheldon’s novel, ‘Best Laid Plans’ is very different from cliché and easily forgotten fiction. It is a tale of two people, Oliver and Leslie, who are to be wed but fate has some other things planned for them. It is story of politics, money and deception.

Oliver Russell is destined to reach the zenith of power, and to become the President of United States. On his way to success, he deceits his beautiful and successful fiancé, Leslie. Heartbroken and angry, Leslie marries an old media tycoon to gain money and power. When Leslie Stewart looks back on her fortieth birthday, after amassing Media Empire of her own, she finds herself unsatisfied. She wants revenge from her cheating ex-fiancé, Oliver Russell. She strikes when Oliver reaches the White House. She does everything in her power to tarnish his image. Oliver is an idealistic but lecherous president. He is hiding something but will Leslie be able to expose him? What happens when his secrets are out of the bag? Is he the one who is behind the death of rape and murder of 16-year old, Chloe Houston?
The dirty politics, jilted woman’s revenge, and a very mysterious plot makes the novel a perfect movie material. Sheldon has weaved the story with strong main characters. It has colorful and interesting supporting characters. The encounter between the Bosnian boy and the journalist who took him under her care is touching yet unoriginal. This novel gives an insight of the politician’s life. It shows that like every commoner, they also have same amount of desire, need and fear. War stories and election campaigns makes the plot intricate. These are some of my favorite lines from the novel:
Leslie Stewart:
“Three men came across a female genie who promised to grant each one their wish. The first man said, “I wish I were twenty-five percent smarter”. The genie blinked, and the man said, “Hey, I feel smarter already”. The second man said, “I wish I were fifty percent smarter”. The genie blinked and the man exclaimed, “That’s wonderful! I think I know things now that I didn’t know before”. The third man said, “I’d like to be one hundred percent smarter”.
So the genie blinked and the man turned into a woman. “

Oliver Russell:
“The people who are running the country have turned it into an old boy’s club. They care more about themselves than they do about the people. It’s not right and I’m going to try and correct that.”

Todd Davis:
“Money doesn’t care who owns it. A bum can win it in a lottery, a dunce can inherit it, or someone can get it by holding up a bank. But power that’s something different. To have power is to own the world.”

Dana Evanston:
“If something can stop you, you might as well let it go.”
The novel is a page-turner. You’ll never get bored while reading it. ‘Best Laid Plans’ tells us that our passions if not bridled can either make or break us, hence we need to control ourselves. This novel is interesting and worth reading.

August 1, 2017