The Oath Of The Vayuputra by Amish Tripathi

Hi Friends

Had been off blogging, for about an year. And recently read the most awaited book of the 'The Shiva Triology'.

Normally, in any novel or movie series, the first one is the best one. It sets a benchmark and raises expectations, resulting in anti climax in the sequels. But, this is a rare third and the final book, which is best.

The author, has played very well, with history and mythology . In this novel, he didn't only touch Indian and Tibet history & mythology like the first two books, but tried to actively weave Persian & Zoroastrian mythology into it, and briefly touched Egyptian mythology too. So, he triggered many subplots, which he was not able to close properly. I am not sure, but Amish might have thought about taking these unclosed subplots into full fledged separate series, or prequels.

All in all, very good fiction by an Indian Author, which has triggered new genre of Hindu Mythology, for masses.

The Secrets of the Nagas by Amish Tripathi

Hello Friends

This is the second book, I read by Amish Tripathi, as he hasn't written third book yet :)

The book, is second in the 'Shiva Trilogy' and continues from the 'The Immortals of The Meluhas'.

I will say, the author has done a great job in spinning the story and creating a treasure hunt type of thrill. But, at the same time, its not as interesting as the first one. Also, it again gives all the more feeling of reading comic book.

The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi

Hello Friends

I came across this book couple of months back, and was surprised how it has started dominating shelves of most of the Indian book stores and kiosks. And was not able to resist it anymore.

The book is about Indian Mythology of Lord Shiva, inbuilt in fiction of author's imagination.

Throughout the book, I kept on feeling as if the style is same as of Terry Pratchett's Disc World Series and of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

The book, though via mythology raised many current issues of Terrorism, and Communism Vs Democracy. And, it raised it well.

But, during the mid of the book, I suddenly started getting feeling its not a book for adults, but comic book for children. And this thought was further reinforced by the abrupt ending with 'to be continued....'.

Can't say more till I read the second book of Shiva Trilogy 'The Secret of Nagas'.

Overall, its a very good attempt for first time author. And, I think he is the only Indian Author, till now, who is commanding the following of Indian Readers in fiction like no other than Chetan Bhagat.

The Great Indian Novel - Shashi Tharoor

It’s not often that I would label a review as a eulogy. Bear with me because this is going to be one.

Some books you read and forget,
Some books you read and regret,
Some books, you wish you had read earlier,
Some books, you wish were more clear,

Some books you love at that instant,
Some books you remember from back to front!!

But there is one category of books which you would perpetually cherish,
Which, with time and age, would never perish.

Those are the epics, eternal like gravel,

One of which is “The Great Indian Novel”.

Yes, this is an epic – much like its NAME seems to depict. Novelists create magic by showing the brutal truth or by illustrating in words the most beautiful fantasies; but when the two are mixed together, you get something beyond magic, a piece of work which will go down in the annals of history as a piece of sheer brilliance. The Great Indian Novel is that piece of brilliance. Shashi Tharoor has probably written one of the most interesting Indian fiction novel, which is as much a satire as a reflection on our History of politics.

The book has an amazing mix of two of the most important topics in Indian History and Mythology – The Indian Freedom Struggle and Mahabharata. Yes, and you wont for one sentence feel that they are two disparate works, the blend is so complete. The amount of work that must have been put in actually going through various versions and interpretations of Mahabharata and our Freedom Struggle, must be tremendous. So, here Mr. VV or Ved Vyas starts dictating Indian History to Mr.Ganapathi! Gangaji – father of Pandu and Dhritrashtra - becomes Gandhiji, Dhritrashtra becomes Nehru, Pandu – Subhash Chandra, Duryodhini ( that’s the creative divert!) becomes Indira Gandhi and so on and so forth. Its not that each character has a freedom fighter or politician associated with him or her, but to each there is a purpose. The story starts from the birth of Ved Vyas, the rise of Ganga Datta or Gandhiji , to the great war between Duryodhini and the Pandavas, to the eventual fall of the Great Pandavas. If History was taught this imaginatively, I would have been a Historian!

Kudos to Shashi Tharoor, I bow to his divine skills. He effortlessly moves from subtle humour, to profound wisdom. He is as adept in writing a 100 line poem as in trivial banter. Some times you would really feel like giving the writer an applause for the sheer wit employed. This truly is a GREAT INDIAN NOVEL, figuratively and literally. I sincerely hope you pick it up and read as soon as possible. I think you would believe you have reached a completely different level of Reading when you start this one and then mediocrity will be easy to distinguish. Read 2 pages and you are transfixed.

Finally I quote the Indian Express – “Every sane Indian should buy a copy of this book” – I would like to tinker with it a bit – “Every Indian, sane or insane or otherwise, should not only buy this book, but read it!!!” Salaam, Shashi.