Hobbit certainly ranks as one of my all-time favourites and I keep on coming back for more. Tolkien even in this "supposedly" children's tale never stHobbit certainly ranks as one of my all-time favourites and I keep on coming back for more. Tolkien even in this "supposedly" children's tale never stops astonishing the readers with its simplicity, originality and his imaginative powers. Though the story pales in comparison to the LOTR but that's the point as its only just a prelude to a rich imaginative universe.
Max Carrados is not a modern character nor a pastiche of old age detectives rather was released around the same time as Sherlock Holmes stories were pMax Carrados is not a modern character nor a pastiche of old age detectives rather was released around the same time as Sherlock Holmes stories were published in Strand. Interestingly as few others here in GR have noted, Bramah's take on quirky detective quite often outsold even Sherlock, albeit it didn't have its lasting greatness.
This edition is a compendium of some of his best mysteries read by the none other than my favourite audiobook narrator (along with Ralph Cosham), Stephen Fry!!! Ahh what else can one want, exploits of a blind, rich detective (yes Max is blind and it's a gift and a curse for him & readers) in tales which still feel vibrantly modern and the luxuriant, silky voice of Fry himself.
So what happens when the queen of mystery decides to write a fast-paced spy thriller? Do we get gold or rather a sorry, stretched-out affair? The answSo what happens when the queen of mystery decides to write a fast-paced spy thriller? Do we get gold or rather a sorry, stretched-out affair? The answer surprisingly and rather refreshingly (after reading the tired, Mc-Gyver ish Jack Reacher novels) is bloody good!
We have international intrigue, a spidery web of deception, multiple identities, unwitting spies, Cold War-esque theatre of war and a credible, twisty mystery at the heart of it all.
An eclectic collection of stories mixing in elements of fantasy, hard sci-fi and tonnes of invented names, which would even give Alastair Reynolds a hAn eclectic collection of stories mixing in elements of fantasy, hard sci-fi and tonnes of invented names, which would even give Alastair Reynolds a headache! A definite read for anyone who would like to stretch their imaginations.
A rather unnerving central premise which takes on the plot of The Handmaid's Tale, tries to imagine it further but ends up failing miserably on that sA rather unnerving central premise which takes on the plot of The Handmaid's Tale, tries to imagine it further but ends up failing miserably on that score.
The writing in itself is very shoddy with half the book filled with material taken from Mills & Boon, characters exceedingly weak, and finally, to top it all a book which intends to show the ugly side of sexism proceeds on its own to dumb down the main female protagonist, pepper the entire book with inane male sexism + stereotyping ("boys just love to blow stuff up!") , and ends up dishing out a rushed ending by being saved by a man! So much for a book which proclaims to show the utility of equality for women, yet in the end, it is still the men who save the day! Sigh...
Even immortals like Count Dracula, have their beginnings and this book is a serious, bone-chilling attempt at that, with the very nephew of Bram StokeEven immortals like Count Dracula, have their beginnings and this book is a serious, bone-chilling attempt at that, with the very nephew of Bram Stoker at its helm. The book places Bram at the centre of the action and utilises all the elements from the first adventure to make this tale a rather interesting one indeed! And the audiobook version with its full cast is simply amazing too.
Crime calls Maigret to the old-fashioned French society filled with Counts and countesses! The mystery in itself isn't something which would tax our gCrime calls Maigret to the old-fashioned French society filled with Counts and countesses! The mystery in itself isn't something which would tax our grey cells but what's fun here are Maigret's obvious discomfort about high society and his unique observations on human nature which remain same wherever one goes.
An interesting read with Maigret acting out on his intuitions and the climax which turns up everything on its head. The audiobook narration by Gareth An interesting read with Maigret acting out on his intuitions and the climax which turns up everything on its head. The audiobook narration by Gareth Armstrong is especially well done!
A classic Maigret with his sharp observations on human nature, his occasional wit and plenty of beer to drink, all the while he hunts Montmartre for aA classic Maigret with his sharp observations on human nature, his occasional wit and plenty of beer to drink, all the while he hunts Montmartre for a rather traditional kind of killer. No twisty turns here, but a touch of homophobia which leaves a bad taste after finishing this book!
Lovecraft's first major horror story featuring the unnamed horrors of the deep in a remote island where imagination, fantasy and reality have an orgy Lovecraft's first major horror story featuring the unnamed horrors of the deep in a remote island where imagination, fantasy and reality have an orgy all to our poor protagonist's horror!
Another one of Machen's supernatural stories with lesser components of horror than a version of 1990 movie Ghost! Read it if you have oodles of time tAnother one of Machen's supernatural stories with lesser components of horror than a version of 1990 movie Ghost! Read it if you have oodles of time to kill.
The anthology of torture and rape OR Collected stories of disenchantment & murder
I could easily describe this book by the above acronyms, for this The anthology of torture and rape OR Collected stories of disenchantment & murder
I could easily describe this book by the above acronyms, for this much-vaunted title, feted by critics is nothing but a thinly veiled book on lost hope and glorification of disenchantment amongst people. The graphical depiction of numerous accounts of rape against women, bleakness amongst disconnected characters and a walking parade of atrocities littered throughout the book, do not promote feminism (as the critics would love to say) but rather gives off an ugly masochistic vibe.
If you want to read books which depict the plight of women in a patriarchal society then read: The Handmaid's Tale or better yet, pick up a newspaper!
MacGyver returns in the form of Jack Reacher in this frankly unbelievable book featuring stunts of unimaginable proportions including fighting off milMacGyver returns in the form of Jack Reacher in this frankly unbelievable book featuring stunts of unimaginable proportions including fighting off military snipers, a well-armed militia and Bond-esque lovin'.
What happens when in a Victorian variation of hide-n-seek, you find someone who was never there to begin with! Nothing, for I, would rather sit, gossiWhat happens when in a Victorian variation of hide-n-seek, you find someone who was never there to begin with! Nothing, for I, would rather sit, gossip/read and drink something nice than running around in haunted houses.
A fast-paced, cosy mystery narrated amiably by none other than Neil Dudgeon from Midsomer Murders fame. Of course, as in with other cosy mystery readsA fast-paced, cosy mystery narrated amiably by none other than Neil Dudgeon from Midsomer Murders fame. Of course, as in with other cosy mystery reads, cliched elements abound, but the short length of the book was indeed a pleasant surprise instead of the other bloated reads.
A rather dated (considering it came out in 1906, so yes indeed) and a middlingly interesting story of a haunted house being investigated by an aunt-neA rather dated (considering it came out in 1906, so yes indeed) and a middlingly interesting story of a haunted house being investigated by an aunt-nephew team of early 20th century ghostbusters minus the proton packs.
A short digestible book on one of the most vexing questions of recent times - What is populism? With definitions ranging from it being antielitist to A short digestible book on one of the most vexing questions of recent times - What is populism? With definitions ranging from it being antielitist to antipluralist, its usage has become muddled with everyone in the political spectrum (left to right), have been using it as a cuss word while others have been embracing it as the panacea for everything plaguing their country.
In this remarkable short volume, Jan-Werner Müller addresses this question with wide-ranging tools borrowed from sociology, history and politics. What he argues here, is that populism is inherently "anti-elitist", raging against the political elite which they justify by claiming to represent a popular mandate from a set of disenfranchised people and by saying a "set of disenfranchised" OR "real people" aka those who agree with their narrow definition of politics, it is also "anti-pluralist" and finally with their claims to marginalise all opposition, it becomes "anti-democratic" too.
A worthy read indeed! Though, what I would have liked is for the author to go on to develop a "What is Populism" checklist, in the same vein as How democracies die? , and then support the checklist with historical records of politicians and various regimes using the same for their own purposes. And hence I am left with a feeling of something vital missing from the overall book structure.
What starts as an innocent misunderstanding leading to a lone chap called Jack Reacher's arrest in the middle-of-nowhere in Georgia, turns into this tWhat starts as an innocent misunderstanding leading to a lone chap called Jack Reacher's arrest in the middle-of-nowhere in Georgia, turns into this twisty, nerve-wracking, adrenaline pumping, MacGyver-esque plotline, all of which climaxes into this orgy of violence, mayhem and carnage that any fan of 80's action-thriller movies would enjoy. I for one certainly did so!
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