Sunday 30 January 2011

Love, life and all that jazz by Ahmed Faiyaz

Ordered the book from indiaplaza along with Another Chance and Urban Shots. The book is supposed to be an easy- breezy read according to the comments on the book cover. On the contrary, the story written in present tense takes time to get used to. I wonder, what is with the present tense. The story is not an adventure or an action thriller for it to be in present tense. It is the story of four friends from college and their lives after college and how the decisions they make affect their life. A simple straight forward story. There is no reason for urgency or immediacy, it may as well be written in past tense and definetely read better. But once you get used to the tense the story flows by, even quite engaging. While there are no twists and turns and we know actually what is going to happen, it still holds enough interest that we want to finish it. I have one more grouse, that is, with the naming of characters, especially the two main female leads, they are called Naina and Tania. Thank god, he didn't name the other one Sania or Saina. While the names Tania and Naina don't sound simillar to the ear, to the eye they are simillar and most of the story I was confused mistaking one for the other. Also, wish the story was better edited. Indiaplaza promised an author signed copy but there was no signature anywhere in the book. I am just going to let it pass. Overall, the book is not profound or touching or earth shattering, ( it is not meant to be any of these), it is engaging and worth a read.

Friday 21 January 2011

Jake Ransom and the Skull Kings Shadow by James Rollins

I like Reading Rollins' books. So when I saw this book in an online bookshop, I thought it was one of his action adventure thrillers and ordered it without Reading the review. it is a childrens book and part of a series. Well, the series starts with this book and is an adventure. So I am not disappointed. Following the fame of Harry Potter series I think Rollins wanted to try his hands at childrens adventure series.
Now for the story, Jake Ransom lives with his sister Kady, their parents have gone an archaelogical excavation and never returned. It is three years since they disapeared. They recieved a parcel shortly after their parents disappeared which contained two halves of a Mayan coin, their parents notebook with detailed sketches about Mayan artifacts. Jake and kady recieved an invitation from the british museum for the opeining of the exhibition of the artifacts their parents found in their final trip.
Jake and kady visit the museum and there begins their adventure into an unkown place habited by dinosaurus and other unimaginable creatures. A strange land inhabited by strange people. The strange land is under threat from the skull king. Will jake and kady help save the land? Will they find a way back to home? This form the rest of the story. It leaves many more questions unanswered. Will have to read the rest of the series to find them. Enjoyed reading it.