War and Peace in 100 days

 I have tried reading War and Peace twice. I think I went up to 300 odd pages, but then  life took over. When I went back I couldnt start from the beginning or from where I left. I couldnt start re-reading from 300th page as I couldnt remember much. I couldn't  start at the start as I did still remembered what was happening. So I abandoned it. I picked it up a few years later and also made similar progress.

So here I am at my 3rd attempt. I am planning to read the book from beginning slowly and steadily over 100 days from March 1. I think it is really doable. I also think once I get into the flow and rythm, I may actually finish much before the 100th day. At least for the first few days when momentum is there, I will post about it. Not sure, if I will continue posting everyday. Lets see

Norwegian wood by Haruki Murakami

While growing up, I had this diary where I would write quotes from books I loved. It had quotes from Great Expectations, Ollala, Wuthering Heights, Luminous Isle. Not sure what else caught my eye, touuched my mind that I have written it down. I remember reading something from Love in time of Cholera and thinking that’s exactly what it was. Here is one from Norwegian wood that i am currently reading

"You make it obvious you don't care whether people like you or not. That makes some people angry”

Rediscovering Michael Connelly

 It was in early 2000s I discovered Michael Connelly. I chanced upon a book of crime writers in a book shop, looked at a few names and searched for authors in the shop. I found two authors Connelly and Coben. And picked up their books and there was no looking back. They both became my new favourite authors. Bosch and Bolitar opposites side of a coin. Very different kind of detectives and inhabiting similar worlds.

At that point, I had access to more Connelly books than Coben and I read quite a lot. But over the years, my reading is not as prolific as before and while I still picked up the Coben books on its release I havent read Connelly for a while after reading Lincoln Lawyer. 

Recently, I picked up Desert Star and immensely enjoyed it and was wondering why I stopped reading Connelly. 

Nelophobia

 Looks like we suffer from the fear of breaking glass- Nelophobia. Not sure if this is something our dear AI made up or something that we truly have.

Doubt everything

 If we don't doubt everything, there are no new truths to be found!

Klara and the Sun

Some books make you think and some books stay with you forever. Many many years ago, I read Never Let Me Go, which had a lasting impression on me. Last year, I read Remains of the day. Very different book to Never let me go. But the emotions they awoke are much similar. I was sad. 

Its a strange world. But not far off, I think. 

Here is another book by the same Author. I feel sad again. Klara the Artificial friend is in many ways a true friend. She is loyal and cares for her human. But is Klara just a toy for her human. Klara is a toy but a sophisticated toy. Why did Klara decide to destroy the cootings machine even by the process she gets hurt! 

As the story unfolds and I understand why Klara was chosen in the first place there is a deep sense of sadness. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Between life and death, there is a midnight library where there is a book with every possible life one could have lived.

Nora Seed frustrated with life, decides to end it and ends up in the Midnight Library. She gets to look at her regrets and live possible lives that deals with these regrets. Is she happy in any of them? Is there a perfect life? Is there any where she hadnt made those mistakes and where she can decide to stay back forever? If so, what does it mean to her current life. 

Interesting concept. But after a point, it seemed repetitive and pointless for Nora to go on visiting lives. With her encounter with the polar bear, we do know that she no longer wishes to die, she realises that she wants to live. But why does she need to go visiting lives even after that. Probably because while she wants to live, I think we need assurance that she wants to live her current life and not any of those other possible versions.

Do we all not imagine some of the possible lives for ourselves? 

The Age of Innocence by Edith Warthon

Another love traingle. Newland Archer caught between his love for innocent May and charming Countess Olenska. The eternal struggle between succumbing to society's norms and choosing hearts desire.

If Countess Olenska, went with the divorce that Newland adviced against, she would be free to pursue her desire. But she follows his advice. 

Is May really that innocent? Initially she wanted a long engagement but why was there a sudden change in heart. She did know how to keep him from pursuing after his love. 

I Capture the castle by Dodie Smith

 #27 of 54 BBC Big Read

This reminded me of Little women and bit like Pride and Prejudice. This family lives in a crumbling castle. No one is earning anything except for the servant boy who contributes to the household income. Father an experimental writer the forerunner to our James Joyce who has written just one book and refuses to write another spends his time reading detective novels. Step-mother who was a famous model but currently no source of income. Not sure if I missed out on what educational qualifications Rose has and what she intended to do if the landlords of the castle with two eligible bachelors do not come visiting. Our Narrator Cassandra, a teenager who loves writing. The story is written in a lighter vein. Some of it funny in lines of PG Wodehouse. 

They all knew the reality of the situation that they have no money. Why does no one goes and gets a paying job. Rose decides to take the easy route marry the rich man and escape poverty. And what Rose and Thomas do to make their father to start writing again is preposterous. Who in their right mind would do what they did? Anyway, alls well that ends well.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

I picked this up on a holiday last Christmas. I would say this is undoubtedly the most travelled book. I took it to every holiday I went this last year. But somehow only now actually read and finished it. It is funny and after a point was so confusing.

Whose body was it they discovered? There were so many different versions that so many people come up with I finally lost track. Retirees in a Retirement village start the Thursday murder club to discuss cold cases. While cold cases could do for Bosch or Bolitar. At the Thursday murder club we have hot cases, fresh off the oven. People getting killed. Will our Murder club discover the murderer and would they be brought to justice forms the gist of the story. 

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

  #25 of 54 BBC Big Read

Third book in His Dark Materials Trilogy. Zeppelins, gyroptors, dragonflies, sceptres and ghosts all come together for a spectacular finale. Good vs evil, God vs human, who will twin the epic battle? 

“The intentions of a tool are what it does. A hammer intends to strike, a vise intends to hold fast, a lever intends to lift. They are what it is made for. But sometimes a tool may have other uses that you don't know. Sometimes in doing what you intend, you also do what the knife intends, without knowing.” The idea that a tool doesn’t have any intentions and it acts upon the intentions of those who use the tool is questionable. Every tool has some inherent qualities that makes it what it is. 

What is the answer to all world’s problems? How to end all wars? It is really a simple answer. Answer we all know. Answer that children teach us again. 

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

 #24.66 of 54 BBC Big Read

The Shell Seekers is the story of a mother and her 3  grown children. Nancy is a snob, married with kids living beyond her means. Olivia is an independent single working woman and Noel, less said about him the better. Penelope is the mother of these children. She is also the daughter of a famous artist who is in vogue again and his art is worth thousands. We get the story of each of the characters. Olivia is Penelope’s favourite and she is painted in a warm colour by the author. 

In a romantic book, there are certain things you would expect. I was expecting certain things about certain characters. But it didn’t happen like that. Am I happy that things didn’t turn out as expected or was I disappointed? Not sure why I look for twists in the end in almost every tale. There were no twists.Nothing I was expecting. 

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

#23.66 of 54 BBC Big Read

Second book in the His dark Materials Trilogy picks up from where the first left off and we are in alternate worlds. How does one travel from one world to another. How many worlds exist? Is it good vs evil all over again and who will win this war. What is this Subtle knife? Will the good find it or the evil? I think there were more questions then answers here. Hopefully the last book delivers and ties up all the loose threads.

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

 #23.33 of 54 BBC Big Read

Not sure if I read this as a kid. Probably did read it. I remember reading lots of books about pixies, goblins, gnomes and what-not by Enid Blyton. Looks like Secret Seven and Famous Five books have survived the time along with the Magic Faraway tree. Like most of these books kids have lots of fun with minimal interference from parents. Either they are not well or busy with their jobs. Kids go exploring magical lands. Land of Toys, Land of Presents, Land of Take it all you want (?), land of sleep, land of spells, Land of Tempers. Oh what fun! Just close your eyes and imagine a land. Nice little adventure. 

Cold comfort farm by Stella Gibbons

# 22.33 of 54 BBC Big Read

Well, some books are not for me. Within a few pages I knew it. But still managed to read it. Not sure why this was written and who found it funny. But I didn’t. Should give myself a pat to have plodded through it and not have abandoned it. Is it just dated? Maybe if I read this a 100 years before, would I have loved it? Or maybe tolerated it. Maybe not getting the parody thing as I haven't ready any of the stuff that this was supposed to be parodying it. But then I learnt it was a parody after I explored world wide web why this book was in the list. I saw this one compared to ‘Three Men in a boat’. Haven’t still have a clue why people liked Three Men in a boat or why I couldn’t make sense of it either. Looks like this parody business is not to my taste. Anyday give me Ruth Rendell, P G Wodehouse or Harlan Coben then this!

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire by Xiran Jay Zhao

 Add some Chinese history to video games and virtual reality to ghosts of empires you get this children’s book. Virtual reality headset gets haunted by the ghost of the first emperor of China. What does he want? How will Zack accomplish this with his friends/strangers? Will he get rid of the ghosts haunting human realm? In this process what will Zack learn about himself and his identity. While it was easy to read, there were too many characters and after a point I didn’t bother much about them. We do know Zack will win. 

The Stand by Stephen King

# 21.33 of 54 BBC Big Read

In this big list, there were 3 books that I was not really looking forward to read. Of these 3 I have finished two and while it had been hard work, I wouldn’t say it wasn’t enjoyable. Maybe 3rd one would be fruitful too. Will cross the bridge when I need to meet Ulysess.

First the rant. The book was first published in 1978 and had some 800 odd pages. As if 800 was not enough, author revisited and republished adding a few hundred pages coming to 1200 odd pages only. This is the second biggest book I have ever read in my entire life. Credit for first would go to ‘The Suitable Boy’. And the entire lord of the rings has fewer pages than this. Not sue what was added or what needed to be added to make this book more fuller experience for the readers.

The first half is basically about a covid like pandemic and how it spread from a lab leakage from one person to entire humanity. This pandemic had a 99% death rate and only 1% survive. How do the 1% come together. Do they build back society or do they degenerate into savages each fighting for their own survival taking what they want and some more, running after power and killing others ruthlessly.

Out of this pandemic, we are introduced to our heroes some likely and some unlikely. We know they are going to meet and then form army of the good and fight the good vs evil game. Reminded me a lot of Lord of the rings and journey to Mordor. More than that reminded me of ‘The Walking Dead’. The walking dude was so similar to Negan. Harold Lauder to Eugene. Not sure what to make of Nadine. There were quite a lot of characters and after a point I was not sure who Ralph Bretner was. Or what his back story was. Larry is the always taking Musician, Stu Redman one of the first contacts of Patient Zero, Nick Andross visionary like Simon from Lord of the flies, Trashcan Man firebug, M-O-O-N Cullen, Frannie Goldsmith mother of new humanity. 

There is some reference to Poe and Nevermore. Wolves, crows and weasels. What wrong has these animals committed that they are shown in such bad light. Is Jungle book the only book that showed wolves in a good light? What happened to the population of Boulder? Why did they leave empty houses? Some questions have no answers. Its all gods will.

I will find you by Harlan Coben

‘ Someone looking for something after a long time’ is the theme of many Harlan Coben books. Why did so and so wait for so long to start looking for so and so? It goes well with the theme of lost love regained and lost again and looking at it from new eyes. This time it is not someone travelling 20 years in look out for their lost love. It is a father looking out for his dead son, who he allegedly murder. To confuse everyone, father himself gives a vague story of the night of murder and not really 100% sure he didn’t murder his child. 

Will he find his child? What happened that fateful night? Did he kill his son in a fugue state? Will he find the truth? 

Don’t people perform postmortem when there is unnatural death? 

That guy reminded me of ‘Win’. Win is a psychopath and this is probably what ‘Win’ would do. Crazy world full of crazy people. Not really a fan of this book. 

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

 Started this one a long time back. But then didnt finish it. Started it again and then didnt finish it. Then started again covered 75% but then didnt finish it. After so many false starts, so read this from start to end finally. 

Book starts with an elevator pitch but book is not about elevator pitches, it is about elevators pitching downhill at breakneck speed breaking few necks on the way. What’s happening? Is it some terrorist act? Did I know who was behind this? Did I guess? A few guesses turned out right. But really didn’t expect the story to go this way. Twist in the end. But as I read it a very long time, maybe even years. Was not really into it. Won’t blame the book. Maybe next Linwood Barclay book, I will finish it in one sitting as it is meant to be.

Holes by Louis Sachar

 #20.33 of 54 BBC Big Read

Stanley Yelnats is sent to correctional institution for stealing a pair of shoes. Did he steal those shoes? No, he didn’t. But here he is digging holes in a lake in a desert in scorching heat with limited water and food. The desert is famous for fatal yellow lizard that could kill anyone. There is no concern for the well being of the kids. They are ‘criminals’ working on a sentence. 

There is a interesting thread from the past that is woven into this story. There is a curse on Stanley Yelnats’ family. What is the curse? Will Stanley ever able to break it? I read it in a couple of settings. Was a movie made in 2003, that encouraged kids to pick this book up? Is that how it landed in BBC Big Read. I did see this book displayed in many bookshops. So it should be still popular.