The Hunger Games

Book Name:The Hunger Games

                      Catching Fire

                      Mockingjay

Author:          Suzanne Collins

ISBN Code: 9718184771695, 9718184774009, 9718184776218

Genre:          Science Fiction

The first and the second book have already been converted to movies in the same name. I guess more number of people would have seen the movie than the ones who have read books. Well I have read all three books and I have seen both the movies. Even though movies have been made beautifully but they can never match up to the written matter. For one thing, the story-line changes in some places, some of the characters go missing from the movie, some scenes cut. 

Moving away from the movie and moving on to the books, the first book is as always a capturing novel - a novel that grips you, that makes you want to read more. 1st book in a way is complete in itself - you read it and leave it at that - no need to read all three books. But then again, why would you not want to read a very interesting story - full of all the drama you would want - there is love, there is hate, there is violence, there is tenderness and then there is so much more.

Second book, started off with a bang with another year of hunger games but towards the end it became a bit of drag which continued into the 3rd book in the beginning as well. But second book creates a proper link between the first and the third book - has a momentum to some extent and leaves you wanting more. The plot thickens and greater conspiracies revealed - making a base for the third book.

Third book, provides a fitting end to the series - hearts broken, love kindled; family separated by death and families come together; the bad guy dies (which is a cliche), the good lady turns into a bad guy - things change and things change again - you will see some twists and turns in this one. 

At the end, I was left disappointed, not with the end of the book as such but because of the end of the series - because there was nothing more to read in the series.

If you have seen the movie and you liked it any bit, try reading the book - I promise you wont be disappointed.

Happy Reading!

JAYA : An Illustrated Retelling of Mahabharata

Book Name - JAYA : An Illustrated Retelling of Mahabharata

Author           - Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

ISBN Code  - 9780143104254

Genre           - Mythology
Book Cover  

How many of us have read Mahabharata (excuse me elders, the question was intended for the teenagers and people in twenties) - guess, not many of us. No shame in that - I tried reading bible, trust me I couldn't read it. Truthfully, its not even our age to bury ourselves in religious scriptures - well that was what I thought, till I came across this author and his beautifully written books.
This wasn't my first book and it wasn't the last either. This book was recommended to me by my sister-in-law, who by the way, is 5 years younger to me about an year ago(the reason I mentioned the age difference was to point out how teenagers are finding the book interesting too).

Well, Dr. Devdutt's writing style is so different, that you will get hooked to the book. He doesn't narrate it like a religious scripture, but breaks down the story into smaller anecdotes and passages. What's even more interesting is, he adds his own perceptions and his own ideas at the end of each chapter that makes it an ever more interesting read. 
People who have read Mahabharata, the original religious scripture i.e., even they will find some new and interesting bits in this retelling. I read the book and then I asked my mom to read it and trust me, she found it interesting too - and she found something new in there too.
As if, this wasn't an inspiration enough to pick up a copy - reading these books and later discussing them leads to some real awesome discussions and chats.

And to add to the fun, pick up Ajaya (by Anand Neelakantan) before or after reading this one and you would really have some food for thought. Currently I am reading Sita, which is Dr. Devdutt's version of Ramayana. And since I have already read Mr. Neelakantan's version which is called Asura, I am finding Sita a very interesting read too.

So, here's to hoping, these books would get a chance...
Happy Reading!

HIS DARK MATERIALS

Book Name - Northern Lights (His Dark Materials #1) - better known as 'The Golden Compass'
                        The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials #2)
                        The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials #3) 

Author           - Philip Pullman

ISBN Code  - 9788176559539 (#1), 9788176559546 (#2), 9788176559553 (#3)

Genre           - Fantasy Fiction / Science Fiction
Book Cover 

The first book, now a movie by the name of golden compass, is what every first book of a series should be -a book that is unputdown-able and a book that interests you so much that you pick up the next book in the series as soon as you finish the first one, to know more, to know what happens next. The first book is all about the dust - it talks about how its affecting elders and how children are not affected by it, but how is it working is something not very clear. But that is what creates this interest in the book and makes you want to read further. Another aspect that creates your interest is the alethiometer and how the protagonist Lyra reads it.

The second book wasn't up to the mark like most second books in any series. Its basically a buildup for the final book in the series. It introduces the subtle knife which is the most important element of the whole series. Some parts are really interesting in the book, some not so much. Some secrets are revealed, some more created. But like I said, its more of a buildup for the final book.

Unlike the last books, in any series, which provide a fitting end to the whole series, the last book was even a greater let-down than the second book. Towards the end, you already know what's going to happen - which leads to your losing the interest in the book. Good part - how Lyra's parents do a complete turnaround and die saving their daughter instead of being evil like they were portrayed in first two books. Some, might even feel that this part too was a let down but I have a bigger let down in the book - all the windows need to be closed, Lyra and Will need to separate, subtle knife needs to be destroyed - very well and for all the love those two had for each other - what about that love? The love that solved all the problems, the love that was the salvation for the humankind, the love that was the eve's apple - it will have to be forgotten, they didn't even try!

Well, this review has turned into a kind of a spoiler but I would still suggest that you read at least the first book - it deserves to be read. And if you are still interested after reading it, you can always pick up the next book and then the next book.

Happy reading!

THE FIFTY SHADES TRILOGY

Book Names : Book 01: Fifty Shades of Grey
                          Book 02: Fifty Shades Darker
                          Book 03: Fifty Shades Freed

Author             : E. L. James

ISBN Code    : 9780099579939
                          9780099579922
                          9780099579946

Genre             : Erotic Literature
Book Cover   : 

Like Christian Grey says, quote Always start with Wikipedia unquote, I started with Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia, as a piece of literature, Fifty Shades received a mixed to negative response. Quoting Wikipedia, The Telegraph criticised the book as "treacly cliché" but also wrote that the sexual politics in Fifty Shades of Grey will have female readers "discussing it for years to come." Unquoting. 
Yes being a female reader, maybe I am partial to the series and yes I loved all three books. But what hooked me to the book was this -

"It's about gaining your trust and your respect, so you'll let me exert my will over you. I will gain a great deal of pleasure, joy even, in your submission"

I picked up the book for reading up erotica, but I ended up reading not only erotica but psychology as well. Like before I underlined this, I actually underlined this - quote "I'd like to bite that lip," he whispers darkly. ... That has to be the sexiest thing anybody ever said to me unquote. But when I read the aforementioned lines, I wanted to delve further into the man's head - what was he thinking, what's going on in that person's head. 

And as I kept on reading further, I started thinking about a well known fact - how certain circumstances lead to one thing and then to another... everyone has a nature, everyone behaves in a certain manner - and everyone gets these traits based on some incident in their lives. So I just wanted to know, what happened with this man, that made him like this...

True that its not one of the well written books but the mix bag of erotica, emotional drama, the lovey-dovey stuff and lots more, make it a fun read. Not all of you are going to enjoy it, but those who enjoy it, enjoy it a lot. I have this set in my collection, I have read it once, but I know, that one day I will pick it up again, and read it from back to back again...

Read it for erotica, read it for understanding psychology, or read it not at all... in the end, the decision lies with you...

Happy Reading!

Introductions Are Necessary

Everyday, I read about someone in my friend list writing a blog... if not them, then my friends' friends. Everyone is writing about something or the other. Writing... well I have been writing blogs too, you will see the links in my profile but I am not very "regular" in writing is what you will see if you follow my blogs.

So when I so much want to blog, why am I not writing enough and often. Simple : till now, I wasn't writing about something that I am truly passionate about. And thus, this new blog - about something that I am truly passionate about.

Books! Reading!!

Oh, how I love the small of a newly purchased book and oh that lovely fragrance of an old book lying on one of my shelves... Yes I love books and I love reading. And I am not a kindle person because I love going to the libraries, looking at the books, running a finger across their spine... oh and how I love holding the book in my hand, I love smelling it, I love the crackle of the page as I turn it - yes I am passionate about books and I love reading.

I don't read a particular genre, I read anything that interests me from fiction to non-fiction, mythology to biographies, poetry to children classic - simply anything. And this blog is going to be about the books that I read, what I think about them. You might find something that interests you too or else you would at least know, which book not to pick up.

So, enjoy the blog and enjoy reading.

P.S.: If you are on goodreads, you can keep in touch with me there as well. Here's the link to my profile : https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9132944-khyati-tewari 

P.P.S.: I prefer reading books to watching the movies made out of books - movies lose the essence of the story no matter how nicely they are made! (Its just an opinion)