A Flight of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond The Novel starts with the death of the father of Ruth Labadoor in front of her eyes in a church. This murder is committed by the Indian rebels who are a part of … Continue reading A Flight of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond
Kohinoor by William Dalrymple Dalrymple tells the earlier history, when the diamond was established as an emblem of power and sovereignty. He does this with his habitual panache, sweeping along the trail from the Mughal court in Delhi to Persia, where the diamond was taken by Nader Shah in 1739, to Afghanistan and then in 1813 to Lahore, where it was worn by the great Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The origins of the Koh-i-Noor, the “mountain of light”, are unknown, beyond the reach even of this book’s two accomplished authors, but it seems safe to assume that it emerged out … Continue reading Kohinoor By William Dalrymple and Anita Anand
Another Elif Shafak book that has kept me glued it. As I had heard mixed reviews about this book I didn’t know what to expect but it turned out to be an amazing book. Leila’s entire life flashes before her … Continue reading 10 minutes and 38 seconds in this strange world
Do check it out on goodreads https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js In this follow-up to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, the author tells the story, based on a true one, of a woman who survives Auschwitz, only to find herself locked away again. Cilka Klein … Continue reading CILKA’S JOURNEY By Heather Morris
This book is set in a French Village where a single mother Vianne arrives with her daughter Anouk. This book was adapted into a movie in the year 2000. Vianne turns an abandoned bakery into a Chocolate shop called La … Continue reading CHOCOLAT by JOANNE HARRIS
I just couldn’t stop myself from keeping the book down. Was reading it nonstop. Great story of an aristocratic family saga and generations carrying stories along with their heirlooms. Changing Punjab and also status of woman. The book has left … Continue reading Kangan by Simran Puri
My second book of Elif Shafak. From one of Turkey’s most acclaimed and outspoken writers, a novel about the tangled histories of two families. The first lines of the book itself are very impressive, ” Whatever falls from the sky above, thou shall not curse it.”
How fate brings together Armounsh and Asya together. Both in search if their past, little do they know that their past is intertwined. Armounsh is of Armenian origin and Asya is an illegitimate child living in Istanbul. Both meet each other when Armounsh decides to fly from America to Turkey to find out about her family’s past. The author boldly describes the atrocities towards the Armenian people in 1915 by the Turkish regime. The author touches many topics and gives a vivid description of Turkey.
I would like to quote the following from the book:
“History, politics, religion, society, competition, marketing, free market,power struggle atone another’s morsel of triumph….”
” In the hope that whatever memories of times past entailed, no matter how dark or depressing, the past would not consume her. The truth is, as much as she hated to admit it, she knew the past did live within the present. “
The ritual of mourning at the time of death reminds me of rural India.; ” Her cry escalated in piercing decibels and in next to no time her face was crimson, her voice grating, and her whole body shaking. So miserable was her state and so palpable her pain that the others watched her in awe.”
Continue reading "THE BASTARD OF ISTANBUL By Elif Shafak"
A book I read long time ago. A story of an orphan British child raised by his ayah. Caught up during the revolt of 1857 against the British in India. His identity changed to Ashok and is raised as an … Continue reading FAR PAVILIONS By M.M.KAYE
Letters for a Nation: From Jawaharlal Nehru to His Chief Ministers 1947-1963 Insight into our first Prime Minister’s vision of a free India. His view for a secular country. Great read. Reading this book one realises that what a great … Continue reading LETTERS for a NATION From JAWAHARLAL NEHRU to HIS CHIEF MINISTERS 1947 – 63
“Daughters of the Sun” by Ira Mukhoty. Wonderful book written about the mysterious women in the Mughal empire. These women are of the Mughal Zenana who were accomplished, educated and articulate.As a kid I was not fond of history but … Continue reading DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN By IRA Mukhoty
