ram-books

Coolie

2012-02-07T11:40:00.000+05:30

For book lovers from India, there are some few writers who are must read for them considering the kind of role the writers have played in Indian writing over the decades and also considering the quality of their writings. Rabindranath Tagore, R.K. Narayan, Kamala Markandeya are a few of the names that comes to my mind. Add to that the name of Mulk Raj Anand, one of the finest writers of India. His book "Coolie" is a seminal book in Indian literature. Coolie depicts the life of an young boy who dreams of a life in the hills, but is forced to travel out of his village to earn a living as a domestic help, porter, factory worker & rickshaw driver which is basically foot rickshaw. There are pages filled with poverty, filth, loss of dignity, abuse by employers, calling of names in the sense that the early pages of the book is one unending story of depression following deprivation. But slowly the beauty of Mulk Raj Anand emerges in the way he surreptitiously heaps scorn on the ruling polticial class of that time - the Britishers and their cahoots in pre-Independence India. It is an absolutely savage book on par with Kamala Markandeya's "Nectar in a Sieve". The final pages of the book guts you like a sledge hammer. Absolutely highly recommended must read by every Indian book lover.

Sacred Games

2012-02-06T22:25:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading this 947 page book "Sacred Games" by Vikram Chandra - a far cry from his first book "Red Earth Pouring Rain" which was a huge disappointment. Sacred Games is a page turner for sure but i was not entirely awe-stricken by this magnum opus as much as other magnum opuses which i have read and savoured. Thankfully the narrative does not bore you but what was again disappointing is that the suspense is revealed in the initial few pages itself leaving the rest of the book like a history being told in the slow motion flashback - He has tried to make it like a family saga but he has put in too much irreverent family details in the book. He has taken on the Bombay police force and the political force head on and damned their practices brutally. The story closely resembles many small time and big time goons and newspaper headlines of the past couple of decades from Bombay.

A River Ran out of Eden

2011-11-05T16:59:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading a short book "A River Ran out of Eden" by James Vance Marshall. It is a nice adventure story about the love of a young boy for the elusive golden seal in Aleutian Islands and the impact that his love makes on three adults in the story.

When Eight Bells Toll

2011-10-08T17:12:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "When Eight Bells Toll" a gripping sea thriller from Alistair Maclean, who is one of my favorite writers. Maclean unleashes the suspense in the end but keeps letting in the secret bit by bit as the story unfolds, the big one coming in the end.

Word of Honour

2011-10-07T17:42:00.000+05:30

Just finished "Word of Honour" by Nelson de Mille, my first one by him. Its a long book 752 pages in all and is about a war crime committed in Vietnam by an American soldier which went unreported for 18 years, but is suddenly brought to life due to a book written on it. The book takes some time getting into and then deals with a whole lot of army court martial procedures. There is an unwritten code of honour amongst the platoon persons to protect each other, but inevitably as it happens, few persons hate each other, due to which the book comes out and then there is a long winded investigation, followed by another one and then the court martial. The soldeir Benjamin Tyson is no saint but it is his honesty in protecting the code of honour that the book dwells on. I would give it a rating of 3/5.

Tale of Two Cities

2011-09-11T18:00:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. It is my first Dickens book and took some time in finishing. It is a brilliant book encompassing love, tragedy, deception and is supposed to be one of the most unDickensian books as it lacks humour. It is one of the classics of literature and highly recommended.

From Yukon to Yucatan

2011-09-11T17:47:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading a travel book "From Yukon to Yucatan" by Irwin Allan Sealy. It is a unique travel book in that the author retraced the route taken by the first travellers when they arrived into America from across Siberia - they traveled from Alaska into American continent across the western path and then onto Mexico where they crossed all the way into east to a town called Yucatan. The book traces a lot of history and culture across Mexico, which was really lacking in U.S. It took the author three months to travel and it took me almost that much time to read this book, busy as i was with a lot of things on my hand.

Private Patient by P.D. James

2011-05-02T18:00:00.000+05:30

just finished reading "Private Patient" by P.D. James - a murder mystery with Adam Dalgliesh and his team following suspects in a private nursing home in rural England - One murder follows another and then another attempted one - the pace slags at times and the narrative dwells at length on the description of the rooms, countryside, roads etc. No match for the queen of crime fiction Agatha Christhie - but good read anyway.

the blooding

2011-04-16T10:47:00.000+05:30

a true crime narrative by joseph wambaugh - murders set in small village in rural england - wambaugh has built the suspense very well, in the middle, i thought the narrative was sagging, but nice fast paced thriller - my first one by wambaugh

the fast buck

2011-04-16T10:45:00.002+05:30

another fast faced thriller from james hadley chase - he never ceases to amaze me with his prodigous talent - again some india connections - suspense, murder, drama, thriller everything in it - fantastic

red earth and pouring rain

2011-04-16T10:44:00.000+05:30

just finished this first book by vikram chandra - what to say about this one - the narrative was good, therefore i kept on reading, even vowing at one time to finish it come what may - but overall it was a non-story, so to speak - it was part mythological, phantasmogical, cultural, weak parody, part history - all things rolled into one - a nothing kind of book - no story at all - not going anywhere - in short, 669 pages of crap.

Crooked House

2011-02-26T07:34:00.000+05:30

just finished reading "Crooked House' by Agatha Christie - a typical Christie murder mystery set in rural england - she is the master of suspense - brilliant story - we don't know until the end who is actual murderer - though she leaves lots of clues on the other characters in the story.

The Lost World of Hindustani Music

2011-02-26T07:31:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading “The Lost World of Hindustani Music” by Kumar Prasad Mukherjee, an eminent musician himself – this book is a veritable storehouse of information about the giants of Hindustani music from Ustad Alladiya Khan to Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Hirabai Barodekar, Mogubai Kurdekar – all absolutely brilliant vocalists and creators or followers of the various gharana system of music in vogue in Hindustani classical music. The narration is most of time technical with music terms, but otherwise it is very fluid, delving into the lives of these giants and their whimsicalities, family histories and personal lives with liberal doses of anecdotes.

Dare to Run

2011-02-20T10:53:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Dare to Run" by Amit Sheth - his book on his conquest of Comrades Marathon in 2010, which was after an unsuccessful attempt the previous year. The book talks of his saga from television couch potato to a marathoner, nay ultra-marathoner. The narrative is beautifully interspersed with stories from indian and greek mythology besides his philosophical meanderings.

They Came to Baghdad

2011-02-13T09:50:00.000+05:30

Just finished "They came to Baghdad" an international spy thriller - unusual one from the Dame known for her murder mysteries in rural england. This one is a big disappointment - the plot is vague right till the end - some kind of communists toppling the government in Baghdad - suspense all right - but fails to evoke the usual thrill associated with her normal novels.

Night Without end

2011-02-01T21:33:00.000+05:30

Just finished "Night without end" by Alistair Maclean, my favorite author - a gripping story of a plane crash in greenland - inhospitable conditions, murder, intrigue, suspense - makes for an interesting read -

Doctor and Son

2011-01-30T18:21:00.000+05:30

recently completed "Doctor and Son" by Richard Gordon of the famous doctor series books - brit comedy at its best - light hearted reading - series of mishaps - finally everything falls into place - but rumbunctious at best. recommended for in between two serious books

No Orchids for Miss Blandish

2011-01-30T18:18:00.000+05:30

recently finished a book "No Orchids for Miss Blandish" by James Hadley Chase, my favorite author - it was a chilling kidnapping book - very famous - brilliant writing by Chase almost similar to Truman capote's "in cold blood".

Or I'll Dress you in Mourning by Collins/ Lapierre

2011-01-04T07:59:00.000+05:30

Just finished a book "Or I'll Dress you in Mourning" by the famous pair Larry Collins & Dominque Lapierre. It is an autobiography of Manuel Benitez, a famous matador from spain - who was born in poverty and dreamt of being a bullfighter all his life - taking many twists and turns including jail sentences - finally achieved success and magnificiently so, due to daring exploits in the ring. The narration is good and the pair have done it again after their much popular "freedom at midnight" on the Indian independence.

If you look at some of the bullfights on youtube video like the one,here on Manuel Benitez, you will be appalled to note that this barbaric sport still exists in Spain and countries of south america, nothing fascinating about it. But the book is definitely good read.

Why we Run by Bernd Heimrich

2011-01-01T20:19:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading a fascinating book "Why we Run" by Bernd Heimrich. Biologist, award-winning nature writer and ultramarathoner Bernd Heimrich explores the anthropological, biological and psychological side of ultraendurance and dovetails the narrative with his own running efforts including running and winning an ultra-marathon 100 kms event - lots of insights into the sport of long distance running. Must read for all long distance runners.

Down Melody Lane

2010-11-06T20:13:00.002+05:30

A review after a long period. Just finished reading a book called "Down Melody Lane" it is written by Raju Bharatan a music writer who has had a ringside view of all the music directors, composers & singers from the late 40s onwards and on intimate terms with most of them. This book looks at the music rivalries, jealousies, camps, but also gives an insight into the most happening events surrounding the hindi film music during this era which was undoubtedly the golden era of music. The narrative is quite horrible, but in the end it is a most satisfying book because then you are reading about your idols like Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Talat Mahmood etc.

Don't Lose your Mind, Lose your Weight

2010-09-25T11:23:00.000+05:30

Heard about this revolutionary book by Rujuta Diwekar where she recommends people to have more food and yet lose weight. Quite interesting to read, but in the end analysis, decided that dieting or her method of dieting will not work for me, because i do not have any control over my food source. Her recommended way of dieting, requires that i plan and meticulously plan for at least two to three days what i will have and in what quantity six to seven times a day and keep it all ready either in the morning or afternoon. Who will do that for me, not the wife, who will say - get lost, i have better things to do, find out some other way to lose weight. Good to read, though

Two States by Chetan Bhagat

2010-09-25T11:19:00.000+05:30

A rip-roaringly hilarious book by Chetan Bhagat "Two States" is the story of his marriage. Chetan is at his brilliant best. There were times when i was laughing aloud. I hope he is able to wangle a better deal from the Bollywood moghuls than what he got for his earlier effort. Highly recommended.

A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi

2010-09-25T11:16:00.000+05:30

Had heard a lot about the promising new writer Amulya Malladi, but her "A Breath of Fresh Air", the story takes its plot from the Bhopal Gas tragedy. The narrative drags at times and overall impact is insipid.

Sun after Dark by Pico Iyer

2010-09-25T11:12:00.000+05:30

After reading "Falling off the Map" by the same author, was expecting much from this book "Sun after Dark" a bit disappointed with his narrative - he does go to places where normal travel writers do not prefer, places like Dharamsala, Bolivia, Tibet, Angkor-Wat etc. but a let down compared to his earlier work.

Long Distance Race by Tom Alter

2010-09-25T11:05:00.000+05:30

"Long Distance Race" by Tom Alter is a disappointing book - a nothing kind of book with very weak plot - neither does it enthral with running exploits (since i am a long distance runner i thought this would be a motivating book) nor with the twist into a love plot which it veers into quite meaninglessly.

The Cradle Will Fall

2010-07-26T06:43:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "The Cradle Will Fall" a medical murder mystery by Mary Higgins Clark, my first book by her. The narrative is patchy at parts and goes up and forth many times. Clark does'nt come upto the level expected of her, overall a racy book, but no comparison to the queen of crime Agatha Christhie.

The Undomestic Goddess

2010-07-24T10:15:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Undomestic Goddess" by sophie kinsella, my first one by her. It is a light hearted wodehousian type comedy, never a dull moment, the narrative is brilliant and ease with which she goes from comedy to romance to comedy and back is very good.

Kitchen Confidential

2010-07-11T07:59:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain, the high profile chef who is seen regularly on Discovery Travel & Living Channel. This is a high octane book, destroying many of the myths surrounding the restaurant business.

The Seven Dials Mystery

2010-05-07T07:16:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Seven Dials Mystery" by Agatha Christhie, the queen of suspense, as usual she lives upto her name and delivers an outstanding book, which has the twists and turns you come to expect from a Christhie novel. Intrigue, mystery, drama all evident in this excellent book.

The Negotiator

2010-04-30T21:13:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Negotiator" by Frederick Forsyth, an international espionage thriller involving more than a dozen countries and a plot that keeps you riveted to the book. Brilliant.

Nectar in a Sieve

2010-04-13T06:52:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Nectar in a Sieve' by Kamala Markandaya, a seminal work in Indian Literature. Set in a village, this books takes you through an entire gamut of human emotions through the lives of the characters - hunger, loss of lives, loss of land, loss of dignity, poverty etc. Through all the ups and downs there is one factor that stands out prominently in the book - that of undying human spirit and hope for the better. With a brilliant narrative that marks her first book this is an outstanding work and Kamala Markandaya is on par with the greats of Indian literature - RK Narayan, Premchand, Rabindranath Tagore, Vaikom Mohammed Basheer. Highly recommended reading.

The Chamber

2010-04-06T06:14:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading “The Chamber” by John Grisham, a searing portrayal of an aging Ku Klux Klan convict on the death row, his agonies, his cleansing, his relationship with his family, in a slow and deliberate manner that wrenches your guts away. While there is sufficient legalese in the book, it is the morbidity that hits you as a reader. Undoubtedly, one of Grisham’s best.

Rendezvouz with Rama

2010-04-02T11:01:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Rendezvouz with Rama", the first book of the Rama mea series by Arthur Clarke. No wonder Arthur has been named as the grand master of science fiction. He wins hands down with his deep, near perfect description of Rama, an interstellar spacecraft. Clarke weaves his magic here. Waiting to read the other books in the series and his other series also.

Time Stops at Shamli

2010-03-21T11:04:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Time Stops at Shamli" a collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond, a reader comparable only to RK Narayan. Beautiful stories about hill town people and their lives, Bond writes with empathy about animals. All the stories are good, but the undoubted best was "Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright"

A better India, a Better World

2010-03-03T16:51:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading an excellent book called "A Better India, a Better World" by Narayana Murthy, mentor at Infosys. This is a collection of his speeches, but the narrative is fine and Mr. Murthy is a fine thinker with a lot of innovative thoughts and ideas for improving India. A wonderful book to read, highly recommended. Why not Narayana Murthy as PM of India for 10 years. It would be a great idea.

Strand & flea market

2010-02-04T20:51:00.000+05:30

Picked up few books from Strand book stall today, "Esquire - the big book of fiction", "The case book of forensic detection" and "Thriller", no relation to MJ hit.

Also picked up 4 books from the flea market, "superfreakonomics", "The nine lives", a book by tim waterford of "undercover economist' fame and a legal thriller by scott thurow.

Cat O' Nine Tales

2010-02-04T20:45:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "Cat O' Nine Lives" an excellent collection of short stories by Jeffrey Archer in his inimitable narrative style, which is brilliant. "The Man who robbed his own post office', "Don't drink the water", "The commissioner" were some of the best tales, though in my opinion, all the stories were outstanding.

Hand me a Figleaf

2010-01-30T15:42:00.000+05:30

That is the title of the book by James Hadley Chase, which i completed today. Chase is one of my favorities, and i intend to read all his books, have completed few so far. His is a typical, hustling pot boiler with suspense, drama, murder, mystery and little bit of sex thrown in. He typically writes of the under dregs of the world.

Sad Cypress

2010-01-27T21:41:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "Sad Cypress" the usual pulsating, gripping murder mystery from Agatha Christhie, who never fails to enthral.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://v-ram-online.blogspot.com/

Giants of Science

2010-01-26T08:08:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Giants of Science" a book of mini-autobiographies of leading scientists, innovators and thinkers starting from Pythagoras to Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, to Faraday, Hertz, Einstein, and Fermi among others. It gives a brief bio of their early lives followed by their scientific experiments and innovations, which has richly enriched modern lives. Highly recommended. My first book for 2010.

Quite Honestly

2010-01-05T17:14:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Quite Honestly" a hilarious book by John Mortimer of the typical Brit humour type. The story just stands on its head and takes you along impressively. Absolutely must read.

The Ambler Warning

2009-12-20T13:03:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "The Ambler Warning" by Robert Ludlum, a book published posthumously in 2005 after his death in 2001. This is Ludlum at his brilliant best, beautifully woven story, excellent narrative, a genius at story telling.

True Believer

2009-12-16T21:26:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "True Believer" by Nicholas Sparks, did not realise it was a romance fiction, my first and hopefully my last ever. There was nothing in it.

Paul Samuelson, Nobel Economics Laureate, Author, Dies at 94

2009-12-14T13:34:00.001+05:30

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aOpQZ0O9kjqE

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Samuelson, Nobel Prize-winning economist and author of the best-selling economics textbook in history, died yesterday at his home in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was 94.

Samuelson's death was announced by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he spent most of his professional life and was a professor emeritus.

Samuelson was a dominating figure in the economics profession in the U.S. from the late 1930s through the 1960s, and his influence on the field is difficult to overstate. His textbook "Economics" introduced generations of undergraduates to the subject, while his "Foundations of Economic Analysis" moved economics a long way from the literary exercise it once was to the scientific and mathematical discipline it has become.

Samuelson, or PAS, as he referred to himself, was the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in economics, winning it in 1970 for "raising the level of analysis in economic science."

"The work he did, with no hyperbole, revolutionized numerous fields, including public finance, international trade, and macroeconomics," said Alan Blinder, a former student of Samuelson's who went on to become vice chairman at the Federal Reserve.

Published at 21

Even before his Nobel Prize, Samuelson had stacked up a list of accomplishments. He published his first paper when he was 21, he won the David A. Wells prize in 1941 for writing the best doctoral dissertation at Harvard University in economics, and he was awarded the John Bates Clark medal in 1947, given annually by the American Economic Association to the outstanding economist under the age of 40.

Samuelson began teaching at MIT in 1940 and became a full professor six years later. Three of his graduate students, Lawrence Klein, George Akerloff, and Joseph Stiglitz, went on to win Nobel Prizes.

"He had a lively and exciting mind," said Stiglitz, who maintains that many of Samuelson's ideas, especially those concerning trade theory and international economics, continue to grow in influence because of globalization. "Some of the work he did 50 years ago is more important today than it was then."

For non-economists, Samuelson's most important work was his textbook. First published in 1948, the book was widely adopted because it attempted to teach students, in an elementary way, how to analyze everyday questions about the economy, according to Robert Solow, also a Nobel Prize winning economist who wrote several papers and a book with Samuelson.

Economics as Activity

"His book had a livelier look, a livelier language and above all, it actually taught economics as an activity, as a way of asking and answering questions," Solow said. "Before that, textbooks were sort of elderly gentlemen discussing economic life."

Now in its 19th edition, almost 4 million copies have been sold, MIT said. The book has been translated into 27 languages, from Albanian to Urdu, according to publisher McGraw-Hill Cos.

"Let those who will write the nation's laws if I can write its textbooks," Samuelson said, recognizing the book's importance in introducing the educated class to economics.

Samuelson was one of his profession's most prolific writers. In addition to five books, he published hundreds of academic papers on topics ranging from the theory of production to consumer choice to international trade and finance.

"I am eclectic only because experience has shown that Mother Nature is eclectic," Samuelson wrote.

Born in Gary, Indiana

Samuelson was born in Gary, Indiana, on May 15, 1915, and graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago where his father was a druggist. At age 16 he enrolled in the University of Chicago, which was within walking distance of his home. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1935, then moved to Harvard for a master's a year later and a Ph.D. in 1941.

Samuelson's brilliance -- as well as his brash and confident nature -- were evident early on. At age 19 he audited a graduate course taught by the legendary and imposing Chicago economist Jacob Viner, often pointing out the professor's blackboard errors, according to the biography, "Paul Samuelson: On Being an Economist," by Michael Szenberg, Aron Gottesman and Lall Ramrattan. (Jorge Pinto Books, 164 pages).

Samuelson said he was reborn in 1932 when he was first introduced to economics.

"The sleeping beauty of political economy was waiting for the enlivening kiss of new methods, new paradigms, new hired hands and new problems," Samuelson later wrote. He would go on to provide them.

Drawn to Keynes

While fellow students such as Milton Friedman gravitated to the libertarian ideas of the "Chicago School" of economics, Samuelson was drawn to the theories of British economist John Maynard Keynes, who held that economic stability and growth required government intervention.

Samuelson, who acutely experienced the boom-bust economic effects of World War I and the Great Depression on the steel town he grew up in, considered Keynes his intellectual hero.

Unlike left-leaning economist John Kenneth Galbraith and free-market advocate Friedman, though, Samuelson was best known for his methods and innovations, not his politics.

To many economists, Samuelson's greatest gift to the field was his skill at quantifying concepts. In "Foundations," he showed how almost all economic behavior can be understood as maximizing or minimizing utility, subject to a constraint.

'Seminal' Texts

"He provided a unified set of principles under which several economic fields could be linked," said Columbia University professor Jagdish Bhagwati, who studied under Samuelson at MIT. "Nearly all economists can fall back on some seminal Samuelson text to rely on in almost anything they're thinking about."

Samuelson also used mathematics to explain more precisely well-known theories. In his factor-price equalization theorem he laid out the conditions to prove Bertil Ohlin's theory that trade can eliminate the wage gap between two countries.

He used equations to help explain the nature of business cycles, and he introduced concepts such as "revealed preference," which showed how consumers react to changes in prices and income.

Because of Samuelson's contributions to finance theory in papers such as "Rational Theory of Warrant Pricing" and "General Proof that Diversification Pays", he is recognized as a founder of modern finance, according to "On Being an Economist."

MIT President Susan Hockfield lauded the scope of his academic contributions in a statement released yesterday.

'Transformed Everything'

"Paul Samuelson transformed everything he touched: the theoretical foundations of his field, the way economics was taught around the world, the ethos and stature of his department," Hockfield said.

Samuelson's influence and reputation led two presidents, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, to ask him to join the Council of Economic Advisers. He chose to remain in academia.

Samuelson was "not a person for an everyday routine, for committee meetings and that sort of thing," said Solow, who had an office next to Samuelson's at MIT for 50 years. "He much preferred the role of an idea person."

Lawrence Summers's Uncle

Samuelson's nephew, Lawrence Summers, President Barack Obama's top economic adviser, said Samuelson relished the distance he kept from Washington.

"Above all else, Paul Samuelson was a scholar," Summers said. "He used to proudly remark that he had never spent a full week in Washington. But through his research, teaching, and writing he had more impact on the economic life of this country and the world than any government economic official and many presidents. We will not see his likes again."

In 1961, Samuelson wrote a paper on the state of the economy for President-elect Kennedy. He was also a consultant with the government at various points in his life. In the 1940s he worked for various war planning and reconstruction boards; he was a member of the President's National Goals Commission from 1959 to 1960 and of a task force on economic education from 1960 to 1961. He also informally advised the Treasury and the Federal Reserve.

From 1966 to 1981 Samuelson wrote a column for Newsweek magazine. He said he started the column because he believed the views of economists on policy issues should be heard by students and by the public, and to some extent, because "he didn't want to leave the stage entirely to" Friedman, who also wrote columns for the magazine, Solow said.

Friedman, who won the Nobel Prize in economics in 1976, stressed the importance of the money supply on growth and business cycles. His views and those of Samuelson, who through his life remained sympathetic to the views of Keynes, balanced each other.

'No Free Lunch'

"Money works, but it does not work miracles. There is no free lunch on the monetarist menu," Samuelson wrote in a 1995 edition of his textbook. Beginning in 1985, the book was co- written by Yale University economist William Nordhaus.

Though they often disagreed, Samuelson and Friedman got along well. "Our interactions were always friendly," Friedman said. "It was a question of disagreeing without being disagreeable. On most fundamentals, such as the role of markets we were on the same side. He was as much of an opponent of price fixing as I was."

Others were less enthusiastic. Samuelson's Newsweek analysis of President Richard M. Nixon's economic policies earned him a place on that president's infamous "enemies list."

Free Trade Supporter

Samuelson, a Democrat, supported the North American Free Trade Agreement and argued that more trade between the U.S. and Mexico would increase average incomes.

In 2000, he was among 149 economists who signed a letter supporting expanded trade with China. The move helped clear the way for China to enter the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Until the end of his life, Samuelson was willing to change his mind and buck popular economic thinking. In September 2004, at the age of 89, he published a paper in the Journal of Economic Perspectives saying that globalization would not necessarily raise U.S. living standards.

"There is nothing in the theory that says trade is always a win-win-win for every group," he said in an interview at the time. "It's not true that every new productive improvement in China benefits the U.S."

Though he was esteemed and admired most of his life, Samuelson also drew criticism from across the political spectrum, a reflection of his influence.

"In one lifetime, while adhering to the same eclectic liberalism, I have been at first denounced as avant-garde and later castigated as a running jackal of capitalism," he once wrote.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Risha Samuelson, six children from his first marriage to the late Marion Crawford Samuelson and 15 grandchildren.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/
http://ram-running.blogspot.com/

The Cry of the Halidon

2009-12-13T16:18:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Cry of the Halidon" by Robert Ludlum. It probably is one of Ludlum's worst effort, because he does'nt manage to hold the readers' attention. It is not his usual riveting, fast paced thrillers.

Top 10 books of 2009

2009-12-10T14:13:00.000+05:30

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Blame by Michele Huneven

Losing Mum and Pop by Christopher Buckley

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan

Some Things that meant the World to me by Joshua Mohr

The Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis

Strength in what Remains by Tracy Kidder

The Bolter by Frances Osborne

Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

2009-12-05T20:23:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading the first book of Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events". The first book is called "The Bad Beginning" involving the unfortunate events surrounding the lives of the Baudelaire children. I think post Harry Potter, children's books have undergone 360 degree change with calamities and disasters being the central theme of any series. Gone are the days of William series books by Richmal Crompton a delightful series involving the danger with which William regularly goes through his life. I guess, the danger part has been upgraded substantially. The first book looked good.

The Firm by John Grisham

2009-12-04T19:22:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading an exciting, throbbing, pulse pounding book "The Firm" by John Grisham. This is one of Grisham's earlier works hence very interesting, His later works are disappointing.

Katha Prize Short Stories

2009-11-29T16:44:00.001+05:30

Just finished this book series Volume I. Katha series is basically the translated versions of short stories originally written in various Indian languages. There are some lovely stories here such as "Crows, Crows and Crows" by Bhupendranarayan Bhattacharyya, "Kashi" by Ashok Srinivasan, "Hands" by Rekha and "Reflowering" by Sundara Ramaswamy. A delightful collection.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1125607
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/
http://ram-running.blogspot.com/

The Brainfever Bird

2009-11-26T16:09:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Brainfever Bird" by Irwin Allan Sealy. While his first book viz. "Trotternama" was a magnum opus, this was definitely yawn inducing, a big letdown from his expections from his first book. To be commended though, is Sealy's narrative style which is very powerful and imaginative and a lot of attention to details. He is definitely one to watch out for.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

2009-11-15T10:54:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading this Mark Twain satire about a yankee travelling back in time to the 6th century in King Arthur's court and his accomplishments there. It was a little too long, i thought. Pretty much bamboozled to know about slavery and its ugly side in those years which was truly hideous. Are'nt we lucky to be living in these years with internet, google, ipod et al.

The Golden Gate

2009-10-24T16:42:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "The Golden Gate" by Alistair Maclean. What can you say about this writer. He's amazing with a penchant for detail like no other. Yet another wonderful book from Maclean, my third of him. I've read "Athabasca" & "When Eight Bells Toll".

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1125607
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/

Re: [books-India] What do you Really Want for your Children?

2009-10-20T06:01:00.000+05:30

Dear Ram:

I have read Dr. Dwyer's "The Purpose Driven Life". You might wish to consider reading that one also.

Ramanan

--- On Sun, 10/18/09, Ram V <vram45@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Ram V <vram45@gmail.com>
Subject: [books-India] What do you Really Want for your Children?
To: books-India@yahoogroups.co.in, "ram-books blogspot" <vram451.ram-books@blogger.com>, Bookworms_Anonymous@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2009, 6:34 PM

Just finished reading this book by Dr. Wayne Dyer, a psychologist and an author of several motivational books. He dwells on bringing out the best in children and has given several useful tips for parents. What actually happens during parenting is completely different from what the book says, but i feel even a 30% application of the tools suggested in the book would be sufficient to bring out the best in children.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodread s.com/review/ list/1125607
http://ram-books. blogspot. com/

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What do you Really Want for your Children?

2009-10-19T07:04:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading this book by Dr. Wayne Dyer, a psychologist and an author of several motivational books. He dwells on bringing out the best in children and has given several useful tips for parents. What actually happens during parenting is completely different from what the book says, but i feel even a 30% application of the tools suggested in the book would be sufficient to bring out the best in children.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1125607
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/

Mukul Shivputra

2009-10-03T19:11:00.003+05:30

Heard Mukul Shivputra, Raag Jaijaivanti & Kedar today. It is the first time that I am listening to this reclusive son of Late Pandit Kumar Gandharva. He has a powerful voice and style that is unique just like his late father.

Bucket List

2009-10-01T17:34:00.003+05:30

Bucket List is a movie in which one wishes they were on the cinema doing all those things Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson were doing. Bucket List is the list of all things one wishes to do before kicking the bucket, that's why the name. Both are cancer patients, having met in the same room for treatment in the hospital owned by Jack. Morgan is a car mechanic having no means to fulfil his desires, but with Jack's money they manage to cross out almost all the items in the list, in the process Jack transforms into a better human being. A brilliant movie with grand performances by two old men Morgan and Jack, must see

Sleeping Murder

2009-08-30T18:01:00.002+05:30

Miss Marple's last case is another beauty. This book is typical of Agatha Christhie in that one does not ever know who is the killer despite best efforts at peeking into her words to detect hints. An eighteen year murder, an assortment of characters and a stunning climax.

Bad Company

2009-08-29T19:36:00.003+05:30

Anthony Hopkins is a delight in any movie of his. This was too good, with Chris Rock, providing the afro-american humour. It is an action packed movie typical of Hollywood, a bomb getting in the wrong hands, and our heroes swing into action. Good movie.

Love Aaj Kal

2009-08-29T19:34:00.001+05:30

Attempted to see this newest movie starring Saif and Deepika. It is one wholesome crap. more like a documentary than a motion picture. Left it half way.

"Phone Booth" starring Colin Farell

2009-08-23T16:41:00.001+05:30

"Phone Booth" starring Colin Farell, Forest Whittaker is another of those mad, crazy movies that comes out of Hollywood from time to time. Colin is cornered inside a phone booth by a maniac phsycopath talking to him on the phone and knows a lot of his intimate details. Psycopath motives are not all clear, there are a couple of murders, police swarming all over the place, extensive and live TV coverage. Ultimately, stage is set for a second part, soon to come.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1125607
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/

Do me a Favour, Drop Dead

2009-08-23T16:36:00.001+05:30

That is the name of the book by James Hadley Chase, a popular fiction writer of the 70s. Chase invariably wrote about the underdregs of the world, with their scheming plans to get rich, murders, sex, love, emotion, drama. His books are not more than 200 to 250 pages, fast paced and fast read as well. I finished this pulsating book in about 2 days recently.

--
Ram
Bombay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1125607
http://ram-books.blogspot.com/

I think I love my wife

2009-08-22T17:18:00.002+05:30

That is the name of a movie starring Chris Rock, which I happened to watch on a lazy saturday afternoon. Chris is the only recognizable face in the movie. Chris, a happily married man is beginning to sulk towards boredom, when he runs into a svelte former classmate, who is happily looking for a place to settle. Fireworks spark in the household, also an irreverent look at african-american attitudes in America

Code to Zero by Ken Follett

2009-08-22T17:03:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Code to Zero" by Ken Follett, my first one of him. It is a spy novel surrounding the launching of the first American space satellite Explorer I. It has suspense, drama, action, murders all along.

--

Oye Lucky

2009-08-22T12:14:00.000+05:30

Oye Lucky.... is an enthralling story of a small time burglar from a small town India, who continously evades the police with his ingenuity. Played delectably by abhay deol with three in one role by paresh rawal and sundry other small town cops, families etc. Oye Lucky is a delightfully watchable film.

The Tristan Betrayal

2009-08-16T10:58:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "The Tristan Betrayal" by Robert Ludlum a spy novel set in the last stages of the world war II. It has got lot of drama, suspense, love, betrayal, action in typical Ludlum fashion. I have read one other book by him i.e. "The matarese circle".

Maharathi

2009-08-09T11:09:00.001+05:30

Maharathi is a Hitchcockian type thriller, a plot which evolves all the time and keeps the viewer on the tenterhooks as much as the central protagonists, which were paresh rawal and boman irani with a delicious cameo by tara sharma, who plays the role of a sleep walking bumbling budding architect. Edge of the seat stuff.

The Affluent Society by JK Galbraith

2009-08-08T16:12:00.003+05:30

JK Galbraith was a leading economist of the last century. His book "The Affluent Society" became a best selling economics book. He was of the opinion that increasing production numbers gave a false assumption that all is well with the economy. He also wanted to spend more government money on education. Galbraith made economics popular in that he wrote wittily with simple language which non-economics students can also understand. It is a must read book for all economics students and management students.

Scoop

2009-08-07T17:34:00.002+05:30

Saw "Scoop" starring Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson and Woody Allen. Written and directed by Woody Allen, it is a murder mystery with loads of humour in it. Scarlett as a student journalist is investigating a serial murder mystery in England whereas Woody is a magician who is roped into by Scarlett to assist her. Hugh, an aristocrat is the suspect. Romance intervenes in the air with Scarlett falling for Hugh. Scarlett is the surprise package as she acts decently and also exudes fair amount of sensuality. Hugh is impressive but Woody is incredible and steals the show as usual.

Dialogue with Death

2009-08-06T06:36:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Dialogue with Death" by Eknath Easwaran. It is my first spiritual or religious book. This book is not about death and dying, but about life and living. The tag line says it is a "Journey through consciousness". It is about meditation, curbing ones desires and reaching the state of OM. Eknath has used absolutely simple language to demystify spirituality. I would highly recommend this book and am looking for other books written by Eknath.

madhumati

2009-08-05T13:45:00.000+05:30

saw an old bimal roy classic madhumati starring dilip and vyjyanti. it is a ghost story but the way in which bimal roy has woven the ghosts into the story is exceptional. the narrative is fluid, songs great and watching dilip act with utmost finesse is an experience in itself.

Kishore Kumar

2009-08-04T08:48:00.002+05:30

Kishore Kumar birthday today, 4th August. Kishore was one of the best playback singers of his genre, the rich voice, across all range of emotions. Listening to Kishore is the best remedy to a melancholy soul. His sad songs were as popular as his mad songs.

chaudvi ka chand - guru dutt classic

2009-08-03T15:09:00.000+05:30

revisited an old classic "chaudhvi ka chand" starring guru dutt, waheeda rehman, rehman and johny walker. the film moves beautifully from mad comedy in the beginning to serious drama effortlessly. songs are part of the film, acting of everybody is perfect, waheeda looks beautiful, dialogues are chaste urdu and meaningful. a great movie to watch any time. loss of a great movie maker, on par nay better than raj kapoor.

Sujata by Bimal Roy

2009-08-02T19:44:00.000+05:30

watched that magnificient bimal roy classic "sujata" starring nutan and sunil dutt. the slow realisation of sujata that she belongs to another world of humans is deadening, with a magnificient performance by nutan. this must rank as one of the all time greats in indian cinema.

Shirdi and Shingneshwar

2009-08-02T10:24:00.001+05:30

Had been to Shirdi over the weekend of 10th April 2009. It is a typical, chaotic temple town with all the amenities only on one stretch of road. Go any other place, the infrastructure reeks. We got darshan pretty quickly and went on to Shingneshwar temple, an abode for Shani which was about 75 kms as per the cabmaster, but definitely more than that. It took one and half hours each way, but the scenery was pretty good with agri crops sugarcane in plenty. That temple visit was also pretty fast. Shingneshwar is somewhat like Trimbakeshwar with decrepit infrastructure. No decent eating place. Shirdi does have a Dominoes, Reebok and Adidas showrooms, plenty of bank ATMs, but really the Shirdi Municipal authorities ought to do much more for the infrastructure there. I am sure they would have raking in crores of rupees due to temple tourism. Surely they could plough back something for the tourists' comforts. There are plenty of rooms available though, even of the A.C. variety. Drinking water is a problem though, recommend to have only mineral water. On the food side, there is a Woodlands, it is quite good, buts costs a bomb to have even a breakfast there. The bus journey going was okay but coming back was almost a nightmare with the a.c. bus breaking down in Sinnar a good 21 kms away from Nashik. From Nashik we got a non-a.c. to Mumbai reaching a good 15 hours after we set off, almost double the time.

South Karnataka

2009-08-01T18:15:00.001+05:30

Had been to South Karnataka on a temple pilgrimage from week ending 6th June to 11th June 2009. Covered Kollur Mookambika, Murdeshwar, Dhareshwar, Idugunji, Shringeri, Dharamstala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Kateel and Udupi. Total distance covered in excess of 1000 kms. The scenery was breathtaking throughout the entire journey starting with drive from Kundapura railway station onwards. Dense and thick forests along the way all throughout was absolutely breathtaking. Udupi was a busy town, though other places where we halted for the night viz. Kollur and Kukke Subrahmanya left a lot to be desired. Power situation is absolutely poor in these parts. Food was no problem and in fact it was scintillatingly delightful. Karnataka is a mystery left to be discovered by one and all. It was indeed beautiful. The drive up to Shringeri was breathtaking and Shringeri itself was a delight in itself. What beautiful facilities have been created there a mix of the old and the new, the heritage stone temple being almost mystical. Kukke Subrahmanya was a surprise because there were book stalls inside the temple complex itself which is a new attraction for me. Picked up Gandhi's autobiography for just rs.95/- only. Got some more books from Udupi, there were some three small stalls where we purchased lots of books that we do not get otherwise in Bombay. At every place food was served free in the temple complex itself. The method of serving food was unique in all the places and the innovative methods adopted for serving at a time, more than 1000 persons deserves to be patented. Murdeshwar had a breathtaking statue of Shiva which was about 23 foot in height and near the Arabian Sea. There were other statues as well, which was an absolute wonder.

Mohammad Rafi 29th death anniversary

2009-08-01T07:03:00.003+05:30

July 31st was the 29th death anniversary of the legendary Mohammad Rafi, the greatest playback singer in Hindi known to millions of Indians, much loved, much revered, truly a sad loss to India even 29 years after his death. An emotional day for all Indians.

100 Great Modern Lives

2009-05-29T06:37:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading an exhausting "100 Great Modern Lives" a book about profiles of 100 great persons in the 19th century, qualification being they should have been born in that century. It includes profiles of people like Charles Dickens, Richard Wagner, Dostoevsky, Van Gogh, Gandhi, Chaplin, James Joyce among others. It was like 100 biographies and to that extent a very inspiring book and a collector's item. I love to read biographies of eminent persons, scientists, artists, sportspersons, achievers and this book fulfils my dream.

Black Beauty

2009-05-28T19:58:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell, a beautiful book from the eyes of a beautiful horse who is loved as well as mistreated by his owners. Written in a beautiful language, this book captivates you like no other. It reminds me of "A Tiger for Malgudi" that beautiful book from RK Narayan, again from the eyes of an animal, the majestic tiger. These are timeless classics.

Paths of Glory

2009-05-23T07:26:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Paths of Glory" by Jeffrey Archer the scintillating account of George Mallory' everest expedition of 1924. I would think this is one of Jeffrey's best books to date as it brings to life the famous expedition in a brilliant narrative.

The Messenger

2009-05-17T19:53:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Messenger" by R.K. Laxman, who is the brother of the famous R.K. Narayan, one of the most well known and well liked writers from India. Laxman is a famous cartoonist by himself having had many cartoon books as well as the daily cartoon strip in the Times of India. Laxman writes almost likes his brother of small town simple people and their little problems in the big world.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

2009-05-07T07:06:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea" by Jules Verne, the father of science fiction. It is an absolutely amazing and fascinating story of Captain Nemo and his "Nautilus" and his adventures under the sea. Never a dull moment despite the heavy usage of scientific terminology.

Home and the World

2009-05-07T07:04:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Home and the World" by Rabindranath Tagore, my first of this great man of literature from India. It was made as a well known movie called "Ghare Bhaire" by another famous son of India Satyajit Ray. This book narrates the story from the eyes of three protagonists and from that point of view is slow to get into. About little more than half way through, the narrative picks up pace and Tagore with his dramatisation manages to infuse an element of suspense and thrill in the concluding pages, which ends with a climax. I suspect not the ideal first book to be read of Tagore.

Rock Around the Clock

2009-04-12T11:01:00.003+05:30

Just finished reading "Rock Around the clock" - how to beat the stress by R.H. Dastur. Written with a lot of typical Parsi humour, this book gives simple yet effective steps to beat the stress in day to day life. There is quite a bit of medical terminology here but the language used by Dr. Dastur keeps it simple.

The Last Lecture

2009-03-21T18:40:00.000+05:30

Having read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, I decided to see his last lecture video on the Youtube. It is quite awesome, I mean the book does not give as much inspiration as the video does, which is really good. There is not much of sermonising in the video, but lot of examples of what went right for him as a computer scientist. I would' nt rate the book very high, but the book with the video does seem unbeatable.

The Mystery of Capital

2009-03-20T08:53:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Mystery of Capital" by Hernando do Soto, a Peruvian economist. do Soto talks about capital in the economic sense as opposed to that of an accountant or a banker. the main theme of the book is property rights and property reform to enable the parallel economy to come overboard and take part in the development process. Basically he postulates giving property rights to squatters so that they are able to obtain bank loans on the basis of mortgages of the property. It does make sense to create capital within the country rather than depend on foreign investment. But the problem is not that simple as it was maybe 200 or so years ago, when land was aplently and it was okay for the politicians to grant squatter rights as was done in the US. India has adopted a novel way of giving squatter rights in that the govt. gives free housing with proper documents to people who have encroached public land before a certain cut off year. There is much heartburn in giving away anything free to people and it does hurt the middle class who have to slog their way out in difficult times.

The theme of the book being capital creation and improvement in the economy is good and undoubtedly examples in the western countries where extreme forms of capitalism thrive (for eg. bundling of mortgage rights in two or three tiers or unheard of rights in commodities and such exotic products as derivatives, options etc.) give credence to the research carried in the subject. The narrative of this book is very poor and de Soto repeats the same thing at many places.

Dreamcatcher

2009-03-15T16:35:00.002+05:30

Just finished reading "Dreamcatcher" by Stephen King, the master of the "horror" genre. This one is not exactly horror but more sci-fi. Stephen has infused so much of humour into the narrative that the horror part seems to be passe. He has build in an excellent human interest narrative into this book, almost like a thriller. It is my first one of Stephen King. I think the horror part will come out better in a movie than in the book. This one of 692 pages, I finished in 5 days.

Song of Solomon

2009-03-11T16:27:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison, her first for me, a searing portrayal of a search for identity of a tormented black youth from a dysfunctional family. Her narrative is absolutely brilliant as she weaves the story from one family member to another touching upon the troubled past of each person.

The Associate

2009-03-08T11:11:00.000+05:30

I just finished reading The Associate by John Grisham, and I must say frankly I am disappointed. He has not given any finishing touch to the story and left it dangling at the end. Its a no-ender. What should have been a "whodunit" becomes a "whthappnd2destory". I will give it a 1 on 5 rating.

In Cold Blood

2009-02-28T17:35:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, an intense, mesmerising account of cold blooded murders that took place in 1959 in Kansas.The way Truman builds up the story to the point of the murder is frightening and the subsequent chase for the killers is tantalisingly nervy. This book takes some time getting over.

Sporting Scenes

2009-02-22T16:12:00.000+05:30

Just completed reading "Sporting Scenes" by Doug Ibbotson a sports reporter from Britain. It is a book of "behind the scenes" look from some of the major sporting events of the 70s including the infamous Munich massacre of Israeli athletes. Doug has added lot of humour to this book that makes it thoroughly enjoyable.

The Games

2009-02-16T19:55:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Games" a novel by Hugh Atkinson, set against the backdrop of Olympic Games. It is quite a fascinating and riveting account of the political machinations, trials & tribulations and the human interest surrounding the Olympics. In this book, he has set the Olympics in a high altitude city and put three people from differing backgrounds in a marathon contest which ends in triumph for one and disaster for others. There is a lot of suspense and drama in this book.

Ghost Stories

2009-02-11T05:17:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Ghost Stories" a collection by various prominent writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Saki, Hugh Walpole, Jerome K. Jerome among others. These are absolutely wonderful and different kind of ghost stories and all very imaginative. The best one was by Oscar Wilde. I never imagined ghost stories could be so beautiful.

Mr. Sammler's Planet

2009-02-02T20:29:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Mr. Sammler's Planet" by Saul Bellow. It is a beautiful story of a holocaust survivor, who relives his horrors in the holocaust of his daily life in New York in his late age. Saul draws beautiful parallels between the old and the new, but it was a difficult book to get into. Once past the 100 pages, the book turned out to be quite stunning. A quintessential book from a Nobel prize winner.

Around the World in 80 Days

2009-01-14T10:46:00.001+05:30

Hi All, Just finished reading "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. The back cover says Jules Verne is called father of science fiction. I did not find any S/F here, more of travel writing. The fact that Phileas Fogg achieved his mission in less than honourable circumstances make it a 2/5 rating.

Every Second Counts

2009-01-10T16:12:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Every Second Counts" by Lance Armstrong, the US cyclist who won 7 Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005. Lance has successfully fought cancer so the books reveals a lot of his cancer days plus his Tour victories, the falls, mishaps, the doping scandals etc. Quite an inspirational book from the sporting side but a bit drag from the cancer side.

The Closers

2009-01-03T20:17:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "The Closers" by Michael Connelly, a detective work of Investigator Harry Bosch, who re-openes a 17 year old unsolved murder and successfully solves it. Scene is from LAPD, lot of police work, good racy book.

Driving Through Clouds

2009-01-02T09:23:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "Driving Through Clouds" by Nicola Lindsay, an emotionally wrenching book about a distraught family that gets protected by its god-angel. Quite a good book, my first one for 2009, happy to open the account on the first day itself.

Why Have'nt You Written

2008-12-30T14:43:00.001+05:30

Just finished reading "Why Have'nt You Written" Selected Stories from 1950 to 1972 by Nadine Gordimer. The stories belong to that era when South Africa was under aparthied rule. Most of the stories deal with subtle tensions arising out of racial strife.

This is my 39th and last book for 2008.

The Double Eagle

2008-12-28T19:19:00.000+05:30

Just finished reading "The Double Eagle" a first novel by James Twining. The book is about the art underworld and a racy thriller. The narrative though is a bit difficult to start with sequence of events related to a particular time and place. Also there are too many characters in the book. Not a bad effort for a first time novel, the book introduces art thief Tom Kirk as the main character. I believe he has written a sequel to this novel. I would give it a 3/5.