Book of the month : Apr 2015

Don't blame me, blame the sultry summer for making me lazy and hazy with the heat! And for that same reason April was the month of lazy reading. What's lazy reading? Let me give you a context. There are books you read because they are in your bucket list ( a.k.a most classics); ones you read because they sound interesting ( differs from person to person.. for me it's mostly science, non-fiction and philosophy) and last, the books you read because you are too lazy to exert your brain. The last section, which mainly consists of your 'guilty pleasures' reading ie books which you really really enjoy ( spelled as chick lits, and children's section for me) but would not really admit to reading coz you don't want to dent your persona as a (fraud) intellectual! That's lazy reading! But lazy reading has it's perks too. For one, if you are trying to read 100 books in a year, they definitely help to increase your book count. Two, they might just surprise with unexpected depth.

Lazy reading or not, April was definitely a fulfilling month, reading wise. It was full of magic, wonder, excitement and learning.  In short, it was like an adventure. So without further delay, let's start on the...

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan - 2.7 / 5

This one is strictly for Percy Jackson fans and everyone else should just stay away. No questions asked. Greek mythology has always been a soft corner and Percy Jackson even more so for me. Other than to my 10 year old nephew ( to up my street cred with him) this is one of my guilty pleasures I don't otherwise openly admit.. until now that is. So yes, I really enjoyed it. But that doesn't stop the book or the story from being a little on the flimsy side. But if you are willing to overlook a certain dicey-ness in character growth and just go with the flow, this one would be ok.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan - 2.8 / 5

Comes with the same warning as the previous one. Actually with a slightly less severe warning perhaps. If you like loads of action in your books, this one is good to go. Super fast paced. Riordan tries to experiment with some deeper themes like 'save earth' but it seemed forced at times. But over all, if you been with Percy, Annabeth and Grover this far, you will enjoy this one too.

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - 2.8 / 5

If I had to describe this book in one word, that would be 'underwhelming'. I picked up the book with a lot of expectation, Ms. Egan having won the Pulitzer with this one. And for weird reason I expected it to be like the Goonies. Even though I have not seen the movie and have no idea what it's about other that it being a cult classic.Yeah, dont ask.

But that's not the reason it's disappointing. It's because it's rather unmemorable though it's well written. Of the dozen characters who speak in this book, only a couple of  teenagers stay with you. The rest of the narcissistic, selfish and cynical bunch, all them sort of merge into each other. It's not just their lives which intertwine and connect in odd ways, but their individual motivations and desires also seem to overlap in odd ways. If Egan's purpose was to show us how similar we are even when we think ourselves as snowflakes, I don't think she's been successful in that either. Instead the feeling I came away with was that the characters all seem similar because of their immaturity. Maybe that's why I thought the teenagers seemed the most honest and true. Immaturity is not out of place with a teen. But on the rest of the adults it seemed incongruous. Would recommend you skip this Pulitzer!

PS: It does have a cool chapter written in power point. I'd say skip the rest and just read that!

Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature by David Quammen - 3.5 / 5

Is there every a collections of essay where you read and say all of them were equally brilliant? I'm yet to find one of those. Quammen is at times interesting and at times oddly didactic which is rather at odds with how he presents himself, which is as a layman with a curiosity for science. The description is one I could easily borrow for myself which is why I picked up this one. The initial essays were fun with their counter intuitive logic. He definitely made me look at the crows in new light. Or even wonder whether mosquitoes were actually protecting our rain forests. Then some where in between he lost that quirky sense of humor and it because rather drab. But his style further evolves, into a more serious and thoughtful point of view. And here you again come across some really thought provoking articles with depth. Here the book really challenges you to think how you relate to the world at large. Overall, it's an interesting read and something you can dip into while waiting for a particularly philosophical mood to pass.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman - 3.7 / 5

The book is built with the kind of insidious horror which sort of fully dawns on you just before you close the book. I can't count the number of times as a kid I wanted nicer parents who will give all that I wanted or run away and be adopted by a different set of parents who will appreciate the kind of person I am. But if that was to be true, that it could come with crippling consequences is not something I had thought though as a child. The built up is slow, almost at a sleepy pace though there a vague unease which gnaws at the back of your mind. You almost don't even realise that the unease has grown into panic till Coraline escapes and you exhale a huge sigh of relief. But this is not exactly a horror story in the style of Stephen King ( so no veins frozen with fright ). But if I had read this as a kid, this would rank right along with Chucky (Child's Play) as nightmare material simply because being trapped and unable to reach your loving parents is terrifying. And plus the ending is kind of lovely so would definitely recommend picking it up!

Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde - 4.2 / 5

Reading this play made me really wonder if Wilde was really gay like he said he was. I mean it seems ridiculous that a man, that too a gay man, can cut thought straight into a woman's heart with the kind of precision which would make a surgeon envious. His humor and wit aside, it's his grasp of human nature which makes his writing not just fascinating but relevant as long as humanity will exist. If that is not a sign of genius I don't know what is!

The Wondla Series by Tony DiTerlizzi - 4.5 / 5

Picked it up as part of my lazy reading but these surprised me so much. I guess the books would get slotted into Children's books but only because children would enjoy them as well. But I think it's a rather unfair categorization because so often we over look children's book, especially contemporary ones as not being mature enough.

There are 3 books in the series and each one gets better than the last. The gorgeous illustrations by DiTerlizzi alone would make these books a find. The pictures have the kind of clarity and warmth which makes it feel like it's lit from within. But the funny thing is the illustrations, as gorgeous as they are, are only a side to the real beauty in the book.

The characters, both human and alien shine with truth and wisdom. I was genuinely surprised to find myself getting so attached to Eva Nine, the heroine and even minor characters stick to you like burrs. I mean that is the sort of affection I usually reserve for someone like Huckleberry Finn. Someone I have read and loved over and over, every single time I read. Maybe children's books are not your usual pick. Or you have never really like science fiction. But because the magic of a wonderfully written book always stays alive, Wondla is a must read for adults and kids alike!


And finally the Book of the Month goes toooooo....

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer  - 4.5 / 5 

While reading this book, I developed such a huge crush on Foer it makes me blush. It reads like a nerdy yet racy novel. The blurb gives vague hints about the contents but it definitely does not prepare you for the fun ride that is this book. It basically follows Foer while he prepares for the U.S. Memory Champion. And while doing so he explore the the concept of memory and the bunch of neurons which helps us remember. So I expected a generous smattering of science but what I did not see coming was the quirky adrenaline pumping narrative of the weirdly hyper competitive world of Memory Championships and how engaging Foer can make it be. It was like a mix of Dan Brown and Big Bang Theory - Funny, entertaining and informative all nicely packaged in a yummy bite of book!

So Until next month, Keep reading!
Take care,
Phil!