The Krishna Key

The Krishna Key- This is more a philosophical saga than a rational thriller.

Chanakya Chants was one of the very few novels that I have read in my life. I have to admit that it really caught my admiration. When I knew the author was coming with his next historical thriller, I did expect a matured craftsmanship in similar lines as that of Chanakya Chants. I wouldn't say I am completely disappointed, but I am not satisfied either. The fact is that I expected a hair raising thriller and my expectations just withered away as the story developed, but there was indeed an overdose of philosophical preachings and historical  backscratching. Since I do enjoy a bit of philosophy and history, I could bear it, but I am not quite sure how many can really chew that.

The Trial

Someone rightly said, 'There is a thin line between sanity and insanity'. The beauty of Franz Kafka's novel  (for that matter, his any other work)  is the ease with which he treads the line and takes the reader through an ambiguous mental realm. It was nothing more than just curiosity that prompted me to read his works; having known about his reputation as one of the very best in modern literature, it was high time that I should read any of his works. I started off with his short story, "The Judgement". After reading it, I felt, "Give me a dose of 'ecstasy', give me a pen and paper, I would, at any time, give a better shot.". I just couldn't stop cribbing  at the unquantifiable piece of insanity , I felt it like a holy piece of ****.  But not let down by this, I thought I would read "The Trial". My first impression, "What Kafka can contemplate, well only he can contemplate.". His ability to detail even a trivial human thought with unrivaled surgical precision impressed me beyond words.

The Kite Runner

My fascination for fiction is in its infancy and I am quite enthralled to tell you that I have been fortunate to read a gem which is termed as one of the best read in the last decade. 'The Kite Runner' is nothing but fascinating in every sense of word and beautiful beyond any bounds of tangible expression. As  I ran through the last words of the book, it was not a sense of  satisfaction that I had, but of a settled window pane that had quivered in a severe gust of wind, a satiable smile after having a ride on roller coaster of emotions.

The novel takes you through the parched lives of Afghanistan and the hardships people face to survive another day. Its an unparalleled caricature of  human story of Afghanistan with such depth and vividness that you cant tear yourself off the plot. The first hand narration of the protagonist makes you empathize the character  and your involvement to the whole plot bears an involuntary commitment.

Chanakya Chants

Its been a long time I have written a review on a book I read, the reason being successful pampering of my procrastination in ploughing out time for reading something worth. When you are happy cuddling on your idleness in life, it requires something spectacular to throw you into action and "Chanakya Chants" is nothing less than that. Its the latest novel written by Ashwin Sanghi of "The Rozabal Line" fame.

The novel starts with an old man, toiling for his last breaths at a hospital bed, watching, a woman getting sworn in as the prime minster, on television. The next chapter pulls you down the time line to some where around 500 BC when the King Paurus is brutally murdered by a female assassin. The novel is a blend of two stories occurring at different timelines but the theme being the same. The present time story has a man named Gangasagar Mishra as the protagonist who successfully thrones a poor village girl in the helm of the world's largest democracy. The second story which dates back to 500 BC or around when Vishnu Gupta alias Chanakya avenges his father's murder and in the process places Chandra Gupta Maurya as the Emperor of 'Bharath'. The novel in detail portrays the strategy carved out by both protagonists in taking their partisans to the zenith of political power. It explicitly mentions the shrewdness and diplomacy played out by both king makers in getting their jobs done.

One cannot stop admiring the precision with which Sanghi has spawned both threads and intermingled them throughout the novel in a delightful and gracefully discern manner. The novel glues to your palms from the first page and it requires quite an insensitive mental attire to even take a pee break in between. I would recommend this novel a must read for those who love political thrillers and also those who closely follow the Indian political scenario. Even though the author claims the book to be entertaining, rather than educative, I feel the second aspect has been well covered, given the depth with which the domain has been handled. Read it and conjure your wickedness :)

The Fifth Horseman

When I knew it was from Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, I knew it would be great, but never expected to be so thrilling. I had read their books on various historic incidents and I have loved them all, their way of narration and style of presentation is something remarkable. It just keeps you glued to their books. So i was sure even in a fictional work , they will be able to sustain their charm, but what I find in "The Fifth Horseman" is just not mere charm, but more power and thrill.

Once you finish reading the book, you would wonder if you read a novel or seen a Hollywood movie or seen a news documentary on a real incident. Its so multifaceted that it would be injustice to term it just another novel. The novel has real life characters Like Mohamed Qaddafi and also alongside fictional characters. The novel was never made into a movie because of the fear that some lunatic organization might try to copy the plot and create havoc. After the novel was published, the French government stopped their nuclear fuel supplies to Libya fearing what was spoken off in the novel would become real. I don't think you would need better examples to know the impact of the novel across the world.

The novel begins with the arrival of a ship to New york port with a nuclear explosive in it. Then its followed by a letter to US president from Libyan chief regarding the nuclear device planted in the New york city and he threatens to annihilate the whole city. The rest of the novel describes how the US government and its investigating agencies find out the nuclear weapon and also its perpetrators. Its not just about finding out the bomb, but the novel explains in detail, the various strategies adopted to find out the menace, the struggle to keep the whole thing as a secret and also sheds light into the diplomacy of the political world and how US consider various political actions in retaliation. The most important aspect of the novel being that it has the ability to thrill you even if you know the whole plot of the novel, thanks to various breathtaking twists and turns that really spices up the reading. For those who love suspense and thrills, this is Bible.

Deception Point

It was almost after a long period of nine years that I finally opened a book on fiction. Infact, it was my cousin who compelled me to read a novel and I have to say, I made an excellent start with this awesome book. Deception Point (2001) is a scientific thriller written by Dan Brown, the author whose book 'The Davinci Code' had been a sensation. But when I started reading the book, I had no idea about the author's fame or his writing style or presentation, I never considered it worth to keep myself abreast of the hot and happening in the fiction world ( I repent now).

Talking about the book , its nothing less than a Hollywood suspense thriller with every frame detailed explicitly well, had this been made into a movie. The book just keeps you glued to it and no wonder, I finished those 546 pages in a matter of two days. The novel begins with the campaign heat for the Presidential election in the United States. The characters of the two candidates are presented in a very detailed manner. Their attitudes are very well portrayed in every word they speak and every thought they undergo. The story moves on explaining the relationship between the protagonist Rachael Sexton and her father and how she becomes a part of one of the greatest discoveries made by NASA. As the story proceeds, she and her friends come to know that what appears to be fine at the surface is something appalling underneath. That very knowledge could even threaten her survival and that is what channels the flow of the story from that point-the Deception point. Then we have wonderful set of twists and turns perfectly placed and their isn't a nerve that is not shaken.

The novel very well depicts the diplomatic rapports between various people and positions in US and portrays the cold blooded nature of certain people for whom their ambition and greed lies above any values or ethics. It also depicts how pride can be used to justify murders. Anyway it was a great 48 hours of pure pleasure and entertainment. What I liked the most was the pain the author took in explaining each and every technical aspect or method used in the novel with surgical dexterity You wouldn't believe me when I say the whole novel is a collection of events that took place within just 3 days, but that stirred a whole nation. I would recommend this book a must read for those who love scientific thrillers.