tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48801606541993181492024-03-13T03:07:17.323-07:00Eternal Darkness of a SpotLess MindSalilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-71892790604721630822024-03-06T10:33:00.000-08:002024-03-06T10:34:17.758-08:00Book Review of "Payer for the Crown-Shy - Monk & Robot #2"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvmno0VugFxotaMxVvkZh647jPxUlLnMXmY_thm9VjdC7tGtilyZxJefg5vpuEzZ2y6iFDd2cFomXtuzsgrVsZukaCpBfz9nzqAz_uI9d2pwCh8s4wc37_avlAWFitRztmezJHLwrugiuJlm1QR4o8Jdp_lOBdoFIuKtqUE3k285b4uGFxDtAtta2k9I/s974/MonkAndRobot2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvmno0VugFxotaMxVvkZh647jPxUlLnMXmY_thm9VjdC7tGtilyZxJefg5vpuEzZ2y6iFDd2cFomXtuzsgrVsZukaCpBfz9nzqAz_uI9d2pwCh8s4wc37_avlAWFitRztmezJHLwrugiuJlm1QR4o8Jdp_lOBdoFIuKtqUE3k285b4uGFxDtAtta2k9I/s320/MonkAndRobot2.jpeg" width="201" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><b><i>"You don’t have to have a reason to be tired. You don’t have to earn rest or comfort. You’re allowed to just be. I say that wherever I go.”</i></b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">Having enjoyed the first book in the Monk & the Robot series, I picked up the second one - “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” - hoping to get more of the thought-provoking philosophical discussions between a fully sentient robot and a monk, but what I got was less discussions and a whole lot more of a commune-like world building - which I admit was slightly annoying to me. I still enjoyed this book and will pick it up when the 3rd one of the series comes by but not completely sold on the whole narrative of the Crown-Shy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"><i>“So, you see, it’s enough that I’m experientially different; I don’t want to be physically different, too.”</i></b></span>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-19853225417206908562024-02-07T21:38:00.000-08:002024-02-07T21:38:28.553-08:00Book Review of "A Psalm for the Wild-Built - Monk & Robot #1"<span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO7h_HgI9q9_D1ii4TKaPWw82ouE9hhThONRBq1ThlXPu8O59hWfd8wwjBv9f5Ul581XbCDElbRD9c58pPBYZlmmbkEm6ew2WiwI4Dkph-NdXQgGYNVYRIg0PlOc_l7PeyqyuaWwjF74fMHikIgCvUUsRlwsz0ofQyqLPY_gGvWLwV26WLhULFBYtmaM/s475/MonAndRobot_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO7h_HgI9q9_D1ii4TKaPWw82ouE9hhThONRBq1ThlXPu8O59hWfd8wwjBv9f5Ul581XbCDElbRD9c58pPBYZlmmbkEm6ew2WiwI4Dkph-NdXQgGYNVYRIg0PlOc_l7PeyqyuaWwjF74fMHikIgCvUUsRlwsz0ofQyqLPY_gGvWLwV26WLhULFBYtmaM/s320/MonAndRobot_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>“I think there’s something beautiful about being lucky enough to witness a thing on its way out.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /></i></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Becky Chambers’ SciFi books are not your typical SciFi stories - they have more heart than expected, the philosophical discussions are deeper & darker than first anticipated and the stories pull you in emotionally without having an iota of melodrama. A unique blend for SciFi books.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><i>“Every living thing causes damage to others, Sibling Dex. You’d all starve otherwise.”</i></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” is the first book in the “Monk and Robot” Series. A super-slow & somewhat frustrating start. But the last 2/3rd portion of the book is basically a long discussion between a Tea Monk and a sentient Robot discussing anything and everything. And even though it may not sound great, trust me, it's simply amazing. Even though nothing actually happens in the book, you will be left with a smile on your face and a yearning for more. A definite ⅘.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /></span><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><i>“That’s immortality. How is that less desirable?” “Because nothing else in the world behaves that way.”</i></b> <br /></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-68262402264543943752023-12-31T21:18:00.000-08:002023-12-31T21:18:53.153-08:00Book Review of "Animal Farm"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JzPN5YRmKMLx3vY8quVZGVKxznouh1-_qBpk5qiO_s_5e7b65Sp_3Pt-fSjbeaOmtGab_3kYV1aLJdPtNjG3NUIKs3gh7tLnhP1tjbZgRdL-Oh971kfK68RClmfP7D5J8-BkF4aECxaAZAaIKFKr6VrcH78BFFRa_P9zp-ch9hAv-6acR_SOneRLkOY/s1000/Animal_Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="680" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JzPN5YRmKMLx3vY8quVZGVKxznouh1-_qBpk5qiO_s_5e7b65Sp_3Pt-fSjbeaOmtGab_3kYV1aLJdPtNjG3NUIKs3gh7tLnhP1tjbZgRdL-Oh971kfK68RClmfP7D5J8-BkF4aECxaAZAaIKFKr6VrcH78BFFRa_P9zp-ch9hAv-6acR_SOneRLkOY/w147-h189/Animal_Farm.jpg" width="147" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">“Animal Farm” is the best political satire I have read in the last few years! Its short, to-the-point & so humorously allegorical that you are left with both a smile on your face & a sinking feeling in your heart as the stark irony of the communist political <span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ideology</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is brought forth. Recommended!</span></span><p></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"All Animals are </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">equal,</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> but some animals are more equal than </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">others.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"</span></span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></i></b></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-41633549104572954992023-12-10T19:36:00.000-08:002023-12-10T19:36:48.210-08:00Book Review of "Sultan of Delhi - Ascension"<p><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><b><i>“But then again, the truth is never what really happens. The truth is what we choose to believe.”</i></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03QUmluhCgLpWzF8YonSuE767Azq9-N2FjeytjQVJymDAuHRePxBeva8nOO67m5WDd0iOOVZbwE7HhKZp2ndJ06bvnz6jwh6dzw1Zs7ssOHDEVngiYVZHJRL-S407Mdb7JEl_SwZLNn5kHVhDvXcw_0gL5b1ydOcQBGOGBmHcy1dyzMB_gFGcJSC8qco/s500/Sultan_of_Delhi.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03QUmluhCgLpWzF8YonSuE767Azq9-N2FjeytjQVJymDAuHRePxBeva8nOO67m5WDd0iOOVZbwE7HhKZp2ndJ06bvnz6jwh6dzw1Zs7ssOHDEVngiYVZHJRL-S407Mdb7JEl_SwZLNn5kHVhDvXcw_0gL5b1ydOcQBGOGBmHcy1dyzMB_gFGcJSC8qco/s320/Sultan_of_Delhi.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Roboto;">When it comes to Arnab Ray’s blogs and podcasts, I have always been a fan; not so much though when it comes to his books. However, his not-so-latest novel, “Sultan of Delhi” (which is recently turned into a Hotstar TV Show) ended up being sufficiently entertaining and enjoyable - in a way that “Bahubali” and “Singham” type of movies are, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing IMO! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">This is a pure “masala” book - there is a plethora of action, sex, cussing, intrigue, double-crossing and whatever else makes a story “click” as per the analytics of today’s streaming-world. What is a definite welcome change though; especially as compared to Arnab Ray’s previous books; is that “Sultan of Delhi” doesn’t try to be anything more than a masala story - there is no underlying philosophy, no metaphor about life or anything like that (yes, I am looking at you “The Mine” and “The Mahabharata Murders”) - just a straightforward action-packed tale. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">A definite 4/5 to the Sultan of Delhi for remaining true to what it wants to be. One gripe though - the ending is ridiculously abrupt. I understand that this is “Part 1” of a 2-part saga and the author purposefully didn’t want a cliffhanger but the way this book ends is super annoying.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><b><i>"Arjun felt slightly drunk now, swimming in that nice warm buzz you get if you stop drinking at just the right time, when you lose your inhibitions, but you are still all right. "</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><b><br /><i><br /></i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-77794219420055260502023-11-30T23:21:00.000-08:002023-11-30T23:21:37.849-08:00Book Review of "Shivaji: India's Great Warrior King"<p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW4RCVUcd1XcyLonBudmk_ftQErvDmbYcF252dE6vZVPOygLxyNQ-I13L6fZP1al2-DzklLZ_BLykbqTR_UltdJH62w-5KRKP6ebvBsb_nUlR9zv6poM9PS-JjVZdeI1kxvPFKjyMUZ0D9Re3bDvuzg_3Faq_Hy8mqo5LTPAkmiYmSYNQEVz13O26c8E/s1000/9160xaMZTXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="645" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW4RCVUcd1XcyLonBudmk_ftQErvDmbYcF252dE6vZVPOygLxyNQ-I13L6fZP1al2-DzklLZ_BLykbqTR_UltdJH62w-5KRKP6ebvBsb_nUlR9zv6poM9PS-JjVZdeI1kxvPFKjyMUZ0D9Re3bDvuzg_3Faq_Hy8mqo5LTPAkmiYmSYNQEVz13O26c8E/w175-h251/9160xaMZTXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="175" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Author Vaibhav Purandare’s “Shivaji: India’s Great Warrior King” is the kind of historical literature that I thoroughly enjoy. This is a factual, evidence-backed piece of writing with a somewhat dry prose - which might not be everyone’s cup of tea but is right up my alley when it comes to reading history books; especially those focused on the 17th and the 18th century Indian history. What makes this book even better is the complete lack of caste-based jingoism and political undertones. In other words, it tells the history of the great Chhatrapati based on the available verified sources and not a fancily embellished fairytale. Having read quite a few books about the Chhatrapati and the Peshwas, I was pleasantly surprised to still find a few new tidbits here and there about the great king. Definitely recommended if you are a history buff.<br /></span><p></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-47138370029213340512023-11-30T22:59:00.000-08:002023-11-30T22:59:03.014-08:00Book Review of "What To Expect When You Are Expecting"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0fjZ6GnGas9_dsAdFR9lG5SuQBgVpz3CMml0PV2hSf8cPkv3Eu8JlleWCXEO26MZ7uLsSwX1IS1vgBOhj-gxKRqKhmOt4IsdXz0MTYA_tqvJ3vH2F26qLmE0lqjg3nWoVDkpSW1UiwWYe_uUpQj25LV55hmtyHAjaGzb7HBBX-2E7uaS4yFjNc0ELQo/s1500/91u3XdIIz4L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1052" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0fjZ6GnGas9_dsAdFR9lG5SuQBgVpz3CMml0PV2hSf8cPkv3Eu8JlleWCXEO26MZ7uLsSwX1IS1vgBOhj-gxKRqKhmOt4IsdXz0MTYA_tqvJ3vH2F26qLmE0lqjg3nWoVDkpSW1UiwWYe_uUpQj25LV55hmtyHAjaGzb7HBBX-2E7uaS4yFjNc0ELQo/s320/91u3XdIIz4L._SL1500_.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">Despite countless YouTube channels and Instagram handles giving out useful, relevant and medically backed information about what to expect in a Pregnancy (provided you know which handles to follow and which to ignore), it is the 90s kid in me that was still craving for a “textbook” like information source when my wife began the pregnancy journey. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">“What to Expect When You're Expecting” is a super-easy read that squarely answers the many questions soon-to-be parents will doubtless have. Not only was this book useful as an information source to understand the changes my wife was going through but also as a quick “reference” whenever we would stumble on something. The only qualm I have is that the statistics & the overall research data is skewed towards American and western body types and the “averages” mentioned do not always apply to Indian and broadly Asian populace. <br /></span></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-40591190852195393302023-07-17T00:18:00.006-07:002023-07-17T16:08:10.487-07:00Book Review of "The Club"<p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtCLbPhLYRHi028QbtmPBjuio_FA3iWd2B3rzdr7kn0Ck-WmkA5zknP-O_y0DdX_34nr-ip7O90U8efi8MBfpd5T9O0OT0f1ByGtq_NwvfKF1p3cRvcfQnks6P7X8QmcR0i-uaXlQKcxGrxTUb0CcrijEsqWFjUYHpFnSuXIi827hceeCEJ5vKT6BcGc/s2265/TheClub.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtCLbPhLYRHi028QbtmPBjuio_FA3iWd2B3rzdr7kn0Ck-WmkA5zknP-O_y0DdX_34nr-ip7O90U8efi8MBfpd5T9O0OT0f1ByGtq_NwvfKF1p3cRvcfQnks6P7X8QmcR0i-uaXlQKcxGrxTUb0CcrijEsqWFjUYHpFnSuXIi827hceeCEJ5vKT6BcGc/s320/TheClub.jpeg" width="212" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Being an avid follower of football (no, I am not going to call it Soccer) and specifically the English Premier League (EPL) for quite a few years, the business aspects of EPL - the most successful sports league in the World - have always intrigued me. So what should an EPL fan do for the summer months between the end of the previous season and the start of the new one? Read a book about the EPL of course! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";"><b><i>“Data shows that EPL is the greatest sports entertainment product in the World. In the span of twenty-five years, the league's clubs have increased their combined value by 10,000 percent!”</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">“The Club” is a fascinating & truly captivating story of anything and everything EPL. Of course, if you are not a fan of EPL, this book is clearly Not for you. The history of EPL’s formation, how a few 30-something investors worked together and competed together to create the most commercially successful sports league is just amazing to read. The original founders might have taken inspiration from the USA’s NFL and the NBA, but they tweaked and tinkered enough things to make EPL uniquely British and still the most Internationally impactful league ever. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">The book has enough new and behind-closed-doors information to fascinate long term fans of English football while the tone and the details are accessible enough for casual fans as well. There are definitely some stories that I would have liked to dig deeper and would have liked to know more, but is not a dealbreaker. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">The book however is not perfect. There are 2 glaring issues. First is that the Audiobook narration is horrible. I switched to the kindle version and never looked back. Secondly, there are unnecessary time jumps that don’t really add any value and are just a nuisance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";">Overall though - highly recommend this book if you are an EPL fan and are interested in business aspects of a sports league. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro";"><b><i>“The EPL business, ultimately, embodies the challenges of globalization, of the push and pull between expansion and identity, about the universalization of a product that is steeped in decidedly local customs.”</i></b></span></p><div><br /></div>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-43825639061674808092023-06-11T00:54:00.003-07:002023-06-11T00:55:02.051-07:00Book Review of "The End of Eternity"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyghK34zgdIewHGg5cEqsLEO_yffwbC6ZzU6gD3SvhxnHUxsboYEDXDusvnFtP_S1p3ICY2H4mqESBnTcluWvb52POtYwAyd3ZrEzmjhart9ZPOxn6y5fulM4raI1eFytKU6dm0w66nfBreIO5fLZdqggpSQVZRsCDe3UDMoZbhrU_-DJJz79rfq0I/s475/EndOfEternity.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyghK34zgdIewHGg5cEqsLEO_yffwbC6ZzU6gD3SvhxnHUxsboYEDXDusvnFtP_S1p3ICY2H4mqESBnTcluWvb52POtYwAyd3ZrEzmjhart9ZPOxn6y5fulM4raI1eFytKU6dm0w66nfBreIO5fLZdqggpSQVZRsCDe3UDMoZbhrU_-DJJz79rfq0I/s320/EndOfEternity.jpeg" width="195" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>“Any system like Eternity, which allows people to choose their own future, will end by choosing safety and mediocrity, and in such a Reality the stars are out of reach.”</i></b></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">The level of creativity in Isaac Asimov’s ‘The End of Eternity’ is remarkable. What makes it even more fantastic is when you realize that this was published close to 70 years ago! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">But like so many other Asimov novels, this book is dry with absolutely threadbare character development. The factual narrative takes complete center stage - which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Definitely enjoyable if you know what you are getting into, ⅘ from me.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the force that pushes mankind to newer and loftier conquests.”</i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-68264261861756898482023-05-28T18:48:00.000-07:002023-05-28T18:48:00.709-07:00Book Review of "Born a Crime"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“Success is an answer, failure is an answer, rejection is also an answer. But regret, regret is just an eternal question you will never have the answer to - ‘What if’ and ‘If only . . .’ “</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf66RCStZ1S0IDy_R36krO1_Mu0eNhxFfZ4t8S_6nXD6dMiMk04o2avo10l5PkO6cRZ2tpBuXiKUZc-a7trG-T9y1-kPUtZ2Nygop-n4--ZbLZWphLTTNFaCsibgy0oJ_POgl6w_DIhYp6c10PZavfUjBxsJzWoiuGILfh4UWhrqTeubg-_hFSxRR/s400/BornACrime.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf66RCStZ1S0IDy_R36krO1_Mu0eNhxFfZ4t8S_6nXD6dMiMk04o2avo10l5PkO6cRZ2tpBuXiKUZc-a7trG-T9y1-kPUtZ2Nygop-n4--ZbLZWphLTTNFaCsibgy0oJ_POgl6w_DIhYp6c10PZavfUjBxsJzWoiuGILfh4UWhrqTeubg-_hFSxRR/s320/BornACrime.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>“Born A Crime” turned out to be funny, entertaining and insightful! I admit I did not expect to get pulled in emotionally into Trevor Noah’s story, but boy was I wrong. The audiobook, narrated by Trevor Noah himself, is a mini emotional rollercoaster ride covering the institutionalized racism that was the Apartheid and the effect it had on a biracial, curious boy growing up in South Africa. <p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">When it comes to Trevor Noah, I have been through the usual stages of being a fan. Started off being a bit apprehensive and judgy when it was announced that he’ll be replacing John Stewart back in 2015. Then from being pleasantly surprised to slowly becoming a closeted fan of his take on the Daily Show and finally attending his live show and enjoying it thoroughly. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">Give this book a try whether you are a Trevor Noah fan or not, you won’t be disappointed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"><b><i>“My mother raised me like a white kid—not white culturally, but in the sense of believing that the world was my oyster, that I should speak up for myself, that my ideas and thoughts and decisions mattered.”</i></b></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"><br /></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-59891153293710116902023-04-30T23:59:00.004-07:002023-05-01T00:01:35.074-07:00Book Review of "The Paper Menagerie"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“Judging was the luxury of those who did not need to survive.”</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLTZuYY2tJqsRz5aRpfsGYVMr2ki0yrCSXxEkhqoD2IIq0ReSZHRpIxE71N5sy5rpQnfqhuzpHS7p7GqIptz6SLWkN021BNWG94mT3msd0x5tKe3rWEebgueyZ0KglYzrpfCm8Xr1GLWYw1igMaTFZvCDb8yhm5HuNuhCFKleqV7uF0O_lvk_N9pR/s1000/PapermEnagerie.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLTZuYY2tJqsRz5aRpfsGYVMr2ki0yrCSXxEkhqoD2IIq0ReSZHRpIxE71N5sy5rpQnfqhuzpHS7p7GqIptz6SLWkN021BNWG94mT3msd0x5tKe3rWEebgueyZ0KglYzrpfCm8Xr1GLWYw1igMaTFZvCDb8yhm5HuNuhCFKleqV7uF0O_lvk_N9pR/s320/PapermEnagerie.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />Before reading “The Paper Menagerie”, I only knew Ken Liu as the guy who translated the Three Body Problem - one of my favorite SciFi novels - from Mandarin to English. It turns out that not only is he a brilliant original story crafter himself, but also has an amazing range as a writer. The stories in “The Paper Menagerie” are beautiful, surreal, deeply moving and range from your typical SciFi stories to surprisingly profound and sometimes even gruesome. Highly recommend it if you are a fan of the genre.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“We have been wrong to be drunk and asleep. We should be drunk and fighting.”</i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-6362850080324710772023-03-31T23:56:00.004-07:002023-03-31T23:56:50.029-07:00Book Review of "A Brief History of Time"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSPXRFCxt8AnQ11vkPO_nBAumPfW9-J7jryUqofLQ92ECIHu3YW0YsqRuZDpy2lKhYNNbZRuWXsAf5gfhBFVl6E-dJ8molmYdd39H_6wovXSO40c4DweaWy4EzSbMQpBMvWGtTr7rSfPae4b6xUA__kDUNwXJQXgibHH0JTBpIKwz9VnBHxM1ieiq/s700/ABriefHistoryOfTime.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSPXRFCxt8AnQ11vkPO_nBAumPfW9-J7jryUqofLQ92ECIHu3YW0YsqRuZDpy2lKhYNNbZRuWXsAf5gfhBFVl6E-dJ8molmYdd39H_6wovXSO40c4DweaWy4EzSbMQpBMvWGtTr7rSfPae4b6xUA__kDUNwXJQXgibHH0JTBpIKwz9VnBHxM1ieiq/w210-h210/ABriefHistoryOfTime.png" width="210" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">Even though I found “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking to be fascinating and filled with multiple jaw-dropping “wait what!” moments, it is not an easy book to read. Especially the chapters about string theory and quantum mechanics made my brain wonky and I had to re-read some portions to somewhat wrap my mind around it (and I am sure I have still missed some key points). Full disclosure, don't expect a casual, bed-side read, but definitely enjoyable if you are ready to put in some work. </span><p></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-19690546467793766372023-03-26T21:55:00.004-07:002023-03-26T21:59:49.891-07:00Book Review of "Matthew Perry Autobiography - Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing"<p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><b><i>“You have to get famous to know that it’s not the answer. And nobody who is not famous will ever truly believe that.”</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTW7LPrbIY0-SmoTU4sOGzE86ngcP1sOu8fq5zfXxxfQseD_qAk2G0s2uofBvfwhu_h4KLMV8d6wxoxCKub4CivZnPTXY3APbyYIeuYORlSJ2VaHVf3OaDZBXG6mL3MIa3TxqV-xAyUqW0W9XrwdFFrCuge_tXfrUooJqUwVyKlXPn11cl22Dymkx/s500/41c-ohcwepL.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTW7LPrbIY0-SmoTU4sOGzE86ngcP1sOu8fq5zfXxxfQseD_qAk2G0s2uofBvfwhu_h4KLMV8d6wxoxCKub4CivZnPTXY3APbyYIeuYORlSJ2VaHVf3OaDZBXG6mL3MIa3TxqV-xAyUqW0W9XrwdFFrCuge_tXfrUooJqUwVyKlXPn11cl22Dymkx/s320/41c-ohcwepL.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Be warned - it is not at all a pleasant experience to read (or listen to) this book - it chronicles how horribly Matthew Perry's life has been wrecked countless number of times by addiction to alcohol and opioids.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">On one hand, because of being an absolute FRIENDS fanboy (I don’t think I’ll ever stop randomly binging a couple of episodes once in a while) and Chandler being one of my favorite characters - I was looking forward to this book (I remember being sad when I heard that “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” was canceled after the 1st Season). But on the other hand, knowing that this was about Matthew Perry’s addiction and his struggles and his countless rehab stints - I was a little apprehensive too. The usual “never meet your heroes” kind of unease. I went for the audiobook version simply because it is narrated by Matthew Perry himself. But it did not help much - this is a difficult and sobering book to listen to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Definitely credit to Matthew Perry for being honest and literally bearing it all about his struggles. That being said though, it does get a bit icky in some parts - especially when he repeatedly tries to place the blame on his parents or when he bad mouths the rehab doctors and nurses who were trying to help him to the best of their abilities and also the unnecessary digs at Keanu Reeves. If nothing else, Matthew Perry is smart and not delusional at all about how he is perceived. For example - he clearly admits that he doesn’t expect anyone to feel sorry for someone who was earning upwards of a million dollars per episode for the last 3 seasons of FRIENDS. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Many of us are guilty of reacting in a judgmental way to an addict’s story. But I like to think that this book has given me some semblance of an idea of how horrendous & terrible a disease addiction really is. And that is credit to Matthew Perry - regardless of how the book is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><b><i>“I think you actually have to have all of your dreams come true to realize they are the wrong dreams.”</i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-58551117956012052042023-02-28T23:58:00.005-08:002023-02-28T23:58:16.805-08:00Book Review of "Ender's Game"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl-oGdCHOZosumOQzlnt7OxtMMBJMhL8LqcH1VoYEPFG_iQSiIsRPJoxE1Qeh8UhVjrT_LRVe1Y4eTEkwbWGhWA4dSHsw8k4JK6yXEKkBckNVjQ0Fw4aeAVLYmMi7vt4ooOkfB1J5xMjiAURJGX1gzPuhveA6SwhMnwTz80A2LbxjJ9adoZvmDgW0/s1000/EndersGame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="609" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl-oGdCHOZosumOQzlnt7OxtMMBJMhL8LqcH1VoYEPFG_iQSiIsRPJoxE1Qeh8UhVjrT_LRVe1Y4eTEkwbWGhWA4dSHsw8k4JK6yXEKkBckNVjQ0Fw4aeAVLYmMi7vt4ooOkfB1J5xMjiAURJGX1gzPuhveA6SwhMnwTz80A2LbxjJ9adoZvmDgW0/w173-h284/EndersGame.jpg" width="173" /></a></i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“While they rarely agreed about what the world ought to be, they rarely disagreed about what the world actually was.”</i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">The first thought that came to my mind after reading the Ender’s Game is that I should have read this in my late teens or early twenties. Maybe back then, the whole spiel about ‘that one special gifted kid who can save the World against a generic faceless enemy’ would have seemed thrilling. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed this book - just that I wasn’t swept away by it - at all. Ender’s Game checks off all the things one would expect from a YA somewhat-SciFi novel - ranging from the angsty “no one ever understands me” protagonist to a couple of strict-for-the-greater-good mentors. Overall, it’s ok, don’t take it too seriously and you will enjoy it - 3.5/5.<br /></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-27354955204803765012023-02-08T21:23:00.006-08:002023-02-08T21:23:49.157-08:00Book Review of "A Twist in the Tale"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYQgxRj6GcdJ1FgzTIRti5rheFIghSQLiMOGg6VX1-fNmunUFXA7-uRL0WjkQUm4Z_JG7qIuAfW1UkuJ80Cd9sPazMiDvzE3tRhtCcYcJagLlxDd1OCTfXotd32aLp8DIYNWpy5QfPyPYGQN_qxcQ7qtPotnW-hBMwtdCNO-8uLT4YXREM2y6s3FB/s800/ATwistInTheTale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="495" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYQgxRj6GcdJ1FgzTIRti5rheFIghSQLiMOGg6VX1-fNmunUFXA7-uRL0WjkQUm4Z_JG7qIuAfW1UkuJ80Cd9sPazMiDvzE3tRhtCcYcJagLlxDd1OCTfXotd32aLp8DIYNWpy5QfPyPYGQN_qxcQ7qtPotnW-hBMwtdCNO-8uLT4YXREM2y6s3FB/w167-h258/ATwistInTheTale.jpg" width="167" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">Perfectly adequate is how I would describe Jeffrey Archer’s “A Twist in the Tale”. A collection of 12 stories with varying degrees of “twist” at the end. Akin to his previous story collections, about a third of the stories in this book are superb and the rest are sort of ‘meh’. A definite recommendation if you are already a fan of Jeffrey Archer’s work. If you haven’t read any of his books before, then this should not be the first one you read. Overall a 3.5/5.</span><p></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-54724454893185905012023-01-22T19:14:00.004-08:002023-01-22T19:14:13.659-08:00Book Review of "Wrong Place, Wrong Time"<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">“But knowing the future is worse than not knowing. Isn’t it?”</span></i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC27DfX4DgTtmGsgL5ZM8_L2Plg0PyIxlNZdmP-XqZT1uhAJJ2gKdc-CNAUU0kRt5nobVkby7lcg_-FYC7aa150b0UG-OpRGfau8HFgUODLd8vQA3AxYcqByCF7UV-0uXOx8W8BOuq4jlpuYXHFhLmfg7V9Fb_g_QHuUH_xQx3qeq7V9UK5qG_04im/s500/WrongPlaceWrongTime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC27DfX4DgTtmGsgL5ZM8_L2Plg0PyIxlNZdmP-XqZT1uhAJJ2gKdc-CNAUU0kRt5nobVkby7lcg_-FYC7aa150b0UG-OpRGfau8HFgUODLd8vQA3AxYcqByCF7UV-0uXOx8W8BOuq4jlpuYXHFhLmfg7V9Fb_g_QHuUH_xQx3qeq7V9UK5qG_04im/s320/WrongPlaceWrongTime.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">I really wanted to like this book. The author, Gillian McAllister, a once full-time lawyer, who converted her weekend hobby of mystery writing into NYT bestseller books when recovering from a serious illness is truly inspirational. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Plus the premise of this book is super cool. A 40-something woman witnesses her 18-year-old son stab a stranger in front of their house one night and the mother, for some god-forsaken reason, starts living life in reverse - waking up in the past every time she goes to bed. This mixture of time travel and murder mystery coupled with great reviews overall prompted me to dive in with high expectations. Maybe that was the mistake!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">The first 20% or so of the book is - for the lack of a better word - awkward. The writing somehow felt unauthentic to me. The second half gets much better and the overall resolution of the mystery is fairly satisfying. There are a few chapters in the second half written beautifully, pulling you in emotionally - only to be met with dry prose in the very next chapter. Overall a lukewarm 3.5 from me - for the innovative idea and for neatly wrapping up all the loose ends.</span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-53364718991982836462023-01-10T23:44:00.002-08:002023-01-10T23:44:07.895-08:00Book Review of "Starry Messenger"<p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><b><i>“Those who are seen dancing are always thought to be insane by those who can not hear the music.”</i></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsd5PcHN1Qk23akqikKvPKNnyN34xrgvZHnFC-j7i9vjg685fQVmpSK1B8E5uS---faTNXxFgPzpQKiIyj_HHT5ZDKTC0zWphlGO4sYjbMYkUmZLwtIpuVS-yvGqvKWZKz0igpdiDGH3d_1R3ThBc3Klz_zSqlP97IRC9GmxrwccV6qEZWCxlPjEn/s2513/StarryMessenger.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsd5PcHN1Qk23akqikKvPKNnyN34xrgvZHnFC-j7i9vjg685fQVmpSK1B8E5uS---faTNXxFgPzpQKiIyj_HHT5ZDKTC0zWphlGO4sYjbMYkUmZLwtIpuVS-yvGqvKWZKz0igpdiDGH3d_1R3ThBc3Klz_zSqlP97IRC9GmxrwccV6qEZWCxlPjEn/s320/StarryMessenger.jpeg" width="210" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Even though I am a fanboy of Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s “StarTalk” radio and the “Cosmic Queries” podcasts, I have always found his books to be a bit dense (or maybe I am too dense to understand the physics completely - Lol!). The “Starry Messenger” though, is a welcome exception! It is simple yet profound, somewhat preachy yet insightful. Dr. Tyson’s enthusiasm, his wittiness, and his humor have come out really well here. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">The book is a collection of essays by Dr. Tyson on various subjects ranging from Politics, Sports, History, Healthcare, the Environment, and so on convincing the reader why and how having a Cosmic and universal perspective would help mitigate a plethora of problems and misunderstandings. This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read in recent times. All in all, a solid read - not too philosophical but also not popcorn-y (that’s not a word!). Just go for it.<br /></span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">“To deny objective truths is to be scientifically illiterate, not to be ideologically principled.”</span></i></b></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-87106262049867380322022-12-31T18:14:00.000-08:002022-12-31T18:14:15.316-08:00Book Review of "Mistborn #7 - The Lost Metal"<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Roboto;">"It was entirely too easy to make things worse while trying to make them better."</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">“The Lost Metal” has everything that I love about the Mistborn series - amazing action set pieces, crisp dialogues, logical character evolutions, and a final showdown that neatly ties up all the loose ends with a thunderous, satisfying bang! Even though you can see the “twist” coming from miles away, the execution is beautiful and you can’t help but appreciate the simplicity and elegance of the story created. This book wraps up the “Mistborn Era 2” and as far as I can tell - it more than sets up the next Era. It's going to be fun! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmoPmiiieRPw8_u4CcwGkD25hDb_mFGcgxH8m6hhZJ46I-8he0v6P1j5s69eornNQQAkrpwriZhppo9IZJcUM0zjZ245M5Q_4wdawvejYy9zQDcyJzNmkNFo4TCqgIwxr7ub4Nq7RPF7X77uQhr1mvC8rHSynQNZOSf-7Eo1wCbm3hERh6hydeSjs/s500/TheLostMetal.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmoPmiiieRPw8_u4CcwGkD25hDb_mFGcgxH8m6hhZJ46I-8he0v6P1j5s69eornNQQAkrpwriZhppo9IZJcUM0zjZ245M5Q_4wdawvejYy9zQDcyJzNmkNFo4TCqgIwxr7ub4Nq7RPF7X77uQhr1mvC8rHSynQNZOSf-7Eo1wCbm3hERh6hydeSjs/s320/TheLostMetal.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Roboto;">One caveat though - unlike the previous 6 books, this one isn’t completely “disconnected” from the rest of the “Cosmere” Universe. It was a bit off-putting that the reader is expected to accept - at face value - at least a couple of new magical systems - when in the past, the rules of the Metal-based magic system that is used throughout the Mistborn series - were very clearly laid out and explained. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">That being said, for someone like me, who hasn’t read anything apart from the Mistborn series from the “Cosmere” universe, this isn’t a deal-breaker. If anything, it motivates you to read the other Cosmere stuff as soon as you can. Maybe that was the Endgame Sanderson had in mind anyway. All in all, a perfect holiday read.</span></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: Roboto;">"But that’s what friends were about. Making you look a little silly when you were together so that you didn’t look really stupid when you were apart."</span></i></b></p><p><br /></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-71537955192606408932022-11-28T23:27:00.001-08:002022-11-28T23:27:06.751-08:00Book Review of "V for Vendetta"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy8YQDoGlW44PASHhHjPfJcZkMEjIfW_pPd95XuxEyEg0jwtVF4bpuT9hisCaEoj0TdvPCmcqJsm2ZC8fFbekxL5kPlQViwGrB85g_rnL2joIxEgx6U8hPBLpga78mJM9Vrhmux-JU6Ttsu6ABVOa4KBh6EzJdp5Jz0i7-ooLSd3g79fuj54XoI00/s388/V_for_vendetta.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy8YQDoGlW44PASHhHjPfJcZkMEjIfW_pPd95XuxEyEg0jwtVF4bpuT9hisCaEoj0TdvPCmcqJsm2ZC8fFbekxL5kPlQViwGrB85g_rnL2joIxEgx6U8hPBLpga78mJM9Vrhmux-JU6Ttsu6ABVOa4KBh6EzJdp5Jz0i7-ooLSd3g79fuj54XoI00/s320/V_for_vendetta.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">Politically charged and heavil</span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">y metaphorical - “V for Vendetta” is one of those “must-read” graphic novels. To me, the writing, character development, and the overall unraveling of the plot were top notch but I didn’t particularly enjoy the artwork - hence the 4 stars. </span><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">This is also one of the few times where I had seen the movie adaptation before reading the source material. Even though I liked the movie and would rate it as above average, I can see now, why the writer, Alan Moore, preferred not to be associated with the movie publicly. The book is about juxtapositioning fascism and anarchy blaming society for inaction whereas the movie puts a definite hopeful spin at the end. Nevertheless, this is a thought-provoking read - especially if you like action and drama taking place with a socio-political backdrop.</span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-91832331310092568722022-11-18T23:14:00.002-08:002022-11-18T23:14:09.547-08:00Book Review of "Upgrade"<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Roboto;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICzCSXl6M423Vn6WKAi4XCKV6lkUBYfBDjbGF0thCxbF5YcLR71lO1dRBwjZJaa72W9a--LDUUM321MmlzrzhF1DQ0lNpDPtn2fC2Tx6G9IYMhUg4fQ2bGfjkI6Bw1su-92N_MC4X483eJ9iZzPBNa8ZzNDP9cmat2FJq_O-8Ww3woCsmLVoO6PNW/s500/Upgrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICzCSXl6M423Vn6WKAi4XCKV6lkUBYfBDjbGF0thCxbF5YcLR71lO1dRBwjZJaa72W9a--LDUUM321MmlzrzhF1DQ0lNpDPtn2fC2Tx6G9IYMhUg4fQ2bGfjkI6Bw1su-92N_MC4X483eJ9iZzPBNa8ZzNDP9cmat2FJq_O-8Ww3woCsmLVoO6PNW/w162-h265/Upgrade.jpg" width="162" /></a></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="font-family: Roboto;">“No one teaches you how to handle the death of a dream.”</span></i></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">I was really looking forward to “Upgrade” - Blake Crouch’s latest novel. Having thoroughly enjoyed his last two books, I had high hopes. Now I wouldn’t call “Upgrade” disappointing - it is just plainly underwhelming. I look at Blake Crouch’s novels as “escapist SciFi” - superbly entertaining & thrilling and not necessarily anything more - which I am totally fine with. In “Upgrade” however, the story is way too outlandish and sometimes bordering on illogical that I couldn’t <br />just turn a blind eye anymore and focus on the “entertainment”. Giving it 3 stars because it is still definitely enjoyable - especially if you dive in with adjusted expectations.</span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-45010120332718888692022-11-11T12:11:00.003-08:002022-11-11T12:11:28.264-08:00Book Review of "Childhood's End"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtHJV8le6_Dzakm__VBwe6qSMcU3i5xjB9aQfIEPhbc6gtxEw1kI6uutlvdtEYoXUTr3DTJEE7CyPBvsPN7cLDD5_r8gkujTFSMLJ73KyEJZPJHLgD__YQJzulkm-Q-7t1zWJAKIKqH5SJNbP_RHfyIMTYfsqXsxnn4oCuFWhKelPc0i3S_VzaQ5r/s838/Childhoods_End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtHJV8le6_Dzakm__VBwe6qSMcU3i5xjB9aQfIEPhbc6gtxEw1kI6uutlvdtEYoXUTr3DTJEE7CyPBvsPN7cLDD5_r8gkujTFSMLJ73KyEJZPJHLgD__YQJzulkm-Q-7t1zWJAKIKqH5SJNbP_RHfyIMTYfsqXsxnn4oCuFWhKelPc0i3S_VzaQ5r/s320/Childhoods_End.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><b><i>“And besides, no one of intelligence ever resents the inevitable.”</i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Arthur C. Clarke was truly a masterful storyteller. Published in 1953, “The Childhood’s End” starts out with aliens arriving on Earth and creating a utopia for mankind - removing all social, political,<br /> and economic obstacles. So mankind should be happy now, right? Well, not quite.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">The story has quite a few metaphorical themes. One can notice the deep influence of the early post-colonialism world and the cold war geopolitics. That being said, this book is definitely a “slow burn” and not necessarily for the impatient. The best part IMO was the execution of the final act - which surprisingly left me in a melancholy state. Be wary of the fact that this is published almost 7 decades ago and isn’t “politically correct” per today’s standards.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Overall, a definite recommendation for the Sci-Fi/philosophy nerd. </span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-3242716408912898692022-10-10T23:44:00.009-07:002022-10-11T00:01:42.790-07:00Book Review of "The Ink Black Heart"<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtMEg1Fl_P9FVtdXkrpNXV4YFKTkry1Ke4cwvLCE71DUQjVqHymiY_FCN4aEVHAH-dwLkq-zmdOSOKXb7tUnEIkWUOsgStkk6BvAp2_MNwd5nAUEr9hFKmKGkFcJyxFwq8WtoiCeGSWQ3TX48aS0DwyRd9uVQalsWTqu92PXmZGKSBnFMjzVWUwUs/s400/InkBlackHeart.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtMEg1Fl_P9FVtdXkrpNXV4YFKTkry1Ke4cwvLCE71DUQjVqHymiY_FCN4aEVHAH-dwLkq-zmdOSOKXb7tUnEIkWUOsgStkk6BvAp2_MNwd5nAUEr9hFKmKGkFcJyxFwq8WtoiCeGSWQ3TX48aS0DwyRd9uVQalsWTqu92PXmZGKSBnFMjzVWUwUs/s320/InkBlackHeart.jpeg" width="206" /></a></span></i></b></div><b><i><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">"He said nothing because he was enduring the always-humiliating experience of facing his own hypocrisy and delusion"</span></i></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;">Clocking in at a little over 1000 pages, the “Ink Black Heart” - the 6th (and the latest) novel in the Cormoran Strike series is a meticulously crafted mystery with a plethora of intertwined characters that ends with a satisfying bang! As is the case with all Strike novels, the character development of both Strike and Robin is top-notch here. Even though I wish this book was better edited and could have been at least 100 pages shorter, I still felt a bit melancholy when it finally ended and was left wanting more of the “Strike and Robin” story. Overall, the second-best Strike novel so far for me (Troubled Blood gets the top spot IMO). The end felt a bit rushed and for the first time in the Strike series, not all loose ends pertaining to the case are tied up. In spite of that, a solid 4/5. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><br /></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-47704520319950342052022-09-27T23:32:00.003-07:002022-09-27T23:32:59.088-07:00Book Review of "The Undercover Economist"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ01EbHo1iTN_ka6gnm9O3Pwj9mNBSi-dDFGzqFGKY_Y4N247kQf7mBVMXq5FEm-EzxM0ysVLJqlGEk7ZSxmlldTXPmdMO6Pv6Wni1B_RnBacDaZThXMs_ve3WKALStb7k--RDNZR1phzzExo3HrY_1L7FuwU8AoOA373FMD4Y-SsbNciTAiduMfQ/s900/UndercoverEconomist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="615" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJ01EbHo1iTN_ka6gnm9O3Pwj9mNBSi-dDFGzqFGKY_Y4N247kQf7mBVMXq5FEm-EzxM0ysVLJqlGEk7ZSxmlldTXPmdMO6Pv6Wni1B_RnBacDaZThXMs_ve3WKALStb7k--RDNZR1phzzExo3HrY_1L7FuwU8AoOA373FMD4Y-SsbNciTAiduMfQ/s320/UndercoverEconomist.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span id="freeTextreview4820707629" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">When you read “The Undercover Economist”, the first thing you should know is that it was published in 2005 - before the 2008 financial meltdown, before the 12 years of unparalleled stock market growth seen from 2009 to 2021, before the 2020 pandemic and of course before the current market turmoil of 2022. So do not be alarmed by the unbridled optimism in the free market and the overall vibe of “this music will last forever”.<br /><br />Once you are able to look past this, the Undercover Economist is actually an engaging and thought-provoking read. It explains various economic concepts like power of scarcity, externalities, comparative advantage, and price sensitivity in simplistic and sometimes elegant ways. Each chapter starts with an everyday question like why all restaurants in Times Square are highly likely to be bad, why Starbucks always optimizes for location, why WholeFoods appears more expensive than Safeway, and so on. The two chapters that were simply mind-boggling to me were the ones about US Health Care and about the economic growth of China.<br /><br />That being said, the book does tend to meander in some parts and becomes somewhat repetitive in places. A major beef I have is the handwavy way they have talked about immigration and its positive and negative impact.<br /><br />All in all, give it a go if you are ok to get your hands dirty a bit. Stay away if you looking for a Freakonomics kind of a read. 4 out of 5 from me.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><p></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-51276027060992879722022-06-22T23:46:00.003-07:002022-06-22T23:46:44.930-07:00Book Review of "To Be Taught, If Fortunate"<p><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i>“When the world you know is out of reach, nothing is more welcome than a measurable reminder that it still exists.”</i></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzu8DzpEXwWE4AIxaMBOHGghqOC7-49-Eox8D9-7SRevDGT3k_yThFz_XU8PLD6gTE47Q0vfwf4V59MH7FYr8FKqkUVcu3WqTQ6HAxAmufl-JkiwRBA916HWZSRs4yOFbkn0X0-sotK0SAKEsQ2CvVsjATamPiAvOq5VH8ZN5YqpYFZLYoeHddkJN/s500/ToBeTaughtIfFortunate.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzu8DzpEXwWE4AIxaMBOHGghqOC7-49-Eox8D9-7SRevDGT3k_yThFz_XU8PLD6gTE47Q0vfwf4V59MH7FYr8FKqkUVcu3WqTQ6HAxAmufl-JkiwRBA916HWZSRs4yOFbkn0X0-sotK0SAKEsQ2CvVsjATamPiAvOq5VH8ZN5YqpYFZLYoeHddkJN/s320/ToBeTaughtIfFortunate.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">“To be taught, If fortunate” is a brilliantly woven love letter to science. Yes, the plot is threadbare and yes, the characters aren’t fleshed-out in the traditional sense. But in this case, it’s not supposed to! Becky Chambers has fused the metaphorical and the SciFi aspects with utmost precision. The discussions about philosophy, morality, and ethics of space exploration and scientific experimentation are center stage as opposed to the usual aliens and “adventures”. The prose is beautiful and the tone is heartfelt and hopeful. It explores some of the most creative and fascinating ideas about SciFi in biology, evolution, and space travel. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"><br />If you are in the mood for a book that reads like sipping a smooth drink in a cozy room feeling philosophical, then this book right here; this is it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"><b><i>“We have found nothing you can sell. We have found nothing you can put to practical use. We have found no worlds that could be easily or ethically settled, were that end desired. We have satisfied nothing but curiosity and gained nothing but knowledge.”</i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-80784159791916132242022-06-17T21:32:00.003-07:002022-06-17T21:32:13.356-07:00Book Review of "I, Robot"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIxbDC4KDhaMzXmrAs0LIeEN0KyvHuqM_3Dm7irCiWoLafwsZbFoQfZqOVKYcLT-AaMM7RbqfhB5nSaOBjK2kj7bYDZZL88f2BzDDE-CkPC8W57f61TD1o9UBmLFBg_4PLL2oQ8poyWROKP_RueAABmsHjw62a2yWrMp1qP7JXGx9CDhgntjcmbD4/s500/IRobot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIxbDC4KDhaMzXmrAs0LIeEN0KyvHuqM_3Dm7irCiWoLafwsZbFoQfZqOVKYcLT-AaMM7RbqfhB5nSaOBjK2kj7bYDZZL88f2BzDDE-CkPC8W57f61TD1o9UBmLFBg_4PLL2oQ8poyWROKP_RueAABmsHjw62a2yWrMp1qP7JXGx9CDhgntjcmbD4/w133-h200/IRobot.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">First published in the early 1950s, “I, Robot” by the great Isaac Asimov is super-entertaining, thought-provoking & surprisingly prescient. It is a collection of SciFi stories and the movie from the early 2000s looks like was very loosely based on one or two of the stories from this book. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Compared to the SciFi writings of the 90s and the 2000s, I have always found Asimov’s prose to be dry and somewhat unemotional. But what it lacks in sentimentality, it more than makes up for by having very unique, original, and interesting story premises and conflicts. “I, Robot” is not an exception. A definite 4/5. <br /></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4880160654199318149.post-67611404778312538352022-04-30T23:53:00.004-07:002022-04-30T23:53:41.249-07:00Book Review of "Mistborn #6 - Bands of Mourning"<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IWgnEfOWdSWMrmTkISwDQ_9_5JGyooKSL9vM7_K125kxvI5Ez_47IAQbwTi3x6L4-Spf-tqjlEy7rhd0DK_d6viuKo39WIW5P_m-FlUtyMG9S2Lmscfl2KEwRbWCAZNbMRFELPoz6SqYy9Ik05UVmFJuM613QI883didBli_bosbpZR_jNTEKaWw/s2560/BandsOfMourning.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1569" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IWgnEfOWdSWMrmTkISwDQ_9_5JGyooKSL9vM7_K125kxvI5Ez_47IAQbwTi3x6L4-Spf-tqjlEy7rhd0DK_d6viuKo39WIW5P_m-FlUtyMG9S2Lmscfl2KEwRbWCAZNbMRFELPoz6SqYy9Ik05UVmFJuM613QI883didBli_bosbpZR_jNTEKaWw/w196-h305/BandsOfMourning.jpeg" width="196" /></a></div>“The Bands of Mourning” turned out to be a mixed bag of goods. On one hand, it follows the “Sanderson formula” to a T, a slow first act, a slightly better second act, and an insanely fast-paced, what-the-hell-is-happening-over-here third act! But on the other hand, the twists are slightly predictable and the character development isn’t super solid - with the exception of one character that I won’t spoil. What works and in my mind, makes this the best Mistborn Era-2 book so far is the perfectly executed ending. It ties up the story neatly and still ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. Overall, if you have made it this far in the Mistborn Era-2, you won’t be disappointed. 4 out of 5.<br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px;">"How could I have been so in control as a youth, yet often feel so helpless as an adult?”</span> </i></b></span></p>Salilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13699470031182517366noreply@blogger.com0