Category: Books

A short novel that is both disturbing and arresting at the same time. The story is not so much a look at the life of an artist as it is an utter and horrific account of the darkest demons in the human condition that sometimes drive us to the depths of depravity. All in the name of art.

Based on the real life story of Paul Gaugin, the story is an absolutely riveting one that explores the making of an artist. And yet, it is one of the minor characters in the novel, Dirk Stroeve who fascinates me no end. What manner of man is this who turns the other cheek time and time again, and is willing to bless those who might curse you? This bumbling buffon of a man shows such unbelievably sublime human qualities in his ordinary life that the person of Christ comes to mind as the only other godman who might be alike in that respect.

Maugham was a master with words, and this is one of his small fine gems.

Lovely to listen to this Book-on-CD narrated in the most remarkable style to capture the personalities of each of the characters impeccably!

Sailing on the Dawn Treader is akin to sailing on life’s seas where there is much to be seen and experienced from one island to the next. Rich in fantastical imagery and symbolism, this Narnia book will transport you to worlds you couldn’t imagine.

There’s deep symbolism to be had in the shedding of the old scales and skin by Eustus which eventually he is unable to do so on his own, and were it not for Aslan who does it for him, the exercise of peeling off one layer after the other would be a futile one. And Reepicheep is the most valiant mouse of all, and will remain in your memories long after the story comes to an end.

Success, Gladwell explains, “is not exceptional or mysterious. It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.” And intelligence is only so much a contributing factor in making for a successful life– the practical and emotional intelligence of navigating and negotiating your way through the places and people you meet therein is the greater determinant of whether or not you succeed. 

The notion that you’re born bright and will therefore excel in your chosen field is not true– instead, the “10,000-hour rule” is proposed as the standard measure for accumulating skills via sheer practice and discipline.  Be it Bill Joy, Bill Gates, the Beatles or even Mozart.

In analyzing these and many other successful people, the two common themes of opportunity and legacy (or the nature of one’s childhood and family circumstances) takes greater significance than natural intelligence. Great motivational read! And plenty of references to the University of Michigan, my alma mater.

Altogether brilliant.  Will go down as one of the great novels of our time.  And what’s it about, you say?  About relationships, of course– what else?  What could make a more brilliant story?

And just when you think a bullet to her brain would mean the end of things, Lisbeth Salander comes back to life, and boy, does she kick the hornet’s nest– she kicks it to smithereens by the time you reach the end of this last book in the Trilogy.

The mother of all world-hackers climbs out of that hospital bed– with some help from her friends– to get herself acquitted of all charges, help a few others along the way, and ties up all loose ends nicely before making peace with Blomkvist, her partner and friend that she has had a love-hate relationship with. No more cliffhangers, although, what I wouldn’t give to know what the rest of her life might be like… a pity Larsson didn’t leave a fourth sequel behind that might have told us about a reunion of the Salander twins and the huge trust or foundation that the two of them make in memory of their mother in Sweden for battered women…!

And perhaps she even tires of the dragon tatoo and replaces it with a tiger…? I don’t know… regardless, it was a good ride… thank you, Mr. Larsson– I hope the movie released yesterday lives up to the suspense and energy of the book.

World-class hacker with passionate morals will get you anywhere, and let you be anybody, and let you get out of anything, even death. 🙂

An engaging, fast-paced account of a mysterious and eccentric girl who seems to be wiser than her years and takes no nonsense from anyone.

Not the most polished of literary styles, and if anything it is casual to the point of being dry, but the story that Larsson weaves leaves one oblivious to this small fact. 

Beautiful insights into the delicate nature of human relationships. With the backdrop of the Second World War, the English countryside, bustling big-city life in London, and even a glimpse into the streets of Edinburgh, Alexander McCall Smith weaves a poignant story of how life has a way of ironing out the wrinkles in time, and of how second chances come one’s way sooner or later. And of how restraint and patience are their own reward.

I have yet to come across an AMS book I am not moved by.