Hello
everybody, a happy 2021 to everyone.
Continuing
the habit, here is a list of books I read in 2020.
1.
The Chalk Man (Fiction) by C. J. Tudor; It was a fast read. That is all that can
be said. Too many twists, too many diversions, too convoluted, no, make it
unnecessarily convoluted. Helping my decision to stay away from thrillers and
fiction in general. Kept you engaged and started to fall apart in the later
stages. Need to move into some serious non-fiction.
a.
Started on 1st January and
Finished on 2nd January.
b.
Recommended by Sayantan
Ghosh. Well, he did not personally recommend it, I picked it up from his
tweets.
2.
The Return (Non-Fiction) by Hisham Matar; A must-read for everyone. That I was
reading it during the horrific student riots, with state-sponsored terrorism,
in India made it more relevant and more difficult. One who Is used to crying
easily, I was filling buckets during this book. Earmarked few paintings, to be
seen during my next visit to the UK. Those descriptions of the two paintings, in
the chapter called Maximilian, are top-notch. What dictators do and how
ordinary people suffer. We have read it so many times and yet this HITS you.
That a man so rich and powerful, who could walk into the foreign office, talk to
ministers, international organizations, talk personally to the son of the
dictator can fail sends a shiver down your spine. If such powerful people are
finally powerless, what about the ordinary, the poor, and the unrepresented? A
gem of a book. Must be part of compulsory reading in every school! In the past, I used to mention that every father-son must-see “Life is beautiful” and now I
will add “and read The Return”.
a.
Started on 2nd January and
finished on 8th January
b.
Recommended by Sayantan
Ghosh. Well, he did not personally recommend it, I picked it up from his
tweets.
3.
Touching the void (Non-Fiction) by Joe Simpson; The call of the mountains can’t be
ignored for long. The story itself was haunting enough. And when I came to know
that the author penned it almost immediately based on his harrowing experience,
I could not resist the urge. Having taken to the mountains at a much later
stage in my life, I am still not familiar with many mountain-specific terms
like col, crevasse, moraine, belay, baseplate, fluting, etc... To get to the
heart of the story unfolding, it was necessary to keep the glossary handy to
refer to. Ed Viesturs was considerate enough to give a glossary at the end of
his book. The alternating regular font
and Italian font both in the first-person narrative is a powerful tool. You get to
see into each one’s mind. Never once you reach a stage where you blame Simon
and you realize why the book was dedicated to him in the first place. Despite
knowing what happened the book was nail-biting stuff. Saw the 2003
documentary based on the book immediately after finishing the book. A wonderful
documentary staying true to the book.
a.
Started on 8th
January and finished on 11th January.
b.
Recommended
by The Guardian
4.
Gandhi before India (Non-Fiction) by Ramachandra Guha; All along I thought I am fully aware of
everything about Gandhi, and then I end up reading this book. There is so much
about this man that I had not known, and now, after knowing, my respect for him
continues to grow. For a while it was fashionable to demean Gandhi, to appear
intellectual, by quoting (with half knowledge) how he was mean to his wife and
his son. That serendipity plays a major role in life is amply demonstrated in
the book. If his father had not died young if his brother was not involved in
a scam with the palace if he had been more successful in Bombay or Rajkot in
his practice if the SA government had yielded early on …. So many ifs and
they end by defining one’s life. A lovely read. The research behind is scary to
even contemplate, leave alone attempt. Full marks to Mr.Guha for his erudition,
his obsession, and his knowledge.
a.
Started on 12th January and
finished on 8th February
b.
Recommended by Ujval
5.
Celestial Bodies (Fiction) by Jokha Alharthi; This seems to be the year of Sayantan
Ghosh! 3 of the first 5 books of the year are his recommendations! Amazon
screwed up big time again. Similar to my experience with “Bad Blood” last year,
this copy had 20 pages twice and as a result, I was left dangling at page 147,
very much like Abdallah in the book, and had to wait for the missing pages.
After getting the missing pages, I completed this book in about 3 days. The
book was too complicated for me. While there were wonderful passages and some
strong statements, the family tree was a mess. All love stories ended in
tragedies, but then is this not what love is all about? Was a decent read but
certainly not going to be on any lists of mine.
a.
Started on 8th February and
finished on 17th November (after a stop on 14th Feb,
resumed on 14th November with the missing pages delivered by a dear
friend – I had to start from the beginning)
b.
Recommended by Sayantan
Ghosh.
6.
Powerful (Non-Fiction) by Patty McCord; So fundamentally correct, you are left
wondering why it is so difficult to practice. Reminded me of Neutron Jack, who
was famous for firing the bottom 20% each year. Few of her observations are
spot on. That there is no continuously talented person in most fields. Either
they exhaust their usefulness soon, or simply that the business grows faster
than their capacity to adapt and grow along with the need demanded. Also, a misfit in one organization can prosper in another. My take is, that most
people stay on and the organizations allow them to stay on, as it is a good
compromise for both involved. Can the HR name the top three revenues, top five
competitors, and the disruptive technology in the market to your product? Why
just the HR – this must be a test for each employee. A refreshing book
a.
Started on 15th Feb and finished
on 22nd Feb
b.
Recommended by Mihir
7.
Pachinko (Fiction) by Min Jin Lee; Epic in its scope and so relevant in the
current world, with the rising of right-wing and misplaced nationalism. The periodic
tragedies reminded me of The Kite Runner. The author has a macabre sense of
slipping in the most profound tragedy in one closing sentence of a chapter as
if a mere footnote. The life of every immigrant, of every person of one
nationality living in another world, is always the same. The stark reality of
ethnic Koreans under the Japanese has always been a matter of intrigue, and
this book answers it as brutally as possible. Would strongly recommend it.
a.
Started on 22nd Feb and finished
on 5th Mar
b.
Recommended by Mihir
8.
Leonardo da Vinci Biography
(Non-Fiction) by Walter Isaacson; If
someone had told me years ago that a biography would keep me so engrossed, I
would have laughed. But, not now. At the end of the book, I am not sure who
should I admire most – Leonardo or Walter? All right, that was meant to be
rhetoric. Walter has a powerful way of writing. I am sure I will be equally
awestruck by Einstein and anyone else that he had chosen to write about.
This book is really a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-researched
book. Biography of contemporary persons is simple but to write a biography of
someone who lived 600 years ago, based on research material, and to write so
authoritatively about art, at best a subjective matter, is an impressive task.
The conclusion chapter is so beautifully composed, allowing you to go back, in
your fresh memories, to various parts of the book. I will soon be buying a T-shirt
with the Vitruvian man and a personalized one with the statement “Describe the
tongue of the woodpecker”. And the notes section is as much a treasure as the
book is. This link reads like a thriller mystery all by itself https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/07/12/the-mark-of-a-masterpiece
a.
Started on 6th March and finished
on 25th March
b.
Recommended by Ujval.
9.
Fragile Things (Fiction) by Neil Gaiman; I wish I could say the book, the
collection of stories/poems/essays was a great read. Alas! No. Other than “A Study in Emerald” and
“Sunbird”, most of the other stories end up a disappointment.
a.
Started on 26th March and finished
on 14th April
b.
Self-recommended –
Railway station waiting time purchases
10. Bridge of Clay (Fiction) by Marcus
Zusak; In the typical Zusak’s style, a slow burner. Takes time to come
to grips with the proceedings. The alternating chapters between the past and
the present are woven beautifully. His gift for short sentences is amazing. The
chapters all fit like a perfect jigsaw puzzle at the end. He has a way with
death. And some impossible moments. A bit dragging at places. But hats off to
his vision and execution. One sentence will stay with me from this book “the
body was weightless; the coffin weighed a tonne”. Not meant for light
reading. A satisfactory read at the end.
a.
Started on 14th April and finished
on 5th May
b.
Self-recommended
11. The last days of night (Fiction) by Graham
Moore; The first chapter starts with the line “On the day that he would
first meet Thomas Edison” and the last chapter some 350 pages later starts with
“On the day that he would last see Thomas Edison”. Proof that you just do not
sit and write a book. There is so much research, painstaking details, and
planning that go into the book. It is a novel. But could well have been real.
Three dominant main characters besides some of the imposing names through the
history and three short sentences that capture their essence. “Tesla was
happiest when he was working. Westinghouse was happiest when he’d finished.
Edison would be happiest only when he’d won.” A lovely book and a racy read,
such a relief after the slow crawling Bridge of Clay.
a.
Started on 6th May and finished on
9th May.
b.
Recommended by Mihir.
12. The hundred-year-old man who climbed out of the window and
disappeared (Fiction) by Jonas Jonasson;
I have never laughed this much since Catch-22. What a brilliant book. This was
lying with me since 2016! Impossible to list the hilarious episodes are single
any one event out. “It should carry a health
warning for spouses who are easily irritated by the sounds of helpless
chortling” by Irish Times is spot on. Any person in your company will conclude
that you have gone insane. A wonderful find. Usually, when books alternate
between the past and present between chapters, I usually find one part to be
more interesting than the other and often yearn for the relevant chapter to
arrive soon. This was an exceptional exception. Both narratives were fantastic.
a.
Started on 11th May and finished
on 12th May
b.
Recommended by none. Though my daughter had been asking me to read ever since she
read it, while the book was, ironically, a gift to me on my birthday. So, let
the thanks go to Iveta in equal measure.
13. Upheaval (Non-Fiction) by Jared
Diamond; Lived up to its expectations. A challenging topic made it easy to
read and appreciate. The chapters dedicated to the USA towards the end are spot on.
Details about Finland, Australia, Chile, Japan, and Indonesia are stunning,
though we know much about Germany. A compelling read, though at times you
sensed that he was recording the same messages repeatedly. As much as the book
is interesting, the question “Will people ignore the obvious?” in the final
pages rings so true, as leaders currently are doing exactly that. We learn
nothing from history, has never been told so openly. A wonderful book.
a.
Started on 12th May and finished
on 31st May
b.
Recommended by – I do not recall – probably Mihir or Ujval or self-choice.
14. Chronicle of a death foretold (Fiction) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; A slim volume, chosen mainly
to take a break from non-fiction. GCM weaves his magic again. Dreams, the story
told in the very first line, and the tantalizing aspect of whether Nasar was guilty
is left hanging even after the story ends. Only a great storyteller can make a
story this simple.
a.
Started on 31st May and finished
on 31st May
b.
Recommended by – The author was introduced by Murali, so let us attribute this book to him
15. Born to run (Non-Fiction) by Bruce
Springsteen; How can a guy in his teens in the 80s not be bewitched by
The Boss. I wish I could say the book was a breeze or a dream come true. Sadly,
no. He writes well and somehow it felt like you were reading his diary. Maybe
Walter Isaacson spoiled me in the field of chronicling one’s life. You could
relate to his life and you knew most of his songs. Somehow the book was
dragging, and I had half a mind to drop it and move on to the next book on more
than one occasion. Nearly the 40-day reading period tells the story too. Maybe
it just did not click with me.
a.
Started on 1st June and finished
on 10th July
b.
Recommended by Ujval
16. Malevolent Republic (Non-Fiction) by K.S.Komireddi; I used to read two or three books
simultaneously when I was young. But discontinued the practice. I am glad I
made an exception this time. Even before I finished book number 15, I looked
into this book and started to read the introduction and did not put the book
down till I finished it. Brings you to tears by making you look at what the
politicians have done to this country, my country. Only Shastri comes clean in
recording 73 years of Indian politics. He has spared none. Everyone is taken to
the laundry and hung dry. One can’t call him pro BJP or pro Cong or pro anyone.
He talks for India. Ruthlessly, unflinchingly and honestly. Just by a
coincidence, I shared a quote with my brother on the same day that said,
“Honesty has a power that few can handle”. Let me see how many can handle the
honesty of Mr. Reddi. People like Reddi give me hope. May their breed continue
to multiply.
a.
Started on 12th June and finished
on 14th June
b.
Recommended by Ujval.
17. Gun Island (Fiction) by Amitav
Ghosh; Did not realize that I started the book on the birthday of the
author. A highly relevant and timely tale. Bengal folklore, marine mammals’
migration, immigrant crisis, and climate change are all woven so perfectly into
a gripping tale. Never boring or slow. It was a relief after the slow-moving
Born to Run prior to this. A lovely book and will certainly recommend it to others
too.
a.
Started on 11th July and finished
on 12th July
b.
Recommended by self.
18. Scoop (Fiction) by Evelyn Waugh;
What a lovely book! There is something about British authors and humor.
Effortless, bizarre, and incredibly funny. Situational comedy and preposterous
situations. Weird gets weirder and all the while there is a tongue-in-cheek
commentary on the atrociousness all around. This was in the 1930s and is still
relevant today. Even descriptions are singularly so funny, for example, “the
immense trees stood, singly and in groups about the park, had suffered, some
from ivy, some from lightning, some from various malignant disorders that
vegetation is heir to, but all principally from old age.”
a.
Started on 12th July and finished
on 17th July
b.
Recommended by Akshaya
19. Early Indians (Non-Fiction) by Tony
Joseph; Mixed feelings about the book. Throughout its length, the book
had a feel of an academic journal. Mr. Harari made history writing a daunting
task for anyone else today, unfortunately. Nevertheless, an important book for
blowing away a few of the myths that the current Sanghis hold dear to them and
their misplaced ideology. An important book, I just wish that it had been a
little easier to read. Can’t resist thinking “Absence of evidence is not the
evidence of absence” – but that would be unfair to most archeology and history.
a.
Started on 20th July and finished
on 26th July
b.
Recommended by self
20. How to lose a country – The 7 steps from democracy to dictatorship
(Non-Fiction) by Ece Temelkuran; Though
the book is clearly an outrage on seeing the degeneration of her own country,
what is chilling is how the same template is being used by nations around the
globe. And when you see current headlines reflecting the cautions she had
espoused, but ignored, your heart bleeds that much more. The book impressed me
so much, I coupled my rant and the review of the book into this blog - http://vkmagus.blogspot.com/2020/07/when-did-you-become-so-cruel_58.html
a.
Started on 26th July and finished
on 29th July
b.
Recommended by self
21. The little book of cosmology (Non-Fiction) by Lyman Page; I am certainly wiser than what I was
before I started to read this book. But to expect a 110-page book makes me wise
and totally comfortable with the full concept and as knowledgeable as those who
have spent their lifetime on understanding Cosmos is a bit arrogant, if not
far-fetched. With a little background in science, it is easy to understand the
vast universe and the current stage and probably from where it all started. Mr.
Page explains most concepts with a simpler example to make it easy but certain
concepts are so intricate; it is not possible to simplify them any further.
a.
Started on 31st July and finished
on 8th August
b.
Recommended by samba
22. 1944 – FDR and the year that changed history (Non-Fiction) by Jay Winik; I am no stranger to Holocaust and this book
gently reminded me that what I know about the holocaust is far far less than what
is there to learn about. The narrative of the book is clever too, it keeps
jumping forward and backward while the anchor remains Auschwitz all the time. The
D day landing and atrocities of Auschwitz were so fantastically described that
it made me simply sob unabashedly. (I had been to Auschwitz- Birkenau seven
times already). Even though the book is written to laud the single-minded determination
of FDR it categorically holds him to account for his inaction on the holocaust.
A telling commentary is how he could have made the war all about humanity (like
emancipation of civil war) instead of just defeating the Nazis. In hindsight,
it is always easy to be cleaver and I would rather blame the state department
and McCloy more responsible than FDR. The following names must be recorded for
posterity to save what little they could save – Edward Schulte, Gerhard
Riegner, Stephen Wise, Peter Bergson, Jan Karski, Vrba & Wetzler, Henry
Morgentau, John Pehle, DuBois, and heaven knows how many more. A compulsory read
to anyone who values history.
a.
Started on 9th August and finished
on 23rd August
b.
Recommended by Mihir
23. On Tyranny – twenty lessons from the twentieth century
(Non-Fiction) by Timothy Snyder; Once
again, an uncharacteristic move of reading another book before I finish the
previous book. No regrets. A short read but pure dynamite. In my opinion, this
is a perfect book to follow up from Ece Temelkuran’s how to lose a country.
Powerful short sentences like “If none of us is prepared to die for freedom,
then all of us will die under tyranny.” pepper the book. Lovely read and most
relevant.
a.
Started on 12th August and
Finished on 12th August
b.
Recommended by Ujval.
24. Good Omens (Fiction) by Terry
Pratchett and Neil Gaiman; Only NG and TP can write a book like this.
Armageddon on a Saturday, the four bike riders of apocalypse and a misplaced
Antichrist along with a modern-day Angel and Demon. Sumptuous stuff. Hilarious.
Lines like “You start thinking: it can’t be a great cosmic game of chess,
it has to be just very complicated Solitaire”
a.
Started on 24th August and
finished on 28th August
b.
Recommended by – Any book by NG is deemed as
a reference by Ameya
25. The white book (Fiction) by Han
Kang; Could have been named a weird book instead. After Vegetarian,
every other book of this author will fall flat, but this had fallen way far
below. More a diary noting than a novel. Two pages on Sand and Breath were
outstanding, but overall a disappointment.
a.
Started on 29th August and
finished on 29th August
b.
Recommended by self
26. I won’t give you a leg up Mr. Death (Fiction) by Arunabha Sengupta; The book was gifted to me by my
colleague who happens to be the brother of the author. There is this hidden
tendency to downplay known people or Indian authors and I fell victim to that.
Never too late. That I happened to pick up the book after Chadwick Boseman’s
death and after one of my friends recently underwent radiation therapy for
cheek oral cavity is certainly a coincidence to marvel at. The doctor author
has used all his expertise in spinning a yarn around the emperor of all
maladies. What is creditworthy is that he has shown it from the patient’s side
too. A satisfactory read and the author’s observations and the effortless capturing
of the scenery in powerful words that bring to your eyes the image is
impressive.
a.
Started on 30th August and
finished on 4th September.
b.
Presented by Aditya
as the author is his brother. So, it counts as his recommendation.
27. Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance – an inquiry into values
(Non-Fiction) by Robert. M. Pirsig; Having
read this book way back in the 90s and having no recollection of it whatsoever,
it was clear that I had not read the book properly the first time around. The
second reading served a better understanding of the book. The writing style is
pedantic and at times testing your capacity to stay focused, but you finish the
book with great admiration for the man and his unflinching honesty to
Quality. I do feel, however, that future generations may miss on this book’s
gifts as the writing style could be found a bit tedious.
a.
Started on 5th September and
finished on 18th October
b.
Recommended by my first boss R.V.Dalvi
28. One part woman (Fiction) by Perumal
Murugan; His prose is haunting. He effortlessly paints the village life
right in front of your eyes. Converting his novels to films should be easy. The
trauma of being a child-less mother/father in a village setting is beautifully
penned. The playfulness and seriousness are distributed in a way that
resembles our normal lives. Powerful writing. And an ending that is as
suspenseful as a whodunit. When you see what the couple had to go through, you
feel like you should take a machete to society. Fantastic read.
a.
Started on 18th October and
finished on 19th October
b.
Recommended by Naren
29. Time stops at Shamli and other stories (Fiction) by Ruskin Bond; A lovely collection of stories. The
beautiful ending of The room of many colors, the funny Masterji, the loving
scoundrel in He said it with Arsenic, the supernatural Eyes of the cat, the
fantastically funny The tiger in the house and the hauntingly mesmeric Tiger
Tiger burning bright were all fabulous. Bond writes so well about animals, he
could have been our Wilbur Smith, if he had persisted in that area.
a.
Started on 20th October and
finished on 22nd October
b.
Recommended by Self
30. The Anarchy (Non-Fiction) by William
Dalrymple; You feel cheated when the book suddenly is over and all the
remaining pages are notes (that you have been referring to during the reading),
bibliography, and credits. A well-researched marvelous book. The intrigue, the
double-crossing, the scheming, and the fact that there was a very thin line
between what could have been and what eventually was are all beautifully
chronicled. The opening line is a stunner and the epilogue pack a punch. The
research and the details are sheer jaw drop. A mandatory reading to anyone who
wants to know how the British raj began. The one irritant was the mention of
values mentioned in the passages as “in today’s currency” at the bottom of most
pages. One simple chart in the notes or at the beginning would have been
enough.
a.
Started on 22nd October and
finished on 2nd November
b.
Recommended by Mihir
31. A gentleman in Moscow (Fiction) by Amor Towles;
It is easy to make someone angry, someone sad, someone cry but try to make them
smile and laugh. It must be the most singularly difficult task unless you
happen to be Amor Towles. The principle of Chekov’s gun had been repeated ad
infinitum and we all know how relevant it is. This book clinches it completely
and staging it in Russia, Moscow to be precise, is a genius at work. How much
one laughs through the book and how effortlessly the author makes you cry
unabashedly. And Casablanca, so beautifully woven into the novel. I have already
bought, even before I finished, two copies of this book in the Czech language for
my two dear friends as their Christmas gifts. So, Mr. Towles, thank you for
making me laugh and cry last week, and the usually stoic, not a flicker of
emotion on their faces Czechs will be reduced to the same in January 2021.
a.
Started on 2nd November and
finished on 8th November
b.
Recommended by Bill
Gates
32. Lady Windermere’s fan (Fiction) by Oscar
Wilde; What a delightful little book. Peppered with his most notable
quotes. Lovely read. It is not possible to divide people into good and bad. It
takes a lifetime to understand someone fully, if at all.
a.
Started on 17th November and
finished on 17th November
b.
Recommended by Akshaya
33. Luka and the fire of life (Fiction) by Salman Rushdie; What a magician Salman is! P2C2E
(Process too complicated to explain), M2C2D (Machines too complicated to
Describe), Jos (Jo Hua, Jo Hai, and Jo Aiga) towns of Kahani, Khwab, Rivers of
Time, Discarded Gods, Rats, OTTs, a dog named Bear, a bear named dog, Shah of
Blah, Nobody, Nonsense – I was reduced to seven-year-old chewing up my nails
in excitement, even all the time knowing the story will only end well. A master
storyteller. A timely read too as it solved my choice of a Xmas gift to a
southpaw in the family.
a.
Started on 17th November and
finished on 19th November
b.
Recommended by Akshaya
34. Supreme Whispers (Non-Fiction) by Abhinav
Chandrachud; A nice book on the intricate workings of the supreme court.
Wonderful anecdotes and the author has been unbiased even while covering his
own grandfather. A book worth reading to see how the supreme court had evolved
over the years and the constant tug of war between the politicians and the
judges. Rather disappointing to see that not many judges have stood up to what
was right.
a.
Started on 19th November and
finished on 21st November
b.
Recommended by self,
airport browsing.
35. The innovators (Non-Fiction) by Walter
Isaacson; Mr. Isaacson can make even a manual on root canal treatment
gripping and unputdownable. The research that goes into such works is stunning
to even contemplate. A character description of just one player, roughly a
paragraph long, must involve a full day of research and fact-checking. A great
documentation of how computing evolved, the role played by the military, the
visionaries who could see the future as well as the humility and the arrogance
of many of them. Fortunately, the humble ones outnumber the arrogant ones. A
mandatory reading to anyone who appreciates science and how so many people made
life easy for us.
a.
Started on 22nd November and
finished on 29th November
b.
Recommended by Ujval
36. Thurber Country (Fiction) by James
Thurber; Who needs an introduction or even a review for Thurber. Was an
absolute delight as most of his books are. But I traced a bit of misogyny which
could have been par for the 40s and 30s but found it jarring today. Statements
like “Shall I make a drink for you” I asked the lady. “No” she replied in a
voice that corked the bottles! Fantastic.
a.
Started on 30th November and
finished on 3rd Dec
b.
Recommended by self
37. How I came to know fish (Fiction) by Ota Pavel; Impulsive shopping. Prague, Czech life and
Nazi occupation was enough to bait this fish. A lovely little book. Hilarious
anecdotes. Unlikely kindness from unexpected quarters. The descent into
madness. Glad I found it and read it. While the book has been fortunately not
depressing, thanks to the ability of the Czechs to laugh things off, the
reference to Massacre of Lidice exposed once again the barbarity of the Germans.
a.
Started and finished on 4th Dec
b.
Recommended by self
38. The age of surveillance capitalism – the fight for a human future
at the new frontier of power (Non-Fiction) by Shoshana
Zuboff; A powerful, relevant book. Glad I took it up despite its
imposing size and subject matter. She writes from her heart. It is a miracle
that Google and Facebook did not knock her off before she finished this book.
Who decides is authority and who decides who decides is power. Just a sample of
what her depth and grasp of the topic are. And towards the end, she says this
“It is not Ok for every move, emotion, utterance, and desire to be cataloged,
manipulated, and then sued to surreptitiously herd us through the future tense
for the sake of someone else’s profit” A wonderful book and a must-read.
a.
Started on 5th Dec and finished on
24th Dec
b.
Recommended by The
Guardian
39. Skorzeny; The most dangerous man in Europe (Non-Fiction) by Charles Whiting; A small book that is a one-sit read.
A man whose life is the proverbial larger than life. Daring rescues, bluffs, and
romancing Eva Peron! – It is a pity that he did not write that book soon after
the war while he still had a choice, but people who are self-centered would
only care about what they did and not about what events needed to be said to
let the world know what had actually transpired. Given my dislike to Churchill,
if his book had been published and exposed Churchill, Ahhhhhh… life is so
unfair!
a.
Started on 25th Dec and finished
on 25th Dec
b.
Recommended (and gifted) by Pavel Sedivy
40. The remains of the day (Fiction) by Kazuo
Ishiguro; What a beautiful language and what a story he has weaved. Now
I am dying to see the film to see what Mr. Hopkins has done to Mr. Stevens. A
lovely book, and most wonderful language reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse and
Maugham. A lovely way to end the year.
a.
Started on 25th Dec and finished
on 29th December
b.
Recommended by self
So,
that is my summary of the books I had read this last year. See you again on 1st
of January 2022, with a list of books that I managed to read during this year.
