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Book Review – 2 States: The story of my marriage – Chetan Bhagat (CB)

The book, 2 States – The Story of my Marriage, lives up to what we have come to expect from the Chetan Bhagat stable. In the true sense CB had proclaimed that he was writing a book meant to be made into a typical Hindi movie. Movies of these days which have a strong dose of comedy sprinkled by largesse of love and family drama with a bit of rona-dhona thrown in for good measure. This is the very essence of this book that traces its way back to IIM where the protagonists of the story meet. A few meetings later they both fall in love with each other, the only problem being him from the North & her from the South.

The boy is a typical North Indian guy with loads of education and class. The girl is a typical generation Y Southie who has a penchant for non-veg and the like. Both have to convince each others families of their choices and this is where the fun part of the story lies. Both families have their own characters be it Ananya’s (the girl) super studious brother or the boy’s retired  father. Did I mention he was a retired army man. Ahem!

This coupled with a typical Punjabi marriage and the Delhi way of celebrating it in great style and splendour as also the various different ways in which the boy and girl go about impressing on their families about their choice forms the core of the book.

Since I would not like to play spoilsport and delve into the specifics to annoy the author, I suggest you lay your hands on a copy of the book & enjoy a fabulously good read.

A good source for Your Purchase too: Buy it here:CB’s 2 States

Enjoy!

Mani (a.k.a. Ananth S)

The Lost Symbol review: The Book

Read Dan Browns other novels first if you already have not. My personal recommendation: Angels & Demons & then Da Vinci code and so on… finally this one, The Lost Symbol.

The Lost Symbol: Released in September’09 – BANG!

Million copies sales crossed on day one.

Now coming to the cast and characters of the novel:

The Hero: The legendary Robert Langdon.

Professor Langdon, a celebrated Symbol specialist with a key to every puzzle. But this novel brings forth a simpler & human side of Langdon where he gets stuck a couple of times in between the whole Search game. Even he needs help.

The Muse: The fine wine:  She is a 50 year old woman. Brilliant to the core.

Villain: Can’t reveal the name but undoubtedly, this novel of Brown gives us the best villain of all times. In this novel, the villain is the heath ledger of the Joker kind, amazing and fantabulous.

Basic gist of the plot:

The Secret Society: Freemasons – that’s right, a real organization an Institute of Noetic Studies which engages in secretive rituals and is believed to be protecting a great secret.

Again, some real cool and amazing facts are unraveled in the book. It’s a pure thriller. Peter Solomon, the professor’s mentor gets kidnapped. The ransom is for Langdon to unlock an ancient secret protected by the Freemasons.

Positives:

The Lost Symbol is a fast paced novel.

The beginning till the end, that’s right, it keeps us on the edge of our seats.

It puts forth many dares and the ins and outs of the details make us go “Know more” over alta vista or Google for the cool facts it puts forth.

The continuous ups, downs twists & turns make it a great read.

The not so good part:

Honestly, the final mystery ain’t much worth the effort.

The end could have been a million times better.

After reading the whole book, it was as if, it was written for the kick of it without a though and enough effort to the final storyline.

Cost of the book – INR Approximately Rs.700/ – INR

Ratings: 3/5

Honest feedback about the book: Don’t rush to buy, Wait for the paperback version, trust me!