New Year reads and recommendations ..

Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom (Ketterdam duology) by Leigh Bardugo

I love this YA duology!

Leigh packs a good deal of character into her characters and surprises you with their wit & charm.

Thumbs Up!

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

It started of as an engaging Science Fiction, and lost me somewhere along the way .. mixed reviews. You may find the narrative, in a dialogue format; as clever.

The Blockchain Revolution by Don & Alex Tapscott

One of the top 10 strategic thinkers in the world explains one of the most disruptive technology trend of today; not for light reading although..

Theekkadal kadanju ThiruMadhuram (A MalayalaM Novel) by C Radhakrishnan

C.R. pays a fitting tribute to a father figure in Malayalam's linguistic history with this fictional biography.

A few good reads ..

1. First to Kill by Andrew Peterson

Kick A@# action meets a taut story line ..

2. In the skin of a Jihadist by Anna Erelle

True story of a journalist, trying to get inside the recruitment network of the most dreaded terrorist organisation.

3. The Giver by Lois Lowry

This classic, Newberry Medal winner, shows "The Hunger Games", its true place!

4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The phenomenal psychological thriller is a racy read.

5. Apathasanchaarikalkku oru Kai Pusthakam by Gracy (A handbook for trailblazers - A Novel in Malayalam language)

One of Malayalam's beloved short story writers, shares some short memoirs; each offering an interesting vignette of her persona and life.

My kind of heroes

The brave ones went to battle. Those, who didn't return, became heroes.
                                                                                                    ~Anonymous

Police Detective Kusanagi from the Salvation of a Saint

He may be the underdog at times, or a motley fool, but Oh! Boy, how he delivers the killer punch in this story..

Boromir from the Lord of the Rings

The steward has a mind of his own; pleasingly vulnerable, yet very, very brave.

Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs

This is the real Clarice, with zest, spunk and the sense to carry it all along. The one in Hannibal, the 3rd installment, is just her shadow.

Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities

An obvious choice.

Kunjarakkar from Asuravithu (A novel in Malayalam language)

Kunjarakkar stands tall as the message of this novel, telling us that, being a hero is about doing the right thing.

Dracula's bride

If the Count returned, to find that Mina Harker is dead and were to seek a bride, who would it be?

I think, he may choose one from the following five amazing women from fiction, matching Mina in her spirit and enigma.

1. Lisbeth Salander from the Girl with the dragon tattoo (and the rest of the Millenium series)

This spunky and rebellious hero packs much more than a punch, as seen in the way in which she gets back at her abusive care taker in the novel.

2. Amy Dunne from Gone Girl

I read Amy as a multi-layered woman, and as someone yearning for love. The fiercely romantic Count, with her, would be a steamy scene. 

3. Irene Adler from A Scandal in Bohemia (an episode from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

As Watson puts it, "To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name"

4. Daenerys Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire series

... and the Count would be at each other's throats, literally.

5. Subhadra from MarthandaVarma (a historical novel in Malayalam language)

She epitomizes the liberated and free spirited Nair woman, going by her free will, above everything else, to choose her love and loyalty.

I love these wonderful books, have you read them?

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Booker prize winner of 2016, weaves the surrealistic tale of a woman who decides to turn a vegetarian. Flows like a poem.

Black Widow by Daniel Silva

A thriller involving the IS, where a handful of heroes fight the almost invisible, omnipresent enemy

Drawing Blood by Molly Crabapple

Her life is as rich as her colors. The NY based, social activist turned artist's memoirs are quite a coming of age story.  

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

This is my all time favorite. An offer you cannot refuse. Go for it.

The tell tale brain by V S Ramachandran

He is considered as the next Indian who would probably win a Nobel prize. His work in neuroscience is path breaking. In this book, he introduces us to the amazing world of the human brain.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

When the light begins to change,

I sometimes feel a little strange,

A little anxious when it's dark ..

..Fear of the dark, ... (Iron Maiden)

The book that introduced this fear to mankind.

Bhaarathaparyadanam by Kutty Krishna Marar (in Malayalam language)

How do you write a commentary about a book that claims, "What is here is nowhere else, what is not here, is nowhere" ?
Marar does full justice to the Mahabharata in his essays on a few characters and poignant moments of this great epic. Besides offering you fresh insights, this book inspires you to read the epic, yet another time.

Khasaakkinte Ithihaasam by O V Vijayan (in Malayalam language)

Malayali's own magical realist, who incidentally was a contemporary of Marquez, tells an unforgettable story of a mythical village that stays with you long, long after you have put down the book.