Maximum Ride

My travel time to work is 30% more than the national average, which sucks, but it also gives me time to read books or fizzle out in my dreams; though I do the latter more, I do take out some time to read. For some reason, I wanted to experience Audiobooks and for a very long time a thriller.

Both the combination led me to James Patterson’s Maximum Ride. Maybe I did not read the label correctly as it was not the kind of thriller I was expecting. More on it later.

First my two cents on Audio books – I think Audio books are acquired taste. The book started with chapter one; skipping the forward, dedication and editor’s/Author’s note, which I read keenly in a book. A miss for me.  I found the voice childish, to begin with, but maybe that’s what the character demanded. The two biggest flaws for me were the emotions; the monologue does not capture the emotions well and same voice for different characters. Though when we read it’s our same voice as well, but we do it better, isn’t it?

Other things which I didn’t like were - You will not know when a chapter has ended, you will miss some words with the glitches in the audio, you have to listen else intently you will miss the bus, and most importantly you will not get a chance to pause to admire the work/words usage etc. well you can pause; but …

All is not bad, though – you can finish a book without straining your eyes in 4 hours. Hours depends on the book size. That’s about it!!!

Now on to the story. Unnecessary. Terrible. Childish. Nothing new.

The story starts with Max a fourteen-year-old mutant, a human form with wings living with the flock of five other mutant kids. They are hiding, hunted by another mutant race. They fly around six hundred miles to discover their destiny. No, it’s not about the travel, it's more about the individual instances that happen with them as a result of this journey.

Angel is kidnapped in the beginning, and the rest of them fly to rescue them, after rescuing they ran into various incidents with the same erasers!(other mutant race) Who at the end we find out does not want to do permanent damage to them – ON orders from Director. Yes, there is a larger plot too.

I didn’t realise that it is young adult fiction series. As the story moves rather slowly and when I started to wonder and looked on the internet to find out this is book 1 of 5-6 book series. God save me.

If you like reading mutant, YA, one kid saving the world shit, then this is for you. But even so, the lack of consistency in the book is horrendous. Suddenly the characters start using common human lingo – how is that possible when they have lived their entire life secluded. OKAY if you say that they watched it on TV, still how did they become so familiar with New York streets without prior knowledge?

Most frustrating thing was the sudden emotional / monologue statement which was completely out of place. For example, at numerous places, they are in near death situation and passing casual comments as if were on a dining table. It doesn’t fit well. 

I thought I picked up the book with different expectations and maybe that’s why I didn’t like it. But no the IMDB rating for the moving is below 4, that has to do with the movie direction but says something about the book too.

Maybe the larger plot, the journey keeps you interested in the book at some level.

 In the end; there’s nothing new and original, and I will not read the next books in the series.

Finally

Will I read the Author again – YES (not this series, though)

Will I read this book again – No

Will I recommend the book to others – No

Will I store the book in my “Library” – No

It’s all about Mahi

I received this book as part of an online request to review book from the Author on “For Writers By Authors” Facebook Group (Amazing Group By the way!!).

Now to the review …

But …before we start – I am not a professional reviewer as of yet(at least!) and with one published book so far in my kitty still exploring Authoring and hence all the books I read now, I read it with an Author lens, to see what I can learn from it, so my analysis probably will be a bit different. Please don’t get offended if the review is not what you thought it would be.

Okay now to the review …

It’s a pocket book and hence review will have to be pocket too.

The book starts on a simple note and there were Cricket references more than recent Dhoni’s movie recently; which I liked. The more I read the more disappointed I was with the book and the reasons below –

-       The book is more like Cricket commentary of two matches and that is the only likable thing in the book that you can relive the moments.

-       It’s called Fan story – but there is little how that star influenced Gaurav / Fan? How is had learnt or followed his star examples in his real life.

-       A lot of places there were generalization done “at country level”, the POV is completely screwed up. Why talk about whole India when it’s about one fan

-       And then there is cheesy love story – two chapters; with cliché sentences and “Holier than thou” sentences; maybe the author did not want to upset anyone – maybe parents. It felt more like he is justifying having a girlfriend and it’s not such a bad thing.

-       Apart from running around; OR maybe some crying; it is not clear why Gaurav is so passionate about Dhoni. Nothing on his style of batting or management style for which he is known for

-       Again a cliché of politician son sequence.

-       There is a timeline issue as well (I could be wrong too!!)- Barkha called his after so many years when he was 19 in first year collage then again in chapter “The Fight”, he was told to be from first year; but by then they were in relationship for couple of years.

-       Cricket stars nick names and acronyms were used – what happens to an audience who do not know about these acronyms

-       Also the choices of words – probably Editor’s fault were not good.

At the end, I can say only one thing that I am surprised to see positive comments for the book towards the start. I am sure someone else in Jamshedpur have written good material. I almost stopped reading it.

But I do wish you meet him in real life – if not already.

Finally

Will I read the Author again – Probably Not

Will I read this book again – NO

Will I recommend the book to others – NO

Will I store the book in my “Library” – NO

Vikkas Arun Pareek
Author of - Voices of the Silent Creek 

Maya's New Husband

Book Review: Maya's new husband 

I received this book as part of an online competition almost a year ago on “For Writers By Authors” Facebook Group (Amazing Group By the way!!). I never intended to read it, not because of the book, but me being a lazy reader and thank god that I didn’t read it any earlier as if I would have read it

1. I would not have glued to the book for almost two days. Between dinner, lunches and also thinking about the book in bed during various positions – you can imagine the repercussions of the last one

2. I would not have missed two meetings and sat for long minutes (stealing minutes wherever and whenever I could) in office toilet reading the book – wonder what my colleagues were thinking.

3. I would not have yelled in between (Part 2)…fuck this shit is super good

4. I would not have skipped chapters just to see what happened …this is the first time I did that and mind me I have read reasonably many good international thrillers.

Now to the review …

But …before we start – I am not a professional reviewer as of yet(at least!) and with one published book so far in my kitty still exploring Authoring and hence all the books I read now, I read it with an Author lens, to see what I can learn from it, so my analysis probably will be a bit different.

Okay now to the review …

  

Book starts with a cliché prologue, also the word Cliché is in editor’s note, probably Neil’s favourite word. Neil mentions three part series (which is good) but I thought the second part was call “The birth of the dead"; the name is different in the book.

I felt the flip between Maya’s life, also Aradhana (there were again cliché of old age – watching TV (National debate), nothing new have seen, read and debated many times) and Namrta’s character building was slow (does not hold interest to the fullest, more telling in between conversations!) compared with the torture and cannibalism scenes of the unknown man – here the scenes are more visual and lot of showing. This is the part which keeps the interest going for the book. There is though no mention of surroundings even from the victim POV.

The town is “Haridwar”, not “Hardwar” as mentioned in the book – probably intentionally.

One thing which I observed is the use of filler – “Explanation of Human Heart” and one more later in the book (which I can’t remember now!), which is really good and can be used effectively, it’s like the author is now interacting directly with the readers moving away a bit from the story. I will definitely use this concept in my next.

At this point I was thinking does cannibalism really happens? And I realized that I am on chapter 3. I was surprised and surely I have read more than that, I looked back and saw the unique way the numbering was done and then while doing so I read the chapter names/titles. This is the thing which kept me going till the end. The titles are amazing and it’s also amazing how they were used and referred in the chapters/story/sentences, which made me think – why do some books have titles and some not? What does putting or not putting a title tell about the Author? Is it always good to keep title? Something to think for my next book.

Some confusion, the unknown man eats human flesh once a week and he have had this place from last two years (that’s what he says in the book) and yet the count is very less – I think in chapter 5.

The loosing hearts chapter beautifully writes the transformation in behaviour from disliking someone to falling in love and the title is as apt

By this time; I had this thought at back, front and middle of my mind – this book is too restrictive. It tells all, its takes me to a path as a reader where I can find all the details. I don’t have to look outside its parameters. Everything, every detail, which my mind could think for was there, laid out like a path and I just have to relax, read and follow. I didn’t like it. I like to read books which leaves few things for the readers to imagine and explore. Otherwise what is the fun in reading? No doubt Neil being a teacher in his past life knows how to control his class J

(By the way this is appreciation as well as complain)

Some scenes are really strong and the visuals leave a mark; two examples are

1. Bhaskar ejaculating his fluids on Maya’s picture

2. Maya touching Bhaskar’s missing toe.

Do corn really grow near Haridwar / Hardwar? Couldn’t find any reference on internet; but I am sure Neil has done is due research.

At quite a few places, I found that the same sentences is written more than once very near to each other; which is repetitive.

I found that this book can be a good reference to someone who want to use big and fancy words to describe emotions. At some places it does feel that the word is placed out of the way.

Probably too early; but still this is where I got this emotion about the book – the story is predictable; I knew Bhaskar killed Samar on Maya’s wedding day in discussion with Namrata. Even the other parts are predictable, which is bit of a low point, I guess. But it one of those things, where you know the story, still it is interesting to read.  

Part one is not a rapid page turner; but nevertheless with an apt ending and also from POV perspective; Bhaskar emotions are well hidden with a purpose, I guess, which is good as well. But the question which I was juggling with was that – does this part wake your inner animal?

Now coming to Part II …

This is where the game begins. This is no doubt the best part of the book and I felt after a long time what does it mean to feel “sitting on the edge”. I always feel that when you say “Ah! This is the way it should have gone! What would have happened if this would have happened”, this is where I feel a book and characters have made their mark and part two is where I felt it, but I do hate the collateral damage (Padma).

Amazing thriller sequence; nerve breaking writing. Horrible (Amazing) absolutely horrible (Amazing). This is where I was shouting on top of my voice that this shit is really really really good and glad that I read the book :)

Part III - Bhaskar's past is bit of a lull before the storm, a filler, which pushes the interest away from the book ... like the first part 

Part IV

Chapter 21 – “tell her that day” ...it should be “tell her that yesterday” as it was only “Yesterday” the wedding day was.

I felt that Maya going in the garage was very flat and too long too (The kind of excitement does not stay which got created in part 2); ending is bit filmy; but who is to complaining – the book is going for a movie release and it does fit well.

One more question – Maya was not shown as a very strong lady (apart from not crying); but I didn’t understand why she did not raise any questions during their one month of marriage – not even one. Why did she become so submissive?  They had love marriage after all.

Last one promise – I assumed that this was a horror book– like ghosts and all; but I found a thriller not too scary (to my likesJ), maybe my expectation were huge reading all the discussions in the group.

In the end; it is a well written book, where some parts and narrations will leave you jumping from your seats. I wish Neil all the luck for his future endeavours and

Finally

Will I read the Author again – YES

Will I read this book again – YES (for reference)

Will I recommend the book to others – YES

Will I store the book in my “Library” – Probably Not 

Vikkas Arun Pareek 

Author of - Voices of the Silent Creek 

12 years a Slave

This is my first review and to start with I want to call it my experience with the book rather than a review. I am not at this time qualified to be a reviewer. Having read only about 2-3 books in last 5 years, I still have a long way to go. The experience is in chronological order as I captured my thoughts while I read the book.

The first thing which stuck me was the first publishing date. 1853. I had heard about the movie, but I never paid attention to the fact that the book could be from 19th century. It is fascinating that I was reading someone’s mind/thoughts after 162 years of them thinking/writing it. Authors have a responsibility as they leave a piece of history, even with fiction, for the future generations to experience and personally having not read anything written around that era, I did not have anything on hand to compare it with.

Story starts with Solomon as a free Negro living with his family in North US. The relationship with his father is narrated smoothly, an important piece of character building as with this he was shown to be a family man with deep rooted values of family , equality and liberty and if anyone wants to move half a century in a span of 5 pages, this would be a good read as the transition is smooth.

Solomon was lured into a business proposal and without informing the family, he started his travels, only to return after 12 years. He was drugged after an evening full of aspirations and future possibilities. The transition from a free man to a slave is depicted excellently; one aspect which comes out clearly, is Solomon’s thirst for water after he gains consciousness, this leaves reader (at least me) thirsty and longing for a drink.

The description of the Slave pen where he is kept initially to break his soul (as done with young elephants) is remarkable from a show and tell perspective. Question which came to my mind while reading is that does the onus of the art of show and tell,  fall more on the Author or editor.

It really tears the readers mind apart to experience the story of Eliza another slave who was also tricked into slavery and the loss of her two children leaves the reader shaken to the core. History is for us to learn and not repeat the same mistakes, but clearly we have not learnt a bit, future generations will read survival stories like this from today even in the present day conflict regions like Syria after many generations.

One writing concept or approach which is used extensively in the book is giving little teasers of what will happen in, let’s say the next ten years and then going with the story, it drops an element of surprise, but I found it an excellent way to convey a story. I would definitely recommend fellow authors to experience it. Appearance and explanations of characters are as and when they come or a little bit in advance ... Move to a new topic and come back to the story.

The book loses its pace in between when they are shipped like cattle to the south, the sale is depicted in great detail and there are many unnecessary details around that time, most of which are dry and lack flow, the only thing which I was compelled to think about is that Solomon’s life could have been different if he would have reached out to William Ford his first owner. The story would probably have gone a very different way.

Another event which leaves an impression is where Solomon is made to stand in the sun and awaiting the suspense of whether he would live or be hanged to death is amazing. The author for sure knows how to tempt the reader after a sluggish story line, just like pulling the rabbit out of the hat and putting it back. The author himself calls these events of sluggishness as “Light Description”

One thing which comes out in the narration is that he was among the lucky few, not because he escaped the life he was shoved into but also during that period, he did not go through the hell which others have gone and most time it feels as if the narration is like a defense, like he would be challenged, that he needed to present too many facts to prove his story. I found it demeaning to the attempt. He was too careful.

I found the book at various feet above the ground  at most of the places, the story, emotions, story of other slaves which was I think a miss and then there were description of Cotton and Sugarcane fields which were extremely pedantic and make the book significantly  lose the flow and pace.

Few likable events are when he talks about life being in remote places when he runs through the swamps, when he is brave enough to praise the better side of slavery, when he describe Violin as his friend and the Christmas description do take you back all these 170 years.

The Aha moment for me was when Patsy was stripped, tied to poles and lashed 45 times, the description is detailed enough to feel the bits of flesh taken out of your body, I found in this the reason why I want to read and write, the hunger to leave the reader awestruck.

I have learnt to show more gratitude towards the life I have, when Solomon can work 16 hours a day in a sugarcane field and get lashed and be given infected bacon for food, why do we complain?

Finally, if you are looking to reach out three times in a line for dictionary and find words which even your iPhone predictive text does not recommend easily, this book is for you. For me I am glad that I had this experience, do I want to have it again. Not really.


Please do leave your comments.

The Laws of the Spirit world review coming soon

The Laws of the Spirit World Review coming Soon