Gone Girl

   Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl created quite a havoc since its release. And everyone is talking about it since the release of its movie.
The girl who inspired the collection of Amazing Amy series disappeared on the day of their 5th wedding anniversary. Left behind is a crime scene, an incriminating diary, revealing things that the husband Nick doesn’t know anything about and a series of clues, to find the 5th wedding gift for Nick. No one knows what has happened, but one thing is for sure. The perfect couple is not so perfect after all. The main suspect being, the unfaithful and clueless husband. Trying to prove his innocence, Nick discovers the not so amazing secrets about Amazing Amy’s past. But with every clue pointing towards him Nick is running out of time.
Frankly speaking I do not know what to say about this book. I cannot decide, whether I like the utter broken nature of all these relations, or hate them for being so. It is one of those books, which you have to slog through in the beginning, but cannot put down later due to the sheer need to understand how someone can go so completely out of hand. To say that the main character is a sociopath is an understatement. A book for those who do not mind being left frustrated in the end, who appreciate the brilliance of a flawless and evil plan, who understand that even hate can be all consuming. And finally who can believe that Justice is not always served in the end.

Divergent

 We do know something about dystopian government. But what if the government who controls you is all selfless and works for the good of everyone involved..?? This is what happens in Veronica Roth’s ‘Divergent’. Where you know exactly what to expect from people, where every emotion, every norm, every action is defined, or is it?
Beatrice Prior of Abnegation never feels like she belongs. And her aptitude test before the choosing day proves this. But is she brave enough to leave behind everything she has known, because even thinking so means going against everything she has been taught. The city has been divided in five factions, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, Candor and Erudite. These factions are exactly as their names suggest. Where the abnegation are selfless and form the government, the Dauntless are fearless, and provide protection, the Amity are happy go lucky, the Candor believe in truth, and the Erudite who provide technology for these factions. There are also the factionless, who do not belong anywhere, and then there are the Divergent, and being Divergent is dangerous. And though everything is defined, something is not right. Something is changing.
It’s hard to believe that a society can be divided so rigidly. But it’s also interesting to see how it will function if so divided. The characters are likeable, if somewhat extreme sometimes. (But I am sure you won’t mind that by the end of the series.) The book is fast paced, and thankfully you don’t have to go through the dissection of every emotion faced by every character. Though the starting of the initiation might come across as violent, later it makes sense. The concept is quite different from the ones we have come across. The book is a quick and interesting read. And other than a few deaths, which I find unnecessary, I would suggest this book for your to read list.
If you like this book, check out its sequels ‘Insurgent’ and ‘Allegiant’.

The Thirteenth Tale

   The name of Diane Setterfield’s novel in itself draws your attention to it.
‘The Thirteenth tale’ is unknown. Even though the book has been renamed and published famous author Vida Winter’s book ‘tales of change and desperation’ has always been known as the Thirteen Tales. Having more than fifty books under her belt, and constantly under the scrutiny of fans and journalists author Vida Winter is a recluse, and her life remains a mystery all these years, just like the thirteenth tale that was never published. This is until she invites amateur biographer Lea Margaret to tell her story to the world.
Haunted by her past, Vida Winter has kept her story from the world for a long time, and now that her end is eminent she wants to tell it to someone. Because once upon a time there was a dead mother, an inconsolable father, two children mentally unstable, and then along came twins. And this is the story of those twins, with many subplots in them. Margaret is captured by the story as soon as it starts, because her story is unimaginable in itself. It is not the fairytale you would expect but a nightmare. It is haunted by ghosts, the same ghosts which haunt Margaret, and that is what makes it dearer to her. Only the end is not what it seemed to be.
Just like the title the writing captures you. The characters are described easily. And Vida’s story is interesting. But, some of the descriptions are repetitive. Okay ‘hot, sweet tea’..?? We get it…!! Margaret’s character is too frail. Fainting, paling, crying this girl has got it all…!! The characters in Vida’s story make more of a mark than Margaret. And the book would have been so much better if all the characters weren’t so intenseeee… the book is light, but sometimes, it just wears you out. And if you don’t mind tragic family stories then I would surely suggest it to add in your ‘to read’ list.

The Fault in our Stars

    Post the release of its film, people have been talking a lot about John Green’s ‘The fault in our Stars’. To be fair, it has been famous since the book was released and there is no stopping it’s fans raving about the book. And one such fan put it in my hands.
Being forced to attend the support group, feels like torture to Hazel Grace Lancaster until the day she meets Augustus Waters who has come to support their mutual friend Isaac. Inviting Hazel for a movie, Augustus and Hazel become instant friends, and something more. Hazel and Augustus exchange their favourite books. And soon even Augustus agrees that Hazels favourite book ‘An Imperial Affliction’ is the best that they have come across. And though they have a lot of questions about the book, they cannot be answered as the author Peter Van Houten has become a recluse after the publishing and no one knows where he is. After this conversation, Augustus miraculously finds the author through his secretary, and using his cancer wish, arranges a trip for him and Hazel to meet the author. What follows is a beautiful date, disastrous meeting and life changing revelations.
Though people swear that some of the parts were funny, I couldn’t find them. A lot of life philosophies are spouted in the book by the protégés, but even though they are dying, they are still teenagers and it feels odd imagining them say such things. ‘The marks humans leave are too often scars.’ Okay…who says that…and what’s with Augustus’s way of living life in a metaphor…?? Some of the obsessions are insanely weird, like the swings and breakfast. As for their cute love story, feels like just another ‘beautiful, tragic love affair’. I won’t stop you from reading this book, but if it doesn’t live up to your expectations then don’t say that you weren’t warned.

The Help

      Having been on many best sellers list, Kathryn Stockett’s ‘The Help’ created quite a stir. The story revolves around what it is to be a black maid during the civil rights movement in the conflicted Mississsippi written from the point of view of three totally different women.
Her maid Constantine has raised Skeeter since she was a little girl. All that she wants to do after coming home from her college is to talk to her, after the constant naggings of her mother. But, Constantine has disappeared and no one is ready to tell her the truth about what happened to her. When her only hope to live up to her dream is writing a column about domestic cleaning in a local journal, she seeks the help of Aibleen hoping that, she might tell her what happened to Constantine.
When Aibleen tells her about her son’s idea to write a book about being a black person in Mississippi, Skeeter is intrigued, and decides to write the book herself. But writing it isn’t as easy as it seems. Being caught for telling their stories means getting fired, and never finding a job again (at the least) for the maids and being forever out cast from the people in the town, especially her friends, for Skeeter. Harder is convincing the maids to come out and tell their stories.
The book progresses, from the point of view of Aibleen, Skeeter and Minny(the outspoken one) it revolves around their lives, and those of their employers.
Aibleen is steady, caring and dependable. Minny is someone you would like to have by your side during a crisis. Whereas, Skeeter is someone who needs to be there, to hear you out. Though based on a serious topic, this book is a quick read. The characters are likeable. The three different points of view keep it interesting. Surely should be read.

The Summer I turned Pretty

     The cute title was what first made me read Jenny Han’s ‘The summer I turned Pretty’. Everyone loves summer, and Belly does more so, because summer is the time when every year her mother, Steven and Belly go to the Susannah’s summer house on Cousins Beach, It is where Conrad and Jeremiah will be.

Belly has been going to the beach house for as long as she can remember. It is a place where no rules apply, where the only thing to do is have fun, and though being the only girl makes her feel left out sometimes, summer is the only time, for which Belly seems to live throughout the year. Belly’s mom and Susannah call themselves Blood Sisters, and summers in Susannah’s beach house is their tradition. Susannah is sweet, and Belly is the daughter that she never had. But everything about this summer feels different. Steven (Belly’s older brother) is going to college, that fall. Conrad too will start college soon. And summer won’t be the same again. Belly wants it to be perfect. But, Conrad is acting like a jerk. Jeremiah is acting weird. Steven is gone too soon. And her mom and Susannah are always out. Cam is sweet and cute…but whatever happens he is no Conrad.

While it is supposed to be a summer read, I found it a bit too serious and dragged out. All I wanted to do was shake Belly up, and say you have three guys going for you and you are still whining…?? What else do you want..?? Saying that she is immature is an understatement. Seriously, what girl finds sooo many faults in her mom’s judgement? And if everything revolved around Conrad from the beginning…why is she so confused about him now? Baseline being, that I found the book kind of irritating. I guess hard core love story fans may try it, but really…I don’t think you should bother.
But if you are the kind of person who has to complete a series once started then check out it’s sequels.

School Spirits

     A spin off to the much loved Hex Hall series, Rachel Hawkins gives us School Spirits. Finley has disappeared and Isolde and Aislinn seem to be the only Brannicks left, when after 6 months of following clues and suspects lead to nothing, Aislinn decides, to return back to their ways. Ideal is a small town in Missisippi, with a haunting of its own, which is Izzy’s next task.
Adjusting to a normal life (for us that is) is hard for Izzy. It’s a constant turmoil of how to fit in with the school and keep a low profile. For someone like Izzy who has never been to school and never had friends other than her older sister (who is missing) it is hard. What she finds surprising is how quickly she makes friends and even develops a crush. Torin(guy in the mirror) and Izzy try to guess the power behind the ghost, taking help from the PMS(Paranormal Management Society). But it turns out that this haunting is not as easy as it seemed.
This book is totally different from what I expected it to be. Izzy is lovable, but I missed Sophie’s Sarcasm. Though Rachel Hawkins tries to make it funny, it is nothing like Hex hall. The characters I feel are not as well developed, and Torin is the only one who makes you want to read the sequels. And since the book does not deal with other prodigium, basically is about a ghost haunting it feels like a sublime version of R.L Stine books, except with a happier ending.

Hex Hall

      Think supernaturals are cool…?? Then this book is definitely for you. I love all things witches, shifters and fae. Put them all in a single book and it is bound to be good. Add in a little forbidden romance, kick ass powers and lots of sarcasm….and Ta –da you get Rachel Hawkins’ ‘Hex Hall’.
Raised by her mom, and always on the run from what she doesn’t know Sophie Mercer is sent to Hecate a.k.a Hex Hall when a love spell for a classmate goes horribly wrong. Situated on an isolated island, this juvie for supernaturals, is the new school for Sophie. And if being sent wasn’t enough, she manages to make the 3 powerful witches hate her, befriends the only vampire who happens to be an outcast among them, gets attacked by a were (almost) and develops a futile crush on the most gorgeous warlock all on the first day not to mention ending up in a semester long detention in the following week. But sadly for Sophie this isn’t all the trouble that she gets into.
Witches are getting hurt, and the only suspect is her roommate and best friend Jenna, and though Sophie tries to think of every plausible explanation, which doesn’t include her no one is ready to listen. Also she seems to be haunted by a ghost, which is supposed to be impossible not to mention all those spells which still go wrong and what was it about demons?

I love Sophie’s sarcasm in the book, the way she always has a quip for everything. And like every fangirl, developed a total full blown crush on Archer Cross and then on Cal(read the sequels, and so will you) and cute vampire with pink strip, sweet. And even though you might hate the trio witches…let me tell you that Elodie is awesome later…
This book is for all those who like YA fiction and are looking for a quick read.

And I know you won’t sit quietly until you finish the whole series.

 

Rebecca

                         After being on my reading list for as long as I remember, I finally got around to reading Daphne Du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’. A gothic romance published in 1938, Rebecca has been in print ever since. Having heard a lot of people praising it, I read the book, not knowing what it was about (not the best idea, but I would probably reject half the books otherwise). Rebecca, or Mrs. De Winter the first, tragically killed in an accident (or so it seems), beautiful, fun, kind, perfect in every way, loved by all and Maxim de Winter, the rich, handsome husband seem like the perfect pair to all those around. Their story is like a fairytale, until she disappears. Enter, our narrator shy, young, awkward who inexplicably, steals Maxim’s heart away, and are married soon after their acquaintance. But how can she take place of Rebecca? When Mrs.Danvers keeps her alive every day, when Maxim seems to always be haunted by her memory, when everything in the house bears her signature. And then the day after the disastrous ball, her body is discovered, and all that was assumed as truth about her death, is in fact all a lie.

I don’t know about most of the people who have read this book, but I found it absolutely weird. To begin with, we do not know the narrators name till the end. And seriously, who in their right minds, decide to marry after a courtship of a fortnight or so??? i seriously found a whole lot of jealousy in the book…seriously people, how can you be living in such a beautiful place and yet have so much negative in you??. For those who like classics, may want to read it, But to all the teenagers and feminists out there, I would not suggest this book.

The Summons

         So, there was this room at a relative’s place, with 2 bagfuls of books, and one of the bags was my vacation gift (some people can really give the best gifts…!!!). A lucky draw and out came ‘The Summons’ by John Grisham. And before reading the back of the book, I was already sold to the idea of finishing it that day.
Rueben Atlee, a judge, now almost dying. Ray Atlee, law professor. Forrest Atlee, addict. Everything that Rueben Atlee ever earned has gone to charity. His life is an open book for everyone who knows him. Strict, disciplinarian and honest, is what defines Rueben Atlee. When Ray receives a letter from his father, telling him to come home to discuss the will, he accepts knowing that it would probably be the last visit to his father. Surprisingly, his brother, who had vowed never to set foot on the property 9 years ago, agrees to come. It’s time to meet, and Ray has reached the house. But Rueben Atlee is already dead, with a will on the desk, whose contents are not surprising (contrary to all the mysteries which generally involve a will), but what is surprising is the three million dollars found near his body. It seems now that Ray is the only person who knows about the money, but is he?
Having read The Firm, The Rainmaker to mention a few, I know John Grisham has done a lot better. Personally speaking, though not his best work to date, I think it’s worth a try.