Vaibhav Anand's Blog, page 6
March 24, 2017
Book Review: Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
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I was directed to Ted Chiang's book from the movie "Arrival" which is based on one of the stories here. The movie itself was mildly disappointing with the central thread of thought seeming a little too thin to weave a 2 hour movie around.
However, the book itself is mind-alteringly brilliant. Just like the movie and Chiang's "The Story of your life" chapter which propose that learning a new language can change the way you think, this book will make you question reality, the future, God and everything else you take for granted. I enjoyed "Understand" most but every story deserves to be read and digested.
I got lost a little bit in the golem story (which is why I am rating this book 4/5) but overall, Chiang has made me question the adequacy of my own comparatively earthly ideas as an author myself. I can safely say Chiang's stories and ideas will haunt me for the rest of my life. And that is why everyone needs to read 'Stories of your lives and others' - to consume, understand and digest Chiang's universe that will make you question and acknowledge every little molecule you ever come across in your life.
I was directed to Ted Chiang's book from the movie "Arrival" which is based on one of the stories here. The movie itself was mildly disappointing with the central thread of thought seeming a little too thin to weave a 2 hour movie around. However, the book itself is mind-alteringly brilliant. Just like the movie and Chiang's "The Story of your life" chapter which propose that learning a new language can change the way you think, this book will make you question reality, the future, God and everything else you take for granted. I enjoyed "Understand" most but every story deserves to be read and digested.
I got lost a little bit in the golem story (which is why I am rating this book 4/5) but overall, Chiang has made me question the adequacy of my own comparatively earthly ideas as an author myself. I can safely say Chiang's stories and ideas will haunt me for the rest of my life. And that is why everyone needs to read 'Stories of your lives and others' - to consume, understand and digest Chiang's universe that will make you question and acknowledge every little molecule you ever come across in your life.
February 10, 2017
The Great War of Hind on Kindle Monthly Deal
Rs. 20 only (85% off)
February 2, 2017
November 12, 2016
Book Review: 2 States by Chetan Bhagat
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I hadn't read Chetan Bhagat for at least 5 years, having read his books last in college. Given this, I thought of most of the criticism and ridicule surrounding his writing as actually being jealousy. I have found more than enough people who have claimed that Chetan stole their life story/ stories for his books or got someone they knew to ghost write his books, etc.
'2 States' however brought into stark contrast what a terrible writer Chetan actually is. Not only is his grammar dysfunctional, his prejudices and his prurience seem so pungent that his writing will end up frustrating you.
At least 2 people have told me that '2 States' was based on their life and was thus, plagiarized by Chetan. An equal number told me that their love story was the same as '2 States'. Above all, Chetan is a brilliant marketer because every B-Schooler who happens to fall in love/ get married in B-School will tend to call '2 States' as the book that defines his/ her love story.
I got this book free of cost and even then, it disgusted me. Read at your own peril.
I hadn't read Chetan Bhagat for at least 5 years, having read his books last in college. Given this, I thought of most of the criticism and ridicule surrounding his writing as actually being jealousy. I have found more than enough people who have claimed that Chetan stole their life story/ stories for his books or got someone they knew to ghost write his books, etc.
'2 States' however brought into stark contrast what a terrible writer Chetan actually is. Not only is his grammar dysfunctional, his prejudices and his prurience seem so pungent that his writing will end up frustrating you.
At least 2 people have told me that '2 States' was based on their life and was thus, plagiarized by Chetan. An equal number told me that their love story was the same as '2 States'. Above all, Chetan is a brilliant marketer because every B-Schooler who happens to fall in love/ get married in B-School will tend to call '2 States' as the book that defines his/ her love story.
I got this book free of cost and even then, it disgusted me. Read at your own peril.
October 23, 2016
Book Review: Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1) by Lee Child
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What I hate about the Jack Reacher series is that the climaxes are always somewhat disappointing... underwhelming. I have read two of Lee Child's Reacher books earlier but was put off by the bare-knuckled-ness of the climax. Unless writers can bring the science behind action scenes alive, I have always found them to be hard to believe.
With Killing Floor, I decided to go to Reacher's origins since I thought Lee Child must have done something right to get a series contract from his publisher. While overall the book was racy and an easy-read, I found Child to be very much an author writing his first book. The character shrug a lot, like once every half page... and every character - young and old, male and female - does that. Reacher is interesting and has smart insights as an ex-Military Policeman but the action scenes seem just too easy, the die loaded in Reacher's favor always.
I am going off the Reacher series now. Higashino has proved far too reliable in comparison.
What I hate about the Jack Reacher series is that the climaxes are always somewhat disappointing... underwhelming. I have read two of Lee Child's Reacher books earlier but was put off by the bare-knuckled-ness of the climax. Unless writers can bring the science behind action scenes alive, I have always found them to be hard to believe.
With Killing Floor, I decided to go to Reacher's origins since I thought Lee Child must have done something right to get a series contract from his publisher. While overall the book was racy and an easy-read, I found Child to be very much an author writing his first book. The character shrug a lot, like once every half page... and every character - young and old, male and female - does that. Reacher is interesting and has smart insights as an ex-Military Policeman but the action scenes seem just too easy, the die loaded in Reacher's favor always.
I am going off the Reacher series now. Higashino has proved far too reliable in comparison.
Book Review: Jihadi Jane by Tabish Khair
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'Jihadi Jane' is one of those books where the title and the hype are far better than the actual product. At best, the book was a mildly engaging tale of a youngster's tryst with the ISIL. I am not very clear what really put me off about this book - yes, the accents seemed a touch desperate but they weren't really the worst thing about 'Jihadi Jane'. What perhaps disappointed me that the book read like the female ISIL version of Reluctant Fundamentalist (it uses the same narrative style). Also with a title like 'Jihadi Jane' I expected the book to be the story of someone like Hejiye - a real fundamentalist operative - versus Jamila.
Even so, not a terrible read. Will take your mind off a 3 hour flight.
'Jihadi Jane' is one of those books where the title and the hype are far better than the actual product. At best, the book was a mildly engaging tale of a youngster's tryst with the ISIL. I am not very clear what really put me off about this book - yes, the accents seemed a touch desperate but they weren't really the worst thing about 'Jihadi Jane'. What perhaps disappointed me that the book read like the female ISIL version of Reluctant Fundamentalist (it uses the same narrative style). Also with a title like 'Jihadi Jane' I expected the book to be the story of someone like Hejiye - a real fundamentalist operative - versus Jamila.
Even so, not a terrible read. Will take your mind off a 3 hour flight.
September 24, 2016
Book Review: Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino
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'Salvation of a Saint' sees Higashino at his competent best. As is the norm with Higashino, you know who committed the murder pretty much as soon as the book starts but with every turn of the investigation, the crime continues to be impossible to commit. There is a forbidden pleasure in rooting for the criminal which matched with the unusual overturned plot structure which makes Higashino's books one of a kind. I finished the book in three sittings and found it impossible to put it down.
On par with 'Devotion of Suspect X'. I was blown away by the climax - it was entirely unimaginable.
On par with 'Devotion of Suspect X'. I was blown away by the climax - it was entirely unimaginable.
Book Review: Malice by Keigo Higashino
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'Malice' is one of Higashino's earlier books, before he became a global sensation with Suspect X. I am in the middle of a Higashino binge (finished and loved 'Salvation of a Saint' before 'Malice') and so far, he hasn't disappointed.
'Malice' sees Higashino use the unreliable narrator tool that is always so effective. The final act was a bit of a stretch for Higashino's detective to have stumbled upon with a very small clue; even so, the author remained true to his billing.
'Malice' isn't Higashino at his best. But standalone, deserves to be read anyway.
'Malice' sees Higashino use the unreliable narrator tool that is always so effective. The final act was a bit of a stretch for Higashino's detective to have stumbled upon with a very small clue; even so, the author remained true to his billing.
'Malice' isn't Higashino at his best. But standalone, deserves to be read anyway.
September 16, 2016
State with most burnt vehicles to get more Cauvery water: SC
Satire...
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ruled that the state that would burn more vehicles would get more cusecs of Cauvery water. A one judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that since both states had already invested significant resources in destroying resources, it would now consider this only while making its final decision.
“Instead of relying on committees and subcommittees and surveyors for farmland and reservoir levels, we now believe that a count of burnt vehicles would serve as a better benchmark for how much water each side requires,” the Supreme Court said today in its judgment.
So far Karnataka leads the burnt vehicle count with 105 vehicles burnt to Tamil Nadu’s 3.
“They should also take into account the number of establishments damaged”, an agitated Tamil protestor said. “We have not been able to burn as many buses and trucks as Kannadigas but we are neck to neck on shops or offices destroyed.”
Both sides planned to burn more buses to protest against the order.
http://my.fakingnews.firstpost.com/politics/state-burnt-vehicles-get-cauvery-water-sc-28136
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ruled that the state that would burn more vehicles would get more cusecs of Cauvery water. A one judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that since both states had already invested significant resources in destroying resources, it would now consider this only while making its final decision.
“Instead of relying on committees and subcommittees and surveyors for farmland and reservoir levels, we now believe that a count of burnt vehicles would serve as a better benchmark for how much water each side requires,” the Supreme Court said today in its judgment.So far Karnataka leads the burnt vehicle count with 105 vehicles burnt to Tamil Nadu’s 3.
“They should also take into account the number of establishments damaged”, an agitated Tamil protestor said. “We have not been able to burn as many buses and trucks as Kannadigas but we are neck to neck on shops or offices destroyed.”
Both sides planned to burn more buses to protest against the order.
http://my.fakingnews.firstpost.com/politics/state-burnt-vehicles-get-cauvery-water-sc-28136
August 27, 2016
The Great War of Hind: Ongoing deals on Amazon
Great War of Hind paperback version available for Rs. 99 only. Kindle version for Rs. 26
Link: http://amzn.to/2bWvzao
Link: http://amzn.to/2bWvzao
