Posts

And Then There Were None

Image
Title:  And Then There Were None  Author:  Agatha Christie Agatha Christie is  known for her detective novels, short story collections, plays and famous detective sleuths Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.   "And Then There Were None” is based on a childhood poem which is exquisitely converted to a murder mystery. Ten little Soldier boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Soldier boys sat up little late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Soldier boys traveling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Soldier boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six. Six little Soldier boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little Soldier boys going in for law; One got into Chancery and then there were four. Four little Soldier boys going out to sea

The Time Machine

Image
Title: The Time Machine Author: H. G. Wells It begins with a dinner party hosted by the time traveler himself. At the dinner party he proposes the idea of time travel to group of friends but due to lack of their understanding they not quite well accept it. Next week he again invites them for dinner, to which he returns from his first time travel experience. The time traveler claims to travel to the future to the year 802,701 where he meets little people 'Eloi'. The Elois were childlike both by size and intellect. As he wanders around he discovers that his time machine had been dragged into foot of a statue. As he cant get to his machine he starts exploring the city. He climbs down a well and discovers Morlocks (group of ape like men) who live underground and are afraid of fire. In an ancient building he finds matches which happen to scare away the Morlocks. He eventually gets back to his time machine and comes back home. When he narrates his experience no one belie

Who Moved My Cheese?

Image
Title: Who Moved My Cheese? Author: Dr Spencer Johnson  My only regret after reading this book was "Why didn't I read it before?". The story features four characters: two mice (Sniff and Scurry) and two little people (Hem and Haw).The four of them trapped in a maze leave every day to find cheese. The little people use their brains and find the cheese where as the two mice use their sense of smell and find it. Soon the mice realize the cheese was diminishing and they start to find out new cheese. The little people think they have abundant cheese and don't need to worry. One day the cheese vanishes. Hem thinks that the cheese will come back while Haw starts his journey in search of new cheese. The mice (Sniff and Scurry) who accepted the fact that the cheese won't last forever and adapted to the change found out new cheese sooner. Haw learnt a lot of things during his journey finding cheese and wrote it on walls for Hem. Hem who was most resistant

The Eleventh Commandment

Image
Title: The Eleventh Commandment Author: Jeffrey Archer Thou Shalt Not Get Caught ...is the eleventh commandment on which the book is based. Conor Fitzgerald a chief assassin kills the president of Columbia on receiving orders from the chief of CIA. Cornor was a devoted family man and led a double life keeping his line of work a secret from his wife and daughter. He later comes across an enemy like never before, his own boss. The story continues with Cornor's escape from the death penalty and completing the mission and going home. The writing style is cinematic and makes us feel part of the story. The best part is the language, though being simple and easy it is quite effective. Reading this book felt effortless as the thriller continues on every page. After reading this book I'm definitely going to read more books by Jeffrey Archer .

Kim

Image
Title: Kim Author: Rudyard Kipling Rudyard Kipling  was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. He was born in India, which inspired much of his work. He is known for his fiction 'The Jungle Book'. Kim, a thirteen year old boy, grows up on the streets of Lahore. His mother died when he was born and his father was an officer in an Irish regiment who was also an opium addict. He was raised by a half-caste women who was a keeper of an opium den.  Kim was known as 'Friend of all the world' because of his love towards languages. One day when he was playing with his friends he meets  a Buddhist lama from Tibet who was in search of a Holy river that will wash away all the sin. He becomes his disciple ( chela).  Mahbub Ali, a horse trader gives Kim a message to deliver to a British officer. Kim and the lama begin their journey where they encounter all sorts of people and the adventure continues... Kim is a fascinating book.It is one of

The Alchemist

Image
Title: The Alchemist Author:  Paulo Coelho Paulo Coelho  is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He is best known for his novel The Alchemist. It is a story about Santiago, a shepherd boy. He loved to travel and also loved his sheep. He had recurrent dream about being in a field with his sheep and a child who began to play with his sheep and then suddenly the child took his hands and transported him to Egyptian pyramids and said that he'll find hidden treasure there. The book is about Santiago's journey finding the hidden treasure. During his journey he learns a lot of things. The book tells us to follow our heart and find our destiny. "MAKTUB"  means "it's written" i.e. everything that happens in our lives is already written. The message of the book is to follow our dreams without being afraid of the failures and overcome the obstacles that come in the path. 'There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear