WARLIGHT   [AKASH NS]








The term warlight was used to describe the dimmed lights that guided emergency traffic during London's wartime blackouts. The word aptly describes the atmosphere of this haunting, brilliant novel from Ondaatje (The Cat's Table), set in Britain in the decades after WWII, in which many significant facts are purposely shrouded in the semidarkness of history. The narrator, Nathaniel Williams, looks back at the year 1945, when he was 14 and "our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals." Nathaniel and his older sister, Rachel, are stunned to discover that their mother's purported reason for leaving them was false. Her betrayal destroys their innocence; they learn to accept that "nothing was safe anymore." To the siblings' surprise, however, their designated guardian, their upstairs lodger, whom they call the Moth, turns out to be a kind and protective mentor. His friend, a former boxer nicknamed the Pimlico Darter, is also a kindly guide, albeit one engaged in illegal enterprises in which he enlists Nathaniel's help. The story reads like a nontraditional and fascinating coming-of-age saga until a violent event occurs midway through; the resulting shocking revelations open the novel's second half to more surprises. The central irony is Nathaniel's eventual realization that his mother's heroic acts of patriotism during and after the war left lasting repercussions that fractured their family. Mesmerizing from the first sentence, rife with poignant insights and satisfying subplots, this novel about secrets and loss may be Ondaatje's best work yet

The Devil and Miss Prym (Book Review) - S R Santhini

    From the age of reason to this moment, the aspect of 'Good and Evil' is always a burning issue in humankind. Through the novel 'The Devil and Miss Prym' Paulo Coelho gives us a range of fulgurant thoughts regarding this clash between good and evil inside everyone.

The stranger who has been a business man comes to a small village called Viscos  after the tragic experience of losing his family in a merciless murder. His motive was to know whether good or evil exists. He is offering ten gold bar to the village as the reward for a murder and a gold bar to Miss Prym who was being used by him to proceed his game.  Then on the conflict between greed and goodness of Miss Prym, who has been dreaming of leaving the village and living a luxurious life but still loves her village much, began. She somehow let the people know about the offer made by the stranger. Thereafter the writer makes us very anxious to see how the good or evil succeeds in such a battle.  Another thing he implicitly conveys is that people always try to make excuses to justify their own acts of rightness and wrongness. Here the coward village people also find such an excuse not only to get the gold bars but also to expose themselves still good.
The other characters like Berta and the Priest too help give some insights throughout the story. The story, within the story, of Ahab striked me much. It tells us that even in a worst or most cruel person, we can figure out virtues. 
      
 Really loved the book. It was not merely a journey through the most beautiful village but a fictional journey  through the world where still good and evil fight together to make the good succeeded at last.....as Paulo Coelho, my favorite writer, says "Evil had to manifest itself and fulfil its role, so that ultimately Good could prevail.”

                                                                                                              WARLIGHT                                                                                                                                                       The term warlight was used to describe the dimmed lights that guided emergency traffic during London's wartime blackouts. The word aptly describes the atmosphere of this haunting, brilliant novel from Ondaatje (The Cat's Table), set in Britain in the decades after WWII, in which many significant facts are purposely shrouded in the semidarkness of history. The narrator, Nathaniel Williams, looks back at the year 1945, when he was 14 and "our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals." Nathaniel and his older sister, Rachel, are stunned to discover that their mother's purported reason for leaving them was false. Her betrayal destroys their innocence; they learn to accept that "nothing was safe anymore." To the siblings' surprise, however, their designated guardian, their upstairs lodger, whom they call the Moth, turns out to be a kind and protective mentor. His friend, a former boxer nicknamed the Pimlico Darter, is also a kindly guide, albeit one engaged in illegal enterprises in which he enlists Nathaniel's help. The story reads like a nontraditional and fascinating coming-of-age saga until a violent event occurs midway through; the resulting shocking revelations open the novel's second half to more surprises. The central irony is Nathaniel's eventual realization that his mother's heroic acts of patriotism during and after the war left lasting repercussions that fractured their family. Mesmerizing from the first sentence, rife with poignant insights and satisfying subplots, this novel about secrets and loss may be Ondaatje's best work yet             


                                (Submitted by :AKASH NS)

The Symbols in the story Sparrows by K.A Abbas - Anirudh S Bhaskaran

The story Sparrows by K.A Abbas (1914-1987) , is one that requires much more than just surface-level reading. It is a story, which thoroughly makes use of its setting, events and characters to convey a touching and intimate side to a misunderstood farmer, Rahim Khan, who is despised and cast out from society due to his insolent and savage exterior. There are many instances in this story which can be considered as a symbol and these are a few noteworthy ones.

1, The Setting Sun

"The sun was setting behind the mango grove which fringed the western extremity of the village when Rahim Khan returned from the fields"

- The story begins with a seemingly simple line which when read at a glance, conveys nothing more than the environment in which the story takes place. However, just as a Rising Sun is metaphorically seen as victory and hope (Just like the what the flag of Japan symbolises), the Setting Sun gives the reader a rather small idea that the story deals with the decline and impending death of the character, that is, Rahim Khan.

2, The Plough

"Broad and strong despite his fifty odd years, with his plough on his shoulders, and driving his two oxen, he walked through the village with a haughty and unfriendly air"

- All his frustrations, unfulfilled dreams and hatred of certain people in his life, have all pent up into this massive burden that he carries throughout his life. His dream of travelling with the Circus was shut down by his parents as they felt it was "too lowly" and "immoral" for a "respectable peasant". This along with his desire to marry a girl of his choice, Radha, was quashed as she was a Hindu and to do so would be "irreligious"

3, The Hut

"The subject of their conversation, meanwhile, had reached his hut which, almost symbolically, stood gaunt and aloof, at a distance from the neighbouring cluster of houses" 

"Seething with inward wrath he entered the dark hut and sat down on the charpoy"

- The hut symbolises Rahim Khan himself. It shows how he has been excluded and alienated from society and how people avoid him at all costs. It points to how he has been deserted by his wife and two sons and there is almost nothing but darkness inside. All the pain he inflicted upon his family in that very hut, is the same he suffers within. He finally dies inside the very same hut, consumed by all the bitterness and darkness with a sliver of virtue. 

4, The Cobwebs

"In a corner they revealed some cobwebs and, having already decided to absent himself from his fields, he thought he would tidy his hut"

- The cobwebs refer to the past that has enwrapped him and made him the person he is today, concealing the true man his deep below. The sun streaming in through the open window as mentioned in the line prior to this, showcases that a ray of positivity has found its way into the "dark" hut. His decision to clean up the cobwebs is a symbol that he is ready to move on and turn over a new leaf and not let his bitter and disappointing past define who he is as a person today.

5, His Wife and Children

- He sees his family as objects to vent out his anger and to carry out his vengeance. His wife is referred to as "a necessary piece of furniture" and is described to have been waiting for him on their wedding day as "a sheep awaits the butcher". It highlights a patriarchal society that women live in and the abuse they sustain. his children also fall victim to his rage and run away, eventually followed by their mother. Rahim Khan's family was the only part of his life that added any sort of sustenance to his life and once that had escaped his clenches, he began introspecting. But by then, he was thirty years too late.   

5, The Sparrows 

- The very title of the story. Sparrows signify a sense of community and happiness. Rahim Khan observes the family of sparrows and learns the true meaning of family. He is drawn to the birds and even goes on to the name the young ones after his very own children, Nuru and Bundu. He views the family as his own and the nest as what his house could have been, a home. The manner in which the sparrows takes care of their young ones teaches Rahim Khan the essence of being a parent and husband. His act of saving the nest from the rain is proof of this as he is now no longer the man that he was.

Tell me your dreams- Sidney Sheldon (By Ann Lopez)

       















         

         Tell me your dreams is a novel written by American writer Sidney Sheldon, and was published in 1998.

      The first part of the book tells about 3 women, Ashley Patterson, Antonette (Toni) Prescott and Alette Peters. Toni and Alex seems to know each other and Toni has a dislike for Ashley because of her shy and introverted nature. Towards the end of the first part it is revealed that Alette and Tony are alters of Ashley who suffers from multiple personality disorder or M.P.D.
who arose as a result of the experiences Ashley had to face from her father, Dr. Steven Patterson. Ashley is convicted for the murder of the Deputy who was at her house for investigation. The second half deals with Ashley's trial and how her lawyer convinces the Attorney of her condition and how her doctor helps her overcome her condition and the hatred for her father.

           This is a very interesting book Sheldon is successful in taking us on a tour through the mind of a person suffering from MPD, the challenges she has to face and how she overcomes it.
     

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON- KATE BOWLER 
by Bijoy

With grace, wisdom, and humor, Bowler (Blessed), a divinity professor at Duke University, tells of her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment in a way that pierces platitudes to showcase her resilience in the face of impending death. At 35 years old, after months of enduring stomach pains and visiting specialists who had conflicting suggestions, Bowler was rushed into emergency surgery for stage IV colon cancer. Surrounded by her husband, very young son, and a host of supportive friends, she faces down the likelihood that she will not live a year. As she responds well to treatment, she enters a period of uncertainty, hoping to survive and maximize her time with her family. Throughout her account of weekly flights to Atlanta from North Carolina for experimental therapy and realizations that each holiday might be her last, she relates her suddenly terrifying life to her academic work on the prosperity gospel—a peculiarly American belief in deserved success and control that is at odds with her current life. Bowler’s lovely prose and sharp wit capture her struggle to find continued joy after her diagnosis. This poignant look at the unpredictable promises of faith will amaze readers.

 What If It's Us                          by atul

Authors Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Silvera (They Both Die at the End) team up for a charming, sweet-natured love story between two very different boys. Arthur (written by Albertalli) is in New York for the summer while his lawyer mother works a big case. His family’s affluent and Jewish, and he’s a Broadway geek and a virgin with good grades. Native New Yorker Ben (Silvera) is Puerto Rican. His family’s on a tight budget, he’s just out of a relationship, and he’s stuck in summer school. Arthur believes in love at first sight; Ben’s not even sure he believes in love. After they bump into each other at a post office, then are separated by a flash mob, Arthur searches the New York haystack to find one adorable high school junior. But the course of meet-cute never did run smooth: complications include friends, Ben’s ex, cultural differences, and the difficult and confusing nature of love. The authors—one known for happy endings, the other for breaking hearts—split the difference believably, and it’s impossible not to root for Arthur and Ben and their many do-overs. Ages 14–up.

BHARGAVINILAYAM- Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (by: Aswathy A S)(8243)

          Bhargavinilayam' is the famous novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.Vaikom Muhammad Basheer,fondly known as Beypore Sultan,was an Indian independence activist and writer of malayalam literature.He was a writer,humanist,freedom fighter,novelist and short story writer,noted for his path-breaking,down-to-earth style of writing that made him equally popular among literary critics as well as the common man.His notable works include Balyakalasakhi,Shabdangal,Pathummayude Aadu,Mathilukal,Ntuppuppakkorannendarnnu,Janmadinam and Anargha Nimisham and the translations of his work into other languages have earned him worldwide acclaim.

       '

                  'Bhargavinilayam' is one of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's most beautiful novel ever. It tells the story of a writer who comes to a village with the intention of writing a story. He rents a small house named Bhargavinilayam ,which is the spookiest topic of the villagers. Unthinking of what he might encounter at the house,the writer starts living there. This is where he first comes in contact with the ghost of a girl called Bhargavi who death is shrouded with mystery. The writer is then inspired by the events to write a story about the girl and solve the mystery of her death. The story mainly revolves around just four characters. Although made in the year 1964, the script,the cast,dialogues,direction has so much style,that it is undeniably worth all the rewards it has recevied.

INTO THE WATER-BOOK REVIEW BY PAUL THALIATH

INTO THE WATER

THE NOVEL IS WRITTEN BY PAULA HAWKINS.JULES ABOTT,THE HEROINE OF BESTSELLER HAWKINS TWISTY SECOND PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER,VOWED NEVER TO RETURN TO THE SLEEPY ENGLISH TOWN OF BECKFORD AFTER AN INCIDENT WHEN SHE WAS A TEENAGER DROVE A WEDGE BETWEEN HER AND HER OLD SISTER,NEL.BUT NOW NEL,A WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER,IS THE LATEST IN A LONG STRING OF WOMEN FOUND DEAD IN A PART OF THE LOCAL RIVER KNOWN AS THE DROWNING POOL.AS NEL PUT IT,'BECKFORD IS NOT A SUICIDE SPOT.BECKFORD IS A PLACE TO GET RID OF TROUBLESOME WOMEN'.BEFORE NELS DEAD,THE BEST FRIEND OF HER SURLY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER,LENA,DROWNED HERSELF,AN ACT THAT HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON BOTH NEL AND LENA.BECKFORT HISTORY IS DRIPPING WITH WOMEN WHO'VE THROWN THEMESELVES-OR BEEN PUSHED?-OFF THE CLIFFS INTO THE DROWNING POOL,AND EVERYONE FROM THE POLICE DETECTIVE,PLAGUED BY HIS OWN DEMON,WORKING THE CASE TO THE NEW COP IN TOWN WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE.

I Too Had A Love Story - Review by Anna Eldho

               I Too Had A Love Story                                - Ravinder Singh

"Not everyone in this world has the fate to cherish the fullest form of love. Some are born just to experience the abbreviation of it"
This line captured not my eyes, but my heart!
 I Too Had A Love Story is the debut novel of Ravinder Singh. Somewhat it is his real life story.
         Being a love story, the genre seems very interesting and appealing to many youngster who have experienced the essence lof love and who had sacrficed something for other's happiness. The male and female protagonists of this story, Ravin and Khushi fall in love with each other. Those minute incidents that happens between them had been potrayed very nicely that even a cold hearted man can feel their love.
             Just a simple story but while reading the book, we will realise that the author had put his heart and soul in this book. Obviously its a feel good one.

THE GIRL IN ROOM 105-Sanjay Krishna

The Girl in room 105 is the eighth fictional novel and the tenth overall book written by Indian author Chetan Bhagat. The book becomes a best seller. It tells about an IIT coaching class tutor who goes to wish his ex-girlfriend on her birthday and finds her murdered. The novel is gritty and romantic at the same time. It's a book that makes us feel that we don't want to stop reading. This novel has a much better presentation of characters and things happening.  In fact, the novel is a pretty unconventional book. As we read the story it shifts to detective mode, building suspense and twists. It is really a different one by Chetan Bhagat.

CALLING SEHMAT-Dona Sara Ebby

Calling Sehmat by Harinder Sikka is a thrilling story of a spy who, in service of her nation, gave all herself and that of her family so that we may live in peace. It is a story of a Kashmiri woman who married a Pakistani Army officer so as to provide the Indian intelligence with invaluable information during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. The story includes a sense of patriotism in the reader's mind. Sehmat runs into the number of stressful situations but emerges as a splendid source of information for Indian intelligence. The book adds more context to her college life, love, hopes. She stands for whole women. This is a great work by Harinder Sikka

THE THREE MISTAKES OF MY LIFE-Chetan Bhagat (By Asmin Nezrin Jalal)

            'The Three Mistakes Of My Life' was released in may 2008 and as expected it meets all the expectations. The novel is about three friends-Govind, Ishaan and Omi. They live in a part of Ahamedabad. Govind was good at maths, Ishaan was good at cricket while Omi was good in nothing. The three friends opened up a cricket shop in their area, soon they started profiting from their newfound business. But life never remains same. They had to face big and scary problems later on like Earthquake, Religious politics and riots in between. And along with this traumas  Govind commits three mistakes of his life
                                Chetan Bhagat gave special attention to his characters. All the characters in the story are nicely described and portrayed. Beside the three friends there were also Ali, a twelve year old batsman who could play only four balls at a time but had the ability to hit six in all the four balls. Ali was given coaching under Ishaan. He even got an Australian scholarship. But he rejected because in order to receive scholarship Ali wanted to become an Australian Citizen. Govind inspite of his profit venture decided to buy a shopping mall along with a loan from his colleagues. But during the Earthquake his mall was completely destroyed. So this was his first mistake. In the novel there is a girl named vidhya ,Ishaans sister.she was secretly in love  with Ishaans friend Govind who teaches her maths. This was his second mistake. There was a time in which the Gujarat riot takes place. At this time Bitto maama, omis uncle who is the leader of a secular party was shattered due to the death of his son in train attack. So he killed Alis parents who were muslims and later move towards Ali to attack him. Sadly Omi dies while saving Ali from maama. Govind did not try to help Omi fearing about his life. This was the third mistake he committed in which later he regretted. Ishaan find out about vidhya and Govind, a betrayal which he never forgive. Two years passed and Ishaan never talked to Govind and their shops were seperated. This events lead Govind to his death bed and that is when he writes e-mail to Chetan
                                The Three Mistakes Of My Life is a story well told. This book has many interesting settings and situations. This story comprises calamity, romance and religious politics which are the three mistakes of his life. Many times our dreams crash into pieces by unexpected events but with support from people around, we can get back on track, focus and rebuild our  dreams.

ONE INDIAN GIRL REVIEW BY NEETHU KRISHNAN

           

                        One Indian Girl is a fiction written by Chetan Bhagat one of India's finest young adult book writer. It is a realistic drama showing the life of an Indian girl, her experiences,relationships and so on...The story shows many ideas like feminism,socio-economic conditions of Indians etc....   

                 The protagonist of the story is named Radhika Mehta,an IIMA graduate,a nerd indeed who works at Goldman Sachs,an investment bank.The opening scene shows the wedding arrangements of Radhika going on in Goa. Her soon-to-be husband is named Brijesh. There she is unexpectedly contacted by Debu her ex-boyfriend who wishes to meet her,but she sure was not ready.The story then flashes back to 2012 which was four years ago,when she moved to New York city to get her training in Goldman Sachs. She then meets Debu through a mutual friend and eventually gets into a relationship with him. Radhika is well placed and soon gets a raise of $1,50,000 and sees a future with Debu and decides to get married .Debu feels inferior to her as she earned more than him and breaks up with her and finds another woman.

                        Radhika facing depression moves to Hong Kong where she meets Neel,her boss who apparently was twenty years elder than her.They got close with the pass of time. But soon Radhika realizes that they didn't have a future together and thus moves to London.

                         She tries to adjust her life in London,while she is pressurized for an arrange marriage and hence finds Brijesh.

                         Coming back to her wedding scene in Goa both her ex-boyfriends confronts Radhika wanting to get back with her. She gets confused about the whole situation and calls off her marriage with Brijesh...! Several months later she meets Brijesh on her way to San Francisco .They have a coffee together ,talks a lot and the story ends there.

                          I am not a big fan of this story but when we look into it from another perspective I think it's pretty good.It shows many ideas of feminism and how a girl can actually achieve her dreams and not be subjugated or discouraged by men.

                                                        

                                                                          - NEETHU KRISHNAN Y 

                                                                            19UECO8206

THE CYPRUS LOVE AFFAIR - DENISE ROBINS ( by: saleena Mary)

                    Book Review
             The Cyprus love affair
                                        - Denise Robins
       
              Denise Robins (1897-1985) was a romantic writer of British origin, she has written over 160 novels. She has also known as the queen of romance for her extremely touching romantic novels. The protagonist in her books lied in the age group of the early twenties to middle age, the settings of her novels were in several different places like London, Egypt,srilanka,swiss mountains and Morocco.

               A sweeping sun drenched love story from the original queen of romance is the Cyprus love affair by Denise Robins.

              When pretty young Lucie Gresham takes a job as companion to the mother of rich shipping magnate Adrian ollivent. She also realises her long-held wish to visit the beautiful island of Cyprus.

                Lucie finds the island as enchanting as she had hoped and Mrs. Ollivent, a pleasant and kindly old lady but also finds herself falling in love with Adrian. He is not a happy man and displays little affection towards her. So Lucie determines to discover what has made him this way.she finds much pain and unhappiness has to be endured before the complete truth is finally exposed.

               To summarize the review, the story revolves around a girl who gets the job she always wanted in Cyprus,where she fell in love with a man and finds that he is not a really happy person,after finding that she decides to find out what has made him that way and a lot of pain was waiting on the path she has chosen.

                                        presented by:
                                          Saleena Mary
                                          19UECO8223

One Hundred Years Of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Joel Jose-8226)

One of the 20th century's enduring works, One Hundred Years Of Solitude,is a widely beloved and acclaimed novel known throughout the world.The novel tells the story of the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendia family.It is a rich and brilliant chronicle of life and death and a tragicomedy of humankind.In the noble, ridiculous, beautiful and tawdry story of the Buendia family, one sees all of humanity, just as in the history and myths. 

Love and lust, war and revolution, richness and poverty, youth and senility - the heterogeneity of life, the endlessness of death, the search for peace and truth - these universal themes dominate the novel. The author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez always writes with simplicity, ease and purity. Translated to dozens of languages, this stunning work is no less than an accounting of the history of the human race. 

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS - BOOK REVIEW BY ALEENA PHILIP (8238)

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid  suns that hide behind her walls ."

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a well known book by Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini is popular for writing fiction based on the war of Afghanistan. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story that highlights the hardships of women in Afghanistan.  I dont think I have ever cried so much at a book in my life. The writings is breath-taking, it wraps you in its spell in its depiction of modern Afghanistan, and involves you with the characters in such a way that you feel entirely immersed in them. 
                 The novel is about two female protagonists, Mariam and Laila .The book goes deep into deep , personal depth of the unjust and cruel treatment , the suffering and discrimination that took place on women, and violence they were forced to endure .The book also explores Laila and Mariam’s relationship and their courage to stay strong in an unfair world. It sends out the message that even when life seems unkind, love and compassion can do miracles. And when we make a sacrifice for love, it doesn’t really feel like a sacrifice, it feels like a choice, a decision.
A Thousand Splendid Suns allows the readers to understand how women are being treated in countries like Afghanistan, and continue to be treated to this day. Hosseini explains the life of women during a time where they had limited, if any,rights. This novel makes the reader aware of the fact that even today many women are fighting for their basic rights.
  A thousand splendid suns is indeed a splendid read. Filled with strong emotions and a stimulating plot, it is one of my favorite books.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT - Book Review by Preethi.P S (8220)

    "CRIME AND PUNISHMENT" is one of the most prominent novels of Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Fydor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky was also a short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher. His literary works explore human psychology in the troubled political social and spiritual atmospheres of 19th century Russia and engage with a variety of philosophical and religious themes.Crime and Punishment is one of his most acclaimed works.

      The story focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of the protagonist 'Rodion Raskolnikov', an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg. The main drama of the novel centres on his interior conflict first over whether to kill the pawnbroker and later over whether to confess.Raskolnikov is ill throughout the novel, overwhelmed by his feelings of alienation and self-loathing. 

      Crime and Punishment is written from a third person omniscient perspective. One of the most influential novels of 19th century. It tells the tragic story of the protagonist - a talented former student whose warped philosophical outlook drives him to commit murder.He formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money. Raskolnikov, in attempts to defend his actions, argues that with the pawnbroker's money he can perform good deeds to counter balance the crime.Before killing, Raskolnikov believes that with the money he could liberate himself from poverty. Several times throughout the novel, Raskolnikov compares himself with Napoleon Bonaparte and shares his belief that murder is permissible in pursuit of a higher purpose.   
   However, once it is done he finds himself racked with confusion, paranoia and disgust for what he has done.Surprised by his sense of guilt and terrified of the consequences of his action, Raskolnikov wanders through the slums of St.Petersburg trying to escape the ever suspicious Profiry, the official investigating the crime.He experienced remorse for the murder he committed.
     Immediately after the crime, he becomes ill and lies in his room semi-conscious for several days. When he recovers, he finds that a friend Razumikhin, had looked for him. While he is recovering, he receives a visit from Luzhin, who is engaged to Raskolnikov's sister, Dunya. He insults Luzhin and sends him away because he resents Luzhin's domineering attitude towards Dunya.
       His moral justifications disintegrate completely as he struggles with guilt and horror and confronts the real world consequences of his deed. 

TWO STATES -CHETAN BHAGAT(JULIN KURIAN 8245)

1. '2 states' is the autobiography of chethan bhakat .It deals with his love and struggles that he and his lover faced before marriage .It clearly explain how the two minds get attracted .He was an IIT ian and she was an economics topper both are supposed to do MBA from IIM and they became friends then lover then as partners .love marriage around the world are simple boy loves girl ,girl loves boy .They get married in india it is not so easy the author say so girl's as well as boy' s family has to love each other so it was a struggle for them as they belongs to different  states .Based on the book a film also filmed .The way he explain things is very comic .The Story of Krish and Ananya who are  from two different States of india ,deeply in love with each other and want to get married .Of course ,their parents don't agree.To convert their love story into a love marriage ,the couple has a tough battle ahead of them ; for it is easy to fight and rebel,but much harder to convice.Will they make it?that is the curiosity that make the readers to read it .I sincerely recommend this book to all of you ..

1.                                                                                        

                                                ALCHEMIST BY PAULO COELHO   : SNEHA.N.JOSEPH 24

After hearing a lot about the most critically appraised book Alchemist by Paulo Coelho , recently I got my hands on the book and it didn't disappoint  me neither.And the story goes like this, the protagonist of the story is a shepherd named Santiago. while Santiago was sleeping near a sycamore tree in the sacristy of an abandoned church has a recurring dream about a child who tells him that he will find a hidden treasure if he travels to the Egyptian pyramids.An old woman tells Santiago that his dream is prophetic and and that he must follow its instructions. Next Santiago meets a mysterious old man who seems able to read his mind.This man introduces himself as Melchizedek,or the king of Salem.He tells Santiago about good and bad omens and says that it is the shepherd boy's duty to pursue his personal legend.Melchizedek then gives Santiago two stones, urim and Thummin,with which to interpret omens.
Santiago wavers briefly before selling his flock and purchasing a ticket to Tangier,in Norethern Africa,to which travel by boat.but loses all his money during the travel.so the shepherd boy descides to look for a way to make enough money to return home.He finds work in the shop of a crystal merchant,where Santiago meets improvements that reaps financial rewards.
After eleven months of working in the shop ,Santiago is unsure of how to proceed.Should he return Andalusia a rich man and buy more sheep? Or should he cross the vast Sahara in pursuit of the hidden treasure of his dreams. He joins a caravan travelling to Egypt. There he meets an English man who wants to learn the secret of alchemy, or turning any metal into gold, from a famous alchemist who lives at an oasis on the way to the pyramids. The caravan eventually reaches the oasis where he meets an Arab girl named Fathima and falls in love with her eventually. The caravan leader tells the travelers that tribal war prevents them from continuing the journey. Santiago on seeing two hawks fighting in the sky gets a vision of the army entering the oasis. Santiago shares his vision with the oasis tribal chieftain. Soon after which he is confronted by a veiled stranger with a sword. It is the alchemist. The tribal chieftain arms his men and they are well prepared when the oasis is indeed invaded. The alchemist offered to cross the desert with Santiago. Soon the two men enter into an area of intense warfare. Warriors hold the two men captive,  but eventually allow them to continue their journey. The alchemist tells Santiago that he needs to return to the oasis, and that the rest of the trip is Santiago's to make alone so that he can claim his personal legend.
Santiago finally arrives at an Egyptian pyramid and finally begins to dig. He finds nothing buried in the ground. Thieves beat Santiago and rob his money. After he tells them of his dream, though, one of the thieves recounts his own dream about a buried treasure in the sacristy of an abandoned church.
Returning to Andalusia, Santiago goes back to the church where he dreamed of the treasure near the pyramids. He digs where he slept, beneath a sycamore tree and finally finds his hidden treasure.

MELUHA - Arundhathy P A (8202) -

Om Namah Shivaiy.
The universe bows to Lord Shiva.I bow to Lord Shiva.

The Immortals Of Meluha  is the first novel of the shiva trilogy series by Amish Tripathi.  The book portrays SHIVA, the Mahadev, as a human being and now he is being worshipped by us because he made himself worth remembering by all his intelligent and brave acts. I being a devotee of Lord Shiva considered the book as a medieval fantasy initially. But the writing style of Mr Amish Tripathi is indeed wonderful.The way he has characterized all the characters from SHIV PURAN is awesome.

Shiva lives with his community at Kailash but there was no peace because of continuous war with another community. Nandi (from Meluha) persuade him to come with him at Meluha. It's a big city. People of Meluha believes that a man with blue neck will come to save them and fight for their side. Shiva’s neck turned blue there and people pray him as God. Shiva finds Sati here and they fall in love with each other.

Sati, who is Daksha, all are portrayed very beautifully.King of Meluha persuades Shiva to fight a war with the other kingdom. In between Shiva come to know about many things like Somrasa (liquid to stop aging), Nagas etc. He invent Trisul and fought the war.Here he come to know that people of that kingdom also believes that a man blue neck will come to save them and fight for their side. It disturbs him internally.

Drawn suddenly to his destiny by duty and love , Shiva defeats chandravanshi 's huge army with his mind and excellent war skills . Here he come to know that good and bad are relative phenomena. Same thing can be good for one bad for another. 

Book simply shows - a simple man whose karma re-cast him as our Mahadev- the god of gods