A Breath of Fresh Air

A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi is the story of Anjali and her journey from naive, silly young woman to a mature and courageous person. It is also a story of selfish and chauvinist Prakash, caring and understanding Sandeep, and sweet Amar. The novel starts with the Bhopal gas tragedy and proceeds through indicating how it affected Anjali - both emotionally and physically.

The style and story reminded me of Yaddanapudi - typical emotional roller coaster of life full of drama.

Good and breezy read for a lazy afternoon.

Silkworm

Silkworm, pseudonymously written by J K Rowling as Robert Galbraith, is a riveting murder mystery. This is her second book featuring Cormoran Strike as a burly ex-army, highly methodological, single-legged private detective, and his eager and attractive assistant Robin. The first book, called The Cuckoo's Calling, is good too. But I liked this better.

The murder in Silkworm is elaborate and grotesque. The very nature of it piques one's interest despite making one shudder at the thought of it. The story revolves around writers, and their eccentrics. Rowling weaves an intriguing plot with doses of elements including gore, hermaphrodites, literary symbolism, passion, and revenge.

A definite unputdownable reading for mystery lovers.

Table for Four

Table for Four by K. Srilata was an impulse pick but I was not disappointed. It delivered what the book cover promised. It's a racy book about 4 people sharing a house, and their respective stories. Each one of us, like the "four" in the novel, has a story to tell - our past - with our own share of secrets. Our present is shaped by our past and the struggle with oneself - one's own past - is the greatest struggle one can go through. Letting go, is perhaps, the most important lesson of life.

The fashion-savvy Sandra has a traumatic childhood behind her, the silent journalist Derek is infatuated by an Afgan boy, the composed Maya is scared of the sea and the otherwise charming Uncle Prithvi seeks recluse. Each has a story to tell, which surely captivates the reader's interest.

This book had been long listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2009.