Manish Tully: Book Review

The Paying Guests-by Sarah Waters This book is a work of fiction set up in the backdrop of year 1922. This is a beautifully written novel, and each character playing their role with all sincerity. Sarah has done justice to every character, except to the character of Len. Sarah could have written some more mischievousness by Len and his ogling towards Frances…. this would have added bit of spice in storyline.   This is the story of life of widows, their hand-to-mouth situation after the war, their unwed daughters….. and then lesbianism, murder, trial and gallows.  Key characters, Frances and Lillian did justice to their respective roles in the novel. An engaging story line, but bit too lengthy….. its 564 pages to be exact. But I loved reading this one.  Give it a try.  I, simply as a novice reader, would like to rate at seven out of ten.  Manish Tully

Legs on Everest, By Mark Inglis WOW, what a true account by Mark and his summit to Everest. It was really nice to read this book, when Indian Television was broadcasting a serial called “Everest” (now concluded) and a movie on “Everest” just got released yesterday in India. I tried to knit the storyline of this book with the said televised serial and movie on Everest to understand the challenges faced by mountaineers and sherpas. I bow to brave sherpas, who have lost their precious life while helping mountaineers to summit Everest.  This is a true story of an extraordinary man on an extraordinary mission. A double amputee who dared to climb THE EVEREST.  This is his first hand account of his struggle, from the start till summit.  People suffering from any disability and who think that they cannot do anything better in life now and are sulking in their grief, I suggest you must read this book. I am not saying that by reading this book, you will get the courage to c

One Life is not Enough by K Natwar Singh Natwar Singh, a bureaucrat for 30 years under Congress reign, and then politician with Congress Party of India, wrote about his experiences in Indian bureaucracy and Indian political arena in this book.  This is his autobiography, a typical style, to make oneself immortal in their own belief.  This book, before its release, saw itself in a political tussle with Congress Party esp. due to first hand account by Natwar Singh on work and politics, during the period he worked with Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. Indian newspapers carried stories of conflict which brewed between Natwar Singh and Gandhi Family over certain facts and accounts mentioned in his book. The book is okay for readers who are really interested in Indian Politics and what goes behind PMO and other ministries. How high level decisions are taken by the politicians and bureaucrats.  I personally found this book interesting. Nothing is extraord

The Rozabal Line By Ashwin Sanghi One liner of this novel…… a must read.  It is a theological thriller which will for sure grips its reader and no one would like to put it down. One want to read this novel in a day or two.  Beautifully carved storyline and its really wonderful to read as to how Ashwin linked Hindu theology with christianity and buddhism.  The story revolves around a tomb called Rozabal in Jammu and Kashmir which has some connection with Jerusalem and the riddle which got solved in holy shrine of Mata Vaisho Devi, in Indian part of Jammu and Kashmir.  I rate this as 10/10. A must read. Manish

Gaddafi’s Harem By Annick Cojean This book will, for sure, is going to bring tears in your eyes. The book is horrific account of life of a little school girl Soraya, who was one of the latest addition to Gaddafi Harem. She suffered endless torture, rape and abuse by Gaddafi and his militia.  Annick in this book bring to fore the disturbing suffering of females of Libya during reign of Gaddafi.  Even after elimination of Gaddafi, things are not under control, or rather it has become more worse. Today, Syria has collapsed and refugees are fleeing to Europe looking for greener pastures and to have a decent re-start to their life. All this, I personally feel, started by west and developed nations who created these militia's for their own political motives against other developed nations, and now see what we all are getting as a ‘Return Gift’.  I do not know, where we all are heading to, but I do not see bright and peaceful survival for our generations to come.