Manish Tully: Book Review

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 th...

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. Nothi...

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 ...

The Leader Who Had No title: Robin Sharma Another masterpiece by Robin Sharma. At the outset, I would like everyone from the corporate sector to read this book. A fresher, a junior, a senior,  boss and the management must read this book. I am sure this will change managements’ outlook towards its employees and vice versa. The lessons are quite simple but too dynamic and powerful.  Few pointer from this master piece: For the management: “ What will happen to the symphony if even one of its player was out of tune and less than superb at his art” For the employees: “ A restaurant is the only place I know of where you eat good stuff first and then pay the price. In work and in life in general, you need to pay the price of the success before you get all the rewards due to you.” For everyone: “Critics generally criticise you only because at some level they care about you. When they stop saying anything, its because you no longer matter to th...

The Deliberate Sinner: Bhaavna Arora The name is enough to describe that this book must have something to do with physical and emotional needs of a woman. The storyline is quite simple and straightforward.. Rihana falling in love with Veer initially and married him at the time when she was in a confused state of mind about her love for Veer.  The book captures strained relationship between Rihana and Veer. A typical ‘Ekta Kapoors’ type of story. I am sure, if she reads it, she can easily make 100 episode daily soap from this one.  An average book. Simple day-to-day  story of every fifth household in India. Manish Tully

Soft Eclipse: By Jayabrato Chatterjee This is a story superficial and disturbing lifestyles of Kolkata high class. There is a story of a girl, Mohini, her birth, her childhood, adolescent, three day love affair, marriage, betrayal, mechanical sex life, NGO’s, ladies chit chat, children and finally a widow. What else you expect in a life of so called rich and influential Kolkata’s elite and high class society. This story line is pretty fast. But somehow… I felt that there are too many characters in the story… It appears that the author is trying to capture every second person he comes across. Too many people….. too many narrative about their life.  A light read.  Few lines by The Beatles stated in the book are quite interesting:    “W hen I get older loosing my hair Many years from now Will you still be sending me a Valentine Birthday greetings, a bottle of wine? If  I’d been out till quarter to three Would you lock the doo...