Book Review: Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Great plot and premise. A chilling beginning, the book slowly fizzles out. It will probably make a great movie but towards the end , is a tedious read.

Rating: 3/5

Book Review: The Pallace of Ilusions by Chitra Divakaruni

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The only book that I finished in a day. Mahabharat told from Draupadi's perspective forms the premise of this book. It challenges your current perception of all that you know of Mahabharat and its key players. Must read!

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino

 

Poor plot, boring premise. A disappointing second novel from the 'Devotion of Suspect X' author. Not worth your time.

Rating: 1/5

Book Review: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

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Beautiful story about the relationship of a divorced woman and her child with an escaped convict who comes to live in her own house. The book explores themes such as loneliness, love, desire to escape and how life turns out to be much unlike one's imagination. The movie apparently did not fare that well. But the book is a great read. 

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review : Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

image source: Goodreads

 

A poignant account of the execution of the last person in Iceland. This true story is written from the perspective of Agnes Magnúsdóttir and explores her view of the events and perception of the society around during her final days. A must read.  Rumor has it that a movie is in the pipeline with Jennifer Lawrence playing the lead. Cannot wait for the movie to come out!

Rating: 4/5

Musings...

Back after along hiatus.  A lot happened - got married, moved cities, read loads of books, stayed in a pool villa and on the path of making new discoveries- and I guess its time to get this blog on track.

Book Review: Wicked - The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

One of my favorite books growing up was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum which chronicles the adventures of a young girl Dorothy& her dog Toto who get swept into the Land of Oz via a cyclone. There she helps the people of Emerald City by defeating the Wicked Witch of the West and subsequently returning home. A children's book, it is a simple tale of good triumphing over evil.

Gregory Maguire flips the story's perspective - asking the readers to view the tale from the Witch's side. What makes the Witch so Wicked? Where did she come from? Why was she "evil" ? He then weaves a thoroughly engaging, enjoyable story about the Wicked Witch of the West - her beginning, her life and the circumstances that shape her to be "Wicked" and her ultimate encounter with Dorothy
Not a children's book, Gregory Maguire masterfully inserts pertinent questions about how does one define good and evil. He transforms the world of OZ into bustling, caste-driven, religion bound  society - one that shapes & creates the 'Wicked Witch". By the end of the book, you will be viewing the original classic in new light and will be forced to ask yourself - "Was the green witch really wicked?"

A definite must read, especially if you've read the original classic as a child.