The Testament

Title: TheTestament
Author: John Grisham 
Pages:553
Source: Personal
Last Word - Refreshing spiritual dose

I find Grisham's novels very spiritual, echoing the very popular Christian philosophy of life, "For what does a man profit, if he should gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?"

For many of us, like the Phelan heirs, money is the be-all and end-all. Our success is measured in terms of money. But not for Rachel lane, also a Phelan heir, an illegitimate one though. For her money is meant for the betterment of others. Rachel nonchalance toward money and her missionary lifestyle touches your soul instantly.

Eccentric Troy Phelan is a billionaire. He has several companies spread all over the world. But today, he is contemplating suicide. All his wealth could not win him true love - though he married thrice and fathered six children, all legitimate ones. On hindsight, he himself and all his children are leaving wayward lives. Though he disbursed millions to them on their 21st birthdays, none could make a living out of it. All thanks to their father, who never taught them how to live and make a living. He was always lost in growing his business and sexy secretaries. Fidelity was not a virtue known to Troy. Who's to be blamed, if the children go wayward and spend all their money without a fleeting thought to future. The money or their upbringing? Given that his children would plunder wealth at a breakneck speed, Troy before committing suicide runs a roughshod over his children - writes the eleven-billion-dollar will in favor of Rachel Lane. That's where the story begins.

Yes, you have to plow on for a few pages, before the story catches speed. The will literally jerks the rug from under Phelan heirs feet. They are up in arms against Josh Stafford, Troy's lawyer not. Stafford on the other hand, sends the now drunkard, now sober lawyer Nate O'Riley to find Rachel, who's has hidden herself from the world, in an unknown Brazilian jungle. Rachel knows of her lineage, but not about the will. Nate O'Riley, while fighting his own demons, makes his way to deep Brazilian jungles to find Rachel. Nate fights himself to stay sober; fights bad whether conditions; fights his fear of alligators, anacondas and mosquito bites, to find Rachel. Though he eventually finds her, he is unsuccessful in his attempt to make her sign the will. She makes her feeling very loud and clear ," I don't know the man, I don't know the money."

Nate falls for Rachel and even expresses his feeling for her before leaving the jungle. What happens to Nate? What happens to the Rachel? What happens to the eleven-billion-dollar fortune? Nate and Rachel both become bedridden because of Dengue. From here story develops an interesting pace. Naturally, you don't want to put the book down. What happens next? Rachel finally writes her own will and decides to use to money to serve the tribes. In fact, she decides to build a trust and makes Nate, her dear friend, its sole administrator.

The Confession

Title:The Confession

Author: John Grisham 

Pages:456 

Source: Borrowed 

Last Word - An absolute page-turner 

Afazal Guru (convicted for attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001) and Ajmal Kasab(convicted for Mumbai attacks in 2008) were guilty and were hanged. But Donte should have walked off scot- free. Just because he was a black, he was convicted and killed. The color of his skin spelled his doom. 

The Confession makes you cry. I've choked many a times. I've prayed many a times. But my prayers never got heard. Donte Drumm  was never released. Thanks to the Texas authorities who went out of their way to ensure that reprieve eluded him. On the contrary, they coerced him to confess a crime he had never committed. 

Grisham's narration is gripping. The book keeps you hooked all along. Donte Drumm - a young black man is convicted for killing Nicole.Yarber, a highschool cheer leader. Lawyer Robbie Flak is fighting a lost case for Drumm. Whites claim that Drumm killed this white woman. But, blacks are sure of his innocence. The animosity of whites toward the blacks is quite palpable. This helps white police and persecutors to successfully fabricate a case against Drumm and he is found guilty. Though the case is weak,
chancces of reprieve are dim. So much for the color of the skin. Robbie and his team pulls out all stops. His efforts did pay off, finally. But it was too late for Donte. 

You can't fight fate

The author narrates the story from the point of view of young pastor Keith from Kansas. Keith is unwittingly drawn into the story when the real culprit Travis Boyette, suffering from inoperable brain tumor, confesses to him about the crime. How Keith struggles to make the facts known to the world also makes an interesting read. 

Grisham has unabashedly brought out the white-black divide and how political and legal forces shamelessly cash on it. The divide is similar to the divide we face in the city of Ahmedabad. Ghettos in the U.S. seem similar to the Hindu and Muslim ghettos in Ahmedabad and in other major parts of India. The hatred runs in their genes...literally. Back to the Confession, the closing is excellent, when the two communities, irrespective of their color, come together and unite in a common cause - too punish Drumm's culprits.

Thoughtful lines

1] Who, exactly gives us the right to kill. If, killing is wrong, why are we allowed to kill. Donte's killing was similar to killing an old dog, a lame horse, or a laboratory rat. 

2] It's man's nature to strike back, but the second blow leads to the third, and the fourth. 

3] Father, into your hands I commend my spirit

4] He talked about the urge for revenge and how Jesus turned the other cheek.  

"He who lives by the sword dies by the sword"

"LTTE Leader Prabhakaran's 12-year-old son killed in a cold blooded murder in a military bunker", screamed the newspapers today. The headline reminded me of Jeffery Archer's latest book 'The Sins of the Father." Poor kid, he paid for his dad's sins. Whether his father sinned is still a subject of debate. But this cute-looking boy was so innocent and so harmless. Did someone say: he who lives by the sword dies by the sword ?

The Sins of the Father

Author: Jeffery Archer 

Pages: 383 

Genre: Fiction 
Source: Personal Copy

Last Word: Breezy Read 

The court is adjourned- Jeffery Archer's 'The Sins of the Father,' sequel to Only Time Will Tell' ends with yet another interesting cliff hanger. Yes, the wait for the next installment in the Clifton series has already begun. 

This book, of course, is a boatload of surprises. Here's a peek- a-boo: Emma bearing Harry's son, Sebastian, despite the duo sharing a 'shaky sibling status; Harry leading a prisoner's life despite not being Tom Bradshaw - the actual criminal; Maisie's marriage to Mr. Holcombe, despite her promiscuous past; Giles' military medals, despite his portrayal as lily-livered; Hugo Barrington's fortunate death, despite his dirty tricks to stay alive and thrive; the controversy surrounding the Barrington empire, despite Harry giving up his claim on it. Plus, the Giles escape from German POW camp and Henry fooling the Nazi commander into surrender. All this and the war background keeps up the tempo of the story.

 Some thoughtful lines :

1) Britain and America are "two nations divided by a common language."

 2) There are so many ways to skin a cat.

P.S. - It can't get better than this. Or it could have been? Archer walked into my book shelf quite recently. The two books that I recently read are not even a drop in the ocean. Perhaps it's too early to actually form an opinion on his latest works.

Only Time Will Tell

Author: Jeffery Archer
Genre: Fiction

Pages: 388
Source: Personal Copy 
Last Word: Thumps Up 


I have not grown on Enid Blyton or Nancy Drew's books. In fact, the book reading bug bit me just a decade back. So, i can't help but wonder, how many amazing authors i might have missed, during my growing years. Anyway, as they say, better late than never.  

 This is my first book on Jeffry Archer and I am glad that I chose 'Clifton Chronicles' to begin with. To give you a small background, Clifton Chronicles is a five book series on Harry Clinton's life. The series is said to be an ambitious endeavor by Archer to capture 100 years of Harry's life - spanning from 1920 to 2020.

 The first book in the series 'Only Time Will Tell' is truly amazing: an apt prelude to the forthcoming books. It's sure to whet your appetite for all the forthcoming books in the series. Yes, my second book 'The Sins of My Father' is already on the way from www.homeshop18.com. Books are priced comparatively cheaper  here.
 
Coming back to the book, Harry, the protagonist's life is a bed of thorns. Born in a poor household that could hardly afford two meals a day, until he comes across the charitable old Jack Tarr- the bearer of glad tidings.  However, this son of the docker father and illiterate mother is a Destiny's Child, destined for greater things in life. He goes on to the best of the schools, reads best of the books, and finds best of the mentor's. When you have all the bests lined up for you, you know what to do with your life and not get sidetracked like the commoners do. Harry's is considered an English scholar in his school. He goes on to win all the top prizes.

But who's is his father? Only his mother Maise Clifton and war hero Captain Tarrant knows. His made-to -believe father Arthur Clifton is dead and gone forever. But if his so called real father Hugo Barrington wanted, he could have saved Arthur's life.

Then there is Emma Barrington; is she Harry's half- sister or lover? Yes, Only Time Will Tell. On their day , Harry and Emma are informed that they are related. Is Emma Harry's step sister. But the poor souls are not ready to accept this fact.  The marriage is put on hold. Oxford degree is put on hold.  As fate would have it, Harry is all set for World II. He trains himself to be a mariner. But his vessel sinks and he finds himself on his way to America. Their he is charged with first degree murder. What's next?  The Sins of the Father, may have an answer.     

The book with all its twists and turns is simply a page turner. All characters are strongly portrayed and strikes a perfect chord. Every chapter ends with a cliffhangerThe flow is effortless and so, less taxing on the brain.

Some thoughtful lines: 

1] Sometimes it's an advantage to be disadvantaged. 

2] Some people stand by you in your darkest hour, while others walk away; only a select few march towards you, and become closer friends. 

3] Old Jack's maxims- Get off your backside and do something positive & I find I don't learn a lot while I'm talking. 

Books Read in 2012

 1] Life of Pi - Yann Martel - a must-read for serious writers - 5/5
2] Songs of Blood and Sword- Fatima Bhutto- you can live without reading this- 2/5
3] Saina Nehwal -T.S. Sudhir - good for sport enthusiasts - 3/5
4]No Easy Day- Mark Owen - warfare is my favourite genre so i'll be a little partial here-Full marks 5/5
5] Connect the dots-Rashmi Bansal- for wannabe entrepreneurs - 3/5
6]  Donovan Legacy -Nora Roberts - 4 books - if romance is your type, all mind-blowing -Go for it- 5/5
7] Man's Search for meaning - Victor Frankl-read it, if you don't have a why in life- 3.5/5
8] Fountainhead- Ayn Rand- persistence is the keyword here- 5/5
9] Dork -Sidin Vadukut-if comedy interests you- 5/5
10] Zoya Factor - Anuja Chauhan- killer concept-5/5
11] The King of torts - John Grisham- must-read for John Grisham fans- 5/5
12] Tiger Mother - Amy Chua - for all mothers- 5/5
 

The list seems so paltry. Hopefully, i will list down more- double the number- in 2013.

Lance Armstrong - How Could You Do This?

You were my role model so long?  Your book, ‘It’s not about bike,’ taught me to see pain, suffering and

sacrifice in the new light. Most importantly, your quotes inspired me to fight odds without giving up. 'Give up or fight like hell,' become my life-long mantra.  Now, the disgrace of doping will haunt me as well. Not just you.  I don’t remember, how many times I’ve recommended your books to my friends.

How could? How could you do this to ME?