A House for Mr. Biswas by VS Naipaul
A house for Mr. Biswas is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read, and I’ve read thousands of books. AHFMB follows the life of Mr. Biswas from the moment he was born to the time when he dies. His life is very ordinary. Mr Biswas is an ambitionless man who just goes through his life trying to find some pleasure in small things. To call him ambitionless will not be entirely true, he has a half baked ambition in his heart, that is to have a house of his own. We are introduced, to the house he finally builds, in the prologue itself. The way Mr. Naipaul has described the house in the prologue is marvellous.
It is a slow book but every line of this book is excellent. This book is even listed in the course material for IAS examinations which is quite a surprise.
Read this book slowly and take pleasure in the wonderful writing of Mr Naipaul who won the Nobel Prize in literature in the year 2001.
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-Kunal Goel
Piece of Cake
A chick book with a difference!
Swati Kaushal succeeds in her attempt to make you laugh out loud, nod with empathy, and keep you guessing. Most chick books deal with confusion in girls’ minds. Not this one.
The book tells the story of twenty-nine-year old, hyperactive, executive with an attitude. Minal Sharma has a successful career and loves her job; well, on most days. The book takes us through twists and turns in her career and how she makes it past them all. In the background, there are also some men. Sexy Ali who takes her breath away and Sunil, the unbelievably good catch in the matrimonial market. You think you know whom she is going to pick? Think again. And, read the book.
The author has done a good job with the story and the anecdotes. She has also researched her subject really well. The strongest point of the book, in my view, is its lovable flawed characters. Kaushal has done a great job of creating life like characters from different walks of life. However, she kinds of spoils the real-life effect in the end when everyone takes out their goody-two-shoes and in a typical bollywood style we have a happy family. Only not. =)
I told ya, she keeps you guessing. Go read the book. Even if you are not a chick.
