My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I must admit, this one was not even on my list of books to read. The only reason I ended up reading the classic tale of the infamous vampire, was because I completed my previous book while on holiday and neglected to carry a new one. And since this one was already downloaded on the kindle (free of cost apparently) I decided to give it a go.
Continue reading
Since I ended up reading all three books back to back and as the trilogy is one complete story, I decided to pen my collective thoughts and review for all three books under one post.
Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Khushwant Singh is somewhat of an Indian literary legend. His books, columns and short stories have been in circulation for quite a few decades providing fodder to bibliophiles across a few generations now. This book was one of his earlier works and as such has been considered a classic and a must read for any Singh aficionado.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Finally I’m all caught up with the series as penned by George R. R. Martin in the Ice and Fire saga. With A Dance With Dragons, I’ve read all five books (of the planned 7) in this incredibly addictive fantasy series. About damned time!
For me the book was a lengthy read. I started sometime in end of 2013 and finally read the last chapter in January 2015 ( Yep, I’m a damn slow reader). In my defence I did read other books in parallel.
Most of the book seemed a tad slow save a few interesting cliffhangers at the end of certain chapters. However the pace and the plot got very engaging in the final 200 odd pages. The title is apt but only when you reach the said last 200 odd pages. Dragons do make an appearance in this book in a more prominent role and will certainly set the tone of the next book.
GRRM is known to kill off characters that seem to be crucial to the plot. Especially the ones that we the readers begin to admire and adore. He’s done it on a number of occasions in the last four books of the series. In some cases there have been massacres of characters we’ve come to love and cherish.
Book five is no different. If anything, the bloodiness gets a tad more gruesome as we come across some truly new ways to die. There is a death that we all hoped would never happen. But alas, GRRM just loves to play with our tender hearts.
With only two more books left in the series, the stage seems to be set for a massive show down on multiple fronts. However I am skeptical of the level of satisfaction readers will gain upon the conclusion to the saga. There’s just been so much that we’ve invested over the hundreds of chapters and thousands of pages chronicling the trials and tribulations of the denizens of Westeros and lands beyond.
I’m not saying that GRRM is not unto the task. But there is only so much you can do right? The saga is brimming with so many characters and families that you need to maintain a separate journal just to remember who’s who! And then each one of them has a sub-plot that tends to extend for chapters in the books thus far. Tying them altogether, neatly, will be one mean task. I sincerely hope, GRRM does closure to his avid fans with the next two books in the series.
Folks familiar with the saga are aware that the main enemy to all the families lies beyond the wall and is yet to make its presence felt in full force and their intentions public. The army of white walkers was shown in some glory in book 3. However I feel their full potential threat is yet to be realized and that would be an interesting chapter(s) in the next two installments of the saga.
The TV series is also fast catching up with the books and I wonder how the creators of the shoe plan to shape the future seasons considering that GRRM is yet to publish (for that matter even pen!) the books.
I’d prefer if they took a hiatus from the show as opposed to providing a conclusion of their own. However that would be unlikely considering the economics of such a large production. But I’m certain either way, the producers will be laughing all the way to the bank.
A Dance With Dragons isn’t the best in the series, but it most certainly gives some direction to the saga that has kept readers and now audiences captive for the last few decades. Here’s hoping that GRRM pens a truly worthy sequel to the series in the upcoming lineup.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ll admit the only reason I picked up this book to read was after watching the ostentatious movie adaptation by Baz Luhrmann. The story set in a continent in an era which isn’t very familiar to me did put me off initially. However I’m glad I decided to read this classic after all.
The first person narrative is without a doubt the highlight of this book with Nick Carraway’s observation forming the entirety of the story telling. The book is as much as about Carraway as it is about Gatsby.
Through Nick we traverse the diverse landscape of America from the mundane and boring Mid-West to the Ultra Jazzy and exciting East. His daily routine describes how Americans lived during the age of excess – long commutes from lavish country homes to the boisterous metropolis of New York working in high paying Wall Street jobs. His extended family, viz his cousin’s lifestyle provides a glimpse of how old money lived and how new money – Gatsby, was looked down upon by them.
The book isn’t just about the humans but also about their environment. It’s a great insight into the heart of a country that was just coming out of a world war and reaping the rewards of victory. The contrast of the Long Island landscape against that of Manhattan as well as the purgatory-like region in between is brilliant.
This book was written at a time when language and prose meant something. When the use of fancy words was not a fad but the norm. Reading this book is a delight for those who enjoy such rich prose albeit it can get a tad confusing and a re-read is called for. It’s no wonder this classic is a staple for most middle and high school reading courses.
If you enjoy good writing, simple stories but rich complex interpretations of text, this is your book. At 180 pages it’s an absolute quick read.
Stochastic Musings 