A Spy Among Friends : Kim Philby And The Great Betrayal By Ben Macintyre - Review

Kim Philby had three best friends, Nicholas Elliot, James Angleton and the Soviets.

Intelligence Services of major countries were busy trying to gather Intel to get leverage on each other countries. There were double agent spies in other Secret Services and one such man was Kim Philby.
It's about the period of Cold War and the World War tension hadn't eased up.
The book is spine chilling, full of espionages, betrayal and trust, and packed with a lot of insight on life of spies.

This isn't a fiction book but is a rather well thought out and researched work on the Kim Philby as well as different Intelligence Services of the USA, England and Soviets.

Kim Philby is considered as one of the most notorious spy and British defector,double agent,who was active for more than two decades as he climbed up the ladder to top posts in MI5 and MI6 and also made fairly good and large connections with powerful people in the Intelligence Services. He also knew people well in the CIA. Had access to private and confidential documents of the USA and British which he would then pass on to the Soviets. He could move freely and operate without being suspected as a Soviet spy.
His staunch belief in Communalism was instilled way back in his early days of being in college, Cambridge. He had been recruited from college days. But Philby never discussed politics with anyone but himself and so remained firm in his ideologies.

The book starts off with introducing Nicholas Elliott and his early life. Then there's a bit about James Angleton. Being English men they were a part of the elite 'Old Club'.
It highlights the strong bond of friendship among the the three friends and also loyalty towards MI6.
Who knew that Philby was wearing a face of deceit?
He wore two faces, one of charisma and flamboyance and other of disloyal friend and hardcore Communist.
Philby married thrice, became a husband and a father and managed his role quiet well.

In the later years of revelation his friends were shocked to learn that Philby was a double agent spy. Many missions were failed and also compromised due to Philby. Philby leaking secrets was making the Secret Services work futile.
During his course many Soviet spies defected but none had the fullest knowledge of Philby being a Soviet spy.
Then there was a time when he was caught with minimal evidence. But he played it safe. He wasn't convicted and was hence left . But he did arouse suspicion.

The book also contains photographs which is worth mentioning. Visuals are always great. It serves as an accompaniment to writing.
Needless to say that the book isn't fictional yet it doesn't give the impression that it's only research material. It's very well written and I am much more interested in the writers work. Spy thrillers have always been intriguing to me. It gives an adrenaline rush and at times even goosebumps.

The book should be read to fully understand plot. The little details of missions and espionages, those drinks among fellow spies, and above all the betrayal.
Even in his later years of life Philby admitted that he would never betray friends but when given to choose between political life and personal life, he would choose politics. Philby was perhaps one of a kind multi faced human with emotions barely layering his hard staunch beliefs. That must have been tiring to live like that.
Was Philby ever caught and convicted?? 
Read the book to find out because it's too good to be revealed in this review.

Nonetheless, it's highly recommended. It became one of my favorite books.
Hope you like the first review of 2016.
Happy New Year to you!

The King Of Torts By John Grisham - Review

Clay Carter is an underpaid, unhappy lawyer working at Office of Public Defender(OPD). He had big ambitions and during his early days worked at his dad's successful firm which eventually closed down. His relationship with Rebecca, his girlfriend is a bit wobbly and a bit stretched out after four years.

I have never read a book based on or about torts and lawyers. In fact I found this in an old Readers Digest collection in my home. I really like the book. Solid plot, good characters and twists and turns of events. He basically became rags to riches kinda guy.

Clay never thought that an ordinary murder case would change his life. There was nothing different about drug addicts fighting and killing themselves. But this particular murder was different. The killer was clean and not an addict anymore. He didn't even realize that he had killed a person. There was no motive for the murder at all.

During this period he met Max Pace. He was a tough guy with chiselled body. Pace was an anonymous kin of person. Clay wasn't aware of his background.
Pace told him that he worked for a pharmaceutical company which makes a pill that is supposed to get rid of the addiction of cocaine and heroin.
Unfortunately the drug called Tarvan had a side effect, which would create a chemical imbalance in the brain. The person wouldn't be able to control his actions and wouldn't remember the event.
The company wanted to settle this with the family of the victims. It didn't want the hassles of lawsuits etc.

After much thought Clay agreed. And why wouldn't he, because he was being paid 15 million dollars. He couldn't refuse. That humongous amount of money  could change his life. And it did. Yet Clay didn't know that it would also create a havoc in his life.

On Max directions he agreed to make settlements. Clays life took a dramatic turn. He left OPD, hired his friends from OPD, bought a new plush office, a swanky new Porsche. And he was on his way to lead a new life.

Tequila Watson, Washad and others were already jailed for murders. Somehow Max knew that they had consumed Tarvan, hence the crimes. Clay began settlements with their families. About 4 million to each family. Settlement was done in order to avoid the lawsuits if the drug came to the knowledge of other lawyers. Tarvan was withdrawn from the market.

Clay could have said no, but he was ambitious and wanted to prove himself. He didn't think of the consequences.

The book is almost like some Hollywood movie. Money, court, lawsuits, fancy yachts and cars and more money. Nonetheless it was a good novel. I might read more of Grisham's work. It was very enthralling book and at times my mind was baffled by the amount of money he made and also the mad tactics of tort lawyers.
He made enough money to be recognised by elite members of the Circle of Barristers and also ofcourse by the media. Clay was on a rollercoaster ride.
Later on he filed a suit on a pharmaceutical company called Ackerman on the directions of Max.
They didn't want a lawsuit so they settled the case for some millions.
Then came Dyloft and then there was Maxatil. Big pharmaceuticals companies. Then there was a scene with Hanna Portland Cement company about faulty homes and hence a settlement for that.
But Clay was running into losses. He thought he would make a fortune in the Maxatil case. But it didn't make it further to high courts and all.
And so Clay was headed for bankruptcy. I don't want to reveal all the good stuff.

It's kind of like an adrenaline rush you get when you read the book. It's fast paced, interesting and at times a bit emotional. In the end Clay Carter was surely happy with Rebecca.

Hope you like the review. I highly recommend The King of Torts.

Adultery By Paulo Coelho - Review

She needed a break from her monotonous life. So she committed adultery.

Linda was in her thirties, married to a loving husband and had kids and a fairly successful career being a journalist in a fairly quite place of the world, Geneva.

One day her work led her towards her past, her ex boyfriend, Jacob Konig who was campaigning for being the President of France. The interview ended with oral sex.

Linda was sure that she wasn't depressed but needed a new zeal and vigour to live her life. She was tired from her repetitive days of her life. She was doing well at work, and at home the kids and husband were happy. She didn't spoke about her being unhappy. Actually she didn't even admit it herself at first.

Her fling with Jacob went well . They went to exotic places for lunches bearing less exotic taste but at an expensive price. Visited hotels for intimacy and quick sex. She needed someone to listen to her thoughts. At a time she thought their cover was blown.
Her husband as she thought didn't confide in her his feelings and emotions and even might have an affair. She was wrong for the latter part. Instead was infidel herself. But that was all in childishness. She thought that Jacob could be hers as if they were still in high school.
Jacob was no saint either. He had an affair earlier and his wife acted quite normally to it. Linda knew about it. She was shocked by Jacobs wife normalcy to the situation.

I wouldn't say that I loved the book. It was slow paced and at times even boring. The ending was nice. She rekindled her passion for life.

What she was missing was adventure in her life. At times she felt guilty of being in a physical relation with Jacob. Maybe she needed that phase in her life to find herself a reason to live her remaining life.
That fling led to Linda talk to her husband freely. She opened up about her emotions and so, even her husband did. They went to hike in the Alps with their family. Around that time her affair ended.
And then later on for a mini vacation with her husband. A sort of honeymoon. They did para gliding. She feared it. But still she gave it a try.
While gliding down she felt like a bird. She couldn't explain the feeling but that changed her life.
Everyone needs or has had a point in life which changes them completely.
Linda found her new starting point.

Being unknown to the authors past work, I decided to give this book a try. I wasn't greatly disappointed but wasn't impressed either. But you might love it as a matter of fact.
I really liked the ending of the book. It was mostly about truth, love and peace. She didn't anymore  bother to think about Marianne and Jacob. That phase of hers had passed. She began her remaining life with new passion and zeal.
Linda was happy.

Hope you like the review. 

The Monogram Murders By Sophie Hannah - Review

Monsieur Hercule Poirot has a character which lends his detective mannerisms a certain charisma. This new book does justice to and also if I might add, pays homage to Agatha Christie's Belgian sleuth.

At first I was a bit skeptical about the novel as it wasn't written by the Queen Of Crime herself. I tried to read it but couldn't finish it, yet I did after five attempts. Yes! Five attempts! I did let my conscience get better of me. But nonetheless I read the book and couldn't be much happier.
There's the usual stuff of Poirot like long and lengthy deductions of his own little grey cells, bit of French here and there and his knack for observation and details of course. Hastings was missing who was replaced by a young chap at the Scotland Yard called Edward Catchpool.

Poirot was on a vacation in London for a change of scene, to rest his grey cells, enjoy his self but there's no such thing as a vacation leave for a detective.
Is there?

He was on a Thursday evening at Pleasant's Coffee House. Quite a coffee connoisseur Mr. Poirot. His peace of mind was interrupted by a lady who barged in at the Pleasant's who seemed to be in some distress. Poirot couldn't enjoy his coffee. Being curious he approached the lady, had a bit of conversation and the next thing Poirot knows is that the lady is in danger and is going to die. Jennie is going to die.

And no one should stop her death.

On his way home Poirot could only thing of Jennie. He was consumed by curiosity. He put his little grey cells at work. And at Blanche Unsworth lodging he was greeted with a another mystery.

Three people had died of poisoning which isn't strange, but what is strange is that they each have a cufflink in their mouths monogrammed with PIJ, their bodies laid out in an orderly manner, in different floors of the exquisite Bloxham Hotel.
Catchpool himself had chills when he first saw the bodies he told Poirot.

Richard Negus, Ida Granbury and Harriet Sippel shared one thing in common and that was they all had a past in Great Holling. A dark past.
Were they murdered for a dark past or a haunting future?
Catchpool was sent to Great Holling to dig up their past, and also to get the present news of the village. He was a young chap in his early thirties, wanting to  make it big in Scotland Yard.

Catchpool didn't have a warm welcome in the  village once it was revealed who he was. A mere police officer.

He did find some interesting and surprising truths about the three victims and how they were all connected. It was all narrated by Margaret Ernst the late vicars wife. The vicar who was replaced by Patrick Ive.
Patrick Ive and Frances his wife had a terrible death due to a horrible rumour which was a lie.

One the other hand Poirot also got some information and came to know about the Ives, the lie and of the supposedly curse under which Great Holling was.
As more evidence was unearthed, more truth was discovered and also the murder was getting a bit clear. The motive, the murderer, the accomplices and also how it was done. There was revelation which lead to a greater revelation.

Why Richard, Ida and Harriet would be murdered? How was it possible that they were in the same hotel and didn't travel together?
Who killed them? Was it done by single person or by persons who wanted revenge?
Or maybe by someone who wanted to escape death themselves?
Read the book to find out what actually happened in the Bloxham Hotel and to put an end to the questions.

There are certain details which are noticed and enjoyed only when one has read the book. The book starts off slowly although it's interesting and then in midway it gets gripping with plot twist and in the last chapters it gets irresistible, page turning and that curiosity to find out the truth. There were instances when I was awestruck by the sudden plot change. The things which we seem to miss when they are actually in front of our eyes.
The real truth, the deduction is done of course by Hercule Poirot himself. The lengthy deduction is where most of the truth is unraveled.

It was a good book, but I wouldn't say that I loved it. The characters were well thought out. Murder mysteries catch my attention hence I bought and read the book in the first place. Not many like murders and would probably stay away from it.
Overall it was a good read. Not so lengthy that it might bore the reader. And it wasn't easily deducible because of obvious reasons.

Hope you liked the review mon ami!

The Day Of The Jackal By Frederick Forsyth - Review

It's the 1960's and General De Gaulle is the President of France, loved by some envied my many. His life is in danger.  Escaped failed assassinations, quite a lucky man.

I came across Forsyth when I was reading a newspaper. I have always been intrigued by spies and thrillers and crime. Read about him and his books. This one particularly interested me, merely by its name. Being a former RAF personnel Forsyth had knowledge on how it all worked and so it was easier for him to pen it down.

There's animosity between some of the people of France and the President. Ordinary people can't do anything, the powerful ones can.
An organization who goes by the name of Secret Army Organization (OAS) decided to put an end to the Presidents life.

The book begins with the aftermath of a failed attempt of assassination by the OAS and capture of the leader Lieutenant Colonel Jean Marie Bastien Thiry.  The Colonel was hanged on 11th March 1963. A little less than a year after the futile assassination.
The OAS had highly operating members in different facets of the government itself sharing the same hatred for De Gaulle. Fanatics to be more precise.

The French Secret Service is called Service de Documentation Exterieure et de Contre- Espionage. It was divided into various categories such as Intelligence, Service, Action etc and spread across different hemispheres of the world. French weren't fool. They fought hard against those who were involved with the assassination. Bastien Thiry was on trial while SDECE gathered Intel on the happenings of each futile yet dangerously potent attempt at the assassination.

The Presidential protocol as you might have seen in movies is followed. Those big security personnel in black suits, glasses, an automatic gun under their arms, comprises of the entourage. Then the Presidents vehicle was surrounded by two identical vehicles one in front and one at the rear end. Imagine this being straight out of a Hollywood movie.
The plan was to render the entourage useless and fire at the President vehicle. It was all meticulously planned but somewhere the timing was a bit wrong and the President got away. The OAS had the best personnel at their disposal, most of them were ex- army men of tough build. Yet they failed.
This is just a bleak and brief description of what happened.

Now the OAS was crippled as the Thiry,  their leader was caught, their resources were down to a trickle and as they had failed many times most of the investors backed out. They were in desperate need of money, resources and confidence. They were desperate to kill De Gaulle.
Marc Rodin who was second in command after Antoine Argoud, who had been kidnapped by the French government. He was a man of intellect and seldom did he leave his trail behind. He gathered two more men and also an entourage of security personnel. Obviously he was also at risk.
Rodin along with Andre Casson and Rene Montclair was now heading the OAS. At his disposal was a tank of a man, Viktor Kowalski who was the security head where the new OAS leaders stayed in Vienna in Pension Kleist. Kowalski was better known as Pole due to the fact he was a giant to sum it up.
Rodin had spent a lot of time before shortlisting the assassin. Others consented with him after a long talk.
He was an Englishman, the assassin. He was practically no one. He didn't have his name in any of the government files, basically he was untraceable. That's why he was summoned. Best suited for the job, with a heavy price tag attached to him.
He was informed about the nature of the job and he didn't like any kind of interference. He wouldn't reveal how would he carry out his work even to those who employed him. Such a meticulous man.

Jackal, was his codename. Known just to the three men in Vienna. In order to pay the assassin OAS had to raise funds. Investors weren't interested in them anymore. So they looted banks. Classic move.
They raised half a million dollars and also raised the suspicion of SDECE so as to who was behind the loots. After Argoud was kidnapped they were financially crippled. Best bet for the SDECE had to be OAS.

Pole was caught by the SDECE due to his own stupidity. This was an interesting turn in the storyline which keeps the reader curious. Kowalski was tortured, a lot. He gave in. The plan was leaked and so was the assassin mere by his description. It would have been difficult for the SDECE to find a blonde English man who was to kill De Gaulle.

The novel becomes fast paced with a gripping storyline. The minute details just can't be explained which feels that the reader is experiencing it in first person. It's pretty easy to visualize what is happening and what is not, the surrounding and setting of the plot.

The Jackal travels a lot to prep himself for the mission. Everything's going to be fake.
In the process he even forgets his own name. He arms himself with different disguises, passports and of course a gun. A custom made gun, one of a kind.
On the other hand the French government warns De Gaulle but he's adamant on not compromising his schedule for an assassin. The Presidential Security Corps decides to taken matters into their own hands to protect the President.
Every top commissioner of each department of security force is assigned to find the assassin. A detective called Lebel is called in for investigating a man only known by his hair color. A tough task indeed.

Let's fast forward a bit where Jackal is being tracked. Lebel is on a few hours behind Jackal. Jackal escapes, Lebel frets. Yet they are more closer then ever before. Jackal knows that his covers been blown so does Rodin but he can't make contact with the English man.

There are many events which take place such as the regular meetings of the security forces, Poles death, a Baronness death, Valmy is exposed, Colonel Saint Claire's mistress had been tipping Jackal.
For Jackal it was all for one motive through new disguises, new places, train travels, car rides, fancy hotels and fancy lunches, to kill De Gaulle and retire with half a million dollars.

The question is who succeeds, Jackal or Lebel?

The Jackal buried his traces, Lebel dug up his traces and tracked him, nearly. Both the men were  meticulous and professionals by nature. They had to complete what they had started.
The end was unknown here.

The Jackal prepared himself for 25th August, 1963 so did Lebel and the security forces at his disposal.
The President was to make a public appearance for Liberation Day. He did.
Jackal was disguised and took his vantage point in one of the buildings surrounding Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.
He settled and assembled his gun, marked his target and shot. He missed. He never missed a single shot from one hundred and fifty metres. He loaded his gun again and was about to shoot.
His room was barged in.

The end is dramatic. Read the book to find out if Jackal succeeds in his mission or Lebel.
It's such an high octane and gripping book with a solid storyline which will get your adrenaline pumping.

It's a must read for those who enjoy spies, crime thrillers and a fast paced book.
Hope you liked the review!

The Lowland By Jhumpa Lahiri - Review

The Lowland is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It’s about the bond shared by two brothers who are born fifteen months apart, Subhash and Udayan and about a woman who is reminded of her past by her conscience.

The book starts with a description of the area surrounding the lowland in Tollygunge in Calcutta. To the east of Tolly Club there’s a small mosque along the enclave of a narrow lane leading towards the marshy lowland in which the hyacinth survives. The skies were blue like water, the humid air leaving a pungent smell which is unsettling to the senses. The details are so intricate to be explainable.

This novel is a whirlwind of emotions, gripping suspense and a narrative which keeps you craving for more. It exposes the underlying human nature which gives the reader a hard knock on the head to come to terms with the reality, leaving a wry smile with a tear on certain occasions.

The brothers climb the high wall to get into the Tolly Club which is reserved for the aristocrats. Although India attained freedom, the wall hanging of Queen Elizabeth II inside the club instead of Prime Minister Nehru tells a different story. The indifference towards Indians still prevailed.

Udayan and Subhash were walking cautiously to avoid being caught. They were mesmerised by the Clubs green carpet which was soft, dewy and fresh on their bare feet. They wouldn’t be cautious if they didn’t dared to trespass. Udayan being the youngest sibling was always aloof while Subhash was an active one, yet he didn’t wander and adhered to his limits. They were best friends, companion and partners in crime.

They were fascinated by golf, although they hadn’t played the sport they decided to collect the neglected or lost or battered golf balls inside the Tolly Club. They even found a putting rod. They would stuff their pockets with golf balls on their way home. With smiles on their faces.

        Its 1960’s, both the siblings are now in college but not together. Subhash was in Jadavpur College pursuing chemical engineering and Udayan in Presidency College for physics. They had been best friends, companion and partners in crime but now they had sensed that they would slowly drift apart from each other. That turned out to be true.

The next year in 1967 there was a political uprising in Calcutta by ordinary people who were forced to rebel against the injustice in the country meted out towards the peasants, who called themselves as Naxals. They wanted to bring a revolution to change the course of history, to bring justice, to change the government. They were inspired by Mao Tse-tung speeches which brought a revolution in China.

        Udayan was deeply moved by the uprising while Subhash the dutiful son he was stayed away from the politics and also advised his brother the same. The Naxal movement gave Udayan an impetus to pave way for shaping his life, and at the same time paving his way out of Subhash’s life. Udayan started attending and eventually conducted meetings and morchas of the Naxals. At times Subhash would accompany Udayan in those meetings to hear Kanu Sanyal speak about their next agenda. Subhash was not flustered by the speeches but he was baffled by Udayans strong allegiance towards the movement.

Only Subhash knew about Udayans participation in the uprising, the family spared of this knowledge.

            No, this isn’t a book about Naxalite but about how it changed the brothers in an irrevocable way. Udayan was a mischievous lad, Subhash a dutiful son who didn’t dare to go against or do anything which his family wouldn’t agree with. Down the lane both of them turned into completely different persons. As if they were reborn.

While Udayan completely devoted himself to the revolt, Subhash completely devoted himself towards his studies and his parents. He decided to go to the US for further studies, Udayan was the first one to know yet he was apprehensive. The bond began to grew wider as if there were a crack.

           A few weeks later, Subhash found himself in Rhode Island. It was different from Tollygunge yet it had a distinct resemblance to it. Who knew Rhode Island would become his home. Richard his roommate became his new companion and Subhash found traces of Udayans characteristics in Richard. At that time America had intervened in Vietnam, due to some miscommunication or neglect, which was at large ignored. Richard and  some of his friends protested outside the quadrangle of the campus. It was nothing like a protest in Calcutta, violent chaotic yet of a mature nature of human resistance. The resilience of Richard towards injustice reminded Subhash of Udayan in some way or another.

           Back in Calcutta, Udayan found a girl for himself. A life long companion as it was meant to be, yet Gauri wasn’t. Udayan had managed to portray a double life although it was tiresome. One being a teacher and one being enduced by his political endeavours of being a Naxal. He knew he was in trouble. Only an incident had to occur to shatter his reel life. And inevitably shattering his real life and of others who loved him.

Subhash was unaware of his brothers recent doings. They used to exchange letters but Udayan stopped mentioning the political aspect and his role in it, so he thought it might have come to an end.

Yes, it came to an end.

Udayan was killed.

            Subhash had to return to Calcutta. Nothing was new in the house except his parents monotonous emotionless face. They were consumed by shock. They didn’t reveal the incidents of that day. He tried to persuade them but they were adamant. So was Subhash.

         He hadn’t met the new member of the family, Gauri, who was a widow now. She was nothing like what he had seen her in the photograph. She seemed to have lost her jovial charm. She barely read anything nowadays because she was supposed to mourn her husbands death. She clearly wasn’t respected in the family after Udayan died. He would have not have tolerated this towards his wife. He rarely cared for traditions which reflected in his love marriage.

         She was pregnant. If it hadn’t been for Udayans child she wouldn’t be in the Mitra house. Subhash decided to take her with him to Rhode Island. He was opposed by his parents, saying that it would be against the ‘society norms’.

Although Udayan had passed away, his memories weren’t. Subhash was always the obedient one yet he wasn’t loved much as Udayan. Here he was trying to save the life of Udayans child, confronted by his own parents. He felt being neglected.

As for Gauri, leaving would be a painful relieve. She didn’t want to live in that house but still some part of her wished the opposite. The child would have a better future without the father. She agreed with Subhash.

      Now one is married for the first time and and another divorced for the first time and married for the second time. Subhash and Gauri married each other, without a bond of love, hoping it would develop later. But it didn’t.

They lived a married life of pretence.

It was raining profusely, her labour pains had begun. The drive to the hospital is one which both wouldn’t forget. The child was delivered. It was a girl.

They had already decided to name her Bela, after a flower. For the first time Subhash was holding a child, Udayans daughter.

A mother was born but the father was already dead. 

So Subhash became one. 

A selfless father.

      Gauri didn’t seemed to be elated as a mother would be. With the pain, a part of Udayan left her. Now she was bittersweet about Udayan. Though in Rhode Island she kept herself occupied by enrolling herself at the university, visiting the library, began exploring the new neighbourhood. Slowly and gradually she was adapting to it. That’s what humans do, adapt. Her attire changed, a westernized look now.

She lost her true self in the process. She got more involved in writing her thesis that she neglected the family. Bela was self reliant from an early age. Subhash cared for Bela more than Gauri, her own mother. She wasn’t selfless but growing into a selfish person. 

All because of that one person who entered her life and left the world so recklessly she couldn’t comprehend it herself.

      Bela was a quiet child yet she craved her mothers attention. At times she reminded Gauri of Udayan. 

Bela turned out to be a rebellious child. She began living life on her own terms which made her a strong person to face a tumultuous turn in her life.

         After Subhash and Bela returned from Calcutta, Gauri had left them. It was the perfect opportunity but not the perfect time.

Bela was now motherless. Subhash was furious. He didn’t expect Gauri to leave them too soon. There wasn’t a concrete reason for her departure but she was tired by her role of being a mother. Bela was raised by Subhash. The abrupt departure of her mother had deeply affected her. 

What hurts the most is, not taking a moment to say goodbye.

         When Bela was old enough, mature enough only then Subhash told her the truth. She was taken aback, even furious but she understood him when the truth settled on in her mind. Both her real parents had left her, abandoned her. Her respect for Subhash grew more. He had done what most people wouldn’t do. 

She continued to call him father.

        Subhash and Gauri both grew old, apart from each other. Gauri was a respected professor and Subhash a respected father. Bela was soon to be a mother, she wasn’t married. Subhash found himself a companion. But Gauri was alone. She tried to find them in the big vast world of internet. She couldn’t, but Subhash had. He had sent a letter revealing a bit about his life and of Bela after she had left them.

She regretted her hasty decision when she was in early twenties.

        The conversations and characters are so intricate that it feels that you are experiencing it in first person, and it baffles the reader. The transition from Calcutta to Rhode Island are so seamless yet interconnected. The memories of old times pops up in the new era, the pain endured had been subdued but not completely gone. The fragments made up for the bigger picture in their lives. Different perceptions but the reality clear.

So many conversations yet so many stories untold. Its not easy to break down the minute incidents, emotions though magnanimous to those who have gone through it.

One really needs to read the book to understand the different perceptions. 

How Udayan was killed. His perspective. Gauris and the familys perspective.

How it affected the family. 

How Bela was affected by Gauris departure.

How Subhash coped after losing his loved ones.

In the end its all about the perspective.

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” -  Jhumpa Lahiri

Not to sound cliché but after reading the book I felt as if i have been to Calcutta, Rhode Island, knew the brothers, Gauri and Bela. Saw them grow old as if I was among them. Calcutta transitioned into Kolkata. Memories faded yet not completely forgotten in the new era.

It’s all about the power in the words which brings out the emotions. In the end its all about the perspective.The human emotions are so strong at times that we shun the rationality of thinking. Three lives, altered completely by one person.

Three lives and many more.

Hope you liked the review! Share it with your loved ones.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad By Robert T. Kiyosaki - Review

If you don't handle money, it will handle you. That's a pretty vague outline of this book. Hailed as one of most sought book on financial literacy, it is a hard knock on the reality of many people who play it safe their entire life.


The book starts off with the author's childhood. The journey to 'make money' started in his early years along with his best friend, Mike. They first made money by smelting toothpaste tube which were in those days were made of lead. They both got excited in the process just to know later they can not make money like this, as it was illegal. But the point is they tried and made lead nickels in their backyard. Many people don't even take a chance.

Then they worked at Mike's father's office for little pay. They had to make couple of sacrifices. Robert wanted a pay rise but instead he ended up working for free.

Robert's father was a well educated person, staunch believer in the government system, with a safe job and he wanted his son to follow the same path. On the other hand, Mike's father was a dropout, running a successful business, didn't believe much in the system.
Both made pretty good money but what differed them was their way if thinking and their way of managing monies. One had idealistic approach to life and other didn't. One struggled financially while other one didn't. Mike's father became 'Rich Dad' for the author. Opinions and outlook of both of them shaped author's life in a different way. He had guidance of two fathers and it was upto him to make a proper choice for himself. He had an advantage unlike others who had one voice to guide them. He made a pretty good use of it.


The book gives a perspective on how poor, middle and rich class make and manage their monies. Most of us live a safe life on a safe job, earn money, spend it and so on the rat race continues. We fail to 'make' money. Rather than earn it we should be able to make money even when you're not working for it. This is the message that the author tries to convey to readers. To make money work for us. Most of the people spend their lives working for money in their monotonous life without exploring, without risking, playing it safe all along just to realize they are losing out on living life. People are afraid of change, people are afraid to get out of their comfort zone. We all have done that, been there. It's a hard hitting truth. I read somewhere that 'THE TROUBLE IS IF YOU DON'T RISK ANYTHING, YOU RISK MORE'. This statement is true in retrospective.

In this day and time the need for financial literacy is very much required. It forms the basis for converting money into investments and investments into returns. The book helps to differentiate between assets and liabilities, greediness and the need to be rich. It emphasis on 'minding your own business', in a good way, to deal with taxes, how to invent money, so on and so forth.
It isn't all about money but also about perspectives and ideologies. Financial freedom and wealth won't expand exponentially if you don't expand your mind and ideas. What I have learned from the book is that to not to get into the rat race, and get stuck their because when money controls our mind then it's difficult for us to control out life. We all want to have lots of money, who doesn't?! But when we let that money take over our brain then problems are created. It's about getting rid of those problems. Many a times its fear which creates the problems or laziness or cynicism or habits. It's about overcoming those obstacles and lead a good life. There are various real life examples in the book as a proof to be financially successful. Until one is willing to learn something new and invest time in it wont do any good to you.
Its how not to become a 'Chicken Little' and fear the falling of the sky. We all are afraid, but we overcome it at some time. Overcoming financial independence is simply a process just like any other else but one needs to try it in order to achieve it.


Question yourself - 'How can I afford that'? And your mind thinks of different ways to make money, or please yourself by telling yourself  'I cant afford that' and your mind shuts down its thinking. We human are capable of achieving anything we choose to focus our minds on. It all comes down to the execution of it.



'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'  is a pretty insightful book on how to lead a debt free and financially independent life. It's about doing what you love and not be afraid of change which most us don't, for money.What we don't do is invest in ourselves and expect returns on investments which aren't financially fruitful. Educating and constantly teaching ourselves about financial literacy wouldn't hurt anyone to be rich. The book is relatable to almost everyone and its what makes it a hit among millions across the world. Read the book to know more about the financial intricacies to be successful.
For me it would be a lifelong guide and reference onto my path to financial success.


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