A remarkable account of Pakistan’s history – starting from the Mughal times to the present . Akbar’s knowledge of the history is excellent and he presents it in an engaging way. The book doesn’t start too well – it seems a rambling of facts in no serious order – but towards the end it all comes together to close on the tinderbox Pakistan has become.
Read.
Past and present overlap for two families. The interaction between kids of a family – from their parents’ many marriages makes a great context but doesn’t quite live up to the promise. Barker, a winner of Booker Prize, is not at her best in this. The characters are really done very well though.
Don’t bother.
Think deeply, make mistakes, ask questions and embrace change. An interesting book.
Read.
A short book on dialog writing in fiction. Fairly basic – and yet useful information. The ideas of combining action, exposition, dialog and narration were interesting.
Read
A well-written book that provides useful tips on writing. Simply written and helpful.
Read, if you are looking for writing advice.
Creatures that morph into human beings but are in reality from the other world were never my thing and hence the book was a mistake. Lettie Hempstock, her mother and grandmother are benevolent witches that save our protagonist from Ursula Monkton, an other world creatures-turned-babysitter. A story that ends tragically. Not my thing, I said, but as writing skills go, Gaiman is great. If ever I get into the genre, Gaiman it will be.
Exquisite setting, multiple conflicts and multi-layered. Yun Ling, imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese in their occupation of Malaya ends up falling for a Japanese man, full of mystery and intrigue. Good narration, though you do see the disadvantage of people for whom English is not the first language.
Read.
