184. The Fox by Frederick Forsyth

BOOK REVIEW: The Fox by Frederick Forsyth (courtesy of Times Reads)

Being a book reviewer for the past year has made me more open towards different genres, genres which I never imagined I would even turn my attention towards. Talk to a girl about a book on espionage, spies, murder, snipers and she'd probably turn her nose up. I was just like that but this book has changed my perception about the 'boys-only' genre.

Most weapons do what you tell them. Most weapons you can control. But what if the most dangerous weapon in the world isn't a smart missile or a stealth submarine or even an AI computer programme? What if it's an eighteen-year-old-boy?

Luke is a boy with a blisteringly brilliant mind and the ability to run rings around the most sophisticated security services across the globe, turning the superpowers' own weaponry against them.

How valuable is he? And what wouldn't you do to get hold of him? Find and capture, or protect and save? Read on to find out in this intriguing action-packed novel.

The author has created twists and turns that will keep any reader riveted to his seat. I even learned about the names of sniper rifles, ammunition and even other boyish terms that normally I wouldn't give a second thought about. Thoroughly refreshing for me with a new genre, I must say I enjoyed myself reading this fast-paced cat and mouse novel.

For the girly girls out there who were scared or bored before to touch such books, this novel with a rating of 9/10 is a sure-fire pick-me up to introduce yourselves in the world of action and adventure.

183. City of Lies (A Poison War Novel) by Sam Hawke

BOOOK REVIEW: City of Lies (A Poison War Novel) by Sam Hawke

Courtesy of Times Reads

Rating: 10/10

Who can't relate to those Harry Potter days when magic was the order of the day. Seat-clinging action kept us riveted and we just couldn't take our eyes of the pages of adventure, mystical wars and magic. If you were or still are a Harry Potter fan, you are most likely to pick up this book the next time you need an awesome read.

Though it isn't involving magic, the action, suspense, adventure, love and all other elements of the famous series is very much available in this book as well. Just imagine magic been taken over by the supernatural and the use of poisons to kill each other (yes, I said POISONS, a wonderful and fresh alternative to the usual magic and murder).

Jovan is a proofer, a person who is trained to identify poisons and protect the Chancellor from being poisoned. Tain is his best friend and the heir to the Chancellor's seat should the current Chancellor expire before his time is due. Kalina, Jovan's elder sister, is weak and ill and was not able to take over her supposed role of proofer from Jovan.

Everything seems to be all sunshine until Etan, Jovan's uncle as well as Tashi (a teacher in the art of poisoning), and Chancellor Caslav (Tain's uncle) are poisoned during a lunch meeting. Without being able to identify the poison, Jovan is devastated at his uncle's sudden death and vows to find out who murdered the Chancellor and his uncle.

Tain on the other hand struggles to take control of the Chancellor's seat as he is still young and not as capable as his uncle. At this inopportune moment, a siege takes place. The Earthers who were disrespected by the Silastians want to take revenge and are taking over Tain's city. According to the Earthers, the spirits are displeased and want them to take revenge.

With a smattering of love and a whole lot of friendship and bravery, Jovan, Tain and Kalina find out who was the black sheep behind the poisoning and end the siege at the end. I don't want to reveal much of the ending as it will be a dampener to your reading experience.

What I found interesting in this book was before every chapter begins, there was a description of different types of poisons which were mentioned throughout the book. I wasn't entirely sure whether some of the herbs or poisons mentioned truly existed, but it was fun reading about them nonetheless.

A wonderful read and one which I have missed since my Harry Potter days, I highly recommend this book for those who love fiction with a splash of augmented reality thrown in. Plus, it has a wonderful cover that makes for an excellent display on your bookshelf as well. If this book is transformed into a movie, I bet seats will be fully booked!

182. Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

BOOK REVIEW: Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

Courtesy of Pansing Distribution

Rating: 9 / 10

How many of us have wanted to be the best friend, who stands by a friend even when they annoy us to the max? Who stand by them when they swear at us, belittle us and take us for granted? I know a few out there would probably take it all in their stride. But what if things were too hot to handle and you resort to ACCIDENTALLY murder your friend and in the process PURPOSELY murder another loved one just to live their lives?

Highly riveting this novel is one for the dark, morbid fan clubs out there. Louise is struggling to survive in New York; juggling a series of poorly paid jobs, renting a shabby flat, being catcalled by her creepy neighbor, she dreams of being a writer. And then one day she meets Lavina. Lavinia who has everything - looks, money, clothes, friends, an amazing apartment and the list goes on and on.

Lavinia invites Louise into her charmed circle, takes her to underground speakeasies, the opera, shares her clothes, her drugs, her Uber account. Louise knows that this can't last forever, but just how far is she prepared to go to have this life? Or rather, to have Lavinia's life?

A wonderfully strung novel of epic proportions, this left me quite in shock and makes me realize that sometimes those who aren't happy with their current life will and can resort to murder to attain things they never before imagined. SPOILER ALERT: Rex is Lavinia's ex-boyfriend (Rex is still in love with Lavinia after the break-up but dates  Louise and says he loves her; though Louise knows full on he doesn't. That's the person Louise PURPOSELY kills although she loves him.)

Even though I'm not one for the morbid kind of stories, I just couldn't place this book down although I had personal commitments which were floating all around me. But do be cautioned that this book is only suitable for those 18 years old and above as it does have explicit words and a number of sex scenes throughout. All in all, it was a roller coaster of a read that comes highly recommended.

181. In Paris With You by Clementine Beauvais

BOOK REVIEW: In Paris With You by Clementine Beauvais (courtesy of Times)

I'm a fan of romance novels as they tug at my heartstrings and never fail to put a smile on my face. But this book was fresh and made me appreciate these genre novels more than I actually used to. 

It is a story of star-crossed lovers written with prose that will send any romance fan into a frenzy. At first I couldn't comprehend what was going on, as everything is written in a semi-poem language. But as I continued reading, I immersed myself into the almost lyrical beauty of true feelings, broken hearts and love at first sight.

In the beginning, Eugene and Tatiana cross paths as teenagers. Both of them are smart beyond their age, however Eugene is pessimistic about life while Tatiana's voracious reading (ahhhhh...there's our bookish heroine) makes her fantasize about true love and being in a relationship just like in the many novels she has read.

Eugene and Tatiana could have could have fallen in love, if things had gone differently. If they had really tried to know each other, if it had just been them, and not the others. But that was years ago and time has found them far apart, leading separate lives. Until they meet again in Paris. What really happened back then? And now? Could they ever be together again after everything?

I found this novel to be really beautiful, though it is an understatement, because the words woven throughout the book made me actually feel each of the character's current feelings. Prosaic and luscious, some of the paragraphs are written where the flow of words form the silhouette of a guy's and girl's face. 

This book is a true tear-jerker and I felt pain ebbing through my veins when Tatiana and Eugene couldn't express their love when their love was pure and innocent. Truly a book to be gifted to a hopeless romantic or even an avid reader, I highly recommend this book. WARNING: lock yourself in a room (so that nobody hears your audible sobbing) with a pack of tissues (your eyes will run dry from tears).

180. Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right: The Food Solution That Lets Kids be Kids by Joanna Dolgoff

BOOK REVIEW: Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right - The Food Solution That Lets Kids be Kids by Joanna Dolgoff

With hundreds of books on diets, even for young urchins, it seems a tad too difficult to choose one that suits your family's needs. However, after reading this book, this seems like an almost perfect fit to any family.

As any parent knows, getting your kids to eat the right foods in the right portions can be a challenge. But with many children at risk for developing obesity-related diseases, it's time to give our kids the tools they need for a healthy future.

Determined to help her young patients - and their families - who struggle with this issue, the author (who is a pediatrician) created this book, a safe, effective plan for the whole family that uses the colors of the traffic light to divide food into 3 categories: Green (Go!), Yellow (Slow!) and Red (Uh Oh!). On this plan:

• No foods are off limits - in fact, occasional treats are essential.
• Children get the nutrients they need to grow strong, healthy bodies.
• Busy parents can use sample menus, meal plans, and delicious recipes.
• Eating out is a breeze with an index of more than 1000 color-coded foods.

Customizable, interactive and fun, this book will help your family lose weight and start living healthier, together. Actually, this diet works out even if you don't have kids as it is fun and easy to follow without restrictions like most other diets do. Go figure!

179. Udayagiri & Khandagiri by Debala Mitra

BOOK REVIEW: Udayagiri & Khandagiri by Debala Mitra

As a bookworm, wherever we go, books play a central part in our life. I'm writing this review all the way from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Dubbed as the 'land of temples', Odisha is famous for its many temples and temple relics. What better way to brush up knowledge on these sites than by getting a book on them?

One of the earliest groups of Jain rock-cut shelters, the caves of Udayagiri (Hill of Sunrise) and Khandagiri (Broken Hills) command a unique position in the files of history, architecture, art and religion.

These caves are essentially dwelling retreats or cells of the Jain ascetics. Mostly excavated near the top of the ledge or boulder, they simply provided dry shelter for meditation and prayer, with very little amenities for small comforts.

This book, which was published by the Archaeological Survey of India, explains the various facades of the temple, including carvings, sculptures and the rest of the buildings on site. It proves to be a great guide for those visiting these caves.

I did visit the caves after reading this and whatever that was described in the book was portrayed on the cave walls and pillars. For those of you bookemons like me who also travel, do have this book with you when you are in Bhubaneswar. It will prove to be your trusty guide in these caves.

178. Camino Island by John Grisham

BOOK REVIEW: Camino Island by John Grisham (Courtesy of Pansing)

I seldom touch mystery cum thriller cum murder because I used to find it too gory, boring, monotonous are all of the mentioned reasons. Thanks to Pansing, on several occasions I have started to relish these genre books. This was no exception. The writer wove a story that I highly recommend to the bookish types in my midst.

What happens when you read a book which has a mystery about stolen manuscripts written by F. Scott Fitzgerald (think The Last Tycoon and This Side of Paradise), titles of books cropping up everywhere in the story and visions of grandiose bookstores by the beach? Well, you just get HOOKED! If you are a bookworm like me, it's a heaven of books crammed into a book. Unable to describe more as I am at a loss for words. Let's jump into the review.

The most daring and devastating heist in literary history targets a high security vault located deep beneath Princeton University. Valued at $25 million (though some would say priceless), the five manuscripts of F Scott Fitsgerald's only novels are among the most valuable in the world - and now they're gone. After an initial flurry of arrests, both they and the ruthless gang of thieves who took them have vanished without a trace.

Then, secret agents rope in Mercer Mann, a writer who originates from Camino Island to spy on hunky Bay Books bookstore owner (also in Camino Island), Bruce Cable, who is suspected of having the stolen manuscripts. Now she has to crack a case that has thwarted the FBI's finest minds. Along the way, sparks fly between Mercer and Bruce ending up with some finely toned down cumbu scenes (sorry ladies..haha).

This book was unputdownable in many ways and I highly suggest you head to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. You will definitely regret not having this in your ever growing collection of TBRs. Happy Reading!