Tag: Book Review

A Poignant Tale of Love, Loss, Hope, Reunion, and More

Published on by Stavyah VatsarahLeave a comment

BOOK REVIEW

Book: Pretty Flamingo
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Author: Perry Martin
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah

Love. Hate. Betrayal. Romance. Horror. Hope. Separation. Reunion. Perry Martin’s debut novel, Pretty Flamingo, promises all of this and much more. It is a sublime tale that oscillates primarily between two time periods and two places: the late 1960s set in Brisbane, Australia, and the early 2000s largely set in California, the US. A poignant story of loss and separation, the novel does its best to address a metaphysical question you may have given a thought: Is it possible that we have ever lived before?

An Emotional Ride

As a reviewer, I am pretty darn sure the book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, surprise you with its wondrous twists, and possibly ensure you brood over questions that you might have considered way too philosophical hitherto. And even as it may cause you to shed tears of joy and sadness, it will most likely touch a part of your soul left untouched, thereby kindling a new magical spark. But does the book promise a happy end? Well, you will have to read the book to find that out!

Reading Pretty Flamingo, I found myself crying, shocked at the way certain events unfolded, and pleasantly surprised by the way the author ended it. It gave me what I needed – a break from the real world. I also found the plot resonating with me because I staunchly believe in the afterlife and the fact that the souls often assume a form based on the good and bad karma accumulated over thousands and millions of births. Nevertheless, I liked the way the author decided to build the main narrative around just two characters, detailing the time they spend together, the bond they share, and the uncanny activities they indulge in.

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Heavily Influenced by Music

It is also worth mentioning that the story wonderfully goes back and forth, expounding the ‘forgotten’ days of the main character named David Perry and the life he is leading at present. The narrative is heavily influenced by music, leaving us convinced that the author, being a musician himself, does enjoy everything musical.

The main part of the story, anyhow, details David’s efforts to recover lost memories from a certain period during his teens. How does he come to forget such a significant part of his life? What happened back then?

My Take

I strongly suggest that every avid reader give Pretty Flamingo a read, for it will take you on a tootle that you may have never taken before, the return journey being as mystical as the initial one, if not more. 

Perry Martin, I believe, is set to emerge as an author who will be read by millions in the near future. His is a style that resonates with readers who love simplicity, who like commonly used words being given a new meaning, and who wish to escape the real world with the sole intention of returning to it with something intriguing. So read Pretty Flamingo, for I know it will not disappoint you, and after you finish, you will only plausibly find yourself evolved, metamorphosed, and… experienced.

DO READ | What Happens When Animals Seize Power?

If You’re a Lover of Short Crime Fiction, This Book Is a Must-Read for You

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

BOOK REVIEW

Book: Sweet Southern Charm – A Short Murder Mystery
Genre: Mystery thriller
Author: Lanie Goodell
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: B Sudharsan

Sweet Southern Charm by indie author Lanie Goodell is not as sweet as its title suggests. It is a murder mystery after all, so it is supposed to be anything but sweet! The incredibly fast-paced story proves to be an interesting read, though. At least, I found the story refreshing, and after reading the story, I got the feeling of having read a crime novel in its entirety.

I suppose the reason for my feeling so is that Ms Goodell variegates the story by adding elements of mystery, romance, love, hate, and friendship – elements that you are sure to find in a crime novel. Furthermore, she does a great job of transporting the reader to the scenes she describes powerfully, employing crisp adjectives and vivid verbs. I took about half an hour to complete reading the book, but if you happen to be a slow reader, you might take about forty to fifty minutes to finish it, that is, if you read it in one go.

Two Murders With Striking Similarities

Sweet Southern Charm begins with an interaction between Janet Cramer, a ‘trashy’ woman living in a posh locality, and Chester Barfield, a guy masquerading as an employee of a company that offers a free assessment of personal security. The latter manages to make an entry to the former’s house, and it is what ensues that makes the story. Janet is found murdered, and investigator Georgia Beaumont and her subordinate Collin Cavanaugh are consequently roped in to figure out who perpetrated the crime. While the story on the one hand fast unravels the mystery, it also details the love-hate relationship Georgia and Collin share on the other.

Investigating the neighbours of the victim does form an integral part of the story, which also witnesses another murder bearing striking similarities to the first. A lady around the same age as Janet’s is found dead, and her body, like that of Janet, bears no wounds. Also, an eerie resemblance exists in the manner in which the dead bodies are left after the murder. All of this indicates that the perpetrator is a professional who knows his job well.

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The Missing Link Does the Magic

Nonetheless, there is something that Georgia seems to be missing, something that she feels can provide a crucial link between the two cases. This ‘missing link’ adds magic to the story, thereby ensuring the reader continues to read with rapt attention. And why the book is titled the way it is titled is known thereupon.

Having said this, I think it is also important for me to mention that I unearthed the suspense halfway through, so a large part of my reading happened only to find out if what I had surmised was correct.

Give It a Read!

I would recommend this book to lovers of crime fiction who don’t have the time to sit through a long novel or who are perhaps looking forward to reading something interesting before hitting the hay. I myself happened to read this book last night, and I did not regret picking it up. It is free on Kindle Unlimited.

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What Happens When Animals Seize Power?

Published on by B SudharsanLeave a comment

BOOK REVIEW

Book: Animal Farm
Genre: Satirical Allegorical Political Novella
Author: George Orwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: B Sudharsan

Animal Farm by George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair, comes in layers. At least seemingly. Every time you read the twentieth-century fictional tale, you are more likely than not to discover a deeper meaning or two obscured within and amongst its ninety-odd pages (mine was published by Select Classics, some run over one hundred and ten pages). Betwixt and between the lines of Animal Farm, therefore, lie tales that might otherwise evade the not-so-discerning reader. On the face of it, though, the book seems to be a humorous (spoiler alert: at times ghastly) story of anthropomorphic animals that overthrow the self-serving lord of a manor farm, taking ownership of the place with pride.

The novella, which might initially overwhelm the reader on account of its having very many animal characters, begins by depicting the farm, rich with power play and chitter-chatter, where many animals abide together, albeit not peacefully. Oppressed and overburdened with work, they stage a revolution under the leadership of Old Major, a boar. They eventually succeed in appropriating the land; the human owner is shooed away, and what begins as a founding of a peaceful animal community ends with an ending that comes across as much more tyrannical and oppressive than what it used to be during the human owner’s presence. 

More Than a Fable, More Than a Satire

In what may also aptly be called a fairy story, animals convene regularly, turning intense and deliberative at times, a promulgation of seven commandments occurs, each of which undergoes fine-tuning with time to feed the needs of the ruling pigs, and even a key song entitled ‘Beasts of England’ symbolising home and the fight for freedom that is oft-repeated initially gets pronounced forbidden as the plot advances.

Hypocrisy is part of the leitmotif, for Napoleon, the celebrated pig that eventually exclusively gets to rule the farm, after having a fallout with its comrade Snowball, another pig, steadily goes on to reduce its sightings in public and is almost always worshipped by its protective guards, i.e., dogs and an obsequious pig named Squealer. The other animals add colour to the story, but their brainlessness and utter tolerance seem to tell the reader what could go wrong if one ended up accepting whatever was hurled at them.  

You might finish reading Animal Farm in one sitting without realising what you read was a masterpiece, wondering if there was some hidden meaning, nay meanings, only to later probably either accidentally or purposefully figure out for yourself that it was a satirical take on Stalin’s regime that began in the late 1920s. What you should be able to figure out in the first read is this: Power corrupts. Absolute power absolutely corrupts, irrespective of whether humans or animals hold it. I do not quite remember how many years ago I first gave Animal Farm a read. What I do remember nonetheless is that I flipped through it more like a fable, blissfully ignorant of the historical context and completely unaware of the rise of Stalinism in the then Soviet Union.

Where Symbolism Reigns Supreme

I decided to reread the book two weeks ago, for I had to discuss it with my students, who I am given to understand are well-read. Only this time around, I was wiser. I did my research, read about Orwell and arrested the fact that the book was a chastising of sorts of the Communist rule in the Soviet Union, especially under its controversial ruler Stalin.  I discovered with conviction that it is an allegory, a stark political satire that comes with a deep, moral message. 

The animals’ revolt could not just be a symbolic representation of the revolt that led to the establishment of the Stalin regime in the then USSR but also a depiction of how any individual seeking power is not immune to corruption. Perhaps the power-seeking individual himself hardly realises he may end up corrupted and oppressive? I leave you with that question to ponder. And this quote from the book: ‘Some animals are equal, but others are more equal than others.’