The Paris Enigma

By Pablo De Santis

I believe in Einstein and when he says God is in the details.

The book is, how do I say it – loose. While reading it, it feels like calling the author and telling him that he needs to tighten some bits a bit and add details. After all the book is about detectives!

The books starts very well, I think one of the better ‘starting’ I have read in a long time. It lends a mysterious air to the book. However soon as the first chapter is over, there is diluting of this air because of the lack of details.

On one hand it’s a tale about how some detectives go to any length to produce an enigma, on the other it’s a chance success story of a person who once again proves that pursuance and attention to detail can bring success.

As a takeaway you will have a good sense about detectives from various countries and Paris at the time when Eiffel tower was being built.

Read it. Its always a good thing to read a book written in a different language – this case Mexican. Only thing is wish there were more translators – much like Pamuk’s translators.

A Motel Life

By Willy Vlautin

After a long search for a real good book, I got myself this one. Yes, my blog is about different books and this qualifies.

What will you call an ordinary boy, living a less than ordinary life and still takes life so easy? I think you can only call him Frank Flannigan.

You think life is imperfect and then you meet Frank and his attitude and the perspective kind of shifts. Frank is patient for his age and very good at whatever he does, be it taking care of his brother, the dog, of his girl or telling stories – in which he gets an A+

I wont say much, because the book doesn’t a much to talk about except there is a lot of Frank.

Read it, you’ll love him.

The Kitchen God's Wife

by Amy Tan

Again first Amy Tan. Exceptionally expressive so much that the scenes are vivid as she writes about the China during war and before that also. The women, the men, the American influence even the food.

There is one thing though, 1000 Splendid Suns has covered lesser miseries than this book. But its also like Gone with the Wind - a triumph of the spirit.

As Winne tells the story of herself while she was in China (before moving to America) to her daughter, by way of removing the guilt she has for hiding secrets - Amy Tan takes you to places and people you have never been to or met before. You get involved in the miseries, the joys of this little Chinese woman, in the end almost making you swallow the big lump which forms in your throat.

Read it, but only when you are happy in life :)