Reader Review - The Almond Tree By Michelle Cohen Corasanti

Book:    The Almond Tree

Author : Michelle Cohen Corasanti

Publisher : Fingerprint Publishing (Prakash Book)

Genre :  Historical Fiction

Ratings : 5/5

ISBN :  9788172344870

Number of Pages: 352

Review Date: 19^th December 2013

Review on behalf of - ReadersCosmos

My Ratings:

Plot – 4.5/5

                                                      Characters – 5/5                           

Style – 5/5

Climax – 5/5

Cover Page – 4/5

My Review:

The plot is based in the world’s most interrupted geography and economy. Author has written a well-articulated and a very well researched book about the communal disturbance between the Jews, Israelis and the Palestinians in a very simple yet heart touching vocabulary. For the readers, who have very less or no information and detailed picture of what this part of the globe had once gone through, here is a perfect read. It goes without saying that author has done complete justice by portraying a crisp plot through her appreciable research. She has wonderfully decorated the scenarios and episodes that occurred in the life of the protagonist, Ahmed. She has very evenly decorated the picture of his livelihood across his life and those who are associated with him. 

The characters are picturesque. Everyone has been sketched more by their expressions than by their clothing. The notable ones are the humbleness of Ahmed’s Baba and the artistic galore in him, the indifference of Ahmed’s Mama, the description of Abbas, the man changes into with time and situation. The poverty, pain and hunger that bring into challenges in the day to day life of the protagonist is written well. The description of Nora, the kind of person she is to look beyond how Ahmed dresses and settle into the intelligent mind of his. Even the Justice and Menachem had been portrayed as the perfect guide and friends. The character of Yasmine has been portrayed as just the kind of expectation a reader can have about a village girl set in the American Dreams. On the whole, the strength of the plot are the characters that are built here.

This book is one of a kind, more real than what we see on television from different part of the world. The reality lies in the differences that thrive in a family, among every individual member which finally leads each one to follow different paths of life and face the consequences. What is chosen by an individual and what fate has for one show the path of life one is finally entitled to. How political exploitation and lack of enough communication leads to agony, hatred and misery and how in turn it hurts the life of common man is also well portrayed.

The flaw in the book is just one. There is no drastic description of any situation that the protagonist in the book. All the natural calamities and political disturbances that are described are faced by only the author or his family; there is no notable devastation that affects anyone other than them directly. More so, they are dealt with and overcome finally with no add-on reference or exhibition of emotions. When Nora dies, everyone forgets her after the funeral, when Abbas leaves, no one tries to stop him or contact him till the end, other than protagonist, when Baba comes back from prison, there is no description of how his life changes after the 18 years of confinement. A little bit more on these would have added more life to the story.

On the whole, this is an amazing read and author has done justice as a first write. What Khaled Hosseini did about Afghanistan in “The Kite Runner” is what Michelle Cohen Corasanti did for Palestine in her “The Almond Tree”. A must read book for sure.

"This book has been reviewed as a part of The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program. To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com"

Book Review: Karna's Wife

Book:    Karna’s Wife

Author : Kavita Kane

Publisher : Rupa Publishing

Genre :  Mythology

Ratings : 5/5

ISBN : 9788129120854

Number of Pages: 318

Review Date:  14^th December 2013

Review on behalf of - Self

My Ratings:

Plot – 4.5/5

Characters – 4.5/5

Style – 5/5

Climax – 4/5

Cover Page – 4/5

My Review:

This is one of the most logical mythologies that I have read in times to come. 

While Mahabharata has been the narration of Lord Krishna, the Pandavas have always received the front row. In this book author has researched well to why the otherwise happened in the Mahabharata. Author has put in an effortless storyline from her detailed research in order to link all the characters and stages of occurrence in their life. She defined and dissected the caste system, the social setup from birth of a child to death of a man has been portrayed for the different characters, both men and women. 

This is the story of Karna as narrated by his Princess wife Uruvi, who followed her heart to break the caste system norms during that time of the society to marry him. The author exhibited his righteousness, his glorifying sense of responsibility, his compassion for friendship, family and brotherhood. His love for his wives and devotion for the destruction of the Pandavas were beautifully narrated. In this book author described how in the name of Dharma, situation twisted and turned to invoke the Karna we know in Krishna's Mahabharata. She has invoked the reason why the Kauravas were the bad ones and what led them to be the bad ones, why the righteous Karna joined the Kauravas and why the Pandavas went through what they went through.

She also portrayed how women in the epic society ran the show, rather ran the dynasties without being crowned as rulers. She has put in an amazing effort to bring out the strong yet silent heroes of the devastating Kurukshetra war - Kunti, Draupadi and Uruvi. From Karna being adopted as a sutaputra to the dice game at hastinapur, from Karna's enemity with Arjuna to his unconditional friendship with Duryodhona all has been portrayed from the view of Uruvi, his wife.

This plot is crisp, mythological aspect has strongly been backed up by facts and reasons and the descriptions are complete and clear. Karna heroic deed has been highlighted very well.

My Review - Baramulla Bomber. By Clark Prasad.

Book:    Baramulla Bomber

Author : Clark Prasad

Publisher : Niyogi Books

Genre :  Mystery

Ratings : 4/5

ISBN : 9789381523971

Number of Pages: 316

Review Date:  2^nd December 2013

Review on behalf of - ReadersCosmos

My Ratings:

Plot – 4.5/5

                                                                                         Characters – 4/5                           

Style – 5/5

Climax – 3.5/5

Cover Page – 4/5

My Review:

The Novel, "Baramulla Bomber" is a larger than life one. I am Thankful to the Author for sending me a copy of the book for review. The book had been an amazing journey. I completed reading it in a span of 2 days, I remained totally involved in the characters, the way each moment have been portrayed and pictured. As a reader, I had something critical, some tweak in the story, some changes to put a bit more interest into the story in every alternative page. One cannot let go the book till finished reading completely. The most interesting part of this novel is that it grows in the reader gradually and the plot becomes more interesting as we read ahead.

The number of pages are towards the higher side. The diagrams and maps are very well described. The cover page is the best part of the book. An attractive, rich and action packed cover page, the readers will get drawn by the look of it in the first place.

The Author has exhibited extreme skills with The Maps, the diagrams and the character sketching, all has been done perfectly. It offers the readers a sense of location and time. He has defined each and every character in the novel with a striking outline. He has created a powerful character and strongly delivered the protagonist Mansur.

The author has put in a lot of effort and done amazing research of physics, quantum, psychology, history and geography. While there is a lot of information in the book, at times it feels like a white paper reading rather than a novel. The first 50-75 odd pages have a lot to offer and to carry them till the end of the Novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer. But still, this is a book one cannot keep down till finished completely. The author has been successful to completely engage the readers with a lengthy one like this.

This is a new Genre altogether. Indian fiction writing has a new theme now and as the 1st one of the Svastik Trilogy, author has done an amazing job. I wish Mr. Clark Prasad Congratulations for the amazing work of the "Baramulla Bomber" and would love to recommend this Novel to all the readers. This is a must read.