Tick Tock

Looking out the window, the pouring rain seemed to be a dream for him. He wasn’t sure whether he was dreaming or not, but was quite sure about one thing; that his name was Robert or something beginning with the letter ‘r’. He was also sure about something he possessed, something not many in the world could ever dream of. No it isn’t a roof above his head nor was it loving parents or good friends, it wasn’t anything of that sort actually. He could time travel, he couldn’t leap from century to century but he could time travel, in a small way, in a convenient way. He was not a slave but master of the clocks; he was the master of himself. Clocks on his command would tick then tock and at times skip the tock and go back to tick. At times they ticked and ticked and tocked with great intensity and swiftness, it was an easy life for him; it was an easy three days.

Only a few moments had seemed to pass thanks to him and still without a movement he gazed at the pouring rain. Little droplets raced down to the end of his glass window, this made him think about the times when he was a still a child. A water droplet was something that fascinated him now and then. As a child he would wet his little palms and watch which one of those droplets that rolled down his arm would reach his elbow first. But that was now a very long tome ago. He was not that quite old but he felt wear and tear of someone twice his age. Maybe all that games he played with arms of the clock had taken its toll after all.  

It was two days ago that he first saw her. He couldn’t remember where, but it was definitely once of those over crowded places that is quite common nowadays. There were a million other people there, a million other people like him, a million other people like her. It was just a couple seconds, his mind tried with all its might to make the clocks stay on the same tick forever but in the end he failed. He managed to delay the tock for some time but his mind failed eventually. Something told him that he would meet her again and that her name was She. That raised his spirits, he and She still had the chance to become a We. That his heart told him, his heart consoled him.

Now it was time to decide. He trusted his heart, he distrusted himself. He had a couple more minutes to spare. He knew she was out there . Anxiety grew, he tried to speed up the ticks and tocks and maybe even make them skip a couple. It had taken its toll and he felt tired, he had to do this just once more, just this once. He turned off the lights, closed his eyes, lay facing the wall, and began to time travel. He began to speed the hands of the clocks; he began to move through it. He began to sleep.

Boredom a faithful companion

It’s quite easy to keep myself busy, most of the time I keep myself busy by being bored. Boredom isn’t so bad after all, that’s what after hours of thought and restlessness I make myself believe.

It all began on the third day of the thunder. As usual I was being kept company by creatures, warlike and even the cutest and cuddliest creatures that the chief of our three person tribe had bought me. The revolution created by the men from the box was quite remarkable, by the way they are the ones that got me the creatures and the portal needed to access it. The portal was quite common these days. Everybody in our town owned one.The bright colours and images of the past and present alike, it showed with precision and a mystic understanding.

The third day of the thunder was the most frightening. The colours in the air ocean kept changing, the drums of the sky too made hearts stop and the village came to a standstill. Not just because of the few hearts that stopped but because at the very moment the wrath of all the Gods of time, from the past and present was heard. The people who heard it thought that they would hear no more other wished to be one of those deaf and helpless people that were brought to the earth. The portals and modern crystal balls lost their power; some turned as bright as the sun and then timidly dimmed into a permanent darkness with a little smoke and fire. Others just refused to come alive.

Panic grew among kids and the elderly alike. It felt as if I was going to be one of those lucky people who would survive the apocalypse and tell others about it some day. I began to feel a strong grip, Boredom a new creature came into view just then. It was something that came not from the portal but from my very living room. It rose up from a deep slumber, and sort to assert its dominance once again now that the creatures from the portal had ceased to exist. I knew I was in deep trouble; its very presence made my mind ache, restlessness fell over me like a warm blanket. My thoughts began to take control of me, it took me back to places I had been to earlier. This new creature showed me my memories unlike the others who showed me fantasies.

It’s been fourteen days, a week in simpler terms. Or is it two, im not sure. The wrath of the air ocean has subsided and there have been rumors that the portals were coming back to life. How true they are im not sure, in the absence of all that dictated my life I found myself. Boredom the creature from the dusty corner of my living room is the worst companion anybody can find. However it made me do something, for the first time in my life. I have written, hence I exist. The first thing I did in my life without the company of those other cheerful and thrilling creatures. Now the portals are locked away, far away. I act and think, Boredom keeps me busy.

Ancient Wonders to Sacred Stones, Action and adventure is near

The sequel to the Seven Ancient Wonders by Australian author Mathew Rielly has lived up to the expectations of the readers once again. Again Jack West Jr. goes on a mission to save the world. The plot of the novel however is not stunning as such. Its just an action packed adventure that is bound to keep the readers occupied. The author has created a stunning and clever character but has failed to give Jack West Jr. the uniqueness he deserves and has in the end ended up with the Australian version of  Hollywood’s very own Indiana Jones.

Mathew Reilly who was born in 1974 is clearly the kind of person who has grown up watching lot action movies, and has added a lot of those elements to his literary works as well. The book is a combination of action, adventure, a lot of archeology and some fictional history. However the whole combination is not quite satisfying as the experience gained by the reader after faithfully reading over six hundred pages is that of a movie. This could be something some readers consider apt for a book; still it fails to make a mark on the reader even though the rush felt while reading could contribute to the whole reading experience.

There is quite a handful of characters in the novel and at times its easy to get them mixed up. Characters are not unique nor are they developed and shown using all the right ways. Bottom line is that they all speak in the same way, from the sixty year old Max Epper to the twelve year old Lilly.

In terms of setting the novel has no particular location; they wander from city to city from mainland China to Dubai the reader travels with Jack West Jr. and his elite team. The quest due to its nature helps Jack make a lot of new enemies which the author uses as a opportunity and at times an excuse to add in action sequences. There is quite a heavy and large body count in terms of violent death (mostly of anonymous soldiers). Yet a good and entertaining picture is painted perfectly.

After five hundred pages most readers might be wondering how Jack West Jr. is going to pull this one off, well he doesn’t. No he doesn’t die, like the books predecessor there a sequel where all your remaining questions will be answers. That’s the catch and a clear cheap marketing trick or it’s just that Reilly’s just got too much to say.

The overall rating of the book goes down quite low due to the fact that it’s a typical one time reader and fails to captivate the minds of the readers like some of the other competing books in the same genre. On the contrary, Mathew Reilly has done a splendid job in producing pure entertainment for his audience provided they have enough time on their hands.

Book details

Author:                Mathew Reilly

Title:                    The Six Sacred Stones

Genre:                 Action/ Thriller Novel

Publisher:            Pan Macmillan

Publication date: 23 October 2007

Prequel:               Seven Ancient Wonders

Sequel:                The Five Greatest Warriors

Pages:                  578

One Ring to rule them all, one book to bind them

                             “One Ring to rule them all

                               One Ring to find them

                               One Ring to bring them all

                               In the darkness bind them”

A perilous quest, fantasy that questions reality in the minds of readers, a wise and courteous wizard, treacherous and wide spread enemies, the noble protagonist; J R Tolkien has figured out the perfect recipe for the perfect book ever written in its genre.

                           

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book published in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It gives an account of the quest of Frodo Baggins to destroy the ring created by the Dark Lord Sauron. To fantasy fiction lovers this books says it all, whereas for others it shows the creative brilliance of the author in crafting a novel that is true to itself, unique in every possible way and with a vast breath in its scope and magnitude. The novel begins with a very helpful prologue and sheds light on information a reader should know before stepping into the world of the author.

                            

 It’s the Third Age in Middle Earth and Frodo gets hold of the Ring that was originally created for evil purposes, due the great power of the Ring it even manipulates its bearers minds and corrupts them. Gandalf the Grey a wizard of vast knowledge comes to know that Sauron has send his minions to pursue Frodo and capture the lost Ring in order to rise to power over all Middle Earth. Thus begins Frodo’s quest to Mount Doom the only place where the ring can be destroyed.

                           

In terms of plot structure its quite simple, Frodo starts off on a journey and has to travel through harsh and extensive terrain making hard decisions in order to succeed. But the precision in the details added of a universe that doesn’t exist is bound to make a few jaws drop. Another stunning feature of this novel is that even though published in parts it was originally intended as one huge novel and could be a problem while catering to those less patient readers. The character list is vast, unique and creative.

Tolkien however goes on to describe them all equally and efficiently and at times even going into their lineage and history. Even though Frodo is the most important character in the novel its quite easy to fall in love with Gandalf. Simply because of his playfulness who is quick to temper and quicker when it comes to friendliness and affection.

                            

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a must read to all Fantasy buffs and even readers who are new to this genre. The book is escape from reality and has the potential to effortlessly keep you in Tolkiens reality. To anyone who treasures the whole process of reading this classic epic fantasy novel is the perfect Christmas gift

                      

Book Details

Author:                  J R Tolkien

Title:                     The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring         

Genre:                   Fantasy

Publisher:             Ballantine Books

Publication Date: July 24, 1954

Prequel:                 The Hobbit

Sequel:                  The Two Towers

Pages:                   527

The Don among Novels

The devil has got a new name, according to the five New York crime families, and it is Vito Corleone. The don Vito Corleone a friendly man , a just man, a reasonable man, a man that rose to become the head of the Cosa Nostra simply by gaining respect from his fellow Sicilian counterparts. The Godfather one of Mario Puzo’s most celebrated works brings before us the character of Vito Corleone. The author Mario Puzo has created a splendid and distinguished blood saga placed in the 1940s choosing the perfect location, the crime capital - New York. Instantly the reader is taken into the author’s world, and shown the desperate times the Italian migrants have to suffer in the busy metropolis. And there is not a better situation to show what people are willing to do in times of desperation. Since such situation is not fiction it acts as a piece of information with the author’s imagination.

The novel in its purest form fits in the genre of a genuine crime thriller. The author creates an ingenious plot comprising of violence in great detail, strong motives, relationships and emotions and even marvelous notions on society. The poverty suffered by the criminals is depicted. It almost justifies criminal activity and there is a good chance that the reader gets convinced too, at times even when s/he is not totally aware. The full credit goes to the author. It’s a novel that portrays family, power, and even murder having visible links among themselves.

The Godfather is a novel that has used a variety of techniques which combine and work together harmoniously. At one point things and events would be moving in breakneck speed and suddenly it all slows down. The chapter where the don’s youngest son, Michael Corleone murders the Virgil Sollozzo ‘Turk’ (a drug smuggler who wants the don to become part of his business) for attempting to murder Vito Corleone is a good example. The author, in order to slowdown the pace begins to give a little more a description. This makes the scene more dramatic and the right amounts of anxiety creep into the reader.

The idea of a strong bond within families is highlighted in a splendid fashion. This makes a reader admire the criminals rather than despise them. As history stands witness to the fact that the Italian mafia had a hierarchy based on seniority in the family, Mario Puzo highlights it cleverly. Even the most violent and immoral actions of the mafia has glamour coated on the top of it all. Vivid descriptions of speeding Cadillacs and the finest Italian suites used by the family heads make a clear and clever fashion statement. The novel also gives a detailed explanation about all the characters and all the bloodline, and the reason they chose this lifestyle, though most times the reasons are the same. Just like Vito Corleone the other mob members also got into the family job in order to put bread on the table for their families, and in the end get caught in a series of events that seal their fate. But the irony in the novel is that none of these men or their families is ashamed; rather, there is pride and honor.

 The author skillfully gives the readers a few surprises towards the ending. This cannot be called an outstanding feature as it is common feature of good tales. But the way it is depicted is what makes it a classic, a timeless classic. It is very evident that the author has not aimed at creating just an action-packed thriller but has aimed at adding the right amounts of the right elements. From the brutal and violent murders to the areas where emotions come into play, there are identifiable amounts of literary beauty present and this makes Mario Puzo’s ‘Godfather’ a true success.

                                               

                                               

Book Details

Author:                 Mario Puzo

Genre(s):              Crime novel

Publisher:             GP Putnam's Sons, New York 

Publication date:   10 March 1969

Media type:          Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book

Pages:                  446