The Mysterious affair at Styles by Agatha Christie’s starring John Moffat as Poirot
Dramatized by BBC with a whole cast playing different members of the cast so in affect this is not a pure audiobook but an audio play which helps since this is a murder mystery.
Listening length around 2 hours but it seems much less since the Audiobook is a part of a bigger collection of selected stories by Agatha Christie and all these stories feel like short stories which they are actually not! This is the first book starting Poirot and this I found out while researching for this review! The whole book was initially released as a section in some magazine with a chapter every issue and then made into a book. This is also the first book with his sidekick of sorts, Colonel Hastings just like Dr Watson! But this is where the similarity vanishes and Agatha has made a conscious effort to make Poirot and probably Hastings as different from Sherlock and Watson as possible! In fact in one of the scenes Poirot says, “Sherlock has his violin while I have my balancing cards!” Though after reading so many novels starring Poirot I do not remember a single novel which talks about his balancing the cards apart from this one! Another thing is that you cannot read any Sherlock novel which does not have Watson in it which probably may be because he is the narrator but even then Watson is an essential part of Sherlock Holmes story! But most of the popular stories starring Poirot like Murder on the Orient express or Death on the Nile do not have Hastings! Like I had mentioned before in another review, you can always change Holmes to be rustic or fast or athletic or plain mad (highly functional sociopath is what Benedict’s Sherlock would say!) but Poirot would always be depicted as a short stout man with Polished accent who is in no hurry to get anywhere!
Sherlock has been shown to be brilliant just as Poirot but he may not know the number of planets in the solar system while Poirot is just perfect in every sense at least as far as the brain is concerned!
So finally coming to the story which is the death of a rich widow who had recently married a young man! There is a saying in cop circle that in the case of murder of the wife; it is the husband who is the guilty party and only after you have cleared him is when you look for other suspect!
Here also the suspicion falls very early in the start of the novel without any spoiler on the husband and how Poirot proves or disproves it is the whole story! A play of his little grey cells and much more! Every single incident is important and you must keep your ears open and mind fresh to listen to the clue! You have the weapon of murder as Poison as one of the characters in the story states; that is the weapon of choice of a lady! You also have twists and turns and lots of surprises in the end! The way the poison was supposed to be administered reminded me of Salivation of a saint by Kihei Higashino in some way. The novel setting is where there are lots of rich people with a very rich and affluent person while many stand to gain from her death! This is a common theme in many such novels of those days! The narration is good and keeps you engaged and the cast has done a stellar job! Of course like every Poirot mystery you have a meet and greet in the end when Poirot in front of his audience makes his assessment and solves the murder and you will feel, “Oh! How did I not think of it!” Must read!
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie’s starring John Moffat as Poirot
Dramatized by BBC with a whole cast playing different members of the cast so in affect this is not a pure audiobook but an audio play which helps since this is a murder mystery.
Listening length around 2 hours but it seems much less since the story is so well known!
I have read the original book when I was a teen and did not understand it that much! This was when my friend already told me the ending and how things get solved in the end!
Then I saw the BBC series and it felt better! Finally when I saw the two movies (at least the famous ones since there are too many versions!); I understood that this is an epic!
The latest movie made in 2017 has Kenneth Branagh playing Poirot with a host of characters and it starts with the famous Armstrong Baby kidnapping and cuts to the scene! Having seen most of the other versions I can safely say that this version is the best! This audiobook is close to that in depiction of that fateful train journey!
The series and the other movies also has some minor variations in the beginning which can be attributed to creative Liberty! Of course it all ends up with a dead man with 12 stabs with a knife in a train with so many strangers! And then the chase begins as Poirot finds out more and more about everyone and like how we are all related to one another by some connection a common connection presents itself!
Unless you have been living under a rock I am sure that you would have read or known about this book!
Don’t worry; the thrill is not in the spoil but in the chase and you will definitely enjoy the chase of the little grey cells of Poirot!
One single word in the beginning of the book actually spoils the book in case you are wondering! When Poirot is asked where else would you see such a mix of people of different countries and profession in the same place!
And then Poirot answers, “America!”
Of course that was true only in those times since this mix can now be seen in many parts of the world!
The thrill of the train journey with individual compartments and room service was really good though! In fact this is one of the rare instance when the movie is better than the book since you can feel the snow laden tracks and the train whistle and the constant sound of the train on the track! To be fair this audiobook gets you halfway there!
Unlike Holmes, Poirot takes it slow, he is not athletic or in a hurry. He is slow, polite and stout! I guess it is a deliberate contrast made by Agatha to bring out the point that Poirot is not Holmes! In fact you have so many remixes of Holmes where he is shown sometimes as a reckless drug using goon! But Poirot is a class apart! He is decent and well mannered and moves around in posh circles! So much so that any depiction of Poirot would always depict like this only!
Of course the crux of the book and the murder mystery and investigation is on the point of questioning the suspects and re evaluating what they said or did not say or the things they try to hide! It is the way Poirot works, to listen and not just hear! And as a result solve the case! At voila!
Artificial intelligence from Medieval Robots to Neural Networks by Clifford A Pickover
Narrated by Steve Menasche Audiobook Running length around 5 hours 44 minutes
This is a reference book which can be used as a entry level to advanced level book for beginners and professionals alike
Clifford Pickover has a series of such books in wide variety of topics like science technology mathematics! In fact he is a modern world blogger with over 50 published books in a whole amalgamation of topics!
Of course the books are researched from different places and this is like a collection of work from different sources
As they say, copy from one is plagiarism but when you take from many then it’s research!
The book starts from basic AI which even includes games like Tic tac and chess to advanced robots like Watson and deep impact
This is the only audio book of his large series and if you have read his books you will know how it works. The book is a basic chronological guide to the development of a particular topic which in this case is the AI
So every topic has a few lines and reference and cross reference and some basic to advanced facts. Some trivia and popular facts are thrown around for good measure! Of course there will be lots of cross references and repeated topics in his different books like computer or mathematics or physics and even biology
I have seen the same topics like the Antikythera Mechanism or Boolean algebra or Darwin among the machines or Turing tests being repeated in many of his books which is like a revision!
Simple things like abacus to Moto man; if it has some tech or relation to computer or robotics you can find it in this ready reference!
Of course it is not a story to read but still you can listen to some of the topics like the Frankenstein or Texas poker or backgammon like a story!
Like a typical history book the text moves according to the year starting from BC dates to 2019! Am sure the next edition will have more entries!
Some topics also discuss popular science fiction movies like Terminator and blade runner and Spielberg which adds zing to the experience!
The narration is straightforward and uses simple words keeping the confusion to the minimum! Most topics are like introduction and then it is up to you to read and research and understand further.
My favourite topics were Asimov and his laws of robotics, Roomba the vacuum cleaning robot and connect four game! Interesting ear catching titles like elephants can’t play chess, or cybernetic serendipity or AI on Mars thrill you and grab your attention!
The final entries are the latest advances in AI like the robotic surgery and Rubik’s cube solving robots to the final topic of AI death predictor!
Even each topic sometimes starts with it’s own history to the development to the final technological advancement in that field!
A must read book which is midway between a textbook and a novel which can cater to everyone who is interested in tech!
Agatha Christie’s the murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Part of Part of BBC Dramatization with John Moffat as Poirot and a whole list of actors playing the different roles! Running length around 2 hours
Fictional thriller genre
No spoilers but if you absolutely don’t want any clue then read the novel first and then read this review since even a small clue will spoil the suspense or surprise!
The twist ending had made this a very popular book!
Some of the best endings are the ones where the narrator or the chief investigator or the lead detective or the juror is actually the murderer!
These have been used in novels such as the silent patient or Curtain; Poirot’s last case and in one of the short stories by Jeffrey Archer in his book Quiver full of Arrows (one of his best books!)
Even in one of Byomkesh novels by Bandhopadhyay; there is a story when a person tries to narrate a story to Byomkesh of an unsolved murder mystery only to have realised that he was speaking to the ace sleuth! Even that was a surprise unexpected twist!
One of her other Novel; the lead police investigator is the killer! Now in all the above I have not mentioned any specific details so there is no spoiling!
This novel is also a typical Poirot thriller where he uses ‘his little grey cells’ (in his own words!) to solve a mystery!
His typical reveal in the end to a group is left incomplete though and the end is open ended in that you are not told about the later events but the ending is a twist indeed!
If you have read the novel before; this is a great refresher indeed and if you haven’t then lucky you! You get to read the twist for the first time!
The Audio book narration is spot on but you must concentrate a little more since there are too many characters.
Agatha Christie’s Poirot; After the Funeral and Death on the Nile Double review since it was audible book and the fast pace made me finish both the books in quick succession!
Audiobook
Part of BBC Dramatization with John Moffat as Poirot and a whole list of actors playing the different roles! Running length around 2 hours No spoilers here but I am sure many would have already read both the classica and if you have not then lucky you! You get to experience Agatha’s witting and Poirot’s charm for the first time!
While after the Funeral is a mystery of a family where you are planted a doubt of murder which isn’t which leads to more! In death on the Nile you are waiting for the murder by the obvious suspect only to see it happen in a strange way at least for the first time reader!
Both the novels especially the latter one has been extensively made into movies and series and remakes galore! In fact The Death on the Nile was a recent commercial block buster starring Gal Gadot!
In the first you can never guess the murderer while in the second you can never guess how the murderer pulled it off!
In murder mystery it is always the person who is having the least suspicion or above suspicioun who usually is the culprit! This is true for the first novel! While for the second, you really need to think out of the box!
In both after several twists and turns you have the typical Poirot group reveal!
And how he tells about the importance of his Grey matter! Read or listen to them even if you know the story by heart! It’s a different experience!
Part of BBC Dramatization with John Moffat as Poirot and a whole list of actors playing the different roles!
Running length around 1 hour
No spoilers here but I am sure many would have already read this classic and if you have not then lucky you! You get to experience Agatha’s witting and Poirot’s charm for the first time!
First of a set of 8 of Poirot’s finest stories!
As far as Agatha is concerned, I would have read almost all of her novels especially the ones with Poirot and my most favorite would always be Murder on the Orient express simply because it was an epic novel! A close second would be Curtain; Poirot’s last case.
After listening to another classic novel; To Kill a Mockingbird; I have got this strange urge to revisit all the novels I have read which are classics now in the viewpoint of an adult and not a teenager or young man!
This is the second step in that journey! Sometimes a new song is just the remix version of the old one so might as well check out the original!
Now the ABC murders are about a supposed serial killer who kills according to the letters of he alphabet and of course starts with A! After every kill he (or she!) leaves a book of ABC and moves on!
It is a virtual race against time and somehow Poirot reminds me of Lincoln Rhyme; the one who only needs his mind!
My favorite scene is when Captain Hastings (like John Watson!) asks Poirot (like Sherlock Holmes!) about the murderer after the latter inspects the first scene of the crime!
Poirot states, “he has this height and this weight with a patch in the eye and a limp when he walks!”
When everyone shockingly look at him
He adds with a twinkle, “I am not Sherlock Holmes!”
A hilarious dig from one legend to another!
The diction and narration is spot on and you can just visualize the inspectors and the other actors playing the part beautifully. It really helps if you have read the book before but I guess if you keep the speed of narration as normal then if concentrate then you can understand the story.
Since it is a whodunit it is difficult to not introduce everyone at least once so it may lose the charm sometimes and the revelation may not be as thrilling as reading it though it is quite dramatic!
Nevertheless, it is a classic and a classic narration which you can listen any day!
Apple Air Pods Pro Gen 2 Vs One Plus Buds Vs Samsung Buds
When the first generation of Air Pods were released I had decided that I would not be caught with that abysmal design! The Later designs were better while the Air Pods pro had a better design and curvature. So among these buds, one plus came with a similar design and improved on that. Those were the first buds I bought since one of my primary phones is One Plus and in spite of getting an iPhone, I have no plan of making that my primary phone! Of course that is a debate or comparison for another day!
Then the Samsung buds were an upgrade and I chiefly bought them for their uber cool design which was different from all the other ‘buds’ in the market. I can see that Bose Noise comfort also has a similar design and most websites give a great rating for that but since I do not have them, this does the work just fine!
After that brief introduction let’s start a comparison
LOOK
Hands if you look at the snap then you would realise that Samsung Buds (the official Bluetooth name is Samsung Buds Live) are one of the most beautiful buds ever to have been made! The box is like a powder puff box and the look is like a shiny jelly bean! An absolute delight! The one plus buds have a look similar to the first generation Air Pods though the stem is better and less awkward. Air Pods Pro has a smaller and more curved design and looks really nice especially when new but since it is white, it gets dirty soon enough. Samsung buds is the winner here hands down!
CONNECTIVITY
Here apple really shines, when it is either the watch or the phone or even the headphones, the moment you buy a new device; either the iPhone or the iPad immediately recognizes the new device and connects instantly! Every Apple device behaves as one unit which is most of the times good but many times a big headache especially when you are trying to do facetime and the iPad or your watch tries to connect! After connection, the device tests the fit and also the modes such as the noise cancellation and the seal! It is really cool when you do it the first time!
I was really impressed with Apple on the connectivity till I tried to pair my Samsung buds to my Samsung tab! Since I had initially paired it to my one plus phone, the instant connectivity option was not given but when it was Samsung tab then similar to Apple, a pop up menu came instantly and automatically and did the same steps as Apple for connection and software update and to test the air seal!
The version of one plus buds I have are the One Plus buds z and even here there was a pop up menu with seal testing and noise cancelation programming; but the advanced features are available only with the second generation version so I could not experience the same though the connection was seamless
All the three show the individual charge and also the battery capacity of the case! Apple and One Plus and even Samsung with it latest update also show location so that’s that! In effect as far as connection goes there can be no comparison and all the three are equally good! All the three come with manuals and quick tips and also update the firms regularly.
With the animated pop up menu here I would give this one to Apple though the other two were quite close; literally!
FITTING
One of the most important aspect of these buds are the way they sit in your ears. Now Apple, having learned from its previous mistakes has made provision for three silicone tips which make the fit more custom to your ear canal size. One plus was doing that anyways and with a bargain on price! It pays to be nice; while for any Apple Product you have to definitely pay to get nicer stuff! Like the best Air pods are these while the entry level ones have so many features missing and that’s not even basic! It is the same with iPhones also! The best phone with all the features would be iPhone Max Pro only! Any other iPhone would be lacking one thing or the other!
Anyway, it fits but just. The same with one plus buds, they are light and fit nicely enough! But the best fit is the Samsung bud! It just sits there in the nice cave within your ears and how! One of the nest ear hooks was the one with Samsung Level U headphones and I thought it cannot get better than that! I was proven wrong with Buds! The placement is a breeze and the fit is perfect! Now there can be variation in such a way that this particular placement is suited to my ear shape while Air or One plus pods are suited to you! For now the best fit is hands down Samsung buds!
For proper fit I do the T shirt test! All the above buds stay in place when you run (even though I keep checking and tucking them) but the best test is to wear them and try to remove a tight fitting T shirt over your head! If the ear buds fall then it is not tight fitting! My Samsung buds never fell! While both the Air pods and One plus buds bit the dust literally!
TOUCH CONTROLS
Both the One Plus buds and Samsung Buds have touch controls which works with tap like most buds or ear phones. It is of course simple and better to get used faster and the commands are simple like single or double or triple touch! The prolong touch also activates the noise cancellation in Samsung Buds while my One plus Z version does not have any noise cancellation. The response of Samsung buds is fluid and very swift although sometimes it senses my normal touch as command while sometimes the tap touch is not accepted! In one plus buds though the sensor is at the top which makes the sensitivity less but accidental touch is avoided. One thing which is also missing is that there is no volume control in both these which can be good or bad which I will explain shortly.
Now coming to Apple Pods the control is not touch but pinch. This is really good once you get used to it. The trick is to use your thumb and index finger and after a while it gets better so much so that you wonder others did not thing of this! You of course need two fingers for this but the good thing is that there is no accidental touch activation. Even the modes of noise cancellation and Transparency can be switched by using prolonged pinch which is really good when you are walking or sunning and meet someone you want to speak but do not want to remove your pods.
Another added feature is the volume control which is available only in Air Pods; Now even this takes a little time to get used to and frankly sometimes it works so well while most times it doesn’t! Maybe it will be fine tuned in the next update. The best touch volume adjust was in the Bose Frames but since that depended on Gravity or Horizontal axis tilt, I am guessing the same cannot be used for Pods which are not connected physically.
So as far as the controls are concerned the best is Air pods hands down while for people who are used to touch may like the other two buds.
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
Since One plus basic version is what I have which does not have any noise cancellation, it is unfair to compare the other two but then this comparison is only if you are interested in this feature. I was never a big fan of Noise Cancellation it was not a prerequisite for me since I like the open speaker where I can hear the ambient noise it was not a criteria for me. That is until I heard the amazing noise cancellation of Samsung buds and realized that we are surrounded by noise! Especially my present stay which is in Kuwait where I am constantly surrounded by the constant hum of the AC. When the sound gets blocked it is like inner peace! It is more pronounced with Air pods especially in its modes like transparency. There is an option to cancel the feature in both the pods and both are equally good. And I have finally realized that if you listen to music in low volume and with noise cancellation, it is better for your ears. Of course you must listen in low volume and take frequent breaks in between.
BATTERY LIFE
The best battery backup is for One plus which is most probably because it does not have any Active Noise Cancellation which is power hungry! The next is Samsung buds which is also pretty good and it shows since the buds are larger in size the battery will also be big and bigger capacity which shows. In spite of having so many features, I have never run out of battery since the official time is 6 hours or more and I have never listened for more than 20 minutes continuously.
Coming to Air pods, just like the iPhones; battery is always an issue since most iPhones would always have the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location and even the personal hotspot on all the time! That is the reason you would always find people with iPhones with chargers or battery pack! Of course now it is much better since my iPhone 13 and iPhone XR have good battery back up which is still not as good as one plus though which is an amazing phone and still my primary one as I mentioned before!
The buds hence have all the features active like the Noise cancellation and the Spatial audio and are power hungry. I charge my One plus case maybe once a month and the Samsung Case once a week on regular use but the Apple Case needs charging every three days or maybe twice a week. Great thing is how the iPhone or iPad with its Bluetooth always on feature reminds me when the battery in the case or other Bluetooth device like the Apple pencil (another amazing device but the Microsoft Surface pen is much better; a comparison for another day!) is having low charge which is really cool though intrusive when you think about privacy!
Also remember that Apple products belonging to you work as a single unit so the pods gets connected automatically to iPhone, iPads or even your Apple Watch! And you can control the track and volume from any of these devices which is really cool!
SOUND
Let me just save the time and tell you that the best sounding buds are the Samsung buds and this is with my non-technical brain with a fair grasp of music! One plus just do the job though they are better than ear phones and headphones and give good output in low notes in spite of not having any noise cancellation. I must say that One plus with it longer stem has the best microphone while in this Air pods come second. Even otherwise in calls it is always better to connect to the pods or the buds since then the calls are much clear. Apple also pulls in its monopoly here when the video and audio in facetime is much better than when you make the same call via WhatsApp! This my way is the best way attitude is really what irks me all the time!
Having said that the Spatial audio feature in Air pods are really good (this feature is now even available via an update in Samsung buds which is super cool!). Of course this is obvious only with new music since it needs a different audio recording. You feel as if the person is standing next to you and singing! It is a surreal experience and if I did not have this long standing Apple Ire inside me, I would have readily agreed that this is the best thing to have happened to pods!
VERDICT
Now all the three are really good but you do not have three set of ears! But for the price to performance, the award will go to Samsung buds without any doubts whatsoever!
If you have an iPhone then you can blindly go for the buds and remember that Apple is capitalist to the core so the best devices with the best features are the ones which are the costliest! So only Air pods pro second generation is the best pods till the next version next year!
If you have a one plus phone then you can still choose Samsung buds which is a better choice than One plus even if the One plus buds are there and there is a pro version which is in fact costlier than Samsung buds! If you are on a budget the One plus buds are a good start!
If you have a Samsung phone or any other android phone then go for the Galaxy buds without any doubt since they are simply super! As a primary android user I would suggest you to not take any low end Samsung phone since they are plagued by bloatware and Samsung is constantly pushing its own irritating apps! The lower end phones also have very delicate screens! So stick to the best android phone which is hands down One Plus!
Have fun listening and make sure you do that in low volumes and take constant breaks in between and also do not share the pods or buds with anyone. Always store them in the case since all have battery optimization now and constant charging is no longer an issue!
To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Audiobook Narrated by Sissy Spacek
Rating 5/5!
Fictional classic inspired by true events
What more can I say about this classic which hasn’t already been said! But this audiobook needs special mention simply because the narrator is mind blowing! Her old country English and accent immediately transports you to the US of those times! Which if you think about is not that long back!
Any serious English reader would have already read this one and most probably seen the classic movie starring Gregory Peck! In a true sense of nostalgia I was watching the movie in parallel!
The movie gives you goosebumps but the narration of the more elaborate events in the novel gives you elephant bumps!
Atticus Finch is probably one of the most perfect character ever written in a novel who would always try to maintain a balance! Who would always follow the law and who would risk his life to uphold the same!
He is a simple person who speaks only when spoken to and is shy of using the gun though it has been told how he is an expert marksman! He tries to solve problems with words and seriously believes pen is mightiest!
But the heart of the story is Jean Louis Finch or Scout and Jim! The events are told in such a simple manner that you do not realise their importance at the time!
Like when a mob sorrounded Finch, the mere hello and small talk by Jean with Mr Cunningham probably saved Atticus’s life! The classic depiction of mob mentality!
Of the classic often repeated dialogue on how you must walk in someone’s shoes! It was nostalgia galore!
An added fun is when you read a section and then go and watch that clip in you tube! The effect is double!
How Atticus implores to the all white Jury members to do the right thing in the name of God! And then they don’t!
How Scout says when the Jury comes back after making a decision and does not look at the accused, it means that they have made a decision of him being Guilty!
The whole court knows that the accused was not guilty but still they can’t do anything…yet!
That was the only thing pricking me and many others! The justice is denied to the Black man in spite of him being innocent!
Of course the end gives you some satisfaction! Still can’t believe Mayella and her frustrated accusations! The woman who feels she has been wronged or rejected is dangerous indeed! (This statement is only for the novel! Please don’t come to my house with pitch forks!). I would liked to know what happens to her after the trial though. Just for closure!
Then even if you don’t read the whole novel you can get to know the summary in three eyes of another! That’s a fresh perspective! A second or third point of view! Loved that part!
You can listen to the rendition just to listen to Sissy as Scout! Her country accent and her intonations make you want more! The little motherless girl who grows up in a year but still remains innocent in the manner of the world!
This line summarises the feel, ‘That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. ‘Your father’s right,’ she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy…but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Five minutes past Midnight in Bhopal; By Dominique Lapeirre
Rating- 4/5 for the narration and ease of reading a story from the eyes of a journalist who is reporting a story in a paper! 3/5 for the lack of Indian touch and no matter how much care Dominique would have taken to maintain authenticity of the customs there will always be something amiss when it comes from someone who is not Indian! 5/5 for the effort and the subsequent relief efforts done by him and his organisation for the betterment of the people affected from the tragedy.
Non fiction depiction of the tragedy of Bhopal which directly and indirectly killed or affected thousands of people many of whom are still yet to receive any aid or relief from the government or the company. The owner Anderson is still in hiding and escaped for good and never made to appear in any court for his role in the tragedy and given a safe passage though the novel narration of this event is a little biased towards him. The factory which at the time was a hallmark of pride and efficiency is now an abandoned ruin with old signs ironically stating “Safety first”
It is sad that it took an international author to sit up and realise that Bhopal Gas accident was the actual tragedy of Monumental mismanagement and wrote about it giving full justice to the events leading to one of the saddest tragedies though there are so many books on this and without reading them I cannot give a comparative analysis.
In a typical narration mirroring a calm before the storm, Dominique narrates the simple story of a tribal family who migrate to Bhopal in search of better pastures. In a parallel narration, he talks about how pests such as aphids and locust are the scourge and the biggest problem in the agricultural industry and how DDT was a blessing (at least at first!). Then he tells about how further research leads to a better alternative to DDT called Sevin! The plant in Bhopal was the factory to manufacture Sevin! The essential ingredients were the Super dangerous Methyl Isocyanite and Phosgene! The most delicate and dangerous chemicals ever! In fact the way they get delivered into the company and the ideal scrutiny or security measures in case of leak has been described so well.
Once the scene is set he goes on to demonstrate the Indian Red Tape and the Beurocracy and Indira Gandhi assassination and couple of minor accidents to lead to the final tragedy. Almost 70 percent of the book is not about the tragedy but an analysis of the factors leading up to it!
It is the same old story of starting with a Bang and ending in a whimper! The plant was opened with lots of positive predictions and hope and at the start it was managed very well. But as with most things in the world, maintenance is a big issue! Once the profits reduced and the management apathy started; it was downhill from the word go!
Even when there were warning signs and even couple of accidents as seen and reported! On the d day just as Dominos fall, one bad decision leads to another and that caused a massive leak of one of the most poisonous mixture of gases whose composition even to this day is not cent percent clear which further made the management and investigation an uphill task! Just like Chernobyl; here also the senior management doesn’t even recognise at first that there is a problem and when they finally get up and smell the coffee (or in this case; boiled cabbage!) it is too late! The people then are severely under qualified to do anything!
You can almost feel when it comes, and then it comes; it happens so fast and this is where Dominique shines! I can almost see traces of his magnum opus Freedom at midnight and also the City of Joy!
How tragedy makes people behave. Some become so selfish and greedy when it is told how compensation will be allotted to people and people then start grabbing dead bodies! Or when they show the humane side, like how everyone helped everyone else. The story of the tent person who donated the tent for the field camp and incidentally was the the recipient of their care! The person who donated food for the entire population in trouble! And so many more examples including the sadhu baba who with his breathing skills of a yogi was the only one who survived in his area! How many who stayed were saved, how many who left were saved! The separation and then the reunion; albeit tragic for some. The doctors and medical students who put their own lives at stake and helped one and all and suffered from the after affects of the poisoning for ages to come! How the station masters and the coolies helped save more lives. It is a tsunami of emotions and gas!
A sea of human emotions which if had to be described by words then Dominique is the guy for you.
Then come the vultures, the politicians and the lawyers and the middle men! Ones who even make dead, their business.
All in all a very touching novel with a story which must be read and made into a manual to next time make sure what to do and more importantly what not to do!
I picked this up when I was doing a sketch of Dominique as a dedication when he passed away some days back. A great man and he will be missed.
Read this one for sure and make sure you pass it on…this tragedy must not be forgotten or forgiven…
Official Sequel to ‘The Whistler’ but this is also a stand alone book; it would help you relate more to the lead character though if you finish The Whistler first which is also a great read!
Fictional thriller genre Rating- 3.5/5 as a stand alone 4/5 in comparison to The Whistler In his Jake series, John was pretty good in the first one but I felt he faltered with the second! then he regained his touch with the third though I am still not a big fan of the open ended climax!
In Camino series, the first was the best and it is downhill as far as I am concerned!; the same with Theodore Boone!
Luckily this one is almost as good or even better than the first in some aspects except maybe the ending which may not be digestible for those who seek closure!
Do not worry; No spoilers here!
If you have read “The Whistler’ you would know that Lara is a part of a team which investigates complaints against judges and after her first case it was a big thing! So it is easy to guess that this novel is also a compliant against a Judge filed initially by an anonymous source who later becomes a very important character and in the cross fire much as the ‘Whistle blower’ in ‘The Whistler’!
In typical Grisham characterisation of people in his novels, he always portrays lawyers as extremes! Either they are very rich or very poor! It was refreshing thus to see Lara who may soon get a big payday from her earlier case doing good financially! Though the office where she works is still in ruins and facing budget cuts!
So you know that the person who will be investigated is a judge but then as Grisham puts in the end; what crime can a judge do which will make the multi million dollar corruption of his previous novel seem like child’s play! Guess that and then up the ante to one more level! In fact the crime is one of the top ones and boy does that shock you in series!
With precision and planning and like a smooth criminal, the judge is a character who will disturb you for long! Patience is a virtue even for criminals and memory, however small is important! Of course there is a list and even that’s not complete im every sense!
Without revealing too much, you must grab this one with both hands especially if you have finished The Whistler and longing for more! Be prepared for an unconventional ending though since it’s not a fairly take!
Of course take heart to the fact that it’s not every day that you get to Judge the judge!
