Paris - a city shrowded in mystery. Atleast the numerous books written describe it so. I have read 3 books till now, written at different points in time, the plot has it's foundations in some or the other famous monument of Paris.
The first of the series was Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown based built on "La Louvre". This was also made into a movie, as you already know. It caused quite a sensation due to it's religious association! However it does have a love track running along with the mystery track.
The second was Hunch back of Notredame by Victor Hugo. This was a love story of sorts among the inhabitants of the famous Notredame church in Paris. I read an un-abriged translation. Found the original fench book too much for the little french that I know.
The third and the latest that I read was The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. This is also another love story and the setting is The Paris opera house.
I enjoyed reading each of these books....in their own way they were quite thriling! Parisans and the thrill they get out of love shrouded in mystery....Would love to visit this place some time...
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Oliver twist
The first time I heard this, was on TV, there is this cooking show that is called Oliver Twist (cute guy with a funny accent and nice style of cooking). In one of my visits to landmark, and the usual browsing through classics, I saw this book. I was wondering what it was all about when my friend told me it was a very good book. So, yup you guessed right, I picked it up.
It’s actually a slow book; I have fallen asleep numerous times while reading it. At times I even cussed myself for liking classics!
The story is about this young orphan, who is brought up in the cruelest of conditions, in a typical English country side. It talks of how he escapes the clutches of the middle class people of that times, and reaches London, how he gets cheated in London by a gang of robbers, of the assistance of some elderly gentleman and lady of the upper class, and the change in his luck and finally of his becoming happy and experiencing a much desired and wanted love and affection by the people surrounding him.
It is a book with a typical happy ending, which all of us would want in a book but then, one which makes the book a “typical book”. To me it was a decent read, quite touching at times of Oliver’s misery and happiness but not something that had a “punch” to it.
It’s actually a slow book; I have fallen asleep numerous times while reading it. At times I even cussed myself for liking classics!
The story is about this young orphan, who is brought up in the cruelest of conditions, in a typical English country side. It talks of how he escapes the clutches of the middle class people of that times, and reaches London, how he gets cheated in London by a gang of robbers, of the assistance of some elderly gentleman and lady of the upper class, and the change in his luck and finally of his becoming happy and experiencing a much desired and wanted love and affection by the people surrounding him.
It is a book with a typical happy ending, which all of us would want in a book but then, one which makes the book a “typical book”. To me it was a decent read, quite touching at times of Oliver’s misery and happiness but not something that had a “punch” to it.
I remember the day, a couple of months back when in one of my visits to forum's landmark, I was as usual browsing throught the classics section and I happened to notice this book. I picked it up to confirm that it was the un-abriged version, which it was, and I just bought it. Simple, didn't even see the reviews or previews. I had been hearing about this book a lot and voila, now Ive got it! After 2 months and 2 books read in-between, I got to find out what it is all about.
This is a tragic story of a beautiful girl, who was loved to the brink by 2 persons, one an old priest - who was the cause of her death, a murderer - and the other a ugly hunchbacked bellringer - who was even willing to get her a lover just to see her happy. She in her turn was in love with an army man, who being handsome and "of the society", looked at her - a nomad - as an object to be used for pleasure but nothing else. The story is about the tragic death of the 3 lovers and the good life of the 'society man'. It very vividly show the insanity of the European people of those times towards people from other parts of the world (I still believe this exists but may be to a slightly lesser extent) and of the recklessness of the kings (read today's politicians).
It was a good read, specially after the initial half! The first half is a little too slow but it gets exciting after a point of time. Go on, get yourself this book.
This is a tragic story of a beautiful girl, who was loved to the brink by 2 persons, one an old priest - who was the cause of her death, a murderer - and the other a ugly hunchbacked bellringer - who was even willing to get her a lover just to see her happy. She in her turn was in love with an army man, who being handsome and "of the society", looked at her - a nomad - as an object to be used for pleasure but nothing else. The story is about the tragic death of the 3 lovers and the good life of the 'society man'. It very vividly show the insanity of the European people of those times towards people from other parts of the world (I still believe this exists but may be to a slightly lesser extent) and of the recklessness of the kings (read today's politicians).
It was a good read, specially after the initial half! The first half is a little too slow but it gets exciting after a point of time. Go on, get yourself this book.
Monday, September 11, 2006
The kite runner. This was one of those books I saw was being discussed on one of the Orkut communities. And when Yams told me about this movie she saw of a group of people reading and discussing books, we decided we would maintain a blog to do the same. Though we both seem to the only ones to be writing on this, lets see how it goes. Specially considering Yams is becomming fatter in the brain devouring books at an unbelievable rate. My thoughts of this book...are yet to be typed out. It shall appear soon. For now, I sign off with the resolution of reading atleast 50 pages per day of the book I am currently reading - Oliver Twist.
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