Catching Fire .. The Hunger Games # 2 .. By Suzanne Collins

Here comes the review of the second installment of this super action packed entertainment. The sequel to the first book, the Hunger Games, continues with the story of Katniss Everdeen, who was chosen as a contestant for the 74th deathly game played in the capital of Panem. After winning the game along with Peeta, she returns back to her home in District 12.

They start their victory tour across the country, where she realizes, she has inspired a rebellion and uprising against the capitol and President Snow in other poor districts because of her bold stunt during the game. To take revenge on her, President Snow announces that for the 75th Hunger Games, twenty-four victors from previous years will be forced to compete once again in an event known as "Quarter-Quell".

This book brings an interesting twist to the plot and much darker turn of events.

Don't want to give away the spoilers, so would just like to let you all know that I have absolutely enjoyed reading this book. With the subtle act of intelligent writing, Suzanne Collins has again bewitched us all to keep reading this innovative saga.

If you all want to know whether Katniss is going to outsmart the judges of the Hunger Games or is going to die in the process, please read this exhilarating book.

Will soon bring the review of the next and the last in line, Mockingjay.

Also, check out my review on the prequel to this book .. The Hunger Games.

Happy Reading!!!

The Beach .. By Alex Garland

This is a travel fiction book released in 1996 by an English writer Alex Garland. It is a genius creation in a very simplistic and straightforward first-hand narration of a lone traveler from England.

The narrator of the book is Richard, a young backpacker who gets a map at Bangkok from another traveler with directions to an uninhabited and inaccessible beach, located in the Gulf of Thailand. He sets off to find this beautiful and untouched location along with a French couple.

What comes next is an exciting and haunting surprise to the trio at their destination that I will not be revealing here. But I would like to add a bit more on how I personally feel about this book. It is an absolute vacation read with dark psychology and extraordinaire story.

I am not sure if I particularly liked the ending of this book as it turned out to be very abrupt, but all-in-all the book is terrific and I recommend this to each and every one of you.

It is also adapted as a movie, which I haven't watched yet, but got to know that Richard's character is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Also, the shooting of this film took place at Maya Bay in Ko Phi Phi Lee in Thailand, that I have already visited and so can tell that it indeed is a paradise location as mentioned in the book.

Go for this gripping tale of adventure in the lands of white sand and blue water.

Happy Reading!!!

Deception Point .. By Dan Brown

Please allow me to bring you the review of my favorite author's work and one of his masterpiece creation. I am truly enthralled by the way he captures his readers' attention right from the prologue itself and absolutely surprised why this story wasn't yet adapted as a movie.

Here goes the synopsis....

Trying to rally back from a series of embarrassing blunders that have jeopardized the US President's political career, NASA makes an astounding discovery: there is a meteor, embedded deep within the Arctic ice shelf. And it is not just any meteor. Inside the huge asteroid rock, which crashed into the earth in 1716, known to be the Jungersol Fall, contains fossils of giant bugs that gives proof of extraterrestrial life!!!!

Yet again, NASA's slipping reputation and the President's sudden rebound in the latest election campaign arises a new question: Is the Meteor real or fake?

Trying to determine the truth are NRO's Intelligence Agent, Rachel Sexton, who is the daughter of the Senator and Michael Tolland, famous Oceanographer and Corky Marlingson, a renowned Astrophysicist. Their doubts quickly make them the target of a mysterious death squad by unknown forces while the Nation is buzzing on the bewildering discovery and how that is going to impact the upcoming election.

It is indeed a rip-roaring page-turner action thriller that I love to read again and again. The rhythm of the book is so frantic and the plot of the essential conspiracy of Dan Brown's books for me is one of the best.

It's been ten years since I first read this book and after reading so many other novels after that, it is still on my top five list. Not only an entertaining 24-hour plot spin with audacious takeovers but uncover superb scientifically interesting information about space and technologies.

I am sure that most of the book-lovers have already perused this book at least once, if not then I am not sure what is stopping you guys?!

Watch this space for more on the author of the Da Vinci Code in my upcoming blogs and get ready for my takes on Professor Robert Langdon's series as well.

Happy Reading!!!

A Walk To Remember .. By Nicholas Sparks

I consider Nicholas Sparks among the best creators of romantic stories and this is one of my favorites. This book makes me happy and sad at the same time in ways I can't really explain. 

It is a short and tragic love story of a seventeen-year-old careless, rowdy and popular boy in school, Landon Carter, who falls in love with a plain-looking, unpopular devout Christian girl, Jamie Sullivan, daughter of a strict reverend. The girl who wears the same brown sweater and carries a bible around with her everywhere she goes. 

It all begins when Landon, being the school president feels a compulsion to bring a date at the school homecoming dance and had to reluctantly asks Jamie as all other girls are unavailable. Jamie agrees to go with him only on one condition - "Promise not to fall in love with me!"

Things start to move forward for them when Jamie asks Landon to participate in a school play and they start to develop a close friendship during the rehearsals and doing things that Jamie really likes. Like visiting the orphanage and collecting money for the poor children. And gradually even after promising her, he couldn't help but fall in love with her.

When Landon gathers the courage to tell her about his feelings, she melts down and tells him that she does not have long to live, as she is dying of Leukemia.

What follows is a heart-wrenching suffering of two seventeen-year-olds. One who is counting her last days and another who watches the painful few last breaths of his love until he makes her last dying wish come true.

I will admit, however, that the movie was much better than the novel itself as it has some more melodrama and few twists that show us an improved version of the plot. But I can't deny the fact that the story was undoubtedly a formula of romance punctuated by tragedy!


"She did tell him not to fall in love with her, didn't she?!"


****If anyone interested in reading the book, it is available here.



Happy Reading!!!