The Book Quill

The Indian Literary space is dominated by romance, finding yourself, relationships and coming of age sagas – the whole nine yards of sweet corn syrups and then some more. Most of them are dreary and boring. Mostly, they are not close to reality and pander to the narcissistic instinct of the social media generation. Then, once in a while, like the door creaks in the old mansion [pun intended]  comes along a riveting suspense drama, which has a different take on human emotions and while it is doing that, also keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am talking about the book named “The Dark Road” by Mayuresh Didolkar. Mayuresh is a Financial Manager at his Day job in Pune when he is not strutting his stuff and jolly good stuff it is! The Dark Road is in the mould of Roman Polanski’s – Chinatown, I kid you not. It is that good. It is essentially a murder mystery in the Whodoneit  genre , but it also a modern take on modern, dysfunctional relationships. Who are the characters in the ...

This science fiction dystopian novel by Turner and Freedman is something to really look forward to. The book is set 50-60 years ahead from now, where most of the world as we know now has drowned. After the Great Technology War, when the powerful countries used their nuclear weapons, all hell broke loose and all the polar caps melted away submerging half the lands. This new World headed by one leader named Sobek Vesley, is propagated as the saviour of mankind and earth. He builds up Global Governance and takes over most of the world. In this new world, there are no diseases, no wars and no mayhem. Everyone lives peacefully and contented, but is that really the situation? The world is now divided into six communities with their assigned colours. The most powerful community is the ‘Protectors’ and they work directly with Sobek. Keeva Tee, who has just turned fifteen and has a vibrant life in the ocean community is about to get her life altered forever. As it happens to every kid at the ...

World War II was one of the most horrifying episodes the human history has ever seen. The German barbarism , wiped off millions from the surface of earth. The numerous struggles the war saw, the Nightingale is one of them. This story is about the Rossignol(meaning nightingale) sisters and how their lives upturned on the arrival of Germans in Paris in the summer of 1940. Vianne and Isabelle lost their mother young, and were abandoned by their father. Vianne grew to be the subtle and submissive one, got married and had a perfect life where as Isabelle turned out to be the rebellious one. She was constantly thrown out of schools for misbehaviour and being a big mouth. The war is the turning point of both their lives and makes them realise the necessity of family to both of them. With German invasion Isabelle is sent to her sister’s house in Carriveau, and their paths separated for years intertwine. Antoine, Vianne’s husband is prisoner of war now and a German officer billets in their hou...

Lying In Wait debut novel by author Liz Nugent is a perfect and simple example of ambiguous family relations. The best thing about Lying in Wait is the usage of a simple plot with high induced sub plots and mesmerising characters. She uses the concept of fear and loss interestingly to build her story. Laurence is a fat and chubby teenage boy who is the son of a renowned judge and lives in a mansion named 'Avalon'. His mother, Lydia, is obsessed with him and never leaves the house. His father doesn't like his obese condition. But one day everything changes for this very normal and joyful family. All of their lives turn upside down. A horrible crime is committed by his father and he eventually dies because of guilt. His mother is all alone with his only son and faces a hard time. Laurence being unaware of the crime has all his focus now on his mother. But later, when he discovers the truth of his father's offense, it shocks him. He carries the truth deep in his heart ...

To  Kill a Mocking Bird (1960) is an all time classic by the Author Harper Lee. Immediately on being published, it won the Pulitzer Prize. It is now considered as an all time American Classic. The story has been made into a movie starring Gregory Peck.  The movie has also achieved a cult classic status.The book discusses the themes that were relevant in the Depression era Racism, Poverty, Sexual Frustration and maintaining a moral compass even in the face of difficulty. The Author Harper Lee has brought about her thinking with such clarity that it makes for a compelling read. The story takes place during the 1930's in the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb in Alabama.  It focuses on six-year-old Jean Louise Scout Finch who lives with her older brother, Jeremy "Jem" and their widowed father  Atticus Finch who is also a lawyer. Jem and Scout  become friends with a boy named Dill (Incidentally Dill is based on Harper Lee's friend Arthur Capote. ...