Biblio stuffs

  So many books, so little time  

[shanmathiramkumar]

Review on And then there were none

And Then There Were None is a mystery and crime thriller novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the year 1939 as Ten Little Niggers. A US edition was released in January 1940 with the title And Then There Were None. The book is the world's best-selling mystery, and with over 100 million copies sold is one of the best-selling books of all time.

Agatha Christie's “And then there were none” is a crime thriller, where 10 strangers are invited to an isolated island by an unknown personality and are mysteriously killed as they were previously involved in the death of others, but have somehow escaped from being punished. The theme of the novel revolves around the administration of justice and the impacts of guilt on one’s conscience. The murderer, with the perspective, that life should be lived and that murder should be punished, removes wrongness from the world by murdering every guilty that had been responsible for the death of another human being in some direct way. This resolution of order removes ambiguity and allows the reader to finish the novel with their own conscience cleared of guilt.

“I remember a text that hung in my nursery as a child. ‘Be sure thy sin will find thee out.’ It’s very true, that.” – Miss Emily Brent.

Tiny fact: In an interview shortly before her death, Agatha was asked how she wanted to be remembered. "Well, I would like it to be said that I was a good writer of detective and thriller stories," was her reply.

RATING: 5/5

[shanmathiramkumar]

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[shanmathiramkumar]

Review on The Witches

The Witches is a children’s dark fantasy written by Roald Dahl. The book was published in 1983. Like other books of Dahl, The Witches also is illustrated by Quentin Blake. The book is about a little boy and his Norwegian grandmother who undergo a lot of adventures.

The story features the experiences of an English boy and his Norwegian grandmother in a world where a child-hating society of witches secretly exists in every country. The Witches are ruled by a horrific and vicious Grand High Witch who once arrives in England to organize her plan to transform all the children of England into mice. When the little boy and his grandmother decide to go to a seaside resort, regrettably, they arrive precisely at the same time that the Grand High Witch has gathered her followers from around the world for a meeting (to carry out her plan). And the rest is what makes the story intriguing and enjoyable.

The grandmother in the book is one of my favourite characters of Roald Dahl. She is a tough woman yet she’s cool as a cucumber. She loves her grandson and protected him at any cost.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you” – The boy

Though Roald Dahl wrote many brilliant female characters, The Witches was banned in some of the libraries in the UK for its negative portrayal of women. Despite all criticisms and hardships, “The Witches” is still a popular children’s fiction book. I enjoyed reading the piece of literature and hope you will like it too.

RATING: 4/5

[shanmathiramkumar]

Review on Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express Is the best crime thriller I have ever read. The book was originally published in the year 1934. Agatha Christie has written ample detective fiction, yet Murder on The Orient Express remains her masterpiece. The story revolves around a mysterious murder that occurred on the train Orient express in which the hero of the novel, the stunning, Hercule Poirot travels. The detective decides to investigate the murder and find the murderer amongst the passengers aboard, bit turns out to reveal shocking secrets.

“I am not one to rely upon expert procedure. It is psychology I seek, not the fingerprint or the cigarette ash” - Hercule Poirot.

The renowned Belgian detective, with his intellect, has proved himself as one of the best detective characters. He has solved several cases, but I adored the case of the orient express. I have mentioned some of the first-rate novels of Hercule Poirot that you’d surely enjoy.

🌼Death on the Nile

🌼The ABC murders

🌼Murder of Roger Ackroyd

RATING: 5/5

[shanmathiramkumar]

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[shanmathiramkumar]

Review on Things fall apart

Things fall apart is the debut novel of the renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. It is a historical fiction published in the year 1958. It is called the African trilogy followed by No longer at Ease and Arrow of God. The book is about the tribal tradition and culture crumbled by the interference of the European missionaries who had invaded the villages of eastern Nigeria.

Okonkwo is a great wrestler and strong clansman who is celebrated by the villagers of Umuofia, a part of a Consortium of nine connected villages. His fortunes deteriorate when he accidentally kills one of his clansmen. After years of exile, Okonkwo returns to a new Umuofia, where he finds the dominance of the missionaries and the many people of the village deviated from their tribal culture. Tension rises between the missionaries and the clansmen and when Okonkwo gets into action it leads to the greatest tragedy of his life. There are several other characters in the novel, who keep the reader enthralled and interested.

“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements” These lines describe the celebrated and valiant hero of the story, “Okonkwo”.

Though the book has the essence of tragedy, it is an inspiring piece of work with the touch of the ethnic Nigerians that is well written and easy to read. The book is followed by the sequels No longer at Ease and Arrow of God that I would surely recommend reading.

RATING: 5/5

[shanmathiramkumar]

Review on Matilda Matilda is a children’s fiction novel written by the British writer Roald Dahl. The book was originally published on 1 October 1989. The book is beautifully illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake and has many scenes that are comical and discerning. This is the first-ever book or Roald Dahl I have read and it has taken me to a whole new world of children’s literature. The book is a story of a little girl named Matilda Wormwood, who is extraordinarily intelligent but always mistaken and ignored by her crude and indifferent parents. Soon when Matilda goes to school, her talents astonish her teacher Miss Honey and they become acquainted. Miss Honey is often troubled and insulted by Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress of the school. The book shows how Miss Honey and Matilda help out each other and overcome the situations that they go through in their complex lives. "Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable...” – Matilda She is one of the characters that I have admired a lot though she is not an adult her intelligence and cleverness have grabbed the attention of the audience. In a nutshell, Matilda is a book worth spending your precious time on. It is a book not only meant for children but for adults who adore comical and fantasy fiction. If you loved the characters in Matilda, I bet you would also love the other similar works of Roald Dahl, especially The BFG and The Witches. *SCORE: 4/5*