Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Genre: Scary Future Let me start with the disclaimer: I only read Ready Player One because I really enjoyed the movie. It imagines a futuristic world where the have-nots escape the drudgery of their existence by living in OASIS, a virtual cyberworld, where they can be anyone or anything. The possibilities are endless. And in this future world, somewhere in Ohio, in a tottering city of trailer parks,…
Finally read this overhyped book, and I have to admit I’m a little underwhelmed. It’s got a great combination of feminism and humor going for it—and really, which woman doesn’t relate to the injustice of being constantly ignored in favor of her male colleagues? The plot, in brief, follows the life of an up-and-coming scientist, Zott, who—after being horrifically sexually assaulted—is left without a job or prospects. She eventually finds her footing in a new…
My pick for Bangladesh is going to be Lajja:Shame by Taslima Nasrin, a controversial but important novel. Nasrin’s Lajja outlines the religious anti-Hindu riots that follow in the wake of the notorious destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992. While national borders might separate Bangladesh and India, the events thousands of miles away find common ground in communal violence. The narration centers on Duttas, a Hindu Bangladeshi family that must decide if they have…
American writer Michael J. Arlen explores his Armenian identity by making a trip to his ancestral homeland. As he grew up in New York and built a profession as a writer, he sees himself as American first and feels disconnected from his Armenian identity. His relationship with Armenia is as mysterious and confusing as his relationship with his first-generation immigrant father. On his trip, he hopes to find some answers. Passage to Ararat is set…
Review: All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries Series #1) Genre: Introverted Robots “And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day.” ― Martha Wells, All Systems Red The Muderbot Diaries is my 2024 sci-fi discovery. The Hugo-Nebula-Locus winning novella, All Systems Red introduces to our reluctant hero, an artificial construct that calls itself…
The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley Genre: I literally don’t care The first book of the year always sets the tone for the rest of the reading year which for me was an epic fail. As a book club read, I dove into The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, the first novel of a best-selling series. The premise was promising. A rich tycoon adopts seven girls from across the world and raises them on his…
It’s that time when we are all coming off the end-of-year holiday high, a cycle around the sun is in front of you and you are already wondering when is the next long weekend or when will the kids school be closed for spring break. You are wishing you had already planned for the big summer holiday, but let’s be honest, every time you think of going somewhere and start researching, the options available can…
When I first moved to the US in 2009 from my extremely urban life in India, I was in a bit of geographical shock. The great vast unpopulated expanses of the mid-west seemed almost alien. Over the years, I explored the stunning landscapes of this country and understood the American love for the great outdoors. However, I was still baffled by the practice of camping. Coming from a developing country where running hot water and…
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