Review: The President is Missing

President Bill Clinton and James Patterson on crime fiction

It's the groundbreaking collaboration between Patterson and Clinton. One thriller everyone is talking about this year. THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING: Yes you read it right. 42nd President of United Staes of America has decided to penned down a thriller alongside none other than The Patterson , the most prolific and iconic crime writer at work today. The page-turning read is currently the top selling novel in the country. (M not surprised) 

The President Disappears. The world is in shock.But the reason he’s missing is much worse than anyone can imagine. With details only a President could know, and the kind of suspense only James Patterson can deliver. (Blurb from back cover) 

Goodreads Review: 

President Bill Clinton and bestselling novelist James Patterson have written a spellbinding thriller, The President is Missing.

As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then goes missing...

Set in real time, over the course of three days, The President Is Missing is one of the most dramatic thrillers in decades. And it could all really happen. The President Is Missing is Bill Clinton and James Patterson's totally authentic and spellbinding thriller. 

My Take: 

Absolutely Loved it . Lot of political stuff in here. If u have read Patterson very closely, you will be able to spot the difference between his writing and Clinton's influence. There was a lot of back and forth in the edition. But then again, James regains the control of the book. 

It serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerability of our digital world in which many things from infrastructure to government are connected to the internet. It seems pretty scary that our world could easily crumble from cyber-terrorist threats. 

 The value of this book is not only in its entertainment, but also in its criticism of our political structures and their failures. Highly recommended !!!

Happy Reading !!

Review: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Kavita Merchant who is a poor village women, gives birth to a girl child and names her Usha. She gives her daughter to the orphanage in Mumbai as she is terrified by her husband Jasu Merchant who would kill her if he finds out its a girl. She travels all the to Mumbai by herself and gives her daughter away with heavy heart. Two years later Kavita gives birth to a boy named Vijay. 

On the other side of the globe in America couple named Krishnan and Somer who are doctors themselves, trying hard to have a child and consults Fertility but all in vein. They finally decides to adopt a child, and of course, it is Usha they adopt as Krishan is from Mumbai and still has a huge family in Mumbai. They name her Asha.

Kavita, Jasu and Vijay in village living their lives and Krishna, Somer and Asha in California busy in theirs.

What has amazed me in this story is the relationship between each of them. How well each of them understands how the relations are maintained.

I loved the bonding between Kavita and Jasu. Jasu call her Chakli :) I found that sweet.

Loved the relationship between Asha and Sarla (Dadima, Krishnan's mother in India) where Asha goes and lives for 1 yr to do her project on Slums of Mumbai. The other reason why she comes to Mumbai is to find out her real parents.

Some of the chapters have really made me cry, few were a bit dragging in between. There some beautiful sentences, actually Captions which i normally use for my pictures. They way it has been used in this story has just blown my mind. If the quotes/Sayings are used at a right place, it can change the entire meaning.  I have quoted below:

"If the mother falls, the whole family falls"

"At some point, the family you create is more important than the one you're born into."

"that is what growing up is. Life is always changing on us, presenting us with new lessons. Look at me, I'm seventy-six, and I'm just now learning to wear white."

So, give urself a little gift. Take this book, sit on a bench at a near by lake with a chilled Cappuccino in the other hand and read Secret Daughter. Not cuz I want you to read this but YOU want to read it. I promise this will enrich ur understanding towards ur own family.

Happy Reading !!!

Review: Wonder

 This book will always be very close to my heart. Very special, as it reminds me that every human being, every child on this planet is SPECIAL. They are God gifted. Never judge people by how they look. Just treat them as how you want to be treated. 

There are couple of chapters that gave me goose bumps, couple that made me cry, couple that me feel proud as a parent. It's definitely an uplifting story and worth being told. 

August Pullman is a 10 yr old kid whose face is deformed by birth. A 5th Grader and first year at school. He had go through countless number operations and made him an outsider with other kids of his age.  This book is the story of him facing his fears of being stared at and excluded, of him growing up and of his family letting go.

Writing is quite simple. Its a page turner. I finished this book in 9 hours. 3 Hrs a day. The overall mesg in the book: 

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." – Dr. Wayne Dyer" 

I was still left with a question by the end of the book....

"Do 10 year old kids really Date?" .... :)

Next Read:  

Happy Reading !!!