Discover a touch of the mystical and an innovative take on mystery from an international trio of authors. Australian Virginia King, American Amber Foxx and British Marion Eaton – all B.R.A.G. Medallion winners – have teamed up for a giveaway and over a week of discounts from April 21 – 30.

The Mystical Mystery Bundle is up for grabs at discounted prices from the 21st to 30th of April. But from the 21st to 26th of April you have a chance to win it for free. Scroll down for more details on how to participate in the giveaway.

Before I tell you more about When the Clocks Stopped, Marion Eaton and the giveaway, here’s a question I asked Marion about her book.

What inspired you to to have a time-slip in ‘When the Clocks Stopped’? Why did you choose Hazel Dawkin’s profession as a lawyer?

I’d like to answer the second question first … as a novice writer, I was advised to ‘write about what I know’. So I have to come clean and admit that ‘When the Clocks Stopped’ is based on an unforgettable, rosy time in my life — when I first set up in practice as a solicitor. My personal experiences were very different from Hazel’s, of course, but I liked the idea of an unusual protagonist for a legal thriller — a young pregnant lawyer who knows next to nothing about crime or litigation but solves a mystery with common sense combined with practical legal knowledge.

My own conversations with Annie inspired the time-slip, but then I have always been aware that history is not dead. It walks beside us through the streets of cities and across country fields. I have noticed that in many old buildings where dramatic things have happened, an impression is stamped on the atmosphere or is impregnated in the walls. Annie became as real to me as Hazel, although she lives in a different century. Their lives became so entangled that it seemed inevitable that they must meet. And I am convinced that it is possible for present day occurrences to affect events that have happened in the past as much as they shape the future. Besides, it was such fun to write!

Summary: When the Clocks Stopped

When lawyer Hazel Dawkins decides to write some wills while she waits for the birth of her first child, she unwittingly triggers dramatic consequences. Mysteriously, she encounters Annie, a woman whose tempestuous life took place more than two centuries earlier when Romney Marsh was a violent place, dominated by smugglers. Soon that past collides with the present, and Hazel finds herself pitted against an evil that has stalked the marsh for centuries. As her destiny intertwines with Annie’s in the shifting time-scape, Hazel confronts a terrifying challenge that parallels history – and could even change it. If she survives.

About the Author: Marion Eaton

 
Retired from legal practice, Marion Eaton lives near the sea in the beautiful Sussex countryside with a long-suffering husband, a lazy Saluki, a wild garden and an urge to write into the small hours –all of which she attempts to keep in some sort of order.

Giveaway: Win a Paperback of Each Book

Enter the drawing below to win a paperback copy of the first book in each author’s series.

You can also buy ‘When the Clocks Stopped’ (only US $1.99 during sale from 21st to 30th) – Amazon.in | Amazon.com

In the Rafflecopter widget below choose which series you would like to learn more about. This will enter you in the drawing. To get an additional entry, click on the option to tweet the give-away. The giveaway will run from April 21 (midnight US Eastern time) to April 26 (midnight US Eastern time). The winner will be announced on April 27, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just in case the Rafflecopter widget isn’t showing, click here.

All the Best!!! 🙂

Discover a touch of the mystical and an innovative take on mystery from an international trio of authors. Australian Virginia King, American Amber Foxx and British Marion Eaton – all B.R.A.G. Medallion winners – have teamed up for a giveaway and over a week of discounts from April 21 – 30.

The Mystical Mystery Bundle is up for grabs at discounted prices from the 21st to 30th of April. But from the 21st to 26th of April you have a chance to win it for free. Scroll down for more details on how to participate in the giveaway.

Before I tell you more about The Calling, Amber Foxx and the giveaway, here’s a question I asked Amber about her book.

Mae Martin-Ridley in your book The Calling has the gift of ‘the sight’. What do you think of this psychic power, is it a gift or a curse?

For Mae, it’s both. The first few things she does with the gift seem undeniably helpful—finding a lost person, a lost pet—but she runs into problems because she can know things about others that they’d rather keep from her. Some of the things she accidentally discovers disappoint her deeply. Some of her experiences frighten her. It’s a challenge to learn how her ability to see the past or a distant event in the present in an ethical and compassionate manner. She has to learn to balance and control this gift, and has no one to teach her.

People who don’t have psychic abilities often imagine it must be wonderful. I have a different ability than Mae does—I dream the future, and sometimes get sudden intuitions about the future. Once I dreamed that the academic department at the college where I taught was going to be closed. When it happened, I was ready. But dreaming about an aunt’s terminal illness was troubling. I didn’t want to be right, and didn’t tell anyone in the family. It would have been less burdensome not to know in advance. When I shared foreknowledge with someone I thought it could help—a warning of an impending stroke—he laughed it off. Months later, it happened. These experiences helped me create my psychic character with empathy for her conflicts, but I made her gift unlike mine on purpose. Mae isn’t based on me, and it seemed better for the mystery plots if she couldn’t see the future.

Summary: The Calling

Obeying her mother’s warning, Mae Martin-Ridley has spent years hiding her gift of “the sight.” When concern for a missing hunter compels her to use it again, her peaceful life in a small Southern town begins to fall apart. New friends push her to explore her unusual talents, but as she does, she discovers the shadow side of her visions – access to secrets she could regret uncovering.

Gift or curse? When an extraordinary ability intrudes on an ordinary life, nothing can be the same again.

About the Author: Amber Foxx

Amber Foxx is the author of the Mae Martin psychic mystery series, and an avid reader of mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, literary fiction, and paranormal fiction that doesn’t have vampires in it. She has worked professionally in theater and dance, fitness, and academia. Amber’s training and academic studies in various fields of complementary and alternative medicine, as well as her personal experience and travels, bring authenticity to her work. In her free time she enjoys music, dancing, art, running and yoga. She divides her time between the Southeast and the Southwest, living in Truth or Consequences during her New Mexico months.

Giveaway: Win a Paperback of Each Book

Enter the drawing below to win a paperback copy of the first book in each author’s series.

You can also buy ‘The Calling’ (only US $1.99 during sale from 21st to 30th) – Amazon.in | Amazon.com

In the Rafflecopter widget below choose which series you would like to learn more about. This will enter you in the drawing. To get an additional entry, click on the option to tweet the give-away. The giveaway will run from April 21 (midnight US Eastern time) to April 26 (midnight US Eastern time). The winner will be announced on April 27, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just in case the Rafflecopter widget isn’t showing, click here.

All the Best!!! 🙂

Discover a touch of the mystical and an innovative take on mystery from an international trio of authors. Australian Virginia King, American Amber Foxx and British Marion Eaton – all B.R.A.G. Medallion winners – have teamed up for a giveaway and over a week of discounts from April 21 – 30.

The Mystical Mystery Bundle is up for grabs at discounted prices from the 21st to 30th of April. But from the 21st to 26th of April you have a chance to win it for free. Scroll down for more details on how to participate in the giveaway.

Before I tell you more about The First Lie, Virginia King and the giveaway, here’s a question I asked Virginia about her book.

Your character Selkie Moon was named after a Celtic fairy tale. Why did you choose this folklore? How has it added to the supernatural element of the book?

The selkie myth has haunted me for many years. When I worked for a children’s publisher, I helped put together a collection of myths from around the world and I got hooked by their symbolism. The selkies are the seal people who peel off their skins to dance in the moonlight on human legs. In the myth, a fisherman falls in love with one of the selkies as he watches her dancing and steals her skin so she must marry him. She’s never quite herself and when she finds where he’s hidden her skin seven years later, she returns to the sea without looking back. The First Lie is not a retelling of the selkie myth but I’ve played with it to add supernatural layers to the mystery of a modern woman. Selkie Moon has run away to Hawaii and landed in the middle of a series of bizarre happenings that are tangled up with both Celtic and Hawaiian mythology. Selkie has been living a lie without knowing it – The First Lie. And just like the selkie whose pelt was stolen, her very life depends on finding what she’s lost – by returning to the place where it all began, without looking back.

Summary: The First Lie

Selkie Moon is a woman on the run. In a mad dash for freedom she’s escaped her life in Sydney to start over again in Hawaii. But her refuge begins to unravel and she’s running from something else entirely. A voice in a dream says that someone is trying to kill her. Not that she’s psychic, no way. But the messages and threats escalate until she’s locked in a game of cat and mouse with a mysterious stalker. Entangled in Celtic and Hawaiian mythologies, the events become so bizarre and terrifying that her instinct is to keep running. But is she running from her past? Or her future?

About the Author: Virginia King

Virginia King has lived most of her life in Sydney, Australia, but has travelled to many places. She’s been a teacher, an unemployed ex-teacher, a producer of audio-books, a writer of over 50 children’s books, a writing workshop presenter and an award-winning publisher. The First Lie is her debut novel for adults, the first mystery in the Selkie Moon series. These days Virginia lives with her husband in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney overlooking a valley full of birds. Most mornings she does some yoga, watches the French news (even understands some of it), then sits down and writes till late in the afternoon. Bliss.

Giveaway: Win a Paperback of Each Book

Enter the drawing below to win a paperback copy of the first book in each author’s series.

You can also buy ‘The First Lie’ (only US $1.99 during sale from 21st to 30th) – Amazon.in | Amazon.com

In the Rafflecopter widget below choose which series you would like to learn more about. This will enter you in the drawing. To get an additional entry, click on the option to tweet the give-away. The giveaway will run from April 21 (midnight US Eastern time) to April 26 (midnight US Eastern time). The winner will be announced on April 27, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just in case the Rafflecopter widget isn’t showing, click here.

All the Best!!! 🙂

 
Title: Warrior
Author: Olivier Lafont
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books India(November 24th 2014)
Genre: Mythological Fantasy
Read: eBook
Stars: ****/5
Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

Summary: (Goodreads)

In Mumbai, driven to its knees by a merciless blizzard, Saam the watchmender is cornered into an intolerable position. As Shiva’s only earthly demigod child, it falls upon him to stop his indomitable father. Bred to war, son of destruction, Saam rides with six extraordinary companions into the horror of a crumbling world to face Shiva. He is forced to join hands with Ara, his half-brother he can never fully trust and take with him his own mortal beloved, Maya, on this desperate attempt to stop the End of Days. But his path is littered with death, danger and betrayal. Interweaving mythology, epic adventure and vintage heroism, this enthralling novel will change the way you see gods, heroes and demons.

My Review:

Note: Thanks Olivier Lafont for offering me your book to read and review 🙂

Cover: Eye-catchy!

Paper and font: Easy on the eyes.

Readability, language: Fast read with some big words.

Why did I choose this book: A demigod story based on Indian Gods and set in India was a must read, no?

The world as we know it is coming to an end. Shiva the destroyer has started the process of the End of Days. But the Gods have human children or demigods and Saam who is Shiva child has the potential to save the world. Can he and how he does it is the story.

The title doesn’t really say much about the story, however the blurb does catch the eye and sow a seed of interest. The cover reminded me of samurais and such, but not bad I’d say since it caught my eye.

The plot is new but very clearly inspired by Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. However there are a lot of elements that are different and new too. The main storyline is about saving the world but there are a lot of sub-plots too that explore Saam and his six companions past to build a complete jigsaw.

The story starts in present day Mumbai and then moves across India, across dimensions and between worlds as Saam and his party try to follow clues and undo the unravelling. Lamont has done a good job of describing the each location both real and fantasy and it is easy to visualise as your read.

Saam and his half brother Ara are the main characters of Warrior. They have a love-hate relationship and a past with many a story. Lamont explores the siblings relationship as the story unfolds unveiling their past a little bit at a time. There are a fair number of other characters too who are also well-fleshed and rounded to support the story and take it forward.

The objective of the story is clear within the first 10 or so pages of the book. Lamont then goes ahead through the tale to attain it. Though there are many sub-plots in the story, Lafont ties them all up well with the main storyline and leaves no loose ends.

He builds the narrative well and ups the pace towards climax, such that I was hooked to the book after a point. Warrior starts out really slow and then picks up pace and gets action-packed. If you can hold out for the first 20 or so pages, you’ll be stuck till the end.

Though the style of writing is somewhat inspired by Percy Jackson, the story is too Indian to hold on to Percy for long. Intwined intricately with Indian mythology and Gods, Lafont has done his research well and paints a vivid picture.

A very good effort for a debut novel. I’m going to be looking forward to more books from Lafont. Suitable for all ages except maybe kids, due to the blood and gore. If you are someone who loves mythology, especially Indian mythology and likes action-packed thriller type books, you must read Warrior.

About the Author:
Olivier Lafont is a French actor and author living in Mumbai, India. He has acted in Hindi films as well as over 80 television commercials. Apart from acting Lafont has also written the screenplay for the film Hari Om and is a regular columnist for MW and Men’s Health magazine. You can find out more on his website

Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

I had reviewed Chatur some time back. I had been quite impressed with Chatur, it not only had an interesting moral but it was also written in Hindi with an English script provided for people who have trouble reading Hindi. The concept interested me as it was a good way to bring back stories in our own languages.

Wanting to understand the concept better and the thought behind Chatur, I planned to do an interview with Subhash Kommuru. Some how though the interview got buried in my email and I forgot about it. My bad, Sorry Subhash. However I remembered it the other day and here it is now. Here are the questions I asked Subhash Kommuru, the author of Chatur and his answers.

Would tell us a little about yourself?
Subhash: Namaste Freyaji! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to connect with your distinctive readers and be able to share my views on this great platform. I am father of a ‘almost’ 5yr old. I am from India and live in US. When I left India and was by myself, life was fun and carefree and even after marriage things changed but the real change came about when we had a son. We started to miss our country more than ever. There is always that emptiness when you live away from home but it surfaces when you look at your kid and want to bring the values you learnt growing up. You take all of that for granted until you have to find your own identity.

What do you do as day job?
Subhash: Just like most of us from India, I am an IT Architect. I love what I do and will continue to serve in IT. I find writing to be appealing; the satisfaction that you get from it is simply incomparable. It nicely complements my day job and gives me that break that all of us overworked people of 21st century badly need.

In a time when all books for kids seem to be in English. Why did you think of writing a book in Hindi?
Subhash: That’s a very good question Freya ji. You can say that is one of my motivations to pick up a pen. Hindi is a very personable language. In fact every Indian language is personable. Every language has a culture embedded in it. If you replace all the world languages and replace it with English you will create a big hole in the way people think and deal with each other. For instance let’s say you want to address your parents, your uncle, your brother and a friend in English the only way you can do that is ‘You’. But if you do the same in Hindi, it will be “Aap”, “Tum” and “Tu”. Before you start a line you have given your intent of respect and designated a place for them. People would still respect others but the richness and warmth of culture will be lost in communication.
Our kids are missing that. With so much of English literature out there right from childhood it’s hard to get them to understand culture. In my childhood days I could never imagine saying “Please” to my mother, because my language was so rich that I didn’t have to decorate with business niceties.

This is your third book. Why did you choose to write children’s books?
Subhash: My motivation is my son. I write stories for him. I want to bring Indian culture to him one story at a time. I don’t want to speak to global concepts but some salient features too like my first book ‘Bargad’ is about Banyan tree, the national tree of India and this story also talks about Vat Savitri a festival known to certain parts of the country.

Where did the story of Chatur come from? What was the inspiration?
Subhash: Chatur is a very fitting story for 21st century. It is still a tiny step closer to my first story of Bargad in the sense that the price we pay in name of progress. Progress is good and great for civilization but every step should be a thoughtful step because cost for misstep is enormous. That was the theme for Bargad with tree as a central character and in this story the same learning is kicked up a notch. When writing this story I added two more objectives one was greed and second usage of MORE POWER which is closer to machismo.

Your story of Chatur has a different spin and twist from the old childhood tale. How did this come about?
Subhash: That’s an insightful observation of the story Freya ji. Advantage we have is that our kids don’t know the story that we grew up in. 🙂 Jokes aside though, times have changed, we have learned those stories and we have embedded them in our life. But just like anything in life once you have mastered a skill you overdo it so the modern stories need to address to modern times and needs. When writing this story I added two more objectives beyond progress one was greed and second usage of MORE POWER which is closer to machismo. These second trait is a true need for the modern age. We are running so fast and so climbing so high that some basics are being ignored.

Why do you have the story written in Hindi and English script?
Subhash: I grew up speaking Hindi and totally love it, it is my preferred way of communication. I connect very well with individuals who can speak with me in Hindi. My son also knows that, and he knows when to pull that astra (weapon) out. 🙂 Kids in USA have the advantage of knowing Hindi but they cannot read because it’s not part of academics. I believe that’s true to a great extent in India also these days. Kids learn hindi but they do so only to get through school never to turn back again. So idea of writing in both scripts is to reach every audience who can appreciate Hindi. It’s an attempt to bring them back home.

Do you intend to make an audio version of the book?
Subhash: I would love to make an audio version too if situation demands for it. For now I am focusing on writing stories and whenever I get a chance I do read them on radio shows so people with needs can certainly take advantage of that as well.

How can parents get a copy of your book? Is it avaiable online? Where?
Subhash: I want all of my books to be available to everyone everywhere and online retailers does that for me. And just with intention to reach people easily I have Kindle version of my book which are FREE for Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited users.

I would also suggest that you request for Chatur in your library, it’s a great book to share with everyone. We need to open ourselves to books relating to our culture and tradition. And share them with everyone; libraries are great way to achieve that goal.

Chatur is available on all the Amazon sites. Here is links – India, US and UK.

Would you like to share a little about your previous stories?
Subhash: My first book is ‘Bargad’.. Here is an excerpt about Bargad:

Bargad is a compelling story told through the words and illustrations of two people who grew up in a culture where customs and family are revered and incorporates the Banyan Tree to teach children how to respect, love and care for many things – including the environment. It takes place in VikasNagar, an ancient progressive village, where one of its oldest residents, the Bargad, is challenged of its existence. While Bargad has withstood all the challenges of time, the question now is will it be able to withstand modernization? Will anyone protect it the way it has protected others?
While Bargad has all the thrills and twists and turns that excite kids of all ages, parents will love that it is imaginative and thought-provoking and encourages kids to take a stand, see beyond the obvious, and make a decision about the outcome they want. Set against a colorful Indian backdrop, each illustration depicts a vivid and real example of what life is like in India – from modern cities to outer villages – and radiates the warmth of the people. Maintaining Indian names and characters lends authenticity to an already rich plot, with easy-to-understand rhyming verse that brings children closer to the core values of humanity in a fun and exciting way, subtlety demonstrating that sometimes it’s the things we take for granted that are there for us in the long run.

Vat Savitri, probably the most important festival in India, is featured in the story. While largely celebrated for Savitri, which refers to a lady who fought to bring life back to her husband and family, Vat (derived from Bargad in the ancient Sanskrit denotion of tree), is symbolic because it represents lasting ties to family and enriching family values.

Are you working on any new stories?
Subhash: I have 2 new books for this month. One is ‘The Magic of Friendship’ and another ‘Mother’s love can conquer any fear!”. They are both fantastic stories with strong Indian theme to them and they are both very funny story teaching a very important lesson.

Thanks for answering all my questions in detail Subhash. All the best for your future books. I hope your trend continues and we have more books in Indian regional languages.
If you’d like to know more about the Kommurus and their books, please visit their website – kommurubooks.com

 
Title: The Simple Truth
Author: David Baldacci
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 1st 1999)
Genre: Mystery-Thriller
Read: Paperback
Stars: ***/5
Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

Summary: (Goodreads)

Twenty five years ago, Rufus Harms was convicted of a murder he believes he committed. But when his memory is jogged by a letter from the army, he has a shocking realization: he’s not guilty. From prison, Rufus secretly files an appeal with the Supreme Court, unaware that the real killers are onto him. But the long-time convict knows he’s running out of time when his lawyer and the Supreme Court clerk–the first person to see Rufus’s appeal–are murdered. Escaping with his brother’s help, Rufus must now elude capture long enough to expose a shocking cover-up and save his own life.

My Review:

Note: This review was first written way back in 2000, for a website OyeIndia.com that existed way back then. 😀

Cover: Simple Cover…

Paper and font: Good.

Readability, language: Easy.

Why did I choose this book: I used to be a big fan of Baldacci. But haven’t read any of his new work in years!

25 years later a letter arrives by mistake only to trigger an avalanche of memories. Rufus Harms recalls the events that led to the murder of a little girl that fateful night. He files an appeal in the Supreme Court and now his life is in danger.

Written by David Baldacci ‘The Simple Truth’ is a gripping novel. After graduation with BA honors in political science he attended law school and worked as a trial lawyer and even as a corporate lawyer. He has also written Absolute Power and Total Control.

The book is about the experiments the US army did using the soldiers as guinea pigs without them knowing. About how people used the experiments as a cover to take revenge on the people they had a grudge on. It is also about the racial prejudice that exists is America and even in the Army!

The people involved will do anything to keep their 25 year old secret. Now most of them are in pretty high places and so can pull a lot of strings and stunts. Two people have already lost their lives and 3 more are in grave danger.

The book is an eye-opener to the workings of the Supreme Court, and the politics involved.

The book is an interesting read but only if your going read it once.

About the Author:
David Baldacci published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. Since then David has published 28 novels. He has also published four novels for children. While David is involved with several philanthropic organizations, his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation® established by David and his wife, Michelle. David and his family live in Virginia. Find out more at his website davidbaldacci.com.

Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

 
Title: One
Author: Richard Bach
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Dell (October 2nd 1989)
Genre: Philosophy
Read: Paperback
Stars: ****/5
Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

Summary: (Goodreads)

Under the spell of quantum physics, Bach and his wife Leslie are catapulted into an alternate world, one in which they exist simultaneously in many different incarnations. First they encounter themselves as they were 16 years ago on the day they first met. In this version of their lives, they do not marry, and never achieve the happiness Bach assures us that their real union has produced. Bach once again displays an inventive imagination and inspirational zeal that will have readers examining their own lives.

My Review:

Note: This review was first written way back in 2000, for a website OyeIndia.com that existed way back then. 😀

Cover: I loved the cover. THe blue and the simpleness gets me every time.

Paper and font: Smell-worthy!

Readability, language: Easy on the eyes, Deep on the mind.

Why did I choose this book: After ‘A Bridge Across Forever’, this one just had to be read.

I gave my life to become the person I am right now.
Was it worth it?

‘One’ deals with the choices we make in life and where they take us. The choice we make today, the turn we take, the idea we implement or even the stranger we smile at will affect our lives years from now.

Written by Richard Bach, One is a journey of self-exploration. Some of Bach’s outstanding works include Jonathan Livingstone Seagull and A Bridge Across Forever. Bach’s writing is usually about himself and his experiences.

One is not an adventure story, thriller or suspense novel. It is a journey Bach and his wife Leslie make into their life, the past and the future. They go back to meet Atila and forward to meet a robot that’s trying to protect the earth. It is a trip down life’s twists and turns to see what would have happened if you had taken a different turn.

There will be a lot of times you will stop to contemplate and think for a lot of reasons. You may find a situation parallel with one in your life or maybe pleasantly surprised that someone can think so much like you. Essentially it is a journey into your self.

It is a thought provoking book and so obviously for the thinkers. It is not a book for light reading, read it only if you have the time, I suggest you take this one to bed.

About the Author:
A former USAF fighter pilot, Air Force captain and latter-day barnstorming pilot, Richard Bach is an avid aviator-author-philosopher. He enjoys the joys and freedom of flying and writing about it along with delving into deep philosophy and thought experiments. You can find out more about him at www.richardbach.com.

Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

‘DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING,’ said Death. ‘JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.’ – Good Omens

This morning when I work up I was greeted by the news of the death of Terry Pratchett. I’m still in shock, and filled with sadness at the loss.

I first came across Terry Pratchett in 2002 when a friend lent me a book of his saying I must read it. I’ll never forget the book or the friend, for it set me a off on a tangent.

The book was ‘The Last Continent’, a part of the Disc World series and Pratchett’s take on Australia. It opened a new world for me, a world of humour, satire and hidden meanings.

Pratchett wrote with a depth that would be read at surface level or the reader could choose to deep dive and look into the dark abyss. He wrote stories that would make you sit up and listen, make you scratch your head and think.

I remember reading somewhere that he didn’t believe in chapters, he believed that stories have a beginning and and end. So, most of his books don’t have chapters, you just go through and through the book and then it ends.

Pratchett’s life and even his death doesn’t seem very different. He was diagnosed with a rare form of Azheimers in 2007. This didn’t stop him, it only made him fight more and write more.

It all ended on 12 March at the age of 66 due to complications from his Alzheimer’s and a severe chest infection. He passed away in his home with his cat sleeping on his bed and his family surrounding him.

Even in death he seems so him. Here are his last few tweets –

Good bye Sir Terry, you will be sorely missed.

‘Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?’ – Going Postal

With over 70 books, his name will be spoken for a long time to come. I’ve read a lot of his books, a lot of the Disc World series and yet I have so much more of Pratchett to read.

To assuage my sadness, I’m dedicating this year to Pratchett, I’m going to read all his works again. Wish me luck, Sir Terry. 🙂

Photo Credits: Photo 1, Photo 2

Title: The Edge of Reason
Author: Helen Fielding
Paperback: 422 pages
Publisher: Picador, Macmillan Publishers Ltd (November 18th 1999)
Genre: Chick Lit
Read: Paperback
Stars: ****/5
Buy On: Amazon | FlipKart

Summary: (Goodreads)

The Wilderness Years are over! But not for long. At the end of Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget hiccuped off into the sunset with man-of-her-dreams Mark Darcy. Now, in The Edge of Reason, she discovers what it is like when you have the man of your dreams actually in your flat and he hasn’t done the washing-up, not just the whole of this week, but ever.

Lurching through a morass of self-help-book theories and mad advice from Jude and Shazzer, struggling with a boyfriend-stealing ex-friend with thighs like a baby giraffe, an 8ft hole in the living-room wall, a mother obsessed with boiled-egg peelers, and a builder obsessed with large reservoir fish, Bridget embarks on a spiritual epiphany, which takes her from the cappuccino queues of Notting Hill to the palm- and magic-mushroom-kissed shores of …

Bridget is back. V.g.

My Review:

Note: This review was first written way back in 2000, for a website OyeIndia.com that existed way back then. 😀

Cover: In keeping with the theme of the first book…

Paper and font: Good.

Readability, language: Easy and fun…

Why did I choose this book: I’d read the first, there was no way I was missing the second.

This is surely a brilliant piece of work. Helen Fielding’s ‘The Edge of Reason’ is a sequel to her earlier Bridget Jones Diary. It may not be better then the first but you will find the same style and flow here.

The book is based on a fictional character Bridget Jones, a modern woman in the modern world. She has her set of problems, men, jobs, friends, parents, etc. and has one hell of a screwed up time solving them. All women are sure to see a parallel here. She’s someone you can relate to, she feels so real.

The book is in the form of a diary and is as if she is speaking and being herself. So different from the usual detached form of writing a diary. There are parts where you will be rolling with laughter and times when you’ll be set thinking. At points you will be like ‘Oh My god! How stupid can someone get?’

I find the book beautiful. One anyone can read, simple language and so much fun. The style is so different from the usual. Her life feels like its mine and it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one with those problems. The views of Bridget and her friends on almost everything are exactly what I feel but can’t put across so well. The definitions and terminology used are just too perfect and great to use.

This is a book that is “not putdownable”. It’s a must read for all and a must must read for all women.

About the Author:
Helen Fielding was born in Yorkshire and is the author of four novels. She worked for many years in London as a newspaper and TV journalist. She now works full-time as a novelist and screenwriter and lives in London and Los Angeles.

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