God Save the Dork - Dorky corporate humor

Having not read the Original "Dork", I hadn't the slightest idea of what to expect. Except some reviews that were all gaga for first book and good enough for second book, I was totally uninitiated.

The story continues in the same universe where the last book ended. There are abundant references to the first book in the current story, which kind of irritates and takes your mind off the current topic at hand. One keeps wondering what the mentioned 'incidents' were and how it affected The Dork. Naturally, story revolves around the hero, Robin 'Einstein' Varghese; who is working on client side at their London office and trying to improve the organization qualitatively. While doing so he has to attend to his personal agendas as well, that include but are not limited to, an irritatingly nagging girlfriend and a crush on a colleague. Considering the fact that the project is not going very well, it seems out of place.

First half of the book is pretty good and is very humorous. it has some very funny situations and at times there is a feeling of deja-vu. Story stretches a bit towards the end and one can't help but longing for it to end. After a while it feels like an endless narrative of a smart-ass, jargon spitting, corporate worker. Just like a Bollywood movie,the detail is lost towards end and a wrap up is performed. As a result somethings are left on reader's discretion. For people, who don't know about short selling or equity markets, the end might not make sense as they won't know what happened actually and how an investment in company that eventually goes bankrupt can yield millions.

Verdict: Good read if you have time to finish it in one sitting. Four reading hours should be enough. Some good punches that will actually make you laugh. A tale only a Dork would cherish.

Secret of Nagas - Multiverse continues

After reading book one of Shiva trilogy, The Immortals of Meluha, I was very excited to dive into the second part. Since I had ordered the set of two, there was almost zero wait time before jumping into it.

The book continues the promising story and narrative into the better part of novel. Author has successfully compiled the mythological events into an action/adventure storyline. At times it gets so realistic and logical that one starts feeling that all the stories he has heard till now were senseless.

Introduction of new characters is seamless and author has done a commendable job. Introduction of elephant headed Ganesha and deformed Naga queen is handled exceptionally well. Novel carries on smoothly till the middle and then suddenly the narrative hits a low point. Shiva's involvement with Vasudevas & his fixation with Brihspati irritates at times. Shiva seems very attached to Brihaspati and further devastated by his death. The development of any such close relationship was neither displayed nor developed during the course of two books. Hence, at times reader fails to relate to Shiva's anger towards suspected murderers and his anger towards Naga clan.

Another annoying part of this section of the story is that there is not a single major character except Parvateshawar(who by now also believes in prophecy), who sees Shiva as who he really is, that is a Mortal like everyone. I simply can't accept the fact there is absolutely zero resistance to Neelkanth.

Last chapter in book one was titled "Question of Questions" and book two it "Secret of All Secrets". I guess the final chapter in Book three would be "Answer of All Answers".:-D

Verdict: Although the Magical multiverse continues, not as entertaining and gripping as Book one. A surprising twist awaits you in the last chapter that will keep you wondering about the motives of many characters and waiting for third book. Anyways, you have to read through it to get to the other end of the story where the book three awaits.

Immortals of Meluha - Mythological Multiverse Begins

It was a chance that I stumbled upon the blurb of Immortals of Meluha.  The moment I read about the plot I was hooked and wanted some of it. The plot promised so much there was much anticipation. So I ordered the both the available books of The Shiva Trilogy, and am I glad that I did.

The basic plot of story, Shiva being an ordinary man who has been visioned as the ultimate savior, 'The Neelkanth', holds immense potential for narrative, character building and story telling. Author Amish Tripathi has done a very good job at spinning a gripping narrative. He takes time to develop characters, sub-plots & storyline. At no point do you feel that it is being stretched for sake of it.

The novel is well written and is pretty detailed without being overtly sketchy. In the beginning of the novel, you can actually feel the coldness of the Mansarovar lake and chilliness of wind at Kailash. Finer nuisances of characters like Shiva's indulgence with weed, Nandi's build and his servility or Bhadra's friendly loyalty towards Shiva, are very well woven into the narrative. Since the plot is based on the basic premise that our mythology is truth disfigured by time, the narrative  is well connected and explains a lot of things in a new light. Author with his immaculate style makes you believe in the narrative and somewhere down the line the difference between the set mythology and this Multiverse begins to dissolve.

All characters, like Sati & Brihaspati, are introduced in due time and are very well placed. Character development is handled very efficiently throughout the novel. All the characters sketches are kept close to their original stereotype but with a logical deduction and sound reasoning.

Immortals of Meluha is Mythology married to Matrix. If there really are Multiverse, then it can be no different than what Amish has written. A must read for fresh perspective on Hindu Mythology.

Ikk yaad...

jad vee asmaan nu takkda haaN, marjaani chete aaNdi hai,
jo kattheya ralke likhde see, kahani chete aaNdi hai.

jad bull nahi kujh kehNde see, jad akkhaan gallaaN kardiyaaN sann,
oh akkhaaN akkhaaN dee uljhi, ikk taani chete aaNdi hai.

je pyar nahi te hor kee see, eh samajh nahi maiN paaNda haaN,
ikk labbh ke cheez anmol jehi, guani chete aaNdi hai.

khamoshi ohdi nazar di oh, meri dil nu kujh kujh dassdi see,
ikk mukhda dekhan layi ohda, kol bithani chete aaNdi hai.

hun door hai oh par door nahi, mere dil de nedhe hai kidhre,
singh sherry dil de raaj dee hun, oh raani chete aaNdi hai.

jad vee asmaan nu takkda haaN, marjaani chete aaNdi hai,
jo kattheya ralke likhde see, kahani chete aaNdi hai.

mai vee viah karwawanga.

ikk din aisa vee ayega, ke mai vee viah karwawanga,
oh meri jaan nu royegi mai ohde sirr nu khawaanga,
ikk din aisa vee ayega, ke mai vee viah karwawanga.

asi roz karaange pyar dee gall, te aqsar jhagde howange,
kade dekh ke kake hassange, kade ladhde dekh ke rowange,
ladnha vee pyar nishani hai, eh gall mai beh samjhawanga,
ikk din aisa vee ayega, ke mai vee viah karwawanga.

jad saun mahina ayega, te dil vich kuch kuch hoyega,
jad baith ke har ikk chadda kuwara, apni qismat nu royega,
oh naal mere ral baithegi, mai baith pakode khawaanga,
ikk din aisa vee ayega, ke mai vee viah karwawanga.

kade kise gall te jado, oh mere naal na bolegi,
mere lakkh booha khadkaan te vee, oh kundi na kholegi,
ohdi hovegi lakkh galti, mai fir vee hatth jod manaavanga,
ikk din aisa vee ayega, ke mai vee viah karwawanga.
kahe singh Sherry , ke mai ve viah karwawanga.

maiN punjabi haan

maiN punjabi haaN,
kite majhail, kite malwai, kite duabi haaN,
maiN punjabi haaN.

kite singh haaN, kite kaur haaN,
kite gabru dee mucch dee anakh, kite mutiyar dee tohar haaN,
kite rangla doriya te kite pagg gulabi haan,
maiN punjabi haaN.

jahaan de har kone vich mai jaake laaya dera hai,
mai iss jahaan da, te eh jahaan mera hai,
har taale nu kholan wali chaabi haaN,
maiN punjabi haaN.

kite vaili te kite yaara da yaar haaN,
yaari dushmani har paase ladhan layee tyar haaN,
har ikk "jee" te "oye" dee gall jawabi haaN,
maiN punjabi haaN.

kite hatth jod ke keeti benti, kite gale utte talwar haaN,
kite veerji bhainji da pyar, te kite yuddh dee lalkaar haan,
iss bhaaNt bhaaNt dee phulwari vich, khidya phull gulabi haan,
maiN punjabi haaN.

kite majhail, kite malwai, kite duabi haaN,
kahe singh Sherry, mai punjabi haaN.

Ikk awaaz mohabbat dee

ikk awwaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi hai.

ikk naam jo hun lai sakda nahi, ikk gall jo hun keh sakda nahi,
mainu saun na dinde raataan nu, baahon fadd jagaandi hai,
ikk awwaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi hai.

je mai ohde bin rehnda nahi, kee oh mere bin rehndi e,
kee oh vee vaang mere kalle vich ro ke chitt parchaoundi e,
ikk awaaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi e.

mai kalleya rehna sikkh leya, eh ainna vee koi aukha nahi,
jiddan langhda hai din kidhre, eh raat vee unjh langh jaandi e,
ikk awwaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi e.

har roz nava din chadhda hai, har raat haneri roz navi,
na din sona, na shaam moti, te naa hee raat dee chandi e,
ikk awwaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi e.

je zindagi naam hanere da, te maut ve koi chaanan nahi,
hai pata Sherry nu koi nahi, duniya mar ke kitthe jaandi e,
ikk awwaz mohabbat dee, mainu aje vee chete aandi e.