Review: The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World

The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World by S. Jaishankar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: Coffee Table conversations of how India should navigate the world

Rarely do you see someone in a position of power writing about current affairs - generally tend to be memoirs so this collection of essays / thoughts by S. Jaishankar provide a probe into his thoughts on contemporary affairs that India needs to navigate.

Relating it with Indian scriptures / concepts , he does take a stab at storytelling but most of the writing are thoughts spouted out without giving us - the reader- the background, the research or the story to explain the why. This is where it becomes dry like a press release on contemporary affairs without too much of context. Maybe thats the reason why we find memoirs more fulfilling and enlightening for people have a lot more freedom on what they can share and say rather than being on the driving wheel still.

I am looking forward to this memoirs when he possibly gets to open up a lot more.

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Review: Death's End

Death's End by Liu Cixin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: An extra terrestrial grand canvas for the wrap of the Three Body Problem trilogy

I loved the trilogy and Death's End brings a finality to the series hence the three stars (insert trisolaran joke). Liu Cixin takes the adage that no person is bigger than the greater cause because none of the characters stand out against the vast canvas in terms of space and time continuum. Death's End switches centuries and takes in many leaps of civilisation through the Deterrant era, Bunker era and the times and rribulations of humanity at the grandest scale in the science fiction domain. Death's end is more of a science fiction thesis than a story , and that is where the left and right side of my brain have clashed going through this space odyssey.

The stage is a wonderful masterpiece, the director of the play and the acrors could have done a better job with my expectations set high with the previous two books.

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Review: The Lion Women of Tehran

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hooter: The story of an unlikely friendship of two girls holding true through the annals of time.

A relatable Bollywood trope of poor girl and rich girl becoming best friends is probably the only similarity. In unlikely circumstances, the two met and bond even though they are so very different in their outlook and personalities. The trials and tribulations of a society in utmost change and turmoil primarily Iran in that phase of 1950s to 80s where numerous political switches happened which directly impact our protagonists as they grow of age through those times. From innocent friendships to teenage romances to political activism, there is a flavor of it all and whilst Stationery shop of Tehran still remains my best Marjan read, the Lion Women of Tehran is a heartfelt ode to friendships against all odds - a common place for the lion women of Tehran whether it is Ellie's mother, Ellie herself, her best friend Homa and her daughter. The men for a change play pivotal supporting roles in this narrative.

A strong narrative on women's rights, friendships that stretch on the last frayed thread of a rope yet thrive are couple of take aways this book gives you.

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