First Impressions
ANTONIA GALLO'S worst nightmare begins on Christmas eve, when she discovers samples of a highly secretive drug missing from the laboratory where she was in charge of security. Even as a distraught and tired Gallo works round-the-clock to find the thieves, she is inexorably attracted towards her current employer. But it's not a fairytale yet, not with the maestro of thrill weaving a web to entrap not only the culprits but his readers as well.
In a taut and riveting chase, Gallo finds that the unlikely perpetrator of the latest horror is none other than her boss' son, who seems to be nursing a childhood grouse against his father. Gallo's chase through snow-covered roads and mountains finally ends in a dramatic climax.
With Whiteout Ken Follet has once again proved that he is the undisputed king of detective thrillers. Follet gets deep into the psyche of his characters, lending them a credible existence. Set in pictureseque Scotland, this is a modern-day tale. Put this one into your holiday reading list. Time will certainly fly.
Whiteout, Ken Follet, Macmillan, price not stated.
HUMOUR is a rare commodity. Especially when it comes to Indians writing in English. The attempts are either painfully forced or plainly not witty. Here is a book that manages not to fall into either of these categories. It has been written with a certain style and candour with the protagonist of the book being able to look at the dark side of her life with a touch of irony. The language is simple, trendy and very now. There is no pontificating and this is someone who knows her city well. Hats off to that.
Arti is a young working girl in the big, bad city of Mumbai. Virtue is something that can be traded, depending on the suitability of the occasion and the suitor. Arti's woes in life are doubled with a matchmaking mama who never ceases to amaze with her propensity for finding "Mr. Wrong" for her daughter. Added to all this mess is Arti's boss, who makes life even more miserable. A faithful advocate of the singleton brigade, Arti relies heavily on hard rock and large spoonfuls of cough syrup to get off the blues. With her knack of finding herself in the wrong relationship always, Arti has more than enough reason to down tequila shots like there is no tomorrow. In a desperate attempt to find Mr. Right and not settle for mama's choice, Arti blunders from one relationship into another.
If it's Bridgette Jones you're thinking of, you're right. Except, this is a desi version who makes some attempts at bad sex but leaves the rest to your imagination. Still, it's a funny enough read.
Girl Alone, Rupa Gulab, Penguin, Rs. 225.
EVERY year this slim volume manages to make its presence felt. There is no great marketing hype on its release. In fact there is almost a sacred silence. The Katha Prize Stories, has today come to define a certain standard in regional literature. Along with that it has also become a single showcasing of some amazing translations. This year too, this volume, whose pages have been spruced up to look a lot more contemporary, delves deep into the hinterlands of language and brings to its readers newer discoveries. These stories revolve around the everyday lives of people in this country. Their experiences, their traumas, their love, all rolled into a single thread of telling a story more as a craft of joy. Everybody loves a story and in a country where stories have been a vehicle for passing down knowledge generation after generation, this could not hold truer. This is a volume that takes you on a journey of old and new, good and bad. But, this initiative enables sharing and appreciating a rich legacy.
Katha Prize Stories, edited by Geeta Dharmarajan, Katha, Rs 250.
SUCHITRA BEHAL
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