All the Light we cannot see - Anthony Doerr

This book by Anthony Doerr was probably the best book I have read in a long time!

It is Word War II story - and a very well written touching account of how the war affects regular people, in a small seaside town in France.

The book is very expertly written and the story development is intricate, switches back and forth in time, and from points of view of different characters.   It keeps you engaged and wanting more with each page.  The character development is really good in my opinion.  Apart from the lead characters, the rest of the cast is also multi-faceted, with their strengths, insecurities and challenges.

A locksmith with a penchant for detailed wood carvings and unfailing dedication to his child as a single parent... a little boy smart enough to teach himself the physics of radio operations, torn between loyalty and values... a young blind girl summoning courage in situations that most adults with perfect vision would not have... a housekeeper's surprising passion for the resistance movement... the General, an expert on precious stones following a personal vendetta and abusing power ...these characters are so vivid that they stay with you long after you finish reading the book.

Anthony Doerr's style of writing is simple, yet evokes all senses.  The sense of touch thru the wooden carvings, the smells from the housekeeper's cooking, the taste of fear for the blind girl...the visuals of the locations as described, the town, the museum, the hidden stairs and hiding room...the author has a way of making you live in the story - as if you are right there, living it with the characters..

This certainly goes in my 'definitely read' pile.  I am sure you will appreciate it.
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Bela Vora, R3ALTOR
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
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The Lowland - Jhumpa Lahiri

A beautiful story narrated very eloquently!  I have read all of Jhumpa Lahiri's books because I like her writing, but possibly more because I identify with the subjects she writes about.  She bridges the two countries and cultures very smoothly, and creates realistic characters with their strengths and shortcomings.

This jacket of this book advertises her literary praise
"Writer of uncommon elegance and poise"
"Splendid - Lahiri handles her characters without leaving any fingerprints"
"Such direct, translucent prose you almost forget you are reading"
I could not express any better.

The book shares some history of the Naxalite movement in India and paints a vivid picture of the middle class life in Kolkatta after Independence.  There is even a sense of suspense, you keep turning the pages wanting to know what happens to the characters.  Is Gauri selfish, ridden by her own demons, true to her love...what about the brothers? So close yet so different?  Did Subhash gain ultimately or lose?  Was Bela (yes one of the characters shares my name) at peace eventually?,

This would make a great book club book and generate a lot of discussion about people, their motivations and actions ....and ofcourse how they impact those around them.  Changes the trajectories of some lives, enriches others...or simply fades away.

I highly recommend reading this book.  Of all of Jhumpa's books, I feel this one is more universally appealing - though the readers straddling the Indian and American cultures will enjoy it even more.

Who was your favorite character?  Did you like the ending? Did the history fascinate you?  Are you likely to read her next book?  Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton Real Estate.
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website  |  Facebook  |  Blog  

Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Complex plot with multiple layers, wonderful characters, sweeping vistas of the city of Barcelona in the 50s - language simple enough to understand but with a complexity that reveals many subtle nuances, a mystery, a love story, coming of age story, a gothic novel ...  I am no writer so I cannot express any better - but I will say, I could not put the book down. 

I was rooting for the characters, thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot  and was hoping for a climax that would not disappoint (like many mysteries that fall flat towards the end) - and it did not! 

Incredible storytelling and complex thoughts - book is full of eloquent prose such as 
"... a deafening silence that I had not yet learned to stifle with words."
"...Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker, or a lottery vendor: its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it."
" There are few reasons for telling the truth, but for lying the number is infinite."
I would definitely like to go back and reflect further on some of these - may seem grandiose and fake if I scrutinized them closely - but made for fantastic reading otherwise.  

The philosophical insights of Fermin - my favorite character in the book made me laugh!  I was horrified by the dark twists in the plot,  intrigued by the descriptions (many creative expressions of a "dark and stormy night") and moved to tears and sighed over unrequited love.

Highly recommend! Read it and let me know what you think.

Some other reviews on books I have read

The Favored Daughter - Fawzia Koofi

The Favored Daughter - One woman's fight to lead Afghanistan into the future is a very gripping account of survival against all odds.

I am not much into biographies or autobiographies really - but this one reads like historical fiction.. ..except that it is all true!  The book offers tremendous insight into the history of Afghanistan - from the Soviet occupation to the Mujahideen rebels "freeing" the country, to the Taliban movement and finally the western invasion. 

The Favored Daughter is the story of Fawzia Koofi - the 19th child of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan.   She understands and accepts the life of a girl growing up in an Islamic country under siege - in fact lives it - yet has a modern third-person perspective as she narrates her story much later.  Her language is simple and the book flows at a nice pace, brought about by her clarity of thought.  

There is no judgement, but an attempt to put forth perspectives and some 'matter of fact' acceptance.  I simply loved the female perspective, her letters to her daughters attempting to explain and giving hope for the future, her timid love story amidst mayhem, and above all her spirit and values that guided her thru the journey!  It is a miracle that she lived to tell her story and her sometime shocking and brutal account of her experiences make our worries simply insignificant.

I give the book 5 stars - read it if you want to learn more about Afghanistan, read it if you enjoy books with strong female characters, read it if you are attempting to understand Islam as it is practiced instead of reading  religious scriptures - read it to center your own life and find perspective.

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Bela Vora, REALTOR®, 
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton Real Estate.
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website  |  Facebook  |  Blog  

River of Doubt - Theodore Roosevelt's darkest journey

Written by Candice Millard, a thrilling adventure of a journey down an unmapped tributary of the mighty Amazon river sounds like fiction.  However, it is a true story of  Theodore Roosevelt's journey down the Amazon, after he lost the election in 1912.

What's a Homeowner to do?

These days, most blogs are about about lists - 5 top reasons why...10 things to do....7 Ways to ....
We all want information in bite sized pieces, easy to understand as well as implement.  So when I see a book that says "442 things you should know...", I stopped and wondered, are these guys serious?  


Well, the "guys" happen to be Stephen Fanuka and Edward Lewine who have written a book titled :
"What's a Homeowner to do? 442 things you should know."  Stephen Fanuka is the star of the famous DIY series Million Dollar Contractor (Sundays at 10pm) and Edward Lewine writes home improvement columns for the New York Times Magazine.  Now, we are paying attention!  The 442 ways are diagrams, and easy-to-use, bite-sized tutorials for do-it-yourself home improvement, maintenance and safety projects.  


The book offers tips and suggestions on understanding how your home is built, what items need regular maintenance,  insider secrets on handling common issues and the most useful tip of all - knowing when to tackle a job yourself or call in a professional.  If you own a home and feel at loose ends when it comes to knowing what you should be doing to keep it in top shape, "What’s a Homeowner to Do" is the reference guide for you.  What a great housewarming gift, especially for a first time home buyer!
Have you read the book? What do you think?  


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Bela Vora, REALTOR®, 
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website  |  Facebook  |  Blog

The Hunger Games series

I started reading this series of books by Suzanne Collins because my children totally loved them and kept nagging me to read them as well.  I felt the books were very dark and unnecessarily violent - unsuitable for young children who are very sensitive.  Just the thought of everything that the protagonist(Katniss) goes through is unbelievable and quite extreme.  The whole premise brought to mind George Orwell's 1984 and more recently The Giver by Lois Lowry, combined with the TV series Survivor.  It is literature that appeals to young adults - a whole new world, an alternate reality that is so fascinating, a post apocalyptic science fiction that seems to be the new wave after the Harry Potter series.


I have to say the books kept me riveted.  I read the trilogy in succession because I could not wait to read what happens next.  The characters are drawn well, the plot complex and the Hunger games that are vivid enough to make you live the experience with the contestants.  However, I felt cheated because though Katniss was projected as the heroine who could potentially save their world, she seemed to be suffering defeat after defeat at the hands of the villains.  Will she win?  Is her victory aligned with that of the people she represents?  Two central characters vie for her affection - the race to read the end is as much about which one she chooses as her partner as much as figuring out the outcome of the war.  I guess you will have to find out for yourself. 

It was definitely a great experience to discuss the books with my children and share their passion.  I would highly recommend them for that reason alone - but also for the simple prose and gripping storyline.  All the books have been on the best seller lists and needless to say - we will be joining the millions at the midnight show of the soon to be released movie.

Have you read them?  Did you think the book would have the same impact if the violence was tempered?

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Very Valentine - Adriana Trigiani

I remember reading the Big stone Gap trilogy by Adrianna Trigiani many years ago and thoroughly enjoying it.  So when I saw this in the bargain section at Barns and Noble I had to pick it up.  For someone who mostly borrows books from the library - this was a treat!

The book is all about passion - for italian food, for family and home grown values, for romance and the challenges it comes with, for a simple village in Italy, for creative career choices which are intertwined throughout the book.  With her elegant and witty prose, she makes the reader feel the same passion.   I love the characters she creates, with all their idiosyncrasies, though the book is through the eyes of the main protagonist.  It sort of reminds me of Maeve Binchy who also creates characters  with so much integrity and honesty that you know them or would love to meet them for sure.


It is a real feel good book - great for taking on a flight or to the beach.   Makes you want to read the next in the trilogy - Brava Valentine.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks -

I have been a student of business and did not quite take to science.  This book however made me wonder.  It raised a lot of questions about cells, pharmaceutical research,  segregation in the 50s and the moral dilemma that is portrayed.

It is a story about how Henrietta's cells multiplied and basically became immortal.  It is said that if  all the HeLa cells that grew were put on a scale, it would weigh 50 million metric tonnes!  Her cells have been instrumental in treating diseases such as cancer, herpes, haemophilia and Parkinson’s. They have been used to study everything from human longevity to mosquito mating. They were shot into space. They were used in atomic bomb testing.

I have to admit the subject fascinated me more than the author's presentation of it - though I commend her for all her efforts in bringing it to the attention of the masses.  I would have never learnt Henrietta's story, had it not been for the novel.  It is still a mystery - who do those cells belong to and who should benefit from the commercialization?

What do you think?

Cutting for Stone

I have not read a book like this in a long long time - it is simply brilliant!  I found it impossible to put the book down - just wanted to keep reading it to know what happens next.  Along the way, I learnt a lot about human relationships, family ties,  trust... political events in Ethiopia's history... medicine, life of doctors in general.  It is the only book so far that my book club buddies wanted to discuss over two book club sessions - one simply wasn't enough.  The characters that Abraham Verghese creates, sort of linger in your mind long after the you have finished reading the book.   I feel I identified with it more because of the references to Indian culture throughout, but everyone I know just loved the book regardless.  I feel very  inadequate writing my review because my skills seem so limited when trying to praise the writer whose prose is so eloquent.

The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar

The book moved me to tears! To borrow some phrases from other reviews which sort of sum it all  "sensuous background of everyday life in Bombay.....evokes empathy and compassion....skilled storyteller..memorable characters".  A glimpse of Rohinton Mistry - the Parsi lifestyle and strength of characters and Greg Roberts (Shantaram) - the city of Bombay at its best and worst.  I find it amazing that inspite of the incredible relationships and well sketched complex characters, the book is an incredibly simple and quick read.  Full credit to the author - Thrity Umrigar - will have to get some of her other books....


I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lived in Bombay, has Parsi friends and loves books with strong empathetic characters.