Reading Writings

Prologue The trouble with me is that I forget all caution, when I need it the most. I knew I was not supposed to set foot inside his house. I had already done one blunder. The result of that was wrapping its web around me. Suffocating me. It was foolishness to be stepping into yet another mistake. But there I was. ‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll leave soon. He’s not here anyway,’ I excused myself, taking a deep breath of the pleasant lemon-scented air of the place. The room was simply furnished. There was an oval centre table topped with a black glass. Pencil scrapes fluttered on half of it and school books and notebooks covered the other half. An almost empty school bag lay huddled on the grey couch next to it. There were matching single-seaters on the other side of the table. A square dining table stood on one side of the room. It had only two chairs. Besides this sombre furniture, there were three Disney cushions on the grey couch, artificial sunflowers with smiley faces in ...

This is Karl's second book that I am reading, the first one being Muffy and Valor: A True Story. This story is completely different from the earlier one. The story revolves around the values of hardwork, industry, initiative and confidence. In fact, this story is a great start to encourage children to learn the art of earning. By the way, if you want to know more about what exactly the story has in store, then read the book. Karl never ceases to amaze me. The simplicity with which he puts across complex concepts is commendable. He surely has a way with words. His narration has no jerks, is lucid and evokes the right imageries throughout. There is a protagonist and the story basically revolves around him. No major secondary character, except one, have much role to play. However, to be honest, neither the references nor the appearances of random characters seemed out of place. To sum up, the story is a must read for every parent and teacher who wants to introduce the con...

Sometimes complex concepts like pain and empathy are best understood by children through stories. The plot revolves around a dog who suffers an injury so painful that she starts detesting other dogs. Yet, when she sees another dog suffering from similar pain, she empathises and exhibits compassion. For the what why and how you seriously need to read this story. What is striking about this book is the fact that the story has a deeper meaning. I felt that it was an allegory. Like George Orwell's Animal Farm, this story has different interpretations to offer to different generations and people. It has the power to teach a child about courage, compassion, friendship and overcoming fear. It also can be adapted to the adult world as in how after a setback, there is a phase of distrust followed by acceptance. Karl and Brandon have also subtly hinted that for becoming stronger the effort had to be made by the aggrieved first. Simply put, the power to change lies with each one of u...

I have never read a book earlier that deals with computer games nor am I a gamer myself. When I chose this book, I had my apprehensions because I was not sure whether I would be able to comprehend the gaming terminologies or not. To my surprise, I ended up reading this book not once but twice on different occassions. The plot revolves around a virtual world filled with warriors who are personified by people in real life. Yes, the kinds who immerse themselves into creating kingdoms, acquire wealth etc. However, the storyline is not restricted to the virtual world alone and that is where the beauty lies. What I simply adored about the story was the fact that Dominic subtly made a point about how people were slowly isolating themselves into a shell. I mean, if you look at today's world, the younger generation is happier to tap away on a smartphone or go gaming rather than socialising. Somehow, the virtual world provides a kind of consolation to people, as in, portraying a cha...

This is the second book in the Black Guard series and it didnot disappoint me one bit. Loved the way the storyline continued from where it left last. The plot continues to revolve around the least favourite child turned Dragon Black Guard Rivka. And just like this title, the story has evolved. Some critics say it is more of a melange of stories now. Personally, I consider them as episodes in the life of the protagonist. If I say I love Daem's writings, it will be an understatement. This story has violence but it is not graphic. You won't feel uncomfortable while reading. Such is the power of expression. It is very easy to go bersek in descriptions, however, the author has ensured that descriptions are apt and express what they ought to in every scene. There is a freshness in narration. It definitely is a continuation of book one but at the same time it has its own flavour. The imageries that this story creates goes with the flow of narration. There are no jerks, no bre...