History - A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle That Shaped the Middle East (Published in 2009)

The current state of the Middle East seems like a total mess. From the time of the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, it would seem that everything is going topsy-turvy. However, the region has been in a state of turmoil for decades (maybe even a century) - can one forget the turmoil between the Jews and the Arabs during the 1930's and 1940's, which increased with the end of the Second World War and the push towards getting a Jewish homeland. On the other side, the Ottoman Empire was ending, and leading to a push by the various communities for power through the area. Ibn Saud was battling to conquer the land of Arabia and setup Saudi Arabia. There were powers to be everywhere; and the ever present Shia-Sunni conflict would rear up its ugly head.
However, if you were to look at the current political structure of the Middle East, there is the emphasis on one particular event which seems to be the grand-daddy of all the chaos that is currently there, the precursor to the various nations that have been setup (so, for example, if you look at Syria, it is an amalgamation of many different tribes and communities and the scope for chaos, ruthlessly put down all these years, has risen so fast that the future of the country seems totally at risk with other similar examples) - this was an arrangement between the colonial powers of a century ago, France and Great Britain. This was the Sykes - Picot agreement (named after the good gentlemen who negotiated the agreement from both sides), and the agreement delineated the spheres of control for both countries once the Ottoman Empire was defeated at the end of the First World War (link to Wiki site for the agreement).



This book provides a good reference for the events of that time. There was a huge amount of politics in that area ongoing, and during the course of the First World War, Britain and France had decided that in the event of winning the war, the Ottoman Empire would be distributed among the victorious parties in terms of mandates and regions of influence. At the same time, there was a Turkish upheaval that was against the Ottoman Empire and who wanted their own set of power and authority at the end of the war, there was the demand for a homeland for the Zionists, there were other influential figures whose support was needed by Britain and France, and yet they also felt like a kind of parental authority for the region, that they had the best interests for everybody in the region. If you go through the book and see the flow of history, you would start to see some of the background for the problems that have occurred now, especially the way that the nation states have been setup in that region. Even the 2 colonial powers who had made the agreement, were constantly jealous of the authority of the other, and especially when territory was won in the war, there was a lot of reluctance to honor previous agreements. A great deal of the background between the animosity between the Jews and Arabs in Palestine, and even the fight between the Jewish underground militias and the British authority in Palestine (modern day Israel) could be traced to a slow boil that started in the first and second decade of the 20th century.

The Gropes (Published in 2009) - Written by Tom Sharpe - Not as good as some of his others

His second to last book before his death, The Gropes is not one of Tom Sharpe’s best works. Published in 2009, this book is a long way from Sharpe’s easy style of writing where he could effortlessly mash together characters to create insane outcomes. Remembered more for his dangerous mix of women, sexual tension, foreigners, class tension and the powers that be, Sharpe has lost his edge in his later writings, especially this book.
Set in Grope Hall, Northumberland, the ancestral property of a matriarchal family of women who seem to be descendants of a seasick Viking and Ursula, a nun who was said to be so ugly, that rapists and plunderers steered clear of her!! This matriarchal family comprised of women who went out to find themselves husbands. They did so by kidnapping the men and bringing them back to their estate, from where the men couldn’t escape on account of the Spanish fighting bulls guarding the farmlands.
In Grope Hall, the men are bullied and sulk about all day, while the women are strong willed and oversexed! The book follows the crazy life of Vera and Belinda. Vera, who is devoted to romantic novels, lives with her ordinary husband, Horace. But, when Horace stabs their son for being his doppelganger, Vera decides to send her son, Esmond to her brother, Albert. From here on the book begins to spiral out of control.




While Horace manages to escape from the clutches of his wife with the help of a fake passport and tramp steamer headed for Latvia, Esmond is kidnapped and dragged back to Grope Hal by none other than Albert’s wife, Belinda. Bullying aside, it isn’t fun being the Vaseline loving Vera or the Jacuzzi polishing Belinda, who is constantly plotting her husband’s downfall. The only way to establish any semblance of peace or sanity in Grope Hall is if someone attempts to restore the balance between the male and females living there.
Since all the men in Grope Hall believe that silence, fortitude and whisky are their only means of resistance, the mighty task of adjusting the scales is left on the shoulders of poor Esmond, who realizes that all he may need to rectify the situation is steady nerves and good old chauvinism. Like all Sharpe novels, The Gropes also dishes out dark sordid humor through farcical events abundantly.
Unlike the Wilt series and Porterhouse Blue, this book requires many more one-liners to keep the pages turning and the readers interested. While the characters may be unpleasant and the scenes filled with slapstick comedy, the humor in The Gropes feels forced, and the characters somehow feel hollow. Where Sharpe’s characters would seem calm and dignified on the surface only to later reveal a full blown tornado of inner turmoil, which came out because of the circumstances they were forced to face; the characters from this novel lie flat on the pages with no inner conflicts.
With some ridiculously hilarious books under his belt, Sharpe delivered a book which is good, but not absurd to the nth degree. The story builds up only to fizzle out in the end. But like most of his books, it is a short read and keeps the reader focused on the details till the finish. Even though it doesn’t reach a certain “Sharpe” standard the book is an extreme farce with whimsical characters. Not his best work, but none the less the book is definitely a comic, chaotic and wildly amusing read.

Even Money (Published in 2009) - Sudden appearance of a father - Authored by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Ned Talbot has a clear perspective of who is, rather who he is perceived to be - a pariah. The sort of creature that makes for the underbelly of the racetrack - a bookie. The closet snobbery and class divide is obvious, stock broking is white collar, whereas punters socializing with bookies is strictly a ‘NO’. Ned and his assistant Luca are able to make decent profits and sizeable losses as they ply their trade at Royal Ascot and other small racecourses. A second generation bookie, he has seen the trade descend into depravity - from being an art form, almost where transactions were written in books, to the paper emitting computer – bookies are now less known for honor, better known for their sly, wily ways.
His mundane numbed existence is jolted out of its seasoned normality, when a man claiming to be his father, meets him at the parking lot at the Ascot. Ned is shocked, he grew up with his grandfather, who told him his parents had died in a car crash - so who is this man, really, claiming to be his father? Where had been all these years? Why had he chosen to show up now - seven years and two days after the old man’s death? His mind is a mess - he has never met his father for thirty seven years, has believed that the only family he has is now dead, yet here is this man, claiming to be his parent!
And so Edward ‘Ned’ Talbot is reunited with Peter James Talbot, his father. Peter tells him that he had panicked when Ned’s mother died in the crash, and in typical teenage fashion, had bolted in the opposite direction - to Australia. As Peter is filling the blanks in Ned’s life, telling him he has two half sisters, they walk down an alley. The sound of footsteps rings alarm bells, he’d had a bad day at the races - why would anyone follow him to steal from him?




The duo are mugged, and even though Ned throws an envelope with money towards the men - it simply lies untouched on the grass, so does his father - who has been stabbed in the stomach. Peter dies in the emergency room. Orphaned twice over, Ned is numb with shock, which deepens when the investigating officer tells him that contrary to the information the man has shared with them regarding his ‘father’ - the credentials the dead man has speak otherwise; his credit card and driver’s license have on them the name Alan  Charles Grady.
The police are mistrustful of Ned, shadowing him as he visits Sophie, his wife in hospital, who is being treated for bipolar disorder;  his mind is plagued with questions, as he wonders how and why his ‘father’ could’ve landed them all in such a mess? When he goes to the hotel where his father had rented a room, Ned finds thirty thousand pounds in cash, a device that resembles a remote control, counterfeit horse papers, and a polythene bag containing something that resembles grains of rice, but on closer look is frosted glass. Despite all the depressing events in his life, Ned is rewarded with a happy ending - where he is reunited with his sisters, and both he and Sophie look forward to parenthood!
Dick and Felix Francis have researched well, the Senior Francis is gifted with years of experience as a steeplechase jockey and Felix has almost effortlessly managed to melt into the style of writing adopted by his father - this seamless narration is the strength of Even Money. Excellent read!

Intervention (Published in 2009) - Authored by Robin Cook, attempt to mix religion and science

The story revolves around two plots, which are connected although they may seem unrelated at first. Archaeologist cum biblical scholar Shawn Doughtry and his molecular biologist wife Sana are in Cairo. Shawn is head of the Department of Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. His interest in the Arts and all things antique leads him to acquire an ancient book. Shawn retrieves a letter from between the leather cover of the book; it talks of an ossuary containing the remains of the Virgin Mary, which may be buried under the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Shawn shares the news with Sana, justifiably excited at this grand find, knowing that it would cause ripples in the Catholic world! Shawn is typically on an adrenaline high; go getting and hurried, he likes to take charge of things and have his way, being career obsessed, he believes he’s hit the jackpot after the discovery of the ancient codex he bought at the souk. He plans on making the journey to Rome, to unearth the ossuary and see what remains in it after two thousand years!
Then there’s Robin Cook’s favorite medical practitioner Dr. Jack Stapleton, who is also a pathologist - likes to kill time engrossed in work along with wife Laurie Montgomery, with whom he has co-partnered in several over six books. He uses his work to seek a way to deal with his young son’s cancer. Whilst conducting an autopsy on a young college student, who lost her life thanks to some trending alternative therapy - the chiropractor, treating her tore the lining of her vertebral arteries whilst manipulating her cervical spine. Jack decides he must address the issue of patients stepping outside the realm of traditional medical science and seeking help from healers and dubious gurus. Will his zeal and fervor put an end to an era of quacks or will it die on seeing the light of day?




Jack and Shawn haven’t met for thirty years, but share a camaraderie that has lasted these past decades, it includes another former classmate James O’Rourke, now Cardinal O’Rourke, Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York. Shawn obviously cannot wait to share this piece of news with both the men, especially James. The Cardinal, when he is told of the ossuary, is concerned that he may jeopardize his future in the Church with this seemingly blasphemous discovery, and asks Jack to intervene.
However, determined to see the ossuary out of the Basilica, Shawn and Sana are able to retrieve it and mail it to New  York, as the personal property of the Cardinal. O’Rourke is racing against time to stop his friend Shawn from making his finds public, for the entire world believes that the Virgin Mary was taken up into Heaven, in Divine Ascension, like Christ. Written a few years after the famed Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which truly shook the Catholic world with its outrageous and blasphemous claims, Intervention doesn’t even come close. However, Cook has tried to marry science, religion and medicine as best as he could, not quite the racy nail biter compared to his other works, but an okay read.

Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia (published in 2009) - A fantasy book by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is a an American Fantasy writer currently based in Utah. He has a degree in creative writing from Brigham Young University and is currently one of the most exciting science fiction writers around. Nominated for the prestigious John. W. Campbell Award for science fiction twice, he also served on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine. His first novel was Elantris was well received and followed by the “Mistborn” series which propelled him to great heights. His has since then established himself with the Alcatraz series and many short stories. Harriet McDougall, the widow of Robert Jordan commissioned Brandon to complete his famed “Wheel of Time” series. At present Sanderson lives in Provo, Utah and is an instructor at the Brigham Young University.
Alcatraz after successfully putting down the Librarians returns to his real home of Nalhalla. After being in the Hushlands he returns to the Smedry's hometown where he discovers that he is a celebrity. Books are written in his name and people love to be with him. Considering the painful and isolated life in the Librarian infested United States, it is a very welcome change and Alcatraz fully welcomes it.
Meanwhile the librarians who are down but not out are weaving their own webs of treachery. Alcatraz finds his father whom he rescued from the pits of Alexandria is incoherent, silent and very distant. His efforts to engage a conversation is stiffly denied. Bastille on the other hand is stripped of her title and powers as she has broken the sword. Alcatraz discovers that he was kidnapped as a baby by the librarians with his mother active complicity as she was a librarian herself. In-spite of the problems Alcatraz revels in his newfound fame and grandpa Smedry has to zap him out of it.



So begins his adventures as librarians are negotiating with the king of Nalhalla. They ask for the kingdom of Mokia in return for the cessation of hostilities. His mother Shasta meanwhile try to infiltrate the royal archives to get a rare book which gives information about the origins of the Smedry talents. So Alcatraz on his teen shoulders has the responsibility of rescuing Bastille's reputation, foil the librarian plans, nullify the treaty of Mokia and open up his father. Does he do it by keeping his wit and brash teenage angst intact? Joining Alcatraz on his quest are the usual suspects grandpa and Bastille along with a Crystin Knight; Folsom Smedry, a cousin and literary critic; and Himalaya, a reformed librarian.
Another amazing adventure from Brandon Sanderson who just knows the pulse of the reader. However here Alcatraz comes to terms with his “greatness” and admit to himself that he is the cool jock of the free kingdoms. So a new self assured Alcatraz full of himself is presented. But his sarcastic wit and classic one liners keep his ego from inflating and the readers interest. This book has a little more action with dragons, trials, and maybe a budding romance. One little jarring thing is the knights of Crystallia, which actually does amount to much. The fights between the knights are not very much the center of the plot as the title suggest. And never read the book in isolation, always follow the series order and be prepared for the unexpected giggles and guffaws.
But still just as Alcatraz realized about himself, its time we accept the fact “that the book is just awesome”.

Warbreaker (published in 2009) - A fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is a an American Fantasy writer currently based in Utah. He has a degree in creative writing from Brigham Young University and is currently one of the most exciting science fiction writers around. Nominated for the prestigious John. W. Campbell Award for science fiction twice, he also served on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine. His first novel was Elantris which was well received followed by the “Mistborn” series which propelled him to great heights. His has since then established himself with the Alcatraz series and many short stories. Harriet McDougall, the widow of Robert Jordan to complete his famed “Wheel of Time” series. At present Sanderson lives in Provo, Utah and is an instructor at the Brigham Young University.
Bryan Sanderson unveils the plot just like a fantasy game where Gods vie for their place with mercenaries, heroes, princesses and other sword-bearers. It introduces the concept of magic called Biochromancy which involves “using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished." Everybody is born with one breath which can be bartered, sold to gain favors just as you accumulate life in your game. So as you accumulate more breaths your magical ability grows and after each threshold a “heightening” occurs conferring the holder miraculous powers. Some accumulate thousands of breaths thus becoming God like denizens themselves. These powers are life giving wonderworks and also make the accumulator ageless. This concept of accumulation of breaths is the cause of rift between the god's of Hallendren and Idris.



Sanderson weaves the tale of the two ideologies drawn from a single premise. Hallendren's Gods approve the accumulation and selling of breaths even by force. The God kings of Hallendrens even kill for the breaths and many poor people sell theirs as a means of survival. Hallendren is the place where Awakener's roam the streets in turn guarded by the Awakened corpses. The original King moves away from these mercenaries and establishes a peaceful kingdom of Idris across the mountains where magic is for everyone even though its in moderation. This socialistic situation makes Idris relatively poorer and much less colorful as the magic is spread over compared to the colorful Hallendren where a powerful individual can heighten the magical capability to new levels.
Since Idris controls the mountainous trade routes, Hallendren start sabre rattling which forces the king of Idris to revisit an old treaty to bring about peace. He plans to send his less favored younger daughter, the spoilt Siri to be the bride of Susebron, God King of Hallendren. Her sister Vivienna who was brought up for this very role feels the guilt, and follows Siri to rescue her from the clutches of evil. The God Kings are the “Returned”, the men who die a heroic death and are sent back as ageless magical beings. Siri is warned to be subservient and not to look in to the eyes of her husband.
In this conundrum lives Lightsong, another returned who makes light of his godly status. He makes jokes of his ability and is often curious about his heroic before-life and death. Siri and Vivienna come to the realization that the god kings of Hallendren are just pampered souls, but the real power lies with the priests. Vivienna discovers the plot to stir the rebellion in Idris and is constantly watched by “Vasher” whose sword has a deadly secret. As layers of treachery, threats and trouble are peeled off, each of the characters grow, Siri gains the political savvy, Lightsong his secret and Vivienna and Vasher their purpose in life with broadening of their horizons.
Sanderson unravels the plot in many layers and builds up the intrigue and suspense to dizzying new levels. Each character builds up the tempo of the story and the ending is just mind-boggling. You just turn the pages astounded at the level of his imagination. If you are a fantasy addict, the Warbreaker is a must read and if you are not it is a nice place to start.