The Graveyard Book (written by Neil Gaiman) - Published in 2008

"How Nobody Came To The Graveyard"- seems an unnecessary statement of the obvious (NOBODY, really, would like to come to the graveyard!) - until realization sneaks up on you and you learn that Nobody is a toddler - who crawled away from the House of Horrors when  his former abode had been  tragically turned thus by ‘the man Jack’ - a cold blooded assassin from a dark secret society , the Jack of All Trades.
The toddler scrambles away, through wisps of mist and creatures lurking in the dark, to a place all living beings dread- the graveyard. Unbeknownst to the hapless child, the ghost of his mother pleads with the residents of God’s Acre, to help the toddler. The couple  – a picture of ghoulish marital bliss for over two hundred and fifty years (!) – embrace the child as their own, especially since they had none when they were alive.
But like all human traits, the nasty ones we take to our graves, and the arrival of Nobody causes a tussle- should he stay (he isn’t a ghost and has human needs, after all), if he does,  does he get Freedom of the Graveyard? Although they seemed happy to have him, his ghoulish foster parents were exactly that- ghouls, and they seemed clueless as far as their new ward was concerned. And so, Silas (aptly named, for his name means ‘Of the Forest’, or here the graveyard, an equally desolate space), a mysterious creature, is deputed the task for providing for Nobody’s earthly needs.

While they still debated the violation of their macabre space by this little mass of life, the Angel of Death silences every doubt of theirs by appealing to the altruistic side of their otherwise believed to be ‘dead’ conscience. And so- Nobody stays, oblivious to the fate his family met or the strange turn of events that will now alter the course of his life forever!
As ‘Bod’ grows (everyone has a nickname!), he starts to wonder what lies beyond those rusty iron gates, and why is it that though Silas can wander about wherever he wills- Bod ,   must stay put, acquiescing to the fact that this is his domain? Whilst here, Silas and Mr. Pennyworth offer him an education; from the alphabets to reading out loud (Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat).
So it is one day, as he sits practicing his reading and writing, that he chances upon his first human- Scarlet Amber Perkins, whose parents are most intriguing and interesting- they let her play in the cemetery! And like Alice in the Rabbit Hole, they go inside the hill, to get to the barrow where the oldest member of the graveyard, even older than Caius the Roman, is believed to be buried- returning somewhat disappointed.
The fourth chapter, which was intended to be the first, was also published as a short story in 2008, winning the coveted Locus Award. In it, eight year old Bod defies his foster parents’ diktat to never go there, to the Potter’s Field (the graveyard by another name).Here the souls of ‘sad people’ (not bad) wandered under a pall. But along with them, there also wandered the ghosts of witches. So his second escapade gets him to meet E.H- a 500 year old ‘witch’ Liza Hempstock.
Amidst all the excitement of exploring dark places and meeting wonderful characters, it’s time now for our Bod, aged ten- to have his first dance. So he’s all spruced up, and dances with Liza, and even the Lady Grey who promises that one day he will get to ride her magnificent steed!
When Bod is eleven, Silas tells him of how he came to be at the Graveyard, and that now since he is alive, he must do whatever he can, and so much to Silas’s surprise- he chooses to go to school! But after a few days and narrow escapes, it is decided, for his own good, that he must stay in the graveyard! (most kids would love to have that option!)
As the years progress, Bod remains unaware of Jack- who still has a score to settle and isn’t resting till he sees him dead! In a fancy room, all the men called ‘Jack’ want the killer Jack to get cracking on the case, ‘You had time (TEN years).Now, you just have a deadline.’
Words that ring with foreboding – for outside all human realm, there are powers that govern the lives we lead; we unknowingly are drawn to our fate. Thus, when Scarlet returns with best intentions to solve the mystery of Bod’s family’s tragic end, and when she introduces him to Mr. Jay Frost (historian), his doom is almost certain, for the man is actually Jack!
As the tale draws to a close, Bod starts to lose the powers he has- he cannot see in the dark, nor fade in and out. Everyone including the Owens seem strangely distant and Silas urges him to go forth into the  a world, with a new passport, a wallet with some money in it, and the assurance that when Bod calls on him, he will come.
Finally, Nobody Owens is ready to be a ‘somebody’ in the world-as he wishes his and mother goodbye, and shares his dreams with her, she bids him adieu with a song she  sang for him , as a toddler:
‘Sleep until you waken
When you’re grown you’ll see the world
If I’m not mistaken….leave no path untaken.’
So, Bod leaves his home of so many years, to be amongst his own, before the day he is finally laid to rest: “But between now and then, there was Life; and Bod walked into it with his eyes and his heart wide open.”
Set in another world, almost, the story leaves you fuzzy and warm, longing for a cuppa and more news of young Bod’s escapades in the world of humans- and if school was anything to go by, then things are surely going to get tougher!
A must read for every child, but only after every mom and dad have read the Book! It’ll just make bed time story telling a whole new experience- maybe scary at first (don’t kids just love a good ghost story?), but also the kind that solicits a slight warm tug at your heart strings as your lil’ one cuddles closer, and wants more, feeling nice he’s got daddy and she’s got mommy by their side, poor Bod!
And if a kid’s word isn’t good enough, there’s a whole list of accolades and critical acclaim the Book has received, including a Walt Disney movie offer! The Carnegie Medal, the Hugo award, Newberry Medal - between the years 2009 and 2010.

Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (published in 2008) - 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 as Elantris was well received followed by the “Mistborn” series which propelled him to great heights. He 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.
The last book of the Mistborn series is equivalent to a amazing roller-coaster ride. The ups and the downs of the final battle where all the secrets are laid bare is the ultimate book. All through the 749 pages which seems to fly, not a single word is worthless and weighs its role in gold. Vin inadvertently releases a power imprisoned by Lord Ruler in the well of ascension called Ruin. Ruin is the power of destruction which was one of the foremost powers along with preservation in the universe. So with Ruin on the prowl the world is again a more dangerous place to live, mists swirl around this time making people severely ill, and ash continuously fall from the sky.
Vin tries to get through the mists swirling around to get to the bottom of the many secrets held by them. Vin's journey to unravel the metaphysical manifestations of the world takes her in direct confrontation with Ruin. She and Elend move through the normal politics of negotiations and realignment with neighboring counties often gatecrashing high profile parties.



But as Elend understands the nuances of politicking, Vin confronts the powers of the world. She understands the purpose of her chaotic childhood and becomes the essence of Preservation against Ruin.
Elend matures to a politically astute leader attracting followers and also finds time for being a proud husband. His allomantic powers also extends and slowly he becomes a natural Mistborn. But his understanding with Vin, and his trust in her powers along with love helps him to confront Ruin. Sazed, the Terris scholar, and chronicler of religions finds himself adrift after the death of his life. He is in search of the true god and a true religion. Both Elend and Sazed find their faith about the Hero of Ages is the only thing that keeps them going and ultimately this is the faith which helps them to the true word.
As the book moves along, old notions about Lord Ruler as a despicable despot are pushed away and we find reasons for his tyranny. Vin, Elend and Sazed confronts the demons of myth mongering, selfishness, superstitions and destruction of the the world. The lives and secrets of the Kandra, Koloss and the inquisitors are laid bare which helps Elend to find the ultimate metal of Attium. Ruin with his lust of destruction is checkmated by the power of love which lets Vin forget her pain and loss. She becomes the essence of preservation drubbing Ruin to help create a new world with flowers for the survivors.
This book is the ultimate fantasy saga with the most unconventional twist. Great language, greater plot and the greatest of all characterizations keeps this book a real page turner till the end. Alas these adventures are only for Allomancers and its sad indeed to be a simple mortal to watch the Mistborn's save the world.

Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (published in 2007) - 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, well received, followed by the “Mistborn” series which propelled him to great heights. He 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.
Well of Ascension is the second book among the Mistborn trilogy. The world has changed with the death and defeat of Lord Ruler and his evil empire and after the exhilaration of triumph, the realization of a rudderless entity is causing chaos. This confusion has many claimants for the spoils of the earlier ruler. The pure anarchy has even people cherish the earlier rule.
Vin, the protagonist and the pivotal spear against the Lord is now the girl friend of Elend the dreamy noble man. Elend is idealistic and plans to rule in a text book fashion, where constitutional rights govern all. He does not have real experience in realpolitik and is considered weak. He forms an assembly to govern the erstwhile capital of Luthadel, but these men who have no experience brings his ideals down. There are other set of Nobles, like his father Straff Venture who wants to keep their share of spoils. He amasses a large army to besiege Luthadel.



Vin on the other hand returns as the most powerful Mistborn of the region. With Keisher dead, she is emotionally very vulnerable and her only source of companionship is Keisher's Kandra, OreSeur. Kandras are magical companion's or servants whose contracts pass through inheritance. Vin also is very insecure with her relationship with the scholarly and blue blood Noble man, Elend who does not have any Allomancy powers. Will this unequal relationship survive?
Sazed pursues scholarly pursuits and stumbles upon the journal of the Lord Ruler whose ascension was the part of prophesies of Alendi. As he rushes to inform Vin he stumbles upon the most deadliest armies of all ready to savage Luthadel, the Koloss. Another noble man Lord Ashweather Cett also plans to invade Luthadel. As the petty squabbles reach the boiling point it is upon Elend's and Vin's courage to defeat the villains. Straff tries to depose Elend by manipulating the same laws that he wrote. Elend's half brother, a Mistborn himself seeks out to Vin, convinced that he can escape serving Straff if he could elope with her. The mutual fear of Elend and Vin threatens their relationship further. As the novel hurls in to one disaster after another the reader feels the pure chaos feeding Luthadel. How do people go on without a purpose? What happens after a revolution succeeds? These are the questions answered through this novel. Lofty ideals and good intentions are never enough to run a nation and satisfy the good and the bad alike.
Elend and Vin discover this bitter truth and the mist which swirls turns up another surprise for Elend. This helps Vin to reaffirm her relationship and see through the machinations of Zane. This second book takes from the real world where revolutions are planned and executed with no vision for the future. It exemplifies the great plans gone awry when greedy gather together for the spoils. This book as any middle book does hangs up over the ultimate fate and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one.

Mistborn: The Final Empire (published in 2008) - 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 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 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.
Mistborn: the final empire is the first book of the trilogy by Bryan Sanderson. Here he creates a new world ruled by the evil Lord Ruler and his feudal aristocrats and a new magic Allomancy. Allomancy is the capability to ingest metals and use them to acquire superhuman abilities. This is inherent in the Mistborn's who then can manipulate any metal to propel themselves or use it as a weapon. The chief protagonist in this book itself is the evil Lord Ruler. He was the long awaited boy liberator who turns to the shadow to become the worse oppressor of the land of Skaa.



The brutal and absolute regime has gripped them in fear for thousand years with volcanic ash covering the city devoid of blooming flowers. The populace is ground under the thumb of oppression with executions for minor infractions being a norm. Food has become a scarcity and the slaves of Skaa loose their health and will to live.
Into this conundrum enters Keisher the ultimate revolutionary and Robin-hood rolled in to one. He was brutalized by the ruling class and had witnessed the killing of his wife by Lord Ruler. Thrown into the mines, Keisher is famous for being the only one to escape from the hell holes of the Lord. He seeks redemption for his people and revenge for his wife. He commands a rag tag army of small time crooks who have the confidence to infiltrate the palace of Lord Ruler himself seeking the means to kill him.
Vin is a thief off the streets who roams with her brother. Keisher soon finds her using Allomancy against an important official of the Lord Ruler and is fascinated by her talent and confidence. He takes her under his wings to tutor her to control her power. He teaches her the nuances of misting and in a Pygmalion like role helps her to move in the society. Vin learns to behave among the royals and feudal roles and soon infiltrates their rank as a lady. She soon enters the palace and stumbles upon the journals of the boy who would become Lord ruler. Vin also questions Keisher's belief that all aristocrats are evil killers especially as she falls for the young nobleman Elend. Vin grows taking along Keisher with her, as she develops her abilities to bring about the change of guard.
Mistborn is one of the most amazing book written by Sanderson. The pacing, characters and the idea itself is the most captivating. Sanderson does not indulge in time tested magic tricks, instead develops new capabilities, like Allomancy. Who else can imagine such innovative magical capabilities? Sanderson takes the story of a messiah and turns in on its head, with the corruption of the savior itself. There is no dull moment in the book as the action explodes right from page one. This book is definitely a captivating read and the only problem is keeping one's hands off it.

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”.

The Other House (published in 1896) - By Henry James, the story of a murder

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The other house is a dark murder mystery by Henry james and a one of a the kind from his stable. James never wrote a dark tale again and none of his upright characters ever could commit murder. This tale of raw passion between three women and a man resulting in the death of a child is somewhat disturbing in its essence.
The tale starts with two houses separated by a river, one being East-Mead, presided by the matronly widow Mrs. Beever along with her slow witted son Paul, the other house is the Bounds where the newly wedded couple, Tony and Julia Bream live. Julia is often haunted by the abuse at the hands of her stepmother and dies while giving birth to her child. On her death bed she extracts a promise from Tony that he would never marry and give her daughter a stepmother. Tony in his grief promises and brings up Effie his daughter on his own.



Rose Armiage is Julia's childhood friend, who nurses a deep love for Tony. She views Effie an impediment for her goal as Tony is duty bound not to bring in a step mother. Tony loves Jean Martle a simple girl next door. She too returns his ardor and understand his predicament. Rose is engaged to Denis Vidal a energetic world traveler. She keeps Denis on tenterhooks, by not accepting or rejecting his proposals, trying to woo Tony for a commitment. Rose in love almost becomes deranged when she realizes the presence of Jean Martle in Tony's life and love turns into lunacy.
Rose drowns little Effie and tries to frame Jean for the act. But an alert doctor and couple of inquiries actually help others to zero in to the culprit. But here lies the agony and twist in the tale. Rose is sent away with Denis and everything is hushed up. Tony and Jean get to marry as the only obstacle in their way is removed by Rose.
This dark tale without a trace of justice for poor Effie is dreadful and scary. Rose's lunacy horrifies even the toughest of men and even Tony's sense of justice “Her doom will be to live” does not hold water. Sometimes the reader is forced to believe that Tony is relieved about the murder as no sense of attachment is shown towards the child. This book was also pillaged by the critics for tis lack of depth and lack of relationships. You can read it for once but there are better books written by Henry James.

What Maisie Knew (published in 1897) - Written by Henry James

Henry James was one of the greatest literary figures of the 19th century and his works are considered mini masterpieces of the time. He was born in New York City into a wealthy and intellectual family. Young James was tutored in the many learning centers of Europe and also studied at the Harvard Law School for some time. But he liked his literary pursuits to the study of law. James preferred living in Europe than in America and even renounced his American Citizenship for its refusal to enter in to World War I. He was a regular contributor to literary magazines and started his first novel “Watch and Ward” in his early twenties. His masterpieces like “Daisy Miller” and “Portrait of a Lady” quickly followed. His protagonist are complex individuals battling personal and provincial prejudices and many a time bring about the complexities of American and European lives. Henry James died at the age of 65 and his ashes are interred at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What Maisie Knew is an account of a child growing in a dysfunctional family. This novel was initially serialized in the the monthly called Chap book and later taken up by the New York Review. Henry James follows the travails of Maisie from childhood to adulthood totally abandoned by her biological parents.



Maisie is the daughter of Ida and Beale who are an estranged perpetually squabbling couple. After their divorce the judge decrees the custody of Maisie to be split and the poor child shuttles between the parents, six months a year. Both Ida and Beale use her for furthering their hurt and are hardly sensitive to her needs.
Both her parents marry, Ida to Claude, a bumbling simple man, and Beale, to Maisie's pretty governess. Maisie gets a new governess, the funny, klutzy but devoted Mrs. Wix. Ida and Beale settle down with their spouses and their extramarital affairs, Maisie is all the more neglected. Many a time her own parents abandon her in the most heartbreaking manner and the lonely Maisie becomes the responsibility of the bumbling Mr. Claude. As her parents alienate their new spouses, both Claude and Mrs. Beale start having an affair. Soon Maisie must make a choice to remain with her parents or with Claude. AS she is holidaying in France, Maisie realizes that Claude's marriage would also end up in a divorce as they do not have a firm standing on values. Maisie chooses her frumpy but devoted governess Mrs. Wix as her new guardian.
Henry James was never a father but he portrays the fear and tribulations of a dark childhood very earnestly. Through this book James lashes out against the growing erosion of values in family life and gives the ultimate sufferers in a broken marriage, the children, a voice. When this was published initially the critics were of mixed views. But this book is also relevant in our contemporary society where divorce and single parent homes are more common. This book gives the dos and dont's for child rearers and the need for bringing up a child in a balanced environment.