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The Girl Who Played with fire

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The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second novel in the best-selling Millennium series by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. It was published posthumously in Swedish in 2006 and in English in January 2009.

The Plot:

Lisbeth Salander goes off to a trip for a year and is devoid of contact with anyone she knows. During the trip she fall in love with maths especially fermat’s theorem and starts to study about it more. Given her unique nature it fits. Her last leg of the trip ended in grenada, which is hit by a tornado. She saves life a young boy she befriends and a woman who is becomes a victim of murder. On her return to stockholm she buy a new flat, changes her lifestyle with her stolen money. But few days into her return to stockholm she become the suspect for a triple murder.

Dag Svensson a journalist and his girlfriend approaches Millennium to publish a article as well as book on sex trafficking. Despite a law in place, the law enforcing them and those supporting them where also involved in them. Blomkvist was bring to light so many punks and other who career might get destroyed once exposed.Blomkvist was working with them and had paid the couple a visit to get some material when he found about the murder. This eventually led to investigation and a lot of media attention to the case. A murder weapon was found and fingerprints was matched to Lisbeth Salander who happened to visit the couple,but never a murderer. Also in due of investigation, her guardian was also found dead. The police was working with assumption that Salander was a murderer whereas blomkvist and Armanksy were working with the fact that she wasn’t. As the investigation proceeded the latter proved to right and she was not a suspect anymore. Her father Zala has been the mastermind behind the entire operation. The story revolves around solving the mystery and finding a link behind Zala , Bjurman and Salander. Why is always Salander a target for someone else fault?

Opinion and Rating:

An Amazing crime thriller and a must read. This a book which is a combination of both plot based and character story. As I read the sequel of the book, the more i fall in love with the character lisbeth salander and plot. The story intriguing that I am looking forward to read the continuation in the third part as well. I personally feel that it is difficult to such kind of crime thriller which rise our curiosity and hangover after reading.Amazing and unexpected twist and turns out of nowhere,but also makes sense to the story. More of this kind of books need to come. There many thriller where I am just able to understand the plot before finishing

Hence I would rate the book 4.5/5

Seductive affair

Seductive affair is written by Rishabh Puri who is also a entrepreneur by profession.

Story :

Prisha is a student of journalism who is just out of relationship with Akshay and main the reason for the split was the personal difference. At the same time she ends up getting her job in Chronicle where she could pursue her passion for writing as well. Few days into her job she is given an assignment with Rajesh a popular Journalist known for following tough stories which bring out to world revelation of truth have been sent to attend a conference. She was sent to keep an Rajesh. But there is another reason unknown to everyone, why rajesh is keen on attending the conference. He is here to attend and uncover a story which was tip-off from a reliable source. Both get involved not only get involved to uncover truth,but both develop feeling for each other. Thus become a seductive affair.

Opinion and Rating

The story is very predicatable and nothing new about the story line. So I would rate the 3 on 5

The Girl with the Dragon Tatto

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a psychological thriller novel by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson (1954–2004), which was published posthumously in 2005 to become an international bestseller.It is the first book of the Millennium Series.

Story:

Mikeal Blomkvist, who is a journalist, publisher and part owner for Millenium loses his fight against billionaire industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström. As a result he has to serve jail for 3 month period and also pay the fine. Just as he is analysing the consequences of this entire event on him as well his company , he gets call from Henrik Vanger, the retired CEO of the Vanger industries. He is called to resolve the mysterious missing case of his niece Harriet Vanger and also to write the biography of the vanger industries and their clan.

On the other hand another strong character Lisbeth Salander who has had troubled childhood works as freelancer as PI( Personal Investigator) and is also a computer Hacker. She did a complete research on background of Blomkvist before Vanger hired him.

Harriet Vanger went missing on the day when vanger family usually meet and just also on the same day when there was serious case of accident between vehicles which had created a commotion in the city. The case has not been resolved for 30 Plus year. Henrik her uncle wants to try one last time trying to resolve the case assuming she was dead. The only clue Harriet left of is the date diary with mysterious clues and the pictures taken during the time.

When Mikeal Blomkvist started working it took 6 months to get some material clue. He got 3 prime clue to process with the investigation. But to solve the puzzle ahead he needed help. He somehow came to about Lisbeth Salander that she did a very good job in getting his detailed background details and secrets that his friends only knew about. He was amazed and astonished by her report on him and hacking talents as well. With the help of such efficient research analyst, the investigation took speed and such unexpected twist and turns. Despite the treats and near death experiences from the suspect they were persistent to bring out to Henrik.

Resolving one half of the case paved way final leg that is Harriet. All the clues now made more clear that she was very much alive and was in australia running over his husband business. He went to australia confronted with harriet and brought to visit her favourite uncle Henrik Vanger.

The story doesn’t end here. He still had the impending issue of bringing out the truth about Hans-Erik Wennerström to public. Even here Salander proved to useful resource as she had provided with humongous data she had collected about the Wennerström and also with the hacking information on a day to day basis and tipping Blomkvist from time to time till a 40 page article was published in Millenium. This became a sensation and ultimate fall down of the industrialist and for which the sweden stock market as well.

Opinion and rating

Blomkvist and Salander are two characters who are the backbone of the story and together they are great partners in crime. Their character gets so ingrained that we can’t get over them even after the end of the book. The novel by itself is a complex thriller which unexpected turns and combination two opposite people, who are different or poles apart in their character, way of working make a perfect combo. Salander is women though emotionally closed, but she was extremely independent, risk taker, does not bow down for anyone in the society especially men. Her guarded nature and her presence just arouses a certain kind of curiosity for the person on the opposite end . Now, she is a type of women that I see lacking in many today. Blomkvist on the other hand is person opposite in these regards with salander, but at the same he goes about things with certain flow. He doesn’t pester much in other person private circle if they are not open enough and have never crossed the limit. He has been like this especially with Salander which both left her both surprised and curious. Both the character unique in their own make me as a reader fall in love with them

I would rate the story 5.5

Eat Pray Love- Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth M. Gilbert (born July 18, 1969) is an American author, essayist, short story writer, biographer, novelist, and memoirist.Eat pray love is her memoir and it her search for everything through Italy, India and finally Indonesia.

She was journalist and a writer by profession, very independent, a wife living a recently bought by her and husband with plans of having children and growing them here. After few years , their marriage was falling apart and eventually divorce. Post divorce she fell in love with david which at the end had break up despite the efforts to stay afloat. Lizy (Elizabeth ) falls in depression. The story is how she from sets herself into a path of self realization and recovers herself.

The book is divided into 3 parts Rome- Pursuit of pleasure, India-Pursuit of Devotion and finally Indonesia- Pursuit of Balance. A women who gave up herself entirely into a relationship, gave her 100% was just expecting love in return, when that failed it led to disastrous end. She tried to conform to herself to norms of women in the society which she also terribly failed at , as she was extremely independent women who didn’t believe in conforming to set of rules.She stood out and was oddity. Virginia Woolf once said”Across the broad continent of a woman’s life falls the shadow of the sword” This route strikes a perfect chord with me. One side of the sword the convention and normal norm that a women follow and get along perfectly with society.No judges us .But at the same time, On the other side of the sword represent the opposite of convention and we do not follow the regular course at all. This might be dangerous, but interested totally worth taking the risk though.

I feel the story is all about a person who has gone through all the struggles has paused for while to analyze herself, find out what she has missed out and ventures to just be with inner self for a year and bring about her lost balance and happiness. She also found a solution that helps her not only to come to depression and self help medication, but also gave a purpose of life, balance, happiness and positive approach to life. SHe chose travelling and yoga that was her passion. How many of us in our lifetime have at least taken a effort to overcome and bring about a balance in life. I think it is important to take this initiative and improve our lives, else what is point of just running with busy live , just to lose our true self.

Catching the Wolf of Wall Street

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Book: Catching the Wolf of Wall Street

Author: Jordan Belfort

Rating of the book: 4.5/5

Review:

Jordan Ross Belfort is an American author, motivational speaker, and former stock broker. In 1999, he pleaded guilty to fraud and related crimes in connection with stock-market manipulation and running a boiler room as part of a penny-stock scam. Belfort spent 22 months in prison as part of an agreement under which he gave testimony against numerous partners and subordinates in his fraud scheme. He published the memoir The wolf of Wall Street, which was adapted into a film and released in 2013.

Catching the Wolf of Wall Street is the sequel to the book The Wolf of Wall Street(review of the book is already posted in the blog) The first book talks about the rise and fall of jordan belfort. This book in continuance to the first book talks about his life after his fall and his arrest. I would rate the book 4.5/5

The book starts with how he was convinced to enter into cooperation with the government and prevented from entering into trial. Entering into trial would have had meant jordan belfort would have to spend 30 years in jail. The process through the cooperation till the final judgement day. A memoir written by the person himself, was hell of a ride. As we read the book, it is written more like a fiction and doesn’t give us a feel that the book is a real life story of the Wolf of the wall street. The brutal honesty with which the author has written is amazing and reading the sequel has made me fall in love both the books. It is not just a book about of rise and fall of a person, but also send the reader a wonderful message. A man with immense talent in sales which naturally run in his blood is not used in right direction and is overpowered by greed, money and other perks that come along with it.For a person who would love the world of finance and wall street the book is must and an important read. The book also gives the bad and dark side of the wall street.

Sapiens-A brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian and a tenured professor.He is the author of the international bestsellers Sapiens:A Brief History of Humankind(2014) and Homo Deus:A Brief History of Tomorrow(2015). His writings examine concepts of free will, consciousness and definitions of intelligence.

The book starts from the initial stages of revolution i.e cognitive revolution and takes us through agricultural revolution,unification of mankind and finally scientific revolution.The book briefly explains about how Homo sapiens has evolved from being a species of no significance to one of great significance(a god) and become a dominant creature in the world. They had become so dominant that they have become selfish and at the cost of lot of things. We have the cause of not only extinct of other human species such neanderthals, as well as other species of flora and fauna. We have create created the world with our vivid imagination, we created politics, caste,creed, religions and the society that we live in. He talks about that this were created out our imagination and hence fiction. He also talks about the rise agriculture ,trade and money and how their impact in our life. They discovery of money not only helps us out to run trade easy, but also helps us build trust among people. Money has become our lifeline and we have grown to anything around the currency we value it more than anything. At the end he concludes with talking of scientific revolution. Apart from Money, science has become part and parcel of life. They have brought in cure for various diseases , increases our life expectancy and thereby increasing the comfort level of life. The basis for the development of science and technology is that we accept that “We do not know the answer for a particular issue” or “there is a better solution”. We are always on look out for answers and not satisfied with what we have around us. He also says that another factor contributed to the scientific revolution-that being innovation brought in by the european elite despite being a small nation with dream of ruling the world. the author easing writes about the existing correlation between science,politics,economy and its impact on growth of nation.

With development of trade, money and scientific development, brought into existence different ideologies such as consumerism,nationalism, communalism, globalisation , liberalisation and thereby creating a complex ecosystem. They have brought the world more closer than ever like never before and it has had its own complication.

Thus concluding the review with a quote from the book:“Ever since the Cognitive Revolution, Sapiens have thus been living in a dual reality. On the one hand, the objective reality of rivers, trees and lions; and on the other hand, the imagined reality of gods, nations and corporations. As time went by, the imagined reality became ever more powerful, so that today the very survival of rivers, trees and lions depends on the grace of imagined entities such as the United States and Google.”

I would rate the 4.5/5 and the book is a good addition to my collection of books and a must read.

The Wolf of Wall Street-Review

This book was in TBR for long time and finally got a chance to read . An amazing read and totally worth it. After a long time i have read a book which made feel totally worth the time and money spent on the book. The book was so exciting and got me curious to know what happened next. Such incredible and compelling story of greed and money. The one thing that amazed me about this book was the how the book was raw and written with brutal honesty and frankness. I am looking forward to read book like more often and I am still in hangover even hours after finished reading the book. Such is the impact after reading the book

The book “The wolf of wall street” was written by the man himself Jordan Belfort. He was known as the wolf of wall street. The book is a memoir of how he minted money in millions actually in excess by the day and how he would spend on drugs, strippers and hard partying. He was initially married to Denise who he divorced few years later. Subsequently married Nadine with whom he has 2 children. He never was bothered about anyone and in fact he was at the top of his game at the early age. He owned stockbroker firm and rightly motivated his firm employees to do the best sales in wall street. He was master in art of sales and persuasion . He rain the firm for over a period of 5 years. Post that he was running the the firm for few more years behind the scenes, due to an agreement with the SEC But the greed over money and obsession with drug took over everything leading to his downfall. Due to his obsessive drug addict, he also got involved in domestic violence against his wife which ruined his personal life even further. He was forced to get into a rehab and become sober by his wife. But eventually the FBI agent Agent Coleman cracked the case against Belfort and filed him for money laundering and many close associates involved with him were also arrested and convicted

17th Suspect-James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

James Brendan Patterson is an American author and philanthropist. Among his works are the Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, NYPD Red, Witch and Wizard, and Private series, as well as many stand-alone thrillers, non-fiction and romance novels.

Maxine Paetro is an American author who has been published since 1979. Paetro has collaborated with best-selling author James Patterson on the Women’s Murder Club novel series and standalone novels.

17th Suspect is written by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and also of one of the Murder Club Thriller. The story revolves around those women who strongly follow their instinct no matter what people or how much they put them out. A unpredictable killer is roaming around the city killing homeless people in a very extremely methodical way. This was brought to notice by reluctant women to Lindsay and the murder was happening out of her jurisdiction ,but her instinct wanted to desperately solve the case. But they were out of her control until the murder the women who brought her to notice about the murder was eventually murdered.

On the other hand Yuki a lawyer by profession took up a case which could change the history in the sexual harassment where ideally case of women rape are brought to notice and vice versa was never brought out. This one such case where a Marc was raped and by a women and when this was brought to notice and could change the history. She took in to her hands to fight for it and create an history.

The novel revolves around how these women take it in their hands and how they resolve it.There is phrase which caught my eyes “You win a few, you lose a few. Some are rained out. But you got to dress for all of them”. This line has a deep meaning and it rings well with my thought process well. There are going to be and always be ups and down , success and failures,but it is important to positive, follow our instinct with strong headedness and never fall prey or be victims to when people around us put us down. The women in these book just represented those who are positive, who take a stand for what they think is right, never give up and achieve what they started out. But with respect to storyline, it could have been more thrilling and it was predictable. Therefore i would rate the book 3.5/4

Review-Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is one of the classic novels written by Jane Austen and published in the year 1813. The book is one of the most loved and fascinated novels of time and will continue to be. This is the second book of Jane austen that I am reading. I thoroughly enjoy the style of writing of the author as well the story. It is one of the renowned books in English Literature and one of the highest sold books.Before I started with Pride and prejudice, I finished reading and reviewing of the book Sense and Sensibility. They strongly talk about the dependence of women on marriage and not just that. With men, mostly how they are valued based their wealth as well status in the society. This reflects the reflection of how society looks upon Women. But also the fact that women is said to be accomplished when they are well versed with singing, Dancing, Painting and as well take of their home or the family,i.e the women should be all rounder to be accomplished.

The story begins with Mr Bennet and his five beautiful daughters,meaning the his wealth can never passed to any of their daughter. Typical isn’t despite being wealthy,due to stereotypical society women can never inherit the property, the men who get or passed on with the wealth. The plot revolves around complex relationship between Mr.Bingley and Jane, Elizabeth and Dr Darcy , how people of complicated and opposite character fall in love with situation. Sometimes unexpected things happen unexpected times. Mr Darcy is person known for his pride, known for interacting with people who belongs to close circle and attitude problem who he not known to him. Darcy interference in Jane’s and Bingley relationship which was main cause for bitter relationship and separation for a meanwhile. Little drama from Lydia who is the youngest of the siblings from Mr.Bennet family who eloped from the family with Wickham and was finally brought back and they were finally married. After the lot of drama and complex relationship,there was a happy and amicable ending. The story helps us to understand how pride and being prejudiced against people without knowing their true nature can affect relationship and move people become averse towards them.

Sense And Sensibility- Review

Jane Austen^{was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism.}^{Her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars. Her work speaks for her aloud and still does in this century as well. Such a impact her work and her legacy is carried forward with her books generation after generation. Some of her famous work Sense and Sensibility}(1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park(1814) and Emma(1816).

So true, her writing strongly reflects the dependence of women on marriage and it was a reflection of their true standing in the society. How sad that it has been a struggle for women from 18th century till how a woman struggles to fight through the society to have a independent life of her own and still it is a struggle for her. A women is often valued based her marriage, her ability to have kids and how many of them

The background of the story is set in London, Sussex and South West England. The story revolves three Dashwood sisters and their mother who lose their husband, move from Norland where they had long established their stay and move to Barton cottage, which belongs to their distant relative. They also have half brother from first marriage of Mr Dashwood.

Henry Dashwood and family were staying with their bachelor Uncle in Norland till eventually the uncle died. The Uncle has passed on the property to Henry who eventually passed off after a year the uncle died and thus property went off to his son from his first marriage who had a son of his own. As a result the The Dashwoods shift to Barton Cottage where the sisters experience through love, betrayal of first love and marriage. Marianne falls in love with Willoughby who she meets during one of her walks. Their first interaction turns to friendship,eventually to love. Eventually a day had come where he had to leave on urgent personal errand. On their trip to london with one of the neighbours Mrs Jennings she come to know that he is engaged to another girl . On the other side with Elinor had also faced the same kind of experience. She had spent good amount of time with Edward the brother of her sister-in-law and thought of him as her future husband,only to know latter that he was in love with one of the Steele sister Lucy. Both who had a happy life now were faced with sorrow of failure of love that they had never faced.

Meanwhile Dashwood sisters meet their brother in london who had come for with his family to london and was staying in mother-in-law place. He was trying to do something to them as brother, but failed. Edwards was going to engaged to someone else from a rich family, but lucy was not aware of this. But eventually he told the truth to his mother Mrs Ferrars that he is love with Lucy Steele and has been engaged to him for 4 years and would lie to marry her. Mrs Ferrars was fine with the relationship nand hence disowned her own son and the estate he was supposed to receive. But with the help of Elinor he was able to secure the house of Colonel Brandon to stay in after the wedding.

The Dashwood sisters then went to cleveland where Marianne fell sick. But with the help of doctor Harry , Mrs Jennings and Mrs Dashwood, she recovered and then the Dashwoods returned back to their home. After settling here, the news of Lucy marriage with Edwards reaches them. But truth was that she had got marriage to Edward’s brother against the wishes of their mother. Meanwhile Edward proposed for marriage to Elinor and with the permission of his mother, they got married and so did Marianne with Colonel Brandon.

This a classic that has been in my to be read books for ages,but never got hold of the book. Now that I have, book was amazing and her writing style so captivating. Just being sense and acting to any situation with sensibility is more important than being reactive to it. It help resolves any problem. The books talks of great importance or rather deals with the dependence of women on marriage. I think it is sad that is the situation of women even now. Despite being not completely dependent on their other half, they are looked upon badly and questioned if they are not married. The mentality of the people have not changed to great extent when compared to other developments. As for men they judged based on their wealth rather anything else. I would rate the 4.5 on 5 and one best classic and goodreads of all time.