Book - Another Tale of Two Cities
Author - Ezhuth Aani
Genre - Fiction
Publisher - Inspire India Publishers
Pages - 303
Price - 245
Blurb -
Fourteen thirty
one is the year remembered for the martyrdom of Joan of Arc. But another
landmark event was unfolding in a future French colony. Cambodia was a cultural
cauldron of Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. The largest
metropolis of the pre industrial era was also facing a climate change calamity.
The story unfolds in fifteenth century Cambodia and travels to China, Sri
Lanka, India and the Middle East, as Princes Adithya and Mahendra set out to
seek help for their beleaguered country. Will the splendid twin cities of
Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom survive? Who wins the heart of Mandagini, the
warrior princess?
Review -
Another Tale of Two Cities is a very nice, elaborative and
well groomed book. No one can guess from the simple blurb or the cover that the
book glorifies all the incidents and related places and happenings in such a
very shimmery way.
When I started reading the book, I found the starting few
pages a little tough to grasp because it had a lot of intricate details which
doesn’t go well with the reader who has sat down with a mind-set of reading a
fiction book. There were a lot of names, lot of data that the author passed,
which made things hard.
Lady charm was helpful for me. As soon as Mandagini entered
the story, things flipped almost immediately. There was a certain aura of her
that made me imagine and praise her heroic stunts when she dealt with Adithya;
it just swayed my heart towards her. When historical books shows such women in
their true forms, it becomes much likely to enjoy them; at least for me.
The story was slow as the Saint arrived in the story. He was
fine for me, nothing special I found in him or in his appearance. I thought
that something extra could have been mentioned about him that presented him to
be a little more attractive. I don’t like when characters just speak their
minds out, I like when the realizations of same are done in one way or the
other.
One fact that I loved about the book is that author gave
chance to every character. There were important scenes containing different
characters in limelight. It was not always the main protagonist. It gave me
some fresh air and I was able to explore more characters.
There was a little difference in the love affairs in the
book. They were not plain and boring. They were realistic. The passion was
unfolded in a very genuine manner and love was not decorated by extra
paragraphs. It was much needed in a book like this. Some readers might find it
not up to mark because I agree that things moved fast. But this is what happens
in real life, isn’t it. Love is meant to happen, no matter when, no matter
sooner or later.
The story then moved from different dimensions and at a lot
of places I inspected something great and majestic. No matter how many people
came later on in the tale, I only longed for Adithya and Mandagini.
Tale becomes a little over the top somewhere in the middle
for me. But that feeling goes as soon as I completed some more pages. The story
came out to be clean and crisp, with a lot of things said in one form or the
other, lot of emotions showcased and many gaps filled. Another Tale of Two
Cities surely impressed me.
Eye-Catchers -
- “Not only kings but even Emperors die. And their big schemes die along with them.”
Recommendation -
The book is not for people who want to just add one book as
“Read” in their goodreads profile. This book needs patience and concentration.
I recommend this book to all those who need to read a well detailed and
structured book.
About the Author -
Ezhuth Aani (Dr Ananthakumarasamy Ramanathan) is a specialist vascular
and general surgeon in Australasia. He has trained or worked in 6 countries
across four continents, meeting people from over a hundred nations. Drawing on
his rich experiences from exposure to various cultures the author has a
uniquely inclusive world view. He has patents for an antifog mask and a syringe
holder. He has also published a new method of calculating dates. He has had the
privilege of naming an operation after his birth place Yarl. Writing under the
pennames Aani or Ezhuth Aani (pen), Dr Ramanathan has written two novels and an
anthology of poems in Tamil.
He has published an English novel I am the Lord earlier. Another Tale of Two Cities is his second novel in English.
He has published an English novel I am the Lord earlier. Another Tale of Two Cities is his second novel in English.
Buy the Book -
- Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.in/Another-tale-cities-Ezhuth-Aani/dp/9385783866
No comments:
Post a Comment