The Bankster - Book Review

Yes , I know I am probably the last one to put up the review and I should be banned and never be sent more books from Blogadda and they should probably spam me with junk emails and throw dirt at my car. I get it I have been bad and Santa is not sending me gifts this year. But give me a break, I was really caught up with work :( So apologies to Blogadda (Oh you wonderful people :P) and the very talented Ravi Subramanian (in case you are reading this)

Author: Ravi Subramaniam

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 358

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis (Back cover)

Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive? Is the banker at GB2 fast turning into a bankster? Or was he always one?

When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far-reaching ramifications - a secret that could not only destroy the bank, but also cast a shadow on the entire nation.

With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.

 About the Author

Ravi Subramanian is a household name in the league of financial books and fiction. With bestsellers like 'If God was a Banker" and "Devil in Pinstripes" , Ravi has managed to make a niche in the mind of many readers for himself. He was an alumnus of IIM Bangalore and has spent two decades working his way up the corporate ladder at various global banks in India. He is a Mumbaikar (Win) and lives with his wife Dharini and daughter Anusha. In 2008, he won the Golden Quill Readers Choice award for his debut novel  "If God was a Banker". You can follow him on twitter  @subramanianravi.

So this is my first book by Ravi Subramanian, somehow I never end up reading serious thrillers and plots with a lot of financial backdrops, cause I sort of read for a break more than anything else. An leaving a corporate office to go home and read about a corporate office somehow doesn't excite me. But I just signed up for this book on Blogadda and I thought why not ? And to put it mildly I was pleasantly surprised at as to how much I really liked the book.

I personally love intertwined plots and parallel stories that eventually converge at some point almost like a puzzle finally finding the missing piece, its exciting and also keeps my attention longer. Joseph Braganza the epic Hollywoodish Bad Man , Vikram the corporate boss at Greater Boston Bank in Mumbai and Krishna Menon in Devikulam, it takes you more than half the book to find the link between these three men and a murder mystery that connects them. The book is definitely a read. Remember the problems I had with "The Krishna Key" about poor writing, well no complaints about the writing in this one, and the plot is unique and thrilling as well. Except a little too descriptive and a slow in the beginning ( Which is also why it took me so long to read..Honest) But the pace picks up, as is the case with most books. I usually prefer books that don't beat around bushes too long. 

All in all a nice read but again, if you are looking to read a light happy, chirpy and romantic book you always have Twilight :) 

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

( Sidenote to the 2 people who are still reading my blog. I know I am a true disappointment and this blog is turning into a Book Reviewing Forum and I'm not coming up with any new writing, but HEY I like FREE BOOKS :P . I promise to be back like before...NO really I will be back. 

Also my dear Blog friends I am working on something really awesome currently which you all can also be a part of and I'd love you all to join. But more on that later. For which you will have to watch this space. Okay Ciao for now)

' 31' - Book Review

Title : "31"

Author : Upendra Namburi

Genre : Corporate Thriller

Price : Not specified ( its an unrealeased copy :D )

Publisher: Westland

Synopsis : What can happen in a month ? Plenty , as Ravi Shastry, a middle level executive in 'Imperial Bank' is to find out . Here he is, riding high in the last quarter of a tough year for a large multinational, with every prospect of a coveted promotion. Ravi runs a tight ship and delivers results, his team looks up to him, his wife loves him and his hard-driving boss respects his choices and even hints that he is headed for bigger and better things.

But within a week, the bank's Brazil operations are shut down, the US subsidiary is in a mess and soon the global restructuring wave pounds the Indian ops - Ravi and his team. His wife is also under professional and personal pressure; a former girlfriend and now rival, a manipulative HR manager and others are turning hostile; even internal Audit is after him. 

About the Author: Upendra Namburi is an engineer and MBA by qualification.  In an attempt to break the monotony of classrooms and lectures during his college years, he developed a strong inclination towards writing. Over time the love affair blossomed. He now maintains several blogs and has contributed articles to Indian and International publications.

Upendra has written on a wide array of subjects like payments, marketing, loyalty and social media. He has also been invited by several management schools across India to speak and interact with students.

The book is a little slow in the beginning but it soon catches pace. The description of the MNC culture and cut throat competition along is spot on. The pressure of seniors , and wrath of juniors , the struggle to maintain a work life balance and the desire to race ahead by hook or crook. 

    I personally liked the style of writing the most . The book is split into 31 days instead of chapters and you see how the protagonists life changes over a month so drastically. How your friends can turn to foes , how all you wished for can be the cause of your downfall. People working in a corporate will relate to it completely. The role of the Blackberry and Twitter in your life , the usual office grapevine and the sorts. This book is the same old wine in a new bottle. A corporate story you have read many times but with a little twist.And especially its a welcome break from the IIT & IIM crap. It gives us a few of the less explored Sales and Marketing Departments , where literally everyday is a chase.

   The book revolves around the central  character , Ravi and how  he handles all his problems.He is framed in a scam , his family turns against him , someone he least expected is after him . The english is impeccable, grammar nazi is happy. But there are a few typos but that is only cause its a unedited copy (*proud grin*) 

  On an overall basis you can definitely pick it up . Its not exactly a sip a coffee and sit by the window kind of read, but its a I need something to read before I sleep at night kind of reads . 

Overall Rating : 2.75/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

(PS:  Sincere apology to the author and Blogadda for taking so much time to review this . Really there is no good excuse, just work and all that jazz O:))

The Krishna Key - Book Review

Title : "The Krishna Key"

Author : Ashwin Sanghi

Genre : Mythology, Indian Fiction, Thriller.

Price : Rs.250

Publisher: Westland Book Publications

Synopsis from the back of the book :
"Five thousand years ago, there came to earth a magical being called Krishna, who brought about innumerable miracles for the good of mankind. Humanity despaired of its fate if the Blue God were to die but reassured that he would return in a fresh avatar when needed in the eventual Dark Age - the Kaliyug. In modern times, a poor little rich boy grows up believing that he is that final avatar. Only, he is a serial killer."

     NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS REVIEW. Way before I got my hands on this book , there were various reviews floating in the blogosphere saying how amazing or not amazing the book is , and that was my strike one. You should never read reviews before you read  a book cause it just leads to an unwanted biased opinion that you don't want to have. Ashwin Sanghi's claim to fame was with his second book 'Chanakya's Chants' and so when this book was up on Blogadda I was very excited. His first book being the 'Rozabal Line' . So the expectations were high.

     The book is 400 pages of excitement , the plot is very strong and crisp. The research is immense and commendable and the characters are dark but what disappoints is the writing , its a little weak if I may say. The words are highly technical and add to the mystic effect, but the narration in general is a little poor.

The complicated religious jargon and verses from the various religious scriptures make it seem like a lesson in religion more than a mythological thriller. The book goes on and on about the search for Krishna's greatest weapon till the last page of the book and the destination and object of the quest changes with every page , confusing and also annoying the reader a little bit .Is it a nuclear bomb , is it an isotope , oh wait its a philosopher's stone.Like what ? That's the best you could come up with it ? Voldemort would be a better weapon. I have always been a fan of Indian mythology even if I only used it as interesting bedtime stories of fascinating fiction,so I quite liked the parts where the story goes back in time and Krishna narrates the story of his life. It brought back the beautiful pictures and books I had read as a child. But besides that the book drags a little. The characters are bearable , just bearable and you don't have an instant liking to any of them. This is probably not my regular genre , you know thrillers so maybe that's why I didn't like the book as much so I repeat 'Don't judge a book by its review' 
      Ravi Mohan Saini is a professor of history of mythology at Stephen's college is framed for the murder of Anil Varshey , his bestfriend and the owner of 4 ancient seals from the period of Krishna . The seals are a key to a puzzle which Ravi Saini has to solve so as to prove his innocence. Taarak Vakil who believes he is the 10th incarnation of Vishnu is on a killing spree under the vigil guidance of 'Mataji' and the prime suspect for all the murders is Ravi Mohan Saini. Many times when the author links two unbelievable things you will see yourself go "Kya kuch bhi" but it is to be read as a fictional account on most things and that is exactly what it is.
    Indian mythology and its ambiguity is beautifully captured along with references and cross references of different cultures/religions/regions , implying how we are all the same . Its a subtle message which will be missed if you aren't looking for it . The plot is indeed  brilliant if only it had been handled a little better.I have read Chanakya's Chant's and loved it ,so my expectations were high. This is a kind of book you will read and forget., worth a read nonetheless. If only for the Krishna story. The ending is a little abrupt/unexpected and not keeping up with the rest of the book. So its slightly disappointing .
   All in all , all I can say is , I didn't loathe the book nor did I love it , its somewhere in the list of books I have read and also, I have ordered my copy of Ashwin Sanghi's "Rozabal Line" online cause seriously if the book is better that this one , its worth a read plus the plot is very interesting

Overall rating : 3.25/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program by Blog Adda. 

Participate now to get free books!