THE WINNER

Title:The Winner

Author: David Baldacci

Price: Rs 299

This  one is not a new release.The thing is I got to it very late,but at least Im happy I did.I picked this book at random,by just reading the dust jacket.I had not read about it anywhere and was disinclined to look up the reviews as the book was already in my hands.

'The Winner' as the title aptly suggests is a story about Lu Ann Tyler who though being beautiful and intelligent is caught up in the whirlpool of poverty and abuse at the hands of her boy friend.She has an infant daughter Lisa,who means the world to her.Lu Ann desperately wants to get out and get a new life for herself but sees no way to do so until she gets a call from a man called Jackson who offers her a guarantee to win the $100 million national lottery.He only has one condition ,it being that as soon as Lu Ann wins the lottery she has to leave the country and never return again.At first ,Lu Ann declines the offer ,but she finds herself embroiled in a murder and so decides that the lottery is her only ticket to survival.

Lu Ann lives by Jackson's orders for ten years,but at the end of it she is tired of always running and comes back to the United States thus disobeying Jackson.The story picks pace at this point because Lu Ann is somehow discovered by a relentless reporter and a handsome contractor with a mysterious past and ultimately by Jackson who is now seething with anger and intent on revenge.What happens next and does Lu Ann's past catch up with her is what the story is all about.

This story is a gripping thriller and leaves you compulsively turning the pages to see what happens next.I loved the experience of reading this one.Though I found it a bit too stretched towards the middle yet there was a feeling of wanting to know how it all comes together in the end.Each character is well-etched out and is there for a reason.

It is a story about desperation,money,murder and deception.There are a lot of gripping the edge of your seat moments.There comes a time when you begin doubting everybody in the story.Trust me when I say that this one is full of twists and turns and  a must read for thriller addicts.

I would rate it a 4 out of 5.

MANY LIVES MANY MASTERS

                                                                                                                                                            

I had heard about this book some time ago but hadn't got the chance to read it.I only finished  reading it last weekend after it was recommended once again by a friend

This is a true account written by a noted psychiatrist Dr Brian Weiss.He tells us about his patient Catherine,who came to him a few years ago,seeking help for her anxiety,phobias and panic attacks.Dr Weiss clarifies before proceeding further that in his profession he distrusts anything that cannot be proved by traditional scientific methods.He then goes on to say that after he had failed at all the conventional medical methods of treating Catherine over a period of  several months,he suggested they should try hypnosis.

What comes to light during their sessions takes him completely by surprise and jolts him out of his conventional ways of thought and treatment.This is where past life regression comes into the picture because when Catherine is hypnotised ,she goes back to  her past lives and many births .Initially skeptical,Dr Weiss finally finds himself believing Catherine when she reveals details about his life,which otherwise she had no ways of knowing.So he finds himself believing in reincarnation .Between each lives Catherine,or when transitioning from one life to the other Catherine enters an in-between state,when she is met by 'The Masters',who impart great nuggets of wisdom through her to the Doctor.This is the all important message which every individual should remember while leading their lives.

What did I feel about this book?Well...as compelling as it may be,I am not inclined to believe all of it.Call me skeptic!I still have to read a lot of books on theology to actually be able to give an unbiased review on this one.I did like reading it and at some parts wished what he said was true.I also liked the wisdom imparted by the masters.One of the masters in particular who says "Patience and timing…everything comes when it must come. A life cannot be rushed, cannot be worked on a schedule as so many people want it to be. We must simply accept what comes to us at a given point of time and not ask for more. But life is endless, so we never die; we were never really born. We just pass through phases. There is no end. Humans have many dimensions. But time is not as we see time but rather in lessons that are learnt."Dr Weiss has not proven anything  scientifically and does not use any logical or scientific methods to corroborate what he has been told by Catherine.I found that a bit hard to accept.

Overall though,it is a good read,something that will evoke different reactions in different people.
Title: Many Lives,Many Masters
Author: Dr Brian Weiss
Price:Rs 375

EAT PRAY LOVE

Title: Eat Pray Love

Author: Elizabeth Gilbert

Price:Rs 350

Whenever a book is made into a movie,the cardinal rule is always to read the book first and watch the movie later.However this time,I wavered and went ahead with the movie.I did not like it a single bit.I was so disillusioned by it that I did not pick this book up for the longest time.

I had decided against reading it when fate intervened ;) and I got a free copy of the book.So I decided to go ahead and read it.Well...it is a fairly good read.This story is Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir in which she speaks about her life and the circumstances which lead her to different places .She is going through a bad divorce and decides to heal herself by taking a year off and doing the things she always wanted to do.So she embarks on a new journey which takes her to Italy to learn the language and eat her favorite food.Then on to India where she is in search of spirituality and inner peace and finally to Bali where she discovers what love is all about.

It is a simple story and I could relate to some parts of it.It strikes a chord,because this could happen to anyone and it just shows us how Gilbert deals with it.It is not easy for everyone to take a year off and do exactly what one wants.She is lucky,she gets to do that.The hidden message however is to follow your heart.You do not need exotic chants to discover the meaning of spirituality,you just need to find that inner peace. Sometimes it is just better to let go, than to hold on to something you think makes you happy.There might be something way better in store.Some parts I could not come to terms with but I could understand that ,as I do not come from the same culture that she does.All said and done,it was way better than the movie.

I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a light read.

I would say,always read the book first before watching the movie.

I rate it a 3 out of 5.