Book Review: Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored by Rishi Kapoor, Meena Iyer

I picked up Rishi Kapoor's autobiography in a Kindle deal: I had absolutely no attention to read an autobiography. I find autobiographies to be self-serving, megalomaniacal items which serve more to satiate the ego of an already successful person or allows said person to get richer by peddling whatever stroke of fortune/ hard work propelled him or her to success.

That said, Kapoor's 'Khullam Khulla' started off promising. Rishi Kapoor's growing-up years were a fun read with anecdotes peppered in about the first family of Indian film. For the Kapoor family tidbits itself, the book deserves a one-time read. Thereafter, the book quickly degenerated into Kapoor's essays on the industry, heroines, the world, et al and I almost lost the will to read through it.

Also, for a man who prides himself in being frank and open (and therefore, even names his book so!), Rishi Kapoor seemed surprisingly guarded about his personal life. 

Strictly airport read.

Book Review: Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand by K. Vijay Kumar

K. Vijay Kumar is the officer who led the team that finally got Veerappan after decades of his eluding the law, seemingly at will. 'Chasing the Brigand' chronicles the rise of Veerappan, his decay (precipitated by a surprising action of poetic justice - him dyeing his moustache!) and his eventual downfall.

Written by a career IPS officer with no previous writing credentials, the book is surprisingly faultless. All I expected was an education on Veerappan, but I got a taut and thriller-like wonderfully enjoyable book in addition. I wish more ex-IPS/ IAS officers wrote books about their experiences - another relatively unknown book by an ex-IAS officer which I found really enjoyable was 'Making a Difference' (K. J. Alphons). 

Gripping thriller. One of those rare books that I could not put down!

Book Revew: Black Mass - Whitey Bulger, The FBI and a Devil's Deal by Dick Lehr

Whitey Bulger came to my attention after I saw 'Departed' in my college days. Wikipedia didn't do him justice at the time - hence, I was resigned to wait for a good movie/ book on his life.

'Black Mass' - the book helped me understand the rise of the mythical Bulger and John Connolly, more than 'Black Mass' the movie did. It seemed outrageous to me that an organization like the FBI would go beyond permitting to nurturing the rise of an organized crime boss. Though slow in parts, the sheer incredulity of the mythical FBI looking the other way as Bulger went about his merry crime ways was fascinating enough to keep me hooked.

The Bulger/ Connolly nexus was a major scandal in the US - and possibly I partly enjoyed the book more because I was aware of the enormity of the scandal. Readers who pick this book up off the shelf without context might not enjoy the book as much as I did.

Book Review: Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

I was directed to Ted Chiang's book from the movie "Arrival" which is based on one of the stories here. The movie itself was mildly disappointing with the central thread of thought seeming a little too thin to weave a 2 hour movie around.

However, the book itself is mind-alteringly brilliant. Just like the movie and Chiang's "The Story of your life" chapter which propose that learning a new language can change the way you think, this book will make you question reality, the future, God and everything else you take for granted. I enjoyed "Understand" most but every story deserves to be read and digested.

I got lost a little bit in the golem story (which is why I am rating this book 4/5) but overall, Chiang has made me question the adequacy of my own comparatively earthly ideas as an author myself. I can safely say Chiang's stories and ideas will haunt me for the rest of my life. And that is why everyone needs to read 'Stories of your lives and others' - to consume, understand and digest Chiang's universe that will make you question and acknowledge every little molecule you ever come across in your life.