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Return of a King

🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences A chronicle of the first Anglo-afghan war detailing the events that led to the war, key players involved, it’s effects and aftermath, why the people took the decisions they took It gives insight into the history and culture of Afghanistan a country known as the graveyard of the empires Insight into the happenings of the Indian Subcontinent during the 18th and 19th century 🎨 Impressions The book is complete in and off itself on the account of the First Anglo afghan war. It tried it’s best to present the viewpoints of all the parties involved and how both sides view the initial, intermediate and final events of the war. It has tried to be balanced as possible and where its couldn’t it has presented the reader with all the conflicting viewpoints in it’s raw essence. The book was well researched and the author has visited the place before writing the book. The author has tried his best to showcase how the inefficiency of some high ranking British offici...
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Ayodhya: The Dark Night - Krishna Jha

🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences It is a complete account of events that unfolded on the fateful night in Ayodhya, when the idol of Ram Lalla was planted inside the Babri Masjid which sparked the beginning of events that led to the demolition of the Masjid It is also a history of how communalism spread in India after it’s independence from British rule; What were the reasons for it? Who were the key instigators. It offers a historical perspective into the early independent years of India what were the major events that were unfolding and how were different key players responding to it 🎨 Impressions The book weaves a narrative around the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at Babri Masjid, the players and forces involved in this dangerous game, and the historical relevance of these events and people. The motives of the instigators who range from high level politicians and leaders, to swamis, to beurocrats have all been discussed here quite well. The book has tried to be unbiased bu...

They can live in the desert but nowhere else

The Book in 3 Sentences History of Armenian and the Armenian Genocide, what caused it and who were involved in it An account of everything that happened during the First World War in the Ottoman Empire An account of how Turkey eliminated its Christian minority by the way of massacre, exile and conversion over the years and specifically during the First World War Impressions Effect of the book on me was grim and dark. The naked cruelty which the Armenians and other minorities of the Ottoman Empire experienced made me squirm with discomfort and empathize with them for the grave injustice visited upon them by fate and design. It showed me how dangerous success is when all around you is unsuccessful.  But I still don’t understand how this catastrophe could have been avoided. Maybe if the Ottoman government toned down the rhetoric of Kafir and threat against Armenians and instead relied upon their loyal millet statements more and tried to genuinely understand their problems and...

The Graveyard book - Neil Gaiman

⛰ What It's About Its about a baby who after his parents gets murdered in a brutal and mysterious way ends up in a graveyard, where he lives for the rest of his life, till he becomes an adult, by the protection and guidance of invisible people and forces, dead, half-dead and alive. Its a coming of age story filled with heartwarming and beautiful moments all to be cherished and loved. It has a wonderful plot, good characters and the dialogues had wit and life. You feel for the protagonist and the main characters like his little girlfriend. They were all relatable and approachable. 🔍 How I Discovered It I discovered it while on audible, searching for the best books read by Neil Gaiman; he has a very soothing voice. But I didn’t listen to it on audible rather on youtube where there is a live reading of the book by the author himself with a live audience. It was a wonderful experience, almost like watching a sitcom, where people laughed, awed, held their breath along with you as ...

Black Dog of Fate - Peter Balakian

🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences A book about Armenians and Armenian genocide told from the perspective of a third generation Armenian immigrant in the USA Book is as much the story of the author himself as it is of Armenia It is not your primary reference book for the history of Armenian genocide, but it is very good to understand what were the real life impacts and struggles of the genocide and explusion of Armenian Christians from their homeland 🎨 Impressions It was haunting and depressing. Initially I was waiting for the part where this switches from an autobiography to the genocide and its aftermath. But when it started it didn’t take much time to become an unbearable roller coaster of death, destruction, torture and rape. It was too much. But I went through it anyway. Because it deserves to be heard. This story has stood in the dark for too long. Sufferings of the Armenians must come in sight of the world. I am sure that the barbaric forms of cruelty described in the book doe...

Half Lion: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India - Vinay Sitapati

🚀 The Book in 3 Sentences A meticulous and well narrated biography of PV Narasimha Rao, 9th Prime Minister of India Talks about how PV Narasimha Rao managed to stay as both Lion and Fox as and when the time required him to be, following the code of both Nicolo Machiavelli and Chanakya Explains how the man was instrumental in the development of India into the current modern state we see today 🎨 Impressions The language of the book was good and captivating. The book is carefully crafted after many drafts and the hard work behind it is visible as clear as a sunny day. Author has tried his best to capture all view points and see an issue from all sides. Only bias here if any can be found towards the man himself, which is quite understandable. Because only such an admiration would make a person to do so much research on a relatively unknown PM of India. Major events in Modern Indian history was retold with the perspective of PV Narasimha Rao’s worldview. All the allegations again...

The Death of Ivan Ilych - Leo Tolstoy

⛰ What It's About As the title suggests it’s about Ivan Ilych and his manner of death. Story begins with others hearing about the man’s death and reacting to it, then it moves on to the perspective of the title character, where we find out what kind of a man he was, how he lived his life, his regrets, troubles and bedridden thoughts. 🔍 How I Discovered It While browsing through Audible I saw a Tolstoy title that was surprisingly quite small in length, usually he writes everything as an epic. So this caught my eye and the title made it seem like a detective novel: “The Death of Ivan Ilych” 🧠 Thoughts It is mostly the musings of a man who just wants to go about his daily routine disturbed by the sudden death of his friend and musings of the friend about his approaching death. Overall it’s a contemplation on death and what it means to be alive. It gives an understanding of why many bedridden and sick people are so miserable even when everyone around them is trying so hard so ...