The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle
by Catherine Webb
The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle is the first book in the Horatio Lyle series. I bought the book because it was written by this British author I had heard about but hadn’t read. I haven’t read much but I like whatever I’ve read so far. Originally published in Great Britain in 2006, this rollicking escapade propels Horatio Lyle, special constable and inventor, on a wild chase through Victorian London in search of an ancient artifact with eldritch powers. This book is set in 1864 London and so has a very old world feel to it. Horatio Lyle is a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter and is really intriguing. His sidekicks also add to the story and make it all the more interesting. The characters are really fascinating, and you want to know why they think and act the way they do. At times, I want to jump to the end of the book to find out what happens. I’ll definitely be reading the other books in the series, if I can find them.
Think Like a Freak
by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt
We pretend we know everything and we never admit otherwise. To say ‘I don’t know’ is considered quite shameful in our society and this is more dominant in the corporate world. Children say ‘I don’t know’ all the time and their thinking is unlike adults. In Think Like a Freak, the authors suggest you should think like a child and that it can help one solve a problem and get an expected result. Think Like a Freak is the latest book by the authors so it has many such latest concepts. The authors take us inside their thought process and teach us all how to think a bit more productively, creatively, and rationally. The book acts like a sort of a blueprint for an entirely new way to solve problems, whether your interest lies in minor life hacks or major global reforms. I like to read and especially like books on economics but this particular book teaches you to think outside the box and for that, it is a must read for everyone.
Helping children enjoy reading
The Unlikely Storytellers by Bikash Sangroula
To be honest, I’m reading this book because it’s written by a fellow journalist and I wanted to see how it is. I just started reading it – I’ve only read 50 pages or so – and I can’t say whether I like it or not. But fiction always captivates me and I’m sure this will prove to be a good read. I’ve been told that the stories in the book are engaging and as Nepalis, we’ll be able to better understand what people went through during the period of insurgency. A colleague told me that the stories are interesting but the book as a whole doesn’t leave a lasting impression. However, it’s not a very bulky book and the writing is quite simple so you can actually read it in snippets during work commutes and tea breaks. If light reading is what you are looking for, then I guess this isn’t a bad book to pick up. We need to promote local writers too.
India After Gandhi
by Ramachandra Guha
Ramchandra Guha is a prolific Indian historian who has many books to his credit. India After Gandhi is the history of India after it gained independence from the British Empire. I’m reading this book because it’s very contextual given the current political situation in Nepal. The author has detailed the political and social history of India since its independence. The book chronicles the ups and downs, mainly in the political sphere, that India has had to face in the years post independence. By comparative study, there’s a lot we can learn from India After Gandhi. India is still modifying its political system and we, here in Nepal, can do the same. The constitution isn’t set in stone and this book shows how India has been evolving ever since it gained independence and for that, I believe this is an important book for me to be reading right now. It will help me better understand our political situation and what the future might hold in store for us.
Ular
by Nayan Raj Pandey
I recently read Ular, a novella by Nayan Raj Pandey, in one sitting. Ular refers to the imbalance of a horse cart due to heavy weight. The novel written two decades ago, when the country had just started practicing democracy in the 90s, is the story of the oppressed in the Tarai plains. The story begins at Nepalgunj where the central character is tanga wala Premlalwa. The story of Draupadi and her love for Premlalwa is equally moving and keeps you hooked. In Ular, a poor voter is betrayed by his representative after coming into power. The story depicts the imbalance in the society caused by the oppression of the poor and the helpless by the powerful leaders. The writer recently republished a new edition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the book. But the story is equally relevant in the present context. The Madhesis have been protesting and condemning the new constitution and reading Ular during this time helped me see the injustice suffered by them. I believe everybody should read Ular and learn a lesson or two.