Cuckold - Book Review

This book has above anything else added a word to my vocabulary – Cuckold, I had no cue what that meant till I googled it after a few pages into the book. A 16^th century rajput prince with a 21^st century thought process – that is Cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar for you.

Cuckold takes the reader through the systems, traditions, conventions, politics, mind games and social behaviourals via the narrative of the heir apparent of the kingdom of Mewar in 16^th Century Hindustan – the Maharaj Kumar. It subtly conveys messages though out the narrative that appearances can be deceptive about the intelligence that lies beneath, that the forces of change – social or political can exist anywhere, even within the system and that still waters mostly run really deep.  

The beauty in the narration is that it is the story of a kingdom wrapped in the personal story of the king-in-waiting. The protagonist the Maharaj Kumar - he has his blemishes, he has his righteousness, he is not perfect and he is human. The reader keeps falling into trances of liking, sympathising, disliking, empathising, distrusting, hating and even loving him. It is a roller coaster ride for the characters as well as the reader and the fact that the characters, though familiar to most of the Indians, remain just characters till the end of the narrative give the story a fresh feel. The reader in no way is prejudiced by what they already know of the characters. 

Cuckold though a 600+ page narrative is paced well, the flow is excellent and the interwoven web of more than 30 characters is just correct, intriguing but not confusing.  Love history, you will love this one.

iVerdict: Excellent. Recommended.

Rating: 3.5/5

Chanakya's Chant - Book Review

Chanakya's Chant by Ashwin Sanghi is his second book and my first by Ashwin. Honestly I had not heard of the book and just picked it up randomly at Crossword just for the love of history in stories. And am I happy that I did.

The book is at the core about the politics of power. Acquiring it, implementing it and retaining it. It is like reading two stories simultaneously and is written so tactically well that the element of curiosity is kept alive while not confusing the reader with too many boomerang switches between two stories separated by 2300 years. It beautifully and effortlessly conveys the bare fact that human beings at the core have not evolved nor changed, only our systems, technologies and comforts have evolved and changed. At the core we remain as we were ages ago - insecure, vulnerable and manipulative. 

The story takes the reader through the raw kingmaker abilities of the central characters Vishnugupta alias Chanakya and Pandit Gangasagar Mishra. Though living their  lives centuries apart they are conjoined by a secret ancient mantra - a power mantra. It is the tale of the sheer intellectual brilliance why which they plan, manipulate and maneuver their proteges Chandragupta Maurya and Chandini Gupta to the pinnacle of power and become the power behind the power. 

Chanakya's Chant is a book you would just not put down and would want to rush to its final pages but you will dare not skip any page in between. It is racy, saucy and leaves you vulnerable. Its a guarantee that after you read the book you just cannot look at people the way you looked at them before you started the book least there is a greater Chanakya in you before hand.

The only complaint to the publishers is that it is such a beautiful piece to have in your collection, that the cover and pages quality could have be better. 

iVerdict: Outstanding. Recommended. 

Rating: 4/5