Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

The scion to one of the wealthiest families in Asia, Nicholas Young, has invited his Chinese American girlfriend to his best friend's wedding in Singapore. The girlfriend has no idea about Nick's social status and is blissfully unaware of all the machinations in place to get rid of her, courtesy Nick's lovely family. 

If there was a reading slump one wanted to fight off, this book is a worthy contender. It is equal parts funny, witty and poignant. From scheming mothers to smart mouthed best friends, from snobby aunts to icy cool grandmothers, this book gives you a range of colorful characters and none of them seem too far fetched to be true. As a fellow Asian I get them. It's just the way we are. Not all rich but definitely in to each other's businesses. 

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Lullaby by Leila Slimani

Myriam, a mother of two joins work trusting the care of her children to a nanny who her husband and she approve after a lot of deliberation. Nanny Lousie takes over their home and lives with an effortless ease. Both of Myriam's kids love Lousie and the apartment has never been this perfect. Myriam and Paul begin to enjoy the freedom which seldom existed previously. Entertaining friends, taking off for family vacations and even excelling at work are the perks of having someone to manage their kids and home. Yet as time passes Myriam finds that something is amiss. Is Louise slowly encroaching their private space? Is there a line that they need to draw?  Myriam finds that she doesn't  have the guts to confront Lousie for the sort of indiscretion Paul and she find on a regular basis.

Louise on the other hand is a character hard to sympathise for. She comes with a lot of baggage. There are glimpses of her past life. Knowing what she is capable of, doesn't make this task any easier. Speaking of what we already know, the first page let's you in on the horror that Louise has set upon the household and it is really difficult to look at her objectively. We are human after all. Such cruelty no matter under what circumstances isn't easily forgotten or even forgiven. 

This novel moves at a pace that is so racy yet so slo-mo. If I have to, I'll compare it with watching a car crash on a close circuit camera. Inevitable, brutal, shudder inducing and bloody horrifying. 

Finally, it would be a disservice to the translator Sam Taylor if we do not acknowledge the beauty of this translation.

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The Zoya Factor by Anuja Chauhan

Zoya Solanki, an advertising executive, handling a soft drink campaign turns up at Indian Cricket team's breakfast just before a crucial match. Team wins the match against significant odds and thus starts Zoya's innings as Lady Luck for the team.

Zoya has the dubious distinction of being born at the exact minute the Indian Team won the world cup in the 80s. Once this bit of news gets out, the cricket crazy nation goes on a Zoya frenzy. From being idolized to being stalked, baited and eventually hated, Zoya's unexciting life becomes a roller coaster ride through the power corridors of the game that is looked upon as a religion in the Asian subcontinent. As if her life wasn't messed up enough, Zoya too is falling for the Captain of the team, Nikhil Khoda, who has made it abundantly clear that he doesn't like this Zoya Factor nonsense one bit. Will someone please give this girl a breather?

As far as romances go, this one has all the right elements. Predictable but fun.

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The Blindman's Garden by Nadeem Aslam

I have been told that Nadeem Aslam is a magician with a pen for a wand. After reading this book I can vouch for the said statement. 

With a prose that is simple yet lyrical, he weaves a story of Joe and Mikal, brothers not by birth, lost in the jungle of terrorism. Set in Pakistan and Afghanistan, we are taken through a world filled with deception, violence and hatred. When Joe and Mikal leave for Afghanistan with the intention of tending to the sick, little do they realize that it is not easy to escape the clutches of the violence. 

The birds trapped in the contraptions in Rohan’s (Joe’s father) garden are merely symbolic of the present situation of the subjects in these nations. The story that begins with the entry of Joe and Mikal in to Afghanistan and subsequently into the heart of the terror central. We also witness the lives of those they leave behind. A family that suffers in their absence and yearns for their return. A nearly blind father whose memories of his dead wife are cruel reminders of his religious beliefs and her secular convictions. It gives way to pages of internal debate on religion and fundamentalism. Also portrayed with great sensitivity is the woman who is central to both Joe and Mikal’s life and much stronger than we initially consider her to be. The book is cruel and violent in its description but so is the world. I don't think there is any way to sugar coat and make the experiences nicer for the convenience of the readers. It is what it is.

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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Helicopter parenting has become sort of second nature in today’s extremely competitive world. Parents thrive on their child's achievements, wither when the child falls short of glory. They go to extreme lengths to provide their younglings the extra edge needed to shine. It does not matter if the kids in question are kindergartners or board exam aspirants. 

In this absurd world of over involved parents and impressionable kids, Liane Moriarty finds the ground for her book. It is a Trivia Night gone wrong with extremely tragic consequences. People involved trace back the events, from as early as beginning of the school term and a very convoluted picture of what went on and its triggers emerges. Nothing is as it seems on the surface. People have been hiding terrible secrets and it is a matter of time before they explode and destroy a lot more than just school property.

Parents are a strange breed and characters from Big Little Lies are no exception. Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Bonnie and Renata are caricatures of modern parents. Caring to the point of over involvement, passionate, flawed but protective of their cubs like fierce lionesses es. It is with these women, and their families does Moriarty sketch her masterpiece. She deals with a lot of issues in one rather lengthy book. There is domestic violence, handling of difficult teenagers, dynamics of divorced couples and not once, owing to multitude of themes, does the story falter. 

If this is your first Liane Moriarty book, you are in for a crazy ride. Just keep in mind her plots can seamlessly transition from funny to thrilling to tragic with the flick of a page. Not that anyone complains but it is always better to go in knowing that piece of information. 

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