the 3 mistakes of my life

the 3 mistakes of my life

-Chetan Bhagat








Third n much awaited book from my senior..lol!!! :)
I was very eager to get a copy, i rushed to landmark @shoppers stop in the baneerghata ( i was at bangalore then) road. Prologue of the book is an absolute masterpiece i must agree. This was even sent as mails for promotion. Even i had read that before getting a copy. After the perfect start to the innings the story takes off... Filled with the hit maker's perfect ingredients.
The story is basically about a business man from Ahmedabad, Govind ,who makes an attempt to suicide. The story begins with an email of his to Chetan. Chetan finds him with the help of an IIMA prof n orkut. Then Govind narrates his story, the three mistakes in his life. Humour, Love, Religion, Cricket(its no different from religion in some parts of this country) et al are blended for a third perfect..not really just about perfect novel. His friends Omi , Ish , Vidya n mamas characters fits in perfectly. Ali, the young boy with immense talent is the question he asking to Indians, n its all bout the fate of sports n games in this country which manages with a medal somehow in each olympic games. He has described Ahmedabad so naturally , Navrangpura was no unfamiliar place for me when i reached Ahmedabad.
Now why this book is not perfect
Reason 1: Laxman didn't open in the second innings of Kolkata test. All cricket lovers remember this innings.
Reason 2: Mobile phones were not used by middle class people and especially students to that extent or was a rarity during the time line of the story. Entire story would have changed if he had been realistic
Reason 3: The whole structure reminded me of Khaled Hosseini who is master story teller. Author adopted his way of story telling, ie moving along with real life disasters.
Overall the book has a filmi plot and can be read in few hours of time in a single stretch, an entertainer with the 3 mistakes mentioned above.
Hari,Ryan,Alog, Vroom,Shyam,Esha n all will live forever..but i fear Govind,Omi,Isha might not ...
I hope the fourth one will make up for everything.

Joker in the Pack

- Joker in the Pack





Ritesh Sharma
Neeraj Pahlajani



Joker in the pack being the first book i read after joining IIM-A, gets slot one or is a "Day zero process" among the review.
Shekhar Verma, from a middle class family ,did his graduation from a B grade college in Delhi, cracks CAT n joins IIMB. The book is all bout his life @IIMB.Truth and humor blended to perfection.
Two years at IIMB(which i must say is almost the same at all IIM's as far as i know) narrated well and truly in almost 200 pages. I am happy to see the true narrations in the story. I don't know whether it is to be called a fiction. First Year of hard work and the height that can reached after the completion of the course is described beautifully, and they(authors) were successful in drawing every middle class guys dream to perfection. Even though the book will be loved by all who were once here, who are here and who wants to be here, i must admit the book is not meant for any one else. Too much of description of his summer internship and other technical words makes reading boring at times. But overall, a true and from the heart description of two great years one can spend at the IIM's..
(felt sad as nothing was mentioned about other people studying in the IIM's other than PGPs. FPM's and ABM's even though less in number , are integral part of this world)
On the whole, inspirational for all who wants to reach here; and something to laugh for those who were here. Thats "Joker in the Pack"