Book Review : And Then There Were None

Book Review : And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None is the best thriller novel of all time. It was written by none other than the queen of thriller Agatha Christie. This Harper Collins published book is a suspense novel in which you remain puzzled till the end about identity of the killer.

Cover : The cover of the paperback which I have read was ordinary and didn't excite me at all but I have also seen some other edition's cover which were more interesting and intriguing. 

Content : Ten people from different places belonging to different backgrounds and who were totally strangers to each other were lured to come on Soldiers Island on invitation from Mrs and Mr U.N.Owen. Each one ranging from a judge to a doctor from a police constable to a military general, a governess and others were tempted on island on promise of either summer holidays or meeting old friends, a job and things like that. These eight people along with two servants were unaware of whereabouts of their hosts Mrs. and Mr. Owen. On reaching this island they received a message through a gramophone player about some crimes related to their pasts. Each one of them was accused with murders of someone and the voice in the gramophone warned them of dire consequences. They all get frightened to hear this gramophone record and it was a then first death happened. As the time passed each one of them died according to an old nursery rhyme 'Ten Little Soldiers'. After four deaths when they found that they were the only inhabitant of this island they realized that one of them was a killer, they started doubting each other but killings didn't stop and one by one they all died till there were none. 

Comment : First of all I must stand up and clap for conceptualize this story. It was difficult to write such a book and Agatha Christie herself regarded this book as her difficult book ever. The suspense starts right from the first page with the mention of story about the ownership of the Soldiers Island later the plot thickens and tightly took you into its grip and then you left with only one option to finish it quickly. There was no single dull moment in this book. Some may find it difficult to understand for interwoven plots but with the flow of the narration all things seems clear and understandable. I finished reading it in two nights (3 hours each night). The killer is not guessable till the last page. A letter in the epilogue open the lid of suspense from the plot which bold over your imagination. A superb thriller with suspense story, gripping narration and an out of the box revelation. 

Verdict : If you loves thriller then what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy today. 

Rating : I would give it 5/5. 

Book Review - Train To Paksitan

Book Review - Train To Pakistan

Train To Pakistan is a classic novel written by eminent writer, columnist, humorist and satirist Khushwant Singh in 1956. This book is a hard hitting account of atrocities during the partition of India. I have bought a paperback edition published by Penguin India.

Cover : Cover is showing a steam engine train of India of early year of independence. Though it didn't give you idea about the content of the book but you came to know the effect of this picture after reading the book.

Plot: The story is based in a village Mano Majra on the border of India and Pakistan. After partition of the country Muslims were migrating to Pakistan and Sikhs and Hindus to India. Mano Majra was the only village unaffected by the partition here Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus were all leaving peacefully. Juggat Singh aka Jagga a bad character in police record was in love with Nooran daughter of Muslim priest Imam Baksh. A robbery and a murder happened in Mano Majra resulted in Juggat's arrest under suspicion. Police also arrested Iqbal a political activist from Delhi who came to calm down situation in border villages. Every thing was fine until a train full of corpses arrived from Pakistan. This incident made the atmosphere tense in the village. Magistrate Hukum Singh's order to police superintendent further increased the drift among the communities. Muslims were forced to leave the village. Police suddenly decide to release Juggat Singh and Iqbal when a train going to Pakistan with Muslims of Mano Majra was planned to be assassinated by a group of Sikh youths. Juggat Singh also had a role to play. What he did? What happened to the train?  

Review : The book presents an unbiased account of the tragedy of partition. How communities living peacefully from centuries turned violent against each other just by a line drawn on paper. You will realize by reading this book where the seed of animosity was sown between the communities which affect the Indian diaspora even in present time. Kushwant Singh with his simple yet powerful style of story telling left you with some questions to think as a human being. A story which beautifully highlights the human emotions and displays the tragic turn of events with sincerity. 

Verdict : A must read of you want to know about the India at the time of partition. It will also help to understand current political situation of the country.

Rating : I would give it a full starts i.e 5/5.