Paths of Glory - Book Review

What will you do when you have to choose between your passion and love? Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer tells us the story of one such man who chooses one among them and what that path had for him.

The book is written in the most lucid manner and tries to indulge you till the end. The first few chapters, where the foundation of the characters are laid, does not give out anything about how the story is going turnaround. But at a point, you get a fair idea of it and start guessing the climax. At the end of the story though most of you will find that your guess was right still you will find there was an element of surprise which you had not envisaged.

Those who try to make parallel with Kane and Abel will be disappointed as this story does not indulge so deep into the characters and plot. Though you may find that the central theme of both stories; of people who are able to do extraordinary; you will miss the exhilarating experience which Kane and Abel presents. While you feel like reading Kane and Abel again after a period of time, I doubt whether the Paths of Glory will be able to invoke that feeling. However, this story can be quick inspiration for those interested in adventures.

I chose to read this between many other thick books and found it to be a good, one - time quick read.

The Chennai Apocalypse

As usual, much was being talked about the Chennai floods. The floods have reduced, the water has receded and if you have noticed the frequency of the flood news in the leading news agencies have reduced. The biggest irony being that we make hue and cry, talk big after every such incident, only to forget about it comfortably. Why this much anger and cry after Chennai floods, why not after the floods which affected Uttarakhand last year, the floods which affect North East every year, the floods which are common in Damodar valley, the numerous landslides which happen every monsoon etc. Have we ever learnt anything after every such incident?

So, we should infer at least now, that no amount of disasters are going to enlighten us. We are a nation which has become too acclimatized with comfort of the lazy kind. We are not interested in how disasters are going to affect us. If it affects, it affects and then life goes on. We will post messages that we are strong and move on with life. After all we cannot satiate our hunger for comfort, money and power. Have the hunger and keep going or else die, for life has no other meaning and requires you to do nothing more. Gone are the days when we used study that we have to take actions taking into account their effect on the posterity. Let's forget the posterity and talk about the present. 

So, I request everybody to stop making such comments. And if and only if there is a thinking that source of every ocean is a drop of water, then act rather than talking. After all, action speak louder than words.