Chetan Bhagat's - The 3 mistakes of my life

Genre – Fiction
Rating – 3.5 / 5

I am head over heels in love with Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone. With 5 point Someone, Chetan Bhagat has set very high expectations of himself in my mind. When a book says – ‘by Chetan Bhagat’ I have great expectations from the book. Somehow his second book ‘One night at call center’ did not please me well… and my liking score took a deep plunge for his third – ‘3 mistakes of my life’. If not for its tail-end plot, I would have given a real poor rating for this book.

This is a story about 3 friends, Govind, Ish and Omi and their business (sports store). To start the entrepreneurship, Omi makes the arrangement for the store, Ish brings knowledge of sports and Govind has the intelligence to run the business. Along with the sports store they also provide Cricket coaching and Maths tuition to make some extra bucks. Both Cricket and Maths classes have “special” students who unknowingly play major role in the story. Govind is the narrator and the “3 mistakes” are his mistakes in life. This simple tale is set in the backdrop of Gujarat’s earthquake and Godhara riots. Like every other common man’s dream in Gujarat, Govind, Ish and Omi’s dream come crashing as the result of these mishaps. To add up, the political riot showcased at the near-end brings everything to halt.

The book is ‘Okay’. Story is plain. Characters are average. Book completely lacks Chetan Bhagat’s charisma. I kept on reading with optimism for finding Chetan’s witty funny side. Sadly author hasn’t utilized his language skills and humor sense as he has in his previous works. From the story line I wonder if it was written with a perspective of converting it into another Bollywood movie. I would not recommend it to a Chetan Bhagat fan.

Ernest Thompson's - On Golden Pond

Genre – Fiction
Rating - 4.5 /5

‘Cute’ was what I said when I finished reading the last line of this play. The movie ‘On Golden Pond’ was long time back recommended to me (it is in my to-watch list). During the last book sale in the local library, I had gladly picked this book in a dash. Only after I pulled it out for reading, I realized that it is not the usual story book. It is a play!

It is about Norman and Ethel’s (an elderly couple in late seventies) one summer vacation which they spent at a place called Golden Pond in Maine and hence the name – On Golden Pond. Staying in their lake house on the Golden pond has been Norman and Ethel’s summer ritual since last 48 years. This time, when Norman is turning 80, their daughter, Chelsea (now 42 yrs old), wants to join them too. Norman wanted her to be a boy and all his life, they both have had a tense relationship. She comes with her new boy friend (Bill) and Bill’s 13 yr old son Billy. From the very first meet, Norman finds Billy very interesting and eventually they get along pretty well. At the end of the show, as Chelsea and Norman burry their hatchet everything ends happily as well.

The story line is very simple. But don’t fall prey to its simplicity. This play is hilarious to the core! Norman’s sarcastic comments are sure to produce belly laughs every now and then. Ethel is shown extremely loving wife. She is the only one with capacity to backhand Norman’s acrid remarks in a very adorable manner. Their unshakable affection for each other makes them a perfect made-in-heaven couple. The reconciliation between father and daughter is well pictured without any over poignant dialogues. There are few sentimental moments too, but they are very calculated.

Overall, liked it dearly.