Book Review: Bankers' Game by Ashutosh Mishra

A thriller about bankers and the world of finance and stock markets. Something that is altogether a rather new scenario for me (having read only one such). Ashutosh Mishra's Banker's Game sets up an interesting outing.

Starting up in rather suspenseful way, the story moves forward with simple character set and equally simple yet complex and intriguing world of bankers. How it goes thru with shifts that never end as they deal with the world of different time zones. Officially 9 to 5 job takes a toll of their lives on every front, physical, emotional, social and even financial front. Protagonists get in chakravyuh of the economy that they won't be able to come out ever. This tale is no less interesting with greed, lust, redemption, office politics, cut throat competition and what not. The writing style of Mishra is so simple it is a breeze to go through pages and it keeps you glued to the pages. Cover design has been an interesting characteristic when it comes to Jaico's books. Nowadays it is getting more and more interesting and sophisticated stuff. Page quality and printing are just perfect for this paperback.

As we all are supporting the lockdowns to save us from Corona, this light and interesting read is surely an apt choice so that you get something to keep you engaged. A fiction that takes you away from reality and still makes you aware how real the world of money is - from inside.

Book Review : Clues to the Cosmos by Shohini Ghose

Physics ! The name itself was enough to scare me when I was in school. I mean seriously, so much of stuff to remember, so much of calculations and that too, with theory that has to be remembered like a parrot. So despite of the fact that the principles were hell interesting, I wasn't as fluent with the subject as others. But as it happens, years after the school days past, the subjects I had avoided comes back now to me as something I want to ponder upon and read about. Be it history, tales of civilizations, politics or yes, physics. So, there, when I got this copy of book - Clues to the Cosmos by Shohini Ghose (a simple google got me mouth agape how this lady is multi talented !) I was in for an adventure. Which surely it is.

Why not? As the subject itself has many mysteries, histories and surprises in store for us. Wonder what would PT Usha's run has to do with some principles of precise measurements, or what if I tell you that there was no apple that fell on head of that famous physicist ! And as Shohini rightly puts in-we all know the final outcome of all these suspense stories - the principles of physics. But what is the story, who were background actors who all made that possible? All these together makes the tales much interesting despite the fact that the subject does not seem so!

The writing style makes heavy dose of information go down your throat in a simple and interesting way. The way each chapter starts with a personal note and progresses step by step with even the little contribution to the big discoveries is worth keep your eyes on the pages. I never thought this would be a ride with so much knowledge to be gained. Talking about the book - printing quality is excellent, so is the binding. Cover page is absolutely stunning (making sure it will catch a few eyes, while you show off what you are reading - at least I do that always). Jaico has done beautiful job.

A very deserving break I got from my 'fictional' world - reading something so enriching. Clues to the Cosmos is going to take place next to Sapiens, on my bookshelf.