My August Reads: An Overview
- Kaveri
- Sep 2, 2020
- 12 min read
August marks another month of my journey in book blogging. This has been my busiest and slowest month of reading at the same time. I read a bunch of thrillers, discovered a few classics, re-read some of my favorites and reviewed a few Advance Reader's Copies (ARCs) courtesy of Netgalley; this totalled 14 books. The start of the month had me participating in two weekend read-a-thons (hence the spike in the number of books devoured) but I considerably slowed towards the end of the month, going into what is termed a 'reading slump' where one doesn't read much, if at all any. I was, therefore, unable to complete my ambitious list of classics for the month, only finishing 2 out of the intended 6, currently halfway through the lovely classic 'Emma' by Jane Austen (I will read the rest later).
Read on, to discover the best, the worst and everything in between in my August Books.
1. Avenger
Author: Frederick Forsyth
Genre: Action Thriller
My Ratings: 3.5/5★
Attorney Calvin Dexter hangs his shingle in a quiet New Jersey town, has a reasonably successful practice, and takes the hills strong while triathlon training. But Dexter is no ordinary man.
The summer before he goes to college, Ricky Colenso travels to Bosnia to volunteer as an aid worker. A few weeks later, he disappears and is never heard from again. A family grieves and is offered little hope--in the fog of that horrible time and place, the killer, too, has vanished.
Or so it would seem. For in a world that has forgotten right and wrong, there are few like Cal Dexter who can settle the score. And so, years later, a worldwide chase is on and Dexter begins to draw a net around the killer. But this time CIA agent Paul Devereux must find a way to stop Dexter before his quest for vengeance throws the world into chaos.
This was an amazing read! The book has inter-woven tales of love, life and revenge that meet together to create an intriguing tale of suspense and thriller. Avenger has all of Frederick Forsyth's page-turning trademarks. The ending is something that'll make you sit up straight and appreciate the true significance (Please make a note of the dates of the events- that'll help you).
2. Foreign Body
Author: Robin Cook
Genre: Medical Thriller
My Ratings: 2.5/5★
Jennifer Hernandez's world comes crashing down when she hears the passing away of her grandmother in a piece on Medical Tourism in CNN. Maria had raised Jennifer and her brothers from infancy, and their bond was unshakable. Still, the news that Maria had traveled to India was a shock to Jennifer, until she realized that it was the only viable option for the hardworking yet uninsured woman. Devastated, and desperate for answers, Jennifer takes emergency leave from school and heads to India, where relations with local officials go from sympathetic to sour as she presses for more information. With more such unexplained deaths happening, she becomes determined to reach to the bottom of the mystery. Laurie, along with her husband, Dr. Jack Stapleton, rushes to the younger woman’s side, discovering a sophisticated medical facility with little margin for error. As the death count grows, so do the questions, leading Laurie and Jennifer to unveil a sinister, multilayered conspiracy of global proportions.
I picked this up due to three factors: this is set in India, it has my favorite pathologists and couple Stapleton-Montgomery and to see if Robin Cook's Nano alone was bad or if he had lost some of his touch. Sadly, my results are mixed. This was an average read, not as bad as my experience with Nano was, nor as good as the experience I had reading some of his other works like Chromosome 6 or Vector. The plot is engaging even though it is very guessable. I liked reading about India and the descriptions of the places the characters visited. Since medical tourism is something we're privy of to an extend, it did not give me the same outlandish experience I enjoyed before.
3. Negotiator
Author: Frederick Forsyth
Genre: Crime Thriller
My Ratings: 3.75/5★
President Cormack is bent on a signing a sweeping U.S.-Soviet disarmament treaty, and the master conspirator is determined to stop him. The kidnapping of a young man on a country road in Oxford-shire is but the first brutal step in the explosive plot engineer the President's destruction. Enter Quinn. Quinn plays the kidnappers like a master musician... until, in a shocking turn-about, he discovers that ransom was not their object after all--and that he has been lured into a cunningly woven web. Now he must draw upon his deepest strengths--to save not only the victim but the entire free world.
This is another wonderful book of Frederick Forsyth that I discovered. This was a highly thrilling read, filled with many electrifying moments of twists and turns. The plot is highly engaging and made me get so invested in the myriad interesting characters. The parallel story-lines slowly converge to form an intricate web that is sure to give you one hell of a ride packed with action and suspense.This is a perfect one-time read offering a ride full of betrayal, double-crosses, tests of loyalty and much more.
4, American Assassin (re-read)
Author: Vince Flynn
Genre: Action Thriller
My Ratings: 3.5/5★
Mitch Rapp is a gifted college athlete who just wants retribution for the Pan Am Lockerbie attack. He trains six months intensely with other clandestine operatives, under CIA Operations Director Thomas Stansfield and protégé Irene Kennedy, to stop terrorists before they reach America. The assassin leaves a trail of bodies from Istanbul across Europe to Beirut, where he needs every ounce of skill and cunning to survive the war-ravaged city and its deadly terrorist factions.
This series featuring Mitch Rapp (especially this book) is honest-to-God my bookish indulgence. The book is filled with subterfuge and espionage and the high adrenaline rush that comes with it. I absolutely love this book as it chronicles the origin of the deadly assassin Mitch Rapp, and neatly sets the base for the franchise. This is the ideal book for all action-lovers.
5. The Perfect Nanny
Author: Leila Slimani, Sam Taylor (Translator)
Genre: Psychological Thriller
My Ratings: 4/5★
When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite, devoted woman who sings to the children, cleans the family's chic apartment in Paris's upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint, and hosts enviable kiddie parties. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau.
I picked this up as it seemed an ideal read ; it was touted as a short but extremely thrilling book. But I wasn't prepared for the effect this short read could have on me. Within these 228 odd pages the author manages to bring the focus on how the dynamics of a small family changes as they slowly allow their nanny to be a huge part of their lives. The writing is on the everyday life of the family but reading it is quite disquieting; under these seemingly normal interactions, a simmering tension is slowly weaved in, adding to the mystery. The finale may not be for all, I was (and still am) equal parts dissatisfied and amazed. The original is in French, but the translation, I felt, was top-notch. This book will leave you shocked, amazed and with a spinning head.
6. Vector (re-read)
Author: Robin Cook
Genre: Bio-terrorism, Medical Thriller
My Ratings: 4/5★
A disgruntled Russian emigre is poised to lash out at the adoptive nation he believes has denied him the American dream. A former technician in the Soviet biological weapons systems, he possesses the knowledge to unleash into the streets of New York City the ultimate terror: a modern bio-weapon. But before he executes his final act of vengeance, he must first experiment on a few unsuspecting victims...
This was the one of the first Robin Cooks I read almost three years ago and the first one featuring Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery. This is a highly engrossing read full of intriguing concepts (at least for me), a ticking countdown to a devastating disaster and interesting characters with all their agendas. I also liked how realistic it was, and the setting of the office adds to the charm. This book introduced me to the world of pathology and the part they play in making us safe, so that's another reason why I cherish this. I highly recommend this work.
7. Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Genre: Gothic, Classic
My Ratings: 3.5/5★
This is a timeless classic penned by Emily Bronte of the famous Bronte Sisters. This is actually one of the first instances of Gothic Fiction, and the fact that many book enthusiasts had mixed reviews on this made me pick it up out of curiosity, joining two others for a buddy read. My reactions to this are also mixed, I came out having a love-hate relationship with this book. The plot as such doesn't really have much of a merit per se, but the whole morbidity and the atmosphere this book produced was tremendous. This book made me wanted to chuck it away and yet, made me left craving for more; there's no better way of describing how I felt reading this. The story perfectly potrays the spirit of wildness. I specifically didn't add the blurb as I don't think it can encompass the true spirit of the book (I definitely didn't find it encouraging). This is not for all though; the language is pretty difficult to comprehend (especially the Scottish dialect of Joseph) which might deter many but if you like a good book with excess morbidity and an isolated moor with wildness and wilderness about, this is for you.
8. Pride and Prejudice (audio-book, a re-read)
Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Classic, Romance, Novel of Manners
My Ratings: 5/5★
Since its immediate success in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.
I don't think I can review this, I can only gush about the beauty of this masterpiece. This is my first Austen read and one of my all-time favorites! The language is simpler than most classics that I've read (which isn't that many, Classics is a genre I'm exploring more of) and the dialogues are razor-sharp and powerful. I liked almost every syllable uttered by Mr.Bennet, the man was a master of sarcastic quips. and don't get me started on Elizabeth, I can talk about her on and on! A fierce, bold, independent woman with a sharp wit and the disposition to be graceful yet firm on her stances; one who is interested in the analysis of people and is humble enough to accept where she is wrong? How could you not like her? I personally can relate to Elizabeth a lot, I feel we are extremely similar having the same type of personality; I feel I share most of her virtues and faults so it feels warm reading about her. I urge you all to read this if you haven't already, even if you aren't a huge fan of romance (like me), for it offers much than just that. It is a enlightening insight into the regency-era society (also, the banter between Lizzie and Darcy is to live for).
9. The Secret Crown (re-read)
Author: Chris Kuzneski
Genre: Adventure Thriller
My Ratings: 3.75/5★
From the mountains of Bavaria to the secret tunnels under King Ludwig II's castles, no one is safe when they search for the Secret Crown. According to legend, Ludwig stockpiled a massive treasure in the years before his death, a cache of gold and jewels that would finance the construction of the largest castle of all time. But in the years since his death, no one has found any evidence that Ludwig had hidden anything. Until now.
Jonathon Payne and David Jones are pulled into the mystery by a colleague of theirs, a former supply sergeant in the U.S. military who asks them to investigate. They agree to help and quickly find themselves in a life-or-death struggle to uncover the truth about Ludwig's murder and his mythical treasure.
I chanced upon this book two years ago when I went to a sale of second-hand books in a closing library and have since felt that this has been one of my best impulsive purchases. This book is a cross between the Da Vinci Code and the Indiana Jones as the blurb puts it, and I can't agree more. The book is filled with adventure, charged with action and involves a fair amount of digging and investigating. The language is very simple, the funny banter between the characters engaging and the history interesting. This is a light and fun read offering a few interesting tidbits.
10. The Magician and His Nephew (re-read)
Author: C.S.Lewis
Genre: Fantasy, Children's Fiction
My Ratings: 3.75/5★
The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure...
NARNIA...where the woods are thick and cold, where Talking Beasts are called to life...a new world where the adventure begins.
Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold, wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory's Uncle Andrew, who thinks he is a magician, sends them hurtling to...somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion's song, and encounter the evil sorceress Jadis before they finally return home.
I've always felt that the best 'children's book' is one that delivers to all audiences and this is one of them. Despite meaning to, I have never sat down to complete this series; I have completed three of the seven, following the chronological order of the plotline. This is the first book when considered chronologically and sixth when considered by the date of publication. This forms a prequel of sorts, giving us an insight into the creation of the world of Narnia. I remember visiting the library and excitedly borrowing the second book 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' back in middle school after reading this book; I decided to re-read this to relive some happy memories. While this isn't as amazing as the aforementioned book, this does some great world-building and establishes the base well. The story is pretty neat, certainly worth a re-visit.
11. The Child Who Never Was (ARC, now published)
Author: Jane Renshaw
Genre: Psychological Thriller
My Ratings: 4/5★
When Sarah's beautiful eighteen month old baby goes missing, she is ready to hunt down the ends of the world for him. Only problem- no one believes the baby exists. Even Sarah's beloved twin Evie insists that it is a figment of her imagination, that she needs help. But Sarah is pretty convinced that her Oliver exists. Which only means one thing: someone has been planning this. And they've taken away the child now.
This book was an amazing read. The premise is pretty dark and disturbing- a perfect psychological thriller setup. There were some predictable moments, but there were some really solid, unpredictable, out of the blue scenes as well. The end quite took me by surprise. This book offered an interesting insight into the minds of the twins and was a curious and a fascinating psychological study.
12. Scalpels Out (ARC)
Author: Peter Morris
Genre: General Fiction
My Ratings: 2.5/5★
Publication Date: 06th Sept, 2020
Three young doctors, summoned to London, expect to be struck off the register for trivial, though politically sensitive, errors. They devise a plot in which each apparently mistreats another, so that their employers can be sued. By ruse, skirmish and subterfuge our wily heroines stir up havoc and embarrassment for their former chiefs – notably a media exposé and the seducing of an HR boss – and so give these backside-shielding jugglers a tough time. They end up more self-assured and happier than the robotic nodding-dolls they could have become. Despite a dash of colourful exaggeration, this is modern medicine.
This was an entertaining read, talking about the bureaucratic problems with a generous amount of exaggeration. For my detailed review, go here!
13. The Seven Dials Mystery
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Detective Fiction
My Ratings: 4/5★
Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper; so the other house guests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6.30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank had backfired with tragic consequences.
For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words ‘Seven Dials’ were to take on a new and chilling significance.
This book was a very different work, with Christie veering from her usual style to write a mystery filled with humorous elements and I personally feel that she has nailed the combination. It was witty, charming and the mystery was solid as well. The ending was a tad unexpected, but it played pretty well. To read my thoughts on this in detail, go to my post on the same!
14. The Horse and His Boy (re-read)
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Fantasy, Children's Fiction
My Ratings: 3.5/5★
The Horse and his Boy is a stirring and dramatic fantasy story that finds a young boy named Shasta on the run from his homeland with the talking horse, Bree. When the pair discover a deadly plot by the Calormen people to conquer the land of Narnia, the race is on to warn the inhabitants of the impending danger and to rescue them all from certain death.
This is the third book chronologically and fifth by publication date; after reading the first book I picked this up (as I own the physical copies of both) and dived right into it. This story is completely detached from the first or second in the way that it can work as a standalone novel, no prior knowledge of the world or characters are required. This is a pretty fascinating (though comparatively not as exciting) story of a boy and a horse who make a grand escape to live their true potential. The descriptions are beautiful, Narnia sounds as resplendent as ever and Aslan is there, ready to save them all. Dive in to their magical world and enjoy the adventure!
This was my August in Books. If you're wondering at the higher amounts of re-reads and re-visits, that was my attempt to get out the slump, and I can say I was somewhat successful. (I also got other stuff, to say the least. Life happened!) I hope you found at least a few interesting books among the myriad books thrown your way. I'll try and write more detailed reviews for a few here, and I have tried to be as expansive as possible in case I don't end up writing a separate review. I hope I have a good run in September, I'll meet you at the end of the month (or the start of the next) with a compiled list of my monthly reads.
~Compiled by Kaveri (@bibliophilerants)~
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