2016 Sep 21
by Shamila Naleer
All Lankan bookworms await this glorious, seemingly short lived week every year when bookstores set up stalls selling both, second hand and first hand books. They flock together under a colossal roof and on every available surface at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall; it’s like stepping into a very crowded, very noisy book and stationary heaven in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.
You walk into this convention and your brain starts spasming at the mere sight of all those books (unless, of course, you enter the battlefield, well aware of what books you’re looking for and prepared to fight anyone for the book you were eyeing) and more often than not, you get confused about what books you should buy, especially if you are on a tight schedule.
Yes, you can read almost any book online nowadays, but there is nothing that compares to the feeling of your fingers going through story filled pages. Well, here are a couple of books to be on the lookout for at this year’s Colombo International Book Fair.
- Harry Potter and The Cursed Child – J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne & John Tiffany
“It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son, Albus, must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth; sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.”
Being a die-hard Harry Potter fan myself, this book is most definitely at the top of my list. The précis, by its very nature, was enough to get me hooked. Also, I was very depressed when I thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was the last book in the globally beloved series, so the Cursed Child became my beacon of reincarnated hope (ironically).
*Spotted at The Colombo International Book Fair
- Off The Page – Jodi Picoult
“Sixteen-year-old Delilah is finally united with Oliver—a prince literally taken from the pages of a fairy tale. There are, however, complications now that Oliver has been able to enter the real world. To exist in Delilah’s world, Oliver must take the place of a regular boy. Enter Edgar, who agrees to take Oliver’s role in Delilah’s favorite book. In this multilayered universe, the line between what is on the page and what is possible is blurred, but all must be resolved for the characters to live happily ever after.”
You may know Jodi Picoult for her renowned work on one of her greatest best-sellers, My Sister’s Keeper. This bestselling author of 23 novels (yes, twenty three!), worked her magic, yet again, this time with the help of her co-author and daughter, Samantha van Leer, with her latest book, Off the Page. The overview of this thrilling tale speaks to the heart of a raging romantic and an undying believer of the “fairy tales do come true” notion.
- Me Before You – Jojo Moyes
The movie based on this love story left countless people swooning and in tears. Sam Claflin’s gorgeous, dimpled smile and Emilia Clarke’s personality (and eyebrows) definitely won me over. The book is not exactly new, but the movie really did convince many to read the book. After all, the books are usually better than the movies and who doesn’t like a good romance novel once in a while?
*Spotted at The Colombo International Book Fair (After You; the sequel, is available as well)
- The Girl On The Train – Paula Hawkins
If “Gone Girl” had you confused or fascinated, or at least caught you attention, ‘The Girl on the Train’ is definitely a must read. Like ‘Gone Girl’, this novel brings out the treacherous dynamics of marriage, the damaging effects of internalized chauvinism, and, of course, features a highly unpredictable narrator. The girl on the train is a lonely, alcoholic divorcée named Rachel, who rides the train to and from London each day, hoping to keep her long-suffering roommate from discovering that she’s no longer employed. Rachel’s narration (which has been described as ‘painful to read, as we watch her struggle through relapse after relapse and clutch desperately at memories hidden in the fog of drunken nights’) alternates with the narratives of the two other women in the story.
This book is a definite must-read if you’re a lover of thrillers.
*Spotted at The Colombo International Book Fair
- Brotherhood in Death – J. D. Robb
“Sometimes brotherhood can be another word for conspiracy…”
The ‘In Death’ series, written by Nora Roberts under her nom de plume, J. D. Robb, features New York City Police and Security Department Lieutenant, Eve Dallas, and her husband, Roarke, and is set in a mid-21st century New York City. Brotherhood in Death is the latest addition to the ‘In Death’ series and tells the tale of Edward Mira, a former lawyer, judge, and senator, who mingled with the elite and crossed paths with criminals, making enemies on a regular basis. Like so many politicians, he also made some very close friends behind closed—and locked—doors. But a badge and a billionaire husband can get you into places others can’t go, and Eve intends to shine some light on the dirty deals and dark motives behind the disappearance of a powerful man, the family discord over a multimillion-dollar piece of real estate and a new case that no one saw coming. Personally, I am always up for a good mystery-solving, crime-fighting, detective filled book and this is a story a mystery-lover should read.
- See Me – Nicholas Sparks
The 18th book of this best selling romance author, See Me, is yet another heartwarming novel complied Sparks. It is not a typical ‘The Notebook’ kind of tale, but still speaks of a growing love of two people who thought they would never end up with people like the other.
The synopsis of the story;
“Colin is a troubled young man with a history of anger problems that stem from him being mercilessly bullied at the various military schools he’s attended throughout the years and from parents who have little interest in parenting their child. These issues lead to repeated interactions with the police, to the point where Colin’s parents have had enough and throw him out of the house. Maria, on the other hand, has always grown up in a warm and nurturing environment where people have supported her emotionally throughout her law career. Maria and Colin eventually meet one another and begin dating; however, soon Maria begins to receive strange and terrifying messages from an anonymous stalker. She believes that she knows who is sending the messages, causing her to fear for her and Colin’s well-being.”
- Rogue Lawyer – John Grisham
“On the right side of the law. Sort of. Sebastian Rudd is not your typical street lawyer. He works out of a customized bulletproof van, complete with Wi-Fi, a bar, a small fridge, fine leather chairs, a hidden gun compartment, and a heavily armed driver. He has no firm, no partners, no associates, and only one employee, his driver, who’s also his bodyguard, law clerk, confidant, and golf caddy. He lives alone in a small but extremely safe penthouse apartment, and his primary piece of furniture is a vintage pool table. He drinks small-batch bourbon and carries a gun.
Sebastian defends people other lawyers won’t go near: a drug-addled, tattooed kid rumored to be in a satanic cult, who is accused of molesting and murdering two little girls; a vicious crime lord on death row; a homeowner arrested for shooting at a SWAT team that mistakenly invaded his house. Why these clients? Because he believes everyone is entitled to a fair trial, even if he, Sebastian, has to cheat to secure one. He hates injustice, doesn’t like insurance companies, banks, or big corporations; he distrusts all levels of government and laughs at the justice system’s notions of ethical behavior.”
That preview speaks for itself. I needn’t say more.
*Spotted at The Colombo International Book Fair
