Padithathil pidithathu

Few authors thrill us to read more of their creations. At times its sheer luck that we might end up with the worse of their lot and might give up on them only to find many other good ones which we would've ignored based on first impression. James Rollins is one such author. My friend's sister introduced me to "Map of Bones" and told me that its in the same genre of "Davinci Code" and since i am a sucker for adventure series she recommended this one to me, with a warning that, at times this guy goes over the board like Ludlum in describing situations. With that warning in mind i began the book. I took my own sweet time to finish it but the book kept me interested. However many times i kept it down i always went for it again to know what happened next. In the end, i pretty much liked the story, though it was totally unbelievable.

The story is about the bones of the Three wise men or Magi who visited Jesus when he was a kid. Their bones held a clue to a vast source of power which will bring an end to humanity if it falls on wrong hands. The SIGMA team (hero team) vs the DRAGON team (villain team). Sigma team wins in the end..while destroying many a previously unidentified wonders of the erstwhile world which includes Alexander's tomb. Story kaathula poo kathainaalum..the way the author conjurs up images of some places like hanging gardens, Alexanders tomb etc about which lot has been spoken about but no one would have seen. It keeps an even pace throughout and makes a nice read overall.

Next i went for "Judas Strain" by the same author. This time i was better prepared and the reviews spiked the interest. The theme was based on the "Koormavatar" (YES. Atlast some author found our Indian mythology worthy enough to make a plot out of it) especially the scene where "Vasuki" the snake is used as rope and Mandra mountain is used as the "Mathu" with Lord Vishnu taking the shape of turtle to hold the mountain on the Ocean of Milk. The author got almost all the details correct except that he confused Lord Shiva's role of drinking the Aalahala also into Vishnu. The very mention of this in the review made me so curious that i immediately went for that book. And WOW. The book was such a roller coaster ride from page one that it was a relish. Loved it till the end. The style was a mix of Dan Brown, Robin cook and Robert ludlum :) all my fav authors put together. I can easily say this is one of THE best adventure thrillers in recent times.

The third one and my current read is "Last Oracle" by the same author. This time, i blindly bought the book. No review. Nothing. I had beginning to trust this guy to pay 300 bucks for his book :) And i am more than glad i bought the book. WOW. This one is even more amazing and lightening fast than "Judas strain". It starts with the Oracle at Delhpi (Nothing to do with softwares my friends :D ) and the story shifts to the Russian URAL mountains with kids with special mental powers..and it moves on at lightening fast..again to INDIA :) this time its the Taj mahal. I'vent read it fully but with whatever i've read so far i can safely say this one is even better than the previous one :) Loving every bit of it :)

Next one i am waiting to read is the "Black Order". Again by Rollins. This book i couldnt get in stores or in Net also. Review paatha its related to some Nazi machine called Bell..also related to time travel or something like that. World war 2 saw so many weapons of mass destruction being invented the credit for many being attributed to the Nazi scientists..who were absorbed by US after the war. This book again has some reference to India and Nepal. I think Rollins must've read quite a bit about our mythology and must've travelled well. One main reason why i was so impressed with this author is mainly because of the Indian references he brings in his stories. Semma thrilling to read.

Try one of the four and let me know how u folks feel about it :)

P.S:
avvvvvvvvv...jus noted...25k hits!!! :D :D avvvvvvvvvvvvvv....

Comments

Ramesh said…
Book review par excellence.

//Few authors thrill us to reqad more of their creation//

I know one - Gils. Every post is better than the previous one.
TheUncanny said…
weightu review!!

James Rollins huh!!!Makes me wanna read all the books,Judas strain- like the name!! let me chk..if i can lay my hands on a copy... :)
athivas said…
congrats on 25K hits, Gils!!
lovely reviews.. Rollins is a master story teller, per me..loved Judas Strain, SIGMA forces.. i was so hooked to this.. will pick up the rest of thebooks..
congrats on the 25 k hits..
Soin said…
sis frnd?? kadlai...rightu will try one book and see..free
Swaram said…
Ohh woww! Congrats on the 25K hits Gils :) Republic day gift :D

That 2nd book is what caught my interest the most .. will get it soooon :)

Thanks for sharing :P :P
gils said…
@ramesh:

avvvvvvvvvv...ipdi usupethi usupethiye udamba ranagala paduthidraangapaa!!! :D nanri hai for the kind words

@uncanny:

Judas strain padichi parunga..i think u wont be disappointed
gils said…
@athivasi:

:D danku

@ajcl:

hey neengalum rollins fana :D woww :)
gils said…
@soin:

raasa..athu friendoda sis..sisoda friendnu spoonerism mathirilaam padikapdaaathu
gils said…
@swaram:

:) yeah u can chk tht in ur discount sale :D
RamNarayanS said…
25000 அடிகள் (hits) வாà®™்கிய அண்ணன் கில்சுக்கு வெள்ளி அடி விà®´ா கொண்டாட à®®ுடிவெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. :-) வாà®´்த்துக்கள்.

Hmmm. Engaththa book padikkaradhu!!! [sigh] These days, I cannot keep my mind occupied on something simple like that for a stretch of time. Five point someone-half book pending, Srirangaththu Devathaigal-half book pending, Madhyamar-half book pending, Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time-half book pending, Ki.Rajanarayanan-selected short stories-pending, Oru Puliyamarathin kadhai (Sundara Ramaswami)-pending and more in pending...

When all pending goes to "read", only then shall I start the next. :)
lakshmi said…
Mothathula James Rollins naala unga friend oda sister a correct pannitinga...

Namba peter akka (Uncanny) epadi blog naala nalanchi figures a correct panramathiri...

hmmm, seekaram intha mathiri techniques naanum kathukraen...
lakshmi said…
I have on kosteen to Uncanny...

Hey kaena.. Judas strain paerla unaku enna pidichuthu... Naan google la "judas strain" potalum, "judas" potalum, "strain" potalum.. onum vilangala..

"Judas strain- like the name!!" - why this statement, tell me the truth, chumma potta bit thaena... hehe kandu pidichitaen parthiya.
PM said…
lakshmi - inime post padikkarthukku munnala comment thaan padikka poren....jus enjoying every bit of your comment..
gils - James Rollins - innum try pannala, padichuttu solren.
Bt dan brown - the lost symbol enakku suthamaa pidikkala..aracha maave thiruppi arachaa maathiri irunthaathu...And liberal quoting of hindu mythology seen and athumattum thaan ennala relate panna mudinjathu, masons pathi ellam avaroda previous novels la sonnathaala, ithu rasikkala..
oooohhh comment romba perisoooo
gils said…
//25000 அடிகள் (hits) வாà®™்கிய அண்ணன் கில்சுக்கு வெள்ளி அடி விà®´ா கொண்டாட à®®ுடிவெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. :-) வாà®´்த்துக்கள்.
//

nanni nanni :D

//Five point someone-half book pending, Srirangaththu Devathaigal-half book pending, Madhyamar-half book pending, Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time-half book pending, Ki.Rajanarayanan-selected short stories-pending, Oru Puliyamarathin kadhai (Sundara Ramaswami)-//

!!!!!!!!!!!!! avvvvvvvvvvvvvv imbuttu booksa!!! ithula 1, 2 and 4 padichiruken..micha rendum too hi fi for me
gils said…
//Mothathula James Rollins naala unga friend oda sister a correct pannitinga... //

ada paavingala...soin a udhaikanum

//Namba peter akka (Uncanny) epadi blog naala nalanchi figures a correct panramathiri... //

LOL :D suthi suthi..srirangathuku kareeta vanthureenga :D :D

//hmmm, seekaram intha mathiri techniques naanum kathukraen...//

laks..better start blogging..so eager to read ur posts.. :) kammentslaye ivlo kalaai..uncannya poatu thaaki oru pathu post podunga unga blogla :D
gils said…
//Judas strain- like the name!!" - why this statement, tell me the truth, chumma potta bit thaena... hehe kandu pidichitaen parthiya./

hahahaaa.....asaramaa adichi aadreenga..nadakattum nadakattum :D uncanny as usual total damage :D
gils said…
//lakshmi - inime post padikkarthukku munnala comment thaan padikka poren....jus enjoying every bit of your comment..//

hahaahha

enakum athaan thonuthu..pesama postnu title matum potutu laks a vitu comment poda solida poren :D her comments are more lively than the post :D
gils said…
//Bt dan brown - the lost symbol enakku suthamaa pidikkala..aracha maave thiruppi arachaa maathiri irunthaathu...And liberal quoting of hindu mythology seen and athumattum thaan ennala relate panna mudinjathu, masons pathi ellam avaroda previous novels la sonnathaala, ithu rasikkala../

:D lost symboluku oru review potrunthen ..time kedacha padichi parunga..

statutory warning: booka vida review konjam perusa irukum :D
lakshmi said…
//pesama postnu title matum potutu laks a vitu comment poda solida poren :D her comments are more lively than the post :D //

Adapavingala... alae illatha kadaiku tea atha solrengalae... enna kalaikiringala illa praise panreengala nae theriyala...
gils said…
//enna kalaikiringala illa praise panreengala nae theriyala../


chaaachaaa...kalaikaratha..ungalaayaaa...no no :)
gils said…
neenga blog open panunga..kalaikarathelam aprum parunga :D
TheUncanny said…
Lakshmi doge..nadu vittu nadu vanthu un terrorist vellaya arambichitiya....pakki..me the maintaining decency becoz its a public forum..dont prod and wake up the sleeping tiger in me(translate into tamil and read) terror ah irukum..
TheUncanny said…
chennaigirl and gils

DO NOT ENCOURAGE HER!!!..avlo thaan solliputaen!
TheUncanny said…
Btw, gils..

The name "judas strain" totally appealed to me,and it was a genuine comment..u have to support me on this gils and not take her side...

Hey lakshmi,

Unnaku ennade theriyum literature pathilam....nee last- ah padicha book riot thaaanae (5 years back)? ;) ...ennaku theriyum!!! i also know y u read that book de!!!
TheUncanny said…
Gils, The uncanny will open whole lot of can of worms soon abt lachumi!!! wait and watch!!!
lostworld said…
bayangra marathon reading-aa gils?! I haven't read this author. Thank you for the review. very interesting!! I didn't like "Lost Symbol" at all - hopefully these books will revive my interest in symbolism and the like;)

Currently reading 'Hobbit'. I love fantasy!!
PM said…
//statutory warning: booka vida review konjam perusa irukum :D
//
Actual ah book ah vida review nallah irunthathu....Book padikkarthukku minndai i should have gone thro ur review..
Ur views and mine are same...

@theuncanny - //chennaigirl and gils
DO NOT ENCOURAGE HER!!!..avlo thaan solliputaen!//

ENCOURAGE - neenga enna solreenga, enakku ethuvum theriyathupaa...
lakshmi said…
ahha singam(Uncanny) kelambiduchae... :)) Seri Lakshmi's confession - "Lakshmi agiya naan, inimae Uncanny patri unmai yethuvum paesa mataen.. che.. sorry one small correction. Uncanny patri ethuvum kalaika mataen.. She is the gem, My jigidi thosth... and i am gonna support her n encourage her in all her posts (Gonna prove it via comments in her blogs). Itharku satchi yengal kalai sangam (Gils n chennai girl).

@chennai girl n Gils
Kalai sangam ok va!
gils said…
//Lakshmi doge..nadu vittu nadu vanthu un terrorist vellaya arambichitiya....pakki..me the maintaining decency becoz its a public forum..dont prod and wake up the sleeping tiger in me(translate into tamil and read) terror ah irukum../


singi onru purapattathay..
laksku raahukaalam.. thondagirichi..
neram
nerungidichi :D :D
gils said…
//chennaigirl and gils

DO NOT ENCOURAGE HER!!!..avlo thaan solliputaen!//

en courage un courage endru ega vasanam vendaam..uncanny avargalay.."singi"kalukul charchai irukalam..sandai thavirkka
gils said…
/The name "judas strain" totally appealed to me,and it was a genuine comment..u have to support me on this gils and not take her side../

u knw wat uncanny..i was also drawn by tht title only :D :D religious symbolism mathiri kathai polantu thaan padika started..athu literal meaning ila figurativenu kathai padika arambichaprum thaan terinjithu :D
gils said…
//Gils, The uncanny will open whole lot of can of worms soon abt lachumi!!! wait and watch!!!/


hiiiii :) ithu nallarukay..gud gud :D seekrama staaart maadi :D
gils said…
//bayangra marathon reading-aa gils?! //

:D :D jus now realised..overa review potutennu :D athu oru flowla vanthiruchi..by luck i ended up with book after book of the same author..

//I haven't read this author.//

give it a try..and let us know ur feedback..rollinsku oc PR panitruken :D


//Currently reading 'Hobbit'. I love fantasy!!/

hobbit...tolkein booka?? sounds interesting..wl chk it out..thanks.
gils said…
//ENCOURAGE - neenga enna solreenga, enakku ethuvum theriyathupaa.../

LOL :D paavam..chennai gal merandu poirukaanga nenakren :D
gils said…
//Uncanny patri unmai yethuvum paesa mataen.. che.. sorry one small correction. Uncanny patri ethuvum kalaika mataen..//

hahaha..direct velikuthu :D

// Itharku satchi yengal kalai sangam (Gils n chennai girl).

@chennai girl n Gils
Kalai sangam ok va!//

enna laks..ipdi chappunu poidichay..ithuku best result..nenga blog open panrathu thaan
lakshmi said…
//laksku raahukaalam.. thondagirichi..
neram
nerungidichi //

//en courage un courage endru ega vasanam vendaam..uncanny avargalay.."singi"kalukul charchai irukalam..sandai thavirkka//

Gilsu.. "raahukaalam".. "sandai"... y big big words.. neenga vaera ava counter kuduka theriyama paesina, namba adangiduvoma... My kalaai will continue.. :) coz this is been happening this way for the past 7yrs nothing can be changed (Uncanny's fate)

@Uncanny
Paru de... everbody started thinkin that uve got frustrated coz o my comments. U shud do something for this..
On behalf of Uncanny.. "sabaiya santha padutha, Uncanny avargal elorukum elavasamaga biriyani potalum vangi tharuvargal.."
gils said…
//sabaiya santha padutha, Uncanny avargal elorukum elavasamaga biriyani potalum vangi tharuvargal.. //

LOL :D biryani potlama :D arasial kootamavay akiyacha :D
inime post podardhuku munnadi email anupanum okay? only after i reply and say am waiting, you have to click "publish".

dammit am sick of being the 39th or 40th all the time. :x i wish those golden days come back where we only mutually commented on each others' blogs.. :D
gils said…
LOL...soor kedi :D :D adutha postunu onnu poata kandipa ungalta solren :D

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