Five Star Billionaire - Tash Aw

Five Star Billionaire was long listed for this year's Man Booker prize, however has lost out on the race for the Booker. And therefore it should go on to say a lot about the ones that have made it through the short list, for reading this book is an absolute delight. This book, inspires you to rise beyond your meager means, beyond the most trying of times both emotionally and financially, to rise after every fall. It's about the ups and downs of five individuals in the city of Shanghai, who have all moved into the city to fulfill their ambitions, their dreams, disillusioned in their search for success and who they really are.

The first of these individuals is Phoebe, an immigrant from rural China, who with the help of self help books wants to land herself a rich man,  so that she is able to experience all the luxuries of the world. And therefore all her efforts are driven around grooming herself to become the woman every rich guy wants to be with. But is sadly born with a conscience. The second individual is Gary, a singer who becomes an overnight sensation after winning a reality TV show and soon as with all celebrities his every movement starts getting tracked by the media and is what tabloid headlines are all about. Therein starts his disillusionment with limelight he seems to suddenly find himself in. He finds himself weighed down by the expectations of his fans, the media, his managing company etc. Very soon his days of fame are over as he finds more singers like him ready to take his place and realises the fickleness of good fortune.  The third story is Yinghui, a pseudo intellectual back in her hey days, who after a sullen past relationship ends up being a successful business woman. The fourth protagonist in this story is Justin Lin,  who once upon a time was a very successful business man, the so called deal breaker, Mr. Dependable but one day finds himself lost in the charade of a life he seems to have created for himself and gives up his family business leaving his family in the lurch to finally start doing something of his accord. The fifth but not the last character is Walter Chao, the five star billionaire, who comes from an extremely humble background and seems to have made it big in life through his hard work and determination, solely driven by an incident in his childhood. These are all people who have been dealt heavy blows by fate and have been left humbled by it. This book tells you the story of these individuals and their entwined fates in the setting of nouveau riche China.

What makes the story powerful, is one easily connects with these characters and finds a little bit of themselves in each. Makes for a good read.

Oleander Girl - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I know I should have been reviewing "A Suitable Boy" and as it appears it's too much of mammoth tast to keep carrying it around and reading it in your spare time. And so to save trouble I picked Oleander girl up, and thank God I did. The only other book which I had read of Divakaruni's was the Palace of Illusions, which I clearly remember quiet enjoying to read. But to be frank I had bought this book on a whim since Amazon had this awesome independence day sale on and I had to pay only a 180 bucks for this book.

So the story is about Korobi, who was orphaned as a child and had been bought up by his grandparents. She is all set to get married to Rajat, who ofcourse is extremely good looking and from a well to do family. But on the fateful night of her engagement her grandfather dies of a heart attack and for which Korobi feels responsible. But after his death, her grandmother who wants to correct all the wrongs done to Korobi and wants to undo all the lies, reveals a life altering secret to her. A secret that takes her all the way to the US.

In the background of this journey, are other characters, other little stories about Rajat's past, his family business not doing too well and communal violence and distrust.

What I really liked about this book, is how well the Divakaruni gets her characters right, and not just them the relationships between them. The chinks in the armour of the strongest. The supposedly weak, becoming the pillars of strength pulling people together. The importance of righteousness, of trust, of honesty and of companionship. All in all, it's a very feel good book but on a more serious note than what I remember Palace of Illusions to be, which was a whole lot more witty and funny. But of course the theme of the books were completely different.

All in all, it's book you will breeze through easily.