The Alchemist

The Alchemist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: The Alchemist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Main characters: Santiago, the Alchemist, Fatima, Urim, Thummim, Melchizedek – the king of Salem and the English men.

Description of one of the Main characters: Santiago is a sixteen year boy who wants to follow his dream. He has many adventures while trying to follow his dream. At last he meets the alchemist who explains to Santiago about Santiago's dream and shows him where the treasure which came in his dream can be found. Santiago finds his treasure and becomes rich. He goes back to Spain, his home.

Whom I like and why: I like the Alchemist as he teaches Santiago to fight, to talk to nature and also helps him to follow his dream.

Whim I dislike and why: I dislike Urim and Thummim as they sometimes drove Santiago into danger.

Setting/theme of the story: A young boy named Santiago tries to follow his dream and while doing that he has many adventures. He meets the ALchemist who helps him follow his dream. He goes from Spain to Egypt and there, learns the treasure he was seeking was back in Spain. So he goes there again and finds the treasure. He becomes rich and lives happily. 

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Santiago escapes from thieves who try to steal Urim and Thummim.

Gladiator – Street Fighter

Title: Gladiator – Street Fighter

Author: Simon Scarrow

Main Characters: Marcus, Decimus, Pompeius, Gaius Julius Caesar, Portia, Brixus, Ferax, Milo, Bibilious and Festus.

Description of one of the main characters: Marcus is a eleven year old boy. He is the bodyguard of Portia. He earns Gaius Julius Caesar’s, his master’s, respect by saving the life of Portia and Caesar himself. He spies on Milo and his street gangs for Caesar as Milo is Caesar’s sworn enemy. At last, when he saves Caesar from his death, planned carefully by Decimus and Bibilious, Marcus earns his freedom from slavery as a reward. He sets about finding his mother, Amaratis(Livia).

Whom I like and why: I like Gaius Julius Caesar as he is very fair and not very cruel to his loyal servants. He gives them proper rewards. He does things for the welfare of the people. He is Portia’s uncle.

Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Decimus because he is very cunning. He tries to kill Julius Caesar by giving poison. But Marcus finds that it contains poison and pushes it out of Caesar’s hand in time.

Setting/theme of the story: As Marcus becomes the slave of Caesar and is the bodyguard of Portia, he comes to Caesar’s house in Rome. He is trained by Festus, a soldier in Caesar’s army. Marcus learns to fight with all kinds of weapons quickly. He saves Portia’s life when two kidnappers from Milo’s street gangs try to kidnap her. As Caesar’s spy, he goes to the pit – where Milo and his street gangs live – and works as a house slave in Milo’s house. He hears all the secrets spoken by Milo and Bibilius and tells them to Caesar. He saves Caesar’s life when Decimus tries to give Caesar poison. Later Bibilious challenges Caesar to call a fight, with one of their gladiators versus Marcus, if he dares. So Marcus is sent into the arena and he meets his old enemy Ferax as his opponent again. This time he kills the celt and earns Caesar even more glory from the people. So, Caesar gives him freedom from his slavery as  reward for being loyal and serving him. Marcus sets bout finding his mother, Amaratis(Livia).

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part where the street gangs of the pit fight with the street gangs of Rome.

Gladiator – Fight for Freedom

Title : Gladiator – Fight for Freedom

Author: Simom Scarrow.

Main characters: Marcus, Titus, Amaratis (Livia), Decimus, Pompeius, Spartacus, Gaius Julius Caesar, Portia, Porcino, Brixus, Phyrus, Pelleneus, Spiro, Taurus, Amatus and Ferax.

Description of one of the main characters: Titus is a centurian working for Rome under Pompeius, the Great. He pretends to be the father of Marcus. He borrows a lot of money from Decimus that he couldn’t return it. So Titus is killed by Decimus’s men, and Marcus and his mother, Livia, are taken as slaves. Titus is a kind and fair man. He was centurion of the 17^th century. He fought on Rome’s side and during the slave’s revolt. He once saved Pompeius’s life.

Whom I like and why: I like Phyrus. He is strong and bulky. When Phyrus was a little boy he was sold to an Athenian woman as a household slave. He is originally from Rhodes, not Athens. Phyrus is kind and soft. He hates Ferax as Ferax is a bully. Phyrus likes Marcus and Pelleneus very much.

Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Ferax as he is a bully. Ferax is a huge celt. He is strong. He is the sworn enemy of Marcus. He gets defeated, in front of Gaius Julius Caesar and Caesar’s family, by Marcus. After that he is teased by the class by calling him ‘mouse bait’(he is nicknamed 'mouse bait' as he is spared from death by Marcus).

Setting/theme of the story: A eleven year old boy, named Marcus stays with his father, Titus a centurian who faought under Pompeius in the slave revolt, in a farm. Titus borrows too much money from Decimus, so Decimus's men kill Titus and take Marcus and his mother Livia as slaves. Marcus escapes and his mother gets caught. He travels from Dyrrhacium to Brundicium in a ship named Fairwind. While travelling, a lanista named Porcino buys him as a slave for a hundred and fifty denarii. Marcus is taken to a gladiator school and is trained to be a gadiator. He gets a celt enemy named Ferax. Amatus trains Marcus very well. One day when Gaius Julius Caesar comes with his family to look at the Gladiator school, Ferax and Marcus are in a deadly fight. One of the Caesar’s family members sees it and wants it as a special programme. During the fight in the arena, Marcus defats Ferax. Caesar orders Marcus to fight with wolves. Marcus fights with wolves and while trying to kill them, Caesar’s niece, Portia, falls into the arena. Marcus saves her by killing the wolves. So, Julius Caesar decides to make Marcus as Portia’s body guard. While travelling from the Gladiator’s school to Rome, Brixus, one of the slaves who had escaped from Porcino’s house met Marcus. Brixus had always been Marcus’s favorite. Marcus knew that Brixus had fought in the slave revolt supporting the slaves. While they meet Brixus tells Marcus that Marcus is Spartacus’s son and not Titus’s son. Though Marcus didn't want to believe the news, he knows whatever Brixus said was true. Marcus was born a slave and is a slave.

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Marcus fights all the men on the Fairwind single handedly to get a loaf of bread.

Wisha Wozzriter

Title: Wisha Wozzariter

Author: Payal Kapadia

Main Characters: Bookworm, Wisha Wozzariter, Pruforck, Mr. Frugal and Sikes.

Description of one of the main characters: The Bookworm shows Wisha where to get her heroes, where to get a new idea, where to find her own style and finally stop wishing and start writing. He shows her how to end her story. He helps her by giving her observation spectacles and by showing her the thought express.

Whom I dislike and why: I like Prufrock very much. She is a mouse. She saves Wisha when Sikes tries to kill her. She is the hero of Wisha.

Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Sikes because he tries to kill Wisha for the ‘Card of Luck’.

Setting/theme of the story: Wisha Wozzariter loves to read books. She always wishes she is a writer. Then she suddenly meets a bookworm. The bookworm takes her on the marketplace of Ideas, to the thrift shop where she gets Prufrock and at last he makes  her eat the Truth Sandwich, which tells her the story she has to write – the story of how she became a writer. Wisha stops wishing and starts writing.

Part I enjoyed the most:

I enjoyed the part when Pruforck bites Spike in the leg when he tries to kill Wisha and steal the 'Card of Luck.'

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

"He met with a severe fall" from Wallace Goldsmith's illustrations to Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville was still in the Canterville Chase which the Otis family from America had bought from Lord Canterville. The Otis family were sure that there was nothing called ghost. They told Lord Canterville that they would be happy to buy a ghost and have it at home, if there was any. The ghost first tried to make blood stains in the living room. But Washington Otis rubbed the stain off using Pinkerton’s champion stain remover and Paragon Detergent, an American product. Next, the ghost tried to frighten Mr.Otis by rattling his rusty chains. But Mr.Otis advised the ghost to use Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator, another American product and told the ghost not to disturb again. When the Canterville ghost angrily flung the bottle and broke it, the twins woke up and flung pillows at the ghost. Next the ghost tried to frighten Mrs.Otis by laughing its weird loud laughter but Mrs.Otis thought that it was because of indigestion and suggested a product from America. The ghost got tired of trying to frighten the new family from America. Only Virginia Otis did not advise, comment or tease the ghost. So the ghost approached Virginia and asked her to free him from being a ghost. So young Virginia went with the ghost to the place where the ghosts die and let him free there. Virginia came back home and told her family about the death of the Canterville ghost. The Otis family felt sad.


The part I enjoyed the most in ‘The Canterville Ghost’ is when Mr.Otis said that considering the length of time the ghost was there in that house, it was not polite for the twins to throw pillows at the ghost.

Kane Chronicles : The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid (novel) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Djed pillar, and ancient Egyptian symbol meaning 'stability', is the symbolic backbone of the god Osiris. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

bw version of the Eye of Horus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Kane Chronicles : The Red Pyramid

Author: Rick Riordan

Main Characters: Carter Kane, Sadie Kane, Julius Kane, Amos, Zia, Iskander, Isis, Bast, Horus, Set, Nephthys, Khufu, Thoth, Anubis, Osiris, Desjardins, Apophis and Ra.

Description of one the main characters: Julius Kane is a brilliant scientist. He is also a magician of the House of life. He is from the ancient blood of pharohs. He tries to bring back Osiris, but unfortunately brings back all the five major Gods of Egypt including the Set, the evil God of chaos. Set, imprisons Orisis and Julius Kane, in a golden coffin.

Whom I like and why: I like Bast very much. She protects Sadie and Carter when they go on a quest to the old Egyptian king. Bast had fought Apophis when she was younger. She was imprisoned with Apophis, the evil, so that she could always fight him and keep him away from the mortal world.

Setting/Theme of the story: When Sadie, Carter and their father Julius Kane go on a outing to the British museum Julius Kane blows up the old Rosetta stone in the museum and unleashes the five Gods of Egypt including Set, the evil God of chaos. Set traps Julius with Osiris in a golden coffin. Sadie and Carter flee for their lives. They meet their uncle, Amos, and stays with him in the House of Life, Twenty-first Nome in Brooklyn. Muffin turns into Bast, the Goddess of Cats, who protects the two children in their terrifying quest to save their father. During the quest they visit the first Nome where Iskander teaches them some magic. They become friends with Zia. Then, suddenly Iskander dies and Desjardins wants to kill Sadie and Carter. Zia help them escape. Finally Sadie and Carter understands that they are hosts of Horus and Isis. They fight Set and free Osiris. Their father becomes the host of Osiris. They go back to the twenty-first Nome in Brooklyn.

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Sadie and Carter make Set swear that he will help them and the other Gods. They also make him swear that he will not trouble the mortals. He is sent ack into the Duat, the residence of Gods.

My First Novel : Wizile

I have published my first novel as an ebook and sharing it free for your reading. Please read the novel and share your comments here. My brother Sanjay Varadharajan did the illustrations.

My First 300 Book Reviews: Links for 1-25

My First 100 Book Reviews: Links for 1-25

1. The Wizard Of Oz   
2.  Anne Of Green Gables
3. The Famous Five (The Five Are Together Again)
4. Alice Adventures In Wonderland
5. Peter Pan
6. The Secret Garden
7. The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe
8. Oliver Twist
9. Anne Of Avonlea
10. Wind In The Willows
11. Through The Looking Glass
12. Five Children And It
13. The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer
14. Pollyanna
15. The Adventures Of Robin Hood
16. Pygmalion
17. Famous Five (Five Go Down To The Sea)
18. First Term At Malory Towers
19. The Indian In The Cupboard
20. Treasure Island 
21. Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm
22. Famous Five (Five Go Off In A Caravan)
23. Famous Five (Five On Kirrin Island Again)
24. Swami and Friends
25. The Enchanted Wood

The Prophecy Of The Stones

Cover of The Prophecy of the Stones: A Novel

Title: The Prophecy Of The Stones

Author: Flavia Bujor

Main Characters: Amber, Opal, Jade, Duke of Divulyon, Elaydor, Adrien, Jean Losserand, Elfohrys, The twelve councilors, The thirteenth councilor, warriors, Knight of order and Oonagh.

Description of one of the main characters: Amber is a poor country girl. She is kind. She is one of the stones. She is the one who convinced everybody that Elaydor is the chosen one.

Whom I like and why:I like Jade very much. She is intelligent. She gives an idea to kill the councilors.

Whom I dislike and why:I dislike the thirteenth councilor because he is wicked. He tries to kill the whole world using the knights of order.

Setting/theme of the story: Three girls of age 14 - Opal, Jade and Amber set out on a journey to Fairy tale, as they are the three stones. They meet a Knight from fairy tale named Adrien. With his help, they enter Fairytale. Meanwhile, the chosen one, Elaydor, comes to Fairytale with his fiend Elfohrys. The Council members try to capture Fairytale, the only free world. Elaydor leads the war with the help of 3 girls and their stones. They defeat the council and peace comes. But peace cannot be there for long as where there is good there is always bad.

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Opal, Amber and Jade meet during their 14th birthday.

Parthiban Kanavu (Dream of Parthiban)

Title: Parthiban Kanavu (Dream of Parthiban)

Author: Kalki. R. Krishnamurthy

Translated By: Dr. M. S.Venkatraman

Main Characters: Ponnan, Valli, Vikraman, Arul Mozhi Devi, King Parthiban, Veerabadra Aachaari, Sivanadiyar, Narasimha Pavallan, Kundavi Devi and Marappa Bhupathi.

Description of one of the main character: King Parthiban was the king of the Chola Nadu before Narasimha Pallavan, the ruler of Pallavas won it in the battle. King Parthiban has a son named Vikraman. He had many dreams such as capturing many northern states and to capture islands far away. He was a brave king.

Setting/theme of the story: King Parthiban died in the war between the Chola Nadu and the Pallavas. The war was held because King Parthiban refused to pay tributes to Narasimha Pallavan. After the war, King Parthiban's son, Vikraman launched an attack on Narasimha Pallavan with the help of his uncle Marappa Bhupathi. Half-way through the attack, Marappa Bhupathi betrayed Vikraman by leaving the boy fight on his own. So, Vikraman was captured and was brought to the Pallava king's palace in Kanchi. He was exiled. The young prince went to Shanbagam Island while his mother lived in Casanthe Theevu. Vikraman started ruling Shanbagam Island. He came back to Chola Nadu to see his mother. He was disguised as a gem trader He fell ill and the Princess Kundavi rescued him. When Narasimha Pallavan found out that Vikraman had come to Chola Nadu disguised as a gem  trader, knowing that he would be punished if found out, was surprised by the bravery of the prince. He married his young daughter Kundavi to Vikraman and gave the Chola Nadu to him as an independent state which need not pay tributes. Slowly Parthiban's dream got fulfilled when Vikraman and his successors conquered many places. The Chola warriors hoisted the Tiger flag, near the Ganges in the north, and beyond the seas in the east on the Kaadaaram Island. Parhiban's dream was to become reality 300 after Parthiban's death in the battlefield.

School Of Wizardry

Source: scholastic.co.in 

Title: School Of Wizardry

Author: Debra Doyle

Main Characters: Randal, Lys, Madoc, Pullen, Balpesh, Nick, Laerg and Crannach.

Description of one of the main characters: Nick is a wizard apperntice. His full name is Nicolas. He has been an apprentice for almost 8 years now. This is the longest unbroken apprenticeship in the history of the Schola (their way saying school).

Whom I like and Why: I like Lys because she is very good at singing and playing on the lute. She is also very kind and nice to others.

Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Laerg as he is wicked. He uses his intelligence in a wrong way. He is the one who has taken the shortest time in the Schola history to complete the apprenticeship. He just took two years.

Setting/Theme of the Story: Randal strongly wants to be a wizard. He runs away from home and follows Madoc, a master wizard. Madoc thinks that this boy cannot make himself a wizard and sends him away. But after much pleading, Randal is taken to the Schola by Madoc. There, Randal is tested and then accepted by the Tegents of the Schola - Pullen, Laerg, Balpesh, Madoc and Crannach. He puts all his efforts but they go in vain. He somehow passes his 1st testing of apprenticeship. Master Laerg suddenly offers to help Randal in his progress. Randal improves suddenly and within two days he could even do summoning charms which are considered to be most difficult. But Randal feels uneasy. He starts getting strange dreams after he accepts help from Laerg. One day Laerg reveals that he is going to kill everybody and also destroy the Schola. He also says that he is going to kill Randal first. Randal draws his knight sword, which he hasn't used for 3 years and kills Laerg. He is praised for his bravery and he becomes a journeyman (the next level in Schola).

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part where Randal extinguishes all the lamps with his own willpower.

The Chronicles Of Narnia- The Silver Chair

Map of Narnian world as described in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: The Chronicles Of Narnia- The Silver Chair

Author: C.S. Lewis

Main Characters: Prince Rhilian, King Caspian, Eustace, Jill, Puddlegum, Earthmen, The Queen of underland, slan, The Gentle Giants and The Giants of Ettinsmoor.

Description of one of the main characters: Puddlegum is a Narnian Marsh Wiggle who travels along with Jill and Eustace in search of Prince Rhilian. He is very brave. He is a very sensible Marsh-wiggle. He is very tall with long limbs and a witch sort of hat over his head.

Whom I like and Why: I like Jill as she is very brave and ready for adventures. She is very good at getting information from the enemies. She is very intelligent and shewrd. She is a kind girl.

Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike the Gentle Giants as they act gentle but they eat man pies and the talking animals of Narnia. They also eat marsh-wiggle purebloods of Narnia. They attract travellers to kill them and have feast.

Setting/Theme of the Story: Prince Rhilian, the son of King Caspian, is held in control by the wicked Queen of the underland. He is kept under the spell of the silver chair. When the silver chair is broken Prince Rhilian will becomes himself once agin. So two children named Jill and Eustace are sent in search of Prince Rhilian with a marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum by Aslan. They find Prince Rhilian and kill the Queen of underland. When they return to Narnia they find King Caspian dead. So Rhilian become the king of Narnia and spell of silver chair is broken.

Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Rhilian is freed form the spell of silver chair and the queen dies of anger.

Different ending: King Caspian finds his son and once when the spell of the Silver Chair is broken. Rhilian's mother comes alive. Everybody becomes happy. Jill and Eustace come back to their own land and find themselves back in the experiment house.

Check Your Reading Speed

Source: Staples eReader Department

Inheritance- Inheritance book Four

Inheritance (book) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Inheritance Cycle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Inheritance- Inheritance book Four

Author: Christopher Paolini

Main Characters:  Eragon, Arya, Nasuda, Orik, Murtagh, Saphira , Thorn, Shruikan, Galbatorix, Firnen, Gladr, Islanzadi, Jeod, Umaroth, King Half-paw, Nor Garzhvog, Roran, Katrina, Horst, Elain, Albrich, Bador and Barst.

Description of one of the main characters: Roran Stronghammer is the son of Garrow. He is the cousin of Eragon. He helps the Varden fight Galbatorix in the battle. He kills the wicked king Barst. He is very brave. He defeats many by using Hammer as a weapon and earns the tittle Stronghammer. He captures Aroughs and many other cities for Nasuda, which was under Galbatorix's control.

Whom I like and why: I like Arya because she is a brave elf. After Islanzadi's death, Arya becomes the queen of elves. Firnen, the green dragon hatches for her. She is a rider. She kills Shruikan.

Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Shruikan because he serves Galbatorix. He becomes Galbatorix's second dragon.

Setting/theme of the story: Eragon fights with the Varden to defeat Galbatorix. Meanwhile Murtagh tries to change his character so that his real name will change and he can be free from Galbatorix. But Murtagh is still under the control of Galbatorix. Galbotorix orders Murtagh to bring Nasuda to Urubaen and he does so. Eragon along with spell-casters, Saphira and Elva goes to Galbatorix's palace in order to save Nasuda. There he defeats Galbatorix and kills him. Arya kills Shruikan. Eragon and Saphira become the masters after Oromis and Gladr when they find hundreds of dragon eggs hidden. They go to a far away place to train the riders.