A study in scarlet By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A study in scarlet By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
… The science of deduction 
A study in a scarlet is a suspense/thriller novel set in 19th century London. The novel begins through the perspective of Dr. Watson who is the narrator in the first and the last parts of the novel. The protagonist is Mr. Sherlock Holmes who uses his deductions to draw conjectures in different cases and claims to be able to go from the result to the arguments.

It is difficult to be a fair judge of this work since what was cunning in forensics in the 19th century is no more startling now. At some point of time it might look to the reader that the author is forcing arguments on him to make the story look definitive. Hence the arguments drawn and the conclusions did not seem very much novel. This must be taken with a pinch of salt, as it might also be the case that the detective stories we see now were ,to a great extent, inspired by the tales of Sherlock Holmes and hence the source of inspiration itself seems a cliché. That is all that I can say about the story.The Character development of this work is quite laudable. The reticent, clever, and petulant nature of Sherlock Holmes is quite subtly presented at times if not incongruously mentioned in the description itself. The writing style is fairly easy to get used to, more so if the reader has read some other British novels. The way this story is presented is also quite unique and, as I conjecture, daring for an author of 19th century. While this book did not strike me as an out-an-out winner, it sure is worth reading considering that its reputation precedes its name.

My Man Jeeves Review

My Man Jeeves By P.G Wodehouse
…“Burglars never shoot,” said Bill. Which was comforting provided the burglars knew it. 

This book is a collection of humorous short stories by P.G Wodehouse based on life of the protagonist Mr. Wooster and his valet Mr. Jeeves. The stories are mostly unrelated but sill loosely connected and similar theme based.

The best thing about this book is that its humor is unbidden, for the readers, as well as I suspect the author himself. It does not stand in the league of Leacock’s effortless wit, but it is sure to make you laugh. The language is British dialectical with words like “chummy”, “rummy” and “Johnny” sliced between every two sentences. Flow of thoughts is fairly easy to grasp. The reader does not feel any stress while turning the pages. Some stories are fairly predictable, some partially predictable. It is recommended that the reader does not try to jump to the ending but enjoy the dialogues and hidden satire. The culture of New York has been brought in not so close parallels with Britain. What I mean to say is that the book is sort of a farce based in and, at times, on New York. I feel the author could have put more variety of material in this book. Some of the stories will seem too similar for their own good. However, a few are so mischievous that they are sure to make you pat yourself for buying this book. It is recommended for everyone who wants to have a good laugh in his or her idle days.

Proposed Roads to Freedom Review

Proposed Roads to Freedom- By Bertrand Russell
…The intensity of faith has diminished as the number of believers has increased 
Bertrand Russell is a brilliant man. I can’t reiterate the previous sentence enough to exhibit the magnitude of this belief about him that I have developed not through the wont of a young man to find a role model but through experience. I have now read at least four of his works and cannot resort to nitpicking this time. What remains to be read is his autobiography. To be perfectly honest, I’m saving it for the days I lose hope in the society, or think human existence meaningless. It will become my saving grace then; for no person has influenced me as much as Bertrand Russell.

The clarity of thoughts with which Bertrand Russell expresses his opinions is a veritable harbinger of high fidelity to logic. The way he bases his arguments on suppositions that he never forgets to convey to the reader renders all his works very concrete. His thoughts on matters of economy and society are not beads of a diamond necklace but impalpable steps of strong mathematical induction. This work is just the same: It discusses anarchy, socialism, and syndicalism in a great detail in an attempt to find the best road to freedom. Bertrand Russell not only demonstrates the flaws of each of these systems but also suggests ways to eliminate these flaws. The work culminates with a beautiful picture of a near-perfect society where all- artists, scientists and workers will flourish. I recommend this book to all who want to have a happily ever after.

The Future Of Science Review

The Future Of Science By Bertrand Russell
..the man who acts from pure selfishness does less damage than the man who is actuated by “public spirit.” 

The best part of any Bertrand Russell book is the conclusion he draws from his prognostications and theories. It is almost always what a reader has in mind in after reading the whole text. This gives the reader, a certain confidence in the interpretation of Bertrand Russell. This confidence may well in the end induce him to act for the good of the society. The future of science is no exception. Some of conclusions that Bertrand Russell has drawn are so motivating and convincing that the society may learn from them even now.

This book outlines what Bertrand Russell thinks may happen in future. Some of his predictions, astonishingly, actually stand true today though they could have been seen as incredible or even inept at that time. All those excited about psychology have been admonished by him not to think themselves as the better judge of what is “good” for the society. For example, if short nose is considered to be beautiful today, it may as well be the ugliest thing in the future. However growth may be seen in eugenics in the future, the question of morality will forever blind human beings to the realization of its principles. Bertrand Russell also makes a strong case of winning the world by brute force and then turning into a world power rather than separate national entities. All in all, this book is a brilliant read and recommended for all those who want to be inspired by true men of Science.

Manifesto of the communist party

Manifesto of the communist party By Karl Marx
    ...The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. 

It is more often than not seen that literature on historical movements loses its significance with time. This book ,however, is a paradigm of the opposite. Karl Marx has not only described the philosophy of communism, but has also taken up the cudgels on the behalf of the communists and answered each accusation rhetorically.

This book first describes what communism preaches, then addresses charges against communisms, censures bourgeois for manipulating the meaning of “freedom”,”property” and “reward” and finally describes how communism is being forwarded in each country. The writing is not readily comprehensible and might take getting used to. This is because all the statements of this book assume that the reader has a background of the world when this movement emerged.Hence, It is esoteric in the sense that it will be comprehended by historians and politics students more efficaciously than by the general readers. Also, the statements given in this book seem to be deducing general principles from general principles ,thus lowering the logical soundness of this work. Notwithstanding these flaws, this book will make the reader understand human fixation to “changing the world”. It will, at a juncture, even project that communists are striving just for “change” with or without betterment. In the end the reader must ask himself whether Polybius’ sequence of anacyclosis: monarchy to kingship to tyranny to aristocracy to oligarchy to democracy to ochlocracy will ever stop and whether people will ever grow tire of “change”.

Behind the Beyond Review

Behind the Beyond By Stephen Leacock
  ...Tea in a problem play is the same as whisky in a melodrama 


Behind the Beyond is a collection of humorous short stories based on satire, irony and situational humor. These stories include grand backdrops like the chateau of versailles and Moulin Rouge of Paris as well as commonplace backdrops like the dentist’s and Hair saloon. The stories have themes like fear, apprehension, hyperbole, adventure and boredom.

Each story in this gamut of tales will overwhelm the reader so much as to kill him with hysteria. The wit ,of Leacock, is downrightly quick and malignant. Even the most austere critics will not be able to contain their chuckles while reading these stories. The sentence structure is easy to read if the reader does not fall from fits of laughter. One of the most amusing feature of this book is that the lines end abruptly and give the reader just enough time to understand the humor. This makes the humor unprecedented and unpredictable, which makes these stories all the more covetable. It is difficult to understand why some parts make one laugh when really there is nothing extraordinary about them. One must just accept ,at the end, that this is because of earnestness of writing,stupendous timing and great sense of humor of Leacock. I must confess that this book is the greatest piece of comic literature, nay, art that I have known. It is recommend to all who have even a little appetite for comedy.

The Turn Of The Screw

The Turn Of The Screw By Henry James
        ..What does he matter now, my own? 

This is a horror/ thriller novella about a governess who experiences some supernatural phenomena while taking care of her charges. A rich young man sends her to take care of his nephew and niece and instructs her to not bother him in any way. However simple the storyline may seem, the writing style has made it difficult to assimilate.

Henry Jame’s writing style is intentionally ambiguous, unstructured and misleading. It seems that he wants his readers to interpret the story by finding clues or explanation externally. The words he chooses are bloated with emotions. Each character responds preternaturally to simple situations;but in the situations which are paranormal, they appear quite at peace. In other words,the author has magnified the normal and undermined the paranormal as if to show that there is nothing extraordinary in the supernatural and human emotions are more prodigious than effect of ghosts. Unfortunately, complicated sentence structure and the careless use of modifiers have rendered this tale unfit for consumption by occasional readers. The language seems so pretentious at some junctures as to overpower the genuine emotions of characters the author had intended to describe. The novella lacks the character development of Dostoevsky ,romance of Oscar Wilde ,Persistence of Charles Dickens and economy of Bertrand Russel. In toto, despite the psychoanalytical interpretations that this work is capable of, it in no way stands its own reputation. This novel is recommend only if it is the only work the reader possesses.

The Problems Of Philosophy

The Problems Of Philosophy By Bertrand Russel
...while diminishing our feeling of certainty as to what things are, philosophy greatly increases our knowledge as to what they may be

This book outlines various problems of philosophy about which positive and constructive criticism is possible. Since metaphysical elements do not easily stand the criticism, this book is largely based upon epistemological elements. Topics like Appearance, reality, matter, idealism, induction, a priori knowledge are covered briefly, to give the reader a romp through philosophy.

Bertrand Russel stands his own reputation well through this book.Though it deals with some of the most abstract topics of philosophy,it is easy to read and follow. The writing is succinct, coherent and meaningful. Words are economically used without ambiguity. The content is carefully written so as to avoid prejudices or favoritism. Bertrand Russel plainly gives the accounts of different philosophers , and compares them logically. He is very cautious as not to deduce any general result from the aforementioned comparison.He attempts to uncover the real meaning behind terms like “truth”, “belief” and “ideas” thus liberating the reader from the shackles of vague logic behind theories. In this he appears to have been to a great extent, if not fully, successful. His simple words, terse statements and sound logic make this book a success. It must be noted that this book contains theories which must be known prior to reading it. Hence , reader must have a basic knowledge of the history of philosophy. This book is recommend for all those who want to ask questions.

The Canterville Ghost Review

The Canterville Ghost By Oscar Wilde
       …I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation 

Is not every creature that can think, haunted by fear? Aren’t the tribulations of an unredeemable soul as melancholic as those of a faithful person? Oscar Wilde’s “Canterville Ghost” is the answer to all these questions. Though comic at first, the story gradually becomes what all Oscar wilde’s stories are – romantic and passionate.

The sentence structure is easy to read and fable-like. The story is not multilayered or subtle. Though morals can be deduced from this story, it hardly seems to be the real purpose of this story. Oscar Wilde did not use his pen to make his readers learn something. He wanted to give another tale to be devoured by the world, which can then rejoice in the “human nature” of the supernatural, thus attempting to bring the supernatural in nature’s reach. All the same, though the story is written in a comic style, yet Wilde has ensured that it does not undermine the power of supernatural phenomena.In the tale, he leaves no doubt of existence of ghosts, and they are not at all creatures of pure malice. Though they might have been immoral in life, they can still attain a peaceful death and an angelic grace. Thus, Oscar Wilde gives hope to the wrongful to muster strength for redemption and power to the rightful to help the wrongful in redemption.This story is recommend for all Oscar Wilde readers ,as well as , as a bedtime story for children.