Auguries review: The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak

A very funny and engrossing debut novel, the book is the story of a 14 year old boy who is not good in studies and thus has to go through all the vagaries of school life - a life comprising failure in academics and a mother who sees the world in the child. The story begins with the boy plotting to obtain an adult magazine with his two close friends. In the process he gets connected to the daughter of the store owner who turns out to match his own interest in computer. As the story progresses ahead, one feels compelled to read on and on as events unfold into a climax in a fast paced book involving a bit of romance and robbery.

In a scale of 20 we give it 18.75. Definitely a must read.

Auguries review: Everything you want me to be by Mindy Mejia

This brilliant novel is a story of a young girl who was found dead and revolves around one year interwoven with her English teacher, her friends and the sheriff who investigates the crime.
The novel is powerful and keeps you guessing till the end. Told in three different voices, this book is a must read.
In a scale of 20 we give it 18.75.

Auguries review: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

A young Saeed meets a young Nadia in a city about to explode into civil war and starting from a relationship inside a classroom without even as much as speaking to each other. As the violence increases and an independent minded Nadia living away from her own disowned parents, yet wearing her head to foot gowns, to be secure against sexual advances, moves over to live with Saeed and his father.  Eventually they are forced to flee from one place to another through a magic door. In the process Mohsin Hamid, the writer, has brought about very minute details of relationship building and deteriorating and again building after their separation as the plot shifts between future, past and present. In the end we have an old Nadia meeting an old Saeed.

This is a very powerful work on relationships amidst changing circumstances and a must read.

In a scale of 20 we give it a clean 19.25.