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Congo by Michael Crichton

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 Book review Jurassic Park has always been a favorite of anyone who grew up in the 90s. Wanting to explore more of Crichton's writings, I came accross this rare copy at bookchor. Boy am I happy to have laid my hands on this one! One of it's kind, this thriller gives you a detailed description of an American expedition to the unexplored rainforests of Congo. Sure to keep one at the edge of one's seat, it keeps you glued till the last page. Spine chilling moments actually make for a wonderful read on a rainy day(or night!). The characters go on a quest for diamonds in search of the lost city of Zinj, braving harsh unpredictable weather and some unknown mysterious elements which have destroyed previous campaigns. Over the journey, we come accross cannibals, militants, international smugglers and some very dangerous but unknown forces which try to sabotage their quest. We also deal with the local tribes and their beliefs. The battle of courage, wits and common sense fuelled by ...

The visitors

Book review The visitors By Sally Beauman Genre : historical fiction Historical fiction is my latest fad. I came across Sally Beauman when I read her foreward of ' Rebecca' by Daphne du maurier. Like the back cover said , 'Downton Abbey' meets 'Death on the Nile', this book really kept me going till the end. Over 800 pages long, this saga spans over the life time of Lucy Payne. The story takes us from 1922 when a 11 year old Lucy spends time in Egypt recuperating from an illness, where she meets girls Frances and Rose, and begins a life time of friendship till present day London where she spends time reminiscing her childhood. Most of the story is told from a growing child's perspective, which is interesting in itself. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, which was an actual historical event, plays an important role in the book. While some of the characters are fictional many are actual historical figures like Lord Carnarvon who sponsored the dig and How...

Rebecca

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Book review Rebecca By Daphne du Maurier Genre : suspense, mystery, gothic After rewatching Downton Abbey, I needed to fill a void- with castles, butlers, lady's maids and the British life. Finding no such other TV series, I turned to books. I have come across ' Rebecca' several times, but somehow never got to reading it. I now wonder why?! How did I ever miss this masterpiece for so long? Rebecca is a well crafted piece of art. Set in 1938, this beautifully written fiction is your typical edge of the seat thriller. No, it isn't a murder mystery. No, it isn't a horror story either. But it has the feel of both. The narrator is an unnamed young woman with no special features of her own, who meets a rich landlord Mr de Winter on one of her boring visits to Monte Carlo as a companion of an elderly rich American snob. Recently widowed, dignified but mysterious, Mr de Winter asks her to marry him rather too quickly for her own good. The newly married Mrs de Winter accompa...