All Posts By Thoughtful Critic
Anna Akhmatova – the 20th century woman poet from Russia and her lyrical diary
Anna Akhmatova stands as one of the most significant voices in 20th-century Russian literature, her poetry a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of personal and collective suffering. Her work, deeply intertwined with her life and the tumultuous history of her time, transcends the boundaries of personal lyricism to become…
Perfect Advisor by JOY Garg – Book Review
While appreciation for the book and its young author is there, Joy’s debut title left me with many thoughts. Perfect Advisor is a novel that attempts to blend humor, emotion, and moral lessons through the life of its protagonist, Ray Singhania. While the book has moments of charm and depth, it ultimately falls short due…
Samuel Beckett’s Novels Hit a Different Note: a list of his books you must read
Who was Samuel Beckett? Did he write novels, too? Samuel Beckett, the Irish literary maestro, is often remembered as the guy who made waiting for someone (or something) endlessly fascinating in Waiting for Godot. But did you know he also wrote novels? Yes, Beckett wasn’t just a playwright who made existential dread oddly entertaining; he…
Jaya by Devdutt Pattanaik, a book review
I have read many books based upon retellings of Mahabharat, the grand and ancient Indian epic, written by different authors. I am not boasting about it. I am fond of reading ancient Indian scriptures for the knowledge they possess and for the perspectives of life they reveal. They are real mentors and true advisors. Recently,…
Themes of Indianness in the Poetry of Jayanta Mahapatra – an analysis
Jayanta Mahapatra’s engagement with Indianness and the themes that exhibit Indian ethos is a cornerstone of his poetic oeuvre, reflecting a profound exploration of cultural identity, regional specificity, and existential dilemmas. Rooted in the landscapes and myths of Odisha, his poetry transcends regional boundaries to articulate a broader Indian sensibility, blending local traditions with universal…
The Quiet American by Graham Greene, a critical book review
Graham Greene’s The Quiet American (1955) is a masterful exploration of moral ambiguity, political idealism, and the corrosive effects of foreign intervention, set against the backdrop of the French-Indochina War. Through the lens of Thomas Fowler, a jaded British journalist, and Alden Pyle, the titular “quiet American” whose naïve idealism masks destructive consequences, Greene interrogates…
Outnumbered: From Facebook and Google to Fake News and Filter-bubbles – The Algorithms That Control Our Lives by David Sumpter: Book Review
It’s a familiar moment in the digital age: you’re scrolling through your phone when an ad suddenly appears, offering exactly the product you casually mentioned in conversation a week ago. At first, it feels uncanny, almost magical—how did they know? But beneath this seemingly innocuous event lies a complex web of algorithms silently tracking, analysing,…
The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – a detailed book review
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, first published in 1912, is a pioneering work of science fiction that continues to captivate readers with its imaginative premise, vivid storytelling, and exploration of themes such as human curiosity, the clash between civilization and nature, and the limits of scientific knowledge. While Doyle is best known for his…
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, a book review
Bertrand Russell resembles someone you often know (in your circle) who is standing there in any discussion, on any topic, on any issue, and still speaking with authority, without a single hiatus between arguments, textbook of eloquence and keynote on mastery (in any subject)! Russell, a Nobel Laureate (1950), mastered many intellectual arts, majored (metaphorically)…
Kapardi by Kolhapur Ramamurthy, a detailed book review
Kapardi, when I first heard I was expected to read and review this novel, I was surprised and intrigued by it. However, when I had a detailed look at the book cover, it instantly grabbed my attention. The perplexity of its title turned into curiosity and intrigue. Though it has its volume and fair share…