Percy Jackson and The Battle Of The Labyrinth

After a week of so-so…and some truly disappointing reads, am thoroughly glad to say ‘Percy Jackson and The Battle of The Labyrinth’ lived up to my expectations and was a truly fine read!

Half-boy, half-God Percy Jackson starts off another school year by fighting off a pair of ‘Empousai’ and blowing up the school…again. He also runs into Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the mysterious mortal girl who can see through the mist.

It’s time to head back to camp Half-Blood, because trouble is brewing….huge, scary ‘the-GODS-are-angry’ kind of trouble. The ancient Lord Kronos is slowly reforming, aided by Luke and his unearthly army. Luke’s plan is to invade Camp Half-Blood, raze it to the ground along with it’s heroes and then head off to destroy the Olympians.

While the camp members felt that Camp Half-Blood was impenetrable...they soon realize that Luke intends to invade it through one of the exits of the famous underground Labyrinth. Percy and gang decide to head into the labyrinth themselves and discover Daedalus’s (the creator of the Labyrinth) workshop, so that they can find a way to stop the invasion.

Simple? Not Really! The Labyrinth is supposed to be the only piece of architecture that changes constantly. Even the creator Daedalus himself has no control over it. Tunnels changes.....new ones pop up…and backtracking is never a good option..because you never know what is in store for you…left, right, back or front. A person could enter the maze and never get out. Add to that the constant threat of running into Luke’s demonic army and Percy has his job cut out!!

Is Percy doomed to roam the endless labyrinth? Will Grover finally find the lost God Pan? Will Annabeth’s faith in Luke lead to her downfall? And will the Gods survive to fight another day? All that and much more.....perfectly packaged in another superb instalment by Rick Riordan.

Percy Jackson, the prince of understatement is as quick with his trusted ‘Riptide’ as he is with the droll quips. A brave and comical hero, you’ll be rooting for him till the last page.

Airhead (Airhead #1)

Em Watts; a grungy tomboy and Nikki Howard; reigning teen supermodel…both happen to be at the same place and time when a freak accident occurs and knocks Em out. After being unconscious for a month, Em wakes up in the flawlessly perfect body of Nikki Howard. While Em Watts was declared dead, her brain had been transplanted into the body of Nikki Howard (who also conveniently happened to become unconscious at the same time as Em’s fatal accident).

A whole new body and a jet-set lifestyle…not what a computer geek in hoodies had signed up for. Now she has to honour Nikki Howard’s career obligations and be prepared to grace the covers of top magazines. She re-works several preconceived notions and deals with unwanted (albeit extremely attractive) suitors. And at the same time, she hopes to find out whether she can resurrect her friendship (and a wee bit more) with her best friend (in her past life as Em Watts), Christopher.

Confusing, yes. Tremendous scope for laugh-out-loud-moments.....didn’t happen. And that left me disappointed. After having read Avalon High, The Mediator and The Missing Series by the supremely funny and talented Meg Cabot….you kind of have great expectations. But Airhead seemed more like an introductory book with the sole purpose of providing a backdrop for a sequel. A bit of a let-down…but having said all that, I am still obviously going to wait for the next instalment :‘ Being Nikki’. Go Figure!!

See also : Airhead (Airhead #2) : Being Nikki

Airhead (Airhead #3) : Runaway

Why So Serious?

Batman and Lt.James Gordon continue their crusade against the mob in Gotham City. They want to incorporate the help of newly appointed D.A. Harvey Dent in their mission. But putting a spanner in the works is the hideously scary Joker. Which basically is what the plot is all about.....but the story, well that’s a whole new ball-game.

There are sufficient hi-jinx, special effects, super-amped vehicles, mind-boggling gizmos, swooping off from vertigo-inducing towers, and a cherried up batsuit to make you go W-OAH! and wince and duck in your seat and give you that oh-so-little head rush. The beauty of 'The Dark Knight' however lies in the actors, their interaction, the spit-fire dialogue and the under-lying message.

Christian Bale reprising his role as the caped crusader is sufficiently wooden and a tad bit cocky. After all it’s not every day you come across a man who is a billionaire by day and a vanquisher of evil forces by night. The fact that he is definitely easy on the eye helps too!! The unflappable Michael Caine as Batman’s butler/father-figure/man-Friday Alfred Pennyworth is the quintessential voice of reason. Morgan Freeman as the stolid Lucius Fox is quick with the witty repartee and well.....he’s Morgan Freeman!! Doing most of the donkey work is the harried Lt.James Gordon played by Gary Oldman. Weary and over-worked, he personifies the incorruptible , seasoned city-cop . Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart)…the golden boy of Gotham City oozes charisma and confidence. His descent into madness is tragic but wholly believable.

And then of course there is the mighty Joker... the deranged, schizophrenic clown. Complete with garish face-paint, staccato maniacal laughter and the absolute nonchalance with which he wrecks havoc.....this is the stuff that ice-cream and pickle nightmares are made off. The twitchiness, the edginess, the total anarchical stand and the desire to disrupt and destroy.....the late Heath Ledger does justice to all. Whether he’s showing his magic trick with a pencil or sauntering about crazily in a nurse’s outfit or relishing the inevitable collision.....he grabs eyeballs!

How long does it take for a running-smooth-as-oil city to descent into lawlessness? ...Does a hero want to stay a hero or does the darkness envelope every shred of sanity?... Is Batman the hero that Gotham city deserves? In all a superb movie which plunges comic book drama into something darker but though-provoking.

~R.I.P. Heath Ledger~

A Song For Summer

Ellen Carr is a refreshing heroine. Departing from the usual breed of go-getters, smart-talkers and hard-as-nails characters that populate today’s books, Ellen is warm, enchanting and the epitome of the ol worlde English Nanny (albeit in a glorified role). Raised by a family of strident suffragettes in the early 1940s, Ellen surprises everyone by showing a love for all things domestic. Her inspiration is her grandfather’s Austrian help/partner Henny who teaches the young Ellen how to make 'Apfel Strudel' and others things practical yet pretty.

After Henny’s death.....Ellen moves to Austria to take up the job as housemother in a progressive school called Hallendorf. Hallendorf is a school unlike any other…supposedly meant to give free reign to the bursting talent of prodigious children. Infact it’s more like a dumping grounds for wealthy parents, whose children are parceled off and promptly forgotten. And the soft-hearted Ellen takes everyone under her wing…from the weary headmaster and the insecure children to the distinctly weird staff and their idiosyncrasies. Another character who intrigues Ellen is the handsome Marek…..the ground man cum fencing master cum adored-hero of the school. Love inevitably blossoms, but it is shrouded by the looming threat of World War2.

And soon Ellen discovers that Marek is a man under disguise. He is Marcus von Altenburg, a world famous musician who has now devoted his life to helping an assortment of resistances smuggle Jews to safety. A noble cause but a path laden with danger and the threat of things going seriously long.

From the minty-fresh air of Austria to the decadence of Vienna to the smoke-filled depression of WW2.....A Song for Summer is a full-fledged historical romance. While the book could have easily veered into mushy sentimentalism, Eva Ibbotson’s classic humor, funnily-flawed characters and smooth transitions lift it to a whole new level. The pain-staking attention to details of places and events would please history-buffs, but for me it was about Ellen and Marek.

While Ellen seems to be too-good-to-be-true, you realize that it has to be just so. Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, you need a character who symbolizes hope and comfort. Marek, the unique combination of earthy woodsman and temperamental musician is the perfect foil for the practical Ellen.

Another memorable couple and a definite addition to all-time favorites.

...of Suspicious Frogs and Knights in Rusty Armour

This was a passage I had written back in Mangalore... home-bound thanks to the rains and left with nothing to do but voice my two-bit opinion on anything that caught my fancy.
~~~

There has been a steady patter of rain for the past two days, the scenery could put a rain-forest to shame and people and places alike are water-logged.

An ideal romantic setting, except for the teensy-tinsy fact that you need an equally love- struck partner to get the best out of it!! All I get is commiserating smiles from the help and the occasional wide-eyed look from a passer-by (yep, after all these years, a Mumbaiite is still something akin to an exotic iguana in the local zoo!). Adding to my woes are the happily croaking thunder-frogs.....one sits dolefully outside the front porch eyeing me suspiciously. Maybe he’s heard the whole ‘kiss-a-frog and-*KABLOOM*-Knight-in-gleaming-tinfoil' story. That would spice things up a bit but since I am already considered a bit of a nut, I think I shall refrain from scandalising the villagers.

Which got me thinking on a totally different tangent: Fairy-Tales and the unrealistic expectations they fill your head with. My idealistic friends and I have grown up on a steady yet sugary diet of far, far-away tales. A time when chivalrous princes walked the earth, fair maidens (who more often than not, had gotten a raw deal) suddenly found the tides changing and the last chapter/reel almost always ended with the handsome couple waving benevolently at a cheering country crowd, whose highlight of the day was tossing flower petals at the passing procession. Over bowls of buttery popcorn, we ooh-ed and aah-ed and were impatient to be swept off our feet.

Time went by and we encountered more than our fair share of warty-frogs, fire-breathing dragons and the occasional crafty side-kick. The rose-coloured glasses were knocked off (or so we claimed). We decided to tuck our fancy ideals up in the high-tower where they belonged and settle for something lukewarm.

But the problem with an over-fertile imagination and a 'never-say-die' optimism is that the high-tower rarely stays locked for long. A heart-warming book, a classic movie with just-the-right-level of mushiness, a quirky quote that sticks like chewing-gum or a song with all the right words…..anything and everything acts like a trigger. The trumpet sounds and the walls of Jericho are down again. (Thank you, Mr.Gable!!)

And it’s a good thing, mushy and idealistic it may be, but that’s great….fantastic even. It shows that despite the bad twists and the bouts of rotten luck, we can’t let go of our hopes and dreams. We all want a happy ending and are willing to wait. And if we have to meet our fair-share of villains along the way, then so be it. After all, which self-respecting fairy-tale would be complete without the evil cackle of a nasty witch!!!

Journey to the River Sea

"Those who think of the Amazon as a Green Hell bring only their own fears and prejudices to this amazing land. For whether a place is a hell or a heaven rests in yourself, and those who go with courage and an open mind may find themselves in Paradise"

~ Journey To the River Sea

This is the kind of book that demands an ‘atmosphere’.....a stack of sandwiches, a tall cold glass of lemonade ;topped at regular intervals…a wooden Easy-Chair (the kind your grandpa sat on and smiled genially from) placed in a small, airy room that has a single antiquated table-fan whirring noisily…and a wide window from where you can hear the gentle crackle of crickets.

Maia has lost her parents in a tragic accident and the only existing relatives appear to be the owners of a rubber plantation along the mighty Amazon. Quelling her initial fears of cannibalistic animal life and hostile Indians…Maia who is an optimistic young girl is soon ready to embark on the journey. She is accompanied by seemingly stern governess Miss. Minton and a fanciful imagination where her foster family will welcome her with open arms.

Well after that build-up, it’s obvious that Maia is in for a rude shock. Mr. Carter, his insecticide loving wife and the terrible twins seem to be straight out of a nightmare. Maia is barred from venturing beyond the clinical grounds of the Carter house. Sullen Indians…..the constant smell of Lysol in the house…..bland food that quivers/ melts and the nastiness of the Carter family …all combine to crush Maia’s grand hopes.

But then Maia meets Finn, a wild boy in a canoe…..a boy who’s wrapped in mystery and adventure and who will soon take Maia on an unforgettable trip into the fantastic and magical rainforest.

A book that is almost lyrically beautiful….’Journey To The River Sea’ is choc-a-bloc with exotic plants and animals and ably supported by well-etched characters. Eva Ibbotson had apparently written this book in honour of her late husband who was a naturalist. And she makes a fitting tribute. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that you can effortlessly picture the rainforest in all it’s wild, damp greenery as it unfolds with each chapter.

And a simple lesson at the end of the day…a place is what you make of it. Heaven or Hell…it’s all about shedding your prejudices and seizing the day.

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle

Is it my imagination or does each Eva Ibbotson book seem better than the previous one?? I mean, there’s drama, children as mature protagonists, a couple of befuddled but well-meaning ghosts, seriously sinister villains, crazy plot-lines, an underlying message.....all neatly wrapped up in a humourous package! This is the stuff that summer holidays are made of!!

Case in point : The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

Madyln and Rollo are sent off to Clawstone Castle, to live with eccentric Uncle George and his exhausted sister, Aunt Emily. Every week they have an Open Day when the castle doors are thrown open to tourists……who can tramp about the grounds and get a taste of ancient culture. But the castle is not exactly in it’s golden age…dilapidated structures, over-grown moss and the cold, damp environment are all contributing to diminishing tourists. It doesn’t help that a rival estate called Trembellow Towers is raking in the moolah, thanks to the unlimited funds that Lord Trembellow is investing in the upkeep. The reason why Uncle George needs the money Clawstone brings in is because the castle grounds are the home of a mysterious and wild herd of pristine white cattle.

The children soon come up with a plan to rev up tourism - a genuine Haunted Castle'. And doing the honours are a bunch of lonely, gruesome yet extremely helpful ghosts. Loaded with hi-jinx and blood-curdling screams……the plan proves to be effective. Soon people are flocking over to Clawstone Castle to be scared witless and have the thrill of their lives.

But a sudden nasty fate befalls the herd and things start looking very bleak indeed. What happens next is anybody’s guess.

In all a complete book.....loaded with Ibbotson’s usual combination of wit and slapstick. Recommended for all who have kids (or who themselves) fear the un-dead/ the spooks/ the slimy after-life. A sure-fire way to view ghosts in a new ectoplasmic light and shed the eepy-crays once and for all!!

Not Just A Witch

Hectate Tenbury-Smith 'Heckie' is not just a witch. She’s a good witch…a witch who betters the world by transforming wicked people into harmless animals. Straight out of WAW (witches against wickedness) school, she’s hopes to make the world a better place accompanied by her best friend Dora Mayberry (who incidentally can turn anything into stone). However an ugly spat makes the two witches part ways and head off in opposite directions.

With her good intentions still intact, Heckie settles down in Wellbridge ready to rid the town of it’s nasty citizens. Her unlikely accomplice is a boy called Daniel, who’s the neglected son of two eminent professors. Also joining the “Wickedness Hunters” are Daniel’s friends Sumi and Joe and a motley crew of witches and wizards.

Armed with her 'Knuckle of Power' and 'Toe of Transformation', Heckie is soon righting wrongs and adding some unique creatures to the local zoo! But soon an oily character called Lionel Knacksap begins to court Heckie. The smitten Heckie doesn’t realize that Knapsack has witnessed her magical powers and is all out to exploit them for his own benefits. Trouble is definitely brewing.....will Heckie realize smarmy Knacksap’s true agenda?....will she bind ties with woebegone Dora?...and will the “Wickedness Hunters” triumph at the end of the day?

Another funny read from the Eva Ibbotson stable. Once more she makes supernatural entities and slimy monsters lovable and laughable. Her plots are never predictable and initial page-fillers are infact crucial to the plot. Thoroughly enjoyable and a fun way to drive out the monsters from under your bed!!!

Sabrina

"A woman happily in love burns her soufflé, a woman unhappily in love, she forgets to turn on the oven. "

~ Baron St. Fontanel (Sabrina 1954)

Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn) is the chauffeur’s young and scruffy daughter. They live in Long Island above the garage of their employers, the effluent Larrabees. Polishing cars and helping out her father, she is reconciled to a life of unrequited love. The object of her affections is the charming but feckless playboy, David Larrabee (William Holden). Her free time is spent perched atop trees, staring into the glorious dances where David waltzes one giggly socialite after another. At the other end of the spectrum, is David’s elder brother Linus Larrabee (Humphrey Bogart), businessman extraordinaire. With no place for emotions in his life, Linus is the problem-solver, the money-maker and the quintessential highstreet tycoon.

Sabrina is soon sent off to France for a cooking course by her father, who hopes that the distance and the charms of Paris will make her forget David. In between soufflés and sauces, Sabrina learns poise, charm and confidence. She learns how to live life and instead of scooting from her problems, decides to return to Long Island and try her luck with David once more.

A stunned David is predictably swooped off his feet by the new and sophisticated Sabrina. He pursues her with a single-minded determination, while conveniently forgetting the small detail that he is engaged to be married. Add to that the fact that the marriage is infact a merger between two prominent business houses and the foothold on which rests a million-dollar deal.

Enter Linus and his attempts to thwart the fledgling romance. He decides that the best course of action would be to woo Sabrina himself. While the plan seems to be proceeding splendidly, Linus had not taken into consideration how susceptible he himself would be to Sabrina’s considerable charms.

A refreshingly simple movie with the effervescent Hepburn steering it along, Sabrina is a delight to watch. Fifteen minutes into the first-half of the movie and you want to shed your brashness and cynicism, modulate your tone and bottle up some of that lovely freshness that Audrey Hepburn wears like a second skin.

The Thieves Of Ostia (The Roman Mysteries)

A mysterious adventure of four friends à la The Famous Five/ The Secret Seven. The only distinguishing factor : The story is set in 79 A.D. Rome

The first book in “The Roman Mysteries” series, 'The Thieves of Ostia' is more of an introduction to the four main characters. Flavia Gemina, daughter of sea captain Marcus Flavius Geminus. Nubia, the pretty little slave girl who is saved by Flavia and now lives with her. Jonathan ben Mordecai, Flavia’s new Jewish neighbour. And Lupus, the mute beggar boy, who is sly and cunning…but a big help nevertheless.

Ostia , a seaport in Rome provides the setting for their first adventure. Someone is killing the neighbourhood dogs and lopping their heads off. One of the unfortunate victims is Jonathan's own watchdog, Bobas. Whodunnit, that's basically the premise of this book.

But what really appeals is the glimpse into ancient Rome.....the life and times, the settings, the beliefs, the culture and quaintly enough the manner in which the author has stuck to the whole theme. Dutifully provided with a reference scroll at the end of the story, the book is an interesting lesson in history.