Fermat's last theorem by Simon Singh

When I read "The Code Book", I was profoundly impressed by the genius of Simon Singh, the pied piper who transformed a work of scientific non-fiction into a thriller. So I was ready to grab any other book of Simon Singh that  come my way. And eventually when I started this one I was not aware that I was about to meet many more geniuses.

Well, this book is about obsession. Being a research student, I have heard so much about being "obsessed with a problem". But Andrew Wiles' obsession with a problem that he first "met" as a ten year old was a little extra ordinary. It became the mission of his life.

The problem was "Fermat's last theorem". A small statement that was scribbled down in the margins of some manuscript, a problem that was simple enough for a school-going kid to understand yet challenged mathematicians over centuries, a challenge that changed many a lives-Fermat's last theorem was all these ..and much more.

Andrew Wiles' obsession with this problem was unmatchable. The perseverance shown and the secrecy maintained throughout his research was extra-ordinary. And may be that was the reason why he did the impossible!!

Hats off to all the geniuses that made this book. 4.5 out of 5.

kodakarapuranam by vishalamanaskan

I read this one in train yesterday. I started the book when I reached Coimbatore and finished it by the time I reached Bangalore. This is a compilation of blogs of the popular malayalam blogger Vishalamanaskan aka Sajeev Edathadan.

Each blog describes some humorous incidents related to the author and people in Kodakara, a small town in  Thrissur district, Kerala. A few incidents happen in the Gulf country also where the author is working now. The narration uses very simple language and follows Thrissur dialect which makes it even  more attractive. The strength of the writing style is in the informal way in which it is done. Vishalamanskan has clearly got himself promoted from an amateur writer to a humour writer who is liked by the class and mass alike.

Good humour, highly recommended for a train journey. 4 out of 5.

2 States by Chetan Bhagat.

I started this one without much expectation after CB's previous novel and I was proved right. It is high time "the paperback king of India" rethought about his plots and storytelling ways.
 
The story(?) goes like this. The boy, Krishna(again named after Lord Krishna, like all of CB's heroes) meets Ananya ,falls in love, sleeps with her and hopes to marry her . But, wait a minute. Isn't this the story of every CB hero? Well, yes. Its the "same old story" except that the boy is Punjabi and the girl is South Indian. The next step, convice their parents for an inter-state marriage. Now follows an unrealistic, boring, sloppy and idiotic attempts to "woo" the parents. I advice you  stop reading at this point rather than  wait till the last chapter  when they finally get married with their parent's blessings.

I just hope this is not made into a movie. Read this book only if you have nothing else to do. 1.5 out of 5.