Mumbai--The City where you dont know when your life might change from heaven to hell or viceversa.This city holds a lot of challenges for everyone whoever wants to lead a life here and particularly if he wants to follow his interests.
Me being a genuine reader always found the life of Mumbai real tough with no time for any other activities and I had infact lost my appetite for good books.But suddenly one day I found myself surrounded with ardent novel readers.One of my friends whom I had met on train actually kicked out the topic on this novel.While throught out the discussion I was just a mere spectator bt while listening it did give me feelings of jealousy and curiousity.Jealousy bcos they were able to easily enjoy their interests and Curiousity bcos this book ate up whole of the discussion. So I just wandered out to my nearest book stall and got hold of this book and tell you my first expression after reading this book was ’’Absolutely Fantastic.This is what I was looking for’’.
I dont want to reveal the concept and the twists and turns in this tale but tell you one thing that this nove l is definitely worth a read for all Jeffrey Archer fans.This book talks about two fictional characters ’’Kane’’ and ’’Abel’’.The story spans into long years into the lives of these two characters.It talks about how they go about building a fortune and become destined to become enemies.
Kane is a Polish immigrant who suffers early in life because of Second world war.He enters America and builds a fortune by becoming owner of a chain of hotels.William on the other hand is child of worthy business man and inherits his family traits and gains glory.But destiny strikes and both are meant ot cross each other and destroy each other.What Happens and who wins ---Better read the book
The narration of the novel is of the peculiar style of the author.Each chapter takes you from one suspense to another.In this nover the author has tried to move two stories forward parallely ie both stories fo Kane and Abel is advanced parallely with alternate chapters talking about each personality.The story is also narrated without partiality for any one character.This helps us keep us curious as we move forward.Right from the prologue we know that there is going to be a conflict between the two and you just keep moving the pages to reach the real scene.This form of division in chapters with each one talking about Kane or Abel helps you keep urself interested with the book.JA has spanned the life story of both the characters in two divert scenarious.
One Kane who enjoys the life of a true genius who is born in a well to do family, performs very well in academics, wins awaards etc.A perfect story of a winner in life.
The other Abel who passes through all the rigours in life liek hardship, slavery, jail etc.A perfect recipe for someone destined to lose.But here is where the author produces a twist.Abel strikes upon a fortune and that makes him equal with Kane.
Well to talk about the ills of this novel.I feel the twist where both the characters fight the war is not warranted.Similarly the extended presentation of the daughter of Abel is not required and does not add anything to the story.It seems the author already had sights on the sequel of this novel as ’’The Prodigal Daughter’’.Also I feel the conflict between the two characters is not given justice compared to the length of the novel and a attempt has been made to lengthen the novel with unneccesary twists.But it definitely does not bring down the interest of the reader in the novel.
All in all I think this novel is worth a read.All fiction readers should have a go with this novel.I am looking forward to read the sequel- ’’The Prodigal Daughter’’.