The Ivory Throne

I'm someone who hates reading thick books—especially ones about history. The more pages a book has, the more I shy away from picking it up. :)
But The Ivory Throne was an exception.

I once read that it's a good idea to read the first five pages of a book before deciding to buy it. If you feel a connection in those first few pages, you're likely to finish it; if not, you probably won’t. This logic helped me decide to give The Ivory Throne a try.

When I first saw the book, I thought I’d made a mistake. It was huge—how big is this book?! 😲 I might end up using it as a pillow, I thought. But the first few pages proved me wrong.

Hip hip hurray! I started loving this book. I couldn’t put it down.
Whenever I got a short break from my tiring schedule, I’d pick it up right from where I had left off.

It took me almost a month to finish, but it was absolutely worth it.

This book revolves around the life of the Senior Rani, Sethu Lakshmi Bai. Her life was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. The author, Manu S. Pillai, spent six years writing this book—and that effort is clearly reflected in its depth and detail.

Before diving into the life of the Senior Rani, the author thoroughly explains the history of Travancore, giving readers a solid understanding of the context and political landscape of the time. The Ivory Throne can easily serve as a reference book for anyone interested in history.

The book reveals many shocking incidents and layers of family politics that are almost hard to believe. But the bitter truth is, we must believe what’s written—because all the events mentioned are backed by solid evidence, mostly in the form of handwritten letters.

Five stars from me for The Ivory Throne too!

Jaya Mahabharata and Yuganta

'Yuganta' by Irawati Karve: Status – Checked!
A unique approach to the epic Mahabharata, brilliantly dissecting the lives of a few key characters.

Devdutt Pattanaik’s Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata was my inspiration to pick up Yuganta. I had also heard good reviews about it from a few friends.

Irawati Karve’s work is entirely different. Yuganta doesn’t narrate the Mahabharata chapter by chapter. Instead, it offers a fresh, analytical perspective on its characters—almost like viewing them from a third angle.

What stands out is how the book encourages us to evaluate each character objectively, highlighting both their strengths and flaws, regardless of how revered they may be. A perfect example is Bhishma. Before reading this book, I was blindly in awe of his character. But Yuganta challenged me to see him from all perspectives.

As a result, I began to recognize his flaws. Many of the actions I once admired as signs of strength now appear unjustifiable—or even shameless. This shift in perspective was eye-opening and thought-provoking.

However, there are two contradictions in Yuganta that caught my attention. I wonder how these went unnoticed:

1. In one chapter, the author mentions that Vidura died before Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and Kunti. But elsewhere, it is stated that Vidura died along with Kunti.

2. In another instance, the author says the Pandavas themselves constructed the secret tunnel to escape the fire at the palace. Yet, in a different chapter, it is mentioned that Vidura sent his trusted aide to build the tunnel for their escape.

If we set aside these two inconsistencies, the rest of the book is a compelling and insightful read.

Coming to Jaya Mahabharata by Devdutt Pattanaik—Oh God, what a book. WHAT A BOOK!
I’m giving it a solid five stars.

Jaya clearly reflects Devdutt’s immense hard work. Hats off to him for the effort he put into making this book a true gem. Every page is packed with information. While reading, I often felt as if the characters were right in front of me—that’s the power and vividness of Jaya.

For anyone who wants to understand the Mahabharata in its simplest, most accessible form, this book is must-read.

Until we are free

Another powerful read—it would be unfair to simply call it a "book." It’s the story of many lives in Iran.

Shirin Ebadi, the author, is Iran’s first female judge and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Through this book, she takes us deep into the lives of people in Iran—realities that many of us are completely unaware of.

Only when we understand the journeys of others do we truly realize how fortunate we are—and begin to count our blessings.

Dr. Shirin Ebadi is a remarkably strong woman who has made countless sacrifices in her fight for human rights and justice. In pursuing this mission, she has missed out on many precious moments in her own life. Today, she cannot even return to her country and lives far away from her husband. Yet, even from afar, she continues to work tirelessly for her people in Iran.

Respect to you, Madam, for all your sacrifices.

When breath becomes air

Ugh… feeling a heaviness in my heart.

When Breath Becomes Air—a memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon.
Yes, you read that right: was a neurosurgeon. He lost his life to cancer at the age of just 37.

This book will show you the true value of life. After reading it, you might find yourself regretting the time you wasted in the past—fighting with others, blaming them...

You have only one life. Live it to the fullest. Live it meaningfully.

In this memoir, Paul Kalanithi takes us through the highs and lows of being a terminal cancer patient—something many of us can deeply relate to.

If you ask me what the greatest wealth in the world is, I would say without hesitation: health. There’s no doubt about it—health is wealth.

Short & Tragic Life of Robert Peace

A deep biography of a life short-lived, this book tells the story of Robert Peace—a Yale graduate and a brilliant student throughout his academic journey.

If his life were to be represented as a symbol, it would be a ‘V’—one branch embodying his intelligence, dedication to loved ones, and deep love for his parents; the other branch representing the path he shouldn’t have taken, marked by his years as a drug dealer, which ultimately led to his tragic end.

At first, I believed it was the circumstances that pushed him toward the wrong path. But later, I disagreed with myself.

In life, we all face moments when we feel utterly shattered and left without choices. Yet, from deep within, we realize it’s not the end and that we must move forward. We try to find a positive path to continue our journey. Such a path always exists—the question is, are we able to find it?

The impact of this book stayed with me for days after finishing it. Robert felt like someone I knew very well.

This book is a highly recommended read, especially for teenagers.

12 Years a slave

This memoir by Solomon Northup tells the harrowing story of a free African American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He takes us deep into the dark reality of American slavery, vividly describing the daily life of a slave—the brutal tortures they endured, the constant fear, and the cruel overseers wielding whips, alongside the few masters who ruled over them like gods.

The lives of slaves on the cotton farms are the most touching and heartbreaking part of the memoir.

They would pick cotton and clean it from dust, then at the end of each day, carry the bags to the master, who would weigh them. There was a minimum weight the master expected. If the bag weighed less than that, the master would start whipping them. If the bag weighed more, that new weight would become the expected minimum for the following days.

So every day, the slaves approached the master with fear and dread. And this is just a small glimpse into their brutal lives.

This haunting memoir kept me awake at night. How can one human being inflict such torture on another to this extent?

The Accidental Billionaires

This book by Ben Mezrich left me confused about what to believe and what not to. It’s based on accounts from Mark Zuckerberg’s former colleagues, and Mark himself was not involved in its making. So how much can we trust the incidents and thoughts presented by the author?

After reading, I was left with the impression that Facebook is an outcome of betrayal. According to the book, the original idea behind Facebook came from someone else, and Mark betrayed them by developing it without their involvement. But it’s hard to fully believe this version.

Hats off to Mark for the hard work he put into building Facebook. He worked around the clock during its development. The author captures his passion and dedication well. It’s clear that Mark treats Facebook as his own baby.

The book is written in a way that makes the reader feel like they’re watching a drama unfold. (No wonder it inspired the movie The Social Network.) You feel as if all the incidents are happening right before your eyes. It’s very well written — though, at the same time, hard to fully believe the contents.