More than a mouthful

Operation Jinnah

(Juggernaut, Rs 299) by Shiv Aroor is a military thriller that will keep readers hooked till the last line. Apart from a gripping storyline, the book can also boast of meticulous research. The characters created are believable. One must read Operation Jinnah to get an understanding of the nature of the work carried out by the special units of the Indian armed forces. However, certain situations in the narrative do seem to be a bit over the top.

The story revolves around a young girl, Varuna, who gets kidnapped while vacationing in Kashmir. Varuna is the daughter of an important man, so India must undertake a speedy covert operation to bring her back if it wants to avoid being blackmailed by terrorists. Operation Jinnah is certainly a “ferocious piece of writing”.

Shared Tables: Family Stories and Recipes from Poona to LA

(Speaking Tiger, Rs 450) by Kaumudi Marathé is less about food and more about the people in the author’s life. Readers in search of a cookbook listing exotic Indian recipes might feel a stab of disappointment upon reading Shared Tables. Of course, the chef-cum-entrepreneur does share the recipes of some mouth-watering delicacies at the end of the book. But these are just a few in number. The rest of the account is primarily about Marathé’s experience of adjusting to newer surroundings and people. The book, however, can turn out to be interesting for those who have read Marathé’s earlier works — such as The Essential Marathi Cookbook — and are fans of her cooking. With the aid of “family stories”, Marathé goes on to record some of the influences that shaped her culinary skills.

Winning Like Virat: Think & Succeed Like Kohli

(Rupa, Rs 195) by Abhirup Bhattacharya claims that every young professional or student has the potential to excel in his or her field. A never-say-die approach is all that is required to make a name for oneself. Bhattacharya uses the present captain of the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli, as an example of how success can be achieved. Kohli was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth — he patiently worked his way up in sports and, thereafter, did not allow money or fame to distract him. Even after having played international cricket for more than eight years, Kohli’s appetite for scoring runs remains insatiable. More important, he did not allow his initial failures to unsettle him.

Whether young people will get inspired after reading Bhattacharya’s book is open to debate. However, it must be acknowledged that the idea of publishing a self-help book with a focus on the ace cricketer is quite innovative.