Reading "Riding a Tiger" was a different experience for me. I usually read romance, fantasy, management, and drama. So reading something political was totally new for me. I know we should not judge a book by its cover but it was the first thing we see while checking the book. This book's cover was one of the things that made me read this book in the first place. The red cover and two crossing swastikas were giving a look of a serious story about to begin.
Book Blurb
As they looked at each other in consternation, a man appeared in the doorway wearing a black uniform and balaclava face mask ... “I am told that you feel very cold at night. We have come to fix some heating for you ...,” he added with a taunting chuckle, signaling his men to enter ... The room soon reeked of petrol fumes as his men backed out, leaving a thin trail of the fuel ... They watched in fascinated horror as a cold blue flame crept through the doorway like a slithering snake and split into two to encircle them. There was a whosh of sound and the blue turned to an orange as the flames engulfed the curtains and furniture. The inferno crept rapidly towards the terrified trio – their cries muted by the duct tape over their mouths.
Soon there were only orange-red flames and crackling sound and the smell of charred wood and cloth and flesh.Two boys, leading normal lives in two separate towns, are lured by circumstances to join an extreme rightist organization. They come together to help the organization increase the membership of its political arm. Over the coming years they are driven to actualize their individual ambitions and take their Party and the country by storm, with the help of rampant false promises and rabid roving gangs. They do not realize that it is always dangerous to ride a tiger – for it has its own ravenous appetite and desires.
This book revolves around two main characters Deepak Moolchandani and Manohar. Deepak was having a strong strategic mind and vocal personality. Manohar was more aggressive. Though they were from different backgrounds, they came together in BSS and started to conquer the political views by divide and rule principle.
Though it is a fictional work, some of the things that are described in this book seem really close to the actual event. I am from Gujarat and I have seen the riots between Hindu and Muslim. I can say this book has connected to me on a personal level.
The storyline in this book is very well portrayed. The childhood of Deepak and Manohar are described beautifully. Although I liked this book thoroughly, towards the end I was expecting interesting climax, which I didn't get and that is the only complaint I have otherwise this book is awesome and insightful.
To sum it up if you want to read something different, new, more towards political side than Riding a Tiger will be a great choice.
Ratings
- Cover : - 4/5
- Content : - 3.5/5
- Character : -3.5/5
- Concept : - 3/5
- Overall : - 3.5/5
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads
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