Author: Bryan Denson
This story was featured on the “Snap Judgement” podcast and I was riveted by the tale. Jim Nicholson is one of the highest ranking CIA officers who was convicted as a Russian spy. That by itself would have made a good story. What got my jaw to drop was how he manipulated his son to help him continue to provide the Russians with information.
This is a real-life spy story so it doesn’t have the plot twists and action of a fictional one. Since Jim Nicholson is behind bars for a good portion of the book, I learnt a lot of prison slang. Killing birds is a euphemism for serving a long stretch and killing time one day at a time. When you get out of prison you “kill your number” and you “share your house” with your cell-mate. There were a few other words I picked up like “swankienda” which refers to a large mansion or house. It is most likely a combination of swanky and hacienda and and was popularized in Houston before spreading to the rest of the US.
Overall, this is a well researched and well written book. It is a great read and I came away feeling sorry for the entire Nicholson family whose lives were turned upside down more than once.
Author: Sujatha Gidla
There are plenty of books written about untouchables and the Indian Caste System. This one is different. Sujatha comes from a Christian Untouchable family and until I read this book, I didn’t realize that this could be a big problem. In theory, the caste system does not apply to Christianity. However, as you will discover in this book, it is so deeply rooted in India that even God can’t help fix this.
Until I was halfway through the book, I didn’t realize that Sujatha’s Uncle was one of the pioneers in the Marxist movement in Andhra Pradesh. A good portion of the book covers his entry into politics and his struggle with the leadership. It is also amusing to read about her mother’s discovery that there are Christians who are not Untouchable in India. Another eye-opener to me was the many different untouchable castes and how there is a pecking order among them as well. There are Gollas who are cattle herders and Malas who are servants. These are probably at the top of the untouchable ladder. The bottom rungs have the Upparis, who are diggers, then come the Pakis who clean latrines. The lowest rung is reserved for the Madigas who haul dead animals. You will also become familiar with the wealthy landowners who are either Reddys or Kammas and the Kuppas who are wealthy agriculturists.
Overall, the book gave me a peek into the horrible conditions that untouchables face in India today.
Author: Balli Kaur Jaswal
The title may seem off-putting for many readers and I have to confess that I was a little embarrassed to take this book out and read it on a plane. Before I go too far let me tell you that there is plenty of romance but very little eroticism in the book. The story is set around the strong sikh culture and traditions in Southall, London.
Nikki is a young India girl who is working as a bartender in a local West London Pub. She is independent and a bit of a rebel from her fairly traditional Sikh parents and sister. She is a law school dropout and is eager to find a toehold on a career ladder, so when she sees an add for creative writing she jumps at it. One thing leads to another and she finds herself teaching a classroom of Sikh widows don’t know how to read and write. She gets creative and you have to read the novel for the rest of the details. The book has a little bit of everything; there’s romance, comedy, mystery, suspense and it is well written and a joy to read.
