Sorry for going missing from this space. Been tied up with hundred & ten things which I will share in the coming week. Please bear with me for some time and in the meanwhile here is a book review :-)
Title: Zero Percentile–2.0, Missed IIT kissed Gurgaon
Author: Neeraj Chhibba
Price: 140/- (Available for Rs. 105/- @ Flipkart)
Publisher: Rupa & Co.
A sequel to Zero Percentile Missed IIT Kissed Russia, this book is the story of Motu, Pankaj, Priya, Arjun & Nitin each fighting a battle within.
Motu is trying to save his company from an eminent hostile takeover. For him this company is his bread, butter, heart & soul and he leave no stone unturned to save it. But what is disturbing him is the fact that it might be Pankaj who is behind the takeover.
Priya works with Motu but is in love with Pankaj. She is torn between her two best friends, whom will she chose.
Arjun is a single father bringing up a special child. His wife had left them when she realised that she had given birth to a daughter who was not perfect.
Nitin is fighting the battle of AIDS and the stigma associated with it.
Pankaj is a changed man, betrayal by people whom he had trusted the most makes him a ruthless man. For him it is money which matters the most.
These 5 parallel but interconnected stories form Zero Percentile 2.0, partly written in flashback the book takes us through the lives of the each character and how they build up a software firm merely on the basis of their talent, hard work & perseverance and how few mistakes unravels the finely built partnership. How they build back the burnt bridges forms the crux of the book.
My Verdict
This book is a sequel to Zero Percentile and takes forward the story of Pankaj, Motu & Priya. The first book had the advantage of a new setting, Russia and this book shows us the time when software industry had just begin to thrive and there were success stories all around. This itself is a novelty according to me and sets the book apart.
The book begins slowly and makes you wonder about the lingering past which is discussed continuously but not revealed until later. As soon as the past begins to unravel the book catches a pace and becomes a fast paced roller coaster ride.
The grudge that I have with this book is that it tries to pack in too many issues. Fighting the stigma against AIDS, issues faced by parents (single parents) while seeking admission for a special child in a school, the 26/11 saga, it has all and mind you these are just side stories and have been dealt with very quickly which makes you feel that they have been wrapped up too quickly and given easy solutions.
But all that doesn’t take the fact away from the book that it is immensely readable and the plot keeps you glued in about what will happen next.
A fast paced book about ambitions, friendship, love & life that is how I will sum up this book. Go grab a copy and am sure you will finish it one sitting.
My Rating 3/5
My review of Zero Percentile, Missed IIT Kissed Russia.
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Book Review of Vivek & I
Ah! there you are...I saw the book the other day at Crossword,but didnt pick it up...would rather read it from the library..though I didnt like the first one too much either :(
ReplyDeleteHere I am :)
DeleteU didn't like the 1st one? Hmmm it is defintely better then that :)
I'm in two minds about this :) Lets see if I end up reading it at all.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...will u get these there in the library?
DeleteSometimes wonder why the new authors keep on writing books on IIT,IT life , divorce, love and other things.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm guess that is the genre that is read the most by Indians. Plus we hardly get to read any sci fic from them!!! Hmmm may be some years later the fad will fade away :)
DeleteSucess of Chetan Bhagat is also to blame probably for the plight.
Deletei will the same thing again whyyyyyyyyyy oh whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy dont i get time to read such stories
ReplyDeleteBikram's
LOL!!!! May be because you don't take out time for reading because it isn't important enough for you?
DeleteHaven't read the first one, or this one, but have read enough reviews to know that in general people have liked these books. I really should give them a try.
ReplyDeleteYour review is fabulous.
Thank you so much and do read the books. Though a sequel the 2nd one can be read first also and I feel the sequel is better :)
DeleteUr reviews of Indian books makes me want to run back home just to shop for a pile of them to read !At present have a copy of Dork by Sidin Vadukut !Is it a good read ?
ReplyDeleteUmm.. I thought the book was ok. Racy , but a tad predictable..and so true about too may issues being covered..
ReplyDeleteWill skip this one.NO IIT books for me for a while.My reading is just so slow this year and I don't know which one to pck up next:(
ReplyDeleteThe author managed to leave a subtle message about AIDS in his last book. He has also cover a few more in this book i guess.. I just finished ZP(1).. will try to read this ASAP this time..
ReplyDeleteYou gave 3 /5 for this book?? 3/5 ???? 3/5 ???????? Ok just asked dramatically, not that I read it or going to read it ever ! :P
ReplyDeleteI have got this book as part of a giveaway from the author & Your review is encouraging that it will atleast be worth the time to read the book :-) Though I have not read the firt part so wondering if I would appreciate it or not....
ReplyDelete