God's little soldier - Kiran Nagarkar

Most of the reviews that I had read before actually buying the book had actually quite dismissed the book, mainly because of the language and the crass comparisons presented in the book. Very few of them had managed to talk about the actually story.... which by the way I am not going to either ;)
Well, it is quite different from all the other books of Nagarkar; Not that you could typecast his writing in any way. But unlike his other books, this one gives an impression that somewhere along the line he was trying to "impress" the reader and write according to their whims.
Its a story of religious fanatic Zia-Lucens-Tejas who considers himself the God's little soldier out to bring discipline, peace and what not to the existing chaotic world and like most fanatics, everything is just black or white... Zia lives in a world of extremes. On the other hand is his brother, Amanat a strange combination of a writer, architect and an asthamatic... The book traces their world of love-hate relationship.
Its surely does not live upto the expectations of a Kiran Nagarkar book, but its not one that could be dismissed easily either!

Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

This is one book whose title is as misleading as they can ever be. It traces a part of life of Dina Dalal, a widow, Omprakash and his nephew, tailors who work for Dina and Maneck, a student and a paying guest at Dina's place....all during the Emergency period. Each one of them have had a miserable life and are trying to find contentment in those spouts of happiness that they share with each other.
There is also a beggar without legs, his beg master and a strange guy who collects hair.
Going by the title, i had assumed that after having suffered so much in life they would be able to find some happiness thereby obtaining that fine balance.. but it just gets worst.
Omprakash loses his legs, his nephew gets castrated and Dina loses her livelihood... and finally Maneck commits suicide (Sorry abt the spoiler)....its a pretty sadistic story inspite of some memorable incidents.
Recommended - Don't know...can't say