The Pillars of the Earth

Author : Ken Follett

Original Language : English

Genre : Fiction


The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. It is set in the middle of the 12th century, primarily during the Anarchy, between the time of the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket. The book traces the development of Gothic architecture out of the preceding Romanesque architecture, and the fortunes of the Kingsbridge priory and village against the backdrop of historical events of the time.
Before this novel was published, Follett was known for writing in the thriller genre. 
The Pillars of the Earth became his best-selling work. The book was listed at no. 33 on the BBC's Big Read, a 2003 survey with the goal of finding the "nation's best-loved book." The book was selected in the United States for Oprah's Book Club in 2007. Follett published a sequel, entitled World Without End (2007).

Our Opinion...

This is a good book and will entertain you till the end.The book provides an insight into the political and administrative system of England during 12th century and "The Anarchy". The book also highlights the working of church and its influence on a commoner's life. It contains vivid descriptions of the battles and strategies. And contains lots of twists and turns. This book will certainly be among your favourites.

Best Buy

English Version : Flipkart.com

Samsung Galaxy S III

Ladies and gentlemen, this is undoubtedly the most powerful Android smartphone at the moment. And it doesn't look like anyone is taking that crown away from the Galaxy S III in a hurry. We have to vehemently defend Samsung against all the criticisms regarding the Pentile display and the so-called plasticky build quality. In both cases, the final product is absolutely brilliant, and totally worth the effort.

PROS

• Most powerful Android smartphone in the market
• Brilliant display
• Good battery life, considering the power available
• We feel it is built well
• Excellent camera
• TouchWiz has evolved into the slickest UI around

CONS

• S-Voice does not have any sense of humour
• May be too big for some users
• Does clearly heat up under most usage scenarios

Rating: Excellent 

 

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Value:  

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MRP: 42500

Source: Thinkdigit.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is a fantastic device. It hits the sweet spot between the budget tablets and the iPad. It has features and specifications that are value for money, and it is an better overall performer than the Sony Tablet S and the Motorola Xoom. The only disappointment comes with the display, which could have had a better resolution and the fact that the Google Play store isn't well populated with tablet specific apps. If you are in the market to spend Rs. 20,000 on a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 should definitely be on your list.

PROS

• Overall great experience
• TouchWiz is a good skin
• Expandable memory
• Dual-core processor
• Good build

CONS

• Bad viewing angles
• Too big to be used as a phone
• No plug and transfer feature for Mac

Read More...

Digit Rating: Good
Features:  
Performance:
Value:
Design:

MRP: 19300

Source: Thinkdigit.com

HTC One S

Taiwanese manufacturer HTC may have skipped the Consumer Electronics Show this year, but it was certainly back with a bang for the Mobile World Congress. The company showcased three very important smartphones as part of its One series at the event - its flagship One X, mid-range One V and it's thinnest smartphone till date, the One S.
Despite being just 7.8mm thick, the HTC One S packs in some power. It comes with a 1.7GHz Qualcomm S3 processor and 1GB RAM. Will this sleek smartphone be able to catch the fancy of Indian consumers? We will find out in this review.

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Pros
Great looks
Camera performs well
Cons
Price

Price: Rs 33,590
Ratings
Design: 4.5
Display: 3.5
Camera: 4
Performance: 4
Software: 4
Battery Life: 3.5
Value for Money: 3
Overall: 3.5

Source : Gadgets.ndtv.com

Empire Of The Moghul: Brothers At War

Author : Alex Rutherford

Original Language : English

Genre : Fiction

The second novel in the series, BROTHERS AT WAR, tells the thrilling story of the second great Moghul Emperor, whose fatal flaws threatened everything his dynasty had fought for. 

1530, Agra, Northern India.  Humayun, the newly-crowned second Moghul Emperor, is a fortunate man.  His father, Babur, has bequeathed him wealth, glory and an empire which stretches a thousand miles south from the Khyber pass; he must now build on his legacy, and make the Moghuls worthy of their forebear, Tamburlaine. But, unbeknown to him, Humayun is already in grave danger.  His half-brothers are plotting against him; they doubt that he has the strength, the will, the brutality needed to command the Moghul armies and lead them to still-greater glories.  Perhaps they are right.  Soon Humayun will be locked in a terrible battle: not only for his crown, not only for his life, but for the existence of the very empire itself.

  Experts Say...

"As a work of fiction, Brothers At War is fast paced, full of intrigue, politics, an violence as befits the era. As a historical novel it is even better because these are characters we have met in our history book, and now we get to know them intimately"  Asian Age

"Brothers at war...is extremely readable...and Rutherford...has minded the rich historical material to tell a cracking tale" The Times (India)

"[The Author has] mastered the art of imbuing historical fiction with all the elements of a blockbuster, and this one will have you turning pages in eager anticipation" Mail Today

Best Buy

English Version : Landmarkonthenet.com

The Sands Of Time

Author : Sidney Sheldon

Original Language : English

Genre : Fiction

The Sands of Time is a 1988 action novel by author Sidney Sheldon. A best-seller, the novel follows the adventures of four women who are forced to leave their Spanish convent for the outside world of threat, violence and passions; and two men who are pitted against each other in a fight to the death.The story begins in Pampola,Spain in 1976 and is set during the Basque People's fight against Spain for their rights to free speech and cultural independence.

 Our Opinion...

This is a must read book which gives us an insight into the Basque People's struggle for cultural freedom against the regime of Francis Franco. The tale consists of lots of twists and turns and will entertain you till the end.

Best Buy

English Version : Homeshop18.com

Empire Of The Moghul: Raiders From The North

Author : Alex Rutherford

Original Language : English

Genre : Fiction

The first book, EMPIRE OF THE MOGHUL: RAIDERS FROM THE NORTH, introduces Babur, a charismatic warrior and ruler of Ferghana, a kingdom north of Afghanistan, a leader determined to emulate his ancestors at all costs… 

1494, and the new ruler of Ferghana, twelve-year-old Babur, faces a seemingly impossible challenge. Babur is determined to equal his great ancestor, Tamburlaine, whose conquests stretched from Delhi to the Mediterranean, from wealthy Persia to the wild Volga. But he is dangerously young to inherit a crown and treasonous plots, tribal rivalries, rampaging armies and ruthlessly ambitious enemies will threaten his destiny, his kingdom, even his survival.

 Experts Say...

“Rutherford’s glorious, broad-sweeping adventure in the wild lands of the Moghul sees the start of a wonderful series… In Babur, he has found a real-life hero, with all the flaws, mistakes, and misadventures that spark true heroism… Breathtaking stuff.” – Manda Scott, author of The Boudica Quartet

“Raiders from the North is a rousing, rampant gallop through the golden age of one of the world’s greatest empires. With a solid grasp of history and an eye for detail, Alex Rutherford imbues the story of Babur’s rise with unstoppable momentum. If the first volume is any indication, this series will conquer readers as utterly as a Moghul army.” – Nicholas Nicastro, author of Empire of Ashes and Antigone’s Wake

“A swift and exciting book that brings to new life a story that history had nearly forgotten. Rutherford’s handling of this complex tale is masterful, and I look forward to reading the sequels.” – Michael Curtis Ford, author of The Ten Thousand and The Fall of Rome

“Brilliant and bloodthirsty.” – The Northern Echo (UK)

“Rollicking.” – The Hindustan Times (India)

“A compelling series of novels.” – Deccan Herald (India)

“The pace is fast, and Rutherford carries off the battle scenes with élan.” – Business Standard (India)

“Alex Rutherford has set the bar high for his sequels.” – The Daily Mail (UK)

"The books belong to the bigselling genre of historical fiction -- where skimpy facts are fleshed out with vivid descriptions and adorned with the glittering brocades of imagination."--The Times of India

Best Buy

English Version : Indiaplaza.com