I read this book on a flight (and while stranded at an airport). It was an easy read even under the circumstances. The book is a satire on politics and politicians, very British, and very funny. It follows a week in the life of the British Prime Minister and the sharp policeman accompanying him as the PM (incognito) attempts to reconnect with the common person. The story lays out how different life is for the rich versus middle class versus poor. It is just plain funny most of the times. The author makes the point that the PM is totally out of touch with day-to-day problems in his country (he doesn't know the price of milk), but she overdoes it along the way; one starts expecting something to go horribly wrong in every single incident (waiting in long lines, poor service, you name it), and one is proved right. Barring that one irritation, the book is a good read. Also, the PM is obviously not a bumbling idiot or a scheming politician; he really is a thoughtful man concerned about everyone's welfare. The central as well as peripheral characters are described in much detail. My favorite ended up being Ali, the Pakistani cab driver trying to fit in; his biggest concern is returning home with appropriate presents for his family (what are his children more into, Winnie the Pooh or Noddy?).
So - enjoyable, funny, pretty light reading. Her other books (Adrian Mole) are very good. Number 10 is worth reading because it does make you laugh.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a story about the intertwined lives of several people, more specifically about three friends in their 30s. It is set in New York City and tells a story from March - November 2001. At a personal level I felt glad that other people exist besides myself (so what if only in Claire's imagination) who are in their 30s and are still figuring out their careers and personal lives, and are constantly re-adjusting their moral compass!
The book reminded me of others (A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth comes to mind) in that it describes vividly and in detail incidents, surroundings, and feelings in each character's life. It is very funny in parts, and definitely thought-provoking. And just when you start to wonder (even as you enjoy the story) if it is simply a gossipy tale of its characters' lives, events unfold and put the trivial (and not so trivial) human tribulations and angst in a balanced perspective. I agree with all the mighty newspapers that added The Emperor's Children to their 'notable book' list!
This is one of the quirkiest books I've read. If you are one to hit the papers first thing in the morning to solve Sudoku, Kakuro, Mind bender, then go ahead and read this book. This is definitely your kind of book.
The Man Who Counted is about a mathematician Beremiz Samir and how he solves different problems with his knowledge of mathematics. Sort of like your Arabian Sherlock Holmes, just that the problems may not be that gory in nature. More like fights over camel distribution and such. He is not your regular human calculator, rather someone who sees romance in mathematics just as he sees it in nature, poetry. It is a collection of logical puzzles, stories, observations, anecdotes. The stories are written by Malba Tahan in the manner of storytellers of old.
The quirkiness doesn't end there. Malba Tahan is a fictitious person. The book is really written by a Brazilian mathematics professor, Júlio César de Mello e Souza's. This isn't just your regular pseudonym, Julio Cesar created a complete persona of an Arabic traveler Malba Tahan and wrote the books completely from his perspective.
The book uses interesting fables like dividing inheritance of camels amongst brothers to show how seemingly complex mathematics can be so simple and used in ordinary things. I think it can be a good tool for teachers, when mathematics becomes a chore for kids, to them the "cool" aspect of mathematics.
For those who enjoy solving logic puzzles, or even those wondering the point of Microsoft interview questions, this will be a good read. The problems may not seem like much, but the combination of storytelling with mathematics is an amusing read.
