Fiction, business and disturbing stories (IANS Books This Weekend)

An unlikely friendship, a world full of witches and pirate girls and powerful business entrepreneurs. There is no common thread tying these themes together, but each book in the IANS book stack this weekend has an interesting tale to tell its own way. Take a look.

1. Book: Bystanders; Author: Vidya Madabushi; Publisher: Tranquebar; Pages: 290; Price: Rs. 350

Growing up in the small town of Sripuri in south India, six-year-old Hari believes his mother died of tuberculosis. It's what his father, Vasan, has always told him. But when Hari seeks more answers from his distant yet affectionate father, who, between his meditation classes, dietary

experiments and constant headaches, has little time for Hari, he soon realises that he is trespassing on forbidden territory. And then a couple arrive at their doorstep, claiming to be his real parents.

Hari's life takes a course over which he has no say.

Spanning decades and told from the points of view of the four central figures, this novel is the tale of the unlikely friendship between one man driven to prove his worth in the world another determined to lose himself in the moment, and the woman they love, who will fight against

all odds to claim what is hers - her son.

2. Book: Trigger Warning: Short Fiction and Disturbances; Author: Neil Gaiman; Publisher: Headline; Pages: 311; Price: Rs. 499

This book will transport the reader to worlds filled with witches, watchers, big black bees and pirate girls, with

things that prowl in the darkness beyond the circle fire, to find the shadow lurking at your journey's end. But then what happens? There is always something waiting for you. There is always more.

3. Book: Mantras For Success: India's Greatest CEOs Tell You How To Win; Author: Suhel Seth with Sunny Seth; Publisher: Maven; Pages: 259; Price: Rs.500

From Ratan Tata and Adi Godrej to Mukesh Ambani and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, this book traces the journey of 21 of India's finest CEOs and business leaders.

According to the author, these business leaders were selected after going through "reams of business stories over the last 15 years, which have talked about India's best in business and lauded their leadership".

The book brings the thoughts of these corporate leaders together, while also giving an insight into their working lives and styles.

Thought-provoking, the book also intends to help readers "unlock your potential and succeed in your career as well as in other aspects of your life".

4. Book: The Reputation Economy; Author: Michael Fertik; Publisher: Piatkus; Pages: 242; Price: Rs. 350

Your reputation defines how people see you and what they will do for you. It determines whether your bank will lend you money; whether your landlord will accept you as a tenant; which employers will hire you and how much they will pay you. It can even affect your marriage prospects.

And it's getting more powerful than ever. In a world where technology allows companies and individuals alike to not only gather huge troves of information about you but also aggregate it and analyse it with frightening speed, accuracy and sophistication, our digital reputations are fast becoming our most valuable currency. This book

will show you how to improve your professional, financial and even romantic prospects.