True Love by Isaac Asimov

True Love is a story on how one day, computers would be so much developed that they are 'intelligent' enough to outsmart their creators. It is the first story out of all the books I have read (based on science fiction) which I didn't find interesting.

The title is quite ironical, seeing that the artificial brain of the machine believes that it would be able to woo a real woman on valentine's day and how it keeps talking about how 'looks' won't matter as long as their 'personalities' resonate !

The plot was clever and thoughtful, the characters were imaginable in real-life, and the concept of a computer falling in love was interesting enough.

But I think what I didn't like was the concept. Being based on science fiction, I had expected it to be exploring a realm of fantasy and the unknown, but perhaps it was unfair, since it had been written by Isaac Asimov at a time when things such as a computer weren't even imaginable.

Therefore, I would say that it might have been fantastic, had I not known anything about computers or technology. Or in other words, it would have been enjoyable if I had read it 20 to 25 years back.

Poison by Roald Dahl

Poison was a light-hearted funny short story which has a mysterious ending. It is a refreshing piece of work by Roald Dahl which helps to relax and enjoy the 'mystery'.

No one can say for sure whether any snake was actually there or not, because it can't be seen anywhere but Mr. Pope is quite adamant that a snake had been lying on him. It might been a fake act to gain attention but it might as well have been quite a genuine predicament.

The fact that the snake 'disappears' before poisoning or harming anyone also renders the title ironical.

In my opinion, the story tends to get a bit boring in the part when the narrator describes each and every step taken by the Doctor to get rid of the snake, but on the whole, it is an enjoyable and worthwhile read.

TRUE LOVE by Isaac Ozimov

This story is a science fiction story which I felt after reading was quite BORING!! This type of stories are not preferred by me and after reading the story my first reaction was WHAT WAS THIS?

But if I see the year in which the story was written then, it makes me quite surprised and is also shocking as how can a person at that time even think of such a story which depicts that computers can overturn us!

I knew that it was a science fiction before reading and when I read the title I was shocked as how can a science fiction have such titles?? But, after reading it I found the title to be interesting as the 'TRUE LOVE' was being searched by Milton but was found by Joe his COMPUTER. 

I would NOT recommend this story to anyone!!

THE PRICE OF FLOWERS by Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay

'The Price of Flowers' is a very simple story which portrays the life of a young poor girl who is far away from his beloved brother. The narrator of this story meets this little girl named Alice and has a lot of sympathy for her and her mother. Alice works as a typist and her mother make cakes to sell them on Saturdays. Because the narrator is an Indian, the mother and daughter expect that he might be able to see a distant person in the ring and what is he doing (the art of crystal gazing!). The narrator realizes that this superstition is not only confined in India! The narrator is not able to see anything in the ring but later on in the story when we see that the mother is ill then, the author lies that his brother is okay. After some time the news of the death of the brother comes and the narrator is ashamed so he doesn't go to them and the time for his return to India comes. Then in the morning of his last day in London, Maggie comes to say goodbye to him and gives a shilling which she earned with so much hard work so that he could buy flowers for her brother's grave.

This is the price of flowers.

A very sweet and small story which is based on sympathy. After reading this book the reader founds themselves silent for some time because of the silent environment built by the story. This is a nice story but I don't find the title of the story correct because the mention of 'flowers' was at the very end of the story. So, anyways this is my opinion others may feel the title appropriate but as I said I don't.This is overall an average story and I would advise to read this story. 

poison by roald dahl

POISON by roald dahl
An interesting story that leaves you confused in the end, that is how i describe this story.Many questions come to my mind like, was the snake actually there? Was Mr Pope speaking the truth about seeing the snake or was he just trying to grab attention? But even after such confusing questions this story keeps me glued till the end.It humours you when i least expect it and leaves me stressed on the most hilarious situations( for examaple i still wonder did the snake actually come in the first place or not!).Personally this story is not from my favourite genre but i still find it equal intersting.I find those parts most interesting when the calm doctor, dr Ganderbai tries to save Mr pope and get rid of the snake at the same time.He uses various techniques to do that and i find them interesting and amusing.A must read for all thriller enthusiasts and a must try for all.

Poison by Roald Dahl

Poison is not only a story that makes the reader involved in it but it also builds a relationship between the reader and the characters .It makes one feel as the protagonist of Harry Pope ,the person who suspected a snake on his belly.

The most enthusiastic part was that how the doctor ,so patiently did the rescue task .The suspense of the snake was very dramatic .Although ,one may guess the ending (as I did) he/she would be very disappointed by the sudden and unexpected ending.

I found this story slightly boring as the parts where the doctor gives chloroform to the snake are too stretched that I at one moment felt like when would this thing get over.However to an extent this story appealed to me as it gives us the lesson that how one should have presence of mind and should take necessary action in any problem.

Poison by Roald Dahl

To me the best thing after reading the story 'Poison' is how Mr. Dahl has given a good detailed description about various parts of the story so as to make the reader interested in the suspense that is to take place the very next minute. I liked the way he was able to continue it till the end.

As the story started I felt that the story might be a suspense thriller but it at the end turned out to be a light story with no 'snake',on which the story majorly was build upon,to be there.Yet I would give the credit to the fact that the narrator was able to take us in situations where we ourselves where interested to see that what would happen next.My favourite part was the description of how chloroform was been used by the doctor so as to save Harry. 

To me the best character was that of the doctor as the amount of patience he showed throughout is commendable.He in a very matured way took the case seriously and made every possible attempt to keep Harry safe from any mishap.

So  I would suggest to read this story as even after the fact that it leaves you disappointed in the end as there probably wasn't a snake at all but still  the story gives you every bit reason to stay engrossed in it from start till finish due to its unexpected turns and funny ending.