Ashvamedha (A book review)

Author- Aparna Sinha

Publishers- Srishti Publishers & Distributors (1 September 2016)

Language- English

Pages- 224 pages

Genre- Fiction

Blurb- "You have to dethrone a powerful man to become the most powerful. I was itching to defeat the single most powerful person, but there wasn't any. I was left with only one choice — to create one."

Little does Ashwin Jamwal know that the last twenty-five years of his life have been controlled by a master manipulator, who wanted to make him the most powerful man on earth, though for a reason! Ashwin steps up to take oath as the youngest Prime Minister of India and is unknowingly thrown into a vortex of power and authority as the entire world is threatened by a faceless enemy — Hades.

The world starts to look up to Ashwin as the savior, but he was just a pawn, reared only to be sacrificed in the end.

A story of greed, lies, deceptions, manipulations and corruption, Ashvamedha is a thriller revolving around the infamous game of power in a maddening bid to seek absolute control.

Book Review- ‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely’, forms the premise of this political thriller.

At the heart of this story, lies a complex protagonist, Ashwin. The rags to riches story of Ashwin, an orphan, is chronicled with great detail. His meteoric rise in politics and his battles with his foes are at the center-stage of the narrative. His romantic escapades further spice up the plot.

‘Ashvamedha’ is a fast paced thriller but as is often the case with driving in the fast lane, control over the narrative tends to slip away at times. Towards the end of the story, many unnecessary characters are introduced, muddling the larger picture. The readers may also end up having conflicting views regarding the climax of the story. I wished it to end on a different note.

The grammar is fine, proof-reading astute and the writing crisp. A good political thriller but not in the league of ‘Chanakya’s Chant’.

Verdict- A good political thriller.

About the Author- Aparna Sinha wrote her first poem when she was seven, which she recited on All India Radio. Since then, her literary work and industry specific articles have been published in various media, including reputed business magazines across Asia.

Equipped with a Master's in management, when she was forced to quit her lucrative job because of a chronic disease, she focused on her sole passion – writing.

Perfect Prescription for Broken Hearts (A book review)

Author- Aparajitha Nagesh

Publishers- Leadstart Publishing Private Limited; First edition (12 September 2016)

Language: English

Pages- 326 pages

Genre- Romance

Blurb- What is the perfect prescription for broken heart? It is a full close of love-cetmol? Suturing the cut ends? A cardiac transplantation? Or a life time of love with hugs and smiles thrice a day?

Hrudi, a heartbroken and calumniated gynecologist, decides that the perfect prescription to her unending endurance is to put a full stop to her life once and for all. Inebriated by a rush of nostalgia, she chooses to relieve the past once again, before finally finding her eternal in peace.

This journey back in time takes her to her college days, where she falls into step with Aditi since day one and was always at loggerheads with the hunk, Hrishikesh Datta. But everything changed when the cupid struck his arrow on both the parties and life became even more beautiful, until the inevitable happened, crumpling down her world like a pack of cards.

When she was still coping with the heartache, another blow hit her like a wrecking ball and she was razed to the ground once again. As she prepares to end her life, Hrish awaits the one big confrontation that he feared for years.

Will she live through this?

Will her broken heart ever be mended?

Book Review- “Perfect prescription for broken hearts” is a sneak peep into the world of ‘medicos’. The story begins with a description of ragging of new entrants into a medical college. The lectures, anatomy dissection hall, physiology and biochemistry practical classes, and the freshers’ party follow suit. To a person who does not belong to the medical background, it is a voyeuristic trip; the trials and tribulations of a medical student. But at the same time, it takes the form of a docudrama.

The romance between Hrudi and Hrishikesh does not get enough limelight as the author is immersed in delineating the five and a half years of a medical student’s life. There are far too many characters filling up the pages than required. A love story set against the backdrop of a medical college should have been the skeleton to put meat on. But the writer misses the bus.

The climax is melodramatic and seems contrived. A story which begins on a promising not loses steam midway. A better editor and proofreader could have worked wonders to this honest attempt at story-telling.

Verdict- A peep into a medico’s life.

About the Author-Dr. Aparajitha Nagesh is a pediatrician by profession and an author by passion. She graduated from Rangaraya Medical College (2006) and pursued her post-graduation from Andhra Medical College (2011). She worked as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at NRI Medical College. She is currently with Apollo Cradle, Chennai. She got published in Indian Pediatrics Journal (January 2014) with her article ‘A Newborn with Hemorrhagic Varicella.’ 

She blogs at www.hrudilaya.blogspot.in. She loves photography, travelling, painting and watching movies. She lives in Chennai with her software engineer husband Nagesh Donipati and her daughter Anagha Naina.

Thank You Love (A book review)

Author- Ayush Gupta

Publishers- HALF BAKED BEANS; First Edition edition (2016)

Language: English

Pages- 150 pages

Genre- Romance

Blurb- "Thank You Love" "...yes, I said, everything in life is uncertain, and it speaks the same." All human energy comes from that one thought. All the pain that we bear and the joys that we celebrate are the results of our thoughts at any moment. Strange isn't it? When Akshita was making her choices, Rayan made his. He refused to get over her and chose to own her absence in his heart and mind. Thank You Love describes how sitting on the floor in silence changed the world of "Rayan". He realised that love is not something that happens between two people, instead, it's an enduring quality within people. He realised that love is not something that you do, but is the way you are. He re-moulds one of the most important events of his life into a spark, re-channelises it and heads towards something that would later change the course of his life.

Book Review- The story begins on a promising note. A bus stuck in a landslide on a frosty night, a hut in the middle of nowhere and two strangers. The premise holds a lot of potential. But alas, the plot goes downhill from here, just like the debris blocking the highway at the beginning of the narration.

"Thank You Love” is a meandering tale of a whining young guy who yearns to get the affection of his ‘unfaithful’ girlfriend back. The love story of Rayan and Akshita is devoid of any real drama, the sparks are few and far between. Grammatical glitches also crop up at regular intervals, acting as a source of nuisance to the reader. The relationship of Rayan with his mother and his elder sister is, however, well defined and instils a sense of warmth in the heart of the reader.

Through this story, the author has tried to delve into the issues of selfless love, letting go of the past and the importance of being thankful for the small mercies. It is a commendable attempt, but a little more effort should have gone into the story-line and proof-reading. The climax is innovative but bland.

Verdict-  Nothing to write home about.

Turning back time (A book review)

Author- Shravya Gunipudi

Publishers- Gargi publishers

Language: English

Pages- 196

Genre- Romance

Blurb- When people we love pass away, they only take their presence with them. They leave their memories with us. The story revolves around 'Alia', an emotionally distant woman, and how the lives of four elderly strangers impact her own very deeply, bringing about a change in the way she treats herself and those around her. As the clock begins to tick and they each start to die, leaving their stories behind for her to learn from, she finds that the depression and trauma caused by their loss have left with her the gift of a lifetime... Realisation. In the tale of life, death and the ride in between, where there are always mistakes and never second chances, there is only one question. Can you make it through without regrets? 

Book Review- ‘Turning back time’ is a simple story, a story of regrets we all have in our life at some point in time.

‘How many times have we shut our eyes and prayed to be given a solo chance to press the rewind button on the screen playing the saga of our life? We know the exercise to be futile. What has transpired can never be undone. What is left behind is a gamut of repent and guilt. Still, we yearn for a second chance.’

The writer narrates the story of Alia who is at crossroads in her life- her head and her heart constantly at daggers drawn. She has a strained relationship with her ageing mother; the writer does not delve deep into the reasons behind this blow hot, blow cold relationship between the two ladies.

Through a series of confessions that the inmates of an old age home leave behind for her, Alia struggles to find the real meaning of life. She discovers the hidden skeletons in the past of people close to her heart and learns valuable life lessons from the follies committed by them in their respective journeys. It leads Alia towards self-discovery and she finally is able to chalk out a path for herself.

While the story does tug at the heartstrings of the reader, it does suffer from the stigma of an overdose of emotions. After a certain point, the narrative tends to get repetitive. The reader knows beforehand as to the next turn of events which is not a very good sign.

Overall, it is a well-written tale, narrated with finesse. The book is divided into sections, each outlining an independent story with Alia as the common thread.  My personal favourite is the poignant saga of Girish and Priya. The story stays with you long after you have read the last page. And that is the hallmark of a good book.

Verdict- A story that tugs at your heartstrings…

About the Author- Shravya Gunipudi, a 23-year-old CA and CS, has been writing ever since the tender age of nine. Now, more than a decade since her first journey with the pen, she has won numerous prizes for her Articles, Short Stories and Poetry. She was a part of 19 Anthologies with a total of 17 published stories and was recognized as 'Best Writer of the Year, 2013' by yourstoryclub.com. She is also the editor of the project 'The Book of Dreams', by Numerique Publications. Shravya wishes to explore her passion both in Finance and Writing. It is her dream to merge her creative side with her analytical one. Writing, she believes, is the best form of expression that calms the mind and frees the soul. Her favourite quote is 'Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about'.

"INTROSPECTION"

"INTROSPECTION"

Another year gone

Time frittering away

Still lost in the woods

Trying to find my way…

Shackled by maladies

My feet do not dance

The mirror taunts my image

I live, as if in a trance...

A few cravings to shed

Some probity to acquire

To burn; come out pure

I need a raging fire…

Another year gone

Time frittering away…

Still lost in the woods

Still trying to find my way…

Copyright © 2016 by Anurag Shourie

छोटी सी कहानी…

इक बीज, कुछ मिटटी

इक कलश पानी

इक पेड़, चंद पत्ते

हवा की रवानी

कभी धूप, कभी बारिश

कुछ यादें सुहानी

वो पतझड़ का राग

सर्द लबों की ज़ुबानी

टूटे पत्ते, कुछ मिटटी

दफ़न  होती निशानी

छोटा सा जीवन

छोटी सी कहानी...

(Copyright © 2016 by अनुराग)

We will meet again... (A book review)

Author- Tarang Sinha

Publishers- Gargi publishers

Language: English

Pages- 192

Genre- Romance

Blurb- Paridhi Mathur, dusky, beautiful, and (determined to be) single, is doing everything to keep her academic records high and her love life nil, but lady luck keeps frowning at her. When she meets Abhigyan Ambastha, rich - devastatingly handsome, intense and sometimes curt, her resolve wavers. Despite regular warnings from her ever-suspicious heart, she inexplicably gets attracted towards him. But she would not let him trespass her soul. Why? Is she scared of mendacious face of love her past has inflicted on her? Can Paridhi really trust Abhigyan? Will a blissful breeze of love ever kiss her heart? A heart-warming saga of dreams and desires, We Will Meet Again promises to make you smile and cry at the same time. Hold on to your hearts before embarking on this roller coaster ride of emotions!

Book Review- ‘We will meet again…’ is the debut novel of author-Tarang Sinha. It follows the journey of Paridhi, a modern age woman who has her head firmly on her shoulders. Recovering from a forgettable ‘love affair’, she meets the quintessential ‘prince charming’ and keeps on bumping into him. From here onward, the story takes on a course which is pretty familiar. There are no surprises along the path. The destination is one which we all are aware of.

The story has its share of clichés and the author does not shy away from them. A loud ‘Punjabi’ wedding, a fat boy named ‘Lovely’, a father who suffers a heart attack at just the ‘right’ time, orthodox ‘in-laws’ - all are present, duly going through the motions.

On the brighter side, the author writes in a lucid manner and the reader tends to go with the flow. The pace of the story does not slacken. The narrative is coherent. As far as the romance between the protagonists is concerned, the author decides to play safe. Sparks do fly but there is no smouldering passion.

Pick this book up for an unadulterated dose of mushy romance. We all believe in fairy tales- don’t we?

Verdict- An unadulterated dose of mushy romance…

About the Author- Tarang Sinha is a freelance writer and editor. She is an avid reader and active Blogger. Her works have been published in magazines like Good Housekeeping India, Child India, Woman’s Era and Alive, and a bestselling anthology “Uff Ye Emotions 2”.
A science graduate, she holds a Diploma in Creative Writing in English from IGNOU.
'We Will Meet Again...' is her first novel.

दाग...

चन्दन के पेड़ पे सर्प

गुलाब के फूल संग कांटे

कमल घिरा कीचड में

चाँद को दाग हैं बांटे…

कुदरत का मज़ाक कहो

या फरिश्तों का फितूर

ना गुलाब की कोई गलती

ना तो चाँद का है कुसूर…

(अनुराग )

DNA - Dad's Not Adopted (A book review)

Author- Shikha Kaul 

Publishers- Gargi Publishers; First Edition edition (18 April 2016)

Language: English

Pages- 250

Genre- Crime, thriller and mystery

Blurb- When the past that never existed comes to haunt you, there’s only one thing that persists in your mind – It is definitely a lie!

Sometimes life is not just a mystery, but withal a discovery and cognisance of facts and people around, people who have lived on this planet every moment of your life, as a part of your life, have breathed through the times you have spent. Yet they remain anonymous to you like aliens from a different world. Their existence is non-extant. Yet they influence you without your knowledge. Sometimes they too are oblivious to the reality, like the railway tracks which run parallel to each other but never meet. The moment the tracks meet, there is bound to be a disaster.

She is a simple girl from Thailand and he is one of the top business magnates of India. She claims to be his daughter and a year later she is found killed.

A Managing Editor of a leading newspaper and a CBI Investigating Officer team up to unearth the truth. How far do they go to uncover the mystery?
Delve into the timeless journey that promises to keep you hooked from the beginning to the end…. without a blink!

Book Review- ‘DNA’ is not a novel- it is a ready-made script for a movie. The story runs like a car on the expressway from Delhi to Jaipur-fast and smooth. There are no bumps on the way.

The characters have been etched out with great detailing-everyone has a past, a story of their own to share. They feel real; flesh and blood. The story takes time to shift gears in the beginning but once it does, it is in cruise control mode. The pieces of this jigsaw puzzle fit perfectly into place as the story progresses. The climax is unpredictable; well almost. Being an author myself, I could forecast fifty percent of the suspense but kudos to the writer for jotting down a wonderful culmination to this fantastic novel.

The element of romance though not smouldering, is refreshing.

On the downside, the author could have desisted from using words which send the reader scurrying for a dictionary. It’s never a good idea. The flashback, if narrated by a character is usually in the ‘first person’- the author inadvertently wrote it in the ‘third person’.

Apart from these minor glitches, it has all the ingredients of a book belonging to the genre of ‘Crime, thriller and mystery'.

Verdict- A quintessential suspense thriller…

About the Author- Winner of ‘Author of the Year’ award by Salis Online Magazine for her debut novel ‘Hidden Husband’, which is a romantic contemporary fiction, author Shikha Khanduja Kaul has experimented with a thriller and a murder mystery with her second book. Alongside her career in the staffing industry, she manages to pursue her passion for writing and at the same time ensures to fulfill her duties as a mother and a wife.

A graduate with Honours in Physics and a Post Graduate in HR, she has always been fascinated by books of all genres and finds peace in writing her mind out. Reach out to her:
Facebook: facebook.com/shikhakaulauthor
Twitter: @shikhakaul10
Email: shikha.kaul.author@gmail.com

Happy Deepawali

'HAPPY DEEPAWALI'

A season of celebrations

A festival of lights

When stars descend from heaven

To illuminate the nights.

Lighting a few candles

Bursting  a cracker or two

Assorted dishes to gobble

Sweet tooth to cater to.

Lauding the Goddess of wealth

Praying for prosperity to reign

Some peace and some tranquil

Deliverance  from suffering and pain.

Let no heart be cloaked in darkness

Let all have happiness to share

I wish everyone a ‘HAPPY DIWALI’

Let’s celebrate with pomp and fare.

                                            (Anurag)

Khwaeshein (A book review)

Author- Pulkit Gupta

Publishers- Petals Publishers; First edition (2016)

Language- Hindi

Pages- 168

Genre- Romance

Blurb- "Story of an IITian Turned CA Aspirant". This novel travels across the realms of his life and unfolds his journey of being a ca aspirant from an IITian, and also reflects on the snags it brings to his relationships. Rachit, a young, ambitious boy, hailing from a small town of Western UP, has big dreams. Destiny takes a turn when he attempts to commit suicide and lands up in a hospital bed. There, he bumps into Khushi, a chubby girl with a carefree attitude. She insists Rachit to uncover the pages of his life and tell her what compelled him to take such a drastic step. Rachit starts to narrate his story, seeing no other option. He tells her that he dreamt of being an IITian and even achieved it. Things went well for some days, until that fateful day when Rachit was diagnosed with severe health issues. After a while, already heartbroken, Rachit takes a tough decision. He drops his IIT dream and follows the CA path. In this very process, he overlooks Radhika, a gorgeous Bengali girl, his batchmate as well as his girlfriend. What will happen to the love story of Rachit and Radhika? Will Rachit become a successful professional, and if yes, then at what cost? Does Khushi have a story of her own?

Book Review- ‘Khwaeshein: Kuch Puri To Kuch Adhuri Si...’ is Hindi translation of the novel ‘Life and Promises’.

The last Hindi book that I had read was ‘Gora’ by Rabindranath Tagore during one of my train journeys from Jalandhar to Jodhpur more than fifteen years ago. So, naturally, I was a bit skeptic when I picked up ‘Khwaeshein …’ for review.

Though this book can in no way be compared to the masterpiece by ‘Gurudev’, I was pleasantly surprised by the richness of the words used. The language is beautiful for the most part of the narration, expressing the emotions of the characters beautifully. At places, modern slangs commonly used in day-to-day conversation between college students have been interspersed. But this is excusable as it is in accordance with the demands of the story.

Rachit’s interactions with Khushi and his romance with Radhika consume most of the pages and every moment has been captured with skill. The glimpses into the life of an IITian and subsequently a C.A. aspirant are not fresh by any stretch of the imagination but still exude nostalgia in the mind of anyone who has spent life in a hostel. The climax does pack a punch.

On the downside, the pace of the novel could have been a tad faster, but then, this is a book belonging to the genre of ‘romance’ and is not a thriller.

Verdict- A heart-warming story.

The Monk (A book review)

Author- Akshay Shroff

Publishers- Gargi  Publishers

Pages- 218

Genre-Crime, thriller and mystery

Blurb- Ten-year-old Lakshya Gaitonde dreams of following a career in cricket like his idol, Sunil Gavaskar. But destiny has other plans for him. He loses his father, Police sub-inspector Rajaram Gaitonde in the Mumbai terror attack of March 1993. He decides to follow his father's footsteps and becomes a police officer. In the July 2006 serial train blasts on the Mumbai suburban network, he loses his mother and fiancée. In consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he devises a diabolical plan to crush the menace of terrorism at its roots. Does he succeed? How does he manage to avenge the killing of his parents and his beloved? Why does he finally don saffron robes?

Book Review- ‘The Monk’ is author Akshay Shroff’s debut novel and as you flip through the pages, the inexperience starts showing. While the premise of the book is very promising, the execution leaves much to be desired. However, the author does seem to have abundant potential and I would be waiting to read his next book.

When the story begins, the reader is drawn into the life of Lakshya Gaitonde-a ten-year-old boy aspiring to be another Sunil Gavaskar. The bond between Rajaram and Shanti-Lakshya’s parents is poignant. The post-traumatic stress disorder that Lakshya endures after the death of his father is penned lucidly, offering a deep insight into the mind of a tortured soul. The author displays the gift of painting vivid imagery with his words.

The story starts to meander, thereafter.

Lakshya’s covert stint as an undercover agent has not been given enough weightage. There are too many characters (mostly Muslim) that enter and exit the story. The author could have focused more on Lakshya and his interactions with a limited number of characters. Another issue that irked me as the story progressed was the mixing up of fact with fiction. While ‘Hemant Karkare’ has been mentioned as a character, a ‘Dawood Ibrahim’ has been veiled by the name ‘Jalim Sheikh’. The author’s dislike for a certain religion is also much too overt when one reads page 70 and 71 of the novel; in fact, a few paragraphs are repeated.

The climax, well I have one word for it- preposterous…

Verdict- Good.  Could have been better though!!

About the Author- Akshay Shroff has been a successful advertising sales consultant of domestic and international media, spanning over three decades, first in New Delhi followed by Mumbai. He has been associated with voluntary organizations like the Lions and the Junior Chamber International in senior positions and also with trade bodies like the Delhi Advertising Club and the Press Club of India. Married to Jayna since February 1981, he has been a responsible family man, a doting father of Rohan and a loving father-in- law of Stuti. Has a Bon Vivant nature, nurturing friendships since over five decades. Travel, trekking, reading and writing have been his passionate hobbies. Lover of animals and Nature, dogs have been his companions on and off. While THE MONK is his debut novel, writing will now be his full-time engagement.

The American Indian Dream ( A book review)

Author- Pranay Sahu

Publishers- HALF BAKED BEANS; First edition (2016)

Pages- 210 pages

Genre- Literature and fiction 

Blurb- His life was his dream. From being a Wall Street Investment Banker to being a jobless put under spiritual arrest, to being hopelessly in love with a hippie ten years elder to becoming an entrepreneur , he lived his dreams throughout his life. Cut to 2012, destiny's favourite child is now controversy's favourite child. Come success, come controversy. Controversies are inevitable, one's reaction to them, is optional. Roshan should not have reacted. Four years since he lost his job, Roshan is now battling his life after multiple gun shots; defending his actions before a spiritual guru whom he does not like at all. But life is not always your choice. The difference between dreaming and making dreams come true is what life is all about.

Book Review- ‘The American Indian Dream’ is less of a novel belonging to the genre of fiction and more of an autobiographical narration by the author. It is a bit of a letdown, considering the backdrop chosen by the writer- America reeling under the attacks of 9/11. The book flatters to deceive.

As is evident from the blurb, the story follows the tumultuous life of Roshan. The narrative oscillates between two time zones; 2008-referred to as Dark India and 2013 which depicts the present day scenario as far as the protagonist is concerned.

Roshan is recovering from a near fatal gunshot injury and his past is revealed as you flip the pages, waiting for some drama to unfold. Sadly, it does not.

There are a variety of characters but they have been etched half-halfheartedly. Apart from Roshan, there are Jagat, Ira, Hirenbhai, Silvio, Ariella aka Lakshmi, Maera, Gurudev and his henchman Farhaan. The reader cannot empathise with any of these. The love affair between Roshan and Ariella seems convoluted.

The pace of the novel is languid and one tends to lose interest pretty early.

‘Why was Roshan shot at?’ remains a mystery till the end. The motive of the one pulling the trigger is not clearly explained.

The proof reading too, could have been better.

On the brighter side, the novel explores the mindset of Indian youth who are trapped by the lure of the ‘American dream’.  At a time when the anthem of the nation is ‘Make in India’, this story serves as an eye-opener.

Verdict- Un-tapped potential.

About the Author – Pranay Sahu is the classic case of an engineer turned MBA turned banker turned novelist. He is also an avid marathon runner, a stand-up comedian and a lonely traveler. Yes, he is either settling business for Corporations or travelling into his own world of stories or is out travelling alone talking to strangers at places like Pondicherry, Cochin or Diu. Having lived in places like Kota, Bhopal, Indore and Bangalore, Pranay now lives in Vadodara and divides his time between three cities, other two being Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

LOC

‘Ravana’ transgressed eons ago
Come Dussehra, he still pays the fine.
'Pakistan' encroaching yet again
A bunch of cowards, sans a spine.

Watched the movie ‘PINK’ yesterday
A sensitive topic, a welcome sign.
Three different subjects apparently
The inference may wary; yours and mine.

It’s all about respecting the boundaries
All about ‘NOT’ crossing the ‘LINE’…

Copyright © 2016 by Anurag Shourie

03:02 (A book review)

Author- Mainak Dhar

Publishers- Westland (16 June 2016)

Pages- 350 pages

Genre- Crime, thriller and mystery

Blurb- At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the world as we knew it came to an end. Mumbai suddenly went black — no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted. We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be waged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers. This is our story. '03:02 celebrates fictional heroes who fight for our freedom, but to give back to the real heroes who do so every day, for every copy sold, a contribution from author royalties will be made to the National Defence Fund, which takes voluntary contributions to help armed forces service members and their families.'

Book Review- “03:02” is a rather unconventional name for a novel. But then, so is the ‘thriller’ genre as far as writing fiction in India is concerned. The market is flooded with half-baked ‘chic lit’ romances catering to the teens at heart and/or mythological tales being packaged and served as something fresh. As is evident from the author’s resume, this is not his first book and an experienced hand at play is evident as you turn the pages. The narrative is lucid and devoid of any grammatical glitches. The story is fast paced and you relate to the events unfolding in this thrilling story. I have seen a few Hollywood movies which have this ‘science fiction’ feel and have relished almost all of these. Well, do not be surprised if this story gets molded into a script for a ‘Bollywood’ flick.

On the flip-side, the incorporation of a love story in the midst of the ‘war’ does mar the pace of the book at places. The author, however, does succeed in pouring emotions in the cauldron of romance.

Verdict- Worth every penny spent.

About the Author-After finishing his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road and his under-graduation at Hindu College, Delhi, Mainak Dhar graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has spent two decades in the corporate sector starting with Procter & Gamble in India. He spent eighteen years with P&G, fifteen of them outside India across the Asia Pacific region. In 2014, he moved back to India as the CEO of the India operations of a major consumer products multinational. A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is also the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Puja and their son, Aaditya. When not at work or with his family, he can usually be found working on or thinking about his next book.

The Colour of Love (A book review)

Author- Jagdish Joghee

Publishers- Notion Press, Inc.; 1 edition (13 May 2016)

Pages- 166 pages

Genre- Romance

Blurb- Sarfaraz is brought up with a good value system by his devoted parents. With time, curiosity and adolescent growth pangs take him through many experiences. His first brush with girls starts with a friend and slowly meanders into casual flirtatious affairs with girls at college.
All through it, he realizes that none of them have his undying, true love. A time comes when he realizes who he truly loves, and in the midst of it all, he handles brutal enmity and takes on vile characters that misbehave with his friends.
Sarfaraz grows up in Coimbatore where a series of bomb blasts occur. His identity is called into question, as his status as a Muslim makes people see him as an enemy. He loses something precious in the blasts and leaves to Sharjah, only for life to find him and surprise him.

Book Review- ‘The Colour of Love’ is Jagdish Joghee’s second novel. I had the opportunity to review his debut work- ‘In Love and Free’ a few days ago. If I compare the two books, I can clearly see the small steps taken by the author on the path to becoming a better writer. Though grammatical errors are still in abundance, the characters are etched in a mature way. The story has many twists and the climax is heart-warming.

The author considers himself more of a storyteller than a writer. I have respect for Jagdish Joghee, the storyteller but as a writer, he still has a long way to go. He is passionate about the stories he wishes to tell us but needs someone who can fine tune the rough edges of the works composed by him.

Here, the role of the publisher comes under scrutiny. The ‘editing’ and ‘proofreading’ of any manuscript is as much the responsibility of a publishing house as the author. But in this era of self-publishing, literary merit of many books has taken a severe beating. This novel, if edited properly would have been in a much better shape.

Verdict- Nice story…

About the Author-Born and brought up in the beautiful hill town of Coonoor in Nilgiris, Jagdish Joghee has always been attracted to the hills and the forests. Growing up in the midst of serenity, Jagdish had enough inspiration to write short poems during his school days. He now lives in the city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where he works for a leading global information technology services company. Jagdish has worked in some of the top IT companies in India, which required him to travel to some of the major cities in the country and overseas too. His passion for writing started early during his school days. Being a closet writer, Jagdish's writing was initially confined to journals and scrapbooks. He could not pursue his dream of becoming a journalist when he started working in the IT-enabled services industry. Jagdish is an active blogger and writes on issues that have a social impact, apart from reviewing Indian movies. He considers himself more of a storyteller than a writer. Jagdish wants to write novels that will keep readers engaged with a good mix of romance, revenge, laughter and thrill. He is also keen to explore the realm of fantasy.

LIFE...

The irreverence of today

The uncertainty of tomorrow

The futility of yesterday

Is that all that is to life?

No moments to cherish

The ephemeral existence

All ordained to perish

Is that all that is to life?

Walls, all around us

Enclosures for souls

Compartmentalized, thus

Is that all that is to life?

Icy hearts, empty coffers

Compassion-freeze dried

Corrupt oaths, wily offers

Is that all that is to life?

Seen it all, endured

Every breath accounted for

All let loose, nothing secured

All that was to this life…………

Copyright © 2016 by Anurag Shourie

In Love and Free (A book review)

Author- Jagdish Joghee

Publishers- Notion Press; 1 edition (10 September 2015)

Pages- 118

Genre- Romance

Blurb- Shruthi has everything going in her life with great education, incredible romance, a wonderful husband, and two adorable kids. There is plenty of laughter, joy, and love in the cozy nest that Shruthi has carefully built. All is well until that fateful Diwali day when passion gets the better of reason. One momentary lapse threatens to uproot the entire foundation of her beautiful life. The stakes are too high as Shruthi runs the risk of being abandoned by her husband and losing her children too. And there is no one to blame but herself. Caught in a cesspool of blackmail, ransom, revenge and remorse, Shruthi is on the brink of collapse. She can run but cannot hide.

Book Review- “In Love and Free: The tale of a woman caught between two men”, as the name specifies, deals with the issue of infidelity. The premise is not new as the issue of adultery and the complications that are certain to follow (at least in fiction) is a concept that has been done to death in movies as well as literature. While there is nothing wrong in choosing an old topic, the need of the hour was a fresher perspective. The drama unfolds in a predictable manner and the story meanders towards deceit and crime. 

                               

The numerous grammatical mistakes do nothing to salvage a bland tale.

On a positive note, the author has etched the character of Shruthi, the female protagonist of the story, well. She has been portrayed as a strong-willed woman who likes to dominate the events around her. She has no qualms about succumbing to the pleasures of the flesh and wants to live life on her own terms. The way she deals with the crisis in her life is commendable as she does not surrender to the dictates of the antagonist. However, the climax could have been different; Shruthi choosing the easier way out by deciding to sacrifice her life as a penance for her 'sins' smacked of a misogynist mindset on the part of the writer.

Verdict- Old wine in an old bottle…

About the Author-Born and brought up in the beautiful hill town of Coonoor in Nilgiris, Jagdish Joghee has always been attracted to the hills and the forests. Growing up in the midst of serenity, Jagdish had enough inspiration to write short poems during his school days. He now lives in the city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where he works for a leading global information technology services company. Jagdish has worked in some of the top IT companies in India, which required him to travel to some of the major cities in the country and overseas too. His passion for writing started early during his school days. Being a closet writer, Jagdish's writing was initially confined to journals and scrapbooks. He could not pursue his dream of becoming a journalist when he started working in the IT-enabled services industry. Jagdish is an active blogger and writes on issues that have a social impact, apart from reviewing Indian movies. This book marks his foray into fiction. He considers himself more of a storyteller than a writer. Jagdish wants to write novels that will keep readers engaged with a good mix of romance, revenge, laughter and thrill. He is also keen to explore the realm of fantasy. - See more at: https://notionpress.com/read/in-love-and-free#sthash.6tTejEDz.dpuf

Curtain Call (A book review)

Author- Various Authors (Author), Rafaa Dalvi (Editor)

Publisher- HALF BAKED BEANS

Pages- 230

Genre- Fiction (Short stories)

Blurb- We live our lives like the ceaseless flow of a river, but we remember it only in pieces, pieces we like to call memories, memories that are shared in the form of stories. What is life if not a number of stories tied together like an anthology? The Curtain Call is one such anthology that brings together stories from different walks of life, stories that would make you pondering upon them for days, stories that make you think, and stories that will leave an imprint on the souls of the readers. From historical fiction to fantasy fiction, this multi-genre anthology contains thought-provoking stories that will take you through a delightful journey beyond time and reality. Whether it is a train journey, space expedition or Mrinalini's royal marriage, Gloria's guest, a spy or an Ookleeboo, a story of love or of bitter sadness, these stories will make you cry, laugh, love and, most importantly, live.

Book Review- Reading an anthology of short stories penned by different authors is like listening to FM radio-one has no clue which song is going to be played next. On the other hand, reading a collection of short stories penned by a single author tends to lose its charm sometimes. The first story sets the tone in such a case. The reader becomes aware of the style of writing and knows what lies in store in the subsequent pages. No surprises there.

‘Curtain Call’ is a collection of short stories with an assortment of authors weaving their magical wand and painting the pages of the book with varied shades. As is evident from the blurb, each story of this collection has a different flavor. I had the unenviable task of reviewing this book and could not, therefore, savor the aroma at leisure. I would advise the readers to read one story at a time and feel the prose course through their bloodstream and invade the deepest caverns of their heart.

There are a few grammatical errors here and there but that does not interrupt the smooth flow of the prose.

The anthology contains twenty stories and if I had to choose one which is closest to my heart, I would be found wanting. Therefore, I would recommend all these little pearls as part of a beautiful necklace. Behold…

Verdict- An assorted cuisine, delectable.

A Song for You...

Let me sing a song for you

Let the music be fresh as dew

The sound of rustling trees

The buzzing of honey-bees

The glee of an angel, new-born

An anguished cry- lovelorn.

Raindrops atop tin roofs

The thudding of a hundred hoofs.

Let me sing a song for you

Let the lyrics be honest and true

The words untouched and new

Like the sky, limpid and blue

The prayers of faith divine

The chants in a holy shrine

The stirrings of a heart in love

Like the flight of a snowy dove.

Let me sing a song for you…

  

Copyright © 2016 by Anurag Shourie

World Full of Needles (A book review)

Author- Bhawna Monga.

Publishers- Notion Press.

Pages- 138.

Genre- Fiction (Short stories).

Blurb- Needles,they hurt, don't they? Imagine going around with a needle poking into the sole of your foot for years. The bitter truth is that most of us are doing that, not realising how. These needles exist in our relationships, within ourselves, or in the people around us.

This book brings to you fifteen short stories on beautiful people and how they managed to pick the needles off from the bottom of their feet and learned to walk again, to love again and to live their lives again.

Book Review- ‘World full of needles’ is divided into 15 chapters. I would refrain to use the term ‘stories’ for them. The book supposedly falls under the category of ‘fiction-short stories’ but I would prefer to categorise it as a non-fiction venture. Each chapter begins with a short narrative depicting a social conflict. This is followed by an autopsy of the issue at hand.

The events described in the book are commonplace; they take place in every household. All of us have experienced them at one stage or the other. Therein lies the strength of this book. The reader can easily relate to each and every incident portrayed in the 138 pages. The book throws in practical recommendations and does not sound preachy at any stage.

The ‘needle’ as far as this book is concerned lies in the overly simplistic narrative plagued by a lack of proper proofreading and editing. This is fast becoming the bane of most of the books nowadays.

According to me, this is a brave attempt on the part of the author. At a time when the market is flooded with novels catering to fiction, she has chosen a path relatively less charted.

Verdict-  A brave attempt.

About the Author- The author is a debutante and has just stepped into the writing world with an ambition to help people with their relationships. Bhawna holds a degree of MBA in HR, a Masters in Sociology, a Diploma in Education planning and management and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological counselling. She works in the domain of Emotional Wellness and has touched many lives by now. Bhawna is settled in New Delhi with her husband and two kids.

Panorama (A book review)

Author- Shilpi Chaklanobis

Publishers- Notion Press

Pages- 144

Genre- Fiction (Short stories)

Blurb- A turbulent relationship between a mother and a daughter takes a sudden turn when the daughter stumbles across a past that she never knew.
The golden period of a professor's life is tainted by questions about his purpose until one night gives him all the answers he needs.
Desperate times test us all but when hunger drives a girl to do the unthinkable, her life changes forever.
Woven around the lives of the people around us - the shy girl on the metro, your domestic help, your neighbours and perhaps even you - this collection of short stories will take you on a bittersweet journey that explores the spectrum that is part of any human relationship and all the complexity and chaos that secretly dwell within the homes and hearts of India.
Often laced with an element of introspection, the stories are sure to change the way you see the world around you...

Book Review- Short stories are to literature what T-20 is to Cricket. The purists may scoff at this comparison but it does hold some weight. A novel can take its own sweet time to capture the attention of the audience and the twists in the tale are closely guarded till the very end of a long journey. A short story, on the other hand, is entrusted with the task of narrating a tale in a very short span of time. It seldom follows any rules and yet leaves a deep impact on the mind of a reader. To sum up, it is much more challenging to pen a short story which can hold up its own against a novel which has its 3 acts- a fulsome 7-course meal.

‘Panorama’ is a collection of short stories by debutante author, Shilpi Chaklanobis. There are 15 stories, all coloured in different shades; I was impressed by the variety of topics chosen by the author. There is not a single dull moment as every story packs a climax which leaves you either misty eyed or with a smile on your lips. Though my personal favourite is ‘Wok’, the author leaves the best for the last, i.e. ‘The Sealed Wish’. This review would be incomplete without a special mention for ‘The Second Tsunami’. My takeaway line from this book would be-“A dried flower ceases to spread fragrance.”

On the downside, the stories could have benefited from a bit of smart editing. The rough edges could have been polished to add lustre to this gem of a book.

Verdict- An unpolished gem.

About the Author-Shilpi Chaklanobis hails from the beautiful city of Kanpur and has spent the majority of her adult life in Delhi. She currently heads the Digital Marketing division at an MNC. The amalgamation of her years spent amongst the quiet, calm streets of a small city and the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan like Delhi have lent her a unique perspective towards life. She aims to translate her experiences and understanding of human relationships into stories that not only move people but also resonate with them. She believes that the beauty of a story lies within its ability to be interpreted by the reader in the way they desire as is evident from her writing. Apart from writing, she spends her time devouring books by the dozen. This is her first endeavour as a writer and her writing not only shows promise, but also has a sense of sensitivity that compels you to think about the lives you touch every day.

Kaliyug- The Secret Plot (A book review)

Author- B. S. Sarwagna Kumar 

Publishers- HALF BAKED BEANS

Pages- 300

Genre- Myths, Legends & Sagas

Blurb- If you think humanity has lost its meaning, greater darkness is on its way. What could have happened in the past that made our present to be in this way? And how would our present society demolish the future to crumbles? This is war; the war between the first devil, and his nemesis...war between religion and divinity of 'spirituality & knowing'...war between cruel hearted and kind ones. This is the war of KALIYUG. An army consisting an axe, a sword, a horse, great wisdom, and the remains of a dead child, is coming to slay the first of evil and his minions. Pick your side. Good or evil? Respect or rape? Kindness or cruelty? Come join Kaliyug's secretive battle with its twisted secretive plot!

Book Review- ‘Kaliyug  - The Secret Plot’ is the book-1 of Kali trilogy. This book has been divided into two fragments-

1) The Journey so Far – This is the interesting part. The author leads the reader through many mythological events which some of us may have read or heard about. The novelty lies in putting together these apparently unrelated events like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. How humanity plotted its own fall- from the zenith of ‘Satyug’ to the nadir of ‘Kaliyug’ forms the basis of the story.  The author has put in a lot of hard work in compiling mythological records. Kali, the antagonist (if you choose to call him one) has been portrayed in an innovative way. I loved the concept of ‘Brahma years’.

I won’t spill the beans here, though. Read the book to know more.  

2) The Journey Afar- It is in the second portion of the book that the author begins to loose grip over the proceedings. Sometimes, you feel as if you are reading two different books. At the same time, one cannot take credit away from the author as he, in a thought-provoking way, brings out the reasons behind the decay prevalent in today’s societal framework. Man if left to his own devices is none the better than an animal- wild, wanton, savage with lust and greed pervading his bloodstream.

It would be interesting to see what the author intends to pen in the next two parts of this trilogy. This book appears to be complete in itself.

Verdict- A good book, if you are not already tired of the ‘mythology’ based books flooding the market. Give it a try- you won’t be disappointed.

Anything to Look Hot (A book review)

Author- Jas Kohli

Publishers- Srishti Publishers & Distributors 

Pages- 208

Genre- Romance

Blurb- When the superstar diva of the past decade doesn’t want to play the hero’s mother on screen, she insists that she be reshaped into the most beautiful woman in the world…by any means. This is just one of the many odd situations which plastic surgeon Dr. Dhruv faces in Mumbai. He has dealt with tyrannical bosses and finicky patients while undergoing his training, during which he has also won over a stunning doctor as his life partner. But satisfying the movie stars is a different ball game because every girl wishes to have bee-stung lips, and every guy wants to flaunt a six-pack abdomen without working too hard. And all this while, he has to resist losing his balance over his ravishing female clients. Dr. Dhruv’s journey surpasses even a masala movie for humour, drama, and action. In debunking many a myth about cosmetic surgeries, the book will enthrall those who can do ‘Anything to Look Hot’.

Book Review- In this novel, the author takes the reader through the trials and tribulations of the life of a plastic surgeon, Dr. Dhruv Khanna. The author, being a plastic surgeon himself, narrates a ringside view. The narrative is crisp and the language, lucid. However, the account seems to be autobiographical in nature. Herein lies the problem with this otherwise adroitly written book. The life of the protagonist is devoid of drama and the action is limp. There is hardly any character apart from Dr. Dhruv which can hold the reader’s interest. There is no prominent female lead and no antagonist. There is a fleeting reference to an aborted love affair between the doctor and a beautiful female. According to me, this could have been handled in a better way; could have been given more prominence. ‘A plastic surgeon who knows only too well that beauty is skin deep falling for a beautiful vixen’. Now, that would have been a great ‘sales pitch’ for a romantic novel. The book could have scaled greater heights but for the lack of spices in the cauldron in which this story was broiled.

Verdict- A well-cooked dish, bland for the dearth of seasonings…

About the Author- When Dr. Jas Kohli started training in plastic surgery twenty years back, he hadn’t imagined that one day he would be exposing the secretive world of plastic surgeons and their clients. Apart from his interest in writing, he also enjoys astronomy, music, and bird-watching. Through his writings, he aims to foster a stronger doctor-patient bond.