Book Review: My father is a hero

Book: My Father is a Hero

Author: Nishant Kaushik

Publisher: Srishti Publishers

Genre: Fiction | Relationship

Pages: 199

Price: 195 INR

Blurb:

Vaibhav Kulkarni has had few accomplishments worth boasting about in his modest life and career. Yet, his happy universe lies intact in the love and pride his ten-year-old daughter inspires in him. Nisha Kulkarni justifies every reason to be the favourite child of Pune’s premier school-be it her academic brilliance, her exceptional facility with music, or simply her unassuming charm.
 With his daughter showing promising signs of a stellar success story, Vaibhav has made peace with own unrequited dreams of the past. But when the girl mysteriously starts losing mojo and spirals into despair and seclusion, Vaibhav faces the toughest test of his life as single father - to reclaim his child’s trust and happiness. 
What distance will a middle-class man with limited means go to show his daughter the merit in believing in a dream? Read this gripping tale of love, courage, and of the emergence of an ordinary man as an extraordinary hero.

My Rating:

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing Style: 3/5

Character Sketch: 4/5

My Review:

“My father is a hero” is the story of Vaibhav who is a single parent to his 10 year old daughter Nisha. The book beautifully shows the relationship between a father and his little daughter around whom his world revolves. They are enough for each other and are very happy in their sweet little world.

Nisha is an extraordinary student who is loved by her teachers and admired by her friends. She sings beautifully and idolizes Rihanna. Vaibhav wants her to grow up to be a happy, self-sufficient and successful lady. Despite not having any knowledge of music, he wants Nisha to be a great singer because her dreams matter a lot to him. He doesn’t lament on his unfulfilled dreams and desires because all he wants is his daughter’s dreams to be fulfilled.

I could definitely relate a lot to the book on a personal level as my father had also been a single parent to me after my mother passed away when I was twelve. As I was reading the book, Vaibhav’s love, sacrifices and dedication to his daughter definitely won my heart.

When Nisha suddenly retreats inside a shell and hides something from Vaibhav, he is shattered. He cannot see his daughter losing her friends, getting punished by her teachers who once loved her so much and failing in her exams despite being a class topper once. The story is about how a middle class man like Vaibhav leaves no stone unturned to bring his daughter back to a life full of dreams and happiness.

Though the plot of the book is simple and the writing is ordinary, the book touched my heart. Vaibhav’s struggle to bring back the smile on his daughter’s face was heart warming. This book scores high on the emotional quotient. Its beauty lies in its simplicity.

However, I did not quite like the ending chapter of the book as it did not feel realistic to me. Maybe, an emotional scene between Nisha and Vaibhav where the girl realizes and tells her father why she thinks he is her hero would have appealed to me much more than a celebrity telling her that her father is a hero. 

Apart from that, I really enjoyed reading the book. It was a beautiful and emotional read. I would like to give it 3.5 and would recommend it to all the daughters & sons who think that their father is a hero.

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.' 

Book Review: The Tantric Curse

Book: The Tantric Curse

Author: Anupama Garg

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction| Thriller

Pages: 280

Price: 295 INR

Blurb:

On an amavasya night, eight-year-old Rhea mysteriously lands at the doors of Shaktidham, a Tantric house of worship, in a trance. Realizing that she is blessed with unusual faculties, the guru of Shaktidham, Satya, chooses her as a disciple over his own son, Krishnam, to carry on his lineage, a privilege previously bestowed only to males. But the lineage has been cursed for generations, and it is up to Rhea to either break the curse or perish in the attempt.
Will she succeed in her endeavour? Will her love for Krishnam become an obstacle in her path? The Tantric Curse, an unusual story set in the world of Tantra that aims to dispel most of the myths about the practice, will keep you spellbound till the very last page. 

My Review:

There are some books that stay with you long after you have finished reading it. They inspire you, they thrill you and they enlighten you. “The Tantric Curse” is one such book.  Reading it was an enriching experience.

It is not only a thriller set in the world of Tantra that tries to dispel all its myths, but is also a beautiful love story that will touch your soul. The story starts in Shaktidham where a little eight year old girl, Rhea lands when her parents die in a road accident. She meets the guru of Shaktidham, Satya who chooses her as his disciple. 

Rhea can see future events in her dreams since childhood.  Satya chooses to teach her about Tantra as he believes that she is gifted and can reach the heights of sadhana that no one ever could. Satya has a son, Krishnam who is a few years elder to Rhea.

Rhea and Krishnam grew up together. Since childhood, they are inseparable. They couldn’t realize when their friendship gradually blossomed into deep love.

They got separated when Rhea became victim to the misuse of Tantra. But does separation means end of love? How long can a woman wait for her love with the conviction that he will come back when it is time? The author has beautifully portrayed the profound relationship between Rhea and Krishnam, two highly evolved souls who loved each other unconditionally despite not being together for as long as eleven years. The telepathy between them is beautifully shown.

The book also talks about Rhea’s long journey as a sadhak in Shaktidham to working with Dr. Vishnukant as a spiritual counselor in UK. As I read the book, I was completely fascinated with the character of Rhea and deeply invested in the love story. I loved Rhea’s answer when a friend asks her who Krishnam is:

“The core that remains stable within me, in spite of any peripheral movement. Some people, whether they are there or not, are still a part of you. A part that lives until you are alive. He left, but still he never left. An effortless saint, who is content, steadfast in every situation and loves me the way no one can. He is the man who possesses me in every way, without possessing me physically.”

The book is also rich in spiritual teachings that will inspire and enlighten the readers. I can definitely go to the book again and again. I couldn’t find any flaw in the book and therefore, I would like to give it 5 stars and would like to congratulate the author for writing such a spellbinding story.

Highly recommended! It’s definitely a book to remember. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: Colorful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0

Book: Colorful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0

Author: Mohit Goyal

Publisher: Srishti Publishers

Genre: Fiction| Travel

Pages: 200

Price: 175 INR

Blurb:

Would you give up your high-paying job and comfortable personal life to drive ten thousand kilometers across India? Just for fun!

Three twenty-somethings dare to do just that! While the two guys take turns to drive, the girl gives voice-over as they record their entire journey on a handycam.

Ab, Sasha and Unnati are ordinary youngsters, rendered special by the feat they accomplish. As they recount their adventures, I crave to live their journey all the more. They look at each other with a glint in their eyes, as if refurbishing those memories, as they narrate their spooky time at Bhangarh Fort, strange escapades at Wagah Border and Sundarbans, car breakdowns, wild animals, near-death experiences and highway robbers! It's nothing less than crazy.

Colorful Notions is a journey of three young hearts on the Indian terrain and into the inner recesses of their souls, giving a new perspective to relationships, love and life. 

My Rating

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Character Sketch: 4/5

My Review

"Colorful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0" is an adventurous journey of Abhay, Sashank and Unnati as they take a crazy road trip to travel 25 iconic places in the country over a period of 3 months.

Abhay (AB), the narrator of the story dreams of making a documentary movie on the crazy road adventure. He resigned his job in an advertising agency to fulfill his dream. His best friend, Sashank (Sasha) took a 3 month sabbatical from his family business for the road adventure. The thing that attracted him most to the road adventure is his love for food. Sashank's girlfriend, Unnati (Unns) is an assistant RJ who said yes to the adventure because Abhay told her to give voice-over as they will record their journey.

As I love travelling, I was thrilled to travel along with these three characters to the beautiful destinations. They started their journey from Delhi to the Jim Corbett Park, then they moved to Haridwar and then they traveled to Leh & Ladakh. 

The ambiance and beauty of some destinations were so beautifully written that I felt I could see those places. However, if you read this book as a travelogue to experience the 25 places they traveled, you might be disappointed as the author has not described all the places in detail. Visiting Alwar's Bhangarh Fort at night, Sasha proposing Unnati in Kanyakumari, the adventure in Sunderbans and meeting the Lama at Bodh Gaya are my favorite sections of the book. 

Travelling is a great teacher. It changes our perspective and makes us better human beings. Here is a beautiful quote from the book on travelling:

"Travelling teaches you to live in the present, in the moment. You only think about the place you are currently at and the meal you will eat next."

It was enriching to see how the three characters evolve to become better human beings at the end of the trip. When they started their journey, all of them were somewhat confused and they were battling their inner demons. The way they conquered their demons and understood the purpose of their life in those three months was beautifully projected by the author. It was heartening to see that they were rewarded for their crazy road trip as a famous producer agreed to sponsor their documentary.

Overall, this book was a great reading experience. The narration is fast paced and once you start reading, you won't feel like taking a break. Gripping and captivating, the book will tempt you to go on a crazy trip with your friends soon. 

I will go with 4 stars. Highly recommended to the dreamers and the travel enthusiasts. 

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.' 

Book Review: When Arya Fell Through the Fault

Book: When Arya Fell Through The Fault

Author: Reenita Malhotra Hora

Publisher: Om Books International

Genre: Fiction | Fantasy

Pages: 207

Price: 124 INR

Blurb:

When Arya Fell Through The Fault Is The Magical, Coming-Of-Age Tale Of Arya, A 12-Year-Old Boy From San Francisco, Who Is Ridiculed By Bullies. Anything To Do With His Ethnicity—Food, Traditions Or The Fascinating Mythological Stories He Has Been Raised With, Has Become The Building Block Of Unpleasant School Experiences. 
In The Wake Of An Accident That Confines His Once Vibrant Mother To A Hospital Ward—Kept Alive By Tubes And Machines—Arya Clings To The Only Remnant Of Their Bond: An Old, Battered Copy Of The Ramayana, India’S Ancient Epic Story Of Rama’S Battle Against Demons.
One Night, Arya Falls Through A Fault In The Earth Into The Wild Woods, Where Ravana—The Demon King—Strategises To Destroy His Ramayana—The Last Copy Left—And Threatens To Rewrite History From His Evil Perspective. 
Will Arya Be Able To Save The Story Of Rama, Heal His Mother And Return Home To Tackle The Demons In His Ordinary World?

My Rating

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing Style: 3/5

Character Sketch: 4/5

My Review

"When Arya Fell Through The Fault" is the story of Arya, a twelve year old Indian boy who stays in San Francisco with his parents. His mother, an Ayurvedic doctor packs khichdi for him in lunch every day that results in Arya getting bullied by his classmates who call him a goop eater. 

Arya dislikes his mother for packing khichdi for him in lunch that makes him the subject of jokes. 

Despite the differences with his mother, Arya loves listening to the Ramayana, which his mother reads to him daily. He is enchanted by the bravery of Lord Rama and idolizes to be like him. The bullying doesn't stop at his school. His school fellows insult anything that is related to his ethnicity. 

Life goes in the same pattern for Arya until his mother meets an accident and goes into coma. Arya clings to the old, battered copy of the Ramayana that signifies the bond he had shared with his mother. One night, there is an earthquake and Arya falls through a fault in the earth into some unknown wild woods. 

He learns that it is the land of Ravana who has planned to destroy the old battered copy of the Ramayana so that he can rewrite history. He comes across a group of vanaras and a sage who helps him to understand that only he can save the world from the evil clutches of Ravana. 

Since then, a battle between good and evil starts. Arya soon realizes his inner strengths and his good qualities. He gears up for the battle against evil without any restraints.

While battling with Ravana, he realizes that there is Ravana inside him too. His most important battle is to kill his inner demon (read: Ravana) to restore good within and around him. 

"Staring me in the face was the image of a shattered boy who had never stood up to the demons, but let them control his life." (pg 179)

"When Arya Fell Through the Fault" is an adventurous tale of how a young 12 year old boy manages to fight his inner demons. However, I felt that in the middle of the book, the pace dropped. The narration was good in parts. In some places, it was bland. 

There are some good quotes in the book. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Life was a myriad of experiences. Some good, some bad and others that made no sense at all. However over time, even the most nonsensical things would make perfect sense."

I would give the book 3.5 for the adventurous ride and for the beautiful morals embedded in the story.

Highly recommended for children as they will find this book extremely intriguing.

I got a review copy from Word Bite for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: Glitter and Gloss

Book: Glitter and Gloss

Author: Vibha Batra

Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Genre: Fiction | Chick lit

Price: 199 INR

Pages: 184

Blurb:

Misha is a make up artist who, after a series of mishaps and twists and turns, falls madly in love with Akshay who reciprocates her love with ardour. The only hitch in this perfect romance is her prospective sister-in-law who thinks Misha is everything a Bahu shouldn’t be: garrulous, geeky, gawky, gainfully employed (especially the last bit). The questions is will Misha win Didi (and the Kha-Pee Panchayat) over with her Stepford Wife Act? Will she continue to be the poster child for the inherent evils of the Bahu Brigade? Or will she learn to ‘lau’ herself before the whole world and its wife can do the same?

My Rating:

Plot: 3/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Character Sketch: 3.5/5

My Review:

"Glitter and Gloss" is the story about a girl called Misha, who suffers from low self-esteem issues which is partly because of a dysfunctional family and partly because she wants to be accepted by everyone. 

Misha lives in Mumbai. Her flatmate is a guy called Sammy, who is one of her best friends. Her other best friend is Poulomi. She works in M.A.C and aspires to be a bridal male-up artist. She meets Akshay Agarwal, the owner of  Agarwal Jewellers in a fashion event and gets attracted to him instantly. 

They meet a couple of times again and realize that they have found their true love. All goes good in their paradise until the elder sister of Akshay enters the scene. Misha tries too hard to impress her and in the process, tells plenty of lies and pretends to be someone she is not. Will Misha accept herself before getting accepted by Didi? This forms the crux of the story.

The plot is simple, but the way the author has narrated the story keeps you entertained till the last page. With some hilarious moments and plenty of funny one-liners, you cannot stop yourself from laughing while reading the book. 

The characters of the book are well sketched too. I loved the way the author has sketched the character of Misha. She is funny, sweet, adorable and at the same time, she is vulnerable. We find her complaining about her imperfect nose or feeling embarrassed because of her mom's boyfriend. In order to get accepted, she doesn't mind saying a hundred lies. In the blinking of eyes, she tells to Didi that Sammy is gay so that Didi doesn't think otherwise about her flatmate.  

The characters of Didi, Poulomi and Sammy are well sketched too. I enjoyed reading the banter between the three friends. However, the character of Akshay was not as well sketched as Misha. I wish there were more layers to his character.

I felt Glitter and Gloss ended too soon, before I wanted it to finish. I wanted to see Misha evolve into a confident lady who loves herself, after she visits the counsellor and understands that she is suffering from low self-esteem issues. However, the book ends too soon before we can see some solid changes in Misha's personality. 

Overall, it is an entertaining weekend read. The novel is fast paced and can be easily read in a few sitting. I am going with 3.5

Recommended to anyone who is looking for a light hearted weekend read. Go for this one as it will make you laugh out loud. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: Origins ( Arrkaya #1)

Book: Origins (Arrkaya #1)

Author: Yashas Mahajan

Publisher: Frog Books

Genre: Fantasy | Thriller

Pages: 378

Price: 395 INR

Blurb:

An ominous cloud prevails over the continent of Nyvarda, as a concealed enemy, with most political leaders already under his thumb, and a sinister army of monsters under his command, threatens to destroy Arrkaya, and the precarious balance between the existing powers...

A group of young heroes, hailing from different kingdoms and classes, come together to prepare against this formidable threat, whilst safeguarding the interests of their people and fighting the mistrust among themselves...

On this journey of self-discovery, they finds secrets that will change their lives, and possibly change the entire world...

Time, however is running out, and the enemy is ready to strike...

My Rating:

Plot: 4.5/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Character Sketch: 4/5

My Review:

Origins is the first book of the Arrkaya series. It is a fantasy thriller which takes place in the fictional continent of Nyvarda. Arrkaya and Heligesia are two large kingdoms in this continent. There is the Forest of Death where no one dares to go, which is connected to Dulce Lago. The way the author has shown the continent of Nyvarda through a map is praiseworthy. The map makes the reading interesting and easier. However, the focus is mostly given on the kingdom of Arrkaya and its people. 

In the first few chapters, we are introduced to a number of characters such as Kind Edward, the king of Aarkaya, Prince Edward, Princess  Zeleina, Lord Scar, Duke Byron etc. Among all the characters, the one character that grabs the reader's interest is Scar. We are not told about his origin, but as the story unfolds, we get to know who Scar is. And the revelation is thrilling. 

In the very first chapter, we see that Princess Zeleina and Scar gets attacked by a a group of hooded figures. With investigation, it is found that the enemy is not a group of normal human beings. They are "The Incomplete Ones", mysterious creatures called golem who are made of mud or sand. They have superhuman endurance, absence of blood, emotions and lack the ability to communicate. 

Once the truth is revealed, Kind Edward realizes that Aarkaya is under threat, but he doesn't know how to defeat these enemies. Edward, Scar and Byron come together to prepare against the threat. 

On King Edward's order, Scar leaves for Dulce Lago and Byron leaves for Arzi to talk to Amma Gulizar. 

The rest of the book is about how the characters find secrets and come across truths at every nook and corner of Aarkaya. A portion of the story is narrated by Rafael, the Prince of Heligesia. 

The thing that I absolutely loved about this book is the suspense and thrill that the author has generated right from the first chapter. The climax of the book is equally thrilling and it just makes the wait for Book 2 difficult. 

The character sketches are impressive. Since there are so many characters in the book, I thought that I won't be able to understand the characters well. But I was wrong. The characters had an individual voice and they were different from each other. I invested in all the characters, be it Scar, Edward, Rafael, Zeleina or Byron. 

The book is 378 pages long and in some places, the pace of the story drops. However, it takes speed again. I think if the book  would have been wrapped up in 300 pages, it would\be better. That's the only drawback I found in the book.

It is difficult to believe that this is the author's debut work. The book is very well edited, with almost no errors. The author surely has good story telling skills.

Here are some lines from the book : 

"Attachment leads to loss, which leads to pain. If I open myself to attachment, I will just have to bear more pain."

"Despite having lost the only woman he had ever loved, he had not lost the love itself. It had stayed with him, and that was the only reason he had survived the thorny and lonely path that had followed."

I would give it 4.25 and would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading a good thriller with a fictional backdrop. 

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Rude Tenderness Of Our Hearts

Book: The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts

Author: Saket Suryesh

Publisher: Partridge India

Genre: Fiction | Short Stories

Pages: 110

Price: 350

Blurb:

Smith studying art at Yale, with a bright future ahead of him. He is not a man of half-measures. What happens when he falls in love? And who does he fall in love with? How much love is too much love? Surprise yourself with Love in Yale.Shiva is a man in mourning, an asocial man, even if great. What will a father do whose daughter falls in love with an ascetic and a warrior? How would she win in love if not by losing herself? Read to find how the story of Shiva and Shailputri ends. Sarthak is a modern man, with a modern family, trapped in the modern world. This day has seen him coming out as an undisputed winner in corporate warfare. He is rushing to meet those he loves- his wife, his daughter. What happens then? Will time bring solace or will he be Betrayed by Time? A soldier is beheaded on India- Pakistan border. His headless body comes back. Will his soul find its salvation in the patriotic reception he gets as a martyr, having served his country? He is an Indian soldier, he could belong to any country. Where is the resolution to the people who die in such conflicts? Are they great men destined for divinity or are they human, all too human, like me and you? Discover a different perspective of territorial conflicts in The Death of Soldier. These and three other stories are placed in different time, different worlds, with nothing but one common thread that runs across them, connecting them is a human heart beating across the book. Surrender to the magic of human heart.

My Rating:

Plot: 3/5

Writing Style: 4/5

My Review:

"The Rude Tenderness Of Our Hearts" is a collection of 7 short stories, each of which has a profound sadness and an air of melancholy concealed in its bosom. I really liked the choice of the title of the book and how it perfectly matches with the stories in the book.

The first story "Love in Yale" is a story of an artist's love for his creation. This story has thrill, longing and sadness in equal proportions. I loved the way the author has narrated the story, describing each and every emotion of the characters in a subtle yet beautiful way. This is one of my favorite stories of this collection. I found the plot unique and the writing unadulterated. 

The next story "Betrayed by Time" is a story of a person who has always been busy with his work, thereby neglecting his family. And just when he decides to rectify his mistake, he is betrayed by time. I have read stories on this theme recently, therefore the plot did not sound very unique to me. 

The third story "Shiv and Shailputri" is a mythological story about the timeless love of Shiv and Parvati. I liked the way the author has sketched the characters of Shiv and Shailputri. This is another favorite story of mine from this collection. The divine and pure love of Shailputri for Shiv is a delight to read. 

"A bloody broken moon" is a heartbreaking story of the helplessness of a poor father. "What Honour" is the story of honor killing which is equally heartbreaking to read. The author poignantly talks about the 2 social issues that are prevalent in our country. 

"A Sad Christmas" is another heart wrenching story on poverty. The last story of the book is "The Death of a Soldier" which is one of my favorite stories of this collection. This story makes us realize how we seldom acknowledge the sacrifices of the soldiers. Inspired from real incidents, this is a sad story of a soldier who gets beheaded while protecting his country. 

Here are some quotes from the book that I liked: 

"In love, we conquer by first surrendering the self"

"Time is so cruel, only love can make it bearable."

"Some nights are very heavy on human soul. Once we live through them, we can look back at them and laugh at our silliness." 

All the stories begin with a few poetic lines from famous poems that enhances the reading experience. The writing style of the author manages to touch the heart, Although I found the plot of some stories very simple, what I liked about every story was the narration. 

However, the turn off for me was the editing mistakes and typos in some stories that affected my reading pace. Typos like leave in place of leaf, by in place of my could not be overlooked. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves reading short stories that deal with human emotions. For me, it is a 3.5 out of 5. 

Book Review: The Calling ~ Unleash Your True Self

Book: The Calling ~ Unleash Your True Self

Author: Priya Kumar

Publisher: Books That Inspire

Genre: Fiction | Spirituality

Pages: 150

Price: 125 INR

Blurb:

The Calling is a spiritual adventure. It is an encounter with the truth, the wisdom and the force that is innate to us all. At the brink of a divorce and personal breakdown, Arjun took a trip into the heart of the Himalayas, on the insistence of a sadhu, who predicted that the journey up to Hemkund Sahib would align him to his purpose and change his life forever. At every turn the mountains holds secrets and tests that urge Arjun to evolve into the person he had denied to be - himself. Pretenses, falsities, confusions and untruths fall apart as Arjun is forced to confront the mess he had created in his life. What started off as an opportunity to escape reality, turned out to be an opportunity to escape from the dwindling spiral of self-created misery. Filled with spiritual insights and sprinkled with light humor, this story will help you find your calling, your voice and who knows, even your true self

My Rating:

Plot: 4/5

Writing Style: 4.5/5

Character: 4.5/5

My Review:

There are some books which you can go back to again, from time to time. The Calling is one such book that makes you think, introspect and enlighten you in the process.

It is the story of Arjun who is dejected and unhappy in life because his personal and professional life is in a mess. He is on the brink of a divorce and feels that life has been cruel to him all along. An accident during a work trip makes him come across a Sadhu who saves his life. The sadhu tells Arjun that the journey up to Hemkund Sahib amid the mountains, will change his life. After Arjun gains consciousness, he cannot find any trace of the sadhu who saved his life. However, he decides to go to Hemkund Sahib to see what destiny has in store for him, defying every logic. 

To know exactly what happens when Arjun embarks on the difficult journey up to  Hemkund Sahib, you have to read the book. I can tell that Arjun's journey is beautifully written by the author where there is adventure, challenges and enlightenment. The book is full of spiritual insights, but not for a second, you will find it preachy. 

The narrative is so strong that the spiritual insights that Arjun gains in his journey blends perfectly with the plot. The author has shown Arjun's journey from a confused, chaotic and broken person to a calm and enlightened soul with such panache that it makes an impact on the reader too. There is a scene where Arjun meets his own self during meditation. That scene is so beautifully written that I cannot help admiring the writing skill of the author. 

I started reading "The Calling" at a time when I was facing a personal breakdown. I was inspired, motivated and enlightened by the time I finished reading the book. If you are feeling lost, you might also find a direction of your life by reading this book. 

Out of the many wonderful quotes in the book, I would like to share some of them.

"Regret is to life like termite is to wood. It will eat you up. Confusion is to life like a parasite is to its host. It will consume you."

"Life is predictable. It won't surprise you beyond your karmic contribution to it. The farmer doesn't reap corn by a fluke. He sowed it. His crop is a predictable consequence and so is life."

"Life doesn't test you at your level; life tests you at a level higher that yourself. You don't choose the test. That way you would have the choice to live small. The test is always a step ahead of you, so that in reaching beyond it, you grow beyond yourself."

The author has not used any fancy words. She has kept the writing simple and powerful. I just felt that the ending could have been better. It appeared to me like a sudden happy ending, which makes it a little less realistic. Apart from that, I could not find any flaw in the book.

This is a book that can be read again and again. I would like to rate it 4.5

Highly Recommended!

I got a review copy from the author for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Book Review: Graffiti

Book: Graffiti

Author: Joanie Pariera

Publisher: Authorhouse

Format: eBook [ Kindle Edition]

Price:  335 INR

Pages: 346

Blurb: Rene thinks all her dreams mean something…well, maybe they do. Vipin thinks his life is over ever since his wife died in a car accident…well, maybe it is. Upasana thinks she has it all figured out. But does she really?

You put the three twenty somethings together, and it results in some absurd and hilarious situations, which the characters themselves believe are truly dramatic.

And then there’s Mark - A man very much in love with Rene. A man who's perhaps secretly writing a code book on 'how to win in love'.
If you're not living this life, you're watching it happen to someone else and punching a wall somewhere going, ""balls!""

Set in India and the USA, 'Graffiti', lampoons a range of social issues, all tightly packed into some highly entertaining fiction. It is a novel about relationships. It's about that beautiful puzzle on the wall...an ever changing puzzle called life.

My Rating:

Plot: 3.5/5

Writing Style: 3/5

Character Sketch: 3/5

My Review:

"Grafitti" is a novel that deals with the life of mainly two characters: Rene and Vipin who are broken, battered and lost. Vipin is in a pathetic condition in Denver after the death of his wife, Pournami in an accident where he survives miraculously. He constantly blames himself for the death of his wife and feels that he had killed her. His friends try to provide some solace, but it doesn't help.

On the other side of the globe, we meet Rene in Bangalore who is trying her best to cope with the fact that her boyfriend, Agni is gay. After Agni went away from her life unannounced, she kept waiting for him selflessly only to come to terms with the bitter reality that shatters her.

Her best friend, Upasana tries to solve her problem, but in the process, confuse her further. And then there is Mark, who had fallen irrevocably in love with her, but decides to take an uncanny path to approach her, which frustrates her. 

A stroke of serendipity makes Vipin and Rene come across each other. Both of them become great friends as they understood each other's condition. They have a significant impact on each other's lives and before Rene comes back to India, they promise to be friends forever.

Now, whether these two lost souls, Rene and Vipin reinvent themselves, dropping their baggage of grief forms the crux of the story. I kept on turning the pages just to know whether these two characters win in the battle of life. 

It was a really nice idea to tell the story of two people who are facing their own demons and showing if they emerge as a winner. However, the problem with the novel is its writing style.

To start with, Vipin's part is written in 1st person and the other parts are written in 3rd person. This hampers the reading pace. Then, there are plenty of unwanted characters in the book due to which the story meanders a lot. At one point, I was unable to understand where the story is going and as a result, my interest to know about the fate of the main characters also dropped.

Rene's character is the best sketched character in the book. The author makes her come alive in front of the reader. I also liked the character of Mark, especially when he says,

"The ability to love deeply is a quality to be treasured, admired and yet it is so underrated"

I enjoyed the book when I was reading the parts of Rene and Mark. I found the character sketch of Vipin slightly unclear.

Overall, Graffiti is a book that I enjoyed reading in parts. I feel it could have been crisper and to the point. That would have reduced the number of pages and made the reading more enjoyable.

If you are feeling lost in life, you can read Graffiti as it will read like your own story. I will go with a 3 stars.

'I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.' 

Book Review: Metro Diaries 2

Book: Metro Diaries 2

Author: Namrata

Format: Kindle

Genre: Fiction| Short Stories

Pages: 151

Price: 49 INR

Blurb: Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist! 

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now

My Rating:

Plot: 4/5

Narration: 4.5/5

My Review:

Metro Diaries 2 is a collection of 20 life stories that will surely make you think and introspect. Unlike Namrata's first book Metro Diaries which is a collection of love stories, this book reflect the various shades of life, both colorful and grey.

The book starts with the story "Charlatan" which is about a girl who stood up against injustice when she found about the truth of her husband. As I read the first story, I was totally impressed by the author's storytelling skills. The way she has captured the shades of human beings leave you surprised, delighted and sometimes shocked.

When I read the story "The Filch" which is a tale of betrayal by a best friend, I couldn't help but cringe. So real that it almost shakes you, if you have ever gone through a betrayal in your own life.

'The Cursed Existence", "The Plummet" and "The Last Kiss" are heartbreaking tales on the plight of women of our country. 

Namrata doesn't only showcase the dark side of life, but she also delights you with feel-good and heartwarming stories like "Stain of Love", "The Keepsake", "A Pinch of Love" which makes you smile.

My favorite stories from this collection are "Epoch" which is a brilliant story about the healing power of forgiveness, "A Rare Sight" which shows how kindness and empathy can heal the most painful wounds and "My Last Goodbye" which speaks about how sometimes a stranger can redefine the meaning of life for you.

Kudos to the author for such powerful narration that tugs at your heart and for weaving some stories that leave you with an array of thoughts. Here are some quotes from the book that touched my heart:

"Life they say is like a jigsaw puzzle and we are all like those pieces trying to find where we fit in. It is strange, but sometimes a wrong piece shows us the way to our right place."

"Not all journeys of life take you somewhere; some are meant to mislead so that you know what the right path is."

"I had forgotten that I am not like other birds that hide when it rains. I am the eagle who soars above the clouds and still continues to fly high."

"People make memories and then reach a phase where memories make people."

However, Metro Diaries 2 is not totally devoid of blemishes. Though most of the stories touched my heart, there were a few stories that seemed repetitive, trying to convey the same message again and again. There are also a few typos or editing mistakes. 

Barring that, Metro Diaries 2 shine bright and its glimmer reaches straight to your heart. I will go with a 4.25 stars.

Highly recommended! You will cherish the reading experience.

I got a review copy from b00k r3vi3w Tours for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

Baar Baar Dekho: An offbeat movie with a new concept

Baar Baar Dekho makes you think "Are you valuing your present?" or "Are you running after your future, letting the present moment slip away from your hands?"

The movie begins with the song "Kho Gaye hum Kahan" where we see Jai (Sidharth Malhotra) and Diya (Katrina Kaif) growing up together. The childhood sweethearts have a blissful life. Jai is a mathematician, whereas Diya is an artist. Diya is clearly the driver in their relationship who is governed by her heart. Jai, on the other hand cannot think anything beyond logic and believes that life is a set of calculations.

Although Jai admits that he and Diya are like an old married couple who know everything about each other, he feels uneasy when Diya proposes him for marriage. Although he says yes to marriage, his focus is only on his career. He is so engrossed in his future that he fails to see Diya's unconditional love for him. It eventually results in a fight between the couple on the night of Sangeet.

Jai sleeps that night and his whole life is drastically changed. How? The director shows the audience that Jai wakes up in various time periods of his life. At first, he wakes up in Thailand, where they have gone for their honeymoon. The audience is as clueless as Jai and cannot figure out what actually is happening.

In the same manner, Jai wakes up on the day he becomes a father. Then, he wakes up on the day when he is having a divorce. The pattern continues till the time Jai understands the value of living in the present, valuing relationships and the importance of work-life balance. Once he realizes it, the time travel stops and he wakes up in the present.

Now, what exactly happened with Jai? Was it a dream? Was it his subconscious mind that made him realize his mistake? Was he really travelling in time? Director, Nitya Mehra has left it to the audience to figure out.

Baar Baar Dekho is an offbeat movie with a new concept. The beginning of the second half  is a little boring which can test your patience, but the last few minutes of the movie touches the right chords. The movie will linger even after you leave the theater, The message of the movie is strong and relatable in today's context. It is not the big gestures, but the tiny, little things that you do for your loved ones on a regular basis which has the maximum impact in your life.

Sidharth Malhotra manages to pull off the complex role with panache. Katrina Kaif is good in some scenes, but she falls flat in many emotional scenes. Debutante director, Nitya Mehra has done an outstanding job in her first movie. The movie, however, lacked depth. Had it been a little more intense, it could have grasped the hearts of the audience better.

However, with a good dose of comedy, great chemistry between the lead pair, a powerful message and enchanting music, Baar Baar Dekho is a great one time watch. I will go with a 3 and a half stars.

Book Review: Take One More Chance

Book: Take One More Chance
Author: Shriya Garg
Publisher: Juggernaut
Format: eBook (Read in Juggernaut App)
Genre: Fiction | Romance
Pages: 426
Price: 60 INR {Currently featured in Rs 10 books in the App}

Blurb:

When Naina is set the daunting task  of finding her Mr. Right, her siblings and best friends offer to help. But after sending every man she meets to the hospital, she finds herself falling for the one she cannot stand. This is the intriguing and hilarious story of Naina Kashyap and her arch enemy.

My Rating:

Plot: 3.5/5

Narration: 4/5

Character Sketch: 4.5/5

My Review:

"Take one more chance" is a delightful story of a 26 year old girl who tries to find her Mr Right desperately as her parents have given her a deadline of six months to find a man for herself. If she fails in that, she has to go with the choice of her parents. 

Naina is a headstrong girl who doesn't want to marry. She detests the concept of arrange marriage and therefore decides to find a man for herself. In one of the chapters, she says, 

"The idea of two people vowing to spend the rest of their lives together without knowing each other is as absurd as all women being mandated to wear a burqa in public. We shouldn't merely aim at entangling in matrimony and increasing the already high population of our country"

She is a successful corporate professional, a writer by hobby and teaches underprivileged children in her leisure. She is intelligent, unafraid to voice her opinions and has a very compassionate heart. She shares a great bond with her siblings and her best friend who arrange a couple of dates for her. However, as written by fate, all of those dates turn into a big disaster.

The funniest thing is that each and every guy who goes on a date with Naina somehow gets injured in the date and lands straight in the hospital. In the meanwhile, she meets Aditya, boy friend of her best friend, Vandana. For both of them, it was hate at first sight. However, with the passage of time, Vandana breaks up with Aditya as they lacked chemistry and Aditya discovers that he finds the headstrong Naina very interesting.

Amidst plenty of heated arguments, putting each other in trouble, anger and fights, both of them become great friends and start liking each other. But will Naina admit that she has fallen in love with her arch enemy and her best friend's ex boyfriend?

Sprinkled with hilarious situations, funny dialogues and some adorable moments, this book is a delightful romantic comedy that you would like to sit with on a lazy weekend. The fast paced narration is another bonus.

The characters, especially Naina and Aditya will make you fall in love with them. The novel could have been a slightly little crisper, but overall it is a charmer. I give it a 4 stars.

Recommended to all romcom lovers!

You can buy the book from the Juggernaut App which is available in both Android and iPhone.

I got a review copy from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions are my own.