Book Review: Five Petals by Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu

Book: Five Petals
Author: Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu
Genre: Fiction | Short Stories
Format: PDF
Pages: 31

Five Stories of Five different flavors for a perfect monsoon read!

'Five Petals' by Chinmayee Gayatree Sahu is a collection of 5 short stories that will intrigue and entertain you till the last page. I loved the unique name and the vibrant cover of the book. 

The book begins with "Life: A Roller coaster ride" that at first, seems to be a college romance but turns out to be a story that says a lot about the unpredictable nature of life. The story illustrates what true love and friendship is. 

The next story "Quarantined with Family" is relevant and interesting. It talks about how we often take our family for granted while chasing our goals and ambitions. 

The third story "Dream or Nightmare" is a perfect read for thriller and mystery lovers. I loved the way the author has sketched the story with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on his/her toes. The revelation left me speechless. 

The fourth story, "Neetu and Aja" is a sweet and touching story of a granddaughter and grandfather. This story will make you nostalgic about your grandparents. The letter at the end of the story was very moving.

The author concludes the book with a romantic story of a resilient couple in their mid fifties "Beyond Borders" that will warm your hearts and make you believe in the power of true love. 

I enjoyed savoring all the five petals on a beautiful monsoon evening with a cup of tea. The strength of the author lies in her skillful characterization and gripping narration. In every story, there was at least one character that stayed with me after I finished reading the book. All the five stories are very different from each other and that shows the author's versatility. 

I would highly recommend the book to readers who love reading romance, drama and thrillers. You can easily finish the book in one sitting. So grab a cup of tea or coffee and savor the five petals (stories) this monsoon. 

You can download your free copy of the book here: https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/five-petals-by-chinmayee-gayatree-sahu/

(Free for a very limited time)

Book Review: Blossoms and Foliages by Daisy Bala

Book: Blossoms and Foliages: A Bouquet of Poems
Author: Daisy Bala
Genre: Poetry
Format:PDF
Pages: 67

A Delicious Poetic Buffet for Nature Lovers

Blossoms and Foliages by Daisy Bala is a beautiful bouquet of Nature poems. The book starts with an amazing quote of Vincent Van Gogh:

"If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere."

The poet intends to make her readers fall in love with the everyday marvels of Nature that we so often take for granted. And I must say she has done a fabulous job. Now every time, you will see raindrops on leaves, sunset in a beach, or a rosebud, you will have the inclination to admire them longer. 

The words that the poet has used are delicious and appealing. The first two poems, "The Blushing Bud" and "The Chiming Bluebells" made me fall in love with the poet's imagination and her ability yo convey it through words. 

"Pink rosy blush

Aromatic, aesthetically pleasing

Attracting pollinators.

The flirtatious bumblebee,

Buzzing around the beguiling beauty!

How beautifully and aesthetically the poet has described the beloved-lover relationship between a blushing rose and a bumblebee!

"It is an indulgent bluebell spread

Promising chiming good times ahead."

William Wordsworth wrote "Daffodils" when he was mesmerized by an array of daffodils blooming in the field. Daisy's poem on bluebells made me remember one of my favorite poet Wordsworth's "Daffodils". 

The poet has also used the backdrop of Nature to pen down some philosophical poems such as "Walk your Path", "The Clarity" and "The Calming Effect". 

Walking on the beach barefoot, soaking in the beauty of Nature symbolizes Oneness with the Universe. It is indeed a great form of meditation. I loved these lines in "The Calming Effect":

"The sun, the sand and the spume

Mildly meditate me, relieving my anxiety

The grains beneath my toes

Exfoliate my thinking"

Being a Nature lover, the book "Blossoms and Foliages" made my heart sing with delight. I loved the imagery and the other figures of speech that the poet has skillfully used in her poems. It is a feel-good book that makes us realize we all have the gifts of Nature to savor every day. Isn't that a blessing? Read the book now to feel it. 

Highly recommended to poetry and nature lovers!

You can download your free copy of the book here: https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/blossoms-and-foliages-by-daisy-bala/

(Free for a limited time)

Learning Literature with Purba : King Lear Summary explained Act by Act

In today's Youtube Video, we are discussing one of the greatest tragedies of William Shakespeare, King Lear. Watch the video for some cool and amazing facts related to the play King Lear, a character chart of the play and Act by Act detailed and crispy summary of King Lear. 

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel Learning Literature with Purba and stayed tuned for informative and amazing videos of English Literature. 

Book Review: Where Rainbow Meets the Sky by Vidhi Duggal

Book: Where Rainbow meets the Sky
Author: Vidhi Duggal
Genre: Romance Novella | Fiction
Format: PDF
Pages: 62

Sweet and refreshing like the morning dew on rose petals

"Where Rainbow meets the Sky" is a sweet romance novella by Vidhi Duggal. It tells the story of Rahul, Mehek, and a dreamcatcher. The author has used the dreamcatcher not as a mere object, but as one of the protagonists of the story. The dreamcatcher in the cover and the title of the book are significant. It's only after reading the story we understand why the author has chosen the title "Where Rainbow meets the sky".

Rahul, a rich and handsome guy from Delhi goes on a vacation to Manali with his friends. He works as a model. He meets Mehek in Manali who has a huge crush on him after noticing his poster outside a shop. The crush metamorphoses into love during their vacation in Manali.

Mehek is pursuing journalism and lives in Bombay. She gives her address and phone number to Rahul before leaving Manali. Rahul gifts a blue dreamcatcher to Mehek and buys a similar dreamcatcher for him. 

Once they leave Manali, they are out of touch. Despite trying his level best, Rahul is unable to reach Mehek on her number and her address. Feeling betrayed, Rahul goes into a self-destruction mode until his friends help him regain sanity. It is only after 20 years that Rahul meets Mehek accidentally.

Both Rahul and Mehek are single. 

Both of them have the dreamcatcher. 

Will they reunite? 

Why did Mehek betray Rahul? 

What is Mehek's side of the story?

How important is a closure?

Why some people cannot be forgotten, even after 20 years?

To know these answers, you have to read this short and sweet novella. 

I loved the character sketch of both Rahul and Mehek. I loved the way the author has treated the dreamcatcher as the main character of the story. The last chapter was very beautifully written that answers all the questions and leaves the reader satisfied.  

Although it is a romance novella, it has a very unconventional and philosophical ending that makes you think. I liked the freshness of the story and the profound dialogues in the last chapter. 

"Where Rainbow meets the Sky" is a sweet and refreshing story like the morning dew on rose petals. 

If you are looking for a delightful quick read, download your free copy right away at:

https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/where-rainbow-meets-the-sky-by-vidhi-duggal/

Book Review: Dots & Streaks by Ellora Mishra

Book: Dots & Streaks

Author: Ellora Mishra

Genre: Poetry 

Format: PDF

Pages: 104

Philosophical and artistic, the verses linger like the petrichor!

Dots & Streaks by Ellora Mishra can be called an artist's delight. Being a poet and having an artistic temperament, the book delighted me not only with the verses but also the photographs that the author has incorporated in the book. Dots & Streaks is a bouquet of fragrant poems, photographs, and prose pieces. 

The book has a welcome note from Life that says:

Word me 

Into verses

Or capture me 

In images endear.

The book starts with the profound poem "Time" that is so beautiful that I read it thrice. Have you ever felt like pausing time so that your loved ones can stay with you forever? I am sure all of us have, at some point in our lives. And this poem captures those feelings effortlessly.

"I am time, the one and only life's epitome

And now you know just like life, I'm but a palindrome."

The second poem in the collection "Just at the Bent" is a melancholic tale of separation and longing that touched my heart.

"So I shall continue to stand here

As long as I can

And let the silence remain

As the only sound between us."

The poet has composed many poems keeping the current situation of Lockdown and Covid-19 in mind. Apocalypse, Quintessential, and Social Distancing compel you to think about the present scenario from various perspectives. 

The strength of the poet is compelling the readers to think about various aspects of life. "Ego of the Candle" is one of the best poems in this collection. It is a dialogue between the candle flame and the candlestick (both basking in their pride) before the last moment when they hold on to each other. The poem teaches us that only cooperation and not competition can give us peace in life.

Another poem "Life as we know it" is an interesting dialogue between a tree, a bird, and a lamp post. The poet illustrates the saying "The Grass is always greener on the other side" through this philosophical poem. "That jigsaw puzzle" shows us how with the passage of time, the meaning of things changes. Among the prose pieces, "Debris" stands out. It is a thought-provoking piece about a soul's final destination. 

The beautiful photographs before each poem add a lot of beauty to the book. I would like to ask the poet whether the poems were inspired by the photographs or vice versa. Either way, the book pleases, delights, caresses, heals, and makes you contemplate. Philosophical and artistic, Dots & Streaks by Ellora Mishra linger in your mind like the petrichor, long after you have finished reading the book. 

Highly recommended to lovers of poetry and philosophy!

You can download a free copy of the book right away at 

https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/dots-and-streaks-by-ellora-mishra/