Book Review : Lifeline by Chetan Maheshwari

 

Book: Lifeline

Author: Chetan Maheshwari

Genre: Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 178

Price: 225 INR

A story that will inspire you to reach your highest potential!

“Lifeline” by Chetan Maheshwari tells the story of three working professionals –Teesha, Akhil, and Rati.

In the first half of the book, the author takes time to develop these three characters so that readers can feel invested in their journeys. Akhil and Teesha were childhood school friends who met after many years. Akhil is a consultant, whereas Teesha is a marketing professional. While Akhil had to take responsibility at a young age, Teesha is battling the scars of her previous relationship. They find love and comfort in each other.

Akhil’s sister, Rati is a single mother and freelance web developer. Ostracized by society for having a child out of wedlock, her life is challenging. What makes Rati a fascinating character is her determination to change the tides of her life. When she finds the doors have closed in front of her, she decides to launch a mobile application. This brilliant idea of Rati not only changes her life but also the lives of Akhil and Teesha.

The book deals with various themes such as office politics, startups, love, and family. I am amazed at how the author has successfully managed to deal with all the themes in a 178-pages book. The story is extremely fast-paced and can be read in a single sitting. The short length of the chapters works very well for the book.

The idea of the startup in the book is quite interesting. The second half of the book deals with the startup. I liked the planning and execution of the idea. Readers planning to start something of their own will definitely get motivated by it.

I liked how Rati’s challenging life inspired Teesha to create something that will ease the pain of everyone who has been dealing with some challenges or mishaps in life. Women supporting women always bring a smile to my face. Therefore, I cherished the equation that Teesha and Rati shared.

Another thing I loved about the book is how it ended. The mention of the pandemic in relation to the startup gave a realistic touch to the story. I wish the book was better edited as I found a couple of grammatical and punctuation errors. 

Overall, "Lifeline" is a motivating book that will inspire you to reach your highest potential. 

Grab your copy here!

Book Review: #JustRomance

Book: #JustRomance

Author: Jyoti Arora

Genre: Romance | Short Stories

Format: Kindle eBook

Pages: 373

Price: 120 INR

Just Romance by Jyoti Arora is a collection of 7 contemporary love stories that will surely plant a smile on your face. All the stories have happy and heartwarming endings, although the setting and background of the characters are vastly different. The love stories begin with a romantic verse that works as music. The pretty cover of the book sets the tone for the book. 

The first story "Drunk on Love" is about the love story of a conservative girl, Anjali seeking freedom in a new city and a rebellious bartender, Rajat. I liked the tenderness of the story and the innocence of Anjali. 

The second story "Miles Apart" is about a long-distance relationship between Vaibhav and Nethra. Although I did not enjoy much this particular story due to the girl's nature, I liked the following quote:

"The path of love seldom is smooth. When it stretches across vast distances, the road becomes even more full of cracks and potholes."

The third story "O Teri" is one of my favorites from this collection. It tells the story of Preet, an owner of an ad agency who is compelled by her mother to meet Paramjeet for marriage. The ambitious Preet rejects Paramjeet although she is attracted to him. There is a thriller element in this story that kept me on my toes. I also liked the character sketch of Preet and Paramjeet that helped me empathize with both the characters. 

"And a heart, once it is touched by the power of love, becomes a mighty force -unconquerable, ungovernable, unrelenting."

The fourth story "Dance of Fantasy" is an interesting blend of fantasy, romance, and thriller. It tells the love story of a simple girl, Mahi and a filmstar, Prajwal. The way the celebrity crush develops into a romance is endearing. And the thriller angle makes the story a memorable one. 

The fifth and sixth story "Tarini" and "I guess I love you" are pretty pleasant, but they didn't leave an impression on my mind. 

The last story of the book "It's in the Books" is my favorite story of the collection. I really liked how the author had developed the characters and the plot within a short word limit. It tells the story of Akul who is indecisive and gets bored with everything. He falls in love with a timid and tormented girl, Vidya. They become an alchemist for each other and grows together in love. The glue of their relationship is books. It's a beautiful love story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. 

Overall, #JustRomance is a breezy and lighthearted read. If you want to read something sweet and romantic, just pick this one. You won't be disappointed!

I am going with 3.7 out of 5

#JustRomance is like cotton candy in a fair that you would love to relish to your heart's delight!

Grab your copy now!

Book Review: Syra's Secret

Book: Syra's Secret

Author: Revathi Raj Iyer

Publisher: Become Shakespeare

Genre: Short Stories

Pages: 193

Price: 249 INR

Thrilling and thought-provoking!

Syra's Secret is a collection of 14 diverse short stories. Some of them are thrilling, whereas some others are philosophical and thought-provoking. Reading the subtitle of the book "Expect the unexpected", I envisioned each story to be a thriller. However, that is not the case with Syra's Secret as there are many stories that do not thrill you, but rather take you on a contemplation mode. 

Detailed analysis

The book starts with "Girl from Siliguri" which is the best story of the collection in my opinion. Right from the first line, the story grips you and keeps you wonder about the mystery. Nothing is as it seems. It is only in the last two paragraphs that you can connect the dots. 

The second story, "Syra's Secret" is another well-crafted story on the theme of online dating. Just like the earlier story, the author uses the first paragraph to grab the reader's interest. I completely enjoyed reading Syra's Secret as it depicts the bitter reality of internet dating, along with thrilling readers. 

The third story, "Charmi" is written in a clever way. You need to keep on reading in order to peel the layers and understand the plot. Centered on the protagonist Charmi, it is a compelling story about courage and justice.

The next two stories "Messenger" and "Mango Tree" do not try to thrill. In an endearing tone, they try to make the reader think about the choices of life. 

"Anonymous Caller" is another story that kept me on my toes. Viren gets calls from a mysterious woman claiming to be his wife. No one can track the mysterious caller. I enjoyed guessing who the caller can be along with the protagonist. 

The story "Village Hotel" will compel readers to think about karma and destiny. Beautifully written, it is another of my favorites from the collection. "Turmoil" is another thriller that perplexes the readers until one reaches the climax. 

Final Words 

I enjoyed the stories that were thrilling more than the ones that were contemplative. I loved the author's style of writing where she hooks you to the story from the very first line. As you turn the pages, you are given one piece of the puzzle. It was a delight reading the stories filled with suspense and mystery I am going with 4 stars. Recommended to everyone who loves reading short stories with a punch of thrill. 

Grab a copy of the book now!

Book Review: Insta Women #BlogchatterEbook

Robert Browning, the famous Victorian poet popularized dramatic monologues. I remember reading Porphyria's Lover by Browning in my post graduation and getting totally enthralled by it. So, when I came across the book Insta Women written by Nupur Maskara whose subtitle says dramatic monologues by drama queens, I knew I have to read this one. And I am glad I picked the book. 

Overview

Insta Women is a collection of dramatic monologues by famous women written by Nupur Maskara. The book is divided into 6 sections:

• Indian Queens with Steam
• Herstorical Women
• Feisty Feminist
• Working Women with Verve
• Sassy Sports Women
• Artistes who lived their art

I enjoyed reading each section because it was a pleasure to come across some wonderful women from mythology, history, art, sports, and science who have shaped our worldview and status as women today.

Detailed Analysis

The book starts with one of my favorite characters, Draupadi's monologue. This is the only monologue in the book that is written in rhymed lines. The rest of the monologues are written in free verse. The bold monologue shows Draupadi's rage and sarcasm. I loved the lines when she says:

"Karna calls me characterless for having five

husbands. Did I ask for them, that bee-hive?"

The next poem that I liked in the Indian Queens section is Noorjahan's monologue. It beautifully shows the pain, rage, strength, and vulnerability of the charismatic queen. I liked the way Noorjahan ended her monologue by the following lines:

"Finally, a lady of leisure

Architecture gave me pleasure

My monuments are my legacies

They don't let me down

Unlike miserable men."

I also enjoyed reading the monologues of Hazrat Mahal and Bandit Queen. In the next section called "Herstorical women", there were monologues by Theodore, empress of Eastern Roman empire, Nzinga of Angola, and Khutulun, the Mongol warrior princess. 

The author has researched about each woman and portrayed their story in such a way that it felt the historical characters are right in front of me, talking to me and motivating me. Kudos to the author for blending history and poetry with such ease. 

The third section called "Feisty Feminists" is undoubtedly my favourite. The women in this section talk about how much they struggled to give women the status of equality. The monologues are about their battle to get women the right to vote, the right to hold property, and the right to get custody. This section has powerful monologues by feminists such as author Caroline Norton, Ernestine Rose, Susan Anthony, Betty Freiden, and Gloria Steinem. 

Quoting some lines from the monologue by Ernestine Rose:

"Life and death

Pleasure and Pain

Recognize no sex."

Lucy Stone's assertiveness is rightly portrayed in the following lines:

"I refused to pay tax

Till I could vote:

"Women today will never know

At what price their right to free speech

Has been earned."

The fourth section is about monologues of working women who had to struggle due to their gender. Agnodice, the physician had to disguise as a man because the law did not allow women to practice medicine. Mary Lyon, the educationist opened a school for girls where author Emily Dickinson studied. Emmy Nother, the mathematician kept on excelling in maths although it was considered un-ladylike.

The fifth section is about monologues of sportswomen like Annie Edson Taylor and Marie Marvingt. The sixth section is about monologues of artists such as Artemesia Gentileschi, the painter and Mademoiselle La Maupin, the opera maestro. I loved the following lines spoken by Artemesia Gentileschi:

"I chose to paint women

Someone had to

A man wasn't going to show us

The way we were. would he?"

Final Words

I absolutely enjoyed reading the book. Knowing about the fascinating and courageous stories of such powerful women was indeed a treat. It also made me realize how much the woman of the past had fought for our liberty and equality. We should never take it for granted. I loved the author's choice and command of her subject. The poems flowed effortlessly, pulling me deep within each monologue. Highly recommended to every woman! Read it whenever you feel low or need some motivation in life. 

Insta Women is like watching a theatre where the characters come alive in front of you, luring you to enter their fascinating world. 

You can download a copy of the book from: https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/nupur-maskaras-insta-women/

The book review has been written as part of the Blogchatter Book Review Program

Book Review: Empowered women empower women #BlogchatterEbook

I read "Empowered women empower women" a few days back but even after a week, the real-life stories of the book refuse to leave me. The cover of the book perfectly matches the theme and the title can be a great slogan for 21st-century women.

Overview

"Empowered women empower women" by Roma Gupta Sinha is a powerful book that must be read by all girls and women. Men should also read the book to understand a woman better. The book consists of 26 chapters on ordinary women with extraordinary will power and courage. The author has shared the stories of these women to raise awareness about women empowerment and women power. 

Detailed Analysis

The 1st chapter of the book is the author's heartwarming ode to her mother. The emotionally rich chapter helps readers to look at the author from close quarters. The next chapter is the story of Saranya and how she stood on her feet despite several adversities. The author rightly says that women empowerment should start at home. I loved this particular quote from the chapter:

"If a woman willingly decides that she has to break free from the shackles of patriarchy, from all the adversities of life and fulfill her dreams, becoming both financially and emotionally independent, no one can stop her."

There is a heartwarming chapter about a husband encouraging his wife to pursue her goals. Another chapter talked about an underprivileged girl's journey towards fulfilling her dreams. The author illustrates it through the powerful quote:

"Fearlessly march towards your goals. No one can help you the way you yourself can."

One chapter is on raising empowered daughters. Another chapter is about a woman who conquered her weakness of not being fluent at English. The author rightly says that English doesn't empower a woman. It is just a language, but a woman's will to overcome all obstacles is what empowers her.

I would like to mention another story where the author has laid emphasis on the importance of having sound physical and mental health else independence would lose all its meaning for a woman. There is another story where the author has shown that when women support each other, empires can be built. 

Finally, I loved the last chapter where the author has shared her own story. Roma's battle with endometriosis and how her work keeps her sane is extremely inspiring. The author concludes saying, 

"Each one of us should work until our last breath because it gives meaning to our lives."

Final Words

The author has talked about each woman with overflowing love, pride, and compassion. She has talked about many important and sensitive issues that women go through in this book. The tone, language, and editing of the book were really good. Highly recommended!

"Empowered women empower women" is like a rainbow after the rain. Colorful, beautiful, motivating and healing!

You can download a copy of the book from https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/roma-gupta-sinhas-empowered-women-empower-women/

The book review has been written as part of the Blogchatter Book Review Program

Book Review: The Diary on the Fifth Floor

Book: The Diary on the Fifth Floor

Author: Raisha Lalwani

Publisher: Rupa Publications
Genre: Fiction| Philosophy

Price: 295 INR

Pages: 167

Blurb:

A woman leaves her infant at home but finds her on a busy street in an unexpected turn of events.
Another woman wakes up in a flight hours later, befuddled, in the strangest circumstance.
A fascinating tale of a twenty-five-year-old woman that takes hold of us from the moment she enters the fifth floor of a hospital; more precisely, the psychiatric ward. Visibly terrified, she clutches at her clothbound diary, caught in the horns of a terrible dilemma—whether or not to hand over the diary to the doctor. She fears that she will be declared insane if her tangled web of thoughts unspooling in dark mysterious stories is read by the dissecting eye of a doctor.
What does this diary contain? As the novel progresses, we are drawn into characters and stories that are toe-curling, strange and haunting in their raw intensity. What is the story of this woman? What secrets lie in the pages of her diary? And most importantly, what happens on the fifth floor?

A philosophical book that anyone can relate to

"The Diary on the Fifth Floor" is a philosophical book that deals with questions that all of us have contemplated about, at some point in our own lives. 

There is a beautiful quote in the prologue of the book that captures the essence of the novel:

The choices we make define the kind 

Of people we then become.

The main question here is:

Do we like who we have become?

The book starts with the protagonist, Savannah Khanna paying a visit to a renowned psychiatrist of her city, Rama Berry because she feels she is extremely depressed. The reason for her depression is the insensitivity, cruelty, and selfishness that exists in the world. She cannot come to terms with why people are so cruel and insensitive. 

She writes on her diary about the things that she witnesses every day. She thinks that people need to know that their words hurt and their actions have consequences. Savannah gives her diary to her doctor so that the latter can help her. As Rama Berry reads Savannah's diary entries, we understand the mind and the heart of the protagonist. 

The diary entries are a collection of short stories of unfortunate incidents. Some of them have happened to the protagonist, whereas others have happened to people close to her.  All the stories have one thing in common. They show the shallow and superficial mindset of people. External appearance matter more than anything else and updating Facebook status is more important than grieving the death of a family member. Trust is a misused word and selfishness has no limits. 

The way Rama Berry helps Savannah trace the silver lining behind the dark clouds is very touching. I liked the bonding of the doctor and the patient. All of us can learn something fruitful from the sessions. However, the ending of the book made me unhappy as I was really rooting for the protagonist. 

However, the unconventional plot and the brave writing made it a very special book that I read this year. If you have ever wondered what's wrong with the world and why people are so selfish, you must read this book. You will relate to it a lot and at the same time, learn how to cope with it. 

Highly recommended. I am going with 4 stars. 

The book review is in association with Vinfluencers. Check out the video review on my YouTube Channel.

Book Review: Sniper's Eye

Book: Sniper's Eye

Author: Mainak Dhar

Publisher: 4 Hour Books

Genre: Fiction | Thriller

Pages: 224

Price: 299 INR

Blurb

I was out on a date. Everything was perfect… Till that shot… a high-calibre one, no apparent sound. And, the man in front of me fell. A rifle with a suppressor? A sniper in the middle of a Mumbai mall? As the body count mounted, I was soon sucked deeper into the chaos unleashed by that shot. To survive and save those whom I care about, I have to become the man I left behind. I have no choice but to tap into a bloody past that has put me on the terror kill list. I may also have no option but to join hands with the sniper terrorising Mumbai. The problem is that the man has sworn to kill me. In a world where the young and poor kill and die in conflicts started by the old and rich, I and my unlikely companion finally discover the thin line that separates a mere killer from a hero. This is our story…

A fast-paced thriller that you can read on a lazy weekend

Sniper's Eye by Mainak Dhar is a fast-paced thriller set in Mumbai. The action thriller throws light on various important issues that you normally don't think about. The life of soldiers in the arms who are exploited by powerful people is shown through the messed up life of Aaditya. The reasons why some people are compelled to become terrorists despite having other plans is shown through the life of the sniper, Aman Karzai. 

The story begins with the protagonist of the book, Aaditya who is on a date with his girlfriend Zoya in a mall in Mumbai. A man falls dead in front of his eyes, killed by a sniper. This incident compels Aaditya to go back to his old life from which he was hiding for years. Now, he has to face his demons and deal with it. 

I loved the scenes between Aaditya and Zoya. Despite knowing Aaditya's past, the way Zoya supports him is very heart touching. The love story of Aaditya and Zoya was a whiff of fragrance in the midst of the serious action-driven plot. The book picks up momentum after 100 pages when it becomes unputdownable. Readers cannot wait to find out who is the mastermind behind the devious plot and the revelation will definitely shock readers. 

Things are not as they seem. The plotline of the book is intelligent and gripping. It establishes the fact that you cannot judge the book by its cover. The epilogue of the book left me a tad emotional. I liked the way the author evoked sympathy for Aman. 

The book is sprinkled with twists and turns. The language is lucid and the narration is fast-paced. On the flip-side, there were some typos in the book. I also felt there were some loose ends. If you love reading thrillers, you should give it a read. I am going with 4 stars. 

The book review is in association with Vinfluencers. Check out the video review on my YouTube Channel.

Book Review: Into the Great Heart

Book: Into the Great Heart

Author: Kamla K. Kapur

Publisher: Jaico Books

Genre: Religion & Philosophy

Pages:280

Price: 399 INR

Blurb

Into the Great Heart carries forward and concludes the stories of Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana, his favourite minstrel, from the first volume of the Sikh saga, The Singing Guru. History, legend and fiction merge to populate this book with fascinating personalities from Sikh history. Pivotal to this narrative are forgotten female luminaries such as Guru Nanak’s wife, Mata Sulakhni, his sister, Bebe Nanaki, Bhai Lehna’s wife, Khivi and daughter Amro. Brought to the foreground, their wisdom and insights as they overcome obstacles to spiritual growth embody the basic tenets of Sikhism in everyday living. They enhance Guru Nanak and Bhai Lehna’s tale with their diverse approach to life

A book that fills your heart with an abundance of solace

There are some books that can answer your questions and fill your heart with an abundance of peace. 

What is God?

Where can one find God?

What does one need to do for God realization?

Why do good people suffer?

How to deal with the difficult moments of life?

What is death?

How can you be a yogi while sitting on a throne?

If you have contemplated about at least one of these questions in your life, "Into the Great Heart" by Kamla K. Kapur will definitely provide solace to you. It's a book that has the power to change you, your life, and the way you see the world. 

The book starts with Bhai Lehna meeting Guru Nanak and how their meeting transforms the former in incredible ways. The way Lehna is enthralled with Nanak's understanding of God is beautiful. 

"The sky is the plate; the moon and stars are the lamps and jewels; the forests of sandalwood are the temple incense; all the plants and flowers of the earth are offerings to you, O luminous Beloved, Lord of the Universe, destroyer of fear!"  

Instead of Guru Nanak's sons, Bhai Lehna becomes the successor of Guru Nanak who names him Guru Angad. In the scenes between Guru Nanak and Bhai Lehna, one can see the immense dedication and unflinching faith of a student towards his guru. The way Bhai Lehna surrenders himself to Guru Nanak so that his guru can mould his soul and enlighten him touches the right chords.

The book is sprinkled with stories of Guru Nanak's life shared by Nanak's friend, Mardana and Buddha, a young boy and follower of Nanak. Each of these stories has nuggets of wisdom that one can apply to his or her life. I loved the way death is compared to the wedding with the Lord of the Universe. 

"In that house where the praises of the One are sang and the Doer of all is contemplated and celebrated, pour oil on the threshold for the pre-ordained wedding and sing songs of union with the Beloved. Bless death, which is a wedding. The summons comes for all. Remember the Summoner, and turn your sorrow into praise." 

The character of Guru Nanak's sister, Nanaki touched my heart. Her devotion towards Nanak and her metaphysical experiences were a treat to read. She and Nanak had a connection that was beyond words. Her wisdom, patience, and compassion are beautifully encapsulated in some of the chapters. 

"Within and beyond the whirling, sorrowing, conflicting, noisy circumstances of our lives, at the very center of it," Bebe Nanaki began, "is a holy place which is calm, unruffled, steady, and beyond birth and death. This place, within us, is the truest temple of all, the home of the Beloved, the only place worth making a pilgrimage to. All geographic pilgrimages to manmade places of worship are trivial and meaningless compared with it."

I loved the character of Aziza, a young Muslim girl who faces oppression in her own family. When her freedom gets curbed, she transfers her love and energy to two things: music and God. I loved the friendship of Aziza and Buddha. The scenes between them were innocent, heartfelt and serene. The character of Bhai Lehna's daughter, Amro is equally beautiful. I loved the way she found a balance between her love for Maa Durga and her acceptance of God as formless. She did not abandon one belief for another. She harmoniously blended them with love. 

Although there is so much to learn from the book, the tone of the book is not preachy. With beautiful narration and skilful writing, the author has done a brilliant job with the subject of the book. Highly recommended. I am going with 4.5

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

Book Review: Letters to my Ex

Book: Letters to my Ex

Author: Nikita Singh

Publisher: HarperCollins India

Genre: Fiction| Romance

Pages: 138

Price: 199 INR

Blurb:

'It feels like I'm on autopilot; I have no control over anything. The pain of losing you is so crippling that I can barely hold pieces of myself together. The slightest nudge could break me. But somehow, my possessed brain knows what I need. It's telling me to stick to my choice, to stay away from you, to open a Word document and bleed on paper, try to throw up all my jumbled thoughts in form of words, collect all disconnected facts, try to make sense of it all.' From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid...

Letters full of unadulterated emotions, that seemed repetitive at times 

Letters to my Ex by Nikita Singh is an epistolary novel. We get to know the entire story through a collection of letters and online chats. The protagonist of the book, Nidhi starts writing these letters after she called off her engagement with her long-time boyfriend, Abhay. The exact reason why she called off the engagement and broke up with her boyfriend is revealed gradually through the letters. There is a letter or online chat in every month, starting from January to December. 

Although it is difficult to understand and like Nidhi in the initial chapters, we gradually understand her point of view and why she behaves a certain way. Abhay is a more likable character, but Nidhi has many layers to her personality. This is the reason the character of Nidhi fascinated me more than Abhay, who seemed to be a one-tone character. 

The letters are full of unadulterated emotions and at times, they seem repetitive. The author has tried to show the circular thought pattern of Nidhi through the letters. I liked the way the novel begins by generating a suspense around why Nidhi broke her engagement, despite being in love with Abhay.  In the middle, the novel loses the pace and I found myself trying really hard to stay glued to the book. Again in the last thirty pages, it picked up the pace and surprised me with the ending. I really liked how the author chose to end the book. 

There are a few quotes in the book that I really liked:

"You were my anchor in the little storms I seem to face constantly in my life. You grounded me when I was all over the place...I wish you were here."

"The laughter we shared was a good distraction from the pain I was feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"We are worth fighting for. When we come to that, I will always choose fight. But if I choose fight, you cannot choose flight. You cannot run away."

However, I felt "Letters to my Ex" could have been so much better. The novel couldn't totally engross me into the lives of Nidhi and Abhay. Although I tried hard to feel for the characters, I wasn't able to do so. It dealt with a very important question: Can you trust the same person again who broke your trust?

Letters are a great way to express emotions, but I felt a certain restraint here. Instead of the letters being repetitive, I wish they had a lot more depth. Having read Nikita Singh's earlier books, I feel sorry to say that this book couldn't meet my expectations. 

But it is a good one-time read especially for people who are in relationships or have recently broken up. I am going with 3 stars.

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

Buy the book here:

Book Spotlight: Vishwa Prasiddh Vyaktitva

Book Summary

इस विश्व के प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व कौशल, व्यक्तिगत गुणों और अन्य बाहरी कारणों के साथ जुड़े वास्तविक प्रयासों के विशाल कारणों को बंदरगाह है जो एक नेता की पूरी तस्वीर को आकार देने में आवश्यक हैं ।

 यदि हम व्यापार, अर्थशास्त्र, विज्ञान, सामाजिक या राजनीतिक क्षेत्र में प्रसिद्ध नेताओं के जीवन को देखते हैं, तो हम सभी पहलुओं में व्यक्तित्व गुणों, कौशल आदि में कई समानताएं देखेंगे।

 यह पुस्तक एक चित्रण है  इस विश्व के प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्वों का  और उनके कौशल,और व्यक्तित्व लक्षणों का जो  उपलब्ध होना चाहिए और मौजूद है, फिर आगे बढ़ते हुए हम देखेंगे की किस तरह विभिन्न किवदंतियों , उनकी विभिन्न शैली और उसके प्रभाव ने पूरी पीढ़ी के दिमाग और आत्मा को आकार दिया।

 अंत में, विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में चयनित नेताओं पर प्रकाश डाला है है जो हमारे जीवन पर  मजबूत प्रभाव डालता है और आकार देता है।

About the author

Ashraf Haggag is a senior executive with nearly three decades of experience in close proximity to the corporate market. His more recent experience has also taken him to every facet of the hospitality industry. 

Haggag has direct experience in many different aspects of business, including sales, marketing, revenue management, and administration. Having worked in Germany, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, his global experiences have helped him realize that companies must target new market zones in order to grow and prosper in the international marketplace. He is eager to bring enhanced cross-cultural awareness to today’s business leaders. 

Pre-order the book on Amazon now

Add it on Goodreads

Book Review: Little Maryam

Book: Little Maryam

Author: Hamid Baig

Publisher: Notion Press
Genre: Fiction | Romance

Pages: 285

Price: 160 INR


A story of unconditional love and sacrifice!

"Little Maryam" is a story of unconditional love that will surely move you, especially if you are a romantic at heart. It has all the ingredients to make your eyes moist as you think about how deep a person's love can be. The book rightly demonstrates that sacrifice is the highest form of love. 

The story starts with Saadiq Haider, a renowned gene therapist taking a flight to India. He meets journalist Anne Miller in the flight, who is deeply interested in his personal life. Although Anne's curiosity at first is fuelled by her professional goals, she soon gets deeply invested in Saadiq's story and promises him that she would not write about it. 

During the course of the flight from the US to India, Saadiq tells Anne his love story. Through Saadiq's eyes, both Anne and the readers meet Maryam and get to know their beautiful love story. Saadiq met little 9-year-old Maryam at the age of 14 and they instantly hit it off and became inseparable. After being together for years, they get separated when Saadiq gets jailed and Maryam gets married to someone else. 

After getting out of jail, Saadiq moves on in life with memories of Maryam. He becomes extremely successful, but when he gets to know about Maryam's accident, he immediately takes a flight back to India. After a span of over two decades, Saadiq and Maryam meet, but is it the last meeting or the start of a new journey? Or is it a mirage of unfulfilled dreams and hopes? What is the role of Saadiq in Maryam's life? Is he born to love her? Or is he born to protect her?

The emotions of the two characters portrayed in the book by the author make you feel their pain and happiness. I especially loved the childhood moments of Maryam and Saadiq, which are beautifully written by the author. The innocence and love of the two characters will surely warm your heart. The narration is lucid and the story also maintains a good amount of suspense throughout that makes you want to keep turning the pages. 

However, as the story neared the end, it became a tad melodramatic. Certain elements were thrown into the plot deliberately to make the tragedy look like the greatest love story ever. Certain things seem a little unbelievable and forced, but it helps in making the book a tear-jerker. There are also a few typos which can be overlooked. The book ends beautifully with an excerpt from Saadiq's biography authored by Anne Miller. 

I am going with 4 stars and would like to recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a good romantic fiction. This love story will surely warm your heart and move you. Keep the tissues handy, if you are an emotional person. 

Book Review: You Came Like Hope

Book: You Came Like Hope

Author: Jyoti Arora

Genre: Fiction| Romance

Pages: 165

Price: 235 INR (paperback) | 80 INR (Kindle)

Blurb:

Peehu:
“I heard them mourn my death. I lay in the next room. Motionless, silent, and staring at the ceiling.”

Adih:
“When it comes to a broken person, some of them are expert at blinding you. Spend an entire evening with such a person, but you may still not know how he is crushing inside.”

Uday:
“Who would say no to him? He is smart, intelligent, super handsome, rich, suave and sophisticated. He’s perfect!”

Pooja:
“Pooja gave no explanation. She asked no forgiveness. She just arrived in his home, resenting him for being her husband.”

Arunav:
“He had smiled as if nothing was wrong.
He had behaved as if he still had his dreams and hopes.
He had pretended as if it didn’t hurt.
But it did.”

Does Destiny hold the key to our happiness?
Is it always the feeble that is the victim?
Love can be the embrace of heaven. But what happens when it unleashes hellfire?

Lose yourself in the intense narrative of You Came Like Hope as it unleashes a rollercoaster of emotions, uncovers some bitter truths, challenges widespread prejudices, and forces you to reconsider your beliefs.

A beautiful springtime read~ It will make you feel the beauty of spring after the cold winter

"You came like hope" starts on a very interesting note where Peehu, one of the protagonists of the book is shocked to see her parents mourn her death. From the very first chapter, the author grabbed my interest in the book. 

This book is not a regular love story. It tells the story of two beautiful yet flawed characters: Peehu and Adih. Both of them have been treated unfairly by the society and have been compelled to take refuge in lies, isolation, blaming and self-loathing. They are the embodiment of "hope" in each other's lives...the hope that was not present in their lives before they met each other. 

Author, Jyoti Arora addresses some very important issues in the book that makes it a very beautiful read. Through Adih's story, the author has shown how some women take advantage of being a woman and can spoil an innocent family. The author has shown the hypocrisy and gossiping nature of relatives. Instead of being a support system, relatives can further break a person by spreading gossip and rumors. The author has also thrown light on how some parents end up being partial with their own children, causing inferiority complex in the child that doesn't get enough encouragement. 

There is one more beautiful character in this book: Mani, Adih's niece. She is a patient of Thalassemia. Despite being sick, her zest for life and love for her uncle is heart touching. The way she realizes the unsaid words of her uncle's heart and the way Adih has devoted his entire life to taking care of her will definitely melt the heart of readers. 

The book is also rich in beautiful quotes. Here are some lines from the book that I loved the most:

"We should be careful what we wish for. Because sometimes, a wish fulfilled becomes worse than a curse."

"It is not easy to battle the greatest need of our heart, the need to love and be loved."

"Maybe, he was scared of love. Because with love comes the risk of losing it. With love, comes the risk of getting burnt with it. When love burns, it consumes even the soul."

"Sometimes, a responsibility can be the only glue that keeps a person from falling apart."

"When a decision is made only by mind, it is seldom obeyed by the heart."

The writing is lucid. The author managed to keep the reader on his/her toes in the first half of the book. Although things get predictable in the second half of the book, I did not mind because of the way the author has narrated the story. I am going with 4 stars and would like to recommend the book to anyone who wants to read a beautiful romance. A great read in this spring season!

Book Spotlight: Letters to my Ex by Nikita Singh

Nikita Singh is back with her latest book "Letters to My Ex" scheduled to release on the Valentine's Day. During Valentine's week, we feel romantic and derive a lot of pleasure reading romantic novels. Valentine's Day is the ideal time to rekindle lost love, memories, and incomplete stories. This Valentine's day, Nikita Singh brings a book that is not just about love and romance, but deals with what comes after and in between. Published by Harper Collings, this book seems to be a very promising read.

The book talks about real relationships, how they evolve and sometimes, dissolve due to ego, misunderstandings and other reasons. A romantic read with a difference, this epistolary novel will surely make you think about love and relationships.

When asked about the plot of the book, the author says, "This book is an exchange of letters between two people who have hurt each other, and are trying to recover from the heartbreak and fix their lives. It tends to get intense, and very emotional at times, which I enjoyed writing. As the girl who writes long texts and emails, I'm very excited to see how people will react to it."

If you find the plot of the book relevant and exciting, get yourself a copy of the book. As the book seems to be a roller coaster emotional ride, I am sure a lot of people will enjoy reading it.

About the book

Most love stories have their share of misunderstandings, angry tears and hurdles- only for longing and faith to save the day and make for a happily ever after. 

Most love stories - but not all. Not the ones that end with hearts left broken, their shards lost under the weight of all that is left unsaid. In these powerful yet quiet letters of looking for closure, Nikita Singh explores the what-ifs, whys and what-could-have-beens; words demanding, with grace and dignity and passion, a salve for what only time may heal. 

From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, here's a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid, articulated through letters, channeling in their nostalgic charm, making for a fitting medium for expression in this novel which is distinct in form and marks the author as a master of her craft. 

Blurb

'It feels like I'm on autopilot; I have no control over anything. The pain of losing you is so crippling that I can barely hold pieces of myself together. The slightest nudge could break me. But somehow, my possessed brain knows what I need. It's telling me to stick to my choice, to stay away from you, to open a Word document and bleed on paper, try to throw up all my jumbled thoughts in form of words, collect all disconnected facts, try to make sense of it all.' From the bestselling author of Like a Love Song and Every Time It Rains, a story of heartbreak and things left unsaid...

Book Review: Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After

Book: Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After

Author: Urvashi Pahwa

Genre: Fiction | Short stories

Format: Kindle Edition

Pages: 170

Price: 65 INR

A unique book on modern day relationships!

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After by Urvashi Pahwa is a collection of 5 short stories on relationships. What makes the book stand out from other short story collections is that the author has given solutions for problems that frequently occur in relationships.

In a unique manner, the author has diagnosed the cause of the problem and prescribed some easy solutions in reference to each story. The solutions are simple and effective. The problems that the author has talked about in the five stories are common problems in a relationship such as boredom, depression, diminishing self-worth, oppressed opinions, excessive suspicion, excessive display of love and affection, loneliness, etc. 

All the 5 stories are well narrated. These are very real stories that anyone can relate to. The first story, "Cassanova's Lover" is about a girl who unknowingly falls in love with a Cassanova and gets heartbroken and later gets repeatedly blackmailed. The second story "The Rich Wife" is about a married couple where the wife feels lonely because the husband is a workaholic. The third story "Love Birds" is about a young couple who battles with insecurity and the need for personal space. The fourth story "Miss Belligerent" is a story that shows the importance of a supportive life partner. Love is not enough for a marriage to work; it also requires understanding, respect, trust, and support. The last story "Mr. Always Right" is about a dominating husband who never cares to listen to what his wife wants. 

Love Sutra: Secret to Happily Ever After is a quick and light read. It can be seen as a self-help book for people who are in relationships. However, the book doesn't sound preachy or didactic. I believe that young couples can learn a few things by reading this book. I am going with 4 stars.