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: Unlocked by Sonia Dogra

Book: Unlocked: Historical Tales in Verse

Author: Sonia Dogra

Genre: Poetry | History

Format: PDF

Pages: 134

Blurb: Is history your Waterloo? No more!

The anthem ‘History is Boring’ is now passé.
Here is a collection of historical tales about rebellious dancers and whiskeys; mysterious burials and missing keys; lost medals and quarantines and all you could only imagine to be.
Presenting twenty-five delectable stories from the past that you may never have heard of before.
What’s more? They are sassy and classy; easy and breezy; terse and very much in verse!

An enjoyable poetic ride in the fascinating land of history

Sonia Dogra's "Unlocked: Historical Tales in Verse" is an exquisite collection of 25 selected historical tales in the form of verse. The author dedicates the book to all children who grew up wondering why they were even taught history in school. In the prologue, there is an enjoyable poem called "From History with Love" that gives a warm embrace to all the readers embarking on the poetic ride. This poem from History sets the mood and tone of the book perfectly. 

The book is divided into 2 sections: The Famous and the Infamous and Epoch Making Episodes. The author introduces us to Adolf Hitler's abusive childhood in the very first poem, leaving us to contemplate how the course of history would have changed if only Hitler had a normal childhood or was send to the psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud's therapy at the right time. This poem stayed with me long after I finished reading it as it provided great food for thought. We are so quick to judge the villains of the yesteryears. If only we knew the circumstances that led to their personality! The author's powerful words coupled with extensive research made me pause and think even after I finished reading the book. 

There are poems from Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Genghis Khan, Mukhammad Ali's life that bewitched me with wonder. The author has chosen incidents that are not often mentioned in history textbooks, thereby making the book so interesting. 

Another poem that I absolutely loved in "The Famous and the Infamous" section is "A Nose that Poked History". The author has weaved a delightful poem on Cleopatra's nose. 

"It was the nose, says he

That cast its magical spell,

On the great men of Rome

Who for the queen fell."

Another such poem is El Barbudo the Bearded One. The author's sense of humor and rhyming lines created magic in these two poems. 

The author has weaved poems on the bravery of unknown women who had contributed to the freedom struggle. The poem on the Cawnpore Courtesans helped me know about the contribution of these brave courtesans in Mahatma Gandhi's noncooperation movement. The poem "Virangana, the Valiant Women" acquainted me with some valiant female warriors of India about whom we hardly know. 

The section "Epoch making episodes" starts with the poem "The Harrowed Line" which is about the heartwrenching India Pakistan partition. This poem is one of my favorites for the agony, pathos, and hard-hitting reality that it portrays. The bruises of partition keep haunting people even after all these years. And the author has done complete justice to it. 

"Neat lines supposedly drawn on maps

Unharmoniously amputate

People and lands."

"Nobody was ever held to account for the inferno that flared

The truth is that politics

Never did care."

There are poems on the Hiroshima Nagasaki bombings, fascinating tales of second world war, the missing key that led to the devastating fate of Titanic and so much more. There is a very relatable poem on "Quarantine" that gives an account of all the times when the human race had to battle an epidemic. 

The author concludes by saying that reading history can help us know how to serve humanity and know the mistakes that should never be repeated. The intention with which the author has penned down this book is praiseworthy. Kudos to the extensive research conducted by the author! The book is informative, enriching, and enjoyable. The cover does complete justice to the book. The author has also given a lot of thought to the layout and presentation of the book.

"Unlocked" is a book that you can return again and again to drown yourself in the aroma of history. Each time, it will make you think, enrich you with knowledge, and perhaps make you a better person too. Recommended to both poetry and history lovers!  

You can download a free copy of the book at https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/unlocked-by-sonia-dogra/

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

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: 26 Stories from Mom's Diary #BlogchattereBook

Last weekend, I read Roopali's endearing book "26 Stories from Mom's Diary". The cover of the book does complete justice to the content. Written in the form of fiction, it can be a great self-help book for parents. 

Overview

The protagonist of the book is Asha, a homemaker and mother to two kids. She is happily married to Raj. The book revolves around various incidents in Asha's life. We get to meet various interesting characters through Asha such as a social worker, a person obsessed with selfies, a selfless teacher, and a yogini. 

The best thing that I liked about the book is that it exudes plenty of positive vibes. Written in an endearing tone, the author does not try to be didactic. The chapter titles are interesting and intrigued me when I started reading the book. 

Detailed analysis

The book starts with a chapter that deals with the subject of adoption. The subject has been carefully dealt with and throws light on how society reacts to it, especially when the couple already have a biological child and choose to adopt the second child. The obsession with having a fair child and  a male child is also subtly shown. The author has successfully depicted the ills of the Indian society, while at the same time highlighting how adoption can benefit society. 

Apart from adoption, the author has chosen to talk about important issues that parents face on a daily basis. In one chapter, the author has revealed how to tackle fierce and aggressive kids. There is one chapter where the bond between grandmother and grandchildren is beautifully shown. I really enjoyed reading that chapter for the warmth and love it exuded. It reminded me of the love that I received from my grandmother. 

Apart from discussing parenting, the author has also chosen to show how Asha, the mom protagonist is as a person. She is an understanding wife who knows to keep calm during moments of conflict with her husband.  Her matured outlook is refreshing to read about. There is a chapter where Asha reveals that she keeps a diary where she notes down the hilarious moments of life so that she can go back to it whenever she feels despondent. As a neighbor, Asha is helpful and compassionate. She tries to help her neighbors and fellow parents whenever she gets an opportunity. This makes the reader form a heart to heart connection with the protagonist. 

The book explores the subject of different parenting styles and whether test scores define a child. These are important and relevant topics that need a good amount of contemplation. One of the chapters I really enjoyed reading is where the author has talked about raising daughters not just as a princess, but as warriors. 

Final Words

The editing of the book could have been better as there were a handful of spelling mistakes which disturbed the pace of reading. However, the intention of the author to help other parents stood out. The book is relatable, interesting, and endearing. Filled with warm and cozy moments, you will not only enjoy but also learn a few valuable things from it.

26 stories from Mom's Diary is like a box of assorted nuts - Healthy, delicious, and nutritious! 

Grab your free copy at https://www.theblogchatter.com/download/roopali-kadams-26-stories-from-moms-diary/

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