Book Review: Vitamin H (Volume 1) by Abhishek Thakkar

Book: Vitamin H: Volume 1

Author: Abhishek Thakkar

Genre: Non-fiction | Self-Help

Format: Kindle eBook

Pages: 128

Price: 140 INR

Blurb: Filled with capsules of optimism and hope, Vitamin H is a collection of thoughts, suggestions and advice for the young at heart to nurture their minds and refresh their spirit. It aims to elevate the lives of people by fostering inner confidence and strengthening their faith. In a turbulent and chaotic world, people are in dire need of words of motivation and inspiration. Vitamin H provides the much needed therapy which will successfully cure the diseases such as negativity, pessimism, cynicism and envy. It will awaken the dreamer within you and help you achieve the seemingly impossible.

Capsules of Daily Inspiration for a wonderful life ahead!

During these distressing times, I feel extremely lucky to have come across this wonderful non-fiction book by Abhishek Thakkar. Vitamin H is a book of 111 inspirational and motivational quotes that can inject hope in the hopeless, faith in the skeptics and happiness in the despondent.

Each quote is like a ray of sunshine that can inspire anyone to be a better and a more confident person. The cover of the book captures its essence beautifully. You can read each quote in the morning with your cup of tea/coffee to feel motivated throughout the day. 

The 'H' in Vitamin H can stand for Happiness, Hope, Harmony, Holiness, Healing, Heartwarming, Helpful, Heaven, Health, or Heroism.

The author has touched upon various subjects and philosophies while penning down this book. The author's intention in serving others to become a better human being is palpable. The author emphasizes on mind mastery by dropping useless comparisons that results in insecurities.  He talks at length about the utility of history in everyone's life. One of my favorite quotes has to be: 

"History is not about cramming the birth dates of rulers. It is about how the kings and queens got knocked down, picked themselves up and how valiantly they fought with valor, courage and determination to succeed."

The author talks about the difference between material consciousness (body consciousness) and Krishna/Christ consciousness (soul consciousness). The author's love for Mother Nature can be seen in some of the quotes that will definitely inspire the readers to live in harmony with Nature.

Some of the quotes in the book captures the teachings of Bhagawad Gita (Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga), Upanishads (Vedanta) and Bible in such a way that anyone can understand and implement these precious teachings in their lives. In one quote, the author has talked about Prometheus and Karna in the same breath while emphasizing on the message that problems aim to strengthen our willpower. Brilliantly done!

Another thing which I loved about Vitamin H is the acknowledgement of women's contribution in society. There is a beautiful quote in the book which says how society is like a bird without wings without women's participation.

The author reminds the readers to cherish their uniqueness and find the Divine within. The author emphasizes on the importance of self-counselling, acceptance, vision with action, seeking the truth, radiating love and light, reading good literature, and being resilient at the face of adversities. Sharing another quote that injected me with zest and confidence to pursue my dreams against all odds: 

"Every instance we push ourselves up, we model the behavior of an eagle and soar above the obstacles that cloud our map of possibilities. Model the winning attitude of an eagle today and rise above the previous benchmarks set by you."

Each and every quote left an everlasting imprint on my heart. I would like to congratulate the author for penning down such a beautiful, inspiring book filled with wisdom and light. The author's knowledge of a wide range of subjects and philosophies at such a young age is extremely praiseworthy. I highly recommended this book to everyone! I am going with 5 stars. 

Take a capsule of Vitamin H everyday to feel rejuvenated and inspired.

Grab your copy now!

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: 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

Book Review: Perfect Love (5.5 Ways to a lasting relationship)

Book: Perfect Love 

Author: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Westland Books

Genre: Non-Fiction | Self-Help

Pages: 203

Price: 350 INR

Blurb:

Happily ever afters are easier said than done. How do we choose the right partner, and how do we sustain that relationship so it lasts a lifetime?

Spiritual life coach Shubha Vilas tells you how, with the help of six beautiful love stories from the scriptures. Nala and Damayanti, Krishna and Rukmini, Shakuntala and Dushyanta, Udayana and Vasavadatta, Satyavan and Savitri, Draupadi and the five Pandava brothers—these are accounts we may have heard many a time but have not had an opportunity to understand in such depth and detail, and with such empathy.

But why 5.5 ways and not 6? Because the sixth way is a half-truth, which can be twisted either way.

Combining powerful story-telling with deep philosophical truths, Perfect Love is a treasure trove of scriptural wisdom for the modern age.

An enriching and personal guide for having healthy relationships

"Perfect Love" by Shubha Vilas is a book that has plenty to offer its readers. It does not only teach how to have a long lasting relationship with your partner but makes you feel good about the world that you live in. In this digital world, we often feel that maintaining relationships have become tougher, but reading this book will change your perspective. 

Through 6 classic Vedic stories, the author has imparted his knowledge in maintaining relationships. In Nala and Damyanti's story, the author has shown the importance of forgiveness in a relationship. He says that tolerate first and then forgive. Mistakes are committed by human beings. Even a person with the best qualities can commit an unbelievable mistake. If the relationship is important, you must learn to forgive. 

"Forgiveness comes between bitterness and betterness.

The ability to forgive a mistake is always greater than the rigidity to hold a grudge." ~Page 29

The second story is about Krishna and Rukmini. It is one of my favorite stories in this collection. I loved the way the author has narrated this story. It was a treat to read Rukmini's letter to Krishna. Through this story, the author shows the importance of expressing your love. When a person uses the right words to express his or her love, it strengthens the relationship. 

"Words play with the ball of emotions in the playground of our hearts in the game of love. Choose words well to win the game of love." ~ Page 56

The third story is about Dushyant and Shakuntala, where the importance of trusting your partner is shown. In the story of Udayana and Vasavadatta, the author has shown that good times in a relationship help tide over bad times. Therefore, it is extremely important to spend quality time with your partner. 

"To align with one another, two people need to have deep, meaningful, soul-searching conversations." ~Page 135

The fifth story is about Satyavan and Savitri. It is my another favorite story in this collection. Through Savitri, the author has shown the importance of determination to stay together in a relationship. 

"Do not underestimate the role of determination in a relationship. Ordinary relationships transform into extraordinary bonds when ordinary people show extraordinary determination." ~Page 148

The sixth story is about Draupadi and the Pandavas. Just like Satyabhama, I also wondered how Draupadi had a peaceful married life, despite having five husbands. This story shows that positive conditions can help a relationship blossom, whereas negative conditions can make a relationship wither away with time. 

"Positive conditions are like a rainbow that unites the rainbow with the sun. Negative conditions are like lightning that divides even the sky." ~ Page 190

"Perfect Love" is a book that will enlighten you, one story at a time. All the six stories have thrill and adventure, apart from romance. The book is embellished with plenty of beautiful and enriching quotes. The writing is refined and the editing is perfect. I am going with 4.5 and would love to recommend this book to everyone as it is filled with wisdom. 

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