20. Review of “Amir Khusrau: The Man in Riddles” – Ankit Chadha

Review of “Amir Khusrau: The Man in Riddles” – Ankit Chadha

Once upon a time, there were people who didn’t spend their time glued to bright screens; people who really talked to one another and had conversations other than thrusting their ‘status’ at each other. Such was the time when riddles were asked for amusement as well as to test the knowledge of the listener. These days, riddles have been replaced by awful messages which keep looping back one another.

Ankit Chadha, a researcher of all things Sufi, has come up with a few riddles from The Amir Khusrao, the man who needs no words of introduction. The riddles form an important part in the writings of Khusrao and these chosen twenty riddles are a depiction of events in the Sufi poet’s life. The book consists of the original riddle along with its English translation (for those who do not understand Urdu). 

The riddle itself is followed by the answer and a brief description of the importance of that in Khusrao’s life.

The riddles themselves are mind boggling. The reader is forced to think this way and that and has to find the answer to the riddle in the riddle itself. The description which follows the answer is also enlightening and gives a peek into Khusrao’s personality and his relationship with his spiritual mentor, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. 

The best part of the book is the illustrations provided by Urmimala Nag which in itself acts as a clue to the riddle and is the manifestation of the answer.

My take: Since this is a riddle book do not be fooled to take it as a children’s book. If you feel over-confident, its best to test your mettle against the intellectual Khusrau.

Book courtesy: Vivek Tejuja (Flipkart)

19. Review of “Fables from India” – Uday Mane

Review of “Fables from India” – Uday Mane

Every child grows up hearing/reading stories or fairy tales. It is one of the most mesmerizing stages of life when we get to know and in our curiosity we gobble up without differentiating fact from fiction. The Fables from India written by Uday Mane provides a sneak peek into those long gone times when the Kings ruled the lands and magic existed in the ordinary lives.

The author weaves beautiful short stories which tell the tales of a tree that comes to life to implore its judgement, a joker who sees no happiness in life, a man who banks on a journey to resurrect his dead wife, a queen who leaves her husband and spends one night every month in the jungle and so on. The stories are magical, full of lore and with genuine morals. They must not be called stories, for they are fables. They bring about a sense of nostalgia and morality in equal measure.

Useful Tip: A must read for all ages. Read it out loud at bedtime, in a ‘once-upon-a- time’ tone of voice for the added effect.

Book Courtesy: Vivek Tejuja (Flipkart)

18. Review of “The Peshwa” – Ram Sivasankaran

Review of “The Peshwa” – Ram Sivasankaran

After the movie Bajirao Mastani, we all became familiar with the story of Bajirao and his personal life with his wives Kashibai and Mastani. But the movie didn’t quite show the story before that, or how Rao gained and did justice to the title of Peshwa. This book brings out the life of Bajirao beginning from before his birth, when his father, Balaji Vishvanath Bhat was the Peshwa to the Chhatrapati Shahu. This book is work of fiction based on real events and people. However, the detailing and the depiction of various characters and events are fantastic. The story shows the demise the demise of Rao’s father, Balaji, and how he, till his last breath clears the path for his son to inherit the stature of Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. Amongst other wannabes who want to be the next Peshwa, Rao proves his mantle and in doing so, his wife Kashibai stood with him in doing so.

The plot of the book is focused on the first battle of Rao against the Nizam-ul-mulk, the martial tactics and strategizies devised by the Peshwa during the course of the war. The background story of the interaction of Nizam with Rao’s father and the following attacks on him along with the bitterness infused between the Mughals and Marathas lends the book an interesting curve.

To all those romantics, who might pick up this book looking for a passionate love story will be in for a surprise when they found no mention of the legendary Mastani in the whole book save a fleeting mention in the Epilogue, for it is the story of ‘a Lion and a Stallion’ and not kindred hearts. I too was a bit taken back, but the retelling of the journey of a man from being a toddler to a Peshwa was a pleasant eye-opener and left me with high praises for the author.

Book Courtesy: WritersMelon

17. Review of “A Forgotten Affair” – Kanchana Banerjee

Review of “A Forgotten Affair” – Kanchana Banerjee

A forgotten affair is the story of Sagarika/Rika/Reeks/Cheeni as affectionately called by others. She, having woken up from a six month long coma is told by Rishabh, who calls himself her husband, that she was a victim in the Mumbai bomb blast. She has lost her memory and is totally dependent on him to guide her through her past. However, he is intent on keeping her away from it. Rishabh moves her away from their Mumbai home to an opulent highrise in Gurgaon and she feels lost still with nothing from her old life to remind her about her past. Her servants are under strict orders from her husband to report to him. Little things like the word cheeni and a certain cologne smell makes her ponder more deeply about her past but to no avail. One day she chances upon her old facebook account and strikes up a conversation with Akash who tries to remind him her of her past and their shared intimacy. She is divided as to who to believe. Akash visits her city and they do meet. She realises that her husband is spinning a web of lies and is trying to keep her trapped and away from her past acquaintances. Her dilemma and the quest to find who she is form the essence of the story.

The cover of the book is alluring and impactful. Not the same for the story because it’s quite predictable. However, the end is quite unique. The leading lady loses her memory and now must find what was in her past. A bipolar husband, a passionate lover, a go-to best friend, a dependable nurse/maid and a chummy cousin who is not so believable are some of the main characters. The flow of the story is linear with little surprises except for the ending. The characters are nicely described and well written. There are a few intense exchanges but are short lived and could have been elaborated to give the book a fine form.

My take: The most striking part about the story is that despite having lost her memory, Rika tries her best to regain her lost self and has the bearings to identify between what is good for her and what not. A good read for all those romantics at heart who shall have to read the full book to see if Rika finds true love in the end.

Book courtesy: WritersMelon

16. Review of “False Ceilings” – Amit Sharma

Review of “False Ceilings” – Amit Sharma

‘False ceilings’ is a web of relationships across the generations in a family where a secret is passed down from one to the next. It is believed that the secret is cursed and must not be shared with anyone else. However, it is the only thing that occupies the last conscious thought of the holder before they die. Spanning across 5 generations, a secret is passed along, sometimes knowingly, sometimes as unknown and unclaimed legacy. It is kept as a secret throughout the book and is kept just out of its reach.

The setting of the story is in picturesque Dalhousie overlooking the five rivers and glittering town of Pathankot, and Delhi in all its pre-independence glory. The narrative of the book is done in an innovative way. Each character is randomly picked one at a time and the story of that character is given in such a way that no other name is mentioned in it. After a few chapters, one begins to connect the dots one at a time and the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place.

My take: Half-way through the book, and I was still frustrated. Who are all these people? How are they related? What is the secret? A familiar name here, a similar location there and the pulse would start racing to reach the end. Probably let out a swear-word or two for the author, but still couldn’t put the book down. They say curiosity kills the cat. In my case, I was resisting the temptation to look at the last few pages with all my might. At the end, the author reveals the secret not with a bang but with a whimper and it sounds loud enough for exclamation.

A must read for all because the story grows upon you slowly and goes in deep through your mind and soul.

Spoiler Alert:

I’ve made a family tree of all the characters involved in the book. It is for those who might feel as lost as me.

Note:
Elliptical - Female
Rectangle - Male
Coloured - Secret holder / known

15. Review of “03:02” – Mainak Dhar

Review of “03:02” – Mainak Dhar

WritersMelon asked me to write a review for this book and I’d gladly said yes. But, would I be actually writing it down on a piece of paper? No! I’ll just grab my iPad and start clicking away. In such a world where each and every person is dependent on electronic devices, what would happen if the electricity goes out and all electronic gadgets are fried? Can’t imagine? Neither can I. But, Mainak Dhar brings forth a story where most of the world is attacked by terrorists who blast-off bombs radiating electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) which leave all the circuit based electronic devices high and dry.

The plot of the story is principally based in Mumbai, where an executive Aaditya wakes in the middle of the night, (03:02 am to be precise) after hearing a bang to find the city shrouded in darkness. Assuming it to be a power failure, he goes back to sleep. In the morning, when the sun rises, he realizes the extent of damage when he sees the whole city in utter chaos. Even the vehicles have stopped as and where they were at the time of the explosion and everyone is clueless. In the absence of any law or order, he takes charge to bringing things as close to normal as he can by pooling resources with others affected by the tragedy, looters, rapists, rioters and assassins. They work together towards self-sustenance till such time that the Government aids arrives. However, before any communication link could be forged, the attacks by the terrorists who have captured the airport begin. Self-preservation leads them to form a union and they try to fight back with all they can.

Starting by using his own skills learned in a dojo and NCC, Aadi becomes a hero for the community when he gets his hands bloodied by killing a looter and saving Dr. Megha and her patients. He is entrusted with a gun from a retired general to combat any approaching threats. Joined by a couple of ex-army officials, they keep what fire-arms they conquer from the little groups of armed terrorists which are sent out to take over them. Help arrives in small packages in form of semi-trained volunteers, NDA cadets, whiz-kids from IIT, a few marines etc. The civilians team-up to form their own army and rely on ‘surprize attacks’ as their primary method of assault. Will they be able to last till their supplies and limited ration runs out? Grab a copy to find out!

The idea of a blackout is horrifying but brilliant. It is not the first time this has been used, but the possibility of this to occur cannot be ignored. The hard-hitting fact remains throughout the story where Aaditya repeatedly asks everyone the difference between ‘us and them’. There is a lot of blood and gore depicted in the combat scenes which are detailed to perfection. The story is fast paced and makes you race to find out the ending. The epilogue is not clichéd in showing a happy-every-after; rather it indicates the struggle of the survivors to take what they are left with and build a new tomorrow; thus being more appetizing.

My take: The story is fast paced and there is never a dull moment where you feel like picking up the bookmark.

Book Courtesy: WritersMelon

PS: Post-reading you are prone to sweat bullets if your power runs out even for a few seconds.

PPS:  Trivia – The characters in the story do bear slight resemblance to real life acquaintances of the author.

14. Review of ‘The Girl Who Chose’ – Devdutt Pattanaik

Review of ‘The Girl Who Chose’ – Devdutt Pattanaik

‘You are bound by rules, but not I. I am free to choose.” – Sita.

Sita, the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi, has chosen to tell her story and about the choices she made. These choices in turn decided her fate and that of the ones around her. The age old story of Ramayana has been retold and that too from Sita’s point of view. Ram, her husband and the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was maryadapurushottam, which means that he was bound by rules and had no right to choose for himself. Ravana on the other hand was complete opposite and disrespected rules or anyone else’s choices. Thus, the story of Ramayana depended on the five choices of Sita since there were five major decision points in her life where she was free to decide what she could do. It leads you to believe that has Sita made different choices at even one point, the story of Ramayana would have turned out very differently.

Devdutt Pattanaik, the master of mythological stories, along with his heart-cuddling illustrations has woven a tale which makes everyone sit up and notice the life of Sita. The journey and transformation in the story told and retold all across India and carried abroad has been detailed beautifully. The little snippets of useful information, background, meaning and basis of the content in context is helpful and enlightening. The simple language and flow makes the tale endearing to little ones as well as grown-ups. The portrayal of all the characters is limited bound perfectly without leaving out any useful details.

The author raises some questions which boggle your mind, like was the Western story of Hansel and Gretel, who leave breadcrumbs behind to find their way back, was inspired by Sita throwing her jewelry to guide Ram to herself in Lanka? Had Surupnakha thought Sita to be a raakshasi as she too was accompanied by two make escorts just like raakshas ladies did back then? Was Ram still a maryadapurushottam when he killed Vail (Sugreev’s twin brother) from behind even when he was not the one fighting him? These questions lead to you really ponder.

Pattanaik also compares the various versions of Ramayana right from the Valmiki’s Ramayana to the present day depictions immortalized into our minds via Ramleela plays, TV series and motion pictures. For example, the story of Shabri feeding tasted berries to Ram had no mention in the original version and was just added a few centuries back. There are other such comparisons which make you wonder about the authenticity of the story. Various anecdotes are inserted along with the charmingly done illustrations which makes you understand the concepts better.

My Take: After reading the book (more looking and reading) I felt as if this was the closure to the Ramayana which I was waiting for since long. It had answered many of the questions in my mind and made me to believe the tale better. I beg to you to please go and get multiple copies of this book because you’ll want to share it with others too without sacrificing your copy because, as endearing as the book is, believe me when I tell you that you won’t want to part with yours.

Book courtesy: (Vivek Tejuja) Flipkart Blogger Review Program

13. Review of “A Devil’s Prayer” – Luke Gracias

Review of “A Devil’s Prayer” – Luke Gracias

When a young single mother’s only daughter Siobhan, drowns in her swimming pool, a strange man resuscitates her after the paramedics give up. But he is gone before she could say thanks. A few months later, she is declared as the winner of lotto worth millions, after which meets with an accident which escalates to brutal mugging, rape and attempt to murder leaving her as a mute quadriplegic and in care of her mother who strives to make ends meet.

Albert Einstein said that “Evil is the absence of God”. Her silent prayers are left unheard by the God, until one night, that strange man, who she know knows is the Devil himself, proposes a deal which she couldn’t refuse. She, at night is gifted with the ability to move around, and kills her six friends who she now knows were involved in her assault for their souls in exchange for the devil to grant her good health and the soul of Siobhan who he saved earlier. The deal is made and fulfilled. However, she is tricked by the devil into giving birth to the Devil’s daughter, Jess, a fact she realises years later. It comes light that as per ancient prophesies the Devil’s child, when of age, would lead to mass destruction resulting in apocalypse. She, as the deal maker, is the only one who can save the world now. She abandons her family and becomes a nun to find a way out of the consequences of making deals with the devil and raising his progeny.

After six years of estrangement, Siobhan comes to know of her mother’s suicide in a monastery of a faraway country. She must secretly follow the clues left by her mother in form of a Confessional to finish what she started which is a race against time since Jess is already seventeen and has regular communication with her father. To add to her quest, there are strange monks in red garbs who follow and threaten her wherever she goes while running away from various unknown threats which may lie in her path.

I picked it up thinking that it would be horror with abandoned graveyards and spooky ghosts. But it is much darker in a demonic way. The theme is not unique but the historical facts, their representation and linking its context with the story-line is astounding. The codex, the testament, the hidden passages, history of the past manifestations of Devil, the locks and secret keys all these keep you riveted. The chase and the quest are thrilling and exhilarating. It is commendable how the author has related the impending catastrophe to global warming and climate change in the present day context. It makes the work much more realistic and quite possible in a parallel universe scenario. There are brutal scenes where the mother is attacked and feel for her. Chill goes down your spine every time the Devil visits her to entice her into believing him and making that deal.

There are many questions that pose in the minds of the readers at the end of the book. There is a need to know whether the girl is able to fulfill her mother’s quest. Does she get her hands on the Devil’s Prayer, which has the answers to all the questions? After reading it, there is an urgency to find answers to all these questions. Waiting for Part-2 already to know how Siobhan gets sucked into this fight against evil while saving the world.

Book Courtesy: WritersMelon

12. Review of “What Lies Between Us” – Nayomi Munaweera

Review of “What Lies Between Us” – Nayomi Munaweera

Nayomi Munaweera, in her second book, spins a tale of a young girl from Sri Lanka who, after her father’s demise, shifts with her mother to the beckoning US. From a conservative family to the freedom that foreign lands offer, the book traces out her journey to self-realization. With one tragedy in her past leading to another, the fogginess of her memories and the incomprehension of what happened to her, she tries to get past the mercurial mood swings of her mother who she struggles to understand. In America she sorts out her life on her own terms and shies away from love because she thinks that her past was still tainting her present. Daniel arrives in her life and brings little changes and shows her that she is still lovable. She goes on to marry him but keeps her past demons to herself. When a child arrives in their life, and not by choice, they welcome her with open arms and big hearts. But, the little one brings back her haunting reminiscence and she withdraws deeper into her shell to an extent where Daniel is forced to take a few steps backward in their relationship. Among the secrets that are uncovered much later in life, can she still hope to have a better relationship with her daughter than the one she had with her mother?   

The narrative reads like an autobiography, and is too realistic to be labeled as fiction. It is quite overwhelming and at times you feel like you are her. You live her life; you love her, cry for her, feel for her and sympathize. At times you hate her, want to tear the pages apart, but you have to see it through, know who she is and what drives her to be the way she is. She doesn’t understand herself completely; she is righteous, a little rebellious, a lot more strong headed than her cousin Dharshi with whom she shares her childhood. As much as her sometimes foggy brain can withstand the weight of the decisions to be made settles upon her and she is left being harsh to herself until love softens her up. The acrid waterweed clamoring inside her heart is blossomed into full-bloom dahlias under the shower of love.

The most striking character of the book is Water. It is used throughout the narrative to depict state of mind of everyone. It forms the ever-flowing link from the first to the last page. It plays eminent part in the joys and sorrows equally. It is the thread that binds the life of the little girl with her young self, till the time comes when she finally accepts the reality her life is and succumbs to it. At times the flow is smooth and soothing, while sometimes it forms a whirlpool where everyone sinks to the great depths till it finally decides to through them out. She, as a little girl loves the monsoon, the cold water of the well and the creatures residing within her pond. The fun swimming lessons her father gave her turns out to be a nightmare for her when the gushing river swallows him whole one fateful night. Such is the impact which water has on her life.

My take: Nayomi’s writing style reminds me of Paulo Coelho. The way the words are used, scenes are segmented, help in understanding the characters better. The turns in the story, the skeletons in the closets, the self-realization and facing the truth is depictive of finding one’s true self. I would recommend this book to all the girls out there, and I can attest that there will be more than one instance where they fell that they are reading their own life story, with just a change of character names.

Book Courtesy: Vivek Tejuja (Flipkart)

11. Review of “A Broken Man” – Akash Verma

Review of “A Broken Man” – Akash Verma

‘A Broken Man’ is a college romance taking place in the backdrop of student politics. Based in Lucknow, a poor Dalit boy dares to fall hopelessly in love with a high caste girl after he saved her life in a political agitation against reservation. Family pressure leads them to part ways. What follows is the everlasting impact they have on each other’s life. With no communication except for a yearly birthday greeting, it is the only thing that keeps them going on. After about two decades of loneliness, when this only ray of hope is missed, Krishna Kumar (now known as KK) is pulled back towards Lucknow to seek out Chhavi, his inspiration, his idol and his reason for inhaling the next breath. What happens when he reaches there, does he find her there, or she is gone?

While the plot is not new, the story is still gripping. The writing style is simple and understandable, without being mundane. The protagonist is a writer who writes Hindi poetry with a lasting effect. This shows the author’s love and command over it as well. Emotions run high in this quest for lost love.

My take: The book was read with a lump in my throat and a moist eye. A tragic love story of star-crossed lovers who could not be together due to the identities that the society stuck to them with their birth is touching. A few light moments here and there add to the impact which the sad ones have. What got to me was the simplicity and the believable approach with which the story unfolded.

Book Courtesy: writersmelon.com

10. Review of “Losing My Religion” – Vishwas Mudagal

Review of “Losing My Religion” – Vishwas Mudagal

I chanced upon this book by mistake. Firstly, I didn’t want to read it because I thought it was just another self-help guide. After a little coxing I gave in and decided to give it a go and I am really glad that I did because reading it totally changed my view. You could, if you please classify this as a motivational text, but it is not preachy or righteous which suited my taste just right. Losing My Religion is a story of an out-of-luck businessman, Rishi, who decides to quit it all and give living his life a second chance, a chance which comes with freedom and inner peace. He tags along with a hippie, Alex, who guides him to an adventurous ride across India from the life-on-a-high in valley to the coastal sea-facing vagabond living. However, Rishi cannot get business out of his head and tries to build a new life in which he doesn’t feel bound. A gamer/biker girl Kyra comes into his life and he finally finds something to live for just to be taken aback by her departure. Alex tries to fix a broken Rishi by taking him to the event of the decade, the Maha Kumbh where again he finds his lost bearings in business and the reuniting with Kyra. What he is not expecting is her true identity. Caught in a media war with one of the biggest businessman, the team of three mates is drawn into reality TV and a game of proving themselves to the world.

The initial chapters of the book force you to look outside your own miserable cubicle of life and imagine yourself to be free of all the worldly boundaries. There are situations where you just want to get lost with the characters and be them for a while or more. My gamer instincts took off the moment Mortal Kombat was mentioned and I left was craving for some action in the much hyped ZoD too. The characters’ high risk no pressure life looks like the easy way out of the mundane daily routines of the 9-5 O’Clockers. The words flow in a stream such that you feel connected and at the same time appreciate the use of crafty sentences. There were so many instances while reading when I found that instead of the usual words a better, more fitting synonym was used just to add to the beauty of the text.

I will forever be in debt of Vivek Tejuja (Flipkart) for giving me this book (even if it was by mistake!). This book changed my view of the world. I too maybe thinking of getting on with a journey of self-discovery sooner that I would have, all thanks to Vishwas Mudagal. You rock man!

9. Review of “Destiny of Shattered Dreams” – Nilesh Rathod

Review of “Destiny of Shattered Dreams” – Nilesh Rathod

With his debut in the field of fiction writing, Nilesh Rathod takes you inside the inner workings of the boardroom. With a forced backing of political black money, Atul Malhotra, the budding entrepreneur, along with his team of equally able friends, works to make a mark of with the exponential expansion of his telecom business. Caught between personal responsibilities, a marriage going down the drain, expanding business, funding issues, political pressure, incognito mediators, CBI raids, unintended but unavoidable murders, and the likes, Atul strives to make ends meet. Aarti, a management fresher brings a breath of fresh air to his otherwise unstable relationship with his wife. He falls for her while she, who idolizes her boss, too succumbs to his charms and intellect. What follows is a risky affair both in corporate and personal life leading Atul to heartbreak and jail term, which is where the story starts. He recalls his life to his cell mates and in retrospect revisits his actions and devils from his past to find out that he too has become one.

The best thing about the book is that emotions like love and hate are touched upon very finely but with a profound impact. In between the boardroom mumbo-jumbo, it is essentially the story of a man’s rise to glory and his fall due to choices he made to attain that glory. Personally, I’ve read many authors writing tomes on love as an emotion, but in this book, I especially like a few paragraphs written on hate, its meaning and its impact on Atul’s life as told to him by his father figure and lawyer Qazi. The icing on the cake is that the state of mind of the protagonist is beautifully described using Hindi poems along with their equally exquisite translations.

The writing is smooth and makes you drift away easily between the pages. I am thankful to the author for not using Hinglish in dialogs (as it is very popular among writers these days) because that just makes it seem forceful upon the reader. Using one language, I think, makes it easier to maintain the flow and avoid unnecessary repetitions. After having read my share of a few corporate sagas, this brings out a point that when faced with a dilemma, if you take an alternative route, it doesn’t mean the end of the journey, because in your quest to reach the sky you will again reach an impasse and will again need to make a choice. It is rightly said by the author, “Itne unche ude ke wapas na aa sakey, aasmaan chhune ke aibh mein wapas na ja sakey…”

8. Review of “The Sialkot Saga” – Ashwin Sanghi

Review of “The Sialkot Saga” – Ashwin Sanghi

Though set in the backdrop of political and economic clashes in India post-Independence, this tome is a story which started way back in 250 BCE when Ashoka reined most of the Indian subcontinent. Ashwin Sanghi, the Dan Brown of India, weaves a saga where secrets are passed on from then till the present day India. The front story is that of Arvind and Arbaaz, different religions, different upbringings, different people altogether; but with a single aim of making money. Arvind, a true blue Marwari, in the aftermath of breaking up with his childhood sweetheart, delves into business and uses his acumen to conning people into parting from their money. Arbaaz on the other hand, uses his intelligence to reach to the very top of a mafia and diversifying into high profile politics. Both of them are however at loggerheads with each other throughout but manage to be together at the end.

The Good: The relationship shown between the past and the present is commendable and that is exactly what the author is known for. Comparing him to Dan Brown may be a bit if a stretch, but he is definitely on the right track there. We have seen better works than this one before, so the expectations were obviously sky high. The fact that the book ended where it began was remarkable. The story is paced well and major events are incorporated to support the timeline.

The Bad: A few minor plots seem to be stale and lifted off motion pictures or literature. There is one too many clichés, specially used as punchlines while ending little sequences. The ending could have been a little more dramatic than mere stating of facts. There were portions which I feel could have been done without and were there just to add to the volume.

The Ugly: It is disheartening to find little big mistakes in a work of this stature. The direct/indirect involvement of the protagonists in each and every disaster in history gets on your nerves.

Verdict: Read it for the sake of curiosity. Till you reach the last 50 pages or so, you’

Book Courtesy: Vivek Tejuja (Flipkart)

7. Review of "Half a Shadow" - Anurag Shourie

Review of "Half a Shadow" - Anurag Shourie

My first thought after reading about this book was, how can Science and Spirituality find common ground; but, hats-off to Anurag for this "Mytho-Medical Thriller" which in his words is a Medical Thriller with a Mythological bend to it. As interesting as it may sound, you truly have to delve into the pages to get the drift of it. I've read my share of medical thrillers, but this mytho-medic angle is just brilliant. Kudos to the author for delving into the uncharted waters.

The story revolves around (no prizes for guessing) a doctor, Aditya, who is working as anesthetist in a cancer hospital. He thinks that at the age of 35 has lived his life. He has serious drinking issues and in one of his inebriated stupors, he reads a wrong file for young patient which causes her demise. In his bid to find out more about it, he chances upon some clues which point towards the recent series of deaths (read murders) in which the hospital staff might be involved. He is violently attacked while saving Dr. Ketaki, his lover, but somehow survives. In his PTSD state he is haunted by Sumitra (The Charioteer of Abhimanyu, son of the Pandava Arjun) who says that he is in purgatory to atone for his own sins of letting Abhimanyu die in the Chakravyuha.

Sumitra guides Aditya, who is still trying to find out about the killings and sends the ghost of Sapna, the girl who he inadvertently killed, as motivation. Our hero here falls for the ghost, is unable to express and waiting for Sumitra finally puts life back into her when all of this to get over. Meanwhile, his uncle Vijay, a hard but caring police officer, assists his progress. His attempts bear fruit and hidden secrets fall out from locked closets involving unethical practices, carcinogens, radioactive elements, bio-hazards etc.

My take: The story keeps you riveted between the pages. This is one of those books where every piece falls into place and you get full closure. It was very satisfying to read till the end. Apart from tiny errors here and there, the book is very well written and the plots are framed superbly. The characters are described such that you can actually visualize everything in your mind. The medical jargon won’t be hurdle for non-medics since most of it is explained alongside. For medics, this might prove to be tiresome and a bit like textbook reading though.

I am generally not a fan of bilingual books, but this one was an exception. The Sanskrit Shlokas are found in perfect harmony with the workings of a doctor’s mind. The mythical elements are not parallel to the story-line but are entwined with it. The research put into letting this happen needs a resounding applause as well.

Verdict: If you miss it…. Oh no, you dare not do that, you just cannot.

Book Courtesy: Writersmelon 

6. Review of “The Wedding Photographer” – Sakshama Puri Dhariwal

Review of “The Wedding Photographer” – Sakshama Puri Dhariwal

First thing first, the book reads like a straight-on Bollywood movie. As it says on the blurb, it is a rom-com with the right amount of wit woven into a lot of chocolate coated mush. It starts off with the usual girl-meets-boy accidentally and sparks fly off. They part ways only to meet-up again. She (Risha aka Ms. Kohli) is indirectly working for him (Arjun urf Mr. Khanna) as she is the candid photographer at his sister’s wedding. This could have made a good plot as all girls grow up gorging on bossy-man romances, but it remains untouched. No bossiness in the guy though the girl is snarky for sure. The rest of the story carries on with the usual dose of casual/accidental intimacies, confessions, misunderstandings, remorse and patching up.

Now, the best part! The story has been set-up in Delhi NCR region. Being a Delhi-ite, I could relate completely with the references made. The backdrop is that of a big-fat-Punjabi-wedding with the common occurrences of chipku-type relatives and everyone who is hell-bent on fixing an ‘X’ with a ‘Y’ and finalizing the dates for the next wedding of the season. The ‘just most bestest’ and wittiest character is ‘thee Naani’. She personifies a Patiala lady (complete with a Patiala peg) is like. She adores her grandson and sees through his feelings better than he does himself. She is an excellent cocktail of pride, compassion, seriousness and straight-face-joke-cracker. The other characters in the story aptly fit in. From the journo best friend to her cricketer husband, all are well placed within the story-line and contribute their best to keep the page turning.

The book is divided into three parts, just like a play. There are plots which could have been avoided completely and some which needed more clarity. The story itself is fast-paced without any dull moments. The description of events and the continuity could have been more fluid. The ending though could have extended a few more pages for a happily-ever-after epilogue. On the whole it’s a good quick read and yes, the fact that the hero of the book is described as Fawad Khan does make a girl drift off to dreamland (with him, of course!) between the pages. ;)

Buy “The Wedding Photographer” here – http://bit.ly/1WTQUD0

Book courtesy: Flipkart Blogger Review Program

5. Review of "Hedon" - Priyanka

Review of "Hedon" – Priyanka

The book doesn’t require a review. It is already there between the pages. As Priyanka puts it “her cheeky inclusion of a self-penned book review is interwoven into the narrative”. Adding on to that, the book is a story (if I dare call it that), of a young Tara who crawls, flies, dunks, rolls and stands tall in her life. She falls in love (infatuation?!) with Jay who is 7-8 years her senior and is much like her, understands her and shares her crazy tendencies. From there on, life moves them apart only to grant them a few exchanges (as both of them are pretty damn awesome with words) via email, texts and phone calls during which they stand by each other’s dramatic happenings in life.

Tara moves from Calcutta to America to pursue higher education. She makes many friends and each one of them leaves a mark on her life. Her friends are interesting and form a variety in her life except for the fact that they are all always drinking, dancing, snorting, drinking, puffing, roaming, chatting, drinking, etc. The narrative is encrusted with colourful smoky language which depicts the haziness that passes through her life during her college years and the illusions she lives in flows in between the chapters of her life.

Upon her return to India she tries her hand at working for a publishing house much to the irritation of her hedonistic self. But chance takes her back to Jay for another shot at a life.

The words are woven into jingly bells which keep on resonating along. The language is fresh and lively. There is one too many pop culture references which will make you feel like time is standing still and you are the one who wants to just overtake it. Priyanka’s attention to details puts the picture in your mind without any effort. While her proses are still better than the poetry, there is a good smattering of it all through, which makes the story even dreamier. The ending is stifling which makes you wish for more, but the parallel running epilogue makes up for it.

Verdict:

Read it for freshness,

Cram it for writing skills,

But do not pick it up,

If you have hedonistic tendencies!

I would definitely gobble up any subsequent books by this author.

PS: I love the cover. The book is going to be highlighted on my shelf are a good amount of time.

PPS: Whoever did the formatting (dark pages and all!!) deserves a pat on the back, but I still can’t figure out why 3 page were left blank in the middle of the book. Pondering!!!

Special Thanks to Vivek Tejuja for giving me this rare gem :)

4. Review of "The Dark Side of Light" - Sanil Sachar

Review of "The Dark Side of Light" - Sanil Sachar

I was not an avid reader of short stories and poetry but the name intrigued me. I wanted to read something new and refreshing this time and this book came as a pleasant surprise. It talks about emotions, love and passage of time. The stories take you through tender love (From Start to Finish), cute love (Member’s Only), parental love (Slam Dunk), one-sided love (One-Sided), lack of love (Tamanna), revengeful love (Painted Red), hateful love (The Secret), creepy love (One for All, All for One), and longing for love (Distant Closeness). The characters in the stories are very realistic and relatable except for a few creepy ones (thought they too might be real!!). The poems largely focus on the passage of time and the changes it brings. Some poems are a direct peek at Sanil’s mind at work as the words struggle to come out, be born and ripen on the pages of this book. They gave me a feeling that the poems are closer to his heart than the stories, which are all fiction.

‘Dinner with the Turners’ is a light-hearted situational comedy and my personal favorite (both story and the play). A shout-out for ‘The Everlasting Traveler, Never Ending Journey’ as it takes you through the beaches with clear waters and you can almost feel the cool breeze blow through your hair. And last-but-not-the-least ‘The Other Man’ was sure a great pick.

My take: This book is not a page turner. It is something that needs to be read at a leisurely pace so as to feel each and every word. Each piece is to be cherished like a fine wine. It is an emotional roller-coaster with ups and downs and in-betweens. The detailing is picture-perfect and you find yourself living in the stories and poems.

Note: Do not rush through it an read everything in one go. Keep a book-mark handy lest you forget where you need to pick up next.

My favorite picks:

Short Story - Airport Encounter, Slam Dunk

Poetry - No quitting, Greatest Feat, Seconds turn to Years

Story/Play - Dinner with the Turners

Special Thanks: Vivek Tujeja (Flipkart)

3. Review of "Raakshas" - Piyush Jha

Review of Piyush Jha's "Raakshas".

***Might contain Spoilers***

From the very first page, very first paragraph, very first line, this was creepy in the most haunting way. The introductory chapters are very disturbing, but as the story spans, I got more clarity as to what was happening and how it backs the transformation of a child to a murderer. From empathizing with the kid, to hating him the next moment and wanting him to die, the book takes you through the intricacies of the killer's thoughts as he goes through the different stages of life. There was one moment when I didn't really want the killer to be caught this soon because that would have been belittling the mastermind. Piyush takes us through the lives of the villain (Raakshas) and the hero (Maithili). Maithili leaves no stone unturned to unearth the next step of the killer, but as he says, he is always two steps ahead. The sole purpose of her existence seems to be catching the culprit. She, on the other hand is none the better than the one she is after. Turns out that she too has ghosts of the past that come to haunt her and make her go an extra mile in her efforts.

Grown up on a diet of murders in an almost amicable way as those solved by Sherlock or Poirot, this was something I wasn’t quite eager to read. But, having feasted upon this piece, I think I can rightly say that my hunger (no, not the hunger for murder!!) has altered from reading about murders to reading about murderers.

The bonus section at the end about real-life serial killers was an eye-opener to the current state of crime and its understanding in India. Its sad to say that the position is heart-rending.

My take: Take my word for it and go for it, even if you are not a fan of gore. If you don’t like it, don’t blame the author (he is gooood!), blame you weak digestion!

PS: I warn you not to keep the book on your bedside table; it might give you twisted nightmares. Not that I dreamed of someone cutting my mundi off!!

PPS: Raakshas has made reach for a copy of ‘Compass box killer’ and it might seem strange, but I am looking forward to it.

Special Thanks to:

Writersmelon and Westland