Book Review-Half Girlfriend

REVIEW-HALF GIRLFRIEND

The author has claimed that this manuscript has taken him three years to draft. Mohit Suri and Ekta Kapoor have announced that a movie will be made based on the manuscript. Masaba Gupta, inspired by this manuscript has created a range of iphone covers,saris,and other apparels. Within a short time of announcing that the book is available for Pre booking the site crashed. My library took 15 days to rent this book out to me inspite of calling him even before the book was released. I was the third one in pre booking of a book that was not even out yet. Facebook and Twitter was inundated with posts of how so many people had already purchased a copy of the book in the pre-order stage. This was the hype created before the release of Chetan Bhagat's latest offering-Half girlfriend.


Well the book starts with Chetan Bhagat emphasizing on how he wants to write for a change. An encouragement to all non readers to read. According to me he is on the right path as I personally know a lot of people who are non readers but wait with bated breath for “A Chetan Bhagat” novel and do end up reading it as well. His way of self deprecating humour is what intrigues everyone and makes everyone curious of this character called Chetan Bhagat. The line that touched me the most by him is that “i don’t want to be remembered, I just want to be missed”


Coming to the book,it is about a namesake prince Madhav and an affluent “English speaking” girl called Riya. They meet as they share their common weakness for basketball. He falls in love with her, she just likes him and dodges his pleas. A crass statement by Madhav,Riyas marriage to a London return pushes the both of them to discrete paths. Madhav starts helping his ailing and social worker mother in Bihar and engrosses himself in all the school work started with the sole aim of imparting knowledge to all the children of Dumraon (a tehsil (block) in Buxar district in Bihar). A speech to be given in English and the conquest for learning the language for the betterment of Dumraon's only school destines Riya and Madhav's reunion.


The story is predictable. It is a typical Chetan Bhagat book absorbing the repetitive formula of rich girl dodging a poor boy-their separation, their re-union and finally the rich girl falling for him. What I really liked about the book is the climax which embraces our very own Chetan Bhagat himself. The part in New York is elongated. An appalling feature of Chetan Bhagat's characters are that they do not get etched in your heart, they meet their logical end once you finish reading the book, but what develops the curiosity of reading a Chetan Bhagat novel is that it has simple writing and accounts for a very breezy read. The story does not touch your heart but it does make you visualize the flow thus a valid script to be captured as a movie.


As rightly said, you love him,you hate him you cannot ignore him. This book is one such read. Pick it up if you are in a mood for a light read this festive season..




STARS-2.5/5

Review-Scandalous Housewives

SCANDALOUS HOUSEWIVES-MADHURI BANERJEE

After reading the synopsis and Being a Sex and the City Addict( TV series ofcourse!!) ,I just had to pick this book up. Also this is the First book I have read of Madhuri Banerjee, and What an Experience it was!!!

Scandalous Housewives is a story that revolves around four characters-Gita,Sarita,Aarti and Natasha. Each one having their own difficulties and glitches. The author wins your heart by the sheer courage with which she handles each and every subject and the way out for all of them.

Gita is an absolutely perfect mother,daughter-in-law and wife. She plays all her varied roles to perfection. But somewhere she does fathom that in performing all these responsibilities she has foregone her own aspirations. We tend to ignore our expertise and strive to work only for the growth of our family. The obstacle of identity crisis faced by the housewives of today is tackled brilliantly with Gita's character. Also another important thing that her story teaches us is that marriage is not only taking care of your husband's family and your children but also involves the active involvement and encouragement of your partner in your area of interests and your growth. We tend to ignore it, in turn ignoring our own progress. A partner helping you in taking you forward in life is the true definition of a happy and successful marriage.

Sarita hails from a conservative Gujarati household where the smallest of things have to be approved by her in-laws and only then it can be taken forward. Due to these conventional beliefs the couple is not able to be open minded and rational with their own children leading to the children going the immoral ways. As mentioned in the synopsis the depiction of “kinky sex” is dealt with very aesthetically. I am bowled over by the author's sheer vividness in scripting these parts.

Aarti has the perfect husband, the perfect in-laws, the perfect son and a fantastic career. She is the only working woman out of the four. But she has a deep dark secret which disrupts her “perfect marriage”. Some people may not agree with this story. But according to me the author has dealt with it very maturely. Do we have to live through a marriage because our husband and in laws are very loving and supportive, isn't consummation equally imperative? This is the question that this story raises and the author has once again dealt with it audaciously.

Natasha's story is of self esteem and morals. An ex-model who is neither respected by her husband nor her daughter. Does love only hinge on physical appearance and your working status? DO people who leave work or who are not as slender as before, deserve affection and reverence of his/her partner? Once again the solution to this glitch is dealt with cleverly. Every woman should stand for her self-respect and the author teaches us this through Natasha's narrative.

The author via this book teaches us not only to take bold steps for ourselves but also that it is not enough to make others happy. The first and foremost person that should be content is yourself. The inner gratification modifies the way we handle other things and other people in our beautiful journey called-LIFE. This may lead to certain decisions that are not as per the “so-called” societal norms but you have to stand by them for your contentment. I want to applaud the author for this experience and the courage to deal with one's problems bravely and fearlessly. Would like to end my review with a very pertinent “Ernest Hemingway quote:

“So far, about morals, I know only that what is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after.”

STARS-4/5

Book Review-And then there were none

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE-AGATHA CHRISTIE

           This book published in Pre-Independence period was a natural choice for deviating from my favoured genre to crime fiction.

           Ten strangers are brought to Soldier Island (a beautiful place that spells luxury with a capital L). Lured with the temptation of such an extravagant splendour all the ten strangers, without verifying any facts, embark on their journey to Soldier Island. The night of them reaching there, a recording is played which accuses all ten of them for murder of someone associated to their respective lives. The slaughter begins. In order to save themselves the inhabitants start looking for evidences After rummaging the entire island, the necessary evidences point out that the killer is amongst them.Also another interesting part is that the killings are based on the poem by Frank Green-Ten Little Soldier Boys. The author has mentioned the poem at the start of the book itself.

            When I started scripting the review of this book I was taken aback. I just did not know what to write or how to write. Twice I initiated and backed out, thought I cannot write review for this one. The third time I got successful. The reason for this was the absolute impeccable writing of Agatha Christie. You cannot speculate the assassin till the very last word in the book. The USP of the book is that you contemplate someone as the killer and the next chapter he is deceased. This leads to the reader being on the edge of his seat throughout the narrative. The writing and the flow of the entire tale is of supreme quality and keeps the reader engaged till the very end.

            The cherry on the cake was definitely the finale. The manner in which the assassin is revealed,it is mind boggling. It leaves you with goosebumps. It just goes to justify the popularity of this book even after so many decades, and also my undersized review :P. So do pick this book up irrespective of whether you like the genre or no. If you like the genre you'll love it more and if you don't you will start liking it.

             I would want to conclude with a Thomas Moore Quote which is absolutely apt for this book:

“It is only through mystery and madness that the soul is revealed” 

STARS-4.5/5

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Book Review-Happily Murdered

HAPPILY MURDERED-RASLEEN SYAL

“I have no will to weep or sing,

No least desire to pray or curse;

The loss of love is a terrible thing;

They lie who say that death is worse.”

The above lines are quoted from “The Loss of Love” by Countee Cullen. Well not a connoisseur of poems, these were the lines quoted in the book “Happily Murdered”. What I loved about the author is that she has acknowledged Agatha Christie at the start of the book. (You are going to hear a lot of love and praise for Rasleen-shes not paid me to do so but this book has made me an absolute sucker for her work) Well ma’am if Agatha Christie would be alive she would have devoured her ardent reader’s work.

“Happily Murdered” is a story about the murder of the intelligent and vivacious Gulab Sarin. There are two families involved-The Mehtas and The Dullas. Gulab Sarin’s murder involved an insider albeit one member from the Mehta’s or the Dullas. Somewhere everyone had a motive to get her killed due to the manner in which Gulab’s character is entwined with everyone. How the mystery unfolds and the real murderer is revealed is the story of Rasleen Syal’s murder mystery.

It gets a tad bit confusing in the very beginning with the plethora of characters and the elaborate descriptions, which is the only hiccup I felt in the entire book. Ofcourse later on everything falls in place and you are clear with the events and proceedings. The story also has a version where Gulab is unfolding her own story right from the beginning. Those chapters are attention grabbing and completely stimulating. To hear the story from the horse’s mouth was a masterstroke by the author. You almost linger to hear her side of the story. So in normal circumstances you get to hear one side of the story and then towards the end you get to know what is in the mind of the protagonist. But in this book you read from one angle and then immediately Gulab narrates her side of the story. I think this is the USP of the book. It keeps the reader engaged and urging for more. There are instances when you actually crib (in a good way) that the chapter is over, cause you want to know more and the chapter has concluded. All the chapters have page spinner ends which do not allow you to put the book down even for a minute.

The author has this brilliant capability of keeping you engaged and making you a part of the The Royal Hill in Ratnagiri. (Mehta’s Palace). You almost feel each and every character as your very own and the urge to be a part of the brain storming investigation. Each and every character is pertinent to the narrative. Everyone has a role to play including the servants. Towards the end you realise that none of the characters are futile and everybody and every description mentioned in the chapters are of utmost importance including the title of the book. But above all it is Gulab Sarin’s character that gets engraved in your heart forever. Her vulnerability and simplicity aches your heart. It’s only after you finish reading the book, do you actually understand the multifarious Gulab Sarin.”Love has many definitions” -the deep meaning of this statement and the understanding of this statement in Gulab’s Narrative is my most absolute favorite part in the book.

There are so many quotes that almost instantly get imprinted deep in your heart-a place where you can never forget them from. This book is a journey-a passage of understanding convoluted emotions in a very naive manner. A book in which the characters will endure long after the story has concluded.

I just absolutely love the book,love Gulab and the mother of them-Rasleen. A splendid job done. You almost make me feel guilty for not picking up a mystery tale since so long and you have made me fall in “love” with the genre all over again.

So grab a copy now!!! “Happily Murdered” by Rasleen Syal.

Stars-4/5

             

Book Review- I too had a love story- Ravinder Singh

“I too had a love story”- A heartbreaking true love tale-Ravinder Singh

This is what the cover page reads like. This is the book I picked up on my librarian's insistence. Initially when I started reading the book it felt asif it was the wrong choice but it started picking up slowly.

“I too had a love story” is a true encounter of the author who pens it down for readers to share his true love with “millions” of us, well the cover says “National Bestseller”.It starts with the author meeting his three closest friends and how something in between conversations gives him a passage to meet the love of his life-Khushi.

The camaraderie between all the four friends is written well. Their easy flow of conversations, descriptions of present life, is written beautifully. You almost instantly wish to have close friends such as these. The introduction of Khushi is well written. The initial excitement when you start liking someone, the enthusiasm that both the characters show is relatable. The implausible part according to me was being head in heels in love with each other inspite of not meeting at all and the marriage discussions that go on inspite of not seeing each other practically in person. On comprehending the entire passage you realise that the charaters have met only twice and the third time they would have met was to be their engagement day. On one hand you are trying to show the modernity of India where we meet our prospective better halves over internet and choose our partners without blindly getting married to our parent's choice and then something such as not meeting the opposite person and taking a big decision such as marriage, is preposterous. To think that it is a true love story I feel the author is great to have fallen in love this way but according to me its a little too far fetched. Setup in a contemporary era some things are still left conservative. The book starts picking up in the latter stages when they meet and towards the climax. The climax is heartfelt. You feel Ravinder's emotions exactly. After reading the synopsis, you almost know what to expect but still enjoy the touching and poignant flow of the story. The sentiments are captured brilliantly in this phase.

This is a book you would want to read only if you are really interested in knowing the true life of a person. A person who is brave enough to engrave it in the form of a book. I cannot wish for any add ons as it is a true narrative and things could not have been any other way. All I can wish for the author is to be blessed with true love once again!!

STARS-2/5

Book Review-The Deliberate Sinner

“How far would a woman go to get her sexual satisfaction within the confines of marriage? In India, an issue like this would never be a deal breaker right? Wrong. In today’s India, it could be, and hello, a woman might be the one who calls it quits!”-Bhaavna Arora

These words quoted by the author on her website made me pick this book at once and buy it. I was dying to lay my hands on it and checking my amazon account for its delivery date although it showed me the same date always!!

“The Deliberate Sinner” is a story of this enthusiastic girl- Ms.Rihana Bajwa who loves being independent, goes for trips alone ,enjoys watching porn and doesn’t shy away in accepting it openly. What makes the character more intriguing is the fact that in spite of being such an independent and outgoing person somewhere deep down she is still a traditional girl who helps her father in his business, follows her mother’s advice and does all this even if her heart tells her otherwise. She has a great bond with her paternal and maternal grandparents. This story is about her journey through all these relationships and her marriage. Does she retain the “Rihana” in herself or she loses her identity in keeping the relationships intact is what the book is all about.

What I love- The cover page-Kudos to Ashtami Nair (model) and Mallikarjun Katakol(cover photograph)-The thought process and the execution is brilliant!! Rihana's character in the initial few chapters is shown brilliantly. Her free-spiritedness, the pride that she takes in doing everything as per her parents wish and at the same time making sure to do what gives her happiness. The equation of Rihana with her grandparents and Bua is shown and written beautifully. Your heart almost aches for a relationship like that. Her friendship with Raj is shown very aptly and the emotions are captured bang on. Rihana's equation with her father-in-law is by far the best relationship captured. You almost wish to have one like that.The nuances about her life in Mumbai are shown well. And yes “the sex” which catches everyone’s attention with the tag line and the cover photo used by the author is represented and positioned very correctly in the story,however its way below the expectation a reader would have when it comes to the number of encounters.

The Hiccups- Why would a girl get married to a man, when right after her engagement she got ample reasons to call it off, Especially in today's modern India where engagements fall off as quickly as the fashion trend. Rihana’s mother is shown in an objectionable manner.Her lack of empathy towards the misery of her only child is preposterous and deplorable.Why will Veer not give Rihana what she deserves inspite of being so beautiful and every man's fantasy is beyond one's understanding. And above all the biggest question that haunted me while reading-Why would such a free spirited, bold, girl turn so meek and allow herself to get subjected to such situations so many times???

Overall- I think the subject has great potential to be turned into a page turner but unnecessary chances given and showing Rihana take a bold step so late and after so much anguish just spoils the plot for me. If Rihana's character would not have been etched so independent and head strong in the start probably the latter story would not have been this much of a disappointment for me cause you expect a girl like her to fight from the word go ,but again if she wasnt etched this way in the start I would not have picked the book up.

Stars-2/5 (the 1 extra star is only for “the initial free-spirited Rihana”)

Credits-www.bhaavna.com

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