Book Review- Love no matter what

I normally like to read the blurb and the prologue before selecting a book as I believe some synopsis do not do justice in getting the right feel of the story. The blurb of this one highlighted a very different kind of a subject and that made me pick it up at the very first instance.

Naina and Manish are awaiting the birth of their second child. Hoping that its a boy, they are aghast when they learn that it is an intersex child. Manish and his parents refuse to accept the child- named Devi. Naina and her friend Naveen unite to give Devi a fruitful career and life. Are they successful in their attempts? Does Devi get over the fact that her family has not accepted her and tops her game or is reduced to the one dancing on the road to earn her living?  The answers to these questions form the narrative of Love, No Matter what!

I was really impressed with the titles of each chapter. They were just perfect. Not revealing too much of the story also keeping us interested in reading further. The story-line is just absolutely a delight to read. It is pacy and stimulating. The characters have been etched to perfection. Not only the main characters but also the supporting characters have been written flawlessly. It was heartwarming to read the effort put in by Naveen, Naina and Chandani in tandem. The insecurities faced by Naveen’s wife was also considered and dealt beautifully. The constant courage that Naina showed was exemplary. It clearly shows that a mother can go to any extent for her child’s happiness. The finale speech by Devi moves one to tears. They are tears of eminence.

But above all the USP of the book is the camaraderie of Naina and Naveen. It makes you yearn for such a friendship. (Though I'm blessed in this regard!!)  Two people absolutely compatible- Perfect understanding of each others dilemmas and a rock solid support for each other to sail through their problems. Friendships like these are rare to happen and difficult for everyone to understand (since its a guy and a girl ). Their constant support  for each other makes it a ravishing journey.

I wish the friendship between Khushi and Devi was more detailed or developed further. Also the work on the cover page could have been more interesting. It does not cover even 1% of how beautiful the story inside unfolds.

All in all this book takes you on a journey of love. Love for your child, love for your friend, love for a person belonging to your community, love to understand the choices made by your man which is not conventional. It also teaches us that hard-work and perseverance can help you achieve anything in life. I want to really congratulate Komal Ahuja, first to write on a topic as different as this and second to teach us the meaning of life in such simple yet walloping words.

A must must must read!!

STARS-4.5/5

This review was first published on talespensieve.com

Book Review- My Dream Man

Author as a main protagonist has always caught my attention. Also romance is my favourite genre. This book was a combination of both and thus I did not flinch even once to pick this up.

Ajopa Ganguly is a struggling writer. Her script has got rejected many times, thus making her not wanting to write any further. She picks up other hobbies but her heart clearly lies in writing. Aniket Verma is her professor. They have developed a special friendship. This story oscillates between the past and present. Will their friendship turn into love? Will they unite foregoing their 12 year age gap? The answers to these questions forms the story of My Dream Man.

The author has written in a very autobiographical way. So as to speak, the book talks to you. The language is easy flowing. It is simple and lucid but does not take the reader’s ability for granted, which is the case with most authors these days. It s an enjoyable narrative. Although the initial chapters are a little myraid, and do not motivate you to read further but my suggestion is, Hang on!! It is pretty pleasant ahead. A couple of chapters make for a very feel good read, almost leaving a wide grin on your face. It is a very different take on the way love stories are written. Something different always intrigues me. I think it is very courageous of the author to attempt it. And she has fared pretty well!!

Despite of this, there were a few things that were a complete put off for me. As I had noted before, the initial chapters are a drag. From one topic there would be a jump to another topic and there would be no connection between anything. This style, has been mentioned by the author herself but didn’t go down too well with me. As per me it breaks continuity and your interest to read further. Also the author has done so well with a few chapters that you are amazed, but the very next chapter is preposterous. Also the 5 year itch seemed way too unbelievable. Another pointer which reduces the relatability quotient. The author has tried to pull of an erratic plug towards the end. That was downright futile.

You can surely pick this up to witness the free flow of language that challenges the ideology – want to reach out to more and more Indians so the language was easy.

A miss will not be that much of a miss!!

STARS-2.75/5

This review was first published on talespensieve.com

Book Review- E Love

Romantic books, movies have always fascinated me. The feel good factor that they bring to the table is what draws me to them,  always. It makes me want to read more and more. E-Love is a teenage saga. Wanting to reminisce my teenage years, I picked up this book to review.

Ankit’s brother is getting married in an arranged marriage setup. He meets Akshi in this setup as she is related to the bride-to-be. After a few days they start talking to each other via text message and thus begins their relationship. Will this relationship stand the test of times? Will there be a happily ever after? The answers to these questions forms the narrative of e-Love.

The Book Bakers have done a good job in capturing the entire feel of the book through their cover page. Depicting love story over technology, in today’ s time- the main essence of the book has been captured well. The author has tried to capture the busy lives of teenagers today. In trying to be social – via Facebook, WhatsApp, et al, they are not realizing that they are getting anti-social infact. You don’t end up talking to the person who is besides you because you are busy facebooking or whatsapping on your phone. Relationships start/ end via technology and not by meeting in person. I think the depth of the relationship would be entirely different when you are face to face rather than conversing on the phone.

The language in this novel is extra simple, as if you are reading a school textbook. The author wants to reach out to the average Indians, I agree; but still as a reader, for me, the language was a complete put off. I do not want to read such simple dialogues. Also more than simple language, the book seems like a first draft. It feels like reading though a child’s essay. In the narrative, somethings are just illogical. On one side it shows how technology is taking over, and on the other side the couple cannot even meet alone!! There are a lot of grammatical blunders as well, which is definitely not acceptable in a published work. Love stories become epic when the characters get etched in your heart. But the characters of Ankit and Akshi are a blur. There is no relate-ability factor. There is no visualization. There is no flow of story. You just don’t know why the characters are behaving in a certain manner. Basically there is no connect between the characters & the reader,which is the saddest of all  things that can happen to a reader.

It is difficult to write a book and there is no denying that. It takes months, maybe years to string each and every word and weave a story; and we as reviewers read and give the verdict in 600 words. But all hard work notwithstanding, a reader deserves better than this. Indian readers have a far greater sensibility and choices in today’s time because of the prolific work of many Indian authors and also the availability of International authors due to technology ofcourse!! (pun intended  ).

Stars- 1/5

The review was first published on talespensieve.com.

Book Review- Shadow of the Dark Soul

Nirbhaya case had taken the entire nation by shock. It was one of the most talked about and heartfelt case in the history of Delhi Rapes. This particular incident has again come to the limelight, due to the juvenile being released free after committing such an atrocious crime. In the midst of all of this when I got the opportunity to review this one, I did not want to let it go.

Zayesha is  a journalist who has been given the task, to research about the Nirbhaya case. She is in competition with her colleague for this. Inspite of this, as the book progresses she fights her inner demons and takes a life changing decision. A very bold and courageous one, indeed. What makes her take that decision, is the story of The Shadow of the Dark Soul.

The book starts off with the author’s views about Rapes in India. It is a very researched narrative as the author has mentioned a lot of cases. It is very intriguing to read about all those cases. Also I saluteSukhmani Gandhi for giving such strong, courageous and bold views on the verdict and the statements of the so called known people of the society, on those cases. A line that still plays on my mind is “Why do we call a person who has been raped as a Victim? She has gone through hell, doesn’t that make her a survivor???” It was a sheer delight to read those thought provoking pages. Apart from rape, the author shares some light on LGBT, rape on men, children born out of rapes. All the topics entwined, forms the beautiful story of The Shadow of the Dark Soul. All the topics have been touched so smoothly that it etches in your heart almost immediately. The character of Zayesha, her neighbour – Mrs.Chandelier, Liza – the neighbour’s daughter, Armaan have all been crafted to the T. They have been woven very intricately and that is the USP of this book. The climax is a Eureka moment. You want to stand up and applaud the author for showing such a valiant character in Zayesha.

Only a few hiccups. I wish the cover page would have been designed as perfectly as the characters in the book. It neither creates interest to read the book nor does it depict even 1% of the strength the characters and the storyline possess. The only other put off are the grammatical errors. If those edits were perfect this book would have got a perfect score!!

Stars- 3.75/5

This review was first published on talespensieve.com.

Book Review: 10 Love Stories: An Indiblogger Section

There is something about Short stories. You get done with them fast. Also if it is a collection of short stories then, you can relish many more stories (10 in this one) in one, which is like icing on the cake for a reader. I like the fact that at the start of every story a brief has been mentioned about the author and his/ her preferences. Since there are 10 different stories I would like to review each one separately.

Crystal Cacophony by Jenny Sarto
This story is about Ahaana and her brother Pavan. It is quite a predictable narrative. But I like the fact that Jenny has written it very simply. And even though the reader is aware of what is going to happen next, you still want to read ahead. It is a pleasant read.

Delhi Times by Deepika Asthana
Rhea and Ashwin meet in an arranged marriage setup. Both are not willing for this meet, but they are forced to spend some time with each other. Whether they warm up to each other or no is the story of Delhi Times. It is a feel good read. It leaves you with an enormous smile and that is the magic of Asthana’s simplistic writing.

For Love of the Written Word by Natasha Gayari
This is a story about Riya, her boyfriend and her room mate Sweety. I liked the character of Sweety. I am a little biased towards characters that are portrayed as readers and writers. It is written well. The story progresses also well. I somehow was left a little perturbed with the climax. It didn’t sink in well and left a few questions unanswered.

Love? Bah! Humbug by Nirvana
This is a beautiful story of Nidhi and her boss Mr. G. I loved reading this story from the first word to the last word, not to forget smiling all through out. Nirvana has done a wonderful job carving this one out. It is crisp, interesting and the lovely characterization makes it for a splendid read.

Mind the Gap by Kobita Banerjee
I tried reading the first two pages of this story twice but somehow couldn’t comprehend what was happening. The reader can just skip this one as it develops no curiosity to read as you don’t go past the first few pages.

At the End of the Parade by Nilanjana Bose
This story has suspense to it. But the author has done a good job in maintaining it right till the end and has revealed it at the most apt time. Inspite of not knowing what is happening the reader remains connected to the story somehow and kudos to Nilanjana for this. The end obviously takes the reader by surprise.The reason for the turn is unclear but it is a fascinating read.

Right or Wrong by Summerita Rhayne
This is about a married couple Arnav, Raina and their son – Eshraf. This was for me the best story out of all the 10. The flow of the words, the choice of the words are pertinent. I almost cried (which is a 1st for me!!) reading the climax and Summerita should be credited for that, as it is brilliantly written. I can almost assure, that to just read this story one can buy this book. I read the story twice in 1 sitting (again a 1st) and that speaks volumes of how much I have loved this one. Summerita, you have definitely found a fan in me.

Speechlessly in Love by Varsha Dutta
This is a very different kind of a narrative. I have no complaints, but still some things are not believable. But I like the way Varsha has written it. It makes for a fine read.

The Transitional Boyfriend by Parmita Borah
This is a story about break up (everyone’s favorite). I must confess that I was pleasantly surprised with the way it ended. I had anticipated something else. Parmita deserves all the credit for this. She maintains a certain amount of curiosity all throughout and that makes it an intriguing read.

WhatsApp-ening to Me? by Palak Kapadia
Another feel good and a splendidly written tale. This is the new form of writing and rightly so, it is  catching up because as a reader, you enjoy reading it.

Stars-4.25/5

This review was first published on thetalespensieve.com

Book Review- Eighteen: The End Of Innocence

We are termed as the Y generation. Science and technology has progressed and reached a level where nobody can function without Internet. Like every coin has two sides, this definitely has it’s own share of cons. Teenagers are feeling lonely. Relationships have become futile. Intrigued to know about their day to day issues, I decided to read this one.

Raghu, like most of the teenagers has a circle of friends who he is attached to. They have fun together and also fall into various difficulties. But all of them support each other through thick and thin and that is the beauty of their friendship. Aadi, is his closest buddy out of all of them. Raghu, then meets Shalini whom he falls in love with. They start dating very soon. Whether all of them together are able to solve all the difficulties they get into and get a direction in their respective lives, is the story of Eighteen:The End of Innocence.

Firstly I want to mention that the cover page has been designed really well. It captures the essence of the storyline pertinently. The characters of Raghu and Shalini have been carved out well. They have not only been written as any teenage lovers but have also been projected maturedly when required. The camaraderie between Aadi and Raghu has come out well, as well. The sincerity and honesty of their friendship comes across to the reader very evidently. The way, all the characters support each other, makes you yearn for such friendships. The final call that Raghu and Shalini take for their relationship was surprising but a delightful one.The author has given a very realistic treatment to it.

There are many characters in this narrative. I was not very impressed with the way they were all introduced. It was very confusing. Initially, one wants to keep a track but then as it gets difficult, the reader tends to skim through and read more about the main protagonists – Raghu, Aadi and Shalini. Kudos to the author for being brave enough to highlight the grave complexities that teenagers face these days, but I was not very happy with the way the solutions of those problems were put up. They were too simple. In my opinion, if it was this simple these would not have been problems in the first place.  I wish the guilts, the repercussions that the characters face would have been more stringent.

This being a book on teenagers, I comprehend the kind of audience the author wants to reach out to and therefore it is well taken that the the writing is very breezy. But the constant hindi connotations put me off completely. Not only words but there are sentences also in hindi which kind of break the flow and imagery for me as a reader. The chapters are very concise. For some readers it works, but for a reader like me it breaks the continuity. I feel a book becomes interesting when at the end of every chapter, there is a certain curiosity to read the next one. Sadly none of the chapters evoked that curiosity for me. The initial chapters make for a very dreary read. It only picks up after the love story begins. The book has been written from all the three protagonists perspective. But Shalini and Aadi’s perspective comes at the fag end. Also when one reads from Aadi’s perspective, it feels repetitive because most of the story had unfolded, and his feelings were very evident earlier.

Sudham has done a very good job by not only highlighting one issue but a series of issues that teenagers face these days. Premarital sex, drinking and driving, confusions regarding one’s future – the story woven around all these has a lot of potential and would have been true to its form if the editing was to the T.  Also the book would have made for a brilliant read if the contriteness was severe.

Stars-2.5/5
This review was first published on thetalespensieve.com

Book Review- Chief Minister's Mistress

I devour crime fiction. There are not many Indian authors who attempt this genre. So when I got an the opportunity, by Tales Pensieve to read this crime fiction by Joygopal, I immediately took it up. Joygopal had written 5 novels in 9 months in 2012. Also 10 novels in 21 months. Alarmed by his speed, I was pretty excited to read Chief Minister’s Mistress.

The story starts off with the obvious death of Priyanka Singhal. She was a beautiful damsel – the mistress of the dynamic Chief Minister – Mr.Ravindra Pratap Singh. She also has an ex lover – Rajat Verma. A lawyer by profession, Rajat looks at solving the murder mystery of the girl who he is still in love with. How he connects the dots and unravels the mystery is the story of Chief Minster’s Mistress.

Firstly I think the cover page is fantastic. Though I got a free copy, this is one of those cover pages that compel you to pick the book up immediately, from the book shelf. It has an element of sensual appeal (rightly so, for its title) and also evidently comes across as a mystery novel, which is commendable.There are not many characters in the book. But whoever are there, have all been well defined. They all occupy their own space and do not confuse the reader at any point. Ravindra Singh’s character is etched very strongly. The initial pages of his action are a delight to read. His confidantes – Sudhir Mishra and Dinesh Singh – have also been etched out fairly well. The trio develops a fair amount of interest in the reader’s mind. Chandan Kumar – also another important character does his job well, but sometimes gets on your nerves. Priyanka truly comes across as a damsel in distress. I loved her friend – Dipali. It was very intriguing to read about her life story. But all in all my most favourite character was Rajat Verma. He has been carved out almost flawlessly. His honesty was the most striking feature as not many murder mysteries have this. The characters are always playing games. But Rajat Verma solves the entire mystery with his sheer honesty and sincerity.

Although the characters have been etched well, there are few things that put you off completely. Ravindra Singh’s presence is felt so strongly in the initial chapters that you almost miss him because he is absolutely not there till the very end, when he makes a reappearance. The conversation between Rajat Verma and his boss was completely scrap-able. Those 2-3 pages could have been summed to 1-2 paragraphs. The most disappointing part was the climax. Though I had already guessed the killer (Blame all the terrific crime fiction authors that I have read!!), the way it unfolded and the reason for the murder, left me a little annoyed. Closing all open ends is very important in a thriller but here a few questions were unanswered….

It is definitely a good attempt by Joygopal. But I wish it was edited a little better. It would have been an excellent read if the author would have maintained the pace towards the end chapters as well and the suspense created would have got its fair due.

A there but still not there read...

Stars- 2.5

This review was first published on thetalespensieve.com.