Verdict: A very
simple cover of two hands pulling a rope from both ends resulting in the rope
to break in a light blue background makes for the cover of Yashika Nayyar’s
debut novel A tug of war. Among the so fancy covers available in the market
these days, the author choosing for this cover makes this book special in its
own way. The first thing that caught my eye in the book was the quality for the
paper that is chosen for the book.
For a non-fiction book of this genre the cover seems to be
the perfect accompaniment. Coming to the story, the author has chosen a very
new format of writing the book by giving story examples to her non-fiction
book. I won’t call it a non-fiction book, it is more of a self help book. The
author has done her best in writing about life and the several intricacies
involved in it.
The poems used in the book as accompaniment gives this book
a very lifelike feel. The narrative was also very fresh because it has been
written in a very colloquial language. The author has been very kind with her
words that the readers should know on his/her path of life. The way that she
has described the situations one might face on his/her life is really thought
enhancing. One is forced to sit and think about he has just read while reading
the book.
The Tug of war has been used intricately in the book. One of
my favorite quotations of the book is- “The choice is in your own hands, it’s
your turn to choose the road now” The end to the book leaves every reader with
a zeal to survive this world and with a smile on their faces. As far as the
mistakes are concerned, I felt that there were a few grammatical errors in the
book which slows the pace of reading at places.
Apart from that, if the book had been written in a different
narrative, it would’ve suited the book to another level. There were a few
articulated words which the readers might stumble upon while reading a very
friendly written paragraph. A bit more compact version of the book could’ve been
the masterstroke for the book. But still the book has potential enough to be a
rage among every reader who reads it at least once.
Final Words: The book has the power to change the mind and
educate its readers to the fullest. Kudos to the author for penning down such a
book in her debut attempt. Waiting for a better version of the book to come up.
Title: A Tug of War Author: Yashika Nayyar Publisher: Sanbun Publishers Page Count: 107 My Rating: 3.5/5
Blurb: Have you ever fought for a friend who was
bashed badly while running nude on the way?
Have you ever climbed up a building through a mango tree, just for getting her
glimpse?
Do you have a romantic girlfriend who follows your words as that of the God?
Have you ever surprised your girlfriend on the bank of a pond outside the town
at 12 am?
Have you ever travelled around 1000 km for a girl who broke up with you around
270 days ago?
Have you ever got caught stealing diary of your berth mate in a train?
Have you ever gone under so much influence of a trauma that you tried to
attempt a suicide?
How would you react when the reason of that trauma proves to be a fake one?
It’s for you MIHI will take you the journey filled with such overwhelming love
story where the pit of your stomach will be sacked by all the emotions known to
human world. Your skin will be filled with goose bumps and as you will feel the
joys and sorrows you will eventually become the invisible part of this romantic
saga.
Let’s join Asif in hisencounter with the love of his life and the
listless experiences that came along with the package.
Verdict: ‘It’s for you… Mihi’ is the debut novel of MD. Asif. As
the name suggests this book Is a love story and a tribute by the author to his love.
The cover looks elegant and gives
the book a perfect look. The font style suits the cover and the two gorgeous
and shinning rings dangling from a chain completes the look. The name goes easily
with
the story. The two rings holds a very important role in the storyline
and I would appreciate the author for placing those on the cover. The blurb
gives an outline of the story and doesn’t mislead the readers.
The book starts with Asif traveling
to Calcutta to find his lost love Mihika. While travelling in the
train the protagonist encounters a fellow passenger and soon ends
up narrating their love stories to each other. Asif has fallen for Mihika aka Mihi
from
his school days and the love blossoms throughout the school. There were lots of
unanswered questions which will force the readers to turn the pages. Like every
second love story in the list, this story too has different sides to
enlighten, like Asif’s school friends, his family. What made Asif and Mihi part
the ways, why he was traveling to Calcutta to find her, why he wants to apologise
to her and what is the significance of the two rings in the cover? The
readers will find all these answers towards the end of the book.
The narrating style was simple and
ordinary. The chosen words are good but not up to the mark. The author has
a good story to tell but if the author have concentrated more on the narrating
style this book would
have definitely touched the readers heart. The narrating style was very
much to the point without describing necessary things which will not help the
author visualize scenes.
The characterization is good and
almost every characters hold a prominent role in the story but the same problem
arises here too. The lack of description makes the characters invisible to the
readers. The author has focused a lot on telling about Mihi and the rest of the
characters
somehow lost the lime light. The conversations are also quite regular
and I was unable to find anything new and engaging.
I have spotted few editing errors
here and there which needs the author’s attention. The language and the
narrating style remains the main downfall of the book throughout the end. The
author has penned
down quite a beautiful story but the language takes the essence from
the book and this book can’t be separated from those numerous Indian love
stories. I would recommend this book to all those who are looking for a light
read with a good storyline and would not care about the sappy language.
Final Words: The author has a nice story to tell and has
framed it in a nice way. The way he has shown his feelings and the meaning of
love, will surely attract the readers.
Title: It’s for you…
Mihi Author: Md. Asif Publisher: Parlance Publishers Page Count: 217 My Rating: 3.25/5
Blurb: Two strangers, one city, four days, one
night, one lie and a fantastic journey. 'When We Clicked' is my twisted love
story. I am Akhil Parlekar, a Mumbaikar in my early twenties. Like every other
Mumbaikar I love my city, consider Sachin Tendulkar a God fantasize about
Katrina Kaif, but I am about to die.
Before I was dying, I
lived my life in four days, when we clicked. It was love at first sight for me,
but not for her. I spent the four days with her wandering in the city, thinking
that she would fall in love with me, but the night that followed the fourth
day, changed everything.
This journey is about
emotions like humour, lust, hatred, betrayal, heroism, friendship and the
biggest emotion of them all; love. I am letting you in my heart as well as my
brain, you be the judge if this is a love story or not.
'You are the
protagonist of your life's story, the central character around which all the
other characters and incidents occur. When the protagonist of your story
changes to someone else, you are in love. That person becomes the central
character of your story and everything else revolves around the person you
love.’
Verdict: ‘When We Clicked – A twisted love story?’ is the debut
work of Yash Pawaskar. This author has got some wonderful story telling skills
and the way he
has presented the whole plot makes it a show stopper.
The cover looks bright with red all
around it. After giving it a close look the readers will find there are few
scenes from the story fitted as a puzzle inside a heart and I have found this
concept interesting. While reading the book, I kept on checking
the cover to see which scene I have already read and which are about to come.
The name is not that unfamiliar and gives a feeling that this is going to be
another chick-lit novel. The question mark at the end of the title is tempting
though. As far the story is concerned the name fits for this story and the tag
line too.
The story starts with Akhil (the
main protagonist) reciting his life’s last four days, which he claims to be his
life’s most sparkling days, spent with a girl named Tamanna. He bumps
into her in
the Mumbai Airport and ends up introducing himself as a travel agent after
knowing that she is here to explore Mumbai. The story goes around Akhil and
Tamanna going to various tourist spots and exploring Mumbai. But when the
readers have started anticipating the end after completing maximum of the book,
there comes the twist which will lead the audience to such an end which they
can never expect for a story like this.
The story line was ordinary but
which makes this book special is the authors command over the language and his
unimaginable sense of humor. From the very first half the author had shown that
this book is going to be an interesting journey because of his witty conversing
style. Sometimes
it was funny scenes, sometimes it was the one liners or sometimes the name of
the scenes which made
me laugh out really loud. There are authors who can bring smile, but there are
very few authors who can bring out laughter from his readers and Yash is
definitely one of second group. The narrating style, the Light- Camera-Action
style, the stereotyping style, everything was so fresh that it came like a cool
breeze. It is definitely a light read but it is one of the best I have read in
recent times.
I would have rated this book a bit
more if the end was different. The author has presented the book wonderfully to
the readers from the very beginning and there were no loop holes in the
story but the end was not what was expected from the author. To create the
trill the author lost the charm of the book. The end lacked the most important
thing that was entertaining them throughout the story, the witty humor of the
author. A bit editing errors are also spotted.
Final Words: This
is such a book which can change your mood and you will laugh even after closing
the book recollecting the scenes. The author has proved, it’s the presentation
which matters. A perfect entertainer.
Title: When We
Clicked – A Twisted Love Story? Author: Yash Pawaskar Publisher: Leadstart Page Count: 225 My Rating: 4.25/5
Blurb: Karan Pratap Singh is on the brink of
winning the Amateur Boxing Championship, when in a moment, he loses it all. His
fall from glory seems fuelled by ruthless arrogance and an out-of-control anger
management problem. That, however is just symptomatic of a deeper issue. Buried
under layers of his fractured subconscious lies a childhood secret he cannot
come to terms with.
Sonia Kapoor is a beautiful, volatile young woman with a secret that torments
her at night but a secret that she feels no guilt for.
When fate throws Karan and Sonia together in Mumbai, their personal demons and
pasts collide and stir up trouble in their fragile and uncertain present. But,
is redemption possible without forgiveness?
Dancing with Demons is a fast-paced action drama of love, loss and resurrection.
Verdict: ‘Dancing with demons’ is the first work of fiction by
Nidhie Sharma. This book is a combat sports novel where romance will linger at
the back of the readers head.
The cover is designed to
perfection. It has every element to catch the eyes of the readers and to
describe the contents of the book. The boxing ring, the couple walking with hands
wrapped around each others
are the indication of the mixture of combat sports and romance inside the book.
The most interesting thing which I think will surely make a mark is the badge
on the front saying ‘soon to be made into a Bollywood movie’. The blurb is
interesting and gives the book a good first impression.
There is no introduction or starter, the author has chosen
to jump into the story from the very first page which will not give the readers
any room to settle down. The book is divided in short and crispy chapters which
is very much in the trend these days and keeps the readers hooked. The first
chapter is written wonderfully and will definitely mesmerize the readers by the
narrating style and the change of events. The author has a skill of describing
scenes with perfect words which will attract the readers to read more.
The story starts with Karan Pratap
Singh (the main protagonist) a prominent boxer and an uprising star in a
combat sport fighting one
of the
most important fight of his life and the readers will witness, how that
fight and the inner demons of Karan will change his fate. The author has
efficiently changed the scene to introduce Sonia Kapoor. The story moves on
with the lives of these two, fighting their past and taking a stand against
their fate. This is a Harlequin book and the readers will not get disappointed
by the way the romance is injected in the story, it matches the standard. The
swift juggle between the scenes, the lucid narrating style, the witty conversations
and the dark characters will keep the readers engaged till the end.
One more thing that will mesmerize
the readers is the characters. The characters has different shades and a very
creepy past to fight with which makes them unique. The describing style of the
author makes them visible to the readers and the readers will woo over the
protagonists.
The book has a lot
of drama, from the very beginning to the end. At some part I felt the drama was
crossing the limit and dropping the speed of the story. The tiny chapters are
not helping the drama to unfold either. There are some scenes where the effort
of the author to keep the suspense alive by hiding some facts, was
visible
to the readers. The first half of the book is better than the second half and I
felt the story has ended in a jiffy and lacks the expected drama.
Final Words: The characters of this book has a come alive by the author's
description skill and will leave a lasting effect among the readers. The fancy
story with the speedy narrating makes this book a hit.
Title: Dancing with
Demons Author: Nidhie Sharma Publisher: Harlequin India Page Count: 289 My Rating: 4.25/5
Fraudster
: The Story of Corporate India’s Black Sheep:
Fraudster
is a suspense thriller from R. V. Raman set in the world of corporate finance.
Summary
of the Book
Some
people will do anything to silence anyone they think are obstacles. They won’t
stop at anything, not even murder. In this thrilling novel, a young banker
deposes before a commission investigating large-scale financial fraud. She is
found dead the very next day. Meanwhile, a leader of corporate India falls to
his death from his South Bombay flat. In a multinational accounting firm, the
high-security server room is hacked. The hackers want more than just company
secrets. Illegal finance, high-profile crimes and brutal manipulation combine
in this tale of greed, treachery and corruption amidst corporate India’s worst
members.
About
R. V. Raman
R. V.
Raman is an Indian writer and the former head of KPMG's Consulting Practice and
the co-head of their Risk Advisory Services. He was also partnered with A.T.
Kearney and Arthur Andersen, and boasts an experience of over three decades and
covering four continents. Currently a faculty member at the Indian Institute of
Management, Trichy, he teaches Business Strategy. He is based in Chennai and
this is his first book.
Blurb: Raj, a typical school boy from a middle class
family, who was also born unlucky.
Living with his aunt,
he had a good life at school and great friends.
But everything changed
when a girl entered his life. Everything changed and he himself believed he was
unlucky.
His school life no
more to be great and his friends no more trustworthy.
His love..?
After years of tragedy
he meets his love and life doesn't stop being crazy.
But how crazy is it
going to be for Raj?
Verdict: ‘Who
told men, not to cry?’ is the first work of fiction by Azar. This book is a
light read which the readers might consider as a one-time-read.
The cover looks good and bright.
The yellow color is bright and would definitely attract eyes. The name is good
but not that impressive. The author could have put some more effort in choosing
a more
appealing name for this book. The blurb seems to be a bit dull to me and I
can’t say that all readers will go for the book after reading the blurb. The
blurb indicates that the book has nothing surprising and new. Which I liked
about the book is its size and quality. It fits perfectly in the
hand and the readers will feel comfortable holding this book.
The story starts on an ordinary
note with the main protagonist Raj recalling his story. The story moves on with
Raj being a nerdy, studious guy spending some good time at school with his few
friends until that fateful day when Keerthi, the female protagonist enters the
story and every one of his friends started drooling over the new girl in the
class. The story goes on Raj leaving his old school and friends after some
incident and shifting
to a new school to begin a new journey. In the new school, the readers comes
to know that Raj is a good athlete too. The competition among the students and
the loose ends left by the author at the beginning of the book will make the
readers complete the book. For me, the best part of the book was the end. The
end was unanticipated and came with full drama. The readers will love the end
and will close the book in a happy note.
The characterization was not so
good and the direct narrating style had only made the matter worse. The characters
were
missing necessary description and the narrating style lacked the focus on the
supporting characters. The author was so busy with Raj and Kreethi, that
maximum of the characters lacked the limelight.
I always believe if the book starts
well, it will create an instant effect on the readers. The very first sentence
of the book has grammatical errors which brings the readers down. Not only the
first sentence, but the whole book needs a round of editing badly. One more thing I didn’t like
about the book is the author’s consistent effort to inject laughter through the
conversation which wasn’t working. It is the end that will make the readers
feel good about the book. I hope the author will come with a better novel next
time.
Final Words: The author has tried to pen down a light read and
somehow has
succeeded to do so. A simple narrating style and a twisted end is what
this has in store for the readers.
Title: Who Told Men,
Not to Cry? Author: Azar Publisher: Blackbuck Publication Page Count: 249 My Rating: 2.75/5
“I firmly believe that if a story has an
intriguing plot and is well told, it will find readers regardless of anything” says
the author Prashant Pinge in a candid chat with Timid Fingers. When his next
book Secadu, is scheduled to release
in next two days the author opens up on his new book, on the Indian readership
of fantasy fiction and on his inspiration behind writing in this genre.
Timid Fingers: Having so much published
write-ups and seven books already, it is very well understood that you are not
new to this literary industry. I would like to request you to brief us on your
experience here.
Prashant Pinge: My
literary journey started more than a decade ago. It has certainly been a
rewarding one thus far, with several publishing credits along with award
nominations. However, at the very core, it has always been about pursuing my
passion. So I am really grateful to be on this wonderful journey that provides
me with the opportunity to express my imagination through words.
TF: Children’s fiction is always your
forte, any particular reason behind that or you always wants to write
children’s fiction?
Prashant: I have
found the children’s fiction genre to be very endearing. It is a paradigm where
animals can talk, where toys come alive, where fairies live across the street,
and where magical creatures play with you. It gives me a chance to let my
imagination flow without any constraints. So yes, I do enjoy writing children’s
fiction but also plan to experiment with other genres.
TF: Your new book Sceadu, which is
going to hit the stands soon, is a fantasy fiction. I would like to request you
to say few words about the book.
Prashant: Sceadu
was born out of my fascination for shadows. The adventure starts when a century
old book transports four children to a land inside their shadows. The reluctant
visitors search for a way back but find themselves chased by the Hefigans,
creatures of Sceadu. The stakes are suddenly raised when an ancient prophecy foretells
the doom of the world they left behind. The children have no choice but to try
and unlock the secrets of the shadow or suffer the destruction of their own
kind.
Sceadu is a fast-paced
adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological,
the real and the mythical.
TF: How tough it is to pen down such
a story which can exist in imagination only?
Prashant: The
biggest challenge when penning down a story like Sceadu was coming up with a
logical basis for the land. I did not want to have the protagonists travel to
another land without giving the readers a reason to believe that such a place
could actually exist. I had to do a lot of research in psychology and mythology
to add that layer which makes this entire adventure so plausible.
TF: There is loads of new author
coming but fantasy fictions by Indian authors are very few. What do you think
the reason behind this, is this because writing love story is always a safe
genre or something else?
Prashant: There
is obviously no doubt that popular fiction is a hit with the masses in India.
However, the concept of fantasy is also strongly rooted in our culture if you
consider how deeply connected it is to mythology. So I would say that fantasy,
in that sense, has been there for a long time in our psyche. I cannot pinpoint
a specific reason though for the dearth of Indian authors writing fantasy
fiction, but I do believe the trend is changing.
TF: Do you think there is enough
readers in India for this kind of book, which will force them to go beyond
their imagination?
Prashant: I
firmly believe that if a story has an intriguing plot and is well told, it will
find readers regardless of anything. And besides, we have a very sophisticated
reading class in India, and I have absolutely no doubt they will enjoy reading Sceadu
immensely. In fact, a lot of fantasy fiction from the west has garnered
significant fan following in India. So I would expect nothing less for my book.
TF: Any incident you want to tell us
which you have experience while framing the plot of Sceadu?
Prashant: I got
up one night for a drink of water. I switched on the lamp and reached for the
glass. At the same moment, my shadow mirrored my movements on the wall behind.
That was when I asked myself the question. What if my shadow held a land with dangerous creatures waiting to find a
way into our world? That was how the plot for Sceadu was basically conceived.
TF: Why have you chosen to publish
your new book Sceadu on your own? Why not a establish publisher or a
self-publishing one?
Prashant: The decision to take the
self-publishing route with Sceadu came after a lengthy period of deliberation.
The primary drivers were complete creative control and the ability to reach a
global audience. However, I do plan to work with publishers, with my next work
of children’s fiction already picked up for a 2015 release.
TF: So, are you going to try some new
genre in your upcoming endevaours or the plan is sticking to these, children’s
fiction or fantasy fiction?
Prashant: While I
will always continue to work in the genres of children’s fiction and fantasy
fiction, the basis for my writing has always been the need to tell a great
story. So I do not plan to restrict myself to these genres only. In fact, I am
working on a romantic comedy right now. And I also plan to write a historical
fiction novel in the near future.
TF: Which is your favorite book in
these genre you write, or I would say which book you used to keep under the
pillow while sleeping as a kid?
Prashant: It
would be very difficult to identify one book, but I am really enjoying the
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. As a child though, I was completely
enthralled by Enid Blyton.
TF: I hope everyone liked the book as
much I did. All the best for the book. Now few words for your readers who might
have already got bored and few words for the Timid Fingers blog.
Prashant: Thank you for the wishes. For
the patrons of this blog, just pick up a copy of Sceadu. I guarantee you will
never take your shadow for granted again. For the Timid Fingers blog (and
especially the force behind it), a very big thanks for reading and reviewing
the book. And all the very best!
A really wonderful topic chosen
by the Indi Blogger team for the happy hours they organise and there would
be no better opportunity for me to write. I was always craving to write about
this.
Arohan
Talking about my own experience, I
was the youngest member of our family of five, with my parents, elder brother
and sister-in-law, until there came a new member three months ago.
Three
months ago, my
sister-in-law gave birth to a healthy baby boy whom we named later, Arohan. Our
usually quite family became vibrant when the smallest member of our family saw
the light of this
world. My father who was racing with time and getting old before his age
after his massive heart attack last year, found a new meaning of life as Arohan
was
born on the same date of my grandfather’s death. From last three months
my mother’s voice was the loudest while playing with her grandson. There is
such a lively atmosphere in my house which I haven’t noticed in years even after
the marriage of my elder brother. Then I have realized what a child can do
to a house.
In the second month Arohan had
to go the doctor to take mandatory vaccines, which will help his immune system
to grow. But the problem had
arisen when we came to know that it has to be given in the form of
injections not medicines
and that is also in three rounds back to back in his two tiny legs. We were
shivering at the thought of it, but it was for the greater good. He was crying the loudest
after returning from the doctor’s clinic. The doc had suggested to rub ice on
the legs where the injection had been given. My mother and brother were
doing the difficult task. Even we couldn't take ice where there is pain and the kid
can’t even say that. He was crying like anything and was the most
uncontrollable feelings
was that we couldn't
do anything to
stop that. Every one of us were upset that night. Arohan was lying without
making any sound. He was not throwing his legs which we enjoyed the most while
playing with him. The smile was vanished from the face of our family to see our
child lying numb. The following day was tougher, Arohan’s body was burning with
fever. The doc had already informed this was going to happen and gave medicines
too. Our often silent house now had become silent that day. We did his favorite
stunts which always brings a toothless smile on his face but every time he
started crying because of the pain. My elder brother dodged his boss and bunked
his office, my father was calling in regular intervals to know about the temperature.
It was like we were feeling the same pain as Arohan and had gone silent like
him.
The next day we heard his voice
again. Arohan was in his regular self from the very beginning. I went to wish
him good morning by kissing his forehead and found the temperature was gone and
he responded by throwing his legs. We all heaved a sigh of relief in unison. My
mother lifted
him and threw
him in the air which was his favorite stunt and he broke in endless giggles.
It was a small incident and may
happen in every house but this made me realize how a child can change the mood of
a family. When Arohan remains his regular self, we are the happiest and when the
fateful day comes for his vaccines, we are more afraid than him. A healthy and vigorous
child always has the biggest influence behind the happiness of a family.
Blurb: Kamadeva, the charming wielder of the
sugarcane bow and the flower-tipped arrows, born out of the wellspring of
Brahmas latent passion, has for long remained an enigma. This enthralling story
of the God of Desire explores his many wondrous adventures, as well as his
heady romance with Rati, his chief consort.
Best friends with Indra, the King of the Gods, tutor to the Apsaras in the art
of lovemaking, Kamadeva lives a dream life in the magnificent Kingdom of
Amaravathi - until danger strikes when he incurs the wrath of Shiva because of
a preordained curse. Follow Kama as he hurtles towards his destiny and the
Destroyers dreaded third eye. Find out if he will rise from the ashes to reign
supreme as the King of Hearts or if he will be doomed to spend an eternity as Ananga
- The bodiless one.
In Kamadeva - The God of Desire, the author masterfully marries imagination
with stellar research to bring to vivid life one of the most intriguing Gods of
the Hindu pantheon. Laced with wit and narrated in contemporary flavour, Kamadeva
will take you on a rollicking ride into the heart of desire and its tantalizing
dark side.
Verdict: ‘Kamadeva – the god of desire’ is the second book by Anuja
Chandramouli. This book is a tale of a god of Hindu mythology who have always
played a mute role and have been explored by quite a few authors. The author
have chosen indeed a nice character for her second book though this was
unexpected after her first book which was ‘Arjuna - Saga
of a Pandava Warrior Prince’.
The name indicates that this book
is going to be one of those mythological books which enlightens a character and the
story will revolve around that particular character. The cover is wonderfully
designed and goes perfectly with the title.. But one thing which looks
different is the genre of the book is fiction not mythology. The blurb reads
well and will surely entice the readers to buy a copy. One thing I must say, is
about the quality of the book. The cover and paper quality is so good that I
have to ignore my to-read list to sneak a peek inside its content.
The story starts with a song on
Kama which very rightly said, ‘I cannot be destroyed by any creature by any
means’. Then the author goes on to narrate, how Kama was born and the consequences
he has
to face right after that. Then comes Rati, the girl of a prajapati, Daksha, who
was on the job of populating the world. I loved the way the author portrays
each characters form Brahma, Vishnu, Indra to the destructive Shiva. After the
marriage of Kama and Rati, the god of desire befriends Indra and the story
goes on, until Kama was turned to ash after coming face to face to the god with the
third eye, Shiva. What happened next, how Shiva granted the wish of Rati after
killing her husband, what happened to Kama and Rati on the earth, is what the book
has in store. The author has done full justice to the characters and the plot
and has
framed it in an attracting way.
The readers can easily see the
amount of research the author has done to pen down such an intriguing character
of the Hindu mythology and haven’t changed the original scenes. I appreciate the
author for her efficient effort in compiling all those chapters of our
mythology where Kama, makes an entry.
The narrating style is something unusual and gives this book
a much needed flavor. The language used in the conversations is something
different and yet it makes the reader gripped. Though at times I felt the
connection with the readers is broken because of the language. The humor
injected by the author is wonderful.
At times I felt few scenes are described in an exaggerated
way and can be trimmed. As I said earlier the language was disturbing the flow
sometimes. Apart from that the book is well edited and error free. The endless
contradiction between the Gods, is what I liked the most.
Final Words: This book tells the story of Kama and about all those
incidents and characters which we have never heard of. The readers will fall in love
with the witty and compelling narrating style. A perfect blend of history and
imagination.
Title: Kamadeva – The
God of Desire Author: Anuja Chandramouli Publisher: Rupa Page Count: 328 My Rating: 4.5/5
Blurb: All
this while, Matilda’s shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it
lunged
out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.
Nine year old Matilda
ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And
disappears. Her brother and cousins are forced to suspend their hostilities and
pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant
visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu.
However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that
foretells the doom of the world they left behind.
With the stakes
suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome
grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in
time to thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to
the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?
Sceadu is a fast-paced
adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological,
the real and the mythical.
Verdict: ‘Sceadu
– your shadow holds a secret’ is yet another wonderful creation by author
Prasant Pinge. The book is a Fantasy Fiction and after completing the book I
can very easily say that this book has done proper justice to its genre. It
will take the readers to a journey of a lifetime.
The name sounds different and unfamiliar, even the Microsoft
word doesn’t know the word and marked with a red underline. But as I started
reading the book, everything started to make sense. I have had my share of
problems while pronouncing the name but the author has also mentioned it in the
story how to pronounce it and it is nothing but a different spelling of shadow.
The tag sounds interesting too. The face of a goblin on the cover gives the no
ordinary effect. The blurb tells about the story quite well and will interest
the readers to try it. Though the book was a bit big in size and not so
comfortably fits in the hand and is quite heavy too comparing to its 245 pages.
The start of the story was quite
dizzy and can make the readers uncomfortable with blurry scenes but as soon the
author starts
introducing the characters the book picks speed. The author has chosen such a
topic to explore which most of us ignore, the shadow. The author has created
a parallel world by his imagination and makes it visible with his
narrating style. The map on the front really helps the reader to match up with
the author’s description. Few creatures were known but maximum of them are born
from the authors imagination and holds an effective history. The whole plot was
framed with such efficiency that one cannot find any loop holes or lose ends in
the story. And most importantly the end will offer a very healthy message for
everyone from
kids to adults, believe in yourself.
The characterization is something
which attracted me the most. Linda, Robert, Stephen each and every character
have a different personality and as the story goes, they starts to became more
visible. Every character has a pivotal role to play and have their own share of
emotions. The author have portrayed the emotion of the characters quite well,
be it the fear, the frustration, the determination or the hope. The readers can
never get bored with plot. The stupidity that the characters make, makes them
more realistic. My personal favorite was Stephen and I was throwing my head back
in laughter while reading his conversations or doings.
The book is one unique book in this
genre and will entertain all types of readers. There are few editing errors
which can easily be ignored. I will recommend this book to all those who are
searching for a break from
the love stories and want to experience a journey on the edge of their seat.
Final Words: It needs herculean effort to write and
create a totally different world and make that visible to the readers but
Prashant Pinge has done a marvellous
job in this book and will make the readers crave for more.
Title: Sceadu – Your
shadow holds a secret Author: Prashant Pinge Publisher: Self-published Page Count: 245 My Rating: 4.75/5
Note: This book is
due to release on 10th of November and is available for pre-order.
Blurb: She is a successful author, a loving wife
and the world's best mom. Her doctor husband dotes on her, her teenage daughter
idolizes her and her readers yearn for her writing. Shouldn't all that respect
and love make her happy?
Yet, she is devoid of inner peace. In the wee hours of the night, her slumber
is disturbed by horrifying nightmares. All her harmony is abducted and lost
amidst the bunch of hidden letters kept in her cupboard. Those letters were
written long back by her cousin,presently a patient at a mental asylum in
Kolkata.
Haunted by her inner demons and tired by the long-time secrecy, she decides to
put end to her misery by surrendering to her husband and daughter, The Hidden
Letters. . . Will she lose her husband’s love and daughters respect? Can she
forgive herself for her own selfishness which rendered her cousin's fate
malignant?
Verdict: ‘The
Hidden Letters…’ is the second novel by the bestselling author Purba Chakraborty.
I haven’t read the previous work of the author and had fewer expectations from
the book, but I must say this book has exceeded my expectations.
The cover looks good but not the best of the design I have
seen in this genre. The lady in the cover has pain in her eyes which is
reflecting the content of the book. The name sounds secretive but will surely initiate
an urge inside the readers to read the blurb. The blurb is written very
efficiently and I can very easily say, one can’t put the book down after
reading the blurb. The story is wonderfully summoned up in the blurb.
The start of the story gave me a feel that this book is
going to be yet another story with kind of same clichéd plot. But as the story moved
on, I started to admire the skill of the author to frame such a beautiful plot.
The story goes around a girl named Anaya Chatterjee, a popular author and a
responsible family maker. Her world revolves around Dr. Nishith Chatterjee and
Olivia Chatterjee. After giving a single glance their family looks perfect and
Anaya looks one of the happiest people on earth. But there is a secret which
was taking her sleep and causing her nightmares. What happens when the secret
of the hidden letters reveals? What will be the reaction of Nishith after
knowing the condition of her cousin in the mental hospital in Kolkata? To find
these answers, one should read the book.
The story has different shades of emotions and the author has
surely got the correct skills of describing emotion with perfect words. The
author has very efficiently described the scenes and the essence of love. The
narrating style is simple and suits the story perfectly. I love the way the
author has described the feelings of, love, sorrow and hope and that is in
details. If I had read the author’s first book I could have known about the
author’s lucid writing style.
The characterization in the story is exceptional. The
readers can easily guess that the author had taken a lot from the course of her
real life. The characters are given pivotal role to carry the story and are
described in a friendly way, which will help the readers to visualize them
better. The story has a hand full of characters and each one have remarkably
familiar characteristics. The readers can easily connect to the story because
of its relatable characters. Kudos to the author for making it possible.
Talking about the draw backs, I couldn’t find any specific
one. There are few loose ends which can be rectified, and there are few scenes
which I think could have been described in a better way. But over all this book
is an emotional tale and would keep the readers engrossed till the end.
Final Words: Purba
Chakraborty has done a wonderful job in her second book. The delightful plot
and the lucid writing style will definitely make this book a best seller.
Title: The Hidden Letters… Author: PurbaChakraborty Publisher: BlueJay Page Count: 187 My Rating: 4.5/5
Verdict: A very
simple cover of two hands pulling a rope from both ends resulting in the rope
to break in a light blue background makes for the cover of Yashika Nayyar’s
debut novel A tug of war. Among the so fancy covers available in the market
these days, the author choosing for this cover makes this book special in its
own way. The first thing that caught my eye in the book was the quality for the
paper that is chosen for the book.
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