Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 11

An Island by Karen Jennings - Review

 Human psychology is always concentrated on relationships and how someone's mental health can be improved with improved relationships. What is it that someone is living alone on a deserted island? Let alone sanity, his survival would also be nearly impossible. Based on such a gripping scenario, Karen Jennings has knitted a tale that holds the readers and leaves them hooked to the book. An Island is the painful, enchanting, and gripping story of Samuel a light-keeper. 

Unforeseen plotline

We have come across couples who are left back on an island and a sprouting love story that imbibes its life from the shore. But never one where instead of a paramour the sole inhabitant is receiving numerous dead bodies that wash up on the island, which he struggles to provide a befitting cremation. 

Survival of the loneliest

It is a riveting account of the author about how Samuel tries to survive and slowly develops his agricultural initiative. Be it the chick that is protected from the attacks, the empathetic approach towards the unsolicited guest or Samuel's heart-wrenching past, the author has dived deep into the emotional layers.

Practical lessons

Samuel is living his life on his terms. Somewhere along, the book is a reflection of the hegemony, the discriminations and disparities. On the other hand, the author reflects on the aspect of ultimate companionship in an era of deteriorating humanity.

Stay tuned to listen to the review of An Island by Karen Jennings in my podcast. Check out our latest campaigns and find the one that appeals to you.

Mahatma Thapaliyal's Vishwadarshan, a Glimpse of Universe - Review

 How was the universe formed? What is that supreme power which holds this universe together? The formation of the universe, its sustenance, and all inner secrets of the universe and the cosmic laws. Mahatma Thapaliyal's Vishwadarshan, a Glimpse of Universe, is a window that opens to the white light of knowledge.

Lucid language and simple narration:

Unlike other books that deal with spirituality, this book talks about the universe and its inception in such a simple language that all readers would be enchanted to know the world as a whole. The author has connected Hindu mythology with a spiritual connotation. Me mp ka Each chapter addresses topics that touch different aspects of our life and several universal facts as well. The book intends to make spirituality accessible to laymen. The unique style of presentation and linking the deep spiritual philosophy with daily life makes the book all the more endearing.

The translator who beautified the languageTo translate a book with this level of dynamics is not an easily attainable feat. Rupa has shown total justice to the job in her hands. She has proven her mettle through the book. She has impeccably recreated the book without losing its essence. Being someone who is venturing into the spiritual arena, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Having read many Hindu scriptures, I was enchanted with the analogies.
The book is an unprecedented experience. I am speechless to experience the deep philosophy without indecipherable sentences and the facts that are misleading. The book on the other hand drives the readers through the right path. For more info about reviews, book club and review programs, subscribe to Outset Books.

Adventures on Doryu by Cdr Maddox Hatter - Review

 A free planet that is a sister planet of our blue planet. How endearing it would be! Adventures on Doryu, Raid on the Evil Dragon Nest is based on this stupendous idea. A planet with two suns... This is an ultimate fantasy read for the kids. 

The Green Planet

Doryu and Earth were sister planets once. But the Evil Dragons wanted to keep Doryu under control and hence started hatching the dragon eggs to bring up evil dragons. Prince Virann along with Princesses Amelika and Esmella set out to bring the dragon eggs to put an end to the Evil rule. Further it is a thrilling ride through the eyes of the master storyteller.

The Evil Dragons 

Somehow the characters and the backdrop of the plot seemed analogous to me. The greenery of planet earth is deteriorated by the evil human minds who want to keep the planet under their control. The same could be witnessed in the plot. Deliberately or not, the author has brought forth a deep message through the book. 

Quality 

It is said that we should not judge a book by it's cover. Unfortunately the possibility of the same is evident in the book cover of Doryu. Seeing the cover noone would guess an impeccably crafted book with high quality pages as good as the visual dictionary fot the kids.

The illustrated are three dimensional and so attractive that my kids were enticed by the book. The author has not reduced the quality of the language despite being children's book. This is the highlight of the book. Our young readers need not be underestimated. They are capable of comprehending good language. Of late, this quality was increasingly lacking in the Indian authors' books.

Verdict

Overall the book is an unputdownable piece for kids with attractive illustrations, engaging plotline, riveting fantasy and lot of information.

A Time Outside This Time by Amitav Kumar

 A can see a booker prize coming out way! The review of Time Outside the Time by Amitav Kumar could not be started with a better introduction. The enchanting master of literature had once again stolen the hearts of the readers with his classic and unique narrative. If you belong to the hate club of literary fiction, better not read the book for you would be forced to quit the club...

Classic plunge into the raw human livesThe review might  sycophantic to the readers but the finesse of the craft in by Amitav Kumar has forced me to tread same path. Yes! I am head over heals in love with the writer's craft. There are only a few books that made be question my finesse. The plot of A Time Outside This Time takes off with the monologue of Satya. Satya is an author who writing a book about the different starta of the philosophy of truth and lies. Like the boy who kills the ants to feed other ants, the author is baiting the circumstances arong him that are unique, bizarre yet common.Quirky realityThe author's quirky narration style makes the book all the more endeating for the readers. The author derives several layers of perspectives for a single incident through A Time Outside This Time. Minor instances to life changing circumstances, the author has picked the humorous element in all of them. Hunt for plotThe character of Satya who hunts for plots is relatable to all creatives aspirants. The author has delved deep into the psyche of Satya that towards the end of the first half, the readers would be empathetic to the author himself. The character of Farooq is another lively one which, the author has crafted with subservience.Overall A Time Outside This Time by Amitav Kumar is a riveting account of contemporary reality laid bare with the scalpel of literature. The book has been up for a giveaway in my Instagram page. If you wish to join an active Book club, Join OL BOOK DRAGONS

The Indian Contingent by Ghee Bowman - Review

 Dunkirk is a term that brings to might marching soldiers and flying shells. The historical event depicted over the years has the fictional and real representation of the injustice against the soldiers. But little has been written about the forgotten folks from India. The Muslim soldiers were key to the war. The picture that comes to us is etched by the Dunkirk movie but the reality is deeper than we see on the periphery. 

The backstory of DunkirkGhee Bowman, through this groundbreaking piece of literature, The Indian Contingent, goes deep into the backstory of each soldier. The book is endearing at different levels. It tells about an unimaginable time when there was no Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh. All were Indians who ventured to fight for the colonial power that smothered their freedom. As contradictory as it sounds, the far-fetched impact of these men in our freedom struggle is also unheard of.The real-life witnessesIf we try to draw a parallel to the Dunkirk movie through this book we would realize that the contribution of the Indian soldiers is unaccounted for. It is a relief to know that some of the family members received a reprieve when they finally found out about the graves of their loved ones. On the other hand, it is heartbreaking to see that some of the members were not even accounted among the dead bodies that are buried. 
The warriors that spread loveIt is a proud moment for us to see how our warriors spread positivity amongst the despair with their indigenous music. Another endearing fact is how our men surprised the Britishers by breaking their prejudice about caste fanaticism in India. The tale is also about perseverance, how they survived the gravest circumstances and extreme weather. Right from their ways of contacting the family to finding means of food, the author has explained everything. This is indeed a textbook on Indian soldiers in Dunkirk
The book is a riveting tribute to these unsung heroes. It is frustrating to learn that they were not even provided the burial that they deserve. What did they go through during the war? How were their basic necessities met? So many questions! The author has the answer to all. 
An impeccably researched milestone in the historical literature genre.

Virtual Tete a Tete with

 Smita Das Jain is the author of 'A Slice Of Life' and 'The Lost Identity.' She is a writer by passion and writes every day. Samples of her writing are visible in the surroundings around her- her home office, her sunny terrace garden, her husband’s car and the kitchen napkins. She loves writing contemporary stories with a twist. Her works have been published on StoryMirror, Penmancy and Women’s Web.

When she is not writing 

In another world, when she is not writing, Smita is a Personal Empowerment and Executive Coach enabling people to become better versions of themselves, and a Strategy professional with more than fourteen years of experience working in leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. She is an IIM Indore and SRCC alumna. Smita lives with her rockstar husband and her adorable eleven-year-old daughter at their home in Gurugram, India.

Tete a teteSmita and I had a heartwarming conversation when we discussed not only books and writing but also the factors that connect us. Click the image to listen to the interview 
Read my review of A Slice of life 

Invictus by Nidhie Sharma - Review

 Six kids stuck in a treacherous jungle. The one liner is enough to sent a chill down the spine. The chill runs deeper if this is a real incident. When Nidhie was narrating how she, at the age of thirteen, was lost in the jungle of Tawang with six other kids who are younger than her, I could only visualise my kids with my daughter who is just a year or two younger to her age when this incident happened.

Unbeleivable scenarioAmidst the unpredictable river, know for dangerous landslides, bitten by blood sucking leeches, confronting wild Yaks, and what not. Did these kids overcome all these ? Had it been a fiction, I would have snubbed it as the overzealous imagination of the author. But no! This has indeed happened in the author's life.
Impeccable NarrationThis memoir is the most blood chilling non fiction I have ever read mostly so due to the young age of the kids and also with the impeccable narration of the author. Nidhie has mastered sarcasm and how she mixed a tragedy with her classic quirky twist is endearing to read. Step by step, one danger to another, when the kids venture into the heart of the jungle, the readers would be at the edge of the seat. Knowing that the author is still alive was a reprieve. But what about the other kids? This thought left me sleepless when I burned the midnight oil to know what happened.To take resposibility of one's mistakesNidhie , you are a fighter. A talented one at that. I adore her for taking responsibility of her actions and being brutally honest about her mistakes. But this make her the bravest one. The book is additionally a self help book as well because it makes you realise that perseverance is the key to accomplishments. It will make you believe in miracles and moreover the author teaches you how to make the most out of the worst case scenarios in your life.

Written In The Stars By Divya Anand

 Love stories have never been my genre but of late the love stories come my way as if by destiny.  When I got hold of Written in the Stars by Divya Anand, I was expecting a couple of head over heels in love. The usual love story formula was expected but that was not so.

A Cliche in a new avatar

The plot takes off in a cliche of the smart girl fighting a breathtakingly handsome boy, to find later, that she would have to work under him. But further, there is no dragged love-hate plot or sudden switch to the attraction between both. This is a fresh change for the readers. 

The protagonists ease out as colleagues and gradually a friendship develops. The relationship is naturally developing and hence engaging.

The entertaining counters

Of late "cool" characters is a rage. The protagonists who exchange counter dialogues have been pulled thin but without substance. This is where Divya Anand stands out with her quirky dialogues especially for the character of Abhimanyu. Some dialogues by the character are sure to tickle the funny bones. The imagery he uses is entertaining. 

The astrology intersection

The author has exploited the astrology angle effectively. The author has taken care not to offend anyone in the process, which is commendable. She is not predisposed to any preference or so speaks her narrative. This in turn is a welcome approach.

The sassy sistersThe relation between the sisters is the most endearing one. There are no melodramatic sequences and no dramatic emotions are flowing all over. Just natural love and unpretentious expressions. A sister telling another 'you better be dead and lying in a ditch' could be rendered as an offensive dialogue. But the author deftly established that the dialogue entails nothing but warm love and concern along with a warning to the 'always late and quitting family function' attitude of her sister. This is equally endearing and refreshing. Another character is that of Kavya. I would be permanently borrowing the dialogue "But I have the. right to tell you I told you so!" in future. The competitionsThe author has established the intellect of the characters with telling but deftly including the sequence where they are regularly participating in the GK quiz. The scenario breaks the pattern of office romance or infatuation.End with a cliche The climax is a tad disappointing. A cliche to bring trouble in Paradise could have been avoided. The scenario makes the book predictable and brings it back to the cliche. Impeccably quirky narration Notwithstanding the cliched seeping in through the book, it is indeed an entertaining light read. The author's choice of words are surprising and entertaining. She deftly brings humor in repartee between sisters, friends and even enemies.

Overall the book is an entertaining read for the core romance lovers who are looking forward to books without sleazy love-making sequences and Bollywood-style puppy love.

Stay tuned for more reviews and activities. Want to be a part of us? Join our OL Bookdragons book club to avail our review program as an author or a reviewer, contact us.

Uncle Pai By Rajessh M Iyer - Book Review

 If you are the 80s or 90s child you would have devoured Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle. Suppandi, Kalia, Shikari Shambu and many other characters would have visited your houses and entertained you and been an unavoidable part of your lives. An inseparable entity of these comics was Anant Pai, aka Uncle Pai whom we hero-worshipped and aspired to be. The book Uncle Pai by Rajessh M Iyer brings to the reader, the unpretentious account of divine talent. 

The research

The extend of research invested by the author is commendable. The author. has brought to the forefront a detailed account of the events that transpired to the beginning and the end of the empire. The end is no longer the end, so to speak. It is an inspiring life story. Uncle Pai's biography gives more twists and thrill. than any comics that the author has given life to.

The perseverance of the perfectionist

The author early life, punctuated by failures, strangely becomes the most inspiring point in the readers' mind for how he took step by step approach with patience to overcome the difficulties and making a place for himself in the industry.

The honest approach

Unlike the biographies that are more of sycophant accounts, the author has shown cent per cent sincerity to the craft. He is unapologetically brought to light the highs and lows of Uncle Pai's life and the character at large. 

Strong women in Uncle Pai's life

It is a contrast to see that, despite being a conventional person, when it comes to his perspective about and portrayal of women, two strong women defined his journey.  His wife Lalita and Colleague Kamala. It is endearing to see the mettle shown by women in that era. The book made me want to read about Kamala - A woman who spoke out loud about the unfair portrayal of Draupadi at a time when a thought of this colour would have never come to others' minds.

Partha Uncle Pai's Partha philosophy is something that I would want to apply in my life. The six qualities of success that he had narrated in the story is endearing and inspiring. 

Another inspirational account of his life is how he soared like a Phoenix. I was reading the book like a primary student reliving the reading experience with the background story behind each edition.

Honest account

This is one honest and entertaining biography that every book lover should read. The author has given several insights as postscripts, which are also bonuses for the readers.

Grab the book if you have devoured Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle as a child and get the feeling of knowing how each edition came to light.

Slice Of Life By Smita Das Jain - Book Review

 Slice of life. As the name suggests, the book provides us slices of life on a platter. From a husband who does a sacrifice that no one else does to two friends who choose their friendship above everything else, the boom talks about relationships, their depth, and how we can think differently and act above stereotypes.

  The twist in the climax

The climax of each story of slice of life gives us a life lesson. As much as I love to point out each story to let the readers know how beautifully the author has provided a different perspective to life is unbelievably promising.

When I grabbed the book I expected a good short story collection but this is an awe-inspiring piece of literature that is a slap on the face of those who claim that Indian writers are not good enough.

The way the author has been dealing with emotions is exemplary. The stupendous craft of characters, incredible narration, memorable climax, slice of life is a surprise package.

Short and crisp stories

The stories are short and would make the reader want more and more. Not only did the author deal with emotions and relationships she also. She has tried her hand in humor and successfully pulled it off. For an author to pull off two extreme genres with conviction. it takes immense courage and talent. The author is indeed on with promising talent.

The Cliche

Barring two stories, Twist of fate and the couple, which sounded and ended in a cliche the book is a perfect piece of literary finesse. The two stories indeed stick out like a sore thumb and dulled the sparkle but the author came back to track with the next story onwards. Had the stories been longer, it would have given the author more space to develop her craft. With her literary finesse, she should indeed write a novel for that's where her crisp detailing could be exploited. No wonder she was featured in Womens web, Story mirror, and more.

Spoiler alert

As much as I hate giving out spoilers, this book, if needed to be reviewed in detail, a spoiler is inevitable. Nonetheless, I am trying to avoid giving out the plot by not mentioning the story name.  The author establishing that two women can love a man and still be best friends and can go beyond the obvious by thinking that if a man can create a rift in the friendship, then he is not worth it. This is a strong statement and revolutionary perspective that the author is giving out to the readers.

Can a man think of his wife's secret paramour? A beautiful story of a platonic love that is uplifted by the careful intervention of the husband. What a plot! I would want to see the plot develop into a full-fledged novel. Likewise, there are aa lot of stories that are revolutionary and make the reader think beyond the obvious.

I thank the author for the ARC. I would recommend everyone to get a hard copy itself.