Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 18

A Ladder of Panties by Sandeep Jayaram - Book Review

 There are different types of books. Books that you like to read, the books that belong to your favorite genre, books that you think are perfect. Some books are crafted perfectly but do not fit the bill for many readers due to the uniqueness and boldness in expression. A ladder of panties by Sandeep Jayaram is one such book that is unique in its narration. 

When the narrationon stands out:
if depicted in a single sentence, it is a simple story of Srinivas Ramachandran, aka Sri, and his foray into the different aspects of life like any boy of his age. Needless to say, the need to get laid. In the book, the boys are wearing panties. The word panties will create a frown on the typical Indian faces. Well, let that frown remain.Even though the title gives a perverted impression of erotica in a twisted mind, the book has nothing to do with erotic scenes. It is just a metaphor. Not just a metaphor but a meaningful one at that.
The satire at its best:With a tinge of humor, the author has illustrated the shallowness of vision in the youth, the inability of accepting failure, and the incapability to handle relationships. The style of narration is the USP of the book. The quirky narrative will set off peels of laughter in the readers. If you don't even smile at least once while reading the book, then you are either not attentive or not the type of readers for the book. 
Is there misogyny?As a feminist myself,(not female chauvinist or pseudo-feminist who seemingly done the cap of a feminist), I would say that the book is not misogynistic. Why? because it doesn't glorify the protagonist. On the contrary, it blatantly calls out the regressiveness of the mean attitude of the youth. It is satire!
But if someone is not to perceive the satire in its real sense, they will take offense. That too at different levels. For instance, when Sri's mother says that 'Hindu women, don't go out at 5 am', the author is clearly portraying the narrow mindedness. It is up to the readers to decide how to perceive it.In short, the author has taken a risk on that front because of late, India has become a land of intolerance and misinterpretation. Nonetheless,  from the accolades that the author is receiving, it seems like sensibility is not lost after all.

The take-off time:The first chapter started off on a good note but further, the pace dropped. Perhaps it would stick the YA readers. The theme of the chapter is interesting but it is stretched unduly. Further, it gets interesting in the second chapter. Towards the penultimate chapter and the once before it also the pace drops a little. But it doesn't take off the quality of the book as a package.

Sakoon Singh Gets Candid in Outset Virtual Tête-à-tête

Hi My Ousetians, 
It's been a while since we have met for a tête-à-tête. To start after this long break, we have a wonderful writer. I had compared her writing style to Arundhati Roy in my review of her book In the land of a lovers.It's none other than Sakoon Singh. Let's welcome her to Outset Virtual tête-à-tête

Hi SakoonWelcome to our virtual tête-à-tête

 Thank you for having me. 

First and foremost, let me ask you how the current situation has changed your life?

This pandemic has been productive in terms of the retreat it has offered to writers- the many hours of unspoilt time. As for me professionally, I am now transacting my lectures online which has its set of challenges. Overall, it hasn’t been personally a gloomy phase for me; on the contrary, it has been a phase of stepping back, growth, and introspection. On the other hand, many people in these months, have been forced to see the seamier side of our systems and that has come at a huge cost. That said, one just hopes that in the interest of humanity this unprecedented phase now passes.

That's indeed a different perspective to look at things. I have seen the same in your book as well. Have you always seetheth the evening from a different perspective? Tell us a bit about the real Sakoon Singh.

I belong to Chandigarh. Did my schooling and college here before moving to JNU, New Delhi for my MA in English Literature. I went on a Fulbright fellowship and put a year at the University of Texas at Austin, US.  Last year I did a stint at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. I have been in an active academic career and have been teaching at the Department of English, DAV College (Panjab University), Sector 10, Chandigarh. My area of research is Amitav Ghosh and Cultural Studies.

 Wow, Now I know how you could write a book that's rich in literary value. How did you decide to write a book?

It was in 2016 that the idea of writing this book first came to my mind. A recurrent image of a young woman walking down a road on a rainy evening would come to my mind. At some point, it became critical for me to write her story. In 2017, I applied for a sabbatical from my college to devote full attention to writing. By the end of the leave period, I had my manuscript in hand and the struggle for a good publisher. The publishing industry itself works with a unique set of challenges and every book comes with its destiny. I signed the contract in November 2018 and as promised, we brought out the book in one and a half years. 

How did you come across the idea of “In the Land of Lovers?”

I was keen to tell the stories of urban Punjab- like any society, there are distinctive experiences and stories which need to be told. The book attempts to have an engagement with that ethos while highlighting the struggles happening today. And if viewed from another end, I feel literature is an act of empathy. It allows you to enter another’s experience without judgment. As far as Punjab is concerned, I feel mine is the generation that can bring these disparate threads together: memories of Partition, the experience of terrorism, and living through 1984 and now seeing the state of Punjab with its multiple problems. But over and above, is the inimitable spirit of Punjab, the land of the Sufi saints, the land that nurtured Gurbani. So it has been a personal quest too.

 I wanted to capture the many voices of this land from the past and present. One trope I have used to that end is the dialogues between “Mirasis”, the traditional performance artists, tramp like figures, as a narrative device to inject irony and wit in the novel.

How do you connect yourself with Nanaki and Beeji?

The book is a bildungsroman, which is a popular genre in European writing.  I trace the growth of the main protagonist, Nanaki. I would say just like her, the book embodies a Sufi consciousness- one that emerges out of empathy for the ‘other’, is radical, embodies a unique aesthetic, and does not forsake social responsibility. Most of all, there is hope at the heart of this book. Nanaki leads a cosmopolitan life, at the same time, is anchored to her cultural moorings, she can look through the many layers of social conditioning. And I think it is important because, in an age where social media has become so intrusive, we are tethered to the echo chambers of social validation and conformity more than ever before. Her empathy is a core character trait and I think that is what helps her understand people and situations better. These characteristics are hugely attractive to me. As for Beeji, through her, I was trying to delineate a whole generation of women in Punjab who lived through the horrors of Partition but did not get bitter. This is something that has always touched me about their spirit. 

Your narration has a poetic musing to it. Was it deliberate?

Wasn’t deliberate. I would say it is my writing style.

I felt that you could have given a little more space for Nanaki and Himmat’s romance. What is your take on it?  

Haha...I wish too. But I guess their romance is one part of the novel. As you have seen, the novel is about much else. At the end of the day, Nanaki and Himmat become allies of sorts. All lovers are allies (at least for some time, if not forever), but these two have a very defined aim, which was what was foregrounded in the novel. For now, I did not have the scope to delve into the intricacies of their relationship, which would have taken away from the thrust of the novel. 

Are you working on the next book?Yes, I have a chunk of writing done for my next. It’ll take a good while still. What is your advice to aspiring writers?If you think you have it, develop that inner dialogue with yourself. You have to work on your craft and answer the most important question- What kind of a writer you want to be? Prodigious talent is good news but it ought not to be killed prodigiously. It is good to let it grow uninhibited in the wilderness, air it, sun it before you begin training it. Thank you so much for your time. We are eagerly looking forward to your next book. 
That was Sakoon Singh for you. Get, connected to her through Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
Special thanks to Rupa Publications

Ambedkar's India - Compilation of speeches by Srishti Publications

We have grown up hearing  The stories of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. Several books and movies have told us the tales of many unsung heroes. But till recently, we were unaware of who Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was in his life. We have mugged up the definition that he is 'The Architect of Indian Constitution'. 

Who was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?It took 73 years for India to declare his birthday as a public holiday. It is a matter of shame that we never tried to understand who he really was.
Ambedkar's India, a collection of three speeches by Dr. B.R.Ambedkar. In the first speech 'Annihilation of caste', he clearly states how the caste system has deteriorated our country. He gives a not so subtle account of how better India would have been without this caste system. The second one 'Grammar of Anarchy', due to the brutal honesty and fire of the facts proposed, was not allowed to be delivered. Had he been allowed to deliver the speech, it would gave been a milestone in Indian history. Dr. Ambedkar has explicitly shown his disagreement with Mahatma. He was a man of fire. His speech portrays his real fervor and proves that he is a hero who was not given the due credit for a quarter of a century. 
He speaks unrelentingly against caste discrimination. His speech is a textbook material for history students. Only part which I disliked was that he was calling out the caste system of Hindus. The same with other religions could have been addressed. 
Special appreciation to Srishti Publications for bringing the book to the readers.

Revelation 22 By Anunay Kumar - Thriller Book Review

 

To name a military mission, a common thought would be to attach the word mission. The term Revelation 22 itself is a shift from the cliche. An undercover agent, a scientist, and a politician. It wouldn't take much to decipher that the book is a suspense thriller.

The difficult plot:As much as it is easy to guess the genre, it is equally difficult to pull off the plotline. The author should be well versed in three arenas. Revelation 22, written by Anunay Kumar and published by Zorba Books though the name suggests otherwise, is an investigative political thriller.
The plot revolves around Rudra, the undercover agent of an investigative agency under the Indian government. He sets out for an investigation. Unknowingly he touched a raw nerve with a mafia. His involvement alerts the perpetrators of a horrendous crime.

Being repeatedly attacked, Rudra realizes that the investigation is going in the right direction. The character of Rudra is all over the plot. It is like a superstar in a mass movie that gets a space above the plotline. Nonetheless, the author has succeeded in maintaining the mysterious element around the character. 

The detailed research:In another corner, a scientist comes across a formula, which would change the face of the world. When the news of his discovery reaches the wrong corner, the knowledge is used to decimate the country. The author has pulled off scientific nitty-gritty with finesse. The extend of research invested in the topic is commendable. Hoe a scientist who broke the ground is forced to use this extraordinary discovery for a macabre purpose if portrayed with conviction.
With a top politician involved hand in glove with the terrorists, and Rudra's team being called off from investigation, the plot becomes all the more interesting.
Wavering Pace:The plot takes off with a swoosh of suspense. The action sequence and nailbiting thrill that follows glue the readers to the book. The scenario when Rudra visits a dilapidated Victorian building (name not mentioned to avoid a spoiler), the ambiance with CCTV, and well-maintained garden which are in stark contrast is a unique scenario that is presented with visual amplification. For a book that begins with an eerie mystery and fast-paced sequences, the last quarter is a tad bit slow and disappointing. The climax was predictable. The effect created by Rudra's foray into the truth weakens in the climax. 
The book is overall a satisfactory read for an investigative thriller.
I got the book from Zorba Books in return for an honest review.

Nargis And Other Short Stories By Hermit Pen - Book Review

About The Book

The book is a collection of 8 short stories, each unique and different from others, covering various facets of life, inspired by real-life characters and incidents.

The stories address contemporary social issues like loneliness, binge dating, domestic abuse, social media addiction, celebrity worship, and also contemporary environmental issues like pollution, dwindling water resources, declining fertility rate, chemical warfare, etc.

The stories also attempt to illustrate the pain and wounds of contemporary political issues like lynching, conflicts, refugees, etc

All the characters seem very familiar and we can easily relate to them.

Book Purchase Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

Book Excerpt

Nargis

It is 2030 and most of the water on earth is polluted.

In the beginning, it was industrial pollution that rendered most of the water beyond human usage, and then the water wars that followed resulted in the extensive use of chemical and biological weapons, which further left the remaining water sources toxic.

In less than 10 years, water had become the currency, and owners of non-toxic water source the new age kings, with their own militias, protecting their wells and supply chain.

Water trading was the most lucrative business now.

Namita

Namita had stopped thinking about resistance or confrontation long back. Domestic abuse and sometimes physical abuse had become part of life for her. She had accepted it. It was no secret either. Most people around her knew. It’s difficult to hide the scars, especially the physical ones.

Lybched

Since that fateful day, he had wished for only two things. To meet the family of the boy he had killed and the people who had killed his brother.

He couldn't make up his mind as to what will give him the closure he needed.

The atonement of his sin or revenge. Guilt and vengeance had been consuming him.

Neha

All she could manage was “Why are you good to me Shoeb? Why do you still stick around when everyone else has given up on me, and now you brought my child to me”.

Neha could not control anymore, tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Shoeb softly spoke almost in a whisper to Neha “We have taken him out of the shelter and legally adopted him. We will raise him as our own now”

Banaras

He had plans of getting married next year. An arranged marriage. His parents in Hyderabad had already selected the bride for him. He knew nothing about the girl and was not interested to know either. He believed that arranged marriage will ensure that his parents will be taken care of in their old age, which was his prime responsibility, being the only son, as has been repeatedly hammered into his head, by the society, since childhood.

Lipsticks

The night was beautiful, a bit cold though to be sitting in the balcony in only a t-shirt, this had been her ritual, night after night.

The silence at this time of the night is addictive. It calms the volatile souls and tames the inner demons.

TikTok

Finally, she read out Waheed’s post aloud “I respectfully decline The Smith Award, which is considered no less than Noble prize, awarded to me for my thesis “Impact of Social Media on the Psyche of Celebrities”, due to the sad and unfortunate demise of a subject during the course of an experiment.”

Oh Syria!

Qasim, on the other hand, was sad, very sad. He had this foreboding that his days on his homeland were numbered and he won’t be able to return, ever.

This was the home of his ancestors. Their graves were here. His father used to tell him that for centuries his family had lived in this town.

About The Author

The author Mr. Hermit Pen is a regular contributor to short stories and articles for various anthologies, magazines, and own blog.

Mr. Hermit Pen is a Business Consultant by profession with a degree in Engineering and an MBA. He is well-traveled, having spent half of his life outside India; he is presently based in Gurgaon, India.

He is a movie buff, music connoisseur, and a cricket fanatic. He also closely follows politics and current affairs. He is a vocal advocate of education, human rights, and equality, and he occasionally dabble in social activism.

At the cusp of reinventing himself once again, Mr. Hermit Pen with all humility showcases his debut book, Nargis.

Catch up with Hermit Pen On

Email | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Blog

Catahrsis By Mukul Kumar - Book Review

Poetry is always a weakness for me, The first piece of literature that I wrote at the age of 13 was a poem. Hence when I learned that author Mukul Kumar, whose first two books were impeccable in their own genre has written a poetry book, I was keen to read it. The author has the ca[ability to transform into the writing style that the genre of the book deserves. Catharsis is not different.

The catharsis of emotions:Catharsis is a collection of 52 poems. Each poem is unique in its own way. The author's musings stimulate various emotions in the readers.tthe poems don't fall under the league of poetry books that unduly squeezes in tough vocabulary without doing justice to the theme or subject. Nor do the poems come under the cco called modern poetry where the colloquial language is exploited to seemingly create a poem. 
A mixed bag:The poet has touched every aspect of life. She shares his experiences palpably. 
Vision is the Witness to the solitudeWandering on the forlorn beachGrappling with the void without
A snippet from the poem 'Journey without destination' is a witness to the insight of the poet. Read them thrice and each time you will get a different perspective. The author also tears open the bureaucracy and let a can of worms out through ' A bureaucrat searches for the poet'. There are several such poems where practical life and poetry go hand in hand.
One of them was too casual for my liking. It could have been adapted to a short story for a better effect. Barring this, enjoyed every bit of this reading experience.

How To Accept Book Reviews?

To write a book take immense pressure, both physical and mental. The moment the idea comes to your mind, conceiving and reproducing it takes several stages. Hence it is heartbreaking to see a trashing review after all the hard work. I am an author and I know it. But when there are genuine negative reviews, it is a chance for the authors to learn and grow. Sycophants just make you redundant. 


Of late, I have personally experienced a high degree of intolerance from top bestselling authors towards honest reviews. A female author who's an inspiration for me via her bestselling book went into the sea of bestselling formula and started writing stuff for the sake of the masses and drifted from her forte. Finally, when the sequel of her bestselling book came, I informed the publisher how deeply it moved me. She was back on track. She mailed me telling me about her happiness in hearing that I liked the book. But, when I started that "she is back after a cascade of average books" in my review, she took offense and commented that she was surprised that I didn't like any of her other books. But I took it in my stride. Later another bestselling romance author was very forthcoming to my review of his book and even asked me for my WhatsApp number. Seriously! Of course, I denied it.Then he read my review of his previous book, which was slightly critical. There goes the ego shoot. There are more personal experiences.
Why this post?
 I posted the review of the aforementioned authoress' latest book. Of course, there were many good things to say and bad things too. Again she took offense and was fast in replying. Same old pattern. Others liked it, they said this and that. I chose to look at the bright side until I read her blog post on "How to write a review?" I was appalled. 
There are a few points in agreement with her.
What do I agree with?She told me that a review shouldn't be a mini summary. Kudos. You're right there. Never give spoilers. 
Mention the author, publisher, and book name. True that! You must give credit. 
Give a y. True. Don't reproduce blurb. Very true. Write about writing style etc. Very very true 
She says that if you have something that you hate about the book you can say that too (didn't mention that the author would jump to justify her book stating others' opinion) Never mind.
How to accept a review? 1. Accept the fact that no books are perfect.According to her, some reviewers give negative reviews just because the protagonist didn't act according to their wishes. And this happens because the book is exceptionally written. Like seriously? Isn't it applicable the other way around too? Some people like the book because the protagonist acted how they wanted them to and not because of the finesse of their author's craft? 
2. Bestselling books need not be great books A book doesn't become a great book just because "Many people loved it". It just makes it a best seller. An author should not let that success get into the head and think that what they write is a perfect piece and the reviewers who don't accept it don't know their job.3. Sycophants won't let you growThe author had shared a perfect review according to her in the post, which was nothing but back scratch. I am appalled to see that the person who I have looked up to for all these years would come down as a self-entitled one. I am disappointed. My idol just broke.4. Accept the fact that you improve from critical reviewsThe scathing trashing reviews like "theoryheoryheorythe job", "the book is crap" etc don't come under the critical reviews I mentioned. A review of the first edition of my book stated that it is a "holy mother of germicide". But it helped me in reworking my book and release a better second edition.
Critical reviews are the ones summarily states the pros and cons professionally. The reviews that are written passionately. If you know the craft, you can recognize them. Just that you have to take off the imperious veil.
5. Don't look down on reviewers Honest reviews are not some low creatures without any insight. In the post, it is stated that she has rarely come across a PERFECT review. Seriously? Ma'am, how many perfect reviews should I show you? No, not mine. Mine is just average. I give it to you. If you have rarely read perfect reviews, that's because you have rarely written perfect books. The one book and its sequel are just perfect. But the rest were written to be bestsellers and we're worked on with impeccable marketing skills. Accept that. 

6. Negative reviews need not have good thingsShe says that even if you don't like the book, you find something that you liked about the book too. If you don't like the book, that's because there is nothing you liked. Why should you say something good for the sake of it?
To conclude, she has shared her Instagram stories where she has reviewed the books. She says I have written negative reviews but I have stated good facts too. So, let me conclude by stating a few perfect negative reviews of hers, to sum up, what she preached. "I didn't like this one. Found it very unconvincing. Twists and twists and twists. Just for the sake of it. This is not for me"  Balanced review. Isn't it? At least learn to take what you give maam. There are more. 
I have followed her and decided not to review her books anymore. Not that she would care. In front of her, I'm just a worm. But I will have the satisfaction of taking a step against people with self-entitlement and double-standards.

Karma Kola is a collection of short stories with the cla...

 Karma Kola is a collection of short stories with the classic Deepak Kaul style. A little sarcasm here, a little satire there, and a lot of unrealistic, too-bold-to-be-true scenarios.

The book is the collection of submissions to the Write India Campaign Season 2 that ran between July 2017 and April 2018.

What is your take-home from Karma Kola?Right from the eponymous first story, the author has proclaimed his mastery over metaphors. His metaphorical representations are breathtaking. The readers will be engrossed in the tales. No story had the same theme or title. Every time we read a story, we will have a different perspective available. The book has a strange finesse in providing different perspectives at different times.
The art of character craftThe author has crafted the characters quite well. They are the representatives of ordinary real lie characters in extraordinary circumstances. 'The Tooth Fairy' for instance, talks about a woman living with a husband who is frustrated with the circumstances. He has never beaten his wife but still, she ended up losing teeth. Sounds like an oxymoron, isn't it?
Too bold for my tasteThe stories 'Extraordinary love' and 'Apprentice' are too bold for my taste and misleading in my personal opinion. The opinion could be different for someone else but all I could see were incest and casting couch of sorts embellished with pearls of literature and hence disconcerting, at least for me.
Overall, the book is a roller coaster that leaves a good taste in the mouth along with some dizziness.

Breathe Believe Balance By Shyamal Vallabhjee - Book Review

Breathe Believe Balance is the best self-help book I have ever read. The review ends here. Thank you! Well, on a serious note, I shall share some pearls of wisdom by the author. I will not call this a self-help book. It is a mix of self-help, spirituality, and philosophy. The author is helping us. It is like holding our hands and teaching us how to walk. 

Breathe Believe Balance by Shyamal Vallabhjee

Breathe Believe Balance - A guide to self-discovery and healing

Unlike other books that are under these genres, this book is written in a pragmatic fashion. He doesn't plainly state facts. He gives us activities tp start with. The questionnaire shown in the beginning changed my perspective of life and me at large. 

And yes! Most important - He is talking about self-love. What an ecstatic coincidence. I, the advocate of self-love gets to read a book that promotes it. After reading Breathe Believe Balance, if you have any doubts about the authenticity of my self-love posts, you can check my blog. I have posted them in May.

Now, coming to the book, it has touched several walks of life. It applies to everyone in every corner because the book is tailor-made for everyone who is facing any sort of trouble. Filling one questionnaire will tell you why I say this.

The Balance 

The book itself is a quintessential example of balance. It balances the practical life with spirituality and hence the author doesn't venture into any unattainable realms for laymen. In short, I am awestruck with this piece of work and this will be in my main bookshelf forever.

Top 22 Indian Book Review Blogs - Indian Top Blogs

The picture itself might tell you why I am writing the post. It is a post by an overgrown child who is telling everyone about the award she got

Top 22 Literature blog in India. That too I received alongside Preeti Shenoy. What more should I need?

Today morning I woke up to a mail that says that my blog has been selected by Indian Top Blogs. What more should a book blogger need. I am still not over the enthusiasm created but is newsI shared it everywhere because this was a reply to several rejections in faced.
Two years back a new website selected by blog as the Top50 Indian book review blogs.later my ranking dropped. I was wondering where I went wrong. And later I created an Instagram account. I approached this website to update my Instagram account on the website. Lo and behold, the website which was genuinely selecting people has becomes a circus. Pay them and get the ranking again. I left them.
The next day an Instagram engagement page refused to admit me claiming that mine is a "non-bookish profile. I was dejected. Because I was a book review blogger first. I am still in the learning process. I hope to attain more in the future.
Thanks to everyone who supported