Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 23

2049 BY DEEPAK KAUL- BOOK REVIEW #BOOK18

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Futuristic stories have always been of interest to the readers. But often they will be brimful of imagery and stuffed with fantasy that the book would be too large to hold the interest of the readers. The justification veted out for the same used to be that it takes a couple of pages and a few chapter to eslablish the scenario and develop it. Deepak Kaul has proved his craft in those 67 pages.
Author has incorporated the current Covid situation and connected the plot to the same. Author has addressed several environmental issues and pointed out several possible soutions for the same. While the readers indulge in the book, they are sure to feel that they could apply in their on real life. There isn't a more perfect timing for a novella of this sort and the fact that author has incorporated th recent events to the plot and still managed to come forth with a well crafted and proof read and perfectly edited book is an applausible feat.
In an era of International Space Stations, being stuck in the outer space is not a far fetched idea. Had it been stretched more it would have been a monotonous read. Hence the author has summarised the events in a 67 page book.

Stripes Recruitment by Luke Melia- Book Review- #BOOK17

 
 

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After Give Up, Luke Melia is back with his next book about the tiger atempting the interview. As much as the theme intrugues you, author has made an interesting account of a Tiger's life.
Stripes is continuously attending interviews so that he could take a break from his present job in a construction company. Wherever he goes he is given a business card and his profile is carelessly brushed under the carpet. His desperate attempt of changing his name from Anthony to stripes didn't work. But finally he finds a way out using what which he has been counting on as insults showered upon him. The book tells the readers more about what it is, and how he made use of it.
The book speaks volumes about the finesse of the author. To execute a theme as this in a 40 page book is not easy but the author has successfully accomplished it. The book is an amalgamation of fantasy and  metaphorical reality. The character of stripes is the representative of lakhs if not crores of employees all over the world who are on a middle ground where the passion is compromised for survival. The ones who don't belong to the corporate world and feel like tigers among a group of men.
The book will leave the readers wanting more. If developed into a full fledged novel the plot has a lot of possibilities to work on.

The Other Side of the Divide by Sameer Arshad Khatlani- Book Review #Book16

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There are certain books that make a review blogger proud of being one as they are getting undeterred access on the ARCs. The Other Side of the Divide is one such book. 
The book is based on the author Sameer Arshad Khatlani's visit to Pakistan. The account begins on the familial pressures the author faced while he announced his trip to Pakistan and the obstacles he had to face based on those. Further the author sketches his experiences one by one, day by day coupled with the historical basis of a different picture of Pakistan that we Indians never saw. 
The historical anecdotes begin with the railways lines connecting India and Pakistan and how the commute was affected by the wars that happened in 1965 and 1971. We will be flabbergasted to know that a country like Pakistan that is portrayed in Bollywood and Hollywood movies as a country with dilapidated houses and pathetic living standards has highly qualified citizens and the motorways that are more developed than our own quadrilateral highway. Speaking of Bollywood movies, author gives a detailed account of the extend of the influence Bollywood has on Pakistanis and how the banishment of Bollywood movies post war in Pakistan has affected their own movie industry. Author has backed up the  information with the detailed account about the gross collection of Indian movies in comparison with Pakistani movies.
The connect between citizens of Amritsar and Lahore is unbelievable. It leaves us wonder if we are the proverbial frog in the well. The memories of people about their ancestors and the cross country visits to their relatives, portrayed in a movie will be brushed off as exaggeration for we are conditioned to believe that Pakistanis are a bunch of barbarians whose only intention is to finish India. To contradict this popular notion, author has reinforced the integrity of a group of Pakistanis with the examples of top officials who admit that 1965 war was a failure for Pakistan.

The book attempts to present a contemporary portrait of Pakistan-where prohibition remains only on paper and one of the biggest taxpayers is a Parsee-owned brewery-as a complicated and conflicted country suspended between tradition and modernity.

If you are someone who believes that Pakistan is acountry that promote only Muslims, you are being fooled. Danish Kumar, Pakistan's first Hindu Army officer is just one example of how Hindus were not denied chances to come up in ranks. Group Captain Cecil Choudhry's(a catholic) rise in ranks and later fall after Zia-ul-Haq came to power is worth adaptation into a thriller. Amit Barua, the hindu journalist from India being tailed is a deviation from this reality though. Simultaneously we can see the author's adventurous foray into the probited area (no-man's land) and thereby his Visa Rule Violation but how he luckily went past it. The Valmiki Temple is Lahore is an unknown factor for me like thousand other factors.
 A syncretic culture in Pakistan is something we could never imagine but this book changes everything. What mentioned in the review are just miniscule parts of what we learn. The book provides us a plethora of information. The way we look at Pakistan will change forever. If in furure, I am asked about the best books I have read, this will definitely make the list.

മാർജ്ജാരനായകി- നിരൂപണം #Book15

ഈ പുസ്തകം വാങ്ങാൻ ലിങ്ക് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക

ഒരുപാട് നാളുകൾക്ക്‌ ശേഷം മലയാള സാഹിത്യം വായിക്കാൻ ഒരവസരം ലഭിച്ചു. റിവ്യൂ തിരക്കുകളിൽ മലയാളം വായിക്കാൻ അവസരം കിട്ടിയില്ല എന്നുള്ളതാണ് സത്യം. മൃദുലയുടെ മാർജ്ജാരനായകി വായിക്കുമ്പോഴാണ് എത്ര സുഖമുള്ള ഒരനുഭവമാണ് മാതൃഭാഷയുമായി താദാത്മ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നത് എന്ന് ഓർമപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത്.
ഒരുപാട് വലിച്ചു നീട്ടലുകളില്ലാത്ത കുത്തിക്കയറ്റിയ അനാവശ്യ കട്ടി വാക്കുകളില്ലാത്ത, എന്നാൽ സാഹിത്യ സൗന്ദര്യം തെല്ലും ചോരാത്ത വായനാനുഭവം.
ആദ്യത്തെ കഥ 'ആകാശവിളക്കുകൾ' വേദനയോടെയല്ലാതെ വായിക്കാൻ സാധിക്കില്ല. എന്നാൽ 'ലജ്ജ' എന്ന രണ്ടാമെത്തെ കഥ, പ്രതിപാദിക്കുന്ന വിഷയത്തിന്റെ ഗൗരവം അനുസരിച്ച് ഒരുല്പം കൂടി വിശദമായി ഒരു കഥാതന്തു പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ചു. പിന്നീടു വരുന്ന 'പരിസമാപ്തി', 'എന്നെന്നേക്കും' എന്നീ ക്ഷകൾ കാലിക പ്രസക്തിയുള്ള, അഭിനവസാഹിത്യത്തിെന്റെ നിഴലുകൾ പ്രതിഫലിപ്പിക്കുന്നവയാണ്.
'മഴക്ക് മാത്രം ചെയ്യാവുന്നത് എനിക്കേറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട കഥയാണ്. കഥാകാരി എന്റെ സ്വപ്നങ്ങളിൽ കയറി അവ കവർന്നെടുത്തോ എന്നൊരു നിമിഷം ശങ്കിച്ചു പോയി.'ആഴങ്ങൾ' നമ്മെ ചിന്തിപ്പിക്കുേമ്പോൾ 'മധുരക്കൊതി' നമ്മെ ചിരിപ്പിക്കും.
'കടലാസുതോണി', 'ജീവന്റെ ജാലകം', 'പുതിയ മുഖം' എന്നീ കഥകൾ വളരെ മൃദുലമായി വായിച്ചു പോകാവുന്ന കഥകളാണ്. 'പൂർണക്ഷയം' രണ്ടു വട്ടം വായിച്ചു. അവസാനത്തെ 'മാർജ്ജാരനായകി' വായിച്ചു പോകുമ്പോൾ മനസ്സിൽ വരുന്ന ചിത്രത്തേക്കാൾ ആഴമുള്ള ചിന്തകൾ അവശേഷിപിച്ചു പോകുന്നു.
ചുരുക്കത്തിൽ എറണാകുളത്ത് ജീവിച്ച് തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് സദ്യയുണ്ട തൃശൂർക്കാരിയുടെ അവസ്ഥയാണ്. ചില വിഭവങ്ങൾ നന്നേ പിടിക്കും , ചിലവ അത്ര പോരാ എന്നു തോന്നും, മറ്റു ചിലത് ആദ്യമായി കാണുന്നു. ചുരുക്കത്തിൽ ഒന്നോ രണ്ടോ മണിക്കൂർ കൊണ്ട് വായിച്ചു തീർക്കാമെങ്കിലും മണിക്കൂറുകളോളം ചിന്തിപ്പിക്കാനുള്ള ശേഷിയുള്ള കഥകളാണ്.

മാർജ്ജാരനായകി- നിരൂപണം

ഈ പുസ്തകം വാങ്ങാൻ ലിങ്ക് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുക

ഒരുപാട് നാളുകൾക്ക്‌ ശേഷം മലയാള സാഹിത്യം വായിക്കാൻ ഒരവസരം ലഭിച്ചു. റിവ്യൂ തിരക്കുകളിൽ മലയാളം വായിക്കാൻ അവസരം കിട്ടിയില്ല എന്നുള്ളതാണ് സത്യം. മൃദുലയുടെ മാർജ്ജാരനായകി വായിക്കുമ്പോഴാണ് എത്ര സുഖമുള്ള ഒരനുഭവമാണ് മാതൃഭാഷയുമായി താദാത്മ്യം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നത് എന്ന് ഓർമപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത്.
ഒരുപാട് വലിച്ചു നീട്ടലുകളില്ലാത്ത കുത്തിക്കയറ്റിയ അനാവശ്യ കട്ടി വാക്കുകളില്ലാത്ത, എന്നാൽ സാഹിത്യ സൗന്ദര്യം തെല്ലും ചോരാത്ത വായനാനുഭവം.
ആദ്യത്തെ കഥ 'ആകാശവിളക്കുകൾ' വേദനയോടെയല്ലാതെ വായിക്കാൻ സാധിക്കില്ല. എന്നാൽ 'ലജ്ജ' എന്ന രണ്ടാമെത്തെ കഥ, പ്രതിപാദിക്കുന്ന വിഷയത്തിന്റെ ഗൗരവം അനുസരിച്ച് ഒരുല്പം കൂടി വിശദമായി ഒരു കഥാതന്തു പ്രതീക്ഷിച്ചു. പിന്നീടു വരുന്ന 'പരിസമാപ്തി', 'എന്നെന്നേക്കും' എന്നീ ക്ഷകൾ കാലിക പ്രസക്തിയുള്ള, അഭിനവസാഹിത്യത്തിെന്റെ നിഴലുകൾ പ്രതിഫലിപ്പിക്കുന്നവയാണ്.
'മഴക്ക് മാത്രം ചെയ്യാവുന്നത് എനിക്കേറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട കഥയാണ്. കഥാകാരി എന്റെ സ്വപ്നങ്ങളിൽ കയറി അവ കവർന്നെടുത്തോ എന്നൊരു നിമിഷം ശങ്കിച്ചു പോയി.'ആഴങ്ങൾ' നമ്മെ ചിന്തിപ്പിക്കുേമ്പോൾ 'മധുരക്കൊതി' നമ്മെ ചിരിപ്പിക്കും.
'കടലാസുതോണി', 'ജീവന്റെ ജാലകം', 'പുതിയ മുഖം' എന്നീ കഥകൾ വളരെ മൃദുലമായി വായിച്ചു പോകാവുന്ന കഥകളാണ്. 'പൂർണക്ഷയം' രണ്ടു വട്ടം വായിച്ചു. അവസാനത്തെ 'മാർജ്ജാരനായകി' വായിച്ചു പോകുമ്പോൾ മനസ്സിൽ വരുന്ന ചിത്രത്തേക്കാൾ ആഴമുള്ള ചിന്തകൾ അവശേഷിപിച്ചു പോകുന്നു.
ചുരുക്കത്തിൽ എറണാകുളത്ത് ജീവിച്ച് തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് സദ്യയുണ്ട തൃശൂർക്കാരിയുടെ അവസ്ഥയാണ്. ചില വിഭവങ്ങൾ നന്നേ പിടിക്കും , ചിലവ അത്ര പോരാ എന്നു തോന്നും, മറ്റു ചിലത് ആദ്യമായി കാണുന്നു. ചുരുക്കത്തിൽ ഒന്നോ രണ്ടോ മണിക്കൂർ കൊണ്ട് വായിച്ചു തീർക്കാമെങ്കിലും മണിക്കൂറുകളോളം ചിന്തിപ്പിക്കാനുള്ള ശേഷിയുള്ള കഥകളാണ്.

Book Blitz- The Songbirds by Alif

~ Book Blitz ~
The Songbirds by Alif

About the Book:
The Songbirds is a literary tale that goes to the heart of what’s ailing today’s world and tries to find the answers to our most pressing questions.

Amidst poetry and the innocence of youth, the love story of Kasim and Sumera sprouts in the romantic settings of Bada Ghar, the mystical house of a long-gone but not forgotten poet, Bulbul Baba, their mutual ancestor. To carve a better future for Sumera and himself, Kasim migrates West. But, once there, an increasingly westernised Kasim begins to see his for love for Sumera as taboo. So, instead, he tries to find fulfilment in London, forcefully burying his love.

However, with time, Kasim realises that the West doesn’t have the answers he is looking for and his yearning for Sumera returns, becoming stronger than ever, but a huge barrier now stands between them. Not only that, but time could also be running out because, back home, Sumera has gone on to become a fiery blogger over controversial issues, earning herself many enemies, possibly one too many.

“A meditation on love’s complicated intimacies...A stunning literary tale!”

To the free bird in all of us...


Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon



Read some Snippets from The Songbirds

~ Snippet 1 ~
The study room at Bulbul Baba’s Bada Ghar. To me, it is the most magical room in the whole world, for it has the poetry of the heavens. There, year after year, I see many bulbuls sing, competing with each other to see who has the sweetest song. There is one, in particular, a young bulbul, whose chirps rise like the scented petals of jasmine caressed by the breeze and touch the heart.


~ Snippet 2 ~
Ironically, years ago, I had taken a big leap to reach where I now precariously stood. I hadn’t known then that the hand I had leapt for would turn out to be a mirage. Not only that but in making that leap, I had let go of the only hand which had truly ever anchored me; I had let go of her hand.

Now, as my hands flail in desperation, she is the only one who can save me. However, the distance that separates us is the distance which separates the Moon from the Earth. Still, impossible as it may seem, I have to reach for her hand.

Though, there is also a fear that she is no longer there, waiting for me. For all I know, it could be another mirage beckoning me, but I have to find out. I have to leap back to her; only this time it is a leap of faith. My faith in love.


Download a copy on 8th or 9th May!
About the Author:
I write because silence is not an option. At the same time, my novels brim with hope in addition to having a riveting plot. My debut novel, which was published by a boutique publisher in Europe some years ago, was seen to be refreshing.

My recent novel Guns and Saffron has received exceptionally good reviews on Amazon, NetGalley and Goodreads saying that it is addictive, fresh and enlightening. The Songbirds, a literary tale, is my latest novel.

THE NEW RULES OF BUSINESS BY RAJESH SRIVASTAVA- Book REVIEW #Book14

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

To start a business we need a plan. To make it successful, we need to make another plan. Amongst all these what remains unchanged is your customer. But is it so linear a task? Rajesh Srivastava, through his book The New Rules of Business tells us that taking care of the customers is not always enough.
Author has a systematic methodoly to introduce the different and relevant thoughts in our mind. The author introduces us to '1 Central Question (1CQ) and with examples establishes how 1CQ was propituous in several successful business ventures citing the examples of Amazon, Facebook, Macdonald's and the likes. The readers would be surprised to read that the 1CQ of Steve Jobs was " Will it make Apple a great product for customers? If yes, Green Light it. If no, Junk it."Author introduces several innovative ideas in developing your business and the way he tries to mould the new entrepreneur is enticing to read. 

This book unfolds the mysteries of these new ways of doing business which most companies try to keep under wraps. 

The systematic fashion with which the author has arranged each idea and illustrated them with real life examples is an example for the fact the he practices what he preaches. The tag line " Go Ahead or Get Left Behind" is the most apt one for the book. I am personally so carried away by the book that I got a vision to how I should go about the business venture that I have been mulling over for a considerable amount of time.
The book is recommended to everyone who is trying start a new business as well as expand the present one. It is also applicable in your daily life as well. Overall the book is cosmopolitan pointer to how to be a successful millenial.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajesh Srivastava is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore. He spent over three decades as a manager in various sectors like beverages, food, commodities, personal care, and education. He was president of J.K. Helene Curtis Ltd (a Raymond Group Company). Rajesh then moved to education and became an adjunct faculty at IIM Indore and COO of S.P. Jain School of Global Management. He now works as a consultant and holds workshops for companies like Siemens, Mercedes Benz, Reliance, IE Business School (Spain), among others. Throughout his career, his writings have appeared in various publications including Outlook, Telegraph, Mid-Day, Business Standard, and Mint.

This is his first book. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Shaily, and their son, Kautuk.

THE NEW RULES OF BUSINESS BY RAJESH SRIVASTAVA- REVIEW

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

To start a business we need a plan. To make it successful, we need to make another plan. Amongst all these what remains unchanged is your customer. But is it so linear a task? Rajesh Srivastava, through his book The New Rules of Business tells us that taking care of the customers is not always enough.
Author has a systematic methodoly to introduce the different and relevant thoughts in our mind. The author introduces us to '1 Central Question (1CQ) and with examples establishes how 1CQ was propituous in several successful business ventures citing the examples of Amazon, Facebook, Macdonald's and the likes. The readers would be surprised to read that the 1CQ of Steve Jobs was " Will it make Apple a great product for customers? If yes, Green Light it. If no, Junk it."Author introduces several innovative ideas in developing your business and the way he tries to mould the new entrepreneur is enticing to read. 

This book unfolds the mysteries of these new ways of doing business which most companies try to keep under wraps. 

The systematic fashion with which the author has arranged each idea and illustrated them with real life examples is an example for the fact the he practices what he preaches. The tag line " Go Ahead or Get Left Behind" is the most apt one for the book. I am personally so carried away by the book that I got a vision to how I should go about the business venture that I have been mulling over for a considerable amount of time.
The book is recommended to everyone who is trying start a new business as well as expand the present one. It is also applicable in your daily life as well. Overall the book is cosmopolitan pointer to how to be a successful millenial.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajesh Srivastava is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore. He spent over three decades as a manager in various sectors like beverages, food, commodities, personal care, and education. He was president of J.K. Helene Curtis Ltd (a Raymond Group Company). Rajesh then moved to education and became an adjunct faculty at IIM Indore and COO of S.P. Jain School of Global Management. He now works as a consultant and holds workshops for companies like Siemens, Mercedes Benz, Reliance, IE Business School (Spain), among others. Throughout his career, his writings have appeared in various publications including Outlook, Telegraph, Mid-Day, Business Standard, and Mint.

This is his first book. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Shaily, and their son, Kautuk.

A Stolen Heart by Kayellene Allen-- Cover Reveal

~ Cover Reveal ~ A Stolen Heart by Kayelle Allen- Antonello Brothers -



An abandoned half-human child.
An immortal warrior whose villainous past keeps him in hiding.
Two monsters in need of a family.
A Stolen Heart transports science fiction fans to the fantastic Tarthian Empire in the distant future; a wealthy but deliciously seedy corner of the galaxy. Here, powerful immortals comingle with genetically-enhanced humans and animals, aliens and androids, and complex polyamorous relationships are commonplace.

After rescuing a half-alien / half-human child who's running for his life on the planet Kelthia, a glorified space pirate turned entrepreneur named Luc Saint-Cyr stumbles onto a conspiracy at the highest levels of the powerful Thieves' Guild.

Complicating matters, the king--Luc's immortal ex--might be involved.

As if that's not enough, an unseen enemy is undoing every good thing Luc accomplishes.

But, when it comes time to give up the child to a family who can care for him, how will Luc bear to part with the adorable little boy who has stolen his heart?

Goodreads
A Stolen Heart, sci fi from Kayelle AllenWant to know when this book is available? Like to have a free read before it's out? Join one of Kayelle's reader groups. You'll also get free starter books right away. https://kayelleallen.com/reader-groups/




Kayelle Allen writes Sci Fi with misbehaving robots, mythic heroes, role playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She is the author of multiple books, novellas, and short stories. She's also a US Navy veteran and has been married so long she's tenured.




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Fifty Two Red Pills by Eika and Siddharth Banerjee #Book13

A couple that dedicates every week of their life to different topics continuously for 52 weeks to make themselves healthier, wealthier and wiser.
The scenario might seem a far fetched one but the pattern with which the authors have adopted the lifestyle is inspiring, more so in a society that always complain about lack of time. The fact that the authors are corporate leaders and don't have any time of their own, adds to the authencity. The seemingly inconsequential steps that the authors have adopted makes exeptional changes in their lives and relations. Some of the steps they took makes the readers think how they have taken their lives for granted.

Eika and Siddharth’s 52RedPills is an inspiration to readers who have overscheduled and frenzied lifestyles

What excited me as a wife and a mother is the decision to keep the gadgets away an hour before going to bed. If you have been following my blog SCRUTINY, you might have read about the relevance of this step in the post Physical, Emotional and Digotal Detox. I have tried the same and have experienced the level of difference it makes in my life. Another point they have tried out is keeping the phones away while having the food. Our lifestyle has changed to a point that mutual communication has become the thing of the past. Little efforts like these will surely change the domestic scenario drastically.
It's unbelievable how, even after their hectic corporate jobs, the couple could make this possible. It is an eye-opener for everyone who says, "I don't have time." Some of the topics are fillers but don't take off the interest from the readers.
The chapters are small. For a fast read the book is perfect but if you are looking for an in depth read the book wouldn't be a good idea because the authors have reserved it to what they did. It's for the readers to try them out and see the difference. After every chapters, there is a think and do page for the readers. There would be questions to mull over.
Since they managed this feat amidst the hectic schedule, I am expecting a more challenging one during the quarantine. Waiting for the next book.