Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 24

Fifty Two Red Pills by Eika and Siddharth Banerjee

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.

An excellent platform for aspiring writers- MagicAuthor.com

MagicAuthor.com


MagicAuthor.com was founded in the year 2012 by Mr. Saptharishi Suresh, with a humble mission to help aspiring writers to establish themselves. Mr. Saptharishi Suresh is an avid reader and a published author. His challenges with publishing his first book compelled him to think of something else, a platform where writers can publish their work without the hassle. His journey to create MagicAuthor.com was a long road. It took him nearly 5 years to create MagicAuthor.com and make a recognized platform by authors, readers, and publishers.

Along the way, he noticed it was very difficult to publish books in regional languages, where there are many options for books in English. So, he wanted to create an online space for the literature that includes English as well as regional languages.

MagicAuthor.com, a writing platform for all age groups, they have started an initiative where kids can upload and showcase their works online. It can be an artwork, or stories or a video/photo of craftwork.

He wants MagicAuthor.com foray into podcasts and audio-books; he aspires to make MagicAuthor.com LinkedIn for the author’s community.



About MagicAuthor.com:
MagicAuthor.com is one of a kind platform, in which, using their book wizard authors can create eBooks from scratch and also design a cover image and publish them online. If you've already created an eBook in PDF or ePubformat then you can simply upload it to their e-commerce platform. It is a unique initiative dedicated to authors, designers, and publishers, etc. to create eBooks in formats like ePUB, PDF, and MOBI. 

MagicAuthor.com is a publishing services provider. They provide authors with tools and services that enable them to publish and sell their own books.

MagicAuthor.com also distributes eBooks to Google play store.

Unique Features of Magicauthor.com:

One of the best things is that MagicAuthor.com is free to use; No upfront costs involved.MagicAuthor.com encourages eBooks to be on any topic or genre.MagicAuthor.com supports most of the Indian languages. So far, they have released eBooks in Assamese, Konkani (Romi&Devanagiri scripts), Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and English. The platform also supports promoting books published elsewhere.Other features include creating blogs, discussing literature, asking/answering questions related to writing and publishing on our community siteYou can follow your favorite authors. So, if you are looking to develop a fan base and stay connected with your readers, then create a writer profile at their site. If you are a publisher or a business, then you can leverage their community to nurture, engage and retain your followers.Please check out some of the free tools available for authors, designers, and publishers.


Saptharishi Suresh (Founder of MagicAuthor.com):
Saptharishi Suresh is a published author and an art enthusiast. He wrote his first story at the age of ten and done many paintings during his childhood. Later, as an adult, he reproduced the same online at Saptharishi - Thinketh Undefined.

Though his interests were in arts and literature, he couldn't pursue it as a profession, thanks to the lack of guidance and peer pressure. He decided to pursue engineering and became a software engineer in the year 2005.  After a couple of years into the profession, he realized the need to revive his childhood interests as something in him was feeling lonely. He set up a blogging website called Saptharishi - Thinketh Undefined in 2008 and started writing on a wide variety of topics like short stories, painting, spiritual, tourism, and even technology. With the website getting popular, he decided to take the plunge of publishing his first novel TheWake-up Call" in the year 2010. 

Getting his first book published was not easy at all and he learned a lot about the challenges involved in the process.  Being a software engineer he thought of leveraging his software skills to aid in the publishing process. He wanted to make life easy for other authors. Hence he set up the platform called "Magic Author" (https://www.magicauthor.com) in the year 2012. Since then he has helped authors and creative artists build their reputation online. He spends most of his time exploring how authors can leverage the internet benefiting both themselves and the communities around them.

Catch up with Saptharishi Suresh On: 
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Linkedin

Dance to My Tunes by Tanvi Sinha #A2ZChallenge #Book12

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

There is a thin line between feminism and female chavinism. The moment we cross it, the whole idea of feminism goes haywire and we fail to convery it to the laymen as well. Dance to my Tunes could be classified as a feminist literature. Author has addressed everry issues related to gender discrimination and called out on the double standards of the society.

These stories are of relationships. These stories touch upon social issues. These stories may inspire you. These stories make you feel like you are not alone. These stories may surprise you. These stories may entertain you.

Stories on the go-The story of a mother who tried to bring up her daughter independently, giving all the freedom that she was deprived of as a child. She is immensely satisfied with how she has brought up her daughter. She was so involved and concentrated in her daughter that she failed to direct her son as to what to do and what not to. How he turned out? It's for the readers to figure out. The book has a strong message that we should concentrate equally on both kids. The story of a working woman who finds it tough to manage her worklife and household, gets criticised by her mother-in-law on a daily basis and to make the matters worse, her husband dictates everything to his mother. How will she manage it?

 A single mother had been cheated by her boyfriend who claims that he never gave any promises of marriage; How is Karma going to play? A woman who recognises late in her marriage that her sexual preferances are not straight- author has clearly pointed out that injustice if done to men, or women are wrong. A girl who has been beaten by her husband finds no support from her own family because they expect her to be perfect. It is indeed a sad scenario that we see of late because women these days are way too independent for the consevative society to handle. Somehow I couldn't concur with the climax, though it is happening everywhere. Two murder mysteries are added in the string of contemporary fictions. While I could relate to the fact that justice was served, the back story was more or less predictable and the mystery element failed.

Feminist Literature- Author, through her book, proclaims in no uncertain terms that she is a string, opinionated, independent woman. She brings to light, the importance of being independent. Except two stories , the rest of the stories are all about feminism/ male female equality. The predominant theme of the wrong husband and nagging mother-in-law gets monotonous down the line. Notwithstanding the sad reality, there is another world of families where mother-in-laws sides with their daughter-in-laws. That could have been explored and exploited so as to give a ray of hope and a pointer that people look upto.

In a nutshell, the book is a short, fast paced and interesting read for the people who uphold the idea of feminism.

Dance to My Tunes by Tanvi Sinha #A2ZChallenge #Book11

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

There is a thin line between feminism and female chavinism. The moment we cross it, the whole idea of feminism goes haywire and we fail to convery it to the laymen as well. Dance to my Tunes could be classified as a feminist literature. Author has addressed everry issues related to gender discrimination and called out on the double standards of the society.

These stories are of relationships. These stories touch upon social issues. These stories may inspire you. These stories make you feel like you are not alone. These stories may surprise you. These stories may entertain you.

Stories on the go-The story of a mother who tried to bring up her daughter independently, giving all the freedom that she was deprived of as a child. She is immensely satisfied with how she has brought up her daughter. She was so involved and concentrated in her daughter that she failed to direct her son as to what to do and what not to. How he turned out? It's for the readers to figure out. The book has a strong message that we should concentrate equally on both kids. The story of a working woman who finds it tough to manage her worklife and household, gets criticised by her mother-in-law on a daily basis and to make the matters worse, her husband dictates everything to his mother. How will she manage it?

 A single mother had been cheated by her boyfriend who claims that he never gave any promises of marriage; How is Karma going to play? A woman who recognises late in her marriage that her sexual preferances are not straight- author has clearly pointed out that injustice if done to men, or women are wrong. A girl who has been beaten by her husband finds no support from her own family because they expect her to be perfect. It is indeed a sad scenario that we see of late because women these days are way too independent for the consevative society to handle. Somehow I couldn't concur with the climax, though it is happening everywhere. Two murder mysteries are added in the string of contemporary fictions. While I could relate to the fact that justice was served, the back story was more or less predictable and the mystery element failed.

Feminist Literature- Author, through her book, proclaims in no uncertain terms that she is a string, opinionated, independent woman. She brings to light, the importance of being independent. Except two stories , the rest of the stories are all about feminism/ male female equality. The predominant theme of the wrong husband and nagging mother-in-law gets monotonous down the line. Notwithstanding the sad reality, there is another world of families where mother-in-laws sides with their daughter-in-laws. That could have been explored and exploited so as to give a ray of hope and a pointer that people look upto.

In a nutshell, the book is a short, fast paced and interesting read for the people who uphold the idea of feminism.

ME by Elton John- Review #Book11

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

The king of Rock and Roll, Elton John. His biography would be exciting. The colour, music, jazz- But the little boy's life is not what we expect it to be.Elton John is a painful tale of how a little boy with a lot of inadequacies, who has been a butt of joke, who had been beaten black and blue , grew up to rule the world of rock and roll. As much as it is difficult to believe, it's a real-life story.
A nobody who becomes the number one singer performer and tops the chart even at an age when others would be long retired. A life defined by turbulence. Drugs, alcohol, de-addiction,cancer, homosexuality, marriage to a woman and then a man, having by two kids with the man, starting AIDS foundation, hair transplant disaster, wigs and what not! His life has everything that we tag unbelievable. When his friends Gianni Versace, Princess Diana and John Lennon had untimely death, he was tagged as the angel of death. His life has everything because of which any human being would decide to end their lives. Well he also did but his venture into termination ended up a joke.

I was devouring the book word by word. I was living with Elton John. The book is the best I have read in a few years. I wonder when I will be out the Hangover - not the onehe had but the one he gave me. 

His empathy towards an old woman who was trampled amongst the crowd that assembled to meet him shows how compassionate he is. Simultaneously he gives examples to prove how insensitive an individual he is. The highlight of the book is that he has not even tried to glorify himself. On the contrary he didn't waste a chance to tell how difficult it was to put ul with him. He hasn't minced the word while trashing his own image.
His words are the witnesses for his exuberance, mirthfulness, eccentricity and benevolence. He never tried to boast about anything he did more so about the AIDS foundation. He portrays it as a compensation for being a jerk or ignorant.
A rockstar trying to depict himself as a pilgarlic is unimaginable in a world where everyone is fighting to make themselves look like flawless.

The Crown of Seven Stars bu Gitanjali Murari- Review #A2ZChallenge #Book10

A historical fantasy is a genre that conjoins two genres and hence brings together two types of readers. The challenge for the author is to satisfy both because the requirements and interests for both genres would be different. Gitanjali Murari has accepted and successfully accomplished the challenge through her book " The Crown of Seven Stars ".

Rolling the dice once more, Destiny prepares to bend Saahas to her will. She, not Saahas, must decide the winner of the Crown of Seven Stars.

The story takes place in the imaginary city of Aum ruled by Vasuket. Vasuket is extremely attached to his military general Meghabhuti and trusts him to lead his two sons Anuj and Agraj. Meghabhuti's son Saahas is closest to Agraj and Vasuket is looking forward to crown Agraj as the next king and Saahas as the next general but things doesn't go as planned. Saahas, who sets out for a journey comes back to see that both Anuj, Agraj and Meghabhuti are murdered in an immature tussle created by Anuj and the queen dies of heart attack, unable to bear the pain. King Vasuket, who is heartbroken leaves the administration in the hands of the cunning Chakrawaru, who has been training Anuj. Little did they know that Chakrawaru turns out to be a traitor who is feeding on the treasury. After three years, when Saahas comes back to Aum, he is shocked to see the figure that King Vasuket has become. With so much compassion, he brings back the king to life, and the King decides to crown Saahas as the next ruler of Aum. This shatters Chakrawaru's plan and he, with a materstroke changes the whole scenario.

What the readers get to see further is a tale of betrayal, bloodshed, and a game of brilliance.

The plot is weaved in a tight knit fashion that there is not space left for loopholes in the plot. The initial characters are not given much space to develop but author has compensated it with the rest of the characters. Without making it lagging and boring, author has established the characters and how they are inevitable for the plot and their idiosyncrasies lead to the cascade of events. The Kingdom of Aum seems analogous to India and hence it is relatable as a fictional account of history. Author has imbibed magic with the magical experience Saahas has, at Suwaru. The introduction of the new characters in Aum has been done in a haste fashion and hence lacked conviction. What happens further is more or less a cliche.

The style of narration is the USP of the book. Author has treated the book with so much finesse that visualisation of the scenario is done effortlessly. The intrigue to know what comes next has been maintained throughout. Saahas's character is monolinear. His love for his nation, dedication and panache are sure to entice the readers assuring that they get hooked to the book. The book is the representation of the history that we have already read . While the readers are apprehensive about why the crown with seven stars is not mentioned in the book, the Pagadi is introduced to the readers. Depiction of Destiny as a character is a unique style and has worked out positively for the book.

The round up of the book is that it is an out and out entertainer, a fantasy with the flavor of Historical Fiction.

Release Day Blitz- Love Marriage, and Other Disasters by Silpa Suraj

~ Release Day Blitz ~
Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj

Releasing Today on Amazon!

About the Book:
She believes in love, family and…squiggles!Alisha Rana is not your typical single desi girl. For one, she is on the wrong side of 30.  For another, she is divorced. And last but definitely not least, she is still, gasp, a virgin!

Alisha doesn’t want much. But what she does want is that elusive thing all women search for – A man who gets her…but a man who gets her hot! She calls it “feeling the squiggle.”

Enter Dr. Vivaan Kapoor, cute, hot, squiggle-worthy. The younger brother of her cousin's prospective groom, he’s got the squiggle factor in spades. The only catch? He's never been married and is years younger than Alisha. Basically, completely off-limits.

And then there is Arjun. Widowed, older than her by the right number of years and a genuinely nice guy. He's Vivaan’s cousin and a so-called perfect match for Alisha. The problem is, Alisha’s squiggle-o-meter refuses to budge for him.

What will Alisha choose? A lifetime together with the 'right' man or a chance at happiness with the 'wrong' one?

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon

Enjoy the Quotes from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj




About Shilpa Suraj:


Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.
An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.




Shilpa on the Web:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer- Review #A2ZChallenge2020 #Book9

Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer is one of the most successful series in the history of English Literature. The plot revolving around the lives of Emma and Harry Clifton, brought the readers to the Cliftons' lives and held them to each of the books. I had read the sequel first and then came back to the prequel and hence it was a different reading experience compared to how it would have been, had I read it in order. 

Hardcastle's first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board: Emma Clifton or Major Alex Fisher? And with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Emma and Harry are shocked to hear the death of their Son Sebastian, soon to realize that it's not their son but someone unexpected who succumbed to the injuries. The accident unveils a sequence of conspiracies and learn that it was a murder attempt on Sebastian. Further the readers are taken to a world of corporate treachery and emotional horse trade. The Cliffton and Barrington families wade through the waves of pain and uncertainties. In the other end of the world, their adopted daughter Jessica falls in love with a fellow student. When all is well in the paradise, something topples down everything. Jefferey Archer has woven an impeccable tale that calls for a dozen sequels.
After reading the sequels, when we read the prequel, we already know how the lives are going to change and hence the introduction of the characters is a surreal experience. A character worth mentioning is that of Virginia. The vile lady's character evolves over time and the author has given a head-start for the same. The intricate details of the boardroom discussions and the give and take that happens between the directors are stretched unduly, thereby making the book lagging. Author has clearly learned from his book. The prequels are an alibi to how the author worked on the flaws. It is a very rare occurrence that the prequels are several grades higher.

ANAAYA AND I BY MANISHA GARG #A2ZChallenge #Book8

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK
A mother's journey is surreal. Each mother has a different journey because each baby is different. Same mother could have different journeys with different kids. Anaaya and I is the journey of the author with her daughter Anaaya. It could be a conicidence or destiny that I am writing the review during the #A2ZChallenge and the author started her book with her A2ZChallenge experience.

 It will be a beautiful memory for everyone to cherish.

The author has put forth the journey from first moment till her child reached her milestones.  Each point in her life is palpably presented for ther readers. For the to-be mothers there are a lot of helpful points which could be helpful for their pregnancy. It is heartwarming to see how the author and her husband jointly welcome their daughter and how she became the center of the universe.
There are a lot of emotional and exciting moments in the book, which every mother would be able to relate to. The book made me realise how silly I was to judge a mother who was upset about her daughter having physiological jaudice, which is a common and  harmless ccondition. But the author makes us realise that even that would be stressful for the new mothers. The author's account of the unsolicited, unscientific advices seemed so relatable because it would be the case of every Indian mothers.
The book could have been longer. By and large the book is a perfect pointer to the to-be moms and the walk down the memory lane for the experienced mothers but the emotional connect between Anaaya and her mother could have been explored the fullest extent possible.
How the author multitasks to balance her life is indeed an inspirational tale for every women. 

Cover Reveal -- The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel

THE WEDDING DRESS

Danielle Steel

In Danielle Steel's epic new novel, the lives of four generations of women in one family span fortune and loss, motherhood, tragedy and victories.

From the glamorous San Francisco social scene of the 1920s, through war and the social changes of the '60s, to the rise of Silicon Valley today, this extraordinary novel takes us on a family odyssey that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as each generation faces the challenges of their day. The Parisian design houses in 1928, the crash of 1929, the losses of war, the drug culture of the 1960s—history holds many surprises, and lives are changed forever. For richer or for poorer, in cramped apartments and grand mansions, the treasured wedding dress made in Paris in 1928 follows each generation into their new lives, and represents different hopes for each of them, as they marry very different men.

From inherited fortunes at the outset to self-made men and women, the wedding dress remains a cherished constant for the women who wear it in each generation and forge a destiny of their own. It is a symbol of their remaining traditions and the bond of family they share in an ever-changing world.

Author Bio

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with nearly a billion copies of her novels sold. Her recent many international bestsellers include Against All Odds, The Duchess and The Right Time.

She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.