Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 25

Irrationally Passionate by Jason Kothari-Review #BOOK7

CLICK HERE TO BUY IRRATIONALLY PASSIONATE

Being the underdog, subjected to racial discrimination, less competitive of the two siblings, later outgrows every shortcomings and attends the bankruptcy auction of the world's third largest comic company and further embellishes the CEO position of the top companies which are heading for a loss and bringing them up- The one liner calls for a thrilling Hollywodd movie. But it is neither, Hollywood, nor a movie. It is the life story of an man in flesh and blood.

Brimming with practical advice and philosophical insights, it will force readers to reflect on how they perceive life, work, family and spirituality by giving them a fresh perspective.

Jason Kothari, through his book Irrationally Passionate proves that he is the best in everything, even literature. To read his childhood and seeing how he grew as a person step by step, is a surreal experience. The book is relatable at different levels. He hasn't minced any words in putting forth his life's story and how he grew from a rebel to an entrepreneur gives the light of hope to many youth out there. Jason's childhood as an ordinary child, while his brother excelled in everything, shows me the picture at my home when my daughter came and asked me why she couldn't excel in everything but her brother does. The book gives me a new direction as a mother as to how I could push her limits to recognize that one thing which sparks the fire in her.

Jason gave a mantra for the readers to live by "FROM GIGGLES TO CHEERS"

Being a rebel during the teenage years is everyone's tale but in Jason's case it was far too rebellious and dangerous too. How he overcame all those with sheer determination, will give inspiration to so many kids out there who have strayed away and wants to come back. His experience in the Muay thai training tells the readers how to practically and functionally convert every situations.We have all heard of a boy who took his family's money for investing into business and goofed up big time. The interim period for Jason, between the money was invested and outcome came was the same tale when everyone including parents disheartened him. For a normal person, it was enough to give up and start afresh but Jason didn't give up.

Jason's advice about the importance of money and passion is surely going to come out as a famous quote. Through the book he declares that here is a legend in the making. He has made sure not to be bragging about his achievements and he didn't even try to downplay his mistakes. The book is utmost honest and inspiring account about this man.

About the Author
Jason Kothari is a passionate entrepreneur and business turnaround leader. While still in college, he acquired the bankrupt US-based Valiant Entertainment and led its transformation as the CEO to the third-largest superhero entertainment company after Marvel and DC and a sale for $100 million, a record industry return. Subsequently, Jason was the CEO of Housing.com, where he led the transformation of the distressed company and a merger with News Corp's PropTiger to create the $350 million industry leader. Following this, he was the Chief Strategy & Investment Officer of Snapdeal, where he played a lead role in transforming the distressed company from a monthly loss of over $20 million to a profit, the first for an Indian e-commerce company. Jason was also the CEO of FreeCharge, where he led the sale of the company to Axis Bank for $60 million. In addition, he has been a senior advisor to Softbank; Noon.com, a Middle Eastern e-commerce company that has raised $1 billion; and is a Board Director of Emaar India, which has over $2 billion in real estate assets. He is also an Executive Producer of Bloodshot (Sony Pictures) starring Vin Diesel. Jason holds a B.S. from The Wharton School and lives in Mumbai.

If you have been following my social media pages, you wou...

If you have been following my social media pages, you would know that I an participating in #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Thinking of the apt topic was not a tough job, as I was pretty clear about the topic. This topic has been the theme of my blog. The topic defines my blog now.
Books- The five little word that gives me intoxication. The physical touch of a non living thing that gives me unfathomable satisfaction. I will try to include as many boom reviewa as possible. Lest I will be posting about writing. Let's see how it would work out.

Cover Reveal- Love, Marriage and Other Disasters

~ Cover Reveal ~
Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters
by Shilpa Suraj


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?
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

Leatherback and the strange place- Review #Book6

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

When I got this book for review, my intention was to let my daughter read it and make her review it like we did for the previous childrens book but the book is apt for older kids sa about eleven years old or so as the vocabulary is tough for a third grader. So I decided to read it out for her and put the review from my side.

All leatherback had wanted was a quiet summer, but she had no idea that she was about to enter a whirlwind of mysterious secrets and adventures

Coming to the book, it is a deep, emotional, and quirky read for the kids and adults alike. Sarah and her inhibitions, incite empathy in the mind of the readers. There is one Mona in every locality or school, who is mean and selfish.
Coming to the main storyline, it is the tale of leatherback, a tortoise which is hundred years old. Leatherback reaches Sara's house. Sara, a sweet , good-hearted girl, who is struggling with her stutter. She takes part in spelling bee against Mona who has won the contest since it was introduced. Mona is a bully who will go to any length to win. Thrilling spelling bee contest will keep the readers on the edge of the seat especially the little readers and listeners.
Through the contest, author has conveyed a lot of messages as to how to be a good human being, about empathy, about how you can be a winner by helping someone win etc.
After the contest Sara reaches home further what happens changes her life forever, for a good reason or bad, the book will tell the readers.
The book is a must read for the kids who need to develop their vocabulary. The activities in the book are targetted at the small kids. But the rest of the boon seemingly targets larger kids. Nonetheless Sara's plight was not lost on my daughter and hence the book is apt for her age as well.

About the Author
Shubhra Shah has earlier written Leatherback’s Big Win, that won the hearts of many children and adults alike. Trained in psychotherapy, reiki and Pranic healing, she has addressed almost twenty-five thousand across various schools in Kolkata in the past few years. Her favourite message to children is – “Be Kind, even to someone you don’t like.”.

SPINNING SILVER BY NAOMI NOVIK - Review #Book5

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK


Retelling fairytales is never an easy job. It is all the more difficult because author has to read and outgrow the benchmark set by the original, both literarily and emotionally.
Spinning Silver is the retelling of the fairy tale that has done justice to the original.Miriyem is a moneylender's daughter. Her father has been too generous about collecting the debt back and this inhibition brought them from riches to rags. Finally one day Miriyem sets out to collect the debts that she learns the trick as to how to coerce them into repaying the debt and proves herself better than her father. One of the houses where she goes to collect the debt, due to the inability of the family, she takes their daughter Wanda home as a domestic help in return of the money paid back on a condition that the debt will be considered repaid in 4 years. Miriyem slowly grows the business and the word goes out that she could turn Silver into gold. The news reaches the ears of the Staryk who puts forth a condition in return of her life. In another part of the worl Irina is forced into a marriage with the Tsar. Tsar is not what he seems peripherally. How these three women fight through thick and thin towards survival is the crux of the tale.

Taking Rumpelstiltskin as her starting point, Spinning Silver is a rich, multilayered new story which is a joy to read.

The plot is based on the fairy tale but it has an ineherent life that is instilled by the author. Author has portrayed the girls in a good light and portrayed them as strong personalities. The rest of the charcaters are reduced to mere braces. The staryk and Tsar are given different shades so as to justify the girls' feelings for them. To craft such complicated characters and pull of a palpable tale need immense dexterity. Notwithstanding the suspense, the author has kept the present dominant throughout.

As with her standalone novel Uprooted, Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales.

The narration is kept first person by the different female characters and hence the author has put forth the perspective of the characters in different scenatios. Surprisingly, what one finds advantageous is equally advantageous throughout the book. Nonetheless the books lags behind after Miriyems's emcounter with Irina.

Characters take thge spolight of the book. The tale becomes secondary due to the impeccable chacrater craft and the narration that projects the characters and their lookout. The understanding between Staryk and Miriyema as well as the give and take between Tser and Irina are eternal and stands relevant in any era.

The climax doesn't have any dramatic twists primarily because the book is not all about the thrilling side but about the palpable feelings of the characters and their survival. It is surreal to connect with the characters.

The round about of the book would be that it is a perfect fit for the female fantasy lovers.

About the author
Naomi Novik is the acclaimed author of the Temeraire series and the Nebula-winning novel Uprooted, a fantasy influenced by the Polish fairy tales of her childhood. She is a founder of the Organization for Transformative Works and the Archive of Our Own. She lives in New York City with her family and six computers.

SPINNING SILVER BY NAOMI NOVIK - Review

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK


Retelling fairytales is never an easy job. It is all the more difficult because author has to read and outgrow the benchmark set by the original, both literarily and emotionally.
Spinning Silver is the retelling of the fairy tale that has done justice to the original.Miriyem is a moneylender's daughter. Her father has been too generous about collecting the debt back and this inhibition brought them from riches to rags. Finally one day Miriyem sets out to collect the debts that she learns the trick as to how to coerce them into repaying the debt and proves herself better than her father. One of the houses where she goes to collect the debt, due to the inability of the family, she takes their daughter Wanda home as a domestic help in return of the money paid back on a condition that the debt will be considered repaid in 4 years. Miriyem slowly grows the business and the word goes out that she could turn Silver into gold. The news reaches the ears of the Staryk who puts forth a condition in return of her life. In another part of the worl Irina is forced into a marriage with the Tsar. Tsar is not what he seems peripherally. How these three women fight through thick and thin towards survival is the crux of the tale.

Taking Rumpelstiltskin as her starting point, Spinning Silver is a rich, multilayered new story which is a joy to read.

The plot is based on the fairy tale but it has an ineherent life that is instilled by the author. Author has portrayed the girls in a good light and portrayed them as strong personalities. The rest of the charcaters are reduced to mere braces. The staryk and Tsar are given different shades so as to justify the girls' feelings for them. To craft such complicated characters and pull of a palpable tale need immense dexterity. Notwithstanding the suspense, the author has kept the present dominant throughout.

As with her standalone novel Uprooted, Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales.

The narration is kept first person by the different female characters and hence the author has put forth the perspective of the characters in different scenatios. Surprisingly, what one finds advantageous is equally advantageous throughout the book. Nonetheless the books lags behind after Miriyems's emcounter with Irina.

Characters take thge spolight of the book. The tale becomes secondary due to the impeccable chacrater craft and the narration that projects the characters and their lookout. The understanding between Staryk and Miriyema as well as the give and take between Tser and Irina are eternal and stands relevant in any era.

The climax doesn't have any dramatic twists primarily because the book is not all about the thrilling side but about the palpable feelings of the characters and their survival. It is surreal to connect with the characters.

The round about of the book would be that it is a perfect fit for the female fantasy lovers.

About the author
Naomi Novik is the acclaimed author of the Temeraire series and the Nebula-winning novel Uprooted, a fantasy influenced by the Polish fairy tales of her childhood. She is a founder of the Organization for Transformative Works and the Archive of Our Own. She lives in New York City with her family and six computers.

Cover Reveal- Murder in the Chowdhury Palace

~ Cover Reveal ~
Murder in the Chowdhury Palace
by Sharmishtha Shenoy


About the Book:
What if someone you loved... was murdered? How far would you go to bring a killer to justice?
Orphaned in her childhood, Durga has always longed for wealth, security and, above all, a sense of belonging. She finds it all when she marries Debnarayan Chowdhury, heir to an immense, multi-crore estate. But the Chowdhury family has been under a curse that dates back to the British era. The first-born of each generation dies young, purportedly killed by the spirit of Kadambari, a young woman murdered by the notorious Shankar Dakat, the founder of the Chowdhury family and their Zamindari. When her father-in-law Birendranath dies unexpectedly, Durga and Debnarayan come down to the ancestral home in Kakdihi, a small village near Kolkata. The moment Durga enters her new palatial home, she crosses a threshold of terror. She loses her husband within a month of her marriage and finds herself a widow in a house full of strangers. Are Debnarayan’s and Birendranath’s deaths accidental? Everyone in her new family and the neighborhood appear to be friendly. Most of them have a motive to kill her. A well-meaning neighbor tells her, ‘Run from this place. You have no friends here.’ Is she, the current owner of the estate, now on the murderer’s radar?

Read an Excerpt from Murder in the Chowdhury Palace
The trees were denser beyond the pond on the northern side, and the area was unkempt and full of thorny bushes and nettles. Debu remarked, ‘Not many people venture into the northern part of the woods from this point because the haunted house is less than a mile from here. So this part of the estate is in a rather wild state.’‘Yes, I can see that nature has completely taken over this part. But still, let’s go there.’ I said excitedly.‘Some other day…,’ Debu murmured. His face was slightly pale.‘Debu! You really seem to believe in these ghosts and all that nonsense…,’ I said rather incredulously.‘No… no… of course not!’ Debu exclaimed.‘Then prove it! Let’s go and visit the house.’‘Look… it won’t be very safe. The walls are crumbling, and I am sure that bats have made their home there.’‘Please, Debu, let’s go, I have never seen a haunted house,’ I said, cajolingly. I gripped his hand and almost dragged him towards the house.We came upon the abandoned temple first. The plaster was coming off the walls, and the aerial roots of a huge banyan tree had encroached upon the temple and gone in through the walls causing rainwater to leak into the walls and damage them further. The house was located a further quarter kilometer away.There was a strange, sinister silence all around. Even the birds did not twitter in this part of the woods. The house with its closed shutters and peeling walls was a one-storey medium-sized building. It was dark and uninviting, steeped in shadow due to the jungle of trees that had flourished around it. Darkness echoed and folded upon itself. I walked resolutely to the main door, only to find it locked. ‘Where is the key to this door?’‘I don’t think anybody has it.’I was in a naughty mood. ‘Then let’s break it open. I really want to see what’s inside.’ In spite of Debu’s protests, I picked up a heavy rock and hit the rusty lock with it. The lock broke easily.We stepped inside a large hall. It was full of cobwebs and broken dilapidated furniture. Suddenly, a bat swept past my face. I let out a startled cry and drew back. I would have fallen to the ground had Debu not caught me.‘Let’s get out of here. You shouldn’t be so adventurous in your present condition. The baby might get hurt,’ he said in a quavering voice. ‘Oh come on... please Debu…let’s explore a bit more.’I went further in and switched on the torch of my mobile to see better. At the center of the hall, were the remains of a havan done a long time back. The bricks used for the havan were blackened, charred and crumbling with spiders spinning their webs over the layers of dust. There was a portrait of Shankar Dakat and another of a woman on a wooden platform near which the havan had been performed.‘This is, of course, Shankar Dakat’s portrait. And this must be Kadambari…,’ I said. ‘Who painted this?’ The painting of Kadambari mesmerized me. She was little more than a young girl in a green sari, worn without a blouse in the traditional fashion. Her big eyes were strangely life-like and sad and her long, thick, curly hair cascaded down her bare shoulders like a cloud.‘I don’t know who painted this, nor do I care. Let’s go, Durga. I feel really uncomfortable here.’ Debu said a little impatiently. I started coughing because of the dirt. ‘Durga, you know you are allergic to dust. Come away now. I don’t want our baby to get hurt.’ He clutched my hand in a death grip, and almost dragged me out of the house.The fear in his voice was contagious. Also, to be honest, the life-like painting had spooked me. We hurried back towards the pond. As we almost ran back and neared our home, there was a shout from the ground-floor east-wing balcony. It was Kanak. She shouted, ‘Who goes there?’


About Sharmishtha Shenoy: Sharmishtha Shenoy is the author of the Vikram Rana Mystery series. The books under the series are “Vikram Rana Investigates,” “A Season for Dying,” “Behind the Scenes” and “Fatal Fallout”. She has also published a book of short stories, “Quirky Tales.”Her short stories have been published in efiction magazine and Woman’s era. She loves writing murder mysteries, the kind of books that she likes to read. Her favorite authors are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. She also likes the work of Satyajit Ray – especially the Feluda Series. Before starting to write, she had been an IT professional and had worked in TCS, Satyam, Infosys, and Microsoft. She is a big foodie and enjoys Biriyani (both Hyderabadi and Awadhi versions) and rasgullas like most Bengalis. She is also a lusty singer of the bathroom singing variety.Though she is happily married to Mr. Shenoy in real life, in her fantasy world she is wedded to her creation Vikram Rana. You can get to her blog by typing the word “Sharmishtha Rana” into Google. No, seriously, try it.She was born in Calcutta. She is an M Tech from the University of Reading, Great Britain and had received a 100% British Government Scholarship to study there. She lives in Hyderabad.
Sharmishtha on the Web:Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * YouTube

A Touch of Death by Rebecca Cruden-- Review #Book4

Dystopian fiction has never been my genre of interest but very rarely the books of this genre hold me to back . A touch of death is one that comes uder this category.

When one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.

The plot inroduces the readers to a prison where the perptrators of different crimes are punished in the most cruel fashion possible. Next part of the story shows the journey of Nate and Kitty through the woods and how they manages to reach Nate's brother Thom against all odds. Kitty is in love with Thom and is excited with the reunion but both Kitty and Nate, who was a convict, have contacted a disease due to which nobody can touch them except each other. Contact with another skin burns their skin. While they were taken to medical facility for further investigation, they come across the news of Thom's death when he tried to break into the Building of Historical Records. Will Nate and Kitty find out why he went to the Building of Historical Records? Will Nate's criminal record affect their future? Will they overcome the disease? How will Kitty  move on after Thom's death?

Will Nate and Kitty find out why he went to the Building of Historical Records?

A touch of death gives answers to so many questions. The book is one with the quality of being counted among classics. The depth of emotions depicted by the author is surreal and palpable. Author takes the readers to a world that is fictional yet looks so real. The characters are all crafted well and given ample space to develop and hence their emotions and reactions are applied in a three dimensional clarity.

Catherine a.k.a Kitty is one of the strongest female protagonists I have read of late.

Catherine a.k.a Kitty is one of the strongest female protagonists I have read of late. How she deals with the situations is engaging to read especially towards the end. she blew my mind away with her chivalry and sure will inspire many women to fight for their rights against all odds.

MORAL COMPASS BY DANIELLE STEEL REVIEW #BOOK3

To err is human but to accept the mistake and be ready for retribution needs a lot of courage.

Moral Compass is the story of a group of kids who had to use the moral compass in their lives so that justice would be served.

Saint Ambrose which has been an all boys school is going to be co-ed. Amidst a lot of protests they accept girls for the first time. Everyone is anxious to see how it is going to come out. While everything goes smooth, a Halloween party spoils everything. A group of boys get drunk, and a girl joins them in between. The next day St.Ambrose wakes up to the news of a girl being attacked. Will the perpetrators be arrested? Will they accept their mistake? How will it affect the kids and the school?
The plot is more about how it has to be and how it can be rather than what is happening now and next. Contrary to her previous books, author has dealt with the plot differently. There are no Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes or last minute suspense or feeling of retribution. The plot is led by the characters. The parents of the kids who got involved, the parents of the victim, the faculty, the investigating officers.

Everyone has a back story and the author has put everything together without making the book huge and dragging.

The characters being the USP of the book, author has carefully incorporated several shades in the same person and too many of them make a permutation of innumerable shades. Too many characters in the beginning makes it utmost confusing and after a point, it seems better not to figure out who is who. By time the first half is finished, the characters start to become familiar.
The climax is concentrated primarily on the idea of moral compass rather than the suspense element. Hence despite being an investigative plot with a thriller element, the book is treated as a contemporary fiction.

The round up of the book would be that it should be read by every teenager to know how a harmless mischief could change their lives forever.

COVER REVEAL- HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT BY JEFFREY ARCHER

JEFFREY ARCHER returns with William Warwick! With all the twists and turns, HIDDEN IN THE PLAIN SIGHT is the extraordinary sequel to NOTHING VENTURED, the first novel featuring William Warwick.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHTJeffrey Archer
 From number one bestseller and author of the Clifton Chronicles, Jeffrey Archer,  Hidden in Plain Sight  is the extraordinary second novel featuring William Warwick.#HiddeninPlainSight is the second brilliant and captivating novel featuring William Warwick by the master storyteller and bestselling author of the Clifton Chronicles, Jeffrey Archer.William Warwick has been promoted to Detective Sergeant, but his promotion means that he, along with the rest of his team, have been reassigned to the Drugs Squad. They are immediately tasked with apprehending Ahmed Rashedi, a notorious drug dealer, who operates his extensive network out of South London.As the investigation progresses, William runs into enemies old and new: Adrian Heath, from his school days, now a street dealer who he convinces to turn informer; and financier Miles Faulkner, who makes a mistake that could finally see him put behind bars. Meanwhile, William and his fiancée Beth enjoy making preparations for their upcoming wedding, though an unpleasant surprise awaits them at the altar.As William’s team closes the net around a criminal network like none they have ever faced before, he devises a trap they would never expect, one that is hidden in plain sight . . .With Jeffrey Archer’s trademark twists and turns Hidden in Plain Sight is the extraordinary sequel to Nothing Ventured, the first novel featuring William Warwick.
About the Author:Jeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include the Clifton Chronicles, Kane and Abel and Cat O’ Nine Tales, is one of the world's favourite storytellers and has topped the bestseller lists around the world in a career spanning four decades. His work has been sold in 97 countries and in more than 37 languages. He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries). Jeffrey is also an art collector, sports lover, and amateur auctioneer, conducting numerous charity auctions every year. A member of the House of Lords for over a quarter of a century, the author is married to Dame Mary Archer and they have two sons, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Pre-order: https://amzn.to/32mNcJM