Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 32

THE ONE HOUR BUSINESS PLAN BY JOHN MCADAM

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For someone who is planning to start a business, a lot of doubts would be there. They would be unaware of where and how to start. The book " The One Hour Business Plan"by JOHN McADAM lays out a complete idea about how to write a business plan in one hour.

The blurb is the book in its nutshell. "One Hour Business plan is an efficient one hour primer that will help you start thinking about a new business or doing something new with your old ones."

The level of research invested in the book was palpable throughout.Author has done considerable field study for the book. Author starts off with the five corner stones of business plans. What are you offering, Who are you offering, who are your competitors, What's next, How Much Money will you make. The whole book develops from these five points.

Before Beginning, Plan Carefully

It is surprising how author helps the readers put their thoughts to place so as to enable them accomplish their business goal. The book qualifies to be a text book for the Management students.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

The book, if approched with the right attitude will surely help you with any doubts in proceeding with your business.

Thanks Wiley India for the Review Copy 

The Full Circle by Namrata Gupta- Analysis

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A man who identifies himself as traveller in terms of profession is a rarity. Aditya of full circle one such rare human being who keeps on travelling and leads a nomadic life. He settles down at places and do odd stuffs which helps him earn his living and once he has earned considerable amount of money he restarts his endeavour.

The character of Aditya is the highlight of the book. He is the nucleus of the book as well as the narrative.

To start off author has made sure to hook the readers with the style of narration. Exemplary language has done half the job in creating a steep graph in terms of reader interest.

"The clarity of the light blue sky was marred by numerous white clouds, irregularly shaped, rather enhancing the beauty of the picturesque landscape instead of increasing it."

Once Aditya reaches Darjeeling and settles there for three months he meets Zinnia, whom he falls for. By the time he realises his string feelings towards her, he stumbles upon a dark secret in her past, which she herself is unaware of. How Aditya deals with the secret is the rest of the book.

" The mirage was broken. What she knew as the truth turned into fiction to beguile her, the person she had been living with for so many years turned into someone she never knew  until then... "

The book deals with a lot of subjects. Adityas steps in helping people and his endeavour calls for an endearing read. Towards the second half author seems to lose the grip on the whole plot. The subplot wherein Aditya sets out to help Jacqueline, seems to be misplaced but since it the the part where he realises his feelings for Zinnia, it was required too. Overall the book is a promising yet short read.

Thanks Srishti Publishers for the review copy.

When Karma Goes Upside Down by Dishant Huria - Analysis

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While preparing for the fourth love anniversary surprise, girlfriend decides to break-up. It could be the most heartbreaking experience for any average teenager. Aarush is no different. He is broken down. He goes after her again and again without even thinking about his self respect. Once he tries to get distracted with another relationship, that too doesn't work well.

Blurb reflects the whole mood of the book " Join Aarush as he tries- by hook or crook- to find a way into love and happiness When Karma Goes Upside Down"

When Karma Goes Upside down is the story of love, loss, despair, heartbreak and above all revival. The overall tale is not very unique but author has managed to avoid a cheesy romance. Aarush's turmoil has been portrayed with conviction lest he will look like a loser. The relationship with Deepali is a comparatively matured one where they give each other space and tries to figure out their life but how the relationship turned out to be is vague. A clarified approach to the same could have been appealing. 

After all, there were so many things that I needed to do- my desire to travel had not died and my thirst to seek knowledge was still alive.

The climax was a far fetched one and the switch was also sharp and distracting. Suchita's character was not given enough space to develop and sounded like a forced one. Unwanted lovemaking sequences could also have been avoided. A round of developmental edit could have helped the book.The book if approached in the right sense could help the teenagers rethink their life and situation and prevent them from going after lost love. 

Thanks Srishti Publishers for the book.

Spirits in the Spice Jar by Sarina Kamini- Analysis

A mother who is exuberant, who connected the family members, a mother who is stylish, energetic and everyoung, when she is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the axle of Sarina's world was broken and it toppled.

"Recipes are easily stored in an exiled person's heart."

A memoir of the famous food writer, food editor and food critic about how she redefined her life with the help of spices is an endearing read. The book is enchanting at different level. On one level it is a recipe book. On another level it is a contemporary fiction. On third level it is a parenting book. On the forth level, it is a non-fiction, a memoir. On a different level it is a historical book as well by giving a glimpse of the history of Ganju Brahmins.

"The blurb doesn't give the feeling that it is a non-fiction book."

The author has connected the different spices to the instances of her life. How turmeric, salt, cinnamon, garam masala and other Indian spices are intertwined with her life is impeccable. The entry of the spices in her memoir is like adding salt to a dish so that it's taste is enhanced.

"I know cumin because it tastes of the love that raised me."

The book had a niche target audience. Not everyone would be able to find it as engaging since if you are not much of a of Indian food and cooking in general you would find it lagging but the painful backstory makes up for it. But if you are looking for an easy fun read, the book is not for you.

On a personal front I couldn't have enough of it for I loved it

Thanks Westland Books for the review copy.

Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie- Review

Agatha Christie has been the uncrowned queen of mystery. The current generation has grown up reading her. Secret Adversary is her second book and hence doesn't need a certificate from any blogger. Yet the effort of Srishti Publishers in reintroducing the book to the Indian Audience.

As the blurb says " The Secret Adversary has the right blend of thrill, mystery and nail-biting adventure"

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This is the first book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. The plot takes off when Tommy and Tuppence sets out to start a business venture but gets pulled into a whirlwind of mysterious incidents which eventually puts their life in danger.

With a shriek of terror, she sprang to her feet. Her outstretched hand pointed over Tuppence's head. Then she swayed to the ground in a dead faint.

The plot is brimful of suspense and twists that the readers cannot afford to miss even a single line, nor keep the book aside for a moment.

If audacity had successfully carried him so far, it was to be hoped it would carry him yet farther.

Coming to think of it, most of the instances in the book were copied in future and some of the scenes were reproduced exactly the same way to many movies and hence proves the greatness of the writer. She thought of the plot at that age is something unbelievable. The book is a must read for all thriller lovers.

Thanks SRISHTI PUBLISHERSfor the review copy

In conversation with Saugata Chakraborty

Hello my dear Outsetians. We have a talented Central Banker turned author with us. None other than Saugata Chakraborty, the author of They Go To Sleep

 Hi Saugata,Thank you so much for your time.
Thanks for this opportunity to interact with the readers through your blog.
·         They Go to Sleep- Why this title for a collection of short stories?
‘They Go to Sleep’ is also the title of a story, the first one in the collection. If you look at the other stories of the book, you will find that all of them, except ‘What’s in a Name’ talk about an end- be it a death, an abandoned memory, a relationship, dreams and even nightmares. The interconnectedness of the stories is at that level and hence the title. ‘What’s in a Name’ is thus the outlier in the book and talks about the end of this deep, dark theme for something happier to take place in the future.
Tell us more about you.And I will tell you about the incident that changed my view on life. One fine day in August, 2017, I woke up to find that the right part of my face was not responding to my brain. The right eye would not close and all other parts including the lips went limp. Fortunately, it was a case of Bell’s Palsy or idiopathic facial paralysis that was curable with medication and facial physiotherapy, but that day I could realise that it takes a moment to lose control over everything that we seem to have. Then I decided that I should try to share my stories with a wider audience before something more drastic happened, and here I am.
·         Your stories touch the readers at the emotional level. Did you feel surge of emotions while writing them?In my opinion, when we narrate or write a story, we should leave the emotions attached to the plot behind. Otherwise, there is a chance of presenting a coloured view to the readers. Thus, I would wait for really strong emotions to recede before I start penning a story centered on those emotions.

        When did you decide to sit down and write something?

My first serious attempt at creative writing was in 1996. One of my classmates was selected by a cross-border panel of eminent Bengali poets to edit a magazine and I was tempted to contribute to its first issue. As a teenager, I wrote about my frustrations with the policymakers and used a rather unimaginative pseudonym of Kalki. The submission was never printed though.
·         A Central Banker to writer- How was the journey?
I am glad that you asked the question. Actually, it happened on the reverse. When I joined the RBI in 2005, I was gaining prominence as a budding poet. The job at hand forced a break till Orkut introduced the idea of social networking. From 2006 to 2013, I had contributed literally a few hundred poems to different Orkut communities, a few little magazines based out of Kolkata, edited a poetry blog for a very brief period and all that. But then in 2011, I was commissioned by the Bank to write a feature on a heritage walk taking place in the Fort area in Mumbai, where our iconic Central Office Building stands for our in-house magazine Without Reserve. That story was met with some rave reviews, insiders felt that they were getting to read about a fresh perspective and my journey as a writer in English started with that. 

A few of the stories in ‘They Go to Sleep’ were originally written for Without Reserve. Those incidentally are the stories that majority of the readers of the book have found a connect to. 

Yet, as a community, we, the Central Bankers are not perceived to be very open to public interface. Commitment to the job demands reticence on certain issues and that probably creates a barrier between us and the outside world. That’s why I felt I should dedicate a book of fiction to the “often misunderstood community of the Central Bankers”.
  Which is your favorite genre?
A genre that I am petrified to make an attempt at: children’s literature.
  How was your publishing experience?
Let’s start with the rejections. Rupa and Srishti were swift to send their response in negative. I would not name those who did not respond, but that was expected. Penguin India Random House gently nudged me to Partridge and I must say that their foreign office did a wonderful job in convincing me that I have a fairly good manuscript in my hand. We, however, could not reach an agreement on the pricing of the book and had to finally part our ways with a promise on my part to work with them in the future. I got back to Karthik, my Publishing Consultant from Notion Press, whom I had contacted before discussions with Partridge had started. They asked for three sample stories and the editors sounded excited about the prospect of the book that Karthik proposed to put on display at the Chennai and New Delhi book fairs in January this year. We were already in November, and it required express processing on their part. There I had made the first mistake of not getting the content edited or even proofread by another set of eyes. The first edition of the book which you had read thus had a few typographical errors. As a souvenir of my mistakes, the Kindle edition of the book has been kept as it is while a revised paperback edition was made available in April. So, I would say that the pre-publication experience was really nice. 

But then, getting a book of short stories by a first-time author launched by a self-publishing platform is one thing and its distribution in India is another. 

Finally, the wide area offline distribution of the book is starting in June. I am keeping my fingers crossed on this last leg of the life cycle of the book.
What is your advice to the aspiring authors?
To be very, very patient. They should not lose heart over rejections and exhaust all the options of a traditional publication before attempting self-publication. Even if someone goes for the latter, it is absolutely necessary to get her content edited or at the least proof read. Last but not the least, try to build your identity as an author before you come out with a book. This could be achieved through a blog, contributions to newspapers and magazines and on social media platforms.
How can the readers reach you?
They can WhatsApp me on 9870071069. My Instagram id is #saugatathechakraborty and Twitter handle @twitsaugata. Facebook is full of Saugata “Chakraborties” but the trick is to search for ‘They Go to Sleep’ there. I am a Goodreads Author now, so connecting over Goodreads is also possible.
With that question, I guess we have come to the end of this interview. Thanks again for this wonderful platform.
Thank you so much for your time once again

Read my  REVIEW OF THEY GO TO SLEEP

TIGER WOMAN BY SRISHO BANDHOPADHYAY, TRANSLATED BY ARUNAVA SINHA - REVIEW

Circus has been a part of Indian lives for more than a century. But we seldom think about the time when circus shifted from the foreign realm to the Indian picture. Srisho Bandopdhyay, through his book Tiger Woman, tells the tale of the first Bengli circus.

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" At once a riveting page-turner and an uncommon historical novel, Tiger Woman places this tragic love triangle in an era of patriotism, as the circus becomes a metaphor for a frustrated social revolution."
The plot develops in different strata. It starts off with the life of Priyanath as well as the history of people around him. His father's gymnasium and foreign circuses steal the spotlight.Author slowly develops each character in a parallel track. The whole life of Priyanath is squeezed into a 256 paged book and hence some details are not given the deserved importance. The first half of the book is detailed and depicts every minute instances with due embellishments but towards the second half of the book, the plot is congested.  
If the book as a whole is taken, it is an excellent piece of literature which is equally entertaining, engaging and informative. Hence the book never lets down the readers. The genre of the book has a niche reader base but the developmental details of the story makes sure that all types of readers are hooked to the book.

"'Don't be afraid, Sushila, Let Go. Let go at the end of the next swing.' 'Why should I be afraid? I know you'll catch me, Priyababu.'"

 Ganapati's character, who eventually becomes a magician in Priyanath' circus, is given Ample space in the beginning but towards the end the character is flushed out in haste. Sushila is the title character but the disproportion of romantic angle and that of the patriotic angle fails to give her character due recognition except in the last few chapters. So is Priyanath's wife. The book is primarily written in Priyanath's point of view. Despite the fact that title character is a woman the book fails to portray the women's strength or do any justice to women as a whole especially due to the fact that reality of Priyanath and Sushila is different.

"Anyone can get an animal to perform by scaring them. The tiger doesn't love her. He is scared of her."
The translator needs special mention. His choice of words are excellent and hence gives the book a special boost. Unlike many other translated books of late, Tiger Woman has the potential to be rated as one which is as good as the original or may be better.
Thanks PanMacmillan for the review copy.

GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK BY ANUJ TIWARI

Love stories are not reserved to romance. There could be stories on relationships between siblings, parents and kids, cousins, uncles and aunts etc. Anuj Tiwari, through his best book in his career tells the love between a brother and a sister.

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Author through his forte of real stories has come up to entice the readers. As always he is there in the tale as Arjun Tiwari. 

The blurb does full justice to the book"Inspired by a true story, this is an incredible tale of abuse and vulnerability, of exhilaration of romance, Of an unshakable sibling bond that is at once unique and universal."

Arjun Tiwari, seasoned author is suggested by his aunt to write the story of his cousin Addya in his next book. Addya a headstrong and smart girl is stuck in an abusive relationship. Though she remained submissive for years, the timely interference of he brother Agastya, helps her escape the shackles of  toxic relationship. How he fights for justice the the help of hi brother is the crux of the tale. 

As quoted by the renowned scientist Albert Einstein,  'When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That'srelativity. 

Addya's character has several shades. She is submissive, headstrong assertive, passionate, smart, capable, understanding and vulnerable- All at the same time. But none of the shades tell anything negative about her, which could have been added for more authenticity. Same goes about Arjun's character. Though her is not very prominent, the presence of the character out of nowhere in some if the circumstances stuck out. Agastya's character is more or less realistic except hen he confronts hi ex-brother in law. 

Damage to ones reputation is often and unexpected cause of legal action. People gossips endlessly until  woman succeeds in getting her rights.

The fact the he forgets everything else when it comes to Aadya is established slowly and how it slowly turns out to be obsessive is also portrayed non-judgmentally. The plot is interesting an shifts he gear every now and then.It starts off with Arjun's journey as a writer as well as his fight with depression in hi own words. Further on introduction of Addya , it shifts to Addya and Agastya, and third one is the relationship between Agastya and Tarjani.
From the cliched puppy romance to stories of substance, the author's growth graph is drastically steep. The book i definitely his best work till date.
Thanks Rupa Publications for the review copy.

OXYGEN MANIFESTO BY ATULYA MISRA- REVIEW

The nature is endless. It holds unparalleled power and possibilities. Luckiest is the one who utilises it. Smartest is the one who empowers it.

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Atulya Misra, has conspicuously asserted that he is a knowledgeable person with immense experience and unparalleled vision.

The blurb itself is the review of the book. It says it all. 

"Oxygen manifesto is a story of the triumph of ordinary people over the might of the establishment in their battle to save the environment. "

The protagonist starts his journey of self-actualisation but little did he know that he would encounter Ravi Chandran Bose, the man behind Oxygen Manifesto. He decides to find out how Ravi ended up in the remote village. His foray into Ravi's life opens up the tale of the IAS officer Ravi who had a wide vision of changing the world. 

"The habitat is the medium through which the forces of evolution play."

The book does not fit into the conventional frame of plot laying and narration. Once the protagonist sets out to learn more about Ravi, the book shifts to a realm of non-fiction. The plot has a major subplot of the life of Thatha and the camaraderie that developed between them.
The vision of Ravi invariably come across as the author's ideology. The idea of the battle for environment is being propagated by many but the author, through the book, gives it a pragmatic structure. Another idea the appeals is that of decentralisation of democracy. Author has an in-depth knowledge about the classified secrets and he deftly narrates them without rubbing anyone the wrong way. Nonetheless he says it all.
The book is primarily about the enrichment of our country in all aspects. In the context of Ravi, author has given the readers an in-depth idea about what is wrong with the nation and how to rectify it. 

"The correct proportion of Oxygen in the air is vital for a disease free and vibrant human life as also the perpetuity of the planet."

Beyond the awareness on fighting for the environment as well as changing the system. The book gives a geographical account on Mongolia and the life there. The search for Rhea is an interesting part of the book. It piques the intrigue of the reader. Once Ravi starts the speech about the Oxygen Manifesto, the book's range grows manifold. Nonetheless towards the end it gets tad bit monotonous and comes to an abrupt end. A minor rework on the climax could have raised the bar much higher.

Atulya Misra is a senior officer of Indian Administrative Services; currently posted as the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department in Government of Tamil Nadu. He has earlier worked as Principal Secretary in the departments of Industries, Environment & Forests, and Transport. He has also served as chairman of different organizations, including Chennai Port Trust, Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, Titan and TNPL. Atulya Misra is an alumnus of Scindia School, Gwalior; Hindu College, University of Delhi; TERI University, Delhi; universities of Texas and Yale, USA; and Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK. He was awarded a doctorate by Anna University, Chennai, for his work on carbon footprint. He has written numerous papers for scientific journals. This is his first book.

THANKS TO RUPA PUBLICATIONS FOR THE REVIEW COPY 

Anniversary month of Outset

This is the anniversary month for Outset. The forth anniversary. It's been four years since I started blogging. First it was the review Blog Outset and then came Scrutiny in September.

Every year I start something new. The first year it was my book. Second year the blog had a new design. Third year I started "On the Outset" review program. My first entrepreneurial ventures. 

We are giving away Outset Reviewer badge to all my reviewers. We have 115 reviewers working with us now. This year onwards the top reviewers of Outset will be awarded.

Many more are coming on the way. 

My review posts will be having a new turn out from today. From my next review, I won't be adding any rating for the book because as I grow as a person, I realise that books cannot be ranked on the basis of some aspects. So all in all we are growing

 Thanks to all the authors and reviewers, special thanks to my followers and supporters and all my fellow bloggers