Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 35
April 13, 2019
Life in the Sunshine by T.Satish- Review #BlogchatterA2Z
Book Name - Life in the Sunshine Author - T. Sathish Publisher - Notion PressBuy books from Amazon
Review
Life of cricketers have been a matter of curiosity for laymen. Any book about too cricketers are sure to hit the bestseller lists. However, it is a matter of fact that there are thousands or lakhs of folks who are talented and bred the dreams of being a professional cricketer but due to several circumstances could not pursue it.
We all have seen boys or men who are addicted to cricket and despite all odds they still manage to watch the matches and wives who are fed up of this madness.
'Life in the sunshine' is a book about the three friends who are called Triple Sundae Gang. They played cricket in their locality and have decided to take the road to victory but unfortunately, their dream doesn't seem to materialise. What prevents their dream from being fulfilling? What happens to their lives? How do they end up in their life?
The book is an engaging memoir with strips of imagination. The incidents are relatable to all the cricket lovers irrespective of which era they belong to. The genre of the book is niche and hence would be suitable to those who enjoy cricket
Verdict
For all cricket lovers
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : 4/5Relevance : 4/5Research :4/5
Entertainment Quotient: 4/5
This review is in return of a free book from WritersMelon
Life in the Sunshine by T.Satish- Review
Book Name - Life in the Sunshine Author - T. Sathish Publisher - Notion PressBuy books from Amazon
Review
Life of cricketers have been a matter of curiosity for laymen. Any book about too cricketers are sure to hit the bestseller lists. However, it is a matter of fact that there are thousands or lakhs of folks who are talented and bred the dreams of being a professional cricketer but due to several circumstances could not pursue it.
We all have seen boys or men who are addicted to cricket and despite all odds they still manage to watch the matches and wives who are fed up of this madness.
'Life in the sunshine' is a book about the three friends who are called Triple Sundae Gang. They played cricket in their locality and have decided to take the road to victory but unfortunately, their dream doesn't seem to materialise. What prevents their dream from being fulfilling? What happens to their lives? How do they end up in their life?
The book is an engaging memoir with strips of imagination. The incidents are relatable to all the cricket lovers irrespective of which era they belong to. The genre of the book is niche and hence would be suitable to those who enjoy cricket
Verdict
For all cricket lovers
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : 4/5Relevance : 4/5Research :4/5
Entertainment Quotient: 4/5
This review is in return of a free book from WritersMelon
April 11, 2019
Killing Time in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth- Review #BlogchatterA2Z
Book Name - Killing Time in Delhi Author - Ravi Shankar Etteth Publisher - WestlandBuy books from Amazon
Review
A quirky thriller with an unfathomable mystery- Killing time in Delhi has everything that a commercial book asks for.
Chaitanya a.k.a Charlie is pulled into a hurricane of issues. The day starts with the death of his girlfriend of overdose, whom he locks up in his closet, and ends with the murder of a so called Big shot in Delhi. Before he realises, he is amidst everything unsure of how to deal with all that is happening around.
Killing time in Delhi stands out amidst the normal thrillers with the unique narration and the novelty in weaving the suspense around. Despite bringing an obvious suspect, author has brought to the readers a cascade of events that are simultaneously unconventional and contemporary. How Charlie is pulled into the murders like a black hole is instant. The pace of the plot doesn't even drop once and hence it keeps the readers hooked to the book. The character craft is yet another highlight of the book. The idiosyncrasy of the characters are depicted naturally.
Overall the book is like a soft music that shifts to RNB, Rock, Pop and finally shifts to an Indian Classical.
Verdict
Perfect thriller of late
Scenario: 5/5Narration :5/5Character : 5/5Entertainment Quotient: 5/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
Killing Time in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth- Review
Book Name - Killing Time in Delhi Author - Ravi Shankar Etteth Publisher - WestlandBuy books from Amazon
Review
A quirky thriller with an unfathomable mystery- Killing time in Delhi has everything that a commercial book asks for.
Chaitanya a.k.a Charlie is pulled into a hurricane of issues. The day starts with the death of his girlfriend of overdose, whom he locks up in his closet, and ends with the murder of a so called Big shot in Delhi. Before he realises, he is amidst everything unsure of how to deal with all that is happening around.
Killing time in Delhi stands out amidst the normal thrillers with the unique narration and the novelty in weaving the suspense around. Despite bringing an obvious suspect, author has brought to the readers a cascade of events that are simultaneously unconventional and contemporary. How Charlie is pulled into the murders like a black hole is instant. The pace of the plot doesn't even drop once and hence it keeps the readers hooked to the book. The character craft is yet another highlight of the book. The idiosyncrasy of the characters are depicted naturally.
Overall the book is like a soft music that shifts to RNB, Rock, Pop and finally shifts to an Indian Classical.
Verdict
Perfect thriller of late
Scenario: 5/5Narration :5/5Character : 5/5Entertainment Quotient: 5/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
Book Blitz ~ Room 11 by Mari.Reiza
~ Book Blitz ~Room 11 by Mari.Reiza Women's Psychological Fiction
About the Book:
After an accident leaves his wife in a coma, he sits on a hospital chair day-in day-out singing to her. Nobody can pull him away from her as she threads through the rage that could save her. Meanwhile, a desperate nurse grows her admiration for him into obsessive desire.
Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon
Quotes
Anyone can see this man is drawn to his wife with fanatical intensity, beseeching God to give him sense so that he can reconcile the irreconcilable. Paradoxically, through him and his comatose wife I have a vision of order I can aim to, it comforts me to breathe the same air as this man, being part of his landscape. (nurse)
My mother is tight, neat, closed. I want to explode and scare her, show her the real me. I want her to see through to the real me. But I don’t dare, because whenever she’s around I revert to nothing. I wonder if the pain will go once she’s dead. Then I feel guilty. (wife)
He couldn’t learn to do her toes in a hundred years, and surely hopes he won’t have that long, so he gets someone else to come in once a week who also does her wax every three weeks. That’s how my patient’s heels are soft like a baby’s, unlike mine, which are cracked and tired of my body being on my feet all day. Her legs are smooth like silk, whilst sleeping next to me must feel like lying in bed with a horse brush.
‘I have not slept for nights, I have not slept for nights. I do not remember when I ate last, an apple on Thursday.’ I feel like my flow has dried and I can’t fly anymore. (wife)
The man in Room 11 is singing again as he keeps watch on his Salvador Dali girl dripping out of the canvas of the world. ‘We longed for a child but he was stillborn.’ Next he pauses and takes his eyes off me to look out of the window, so I cannot see the hollowness in them. ‘She suffered like a dog,’ he whispers. ‘But we’re ready now, when she comes back.’
Read a Snippet:
For what seems like a long time, I lay there listening to my family on the other side of the door, loudly talking over each other like politicians. I can’t believe they are standing in the middle of the corridor shouting. ‘What about?’ There is always one tragedy or other to be glossed over if it is serious or thoroughly analysed if it is irrelevant. ‘What’s the drama now? It’s not like there has been an accident!’ I already know that no one will ask about my recent diagnosis, not even extend me a rigor mortis hand, because my family likes to pussyfoot. They’d rather switch on the TV, the radio or both, without really taking notice of either, and keep discussing which butcher sells the best chistorra. There is security in boisterous gatherings and the noisier the merrier to cover any scary silences. I can hear so much upheaval already, it clouds my senses. It is their motto, ‘There is to be no lull in the meaningless communication of inanities.’ Yet attempting any real understanding of each other is taboo, a pagan ceremony for needy morons. ‘Will we go with all our feelings to the grave?’ I want to ask. (wife)
About the Author:
Mari.Reiza was born in Madrid in 1973. She studied at Oxford University and worked as an investment research writer and management consultant for twenty years in London, before becoming an indie fiction writer. Also by her, Inconceivable Tales, Death in Pisa, Sour Pricks, A Pack of Wolves, STUP, Mum, Watch Me Have Fun!, Marmotte’s Journey, West bEgg, Room 11, Triple Bagger, Caro M, Opera, the Retreat, sells sea shells and aberri (homeland), all available on Amazon.
Author Links:
Website * Twitter * Instagram
');
About the Book:
After an accident leaves his wife in a coma, he sits on a hospital chair day-in day-out singing to her. Nobody can pull him away from her as she threads through the rage that could save her. Meanwhile, a desperate nurse grows her admiration for him into obsessive desire.
Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon
Quotes
Anyone can see this man is drawn to his wife with fanatical intensity, beseeching God to give him sense so that he can reconcile the irreconcilable. Paradoxically, through him and his comatose wife I have a vision of order I can aim to, it comforts me to breathe the same air as this man, being part of his landscape. (nurse)
My mother is tight, neat, closed. I want to explode and scare her, show her the real me. I want her to see through to the real me. But I don’t dare, because whenever she’s around I revert to nothing. I wonder if the pain will go once she’s dead. Then I feel guilty. (wife)
He couldn’t learn to do her toes in a hundred years, and surely hopes he won’t have that long, so he gets someone else to come in once a week who also does her wax every three weeks. That’s how my patient’s heels are soft like a baby’s, unlike mine, which are cracked and tired of my body being on my feet all day. Her legs are smooth like silk, whilst sleeping next to me must feel like lying in bed with a horse brush.
‘I have not slept for nights, I have not slept for nights. I do not remember when I ate last, an apple on Thursday.’ I feel like my flow has dried and I can’t fly anymore. (wife)
The man in Room 11 is singing again as he keeps watch on his Salvador Dali girl dripping out of the canvas of the world. ‘We longed for a child but he was stillborn.’ Next he pauses and takes his eyes off me to look out of the window, so I cannot see the hollowness in them. ‘She suffered like a dog,’ he whispers. ‘But we’re ready now, when she comes back.’
Read a Snippet:
For what seems like a long time, I lay there listening to my family on the other side of the door, loudly talking over each other like politicians. I can’t believe they are standing in the middle of the corridor shouting. ‘What about?’ There is always one tragedy or other to be glossed over if it is serious or thoroughly analysed if it is irrelevant. ‘What’s the drama now? It’s not like there has been an accident!’ I already know that no one will ask about my recent diagnosis, not even extend me a rigor mortis hand, because my family likes to pussyfoot. They’d rather switch on the TV, the radio or both, without really taking notice of either, and keep discussing which butcher sells the best chistorra. There is security in boisterous gatherings and the noisier the merrier to cover any scary silences. I can hear so much upheaval already, it clouds my senses. It is their motto, ‘There is to be no lull in the meaningless communication of inanities.’ Yet attempting any real understanding of each other is taboo, a pagan ceremony for needy morons. ‘Will we go with all our feelings to the grave?’ I want to ask. (wife)
About the Author:
Mari.Reiza was born in Madrid in 1973. She studied at Oxford University and worked as an investment research writer and management consultant for twenty years in London, before becoming an indie fiction writer. Also by her, Inconceivable Tales, Death in Pisa, Sour Pricks, A Pack of Wolves, STUP, Mum, Watch Me Have Fun!, Marmotte’s Journey, West bEgg, Room 11, Triple Bagger, Caro M, Opera, the Retreat, sells sea shells and aberri (homeland), all available on Amazon.
Author Links:
Website * Twitter * Instagram
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April 10, 2019
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte-Review #BlogchatterA2Z 2019
Book Name - Jane Eyre Author - Charlote BrondeBuy books from Amazon
Review
Yet another classic. The age old women's fiction. In an era of pseudo feminism this book will make the pseudos cringe of shame as this is what feminism is all about.
The character craft is simply excellent. The fact that author could pull of this storyline in this era invokes immense respect for her. Salute to the author.
It i indeed a tough read as the realistic characters and circumstances will make it difficult to simply go through the book. No words!
This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2019
April 9, 2019
I Am M-M-Mumbai by Rishi Vohra Review #BlogchatterA2Z
Book Name - I Am M-M-Mumbai Author - Rishi Vohra Publisher - Readify BooksBuy books from Amazon
Review
First and foremost, I would like to apologise to the author for shelving the book for months and appreciate his patience. Without further ado, let's get into business.
There would be very few Indians who are unaware of the childhood of our Bollywood Superstar Hrithik Roshan, wherein he had stammering and was unable to say a full sentence without interruption. I Am M-M-Mumbai is the tale of Rudra whose stammering has made his life a living hell. Despite the set backs in his life, with determination and help of his friends and well wishers, Rudra conquers his fears and emerges as a successful Bollywood actor. How his life changes afterwards is the remaining part of the book.
From the beginning itself the book tries to convey to readers about the struggle of Rudra due to his stammering. The scenes like the conversation between his film crew where he was an assistant director about how his being in the movies would make the humour quotient high with his stammering, are representative of the sleazy and regressive mentality of the creators to make use of inadequacies of people to gain money. The book has a good message to the readers.
Despite a good subject the book failed to come across as a book with mettle, or it wouldn't have been the intention of the author. The book is a quintessential YA Romance, with the love at first sight and the unexpressed affection. There are a lot of filmy moments too. The style of narration is simple and hence recommended to the first time readers.
Verdict
Easy read
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : /5Character : /5Relevance : /5
Research :/5
Entertainment Quotient: /5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
April 8, 2019
How To Work With And Lead People Not Like You by Kelly McDonald- Review #BlogchatterA2Z
Book Name - How To Work With And Lead People Not Like You Author - Kelly McDonald Publisher - Pan McMillanBuy books from Amazon
Review
No matter where we are, we get to meet people who are not like us. How we deal with them is important. Kelly McDonald, through her book 'How to Deal With And Lead People Not Like You' tells us how to deal with people who are not like us.
The book is a systematically set account on dealing with challenges in life. Be it office or college or home everyone would be different and we have to deal with different people. The book, though a corporate guide could be applied anywhere in real life. Author first discusses the three points to be noted in the first place- Breaking the ice, focusing on the person and Finding what is common. Author tells the importance of the four magical words " I need your help". Author analyses various combinations of scenarios like what to do, what not to, working with people who don't speak English, dealing with prejudice etc.
Author has included several real life examples of successful people who have tactically dealt with people who are not like them and whom they hate as well. The book could be counted as a management book as well as a self help book in general
Verdict
Corporate as well as personal guide.
Scenario: 4 /5Relevance : 4 /5Research :4/5
Entertainment Quotient: 4/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher. The review is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z
April 7, 2019
Book Bitz- Scepters of Empyrea by Vignesh Ravichandran
~Book Blitz~ Scepters of EmpyreaA Journey to the Andromeda Galaxyby Vignesh Ravichandran
About the Book:
Empyrea, an island in the Andromeda galaxy belonging to planet Vathura is serene. Everywhere your eyes turn, you will feast on the lovely birds singing their heart out in the lush green vegetation. Osiris Mysterio ruled the regions of Empyrea with his brother Tyrant Seth and with their children Pitheceus Babi, Kraity Wadjet, and Horus Mysterio.
5000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians were the only humans to receive the invitation to enter Empyrea. They gladly on-boarded into a Pegasus chariot and took their journey to Empyrea. Their journey is indescribable. Empyrea by itself was like a fairy-tale garden, an ocean of flowers and exotic trees.
As the Egyptians went further inside Empyrea, they saw its netherworld. They had mixed feelings when they saw the triangle shaped tombs and the bizarre headhunting people. Empyrea also had the blood-curdling creatures like the deadly dinosaurs, gigantic snakes, furious apes, ruthless rhino’s, massive mastodons and many other creepy creatures. This showed the power of the Empyrean Army and that no other army could survive their wrath.
The Emperor Osiris and the kings ruled Empyrea with powerful Scepters. With those powers, they were not only considered as kings but also worshipped as Lords. The Lords with the help of their scepter had the crucial power to transform themselves into giant creatures.
Egyptians while departing from Empyrea was gifted with a shortcut portal to earth and also with some people and creatures of Empyrea to build the Empramids in Egypt. Overwhelmed with happiness they took the shortcut door and returned to Egypt.
However, the happiness was short-lived in Empyrea. The Empire of Empyrea was betrayed for ruling earth avariciously. Somehow the Emperor of Empyrea locked the shortcut portal and asked the Egyptians to safeguard it. The Egyptians, on the other hand, failed to safeguard the portal. And some gangsters accidentally opened the shortcut door in 2017 A.D, entered Empyrea, and inadvertently got access to the Lord scepters.
So, now the Earthians were left with no choice but to battle against the merciless predators and headhunting people in their heroic journey. Their ultimate fate lied in an empire beyond imagination. They would take their stand against the powerful lords, who brutally led their people to war against planet Earth.
Did the gangsters protect the earth from danger, or left the other world to accomplish their tyrant rule on Earth? Explore the world of Empyrea to unravel the truth behind this mystery.
Book Links: Goodreads * Amazon
Book Trailer:
Meet Ekmali:
Ekmali with harder effects climbed the edge and ran all over the terrace for finding kalishka, but she couldn't see any foot prints of it.
At last, she saw a blood filled mammoth tusk with a shell ornament on it. She picks it and closes her eyes, and a lovely visual comes into her mind, a naughty little girl playing alongside in the seashore and picking the shells from the sand, sudden water showers on her, but it's not the rain, it came from the trunk of a kid mammoth with lush brown colored hair. The girl ran towards the kid mammoth and tying the shell ornament.
Ekmali opened her eyes, and the tears automatically poured out of her eyes, she noticed kalishka's bones rolling down on the floor with its blood. She wiped the tears from her face, took the shell ornament and wore it like a bracelet and lifted the tusks of the mammoth, tied at her two hands from her elbow.
The sharp tusks are scratching down in the ground and leaving fire sparks in her fierce footsteps. She was ready to take on the foe army with the extra long tusks of her kid, she lunged like a saber and nailed the sharp tusks into the bodies of Dinomens and quetzals in a humongous force. .
About the Author:
Vignesh Ravichandran is the author of the book Scepters Of Empyrea: A Journey to the Andromeda Galaxy. He did his Masters in Business Administration from a leading Business School and presently working as a Human Resource professional in a leading software organization in Chennai. He wrote this debut novel with the story line which he experienced in his nightmare 7 years ago.
Contact the Author: Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Book:
Empyrea, an island in the Andromeda galaxy belonging to planet Vathura is serene. Everywhere your eyes turn, you will feast on the lovely birds singing their heart out in the lush green vegetation. Osiris Mysterio ruled the regions of Empyrea with his brother Tyrant Seth and with their children Pitheceus Babi, Kraity Wadjet, and Horus Mysterio.5000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians were the only humans to receive the invitation to enter Empyrea. They gladly on-boarded into a Pegasus chariot and took their journey to Empyrea. Their journey is indescribable. Empyrea by itself was like a fairy-tale garden, an ocean of flowers and exotic trees.
As the Egyptians went further inside Empyrea, they saw its netherworld. They had mixed feelings when they saw the triangle shaped tombs and the bizarre headhunting people. Empyrea also had the blood-curdling creatures like the deadly dinosaurs, gigantic snakes, furious apes, ruthless rhino’s, massive mastodons and many other creepy creatures. This showed the power of the Empyrean Army and that no other army could survive their wrath.
The Emperor Osiris and the kings ruled Empyrea with powerful Scepters. With those powers, they were not only considered as kings but also worshipped as Lords. The Lords with the help of their scepter had the crucial power to transform themselves into giant creatures.
Egyptians while departing from Empyrea was gifted with a shortcut portal to earth and also with some people and creatures of Empyrea to build the Empramids in Egypt. Overwhelmed with happiness they took the shortcut door and returned to Egypt.
However, the happiness was short-lived in Empyrea. The Empire of Empyrea was betrayed for ruling earth avariciously. Somehow the Emperor of Empyrea locked the shortcut portal and asked the Egyptians to safeguard it. The Egyptians, on the other hand, failed to safeguard the portal. And some gangsters accidentally opened the shortcut door in 2017 A.D, entered Empyrea, and inadvertently got access to the Lord scepters.
So, now the Earthians were left with no choice but to battle against the merciless predators and headhunting people in their heroic journey. Their ultimate fate lied in an empire beyond imagination. They would take their stand against the powerful lords, who brutally led their people to war against planet Earth.
Did the gangsters protect the earth from danger, or left the other world to accomplish their tyrant rule on Earth? Explore the world of Empyrea to unravel the truth behind this mystery.
Book Links: Goodreads * Amazon
Book Trailer:
Meet Ekmali:
Ekmali with harder effects climbed the edge and ran all over the terrace for finding kalishka, but she couldn't see any foot prints of it.
At last, she saw a blood filled mammoth tusk with a shell ornament on it. She picks it and closes her eyes, and a lovely visual comes into her mind, a naughty little girl playing alongside in the seashore and picking the shells from the sand, sudden water showers on her, but it's not the rain, it came from the trunk of a kid mammoth with lush brown colored hair. The girl ran towards the kid mammoth and tying the shell ornament.
Ekmali opened her eyes, and the tears automatically poured out of her eyes, she noticed kalishka's bones rolling down on the floor with its blood. She wiped the tears from her face, took the shell ornament and wore it like a bracelet and lifted the tusks of the mammoth, tied at her two hands from her elbow.
The sharp tusks are scratching down in the ground and leaving fire sparks in her fierce footsteps. She was ready to take on the foe army with the extra long tusks of her kid, she lunged like a saber and nailed the sharp tusks into the bodies of Dinomens and quetzals in a humongous force. .
About the Author:
Vignesh Ravichandran is the author of the book Scepters Of Empyrea: A Journey to the Andromeda Galaxy. He did his Masters in Business Administration from a leading Business School and presently working as a Human Resource professional in a leading software organization in Chennai. He wrote this debut novel with the story line which he experienced in his nightmare 7 years ago.
Contact the Author: Website * Facebook * Instagram * Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens- Review #BlogchatterA2Z
Book Name - Great Expectations Author - Charles Dickens
Review
To review a classic might look as a fool's job to do as it has been read, analysed and reviewed for years. Nonetheless, after reading the book I could not refrain myself from writing about the book. This is not exactly a review as such. The story id about Phillip aka Pip, who has been living with his sister Mrs. Joe and her husband Mr.Joe. His chance encounter with Miss. Havisham and him being adopted by Mr. Jaggers and how his life changes thenceforth is the crux of the book. Pip reaches London with Great Excpectations and what happens?
In general, the book has been tagged as a tough read but I could lay my hands on the abridged version. Nonetheless my reading speed was quite slow as I had to hook myself to the book and imbibe the life of Pip. The way the story is weaved is beautiful. The highlight of the book is its characters Miss Havisham, Miss Estella, Mr. Pumplechook, Mrs and Mr Joe- All the characters communicate with the readers through the book. Despite being the first person narration by Pip, the characters connect with the readers quite well. This is a magical tale written by magical hands
This review is an part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2019
