Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 36
April 5, 2019
Fairy Tale by Danielle Steel - Review
Book Name - Fairy Tale Author - Danielle Steel Publisher - PanMacmillanBuy books from Amazon
Review
Every girl wishes to be the fairy tale princess but most of the fairy tales have helpless ordinary girls who later becomes the princesses who lives happily ever after with prince charming. In real life also there are girls who live pathetic lives under the cruel stepmothers.
Fairytale is the story of Camille who had everything as a child. Her mother's demise turns everything upside down. If that wasn't enough her father's remarriage makes it worse. Her stepmother leaves no stone unturned to make her life a hell. More tragedies await her and how comes out of the high tide in her live is the crux of the story.
Camille, again is the same old "Miss Goody Two Shoes", the quintessential Woman of Steele who has all the good qualities and is exploited. The vile characters of her step mother and step brothers are over the top and dramatic. Nonetheless such characters in real life is not a complete impossibility. The pace of the book is consistent. The deviations in the plots is seamlessly connected.
Despite the monotony of repeated 'Damsels in Distress' in all her books, author has managed to engage the readers with her narrative.
Verdict
Engaging Chick Lit
Scenario: 3/5Narration : 4/5Character : 3/5Entertainment Quotient: 3.5/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher . The Review is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2019
April 4, 2019
Elephants In the Room by Charlene Wexler
Book Name - Elephants in the room Author - Charlene WexlerBuy books from AmazonReview
Elephants in the Room is a collection of stories. Each story has a touching storyline and develops through the length of the story. It is divided into five sections- Coming of age, Family and friends, Passing Parade, Animal Magnetism and Senior moments.
The characters are all real and lively. Charlene Wexler has connected with the readers through the effortless writing style and realistic story lines. Author takes us through the lives of several relatives and friends that we all have. The stories are quirky, touching, relateable and haunting all at the same time.
While some stories are easy reads, some are deep and thought provoking. Nonetheless all the stories are invariably high literature.
Verdict
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : 4/5Character : 4/5Relevance : 4/5
Research :4/5
Entertainment Quotient: 4/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher The Review is part of #BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2019
April 3, 2019
Democracy's XI by Rajdeep Sardesai- Review
Book Name - Democracy's XI Author - Rajdeep Sardesai Publisher - Jugeernaut BooksBuy books from Amazon
Review
Cricket is a religion for Indians. It is an Indian game accidentally discovered by the English, as the author says. Hence a book on cricket will definitely raise the expectations.
Who else to write on the topic than Rajdeep sardesai. Being a cricketer's son, author has the hands own experience on the cricketer's' lives. Author refers that an actor's son can be an actor. If not an A grade actor, they can be actors sill . A politician's son can be a politician but for a cricketer's son, even entering the
Renji team requires talent, hard work and luck which supports a better performance.
Author has selected 11 cricketers in the history of India, who has influenced the moulding of cricket at different time periods. He has backed up his observations with the background of the cricketer along with the detailed study of the tenure. Readers get to see how cricket has grown in India post Independence.
With the style of writing, author has knitted a book that will excite the audience as much as the fiction thrillers do. Hence it is a mix of entertaining and informative account of Indian cricket. The book is more relatable to 80's and 90's kids as most of the cricketers included will come under this category and also Indian cricket had the greatest growth during this period.
Verdict
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : /5Character : /5Relevance : /5
Research :/5
Entertainment Quotient: /5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher. This post is a part of #blogchatterA2Z Challenge
April 2, 2019
Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- Review
Book Name - Christmas Carol Author - Charles Dickens
Review
The book is the experience of Scrooge with the spirits of Christmas past, present and Christmas to be. The journey takes us through the realities of life. The book is the fictional version of saturated philosophy.
The book tells the viewers about the importance of relations, the need to introspect .
The message of the book is applicable in all generations. Nonetheless, the book is not an easy read and hence we need to actually take time and concentrate.
Being a classic, it is a mus read for everyone but one should actually keep everything aside and read the book to comprehend the whole story with its essence
This review is a part of #blogchatterA2z challenge
April 1, 2019
Bharti and Her Theory of Everything
Book Name - Bharti and her theory of everything Author - Anil C S Rao Publisher - Cyberwit.netBuy books from AmazonReview
The book is a futuristic imagination by the author. The plot takes off with Bharati giving away the source of her information regarding sex. As the title mentions Bharati had a theory fit everything but the book is not about Bharati's theory but about Arun's experiments and time travel.
Author opens the door to an era of robots and clones. The book is short but takes time to get into the groove. Why author went for a short book when his topic is SCI-FI is something the warrants a discussion. The character craft is commendable. Be it Bharati, Arun, Aryaraj the characters have an individuality and hence contributes to the storyline.
Nonetheless the book failed to hook me and I had to drop it half way around. It would be unfair on my part if I say that the book don't deserve to be finished but for someone who is not much a fan of sci-fi and futuristic fantasy, the book is a tough one to get hooked to.
Verdict
Futuristic Sci-Fi fantasy
Scenario: 3.5 /5Narration : 3/5Character : 3.5/5Entertainment Quotient: 3/5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher It is a part of #BlogChatterA2Z Challenge
March 31, 2019
Animal Farm by George Orwell- Review
Book Name - Animal Farm Author - George OrwellPublisher - Penguin BooksBuy book from AmazonReview
What better way to start the #BlogChatterA2Z Challenge than a classic. Animal Farm the revolutionist creation by the legendary George Orwell. The plotline need not be narrated as it is known to all book lovers.
The allegory of the revolution by the animals to that by Bolsheviks is excellent. Each chapter, each line is brimming with satire. The book is a quintessential example for literary protest. The characters are analogous to the real life characters. Each incident has a real life counterpart. Author has simultaneously educated the readers on history and incited a call for protest.
The motos on the wall when applied in the real life holds a lot of relevance. Do I deserve to review this book is the biggest question mark for me. Nonetheless here I am with all praises but a complaint. Towards the second half the pace of the book drops and starts to lag.
Verdict
Legendary
March 23, 2019
Still Loved Still Missed by Mridula- Review
Book Name - Still Loved Still Missed Author - Mridula Publisher - Notion PressBuy books from Amazon
Review
Still Loved Still Missed is a collection of short stories. The stories are unconventional yet simple, endearing yet thought provoking. The stories are poetic proses.
The prime mention is to be given to the style of narration. It is quite palpable and engaging. Author has an inclination towards nature. Most of the stories including the title story are about inhuman or non living things but the author has succeeded in making them the characters and successfully connected the readers with them.
There is an inconsistency when it comes to the different stories but the readers will be surely glued to the book. It is said that we should not judge a book with its cover. This comes true when it comes to this book. The cover and the size of the book forces the readers to judge it as a negligible piece but on further foray into the literary world, author proves her mettle. The book could be given to the little readers as many of the stories have a moral- be it the life of Sepal, or a coracle or spider s, all carry a message and hence recommended to the little readers as well.
Verdict
Recommend it to kids and adults alike
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : 4 /5Character : 3.5 /5Entertainment Quotient: 3.5/5
This review is in return of a free book from the author
The Soft Target by Kalyan Nanda- Review
Book Name - The soft Target Author - Kalyan Nanda Publisher - Notion PressBuy books from Amazon
Review
Mohan is a brilliant boy with extraordinary IQ. But he has an incurable neurotic problem. He cannot process his thoughts into words and end up saying nonsense which makes him look like an imbecile or a bully.
The story line naturally gives the impression of a docile Mohan who is afraid of everything but surprisingly author has given the readers a fighter right from the beginning.
The craft of Mohan's character and individuality makes the book stand out. How Mohan excels in studies and attains success of more or less predictable but the level of inherent confidence and perseverance is fresh to read. Mohan is in an indifferent relation with God for making him helpless and giving him the handicap and it aggravates when his parents die in a car accident. Further how Mohan survives and come out of the trauma it the middle of the story. Further we can see the campus friendship, love, heartbreak and all the spicy and sweet ingredients for a YA story.
The plot and the overall storyline has a lot of possibilities. Nonetheless it has not been used to the maximum extend. The effortless style of narration makes it easy for the beginners and it is afresh style of writing attempt by the author. Despite the lack of consistency of the narration, the book is sure to attract the YA audience. There is an underlying message of hardwork and perseverance. Author has also shown the readers as to how one can come of the difficult situations.
Verdict
Best for YA readers
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : /5Character : /5Relevance : /5
Research :/5
Entertainment Quotient: /5
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
March 22, 2019
BlogChatterA2Z Challenge Theme Reveal
Last year one of the items in by bucket list was participating in Blogchatter A-ZChallenge where in Bloggers will be posting for 26 days. Each post with names in the alphabetical order. As you all know I have two blogs. Outset- A book review Blog
And Scrutiny- A personal Blog
I am planning to participate through both blogs.
The theme for Outset is understood. "REVIEWS" I will be reviewing book with titles from A-Z .
I am not sure if I would successfully finish this but this is my greatest desire and toughest attempt as I have to accomplish the same in both blogs. Let's see how it goes.
March 19, 2019
They Go To Sleep by Saugata Chakraborty- Review
Review
It is a collection of short stories. All stories stand out with the variety. Author has a quite palpable writing. The stories connect with deep emotions of the reader.
The story titles "They Go to Sleep" is a mix of thriller and literary fiction. "Six days Seven Lives" proceed as a suspense story yet it couldn't be counted as a thriller. The climax comes without much drama. "Man of letters" is a futuristic story. "Rare" is an interesting story. It's an informative fiction. "The short lives of Shazia Sultana" is a realistic fiction. It is a story that could happen to anyone in this digital age and it could have happened to many.
What blew my mind are two stories- "It was time" and "The other side". Both stories hooks the reader to each sentence and end up with a mind-blowing climax. The remaining five stories, though good ones, failed to create a gluing impact in the minds of the readers.
The style of narration is something that needs special mention. Author's capability to play with words is impeccable.
Verdict
Playing with words and emotions.
Scenario: 4 /5Narration : 4/5Character : 3/5Entertainment Quotient: 3.5/5
This review is in return of a free book from the author
