Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 6

In Conversation with Harish C Rijhwani - Author of 9 to 5 Cubicles

Being in a 9 to 5 job has been considered a boring one but Harish C Rijhwani, the author of 9 to 5 cubicles brought about a different take on white-collar jobs. Today we have the author himself for a virtual tete-a-tete.                                   1. Tell us about your writing journey.

My first writing experience was way back during my engineering days when I co-authored the second edition of an electronics book with one of my professors. I understood how publishers work to a large extent, but there was intense competition for the specific book we planned to revise, and things didn’t pan out. After six to seven years into my corporate journey, I got interested in writing blogs because that is a way to share knowledge. At that time, I again tried to rework the earlier electronics book, but still, there were many apprehensions from the publishers, mainly due to the intense competition. Ten years into my career, I began teaching as a visiting faculty, and after a long journey of 17 years in the industry, I thought of writing a book about healthcare IT (Healthcare Decoded). During the pandemic, I published a marketing book (Technology to Business – The Invisible Gap) and a Data Science book (Master the Mystic Arts – Begin your Data Science Journey). Finally, after much thought and additional learning, I wrote my first Novel in 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales.

2. The book is about corporates. Do you feel like somehow life was unfair to them in terms of the pressure?

I don’t think there is any industry/profession where there isn’t any pressure. Even as an author, one is stressed if our work will get recognized. As an entrepreneur/independent business owner, one worries about finding the next customer or big idea. As an educator, the challenge is making students not only understand the concepts but also give them a vision of how to use the same in real life. The corporate world is no different; it can be compared to an exam of real life where we meet various characters in our day-to-day life, some supportive while some who love opposing your ideas.

3. You have shared several relatable anecdotes. Was it inspired by your life?

I would say these experiences are from the corporate world but not limited to a single person. People who have read the book can relate to many aspects as they feel nostalgic about finding a Job, the training one undergoes, working on a client project, visiting the US for the first time, and many more. The way the book is written, you might feel you are the book’s main character at some point.

4. The book wraps at a note of optimism and ambiguity. Was it intentional?

Well, that’s reality, isn’t it? Life is never about clarity; only when you move ahead in life is when you realize the reality was right in front of your eyes, and you needed to connect the dots. The book’s essence is to showcase that whatever the situation, one needs to stay calm and keep trying to reach our goal. In the words of Rocky Balboa, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

5. Were you always in the world of words?

I wouldn’t say I was always in the world of words. From my youth, I have been a quiet person; even my responses to other people I spoke with were in the form of an SMS (still is though ). However, I realized I needed to improve my communication once I entered the corporate world. So, sometime in my corporate journey, I read the book “Made to Stick – by Chip Heath and Dan Heath” which made me realize how to communicate. Between September 2021 to March 2022, I did two courses on creative writing, which helped me on my journey into the world of writing.

6. Are you planning your next book?

Absolutely!! By the way, 9 to 5 Cubicle tales is a 4-5 part series; fingers crossed, I have a long way to go.

7. What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Create a plan, and execute the same!! For any idea to be successful, execution is more important. You might have a thousand ideas, but they will remain an idea if you don’t act on them. For example, if you want to write on a specific topic and focus and diligently write 500 words daily, you will have written a novella in three months. 

HARISH C. RIJHWANI – AUTHOR PROFILE

Healthcare IT professional, professor, writer, author, consultant

Harish C. Rijhwani is an IT professional with 18+ years of experience in delivering value to clients through technology and business services.

Armed with a rich experience of working with various US-based entities, particularly in the healthcare sector, such as university hospitals, not-for-profit medical centers, Integrated Delivery Networks (IDN), surgical and hospice centers, Harish helps organizations to leverage technology to meet their business goals and optimizing business processes. Honing his skillset and knowledge with technical as well as business acumen, Harish has helped provide solutions not only in the clinical domain, such as telemedicine and analytics but also in the non-clinical domain, viz. revenue cycle management, HR payroll, finance, and supply chain.

Presently, Harish is a part of CitiusTech, a US-based Healthcare IT company, where he manages the service delivery of specific projects. He has an excellent understanding of healthcare providers, such as end-to-end revenue cycle, and Electronic Health Records (EHR) like Epic, Meditech, and GE and has in-depth knowledge of meaningful use, International Classification of Diseases (ICD – 10), and Terminology Standards. An avid technocrat and innovator, Harish won Citius Tech’s hackathon, where he his team developed an Algorithm to detect Pneumonia in X-Rays.  Prior to his current role at Citius Tech, Harish worked at Syntel and Hinduja Global Solutions, where was part of a Digitization Initiative and was driving a Start-Up Accelerator Network.

Harish has been invited as a speaker at multiple conferences, such as NASSCOMs Centre of Excellence – IoT: Life Sciences & Healthcare Innovation Forum (LHIFE), National Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Health Informatics at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) University, SMS University Hyderabad, Chetana Institute of Management and many more. At these events, Harish has spoken extensively on the theme of how healthcare delivery organizations are using technology as a game changer.

Harish also shares a tremendous passion for teaching, which has led him to become a visiting faculty and judge at various institutes viz. Welingkar Institute of Management, KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Symbiosis Institute of Management. Teaching for 9+ years and counting, Harish teaches subjects like Healthcare Informatics, Business Analytics, and Advanced Analytics to 1500+ management students. In the past, he has also been affiliated with UpGrad as a Program Curriculum Consultant.

Harish is also the author of 3 st book ‘Healthcare Decoded’, released in 2019, broadly encompasses the history, present, or future of Health IT by simplifying complex functions and process flows of the healthcare system. His 2nd book ‘Technology to Business’, launched in May 2020, during a highly relevant time when the whole world was hit with the global pandemic of COVID-19, encourages readers to understand the “business" aspect of opportunities and address prevalent industry gaps and challenges by bridging the gap between Technology and Business. His 3rd book ‘Master the Mystic Arts’ focuses on demystifying complex Data Science concepts using day-to-day examples like Harry Potter, Cooking, Tom Riddles Diary, and many more movie references.

Born in Pune and brought up in Mumbai, Harish completed his B. Engineering (Electronics) from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College and MBA in Systems from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. In his free time, Harish enjoys watching movies, walking, yoga, and solving Rubik's cubes.

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Book Spotlight - Lulus Favorite Color by Sehal Kela

~Book Spotlight~Lulu's Favourite Colour By Sehal Kela Illustrated by Abhilasha Khatri 
Description 

CLASH SMASH BOOM

All the colors were fighting over being Lulu’s favorite.

Lulu didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know how to pick ONE favorite between so many different colors

What did Lulu do?

Do the colors figure out a way to end their fight?

Which color did Lulu pick as her favorite?

Turn the pages to find out.

Buy the book from Amazon and stay tuned for the review of this children's book in Outset Books.

An Imperishable Promise by Sarathi Sabyasachi Sahoo - Book Review

 A relationship is like a crystal bowl. The more careful you are the longer it lasts. My father taught me this when I was getting married. After years, I saw a father like that through the book imperishable promise by Sarathi Sabyasachi Sahoo. 

Imperishable Promise by Sarathi Sabyasachi SahooA couple heading for a divorce approaches the guy's father and announces their decision. The readers expect the father to create a ruckus but on the contrary, he narrates a love story. The story of Raj and Kashish. Is it love at first sight? No. Is it a conventional love story? Yes. But is it a puppy romance? NoThe author has beautifully depicted the beauty and depth of the relationship between Raj and Kashish. A casanova of sorts falling for a girl might come across as a cliche but the author has made sure not to overdo the act.The back story begins with Deepak falling head over heels in love with a girl who passes by. Deepak is a goody-two-shoes kind of person when it comes to women wherein Raj, Deepak's best friend is a playboy. Raj volunteers the task of making the girl fall for Deepak. Will she fall for Deepak? Who is she? How will Raj's relationship with her develop? What happens further? The plotThe basic plot is rich. It has a lot of possibilities to develop into a classic love story. The way the relationship develops is slow and steady and at a believable pace. Also, the author has developed the romance at a platonic level contrary to the protagonist's character. The blurb reveals way too much of the plot, which could have been avoided. Because by the time Raj starts chatting we know that yes this is going to happen. That surprise element could have been kept had the name of the girl not been revealed in the beginning. But as and when the plot proceeds, the unexpected happens and I loved how the author has brought a different perspective to the whole plot.The narrationThe author's style of narration is vernacular, seemingly targeting beginners and YA lovers. The story is a simple sweet and cute story of Raj and Kashish but in simple language, the author has knitted a beautiful tale of romance, unlike the overdoing by so-called best sellers.The charactersThe characters are relatable. The characteristics could have been developed on a larger canvas. But nonetheless, the author is successful in connecting them with the readers. The author has given different shades to all characters. Kashish could also have been given the shades in varying degrees but that doesn't affect the development of the overall plot.Overall the book is an easy breezy read but it could have been a tad bit tight-packed with one round of sound developmental edit. But if you are looking for a simple read that is fast and easily comprehensible this is the one for you. The tribute to Sidharth Shukla made me emotional and the tragedy in the end forces the readers to connect with the 'Adhuri Kahani of Sidnaaz.
Blurb

What happens to your love when you die? Does your love end? Does your love stay in your heart or in your body? When you say, “I Love You,” what does the “I” stand for? Is it your body, mind, or soul? When you die, is your love also destroyed like your body, or is it immortal like your soul? Then the question comes, is the soul immortal? Nobody can give a perfect answer to these questions. This book has tried to find the answers to that mystery. It’s a love story between two immortal souls. Love is an endless fuel to the energy called the soul, which will keep it alive forever.

Read An Imperishable Promise to find the real meaning of love. It is filled with lots of suspense and twists. What will happen to Raj and Kashish’s love when death becomes an obstacle between them? Will they overcome this false materialistic life to keep their love alive forever? Will their love survive without having a physical existence of the human body? Dive in to find all these answers.

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Song in the Forest by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is a man who has mastered the art of writing. The King of short stories, tells us through his books how easily and effortlessly an author can hook the readers to the book. With so many years of experience traveling in different corners of the country, the author has a plethora of stories to share. Song in the forest is one such craft through which the author claims an unquestionable position. 

Song in the Forest by Ruskin Bond In a carefully crafted foreword, the publisher is telling about the art of writing short stories. That the first line is what makes the readers hooked to the book and the second one falls in place effortlessly once after the other when the lines juxtaposed that taking birthWhile reading the book we realize how on point the forward has assessed the craft of the writer.The book is written in the classic Ruskin Bond template which we all are fans of. The book left me wondering how many experiences a single human being has had and how imaginative one person can be.The innocence of writing The innocence of Ruskin Bond's writing is what attracts the readers. The magnetic pull of the words has expressed the power this time as well through Song of the forest My story One of the stories are too connected to my personal life.  Being a pranic healer I was pleasantly surprised to read the story of the healer. Another story of a sort of serial killer. This is a reality that we have been reading about in newspapers. From horror to humor. Ruskin bond has set free the birds of imagination..Blurb Ruskin Bond is a master of the short story. This pitch-perfect collection brings together the very best tales he has written in the twenty-first century. The book starts with the title story, ‘Song of the Forest’, which has never been published before, and includes extraordinary pieces of fiction like ‘A Man Called Brain’, ‘Rhododendrons in the Mist’, and ‘Miracle at Happy Bazaar’. Dazzling, comic, and gripping, Song of the Forest is the latest masterpiece from India’s most beloved writer.About the author

Ruskin Bond is the author of several bestselling novels and collections of short stories, essays, and poems. These include: The Room on the Roof (winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize); A Flight of Pigeons; The Night Train at Deoli; Time Stops at Shamli; Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra (winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award); Angry River; The Blue Umbrella; Delhi Is Not Far; Rain in the Mountains; Tigers for Dinner; Tales of Fosterganj; A Gathering of Friends; Upon an Old Wall Dreaming; Small Towns, Big Stories; Unhurried Tales; A Gallery of Rascals; Rhododendrons in the Mist; Miracle at Happy Bazaar (winner of the Kalinga Literary Festival Children’s Book of the Year, 2021); It’s a Wonderful Life; and The Shadow on the Wall. Ruskin Bond was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1999, a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Delhi government in 2012, and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. He was selected for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2021.

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90 Days by Anirudhya Mitra - Book Review

 I was 6. No knowledge of news, or politics, but it stuck to my memory like a stubborn stain that something happened to someone who was a ruler. There was a bomb blast, there was someone who bent down, and there are arrests, but what was the matter? It took me years to know what it was. The blood-chilling murder of Rajiv Gandhi. The massacre shook the nation and the incident changed the political scenario. 90 days by Anirudhya  Mitra is an account of the detailed anecdotes of everything that transpired during the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Massacre. 

90 DaysAnirudhya was a newbie in India Today and was assigned the task of reporting the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Massacre.  Despite being a newbie in India Today, he is no rookie because he has taken out his A game in the daily news but when it comes to a weekly or fortnightly, by the time his findings come to light the acceptability of the news would have worn out as it is old news. But nothing could discourage him as he knocks on all doors and leaves no stone unturned. So he uses his sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), CBI, and Intelligence Bureau(IB).The charactersThough real, the characters in the book are introduced in a systematic fashion so that the readers could come back and refer anytime. Since there are too many people among the assassins and the investigation team, this list comes in handy though the author has streamlined the plot in such a way that the readers are in the loop. The investigationIt is an awe-inspiring account of how the investigators patiently tracked the culprits, nabbed them, and made them confess the crime. At the same time, they used these culprits to nab the big fish. How Sivarasan has stayed elusive and fooled the investigators but they never lost hope and continued their attempts. It is an inspiration to everyone who is ready to give up at the drop of a hat.The sensationalized journalismAnirudhya's first article was blamed as sensationalized journalism and it is endearing to see as the plot unfolds, whatever he has written comes true. The book has indeed an element of sensationalism. Nonetheless, this one-of-a-kind book that talks about the reality of nabbing the culprits and the larger picture of conspiracy is a brave attempt. For the current generation who has heard of the incident and are not privy of what exactly transpired, the book is a holy grail of Indian history.

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Blurb

At 10.20 p.m. on 21 May 1991, a young woman bowed before Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, 42 km north of Chennai. And then there was an explosion.

This book is the definitive account of one of the most controversial crimes in contemporary India. It unravels the complex plot hatched by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to ensure that Rajiv Gandhi did not return to power in the 1991 general elections.

Ninety Days provides a blow-by-blow account of how the Special Investigation Team of the CBI cracked the assassination plot, identified the assassins, and chased the mastermind, Sivarasan, to his final hideout. The deaths from cyanide consumption of the members of the hit squad left several unanswered questions in their wake, which this book explores.

About the author
Anirudhya Mitra is a journalist and filmmaker. During a successful stint (1982-93) of news reporting in The Times of India and India Today, he broke several stories, including the Bofors scam, Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, drug wars in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, money laundering by the BCCI bank that led to its closure, corruption in the judiciary, the life and times of Indian-model-turned-spy Pamela Bordes, godman Chandraswamy and others. He moved to writing and creating television drama series with UTV in Mumbai in 1994 and also wrote and produced movies in South East Asia.

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Enemy at the Gates by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills - Book Review

Mitch Rapp is back with a bang! When the enemy is standing in front of you, you can be on a defensive mode but when the enemy is disguised as one amongst you, the pain, and the impact would be manifold. Enemy at the Gates by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills is a fast-paced adrenaline rush for the readers when the plot jumps from the dark jungles in Africa to the post-concrete jungles in America.

The authors

After the demise of Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills has taken the character sequel forward for the readers. Kyle Mills has tried their best as an author to show justice to Vince Flynn's craft. The Mitch Rapp lovers expect the fast-paced nail-biting scenario. While Kyle Mills has done a decent job, some scenes fall flat.

Characters As with any Vincy Flynn novel, Enemy at the Gates have a well crafted set of characters that we will be engaged to read about. The characteristics are sketched in such a way that they lead the plot. The suspense The suspense element is as usual the highlight of this book like any other Mitch Rapp series. But at times the varying pace of the plot took away the reading experience.About the author 

Vince Flynn was a New York Times bestselling author of eleven thrillers, including most recently EXTREME MEASURES and ACT OF TREASON. He lived in Minneapolis with his wife and three children. He died on June 19, 2013, after a three-year battle with prostate cancer.Visit www.vinceflynn.com

Kyle Mills is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two political thrillers, including Enemy at the Gates, Total Power, and Lethal Agent for Vince Flynn and The Patriot Attack for Robert Ludlum. He initially found inspiration from his father, an FBI agent and former Interpol director, and still draws on his contacts in the intelligence community to give his books such realism. Avid outdoor athletes and travelers, he and his wife split their time between Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Granada, Spain. Visit his website at KyleMills.com or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @KyleMillsAuthor.

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Samudran by A R Vikram - Review

 If you have been following me, you might already know that I am not a fan of fantasy but I am obsessed with thrillers, and characters grounded in reality. When it comes to a book that amalgamates fantasy with thrillers and fine characters, then I cannot say No. Thus Samudran by A R Vikram made it to my TBR 

Samudran by A R Vikram - ReviewThe plotMaisyoor island has a history. Inhabited by the tribes Oksata and Yerthinga, the island has a dark history of the massacre. The blame falls on Yerthinga tribe which is comparatively hostile. But are they really the barbarians that they are tagged to be? There comes a bunch of researchers with Samudran who is a photographer. Are they safe in the island?What are the dark secrets that the island beholds?The plot takes off at a slow pace when the readers are introduced to the ambiance of Maisyoor the island or forest for that matter and the two tribes living there. A little bit of history here and a little more fantasy there topped up with a pinch of suspense. I loved how the author maneuvered the plot through the lanes of Maisyoor while introducing the characters seamlessly and while the intros merged with the plot naturally.
The charactersThe characters are realistic without any over-the-top character traits. When it comes to the protagonist, Samudran, he gelled with the rest of the characters without giving an impression of "here I have introduced the hero" but still, he stood out with the sheer finesse of the craft. Everyone in the research team has been justifiably created and developed. The introduction of Meila was filmy for that matter but it didn't take away the reading experience. How they connected with each other and unknowingly came close. Amidst the cliche, boy meets girl and started making love kind of shallow love story.The roller coasterThe pace of the plot takes momentum slowly and sucks the readers inside and takes them along, but once we are in a groove the plot stagnates. Then the readers are taken to the various customs of the tribes and then one twist after the other, which helps the plot soar and further a lag which weighs down heavily on the pace of the plot, again pushing it forward with a blooming romance. Thus the pace goes up and down. With a good mix of fantasy and suspense, the author has pulled off a good attempt. If you are a fantasy lover you will love this book. If you are a thriller lover you will love this book. If you are a romance lover you will love this. Overall the book has a wide target reader group.The post is written as a part of Book Marathon Hosted by Outset Books.

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9 to 5 Cubicle Tales By Harish C Rijhwani - Review

While I was growing up, there was a trend of pushing kids into engineering or medicine. The peer pressure and the norms of society would force the kids to look linearly at their careers. Result - many kids hooked up in a 9-5 job. As much as it seems colorful, the pain of the monotony in their routine and the insecurities and politics. 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales by Harish C Rijhwani is the tale of the corporate life of Hridaan Rajdev.

9 to 5 Cubicle Tales The book is not a conversational boy meets girl romance or thriller or any genre that we have read. The book is predominantly an anecdote of Hridaan's life without the preset melodrama of the books that we read. The narration is anchored to the reality that the corporate slaves would find relatable to the core. Moreover, the author has crafted the book with so much sincerity that the readers would start viewing the author himself as the protagonist.The friendships

Another remarkable factor about the book is the friendships that are depicted in a realistic fashion. There are no over-the-top howlings, unwarranted misogyny, or any sort of activities that the current generation would forcefully want to see in "cool" friends. The author has also made sure to keep the characters grounded and not to portray any miss goody two shoes or perfect prince charming for that matter. When it comes to the IT industry, corporates revere working on-site that it is a golden opportunity that is otherwise unattainable. It took me to many of my friends in a similar zone. 

No happily ever afterThe climax is what touched a cord in my heart. How the author did not give closure and keeps the message open for the readers that life is a story that never ends and goes on and on. While the overall plot and execution were realistic, engaging, and sincere, the length of the book is something that brings the overall plot over a barrel.

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Blurb: 

A young man caught in the uncertainties of the corporate world. Can he survive and regain his family’s lost pride?

Hridaan Rajdev never believed he would face so many trials. Running from pillar to post, trying to meet deadlines, and hearing whispers of rejections, the twenty-two-year-old programmer struggles under pressure. But he did not foresee being stung by office politics, as his chance of fast growth is crushed.

Embarking on a journey with his newfound friends, he now sets off to explore the fun side of work. But every day with new challenges coming his way, he fears without being innovative he will not be able to survive. Can Hridaan prove his mettle to support his family and fulfill his dreams?

9 to 5 Cubicle Tales is an engrossing first book in the Cubicle Tales literature and fiction series. If you like rollercoaster rides, deep bonds of friendship, and the courage to face challenges head-on, then you will love Harish Rijhwani's exciting and triumphant stories.

Buy 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales today to unravel and relive the stories of the corporate world.

Harish C Rijhwani

Harish Rijhwani works a full-time job with an experience of 20+ years in IT & has a passion for teaching having taught hundreds of Management Students. He is a Visiting Faculty/Speaker/IT Judge at various institutes viz. Welingkar, Somaiya, Symbiosis, and NASSCOM. He has done BE Electronics & MBA Systems. Born in Pune, bought up in Mumbai, he loves watching movies, walking, yoga, and solving Rubik's cubes.

Book Spotlight - 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales by Harish C Rijhwani

 A young man caught in the uncertainties of the corporate world. Can he survive and regain his family’s lost pride?

Book Spotlight9 to 5 Cubicle Tales by Harish C Rijhwani
Hridaan Rajdev never believed he would face so many trials. Running from pillar to post, trying to meet deadlines, and hearing whispers of rejections, the twenty-two-year-old programmer struggles under pressure. But he did not foresee being stung by office politics, as his chance of fast growth is crushed.

Embarking on a journey with his newfound friends, he now sets off to explore the fun side of work. But every day with new challenges coming his way, he fears without being innovative he will not be able to survive. Can Hridaan prove his mettle to support his family and fulfill his dreams?

9 to 5 Cubicle Tales is an engrossing first book in the Cubicle Tales literature and fiction series. If you like rollercoaster rides, deep bonds of friendship, and the courage to face challenges head-on, then you will love Harish Rijhwani's exciting and triumphant stories. Buy 9 to 5 Cubicle Tales today to unravel and relive the stories of the corporate world.

About the author
Harish Rijhwani works a full-time job with experience of 20+ years in IT & has a passion for teaching having taught hundreds of Management Students. He is a Visiting Faculty/Speaker/IT Judge at various institutes viz. Welingkar, Somaiya, Symbiosis, and NASSCOM. He has done BE Electronics & MBA Systems. Born in Pune, and brought up in Mumbai, he loves watching movies, walking, yoga, and solving Rubik's cubes.

Prescient, Ethereally Realistic, Haunting - Pull Of The Stars By Emma Donoghue

Julia power is off to work. The readers are intrigued to know what happens next. Is it a thriller? What is her present, past and future? Where is she heading to? In the background of WW1, amidst scary pandemic Spanish influenza drawing a sketch parallel to the COVID pandemic, Emma Donoghue crafted a prescient piece of literature for the readers. A relatable piece of magic.


Three women and a maternity wardNurse Julia Power, Social worker Birdie Sweeney and Dr. Kathleen Lynn lead the plot and hold the readers glued to the book. Life in the ward is depicted with a brutally realistic narrative. The pain and tribulations of COVID patients are pulling the world apart and hence it is impossible to imagine a parallel situation in the Yester century.
Fewer characters, a closed background, and a breathtaking plotIt is impossible to read a book with an undisturbed mind. How Emma has lucidly portrayed the swaying thoughts of Julia thereby bringing a spicy yet sour flavor to the otherwise bland yet bitter scenario is commendable.
If you are someone who is affected by painful and intense scenarios this book would haunt you. If you are a historical fiction lover, you would find it painful to keep thr book aside. Impeccable and ethereally realistic reading experience.
About the Author

Born in Dublin in 1969, Emma Donoghue is an Irish emigrant twice over: she spent eight years in Cambridge, England, before moving to Canada’s London, Ontario. She is best known for her novels, which range from the historical ( The Wonder, Slammerkin, Life Mask, The Sealed Letter) to the contemporary ( Akin, Stir-Fry, Hood, Landing). Her international bestseller Room was a New York Times Best Book of 2010 and was a finalist for the Man Booker, Commonwealth, and Orange Prizes; her screen adaptation, directed by Lenny Abrahamson, was nominated for four Academy Awards.

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