Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 69

Doppelganger by Prateek Yadav-Review

Book Name         - Doppelgänger Author                  - Prateek YadavPublisher              - AksamalaNumber of Pages - 170Publishing Year   - 2015Edition                  - Paperback Price                     -250
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Rating : 3.5

My Review

A man wakes up from his slumber inside a bus to know that he has no memories of his past, not even his name. He tries to get a clue but in vain. Another scenario is of a man whose family is mutilated in front of him.

A thrilling exciting tale with requisite suspense and cliffhangers. The narration is simple by the standards of the thrilling story. Not much effort has been given in the character craft of supporting characters whereas the protagonist is worked out well. The cover image is The highlight of the book. The dwindling sanity of the man and the maze of his ambiguous past is pulled off in the cover image. 

The page setting and the print quality needs a special mention here. As with many self published books, the appearance of the book is deceptive in a wrong way. The quality of the cover page and the paper size are not appealing.The saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" is literally meaningful for the book.  

There were a cascade of nail biting scenes. Sometimes too much to confuse the readers though. Nevertheless how the pieces are joined together is interesting. A thorough rework will take the book to another level.
This review is in return of a free book from the book club

Book Spotlight - The Doppelgänger by Prateek Yadav

Check the Schedule hereTHE DOPPELGANGERbyPrateek Yadav


BLURB
The perfect plan for the perfect heist-a team of con-men, foolproof disguise and a painting worth millions, nothing could have gone wrong. But something did... A man fnds himself on a bus to Manali with nothing but some cash and severe memory loss . Embarking on a frantic hunt for his identity, he begins to discover that his presence in Manali isn't an accident. The closer he gets to the truth, the more elusive it becomes. Ghosts from his past haunt him as he finds himself trapped between his doppelganger, the police, a sadistic gangster and his own dwindling sanity. The journey of the search for his identity ends up being a race for survival.
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About the author

Prateek Yadav was born and raised in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated in economics at IIT Kanpur, and is currently working at Cognizant, Bangalore. He is an avid fiction reader with a keen inclination towards mystery and thrillers. Besides writing he also enjoys sketching and painting. The Doppelganger is his first published novel. 
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Lessons from a difficult person- Spotlight

Book Description:

Elliston is a highly successful workshop leader and trainer, who offers wisdom learned the hard way—by experience – as well as through rigorous study and certification in many areas of professional training that aid her in her work -- Values Realization, Parent Effectiveness Training and Reality Therapy. She is a faculty member of the William Glasser Institute. Glasser is an internationally recognized psychiatrist and developer of Reality Therapy, a method of psychotherapy that teaches people they have a choice in how they choose to behave.
The methods Elliston offers in her book end the trauma and the drama, and minimize the possibility of confrontation. She gives YOU, the reader, the ability to take a strong, positive, confident—yet compassionate--stance with the “difficult person”—whether that is a relative, coworker, friend, one of your children or anyone else for that matter.
Elliston demonstrates how to:
• Identify the ways to talk to a “difficult” person
• Incorporate true incentives to help people change• Make real the consequences of the “difficult” person’s action• Increase success through acceptance and belonging• Avoid being triggered by the “difficult” person allowing you to neutralize those hot buttons and communicate without judgment
Elliston lays out a proven script for peacefully transforming the difficult person’s behavior and the environment. She gives you the tools for successfully initiating and engaging in a conversation with a difficult person that would lead to change.



Author's Bio:
Sarah (Sam) Elliston is an expert in the art of Dealing with Difficult People. She is a top workshop leader and a member of the faculty of the William Glasser Institute, which espouses “Reality Therapy” to foster behavioral change.
But her instructional career began long before she even became aware that she was herself a “difficult person,” traits that began in Lincoln MA, where she grew up. For more than 30 years she has been teaching and training, first as a high school teacher in Ohio and Cincinnati—and then as an administrator in the not-for-profit sector.
Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook
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Prize: One winner will receive a copy of Lessons from a Difficult Person and a $10 Amazon gift card (open to USA & Canada)Ends Feb 25

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These circuses that sweep through the landscapes -Review

Book Name         - These circuses that sweep through the landscapeAuthor                  - Tejaswini Apte-RahmPublisher              -  Aleph Book CompanyNumber of Pages -157Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     - 299
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Rating : 4.0

My Review

These circuses that sweep through the landscape is a collection of short stories, which depicts different levels of life circus. The stories are metaphorical and imaginative. A beetle collector who in a fit of anger derived from suspicion mistreats his wife. In an attempt to reduce his wife, meets an unexpected twist of life. Anshu, who was late for doing her assignment, after a fateful night, her life changes.

 A woman who sets out on an exorbitant shopping spree, gets lost in the mall. It's symbolism is commendable but towards the end the story became too dragging. The girl who lived Dean Martin, is the next story. I liked this one so much. Tejaswini has portrayed how the protagonist's obsessive admiration and love towards the singer affects her. A little girl who accidentally had something not meant for kids. The theme is good but suspense was obvious. A woman who realizes that her husband who fathered her kids is a homosexual, a group of friends who meet for drink realizes that their friendship was something else and a student realizes that the teacher who he adored is what he thought. Several emotionally challenging, intellectually stimulating scenarios can be seen.

With a crisp and tight narrative, author has proven her finesse in literary world.  The stories and the backgrounds are variant and unique. No two stories are similar in anyway except the signature of the authoress. Not all the stories are equally brilliant. At some point the lack of variation in the narration makes the book monotonous.
The poetic musings of the stories are enchanting. The stories explore and elaborates the psyche of readers through the characters.


This review is in return of a free book from the Writers Melon  

Sonu's Adventures by Hemdiva Dev-Review

Book Name         - Sonu' s Adventures Author                  - Hemdiva DevPublisher              - Self-published Number of Pages -1825 KBPublishing Year   -2016Edition                  - KindlePrice                     - 51
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Rating : 3.5

My Review

Sonu is about to start her school. On the first day, she is very tensed. She is worried about her life in the school, about her friends, about their attitude. Sonu loses her appetite. She confides in her mother who finds a solution to her tension. She packs a variety of dishes in Sonu's Tiffin, the aroma of which, will attract her friends. Will the idea work? The book gives the answer.

Sonu's adventure is a children's book targeting the pre schoolers. The language is simple and easily comprehensible. For the beginners, the book is an excellent aid in reading. The illustrations are also colourful. All in alla the book has the qualities of an perfect kids' book. Nevertheless,the price of the book is a negative. The book is overpriced.
My verdict: A perfect children's book but for the over price.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher  
About the author
Hemdiva Dev is a young author. She loves to read as much as she loves to write. A very special life experience, made Hemdiva a writer. So special that she turned it into a book, which she plans to publish soon. In her writing journey, Nanowrimo became her best friend. She was still too young, busy with her school and studies. Until one day, when all she wished was getting her book published. She had no idea how to publish her book and then she discovered "Self-publishing." It was so perfect for her! After all the procedure her book was finally published. Hemdiva was over joyed when she illustrated her own books. The artist in her was more than happy. Her very first book earned a lot of praises! She is thankful to her fans who are eagerly waiting for her next book. The name "Hemdiva" is very unique & there's a sweet story behind it. Hemdiva's Mother is the source of inspiration for all of her books. And she wished to add her mom's name to her own. That's how the name was created. So "Hem" in Hemdiva is her mom's name. Also, Hem means golden. She loves to go shopping with her Mom. And just like her, Hemdiva's Mom loves to read books. This Indian Author, is a big fan of Horror, Fairy Tales, Mystery & Fantasy. She hopes that she continues to write and publish her books.

Neon Noon by Tanuj Solanki-Review

Book Name         - Neon NoonAuthor                  - Tanuj SolankiPublisher              - HarperCollinsNumber of Pages - 224Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - Hardback Price                     - 499
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Rating : 4.5

My Review

A poetic novel that spreads the intellectual wave of romantic experience of the protagonist. The protagonist T's long and short relations bring forward a new reading experience. Almost coital relation with the first woman who finds put the importance of Anne Marie, his literary, intellectual and romantic  relation with Anne Marie,  his foray through the brothels of Pattaya, unexpected encounter with Noon,

This book is a quintessential example of what is called uniqueness. The poetic narration hooks the reader to the book. It moves the reader emotionally and psychologically. Solanki's expertise in literature is speaking loudly throughout the book. He introduces the readers to a lot of classics. What surprised me the most was the fact that author pulled off the romance between a writer and a prostitute without a tinge of erotica. The part of Orphan is metaphoric and ambiguous.

Much effort has not been invested in character craft especially the protagonist. Nevertheless this cannot be counted as a drawback since on completing the book, we realize that story is the protagonist. 
My verdict: The story manipulates the intellect of the readers magically

This review is in return of a free book from the publisher  
About the author


Tanuj Solanki lives in Mumbai. His short fiction has appeared in the Caravan, DNA, Hindu Business Line, Out of Print and numerous other publications. He's a Pushcart nominee and a two-time runner-up in the DNA-Out of Print short fiction contest. He is also the founder of the Bombay Literary Magazine. His second book, a collection of short stories, is due in 2017.

Pound of flesh by Mukul Deva- Review

Book Name         -Pound of fleshAuthor                  - Mukul DevaPublisher              -Westland books Number of Pages -484Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -350Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 3.0

My Review

Pamela lands in Delhi to join her friend Jasmine but lands up in the hands of a cruel malicious organ dealer SK aka Santhosh Kumar aka Hammer. It is not a secret that SK is the tool in the hands of Harpal Singh, a political King maker. Retired IG Ravinder Singh, father of Jasmine remains in the middle of the whole game of life and death. The fact that Jasmine is betrothed to Dr. Mandeep, Harpal's son, makes the scenario even worse. Making the plot more complicated is the past of Ravinder when he killed SK's father.

The plot is a complicated one with numerous sub-plots which are interconnected slowly but seamlessly. Initially the readers will be at a loss due to the numerous characters and subplots but as the storyline expands, the outline of the story becomes vivid. Characters craft, like the storyline is a slow process. The mannerisms and back stories of the main characters are developed in the second half of the book whereas the antagonists are lucid from the beginning. The formidable  character SK needs a special mention. How his past crafted him as a felon is described convincingly. Yet detailed account on how he battered Pamela, and his wife as well as the pathetic condition of the victim, along with the apathy of the predator was outrageously mysogynic. 
Ravinder's angle with Manju was distracting and as I have mentioned in my several reviews, unduly squeezing in romance in thrillers kills the fun. The climax is predictable. I seems like the sequence was taken directly from some Bollywood Movie.

My Verdict : Overall the book is entertaining and thrilling barring some clichés and commercial elements

Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I waas not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author

An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Mukul Deva was commissioned in December 1981 into the Sikh Light Infantry of the Indian Army. He took early retirement from the army as a Major, after fifteen years of service, including a decade of combat operations in India and overseas. Now settled in Singapore, he is a highly successful entrepreneur, a globally renowned keynote speaker, highly sought after executive, business and creativity coach and a professional mentor. He has also served as a Mentor on the United Nations Institute of Training and Research Afghanistan Fellowship.

I'd rather read by Favourite authors-Review

Book Name         -I'd rather readAuthor                  - Favourite authorsPublisher              - Red turtle (Rupa Publications )Number of Pages -115Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -150Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 5.0

My Review

Have you been tagged as a bookworm when you were a child? Did you venture a reading spree under the blanket with the help of a torch? Did the libraries seem inadequate for your hunger for books? If yes, then this book will excite you.  The book witnesses the childhood reading adventures of authors and personalities whom you looked up to.
Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shares his experience with S.T.R Manickam who helped the reader blossom in his heart. He shares some suggestions to develop a reading environment. We can also get to see the selection of books our former president cherished as a child. Subhadra Sen Gupta shares a quirky anecdote of his surreptitious reading venture with the help of his Didima and Thakuma. Sudha Murthy tells us about the inspiration that ended up in donating books for ten thousand libraries.A poem  "I'd rather read" by Jerry Pinto is the highlight of the book. Anita Nair's relation with Ballantyne's Coral Island is lucid and enchanting. Rupp Rai tells us about her obsession for Enid Blyton and an explanation about the sexist, racist,elitist criticism faced by the authoress. Jadh Sen shares the reading experiences of books which enlightened him at each age. Ruskin Bond, Andaleeb Wajid, Tanu Sree Singh, Nilanjana Roy, Satyajith Ray and Deepa Agarwal also shares their journey of books.

The book tells us not to be flustered if someone calls you bookish since the book gives numerous examples of writers who lived, breathed and dreamt books. The book will be a huge inspiration in reviving the dying habit of reading. But Ruskin Bond says that reading habit is not dying. It was always a rare habit even during the times when there were lesser distractions.

If you have a childhood full of books, don't fail to grab a copy. If you want to be an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy. If you are an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy.


Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I waas not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I'd rather read by Favourite authors

Book Name         -I'd rather readAuthor                  - Favourite authorsPublisher              - Red turtle (Rupa Publications )Number of Pages -115Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -150Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 5.0

My Review

Have you been tagged as a bookworm when you were a child? Did you venture a reading spree under the blanket with the help of a torch? Did the libraries seem inadequate for your hunger for books? If yes, then this book will excite you.  The book witnesses the childhood reading adventures of authors and personalities whom you looked up to.
Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shares his experience with S.T.R Manickam who helped the reader blossom in his heart. He shares some suggestions to develop a reading environment. We can also get to see the selection of books our former president cherished as a child. Subhadra Sen Gupta shares a quirky anecdote of his surreptitious reading venture with the help of his Didima and Thakuma. Sudha Murthy tells us about the inspiration that ended up in donating books for ten thousand libraries.A poem  "I'd rather read" by Jerry Pinto is the highlight of the book. Anita Nair's relation with Ballantyne's Coral Island is lucid and enchanting. Rupp Rai tells us about her obsession for Enid Blyton and an explanation about the sexist, racist,elitist criticism faced by the authoress. Jadh Sen shares the reading experiences of books which enlightened him at each age. Ruskin Bond, Andaleeb Wajid, Tanu Sree Singh, Nilanjana Roy, Satyajith Ray and Deepa Agarwal also shares their journey of books.

The book tells us not to be flustered if someone calls you bookish since the book gives numerous examples of writers who lived, breathed and dreamt books. The book will be a huge inspiration in reviving the dying habit of reading. But Ruskin Bond says that reading habit is not dying. It was always a rare habit even during the times when there were lesser distractions.

If you have a childhood full of books, don't fail to grab a copy. If you want to be an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy. If you are an avid reader, don't fail to grab a copy.


Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I waas not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Nick and Tesla's Danger lab by Pflugfelder and Jockensmith

Book Name         - Nick Tesla's High Voltage Danger LabAuthor                  - Pflugfelder and HockensmithPublisher              - Rupa PublicationsNumber of Pages -240Publishing Year   -2016Edition                  -PaperbackPrice                     - 295
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Rating : 4.5

My Review

Nick and Tesla are sent to spend their vacation with uncle Newt who is brilliantly eccentric and hopelessly unpredictable. The condition of the house leaves the kids wondering why exactly did their parents send them to the most irresponsible person. Mold ingested and expired food items, filthy rooms; in short they are in the sea. What excites them is uncle Newt's experiment settings. They are introduced to a new world world experiments. While roaming around the neighbourhood, they are attacked by two Rott Weilers but they manage to make a narrow escape. On reaching home, they decide to get the pendant,  that their parents gave, back. On the second attempt, Nick confronts a small girl who warns him showing a placard with Go Away written on it.  They decide to unravel the mystery behind the girl and provide necessary help, if needed. Nick and Tesla makes unique stuffs with household  materials like rockets, cats, van trackers etc.

The story is very lively and thrilling for a kid. At 10 years I would have been more than happy to lay my hands on this book. The book is perfect for not only kids, but adults also. The experiments mentioned in the book are easy yet creative. It widens kids imaginative power. The language of the book surely adds a good collection to kids' vocabulary. The illustrations used in the book are also clear and optimum. The mystery behind Mr. Snugg is funny but the story of the girl could have been more convincing.

My verdict: The book will definitely contribute to the reading habits of kids


This review is in return of a free book from the publisher  
About the author

‘Science Bob’ Pflugfelder teaches elementary school science in Newton, Massachusetts. 

Steve Hockensmith writes mysteries in Alameda, California. Neither author was harmed during the creation of this book.