Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 8

Thrilling Entertaining Cold Justice by Vish Dhamija

 Vish Dhamija - The name brings the picture of John Grisham. Yes, our Indian John Grisham is back with another thrilling murder mystery. As usual, the unique background plot, basket full of suspense, and seamless switch from the present to the past is just so classic style of the author. Having known the author I was conscious not to influence it in my review and give an honest critical review. But the author has made it tough for me with this impeccable piece fo writing. Hence here is the disclaimer, the following review is indeed a positive one but uninfluenced by any acquaintance whatsoever.

Fresh plotAkash Hingorani, after a long flight, switched on his phone to numerous missed calls from Judge Shilpa who happened to be his lady love once. Unable to reach her back, and uncomfortably ruffled by curiosity, Akash stumbles upon a piece of news where a judge is arrested on murder charges. Knowing that it is Smita herself , Akash takes his flight back to home to be by her side and stand by her. 

The plot itself is a fresh breeze amongst the cliche plot that has been making rounds repetitively. A judge arrested on murder charges, an advocate who was her paramour steps in to argue the case for her. The complicated hassles and the Daedalian relationship status bring the readers to the edge of their seats while keeping them entertained for the rest of the plot.

Strong female charactersThe female character howsoever menial it might seem, have a prominent role in the plot, and its a reprieve to see that they are all strong in terms of their personal and professional lives in the fact that they know what to do with their lives at any point of perpetual setbacks and they are hardly at a quandary when it comes to decision making. While female characters have been given equal space in contemporary books, their strength has been portrayed in a shallow sense. But here we can see strong women with mettle. 
Legal thriller - What's uniqueAs with any legal thriller, Cold Justice also gives us back-and-forth argumentative proofs and twists, the introduction of new scenarios,s and surprises. Without indecipherable legal jargons the author has pulled off an edge of the seat thriller. 

Painful and Deep - Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

A book representing the queer community is always something that I have been looking forward to. The voice of the queer community needs to be heard by the masses. And it is a happy news that more and more writers have come up to represent the community through their literature. Hence when Young Mungo came to me for a review I was excited. Without thinking twice, I took it up. After all, it is pride history month in October. But does the book show justice to the community?
The story of the underprivilegedThe plot begins with Mungo's life with his mother. The poverty and pain that he has been dealing with are palpable and the readers instantly connect with the character. He sets out to Loch Lomond for fishing. For an instant, in the back of my mind, I was left wondering if he is sent to some rehab. Bullying, shaming, helplessness - the further plot exploits every aspect of helplessness of the character that reflects the lives of every underprivileged being. The never-ending painWhile waiting for love to knock at the door for Mungo, I, as a reader was disappointed beyond measure as the pain never ended. The lag towards the middle of the plot is a pregnant pause that obstructs the flow of the plot. Further, when he realizes his feelings for James, we get to see another version of Mungo but what remains the same is his fear of society.Being a ManAll through the story, the author calls out the societal standards of being a man. Be it Mungo's brother Hamish or his mother who sends him out with addicts to make a man out of him, the book screams for trigger warnings and relentlessly lays bare the double standards of society. Painful readThe book is far from a cakewalk. At every point, you would be reminded of Mungo's pain and exploitation that he is subjected to. A trigger warning is imperative at the beginning of the book as there are many disturbing situations. If you are looking for an entertaining read you might not be able to finish the book. Especially the raw reality and the slang used would take you off guard. But if you want a book with depth, more like a tough-to-read classic, this is it.

Reflection of Millennial Love - A Price To Love by Smita Das Jain

Love is an emotion. To love and being loved has been celebrated from time immemorial. Heer Ranjha, Romeo Juliet, Jodha Akbar - the couples that have been celebrated across the world have always shared a common feeling irrespective of the era or demography. This is the unrelenting love and never-ending passion to fight against the world. But in the millennial era, the definition of love has seen a different twist in the tale. Does the new-age youth have to pay the Price for Love?Knitted around the corporate set up the book A Price For Love by Smitha Das Jain is a reflection of the new age romance. Failing marriagesDiscussions are rife about how relationships and marriages have crumbled and failed to sustain. Sonia, the protagonist is a practical woman with a no-nonsense attitude. She is smart, capable, workaholic and yet enjoys her life. The storyline while shifting from past to present establishes the fact that Sonia is someone who believes in relationships only if they are happy and content. While she is in love with and married to Sameep she is attracted to her colleagues but the attraction wanes after the initial furor.Raising a few eyebrows While Sonia's character may raise a few eyebrows, it is undeniable that too many Sonias live around. Hence the character is relatable. Her life reminded me of a quote by a contemporary actress "morality is a choice". This created a hurricane of cyberbullying for the actress and so does the book. It boldly talks about the need for a change, a break, and an outlet in an era when work, fun, and relations hardly find a balance.The paramoursSonia's relationships are what pull the plot forward but the characters of her paramount seemed weak. Sameep character is gradually developing and is a well-rounded one but Mukul and Rishab appear to be ready to be exploited. Also, a lack of another strong female character is it a friend or colleague was evident. Sonia and her motherSonia's letters to her mother are a reflection of why Sonia has become what she is loved. The child craving for love, the daughter looking for validation, the helpless baby. Sonia's vulnerable side is evident in the letters.
Overall the book is an engaging read amidst the numerous so-called bestselling romance books where love and lust have been romantically intertwined. Stay tuned for the author interview. Do you wish to join our Outset Book Club

6 Reasons Why Dork Diaries and Wimpy Kid are Not Appropriate Kids Books

 Every mother's dream is to have a reader child, more so if she is an ardent reader herself. I have been a voracious reader whole my life but all my three kids possibly failed to inherit my love for readers. Having written about how to revive your reading, how to overcome readers' block, and many other posts, I used to wonder what went wrong in bringing my little ones close to the books. They say that you read so much that we lost the appetite to read. Well, jokes apart, when their ADHD diagnosis came out, I knew that I had to bring them to reading as their fast-moving brain also needed food. So I asked my oldest child, my daughter to get one book from the library. I asked her to take one book that she loved from the cover. And thus came the world of dork diaries and wimpy kids. Having seen the rage that these books have become I too wanted to see what's inside. I must say I was appalled beyond measure. I will tell you why?

Dork Diaries and Wimpy Kid- Are they ideal kids books?

Here is why I no longer wish my kids to read any of these anymore.

1. Unrealistic Portrayal of Success

The protagonists of both books want to be successful while they are average themselves. The fact that the kids look or speak in a particular manner, makes the kids empathize with the characters but on a negative stereotypical tangent. An average child reading the book might develop the idea that I have to be popular to accomplish something. This is a problematic notion to instill in young kids, especially in an era when self-love and self-esteem are celebrated. 

2. Lack of respect

The book feeds on the 'bad parents' syndrome. Well, there is no medical term like this but you know what I mean. Lying to parents, being sneaky, etc has been depicted as the easy way out to be popular. The need to become popular has to be reinforced here. On one hand, experts cite examples of great personalities who had dyslexia, ADHD, etc, and have grown up to become immensely successful, these books feed on the insecurities of the kids and incite the need to be the popular child by hook or crook.'

3. Racism

The term racism raises a few eyebrows as the term is always associated with blacks. But the generalized stereotypes of white blonde vamps in the books and movies are flagrantly used here.

4. Name-calling

My kids started the name-calling business once they got into the book and movie adaptation along with the movies and videos in a similar genre made it all the worse. Why the entertainment arena makes sure to create the unrealistically twisted idea of friendship, success, and being 'good'.

5. Feeding jealousy

The protagonists in both books are jealous of the so-called popular person whom they hate for obvious reasons. This is a dangerous trend to create. If we closely observe the cyber bullies and trolls, they are all born out of these feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and spite towards the successful people who live happy life. 

6. Protagonists that lie

We can see that the protagonist lies to get what is needed or to teach a lesson to the bully is a norm that is propogated in both the books. The spite that the child feels is ozzing out as a totally negative emotion. It gives an idea to the readers (who are young) that it is better to teach the bullies a lesson than report them

In short books like these create problematic ideas in kids which in turn end up skewed ideas of relationship and friendship. More so about success and failure. Dork diaries and Wimpy are fun reads as long as the child has the discretion to read it an process it as an imagination, which I doubt kids at this age would have.

Handle With Care by Shreya Sen Handley Review

 Being a travel enthusiast, I have always been intrigued by books about traveling and portraying travel experiences. Knowing different places, and people have always been my ecstasy. Hence, when I get a book that is even remotely connected to traveling, I grab it at the first chance. Handle with care by Shreya Sen Handley is one of those books about travel and self-discovery that we would love to gorge on again and again.

The Globetrotter FamilyThe highlight of the whole scenario is the family that tags along with her. An Indian woman traveling with a British husband and two kids is a sight to enjoy. But with all the perils of being with kids, the author has made it look and sound irresistible with some tinge of a reality check in between. The little banter between Shreya and her husband about their trips with and without kids and the joke that encapsulates her marital life, including her first marriage, is a section of the book that witnesses the author's finesse in showing and not telling - a style of narration that I have vehemently advocated always.
Quirkiness and traveloguesQuite often travleogues or any books about travel experiences hold a serious tone. But here we are entertained while we are educated. It is a travelogue and memoir in one. We get to travel and know the places sitting at home while see several relatable scenarios giving an impression that we are indeed going places.

Early Indians By Tony Joseph Tells Us Where We Came From

 The privileged species that think about themselves as superior to all others. Divided by caste, creed, nationality color, and whatnot. Had we known that it all started from single immigration, would we have the same high-headed discriminatory traits as we did?  Early Indians by Tony Joseph is a scientifically backed account of how the modern Indians came into existence. 

Early Indians were not the onesScientific facts prove that contrary to the old belief the Toba supervolcanic eruption wiped off entire east Asia to East Africa. While we can mull on various factors like competition, climate, or any such things, the striking similarity in the mitochondrial DNA of females and the Y chromosome of males is breathtakingly authentic. The author has given a brief about the terms for ease of understanding. Mostly those who read these books would be left behind wondering what has been established in the book. But the author has taken into consideration the readers who might not be privy to the medical terms. This in turn makes the book receptive to the masses. Detailed, categorized account on the early IndiansAs much as the author declared the who is who of evolution, he has concentrated simultaneously on the various aspects of genome mapping, archeological studies, and also the underlying connection between the current similarities and differences in the lifestyles of the Indians belonging to different states. But some instances projected to me, personally, that the author was specifically trying to establish the futility of giving 'undue' importance to Rigveda and other Vedas for that matter. Maybe I could be wrong.Sapiens and Early IndiansDrawing parallels between Sapiens and Early Indians is something that I could not ignore. While early Indians might seem like an extension of sapiens, the narrative is not as philosophical and early Indians stand out with the sheer fact that it is talking about Indians in particular and the wide spectrum that Sapiens dealt with could not be reflected in Early Indians. Obviously, that's not what the book is all about.Overall, the book tells us who we are. While separated by caste, creeds, and the superior hegemony, one should read early Indians to know what we all have been separated for.

Musings That Touch The Heart - Whimsical Poetry by Syeda Javeria Fatima

 Of late, poetry seems to have lost its charm, or so I thought. With an upsurge of best-seller formulas, the number of people who talk about poetry became lesser and lesser.  But when I got hold of  Whimsical poetry by Syeda Javeria Fatima, I realized that there ate still young people who love poetry and write it with as much passion as we did. Whimsical poetry is a collection of poems that reflect the musings of a girl. 

A girl who finds happiness in silly things. She is you and me. We can find the reflection of ourselves in the author. I did! She has, with her words touched a chord in the reader's heart. Her first poem My Belief tells us how one can grow beyond the failures by pushing forward despite all odds. She talks about gratitude. That's my mother is the depiction of a beautiful mother-daughter relationship that brings smiles and tears. 

The next poem series is one of the most unique concepts in poetry wherein the author assigned several poems to several characters. She took it forward like a series with sequels, which was an endearing thought.

While on one end she has focussed on the layers of emotion, on the other hand, she has spoken about the injustices we see around. She talks about gender bias, violence, and also friendships. Her poem Amla mater brought me back to my childhood and college days. 

What is appreciable is that the author did not unnecessarily squeeze verses so as to make it look over the top. She has used the words smartly, and in a narrative that connects with all types of readers. Overall the book is a sweet simple collection of poems, the musings that will force us to revisit so that we could feel the over and over again.

JNU by Makarand R Paranjape - BrutallyHonest Brave Fierce

 It took me a month to finish this book. This is probably the longest. While a busy schedule can be one of the reasons, I have had even more of a reading pace in much more busy schedules. The reason why JNU by Makarand R Paranjape took me so long is that I read it and imbibed the idea, and came back again, to develop another ideology.

While the eponymous institute and the controversial Tukde slogans are the base of the book, the author has topped it up with his historical aspects of the ideology of nationalism especially a different perspective of nationalism by Tagore and Gandhiji.

The author has shown commendable courage to stand up against the leftist hegemony, especially at a time when someone showing right-wing ideology in JNU was unofficially ostracised. The author stood up against the Tukde gang and exposed the hypocrisy of their humanitarian cry for a terrorist. As expected the author became a target.

While in several instances the author's right-wing ideology comes out, the fact that he backed up his arguments with solid information which are facts in themselves cannot be ignored. 

After reading his essay on Tagore's nationalism that I reviewed before, I went back and read it again. I was surprised to see that there have been evident instances to believe that Tagore did not believe in the concept of nation. But somehow I missed the point till I read JNU by Makarand R Paranjape. The series of open letters written to character assassinate the professor followed. The author has left no stone unturned to address each of those.

Further, the shameful incident of the missing Biotechnology student and the further downfall of the historic institute are narrated to the laymen. The author lays bare the loss of the competitive edge of the institute uncharacteristically influenced by separatists. With some ideas to revive the institute, the author closes the narration. You might agree or disagree with the author's ideology but you cannot deny the fact that what he said is true. 

Autopsy by Patricial Cornwell - Suspense, Mystery and Entertainment

 Kay Scarpetta is back! Patricia Cornwell is a master of mystery thrillers. Hence the legendary character created by the author can never go wrong. The minimum guarantee assured by the author has been reinforced through Autopsy.

Intriguing plot

Kay is a forensic pathologist who confronts a gruesome death of an unidentified woman. Though has dealt with the worst cases, this particular one has been unprecedented as she is unable to identify the victim. The further investigation gives her hints of who it is and realizes that her personality is also somehow entangled with the investigation. 

 As it is with the previous books, the author has the readers to the book right from the beginning with the requisite meter of suspense and mystery.  The author has carefully trodden the personal story of Kay Scarpetta in the plot amidst the investigation, which again proves the mettle of the author.

Characters that lead the plot

character portrayal is another point that needs to be pointed out specifically. The characters lead the plot and the craft of the characters is impeccably defined.

Overall the book is an out-and-out entertainer for thriller and murders mystery lovers. 

Truth Digger - The Best of Shovon Chakraborty Review

 National Reading Day has gone by and left behind several questions regarding reading and the purpose of reading. What we take home while we read is also an important factor that decides how we evolve as a human being. While we are mulling over it, I came across a collection of articles by a writer of extraordinary craft. Shovon Chowdhury is a master of satire and stalwart of literature.

The author is natural in bringing forth the humor while exposing the reality.  He has spared none and holds an unbiased approach towards every aspect be it politics, history or any walks of life for that matter. 

From the extracts of his long running series in The Hindu to the excerpts from his novels he has given the readers a literary treat. His narrative holds a depth that force the readers to think beyond the obvious. At some points i had to read the passage twice or thrice to absorb his message.

The author had invariably left me thinking about the social set up of this country. A collection of thought-provoking pieces with some entertaining aspects.