Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 80

Summer secrets by Jane Green

Book Name         - Summer Secrets Author                  - Jane GreenPublisher              - Pan Macmillan Number of Pages - 378Publishing Year   -2015Edition                  - Paperback Price                     - 399Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 4.0
BlurbSummer Secrets by Number One bestselling author, Jane Green, is a gripping tale of recovery and redemption.June, 1998. At twenty-seven, Cat Coombs is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.June, 2014. Cat's life has come full circle. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, the gorgeous New England island where the women she once called family still live. What Cat doesn't realize is that these women, her real father's daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone's need for revenge.
My Review


Lives of alcoholics has been a writer's favourite topic for quite some time. Different shades of alcoholism has been depicted. Summer secrets is one of the shades- The story shows how alcohol provides momentary bliss while disrupting precious relations.
A strong storyline is the USP of the book. The one liner of the story itself provides wide possibilities of creative endeavour which was successfully exploited by the author. The narrative style is the first person narration of the protagonist. The switch to third person narrative in the flashback is interesting and provides clarity.
Unlike the cliched romances we see lately, Cat's and Jason's relation is refreshing and platonic. It is a welcome change to see that the two lovers did not jump to bed to officially accept the relation. The book providesa glimpse of a lot of relations - Father -daughter, mother-daughter,  grandmother -grandchild, aunt-niece, sisters, friends. Each relations is given due importance and holds the deserved position in taking the story forward. 
The melodrama was over the top in several sequences. Author's description of geographical demographics seems judgemental.
Overall the book is a refreshing and engrossing read written with utmost sincerity.


Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
JANE GREEN is the author of more than a dozen bestsellers, including Jemima J, Mr. Maybe, and The Beach House. Originally from London, she now lives in Westport, Connecticut, with her husband, children, and a menagerie of animals.

Review of India's Wars by Arjun Subramaniam

Book Name         -India's Wars: A military history, 1947-1971Author                  - Arjun SubramaniamPublisher              - Harper CollinsNumber of Pages - 576Publishing Year   -2016Edition                  -PaperbackPrice                     -799Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 5.0
Blurb
The armed forces occupy a special position in Indian society. Yet, standard accounts of contemporary Indian history rarely have a military dimension. In India's Wars, serving Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam seeks to give India's military exploits their rightful place. Beginning with a snapshot of the growth of the armed forces, he provides detailed accounts of the principal conflicts from Independence to 1971: the first India-Pakistan war of 1947-48, the liberation of Hyderabad and Junagadh, the campaign to evict the Portuguese from Goa in 1961, and the full-blown conventional wars against China and Pakistan. Laced with veterans' exhilarating experiences in combat operations, India's Wars fuses the strategic, operational, tactical and human dimensions of war with great finesse. Deeply researched and passionately written, it unfolds with surprising ease and offers a fresh perspective on modern Indian history.
My Review

War, for a normal India  citizen who did not have in person experience is Kargil. But before Kargil war and afterwards there has been innumerable instances of bravado shown by our armed forces. 
India's wars is a detailed historical account of adventures of Indian Army, Navy and Air force. 

A thoroughly researched and zealous book, stands out with its detailed and engrossing narration. Detailed personal accounts of historians reveal an unforeseen chapter that reflects our cultural and ethical standards. The egalitarian principles has been given an unprecedented importance in the mind of readers. The role of our armed force has been neglected on a historical front. India's wars throws light to the role of British Indian Army and INA in our freedom struggle.His archival forays provide priceless anecdotes.

Overall the book is just perfect.


Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
Arjun Subramaniam is a serving Air Vice Marshal in the Indian Air Force. A fighter pilot who has commanded a fighter squadron and a large flying base, he also has a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies. A prolific writer and speaker on military history, air power and national security, he is currently posted as a faculty member at the National Defence College, New Delhi.

Release day Blitz- Metro Diaries 2

About the Book:





Give life another chance. Laugh a little longer. let go of your past. Hold onto what you love. In short LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard and some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light and make you ponder over its definition of it till now.


Goodreads I Amazon






Reviews for Metro Diaries 1:

After touching your hearts with 'Metro Diaries - Love Classics' she is back now with stories that will redefine life for you!

The stories in Metro Diaries - Love Classics are free from any trappings of youthful slang and fashionable language stunts. These young adults are speaking to the readers with Namrata’s maturity shining through, and Namrata’s ideas of love. - Sakshi Nanda 

The language is fairly pleasant to read and the elaborate discussions between characters in each story must have taken a lot of work – because the most difficult job of all authors is to bring out human emotions in proper words. Thankfully, Namrata has concentrated upon it very well! - Dhivya Balaji


About the Author:


Namrata is A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world. A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words. She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.




Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter



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Review of The pleasure is all mine by Shanaya Taneja

Book Name         - The pleasure is all mineAuthor                  - Shanaya TanejaPublisher              - Srishti PublishersNumber of Pages -176Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -175Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 2.5
Blurb
Trisha wants to be rich and famous, so she opens her arms for all the right men. She doesn't care if it's Sanjay or someone else. She has the beauty to lure and the brain to know how, where and when. 
Sanjay is a happy man - with a beautiful trophy wife and roaring extra marital affairs. He dated a few, slept with many, but respected none. Until he saw Trisha and she was all he could think about. 
A refined socialite and a renowned man's wife - that's the identity Bharti has lived with. Caught in a loveless marriage, she dares to break free and find herself when love comes knocking. 
Breathtakingly charming and lovable, Ankit is a guy who thinks from his heart. He lives to enjoy life and makes every second count when he bumps into Bharti. 
The only thing more shocking than the dark, dangerous pleasures they discover is how right it feels. When their lives mingle and feelings kindle, dirty secrets are revealed. 
A story of love, lust, deception and betrayal, The Pleasure Is All Mine is an irresistibly sensual page-turner that explores having it all and the consequences of wanting more.
My Review

A woman will do anything for love, a man will do anything for sex. This has been uttered on and on. But Shanaya Taneja rewrote the formula. A man will do anything for power, a woman will do anything for success. 
An intertwined formula of love, lust and money. Unfortunately te book failed to deliver anything more than erotica. The feelings of lust overpowered the need to be loved. Narration is simple and the storyline is predictable. Literarily, the book doesn't  deliver much.
I would recommend the book to those readers who would like to have an inclination towards erotica.

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

After the success of the hot-selling novel The Naughty Proposal, Shanaya Taneja is back with a sinfully seductive romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all. She works in the advertising industry and juggles between Mumbai and Delhi for her work. Fond of travelling and photography, she has a keen interest in exploring new domains.

Review of Everyone has a story by Savi Sharma

Book Name         - Everyone has a storyAuthor                  - Savi SharmaPublisher              - WestlandNumber of Pages - 184Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -150Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 3.0
Blurb
Everyone has a story.
Meera, a fledgling writer who is in search of a story that can touch millions of lives.
Vivaan, assistant branch manager at Citibank, who dreams of travelling the world.
Kabir, a café manager who desires something of his own. Nisha, the despondent café customer who keeps secrets of her own.
Everyone has their own story, but what happens when these four lives are woven together?
Pull up a chair in Kafe Kabir and watch them explore friendship and love, writing their own pages of life from the cosy café to the ends of the world.

My Review

If being prejudisric is a crime, I am a criminal. I had prejudices about how a romantic story by Indian author would be.
A story with a difference. Extraordinarily ordinary. 
The book which acclaimed by thousands of readers made my expectations sky high. The first few chapters let's the readers see the literary finesse of the author. The bit written by Meera on the traveller is beautiful and engrossing. Characters are all well crafted and unique.

The narration is alternating between first person narration of Meera and Vivaan. Every chapter is concise and short. More elaboration on each chapters would have given the author unending possibilities to showcase her talent.

Presumably to increase the page count, the switch in narration is divided into different parts with blank pages in between. While involved in the story, this might be frustrating for the readers. Somewhere towards the end, the old formula was reused. The cliche took the cherry off the cake.
Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author

A simple girl from Surat, Savi Sharma is the co-founder of the motivational media blog Life and People. Everyone Has a Story is her debut novel inspired by stories around her. You can find out more about her on www.savisharma.com.

Review of 1. Man Eaters of Kumaon and 2. Temple tiger and the other man-eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett

Book Name         - Man-eaters of KumaonAuthor                  - Jim CorbettPublisher              -Rupa PublicationsNumber of Pages - 184Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     - 140Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart

Blurb

Arguably the best-known of Jim Corbett’s books, Man-eaters of Kumaon comprises ten stories, each of which details Corbett’s encounters with various dangerous man-eaters in the Himalayan region. With fascinating tales such as ‘The Champawat Man-eater’, in which Corbett recounts how he hunted down a tigress who had reportedly killed 436 people in the Champawat region; ‘Robin’, a tribute to Corbett’s faithful spaniel who accompanied him on many a hunt and ‘The Bachelor of Powalgarh’, the story of the most sought-after big cat in the United Provinces from 1920 to 1930, this collection is sure to send your heartbeat racing.
Enlivened by an introduction by Ruskin Bond, this book, that made Corbett famous in India and abroad, is a must-read for fans of adventure stories and jungle lore.




Book Name         - Temple tiger and more man-eaters of KumaonAuthor                  - Jim CorbettPublisher              - Rupa PublicationsNumber of Pages - 184Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     -140Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 5.0
Blurb


A continuation of the narratives in Man-eaters of Kumaon, The Temple Tiger and More Man-eaters of Kumaon further details Jim Corbett’s hunting exploits, as he is called upon to take down Tigers, Leopards and Bears in regions such as Dabidhura, Muktesar, Panar and Tanekpur. Apart from the hunts, the accounts vividly describe the flora, fauna, people and local legends of the areas Corbett went to and his experiences in them, ranging from hair-raising to rib-tickling.
Simply told and capturing the essence of the Himalayan ranges, The Temple Tiger and More Man-eaters of Kumaon makes for a compelling read.

My Review

Before writing this review, I have been mulling over the options of whether I should review the books separately or together. Finally I decided to club the review instead of repeating the praises. Else, I would end up providing spoilers.

The blurb is the perfect review of the book. It describes the book in and out that it leaves practically nothing for the reviewers to write about. Jim Corbett as known to everyone is a hunter but he proved himself to be a talented writer. Little bit of add ons in the anecdotes prove his mettle as a writer.
He had given and account of the man eaters as well as his hunting experiences without scaring the readers and also without repugnant grotesque explanations of the kills. Unlike the the Man eating leopard of Rudraprayag, these books are not dedicated to any single beast. Not even in a single line, author bragged about his smartness or bravery. There is a lot of sincerity and openness in the narration. No wonder Rupa publications ventured on republishing the book and thanks to them that I could add this fantabulous trio of books to my collection. Respect to fellow human beings showed by the author is an example of his humility and quality of his character. The left me surprised as to how the author narrated his hunting experience without spreading an inclination towards violence.
Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author

Edward James ‘Jim’ Corbett (25 July 1875 –19 April 1955) was an Anglo-Indian hunter and tracker-turned-conservationist, author and naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eating Tigers and Leopards in India. He played a key role in creating a national reserve for the endangered Bengal tiger in what is now Uttarakhand. In 1957 the national park was renamed Jim Corbett National Park in his honour.

Review of Complete/Convenient by Ketan Bhagat

Book Name         - Complete/ConvenientAuthor                  - Ketan BhagatPublisher              - Rumour BooksNumber of Pages - 384Publishing Year   - 2013Edition                  - PaperbackPrice                     - 139Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart

Rating : 4.0

BlurbHave you ever heard of any NRI who: Hasnt washed dishes and vacuumed carpets Hasnt missed any of his friends/ family members wedding in India Doesnt watch Indian movies, no matter how long he has been outside India Hasnt been to a striptease Doesnt indulge in Indian food whenever he visits India on a vacation Do you know any Indian who: Hasnt thought of moving out of India for a better, safer life Isnt fed up of the scams, traffic jams, filth, noise, crowd and crime that are part of everyday life Isnt tired of attending endless weddings, festivals, birthdays, farewells, parties, lunches and dinners that happen almost every second day in India Has never envied (secretly or openly) his friend / family member living outside India Hasnt wondered what makes NRIs return to India Welcome to the world of Kabir newly married and newly arrived in Sydney, hoping to live the glamorous and sophisticated life he has always dreamt of. After all, a life without frantic competition, traffic jams, queues, dirt, corruption and social obligations (read evils) can be refreshingly convenient. Professional success, new friends, a sincere boss... everything seems to be going just fine. But doesnt this sound too good to be true? Coming straight from the horses mouth, Complete/ Convenient is a roller coaster ride through emotions and experiences as they really are and as you imagine them to be.
My Review

After completing the book I was wondering why this book took so long to reach me! Better late than never. Realistic is the word that comes to mind when I think of this book. Each instance, each dialogue in the book seemed so realistic that it was difficult to believe that it is actually fiction. 

Diversity of characters is one of the commendable features of the story. The tug of war between love for the family as well as nation and the convenience of life abroad is conveyed well. Right from the beginning, author has consistently maintained the humor without a tinge of exaggeration. Political jugglery in IT firms is known to even laymen but the realistic illustration of the same makes the reader live through it. While portraying the gravity of the rift between daughter-in-law and mother in law, readers can see that both are actually good at heart and stood with each other in crisis. Every child or teenager or grown up man who think that they would be better of without parents or family should read this book. Relationship between parents and children, friends, siblings, husband and wife and colleagues are portrayed well with a beautiful message.Narration is simple but which bestseller romance has standard English? Well this one is not bad.

The third part of the story titled Flashback was unwanted and tad stretched.Also, the reason behind Myra's unwillingness to comeback, though grave, did not reach the reader with intended intensity, may be because of lack of details as to who is who. 
The book left me wondering why this book did not create much buzz, or did it.
Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author



Professionally, Ketan joined Satyam Computer Services (the company that Mr Ramalinga Raju made both famous and infamous) post his MBA from Narsee Monjee Institute in 2001. After a 1.5 year stint of trying to learn programming and Tamil, destiny finally took mercy on the young, frustrated North Indian and made Satyam show him little bit of the world – 2 years in Malaysia, 9 months in NZ and 4 years in Australia. About 2 years ago, he moved back to India. Currently he works as a regional sales manager at an MNC in Mumbai. Creative at heart, Ketan has done stints in Television (anchor, script writer) and Print (articles in national dailies) during his college days. Few years ago, he helped his brother script a Bollywood movie.

Review of That's the way blood trickles by Aman agarwal

Name                - That's the way blood tricklesAuthor                  - Aman Agarwal
Publisher              - Cybetwit.netNumber of Pages - 283Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  - Paperback Price                     - 300
Buy books from Amazon

Rating : 4.0

BlurbOut of the mouths of vampires trickles not only blood but also desire for love and order in the small town of Vissar, the home-base of fantasy novel THAT S THE WAY BLOOD TRICKLES: THE SECRET OF THE HEADLESS RIDER OF THE UNICORN by established poet and author Aman Agarwal. Against the backdrop of a history between two different races of vampires, Onom and Onomnus, emerges what begins as a simple story about young love and the quest for romance within two academic settings, St. Barnabus School and St. Cranses School, where the curriculum is as highly creative as it is unconventional. A variety of eccentric teachers work toward developing their students supernatural skills in order to prepare them for the upcoming Olympic-style competitions such as the Pulverized Ice Football, Mirror Maze and Icicle Boom. A glimpse of the students home life, at least on the surface, reveals the average parent-child relationships and the typical sibling love-rivalry. Strong as the family tie is the kinship shared between a vampire-master and his or her dragon. The tighter the bond, the greater the chances of excelling not only in the school Olympic games but also in the battle brewing against Vissar by outside enemy forces beyond the magnificent but deadly River Wepros.
My Review

That's the way blood trickles is a book which can be categorised in a multiplicity of genres. The background story is YA fantasy, the book also can be marked as a thriller,  YA romance. Author being a poet has incorporated his poetic ability in the novel. With a lot of twists and turns, author has tried to pull a cliff hanger. Whether he succeeded in it or not is something that the readers should decide. 
Diana's  character is something that should be mentioned in particular.Diana represents the exploited mass. 
Author has tried to incorporate a lot, which makes the storyline crowded. The style of narration is commendable. 
I recommend the book to all fantasy lovers.Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author

Aman Agarwal joined the team of Cyberwit authors in early 2016 with the debut of his fine poetry collection entitled SING TO ME SWEET. He holds an engineering degree from Jadavpur University and currently works for Accenture in Mumbai, India. His passion for literature began to surface at the early age of four when he was sent to a boarding school in a peaceful setting surrounded by hills and trees. There, like Oliver Twist, he had nothing to do but observe, so he found solace in the arms of nature and literature: Famous Five and Secret Seven taught him how to think, Dawson's Creek and Sugar Secrets how to love, and Goosebumps and Shivers how to scare. He was also interested in art and music, and hopes to hone these skills in the future. After finishing boarding school, Aman found that he could not identify with nature elsewhere, so to bring back memories of his elementary school experience he began to write poetry. Over the years, his love for creative writing persisted. THAT'S THE WAY BLOOD TRICKLES is his debut novel, which is the first of a four-book fantasy series. He is currently working on a romance novel entitled THE TIME MACHINE TO A TEAR. In addition to writing, Aman likes to sing, play basketball, and pick stocks.

Review of The last queen of Kashmir by Rakesh.K.Kaul

Book Name         - The Last Queen of KashmirAuthor                  - Rakesh.K.KaulPublisher              - Harper CollinsNumber of Pages -442Publishing Year   -2016Edition                  -PaperbackPrice                     -399Buy books from Amazon,  Flipkart
Rating : 4.0
Blurb

A historical saga of treachery, betrayal and the quest for land and religious supremacy in Kashmir in 1330 AD, The Last Queen of Kashmir is the story of the beautiful Kota and how she is, unknowingly, swept into the intrigues of the court of Kashmir. The book is as much a description of what Kashmir was like in the fourteenth century as the story of a strong woman leader, a kingdom and a civilization in turmoil.

My Review

Stories with a woman protagonist gives the writer boundless chances of experimentation. Bringing forth variations in the character build up is risk accompanied with the challenge. The last queen of Kashmir is one such book which showed the tempestuous  variations of the female protagonist - Kota.  The characterisation of Kota is splendidly done. History and fiction are seamlessly interwoven that it is difficult at times to distinguish between both. Narration is a mix of vogue and yesteryear literature.The male counterparts in the story are complimenting. Vast research in terms of culture, religion, and strategy of the period of the story is evident throughout the book. 

Author's account of battle is an exotic mix of history and fiction. At several points the perseverance and ingenuity of Kota reminded me of Scarlett o Hara in Gone with the wind. 
There is a huge difference in telling and showing. The major drawback in the narration lies in the inability of permeating the feelings of the characters implicitly. Author failed in communicating with the readers as to how Kota became the face of Kashmir in an era when telecommunication facilities were  meagre, especially in a country which was dwindled into ashes. 

Keeping this aside, the book is a treat for the historical fiction lovers.

Reviewed for the publisherDisclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
Rakesh K. Kaul, whose family hails from Kashmir, migrated to the US in 1972. Rakesh was a founding contributor to the first Chair of India Studies at University of California, Berkeley, to the Center for the Advanced Study of India at University of Pennsylvania and the Mattoo Center for India studies at State University of New York.

Review of Emancipation by Suddhabrata Deb Roy

Book Name         - EmancipationAuthor                  -Suddhabrata Deb RoyPublisher              - Half baked beansNumber of Pages -250Publishing Year   - 2016Edition                  -PaperbackPrice                     -200Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 3.0
Blurb

What happens when an ordinary looking working guy storms into a restaurant to have his lunch while the owner is busy shouting over his manager? In what direction do the events turn when the owner is a potential film maker and the engineer has a story to tell? Well, that's exactly the situation when a guy named Bankim, small town bred, middle class, engineer, enters a restaurant owned by Tanmay, pressurized by parents to enter into the family business and a film school dropout. Bankim churns out his life's story in front of Tanmay , a story which encompasses the struggles and feelings of thousands of teens in the small settlements of India. A story touching crucial points of a youth's life in a small distant town , his love life, the attack of parental and social pressure and the incessant attack held by the education policies... The book takes you on a raw tour covering the crude real life aspects of a small town guy in present day India...

My Review

A teenager muddled up between  familial and peer pressure as well as personal desire are passion is a subject which has been used over and again in movies and books. Emancipation is yet another addition to the list. Life of a small town guy is depicted in the book. Author tried to show the world, how different the lives in small town is from the metro-sexual lives. An affair of a teenager being handled as a grave issue might seem as an exaggeration but in reality small towns are yet to accept it. While author tried to put forth a different scenario, sometimes the issues and instances depicted seemed over the top. Being a small town girl myself, it was difficult for me to digest. Author has tried to bring forth several issues in front of the readers.
The book cover gives an impression of a serious and deep read but one pursuit through the chapters, the book cover is way beyond the real story.
Editing and proof reading is the weakest factor in the book. Narration is amateurish. The pace of the story is fluctuating. For a one time read the book is recommended.

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