Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 82
July 20, 2016
Review of Himalayan White by Amitabh Pandey
Book Name - Himalayan WhiteAuthor - Amitabh PandeyPublisher - Harper CollinsNumber of Pages - 240Publishing Year - 2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 300Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 4.0
Blurb
Volume 1 of the Himalaya Series Looking for a life of peace and quiet, Special Forces officer Gautam Shukla takes voluntary retirement from the army and moves to Noida. Out jogging one morning, he comes to the rescue of Nisha, a young army widow, who is being kidnapped by goons. As a result, Gautam finds himself faced with Bhima Yadav, a powerful politician heading a vast criminal enterprise, and his psychopathic son, Angad. As he sets out to destroy the duo, Gautam must grapple with unforeseen danger – as also the sudden blossoming of romance in his life. Moving from the badlands of Uttar Pradesh to the political corridors of Delhi to the Kumaon Himalayas, this riveting thriller will keep you hooked till the last page.
My Review
A book with a strong storyline never fails to entertain the readers. A thriller is one of the toughest genres to pull off. Set against the background of the militarily as well as mafia, Himalayan White is an action thriller. An ex-military officer pulled into the mafia war as well as fighting against anti-nationals will attract the readers. This fast paced thriller is an exceptional movie marterial.
The action sequences could be visualized in three dimensions. The geo-political scenario is depicted with responsibility as well as finesse. The twists and turns at the right timing makes the book unputdownable.
The romance and making out between Gautam and Nisha was unwanted. Why do all the thrillers require a squeezed in distraction of love and sex is beyond my comprehension. Without these also the book is excellent in fact better.
Angad's character could have been developed a little more. Both antagonists were shown in the third person narration rather than the scenarios where in they act and react in person, which weakened the character build up.
Overall, the book is a riveting thriller which is highly recommended to the action 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
Amitabh Pandey studied Economics at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University and the Delhi School of Economics. He has taught economics at an undergraduate college of Delhi University, worked as a civil servant with the Indian Railways and spent five years building software systems in the private sector. He now lives in Noida.
Review of No time to pause by Pavithra Ramesh
Book Name -No time to pauseAuthor - Pavithra RameshPublisher - Half baked beansNumber of Pages - 130Publishing Year - 2016Edition - PaperbackPrice -199Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 3.0
Blurb
Life of a young adult is filled with joy and mystery. 'No Time to Pause' is a narration of a typical college student who decides to stay miles away from her family to get value education. She faces a host of challenges, encounters varied adventures and meets people who leave a tremendous impact on her life. With the college term ending, she leaves the institution not only as an academic achiever, but also a strong woman ready to face the rough world out there. She realises that life keeps moving on and there is no time to look back or regret.
My Review
Stories are never set against a preset format. Nevertheless we all expect a storyline to be designed in a particular manner. No time to pause breaks the conventional style of designing a storyline. The story is an anecdote of the college life of the protagonist. Other than the daily happenings, there aren't much of a story format.
For those who spent their college life in hostels, the book will surely evoke nostalgia. The homesickness, meeting new friends, having fun with them, dealing with possessiveness, misunderstandings, last minute assignment submissions all are instances that everyone has faced at least once it their life.
Sincerity is the core quality of the story. Aditi's love story is well portrayed with right amount of suspense. A little more homework would have taken the book to another level.
Readers should not approach the book to find a typical clinched story format. Read this as an easy breezy teen story.
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.
July 19, 2016
Review of Slow Suicide of Sundri by Sudama Chandra Panigrahi
Book Name - Slow Suicide of SundriAuthor -Sudama Chandra PanigrahiPublisher - Lifi PublicationsNumber of Pages - 232Publishing Year -2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 240Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 3.5
BlurbBound by social conventions, Sundri attempts to chart her own destiny, driven by her will to achieve a better life for herself and her family. Entering local politics she manages local politico-administrative affairs while pandering to the men in power. Sundri has to face the possibility of public humiliation, after the struggle she has waged against poverty, social pressure and an unequal power structure, in a world where her entire life has been a slow suicide.
My Review
Slow suicide of Sundri is a book with the fragrance of Indian soil. The story depicting the life of yesteryears clearly portrays the village life of that era. Author has given the feel with his style of narration, which is unique and different from what is generally seen these days. Great care has been taken to maintain the quality of the story.
The complicated life of Jhumri, never felt exaggerated since we can see similar lives if we look around albeit with slight difference in scenario. Jhumri's venture into politics and utilization of male libido, her desire to experience the pleasure of forncation, hrr premarital relations etc have been depicted without even a tinge of vulgarity.
Some of the chapters seemed rushed and unwanted. Somewhere down the line author failed in maintaining the pace of the story. Otherwise Slow suicide of Sundri is an interesting read and a different reading experience.
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
Sudama Chandra Panigrahi a self made person, works in the Indian railway. He writes poem in English and Odia. His first novel, Love Across the borders has been published in 2013. His poems have been published in many national journals.
Review of Slow Suicide of Sundri by Sudama Chandra Pangrahi
Book Name - Slow Suicide of SundriAuthor -Sudama Chandra PanigrahiPublisher - Lifi PublicationsNumber of Pages - 232Publishing Year -2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 240Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 3.0
BlurbBound by social conventions, Sundri attempts to chart her own destiny, driven by her will to achieve a better life for herself and her family. Entering local politics she manages local politico-administrative affairs while pandering to the men in power. Sundri has to face the possibility of public humiliation, after the struggle she has waged against poverty, social pressure and an unequal power structure, in a world where her entire life has been a slow suicide.
My Review
Slow suicide of Sundri is a book with the fragrance of Indian soil. The story depicting the life of yesteryears clearly portrays the village life of that era. Author has given the feel with his style of narration, which is unique and different from what is generally seen these days. Great care has been taken to maintain the quality of the story.
The complicated life of Jhumri, never felt exaggerated since we can see similar lives if we look around albeit with slight difference in scenario. Jhumri's venture into politics and utilization of male libido, her desire to experience the pleasure of forncation, hrr premarital relations etc have been depicted without even a tinge of vulgarity.
Some of the chapters seemed rushed and unwanted. Somewhere down the line author failed in maintaining the pace of the story. Otherwise Slow suicide of Sundri is an interesting read and a different reading experience.
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
Sudama Chandra Panigrahi a self made person, works in the Indian railway. He writes poem in English and Odia. His first novel, Love Across the borders has been published in 2013. His poems have been published in many national journals.
June 27, 2016
Wait till then
Due to some unavoidable personal reasons, I am taking a break from the blog, reviews and writing as a whole. Will be back with handful of reviews after a hiatus. Kindly cooperate 
Review of Go Clown by Shatrugna Vyas
Book Name - Go Clown#AccheDin for comedyAuthor -Shatrugna VyasPublisher - Self PublishedNumber of Pages - 340Publishing Year - 2016Edition -PaperbackPrice -189Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 4.0
BlurbWhen Baby Kiriti arrived in this world, he was like a lost butterfly in a sea of white. A baby who is born and thrust into the huge sea of humanity called India, rides and steers his destiny ship, as he constantly grapples with the Clown inside him, who meanwhile brings out his own set of funny oars in these troubled waters.
The Clown's journey continues on from a Karma-Guru to a trader of special water from Europe (thanks to his Made-in-China friend!), and from a music director (the Bad-Boy theme!) to the founder of a school, and a dirty sock to a sex-crazed, horny bunch of young fellas. The colors of the Clown's comedy are different but he always plays to the circus of life. As Kiriti encounters a wide array of characters from the length and breadth of India, a land as rich as its flavours, the carefree years full of joy and young hopes come to an end, with the sweet smell of Ganja still lingering under the starry nights. The philosophy of Meaning is preached, after a session of holy smokes, on the sides of a dusty highway which sees blood and grime daily.
And finally with the Mystical Game which casts a shadow on Kiriti's life having been won, everything is laid to rest under a blanket of white, only to be stumbled upon by a Sherpa on the peaks of the mighty Himalayas that wakes up something inside of his adorable son!
Is it a Thief, his Dream or the Clown?
And there is a 2000 year old Surprise Gift with the Novel! (Any Guesses?)
My Review
The word clown brings to our mind unending laughter. The title Go Clown also gave me a similar impression. I was expecting unrealistic cartoon like incidents but the book surprised me with its satirical adaptation of crude reality.
Clown is Kiriti's second personality. Clown is the soul or conscience. Author has adapted a fresh narration with good and apt vocabulary. India at its realistic best can be the apt sub title for the book. Different stages of Kiritis's life is portrayed in the utmost veristic manner.
Somewhere down the line, the story takes us to a different level of narration. More in this, you need to read the book.
Reviewed for Dwani Swadia(Marketing)Disclosure 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.
Review of I still think about you by Arpit Vageria
Book Name - I still think about youAuthor - Arpit VageriaPublisher - Sritshti PublicationsNumber of Pages - 185Publishing Year -2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 195Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 4.0
BlurbAamir has never met anyone who understands him better than Anvi. But her passion for investigative journalism scares him no end. She is calling while reporting from a crime scene and promising to switch to anchoring when he hears a gunshot. Will she be able to fulfil her promise?
Dhruv can do anything to please Vratika, for he seems bound to her for life. They have been going steady for a while and he feels she brings smiles and light to his life like no other. Can one misunderstanding in a moment of anger finish it all?
For Aamir, little Dhruv is the best gift life has given him. More than just brothers, they are the beginning and end of their family. After years, struggles and pain are slowly fading away in the face of happier times. But one phone call changes their entire life.
Life throws Aamir and Dhruv in a vortex of pain, loss and guilt. While Dhruv wanders for redemption, he meets Sachi. She reads his heart, soothes his soul and brings him face to face with his real self. I Still Think About You is a story of love, brotherhood, passion, dedication, pain and the depths to which a heart can go to win back lost love.
My Review
The title of the book gives an impression of a teenage romance or puppy romance, as it is critically named. The book cover also gives the same impression. But on further reading it becomes clear that the book is more than what is in the league.
The story is mainly about brotherhood. There are very few books that portray the beautiful relation between two brothers. With beautiful narration author gave an enlightening story of two brothers who stayed together after the demise of their parents. An unfortunate incident changes their life.
Relation between Dhruv and Sachi is portrayed realistically. While the climax disappointed me, the overall storyline was surprisingly deep and palpable. In the first few chapters, narration seemed amateurish but author got the swing in the proceeding chapters.
With a little more realistic title and book cover, the book could have excelled the bestseller charts.
Compared to several bestselling romance books, this book stands out.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
Arpit Vageria writes for Indian television industry and has written scripts for three television series and various award functions. Formerly a part of The Times of India Group, he now also writes for the immensely popular digital channel, IIT (Indian Idiots Television). Hailing from Indore, he currently lives in Mumbai. An alumnus of Renaissance College, Indore and IBS-Mumbai, he enjoys road trips, singing, playing pranks and adventure sports.
June 17, 2016
Review of Ancient chants for modern living by Aatmanika Ram
Book Name - Ancient Chants for modern livingAuthor - Aatmanika RamPublisher - Westland BooksNumber of Pages - 168Publishing Year - 2016Edition -PaperbackPrice -250Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 3.5
BlurbThe modern world is inundated with problems connected to emotional, mental and physical health. Some problems are brought on by a combination of genetic make-up being passed on from generation to generation and the environment, but most others are brought on by the lack of a strong mind. Stress and anxiety seem to be playing an important role in everybody’s life. Vicious cycles of hectic lifestyle, bad diet, lack of exercise and no commitment to relationships seem to contribute to this ever growing pandemic. This book would help provide practical and easy suggestions to people to become emotionally stronger and stress-free in the longer run. It would serve as a guiding light for the younger generation and help to make conversations with the Almighty more rewarding and pleasurable.
My Review
Ancient chants for modern living can be counted on as both a religious book as well as a spiritual one. Authoress has taken great effort in putting forth both aspects.
'Why do we go to temples and chant prayers?' This is a question being asked for ages now and answers differ. Authoress gives a religious explanation as well as a spiritual one. She had made sure that the slokas are simple, and easy to chant and learn. The meanings of the same is also given along with the religious as well as spiritual relevance. For instance the sloka for developing confidence. It can be viewed both ways-1. Goddess will help you develop the same if you chant it.2. Your mind will be decluttered with the meditative effect.
Slokas like asathoma satgamaya can be chanted by anyone since irrespective of religion since it is not a prayer to any particular God.
A glossary of Sanskrit pronunciation in the beginning helps us get the right diction easily. Authoress has stated the do's and dont's while chanting the slokas.
A section of each chapter is dedicated to the temples which are known for the purpose of the slokas chanted. Most of the temples are in and around Tamil Nadu. More account on temples all over India could have been helpful but authoress has mentioned in the acknowledgment that she named the temples which gave her the desired results. Some chapterswhere in slokas are just a single one liner chant, seems to be a turn off. Number of slokas could have been increased, (not that we have any deficiency for them) so that readers can chose from the most effective.
The book should not be viewed as a Hindutwa book since the slokas can be chanted by anyone taking into account the meditative and therapeutic effect.
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
Aatmanika Ram was born and raised in India and has lived and worked in several countries in North America, South East Asia and the Middle East. The exposure to varied cultures, her strong family-centred values and her innate curiosity have driven her to explore and write about her life experiences in “Shells on the Beach – an anthology”; her artistic taste and the desire to bring out the essence of good human values has found expression in the poetic fiction, “The Rose Petal Trail – A Sutra for timeless love”.
Review of The Pather Panchali Sketch book by Satyajit Ray
Book Name - The Pather Panchali Sketch BookAuthor -Satyajit RayPublisher -Harper CollinsNumber of Pages -128Publishing Year -2016Edition -HardbackPrice -1699Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 5.0
BlurbIn 1955, Pather Panchali made international headlines and placed Indian cinema on the world map. In the sixty years since, the film has acquired a cult status. As has its storyboard which Ray used as his reference to shoot the film. Believed to have been forever lost after the film-maker donated it to the Cinematheque Francaise, the storyboard is now available as a book, along with other interesting and previously unseen aspects on the film. As much a chronicle of the work of a genius as it is a handbook for every aspiring film-maker, this is a collector's edition.
My ReviewWhile I was sorting the set of books for the review, the first book that grabbed my attention was Pather Panchali Sketch Book. I had expected a sketch collection by some artist on the book. But on further scrutiny I was surprised to see that it is an encyclopedia on the movie as well as the industry in that era.
Starting with a preface by Sandip Roy,forward by Dhritiman Chaterjee, and introduction by Sharmila Tagore the book prepares us to imbibe something big. I was personally let down since I haven't seen the movie neither did I have any idea about the storyline, other than the fact that it is a legendary movie in Indian History. As if comprehending the thoughts of the reader, next section of the book gives a synopsis by the great man himself. The reviews and previews received by the movie at that time follows the synopsis. This helps us realize that the movie was even bigger than what we had expected.
Then comes the much awaited sketch collection. The sketches left me wondering if Manik da, as he is lovingly called, had seen drawn the sketches after creating the movie because such was the clarity of the conception. He himself has written in an article for 'The statesman' that the whole movie was in my head. The write up of Bijoya Ray brings us closer to the struggle behind the making of the movie. Articles and writeup by Subrata Mitra, Bansi Chandragupta, Dulal Dutta, Soumendu Roy, Uma Sen, and Subir Banerjee gives us a glimpse and more on behind the scenes. Posters, letters, advertisements, accolades, commemorative stamps and what not. The book is priceless. I am sure it will, find its place in all the film institutes. The paperback copy costs RS.999 and hardcover costs 1699. I recommend the hardcover since it provides the complete feel and will help you preserve the book for ages. You can proudly show this book to your grand children and say " see, what a priceless book I owned."
I recommend the book to all Indians and all movie 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
Satyajit Ray (1921-1991) is India's most well-known film-maker in international circles and is regarded as one of the greatest film makers ever.
June 16, 2016
Review of Myself Meena by Dakshita Das
Book Name - Myself MeenaAuthor - Dakshita DasPublisher - Rupa PublicationsNumber of Pages - 208Publishing Year -2016Edition -PaperbackPrice -266Buy books from Amazon, Flipkart
Rating : 4.5
BlurbMeena, a young, attractive, fun-loving girl from Bareilly, finds her life in a state of disarray. On the one hand, she is compelled to play the role of a dutiful daughter, living out the ambitions that her father had dreamt for her being an IAS officer. On the other hand, she remains perpetually confused and bored. Worse, she falls out with her best friend, is unable to sustain long-term friendships and falls in love but struggles to make choices.
Meena is forced to confront a few loaded questions. In blindly following her father’s aspirations, has she missed out on living a life on her own terms? Will she grow to adjust to a new job, and equally, will she be able to work out her romance with her colleague and mentor? Most importantly, will she find herself? Find out in this story of self-discovery and resilience.My ReviewThere has been a lot of books on the lives of civil servants and aspiring students. Myself Meena is on of such kind but with a different message and realistic approach.
Meena is the representative of mass of students who succumbed to familial pressure to become something big. Here in the book Meena is crowned with her father's desire to see his daughter as an IAS officer. A studious rank holder in school changes to class bunker and backbencher who is looked down upon. Later she regains her track and decides to fulfil her father's dream.
The book shows how the pressure of expectations affects the lives of students. What I liked the most is the relation between Meena and Venkat. Their relation is extraordinarily realistic. I have been waiting to see a book where relationship is not laid down on a golden platter of mollycoddling your lover with filmy surprises and authoress gave exactly the same through the book. Meena's dilemma has been conveyed with utmost conviction. The book is also about accepting what you are, where you end up and molding yourself into the scenario. The cover image shows exactly what Meena''s life is all about. Narration is simple yet interesting.The blurb mirrored the whole book perfectly. I had intended to give a four stars but for the realistic approach I give half a star extra.
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
"Dakshita Das is a civil servant who is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram College for Women. Myself Meena, IAS is her debut novel."
