Kritika Sharma's Blog, page 13
December 19, 2016
Book: A Girl in Love with a Beggar - A Philosophical Romance
#BookReviews
Read Review Policy Here
Title: A Girl in Love with a BeggarAuthor: AnujPublisher: Kalamos PublishersPages: 160Price: Rs. 175My Rating: 3.5/5
Blurb:She wants to know on what bases life is measured; is it on the bases of sacrifice you made to make people happy around you or on the bases of fights you fought to get the things that made you happy. And the question is what the limit to this sacrifice or to this fight is? He wants to relinquish this world. He wants to die. He has reached the place where dreams end and desires die. Where questions become unworthy of answers. Where life becomes dear and death becomes new life. They shared life. They shared fate. They become each other's moksha. They fall in love to complete each other. They fall in love to play their part in this eternal game.
Review:If you are into masala romance then this is not the book for you. 'A girl in love with a beggar' is one book that takes romance to next level and engulfs it with philosophy.
This is the second book by Anuj and it is very safe to say that he is very passionate about philosophy and likes to treat his readers with not just romance/common story but instead he likes to educate his readers. Additionally, he motivates them to think about life and beyond materialism.
As the title suggests, the book revolves around a girl named Shona who finds herself mesmerized by a beggar - Kabir. It is story about how they meet, get together and how their relationship takes turns and reaches a complete new level.
The characterization in the book is decent and you can feel linked to each character. The story flow is decent too.
What I didn't like was certain grammar/spell mistakes. When reading with such engrossment, sudden editing issues prove irritating. Also, at some places the philosophy was a little to much for me at some places. I had to read it in three-go's as I was like 'enough for one sitting' LOL.
Overall, it is a pretty good read and teaches one many things.
You can grab your copy here.
PS: The review copy of this book was shared with me by Kalamos Literary Services
Love and Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: A Girl in Love with a BeggarAuthor: AnujPublisher: Kalamos PublishersPages: 160Price: Rs. 175My Rating: 3.5/5
Blurb:She wants to know on what bases life is measured; is it on the bases of sacrifice you made to make people happy around you or on the bases of fights you fought to get the things that made you happy. And the question is what the limit to this sacrifice or to this fight is? He wants to relinquish this world. He wants to die. He has reached the place where dreams end and desires die. Where questions become unworthy of answers. Where life becomes dear and death becomes new life. They shared life. They shared fate. They become each other's moksha. They fall in love to complete each other. They fall in love to play their part in this eternal game.
Review:If you are into masala romance then this is not the book for you. 'A girl in love with a beggar' is one book that takes romance to next level and engulfs it with philosophy.
This is the second book by Anuj and it is very safe to say that he is very passionate about philosophy and likes to treat his readers with not just romance/common story but instead he likes to educate his readers. Additionally, he motivates them to think about life and beyond materialism.
As the title suggests, the book revolves around a girl named Shona who finds herself mesmerized by a beggar - Kabir. It is story about how they meet, get together and how their relationship takes turns and reaches a complete new level.
The characterization in the book is decent and you can feel linked to each character. The story flow is decent too.
What I didn't like was certain grammar/spell mistakes. When reading with such engrossment, sudden editing issues prove irritating. Also, at some places the philosophy was a little to much for me at some places. I had to read it in three-go's as I was like 'enough for one sitting' LOL.
Overall, it is a pretty good read and teaches one many things.
You can grab your copy here.
PS: The review copy of this book was shared with me by Kalamos Literary Services
Love and Cheers
December 15, 2016
Book: Kashmir 90 - Story of Love, Tragedy and Mesmerizing Kashmir
#BookReviews #Kashmir90
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Kashmir 90Author: Vineet SinghPublisher: Leadstart PublishersPages: 216Price: Rs. 225My Rating: 3.5/5
Blurb:The story Kashmir 90 starts in 2011 and travels back in time accidentally over an animated conversation between two friends, Vineet and Shiv. The heart-wrenching and the most unfortunate events of 1989-1990 in Kashmir caused the ripples which gave rise to this roller coaster tale that destiny wrote for Shiv. Shiv Pandit, a proud Kashmiri young boy of the valley and a darling of his local community, who has the world on his feet after getting admission in College of Srinagar, starts his journey of becoming a man from a boy along numerous other youngsters from all across the country. During the hostel life meets new roommates and develops a great bond with them through few hilarious and funny events. He also develops a soft corner toward a girl name Maya from Kerala. The college life was like a dream for him. In the background, the extremist fringe was spreading the lethal hate in the air Kashmir. The hate bomb when exploded and shook the soul of Kashmir, the causality was the Kashmiri Pandit community. The college was also closed down and the students who had gone for a winter break could never return to college! Shiv loses his roots, his college, his cradle and his love. He finds himself at junction of unknown crossroads of life. This new path of destiny takes him to different parts of the country to rediscover faith in humanity, friendship and love. In turn, it brings along new relationships, disappointments, fun, thrill and adventures. But the changing politics of the country, Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Bombay riots create surge in his life and cause a chain reaction that brings him to a point where once again he finds himself in a situation where he could lose it all! Will he again accept the fate and drift along or fight for his treasure of life?
Review:Kashmir 90 revolves around a carefree boy, Shiv, who sees his life turn upside down when various incidents take place in his life. The story is written around majestic Kashmir and you could not help feel the desire to actually visit the place.The story is in multiple timelines in which he grows into a man from a boy. He falls in love, is separated from his beloved, falls in love again and finally gets his happily ever after.
Talking about the characters, they are well written and explained. They are well woven into the story and are narrated well.
What I liked about the book is the way story evolves. Various tragedies are woven together and you can actually feel what tough time it must be for everyone... People lose their sanity in such crisis but coming back to life is commendable. The love affairs are also well written.
What I didn't like is the climax and how Shiv's life changes in the end. It feels like he loses essence of everything. Plus, the ending is bit abrupt. The whole book is a smooth ride except for the end.
Overall it is decent read and you can grab a copy here.
My rating: 3.5/5.
Hope you enjoy it too.
Love and Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Kashmir 90Author: Vineet SinghPublisher: Leadstart PublishersPages: 216Price: Rs. 225My Rating: 3.5/5
Blurb:The story Kashmir 90 starts in 2011 and travels back in time accidentally over an animated conversation between two friends, Vineet and Shiv. The heart-wrenching and the most unfortunate events of 1989-1990 in Kashmir caused the ripples which gave rise to this roller coaster tale that destiny wrote for Shiv. Shiv Pandit, a proud Kashmiri young boy of the valley and a darling of his local community, who has the world on his feet after getting admission in College of Srinagar, starts his journey of becoming a man from a boy along numerous other youngsters from all across the country. During the hostel life meets new roommates and develops a great bond with them through few hilarious and funny events. He also develops a soft corner toward a girl name Maya from Kerala. The college life was like a dream for him. In the background, the extremist fringe was spreading the lethal hate in the air Kashmir. The hate bomb when exploded and shook the soul of Kashmir, the causality was the Kashmiri Pandit community. The college was also closed down and the students who had gone for a winter break could never return to college! Shiv loses his roots, his college, his cradle and his love. He finds himself at junction of unknown crossroads of life. This new path of destiny takes him to different parts of the country to rediscover faith in humanity, friendship and love. In turn, it brings along new relationships, disappointments, fun, thrill and adventures. But the changing politics of the country, Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Bombay riots create surge in his life and cause a chain reaction that brings him to a point where once again he finds himself in a situation where he could lose it all! Will he again accept the fate and drift along or fight for his treasure of life?
Review:Kashmir 90 revolves around a carefree boy, Shiv, who sees his life turn upside down when various incidents take place in his life. The story is written around majestic Kashmir and you could not help feel the desire to actually visit the place.The story is in multiple timelines in which he grows into a man from a boy. He falls in love, is separated from his beloved, falls in love again and finally gets his happily ever after.
Talking about the characters, they are well written and explained. They are well woven into the story and are narrated well.
What I liked about the book is the way story evolves. Various tragedies are woven together and you can actually feel what tough time it must be for everyone... People lose their sanity in such crisis but coming back to life is commendable. The love affairs are also well written.
What I didn't like is the climax and how Shiv's life changes in the end. It feels like he loses essence of everything. Plus, the ending is bit abrupt. The whole book is a smooth ride except for the end.
Overall it is decent read and you can grab a copy here.
My rating: 3.5/5.
Hope you enjoy it too.
Love and Cheers
December 11, 2016
Mega Giveaway
#Giveaway
Hello everyone, Kalamos Literary Services is proud to announce its first ever Mega Giveaway.
We invite all book lovers out there to participate in this giveaway and make this event a success. Rules:
1. The participant must be a resident of India.
2. The participant must have an Amazon account.
3. The participant can enter in maximum of 3 books giveaway, not more than that.
4. The participant will have to comment in the comment box of Colors of Life blog. In the comment please mention name and author of the book, and note that includes your views and expectations from the book.
5. Multiple entries are not allowed.
6. The winners will be selected by the authors themselves.
Below are the books you can win-
1. The Three Wise Monkeys by Jeet Gian
Blurb- The trio Amar, Akbar and Anthony had no clue whatsoever about their goddammit indecisive-careers-and-indefinite-struggles. And that was because they were born with the Peter Pan Syndrome and were simple enough to be tricked by anyone, including their mystifying girlfriends—Meghna, Farah and Sarah. And as is the fate of all morons, they were drawn into trouble—deep trouble—of hiding crores of rupees of black money in secret offshore companies. Will their mistake of turning a blind eye to the philosophy of ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ cost them their careers and put them in prison? Or Will Lady Luck change their fortunes forever?
2. Should I Fall in Love by Shradha Khanna
Blurb- A story of Fear..... of not finding forever after and questioning your heart. Naina has always been a strong headed, lively and carefree person. She always felt that there was a reason for everything. She believed in love, commitment and sacrifice, but when her three year old relationship crumble down in front of her she lost all the hope in love and marriage forever. With time and help of her friend, Naina starts afresh in a new city with a new job and people around. For the first time in her life she was not looking for love but a deep urge to stand on her own feet made its way in her life. Little did Naina know her life was going to change? Nothing could prepare her for the storm of love in the shape of Nihal, the confident, persistent and handsome guy she met at her boss housewarming party. Read on to know, will Nihal be able to penetrate the cold walls covered around Naina's heart or her insecurities are more than enough to lead them on different paths in life. A story where thinking that questioning your heart with "Should I", can stop you from "Falling In Love".
3. Terminal Love by Vicky Arora
Blurb- In the mad roller coaster that is Mumbai, two men separated by age, class, and religious faith, find the love they yearn for in each other. This is their true story of braving all odds through the ups and downs in their lives. What survives is their unconditional acceptance, unwavering commitment, and an unbounded love in the face of an unrelenting fate.
4. Secret, Sins & Struggles by Kamini Kusum
Blurb- This collection of tales about the lives and loves of five women traces their long, eventful journeys. Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his. These stories are about the odds stacked against these women in their paths to love and success, and their hope that the next turn that they make will be the one that leads them to the happiness they are longing for.
5. Wild Card by Asfiya Rahman
Blurb- Karan Mehrotra thinks he has it all. He is about to marry the love of his life, Riya and is on his way to win at Wimbledon, fulfilling a childhood dream of his. However destiny has other plans for him and he is forced to put aside his dreams when life throws a wild card at him. Eight years later destiny coyly lays another opportunity in front of him. Does he finally get another chance to fulfill his childhood dream or will he let his fear stop him from taking up the challenge? Find out how a tennis champion is forced to step away from his fame into obscurity and how a bossy little girl forces him to take up one of the hardest challenges of his life and face the life he had left behind.
6. My Wife's Diary by Deepanshu Saini
Blurb- 'Am I okay?' I asked myself again, for the hundredth time. 'I don't know,' I told myself again, for the hundredth time. I have never been so confused. For my entire life, I have taken decisions with a simple 'yes' or 'no': 'Do I want to go for engineering?' 'Yes'; 'Do I need to go for another job?' 'No'; 'Should I look for career in writing?'; 'Yes'; 'Do I love her?' 'Yes'; 'Should I smoke?' 'No'; 'Should I drink?' 'Yes' -my whole life has revolved around these two words. And the same words worked while making the most important decision of my life - my marriage. 'Should I go for love marriage?' 'Yes'. Why shouldn't I? After all, she is beautiful, fair and tall, with a shapely body, and with that tiny mole under her lower lip that most guys would be ready to die for. Overall, a trustworthy companion, a perfect daughter-in-law and an ambitious girl - what else does a guy want? But one year of marriage can prove you wrong. It can even give a shock perhaps. Just the thought that a girl in her mid-twenties can hold so many secrets, so many emotions, is actually astonishing. Few months ago, I would've never pictured things the way they are now. She once said to me: 'Love has nothing to do with the body. It speaks from the soul.' Well, she was absolutely correct. But I think, I was an Idiot as what she meant that day came into my wits now... I was uncomfortably aware of my conscience every time I faintly turned the page of her diary, and every time a feeling went through my nerves, like I was about to bite my own tongue. How had something so simple become so tangled and complicated suddenly? I still remember the first time I had met her. As much as I tried not to think about her, she kept flitting into my consciousness or into my line of sight. And I was clear that I wanted her. I want to formalize the relationship. How? I don't know. But yes, my sentiments were really honest. That's it. But now, it's something different.
7. Epiphany: Tales of Revelation
Blurb- "A true and brutally honest utterance of love, this book connects with you instantly. An attempt to bring out the various nuances of a heart in love, the collection ranges from romantic poems to poems dwelling with the questions of self. This book is for everyone who wants to have a rendezvous with themselves and also with the ones they love in a familiar yet newer light."
8. Blemishing The Odds by Harish Penumarthi
Blurb- Say hello to Raghav, an immature, insensitive person who is apathetic about everyone else except himself. His life revolves around his parents and his friends. He is among the bad books of all his Teachers. Until one day, when Trisha, a new entrant; mesmerizes him at the very first glance. He finds a friend, savior, nurturer and an inamorata in her. Just when he thinks that everything has been set out in a picture perfect manner, life throws a series of ghastly surprises at him. Will he change for good or stick to his immature stand of "My Life, my rules" and screw it all up? This tale journeys across all the ups and downs a student could possibly encounter. The transformations that a student may endure, the courage and guts one needs to have in order to dodge all predicaments and eventually sketch the perfect end to all his agonies.
9. The Kissing Circles by Nitin Tewari
Blurb- "A boat race. Sounds fun" "Not for me. Oh, but I can be a cheerleader." No doubt a Toddy effect. "Yeah dude. So Pandey is going to design the next aircraft carrier ship." "And Bansal, you're going to brand this into the first Water Olympics." "And I shall win the race and marry Kala in the most lavish wedding Mevalloor has ever seen" Yeah, welcome to the world of Ordinaries! Extraordinary In 2007, at the height of the Global IT boom, Manoj Bansal and Rajesh Pandey, two newly-releasedprisoners of Engineering with mediocre grades and a looming IT future, set out for Trivandrum for their Corporate Learning Programme (CLP). Torn between their past miscues and topical aspirations, they hope to find their true calling.Whilst in a confused, depression ridden transitory phase, they soon run into their fellow trainee, Adish Matthew - a Malayali Computer engineer, and a village simpleton Mutthur Sankunni - the no-hope skipper of MaruthiVallam, gearing up for the annual Vallamkali. Bound by a common thread of mediocrity, they shun the modern world's great expectations and take off on a spree to discover the tranquility of the God's own country. Until one day...when a Tsunami of mishaps rocks their life, impelling them to join hands and transfigure into the four kissing circles, fighting the most irrelevant battle of our times: To be or not to be, extraordinary.
10. Strangers With Known Faces by Gautam Dutta
Blurb- Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again - on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of 'Strangers With Known Faces'.
TO PARTICIPATE NOW PLEASE CLICK HERE
Love and Cheers
Hello everyone, Kalamos Literary Services is proud to announce its first ever Mega Giveaway.
We invite all book lovers out there to participate in this giveaway and make this event a success. Rules:1. The participant must be a resident of India.
2. The participant must have an Amazon account.
3. The participant can enter in maximum of 3 books giveaway, not more than that.
4. The participant will have to comment in the comment box of Colors of Life blog. In the comment please mention name and author of the book, and note that includes your views and expectations from the book.
5. Multiple entries are not allowed.
6. The winners will be selected by the authors themselves.
Below are the books you can win-
1. The Three Wise Monkeys by Jeet Gian
Blurb- The trio Amar, Akbar and Anthony had no clue whatsoever about their goddammit indecisive-careers-and-indefinite-struggles. And that was because they were born with the Peter Pan Syndrome and were simple enough to be tricked by anyone, including their mystifying girlfriends—Meghna, Farah and Sarah. And as is the fate of all morons, they were drawn into trouble—deep trouble—of hiding crores of rupees of black money in secret offshore companies. Will their mistake of turning a blind eye to the philosophy of ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ cost them their careers and put them in prison? Or Will Lady Luck change their fortunes forever?
2. Should I Fall in Love by Shradha Khanna
Blurb- A story of Fear..... of not finding forever after and questioning your heart. Naina has always been a strong headed, lively and carefree person. She always felt that there was a reason for everything. She believed in love, commitment and sacrifice, but when her three year old relationship crumble down in front of her she lost all the hope in love and marriage forever. With time and help of her friend, Naina starts afresh in a new city with a new job and people around. For the first time in her life she was not looking for love but a deep urge to stand on her own feet made its way in her life. Little did Naina know her life was going to change? Nothing could prepare her for the storm of love in the shape of Nihal, the confident, persistent and handsome guy she met at her boss housewarming party. Read on to know, will Nihal be able to penetrate the cold walls covered around Naina's heart or her insecurities are more than enough to lead them on different paths in life. A story where thinking that questioning your heart with "Should I", can stop you from "Falling In Love".
3. Terminal Love by Vicky Arora
Blurb- In the mad roller coaster that is Mumbai, two men separated by age, class, and religious faith, find the love they yearn for in each other. This is their true story of braving all odds through the ups and downs in their lives. What survives is their unconditional acceptance, unwavering commitment, and an unbounded love in the face of an unrelenting fate.
4. Secret, Sins & Struggles by Kamini Kusum
Blurb- This collection of tales about the lives and loves of five women traces their long, eventful journeys. Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his. These stories are about the odds stacked against these women in their paths to love and success, and their hope that the next turn that they make will be the one that leads them to the happiness they are longing for.
5. Wild Card by Asfiya Rahman
Blurb- Karan Mehrotra thinks he has it all. He is about to marry the love of his life, Riya and is on his way to win at Wimbledon, fulfilling a childhood dream of his. However destiny has other plans for him and he is forced to put aside his dreams when life throws a wild card at him. Eight years later destiny coyly lays another opportunity in front of him. Does he finally get another chance to fulfill his childhood dream or will he let his fear stop him from taking up the challenge? Find out how a tennis champion is forced to step away from his fame into obscurity and how a bossy little girl forces him to take up one of the hardest challenges of his life and face the life he had left behind.
6. My Wife's Diary by Deepanshu Saini
Blurb- 'Am I okay?' I asked myself again, for the hundredth time. 'I don't know,' I told myself again, for the hundredth time. I have never been so confused. For my entire life, I have taken decisions with a simple 'yes' or 'no': 'Do I want to go for engineering?' 'Yes'; 'Do I need to go for another job?' 'No'; 'Should I look for career in writing?'; 'Yes'; 'Do I love her?' 'Yes'; 'Should I smoke?' 'No'; 'Should I drink?' 'Yes' -my whole life has revolved around these two words. And the same words worked while making the most important decision of my life - my marriage. 'Should I go for love marriage?' 'Yes'. Why shouldn't I? After all, she is beautiful, fair and tall, with a shapely body, and with that tiny mole under her lower lip that most guys would be ready to die for. Overall, a trustworthy companion, a perfect daughter-in-law and an ambitious girl - what else does a guy want? But one year of marriage can prove you wrong. It can even give a shock perhaps. Just the thought that a girl in her mid-twenties can hold so many secrets, so many emotions, is actually astonishing. Few months ago, I would've never pictured things the way they are now. She once said to me: 'Love has nothing to do with the body. It speaks from the soul.' Well, she was absolutely correct. But I think, I was an Idiot as what she meant that day came into my wits now... I was uncomfortably aware of my conscience every time I faintly turned the page of her diary, and every time a feeling went through my nerves, like I was about to bite my own tongue. How had something so simple become so tangled and complicated suddenly? I still remember the first time I had met her. As much as I tried not to think about her, she kept flitting into my consciousness or into my line of sight. And I was clear that I wanted her. I want to formalize the relationship. How? I don't know. But yes, my sentiments were really honest. That's it. But now, it's something different.
7. Epiphany: Tales of Revelation
Blurb- "A true and brutally honest utterance of love, this book connects with you instantly. An attempt to bring out the various nuances of a heart in love, the collection ranges from romantic poems to poems dwelling with the questions of self. This book is for everyone who wants to have a rendezvous with themselves and also with the ones they love in a familiar yet newer light."
8. Blemishing The Odds by Harish Penumarthi
Blurb- Say hello to Raghav, an immature, insensitive person who is apathetic about everyone else except himself. His life revolves around his parents and his friends. He is among the bad books of all his Teachers. Until one day, when Trisha, a new entrant; mesmerizes him at the very first glance. He finds a friend, savior, nurturer and an inamorata in her. Just when he thinks that everything has been set out in a picture perfect manner, life throws a series of ghastly surprises at him. Will he change for good or stick to his immature stand of "My Life, my rules" and screw it all up? This tale journeys across all the ups and downs a student could possibly encounter. The transformations that a student may endure, the courage and guts one needs to have in order to dodge all predicaments and eventually sketch the perfect end to all his agonies.
9. The Kissing Circles by Nitin Tewari
Blurb- "A boat race. Sounds fun" "Not for me. Oh, but I can be a cheerleader." No doubt a Toddy effect. "Yeah dude. So Pandey is going to design the next aircraft carrier ship." "And Bansal, you're going to brand this into the first Water Olympics." "And I shall win the race and marry Kala in the most lavish wedding Mevalloor has ever seen" Yeah, welcome to the world of Ordinaries! Extraordinary In 2007, at the height of the Global IT boom, Manoj Bansal and Rajesh Pandey, two newly-releasedprisoners of Engineering with mediocre grades and a looming IT future, set out for Trivandrum for their Corporate Learning Programme (CLP). Torn between their past miscues and topical aspirations, they hope to find their true calling.Whilst in a confused, depression ridden transitory phase, they soon run into their fellow trainee, Adish Matthew - a Malayali Computer engineer, and a village simpleton Mutthur Sankunni - the no-hope skipper of MaruthiVallam, gearing up for the annual Vallamkali. Bound by a common thread of mediocrity, they shun the modern world's great expectations and take off on a spree to discover the tranquility of the God's own country. Until one day...when a Tsunami of mishaps rocks their life, impelling them to join hands and transfigure into the four kissing circles, fighting the most irrelevant battle of our times: To be or not to be, extraordinary.
10. Strangers With Known Faces by Gautam Dutta
Blurb- Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again - on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of 'Strangers With Known Faces'.
TO PARTICIPATE NOW PLEASE CLICK HERE
Love and Cheers
December 8, 2016
Book: Secrets, Sins & Struggles - Stories of Women, Betrayal and Manipulation
#BookReviews
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Secrets, Sins & Struggles
Author: Kamini Kusum
Publisher: Zorba Books
Pages: 211
Price: Rs. 199
My Rating: 3/5
Blurb:"This collection of tales about the lives and loves of five women traces their long, eventful journeys. Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his.
These stories are about the odds stacked against these women in their paths to love and success, and their hope that the next turn that they make will be the one that leads them to the happiness they are longing for. "
Review:Now this is the first collection of novellas that I have read and it took me just a couple of hours to finish them. The benefit of reading a collection - you don't get bored and before you know it, next story begins.More or less equally divided, this books contains 5 stories and each revolves around a certain issue faced by women. However honestly, although issues faced are different but it primarily centers around one theme - "How women are stupid enough to trust so easily and how (most) men take advantage of it". I am thankful to God as I cannot relate to any single story mentioned in the book but reading through I felt really bad for all the girls out there who actually have faced or are facing such problems.
Talking about and rating each story:Brother to Assembly: Story of Pooja. It is a heart-touching story of flesh trade. If I were the author I wouldn't have kept this first but I know why she did it. It is the best one out of five. It is really sad and pitiful. As I read it, I felt the pain that Pooja felt and how miserable she was. I really liked the ending but I would have liked it better if vengeance was served... it was missing. My rating to this story - 4/5Love, Corporate and Custody: Story of Geshna. It is a story of love and loss. It clearly states that when a girl devotes herself truly to a guy, she will do anything for him. Same happens with Geshna. It is well written story which narrates her devotion, admiration and true love for her boyfriend. And how he reciprocates in not so expected manner. My rating to this story - 3.5/5Madam Bureaucrat: Story of Shrawani. Oh I disliked this story... I wish author could have added a better one because this, well this was weird and I really wonder if girls are so-so-so stupid ever (I guess some are. Sigh!). It is one where an ambitious girl is manipulated and is stupid enough to not see the pattern (despite her intelligent friend repeatedly reminding her). My rating to this story - 1.5/5Sin: Story of Harsha. This story proves that all girls are not angels and all men are not mean. Opposite is also true. In here Harsha finds the best husband any girl can ask for (she actually gets even better) yet she engages herself in extra-marital affair. Well, we all know what is the tragic climax of such affairs! While reading you just wonder how can a woman be so mean and dumb? And all girls would wish to have a husband like hers. What he did in this story is just commendable and more or less impossible... read the story to know more. My rating to this story - 3/5That Rave Party Night: Story of Avni. Another average story in the book but still better than the third. Avni, a naive girl from a small town falls for a hunk and potentially becomes a prey to sexual predators in a Rave party. What I liked about this story is how she takes revenge. My rating to this story is 2.5/5Overall it is a decent book and given it is the debut book of the author, I would say she has done a commendable job.Characters in each story are well written and connected. There are no grammatical errors in the book, which for a change was pleasant. And except for 4th, each story followed a smooth pattern, in 4th it actually ended slight abruptly.
My rating to the book overall is 3/5...
You can grab the copy here.
Love & Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Secrets, Sins & Struggles
Author: Kamini Kusum
Publisher: Zorba Books
Pages: 211
Price: Rs. 199
My Rating: 3/5
Blurb:"This collection of tales about the lives and loves of five women traces their long, eventful journeys. Meet Pooja, a teenager forced into the flesh trade but determined to escape and get justice. Shrawani who dreams of becoming a bureaucrat despite all the trials life throws her way. Avni who is torn between her childhood friend and her brand-new boyfriend. Harsha who is trapped in a loveless arranged marriage while still being haunted by thoughts of her forsaken lover. Geshna who falls head over heels for a high school sweetheart only to find her own life shrinking to accommodate his.
These stories are about the odds stacked against these women in their paths to love and success, and their hope that the next turn that they make will be the one that leads them to the happiness they are longing for. "
Review:Now this is the first collection of novellas that I have read and it took me just a couple of hours to finish them. The benefit of reading a collection - you don't get bored and before you know it, next story begins.More or less equally divided, this books contains 5 stories and each revolves around a certain issue faced by women. However honestly, although issues faced are different but it primarily centers around one theme - "How women are stupid enough to trust so easily and how (most) men take advantage of it". I am thankful to God as I cannot relate to any single story mentioned in the book but reading through I felt really bad for all the girls out there who actually have faced or are facing such problems.
Talking about and rating each story:Brother to Assembly: Story of Pooja. It is a heart-touching story of flesh trade. If I were the author I wouldn't have kept this first but I know why she did it. It is the best one out of five. It is really sad and pitiful. As I read it, I felt the pain that Pooja felt and how miserable she was. I really liked the ending but I would have liked it better if vengeance was served... it was missing. My rating to this story - 4/5Love, Corporate and Custody: Story of Geshna. It is a story of love and loss. It clearly states that when a girl devotes herself truly to a guy, she will do anything for him. Same happens with Geshna. It is well written story which narrates her devotion, admiration and true love for her boyfriend. And how he reciprocates in not so expected manner. My rating to this story - 3.5/5Madam Bureaucrat: Story of Shrawani. Oh I disliked this story... I wish author could have added a better one because this, well this was weird and I really wonder if girls are so-so-so stupid ever (I guess some are. Sigh!). It is one where an ambitious girl is manipulated and is stupid enough to not see the pattern (despite her intelligent friend repeatedly reminding her). My rating to this story - 1.5/5Sin: Story of Harsha. This story proves that all girls are not angels and all men are not mean. Opposite is also true. In here Harsha finds the best husband any girl can ask for (she actually gets even better) yet she engages herself in extra-marital affair. Well, we all know what is the tragic climax of such affairs! While reading you just wonder how can a woman be so mean and dumb? And all girls would wish to have a husband like hers. What he did in this story is just commendable and more or less impossible... read the story to know more. My rating to this story - 3/5That Rave Party Night: Story of Avni. Another average story in the book but still better than the third. Avni, a naive girl from a small town falls for a hunk and potentially becomes a prey to sexual predators in a Rave party. What I liked about this story is how she takes revenge. My rating to this story is 2.5/5Overall it is a decent book and given it is the debut book of the author, I would say she has done a commendable job.Characters in each story are well written and connected. There are no grammatical errors in the book, which for a change was pleasant. And except for 4th, each story followed a smooth pattern, in 4th it actually ended slight abruptly.
My rating to the book overall is 3/5...
You can grab the copy here.
Love & Cheers
December 3, 2016
Book - My Blind Father: A book that redefines child psychology
#BookReviews
Read Review Policy Here
Title: My Blind Father
Author:
Publisher: Kalamos Publishers
Pages: 139
Price: Rs. 125
My Rating: 3/5
Blurb:A story teaching the nation... This story will take you into the depths of child psychology to understand the child, to help the child, to provide them an environment where then can grow to their best potentials. From the beginning of civilization, we are growing by ignoring child. Because it is very easy to ignore a child, you can tell them to shut up. You can force them to sit silently, so we forget how to understand a child. Your world is perfectly well without understanding a child. But now you can see the results. Ignoring a child, disrespecting the freedom of a child is producing criminals in the society. Now we need to understand a child to make our society crimeless. This book is to help everyone to understand the child. To make our civilization more civilized.
Review:My blind father is a story of a father-son relationship and how it evolves overtime. Firstly, child psychology is not my cup of tea as it bothers me but this book was completely different. It redefines child psychology and takes it a new level.
The story is about a child Om, who first steps into school when he is nine years old. Given he is not bound to Indian educational system, he is way ahead in terms of understanding life and maturity level. What I liked was how he sees world from a complete different lens and how some genuine people really appreciate this lens.
As I started reading this book, I was completely hooked. There are very few books of which you want to read every single word and in the beginning it was one of them. Certain narrations are brilliant and at places it could be a good guide for parents. For example on morning walks, author has brilliantly written why children hate to wake up early. Small kids used to ask their parents to go on morning walks with them, but then parents didn’t allow them. Their reason is obvious; safety, but after a few years, when they started enjoying sleeping in and their laziness, then the parents dragged them out, physically and mentally, to go out for a morning walk. The child, then gets angry and his anger is reasonable; he was forced to do something. That innocent child was simply enjoying his sleep, and now you forced him to do something. You dragged him out of something which he has been enjoying for years. Of course, he will be against it, whatever it is. Doesn’t matter how beautiful, how refreshing and how healthy it is.
The writing style is also good, author has done good job in making the book interactive. You feel like he is actually reading it aloud to you.
What I didn't like about the book is the small mistakes here and there. Unfortunately our computers don't tell us when we misspell some words like 'keens' instead of 'knees'. LOL!
At places I also felt like that certain narrations were not required, but hey, it was author's choice and he must have thought it through. Also, certain narrations were not closed right in the flow, which I felt weird.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book but second half I felt dragged. Maybe it was because I was reading continuously and it got overwhelming. It got 'too much' but still I finished it and mostly liked it to the end.
My rating to this book is 3.5/5.
You can grab your copy here.
Love & Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: My Blind Father
Author:
Publisher: Kalamos Publishers
Pages: 139
Price: Rs. 125
My Rating: 3/5
Blurb:A story teaching the nation... This story will take you into the depths of child psychology to understand the child, to help the child, to provide them an environment where then can grow to their best potentials. From the beginning of civilization, we are growing by ignoring child. Because it is very easy to ignore a child, you can tell them to shut up. You can force them to sit silently, so we forget how to understand a child. Your world is perfectly well without understanding a child. But now you can see the results. Ignoring a child, disrespecting the freedom of a child is producing criminals in the society. Now we need to understand a child to make our society crimeless. This book is to help everyone to understand the child. To make our civilization more civilized.
Review:My blind father is a story of a father-son relationship and how it evolves overtime. Firstly, child psychology is not my cup of tea as it bothers me but this book was completely different. It redefines child psychology and takes it a new level.
The story is about a child Om, who first steps into school when he is nine years old. Given he is not bound to Indian educational system, he is way ahead in terms of understanding life and maturity level. What I liked was how he sees world from a complete different lens and how some genuine people really appreciate this lens.
As I started reading this book, I was completely hooked. There are very few books of which you want to read every single word and in the beginning it was one of them. Certain narrations are brilliant and at places it could be a good guide for parents. For example on morning walks, author has brilliantly written why children hate to wake up early. Small kids used to ask their parents to go on morning walks with them, but then parents didn’t allow them. Their reason is obvious; safety, but after a few years, when they started enjoying sleeping in and their laziness, then the parents dragged them out, physically and mentally, to go out for a morning walk. The child, then gets angry and his anger is reasonable; he was forced to do something. That innocent child was simply enjoying his sleep, and now you forced him to do something. You dragged him out of something which he has been enjoying for years. Of course, he will be against it, whatever it is. Doesn’t matter how beautiful, how refreshing and how healthy it is.
The writing style is also good, author has done good job in making the book interactive. You feel like he is actually reading it aloud to you.
What I didn't like about the book is the small mistakes here and there. Unfortunately our computers don't tell us when we misspell some words like 'keens' instead of 'knees'. LOL!
At places I also felt like that certain narrations were not required, but hey, it was author's choice and he must have thought it through. Also, certain narrations were not closed right in the flow, which I felt weird.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book but second half I felt dragged. Maybe it was because I was reading continuously and it got overwhelming. It got 'too much' but still I finished it and mostly liked it to the end.
My rating to this book is 3.5/5.
You can grab your copy here.
Love & Cheers
November 30, 2016
Book: Ashvamedha - Ultimate Climax That Will Surprise You And Will Shock You...
#Ashvamedha #BookReview
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Ashvamedha: The Game of Power
Author: Aparna Singh
Publisher: Shrishti Publishers
Pages: 227
Price: Rs. 137
My Rating: 4.5/5
Blurb:"You have to dethrone a powerful man to become the most powerful. I was itching to defeat the single most powerful person, but there wasn't any. I was left with only one choice — to create one."
Little does Ashwin Jamwal know that the last twenty-five years of his life have been controlled by a master manipulator, who wanted to make him the most powerful man on earth, though for a reason! Ashwin steps up to take oath as the youngest Prime Minister of India and is unknowingly thrown into a vortex of power and authority as the entire world is threatened by a faceless enemy — Hades.
The world starts to look up to Ashwin as the savior, but he was just a pawn, reared only to be sacrificed in the end.
A story of greed, lies, deceptions, manipulations and corruption, Ashvamedha is a thriller revolving around the infamous game of power in a maddening bid to seek absolute control.
Review:I am not a fan of politics but ever since our new PM took office my perspective has changed. And I am glad it did else I would have missed on reading this book.
Written with precision and vivid details, Ashvamedha is a promising book with very good story line. From start to end I was hooked to it and really liked every aspect that was narrated.
The plots and twist are beautifully written and one can never guess who this 'Hades' is... The suspense will keep you on your toes and you wont be able to put down the book despite the late hours.
In terms of writing it is rather matured and well connected. The characters are decently described and linked. I didn't see any random characters appearing (which can be a turn off) and even if they did, they were introduced.
The dialogues at places are rather good. To quote one here:"We know what is right or wrong. What we should do and what not. We have an angel on one shoulder and devil sitting on the other. Sadly, the devil is louder. But when we go to bed at night and all voices fade, we hear our heartbeat"
The only issue with the book is some minor grammatical/spelling mistakes which, going with the flow, seemed weird. Also there is over-use of complicated words. I am sure this could have been avoided but apart from these it is a pretty fine read.
My rating for the book is 4.5/5 and I would recommend this to everyone who likes to read drama, thrill with political background.
You can grab your copy here.
The review copy of this book was shared with me by Author Paradise
Love & Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Ashvamedha: The Game of Power
Author: Aparna Singh
Publisher: Shrishti Publishers
Pages: 227
Price: Rs. 137
My Rating: 4.5/5
Blurb:"You have to dethrone a powerful man to become the most powerful. I was itching to defeat the single most powerful person, but there wasn't any. I was left with only one choice — to create one."
Little does Ashwin Jamwal know that the last twenty-five years of his life have been controlled by a master manipulator, who wanted to make him the most powerful man on earth, though for a reason! Ashwin steps up to take oath as the youngest Prime Minister of India and is unknowingly thrown into a vortex of power and authority as the entire world is threatened by a faceless enemy — Hades.
The world starts to look up to Ashwin as the savior, but he was just a pawn, reared only to be sacrificed in the end.
A story of greed, lies, deceptions, manipulations and corruption, Ashvamedha is a thriller revolving around the infamous game of power in a maddening bid to seek absolute control.
Review:I am not a fan of politics but ever since our new PM took office my perspective has changed. And I am glad it did else I would have missed on reading this book.
Written with precision and vivid details, Ashvamedha is a promising book with very good story line. From start to end I was hooked to it and really liked every aspect that was narrated.
The plots and twist are beautifully written and one can never guess who this 'Hades' is... The suspense will keep you on your toes and you wont be able to put down the book despite the late hours.
In terms of writing it is rather matured and well connected. The characters are decently described and linked. I didn't see any random characters appearing (which can be a turn off) and even if they did, they were introduced.
The dialogues at places are rather good. To quote one here:"We know what is right or wrong. What we should do and what not. We have an angel on one shoulder and devil sitting on the other. Sadly, the devil is louder. But when we go to bed at night and all voices fade, we hear our heartbeat"
The only issue with the book is some minor grammatical/spelling mistakes which, going with the flow, seemed weird. Also there is over-use of complicated words. I am sure this could have been avoided but apart from these it is a pretty fine read.
My rating for the book is 4.5/5 and I would recommend this to everyone who likes to read drama, thrill with political background.
You can grab your copy here.
The review copy of this book was shared with me by Author Paradise
Love & Cheers
November 23, 2016
Book - Strangers with Known Faces - Murder, Mystery and Dangerous Endeavours
#BookReviews
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Strangers with Known FacesAuthor: Gautam DuttaPublisher: Invicible PublishersPages: 257Price: Rs. 185My Rating: 4/5
Blurb:Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again - on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of 'Strangers With Known Faces'.
Review:Overall the book is pretty good however I am not sure why it is listed under Romance... It is not a romance novel instead it is a crime/thriller/mystery kind of book.
The current time zone in book is 2030, and the story jumps between our present and 2030.The plot revolves around 5 characters who meet accidentally through a lucky draw system and then are bonded for life. The story revolves around Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya where primary focus is on Rajat and other characters are given due importance respectively.
They become good friends in University but breakup due to various circumstances. After two decades they are at the peak of their careers when Shanaya is mysteriously murdered and somehow remaining four are the primary suspects. Apart from these four another name that keeps on popping up is a name of International organization. Now it is upon these four to prove their innocence and find the culprit.
What I really liked about the book is its plot. It is very well written and it has various twists. The author has made a good attempt in gelling past and present together and you can actually feel the necessity of solving the mystery. Given the book is rather long (comparatively), you just can't wait to reach the end.
Additionally I also liked the entanglement of various characters and plot lines. Every thing seem so fragmented and all over the place initially but as we reach the climax it just makes sense - something like you see in so many movies.
Also the writing style of the author is mature. You can sense that a good quality book and writing is in your hands. Entire book is broken down in many small chapters. By looking at them it might feel too much but they actually make sense when you read.
What I didn't like about the book is editing. Yes, it always is the first point I make when I read the book. Initially it is less but as the book the progresses so does the mistakes. I would highly recommend a good proof read as it is pretty good book.
Another thing that I didn't like is various additional characters that were added randomly. I understand characters are needed but it is the duty of the author to introduce each one and not just bombard the reader with new names.
Also, certain aspects were dragged out which made me forget the original essence. I forgot certain characters as they popped up a few chapters later. Re-intro (one liner) in such cases could have been good. Especially the flashback of Rajat was a little to dragged... it could have been shortened.
Lastly the climax, honestly it didn't do justice. I felt that author devoted his everything to the entire story and then was left with nothing in the end - LOL! I felt the importance of the foreign organization that was (kind of) involved was ignored completely in the end, also the eventual coup was a little too much. I don't think that it is ever possible or say probable but I would still say kudos to author for a vivid attempt.
My overall rating to the book is 4/5. You should give it a try, it is tad on heavier side (not weight but content wise) but it is worth a read.
You can buy a copy here.
The review copy of this book was shared with me by Kalamos Literary Services
Love & Cheers
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Strangers with Known FacesAuthor: Gautam DuttaPublisher: Invicible PublishersPages: 257Price: Rs. 185My Rating: 4/5
Blurb:Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again - on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of 'Strangers With Known Faces'.
Review:Overall the book is pretty good however I am not sure why it is listed under Romance... It is not a romance novel instead it is a crime/thriller/mystery kind of book.
The current time zone in book is 2030, and the story jumps between our present and 2030.The plot revolves around 5 characters who meet accidentally through a lucky draw system and then are bonded for life. The story revolves around Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya where primary focus is on Rajat and other characters are given due importance respectively.
They become good friends in University but breakup due to various circumstances. After two decades they are at the peak of their careers when Shanaya is mysteriously murdered and somehow remaining four are the primary suspects. Apart from these four another name that keeps on popping up is a name of International organization. Now it is upon these four to prove their innocence and find the culprit.
What I really liked about the book is its plot. It is very well written and it has various twists. The author has made a good attempt in gelling past and present together and you can actually feel the necessity of solving the mystery. Given the book is rather long (comparatively), you just can't wait to reach the end.
Additionally I also liked the entanglement of various characters and plot lines. Every thing seem so fragmented and all over the place initially but as we reach the climax it just makes sense - something like you see in so many movies.
Also the writing style of the author is mature. You can sense that a good quality book and writing is in your hands. Entire book is broken down in many small chapters. By looking at them it might feel too much but they actually make sense when you read.
What I didn't like about the book is editing. Yes, it always is the first point I make when I read the book. Initially it is less but as the book the progresses so does the mistakes. I would highly recommend a good proof read as it is pretty good book.
Another thing that I didn't like is various additional characters that were added randomly. I understand characters are needed but it is the duty of the author to introduce each one and not just bombard the reader with new names.
Also, certain aspects were dragged out which made me forget the original essence. I forgot certain characters as they popped up a few chapters later. Re-intro (one liner) in such cases could have been good. Especially the flashback of Rajat was a little to dragged... it could have been shortened.
Lastly the climax, honestly it didn't do justice. I felt that author devoted his everything to the entire story and then was left with nothing in the end - LOL! I felt the importance of the foreign organization that was (kind of) involved was ignored completely in the end, also the eventual coup was a little too much. I don't think that it is ever possible or say probable but I would still say kudos to author for a vivid attempt.
My overall rating to the book is 4/5. You should give it a try, it is tad on heavier side (not weight but content wise) but it is worth a read.
You can buy a copy here.
The review copy of this book was shared with me by Kalamos Literary Services
Love & Cheers
November 19, 2016
BookOkay.com – A good site for books price comparison
#Random
With so many books available online and so many websites offering lucrative deals, it becomes crucial to check out which website is offering what deal. However, most of us directly go to ‘amazon.in’ and make the purchase and many times it doesn’t even strike us that there might be any other place that could be offering a better deal.
BookOkay.com
is one of those websites which collects data from various sites and gives us a comprehensive picture.
I looked up the site and used it on multiple occasions and realized that where it is very useful, just like any other site, it has its pros and cons.
To start with Pros:The site is very simple and easy to navigateIt compares many sites like:Amazon.comRediff.comFlipkart.comSnapdeal.com Infibeam.comIt is very quick, the moment you enter a detail, it gives results in seconds. It also pulls up ‘goodreads’ rating which is very usefulIt has sorting option where default sort is at price (Selling price + Delivery charges) which enables user to quickly understand the best available price. Other sort options are Seller, Availability etc.All books are sorted under various heads which makes search of books relatively easy. Following are the current heads:Self HelpCompetitive ExamsPhilosophyComputers & InternetFamily & RelationshipAcademic & ProfessionalLiterature & FictionComing to Cons:Not all books are listed, I feel it has more of western authors in comparison to Indian. I looked up many books that I have recently read but found none. I am sure owner of the site is working on updating the listThe ‘search’ section doesn’t work best. Example: a simple search of ‘Harry Potter’ doesn’t yield essential 7 parts of the series, instead it pulls up various other books and you have to browse through pages to find required book. Also if the book is not listed it throws many unnecessary suggestions and same is the case with ISBN number-which is kind of weird as every book’s ISBN is uniqueUnder various heads of the books, Literature & Fiction is very wide and it doesn’t give a clear list of preferred genre. Owners should break various heads like Literature & Fiction into various genres like Romance, Crime etc. for easy accessThe genre definition of book is missing in ‘about the book’ section. Many people prefer to buy certain genres and owners of websites should add that as well There is a complete catalogue of books listing available but it is labeled as [1-500] instead of genre or alphabetical order which makes it useless. Additionally it is very slow to load
Overall it is a pretty good initiative and once the list is thoroughly updated it would be extremely useful for all book lovers as we can decide which site is offering the best deal and save our precious money :)
Going forward, for each book that I buy, I am going to first look it up at BookOkay.com and then buy at the best price available. I would recommend everyone to do so as well – what do you say, would you do it?
Sample of Search
PS: The review was requested by the owner of the website.
Love & Cheers
With so many books available online and so many websites offering lucrative deals, it becomes crucial to check out which website is offering what deal. However, most of us directly go to ‘amazon.in’ and make the purchase and many times it doesn’t even strike us that there might be any other place that could be offering a better deal.
BookOkay.com
is one of those websites which collects data from various sites and gives us a comprehensive picture.I looked up the site and used it on multiple occasions and realized that where it is very useful, just like any other site, it has its pros and cons.
To start with Pros:The site is very simple and easy to navigateIt compares many sites like:Amazon.comRediff.comFlipkart.comSnapdeal.com Infibeam.comIt is very quick, the moment you enter a detail, it gives results in seconds. It also pulls up ‘goodreads’ rating which is very usefulIt has sorting option where default sort is at price (Selling price + Delivery charges) which enables user to quickly understand the best available price. Other sort options are Seller, Availability etc.All books are sorted under various heads which makes search of books relatively easy. Following are the current heads:Self HelpCompetitive ExamsPhilosophyComputers & InternetFamily & RelationshipAcademic & ProfessionalLiterature & FictionComing to Cons:Not all books are listed, I feel it has more of western authors in comparison to Indian. I looked up many books that I have recently read but found none. I am sure owner of the site is working on updating the listThe ‘search’ section doesn’t work best. Example: a simple search of ‘Harry Potter’ doesn’t yield essential 7 parts of the series, instead it pulls up various other books and you have to browse through pages to find required book. Also if the book is not listed it throws many unnecessary suggestions and same is the case with ISBN number-which is kind of weird as every book’s ISBN is uniqueUnder various heads of the books, Literature & Fiction is very wide and it doesn’t give a clear list of preferred genre. Owners should break various heads like Literature & Fiction into various genres like Romance, Crime etc. for easy accessThe genre definition of book is missing in ‘about the book’ section. Many people prefer to buy certain genres and owners of websites should add that as well There is a complete catalogue of books listing available but it is labeled as [1-500] instead of genre or alphabetical order which makes it useless. Additionally it is very slow to load
Overall it is a pretty good initiative and once the list is thoroughly updated it would be extremely useful for all book lovers as we can decide which site is offering the best deal and save our precious money :)
Going forward, for each book that I buy, I am going to first look it up at BookOkay.com and then buy at the best price available. I would recommend everyone to do so as well – what do you say, would you do it?
Sample of SearchPS: The review was requested by the owner of the website.
Love & Cheers
November 17, 2016
My 'Jug' - My 'Lifeline'
#DearZindagi
Life is not fair but it does makes up for it... my life made up for all past miseries by giving me the perfect husband i.e. my lifeline.
We met 8 years ago and in few days will complete six years of marriage and I cannot ask for a better partner. He is the sweetest, smartest and kindest person in this whole world and life has been a little too generous for giving him to me.
You won't believe but most days we spend 24 hours together. People in my office know this because we are in same department and everyone is always in aww that how come two people - who are so different that they seem like opposite poles of Earth can gel together so well. My colleagues many times say - "I would rip my hubby's hair if I had to spend so much time with him" or "We would kill each other" or "I need my space" and etc. etc. but for me I am in my perfect space. Any space that doesn't involve him is a void for me and I know for sure he feels the same.
He is one person with whom I can share anything and everything. Many girls complain about their husbands to their mothers but in my case it is opposite. Even if I have a complaint against him, I can talk to him directly and he listens (not that he implements but yes he lets me blabber and ease up my heart). And he does the same... If we have any issues we don’t burden our hearts with them, we just speak and that make us what we are... Best Friends. He is one person on whole planet who knows all my secrets, the ones from before marriage as well –shh… some are rather big ones and he is fine with them. If something good or bad happens he is the first person I tell and same is with him, I am the first person he tells and in case we are not able to connect then and there, you should see how restless we get. Haha!Also, you won’t believe he even knows which all actors I find hot and sexy and he is totally fine with them –and when someone ask him he is like as if she is gonna get him… LOL!
My life is sweet and complete now just because I have the best partner in my life. I can’t believe God has been so kind to me and I hope I never jinx it. Because, as you can imagine, without him, even a moment in my life is impossible and fruitless. And I don’t think I can ever survive.
Yup, that’s my ‘jug’ aka my lifeline aka my soulmate. Who is yours?
PS: I am writing about Jug in my life for the #DearZindagi activity at BlogAdda.
Love & Cheers
Life is not fair but it does makes up for it... my life made up for all past miseries by giving me the perfect husband i.e. my lifeline.We met 8 years ago and in few days will complete six years of marriage and I cannot ask for a better partner. He is the sweetest, smartest and kindest person in this whole world and life has been a little too generous for giving him to me.
You won't believe but most days we spend 24 hours together. People in my office know this because we are in same department and everyone is always in aww that how come two people - who are so different that they seem like opposite poles of Earth can gel together so well. My colleagues many times say - "I would rip my hubby's hair if I had to spend so much time with him" or "We would kill each other" or "I need my space" and etc. etc. but for me I am in my perfect space. Any space that doesn't involve him is a void for me and I know for sure he feels the same.
He is one person with whom I can share anything and everything. Many girls complain about their husbands to their mothers but in my case it is opposite. Even if I have a complaint against him, I can talk to him directly and he listens (not that he implements but yes he lets me blabber and ease up my heart). And he does the same... If we have any issues we don’t burden our hearts with them, we just speak and that make us what we are... Best Friends. He is one person on whole planet who knows all my secrets, the ones from before marriage as well –shh… some are rather big ones and he is fine with them. If something good or bad happens he is the first person I tell and same is with him, I am the first person he tells and in case we are not able to connect then and there, you should see how restless we get. Haha!Also, you won’t believe he even knows which all actors I find hot and sexy and he is totally fine with them –and when someone ask him he is like as if she is gonna get him… LOL!
My life is sweet and complete now just because I have the best partner in my life. I can’t believe God has been so kind to me and I hope I never jinx it. Because, as you can imagine, without him, even a moment in my life is impossible and fruitless. And I don’t think I can ever survive.
Yup, that’s my ‘jug’ aka my lifeline aka my soulmate. Who is yours?
PS: I am writing about Jug in my life for the #DearZindagi activity at BlogAdda.
Love & Cheers
November 13, 2016
Stranger Things - A show worth watching...
#StrangerThings #TVShows
I had watched this web series few months ago and I can't believe I forgot to write about it... :(
If you are a fan of sci-fi horror shows then it is the one... Honestly I won't call it horror per se but it is a good thriller show that will keep you on your toes.
Created by Duffer brothers, it is a Netflix show that revolves around mysterious disappearances in 1980s in a fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana - USA. There are 8 episodes in first season and second season with 9 episodes is due in 2017.
The story begins with mysterious disappearance of a 12 year old boy named Will Byers. The place 'Hawkins' is considered almost crime-free but ever since his disappearance crime-rate and mysterious activities increases alarmingly. His family, friends and police sheriff try their best to locate the boy but the biggest mystery is - Is he even on same dimension? And who (or What) has taken him? Will they be able to locate him alive? And even if they do, what is the danger they face?
Another twist that comes up in the show is the appearance of a 'strange and mysterious' girl called 'Eleven' who somehow has supernatural powers. She is a runaway (from a top-secret government organization) and meets with friends of Will. She is most incredible character of the show who speaks less and does more. Together they set on journey of finding Will (against the strict instructions of their parents).
The story is engrossing and each episode is thrilling - which reveals new aspect of Will's disappearance. You just can't stop yourself from watching the next episode. Thankfully it is only 8 episodes as it really grows over you and I remember finishing all 8 on a weekend. (Yes, later they haunted me in my sleep).
If you have already watched this show then you know what I mean and just like me, you are waiting for second season. If you have not watched it, you should give it a try... I am sure you will like it.
My rating to the show - 5/5. A must watch for lovers of this genre.
Love & Cheers
I had watched this web series few months ago and I can't believe I forgot to write about it... :(If you are a fan of sci-fi horror shows then it is the one... Honestly I won't call it horror per se but it is a good thriller show that will keep you on your toes.
Created by Duffer brothers, it is a Netflix show that revolves around mysterious disappearances in 1980s in a fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana - USA. There are 8 episodes in first season and second season with 9 episodes is due in 2017.
The story begins with mysterious disappearance of a 12 year old boy named Will Byers. The place 'Hawkins' is considered almost crime-free but ever since his disappearance crime-rate and mysterious activities increases alarmingly. His family, friends and police sheriff try their best to locate the boy but the biggest mystery is - Is he even on same dimension? And who (or What) has taken him? Will they be able to locate him alive? And even if they do, what is the danger they face?
Another twist that comes up in the show is the appearance of a 'strange and mysterious' girl called 'Eleven' who somehow has supernatural powers. She is a runaway (from a top-secret government organization) and meets with friends of Will. She is most incredible character of the show who speaks less and does more. Together they set on journey of finding Will (against the strict instructions of their parents).
The story is engrossing and each episode is thrilling - which reveals new aspect of Will's disappearance. You just can't stop yourself from watching the next episode. Thankfully it is only 8 episodes as it really grows over you and I remember finishing all 8 on a weekend. (Yes, later they haunted me in my sleep).If you have already watched this show then you know what I mean and just like me, you are waiting for second season. If you have not watched it, you should give it a try... I am sure you will like it.
My rating to the show - 5/5. A must watch for lovers of this genre.
Love & Cheers
