Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 57

Lost in Translation by Himanshu Goel

Book blurb:

L. I. T is an experimental poetry chapbook containing words in the poet’s native language that he founnd to be beautiful and worth writing about.

“I hope there isn’t a time when we give more importance to words and forget about the meaning they carry.
They are words in the end, hollow until we utter them and give them life.”

Genre: Fiction/Poetry

Pages: 32

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 49 INR/$2.99

My Ratings: 4.8/5

A lesson in Hindi vocabulary with an English touch. Have you ever felt lost for words because you didn’t know their translated versions? Read this one to fall in love with the Indian native language with a little twist. If you’re lover of Hindi words and the English language, this is a recommended read.

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What I liked about the book:
—> What a creative twist given to combining two languages in an innovative manner.
—> It connected to my soul on a deeper level.
—> Each word and its meaning felt like ‘Ah! Yes!!’

What I did not like about the book:
—> I left me wanting for more. Like just when I was beginning to love it more and more, it ended.
—> For the price it asks, it felt a bit too less.

Quotable quotes:
—> They are words; in the end, hollow until we utter them and give them life.
—> ख्वाइश – Khwaish like little wishes from the corners of the heart we try to hide.
—> सोच – Soch the simplest of thoughts that can bring down empires.
—> चाँद – Chaand unlike the moon a companion of sleep for many chaand keeps up a million dreamers at night.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

The Crow by her Window by A.K. Raj

Book blurb:

Fifteen-year-old Rima is missing from her home and no one has a clue where she is. Police begin their investigation but can her parents cope with the revelations that follow?

Genre: Fiction/Thriller

Pages: 36

Format: Kindle

Price: 49 INR/$ 0.99

My Ratings: 4/5

A young girl from a wealthy and affluent family goes missing one day. She is an introvert, lonely girl, with very few friends. Where did she disappear to and if abducted, who took her? Read this one to know the answers, and prepare to be surprised not just by the answers but also the reasons they unravel.

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What I liked about the book:
—> It manages to keep you hooked with its build up and narrative.
—> Mohit and Rohini are never portrayed to be bad parents, just someone who fail to understand where they went wrong.
—> Tells the latter story from the PoV of Rima (the teenage protagonist who goes missing) which helps us understand her choices better.
—> The crow by the window angle which so subtly explains that we all need someone who can listen to us without judging us.

What I didn’t like about the book:
—> It loses grip in the second half and tends to becomes a bit too preachy.
—> I wish there was more to Chotu’s character.
—> The ending of the book, with Chotu and Rima’s conversation is a little confusing.

Quotable quotes:
—> You don’t know the value of what you have till you have lost it.
—> That’s social media for you. At least, everyone is having a more than perfect life in their virtual worlds.
—> I call it ‘scheduled love’. My parents have a timetable for everything. As if we are machines that are programmed to do certain tasks at certain times. And loving their daughter is a task that is scheduled for weekends. It’s like, I don’t even exist on weekdays.
—> You cannot love someone with a timetable. It’s not natural. You might be spending time with the person but that cannot be love.
—> The world out there is full of people who will manipulate your thoughts and make you believe what they say to take advantage of you. All you have to do is ask yourself if you have taken the effort to make things work for you? You talked about love not needing a timetable. You are right, but love has to be unconditional as well. Then why couldn’t you love without the condition of them loving you back?
—> Having a plan and schedule is ideal, but unfortunately, we cannot schedule our emotions. We don’t even realize that our devices have become dearer to us than the people around us. We have become just another profile on social media and messenger apps, and data points for machines to learn. At work, we have become mere names on a spreadsheet with numbers against us, and at school or college, we are a roll number with grades against us. Somewhere amidst all the chores and chaos, we are lost, and knowingly or unknowingly, we are all guilty. Eventually, we end up blaming the circumstances at work, parenting, education and other systems around us instead of trying to find a balance. If only each one of us understood the importance of this balance, perhaps we could have been there for each other more. Maybe, just maybe, someone might need us more than we know.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Sofia on the Balcony by Himanshu Goel

Book blurb:

Rajiv Arora was no ordinary painter. He created his first piece of art when he was just in college at the age of twenty. In just 15 years, he had built an enviable reputation the world with his breathtaking paintings. His last painting “Soul of the Mountain” was sold for a whopping 2 Crore Rupees in an auction. There was just one problem, he was not able to paint anymore. Follow his journey to the river island of Majuli in Assam as he rediscovers himself in this flash read by Himanshu Goel.

Genre: Fiction/Drama

Pages: 26

Format: Kindle

Price: 99 INR/$2.99

My Ratings: 4/5

An artist never loses his creativity

A nice, quick read which teaches us that one’s creativity can never be lost and that the reasons behind a blocked mind run deeper than what it may appear to the blind eye.

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What I liked about the book:
—> Stanzin’s eccentric character.
—> Effectively conveys the message that emotional trauma and personal tragedies don’t just leave behind grief, they affect our minds on a deep level as well.
—> Tells is that our creativity and artistic talent can be healing and a great outlet to overcome grief.
—> The imagery and narration of Majuli. I’m so tempted to visit this place after reading about it in this book.

What I did not like about the book:
—> I wanted to know a little bit more about Stanzin and even the bonding between Rajiv and Stanzin, like what was the teacher-student camaraderie before Rajiv became a famous artist, how did she teach him all he knew about art, etc
—> I wish there were more characters than just Rajiv, Stanzin and Sanju. Maybe other students than Sanju who were under Stanzin’s training.
—> What happened to Sanju?

Quotable quotes:
—> The room was a mess of paint splashes, brushes and torn canvases, the absurd combination formed a painting of its own kind on the floor.
—> There was a simplistic beauty to Majuli. The grass was the greenest of greens and the sky was the bluest of blues.
—> Not everything you do has to be perfect. Don’t stop, let it be a bad painting, let it be an imperfect work of art.
—> Rajiv was feeling better, Sanju and Stanzin were good company. He was used to being amongst elite art circles but it was refreshing to be in the company of the people who loved painting for painting’s sake.
—> The mind of an artist controls logic, it teaches him how to hold the brush, how to mix the paint, but nothing more.” She explained. “The heart controls the emotions, it teaches him how to feel, how to make others feel by his work. But most important is the soul. The soul is the reason we exist, the source of life. The soul of the artist gives life to any art. It is what transforms a simple piece of paper into a living breathing creation.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

When You Maintain Equanimity and Faith in a Higher Power ~ A Principal COM At Indian Railways and An Author Shares His Journey

 Roy T. Bennett, said,

“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.”

In our #MondayMotivation blog focusing on the #MarvelousMen segment, we are proud to present someone with years of wisdom and knowledge in multiple fields. Meet, Ravi Valluri, who is a Principal Chief Operations Manager in the Indian Railway Traffic Service, a Faculty at Art of Living and an author of multiple books. How did he get into such varied fields of work and how does he manage time between them all? Let’s find out in his own words.

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“I hail from Andhra Pradesh but was born in Kanpur. My maternal grandfather worked for LIC and was posted at Kanpur and my mother had her confinement at this town.  I was brought up in Delhi and studied at St Xavier’s School, Delhi, followed by doing B. Com (Hons) from Delhi University and did my most graduation in M.A.  (Business Economics) Delhi University. Thereafter while preparing for the Civil Services Examination, I worked with a consultant of World Bank, at FICCI, Asian Partnership for Human Development and  then at Cement Manufacturers Association. 

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Finally, I cracked the Civil Services Examination and was selected for the Indian Police Service. I was excited to join the force but could not withstand pressure of relatives and my father and some of his colleagues to not join the IPS and joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service instead. I did regret the decision as I missed the action, power, and pelf. I am currently posted as the Principal Chief Operations Manager, North Central Railway, Prayagraj.

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In 1989 I stepped into the hallowed portals of what was then known as Railway Staff College, Baroda to join the Indian Railway Traffic Service. The decision of not joining IPS rankled me.  Incidentally, my heart lay in pursuing theatre, writing, music and debating. I could not fuel my passion, and this was the pre-globalization era and I felt strangulated at times. But once I joined the service, I gave my 100% and started enjoying running of freight and passenger services. It was a 24*7 job which was and is still quite exacting and demanding.

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My first posting was at Ambala Division of Northern Railway, when terrorism was at its peak and we spent hours together in the control office monitoring trains during exacting times. Occasionally, I would write amateur plays which were staged at Railway functions and this gave me a high.  Talking of high, I soon got addicted to heavy smoking and binge drinking and over a period of time became an alcoholic.

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Meanwhile early in my career, I lost out on four excellent openings which could have shaped my career in a different manner. First, I was shortlisted for a program jointly sponsored by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Railways and the World Bank to undergo training at University of Columbia in the US and work for a short while in the World Bank and Ministry of Finance.  Some years later, I was empanelled to work in the prestigious Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and to work as the Divisional Railway Manager (a coveted post in the railway set-up) but lost out on all opportunities as more influential colleagues could pull the strings effectively, whilst I remained a greenhorn in this area.

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Then out of my own foolishness, I did not accept the post of Managing Director of Hassan Mangalore Rail Development Corporation. I wonder, had these opportunities been grabbed, how my portfolio would have shaped.

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Heavy drinking, alcoholism and my mind clouded with tenebrosity had impacted my mind seriously.  Let me clarify, some of the missed opportunities were offered to me prior to my dalliance with alcohol and others after me attaining sobriety, sort of continuing my bad luck in that respect! Some well-wishers blamed my misfortune to planetary configuration; impact of Sade Sati, malefic impact of Ketu Mahadasha. I do not know astrology, but definitely I was in a cesspool of antipathetic thoughts and spiraling down in life, human relationships, family obligations and relationships.

It was then my wife enrolled me for the Art of Living workshop, which was then called the Part 1 programme at Jaipur. In a state of stupor, I undertook the course in November 2003. But I had yet to stage a recovery. This happened on December 9th, 2006, when I stopped drinking and over the years have been able to extricate myself from the morass. So much so in 2009, I became a faculty the Art of Living. This is nothing but the grace of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the prayers and patience of my grandmother, mother, and my wife.  The three kept reading three sacred texts – with fervour and devotion – Hanuman Chalisa, Sundara Kanda and Vayu Stuti for my well-being.

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As per Maslow’s motivational theory – Self Actualization is at the summit. Well, by becoming a faculty of Art of Living and conducting the Happiness Programme and teaching participants Yoga, Pranayama, meditation, and the unique breathing technique of Sudarshan Kriya, my life has been transformed. It was special when I conducted the courses for alcoholics and drug addicts as I could empathise with their pain and agony.

And soon I began writing about my experiences in form of blogs in the Life Positive E- Magazine.  Then Guruji asked me to keep writing and soon three books were published. The Matter of the Mind (translated in Telugu as Manomoolamidham), Make the Mind Mt Kailasa, The Infinite Mind (co-authored with Ankush Garg, NaMo 303 Words to Victory, Indian  Stories: Images and Thoughts  and Heartbreak at Coffee Shop. There are other books in the pipeline. Besides I have my own blog site S2S, and blog for the WordPress and Speaking Tree. I also write for the Free Press, Journal Mumbai.

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On the professional front, I have been decorated with the Chief Of Army Staff Commendation Award  while working  in MILRAIL (Military Rail – in Army headquarters ) and was appreciated  for mobilising the troops movement during Operation Parakram and recently for running  specials for pilgrims during the Kumbh Mela in 2019 and more recently, migrant labour specials  during the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Life is not hunky dory. It is full of peaks and valleys and vicissitudes; it is to be grasped. The grace of H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, my eschewing alcohol, becoming a faculty of Art of Living, being feted with the awards and writing all these books, blogs and articles over the last seven years has been  an extremely rewarding experience . 

I envision conducting courses of Art of Living, keep writing, setting up a rehabilitation Centre for alcoholics and drug addicts and finally enter a larger space in the realm of spirituality and public life.

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My learning has been to maintain equanimity and faith in a higher power, always, and especially during adversity. Then to practice Art of Gratefulness (my wife who edits my works and also my mother, grandmother and wife who extricated me from the cesspool of alcoholism), absorb the Law of Attraction (positive thoughts magnify and bring enormous blessings to achieve greater things in life). One should be grateful and have faith in your parents (they are your first teachers), in your ancestors (because of whom one is on planet earth), Mother Earth which nourishes and sustains us, the Sun God, which provides us with the vital prana and energy). Thus a person should practice Sun Salutations daily and bow down to all the Masters of the past and the future and have faith in your Guru. If one does the work of the Guru, the Master – magic happens and miracles occur.

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Potentate or ordinary people have all been affected by the Novel Corona virus. In such a situation, it is essential that humans realize to respect nature and simultaneously take care of their health and bolster immunity.   In this direction people should maintain social distance, work from home, stay away from white sugar (honestly, I have not given up!) and gizmos. Instead spend time by exercising, practicing yoga, pranayama and meditating.  

Humans should learn Sudarshan Kriya (the unique rhythmic breathing technique as gifted to humanity by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) to take care of their bodies and other mindful breathing techniques.  We need to eschew negative thoughts and focus on positivity.  There has been a spate of suicides during this period which indicates the vulnerability of human mind. One should definitely plan an alternate hobby, passion and work for the society. A person should become an achiever and not a quitter or a loser.  It would be fruitful to read books of inspirational leaders, cultivate a hobby and given the constraints spread positivity. “

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To drop in a message to Ravi, know more him and his works or to check out and buy his many authored books, follow the links below:

Personal and professional social media accounts:

Instagram handleFacebook pageLinkedIn profileTwitter handleSoundCloud Facebook personal profileLife PositiveThe Write PlaceSmashwords

Features and mentions:

Prasar BhartiAaj Savere – An interview with – Ravi Valluri, Author- YouTubeDaily PoineerDaily HuntThe HinduSwabhiman SwarupSurabhi Kothari BlogsPenmancyStoryMirror

Buying details of books:

Heartbreak at Coffee Shop: An Array of TalesIndian Stories: Images and ThoughtsMAKE THE MIND MT. KAILASAMatter of the MindNAMO 303 Words to VictoryThe Infinite Mind

Love, Truth, and Taking Chances (The Kapoor Brothers #2) by Shilpa Suraj

Book blurb:

Losing his wife to breast cancer has left Arjun Kapoor a broken man. He vows to never risk his heart again. Until the day Vihana Luthra turns up on his doorstep. Vivacious, optimistic and bursting with life, she believes in taking each day as it comes. Unwilling to love but unable to resist the force of nature that is Vihana, Arjun finds himself drawn into the manic chaos that is her life. And he starts to believe again; in hope, in dreams, in love…But Vihana has a secret…one with devastating consequences. Will they be able to survive it or will it tear them apart?

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Pages: 229

Format: Kindle

Price: 99 INR/$2.99

My Ratings: 4.7/5

A romance story which makes you happy,sad and even laugh out loud. If you’re sucker for cutesy, mushy, opposites attract romance stories, this is a must read. Other than the obvious ‘love in the air’ vibe, what makes this book a great read are the ample funny and chuckle worthy one-liners and moments.

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What I liked about the book:
—> That it talks from both the lead character’s PoVs.
—> Vihana’s ‘breath of fresh air’ character.
—> The bonding between the three brothers.
—> The bonding between Alisha and Arjun which is so comfortable and doesn’t bring in any sort of envy from their respective partners, Vihana and Vihaan.
—> Disha’s no-nonsense attitude.
—> Vihana’s ‘all under one roof’ boutique and the way it has been described. SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT THIS BUSINESS IN BUSINESS!!! I want to visit this boutique so much.
—> The way it talks about and handles physical ailments and illnesses, and how it affects us.
—> The ample funny as well as romantic moments between Arjun and Vihana. Kudos to the author for this because both of these have been equally well written.
—> The way the women stand up for each other, right from Arjun’s mom to Vihana, Alisha and even Disha.
—> How it delivers the ‘age is just a number’ message via both the lead couples, aka Arjun and Vihana as well as Vihan and Alisha.

What I did not like about the book:
—> The ending scene which talked about the ‘more’ between Arjun and Vihana, for over two paragraphs, felt too mushy and dramatic.
—> Vihana’s family dynamic was a little confusing to keep up with (she has three brothers) and I wish we got to know more about her life before she met Arjun.

Quotable quotes:
—> It was 6 AM on a Sunday morning. If someone didn’t want to see him in his boxers, they shouldn’t be ringing his doorbell.
—> Anyone who beamed at six on a Sunday morning was demented as far as he was concerned.
—> Who wore crystal studded jeans at an ungodly hour on a Sunday morning?
—> He remembered what it felt like. To laugh with his wife over dinner as they discussed work and their respective days. To watch a mindless, boring movie. To fight with a passion and fury that ended in an even more passionate reconciliation. To plan something exciting for a birthday or anniversary. He remembered what it was like. To feel. To love. To live.
—> Diet and chips are not words that should ever be used together.
—> Part of the joy and pleasure she would get out of it was in triumphing over the struggle that the journey presented her with.
—> Food had been her source of comfort from when she was a child.
—> If this was about carbs again, Vihana was going to have to rise up in defence of carbohydrates. Honestly, they were a much maligned food group.
—> Sangeets are not about the performance. They’re about love, about family and most importantly, about celebrating life.
—> “Loving someone is a risk.”
“Then why take it?”
“Because the payoff is huge”
—> Don’t let the worry of the future ruin what we could have in the present.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

In Conversation with Nishtha Shrivastava

Descartes said,

“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.”

Since I enjoy both reading and conversing, talking with authors of books I read and enjoy is my new favorite hobby.

A few weeks back I read a powerful book by a young debut Indian author, Nishtha Shrivastav. In fact, I shared my review of her book Rakshabandhan, some days ago too!

I was excited to get to know about her book and herself, so we connected on the Author Collaborative segment this week.

Before we get into the details of our conversation, here’s a quick look at our brief reviews of each other’s books.

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In our lively and engaging conversation today, here is a list of questions we asked each other.

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Want to listen to our responses for the above questions? Check them out in the YouTube video below:

Our books are definitely worth a look-see and read. Do check them out on Amazon via below links.

Rakshabandhan on Amazon IndiaRakshabandhan on Amazon.comThe Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon IndiaThe Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon.com

Midnight Sun: A Collection of Tiny Tales by Umme Kulsum

Book blurb:

Twisted Tales with Twisted Emotions.

Midnight Sun is a collection of nine tiny tales that range from thrillers and mysteries to twisted, modern age fairy tales. Be it heart wrenching challenges or a torturous turn of events, a quest for love or an escape from curses, a scarred soul or an old mystery, the characters of Midnight Sun march on.

1) Ignorance is Bliss – Is knowing something better than complete oblivion? Maybe.

2) Winter Murders – Murders are taking place in their cosy, little town. No one knows why they happen every year.

3) No Good in Goodbye – A single decision shatters many lives. Then fate plays its game.

4) The Cursed Truth – She is betrayed by her curse.

5) Prisoned Heart – A lawyer carries a secret.

6) A Silent Howl of Love – She kidnaps the princess again. The knight is on his way with the ransom.

7) Cinderella’s Promise – A Cinderella retelling in which Cinderella makes a deal with the Prince.

8) Cat Got Your Tongue? – His immortality is the least of her worries and the first of his secrets.

9) Picture Perfect – The picture perfect family is not so perfect behind closed doors. There are secrets hanging on the wall that are too scared to utter a loud word.

Genre: Fiction/Short stories

Pages: 36

Format: Kindle

Price: 49 INR/$0.99

My Ratings: 5/5

For someone so young, Kulsum writes with such maturity and penchant that it will amaze the reader about the fluidity and vast array of topics she has covered in this collection. From mystery to horror, to turning a new leaf and fairy tales with a twist, this book has it all.

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What I liked about this book:
-> Each tale is unique,making the book a diverse read despite being a single title
-> 0 grammatical errors, which is very very rare these days when it comes to new, young and upcoming authors
-> My favourite ones were Cinderella’s Promise and Prisoner Heart because they break stereotypical writing norms and talk about women empowerment and homosexuality in a most subtle manner
-> Unexpected endings in almost all the tales, leaving the readers wanting for more

What I did not like about the book:
-> Nothing; maybe just the fact that there weren’t more tales

I would recommend this to all, even the new readers because it is sure to get you into the habit of reading.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

And We Walked Away by Subrat Saurabh

Book blurb:

And We Walked Away revolves around the friendship of three friends in college, with a love story blooming in their hearts. It connects to the kind of boys who are in love and keep trying to convince the same girl in different ways for a long time, not moving on in life. Also, it talks about the kind of girls who don’t believe in love but also, don’t want to take advantage of a boy’s feelings. The girls who are not conservative but don’t want to pursue love. Abhimanyu, a well-known author returns to his engineering college in Bangalore after a decade and notices a lot of changes in the college over this period. It reminds him of how he met his ladylove, Naina on the first day of college and fell in love with her at the first sight. Abhimanyu, being an impulsive, stubborn and impatient guy decides to propose her in a rush. She doesn’t believe in love and has her own reasons for it. Abhimanyu with the help of his friends Aarush and Dev proposes and tries to convince Naina many times in unusual ways but he fails miserably. However, a trick helps to melt her heart, but destiny has a different plan.

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Pages: 200

Format: Kindle/ Paperback

Price:

Kindle: 75 INR/$3.99Paperback: 200 INR/ $11.99

My Ratings: 4/5

A story of hope, in love, friendship and life. This is a recommended one for all those who like and appreciate love stories , especially those circling around college days. A lot of readers will be able to relate and recall their own youthful days, where life circled around friends and studies.



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What I liked about the book :

—> Doesn’t talk about just one couple or focus only on love. There are other couples involved and more importantly elements of other important relationships like family, friends, etc.
–> The title of the story which is not what you think at first. I totally loved how it made sense in the end, because I expected it to be a sad or open ending, but it turned out quite unexpected.
—> Though a light hearted read, gives back a lot to think about and learn from.

–> Gives an insight into college and hostel days, especially engineering colleges. I especially liked this part part because it was a nostalgia ride back to some of the best moments of my own life from my college days.
—> Teaches us to never give up on our hopes and dreams, be it about relationships or about our aims and ambitions on the professional front.

Quotable quotes :

—> You will always feel blessed if you reminisce your best memories.
—> Technology has connected us virtually, but it’s also the reason that we are apart evermore.
—> Everyone has that potential to chase a dream, it just needs a spark and a little bit of acceleration.
—> Being in love and assuming to be in love are two different things.
—> Life gives another chance to everyone, you just need to keep your eyes open.
—> If you want to judge what have you lost or gained over the years then you should return to a place from where you started, at least once in a lifetime.
—> You are influenced with what you see, what you read.
—> It’s not the relationship which creates the confusion, it’s the expectation behind a relationship which creates confusion and disappoints us. 

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Some Earth Poetry by Bharath Kumar Kunjibettu

Book blurb:

Some of the most profound experiences of life are best expressed through poetry.

Some Earth Poetry is one such anthology based on true stories and profound life experiences.

An anthology that touches upon the Spiritual, Environmental, Inspirational and many more aspects of life.

These simple yet interesting collections of poems are meant to give a new dimension to reading poetry.

Genre: Fiction/Poetry

Format: Kindle/Paperback

Price:

Kindle: 59 INR/$1.19Paperback (only available in India): 180 INR

My Ratings: 3.5/5

Every element of earth included in this charming collection. With various topics from school studies to college studies, and work life to environmental imbalance, this poetry book has it all. Those who enjoy non-abstract poetry with a strict rhyming scheme, will surely enjoy this book. I like how the author has jotted down a poetic expression for each of the experiences and stages in life that helped him grow as a person.

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Quotable quotes:

—> There is no point worrying about the past or future, To be in this present moment should be our only nature.

—> That is why we bow down to every soldier, Handling dangerous situations with perfect composure.

—> We managed to study innumerable subjects, In the laboratories, we played with all possible objects!

—> Least bothered about Communalism or Nationalism, But, automatically brimming ourselves with Patriotism. We made friends out of sheer outpour of Humanity, We barred cast or religion for friendship credibility.

—> Mathematics class was a tense situation, With teacher giving all students imposition ( loved this one the most because I have always disliked Maths)

—> The spice flavours in every food items were tantalizing, We ate beyond our stomach capacity without realizing! ( loved this one because I’m a foodie and can totally relate)

—> I appreciate their idea on sustainability, After all, it is every individual responsibility, To conserve this planet and environment, And utilize resources as per one’s requirement. Everyday work here has some learning, That is why we Keep Reinventing!

—> If its global climate that you need to tame, Then we need to come out of mutual blame.

Buying links:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Jazeera: Legend of the Fort Island by Yash Pawaskar

Book Blurb:

It’s 14th century CE. Bharatvarsh’s political landscape is in turmoil. The Northern Sultanate has moved its capital back to Delhi from Daulatabad and is bleeding from economic losses. The southern states, coming together as the Sujaynagar Empire, have pushed back the Northern Sultanate. Amidst this chaos, Jazeera, a fort island on Bharatvasrh’s west coast and a vassal state under the Sultanate, is tormented by a mysterious Shadow, who is kidnapping Jazeera’s children. Whispers suggest that there’s black magic at play to invoke the mighty Timingila. Jazeera’s ambitious Sultan and the pragmatic Wazir summon an Officer from the Sultanate to solve this mystery. Meanwhile, tribes in the dense forest near the fort island are feeling the ripple effects of Jazeera’s troubles, and are seeking alliances and formulating secret plans. The island has a haunting past, a turbulent present, and a prophetic future. Jazeera: Legend of the Fort Island unravels it all in a thrilling manner.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 138

Format: Kindle

Price: 49 INR/$ 0.99

My Ratings 4.8/5

Thought provoking and powerful

A must read for fans of Amish and Ashwin Sanghi, and actually all fans of historical fiction. I picked up a book in this genre after a long time and was pleasantly surprised at how well it is written. And the fact that it is named Jazeera, inspired from one of the forts I am completely fascinated by (Murud Janjira) only added some brownie points towards my liking of the book.

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What I liked about the book:

—> Strong female protagonists (10/10 for this) because the author manages to show us that free willed and fiery women have always existed throughout history.

—> Though historical, the analogy with current as well as recent past decisions on urban development and resulting environmental imbalance is so on point.

—> LGBTQ elements, again proving that homosexuality has been around since forever.

—> Gripping narrative and lucid language

—> Talks about past events later in the book, which helps maintain the suspense and curiosity

—> Manages to brilliantly bring home the point that the common folk are always most affected in the play of politics and power. However, a mass awakening and unified efforts are all that is required to bring down evil forces.

—> The warfare and the actual war scenes are written marvellously.

—> Loved the strategies used by the common folk during the war and how it proves that more than strength, it is willpower and planning that are needed to win a war.

What I didn’t like about the book :

—> Loses pace at some points.
—> I wanted to know more about Hamid’s past. I thought it would come up later but was left hanging which was a little disappointing.

Quotable and noteworthy quotes :

—> ‘What’s on the outside is irrelevant; inner beauty is more important.

—> ‘There is no such thing as bad news or good news. It is just news. It is our expectations that make it good or bad.’

—>’Women need to stop apologizing for every little thing, especially to men. They will feel they have power over us if you keep apologizing to them for trivial things.’

—> ‘Mistakes teach us a lot, only if we are willing to learn from them. Ponder over what you did well and what you would do differently. That’s how you grow,’

—> ‘Conflict arises because of imbalance. And this imbalance can only be corrected when you are in harmony with yourself and your surroundings.’

—> ‘Where there is mankind, there is exploitation of nature. While we cannot go back in time and wash the stains caused by our sins, we can certainly learn from our past mistakes, anticipate future challenges, and act with immense urgency in the present for a balanced life.’

Buying details:

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