Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 58

Dying to live ( #2 Sick of being healthy ) by Monisha K. Gumber

Book blurb:

When nothing matters anymore… Megha, a young super-achiever with a perfect life has all that is needed to be happy. After all why wouldn’t she? A swimming champion, school topper, popular, good-looking girl with amazing friends and loving parents. What more could a girl ask for? A lot, actually. Because even when she has it all; she sulks and does the unthinkable. A grave mistake that could take her to her grave. But survivor that she is, she breaks through the wall of ‘perfections’ and accepts that she is what she is: sad, vulnerable and confused. Oh, don’t get her wrong, as she puts up a tough fight to reach where she is meant to be. And on the way learns some lessons that will take her through this amazing journey called life. A happy kind of life.

Genre: Fiction/Teenage Drama

Pages: 242

Format: Kindle/Paperback

Price:

Kindle: 69 INR/$7.00Paperback: 171 INR/$10.00

My Ratings: 4/5

I expected this one to be a predictable teenage chick lit kind of book (which it is on a certain level) but it turned to dish out some pearls of wisdom which we all could learn about and implement in our lives. Circling around the life of a teenage girl Megha who is a high achiever all around, the book deals with a lot of issues faced not only by teenagers but even the elders (esp parents) around them.

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What I liked about the book:
-> The obvious flaws in almost all main as well as side characters.
-> How broken relationships of parents impact children and teenagers.
-> How most parents put pressure on their children to be best at everything instead of teaching them to focus on one thing they can be the best at.
-> The way physical abuse in a relationship is normalised and why it shouldn’t be.
-> The bits of humour added from the point of view of a teenager.
-> The doodles of all characters and various scenes which broke the monotony of reading just text.

What I didn’t like about the book:
-> Almost predictable in most parts
-> Very less focus on other characters (like the protagonist’s parents, her grandmother,etc)

Quotable quotes

Funny quotes:
-> At first opposites attract but later, opposites attack.
-> When you see a handsome hunk in orange singing bhajans with an American accent – you can’t be blamed for joining the spiritual movement.
->Momager – a mom who is also your manager.
->If you are still intrigued, please go on Wikipedia and spare me
->There should be a law against grown-ups discussing their relationships with their children.
->If you are an Indian student you belong to the breed that doesn’t let go of any opportunity to make it to their teacher’s imaginary list of ‘good children’.

Wisdom quotes:
->Who would believe that a person could be tired of winning all the time? What We don’t realise is that even if you get tired of winning, you still don’t ever want to fail.
->Unless you actually get down to work, you will create nothing but doubts in your mind about your own abilities.
->Seeking help doesn’t make you weak, but admitting that you need it, is a sure sign of strength
->Death is not the greatest loss. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive.
->If get too used to winning,failure is the best thing that can happen to you
->Happily ever after does not mean together.
->Scarred tissue is stronger than regular tissue
->When you are older and on your own – whether you were a prom queen or a class monitor or the most popular girl in school – it has got nothing to do with how well you will do in life. And how well you do in life has nothing to do with how successful you are.

All in all a good read, recommended for teenagers and parents alike!

Buying Details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

In Conversation With Neelabh Pratap Singh

Ricky Maye says,

“Conversation isn’t about proving a point; true conversation is about going on a journey with the people you are speaking with. “

I have always enjoyed reading crime and thriller stories. Growing up, Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew and even those Enid Blyton books with The Famous Five and The Five Find-Outers, used to satiate my curious mind.

As an adult reader, it always made me wonder why we did not have as many such books or stories from India and Indian writers. So, when I chanced upon a detective story book from a young Indian author, I took a chance and fortunately it turned out to be great!

The author is Neelabh Pratap Singh and the book in question is Pi Agency: A Rashmi Purohit Mystery, which I have already reviewed a few days back.

When I asked Neelabh if he would like to join me for a conversation about our books on my Author Collaborative segment, he was totally game!

Lo and behold, we have it here.

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Here’s our review of each other’s latest books:

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And, here’s what we asked each other on Instagram live session.

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Sounds like a fun Q&A? Then catch the full conversation on the YouTube video below:

Would you like to check out our books? Below are the buying details for both:

Pi Agency on Amazon India Pi Agency on Amazon.com The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon IndiaThe Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon.com

Friends By Chance : A bond over years by Ashish Ranjan

Book blurb:

“In the world of background noise she was a cheerful melody.” Do you believe in Friendship? Is it not a nepenthe for you? If you do- ‘FRIENDS BY CHANCE’ is a perfect companion for you while you are travelling, spending your leisure weekend on a date with yourself on a cozy couch or unwinding before going to bed after a long day of work.
JIGAR and TANYA- two polar opposites meet accidentally and their developing friendship transports them to a euphoric state of bliss, introducing them to the essence of quality friendship. Is their life a bed of Roses? What role does Opposite gender play in their life?
The friendtimacy that develops gives millions of eternal memories to cherish throughout or is there anything else planned by Destiny???

Genre: Fiction/Drama

Pages: 110

Format: Kindle/Paperback

Price:

Kindle: 195 INR/$2.99Paperback (available only in India) : 195 INR

My Ratings: 3.5/5

A walk down memory lane. For those who have passed out from their college, this book is a nice nostalgia ride and for those still living it or yet to experience those days, this is a relatable one or the one to prepare them for the coming days of their life.

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What I liked about the book:
—> It’s so light on the mind and relatable.
—> The poetic lines in between the dialogues and narrations.
—> Each memory and experience is and will be relatable for the Indian reader.
—> Tells us that friends and the moments spent with them are what school and college life memorable.

what I did not like about the book:
—> It felt more like reading someone’s personal diary.
—> There was a chapter about the current status of the characters which felt like it should have been continued later on and told us about what is happening in the lives of the characters now.

Quotable quotes:
—> He was quiet, but not out of painful shyness. It was a reservedness, like a conscious choice to observe the life of the land before he got involved.
—> Meeting someone new is a divine pleasure. Regardless of how things turn out, the most important idea is to be able to get a true feeling for who they are over a few weeks and months without ever forming an opinion of them.
—> It is the force of double ‘f’ that drives us towards the canteen. Food and friends.
—> Food does that, right? It feeds the soul, brings smiles and bonds, makes everything so much better.
—> When the night comes, look heavenward and be willing to see that the stars still shine; for the dawn will come.
—> Made with a melange of exotic spices and ingredients, Indian street food is one of its kind.
—> The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Rakshabandhan by Nishtha Shrivastava

Book Blurb:

“Rakshabandhan is a two way clear crystal, where a brother named Hansit stains the beauty of this relationship, little Gourav who couldn’t even speak was the energy source for Nisha. Rakshabandhan is a critic on the artificial social frames and sketches the dark reality that changed the life of a little girl Nisha. Rakshabandhan is the most sacred and valued bond between two individuals of the opposite gender and the expectations that are framed from one another are enormous. This story unfolds the battle of a little one from the modern tantrums of a couple, their hardships of being together and the ignorance that a child faces due to the differences between her parents. The expectations that she keeps from a cousin brother and the shivering end that brings peace to everybody else’s life and leaves her in a never ending pain.”

Genre: Fiction/Drama

Pages: 194

Format: Kindle/Paperback

Price:

Kindle: 100 INR/$1.33Paperback (only available in India): 220 INR

My Ratings 3.5/5

Have you ever been sexually assaulted or harassed and never had the courage to tell someone about it? This book deals with the trauma of not only facing such an assault but also about having to live through it repeatedly, without having anyone you can share it with, or someone who can protect or understand you under such a situation. It also sheds light on a lot of other things that women have to deal with and are judged about.

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What I liked about the book:
—> Makes us realise that most cases of molestation happen right at home and the predators are generally from the family or the trusted and close circle itself.
—> The title and story are not what it initially seems like.
—> The way it talks about how separation of parents can affect the children.
—> Makes us wonder about and question the whole title of Rakshabandhan and the supposed ‘bond of protection’ which seems to be such a hoax paradox after reading the book.

What I did not like about the book:
—> The prologue and epilogue seemed disoriented from the rest of the story; as in the timeline was all confusing.
—> The ending was inconclusive and there were many questions left unanswered.

Quotable quotes:
—> Tears help you in releasing your pain, so it’s better to cry and let it flow out.
—> Music can do wonders and can bring you up from the deepest grave too.
—> At times I really think how restricted we all are in the ways of the society. The prestige and the so-called obligations of the society make us so formal that we cannot be ourselves even with our close ones.
—> With whom can we be so free to open ourselves like a book? As everyone around us will keep judging us with their own opinions.
—>If you are well-wishers of someone you will always try to pull up a drowning soul from his/her feeling of anxiety and not bring up the topic. If you are a gossip monger and an audience to people’s miseries you will dig into their wounds and let them bleed well and leave them behind with scars forever.
—> Life is not that generous to all of us, it has its own plans and there are steep steps to be climbed. We cannot miss a few steps and hop onto the ones above them, but we need to taste the bitter and sour too to realize the importance of sweetness.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Beyond Lies by Alka Dimri Saklani

Book Blurb:

Hi, I am Tia Bakshi. Nobody knows where I am. Hell, even I don’t know where I am. I don’t even know who my captor is, my blindfold doesn’t allow me to see anything. I don’t even know how this will end. Can anyone be more clueless about their lives? Tied up in this jilted place I have little to do, but reminiscence my old life. I had it all; a loving family, a dependable friend, a compassionate fiancé, a dream job. I never had time to analyze my relationships then, but now in this god-forsaken place, amid fear and doubts, all I have is time and I can see the cracks I ignored for so long.

And I am forced to question; was my life really perfect?
Or was it a perfect lie? Twisted and dark, Beyond Lies, explores the complexities of the human mind, a mind that can lead to dangerous paths and sometimes, harm the one it seeks to protect.

Genre: Thriller/Fiction

Pages: 207

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 49 INR/$2.99

My Ratings: 4.5/5

This one is a nail biting thriller that keeps you hooked till the very end.

I read such a thrilling book, which made me excitedly look forward to the time I could go back to reading it, after a really long time. The ‘What happens next?’ and ‘OMG, I did not expect that’ moments and elements in this one, make it a great read.

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What I liked about the book:

—> The story is told from the PoVs of all the main characters, which makes us doubt everyone.
—> The end really really takes you by surprise (kudos to the author for this one as I’m usually able to correctly guess the culprit in most of the suspense and thriller books that I read)
—> Tia’s character is so relatable, innocent and likeable that we are immediately drawn to her and feel hatred towards the culprit even without knowing their identity.
—> Samar and Tia’s chemistry and the way their intimate scenes have been written and narrated.
—> The little rhymes that the captor plays to Tia, which give us a sense of foreboding.
—> The way it deals with the fact that childhood traumas can mar a person’s mental health for lifetime.

What I did not like about the book:

—> Tia’s character is sometimes annoying because of the way she blindly trusts everyone, despite them having done wrong with her.
—> I wish there was more to Simran’s and Kiara’s character. What happened before and after she met Samar, how did they meet and fall in love with each other, etc.

Quotable Quotes:

—> Isn’t fear the first step towards precaution?
—> If someone denies you something, make sure they return to you begging for the same thing someday.
—> I don’t know anymore
If I nurture my feelings or my feelings nurture me.
I don’t know anymore
If I destroy my feelings or my feelings destroy me.
—> She is innocent. Naïve. And beautiful. Isn’t that a deadly combination to invite danger?
—> Kindness is sexy.
—> My lonely world wants only you,
My heart and soul seek only you,
You imprisoned me,
How can I set you free?
—> Trusting someone is not a sin, but you might be punished for it.
—> In real life, who can recognize the monster? Why don’t they have big teeth? How the hell can one recognize the monster hidden beneath an average or even beautiful face? Why were those stories so far away from reality and why the hell were they so widespread?
—> I am love, a little too strong,
a little too mad, a little too hard.
What do you call me?
Beautiful or Dangerous?
—> You think only people and places can turn to memories?
Don’t you? You are wrong.
The way you love, hope and hurt;
it all can turn to a memory someday.
—> It is when the hunger is pulled above the primal level that other feelings raise their head; fear, hatred, anger…
—> Sometimes our core is tethered so strongly to the past that we can’t move ahead with it, if we have to move, we must leave those stubborn parts of us. Yes, that means splitting in two, a part that we carry with us and a part that is left behind.
—> The mind is like a deep sea, most people just swim on the surface. Some try to touch the depths and swim back to the surface, but there are some like me who can’t swim back, who struggle and collapse in those depths.
—> I can’t name that feeling, but I can compare it to a little seed that just pushed out from the dark shell of the earth and sees the sunlight for the first time. That first breath after a long suffocation, that is how I feel in this moment.
—> Children who grow up unloved see the world through the lens of insecurity. They believe they aren’t destined to be loved, so when they are, they hold on too tight, too scared the world will snatch away what belongs to them. Their loneliness scares them more once they experience love because then they know what they have been missing out on, they know the vast difference between living a life and merely passing through it.
—> Love is a beautiful feeling, hatred is ugly, but love and hatred towards the same person is daunting.
—> Sometimes our broken pieces lie in the past. But we need to move on with whatever is left of us.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

The R&AW Recruit I by Shivam Jayant

Book Blurb:

At URI Dozens of Army men Killed. Whole of Bharat in shock, every detail of the attack a matter of national security. The details are kept in R&AW. The hero of the attack A Muslim Captain in hiding, thrown out of army picked up by the R&AW Recruit I. A R&AW agent running away from her own home in Delhi scared out of her wits. A team of terrorists right on her tail. The last thing she contacts to her superiors “Attack on Rashtrapati Bhavan imminent PM and President not safe, R&AW needs the help of R&AW Recruit I again” Who is this R&AW Recruit I? Why are the PM and President not safe of the greatest Democracy of the world? Why is R&AW conducting operations in India? Why isn’t I.B. handling internal Indian matter?

Genre: Fiction/War

Pages: 93

Format: Kindle

Price: 65 INR/$1.20

My Ratings: 3.5/5

Elements of patriotism combined with suspense and thrill. I haven’t read many books about war and army, hence I was hooked. For those that like stories about bravery, patriotism and war, this would make a nice read.



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What I liked about the book:
–> The three main characters had diverse backgrounds which made the story quite interesting.
–> The story tells us about true and real life heroes aka our army men compelling us to reflect on our own ideas of patriotism.
–> The plot and story keep you hooked till the end.

What I did not like about the book:
–> The narrative style lacks consistency and hence gets confusing (I had to read several dialogues twice or thrice to understand)

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Podcast on The Chirag Barjatya Show

Anne Morrow Lindbergh said,

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”

Lately, I have begun to enjoy talking to people with a good social media presence, especially those, like me, who have a diverse work profile.

So, when I came across the Instagram handle of Chirag Barjatya, a nutrition coach, blogger, cinematographer and editor, who also runs his own podcast, I was intrigued and interested right away in having a conversation. I listened to few of his podcasts and was impressed by the way he conducted them.

Having previously done a similar podcast with DC Gomez, which I had thoroughly enjoyed doing, I was excited to try out one more. So here’s another podcast featuring me.

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I talk about my books and my writing journey, as well as give out some handy writing tips and guidelines.

Do listen to our full conversation. The podcast is available on Chirag’s website and all the mainstream platforms like Apple and Spotify. I have provided the links below.

SpotifyAppleChirag’s website

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts!

When I Find You by Shalini P. Sawkar

Book Blurb:

Nikhil catches a last-minute flight from Delhi to Bengaluru on a personal mission, but it is only the beginning. Will his journey bear fruit or be an utter waste of time?
Meanwhile, Vidya is meddling in matters she ought not to interfere in.
Can love be delusional? With dark secrets buried deep, who will win in this battle of wits?

Genre: Fiction/Crime Thriller

Pages: 25

Format: Kindle

Price: 10. 62 INR/$0.19

My Ratings: 3.9/5

For lovers of crime and thriller genre, you have a new author whose works you need to look out for. This novella keeps you excited about ‘What will happen next?’, till the very end.

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What I liked about the book:
-> Crisp and to-the-point writing.
-> The villain’s clear agenda and no-remorse attitude.
-> How ‘two and two’ is put together by Vidhya ( a character who is observing the villain’s actions from the sidelines)/
-> Subtle hints to the villain’s philandering and misogynistic nature.
-> A story one can easily visualise in their mind while reading, which shows the writing proficiency of the author.

What I didn’t like about the book:
-> The ending seemed abrupt leaving a few loose ends; but I guess that’s what makes it more thrilling.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

When The Nobility of Your Profession is What Keeps You Motivated ~ An Executive & Life Coach Shares His Story

John Holmes, said,

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”

In our #MondayMotivation blog focusing on the #MarvelousMen segment, we present the story of man who believes in helping others become the best version of themselves and gives his best in helping people achieve this goal. Meet, Executive & Life Coach, Harish Walavalkar, who gave up his 15 years of corporate experience to start afresh as a life coach. What gave him the courage to quit such a long and successful corporate run and how does he keep himself motivated to continue in his journey as a life coach? Let’s find out in his own words.

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“Being at the right place, at the right time is what got me into being a life coach I believe! A leadership firm I was working in, sponsored an experienced employee to take up an International Coach Federation Accredited Coach training course. However, the person opted out and I became the replacement. I took to Coaching, as fish takes to water. I realized this was what I was waiting for all my life. This was the profession of my dreams. 10 years later, this work continues to give me a sense of fulfilment, satisfaction and completeness. I can clearly see myself doing this for the rest of my life.

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About the struggles, well, to summarise in one sentence, taking to Coaching meant I had to let go of my 15 years corporate experience, and start as a “Fresher”!  10 years ago, I started taking the International Coach Federation Accredited Coach training course. It was a long journey. This was a one-year long course. I was so intensely focused on developing my skill as a Coach, that my performance in my core job started deteriorating. I just couldn’t get myself to deliver on my real job. I had lost interest there. Consequently, I had to come out of my job twice. I went a full year without income as you don’t get paid as a Coach when you have no experience in coaching people. I borrowed funds from my uncle just to bring food on the table for my family. I would take up free assignments just to get some experience. However, I still wasn’t skilled enough. There was something missing.

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Later, I came across Neuroscience. That turned out to be a life saver. I deep dived and read as many books as I could. I attended courses whenever I could. I constantly upgraded myself, practiced regularly and read books. And then, once I felt I had a fair understanding of the neuroscience I merged it in my Coaching process.

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However, I still needed clients to trust me and ask me to be their coach. Fortunately, I had good friends who had known me and referred some people. My coaching worked this time beautifully. There was no looking back ever since.

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Since the last 10 years, a commitment I have adhered to- is Coaching the jobless Free. If a jobless person approaches me, I don’t charge a fee. It’s been a 10-year long journey in this field now and whether the assignment is paid or unpaid, I love coaching. What keeps me motivated is that this is an extremely noble profession.

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The kind of satisfaction and fulfilment you feel when you support someone who needs help, is something that one needs to experience to understand. The feeling is difficult to explain in words but I no longer have Monday morning blues. Come Saturday, or Sunday, it doesn’t matter to me anymore.

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If I must summarise one big Life Learning, I had for myself, then it is this:

There are 2 types of people in this world:

The “Us vs Them” thinkers- never seem to achieve Happiness. Never saw them feeling fulfilled beyond a short time.

The “Us” thinkers- usually taken advantage of by the former. In spite of that, these are the ones who lead largely content and blissful lives.

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***

To drop in a message to Harish, inquire about his services as a Life Coach or to book him for a session or workshop, follow the links below:

Professional and personal social media handles:

InstagramFacebookLinkedInTwitterYouTube

Other platforms:

UdemyBrain DomainForum IndiaNoomiGreen Lattey

Features, mentions and best works:

Skill ShareDecluttering the MindManager vs Leader

Erika by Mansi Narula Kashyap

Book Blurb:

The driver’s voice became muffled after I saw the lady from my window. She looked exactly like me; a mirror image. I shook my head. “Jesus!” After her parents died in a tragic car crash, Erika moves to London from Dublin to get rid of the bad memories, her frantic nightmares, and disturbing hallucinations. In time, her life settles into a new routine with Lara, with whom she shares an apartment. They become the best of friends, enjoying London and meeting new people. Life is good. A few months later, Erika meets Ethan who is suave, professional and dependable. A whirlwind romance follows and within a week they are married. Soon, Erika starts noticing some unusual incidents; the mysterious girl Maya, some cryptic books about secret societies and even a murder. Will she be able to figure out these new mystical events in her life or will they overwhelm her, making her go insane?

Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 137

Price:

Kindle version 49 INR/$2.99Paperback: 225 INR/ $7

My Ratings: 4/5

Erika, the protagonist of this story is lost and lonely, haunted by the memories of her traumatic past. How this affects her present and how she deals with it, is what this book is all about. If you’re a lover of fast paced thrillers, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

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What I liked about the book:
—> It begins with a bang and you’re hooked straight away.
—> All the characters have an intriguing arc.
—> The story manages to maintain a steady level of curiosity in the mind of the reader all throughout.
—> Each new chapter begins with a short quotation, preparing us for what to expect from the chapter.
—> The ending connects us to another part of the story, leaving the readers guessing as to what actually happened.

What I did not like about the book :
—> The fact that Erika and Ethan decide to get married without even knowing each other properly ( like they had just met briefly twice when Ethan proposes and she accepts)
—> For a seasoned reader (like myself) a bit of the story and what happens in the end, was kind of predictable.
—> Leaves out quite a few loose ends and unanswered questions.

Quotable quotes:
—> There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
—> When do we feel happy the most, in life? The answer is when we have our loved ones with us.
—> If we think too much about what is supposed to be done and how life is supposed to be lived, we lose out on its flavour. Life is meant to be lived like a child so we are able to taste it fully and feel its lucidity.
—> We are what we choose to be in life.
—> Some events dominate your life and your decisions because of the fear of losing someone special.
—> Sometimes we have to lose a lot, to be able to win in love and you never know this win was just the one you have been looking for, all your life!  We lose a lot in love, but it is actually our win, who knows?

Overall a good and enjoyable read.

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Buying links of Erika

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com