Nidhi Srivastava's Blog, page 16
July 16, 2021
Netflix: Never Have I Ever 2
Every time Netflix releases a new series on the air, I think the crowd becomes obligated to binge-watch it. The bomb dropped yesterday when the Season 2 of Never Have I Ever aired on Netflix. I wasn’t crazy to watch season 2, but yes, I wanted to know about Paxton and Devi. Being an Indian, I know kids esp. girls’ don’t get along with their mothers during their teenage. Blame it on the hormones. But that’s true. Season 2 has been exciting as the series tries to address a lot of problems existing in society today. The queer community has been fighting for their rights. Some of the queer folks are even fighting within their community. It’s great to watch a series where schools have been vocal about the queer community. Of course, the series is based in America! So, we could at least watch and be progressive about queer folks. I guess, if I start talking about the main character Devi, I would spill the beans eventually on her dating life. I haven’t been a fan of Devi in Season 1, but I must say there are things that changed in Season 2. I wasn’t expecting a high school American Indian kid to be two-timing, that psyched me. Yes, it has been a great Season watching Paxton turning into the charmer again. Girls I know you have been watching this series, just for Paxton Hall Yoshida. Oh damn! that name is orgasmic in itself. I am delighted to end this series on a happy note, see you some other time. Not disclosing any more details on the show. Though, good job everyone. P.S. Kamla is still hot 
Hey tell me if you wanted Season 2 already !
Pic Courtesy: IMDB
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July 14, 2021
Book Review – Faith and the Beloved
Book title: Faith and the Beloved
Author: Kochery C. Shibu
Publisher: Mishan Design Point Pvt Ltd
Format: Paperback
Pages: 254
Blurb: Naithy Cherokil is a rich and successful business woman from Mumbai who marries the young and handsome model Tony D’Souza after the death of her husband. Little does she know that the ideal sex slave of her husband is the sleeper cell of a terror outfit. Events in her life take unforeseen turns as the male Mata Hari is activated.
Prem Rollands is a kalari exponent and brilliant student whose world revolves around his brother Arun. Things go awry when the police kills Arun under mysterious circumstances. Prem kills the inspector in retribution and is on the run. He is on the lookout for Alice to find out the dark secrets leading to the killing of his brother. Prem must avenge those who have plotted to kill his brother, even at the cost of his own life.
Eighteen year old Alice Cherokil knows more about computers and mystery games than a girl of her age. Alice’s life falls apart when her mother is hospitalised and in a coma. Alice is playing the ultimate mystery game of her life as the web of secrets surrounding two precious diamonds and her stepfather threaten to destroy her family. Alice overcomes moral dilemma to kill her stepfather and she is on the run. Alice must outwit the underworld and stay ahead of all to save her mother’s life or the guilt of her failure will haunt her forever.
As the lives of Naithy, Prem and Alice cross each other they must retain their faith and protect their beloved ones even at the cost of their own lives.
A saga of love, lust, betrayal, intrigue and revenge.
My Rating: 4/5
Review: Faith and the Beloved is the second book written by Kochery C Shibu. The story revolved around criminal activities that intervene with a Syrian Christian family. The plot involves murder, sexual exploitation, and deception. I loved the beginning of the story, where Alice got introduced. A series of events happened since the death of Tony D’Souza. The transformation of Alice and appearances described was to the point. I could picture her existence in the plot while reading the chapter. It was one of the best parts of the book. Moving on to the crime scenes mentioned in the book, I was not fond of those scenes. The lives of Naithy, Prem, and Alice have been well-connected in the plot. Every individual has been through so much hardship in their life. The point where both the brothers – Arun and Prem, had to run away due to their low caste was heart-breaking. The stories about the caste system and partition take you back to the olden times, where being from a lower caste was a sin for anyone.
The story is fast-paced, which increases the curiosity of readers to wrap up the book. The author has tried to build an impactful feminine character in the story and connected dots to create a telltale of love, lust, betrayal, and revenge. I think the write-up requires a bit of character building for readers to picture them. Overall it was a great read wherein the end of the plot conveys a strong message – all that matters is your loved ones.
I would like to thank the author for sending across the review copy
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July 12, 2021
Book Review: The Death Script
Book Title: The Death Script: Dreams and Delusions in Naxal Country
Author: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Format: Paperback
Pages: 280
Blurb: From 2011 to 2015, Ashutosh Bhardwaj lived in India’s ‘red corridor’, and made several trips thereafter, reporting on the Maoists, on the state’s atrocities, and on lives caught in the crossfire.
In The Death Script, he writes of his time there, of the various men and women he meets from both sides of the conflict, bringing home with astonishing power the human cost of such a battle. Narrated in multiple voices, the book is a creative biography of Dandakaranya that combines the rigour of journalism, the intimacy of a diary, the musings of a travelogue, and the craft of a novel.
Through the prism of the Maoist insurgency, Bhardwaj meditates on larger questions of violence and betrayal, sin and redemption, and what it means to live through and write about such experiences – making The Death Script one of the most significant works of non-fiction to be published in recent times.
Rating: 4/5
Review:
This book would provide the readers with a bird-eye view of the red corridor. I live in a state where we have also experienced Naxal attacks and faced issues with Naxal activities. The last activity I recall fresh is when they derailed Gyaneshwari express near to Bengal border. I had to go for my exams, and the Naxals blew off the rail tracks. I had witnessed the rail tracks near Jhargram (West Bengal) were covered in bleaching powder to cover the smell of corpses. The situation of journalists is quite different from the ordinary man’s problem. They put their lives at risk for their jobs. Ashutosh Bhardwaj reports stories while he continued living in the red corridor covering stories amidst bullet fires and witnessing the death from close. The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central, and southern parts of India that experiences a considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.
He mentioned, “In Bastar, the hunt is for the dead, not for the living.” Any journalist who reported from Bastar would know the statistics of jawans dying in the ambush with Naxals. The author has described the lives of Maoists – he has drawn perspectives for readers providing detailed versions of crossfire between the Maoists and the State. The writing style has been commendable in the book. I have read few other books on Maoists, but I would like to rate this book on top of the stack. There are limited books that people read on Naxals. I would recommend this book to everyone who is trying the non-fiction genre. I haven’t provided any names of Naxal leaders in the review; since readers won’t be familiar with those names. I would recommend grabbing this book and read about Naxal operations.
Some quotes from the book:
All of you thought yourselves storytellers who had come there in search of the last tale of your lives
War is not fought on the battlefield. It takes place on the chessboard of your mind
A bullet is never cruel or unjust; so are words
Some novels enter your life without anticipation or notice, like the voice of forgotten ancestors, yet at a juncture when you need them the most
The tales of your betrayals were going to be recorded on the leaves of the mahua tree, the eternal signpost of this forest
Thank you HarperCollins India for the review copy
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July 11, 2021
Virgin River: Season 3
Virgin River (Season 3) aired last Friday, and I binged watched it during the weekend. Every episode was entertaining, and it was exciting that they dropped a bomb on every episode. It would compel the viewers to tune in to the next episode. The last season has a sad ending; someone shot Jack in his bar. Season 3 began with celebrations, Ricky’s graduation. The makers of the show focused on keeping the suspense intact. Jack couldn’t recall who shot him, and there were rounds of interrogation with prime suspects that continued in this season. In the season, there were too many situations thrown at Jack, and he was overwhelmed. Life was unfair to him; for starters, he couldn’t recall who shot him (partial memory loss), his house was on fire, and of course, Charmaine was giving him a hard time. Apart from Jack, there were other characters in the plot who were having a tough time. Dr. Vernon Mullins was suffering from an eye disease (AMD) that would result in blindness. Vernon dealt with the situation alone, as his wife, Hope Mullins, took off to check on her ill aunt. Later part of the season, Doc decided to disclose his illness to Mel, and that scene was surreal and heartwarming. This season had some suspense-filled moments. Imagine, Connie’s expression when she would meet Vince (Paige’s brother-in-law) hiding in the house. Oh! Yes! Paige’s friend has drugged Preacher. A lot of Virgin River fans wouldn’t have expected or predicted the end of Season 3. Folks, I know now the wait for Season 4 is unbearable. We want to know if Hope Mullins makes it alive, could Preacher save Christopher from Vince’s hands, and would Jack and Mel continue being a couple. I am sad that it was over and the wait for Season 4 is a long wait.
Do drop your comments if you love Virgin River. I haven’t the read book yet, though it is on my TBR.
[image error]July 6, 2021
Netflix: Virgin River
I know I am quite late to this Netflix party, but I made it. I always thought Virgin River was a series about haunted places. Oh! I judged the book by its cover. One fine morning, I started watching this series, and trust me, I was drooling over Jack. My god! Where do they make that kind of man? I won’t be discussing the plot, since most of the readers would have watched this series (Aired in 2019). I would like to applaud for the choice of place to shoot this series. It gives a sense of calmness, I wanted to live in Virgin River. I have been addicted to few shows such as FRIENDS, Schitt Creek, Grace and Frankie, but Virgin River is amazing in terms of shoot location. I would give anything to live in that place, in that tiny cottage Jack renovated for Mel. I appreciate that the story has given focus on all its characters. I would admit that I skipped parts of Lizzie and her teenage romance. But I loved the intimacy between Jack and Mel; oh my second favorite would be Doc and Hope. When do people get time to fall in love during their old age. Our parents have their hair grey and they still worry about settling us down. This show has a great love story even for the older generation. I loved the character of Preacher, who has been a silent lover and supporter to Paige. Yet, he proved his friendship first when the time came to help out Paige. I wrapped up Season 2 right in time and now I am ready to watch Season 3 releasing on 9th July. I wonder who the hell shot Jack? 
Do drop your comments if you love Virgin River. I haven’t the read book yet, though it is on my TBR. 
PS: I dont like Charmaine and Brady
July 5, 2021
Book Review – Revenge Soldiers
Book Title: Revenge Soldiers
Author: Dan Pagano
Publisher: Self-published
Format: Kindle
Pages: 174
Blurb: The Revenge Soldiers are orphans raised in an isolated community by strict monks with a monstrous secret. In time their individual superpowers emerge, and they are groomed to become hammers of justice, fighters of monsters.
But the true monster is in their midst- their brother Johannas. And in the wake of the war he seizes power, systematically killing off enemies and undesirables.
Now as the final battle approaches, his crimes against humanity has forced the hands of the remnant. They must confront him and take him down for the sake of everyone, for the future of mankind.
Rating: 3.5/5
My Review:
The book is a bit tough to follow with characters and point of view switching. I found it hard to focus on the plot, wherein at the beginning, I thought it was another world speaking loud about their struggles. I kept forgetting the characters and kept re-reading the same chapter for a while. I guess I have read this genre for the first time, where sci-fi has been mixed with fantasy and mythology. The book has been divided majorly into three sections – Past, Present, and Future.
The characters of the plot are the six warriors (except Johannas) who are spread across. The Revenge soldiers find themselves having to face their most dreadful foe, one of their own. The story unfolds in a quick-paced and descriptive environment. Childhood memories of every character shaped present and future behavior. It is evident that the author was aiming for a fast-paced plot with a battleground similar to a dystopian novel. When you begin reading this book, you would be curious to know how life unfolds for Johannas. Also, my heart skipped a beat when I read – New Year’s Eve 2024. Oh my gosh! we are already in two years of a pandemic and reading about the future world in a book was trippy. The plot has many subplots where the battles ran for over a period of two years, just like ancient times. I would suggest if the sub-story would have been designed in a sci-fi series, that would have helped in better character development. It also would help the readers in engaging and picking up a favorite character. Overall the book is one of its kind to have multiple genres embossed into one short read.
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July 2, 2021
Ode to Womanhood
11:40 AM, India
I am waiting for my cup of piping hot tea to turn into lukewarm, hoping that it would help me deal better with allergies. This morning I was thinking about my menstrual cycle. Oh hell yeah! Every woman on this planet has thoughts about her cycle. Last week, I started bleeding after a gap of six months. No, I wasn’t on a sexual adventure that brought me this trouble. It was a mistake that my parents committed of taking me to some doctor, who bet that he could treat lesions called Keloid. Keloid is the over-proliferation of cells to heal a wound. I have many of them on my body. My parents thought of getting treated with the visible keloid. I was injected somewhere around Oct 2019 with an injection called Kenacort. I started bleeding heavily, and I refused to get another dose of the injection. The doctor stated that there is no literature found that stays Kenacort can visibly cause heavy menstruation. From Dec 2019 to Feb 2020, I was bleeding every single day of my life. I cursed myself for being a female. I read extensively and concluded that steroids have stimulated this bleeding.
The next horrific chapter of my life began, I had to go to a gynecologist for this problem. I wanted my bleeding to stop; I wanted to wear my shorts without any discomfort of staining them. Eventually, the visit to the gynecologist wasn’t super bad. They asked me continuously if I had a sex adventure that results in this. I helplessly kept explaining because I was 29, and of course, women like to have sex (get the sarcasm). A few medicines and I was back on track with no bleeding for few months. I walked home with a sense of relaxation that I can resume my life. Who was I kidding!
A pandemic happened, and some medicines were back in my life to heal that keloid.
I started getting anxious about my body and the changes that began happening. I remember having a faint memory of bleeding normally in 2020 and then suddenly in Jan 2021, everything stopped due to the medicines. I wanted to know what is wrong with my body. I wanted to cut myself open. But I kept on going through my work schedule, my physiotherapy, and 100s of things. When last Sunday, I saw a bloodstain… trust me I was the happiest woman on this planet. I want to live happy and healthy womanhood, even if I am 30.. I bet I am entitled to that happiness.
Please don’t get your keloid scars treated it will be a pain in the ass. Trust me.
OH! my tea is warm now.
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July 1, 2021
Book Review – Mirror Mirror
Book title: Mirror, Mirror
Author: Andaleeb Wajid
Publisher: Duckbill
Format: Kindle
ASIN: B093FZ43GQ
Blurb: Ugly cow. Miss Piggy.
Five years earlier, a friend’s nasty comment makes Ananya start hating her body. She decides to change into a new person-one who effortlessly fits into all kinds of clothes, who shuns food unless it’s salad, and who can never be called ‘Miss Piggy’-and to cut everything from her ‘old’ life, including her best friend, Raghu, for being the witness to her humiliation.
Ananya is on her way to becoming the Ananya of her dreams, but she’s still a work in progress.
One day, her parents announce that they’re expecting a baby (at their age!). To make matters worse, Raghu reappears in her life …
Andaleeb Wajid’s latest novel for young adults is a touching and funny story about a young girl’s journey to acceptance and self-love.
My rating: 4/5
Review: The story is about a teenage girl, Ananya, who discovers that her mother is pregnant. At the age of 17, she is embarrassed by the act of her parents. She tries hard to talk it out to her best friend and remains angry about this news. Her best friend, Nisha, cannot contain the excitement of a newborn baby. The backdrop is pretty great, in sync with the life of teenagers today. They have access to phones and are active on social media, whereas the 90’s kids had the bare minimum. I loved the plot as it spoke about the self-affirmation of a teenager. Aunty V and Raghu had their roles to play in shaping the story. In the beginning, I thought the story is about violence. Later in the plot, Esha’s hurtful words clarified the situation. It is one of the feelings that each one would have had during school or even college days. Sometimes we don’t realize that our hurtful words affect our friends, battling the same war as we are. I was astonished that Ananya’s parents were fine that she ate salad for the rest of her life. Omg! I wish every teenager has understanding parents to help them out of body shaming or any bullying for that matter.
The author has discussed the problems faced by teenagers quite remarkably. Since today we are concerned about social media image, we should take care of the generation we are raising. There is no suspense in the book, so it is fine to say that I am not revealing any plot here. I would like to recommend this book, since it is a short read and it discusses topics such as fat shaming, eating disorder, mental health issues, anxiety issues etc.
I would like to thank Penguin India for the review copy
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June 19, 2021
Book Review – The Midnight Library
Book Title: The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Publisher: Viking
Format: Kindle
Blurb: Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?
A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time.
Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?
In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.
My Rating: 5/5
‘Between life and death there is a library,’ she said. ‘And within that library, the
shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you
could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . .
Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your
regrets?’
Review: The book is about Nora Seed, a woman who has lost her zeal to live. She is on anti-depressants and struggling at work since forever. This book is amongst the famous books which focus on mental well-being. The references drawn from real-life instances make the Midnight library, a real thing. I can bet every reader which there was a library for use in between life and death. The author has addressed two great concerns here, one the dying culture of reading books, and second, we have forgotten to live. The library was a little shelter of civilization.
The book also has humor content which make it a light-headed read in order to restore mental peace. ‘Pressure makes us, though. You start off as coal and the pressure makes you a diamond.’ She didn’t correct his knowledge of diamonds
I loved whenever Nora was traveling to a different life, where she was someone else and yet she landed always with a phone. In every chapter, I thought this is where Nora is going to find the purpose of her life. Well, I loved the way, Ash, the Doctor guy, returns to her life. I just don’t want to spill the beans for those who haven’t picked this read. This is an amazing read, I cannot get over this book.
Some of the favorite lines:
‘I miss you,’ she said into the air, as if the spirits of every person she’d
loved were in the room with her.
Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be different if you had made other choices
These books are portals to all the lives you could be living
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June 13, 2021
Book Review – The Bookshop on the Corner
Book title: The Bookshop on the Corner
Author: Jenny Colgan
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: Kindle
Pages: 384
Blurb: Nina Redmond is a literary matchmaker. Pairing a reader with that perfect book is her passion… and also her job. Or at least it was. Until yesterday, she was a librarian in the hectic city. But now the job she loved is no more.
Determined to make a new life for herself, Nina moves to a sleepy village many miles away. There she buys a van and transforms it into a bookmobile—a mobile bookshop that she drives from neighborhood to neighborhood, changing one life after another with the power of storytelling.
From helping her grumpy landlord deliver a lamb, to sharing picnics with a charming train conductor who serenades her with poetry, Nina discovers there’s plenty of adventure, magic, and soul in a place that’s beginning to feel like home… a place where she just might be able to write her own happy ending.
My Rating: 5/5
Review: The story is about a 29-year old bookworm, also a literary matchmaker, Nina Redmond. As a bookworm myself, I have been in love with the character Nina Redmond. There are detailed descriptions strewn across the book about a book reader. There are people who are voracious readers, who try to contribute towards making a better society. This book was written somewhere around 2016 when technology was booming, yet still reaching through the doors of middle-class homes. It is so true that books lost the battle to gadgets, and even to kindle. With Nina, you could smell the books again and be rejoiced merely by seeing a copy of a rare book. Readers are emotionally involved with their books and library. Nina couldn’t bear the fact that the library where she worked was closing. It was heartbreaking for her to experience, “To Nina, it was like closing down an animal shelter.” I could relate to Nina’s struggle when she and Surinder had a fight about too many books at home. The book touches the heart with the lines such as, “Books had been her solace when she was sad, her friends when she was lonely.” Her van cum bookshop venture was one of the ventures, I imagined myself, and having Nina do that looked pretty in my imagination. I did try to find out the books Nina recommends in the story, however, it seems they are works of imagination. Well, that was a real bummer and it made me sad that I could connect with Nina’s imagination. Somewhere in my heart, I didn’t want the story to end. Puff! I loved being Nina in my own imagination. I would like to recommend every book reader/hoarder to read this one…. Many times more
Some of the favorite quotes, though I loved many more 
“And it won’t be read either, because your reading pile is taller than I am!”
You do have too many books,” said Griffin. “And I never thought I’d say
that about anybody.”
Books had been her solace when she was sad, her friends when she was lonely
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