Read it when I needed it the most. May be that attracted me more to this book or may be the non-conventional approach of not sounding preachy at all aRead it when I needed it the most. May be that attracted me more to this book or may be the non-conventional approach of not sounding preachy at all and instilling hope in one self, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Some snippets from the book act like eye-openers which make life easy as you feel equipped to accept/reject your own beliefs, values and everything about you . It may not be a turning point in your life but there is a chance of getting the fog cleared about few events happened or happening in your life and there is an absolute chance of you feeling lighter and better. I recommend this book to those who generally are not in to self help books but still want to read one - This book would be your pick because it is real, savage and will not have any thesis or rules but is just full of facts and life events which make you feel strongly connected and remind you of people and happenings from your life....more
I am a potter head from the time I developed my love for reading . I can easily get drowned in the magical world created by J.K.R. but this book douseI am a potter head from the time I developed my love for reading . I can easily get drowned in the magical world created by J.K.R. but this book doused my expectations. It is crystal clear that Rowling didnt play a big role in the creation of this story. While owning it was a sheer pleasure, reading it was not that much fun. Reading the 7 books any time of the year randomly is like a stress buster to me, uplifts me whenever I feel low, but 8th book seemed comical when I compared to the rest of the 7 books , may be I compared it a lot with all the previous works,but I some how couldn't relish the book. The plot, characters and twists did not seem much appealing to me and as it is more like script writing, may be it did not fuel my imaginations much. Hogwarts was meagerly covered, dialogues didnt seem powerful enough to be etched in mind, Ron was shown in a rather silly way, and the time turner concept was new but repetitive and not much enticing. New characters like Delphi's origin seemed too ironical to me :) However reading a harry potter book after almost a decade was cool. I feel the play would have been much better!...more
Amit Sharma has been one of my favorite bloggers . I started reading him some where in 2012 at mashed musings which has now moved to http://amit-sharmAmit Sharma has been one of my favorite bloggers . I started reading him some where in 2012 at mashed musings which has now moved to http://amit-sharma.co.in/blog/ and instantly became a fan. The humour, plethora of emotions , his opinions on sensitive topics which were most of the times in sync with mine, his daddy diaries and many more write ups kept me always glued to his blog. So when I came to know that his book, False Ceilings got published , it was just natural to think of buying it. I was highly elated when Amit sent me a copy of False Ceilings. I would anyway have bought it but the personalised copy made the book more special. With out much ado let me share how I felt while reading the book.
Story line and my Review
The book starts with Aaryan and his , "if - else" statement amusing the readers as they will start thinking, what it is all about. Amit grabs your absolute attention from the very first page and some where the coder in him seemed wide awake. Page by page he connects you to all real life scenarios and tragedies where the if-else happens zillion times! The book keeps oscillating between different eras. In total, there are four different eras, pre independence , just after independence, 1980s and the years spanning from 2017-2060. However different the eras and modes of living are, it all gets hazy as so many emotions seem similar. The chapters flow seamlessly from one era to another but bemuse the reader as so many characters start dancing infront of him . When the puzzled reader uses all his might to connect the dots, there comes the secret wrapped in yellow cloth which does a parade on mind. 1980s and the then NewDelhi are perfectly captured. The book increased my awareness on tragic events which happened in our country years back, like for instance, I came across Operation Blue star in the book and understood thoroughly what it is for the first time! The scenic beauty of Dalhousie of 1930s and also the later decades is also captured so wonderfully!
The secret which is passed on between the generations intrigues the readers. For a moment I felt, some sci-fi secret is embedded in it due to the tragic consequences it supposedly leads to, but unleashing the secret was a surprise to me. The suspense in the story was kept intact till the last page. Ultimately I realised that hatred , jealousy and obsession are the open secrets which can destroy the harmony and hamper the bonds in a family. Be it a family or the nation it was shown realistically how open rebuke can lead to severe damage! The blurb gives a peek in to what the book would be narrating and the reader travels from the narrow passages between the hills in Dalhousie, to the busy Connaught place of Delhi and also can visualise the sikh riots and the terror the country faced in 1984. As we enter the futuristic era of 2017-60s, where everything is fast paced , where our soups are in the form of capsules, I wondered has everything actually changed. Aren't the emotions, the love, hatred and confusion still the same ?
Be it Shakuntala , Meena , Lipi or Manohar , Vinod and Aryan , some traits are just passed on from generation to generation. There were junctures when all characters looked extremely blurry to me but then everything falls in to place and head gets clear as the book ends. Other than the entangled human emotions, there is so much more to know from pre independence and post independence eras. The book also reflects the scenario where when one is a continuous victim to other's venomous mind and caustic tongue there is a fair chance that they become venomous too!
All in all , the book makes a great read and will not disappoint you at all. Only desire I had was to know more about the futuristic time-zone - of 2060s. I would have loved to know and imagine more about the technology and how things worked after 50+ years but in any century humans will be humans is the crux of the story! Who knows you may search for your own false ceiling and try decoding the deeply embedded secrets of your life once you finish the book :) ?
a routine book which mostly feels like a bolly wood plot or a daily soap. After reading the synopsis I expected a story which may suit my taste but saa routine book which mostly feels like a bolly wood plot or a daily soap. After reading the synopsis I expected a story which may suit my taste but sadly I am disappointed . few tidbits are good and I wish author good luck for her next work. detailed review will b up on the blog soon...more
What an amazing book Animal Farm is. First time I felt, so much can be told in so less words. I have a new found love towards Novellas. Coming to reviWhat an amazing book Animal Farm is. First time I felt, so much can be told in so less words. I have a new found love towards Novellas. Coming to review, this book amazingly depicts how the hunger for power can destroy a man or an animal's brain equally. Whether it is a pig which is more equal than other animals or it is a man who thinks he is superior to all, ownership and power can make them ruthless. The characters are all so well etched in the book, be it Napolean the pig (leader), squealer the persuader, Boxer , Benjamin, Jones or the one who originally had sown the seeds of rebellion - the Major. This book will just stay with you and you can easily relate it to the happenings around you, be it a school, college , organisation or a country!...more
A unique read. Unputdownable book but am still confused and have too many questions. Like it is suggested in epilogue it would be great to discuss theA unique read. Unputdownable book but am still confused and have too many questions. Like it is suggested in epilogue it would be great to discuss the intricate things in book to get clarity. All in all quite an emotional read. Any person with emotions like Charlie's dont blend easily with all. I can quite relate to some pages of the book. Very much intrigued by the Dear Friend part. Even if I felt like it is charlie's diary it is really unimportant as to whom he wrote all those letters :) and like many have understood the letters must have been written directly for us - the readers. If you are a wall flower (a shy or excluded person) this book is definitely for u !...more
makes a good read. I normally don't like self help books but this one is different . It simplifies lifes complicated issues. Everyone who reads will rmakes a good read. I normally don't like self help books but this one is different . It simplifies lifes complicated issues. Everyone who reads will realise they do have an upper limit problem and they need to climb to their zone of genius and make their life joyful. Though the words sound technical , the author makes it all look like an easy practise . However implementing what all is taught in book needs patience , zeal and pursuit . I think this book will help you progress personally and professionally :)...more
Have been a fan of Swati Kaushal from the time I read - a girl like me. Drop dead is an engaging read with an interesting plot to solve . The book givHave been a fan of Swati Kaushal from the time I read - a girl like me. Drop dead is an engaging read with an interesting plot to solve . The book gives quite a visionary of hills , hamlets, resorts and the beauty of it and how even a beautiful spot can become an eerie crime scene! S.P.Marwah did remind me of Priyanka Chopra and captain mathur hence effortlessly became srk to me ;) :p I am longing for a trip to hills now. The various characters of indigo team are nicely sketched ! Guessing the killer was easy to me and only fault is that few scenes and descriptions felt redundant. Nevertheless makes a good read :)...more
God is a gamer is the first book by Ravi Subramanian which I read and I must say I am impressed. I don't read many books of this genre specially writtGod is a gamer is the first book by Ravi Subramanian which I read and I must say I am impressed. I don't read many books of this genre specially written by Indian authors but this one took me by surprise. Ravi truly felt like the John Grisham of banking. All in all the book is good and I wish Ravi comes up with many more interesting plots in future and entertains his readers. My detailed review is below.
Story line , characters and my Review:
The story starts with two big shots Vijay Banga, President of Mastercard International and Joseph Saunders, the CEO of Visa International discussing business and the amendments , profits and the losses, followed by the mysterious murder of Gillian Tan. Initially when the characters get introduced one by one it gets tough to connect the dots but slowly as the story gets unfolded one can put all the pieces together and solve the puzzle. The episodes happening in Newyork , Mumbai and Goa seem disconnected but by the end of it it everything makes sense. The element of surprise and the essence of suspense are intact in the story. The central plot of the story is based on author's creation of "Bit coins" which is the virtual currency and can revolutionize the world. Like pros and cons of every great invention, this has loop holes too and gives scope for illegal activities. The chance to hide one's identity is like a boon to the criminals and helps them to do money transactions using bitcoin wallets and private keys easily which other wise would be tough.
I am truly amazed by the author's imagination here. The technical jargon he used is not that tough as I am aware of banking and computing. It increased my knowledge and I learnt many new things. Kudos to the research he has done to pen down various aspects of the entire plot. He explored the gaming business, made us aware of the fact- how dangerous phishing can be, made us aware of many nuances of banking and much more. As the story picks pace two more murders happen and open the can of worms for Tanya who is the daughter of Malavika. The entire plot is about connecting the dots - Gillian Tan's murder , the murders in India, the illegal businesses handled by "Cotton Trail" so on so forth. The book definitely kept me glued. I rarely read this genre and the story for sure didn't disappoint me.
Characters and things I liked: I loved the character Aditya Rao the founder of eTIOS and Indispace (the gaming company). His passion , perseverance and his desire to stick to ethics is inspiring. I liked Varun's quick witted brain. I liked the way the author tried to strike the chords of almost all who use social media (Facebook) and who play games. Knowing how the gaming business works was the most interesting part to me. The various episodes which seem haphazard are seamlessly blended once the mystery gets resolved.The "Bitcoin" idea was fresh and innovative. I loved the cover page with a Bit coin symbol and the silhouette of a man. It is stylish. The title is apt too. The ending was a surprise which gets disclosed once Kabir Khan and Adrian Scott assemble every one to interrogate. It was not that easy to guess who the actual culprit was! Most of the characters portrayed felt realistic.
Few minuses :
There are few stories and episodes which definitely were needed but were not connected strongly to the actual plot and hence got compromised but I was willing to know more :)
Even if it kept me glued there was too much to take in and the pace of the book slowed down after completing almost half of it.
Few dialogues and descriptions of few characters seemed repetitive. There are 2-3 words which were spelled wrong but you will observe them only if you have a keen eye to find mistakes :)
Other than these minor glitches which can almost be ignored, I loved the book, the plot and the fresh feeling I got after reading few crap books penned down by any one and every one these days. My rating would be 3.5/ 5.
If bollywood has guts the film makers should try making a movie of this book by executing it correctly. It would be wonderful to watch the movie adaption! All the best to the author Ravi Subramanian. I will definitely try reading his other books starting with Bankster first as I already own it. Thank you Blogadda for sending a good book to review :)
Icing on the cake is the author signed copy I own now !! Thank You :- )...more
"you don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world but you have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices . I hope she likes hers ." The side e"you don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world but you have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices . I hope she likes hers ." The side effect of reading the fault in our stars is- *" The words get imprinted in your mind and become a part of u*" but I must admit I loved Gus's letter more in the movie, may be as I watched the movie before reading and may b as I was seeing it all ." This is one of the most memorable books to me....more
A book which will definitely make your winter warm ! Chicky Starr - what a woman!!! How great life would be if we use our positive energy for ourselveA book which will definitely make your winter warm ! Chicky Starr - what a woman!!! How great life would be if we use our positive energy for ourselves and have very less or no nonsense to deal with :) A book I highly recommend for a winter read !...more
I finished the book in 4 days. I took so long as frankly it didn't keep me glued to it. Unlike other books by Preeti Shenoy I have to say this one is I finished the book in 4 days. I took so long as frankly it didn't keep me glued to it. Unlike other books by Preeti Shenoy I have to say this one is boring , monotonous and repetitive . Opening of the book is good where school days are described. Story oscillates between present and past. The narration takes you back to school grounds and the teenage infatuations but after that I was just waiting for the end. I knew the end but had to finish it as I wanted to see if there is a twist!I would love to see a damsel not in distress the next time she writes a book. Its always a troubled woman who ultimately becomes strong and faces the world.
The protagonist Diksha is trapped in her married life and is seeking peace and real happiness. You feel connected to her but the way the events turn out its much more like a movie to me. The moment the book becomes a movie I lose interest. Every thing happens like she wants all of a sudden and her romance blooms which in real life is actually tough. The circumstances and the chances are co operative and she again finds her old love. Frankly too many lines were repetitive. After meeting her teenage love Ankit she keeps on saying the same things all over again. I know it happens in love but to read it in book was a bit boring !Few characters got dissolved in the mid. I thought there is some thing more to the character Vibha who is Diksha's cousin. Compared to the previous books this definitely was not up to the mark. It is like reading a similar story again. I loved Life is what you make it and felt Tea for two and a piece of cake was OK! This book is a time pass read and as it is the fourth book may be I expected a lot. I was expecting a story where lead roles would be doing all adventurous things in the wish list and not a woman oriented book where there are relationship or marital problems again.
Few bits I liked are the Salsa and the details, the mother in law who seemed extremely understanding and sweet. Such characters again are rare species in real life. I mean there are mothers who support even rapist sons so I don't think a mother in-law will support a daughter in-law immediately if she wants to walk out of a marriage. I liked the way places and localities are described. I liked the concept of writing down a secret wish list and ya I loved the cover page which lead to my great expectations....more
Makes a breezy read. quite humorous and subtly romantic and no hints of over dosage of romance any where! Makes any girl fancy about a person like DylMakes a breezy read. quite humorous and subtly romantic and no hints of over dosage of romance any where! Makes any girl fancy about a person like Dylan or think about a friend like satish . Interesting characters and all the Thakur girls steal the show. the book also brings back the vivid memories of door darshan days and throws light on historical events like anti defamation bill , Sikh riots , press and TV dynamics in 80s etc. How ever some of the scenes described feel late 90ish to me or may be even 80s were more or less like 90s. All in all a good book written in neat English with references to interesting local nuances where ever it felt apt ! Three cheers to Anuja Chauhan :)...more
Loading...
