06 September 2023

#BookReview Are You Afraid of the Dark? by Sidney Sheldon

 

About The Book

In New York, Denver, Paris, and Berlin, four people have died separately in apparent accidents. Two women -- the widows of two of the dead -- find themselves under ruthless attack and are drawn together in fear, confusion, and for mutual protection. But are they being targeted because one of them is the prosecution witness at a famous criminal trial? Or is there a connection to the mystery behind their husband's deaths? Meanwhile, Tanner Kingsley,

Chief Executive of an international Think Tank created only seven years ago, is on the cusp of an amazing discovery that could alter the future of the world. If properly handled, the outcome of this could deliver unbelievable power into the company's hands. But are the mysterious deaths connected to this volatile secret? And can it be further protected?

My Thoughts

My first introduction to Sidney Sheldon's novels was when I was doing my MBA. One of my batchmate lent me one of her book to read, and I was hooked. 

The narrative contains a blend of suspense, surprise, science fiction, adventures, romance, and emotional intensity. The characters were imaginatively described with their distinctive traits that will grab the reader as soon as they are read. 

But I was let down by this book because it was so predictable. The characters are completely irrational and unlikeable.  Some of the dialogue had to be skipped since it was so dull and absurd. Normally, Mr. Sheldon is adept at understanding the depth of human deceit, but not in this instance.

Anyway, it is a good time-passing read.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Best known today for his exciting blockbuster novels, Sidney Sheldon is the author of The Best Laid Plans, Nothing Lasts Forever, The Stars Shine Down, The Doomsday Conspiracy, Memories of Midnight, The Sands of Time, and many more.

Almost all have been number-one international bestsellers. His first book, The Naked Face, was acclaimed by the New York Times as "the best first mystery of the year" and received an Edgar Award. 

Most of his novels have become major feature films or TV miniseries, and there are more than 275 million copies of his books in print throughout the world.

Author on the Web

Wikipedia

30 August 2023

#BookLove Kancher Deowal by Suchitra Bhattacharya

 

About The Book

The remarkable story Kancher Deowal (Story of a Broken Home) explores the psychological impact of an adolescent girl growing up in a dysfunctional family.

It also emphasizes the possibility that parents can grow preoccupied with developing their own lives and, as a result, unintentionally neglect their kids.

My Thoughts

The author has described the story of the child of divorced parents in a lovely and dramatic way. How one child cannot handle the scenario on her alone.

The tale flows well and explores the depths of each character's psychology, with a particular emphasis on the rebel Brishti, whose acts may not be justified but are depicted in a very realistic manner.

I did not get the impression when reading this that the plot was entirely based on fantasy.

The ending was lovely.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Suchitra Bhattacharya (10 January 1950 – 2015) was an Indian novelist, known for works including Hemanter Pakhi, Kachher Manush, Aleek Shukh, Icche, and Kacher Dewal. 

During her career as a writer, she composed over 20 novels and many short stories. Her novel Dahan was adapted into the 1997 film Dahan, and her novels Iccher Gach, Alik Sukh, and Ramdhanu Rang were adapted into films by Shiboprosad Mukherjee, and her novel Onnyo Bwasanto was adapted into a television film by Aditi Roy. 

Author on the Web

Wikipedia

23 August 2023

#BookReview Howrah Bridge by Anup Babblu Jetty

 

About The Book

Howrah Bridge is a fictional story of a married couple in Kolkata. They are parted away from each other but are connected with hearts by a strong bond of love.

Bengali culture and the beauty of Kolkata are the added flavors to this story.

My Thoughts

Howrah Bridge is a story about a married couple in Kolkata. They have grown apart, yet their hearts are linked by a strong bond of love. This story is enhanced by Bengali culture and the splendor of Kolkata.

This is the first book by author Anup Jetty. What I felt about the book is, that it’s written like a script. This is a unique way of writing and can be hugely successful if done properly. However, what I felt is that the author struggled a lot with finding the right words.

The flow of the book is really fast, however, in that fast flow, character development suffered a lot.

Overall, for me, it’s a good first attempt.

Book Links

Amazon India

About the Author

Anup Jetty is an Indian author of fiction. He writes predominantly love stories and action entertainers with a social message. Anup, from his childhood itself, has been very fond of films, and working for films is his goal. He is a big fan of directors Shankar and Maniratnam. Their films influenced him a lot and molded him into a writer.

He has a unique style of narration that gives a visual cinematic experience to the readers. His novels, Howrah Bridge and Kalki, are best sellers and have received highly positive reviews from readers all over India. His novels are placed in many of the oldest and largest libraries. He received the Indian Golden Award for 2022 for his debut novel.

Apart from writing novels, he also writes poems, and short stories, and has directed a couple of short films. He is presently working on a love story, which is likely to release next year.

Author on the Web

Facebook 

17 August 2023

Lost (In Disgrace #2) by Shilpa Suraj



Lost is a story of love, betrayal, honour, revenge, and everything in between. It’s also a love story that sets fire to the world they live in leaving them with no choice but to rise from the ashes anew…

Lieutenant Rahul Jaishankar of the Indian Navy is a man of honour, principles and commitment. His love for his family, his ethics, and his integrity is only eclipsed by his love for his country. He has no time or space to love anything or anyone else. Until the day Ayaana Sahni explodes into his life. Suddenly, she’s all he can think of, all he can hope for, all he dreams of, awake or asleep…

But Ayaana isn’t a dream he can afford to have. She’s an illusion. Ayaana Sahni is actually Aarushi Mittal. And Aarushi Mittal wants only one thing…Vengeance. And no man, not even one as deliciously gorgeous as Lieutenant Rahul was going to get in her way.

An award winning, intrepid journalist, Aarushi spends most of her life abroad working on the kind of devastating stories that the world would never hear of if not for people like her. But it has come at the cost of her personal life, at the cost of time with family, and at the heartbreaking cost of her friend’s devastating tragedy.

Aarushi needs to atone for her negligence, she needs to right the wrongs done in her absence, and she needs to make the villain in her friend’s story pay. What she really needs to make that happen is a way into the tightly knit community of the Indian Navy and Lieutenant Rahul Jaishankar is it. And if that means there is some collateral damage along the way, then so be it. Even if the collateral being damaged makes her yearn for dreams that don’t exist. Surely, the Lieutenant would understand, wouldn’t he?

Aarushi isn’t built for love. She’s built to burn down the world for her loved ones instead. So what if this man makes her want things she’s never wanted? So what if this man makes her heart ache for something she’ll never have? So what if, suddenly, this man is all she wants?

Goodreads * Amazon IN * Amazon US



Read an Excerpt from Lost


“So no women,” Paul asked again, after the server took down the order and left. 

“No women,” Rahul confirmed. “I’m done with them.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.” A husky voice intruded on their conversation.

Rahul glanced up and he could have sworn time stood still. 

Huge eyes lined with kajal and framed by the longest eyelashes in existence gazed down at him. Her right eyebrow was pierced and had a tiny silver ring with a star dangling from it. A pert little nose, lush, pouty lips lined in a bold red, and a heart shaped chin topped by shoulder length hair with green tips, she was dramatic, different and dangerous. All in capital letters. 

“Told you to look,” Paul murmured as Rahul continued to gape at the vision in front of him. 

They got to their feet. Rahul a lot more slowly, because it felt like the ground beneath his legs was strangely unsteady. 

“Ma’am,” he said quietly, grateful his voice at least was steady. 

“Ayaana,” she said in reply. “My name is Ayaana Sahni.” 

“Lieutenant Rahul Jaishankar,” he replied. “And my friend and colleague, Lieutenant Paul Alvares.” 

She smiled, a slow, slight tilting of her lips. Her eyes darkened as she stared at him. He felt the effect of that smile in the pit of his stomach. Heat consumed him, making him shove suddenly shaky hands into his trouser pockets. 

“Are you sure you’re off women, Lieutenant?” she asked, her voice sounding like the sweet, hot slide of whiskey over ice, the clink of crystal against polished stone. 

Rahul felt like she’d poured that whiskey down his throat and flicked a lit match in after it. His entire body felt like dry tinder at a bonfire. 

Was he sure? No, he wasn’t. As he locked eyes with the woman, Rahul Jaishankar was sure of only one thing. Tonight was going to change everything.


About the Author:
A published author with Harlequin India – Mills & Boon India Collection and Juggernaut, Shilpa Suraj’s books have hit both the Hot New Releases and Bestseller lists on Amazon. Her next novel, tentatively titled ‘Wrong,’ has been contracted by Rupa Publications and will release later this year. She is also part of the Flipped Anthology by Harper Collins and had an audiobook book Insta Reddy release with Storytel.

She is, amongst other things, currently working on ‘Frazzled and Fabulous,’ a humorous, true-to-life parenting story that is part memoir and part nonfiction.

An avid reader with a passion for creative writing and storytelling saw her participating in writing competitions at school and dabbling in copy writing for an ad agency as a teenager. Twenty years in the corporate space, including a stint in Corporate Communications for Google, India, and a spell at entrepreneurship all hold her in good stead for her multiple current roles of author, mother and Head of Human Resources & Public Relations at an architecture and interior design firm.

Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Newsletter



16 August 2023

#BookReview A House for a Mouse: Oscar the Mouse by Lisette Starr


About The Book

A delightful rhyming story with fun illustrations and a great positive message!

A great read-out-loud picture book to help teach your kids about kindness. A book they'll love reading, and you'll love reading with them!

My Thoughts

Kids will love reading this nice picture book. Children like reading this playful book.

Recently, my 6-year-old has started looking into poetry. She adored it because it was one of the first few. A sweet little tale with lovely illustrations.

The phrases are brief and straightforward, and the words rhyme.

Amazing work!

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Lisette Starr is a doting aunty of nine and the step mum of one. She is Originally from the UK and settled on edge of the forest just outside of Melbourne in Dayelsford, one of the quirkiest towns in Australia. 

She loves writing verses. She started writing songs when she was nine and has been writing all her life. She has a degree in Film & TV, has written and directed several short films and one feature, made a few video clips, and has been a finalist in the "Filmmaker's International screenwriting awards" three times. 

Author on the Web

GoodReads

09 August 2023

#BookLove Nil Ghurni by Suchitra Bhattacharya

 

About The Book

The story starts as a relationship develops between 23-year-old Daita, a college student, and Bodhisattva Majumdar, a distinguished scientist in the country, who is 50 years old.

Lost in flying love, Bodhisattva abandons his devoted wife Rakhi, and their son. Daita breaks up her arranged marriage, severing her relationship with her family.

They started to live together as husband and wife.

But the boy with whom Daita was supposed to get married, Soumik, is unable to forget Daita. He runs to Daita again and again. What does the boy want? Revenge? Or something else?

My Thoughts

Nil Ghurni by Suchitra Bhattacharya realistic and complex story of lust, love, and misfortune.

However, this is not just an anecdote of a love triangle. Through the tension between men and women, the author explores the place of women in our society.

This is a large novel; however, I read it in one fell swoop—unbelievable! Each character is perfectly drawn.

There is not a bit of dull moment anywhere. The flow of events is very smooth, and each dialogue touched my heart.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Suchitra Bhattacharya (10 January 1950 – 2015) was an Indian novelist, known for works including Hemanter Pakhi, Kachher Manush, Aleek Shukh, Icche, and Kacher Dewal. 

During her career as a writer, she composed over 20 novels and many short stories. Her novel Dahan was adapted into the 1997 film Dahan, and her novels Iccher Gach, Alik Sukh, and Ramdhanu Rang were adapted into films by Shiboprosad Mukherjee, and her novel Onnyo Bwasanto was adapted into a television film by Aditi Roy.

Author on the Web

Wikipedia

02 August 2023

#Bookreview Trick or Treat Free For All!: A Halloween Kids Book by Multiple Authors


About The Book

Ten Tales of Halloween Adventure for young readers!

Join your favorite kid-lit characters as they embark on a night of trick-or-treating, you’ll never forget!

This collection of short stories will take you to spooky neighborhoods, back to ancient Egypt, and even inside a video game! Featuring tales from award-winning authors and fresh new voices, this is a perfect Halloween treat for readers ages seven to twelve!

My Thoughts

The Halloween-themed tales in this book, Trick or Treat, are intriguing. Some of the tales are distinctive, such as Flying Solo, A Good Trick, and The Mystery of The Haunted Egyptian Kitchen.

Found a few stories with repetitive ideas, which could have been avoided.

Not too frightening, but excellent Halloween reading for children. This book introduces young readers to a variety of talented authors and covers experiences from a fascinating mix of different worlds, including accounts of young witches flying alone, frightening basement spiders, a ghost in a water bottle, and falling apart, zombie buddies.

The ideal Halloween treat! 

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

26 July 2023

#BookLove Kolkatay Feluda by Satyajit Ray

 

About The Book

This book is about Feluda's Calcutta based mystery expedition. The stories include…

Kailash Chowdhurir Pathor

Sheyal-Debota Rahashya

Gorosthaney Sabdhan

Golokdham Rahasya

Ambar Sen Antordhan Rahasyo

Bosepukure Khunkharapi

Indrajal Rahasya

Apshara Theaterer Mamla

Dr. Munshir Diary

My Thoughts

Satyajit Ray first penned Feluda for the children's publication "Sandesh.".

I have read every single Feluda story.

Among all the Feluda collections, Kolkatay Feluda is my ultimate favorite one.

My most favorite story, not only from this book but from all Feluda stories, is Gorosthaney Sabdhan. The story is simply brilliant.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

Satyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and music composer. 

Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Ray is celebrated for works including but not limited to The Apu Trilogy (1955–1959), The Music Room
(1958), The Big City (1963), and Charulata (1964).

Author on the Web

Website | Wikipedia

19 July 2023

#Bookreview Hell Holes: A Slave's Revenge by Donald Firesmith

About The Book

An epic story of love, loss, friendship, and survival under the most hellish of conditions, Hell Holes: A Slave's Revenge is the award-winning prequel to the Hell Holes series of alien invasion novels.

After killing his father, alien demons teleport a fifteen-year-old boy, his mother, and his sister to Hell, a desert world in the Demonic Empire. With survival far from certain, they have just two choices: to live as useful slaves or die as demon food. As the boy becomes a man, he must decide just how much he must collaborate with his demon masters to survive.

But can he live long enough to take his revenge and regain his freedom without losing his humanity and his very soul?

My Thoughts

If you ask me, I am more into Fantasy, Horror & Science Fiction in a visual formats, like TV series and movies. The main reason for this is that I somehow feel these mediums justify the genre as it requires a lot of visual stimulation. For example, consider how beautiful it is to see Avatar or movies like that.

When I picked up the book, I had my reservations. However, author Donald Firesmith proved me wrong with his brilliant writing.

His choice of words and sentence formation are easy to grasp yet so effective. The way he described the various locations with simple words is something to learn from for all aspiring authors.

The action scenes are something to read again and again.

I felt that this book is a great contender for a TV series adaptation.

Overall, I recommend it to all Fantasy, Horror & Science Fiction lovers.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Donald Firesmith is a multi-award-winning author of speculative fiction including science fiction (alien invasion), fantasy (magical wands), and modern urban paranormal novels.

Prior to retiring to devote himself full-time to his novels, Donald Firesmith earned an international reputation as a distinguished engineer, authoring seven system and software engineering books based on his 40+ years spent developing large, complex software-intensive systems.

He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs and cats.

Author on the Web

WebsiteFacebook | Twitter 

12 July 2023

#BookReview How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

 

About The Book

This Book can change your future The common habit of worrying directly affects your work, money, personal relationships, and family life.

Fundamental facts about worry and magic formula for solving worry situations, how to banish worry and anxiety to lead a fuller, more active, and happier life, how to eliminate financial worries, how to eliminate financial worries, how to immediately reduce business worries by at least half, how to turn criticism to your advantage, seven ways to cultivate a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness, six ways to prevent fatigue and stress - and keep looking young, how to add one hour a day to your waking life...

And much more!

My Thoughts

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that my daily work is to overthink and worry.

I am literally one of the most worried person you will ever meet. At the same time, I never like self-help books as I find them pretentious and overgeneralization.

I brought this book long back and it was hiding somewhere in my Kindle library.

Recently, I started reading the book and to some extent, it helped me.

The book's purpose is to guide the reader to a more joyful and satisfying existence by assisting them in being more aware of not just themselves, but also those around them.

Some of the techniques the book suggests and I started following are

• Use the law of averages to outlaw your worries

• Cooperate with the Inevitable

• Decide just how much anxiety a thing may be worth and refuse to give it more

Overall, this is a decent book, with the advice available all around us, written in a constructive and structured way.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

An American writer, lecturer, and developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking, and interpersonal skills, Dale Carnegie was born in 1888 in Maryville, Missouri.

Public Speaking: A Practical Course for Business Men (1926) was the first collection of Carnegie’s writings. it was later entitled Public Speaking and Influencing Men in Business (1932). How to Win Friends and Influence People, when published by Simon and Schuster in 1936, became an instant bestseller. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948) introduces the fundamental facts that one must know about worry and provides the perfect way to conquer it. 

How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job is a collection of selected chapters from How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. With ways to bring peace and happiness in life and achieve a work-life balance, this book will make one reassess their approach to life, people, and their job.

Author on the Web

Wikipedia


05 July 2023

#BookLove Chowringhee by Mani Sankar Mukherji

 

About The Book

Welcome to the Shahjahan, one of Calcutta's oldest and most venerable hotels.

Meet its newest receptionist and hear of the people who spend their days and nights behind the Shahjahan's grand façade, a world where greed, seduction, and death coexist with love, luxury, and pride.

Chowringhee reveals an irresistible vision of a lost - and loved - metropolis, an homage to an old India of myth and memory.

My Thoughts

My favorite author is Mani Sankar Mukherji, his writing style and the subjects he chooses to write about are unique.

Chowringhee is the second in his captivating read of The Calcutta Trilogy. This book is pure love.

The Book was originally written in Bengali in 1962 and later translated into English in 2007 by Arunava Sinha.

I simply love this book. The way the author portrayed the beauty of the city in its chaos is mastery.

I will never get enough of this addictive tale which has a lingering melancholy that is oddly relaxing. The Shahjahan Hotel's hustle to make the most of the present while remembering the past was all that mattered at its best.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

SANKAR - the pen name of Mani Sankar Mukherji - is one of Bengal's most widely read novelists. He was born in Bongaon, which later became an Indo-Bangladesh border town. His father, a lawyer, moved to Kolkata before the Second World War. Following his father's untimely death in 1947, Sankar gave up his studies and started earning his livelihood - first as a street hawker, then as a typewriter cleaner, and as a part-time school teacher. He then became the youngest clerk in a broking firm at the city's famed Royal Exchange.

A chance meeting provided him with the opportunity to become the last clerk to the last English lawyer, Noel Fredrick Barwell, of Calcutta's High Court.Barwell died in 1953. The following year Sankar began an unforgettable serial in the popular Bengali literary weekly, Desh, in which he recreated the last days of the last 'English Lawyer', his chamber, and his cases. Kato Ajanarey was published in 1955 and remains an all-time Bengali bestseller. Other novels followed, including Chowringhee (1962) and Gharer Madhye Ghar, short stories, travelogues, and biographies. Two of his novels, Seemabaddha (Company Limited) and Jana Aranya (The Middleman) were filmed by Satyajit Ray. Mani Sankar Mukherji lives and works in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Author on the Web

Wikipedia


28 June 2023

#BookReview Bedtime Stories for Kids by Uncle Amon

 

About The Book

This book is especially great for traveling, waiting rooms, and reading aloud at home.5 cute bedtime stories for kids.

Excellent for beginning and early readers. Cute short stories are great for a quick bedtime story.

This story is great for a quick bedtime story and to be read aloud with friends and family.

Your child will be entertained for hours!

My Thoughts

Uncle Amon wrote five short stories for this collection.

When reviewing a children's book, it's crucial to read it through the eyes of a child. This book was read by my daughter, who enjoyed it.

The hard copy of the book is really nice and I also loved the illustrations.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Uncle Amon began his career with a vision. It was to influence and create positive change in the world through children's books. Whether it be an important lesson or just creating laughs, Uncle Amon provides insightful stories that are sure to bring a smile to your face! 

His unique style and creativity stand out from other children's book authors because oftentimes he uses his life experiences to tell a tale of imagination and adventure.

Author on the Web

Goodreads


21 June 2023

#BookLove The Moment of Tenderness by Madeleine L'Engle

 

About The Book

This powerful collection of short stories traces an emotional arc inspired by Madeleine L'Engle's early life and career, from her lonely childhood in New York to her life as a mother in small-town Connecticut.

Almost all were written in the 1940s and '50s, from Madeleine's college years until just before the publication of A Wrinkle in Time. From realism to science-fiction to fantasy, there is something for everyone in this timeless, magical collection.

My Thoughts

“A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.” ― Madeleine L'Engle.

There's an intriguing blend of every day to suspense/horror to Sci-Fi here. Through her stories, we can witness L'Engle working out themes in her own life, from a young girl discovering her identity to ultimate trust in the Science Fiction story.

What I really like is the fact that there are stories that may come across as weird, however, I literally loved them.

The complexity of the characters is what draws me toward them.

This book is food for the soul.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Madeleine L'Engle published her first novel, The Small Rain, in 1945. Four years later, she published her first children's book, And Both Were Young. Her Newbery-award-winning novel A Wrinkle in Time, which was published in 1962, dealt with themes she toyed with in her diaries for years, from personal shortcomings to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. L'Engle wrote fiction and nonfiction for adults, as well as poetry. She passed away in 2007.

Author on the Web

WebsiteInstagram | Facebook | Twitter 


14 June 2023

#BookReview Guff by Carole Eglash-Kosoff

 

About The Book

His name is Guff. Nearly seventeen, naïve, and with limited schooling, he’s had enough of being beaten by his father. He walks away from their small Nebraska farm, hops a freight train, and soon finds himself in a Dallas jail.

There, two things occur that will change his life. The first is that he forms an unlikely friendship with a sticky-fingered pickpocket, cellmate, Nick ‘Picnic’ Larson. The second is the realization that he has a unique mental talent, a perfect recall of numbers, and a superb ability at recognizing patterns in strings of characters.

My Thoughts

I always had a fascination with the 1940s movie world, be it Bollywood or Hollywood.

This book came to me like a lifesaver on a gloomy, rainy afternoon.

The storyline follows Guff, who had enough of his father beating him even if he's only had a short education, is almost seventeen, and is naïve.

He leaves their modest Nebraska farm, boards a freight train, and is soon imprisoned in Dallas. There, two events take place that will alter his life. The first is that Nick "Picnic" Larson, his cellmate and a thief with gooey fingers, develops an unexpected bond.

The second is the knowledge that he possesses a special mental gift, perfect number recall, and an exceptional capacity for spotting patterns in long strings of characters.

Author Carole Eglash-Kosoff's writing style is simply brilliant and engaging.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Carole Eglash-Kosoff is a novelist, playwright, and documentary filmmaker. She lives and writes in Valley Village, California. She graduated from UCLA and spent her career teaching, writing, and traveling to more than seventy countries. In 2006, following the death of her husband, mother, and brother within one month, she spent part of two years teaching in the black townships of South Africa. 

Her first book, The Human Spirit - Apartheid's Unheralded Heroes (www.thehumanspirit-thebook.com), tells the stories of amazing men and women who devoted their lives during the worst years of apartheid to help the children, the elderly, and the disabled of the townships. These people cared when no one else did and their efforts continue to this day. The Human Spirit was adapted as a play and received considerable acclaim when it was presented in 2013.

Author on the Web

Website


07 June 2023

#BookReview The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

 


About The Book

Doing well with money is not necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people.

Money―investing, personal finance, and business decisions―is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real-world people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet.

They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together.

My Thoughts

I had a great time reading this book. Even if some of the advice in this book may not be particularly new to those who have experience with finance, it is nevertheless helpful to be reminded especially for me who is not so aware of how to deal with financial matters.

This book was a lifesaver for my husband and me. We could relate to many of the things Morgan Housel talks about in the book.

Unfortunately, we made multiple mistakes that the author suggested avoiding.

Overall, this book is an eye-opener.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund and a former columnist at The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal.

He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He serves on the board of directors at Markel. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two kids.

Author on the Web

Website | Instagram| Twitter 

31 May 2023

#Bookreview Kalki by Anup Jetty

 

About The Book

‘KALKI’ is a fictional action thriller with a social message. It is basically a tug-of-war between two famous writers for the number one position. It also has a feel-good love story between a writer from Kolkata and a classical dance teacher from Varanasi. The beauty of Varanasi and the holy Ganga aarthi is presented in a splendid manner.

Dev, the main lead character, writes a story based on lord Vishnu’s final avatar, ‘Kalki’ Mysteriously, the fiction he writes becomes reality in his life and gets him stuck in a lot of problems. How he deals with them, gives a message to the society and finds his love by crossing all the huddles is what is the story.

My Thoughts

This is the second book by author Anup Jetty; I had read his first book also, and I can say for sure that Kalki is a huge improvement compared to his previous work.

Though the story started as a rivalry between two writers for the top spot, the story has many layers.

As for the storyline, I have read multiple stories based on the same plot, and being a thriller junkie, the story doesn’t surprise me. However, I enjoyed the ending.

The language of the book is lucid. The book's editing and proofreading are inadequate. There is much information provided in the book that is not correct.

I truly hope that author Anup Jetty will rectify these mistakes in his next book.

Book Links

Amazon India

About the Author

Anup Jetty is an Indian author of fiction. He writes predominantly love stories and action entertainers with a social message. Anup, from his childhood itself, has been very fond of films, and working for films is his goal. He is a big fan of directors Shankar and Maniratnam. Their films influenced him a lot and molded him into a writer.

He has a unique style of narration that gives a visual cinematic experience to the readers. His novels, Howrah Bridge and Kalki, are best sellers and have received highly positive reviews from readers all over India. His novels are placed in many of the oldest and largest libraries. He received the Indian Golden Award for 2022 for his debut novel.

Apart from writing novels, he also writes poems, and short stories, and has directed a couple of short films. He is presently working on a love story, which is likely to release next year.

Author on the Web

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24 May 2023

#BookLove Chokher Bali by Rabindranath Tagore

 


About The Book

Mahendra is besotted with his wife Ashalata. Binodini, a young widow of exquisite beauty and sparkling mind, comes to live in his house.

The intense love between Mahendra and his wife inflames Binodini's repressed sexuality. She manages to captivate Mahendra. At another level, the story is an interplay between three women, Mahendra's mother Rajalakshmi, Ashalata, and Binodini.

My Thoughts

This book is a brilliant melodrama (rather a character study) about suppressed/repressed desires and morality.

Mohin is a Jamindar, a self-absorbed capitalist who doesn’t care about anyone else, yet is very charming.

Binodini is one of the most complex characters ever written in the world of literature. She is greedy, vulnerable, considerate, and definitely not where she belonged. She is a progressive woman suffocating by some ancient rules. What she does to break them follows an epic destruction of lives.

Behari Babu, the optimist, and do-gooder is omnipotent and has a unique ability to see through others.

Ashalata is a naïve, innocent girl who is oppressed due to her illiteracy and innocence.

Talking about this book can be a book in itself. All I can say is that this book is a gem that one cannot miss.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Rabindranath Tagore 7 May 1861[2] – 7 August 1941 was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter. He reshaped Bengali literature and music as well as Indian art with Contextual Modernism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Author of the "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful" poetry of Gitanjali, he became, in 1913 the first non-European and the first lyricist to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Author on the Web

Wikipedia


17 May 2023

#BookReview Krishna's Secret by Devdutt Pattanaik

 

About The Book

Krishna's Secret is an extract from his book, 7 Secrets of Vishnu, reminds us that Krishna is an unusual God—the most unconventional, whether as an endearing cowherd or the astute charioteer in the Mahabharata.

His mother is not his real mother; his beloved is not his wife…; his lovemaking is not really lovemaking; his war does not really war. There is always more than meets the eye.

And so, only Krishna, of all the avatars, sports a smile, a mischievous, meaningful smile. There is always more than meets the eye when Krishna is around.

My Thoughts

Devdutt simplifies and presents Lord Krishna's life story, as well as the accompanying values and lessons, in this short book. Perfect for individuals who prefer simple text over time-consuming religious epics.

For me, this book seems to be like a “headline” of Krishna’s life. Nothing is discussed in detail. Too short and too simple for the character who is known to be a “Brilliant Political Mind”.

In his writing, the author employs soft, Whatsapp forward-type analogies. And the information presented is not novel.

Overall, it is just a time pass, boring to read.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist, and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He is the former chief belief officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers. He writes a column for the newspaper Mid-Day.

Author on the Web

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10 May 2023

#BookReview A Battle for New India: a story to transform Indian political system by Chandan Sarkar

 

About The Book

"Anyone who says they are not interested in politics is like a drowning man who insists he is not interested in water." - Mahatma Gandhi

This book is a fictional story about Srikanta, a singer-turned-politician, who faces the dark sides of the Indian political system and stands up for a battle against the conventional political parties to change the poor situation of the socio-economic conditions.

My Thoughts

"A Battle for New India" is basically a political fiction that comes with a strong message. Corruption in society is quite a common issue these days.

The story revolves around the protagonist, Srikanta, who used to be a singer. Initially, he was pushed into politics by his college senior, Sumana, but later he devoted his heart and soul to it.

His dream was to build a new India—a society free from corruption and poverty. But the path to establishing a new idea is never easy.

Despite being a short read, this story proved to be quite impactful. The ideas and the turn of events felt quite interesting to read. Written in simple language, the book definitely stands out.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Author,  Chandan Sarkar has had a passion for writing poetries since childhood being inspired by so many Bengali writers. He is an Energy and Sustainability Consultant by profession.

He has written many poems and among them selected poems based on the inner self, thoughts, and life is published in his first book “Beyond the Horizon with You and Life” which is a best seller and won the 1st runner-up prize in Amazon KDP pentopublish#4 contest in 2021. He has published a few poetry books and short stories after that.

Other than writing his other creative interests are photography, drawing, and filmmaking.

Author on the Web

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03 May 2023

#BookLove Gopi Diaries Finding Love by Sudha Murty


About The Book

'Gopi, I can't believe a year has passed since I met you. You have brought me so much happiness!'In this second book in the bestselling Gopi Diaries series, Gopi is stronger, bigger, and more confident than the little pup he was in the first book, but he is also cheekier and more mischievous!

Written in Sudha Murty's inimitable style, this simple story told from a dog's perspective shows us just why pets are so precious - for their love, devotion, and boundless affection.

This is a book for Sudha Murty's fans of all ages as Gopi paws himself yet again into the hearts of children and adults alike.

My Thoughts

Like all other Sudha Murty books, this book is also pure love.

The book details Gopi's most recent explorations. fresh surroundings, new acquaintances, discussions on the coronavirus, and canine companions.

The narrative is told through Gopi's perspective. The book's pictures are exquisite and colourful.

I read this book to my daughter, and she loved it too.

For our family, this book is joy and family time.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written novels, technical books, travelogues, collections of short stories and non-fiction pieces, and four books for children.

Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over four lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature in 2011.

Author on the Web

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26 April 2023

#BookReview Me No Pause, Me Play by Manoj Kumar Sharma

 

About The Book

This story revolves around Woman and Womanhood through the lenses of the Social Kaleidoscope. The essence of this story is overcoming the intricacy and complicacy of Womanhood through innovative measures with calculated risks.

Though since ages wise men never ever denied the unique importance of Women in their lives, but, at the same time couldn’t restrain from autocratic patriarchy and disguised misogyny.

Even Nature’s unworded Laws cruelly dumped Women after manipulating them to the fullest. How long Woman will have to continue bearing the ongoing sufferings?

My Thoughts

This is author Manoj Kumar Sharma’s second book. I have read his first book, "Mirrow", and am eagerly awaiting his next book.

I always love books centered around women’s issues. What really attracted me to the book is its unique name. I got myself a paperback and started reading.

The first few chapters are crisp and full of information, with not a single dull moment. Overall, the pace of the book is really good and can be finished in one sitting.

I really like the characters, and they are very much based on real-life people. On a surprising note, I really wanted to know why Rajat is the way he is.

Overall, this book is a good short read; however, I would prefer it if the author elaborated on some of the issues in more detail.

Book Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

About the Author

Manoj Kumar Sharma is born & brought up and in Bhilai, Durg (Chattisgarh).  Did his schooling from Bhilai and loves to take part in various competitions (Story, Poetry, Essay, Debates, etc). And those experiences shadowed the Author for many years till MIRRRO happened.  He pursued a professional carrier as Civil Engineer after graduation from Engineering College, Raipur. He worked in various organizations for more than 20 years, however, while all those years working as a Civil Engineer, his childhood aspirations for creativity shadowed the Author. 

Then after retirement aggregated everything hibernating in my mind & few haphazardly lying written pieces.....finally MIRRRO was born...

As an overview, the Author believes that Writing is a Soulful Act, processed by Shri Maa Sarasvatiji & Muse....not by the Author.

Author on the Web

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