The Justified Sin - Book Review

The Justified Sin

By Harpreet Makkar

Review By Ila Garg

The Justified Sin is a mushy romance novel by the debutant writer Harpreet Makkar is published by Author’s Empire Publishers. Let’s begin with the title and the cover. I liked the title before I actually read the book. It sounded interesting, however, soon after I finished off the book, I realised that the title nowhere links to the plot of the story. The cover is simple, sombre, but nowhere reflects the storyline.

The author, Harpreet Makkar was a Senior Design Engineer in one of the top MNC’s of the country till the moment he decided to quit and devote his time to his family and pursuing his passion of writing. Along with writing, he joined his Dad’s business. The Justified Sin is his literary debut.

The blurb reads as, ‘What do you call it when three beautiful women come in your life, but you are still single? What if they all, at some point, tried to entice you, but you feel like committing suicide because of loneliness? What do you call it when you made no mistake, but still, you feel guilty as sin?

Jay had a common life until Saloni, Prachi and Vineeta came in his life and changed everything.

At times, he avoided the love that knocked at his door, and when he actually needed it, the same love kicked him.

He betrayed… He got betrayed.

He rejected… He got rejected.

From being shot in the back by Prachi's father to getting intimate with Vineeta under the influence of alcohol, his life was as spicy as those masala Bollywood movies!

He was getting used to his life, until one night, he decides to jump off a building and end everything...’

The story revolves around the life of Jay and the three ladies in his life - childhood friend Saloni, his best friend’s girlfriend - Prachi and his doctor - turned - girlfriend Vineeta. While two of them wanted him and he ignored them, the third girl that he wanted, left him astray. It is tough to understand the other gender and establish a bond. You will realize this once again after reading The Justified Sin.

The book is nice and engaging. It is a saga of love and betrayal. The narrative skills of the author are indeed commendable. Despite of a hell lot of grammatical errors, the readers manage to reach the end due to the well written plot. What disappointed me was the fact that I even found few errors in the Author’s Bio: It is written ‘perusing his passion of writing’ however, it should be ‘pursuing his passion of writing’. Perhaps, it can be ignored though.

The 158 page book comprises of 32 chapters. The reason why I loved the book is its plot. The way he juggles between the three girls in search of love, belongingness, is described nicely.

There are some interesting events occurring in the course of the novel too. For instance, the way Saloni dominates him and keeps coming to his home to meet his mother and he goes to meet her mother, the way Prachi and Jay’s relation starts taking shape, and he ends up in bed with Vineeta.

The too many dilemmas of Jay’s life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in The Justified Sin. It is not every day that you encounter a guy like Jay who is so confused, doesn’t believe in the concept of love, ignores a beautiful girl like Saloni, has a rich dad who never says no to him, gets shot by Prachi’s dad and survives! It is in that sense a story full of upheavals.

To find out whether Jay chooses to follow his dreams of DCE in spite of the hurdles or resolves to give up and come back for love, comes out as a savior or surrenders to his fate, he gets his love or not, he is able to discover the true love and friendship of Saloni or not, how he reacts to the gunshot by Prachi’s dad, who he ends up with in the end: Saloni, Prachi or Vineeta; you will have to read the novel, The Justified Sin.

Few pointers: The author should have given his script for a proofreading. The language is good, however presentation needs improvement. I can’t imagine a father always agreeing with his son no matter what, this made him look unreal. Also, I felt somewhere Shaurya’s character (Jay’s best friend) could have been given a little more space. I felt some connecting points were also missing in the book. 

Best wishes to the debut author, Harpreet Makkar for writing this one. Awaiting many more such stories in future. Kunal Marathe and Author’s Empire indeed did a nice job with the paper quality and cover quality. The colours of cover are nice, printing is awesome too. Way to go!

Ratings: 3/5

When Strangers Meet - Book Review

When Strangers Meet

By K. Hari Kumar

Review By Ila Garg

When Strangers Meet is a novel by the debutant writer K. Hari Kumar is published by Srishti Publishers. The cover of the book is designed by the author himself, using illustrations by Sakshi Garg. The front cover shows three characters from the book. The back side has a doodle of the author. The title is captivating too, tempting me further to own this book. The title and cover also indicate that it is a strange story involving three strangers who bump into each other at a railway station.

The author, K. Hari Kumar is working as an Assistant Director in the Indian film industry. He has written, acted and directed four independent projects that have been screened at various film festivals. This is his literary debut.

The blurb reads as, ‘What happens when Jai is stranded at the metro station with an irritating stranger called Iyer & a mysterious Pathan? How will the tale from Iyers past affect Jai’s future? And why does the mysterious Pathan keep staring at Jai? What happens inside that small room of the metro station? Nobody believes Jai when he claims that He was there! People think he is crazy, but is he?

The story revolves around Pathan, Jai & Iyer, and their tryst with each other’s destiny.

A light-hearted drama with a heavy tint of suspense that captures father-son relationships from the viewpoints of three different strata of society. Action, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Suspense... A typical Bollywood fiction...

A touching tale about choosing between the paths of our dreams and their expectations.’

Initial impressions of the book on me were that it’s going to be interesting. The three people are strangers which is the crux of the tale. The book is divided into three parts - The Runaway, Iyer's Story and Revelations. 

In the first chapter, we read about Jai, who is a hot tempered young lad. His father is a renowned Mathematics professor and therefore expects Jai to be like him. He compels him to join an engineering college despite his low percentage and nill interest in the field. He disregards Jai’s passion for animation. That’s where the conflict arises.

Jai’s father is so mad after getting his son admitted in the engineering college that he is even ready to pay a hefty fee. Next as expected, Jai runs away from his home to go after his dreams. When he finds out the metro has been halted because of an accident and trains are only going as far as Ghittorni station, he takes a ticket and ends up there.

Meanwhile, the readers are also given a little insight into the life of Hussain, a Pathan who has big dreams and knows he’s just won a lottery that could make all those dreams come true. He too coincidentally ends up at Ghittorni. I loved how author K. Hari Kumar managed to capture, in a very subtle and perhaps unknowing manner, the true current Indian situation where the rich are becoming richer and the poor, poorer. It's easy to ignore the part, but the fact, for me, was hidden right there. And I loved the reality of it. In general, the situational reality of the story was quite solid. At the resting room in Ghittorni, Jai tries to be by himself, but a talkative, pot-bellied Iyer comes and sits with him and begins a conversation. This is the beginning of the Iyer’s story, which is really what the author wishes to share with the world.

The book is undoubtedly appealing. There can be various reasons, some of which I have already listed: the cover, the title, a different and interesting plot, etc. The book has sheer realism which is the USP according to me. The father-son relationship is described vividly. The narrative skills of the author are indeed commendable.

The 206 page book comprises of 56 chapters, followed by an Epilogue. The reason why I loved the book is its plot. The tale does not belong to the romantic genre, which sets it apart from the masses. The story on the whole is quite meaningful. The writer has tactfully written the novel taking the readers simultaneously to different locations at different time. The main plot and sub plots are intertwined skilfully.

One of the major flaws that I have noticed in most of the books by Srishti Publishers is editing and this book is no different in that regard. The language has problems too (one of the reasons why I can’t give it a 5/5 rating).

There are some intriguing events occurring in the course of the novel too. For instance, the man Iyer narrates his whole life’s story to a stranger Jai and later Jai discovers something that confuses him thoroughly. The climax in that sense, gives the novel a metaphysical touch!

The too many dilemmas of Jai’s life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in When Strangers Meet. It is not every day that you encounter a stranger like Iyer whose story changes your life forever! 

To find out whether Jai chooses to follow his dreams in spite of the hurdles or resolves to give up and go with his father’s decision, comes out as a savior or surrenders to his fate, he gets his dreams or not, he is able to discover the truth of Iyer or not, he learns from Iyer’s story or chooses to ignore it; you will have to read the novel, When Strangers Meet.

Few pointers: The author should have given his script for a proofreading. The language needs a lot of improvement. I can’t imagine a father calling his son Bastard or Son of a Bitch, which was an eye sore. Also, I felt somewhere Arshad’s character could have been given a little more space, who is the son of the Pathan. I really loved his innocent portrayal. I felt some connecting points were also missing in the book.  Yeah it can be picturized as a movie someday, but I would suggest the author to work on some aspects to give it a better outlook. Best wishes to the debut author, K. Hari Kumar, who dared to tread a different path leaving romantic genre aside. Best wishes!

Ratings: 3.7/5

Baramulla Bomber - Book Review

Baramulla Bomber

By Clark Prasad

Review By Ila Garg

Baramulla Bomber is a novel by the debutant writer Clark (Suraj) Prasad, published by Niyogi Books. Looking at the cover of the book you will come across two eyes staring directly at you. There is a symbol of AUM - the primordial sound around which the plot is set. And just above it, is the caption which declares ‘SCIENCE FICTION ESPIONAGE THRILLER’. Yes, Baramulla Bomber, is the debut thriller by Clark (Suraj) Prasad and is the first of the Svastik Trilogy.

Ofcourse, I loved the cover. I liked the colour combination, the font, and the paper quality. That hard mysterious face tells a story of its own. When I got this book, I was rendered speechless. I am a sucker for thriller, so when Nimi asked me if I would like to review it, I could not say no! I was nervous as I started reading the blurb to get a taste of this book, though.

The blurb reads as, ‘AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET.

Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley. Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church. 

A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis. 

Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?’

I can't tell much about the plot as this is supposed to be a spoiler free review as per the request of the author mentioned inside the book. What impressed me about it is the fact that the author has well researched for writing the book and it is evident in the plot.

 

The cover has a tag line - “Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket”, which clearly makes it the amalgamation of various themes and yet the story has a smooth flow for the readers. 

The plot moves across several locales, from India to Pakistan to US to Norway, and many more, so the reader has to be attentive to grasp all the details. There are various maps, illustrations, and other such stuff to aid the understanding of the story. The characters and the happenings in this book gel along nicely, making the book fluent and lucid to the mind.

This book gets a bit complicated because it has a lot of characters, from Mansur Haider (the protagonist) to Kurt; the author has created memorable characters and used them efficiently to move the plot further. Every single character has contributed in some way or the other to the story (including Kasha and Ann). Also, I feel a deep thinking was involved while naming the characters as the names are superb and they suit the characters well. For example, Adolf Silfverskiod is a perfect name for an intelligence officer from Sweden and the name has also got a certain degree of command.

This story is complex, meant for intelligent readers. Pace is very important aspect when it comes to a novel which I felt can be worked upon in a little better manner in future by the author. This book was uneven in terms of pace.

Initially it came across as a scary affair to me, as I read till about 100 to 150 pages, I was exhausted. It was like the author has almost stuffed the readers with enormous amount of facts till page 150 and it is a heavy read till there. Till the end of the novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer.

There onwards, the pace becomes comfortable and the story too becomes light to read, though. Due to the heaviness of the facts the book is not a single sitting read. You need to take breaks in between, though the plot is tempting and manages to keep you hooked.

It was gripping, thrilling at times and in the middle it lost the initial fervor, but gained the momentum towards the end again. Yes, the story is interesting, partially because it’s a new kind of genre, well written. Author is really good with words and has a command over the language. He manages to keep the readers in awe till the end.

Quantum Physics, Bible, Vedas, Kashmir, so much in one book. A commendable job done by the author. Though I would like to see some improvements in the second and third book of the trilogy. The author needs to work on making the story smoother, the little lighter or evenly paced. He needs to level up with the readers.

The 316 page book is filled with a lot of facts. I mainly loved the book because of the element of thrill and an apt cover. First few pages tested my patience but soon it engulfed me into its world. It is an action-packed quirky-witty-techno-mythical head spinner which takes you on a roller coaster ride and leaves you breathless. I liked the author’s quirky style and the research that he has done. Loved and really appreciate the meaningful use of maps, instances, and quotations from Vedas and Bible. The way he has linked these topics is an ambitious task that the author managed to accomplish well. Hats off! As a debutant, he has done a good job and the flaws can be ignored. Best wishes!

Rating: 3.5/5

 

This (Unbiased) book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. Thanks Nimi Vashi for giving me the opportunity to read such a nice book!

Uff Ye Emotions 2 - Book Review

Uff Ye Emotions 2

Edited By Vinit K. Bansal

Review By Ila Garg

The anthology comprising of 11 remarkably beautiful short stories, Uff Ye Emotions 2, has been published by General Press Publishers. All the eleven stories are well written and deal with the various different themes, all knit with the thread of Relationships. 

Let’s start with the cover. One word - Not too gaudy! :D Well, yes the cover of the anthology, Uff Ye Emotions 2, is interesting, and not a mess. The back cover has all the contributors with their story names. Next, let’s talk about the 11 well-knit stories one by one. As I personally feel that without talking about each story individually, the review wouldn’t be complete and it wouldn’t be a justified review of this anthology. I don’t want anyone to feel left out, so here you go:

1. THE CLIENT by Vinit K. Bansal: This is a story of Riva, a prostitute by profession. Though the unexpected ending left me disappointed but I enjoyed the way Vinit Sir has tackled this dark subject. The language is simple, engrossing, clearly a perfect story to start the anthology with. Also, it’s based on a real incident. Quoting from the story, “Prostitution is like a one-way road that can let you in, but later, wriggling out of it becomes virtually impossible. Initially, you accept it reluctantly; later, you do it because you cannot run away, and with time, it ensnares every bit of your entity in such a way that eventually you end up as a mere puppet to the profession.”

2. MOKSHA by Kunal Marathe: This story is mind boggling. A very sombre subject starts with the arrest scene leading the readers to the court. The language is equally serious, though engaging, and it takes you into the character’s past as he speaks in the courtroom. Quoting from the story, “My fucking mind, my fucking conscious mind had the fucking courage to fire a fucking bullet at my wife, but I couldn’t gather the fucking courage to take this fucking ring out of my fucking finger - fuck!” 

3. WHEN DESTINY STRIKES by Mahi Singla: This story moves around the friendship of Gunjan (a rich girl) and Payal (a poor girl). How destiny makes them bump into each other after ages and how it affects both of them is well narrated in this story. This makes me feel sorry. Quoting from the story, “I tried to make my own destiny, but I forgot that when destiny strikes, it makes or breaks the rules we have set for ourselves. It makes or breaks the lives we have defined for ourselves. That’s what happened with me.” 

4. THE WOMAN WHO WAITED by Shalini Katyal: This story is essentially about the the faith on true love. I liked the way Shakespeare has been incorporated in the story. It is a nice read, though the end was slightly predictable. The climax will leave the readers with tears in their eyes and a smile of satisfaction on lips gathered from the firm belief in love. A story written with a deep emotional touch. Quoting from the story, “People will always be reading you on my face because your image will always be reflecting in my eyes.”

5. THE PALE PIGEON by Siddhartha Yadav: Nice story, illustrating a prominent happening in today’s fast paced world. I felt, character of Abhijatya and Asmita were not given ample space. I wished you could have used the title as a symbol of pain, sufferings, aloofness, old age, in your story, but it was not mentioned anywhere. I liked the bond that Mohit and Richa shared. Quoting from the story, “And suddenly, a recorded message pulled the attention of everyone towards the radio. A very familiar voice saying - Honey, it’s your birthday today and I know that you have been waiting for my wishes since morning. I never forgot this day, but, actually, was not able to gather the strength to wish you.” 

6. HICKEY by Heema Shirvaikar: This left me in utter shock. I was tongue - tied and out rightly appalled. I felt really ashamed of the society in which we are living these days. Highly sensitive story line! Brutal reality of our society has been brought to the fore by this story - Marital Rape, which has become so common in India that the discussion which was earlier taboo, is becoming a common place scenario now. I had goose bumps by the time I reached the end. A well written story. Quoting from the story, “Akka had been a victim of marital rape and she had never realised that her husband couldn’t use her body to write his stories on when she did not want them. She didn’t realise that he couldn’t just use her like a scrap paper just because she was married to him and because she belonged to him.”

7. NCERT OF LOVE by Himanshu Appie Chhabra and Udita Pal: Ah! Perhaps this was the cutest story in this anthology and I really enjoyed everything about it. Love is the most wonderful thing that can happen in our life. Class 8th students falling in love and writing those love letters. Haha! Udita and HAC gave you what you expected from them. Two words summarise this one for me - Cute and Romantic! Quoting from one of the letters in the story, “My friend says every guy watches them. Do you? Promise me, you will not do anything like that with me. I hate crying… it destroys my makeup, and you know very well how much I love my make up!”

8. I’LL BE THERE by Ishani Malhotra: An in and out love story! Simple, easy to understand language. Good use of romantic phrases. Even the pace is kept sooth for the readers. A nice and crisp story overall. Quoting from the story, “In the last few hours, Sahil had made up his mind that the stranger, who had refused her him outright and was not intrigued by his fame, was THE ONE, who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.”

9. DILEMMA by Tarang Sinha: One of my favourites. A heart-touching tale of Ashima which left me spell bound. It strengthens your believe in the existence of humanity. It also made me a little sad. And perhaps the element of realism is its USP. Quoting from the story, “At that very moment, her dilemma seemed to melt away and Ashima took a concrete decision - a decision that no one could deter!”

10. 120 MINUTES by Saravana Kumar Muragan: Amm… This story could have been a little better. I browsed through it, because I found it a little lacking in plot. Otherwise it was a good narration. Quoting from the story, “God once tried to test my depth of love, which is what you are going to read now - the one hundred and twenty minutes that made me realise, how much I love my beloved wife, Isha.”

11. LOVE AND SACRIFICES by Meghant Parmar and Heena Ahuja: A perfect ending for this anthology comes in the form of this story! It was an interesting story and laced with manifolds of emotions. Nice read for sure. Keeps the readers hooked, has ample amount of passion, love, sacrifice! Quoting from the story, “Love is a test, and its outcome will always depend on your sacrifices and the unknown bonds formed over time.”

Overall, a nice anthology with all the shining contributors. 

Rating: 3/5

The Homing Pigeons - Book Review

The Homing Pigeons

By Sid Bahri

Review By Ila Garg

The Homing Pigeons is a novel by the debutant writer Sid Bahri is published by Srishti Publishers. The book is decorated in the form of a very beautiful cover page. So many pigeon flying in the sky, indeed a simple yet captivating cover idea. The font used for the title of the book is in itself so compelling that one would pick up the book. The title is tempting too.

The author, Sid Bahri is a hotelier by education, an ex-banker and a senior executive in the outsourcing industry. Sid gave up a plush career in the outsourcing industry to follow his passions. Based out of Ranikhet, he is now a struggling entrepreneur and a happy writer. A self- proclaimed eccentric, he is an avid blogger who loves to read and cook. Cooking stories, however, is his passion. This is his literary debut.

The blurb reads as, ‘In the middle of the catastrophic 2008 recession, Aditya, a jobless, penniless man meets an attractive stranger in a bar. Little does he know that his life will change forever.

When Radhika, a young, rich widow, marries off her stepdaughter, little does she know that the freedom she has yearned for is not exactly how she had envisioned it.

They say homing pigeons always come back to their mate, no matter where you leave them on the face of this earth. The Homing Pigeons is the story of love between these two unsuspecting characters as it is of lust, greed, separations, prejudices and crumbling spines.’

Initial impressions of the book from the title, cover, and the tagline - "Not all love stories are perfect, but then, neither are people", on me were that it’s gonna be yet another love story. And yes it is a love story, but it is tackled quite intelligently giving a different flavor.

This is the story of two people, narrated by them alternatively in the different viewpoint chapters. Both come from a varied background; have different desires and longings, and ofcourse totally different sets of problems and hurdles.

The guy, Aditya, has just lost his job due to a recession in the industry and we find him in a bar, spending the last of his money on a drink. At the bar, he meets a woman, and from there onwards his life changes dramatically. We see a changed Aditya who takes the road less travelled to fight recession.

The girl, Radhika, is thirty one and has just lost her husband (second husband, as she divorced the first one) and we find her marrying off her stepdaughter and getting her claim to riches. There on, she starts to narrate her tale through nostalgia, and takes the readers into her past.

This story is about how circumstances makes you do things you never dreamt of and it is yet justifiable as every step you take is in sync with all other steps you have taken or forced upon in your life. It is about being perfect by being imperfect. Well it is about finding your desire and following it no matter how twisted it may seem to others. “Not all love stories are perfect, but then neither are people.”

As simple as it seems, the story doesn’t go straight. It goes more like a zig-zag pattern, sometimes coming to the present and then a flashback into the past. The story of the two, gripping at times and drab at others, then cross to a conclusion, just like homing pigeons.

Quoting lines from the book - “Her cell phone says that she is not reachable. I should be panicking, making phone calls to ascertain where she is; maybe, even make the drive to find out if she has abandoned me. I don’t. I know she will come back - for what are we but homing pigeons that have that innate, uncanny ability to find their mate, no matter where you leave them on the face of this earth. She will come back.”

Sid has created a masterpiece. His characters, mainly Aditya and Radhika, grow in the course of the novel, not only in age but as real persons with their dreams, their regrets, their pasts and present, which keeps on bumping into each other. The author at first made the readers hate the protagonists and gradually the readers end up empathising with them, embracing their pain. This is indeed an ambitious task in itself, for which I would like to congratulate Sid Bahri.

Meanwhile, the readers are also kept engaged by the past revelations, Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the adoption, the abandonment, the separation and coming back together, the failed marriages, the sufferings, aloofness, and recession. So many sub plots are intertwined in a single plot.

The book is undoubtedly appealing. There can be various reasons, some of which I have already listed: the cover, the title, a different and interesting plot, etc. The book has sheer realism which is the USP according to me. The use of Homing Pigeons as a metaphor is justified and pleasant. The narrative skills of the author are indeed commendable.

The 318 page book is quite meaningful. I mainly loved the book because of the plot. The Homing Pigeons, is remarkably exalting, utterly transfixing roller coaster of emotions. It kept me hooked all the time, never breaking the pace. The language and pace is comfortable for all the readers.

The too many dilemmas of Aditya’s life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in The Homing Pigeons. It is not every day that you encounter a stranger like Divya, who turns your life upside down and changes your story!

To find out whether Aditya and Radhika meet or not, what is their future, whether they choose to follow their dreams in spite of the hurdles or resolve to give up and go by the destiny’s decision, how does recession affect Aditya, how Radhika faces the failed marriages and loneliness of her life; you will have to read the novel, The Homing Pigeons.

Few pointers: The author should have given a little more clarity in narrating the past events. Also, I felt somewhere Divya, Jasleen, Meera, and other sidelined character could have been given a little more space. I was eagerly waiting for the end, when I presumed a future for Aditya and Radhika, but I was a little disappointed as the climax was too quick. I wanted the end to be a little more elaborate, emotional, but it turned out to be very straight forward. (a reason why I am not giving it a 5 star!) Best wishes to the debut author, Sid Bahri, who dared to set a new trend in Indian writing. Awaiting his second novel.

Rating: 4.25/5

This (Unbiased) book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. Thanks Nimi Vashi for giving me the opportunity to read such a nice book!

The Woman's Code - Book Review

The Woman’s Code

By Binduu Chopra

Review By Ila Garg

The Woman’s Code, a beautiful novella by the Binduu Chopra is published by Author’s Empire Publication. The cover art by Sunill Kaushik is attractive and also gives a glimpse into the character of the novel, who is a free spirit. The title is very involving as well. Men would want to read to know the inner world of a woman and women will read it for obvious reasons.

First impressions: Excellent cover and title with a nice paper quality. As I went on reading it, I could see the editing being done well, though I did find 2-3 proofreading issues, which can be neglected.

The blurb reads as “She was not like most of the Indian women we know and read about! She was not someone who wanted to be confined to the kitchen. The wild teenager didn't want to let go her dreams that got buried when she was married at 18. Filled with love, compassion and a desire, she started to weave back the threads at 40.

Will she fulfil her dreams? Will she find her freedom? Or will she find the dust on her furniture more important than the poems in her heart?

In this intimate & heartfelt story, you will find a woman's fight to take possession of her strength & desire. It’s a journey that describes the importance of emotional balance in relationships. It’s a journey that describes a woman. It’s a journey that describes The Woman's Code.”

One thing that I extremely liked about this novella is - In one of the lines, Binduu Ma’am wrote “She/He” instead of “He/She”, redefining the norms and going against the set stereotypes. Loved it.

The story is well written. The depth of emotions with such a seamless effort engages the readers. The story in a nutshell, is about the ups and downs in Sumi’s life, how she is hurt but determined, undying love resides in her heart and she freely shows it, achieving success, being a free spirit, letting loose, a commitment of life, learning things the hard way, and many more such themes. The way Sumi handles this constant connect and disconnect with new people in her life is the main crux of the book.

The author has good narrative skills, as she has managed to keep the language crisp and clear. The 104 page book takes you along with it and makes you realise that every life is not a mills and boons tale; sometimes you have to come out of that fairy tale and live the real life which is not an easy affair. The story is meaningful and the main reason that I loved this book is the hope that it leaves you with towards the end.

Binduu Ma’am kept the reader’s interest maintained throughout with the captive plot! The pace of the story is smooth too. It is an inspirational tale of a girl’s life and narrates the saga of transformation of a girl to woman, adding to its USP.

The too many turmoil of Sumi’s life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in ‘The Woman’s Code’. To find out how she grew up as an individual cutting out of the cultural confinements that were laid upon her; you will have to read the novella, ‘The Woman’s Code’.

Binduu Ma’am has done a wonderful job with it. She has also promised to pen down the sequel to this novella soon, which would keep her readers waiting with pleasure.

It’s a must read for every young girl who has to get married/or is about to get married. It’s an eye opener to girls who must not forget that just as they have dreams, their moms perhaps too would have sacrificed some parts of their life to raise them and like-wise a mom in law. A woman has every right to fulfil her desire when she feels the TIME IS JUST RIGHT FOR HER. “If your happiness is not subject to anyone or anything, only then you can say 'I am free'. Otherwise it doesn't matter if you are in prison or you are walking outside on the street, still you are a prisoner within yourself. A girl is forever imprisoned. This book is therefore, especially for women to seek their inner freedom. It’s like a key to open and come out of the confinements of the doors.” Best wishes!

Ratings: 4/5