The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons - Book Review

The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons
By Paras
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Untold Tales: Love and Other Demons’ by Paras is an anthology of 13 short stories. Each story covers a different aspect—the highs and lows of relations are explicitly described. From the struggles in the life of a prostitute to the dynamics of a mother-son relationship, all are given space in the book.

Mythological Monologues - Book Review

Mythological Monologues
By Purba Chakraborty
Review by Ila Garg

You must have read a lot of mythological stories and seen them presented as television serials as well. This book ‘Mythological Monologues’ by Purba Chakraborty is an attempt to change the narrative. The book has twenty-six monologues by twenty-six such epic characters who remained unheard in the course of mythology. These characters could never express their viewpoint as the stories were panning out.

Vitamin H - Book Review

Vitamin H: Volume 2
By Abhishek Vipul Thakkar
Review By Ila Garg

Have you come across the concept of affirmations and the power of manifestation? This book ‘Vitamin H’ by Abhishek Vipul Thakkar gives the much-needed dose of motivation to all the readers while playing on the concept of daily affirmations that do change lives.

The book has a collection of quotes covering topics like mindful living, life journey, faith, compassion, confidence, acceptance, success, gratitude, happiness and forgiveness. These are presented day-wise for daily stimulation.

The Speaking Stone - Book Review

The Speaking Stone
By Ratnadip Acharya
Review By Ila Garg

‘The Speaking Stone’, a novel by renowned author Ratnadip Acharya is published by Aksora Publications LLP. The cover is quite interesting. It shows some ancient ruins and a couple holding hands, walking in its direction. The dark colours used are apt to represent the book as a thriller.

It will be interesting to note here that the author's earlier book reviewed by me, Paradise Lost & Regained, had the same colour combination. The cover designer, Gokul Ram Singh, remains constant as well.

The book begins with a WARNING, insisting the readers to not flip through the pages beforehand as the pictures inside the book might kill the suspense. It's therefore, advisable to read the book page by page to stay with the plot and let the climax come through.

You Never Know - Book Review

You Never Know
By Akash Verma
Review By Ila Garg

You Never Know, a novel by Akash Verma, is published by Penguin Random House India. The cover is so apt; you will realise this after reading the book. With a backdrop of red—which is a colour of love, rage, fury, blood and hell. It’s tagline—sometimes love can drag you through hell—says a lot about the plot. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

The Colours of Passion - Book Review

The Colours of Passion
By Sourabh Mukherjee
Review By Ila Garg

The Colours of Passion, a novel by Sourabh Mukherjee, is published by Readomania. The cover totally grabbed my attention. The amazing use of shades from red to orange to yellow is amazingly spectacular. The knife and blood drops further make it a captivating cover. The sub-title—Unveiling Dark Secrets behind the Limelight—further adds to the mysterious outlook of the plot.

A Love Letter!!

Hi there,

Today I am posting a letter I recently came across in a novel. Hope you like it because I loved it.


" Dearest Ankita,

Pardon my addressing you dearest, but right now that is how I feel towards you.

You have given my life a new direction and nothing has mattered so much to me till now. Swami Vivekananda had said, ' We are what our thoughts have made us. So take care what you think. Thoughts live. They travel far. ' Right now Ankita, my thoughts are centred only on you. I cannot think of anyone else but you. I have stayed up whole night thinking and re-thinking and I am swept away by the depth of my own emotions. I have tried not to act like this. I hate it, but cannot help it.

Her Resurrection - Book Review

Her Resurrection
By Soumyadeep Koley
Review By Ila Garg

Her Resurrection, a novel by Soumyadeep Koley, is published by Gargi Publishers. The cover is an absolute delight, however, if you go deeper into the layers – the meaning that it brings out is profound. The eyes that compel you to look into them twice are full of pain and anguish, but is there something more to those eyes? We will find out only when we read this book that is based on sex trafficking.

A Window Seat - Book Review

A Window Seat
By Vishala Katta
Review By Ila Garg

A Window Seat, a novel by Vishala Katta, is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd. The cover was the first thing I loved about the book. It’s been quite some time since I saw a cover so beautiful and yet meaningful. It represents a journey of mind and a journey via train – quite an apt cover for the plot of A Window Seat. You will agree with me more as you go on reading this book.

6 Degrees - Game of Blogs - Book Review

6 Degrees – Game of Blogs
By Various Bloggers
Review By Ila Garg

6 Degrees – Game of Blogs, a book by various bloggers, is a result of a unique concept initiated by BlogAdda.com and is published by Leadstart Publishing. Months ago, BlogAdda.com came up with this unique concept under the #CelebrateBlogging where they announced a competition for bloggers to get published. 30 teams of 10 bloggers each took part in this contest and penned down 30 different stories using the same set of characters - Shekhar, Tara, Roohi, Cyrus and Jennifer. As the contest progressed, a panel of 6 judges selected 3 teams as winners - Team By Lines, Team Potliwale Baba and Team Tete-a-Ten. The stories penned down by these three teams are compiled in the book called 6 Degrees – Game of Blogs.

The cover shows a number of happy excited faces, perhaps representing the various bloggers who competed to have a place inside the book. The colour scheme of black and white and the simplicity of the cover is the USP here. It looks very soothing and is clutter-free.

The blurb reads as, “As part of their #CelebrateBlogging initiative, BlogAdda.com, ran the first edition of Game of Blogs in September 2014. Five characters and their descriptions were provided. The objective was to write a fictional story revolving around these characters. Bloggers came together as teams and after three rounds filled with its own set of twists and turns, three stories made it to the end.
The three stories in this book are a fascinating example of how one set of characters can have interesting lives with completely different dimensions. Six Degrees is a result of how collaboration can truly breed creativity in the modern day world of connected living.”

The first story ‘The Awakening’ is written by the team By Lines. It is sci-fi tale with a dash of Hollywood. Elements like aliens and space craft add to the plot. The pace is kept smooth and perhaps this one is the best story among the three with more than 130 pages of length. The second story is by the team Potliwale Baba and is titled as ‘Entangled Lives’. It is a murder mystery with a lot of Bollywood masala to it. Resembling the storyline of a typical Hindi flick, this one is an interesting read. The third and the last one is by the team Tete-a-Ten and is titled as ‘Missing: A Journey Within’. This one is based on the theme of kidnapping where each character is missing something or the other. I felt that this one lacked pace and tends to get boring. It could have been kept more crisp.

Further, this 422-page book is a light read and overall a compelling book. Apart from some minor editorial errors, the book is highly recommended. Check out my video review here:



Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon

The Soft Target - Book Review

The Soft Target

By Kalyan Nanda

Review By Ila Garg

The Soft Target, a novel by Kalyan Nanda, is published by Srishti Publishers. The cover shows iron man and in the backdrop is the path leading to a destination that is unknown. As I read the PDF edition of the book, so I can’t say much about the feel of the book, print or cover.

Kalyan Nanda lives in Mumbai with his wife. He enjoys theater and movies of all genres, and is a voracious reader. His favourite authors are Sir P G Wodehouse and George Orwell. He can be reached on kalyan.nanda@gmail.com. The Soft Target is his literary debut.

The blurb reads as, “Is God good? Or is He a manipulative villain who plays with the lives of his creations in the name of karma? As far as Mohan Mishra is concerned, God is a villain. Mohan is God's soft target, for He 'blesses' him with a strange mental problem and kills his support system when he needed it the most. The Soft Target is the story of a boy's journey into manhood, as he takes on God with his mental prowess, defeating Him at every stage, thus making God his soft target. Supported by great friends and a loving wife, Mohan fights an epic battle against the murderous society, the conniving legal system and ultimately God himself, with remarkable courage and spirit.”

The story begins on a familiar note of relatives poking their noses in our personal matters. How parents often try to keep it subtle in front of the relatives is where the story starts finding its first characters. It is then that the readers are introduced to the most astonishing character of the book, Mohan Mishra. He is a brilliant student with an IQ that is much higher than that of any kid of his age. However, he can never say what he wants to say and ends up saying something incomprehensible. People term him as mad because of this but this doesn’t affect him much and only helps him be more determined to prove his mettle.

The author has sketched all the character beautifully, nowhere will the readers feel them to be exaggerated. The plot thus seems quite realistic and successfully portray deep and intricate emotions that children go through and how they handle peer pressure. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. Nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. It’s so well-written that once you pick up, you cannot keep it down without finishing it off. It took me a couple of hours to complete the book. I found it quite engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author.

How Mohan overcame his disability, how he was the soft target who emerged as strong as iron, how Nikhil’s stammering problem causes him embarrassment, the various date scenes of Brij, the sarcastic one-liners, how Samidha understands Mohan, how Nisha ends up betraying Nikhil and how Revathy who is IIT Mains topper falls in love with Brij are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in The Soft Target. 

Further, this 214-page book is a light read and overall a compelling book. I specially was hooked to Mohan’s character and wished to quickly reach the climax to know what happens with him further in the story. Apart from some serious editorial errors, the book is highly recommended.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon | Sapna

In God's Wishlist - Book Review

In God’s Wishlist
By Pradipta Panda
Review By Ila Garg
 
In God’s Wishlist, a novel by Pradipta Panda, is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing. The cover shows a girl who is surrounded by lights, seems like a spirit from some other world. A well conceptualised cover by all means!

The blurb reads as, “In Gods Wishlist’ is a fantasy that speaks of a whole new world order, where there will be no fear of death. Love and beauty will rule the world and spirits will interact and fall in love with human beings and propagate love. This love will transcend everything and be the panacea to all problems. God has a vision and a mission.
He invites humankind to join active politics as it controls their life. He performs experiments to induct his theory. In one of his experiments, he studied beauty with the mind, and released all the spirits to the world, except for twenty-one top leaders of the world, whose beautiful minds were not mapped and programmed. God’s theory is that the two main things that rule the earth are the ruler and beauty that remains true for all ages. Youth have different aspirations, towards their fantasy, the opponent, and society. To inculcate this God inducted a new theory of love, the love between the spirit and a human being. The love between the spirit and a human being will be the panacea of all and this love will transcend human behaviour. Read to find out how and what is in God’s Wishlist…”
 
The blurb did sound interesting to me and that’s why I decided to pick this one up and review it here for you guys. However, the book wasn’t as thrilling as it seemed by the cover and the blurb. Yes, looks can be deceptive.

So, let’s first talk about what I liked about this book. Cover – 4.5/5 and blurb is obviously good. The plot is well thought of and different from the league and yet it could not resonate with me. The concept is nice with God Himself as a protagonist but something goes amiss as the story begins to get a pace.

The author has definitely tried to write something different but without enough research. It could have been a great book to read but honestly, it failed to captivate my interest. So moving on to what exactly I didn’t like or should I say what was lacking in the book.

The book majorly lacked research – it belongs to the fantasy genre, so forget realism here. The readers will also find it difficult to relate to the story and therefore will find it uneasy to make a headway with the story. One of my friends borrowed the book and left it after reading a few pages as the story failed to make any sense to her.

Not giving any spoilers, I will quickly give you a glimpse of the plot to let you decide whether or not you should pick this book.

The story begins with God choosing a young and ordinary man, Sourav who had a breakup recently and ends up spending a drunken weekend. Next, God takes the form of a spirit, Cinderella and meets Sourav to gradually brainwash him and make him and take the place of his lost love. Further, the story sees Sourav working in coordination with God Himself. Sourav keeps moving from one beautiful woman to another and helps them, does something good for them in exchange of sex. Woah! Really? I mean what was the author thinking? So this one is a nay for me as it begins to get absurd as I moved further into the plot.

The language is simple and easy to comprehend, however who was the editor of this book? I wonder! So many grammatical errors – a sure turn off for me! I totally felt disconnected, skipped so many pages, was bored through most of the plot and found myself mostly yawning waiting for it to end.

Further, this 250-page book did give way to a different plot but when the execution fails, everything fails. It was an average read. I will also be reviewing the author’s next book Co-Wife, based on LGBT themes and claims to capture the pathos and problems associated with them. I am keenly waiting to read that since the theme does interest me. I hope the author has improved over time.

You may give In God’s Wishlist a try if fantasy is your genre, but do not keep your hopes too high.

Ratings: 2.5/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Amazon | Shimply | Flipkart | Pustakmandi

Go Clown - #AccheDin for Comedy! - Book Review

Go Clown - #AccheDin for Comedy!
By Shatrugna Vadwlas
Review By Ila Garg

Go Clown - #AccheDin for Comedy!, a novel by Shatrugna Vadwlas, is published by himself in association with AuthorsUpfront. The cover seems quite unusual at first glance! How can you ever relate this picture with comedy? And then there is a game board spread near his feet, which majorly looks out of place. But as you go about reading the book, it starts making sense.

Shatrugna Vadwlas is a Software architect based in the US, with an American Masters in Engineering and an undergraduate degree from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), India. He is a contributor to the Times of India, Huffington Post, Faking News and other Media Portals. He has completed a writer's course at the Writers Center in Washington DC.

His Comedy Novel Go Clown - #AccheDin for Comedy! has created quite a buzz in the Social Media with over 8,00,000 engagements, 2,50,000 views for the trailer on Facebook & YouTube, 5000 hits for the sample excerpt at GoClown.com, on the 1st day itself!

The blurb reads as, “When Baby Kiriti arrived in this world, he was like a lost butterfly in a sea of white. A baby who is born and thrust into the huge sea of humanity called India, rides and steers his destiny ship, as he constantly grapples with the Clown inside him, who meanwhile brings out his own set of funny oars in these troubled waters.
The Clown’s journey continues on from a Karma-Guru to a trader of special water from Europe (thanks to his Made-in-China friend!), and from a music director (the Bad-Boy theme!) to the founder of a school, and a dirty sock to a sex-crazed, horny bunch of young fellas. The colors of the Clown’s comedy are different but he always plays to the circus of life. As Kiriti encounters a wide array of characters from the length and breadth of India, a land as rich as its flavours, the carefree years full of joy and young hopes come to an end, with the sweet smell of Ganja still lingering under the starry nights. The philosophy of Meaning is preached, after a session of holy smokes, on the sides of a dusty highway which sees blood and grime daily.
And finally with the Mystical Game which casts a shadow on Kiriti’s life having been won, everything is laid to rest under a blanket of white, only to be stumbled upon by a Sherpa on the peaks of the mighty Himalayas that wakes up something inside of his adorable son!
Is it a Thief, his Dream or the Clown?”

It’s been long since I read a good piece on magic realism. This book is a humourous account of the life of an Indian student. No, before you start making any judgments, I must say this book doesn’t offer regular humour; it is a book with intelligent humour. It targets almost every aspect of life – paid media, education, caste, creed, hypocrisy of NRIs, etc. From fun to family, Ganga to ganja, Shiva to seclusion, technology to temperament and from the epic tale of the Go Game and the strategies and plans that revolve around it – this book has it all to make it a memorable ride for you!

The use of satire is the USP of the book.

The author has laced out the incidents so beautifully in humourous details. It’s not easy for an author or anybody for that matter to make someone laugh. However, this book easily manages to do that while picking common issues that we all see but choose to ignore in the humdrum of life.

Comedy, Laughter, Clown, A game, Strategy involved, Some splash of colours, Then some more laughter, Discovering inner-self before dissolving in more comedy – this book is nothing short of marvellous! It manages to bring together almost every flavour of India and leaves you laughing like crazy – definitely acche din for comedy.

The language is simple and easy to comprehend. However, I did find some serious grammatical errors, but in the light of a good plot they can be ignored. I found it quite engaging overall. The subject is tackled intricately by the skillful author.

How India is declining on the political front, the double standards of the society we live in, how the house helpers can sometimes be arrogant, are we living in reality or in dream (basically is our life a magic realism after all) are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Go Clown - #AccheDin for Comedy! 

Further, this 340-page book is good enough to expose the reality and the dreams that we tend to mix. We all have a clown inside us that keeps our thoughts clouded and doesn’t let us know our real self. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book.

Ratings: 4.25/5

Buying Links: Shimply | Flipkart | Amazon

A Broken Man - Book Review

A Broken Man
By Akash Verma
Review By Ila Garg

A Broken Man, a novel by Akash Verma, is published by Srishti Publishers. The cover shows a psychedelic man who seem depressed as his head lies low. The cover has a very simple feel to it which makes it highly attractive as it is clutter-free.

Akash Verma is a management graduate and the co-founder of an Advertising Venture. He has worked across the leading companies in the FMCG and media sector. He has a deep interest in music, history and travel. His work has taken him across the country and he finds this experience very relevant while giving shape to his stories. He has published two bestsellers till now, namely It Happened That Night and Three Times Loser. Akash is currently based out of Gurgaon, India. He is fascinated by Cinema, Literature, History and Travel.

A Broken Man is his third book.

The blurb reads as, “Take a deep breath before you are born here, my child!
You take birth in a land where I struggled; gave it my sweat and blood. A land that I thought belonged to me… unbridled, uncompromising.
Krishna is a Dalit boy from Bihar who struggles to overthrow the chains that hold him back. Chhavi is a high caste Brahman girl fighting for the rights of others, propagating equality in a politically charged Lucknow University campus. After Krishna saves Chhavi from getting torched during a protest against reservation, love slowly blossoms, only to be ruthlessly crushed by a society that thrives on divisions of caste and religion. From student politics in Lucknow to the interiors of Bihar, from the corridors of power to the glitz of media and the film industry in Mumbai.
A Broken Man is the quest of a deprived Krishna to redeem hope from despair, love from separation and success out of repeated failures. From the bestselling author of It Happened That Night and Three Times Loser, this is a story that reinforces our faith in what love can accomplish as it pushes us to achieve the impossible, making us tap our true inner potential.”

A story is about a Dalit boy, Krishna and fairly exposes the challenges faced by him in the course of his life. Krishna, the protagonist of the story falls in love with a Brahmin girl, Chhavi. She is an activist in college and daughter of a local politician. Thus, trouble brews up as anticipated.

The story moves smoothly and deals with matters of love and faith. Because of his low caste, Krishna often gets insulted and lives under undue pressure of getting selected for a government job. It could have helped him and his family come out of the poverty.

The author has sketched both the characters—Krishna and Chhavi—beautifully. The poems in the book seem quite realistic and successfully portray deep and intricate emotions. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. Nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. It’s so well-written that once you pick up, you cannot keep it down without finishing it off. I found it quite engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author.

How Krishna tackled with the problems of poverty and how he bore the innumerable insults, how He met Chhavi and fell in love with her, will he be able to get the reciprocation of his love for her, will Krishna and Chhavi be able to have a ‘together forever’ are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in A Broken Man.

Further, this 240 page book is good enough to expose the double standards of society we live in, the caste differences that still continue to exist in our mind sets. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Amazon | Infibeam | Shimply | Flipkart

Tamanna - Book Review

Tamanna
By Tejeshwar Singh
Review By Ila Garg

Tamanna, a novel by Tejeshwar Singh, is published by FingerPrint Publication. The cover shows a girl who seems to have an independent streak. It speaks volumes about the plot of the book and manages to attract the readers. The sub-title ‘a true story of forbidden love’ does raise several questions in the mind of a prospective reader.

Tejeshwar Singh is a multi talented person, who runs a software consultancy firm in the heart throb of the country - Delhi. A little late in acknowledging his yearning for creative writing, he confidently pursues his passion now. He has had a keen interest in the mysteries and the truths about relationships and the human emotions associated with them. Tamanna is his attempt to portray what lay in his sub conscious mind. It is not just a book but an emotional journey of a man who fell in love twice!

Tamanna is the second book by Tejeshwar Singh, the first being I’ve had enough… God, which was published by Rupa in 2009.

The blurb reads as, “True love is like a permanent state of madness, one that makes us end up doing things we always thought ourselves incapable of.
The same happened with Delhi-based Arjun Singh. As a teenager, he made fun of romantic movies and love songs. Even when he got married, he only gradually fell in love with his wife—their love was mature and pure and had none of the madness that love stories are made of.
But his story only begins here . . .
One day at a party, he meets Tamanna, who looks breath-taking beside her overweight and pompous husband. Her arrival turns Arjun’s life around. He does everything love-struck teenagers are known to do—from writing poetry and letters to checking his phone every few minutes. He pines, he sings, he cries, he obsesses, he hyperventilates, he regrets, he scolds himself, he broods, he dreams, and he loves—truly and helplessly.
And as time passes, the gradual revelation of Tamanna’s maturity, her thoughtfulness, and her witty personality leave Arjun completely awestruck. But his is not a usual love story, for he is married, and so is she.
Heart-breaking and inspired by the author’s life story, Tamanna is a journey through a man’s heart, exploring, as it does, how it is possible to love more than one person at the same time, and how love heeds no reason and no boundaries.”

So what exactly happens when a married man comes face to face with a wonderful woman in all respects? Well, Tamanna is a story reflecting this side of encounter – a forbidden arena – a love that is a taboo in our society!

A married man and a doting father, Arjun meets this crazy, fun to be with, amazing woman, Tamanna at a dinner party and instantly falls for her. The author has given real details of this forbidden love and how Arjun dealt with these emotions and turmoil, how he curbed them. Tamanna too is a married woman with a child. Dinners between both the families and some friends become a regular affair soon. His friends persuade him that it’s only lust but gradually Arjun realises that it’s pure love. It’s almost like a confession!

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. It’s so well-written that once you pick up, you cannot keep it down without finishing it off. I found it quite engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. It seems a real account, in fact. The language is easy to comprehend. However, some parts seem repetitive marring the reader-interest.

How Arjun met Tamanna, how he discovered his true feelings for her, how he tried confessing his love for her, was he able to tell her about his feelings, did his wife find out about this forbidden love, will Tamanna understand if Arjun comes out clean in front of her are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Tamanna. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the fact that the blurb states the book is inspired by author’s life.

Further, this 240 page book is good enough to expose the different set of emotions that a married man goes through when tangled in a situation like this. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in narrating the entire episode. However, the characterization could have been better; it looks very stagnant. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book.

Ratings: 3.5/5

Buying Links: Flipkart | Infibeam

From Where I See - Book Review

From Where I See
By Ajay Yadav
Review By Ila Garg

From Where I See, a novel by Ajay Yadav, is published by Lifi Publications Pvt. Ltd. The cover shows two sides of a tree – one is full of leaves and other is leafless. Just as the title speaks about perspectives, the cover design reflects that very beautifully. It speaks volumes about the plot of the book and manages to attract the readers. The book from the cover and title seems to be all about one’s opinion, the way one sees life and things around oneself.

The blurb reads as, “Ajay meets his childhood friend Shruti on a social network site. He finds her to be struggling with intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-social and inter-religious conflicts. Eventually the conflicts killed her. Police could solve the case but will it prevent hundreds of Shrutis from getting killed? How long will we aim ‘who’ killed, more important is to find out ‘what’ killed. Till we don’t address this issue and work on it, many Shrutis will keep on getting killed. We need to cure the disease not only the symptoms.
This book is an effort of the author to find the root cause and probable remedies of these conflicts, exploration of hundreds of pertinent questions like “why in one religion it becomes so easy to get volunteers to blow themselves and others for the sake of religion? Does the religion divides or unites? Have the immature and wrong interpretation of female emancipation the reason for 13 times rise in divorce rates in last 5 years?
It’s not only a book; it’s the path to revolution, it’s a journey towards Utopian world. If you are open minded, have courage to accept truth and have a desire to change the world; then be the part of change. Let’s take our first step to build a road to the Utopian Dream.”

Like already unveiled by the cover, the book has characters that give in their real perspectives about issues of real concern. The book is therefore laced with instances of realism and precisely, this is one reason why readers will find themselves hooked to the book despite its length.

The story is about two childhood friends Ajay and Shruti—two childhood friends. Opening on the scene where Shruti is found dead and speculations are on, the book essentially is centered on Ajay. The plot is very different from regular chicklets. In fact, the genre is very different from the ones floating in the market.

Shruti’s dead body creates a lot of stir. It is believed to be a case of suicide and not murder. Investigation begun with immediacy. Ajay is confronted by the police regarding the case, and thus the main plot begins. The story is mainly about Ajay’s childhood and adulthood, how his perceptions change over the time, and then emerges an eye-opening discussion on topics that we all come across but choose to turn a blind eye to—religion, history, women emancipation, etc. In a nutshell, the story is quite relevant in our present lives and also makes us realise how some decisions if taken correctly in the past would have benefited the humanity at large. The story also moves ahead to talk about the measures that we can take today to make the future better.

Nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect as the book brings to light some very crucial topics. People who take interest in such subjects will find it engaging. The subjects are tackled beautifully by the skillful author.

The detailed insight into the controversial subjects like religion and history add to the USP of the book. Also the language is easy to comprehend. Though there are some serious editing flaws in the book which were a major put off!

Further, this 400 page book is good enough to exposes a lot of debatable topics. However, it tends to get boring at places and treating the book as fiction seemed a little wrong as the topics dealt with are real problems.

Ratings: 3/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Shimply | Flipkart | Amazon

Let the Game Begin - Book Review

Let the Game Begin
By Sandeep Sharma
Review By Ila Garg

Let the Game Begin, a novel by Sandeep Sharma, is published by Inspire India Publishers. The cover is impressive and at the same time, quite appealing. It speaks volumes about the plot of the book and manages to attract the readers. In India, the game of chess has been of great importance since ages, after all. The title too sounds good. It instantly made me turn to the back cover of the book to glance at the blurb.

Sandeep Sharma made his debut in the writing industry with Hey Dad! Meet my mom, the book which is still a hot topic of discussion amongst readers. He is currently working on his start-up venture named ‘Author Paradise’ that works for the benefit of Authors to provide them well-organised online and offline publicity. By profession, he is a civil engineer who graduated from JSS Academy of Technical Education, Noida.

He is very passionate about writing and has been writing short stories for his personal blog for six years and they were published various times. He is deeply passionate about reading and writing and mostly prefers subjects which provide an insight into issues concerning contemporary Indian social reality. Other genres that he is fond of are travel writing, thriller and crime fiction.

Let the Game Begin is his second book.

The blurb reads as, “Two kingdoms, Chaturanga and Sarprakt, separated by a mystic mountain range are at war with each other since ages. Chaturanga, ruled by King Viratha, is soon bestowed with a dynamic heir, and the whole kingdom is drowned in rituals and festivity. On the other side, Sarprakt is executing a cruel conspiracy. King Viratha, crippled by the conspiracy, urges the mysterious man of the mountain to devise a method to recreate the conspiracy and that gave birth to 'The Game of Chess'.

Serial killings shock the nation as the police are rendered clueless. The killer leaves behind a trail of chess pieces with a strange message. Random people are murdered. Connoisseurs of different fields - History, Chess and the Security forces - have united as the next intended victim is the most powerful person of the country. How is Chess involved in the whole scenario? How will they find a man who died 4000 years ago? Can a person defy the laws of nature? Does history really repeat itself? Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ”

Intriguing, isn’t it?

From Hey dad! Meet my mom to Let the Game Begin, the author hasn’t disappointed his readers.

The 170 page book is laced with historical mysticism. It talks about the history of Chaturanga, the kingdom where the game of chess finds its origin. The rest of the story then unveils how chess became the central reason for the gory history, bloodshed and the destruction of various other kingdoms.

This is the story that makes you believe in karma philosophy—that our previous births do carry forward—our previous deeds do make us pay for! This is also a story of revenge. Without revealing much of the plot, I would just say that the story is quite intriguing and enthralling as the revenge angle comes into play.

4000 years is almost unthinkable time period, but in view of a soul burning in vengeance—it is still not that long! Hence, the son of a lovable father dies only to return and take his revenge—paint the kingdoms in blood.

This story surely has the caliber to be expanded in a series of novels penetrating deep into the unknown world of history, the dark alleys which need to see the light NOW!

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. People who enjoy thriller and mystery will find it engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author.

The detailed account of the game of chess and the two empires sharing a history of revenge becomes the crux of the novel and also the USP. The language is easy to comprehend. There were some editing and proofreading flaws, but they can be ignored in the light of a good plot.

How the game of chess originated, how it became the reason for bloodshed and destruction, why were the two empires seeking revenge are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Let the Game Begin.

Sandeep has a long way to go! Let’s wish him good luck till his next book comes to take us further into the plot!

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Link: Amazon

Operation India One - Book Review

Operation India One
By Shiv Kumar
Review By Ila Garg

Operation India One, a novel by Shiv Kumar, is published by Om Books International. The cover is intriguing and impressive at the same time. It speaks volumes about the plot of the book and manages to attract the readers. The title too sounds good as more and more people are taking interest in knowing about the many different army operations. It also arouses nationalistic feelings at first glance.

Hailing from Patna, a commercial tax officer in Government of Bihar (India) – Shiv Kumar had previously worked as an engineer in BHEL (A Government of India Undertaking) for nine years. He has travelled extensively throughout India during the course of his work which comes in handy during his writings.

He is deeply passionate about reading and writing and mostly prefers subjects which provide an insight into issues concerning contemporary Indian social reality. Other genres that he is fond of are travel writing, thriller and crime fiction. 

Operation India One is his second book after A Metro Nightmare.

The blurb reads as, “Dedicated police officer, ACP Gautam Dhaliwal, takes it upon himself to root out the MAF, a major Naxal organization based in the remote village of Bhagatpur, Bihar, as part of the central government backed, ‘Operation India One’. As his investigations on the ground progress, however, he uncovers behind the official facade of development that he had set out to defend, an ugly nexus of unscrupulous politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen feeding off the oppression of the underprivileged. Torn between his commitment to the Indian State and the sympathy he begins to feel for the miserable plight of the people of the area and the supposed terrorists fighting for them, an agonized ACP Dhaliwal is forced to rethink his earlier views on the meaning of one’s responsibility towards one’s fellow countrymen.”

The book is laced with realism and precisely, this is one reason why readers will find themselves hooked to the book despite its length. This is a story centered on Naxalite affected area of Bhagatpur, Bihar. The plot is very different from regular chicklets. In fact, the genre is very different from the ones floating in the market.

A secret mission is planned by intelligence Bureau (IB) to eliminate MAF, a Naxal organization which is located in a remote village of Bhagatpur, Bihar. In the course of this mission, ACP Gautam Dhaliwal got involved after arresting MAF chief in a raid in Delhi. It is interesting to note the precision with which the author has given the details which can be seen when he introduces Charulata who is the second in command of MAF chief. She takes over after the chief’s arrest and comes out as even more aggressive. Meanwhile, Gautam who had gone to Bhagatpur for IB’s secret mission runs into his college acquaintance, Nisha who is spearheading an NGO there. Gautam’s interaction with Nisha and other villagers widens his perspective and moves him to take drastic decisions which then affect his life and also Operation India One.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. People who enjoy thriller and mystery will find it engaging. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. Indian politics come to the fore and makes the plot action packed, full of twists and turns.

The detailed account of Naxal problem and the power-play by Indian politics add to the USP of the book. Also the language is easy to comprehend. There were some editing and proofreading flaws, but they can be ignored in the light of a good plot.

How the Naxalite affected the local population, and how the government reacted to it, the inefficiency of the Indian political system that came to the fore are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Operation India One. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the action sequences.

Further, this 349 page book is good enough to expose the double standards of Indian politics. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in narrating the entire episode. However, the characterization could have been better. It’s a light read and overall a compelling book.

Shiv Kumar lives in Patna with his wife, Sarika, and daughter, Lavanya, and can be contacted at shiv5180@gmail.com.

Ratings: 3/5

Buying Links: Amazon | Infibeam | Shimply | Rediff

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!

Anything To Look Hot - Book Review

Anything To Look Hot
By Jas Kohli
Review By Ila Garg

Anything To Look Hot, a novel by a plastic surgeon and writer Dr. Jas Kohli, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover is apt and thoroughly intriguing for the readers. Wasim Helal has done a good job with the cover art. The title too manages to attract the readers as everyone wants to look hot these days.

A plastic surgeon by profession and a writer by passion – Dr. Jas Kohli had started his training as a surgeon twenty years back. Though during all those years, he hadn’t imagined that one day he would be exposing the secretive world of plastic surgeons and their clients. He takes keen interest in astronomy, music and bird-watching. Anything To Look Hot is his literary debut. Through his writings, he aims to foster a stronger doctor-patient bond.

The blurb reads as, “When the superstar diva of the past decade doesn’t want to play the hero’s mother on screen, she insists that she be reshaped into the most beautiful woman in the world…by any means.

This is just one of the many odd situations which plastic surgeon Dr. Dhruv faces in Mumbai. He has dealt with tyrannical bosses and finicky patients while undergoing his training, during which he has also won over a stunning doctor as his life partner. But satisfying the movie stars is a different ball game, because every girl wishes to have bee-stung lips, and every guy wants to flaunt a six-pack abdomen without working too hard. And all this while, he has to resist losing his balance over his ravishing female clients.

Dr. Dhruv’s journey surpasses even a masala movie for humour, drama and action. In debunking many a myth about cosmetic surgeries, the book will enthrall those who can do Anything to Look Hot.”

The book is laced with realism and gives a deeper insight into the world of doctors through elaborate descriptions. This is a story centered on Dr. Dhruv and how he deals with the situations at hand. The plot is very different from regular chicklets. How he clears the entrance test for the M.Ch (Master of Chirurgiae) course, marries a fellow doctor and lets her stay at a hostel for 3 years to pursue her academic dreams is wonderfully weaved into the story. The various demands of the patients and how Dr. Dhruv tackles them is actually interesting.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. Though it is a Medical Fiction but any reader can be engaged with the storyline. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. Through Dr. Dhruv, Jas Kohli takes us into the world of doctors and also describes what happens when a mishap happens during any operation. For instance, if a patient dies during a surgery, the relatives start accusing the doctor of being a murderer, which is very sad.

Excerpt from the book: ‘Sir, even after working dedicatedly for donkey’s years in the hospital, I could be called a murderer and possibly assaulted for an act of God.’‘See, we Indians have wild mood swings. When the Indian cricket team performs badly, the public goes to the extent of burning effigies of the star players. The relatives had an irrational but firm belief that the wrong injection had been given to the child. So they refused to buy your explanations.’

The romance intermingled with humour add to the USP of the book. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique and fresh. The ease with which the life of a plastic surgeon is brought to the fore is good to read, the instrumental role that his dreams played in his tale, and how he fell in love and found his soulmate are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Anything To Look Hot. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which a flawed character Dr. Dhruv is unfolded.

Further, this 196 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in characterizing Dr. Dhruv who is at once a plastic surgeon with the eye of a falcon and courage of a tiger, and also a keen explorer with love for astronomy. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along.

My Verdict: To find out whether Dr. Dhruv becomes a successful surgeon or not, how he managed to survive the pangs of separation from a girl who he loved dearly, how he finally found a girl he could live the rest of his life with and how he treated his long list of clients with great concentration and endurance, and what happened with him in the end; you will have to read the novel, Anything To Look Hot.

Dr. Jas Kohli does come across as a promising writer!

Ratings: 3.7/5

Buying Links: Rediff | Amazon | Infibeam

Paradise Lost & Regained - Book Review

Paradise Lost & Regained

By Ratnadip Acharya

Review By Ila Garg

Paradise Lost & Regained is a novel by an extremely talented writer Ratnadip Acharya. The book is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover is simple, sober, and aptly conveys the plot. Gokul Ram Singh (cover designer) has done a good job with the cover art. The title is direct and intrigues the readers. Also, the paper quality seems good. The layout and typeset has been done excellently as well.

Ratnadip is a well-trained street magician and has demonstrated his skill to many across the country. A NIT Jamshedpur graduate, Ratnadip lives in Mumbai, where he works as an Electrical Engineer. He has contributed many inspirational write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul. His debut novel titled Life is always Aimless… Unless You Love it was published in December 2012 and was received well by the readers across the country. Being deeply interested in life, nature and its mysteries, this time Ratnadip has come up with a storyline the like of which has hitherto not been told. It is about a little deer growing up in a far-flung deep forest, teeming with its fellow deer, other animals, trees and rocks. Yet we can all find ourselves in this strange and surreal world that Ratnadip has created in this inspirational novel Paradise Lost & Regained.

The blurb reads as, “Whispered the forest & its trees, ‘Little deer, tell us your story again.’

Smiled I & asked, ‘What will you gain hearing it time & again?’

Replied the forest at once, ‘It is not just a story of a deer,

but of we all - forest, earth, sky, trees, wind and river.

It is a testimony to trust, love, hope & courage

that we will all remember for ages.’

With a smile, again I began to narrate my story,

which breathed my love, fear, success, failure & glory.

It spanned from my birth in the forest to human captivity,

from where I escaped to explore life’s other possibility.

Everywhere and every moment I received help from Nature,

& it taught me to experience life from closer.

I learnt that the other name of life is Mystery,

and that it is beautiful with all its unknown twists and unpredictability.

Once I finished my narration, the forest was throbbing with life,

there prevailed only peace, silence & joy, and no strife.

‘Name your story,’ breathed the forest and every living entity it contained.

Thought I for a while and replied...

‘Paradise Lost & Regained.’”

The book is laced with surrealistic instances that will take you to a different world altogether. It might appear rather unconventional as the protagonist is a deer, and not a human. In fact, there is no human being as a character in the book. This is therefore not a regular chick-lit novel. I must clarify this isn’t a suspense, thriller, or even a retelling of a mythological work. This one is much simpler and yet complicated.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. The author writes in great detail about the birth of a little deer, and his growing up years in the dense forest. As the baby deer learns the lessons of life from the mother deer, the readers too develop a new knowledge within themselves. The readers might take it as a book with moral teachings initially but as they go along with this vivacious little deer, they will realise that the book has many more things to unveil. For instance, it gives a hint about the probable human emotions like fear, doubt, anxiety, trust, dilemma, and desires in animals.

The events in the life of this deer are interestingly penned down. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique. Further, this 252 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the fact that the author has dared to produce something new. He has dared to listen to his heart instead of following the already treaded path. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along. 

‘Yay’ Factors: The concept that is different from the league, the writing style that is simple yet compelling. The book is edited well too. So yay for Surojit Mohan Gupta! The layout and presentation is equally good, esp. the quotes with which each chapter is born.

‘Nay’ Factors: Perhaps, the extra-long descriptions which were appearing forceful and marring the emotional appeal of the book.

My Verdict: If you love nature and wish to tread something different from mainstream, go for this. To find out what this deer signify, why has the author chosen to tell the story of a deer, what is so special about the deer's growing up years; you will have to read the novel, Paradise Lost & Regained.

“Within all of us there is a small deer,

Which is lively, joyous and knows no fear.”

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon | Landmark | Crossword