Love Lasts Forever - Book Review

Love Lasts Forever

By Vikrant Khanna

Review By Ila Garg

Love Lasts Forever is a novel by Vikrant Khanna (Bestselling author of When Life Tricked Me), and is published by Srishti Publishers. The book has an attractive cover designed by Wasim Helal. The bright green color looks lovely and the wedding rings clearly indicating the romance that leads to marriage. The title is tempting, clearly arousing reader interest – Love Lasts Forever… only if you don’t marry your love. The tag line raises a lot of questions and for the answers, we of course have to turn the pages of this beautifully presented book.

The author, Vikrant Khanna is a sailor by profession and a writer by passion. He lives in Delhi with his family. He is also a keen guitarist who composes his own songs and is adept at cooking. Love Lasts Forever is his third novel.

The blurb reads as, ‘So you think your love can last forever…? Get married!

Eighteen-year-old Ronit falls madly in love with Aisha the moment he meets her at his graduation day from a naval college. He believes he has found his perfect soul mate, and come what may, his love for her will last forever. Seven years later, he gets married to her. Big mistake! A week later, he completely hates her and believes she has turned into a devil.

But his perception about love and life change when he hears the poignant love story of Shekhar, his Captain, on a ship that later gets hijacked by the pirates of Somalia.

As they are left fighting for their lives; they confront if love truly can last forever…? But does it get too late.’

Initial impressions of the book from the title, cover, and the blurb – an endearing romantic novel…! And yes, it lives up to your expectations by giving you just that – pure romance with several twists.

The plot can be summed up in few lines as: The story starts on a ship (almost reminded me of The Pirates of Caribbean). Ronit, the main protagonist and the narrator of this enthralling romance fiction, seems quite interested in his captain’s Shekhar love life. He probes him to tell his story and finally the captain opens up. While he sits listening to his love story (Warning: indeed love is painful), he himself get several flashbacks of his own life; he is reminded of his love at first sight moment with Aisha, their filmy romance, how the love bids finally got married and then it ended in a tragedy when he realized that Aisha is not the same as she used to be before marriage. In the midst of all these events, revolves another plot in which the pirates of Somalia take over the ship and it gets hijacked. Some more twists and turns, bring us to the climax of this book.

The way the author has developed the story is indeed something to look out for. It seems plain on the surface but the plot gets interesting mid-way. The author hasn’t much disappointed the readers much, however there is nothing extraordinary that he delivers. We have ample love stories doing rounds in literary industry! Yet he has managed to write with a difference. Errors are bound to occur when there is so much of intermingling taking place – two love stories, different settings, pirates hijacking the ship, etc.

The 248 page book is a perfect quick read where readers will enjoy reading, and not find it boring. I mainly loved the book because of the plot that is so built up really well. In the scenario where Indian Writing Industry is flooded with writers who seldom know how to write, Vikrant Khanna’s Love Lasts Forever changes the perception. Except for few grammatical and spelling errors, it was pretty much a flawless reading!

The urge to reach the climax, kept me hooked all the time. The language and pace is comfortable for all the readers. A satisfactory work by the author. 

The too many twists in the plot is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Love Lasts Forever. To find out whether or not Ronit will be saved from the pirates, why Ronit gets so engrossed in his captain’s life story, will he ever be able to make up with Aisha, is Aisha really changed, does marriage really change people, is love always lost in marriage,; you will have to read the novel.

I recommend this book to all those who love reading romance fictions, to those who love this particular genre, and to those who are looking for something to read during their travel time. Yes, because it won’t take much of your time.

‘Yay’ Factors: The cover, story line, narrative.

‘Nay’ Factors: The climax comes too fast, it could have been more detailed.

Rating: 3/5

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!

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

Scarred For Life, Healed Forever!

What are these strange visions? What is wrong in her head? Why does she get strange feelings before incidents happen?

Nishtha Vaidya is a survivor of a terrible natural calamity. Not only does she live on with a survivor’s guilt, her mind is still there, on the ill-fated day and she could never come out of it. Just when things are beginning to get better gradually in the safe and cozy life in vibrant lifestyle of Gujarat - Nishtha starts getting strange visions and headaches. Life is taking her back two years in time and she finds herself running around the state, saving different and unknown lives from mortal peril.

Will Nishtha get answers to these mind boggling questions? Will Nishtha be able to pay tribute to her friends whom she lost? Has her untold love story got anything to do with it at all? Will Nishtha ever unburden herself?

About the Author

Ashwati Menon, though is a native from Kerala, is born and brought up in Gujarat. Writing came early in life and started writing at young age of 8 years. The journey began with short poems and hence on, it has been an upward climb towards trying new style of writing. Currently, she is working in IT Software Company as a Project Manager and has three years of work experience. Education included a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Computers. Her favorite hobbies include reading, dancing and playing guitar. Also she has published her first novel under the author name “Anita Raghav” titled “Let Me Sleep!” 

You can reach her at:

Email: ashwatimenon.1411@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashwati.menon

Description

The story begins in the peaceful streets of Ahmedabad and occasionally travels down the memory lane of Nishtha as she remembers her life in Australia when she had gone as an exchange student. The fateful Tsunami rips off Australia and Nishtha loses all her friends and her yet-to-be-started love life. Back to where she belongs, Nishtha finds it difficult to adjust to living itself after undergoing treatment for almost a year. She soon finds that her mind is still in hyper active state and that she gets strange sensations and feelings before any calamity or near-death situation is going to happen in a gruesome way.

Nishtha wants to know why it is happening but before that she has to put her ghosts to rest. But will she be able to do so? What can give her peace? Is there a rational and a scientific explanation to what’s wrong with her? Will she ever be able to get back to the normal Gujarat life that she had lived or is the nightmare going to haunt her forever?

Title: Scarred For Life, Healed Forever 

Publisher: Gargi Publishers 

Author: Ashwati Menon

Edition: Paperback 

Language: English 

Page: 128 

ISBN: 9788192960999

Rab Rakha - Book Review

Rab Rakha

By Karnika Gupta

Review By Ila Garg

Rab Rakha, a novel by the debutant writer Karnika Gupta, is published by Author’s Empire Publication. The cover is beautiful, pleasant to the eyes and it thoroughly represents romance. However, I didn’t find it much appealing after reading the book. The title is direct and attracts the readers.  

Graduated from Delhi University with a degree in Philosophy Honors, Karnika Gupta enjoys dancing and listening to violin and Arabic music as much as writing and aspires to learn Spanish in future. Rab Rakha marks her literary debut.

The blurb reads as, “He is charming, so very charming - Rab. He is a magician like Pied Piper; nobody knows where he lives, for he has his own world. His feelings are pure; his tears are like pearls in the sea. He is never alone yet he's lonely. He has a heart of gold, but he speaks the truth. He wanders alone on the road; his shadow is his best friend. He's searching for something and he's not aware of it!

She is beautiful, so very beautiful - Rakha. She lives in her dreams; she is a queen of hearts. She is a storyteller; she lives in a castle of her own. Her words are magnetic; her world is imaginary. She's a selfless bird who wishes to fly. Her heart is as delicate as the petals of a daisy; she is her God's child. She's waiting for someone and she's aware of it....!

He is a fish of his ocean; she is a bird of her sky.

Can a fish and a bird fall in love?

They did and they are in love, but how do they meet?

 

Rab Rakha is a soul-to-soul conversation between the bird and the fish. Are you ready to explore the world of love unknown to both of them?”

Rab Rakha, revolves around a couple truly, deeply, madly in love. Rab and Rakha adore each other on a devotional level. Their love surpasses it all and rises above the ordinary. They are intoxicated by each other’s presence. Unlike other romantic fictions, Karnika’s book take us on a roller coaster of emotions where we experience a whirlwind of romance. This love saga is not taken forth in form of dialogues but the authoress has given way to a new style of storytelling.

The story moves in a blog post kind of format and both the characters strive to pour their hearts out in turns. Though the element of love was profound in the book, yet the readers might feel it to be far-fetched as it is risen to a surrealistic platform. It fails to sound real at times, disconnecting the readers.

Their friend Meher is a great listener but Karnika could have given her more space in the book. The story is narrated well, however it’s the editing that left me disappointed. As a reader and a reviewer, I was unable to comprehend several events due to the raw writing.

The ease of their love story and the way Rab and Rakha connected to each other quite instantly, the instrumental role that Meher played in their love tale, and how they acted as each other’s solace are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Rab Rakha. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which Karnika has woven this love saga.

Further, this 186 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. It rises above the real, and enters in a surreal domain – something that makes it stand out. It’s a light read and I could have easily finished reading it in less than 2 hours if I wasn’t so busy with my other projects. At some points it becomes dragging, though, especially for those who do not enjoy romance fictions much as it offers an overdose of romance.

‘Yay’ Factors: The story line and the characters.

‘Nay’ Factors: The fact that it was an unedited script!

My Verdict: To find out whether Rab and Rakha unite in the end or not, how they managed to be perfect for each other, how they can be considered epitomes of romance, what role Meher played in bringing them together, what happened to them and their love story in the end; you will have to read the novel, Rab Rakha.

“RabRakha is one word, one life, one breath, one world. Rab will always be alone without Rakha.”

Ratings: 3.5/5