Day1 - India Runway Week - The hottest look Straight off from the Runway

The much awaited fashion extravaganza India Runway Week Season 8 Summer/Spring Edition commenced at Thayagraj Stadium. Adding glamorous quotient to the show  India’s most fashion forward beauty brand, Colorbar coming on board as “Make-Up Partner”.

Weavers at Centre stage of current season of India Runway Week

It would seem that no matter how big the India Runway Week gets, there you will always find fresh new names. Of course, the old designers continue every season. This is the 8th season of India Runway Week which is starting from 28th of April.

Of Bling and Shine: Jewellery Exhibition by Neety Singh!

Jewellery designer Neety Singh hosted a two days jewellery exhibition at The Lodhi, New Delhi, for all the jewelry lovers where she showcased her latest collection.

The Amigos - Book Review

The Amigos
By Tanmay Dubey and Rahul Tiwari
Review By Ila Garg

The Amigos, a novel by Tanmay Dubey and Rahul Tiwari, is published by Rupa Publication. The cover looks quite vibrant with yellow and orange hues. The three cycle riders are obviously the three friends that this story would be about. Doesn’t this remind you of the fun that you have with your friends?

Teenage Diaries - Book Review

Teenage Diaries
By Saurabh Sharma
Review By Ila Garg

Teenage Diaries, a novel by Saurabh Sharma, is published by Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover is a glimpse into the life of all teenagers; what they think and how they function. Thus, it is not only impressive but quite apt at the same time. The tagline – the days that were – gives it a tinge of nostalgia and at once, the readers will be reminded of their own days as a teenager.

Turning Back Time - Book Review

Turning Back Time
By Shravya Gunipudi
Review by Ila Garg

Turning Back Time, a novel by Shravya Gunipudi, is published by Gargi Publishers. The cover instantly takes you back to the olden days when villages were considered glorious; the times when India was the golden bird with agriculture being the major occupation. The women walking with pots filled with water on their head was a delightful sight back then. The cover thus, gives you a lot to delve on.

Vividity - Book Review

Vividity
By Neelam Mishra
Review By Ila Garg

Vividity, a collection of 6 short stories by Neelam Mishra is published by Rigi Publication. The cover has a backdrop of pinkish hues and looks surreal. There are vivid and colourful birds sitting together on a branch. The subtitle—Not Your Usual Short Story Collection—does kind of catches attention.

The First Trillionaire - Book Review

The First Trillionaire
By Sapna Jha (Translated by Alok Jha)
Review By Ila Garg

The First Trillionaire, a novel by Sapna Jha (translated by Alok Jha), is published by AuthorsUpFront Publishers. The cover is so apt which shows a girl with determined and ambitious eyes. The cover also has the new 2000 INR currency notes, which is what catches the most attention. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

Life and the Grey Notes - Book Review

Life and the Grey Notes
By Mayank S. Sengar
Review By Ila Garg

Life and the Grey Notes, a novel by Mayank S. Sengar, is published by Zorba Books. The cover is very high on detailing. It’s a dark and complex cover, so can have variable opinions. Some readers might feel confused and put off while others, may feel intrigued. I tried to be neutral and saw a jeweller’s board peeping through a complex network of wires. Could not much understand what the author was trying to convey through a cover like this, but then maybe he wanted us to see life as it is—very complex; everything is right before our eyes and yet we fail to see everything!

Looped - Book Review

Looped
By Munmun Singh Nagpal
Review By Ila Garg

Looped, a novel by Munmun Singh Nagpal, is published by BeingShakespeare.com. The cover is very neat and eye-pleasing. The soothing tinge of blue forms the backdrop and gives a perception of a sky with clouds. A silhouette of a cat sitting on a branch of a tree adds to the mystic sense of the cover. Further, the red-brown leaves hint at autumn season.

In Conversation with Vikash Sharma :)

Hi Vikash Sharma,

Hope this finds you in good spirits!

It’s a pleasure to take your interview today. So let’s start:

Vikash Sharma was born in Haryana in 1987. He has travelled various states of India, to explore about the lives of people, places, languages, cultural differences, festivals, religions, and the rest. He currently lives in Mumbai. He is a freelance writer, photographer, traveller, producer and a filmmaker. He believes in wandering, seeking happiness in small things, and sharing it with people. 'Les just not be only Friendz (I)' is his first novel. He is currently working on the second part of the trilogy of 'Les just not be only Friendz'.

Here, he lets his readers know a little more about himself and his journey so far. Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you Vikash Sharma:

Jim Morgan and The Seven Sins - Book Review

Jim Morgan and The Seven Sins
By Bharat Madan
Review By Ila Garg

Jim Morgan and The Seven Sins, a novel by Bharat Madan, is published by Notion Press. The cover is intriguing, quite mysterious. An eye directly looking at the readers. A hooded man means something spooky, hush-hush, a lot of thrill. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

Read the author interview here: Bharat Madan

Bag It All - Book Review

Bag It All
By Nina Lekhi and Suman Chhabria Addepalli
Review By Ila Garg

Bag It All, which is a biography of Baggit M.D. Nina Lekhi, is published by Jaico Publishing House. The cover has Nina Lekhi on it with a bag from her brand. The confidence on her face is simply magnetic. The inspiring smile can’t go unnoticed and encourages one to know her more as a person and to read her journey from being a girl-next-door to a woman entrepreneur. I did review another book on women entrepreneurs on my blog some time ago. Do check if you are interested in the subject.

Polite Pickup lines in Indian Pubs - Book Review

Polite Pickup lines in Indian Pubs: Scenario Based Conversations in Pubs
By Varun Mannava
Review By Ila Garg

Polite Pickup lines in Indian Pubs, a novel by Varun Mannava, is published by Notion Press. The cover shows a scene of a pub, loaded with alcohol bottles. The bar chairs and bar lights are added too to give the complete ambiance of a pub. A drink is being poured out right on the top of the cover.

From the Closet of the Heart - Book Review

From the Closet of the Heart
By Soniya Kapoor
Review By Ila Garg

From the Closet of the Heart, is a collection of letters and short stories compiled by Soniya Kapoor. It is published by Artson Publishing House. These letters and stories are laced with long lost letters and memories, thus, a lot of nostalgia. The cover shows two hands carrying the light in the form of a cracker, symbolizing how on Diwali, people light up their houses amidst the darkness. If I connect this with the book’s theme that would mean lighting up the darkest corners of our hearts and trying to see within to revive the lost and forgotten memories, and the deep seated emotions. The subtitle—A book of love, gratitude, remembrance and apologies—says it all.

The Lively Library & An Unlikely Romance - Book Review

The Lively Library & An Unlikely Romance
By Niranjan Navalgund
Review By Ila Garg

The Lively Library & An Unlikely Romance, a novel by Niranjan Navalgund, is published by Readomania. The cover is in an apt sync with the title as it shows a glimpse of a library. I loved how the books are personified on the cover, especially the sight of the book with a walking stick on the back cover. The book on the front side reminded be of peek-a-boo. I was excited to read the book.

The Fragrance of Rose - Book Review

The Fragrance of Rose: Beauty. Dignity. Ambition
By Chirajit Paul
Review By Ila Garg

The Fragrance of Rose, a novel by Chirajit Paul, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover is so apt which shows a girl who is looking in the mirror. The girl has a red rose tattooed on her back. With such an interesting cover, I was sure it would not disappoint me.

The Death Story - Book Review

The Death Story
By Amay Saxena
Review By Ila Garg

The Death Story, a novel by Amay Saxena, is published by Partridge India. The cover uses a black backdrop with a ghostly looking man peeping from behind a pillar. The addition of the red colour gives it that spooky effect.

UNNS: The Captivation - Book Review

UNNS—The Captivation
By Sapan Saxena
Review By Ila Garg

UNNS—The Captivation, a novel by Sapan Saxena, is published by Inspire India Publishers. The cover uses a white backdrop with a couple walking under an umbrella in a lonely street full of street lights, which are adding to the romance. However, the blue rose is kind of intriguing!! Overall, a very clean cover.

Is It Maya? - Book Review

Is It Maya?
By Saikat Baksi
Review By Ila Garg

Is It Maya?, a novel by Saikat Baksi, is published by Frog Books. The cover represents a crime scene with blood indicating a murder or something. A vengeful looking girl on the cover further adds to the mystery. The sub title: Death in the corridor of love and glory… confirms that the story involves bloodshed, a murder most probably or a suicide. It totally intrigued me to flip through the pages quickly.

Another Tale of Two Cities - Book Review

Another Tale of Two Cities
By Ezhuth Aani
Review By Ila Garg

Another Tale of Two Cities, a novel by Ezhuth Aani, is published by Inspire India Publishers. The cover is designed in a reddish orange backdrop which gives it a fiery appeal. The visual here is of a town which is situated near a river bank (or so it seems as a shadow/reflection of the town is seen on the cover right below the original town). The title at once took me back to the Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and I was intrigued.

Rendezvous with Bharat Madan! :)

Hi Bharat Madan,

Hope this finds you in good spirits!

It’s a pleasure to take your interview today. So let’s start:

Bharat Madan is an author, motivational speaker and a personality developer. He has been a meritorious student through his time at college and holds an MBA from Amity University. He received the prestigious Shree Baljit Shastri Award and Best All Round Student Award, the highest awards at his university. His journey as a writer began after he finished his education. His first piece of fiction, the story of a college boy over three years, was set aside in favour of his decision to make a debut with a more mature and conceptually unique novel.

As a motivational speaker, he has inspired thousands of students in reputed schools in Jaipur. Through his writing and speaking skills, Bharat endeavours to add value to the lives of students and make their personalities forces to be reckoned with. After pressing demands from his listeners, Bharat started a Youtube Channel called “Bharat Madan” to share his ideas through the digital platform. He derives inspiration from his mother who raised him single-handedly after he lost his father at a young age.

Here, he lets his readers know a little more about himself and his journey so far. Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you Bharat Madan:

Celebrate the season of gifting with IGP!

Hi lovelies,

Continuing the blog series on gifting options that I have recently come across, here's the third post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or drop me a mail at ilagarg.president@gmail.com

So this is an amazing website that I came across – IGP (Indian Gift Portal). Let's explore this a little.

Makes you smile!

They say that 'Never give up the things that make you smile.!'

And he says everything that is right!

And he says everything that is right.

I just keep on going wrong.

But trust me, please do.

I didn't do anything bad, since I met him.

Past haunts, and it ruined my present and future too.
He loved me more than anything, but not any more.
And I don't blame him for this change.
Am somehow dealing with this fact.
Hah! No more options! No more solutions!

I lose it all...

I cry, I smile, I rise, I fall,

And then slowly, I lose it all.

I feel sadness around me,

Engulfing me, I don't feel free.

A Mixed Experience at Playboy Cafe, CP!

Hello lovelies,

It was a dull afternoon of 27th Feb 2017, when I stepped in the Playboy Café. As I climbed upstairs to reach the entrance, I could see the amazing vibes that it had. The ambiance seemed welcoming. Soon, I found myself gelling up with a few other bloggers there.

A Promise...

I loved, I cared, I adhered,
And yes, I tried my best;
to make it work against all the odds.
But now I am all tired and lost.

Movie Review: The Ghazi Attack

The Ghazi Attack
Inspired by True Events
Director: Sankalp Reddy
Producer: Anvesh Reddy, Venkatramana Reddy, Prasad V Potluri,, NM Pasha, Jagan Mohan Vancha
Music: Krishna Kumar, better known by his stage name K
Writer: Azad Alam (Hindi dialogues)
Editing: A. Sreekar Prasad
Star Cast: Rana Daggubati, Atul Kulkarni, Kay Kay Menon, Taapsee Pannu, Rahul Singh, Satyadev Kancharana
Language: Hindi

Review By Ila Garg

The Ghazi Attack has been on my must-watch list since the day its trailers started pouring in. It is inspired by true events from the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. I was amazed when I first heard about this war. This attack was classified and it happened before I was even born, but the valour shown by the navy moved me to the core.

Silent Night

Born to marry you...

I remember your eyes staring,
Right into mine, without blinking.
I remember the cute smile on your face,
It keeps me going through the lonely days.

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.

A Part Of Me!

With you by my side,
I took a deep stride.
With you gone now,
I don’t feel alive somehow.

The Rich Labourer - Book Review

The Rich Labourer 
By Parthajeet Sarma & Sibani Sarma 
Review By Ila Garg

The Rich Labourer, a novel by Parthajeet Sarma and co-authored by Sibani Sarma, is published by iDream. The cover shows the legs of a man walking up the stairs of ‘success’. The tag line: “A 3-Step Path to Finding Solutions: For People, Organisations and for Society” is explicit in itself and therefore, readers can easily guess what to expect inside this book.

Superwomen - Book Review

Superwomen: Inspiring stories of 20 women entrepreneurs
By Prachi Garg
Review By Ila Garg

Superwomen: Inspiring stories of 20 women entrepreneurs, a collection of inspirational stories about 20 women entrepreneurs by Prachi Garg, is published by Srishti Publishers. The cover shows a woman in a corporate attire, juggling with multiple tasks. Quite an apt cover to represent a working woman in modern times.

Agniputr - Book Review

Agniputr
By Vadhan
Review By Ila Garg

Agniputr, a novel by Vadhan, is published by Bloomsbury India. The cover shows a palace set on fire—giving the plot a historic appeal. The title and sub title (When Agni First Spoke) adds to the feel.

With more than two decades as a litigator and consultant for legislative compliance, Vadhan turned to writing a few years ago. He is a lawyer by training, an entrepreneur and dreamer. His first book, ‘Shatru’, part of the Kronikles series, is highly praised and critically reviewed to be one of the best fantasy novels in India. Vadhan is married with two children. He aspires to be a politician and a reformist one day. Vadhan lives in New Gurgaon, India, with his wife.

Figmented Reality - Book Review

Figmented Reality
By Zuko
Review By Ila Garg

Figmented Reality, a novel by Zuko, is published by Frog Books which is an imprint of Leadstart Publishing. The cover shows shadows—one of them being more prominent while the other is blurred some more—depicting reality and virtual reality perhaps.

Finding Juliet - Book Review

Finding Juliet
By Toffee (Taufeeq Ahmed)
Review By Ila Garg

Finding Juliet, a novel by Toffee (Taufeeq Ahmed), is published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors. The cover shows a handsome guy who seems to be a chocolate boy. He is popular with the girls and looks like a gen-Y guy with headphones around his neck.

In Conversation with Devika Das :)

Hi Devika Das,

Hope this finds you in good spirits!

It’s a pleasure to take your interview today. So let’s start:

Born in 1984, Devika has travelled across many Indian cities since she hails from the defence background. She began writing poems in 1997 and has continued her passion for writing until date. She believes ‘Work is Fun’; after switching several profiles in her professional journey, she is finally satisfied with the profile of Content Writing (currently has 3 years of relevant experience). She is currently working as a Senior Content Writer, a Theatre Artist/ Trained Salsa Dancer, and an Author.

Here, she lets her readers know a little more about herself and her journey so far. Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you Devika Das:

The Dawn at Dusk - Book Review

The Dawn at Dusk
By Sandeep Nayyar
Review By Ila Garg

The Dawn at Dusk, a novel by Sandeep Nayyar, is published by Ocean Paperbacks, a division of Ocean Books Pvt. Ltd. The cover shows a warrior woman. The backdrop of a dusty ground looks like a battle field scene. Let’s see what the book is about because the cover is quite intriguing!

Celebrate the season of gifting with Neesh!

Hi lovelies,

Continuing the blog series on gifting options that I have recently come across, here's the second post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or drop me a mail at ilagarg.president@gmail.com

So this is an amazing perfume brand called - Neesh. Let's explore this brand a little.

“NEESH” has a wide range of fragrance products. The company ensures the use of natural ingredients in the products to stay wary of the harmful effects of chemicals. They offer a delightful aromatic experience through their products.

Celebrate the season of gifting with Giftease!

Hi lovelies,

The season of gifting is here, so I decided to do a blog series on gifting options that I have recently come across. This is the first post in the series. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or drop me a mail at ilagarg.president@gmail.com

So this is an amazing website called - www.giftease.com (rightly named 'gift-ease' as it really eases the process of gifting).

While browsing through the wide range of options available, I did come across a lot of innovative gifts. The gourmet chocolates looked tempting, spread across the site. I finally picked 3 products to check if the quality is what they promise and be the secret santa to some near and dear ones. I received my parcel in about a week.

Black Sheep Caught in a Cobweb - Part 1 - Book Review

Black Sheep Caught in a Cobweb – Part 1
By Mirabelle Pereira
Review By Ila Garg

Black Sheep Caught in a Cobweb, a novel by Mirabelle Pereira, is published by Partridge India. It is clearly a book series as indicated by ‘Part 1’. The cover didn’t impress me much but it rightly depicted the title of the book.

I have heard of crazy families before, but families who actually catch the attention of law enforcement and airport authorities are rare! So I had to read it. However, what a pity! The author has described the incidents but the reasons. For the reasons, one has to wait for the part two of the series.
The blurb of the book indicated that a humourous tale awaits me.

A Walk in the Rain - Book Review

A Walk in the Rain
By Udai Yadla
Review By Ila Garg

A Walk in the Rain, a novel by Udai Yadla, is published by Kyron Publications. The cover is not an exceptional concept, but managed to interest me with the beach scene and the two lovers running across the beach with the umbrella thrown off on the shore.

Kashmir 90 - Book Review

Kashmir 90
By Vineet Mishra
Review By Ila Garg

Kashmir 90, a novel by Vineet Mishra, is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd. The cover was the first thing I loved about the book. The scenic beauty depicted on the cover reminds one at once, of the Dal Lake of Kashmir.

The Three Wise Monkeys - Book Review

The Three Wise Monkeys
By Jeet Gian
Review By Ila Garg

The Three Wise Monkeys is a novel by Jeet Gian. It is published by Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover seems quite unusual with a pinch of evil and humour at first glance! The three wise monkeys remind us of Gandhiji but woah! after reading this book you will get a new perspective.

A Knotty Affair - Book Review

A Knotty Affair
By Dhaval Birajdar Jinadatt
Review By Ila Garg

A Knotty Affair, a novel by Dhaval Birajdar Jinadatt, is published by Leadstart Publishing Private Limited. The cover at first glance fails to appeal to general readers. However, if you look deeper, it symbolises an affair of sky and sea—the two extremes. The light blue of sky merging in the deep blue of the sea; indeed a thought provoking concept!

Adhira – Love: Lost and Found - Book Review

Adhira – Love: Lost and Found
By Aditti Gaur
Review By Ila Garg

Adhira – Love: Lost and Found, a novel by Aditti Gaur, is published by Author Paradise Publishers. The cover is love at first sight. The wintry snow is romantic and at the same time carries an air of separation. It’s beautiful, appealing and heart-wrenching.

Read the author interview here: Aditti Gaur

Colourful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0 - Book Review

Colourful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0
By Mohit Goyal
Review By Ila Garg

Colourful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0, a novel by Mohit Goyal, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributers. The cover absolutely seems to make complete sense in accordance with the title. The long roadway and the car with three roadtrippers… must be a good read for all the travel enthusiasts out there. We will find out soon as we turn the pages! For starters, read my review on it.

Co-Wife - Book Review

Co-Wife

By Pradipta Panda

Review By Ila Garg

Co-Wife, a novel by Pradipta Panda, is published by Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover is simple and at the same time it has a strange calling to it. Its simplicity is addictive. It’s clean and apt – the colours of the scarf shows the connection with the LGBT theme that the novel is based on. 

Confused Bastards - Book Review

Confused Bastards
By Manav Vigg
Review By Ila Garg

Confused Bastards, a novel by Manav Vigg, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover seems quite unusual at first glance! But if you look closely, you will realise how confusion always exists in our mind and thus the maze inside the brain form an apt cover for this book. I also loved the font used for ‘confused’ showing the caricatures of 3 guys—seems like a story of 3 men who happen to be confused.