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.