Book Review 2018-2- Carthick's Unfairy Tales by T F Carthick

Who doesn’t like fairy tales? As children we loved listening to fairy tales where the world seemed like a perfect place. Cocooned by the safe and secure environment around us (or maybe I’m speaking of the times when I was a kid), we believed in such a world. Until adolescence struck and the phrase ‘happily ever after’ sounded more like a myth.

Recently there was a video about how every fairy tale had a fixed prototype in its plot. The damsel in distress, the princess in jeopardy, who had to be rescued by the handsome, courageous prince was the recurring theme in most of these fairy tales. When I read Cinderella or Snow White to my daughter I don't really think about the damage that I’m causing inadvertently. But the video made me think, why did Cinderella require a prince? Was she too weak and docile to fight her own battles?

Carthick's Unfairy Tales brings a new twist and a complete new perspective in the old fairy tales. The stories are retold from a fresh point of view which sheds a disparate light on these tales, a view that we would have missed on seeing while reading it innumerable times before. Here’s a short review of each story in the collection.

1. ·     Of Mice and Horses- This tale is narrated by a rat who is worried by his fellow mouse living in a delusion that he is a royal horse. It was difficult to guess which fairy tale this story is based on until midway. The twist in the ending is apt and remains true to the nature of book showing how nothing is fair in fairy tales.
2. ·        The Frog Who Would Be King -  This is my favorite one in the book and tells a story of a princess who is tricked into kissing a frog and then has to save herself from being married to an obnoxious prince. I could feel myself cheering for the princess and wondered why couldn’t there be more such female models in fairytales.
3. · No Country for Wild Beasts- This story is narrated by a baby bear who is angry at a girl who invaded their home and disrupted their lives. The story is shorter when compared to others but I liked the way the original story was used to depict how humans take things for granted and muddle with nature and animal habitats.
4. ·  The Beans of Avarice- This story depicts the attempts of a magician to get hold of magical secrets from the kingdom in skies using a simpleton boy’s help. I found the story to be humorous because it depicts the tale from the villain’s perspective.
5. ·   A Tale of One City- This is a slightly dark story that is narrated by a town. What I liked about it is the ending which perhaps mirrors the desperate times of America’s political situation of today.
6. ·  What the HobGoblin Did – Another interesting tale of human greed and cruelty which feels like a consistent theme throughout the seven tales in this collection.
7. ·  The Hunger Diaries – This is another grim story narrated by Hunger, the Ravager and his attempts to claim two children, Hansel and Gretel and present them to his brother Death and how the children outwitted them.

Throughout the retelling I loved how the author imbues fresh perspectives and new twists in the tales which makes you forget that you are reading a retelling of the ancient fairy tales. The stories illustrate the satire and subtle humor of the author and the narration never makes you realize that you are reading someone who is trying his first attempt at publication. What makes the stories more interesting is the unusual point of views as each tale is narrated by a character who is an integral part of the fairy tale but may have been ignored in the original version.

It takes a lot of imagination (and a risky venture if I may say so) to take an old story and put a new spin over it AND engage the readers. But kudos to Carthick for doing this and he makes it look effortless (although we know it to be far from truth). I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I'd rate the book 4 stars.

I look forward to reading more from Carthick. 

Buy the book using the below links -
Kindle Version
Print 

Book Review 2018-1- Jonathan Aycliffe's Naomi's Room

The first book that I read in 2018 is Jonathan Aycliffe's Naomi's Room. I bought this book in Broadway Book sale in Goa during my vacation. I had never heard about the author before, so I trusted my gut instincts and also the fact that book was being sold as cheap a rate as 50 bucks. What attracted me to the book was the blurb which talked about a couple, Charles and Laura whose daughter Naomi, disappears on Christmas Eve and the horrors that follow after.

That’s why I love these quaint, old, second hand book stores, because sometimes if you are lucky enough you come across real gems (that’s how I came across this wonderful book The Witch Doll), books that no online stores sell.

Naomi’s Room is a psychological horror fiction that starts off on a brilliant note. Charles and Laura are the perfect couple, and with their small daughter Naomi they form the perfect family, until tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve. Charles and Naomi go for a shopping trip to London and Naomi is lost in a large toy shop.

The next day her body is found mutilated in a small alley. While the couple try to cope with their loss, the weird and frightening occurrences in their house, scare them and give them hope too. Hope to see their daughter and talk to her again. Meanwhile a freelance photographer called Lewis, helps Charles to understand more about the paranormal activities in his house.

The problem is in the last 75 pages of the books, everything goes a little haywire and cliche. The explanation to the haunting and the detailed flashback into the past becomes tedious to read. The climax is a little gory and becomes too eww, but that’s OK, it’s expected from a horror fiction. The ending seemed a little hurried, like too many things happening at once. Overall the book definitely gives you the creeps, especially the Victorian Gothic settings and the narration of the haunting. A good horror read from an author other than Stephen King.

So I’m happy that I got to enjoy my first read in 2018. I’d rate the book a 3.5 on a scale of 5.

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie

Plot: There's a serial killer on the loose, bent on working his way through the alphabet. And as a macabre calling card he leaves beside each victim's corpse the ABC Railway Guide open at the name of the town where the murder has taken place. Having begun with Andover, Bexhill and then Churston, there seems little chance of the murderer being caught - until he makes the crucial and vain mistake of challenging Hercule Poirot to frustrate his plans

Goodreads Page:  The A.B.C. Murders

So I am determined to get through the Agatha Christie novels that are lying unread on my bookshelf. And her books have that quality where you start reading one of her books and get addicted to the whole series. You can read my short review of Peril At End House which is the 8^th in the Hercule Poirot series. The A. B. C. Murders is the 13^th and differs slightly in its narrative strategy. Most of the Poirot stories are narrated by his companion Arthur Hastings, but in this book the narration also includes the personal commentary of the killer. Poirot is challenged by a killer who sends him letters informing him of the murders that he plans to commit. The killer adopts an alphabetical complex for his murders beginning with the first murder of Mrs.Ascher in Andover. As in other Christie novels, this novel also includes a complete mind-boggling twist in the end that is revealed in Poirot-esque dramatic manner. And to compete with Poirot’s detective skills is the young officer from Scotland Yard Inspector Chrome , who has already caught a serial killer in his previous case and considers himself an expert in serial murder cases.

I am a self-confessed lover of serial murder plots so I obviously loved the twists and continuous guessing game in the book. My next Christie book is going to be a Miss Marple case, meanwhile any other suggestions on Poirot series?

Peril At End House By Agatha Christie

Plot: Hercule Poirot is vacationing on the Cornish coast when he meets Nick Buckley. Nick is the young and reckless mistress of End House, an imposing structure perched on the rocky cliffs of St. Loo.  Poirot has taken a particular interest in the young woman who has recently narrowly escaped a series of life-threatening accidents. Something tells the Belgian sleuth that these so-called accidents are more than just mere coincidences or a spate of bad luck. It seems all too clear to him that someone is trying to do away with poor Nick, but who? And, what is the motive? In his quest for answers, Poirot must delve into the dark history of End House. The deeper he gets into his investigation, the more certain he is that the killer will soon strike again. And, this time, Nick may not escape with her life.

Goodreads Page: Peril at End House

I returned to reading an Agatha Christie after a long time. The last book I had read of hers was “And Then There Were None “and that of course was a brilliant book. ‘An edge of the seat suspense’- this phrase must have been coined after reading Agatha Christie novels, because most of her books have that jaw-dropping climax where she completely boggles the readers’ mind, and makes you wonder why you did not see that before. I used to read her when I was young, especially her Hercule Poirot books the reason being, the entire series was available in the school library. So it was a joy returning to Hercule Poirot after so many years. But this time I did not like much the small Belgian detective whose pride in his own talents almost makes him conceited but yes, one cannot help but admire his genius mind that is capable of hunting down the criminal through a small and seemingly insignificant detail.

Coming to the book “Peril at End House”, it starts with Poirot and his Watson, Captain Hastings, who are on a vacation and Poirot claims that he has given up his profession when they come across a young, beautiful lady, Nick Buckley who has suffered several attacks on her life. As the book progresses we are introduced to Nick’s friends and the fact that appearances can be deceptive. Well I am not going to give out more details of the plot, but if you love AC and a good crime story that keeps you guessing about the killer’s identity, then I’m sure this book is not to be missed.

Book Review- There's Something About You by Yashodhara Lal

Title- There’s Something About You 

Source- Goodreads.com

Author- Yashodhara Lal

Blurb- This is not your typical boy-meets-girl story. Okay, they do meet, but there are some complications.

Trish is twenty-eight. She’s unemployed, overweight, single and snarky. She knows all that. And if one more person – just one more person – tries to fix her, she might explode. Sahil is thirty-five. He has superpowers. Well, kind of. He seems to think so, anyway. He’s also hot (okay, in a geeky kind of way, but still). And he plays the guitar, helps the underprivileged and talks about his feelings. Aren’t guys like that supposed to exist only in fantasies?

When Trish and Sahil meet, magic happens. Real magic, you know, like fireworks, electricity, that sort of thing. But here’s the problem. Trish doesn’t want anyone in her life. She has enough to deal with – dependent parents, flaky neighbours, bitchy editors, the works. And yet, Sahil is determined to be in her life.

From the bestselling author of Just Married, Please Excuse and Sorting Out Sid, here is another zinger of a book.

Review- I have read Yashodhara Lal’s previous two books and while I enjoyed reading ‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ because of the humor and wit with which it was written, I found ‘Sorting Out Sid’ run-of-the-mill and a dull read. But with her latest release, ‘There’s Something About You’, Yashodhara Lal has brought the zing and sass back in full force.

The story starts with Trish, an almost-thirty something overweight woman, living with her dependent parents in a small boxed sea-view apartment in Mumbai and working as an online content manager for a daily publication. Her egomaniac and chauvinist boss calls her into his office on a Monday morning and lets her know, in a not-so-nice manner, that they have to let her go because she is not “in-sync” with the new and young ideals of the organization. Out-of-work and desperate to get out of her apartment so that she doesn’t have to deal with her nagging mother, Trish meets Sahil who proclaims that he has a special power.

The ever-pragmatic and sarcastic, Trish, believes that she is not ready to be in a relationship. Will Sahil be able to convince Trish otherwise?

‘There’s Something About You’ is the story of Trish, who after leading an inconspicuous life for the first thirty years tries to find her own calling in life. The plot is not really unique but what makes it a fun and enjoyable read is the Q&A column that Trish gets to answer anonymously as Amy.  The sarcasm and wit with which the author writes that section will make you laugh out loud.

I loved Trish’s character and her ability to be kind and sympathetic despite her cynical attitude in life makes her more endearing towards the reader. The twist in the end left me surprised as it was unexpected and slightly out of context. 

A humorous, enjoyable read that is definitely better than the previous two books from the same author, this book charmed and entertained with its simple plot, witty dialogues and interesting characters.

Rating- 4/5

Book Review- After All This Time by Nikita Singh

Title- After All This Time 

Author- Nikita Singh

Blurb- What if you find out it is end of the road for you? Lavanya gets the shock of her life when she discovers that she's HIV positive. The revelation shakes her out of the monotony that her life has become. It's time for a change. She finally dumps her loser boyfriend, quits her high paying but extremely demanding job and goes back home to meet her family after nearly seven years. At home she finds a bucket list and she knows it's a sign of what she needs to do. With her is an old neighbor and friend who's just broken off with his girlfriend. Sparks begin to fly! However, what she learns is that you really need to live before you begin to love.

Review- This is my first Nikita Singh novel and a reader’s comment that she has written something out of her comfort zone made me pick up her book. I had long back stopped reading Indian novels in romance genre after picking a disastrous book by Durjoy Datta. Though I started reading ‘After All This Time’ with a sense of foreboding, fortunately for me, it was a much pleasant experience and I finished reading it in a couple of days.

The story starts with Lavanya Suryavanshi (I love the last name) who discovers that she is HIV positive and in a bid to really live her last remaining days, she quits her stressful and demanding job in New York and returns back to her parents’ home in Delhi. Here she meets her old friend, Shourya Kapoor and together they embark on a journey to complete the tasks on Lavanya’s bucket list. They also try to mend their broken friendship and help each other to face their problems in life.

The book starts on a promising note and the author has kept the reason why Lavanya ran away from her home after her college a secret that she reveals somewhere midway of the plot. I felt that the narration moved slowly when Lavanya and Shourya start their quest to complete the bucket list tasks with their  bickering and then making-up. But the author picked up the plot again towards the end.

I was glad that there were not too many editing glitches and the narration moved smoothly. Overall a light, enjoyable, breezy read. It was definitely a good and deserved break for me from all the dark, sinister novels that I was feasting on. J

Do give it a try if you are not averse to romance novels from Indian authors.

Rating- 3.5/5

Book Review- Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Blurb-

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence put her fifteen-year-old brother behind bars. Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back? She begins to realize that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find. Who did massacre the Day family?

Review- After reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, I was curious to read her previous novels, especially when many had an opinion that her other books- Sharp Objects and Dark Places were better than Gone Girl. Quite obviously my interest was piqued and I wasted no time in placing an order for Dark Places.

The novel starts with the present Libby Day, who has been living her life for the past 24 years in a comatose state supported by the charity funds that people have donated over the years. In the year 1985 her family- her mother and her two elder sisters were massacred by her own brother- Ben Day, in their farm. The circumstantial evidences and Libby’s statement puts her brother behind bars. But many years later Libby is forced to dig into her terrifying memories of the night- that she classified and buried as Dark Places- when her family was slaughtered.

The story alters between Libby’s attempts to find out the truth about the murders and narration of Libby’s mother - Patty Day and her brother- Ben Day on the events leading up to the night of the murders.

The characters that the author creates are messed up and flawed in their own way. But the plot is so riveting that it’s impossible to put down the novel until the truth finally comes out in the end and unlike Gone Girl, the author has tied up all the loose ends in a satisfactory and convincing manner.

After reading Gillian Flynn’s two novels I am convinced that she is the master storyteller of dark, sinister and gripping plots and an expert at creating twisted characters. If you loved Gone Girl, you’ll definitely love Dark Places.

I am excited about watching the movie based on the novel that is scheduled to release in August. You can watch the trailer here.

Read the novel though before watching the movie J

Rating- 5/5

Book Review- Without You by Preethi Venugopala

Source- Goodreads

Blurb- When Ananya, a bubbly twenty-year-old engineering student, reaches her Grandmother's house in Sreepuram on a month long vacation, romance is the last thing on her mind. However, she meets Dr. Arjun there and falls head over heels in love.

As it often happens, the path of true love never runs smooth. Circumstances force them apart even though they were madly in love. She becomes a victim of depression. When everything fails to return her to normalcy, help arrives from an unexpected source. Will she ever find happiness again? Will time allow her heart to heal and forget Arjun? What indeed is true love?

Travel with Ananya to the picturesque Sreepuram, face the chaos of Bengaluru, and relish the warmth of magical Dubai in this heartwarming tale of love, betrayal, friendship, and miracles.

Review- It’s always a pleasure to read a book authored by a friend and a co-blogger and when the book turns out to be an interesting read then the delight increases by manifolds.

I am a regular visitor at Preethi's blog and I enjoy the short stories penned by her. Her Regency romance stories fascinate and make you pine for your own Mr. Darcy.

The story starts with a young twenty-something Ananya visiting her grandmother in Sreepuram. There she falls head over heels in love with the charismatic and handsome Arjun who works as a doctor even though he is the scion of the multi-million dollar company, “Shine Groups”. Preethi has narrated the charm of the small town, Sreepuram, very well and you wish to visit the place to view the scenic beauty depicted through her words.

The warmth and love shared between Ananya and her grandmother is also very beautifully narrated. Circumstances and misunderstandings cause a rift between Ananya and Arjun. Ananya’s grief and pain propels her into a dark depression and she struggles to come to terms with the loss of her love. Preethi has brought out the anguish of heartbreak of a young girl very well through her words.

The plot then follows Ananya’s life and how she overcomes her depression. Will Ananya and Arjun meet again? Will their love find the strength to conquer the hurdles in their path? No, I’m not going to answer the questions. You’ll have to read the book to find out J

I was also fascinated by the chapter where Ananya’s friend explains to her the characteristics of a typical Cancerian male that help to decipher Arjun’s behavior. I could only nod my head in complete agreement while reading the book as I used to devour Linda Goodman’s book when I was in college. I love analyzing people’s personalities through their Sun signs.

The twist in the ending was quite unexpected and something to watch out for. Though I was a little skeptical, Preethi gave a rational explanation and I know quite a few friends who have had similar experiences.

As a debut author Preethi’s first book impresses and entertains its readers through its quirky and fun characters( I loved Tom and Lily’s characters) and the passionate romance between Ananya and Arjun. It is a treat for all romance readers. So pick up the book for reading without any delay.

You can order the book from here- 

http://www.amazon.in/Without-You-Preethi-Venugopala/dp/938418019X/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ZAKVG8S0AJKRPRB8T0E

You can also read Preethi’s blog here- http://tulipsandme.blogspot.in/

Rating- 4/5

Book Review- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Review- I know that this book has been in my TBR list for quite some time now, but I’m slowly getting to each book and I’m really glad that I decided to read Gone Girl. I love thrillers and I absolutely love psychological thrillers. In fact I read the “The Girl on the Train” a few weeks back and though these two books have vaguely similar reading experience both have been brilliantly written and have taut, edgy narrations.

The book begins with the disappearance of Amy Elliot Dunne on her fifth wedding anniversary and all the clues incriminate her husband Nick Dunne. The fact that Amy and Nick’s marriage was falling apart definitely doesn’t help Nick and very quickly Nick is in danger of being arrested and charged with the murder of his wife. But Nick has a completely different and seemingly far-fetched story to tell which unfolds somewhere midway of the book. And this jaw-dropping-twist will shock you and you want to turn the pages faster to read more about the devious mind-games that Amy and Nick play on each other.

I would have given a 5 star rating if it wasn’t for the ending which I DIDN’T LIKE. I know it’s a realistic ending but it’s still difficult to comprehend and you’d be left with an intense desire to shake both Nick and Amy and hurl questions like- “How”, “Why” and “Really?”- at them.

A splendid book, a gripping plot (with a somewhat-disappointing-end) and highly strung protagonists makes the book a must-read. So don’t be like me who waited for so long to read it, go pick it up now J

Rating- 4.5/5

Book Review- HiFi in Bollywood by Rishi Vohra

HiFi in Bollywood by Rishi Vohra

Source- Goodreads

Rayhan Arora’s long cherished dream is to be a filmmaker in the Hindi Film Industry but his formidable father has other plans… a successful financial career in Corporate America, and a marriage of convenience with Vanita, a medical student in the US. 

In a final act of desperation, Rayhan abandons his promising life in California and secretly returns to Mumbai to work as an Assistant Director in Bollywood. The characters he encounters along the way become part of his journey of self-discovery - a self-proclaimed local goon with a penchant for acting; a powerful local politician who wants to marry Rayhan's part-time domestic help, who in turn covets stardom; an angst-ridden, homosexual film director; ego-ridden film stars with twisted agendas; and the mysterious Viola who captures his heart. 

HiFi in Bollywood takes the reader from the streets of Berkeley to the film studios of Mumbai; from red-light areas to police stations, and from reality to dreams and back to reality again!

Review-

All though the Hindi Film Industry is one of largest entertainment businesses churning out colorful, musical films every year, not many books are written about this profession where thousands of young men and women land on its doorstep everyday with starry dreams. Bollywood or HiFi is itself an inspiration to write millions of stories of the people working here. I have loved reading books that are based on the lives of people who are part of this multi-billion industry of cinema. It was with much enthusiasm that I picked up Rishi Vohra’s book and even though I haven’t read his first novel, I know it created lot of good buzz in the literary world.

The story is about a Mumbai boy, Rayhan, who sacrifices his dream to become a filmmaker because of his authoritarian father. After receiving a degree in Finance from a university in Berkeley, Rayhan tries to unsuccessfully land a job and due to recession his career prospects in US looks bleak. When he is forced to accept a marriage proposal from an Indian girl, who he thinks wouldn’t make a correct life partner for him, Rayhan knows that it’s time to take control of his life and follow his dream. The remaining of the story is about his endeavors in HiFi and the characters that he meets on his journey as an assistant film director.

Although the plot is mediocre and gets predictable towards the end, the host of interesting characters that Rayhan encounters keeps the story entertaining. The fact that the author tried to shed light on the lives of people who work behind the camera while filming a blockbuster movie is commendable. I liked the character of SuperSpot, the highly efficient and lightening fast spot boy. The story is fast paced and is filled with antics of the people in Rayhan’s life and how it has an impact on his life.

Overall an interesting weekend read!

Rating- 3.5

Book Review- The Silkworm by J.K. Rowling, Robert Galbraith

The Silkworm by J.K. Rowling, Robert Galbraith

Source- Goodreads

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days—as he has done before—and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives—meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced.

When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before

Review-

A new novel by J K Rowling creates a lot of hype and excitement and rightfully so. When I read the first book in Cormoran Series- The Cuckoo’s Calling I was totally captivated by the tall, bulky, limping detective with his grouchy attitude and his enthusiastic and pretty assistant, Robin. They make an unusual pair ( not romantically, though I wouldn’t be too surprised if they have a link-up in the following series).

The plot is well devised and Rowling keeps the guessing game of the killer’s identity wrapped in the reader’s curiosity till the very end of the book. The story revolves around the disappearance of an author Owen Quine who has written a controversial book- Bombyx Mori, portraying several big names in the publishing industry in not so very good light. That puts a few people under the suspects list with a very plausible motive. Strike comes into picture when Quine’s wife employs him to find her husband but very soon Cormoran finds himself entangled in the intriguing case.

A complex plot and a host of characters who have a very good motive to kill Quine and at the center of the story, a book that is full of perverse sex and arcane symbolism- it doesn’t get better than this. The book is unputdownable right from the very first page. I found it better than the first book The Cuckoo’s Calling and it does not disappoint Rowling’s fan. I would have given it all 5 stars if not for my feeling that there were some details that went unexplained in the end. I cannot explain much without revealing the plot and I don’t want to spoil the fun. Go ahead and read it, you won’t regret it.

I am eagerly awaiting the next Cormoran Strike novel.

Rating- 4.5 

Book Review-Shattered Dreams (Ramayana: the Game of Life, # 2) by Shubha Vilas

Shattered Dreams (Ramayana: the Game of Life, # 2) by Shubha Vilas

Source- Goodreads

Shattered Dreams is the sequel to the national bestseller, Rise of the Sun Prince, in the new spiritual and motivational series Ramayana - The Game of Life. Twelve joyful years have passed in Ayodhya since the wedding of Rama and Sita at the end of Book 1.

Now, in Shattered Dreams, Shubha Vilas narrates the riveting drama of Rama’s exile. Through tales of Rama’s unwavering and enigmatic persona, the book teaches us how to handle reversals positively; through Bharata’s actions, it teaches us to handle temptation; and through Sita’s courage, to explore beyond our comfort zone. This complicated family drama provides deep insights on how human relationships work and how they fail. 

With Valmiki’s Ramayana as its guiding light, Shattered Dreams deftly entwines poetic beauty from the Kamba Ramayana and Ramacharitramanas, as well as folk philosophy from the Loka Pramana tales, to demonstrate how the ancient epic holds immediate relevance to modern life. Experience the ancient saga of the Ramayana like never before.

Review-

No matter how many times you read mythological stories, they always have new and different pearls of wisdom to impart. The great Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata ,are among such gems that people of all age love listening to the tales of heroism and the righteousness and how good always wins over the evil in the end.

Last year when I read the book Rise of the Sun Prince by Shubha Vilas, which is the first part among the series- Ramayana: The Game of Life #,  I was bowled over by the detailing and the footnotes which enlightens on how the inherent wisdom from the beautiful tale can be imbibed in the present modern day. While the first book concentrated on the birth of Rama and His training under Vishwamitra and ends with Lord Rama’s marriage with Sita, the second book describes in detail about Rama’s coronation as Ayodhya’s king and the following schemes by Manthara and Kaikeyi to halt King Dasaratha’s plans and send Rama to exile.  It also illustrates Rama’s righteousness and his unyielding dedication to carry His father’s orders despite His family’s and His followers appeal to come back and rule His kingdom of Ayodhya.

As I have said before in my review of Part 1 of this series, what makes the book different are the footnotes which are full of wisdom and knowledge on how this great epic can teach us to live a morally correct life. Apart from this, the author, Shubha Vilas also emphasizes on the various virtues of an able leader and his responsibilities towards the people under his government.

The narration is seamless and upholds Rama’s virtues of absolute honesty and his undeterred devotion to His parents. The only drawback I found, compared to the first book in the series, was it seemed slow paced because the first part had a lot of little anecdotes about Rama and Lakshmana’s adventurous journey. I hope the next part of the series introduces Ravana, who forms an integral and interesting character in the great epic. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating – 4  

Book Review 2015- Jemima J by Jane Green

Jemima J by Jane Green

Jemima Jones is overweight. About one hundred pounds overweight. Treated like a maid by her thin and social-climbing roommates, and lorded over by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented but better paid) at the Kilburn Herald, Jemima finds that her only consolation is food. Add to this her passion for her charming, sexy, and unobtainable colleague Ben, and Jemima knows her life is in need of a serious change. When she meets Brad, an eligible California hunk, over the Internet, she has the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself–as JJ, the slim, beautiful, gym-obsessed glamour girl. But when her long-distance Romeo demands that they meet, she must conquer her food addiction to become the bone-thin model of her e-mails–no small feat. 

With a fast-paced plot that never quits and a surprise ending no reader will see coming, Jemima J is the chronicle of one woman's quest to become the woman she's always wanted to be, learning along the way a host of lessons about attraction, addiction, the meaning of true love, and, ultimately, who she really is.

Review-

I love lists, especially if it’s a list of books- list of books written by women, list of best books of 2014 and it is through one such list (list of best chick lit) that I came across Jemima J written by Jane Green.

The blurb sounded interesting and being labeled as chubby right from my childhood, I could definitely identify with the character of Jemima. Jemima, who tries to drown her loneliness in the comfort of food. Jemima, who despite being witty and intelligent works in the most boring newspaper office and is overlooked by her boss and colleagues.

But when Jemima meets a new man through Internet dating her life changes in a way she never thought possible. She loses all her weight and almost, overnight, turns into a slim, svelte girl who is approached by men and film producers with offers she is not interested in. Now, all though I read through this part of the book of Jemima’s makeover I could not resist rolling my eye more than once. The author made it seem too easy to shed one hundred pounds in few months. Maybe she should have given us more information on how Jemima actually did it.

 I liked the unusual narration style that switched between first person from Jemima’s POV and third person from author’s POV. I guess this gives more flexibility for author to give a peek into other character’s thoughts. Though it was difficult to follow the constant switch in the narration, after few pages I quite liked it.

Overall a light-read book that kept me entertained. Not the best chick lit that I have read but not the worst too.

Rating – 3 Star

It Happens for a Reason by Preeti Shenoy

Title: It Happens for a Reason

Source- Goodreads

Author: Preeti Shenoy

About the story: When Vipasha, Vee to friends, eighteen and single, makes the decision to have her baby, she does more than give up her promising modeling career. She ends up cutting ties with her family and with Ankush, the man she thought she was in love with. Fast-forward sixteen years and she now has two unusual careers - she runs a dog-boarding facility and is a gym instructor. Aryan thinks she is the coolest mom in the world and hopes she will one day find her Prince Charming - exactly what her best friend Suchi has in mind for her. But Vee secretly has a thing for Saurabh, the quirky vet.

Then, out of the blue, Ankush comes back into their life.

But can a decision that was taken at eighteen - more in the throes of lust than love-be the basis of a lifelong relationship? Is there a future for Ankush and Vee? Vee, Aryan and Ankush are in for the ride of their lives. No seat belts, full speed and a very bumpy road ahead.

Review: This is my 5th Preeti Shenoy book and she is undeniably one of the best writers in India in the Love and Relationship genre. Her latest book is yet another feather in her bestsellers cap, and reasonably so because her words manage to weave a fascinating and warm story. Honestly, I hadn't liked her previous book, The One You Cannot Have, as I thought it did not match up to the expectations of her top notch writing. But with her latest book, I felt Preeti is back with a bang.

I love her female protagonists, be it Vee in her new book or Ankita in Life is What You Make It or Nisha in Tea for two and a piece of cake. They are strong women who live life on their own terms. Being a regular follower of the author on Facebook, I believe that this book reflects some of the things that the author is fond of in her personal life. Like her immense love for dogs or gardening or fitness.

Preeti writes in great detail and she takes care to tie up all loose ends and manages to etch out all characters meticulously. The ending caught me a little off-guard as I did not expect that Vipasha’s character would chose her life course which, I thought, contradicts her independent mentality. But I liked the fact that the climax wasn't rushed or written in haste.

The relationship between the single mother, Vee and her teenage son, Aryan was beautifully depicted and Vee’s anger and resentment when Ankush comes back into their lives was also nicely narrated.

I wouldn't say this is Preethi’s best work (which for me, is Tea for two and a piece of cake, till date), but it is an engaging and pleasant read.

Rating: 4/5

P. S- I completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge this year and I managed to read 31 books this year. Yay!

You can add me here on Goodreads :)