Book review: Into the Abyss

Book: Into the Abyss

Author: Ayush Ansal

Genre: Crime Fiction

Publishers: Rupa Publication

Into the AbyssI was introduced to a world of thrillers quite early since my father had a collection of Jason Bourne Series, Godfather by Mario Puzo and Robert Ludlum books. In school as a teenager I was allowed to read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Alfred Hitchcock but at home I had access to my father’s collection.  Later in college I read Sidney Sheldon, Tom Clancy, Robin Cook and many more….It has been a few years now that I have laid hands on books by foreign authors of crime fiction and thrillers.

On receiving the book Into The Abyssby an Indian author Ayush Ansal,  I was quite intrigued to read a blurb with characters and story set in London and Scotland Yard detectives appearing now and then.

The story is about a kid Sam Winterfield who witnesses goons kill his parents. He has his heart set on revenge. Growing up he comes across people who play a role in moulding him into a cold young lad. His innocence is lost forever when he kills two other goons without flinching.

Story builds up on a failed embezzlement plan resulting in some gruesome murders. And what I liked was that there was no slackness in spinning the story…events follow and story goes on gradually. The mystery of killer unfolded in small doses and kept me hooked to the story till the very end. And the end was a bit of surprise for me.

The one thing that the author seems to have overlooked while writing the story is that the killer after killing parents of Sam Winterfield, a boy of ten, remarks “When time finally comes, I will be at the end of your road awaiting your vengeance”

But the boy never gets to take revenge himself. Somebody else kills the killer for some other reason. It was not emphasised to the killer that it was for Sam Winterfield’s revenge that he was being shot at.

I was expecting the boy to face the killer of his parents again instead of relying on a mobster to kill him.

Overall the story is gripping and I am ready to excuse the way revenge was taken. Author has made use of his stay in England very well with detailed descriptions of characters and backdrop of story.

A good engaging read for all.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2SCT916GPN6QP/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

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Spotlight: That’s News To Me – A Presswallah’s Journey

Spotlight:

An interesting title “That’s News To Me” by Manjula Lal who has been associated with journalism and media for some time now is set to be officially launched at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 17th June. Readomania had organised a cover reveal and author chat on Facebook on 2nd June which was a success.

I await reading the book because the title sure attracts me. The question is whether the journalist are or should be treated as a dog fetching the newspaper? And the cover very wittingly compares this thought. Written by someone who knows journalism inside out, the book might be just the right dose of wit.

About the Author:

Author Manjula Lal

Image Source: http://bit.ly/1U1nxgN

Manjula Lal now works as Dy Editor with Tehelka. In a career spanning 30 years, she has worked for Economic Times, Pioneer, The Times of India, Indian Express and a host of smaller banners. Born in Ballia, a remote village of Uttar Pradesh where her father was a district magistrate, the author spent 11 years in a convent boarding school in the hill station of Nainital. After attending college in Lucknow and getting her master’s in political science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, she went to Pennsylvania State University as a teaching assistant. Her stint as the first columnist of foreign origin for the local newspaper gave her a taste of celebrity that made her impatient to return to New Delhi and plunge into journalism.

Book Cover:

That's News To Me

Book Blurb:

Dogs can be trained to fetch newspapers for their masters. Should a journalist be treated as a retriever of news by his masters? Told with verve and wit, this is the story of Manush, a talented, independent-minded journalist who tries to stick to the core values of his profession while keeping body and soul together. Out in the field, he enjoys the adrenaline rush of getting scoops and the challenge of solving real-life mysteries.

Back in the office, he has to tackle toxic bosses who don’t give a toss about talent and are insecure about their own jobs. And at home, there is emotional distress from a marriage only in name. As the action shifts from a magazine in Noida to a newspaper in Delhi to a website in Gurgaon, the world around Manush changes while he continues his dogged pursuit of career goals and fascinating women. Will forces out of his control make him go into a free fall? Will friends and family give him the respect he deserves? Or will he realise redemption lies elsewhere?

Book Review: Rambles Into Sacred Realms

Book: Rambles Into Sacred Realms

Author: Krish V Krishnan

Publishers: Inkhorn Publishing

Rambles Into SacredRealmsI am fond of sketching and I love to write when inspiration strikes though I often find myself short on time to write and sketch simultaneously. I have lamented and given excuses when asked why I wasn’t sketching enough.

Now here comes a book ‘Rambles Into The Sacred Realms’ with stories of travel all around the world, of forgotten sacred practices, of hidden ancient temples, of folklores and of rituals to please Gods and goddesses.

And it is not a simple travel story to various sacred sites around the world… instead it is where prose and art has joined hands and superbly so…

Author, Krish V Krishanan’s labour of love describes his journeys into the mystic worlds in twelve chapters….

…the scary subterranean caves of Mayans in Belize where wading through the swift waters of creek brought him face to face with stories and skeletons of people sacrificed on altar to end extensive famine…

…the mysterious expanse of Angkor Wat where the nature has taken hold upon the ancient temple ruins becoming one with the enormous stone statues of Lord Shiva and dancing apsaras….

…the abode of Lord Shiva in ancient city of Varanasi and the many ghats along the sacred river Ganga milling with devotees praying for that final release from the human world of suffering into the land of Gods and eternal bliss…

….the Guatemalan wildlife and pyramids and temples of Tikal…

…the sacred site of Goddess Pele with erupting lava at Hawaii…the giant boulders arranged in mystical circle with a definite purpose of their existence still a mystery at Stonehenge in United Kingdom…

….Petra and its red stone wind sculpted rocks, Bedouins, Wadi Rum and tombs at Jordan….the holy cities of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem where the stories of Chritianity, Islāmic and Jewish faith originate, seaport of Jaffa in Israel…

…the land of Pharaohs, Sphinx and grand mysterious pyramids at Giza, the temples of Egyptians….Greek temples and oracle…pyramids at Mexico…Buddhas at Thailand…

He has brought his travel experience alive not only with the elaborate prose but also with his drawings in various media. Peppered with historic facts, travel tips, folklores, story around his art and  illustrations and details about the art material and techniques makes this book stand apart.

It is neither just a travelogue nor just a book of art….this concoction takes the reader on a wonderful journey with vivid imagery in words and colours.

The only regret I have in reading this book is that I don’t have the paperback version of book and I really would have loved to have it.

After reading this book, now the thing is that I can not any more lament about not finding time for art and writing simultaneously. I am quite inspired to take offbeat journeys and revisit my artistic side….and the author’s aim to make readers want to travel and paint seems to have been accomplished.

If you have a thing for great prose and good art, this is the book for you.

Also read at:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1655018795

https://www.amazon.com/review/R284NF83S968PC/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Book Review: Kings and Queens

Book: Kings and Queens

Author: Subhadra Sen Gupta

Illustrator: Tapas Guha

Publisher: Rupa Publication

kings and queensI have grown up reading many many ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ books on kings and queens of India. In fact, my fascination towards history and the ease with which the stories made lasting memory is all due to those very books. The ‘Amar Chitra Katha’ books are much costlier now and a collector’s item.

Having lived for major part of my growing up years in northern India, the Akbar-Birbal stories were much popular.

The school books had stories of Mughal rulers, Ashoka, different dynasties that ruled Delhi and of temples of southern India.

This book by Subhadra Sen Gupta has stories of other four important rulers of India who find only a little mention in history books. The author has highlighted stories about Empress Nur Jehan, Razia Sultan and two kings, Chandragupt Maurya and Krishnadev Raya. I had not known much about King Krishnadev Raya except some stories about Tenali Raman, the court jester of the King. But this book helped me brush up my knowledge about Hampi and the king’s greatness.

Concise and to the point, this book is a wonderful read and may attract children with colourful illustrations. It is a commendable effort to highlight the achievements of important rulers of Indian history. Presented in a story form with relevant details this book would make for a great gift to kids to kindle a love for not only reading but also an inclination towards history and a curiosity to know more.

And not only kids but grown-ups might enjoy revisiting history through this book and illustrations. I for one enjoyed reading because it took me back to my childhood and the days of Amar Chitra Katha books. I often even copied and drew the characters and scenes from those books and with this book may be I will revive my artistic skills too.

A well compiled book with list of sources of reference for those readers who might want to go for detailed study of these stories.

Also read on:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1649189400

https://www.amazon.com/review/R17LSJ4192IQI4/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

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Gifting love…

It is at such times, during festivals, birthdays, anniversaries of near and dear ones, that staying at far off places, which are not conveniently connected to rest of the cities, hurts the most. You miss out on so many occasions of getting together with friends and family, on fun and quality time spent together…..

Due to work, I am staying in a small town in Tamilnadu among people who do not speak the language I do, do not celebrate the festivals I do and because of the language barrier I have not been really able to forge a strong friendship either. In all, the only interaction I have with locals is for small talk… a smile, a hello or for asking directions. I miss my friends and family terribly.

The only thing that I can do to let my loved ones know that they are being missed and remembered is call them up often and send them gifts on their special occasions. Thank God for technology….not only can we stay connected with chats, social media but also surf for that perfect gifts on-line and get those delivered anywhere in the country.

When I search for gifts, I am biased towards handicrafts and home décor. My obvious choice for a go-to site for my kind of stuff is CraftsVilla. This is one portal which is a storehouse of Indian handicrafts that are both reasonably priced and appealing to the eye. They have a variety of items from paintings, wooden, metal and fancy photo-frames to painted and enamelled vases, mirrors, candles, clocks and many more….

That reminds me, mother’s day just around the corner. She has insisted on a CV-MTHE_75880156990-Home_Decor-The_Woods_Hut-Craftsvilla_1complete family photograph with me, my sister, our husbands, kids and ‘nan-nani’ for her dining room wall. It would be a pleasant surprise for her to receive it framed beautifully….I think this might be just the right one as it goes with her home decor too….

Portal has lot of home decor stuff including furniture. In fact the whole house can be beautifully decorated from home decor section of the portal. Don’t believe me…? Go check it out yourself….

None Like A Mother….

“Motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach hard lessons, to do right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong”

So what does my daughter see when sees a ‘Mom’….Find out more on my article written for Women’s Web at http://www.womensweb.in/2016/04/mothers-day-ferns-n-petals/

Book Review: As Boys Become Men

Book: As Boys Become Men

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction

Author: Mukul Kumar

as-boys-become-men-original-imaefkrthnnhujfqJust because a couple of Bollywood movies with three friends became popular, it seems three is a magical number.

And just because Chetan Bhagat made his college life into a crowd pulling story, doesn’t mean everybody starts writing story of their  college days.

I too went to a college and it was one of the first few all girls architecture college. We had to struggle quite a lot to make people see us as serious students. This way I guess I am qualified to write my college life story as well.

In this book “As Boys Become Men“, the story revolves around three civil services aspirants and their trials and tribulations. The three boys hailing from Bihar come from modest backgrounds and each one carries the burden of expectations of their families. The boys struggle with biases towards students from Bihar, accommodation problems in the expensive capital city, finding love and no-strings attached relationships, coaching sessions, anxiety of results, successes and failures.

Now I don’t know much about preparing for a civil services exam. No doubt it must be a hard nut to crack….after all not everyone becomes an IAS officer. But after reading first few pages, I was not much inspired to read the book. I had to literally force myself to read the story, all because I had signed in for book reviewer’s programme.

The effort in describing a scene like ‘the trio is laughing and chatting’  or ‘the boys finish eating and switch off the movie’ throughout the story do not really make for an attractive reading.

The story telling is way too ordinary….not interesting enough. The reference of ‘Monalisa’ and ‘Soma’ again and again do not work at all. The struggle of a civil services aspirant does not ‘shine’ through the entire narrative at all.

When I received the book, someone asked me what my opinion was judging from the blurb. And I honestly replied that the blurb seems promising but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The blurb is better than the story inside. I have even skipped portions of book because it did not hold my attention.

I am quite disappointed by the story and the mediocre style of writing. I am dying to read a good book now where the language, the situation, the characterisation and plot all come together to make a good read.

Read if it works for you….

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1623301662

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2W35E3LR2KPSE/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Book Review: It Was Always You

Book: It Was Always You

Author: Divita Aggarwal

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Rupa Publication

it was always youOf the three books that landed up at my door-step, this was one which caught my eye as it had some pretty good reviews including one by Shashi Tharoor. And I was much intrigued to find that the book is penned by a 17 year-old girl. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t jealous a bit too…here I am, mother of a teenage daughter, with an urge to write the story that has been brewing in me for quite some time now but every time I put pen to paper my courage fails me and I begin to doubt whether my story is worth telling; and there is this brave young girl who has hardly spent time in an adult world but has gone ahead and published her school life story!

The story is a simple coming of age of a young girl Aisha, who while dealing with her daily routine in school finds her friendship with Kabir, the son of a corrupt MLA, finally blossoming into love over the years.

Either I am too old to relate to the events in book(there was never any MUN kind of thing in the convents I studied in) or I am too young(my daughter’s school has not informed me about any such event in her school as yet)…the description of events in school is very new to me. I am not sure what my reaction would be when my daughter reaches that stage….I won’t be gifting her any diamond ear studs like the protagonist’s mother, for school function….at least that is certain!!

 I found Aisha’s father’s advice, in the entire narrative, quite appropriate when he tells her, “Aisha, what is meant to be, will be. If two roads are supposed to meet, they always find a way, a direction.” This philosophy holds true in most aspects of life be it finding love or your calling.

For a teenager to pen a story long enough to be printed as a book, the effort is commendable. However, people of my age are not the target readers for the story. Kids from international schools would feel more aligned to the events mentioned in the book.

Overall a nice simple love story for teenagers.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1617477762

https://www.amazon.in/review/R1TMZYZWQBW2HQ/ref=pe_1640331_66412301_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Give In To Cravings At Place Of Origin

Craving(noun) : A powerful desire for something, yearning, urge, hunger, addiction etc…

If you are an Indian you must be fully aware of what craving is; after all at least half the nation can’t do without ‘subah wali kadak chai‘. Yes, we crave for something simple as tea….well, most people do. I have the cravings for coffee twice a day at least.

My day doesn’t begin unless there is a hot cup of coffee in my hands and husband dear doesn’t open his eyes even unless I brew up a hot chai for him. We end up stocking up both beverages at home.

On a recent trip to United States, I tasted Rich Hazelnut Cream coffee and honestly I fell in love with it. I brought one pack to savour back at home. But the other day I realised, that the coffee packet is almost finished. Now I live in a small town where I do get good coffee but alas there is no hazelnut flavour available.

PLACE-OF-ORIGIN-LOGO1My craving for the flavour made me search the internet. I couldn’t believe I hit upon a jackpot of a site, the Place of Origin. It was like I found Aladdin’s chirag, the magic lamp and the moment I clicked, a world of food was spread in front of me….the genie from the lamp granted my wish ‘coz there in the staples section was the flavour I was yearning for and not only that, there were so many varieties of coffee. I never imagined I could find all kind of health foods, snacks, confectionery items like cakes, biscuits and savoury namkeens at one place. They even have mangoes…can you imagine and everything gets delivered at your doorstep…just add it to your wish list and voila! soon the stuff is there to titillate your taste-buds.

I found something for my husband too and I know exactly what to gift him as a surprise…you guessed it right….An entire range of teas especially green tea, festive blends, oolong, white tea, kahwa, chamomile teaYou are spoiled for choices really!!

So give in to your cravings, go try the Place of Origin.

I Haven’t Told You But I Have Noticed….

I haven’t told you,
But I noticed….
To find my mojo, anew
How you persisted…
You stood by my side…
Insisting I decide…
You pushed me through the door,
Fly solo you said, go explore…
I notice your efforts umpteen…
To make me know my greens!
For the dreams that I care,
I’ve seen you say a silent prayer….
When my eyes threaten,
To spill that tiny little tear…
I have noticed how you despair…
At times I whine and brood,
You cook and clean…just to lift my mood…
Yes, I have noticed…but haven’t told you
I can see the weak protests that you do….
But then you go and splurge…
My little whims you do indulge…
For my triumphs and each new stride,
I’ve seen you swell up with pride….
I haven’t told; but I noticed your eyes twinkle,
Your face light up in smile…
I haven’t told you but I gloat and soar…
And I notice your passion and ardour…
O honey! You definitely are
My knight in shining armour…!!