'Te Amo... I LOVE YOU' is now available.

Book is now available on various online and book stores. Some of the links are :-

FLIPKART LINK           
INFIBEAM LINK
HOMESHOP18 LINK

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The cover page of my debut fiction - Te Amo... I LOVE YOU

Designed by Pinaki De

The cover shows London + Madrid in the background.

Celebration of Love - Trailer 5 of Te Amo... I LOVE YOU

Book Review - First You Plz by Nisha B. Thakur

‘FIRST YOU PLZ’ is a SWEET, yet PREDICTABLE, and a POORLY-EDITED book.

Genre: Romance/ Fiction

Publisher: Power Publishers

‘FIRST YOU PLZ’ is the first novel by Nisha B. Thakur. I am still confused whether I should call it a novel or a short story, as it is just 96 pages long (if we only consider the story). Anyway, ‘First You Plz’ is a story of four characters – Avanti, Akash, Rachana and Meenakshi.

Avanti, Rachana and Meenakshi are best friends who join a MBA college in Matheran. Upon reaching their hostel, Avanti’s gaze fell over a handsome lad, Aakash, who loves to play cricket. She gets attracted towards him, and eventually falls in love with him. Though, she befriends Aakash, her best friends Rachana and Meenakshi help her to find out if Aakash is already dating someone or not. Once they are assured that Aakash is not dating anyone, Rachana and Meenakshi help their friend Avanti in conveying her love for Aakash. Avanti, though a sweet and charming girl, is a bit immature at heart. She reacts all too soon, and is quite judgmental at times. Aakash, though likes Avanti as a dear friend, is uncertain of Avanti’s immature behavior. He is afraid that like his ex-girlfriend, Avanti will also prove to be an immature girl friend, who will complain constantly. What will be the future of Avanti and Aakash’s friendship? Will Aakash overcome his fears of a failed relationship, and accept Avanti’s love? Read the book, and find out your answers.


Now, the REVIEW...

As a first time writer, Nisha B. Thakur has done an ‘okayish’ job. The story is sweet, but offers nothing new. A few scenes are sweet though, and I would love to mention them here. There is one scene when Avanti finds Aakash online on a chat. She combs her hair, and checks herself in the mirror, and then realizes – it is not a web-cam chat, and she smiles to herself. Then there is another scene when Aakash and Avanti visit a temple, during Navratri. Avanti prays ardently and cajoles God to make Aakash say to her those 3 magical words!!! And Aakash says – Jai Mata Di. Then there is a sweet and meaningful story recited by Avanti, about Wealth, Knowledge and Trust. The poems are good, and the description of Matheran’s scenic beauty is worth a mention. Scripting a book is a tough job, and I really applaud Nisha for the effort.

As I said earlier, there are a few sweet moments in the book, but overall, the book disappoints. The story, or the short story, offers nothing new. The characters are not well described, and a reader cannot imagine them. The look and feel of the book is as if no effort has been made by the author or the publisher on the cover design. The pages, in the last two chapters are also jumbled up, which further annoys the reader. The editing of the book is its major drawback. There are some instances where the book is narrated in present tense, and at some instances, it is in past tense. The grammar and punctuations are wrong at many places, and sometimes you don’t even feel like completing this 100 page book. For instance, the dialogues in the quotes are terminated by a full stop, instead of a comma –

“Absolutely right.” said Rachana.

This should be:

“Absolutely right,” said Rachana.

These are very basic mistakes, and publishers should take care of these before printing any book. The price tag of this book (INR 170) also disappoints me. But the author has nothing to do with the price tag, and hence I am targeting the publishers.

On the whole, Nisha B. Thakur’s ‘FIRST YOU PLZ’ is an ‘okayish’ first attempt. It offers nothing new, but may go well with the readers who want to read a short story. I am going with a lenient yet motivating 2.5 out of 5 stars for Nisha B. Thakur’s 'First You Plz.’

Verdict : SWEET. PREDICTABLE. DISAPPOINTS.

Trailer 3 of Te Amo... I Love You...

Trailer 2 of Te Amo... I Love You...

Trailer 1 of Te Amo... I Love You...

Check out the Trailer one of my book...

Book Review - Palanquin of Heaven by H R Krishna

‘PALANQUIN OF HEAVEN’ sets a strong BENCHMARK, and is a CLASS APART.

Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Fiction

Publisher: Vamptasy

‘Palanquin of Heaven’ is the first novel by H. R. Krishna. It is a beautifully knit story of two completely different characters – Raag and Aditi. Raag, a boy of a tender age and an inhabitant of a mysterious island near South Africa, sees his entire tribe getting killed mercilessly. Left alone with his elder sister, he sets out on a boat, but gets caught by the Pirates, who brutally rape and eventually kill his elder sister. Filled with extreme anger and excruciating venom for the Pirates, he quickly learns all the tricks, and becomes a pirate himself. One fine day, he gets the opportunity, and murders every single pirate on the ship, only to get deceived by a Japanese mother-daughter. He is somehow saved by the people living in the southern coast of India, and manages to grow among them, in the life’s most brutal ways. One night, while escaping along with his adopted brother, he meets a strange, yet gifted musician – Gautam, who teaches him the art of making and playing a Violin. Raag participates in the music competition in a hope to win the prize money, so that he can save his dying brother. Luck does not favor him, and he loses to Baalaji, who later becomes his best friend. Unable to save his brother, he donates the kidneys to Niya - Aditi’s best friend. Aditi Chowdhary, daughter of a reputed construction company owner, has grown up in the environment which is completely different to Raag’s. She is polished, she has a class, and she is extremely beautiful. Once Niya gets a kidney donor, in the form of Raag’s brother, Aditi befriends Raag, and they become phone-friends. Meanwhile, Raag meets Dr. Sam, who finds out some special traits in Raag’s blood, and asks him to join his hospital. Raag, a brilliant learner he is, learns quickly under Dr. Sam, who, for some reason, hides the secret behind Raag’s special blood. Aditi, meanwhile, goes through the tough time, when she loses her father, her brother and her best friend, and eventually comes on the verge of losing her father’s company. She takes up the mission to save her father’s business from the corrupt people. She faces deception from the most trusted people around her. Time finally brings Raag and Aditi on the same road, and their friendship blossoms into true love. But, will their relationship survive? All the loved ones of Raag have died? Will Raag be able to save Aditi? Will he be able to find the secrets behind his mysterious blood, the elixir, and the reason behind the killings of his tribe? Will Aditi be able to save his father’s massive company from the corrupt people? To find out the answers, read the book!

Phew, I have somehow managed to write a ‘small’ gist of this magnificent book. Lives of Raag and Aditi go through so many up and down events and you feel like mentioning everything! So, please forgive me if I went too much into the detailing of the story, and trust me, I have told only half of the events!!

Now, the REVIEW...

‘Palanquin of Heaven’ is a CLASS APART. It is fantastic; it is unusual; it is very different from the usual love stories floating in the market. The characters are so meticulously sketched that you feel like patting the writer, almost after every chapter. Right from the first scene, the book grips the reader’s mind so strongly that it becomes almost next to impossible to put the book down. Each and every scene has been written, undoubtedly, after extensive research work. The writer has a strong hold on the language, and delivers some magical lines, and unforgettable scenes. The first scene, where Raag digs the grave of every member of his tribe, still gives me goose bumps, and the scene, when Raag finally takes his love Aditi on a date, is so sweet and romantic. This is a very unusual and a very unpredictable love story – Unusual because of the way Raag’s character has been sketched and unpredictable because the reader is left shocked in the climax. This book, if sold and marketed properly, can surely set a benchmark. After finishing the book, one can easily make out the extent of research work done in scripting this story. It is a good lesson for all the fresh writers/authors to come out of their comfort zones, and write something which they themselves not have experienced. Then only, the book is termed as a Fiction – a real Fiction, and a fiction needs a lot of imagination. As a first time writer, H. R. Krishna has done an outstanding job.

And, the negatives...

I didn’t find any serious negativity to point out. Well, a reader may feel that the first meeting of Raag and Aditi happens a bit too late, and he/she may feel a little restless.

On the whole, H. R. Krishna’s ‘Palanquin of Heaven’ is a master stroke. It is very well written, very well narrated, and each scene is very well described. This book may easily set a bench mark for other books, of the same genre. This one is certainly for Literature freaks, who want to read GOOD BOOKS!!! I am going with well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars and a thumbs-up for H. R. Krishna’s ‘Palanquin of Heaven’.

Verdict : A CLASS APART !!! TOTALLY ENGAGING !!! A MUST READ !!!

Book Review - Flirting With Fate by Preeti Singh

‘FLIRTING WITH FATE’ sends across a STRONG MESSAGE, SUCCESSFULLY!!!

Genre: Crime/ Fiction

Publisher: Mahaveer

‘FLIRTING WITH FATE’ is the first novel by Mrs. Preeti Singh, and finally, I have got an opportunity to read something different from usual college love stories. Set in 1980s, during the time of Contessa cars and Doordarshan, it is the story of Anand, who was abandoned by his parents and left at an orphanage – Palash, when he was just a baby. As he slowly grew into a beautiful boy, the lack of love and respect from the society developed negativity within him, which resulted in anger and a yearning for love, and which ultimately resulted into crimes.  What started from small and subtle crimes, like stealing, quickly turned into bigger ones like rape and well planned murders. The hunger for love, respect, status and power made him disrespectful, and deadly dangerous. But is money and status everything? Can you escape your wrong doings? Do you pay for your bad Karma? The answers to all these questions are answered in this book, and you better read it to find those answers.   

Now, the REVIEW... 

As a first time writer, Mrs. Preeti Singh has done an outstanding job. I just loved the way she has described everything, minutely – be it the crimson colour of the sky, or the gruesome rape scene, or the intelligently planned murders, or the pain and anger suppressed within the characters. The character of Anand is so meticulously sketched that it almost looks real. The reader feels connected to it. All the supporting characters like Mr. Gonzalves, Sunita, Miss. Joseph, Aslam Bhai, Gauri, Patty etc. are perfectly sketched as well. And how can I forget the highlight of this book – Fluffy, the dog. The expressions and thoughts of Fluffy are expressed as dialogues, and this is not only unique, but also well written. Among the many well-written scenes, I particularly liked the one in which Sunita is raped by Anand. The expressions and feelings of both the characters are so well written, that the reader is filled with anger for Anand, and sympathy for Sunita. Like this scene, there are many such scenes which look very lively.

The book is not at all predictable, and this is a major plus point. It is a complete page-turner. The book sends across a very strong message of Karma Returns, and Mrs. Preeti Singh has conveyed it successfully. Congratulations.   

And, the negatives...

The book has a few editing flaws, which I hope the author and the publisher will take care in the next edition. But the major negative, which I personally feel, is the too much usage of Hindi, especially in the later part of the book. I don’t know what extra effect it creates, but it looks a bit fake and forced writing to me. If a particular character, like a rickshaw puller, has a dialogue in English (which is the default language of a book), and then he speaks another line in Hindi, it looks unreal, because, it is highly uncommon that a rickshaw puller, can speak in Hindi and English both. Considering 1980s, only the elite class would have used English + Hindi lines in their conversation.    

On the whole, Mrs. Preeti Singh’s ‘Flirting with Fate’ is an engrossing read that sends across a strong message, successfully. The author has arrived with a bang, and if the book is marketed and distributed well, it will be a sure shot best-seller. I am going with well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars and a thumbs up for Mrs. Preeti Singh's 'Flirting With Fate'.

Verdict : ENTHRALLING !!! PAGE TURNER !!! ENGROSSING !!!

Book Review - An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU by Toffee

‘An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU’ is a perfect self-help book for I.T. job aspirants.

Genre: Self Help/ Non-Fiction

Publisher: Times Group Books

‘An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU’ is the first book by Toffee (real name Taufeeq). It is the non-fiction story of Taufeeq, who was a brilliant student during his school time. He joins one of the best engineering colleges, and then, like most of the engineering students, he too spends his time in doing just about anything, apart from studies. Finally, when he begins his final year of engineering, a question starts haunting his mind – ‘What next?’ It is then he starts taking his life very seriously, gives his best shot and gets placed in his dream company. You all must be thinking, what is the big deal about this, as almost every engineer gets placed in one or the other I.T. company. A year later after joining his dream company, Taufeeq decides to share his experiences regarding interviews and placement processes. As a result, he has come out with a self-help book that gives you in-depth knowledge and information about the complete interview and placement procedure, which is carried by I.T. companies.

As a first time writer, ‘Toffee’ (Taufeeq) has done an outstanding job. In this book, Toffee has minutely and very accurately explained the complete interview procedure.  Every step, every single topic, like Pre-placement talks, preparation of a Resume (pronounced as Kaminey, not Dhoom), preparation for the Aptitude Test, Group Discussion, Technical Interview, HR interview has been explained in such fine detail, that a reader like myself feels that why this book was not available when I had to prepare for such interviews. Even after spending 7 years in the I.T. industry, this book didn’t bore me at all. So, I am sure that the freshers will definitely find this book very helpful.

The biggest plus point of this book is that it is not just a basic self-help book. Toffee has included all the ingredients of placements and interviews, and has blended them so well in a sweet, touching, and inspirational story. The another plus point, apart from the correct and fine detailing of the interview procedure, is the one liners thrown here and there by the writer. Please allow me to mention some of them:

‘Fight against the situation, not against the rival...’

‘Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is just the noise before defeat...’

‘When you hate someone, just tell it. That’s better than showing it. And when you love someone, show it. That’s sweeter than telling it.’

‘There is nothing like right and there is nothing like wrong. There is happiness and there is sadness. What makes you happy is right, and what makes you sad is wrong.’

‘Life moves on... But don’t just let it pass you by...’

Few words regarding the writing style of Toffee... Well, I don’t need a few words, only one word is enough – Fantastic. Well deserved applause for the publisher as well for producing an almost error-free book.

I really didn’t find any serious negatives to write about. The only thing which disappointed me was the lack of originality in the one-liners. I found most them on internet, and hence they are taken from the internet pool. But then, they have been used very effectively.    

On the whole, Toffee’s ‘An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU’ is a very well written and well explained self-help book for I.T. job aspirants. Each and every chapter is very minutely explained, and Toffee’s writing is flawless. While reading a book, I generally dog-ear the pages on which I like something. After finishing this book, when I looked at the book, I found many pages dog-eared.  I am going with well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars for Toffee’s ‘An Idiot, Placements and IntervYOU’.

Verdict: A perfect self-help book, with all the necessary details blended with a fine story.  

Book Review - You and Me and our Relationship

‘You and Me, and our Relationship is a decent self help book, but drags quite often

Genre: Self Help/ Non-Fiction

Publisher: Mahaveer Publishers

‘You and Me, and our Relationship’ is the first book (yes, not a novel) by Mr. Nikhil Mukhija. Nikhil, an engineering student, has picked up the concept of a self help book, in which he shares his philosophies and thus guides young people (mostly men) the ways to win in their love lives.

Well, the back cover synopsis says:-

This book is meant for:

* those dreaming of igniting the spark of love in the Girl or Guy of their dreams;
*those ‘turtle-ing’ (progressing but slow) around their relationship;
*those who are confused whether it's the right move, right pace or the right way to proceed; and
*those who are missing the charm in their relationship.

Offering an insight into Love, Crush, and Infatuation and with psychology assisting you. This book gives you an insight into how a person perceives love and what causes attraction between a girl and a guy. Love is a very delicate feeling and even a slight mistake can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstandings.

So it is better to read this book and be forearmed with the arsenal to shoot down any adversity that comes the way of your love life. In the era where packing matters more than the substance itself. It is neither a Fictional Story nor a Hypothesis. It is a theory that will rewrite the script of your love life forever.

“Enough of ‘be yourself’ cliché, now its time to be, what ‘they’ want you to be what ‘they’ want you to be.”

Now, the REVIEW... 

As a first time writer and at such a young age, Nikhil Mukhija has picked up a tough genre (a self help book), and has done a fairly decent job. The whole book is divided into 32 chapters, and in each chapter Nikhil has taken some really good real-life examples to prove his philosophies and points. I was surprised to see how well he has studied, or how well he knows the complexities in relationships (especially between young people/ teenagers). I was mighty surprised to see his understanding regarding fairer sex’s thought process. The one-liners, which he has sprinkled all over the book, are true and meaningful. Some of them will make you laugh at times, but they are meaningful as well. Some of my favourites are:-

“People approach us for our stature and stay with us for our nature.”

“Love may or may not be blind, but lust has 6x6 eyesight.”

“Running after a girl is like hunting for a tigress – either you tame her or you get tamed by her.”

“If you can’t be happy with what you have, you can’t be happier with what you wish to have.”

“Stages in a relationship – Mad for each other. Made for each other. Mad at each other. Mad because of each other.”

The best chapter of the book is undoubtedly the last chapter – “Suicide: Is she really worth it?” With the increasing suicide rate, due to heartbreaks, in our country, Nikhil has sent a strong message, and I hope people should read it, and understand it. Kudos to Nikhil! The good thing about this book is, you can start with any chapter, and read them in any order.  Overall, the book is well written (with less editing errors), and well explained (with enough examples).

Done with Appreciations...

Youngsters/Teenagers/School-College goers will surely admire this book, but this book can give a lot of headache to matured adults, who have seen enough of relationships in their lives. Most of the philosophies and fundamentals explained in this book will prove useless to them. Almost entire book is covered with the concept of “How to win a girl’s heart?”, and very rarely the emphasis has been made on “How to sustain a healthy relationship in the long run?” As a matured and avid reader myself, the book sometimes appeared to me something like “100 ways to win a girl!” I would have loved the book much more, if Nikhil had paid more attention on “How to sustain relationships?” But instead, the book teaches you TIPS/TRICKS to woo a girl. The major disadvantage of this book is its limited readership. As already said, this book is limited to young school-college teenagers, but I am also not sure if girls can learn any of these tips/tricks and apply them on boys. Few of the chapters, like the last one, are really good, but most of the chapters drag, and the reader tends to feel bored. As said earlier, it will depend on who the reader is. If you are a college going teenager, this is the perfect book for you. But, if you are a matured adult, and looking to find something in the book to save your relationship, you will be disappointed.

On the whole, Nikhil Mukhija’s ‘You and Me, and our Relationship’ is a decent self help book, but is limited for certain kind of readers. Though it is very well written, it drags at many places. Nikhil has a very good control over his language, and is one of the better writers that I have read in recent times. I am going with a 3 out of 5 stars for Nikhil Mukhija’s ‘You and Me, and our Relationship’

Verdict: A good self help book. Pick it up, especially if you are a teenager and want to learn how to woo your girl. Rest of the readers may feel disappointed.

Book Review - Did She Love Me? by Jyotirmoy Mazumdar

'DID SHE LOVE ME?' is strictly for chic-lit lovers, but offers nothing new.

Genre: Romance Fiction

Publisher: Diamond Books

‘DID SHE LOVE ME?’ is the first novel by Mr. Jyotirmoy Mazumdar. It is the story of Jayrish (Jay), who has a dream to crack the IIT exam, and to eventually join ISRO one day.  His father is a rich businessman, and thus, his family believes he has no need to study this much, as he can easily mint money by joining his father’s business. But, against his family’s wishes, Jay leaves Guwahati, his native place, and comes to Delhi to continue his class 12^th, and most importantly, to prepare for his dream – IIT. Personally, Jay has very limited friends. He is focused, and is not keen to get into relationships.  He joins one of the best coaching institutes in Delhi, and makes two new friends – Ritwik and Anisha. One fine day, in his coaching class, he sees a beautiful, young, charming girl – Shweta, and instantly falls in love with her. With the help of his best friend, Anisha, he befriends Shweta. Though Anisha warns Jay that Shweta is not the perfect girl for him, Jay nonchalantly ignores her warnings. The friendship between Shweta and Jay strengthens, and she tells him about her ex-boyfriend – Ritesh, with whom she recently had a breakup. Soon, Shweta realises Jay’s true love, and agrees to be his girlfriend. Their love blossoms, as they go on multiple dates and share some intensely romantic moments. But Jay’s happiness and his love life are rocked when Shweta confesses that she is still in love with Ritesh. Jay is heartbroken. He pleads; he cries and eventually tries to kill himself. His friends, Ritwik and Anisha warn him again that Shweta is just using him for her own happiness. But Jay is adamant, because he truly loves Shweta. He again tries to convince Shweta, who eventually agrees. But their relationship suffers repeatedly due to Shweta’s undying love for Ritesh. And, every time, Jay pleads and convinces her to be with him, and every time she agrees. Finally they all give their IIT exams. Jay, Ritwik and Anisha score good ranks, and Shweta fail to crack even a single entrance exam. She takes admission in some college in Jalandhar and leaves Jay with an option to choose between her or his dream to join IIT. What will Jay do now? It is up to the reader to find out.

Now, the REVIEW...  

As a first time writer, Jyotirmoy Mazumdar has done a decent job. I appreciate the way he has penned Jay’s character. It looks real, and most people (I should say, most stupid people who are blind in love) can easily relate to him. The book is fast paced, though sometimes I felt it is a bit too fast, especially the second half. A few scenes are really well expressed, especially the sacrifices which Jay makes in Jaipur to be with Shweta, or their date to Agra, or the scenes in which he shows his frustration. All these scenes connect with the readers, and they really feel Jay’s pain when Shweta ditches him again and again.  The language of the book is very simple, though far from any sort of literature. The friendship and care between Jay, Anisha and Ritwik is also very well scripted. The romantic scenes between Jay and Shweta are good, if not best. The poems are well written.

Now the negatives... The story is submerged in the pool of predictability right from the word go. The reader knows what will happen, and how it will happen. The book, I am sorry to say, offers nothing new to its readers. It is a well narrated story, but it is the same old story of any other love-breakup-heartache-school-college-IIT chic-lit. It is my humble appeal to all new authors/writers, kindly stop writing school/college based love-breakup chic-lits. As an avid reader, I felt bored a lot many times while reading this book. Another point, which I want to highlight is, writing in first form has its own negatives (apart from the positives). It is very difficult to express the emotions of every character. In this book, though the central character is very well written, the remaining characters are not fully sketched, especially the character of Shweta. As a reader, you don’t know what’s going on in her mind, or why she takes certain decisions, and it baffles the reader. Lastly, I am not against love making scenes. I support them, if the script demands it. But showing too many love scenes between the characters who study in class 12^th, sends a wrong message to the society. Sorry, I do not want to sound orthodox here.    

A note to the publisher.... Most of the young authors depend heavily on you for good editing. This book is badly edited. Secondly, kindly do not fool the readers by releasing the first release of the book with a National Bestseller Tag. This diminishes the achievement of the books, which are genuinely best sellers. I do hope, and wish, that this book becomes the real bestseller. It has potential.

On the whole, Jyotirmoy Mazumdar’s ‘Did She Love Me?’ is a decent read. As this is Jyotirmoy’s first book, he has done a good job. He has potential, and is here to stay. I am going with a motivating 3 out of 5 stars for Jyotirmoy Mazumdar’s ‘Did She Love Me?’

Verdict: A good book, but offers nothing new... Strictly for Chic-Lit Lovers.

Book Review - The Myriad by Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal

‘THE MYRIAD’ is a collection of some world class poems.

Genre: Anthology of Poems

‘THE MYRIAD’ is the first book by Miss. Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal. It is a collection of poems. In Supriya’s own words, “The Myriad is a book filled with aching realities of life, passion, and love.” 

Well, I was eagerly waiting for the signed copy from the young poetess, and I had huge expectations. Generally I reduce my expectations to ZERO, when I take up a book for the review. That helps me to judge the book without any biasing, and with extreme honesty. But I must admit that I had a very high expectation when I sat down to read Supriya’s book. And, due to this high expectation, I had a fear in my mind; Fear of feeling a letdown after reading her work. Supriya once said to me, when I was miffed with poor writing skills of some of the Indian authors – “If you want to read international standard book, read mine.” I loved her confidence at such an age, and since then I was eagerly awaiting her book.

Now, the review:-

In one line, Supriya’s ‘The Myriad’ lives up to my expectations. It’s truly world class.

The book is an anthology of 39 poems. It includes 4 poems which Supriya wrote when she was not even a teenager. The first poem in the book, ‘Animals’, was written by her when she was just seven years old. The poem may feel very simple, when you read it. But the poem has a depth, an innocence, and you wonder, how a girl, of such a tender age, can think so big!!

As you read further poems, which Supriya wrote as she grew up, you will notice the immense growth in her thought process, and her hold on the language.  There are poems based on pure love, various emotions, beautiful nature, family bonding, and some are based on thought-provoking topics like Global Warming. Each and every poem is very well written, and highlights Supriya’s strong hold on Literature.

I personally loved ‘Ammi’, ‘Alimony of Climate Change’, ‘Avenged Musk of Intrigue’, ‘Deception’, ‘Freelanced Forest’, ‘Knowing Nothing of It’, ‘Power of Hope’, and of course the first 4 poems.

On the flip side, a layman may find certain words too tough to understand. But then, these are poems, a true form a literature, and you are allowed to express your literary prowess.

In a nut shell, ‘THE MYRIAD’ is a compilation of 'international standard' poems. People of any age-group can read these poems, and relate to them. Literature lovers will definitely love this anthology. There is a power, yet an innocence, in Supriya's writing style. I am going with 4 out of 5 stars for Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal’s ‘THE MYRIAD’. [This is the 4^th book, out of more than 25, which I have rated so highly.]

Verdict: A truly world class book. Take a bow, young poetess.  

The book can be ordered at : https://www.createspace.com/3704127

Book Review - Tea-20

‘Tea-20’ is simple, sweet, and teaches many lessons.

Genre: Anthology of fictional stories

Publishers: Frog books/ Leadstart Corp.

‘Tea-20’ is a collection of twenty simple, fictional yet very realistic stories. Penned by first time writer, Vinod Kumar S., almost each story in ‘Tea-20’ conveys a certain message, a lesson, worth learning. The hook of the book says, “This anthology will not only entertain you, but will also give you a generous dose of laughter; it will make you think and contribute to the society, teach simple things about life, and also take you by surprise.”

I must say, Vinod’s book, almost, delivers what it promises. The stories are simple, sweet, well narrated and conveys some important messages. As a reader, the stories will make you think and analyse yourself, and maybe, they will help you develop into a better person. The stories are short; most of them are only 4-5 pages long. So, you can sit back and enjoy a story, while sipping your tea. And, that’s what the tag line of the book is – Perfect companion for your teatime.  I really appreciate those writers, who fulfill the promises made by their story’s title and the hook. Vinod’s book succeeds in justifying the title, as well as the short synopsis (hook) behind the book.

I may not be able to write the gist of each story, but I can surely share a few of my favourites. I really liked how Vinod used coffee as a medium, in the story ‘A Cup of Coffee’, to explain that one should live a balanced life. One should not be too serious, and at the same time, one should not be too nonchalant. Similarly, the story ‘A Beauty that turned Dirty’ will highlight how and why basic etiquette are more important than the physical beauty. Stories, like ‘Bye’ and ‘My Dog – an Amazing Teacher’, highlights the importance of family and loved ones. Similarly, there are stories that will teach you to live your life with contentment and happiness, and a few stories will make you ponder – ‘How good a person you are?’ 

One of the very few negatives, which I felt, is the lack of humor quotient in the stories, which were supposed to be humorous. Secondly, too many stories revolve around the lives of IT professionals, maybe because Vinod is an IT professional himself. As a fiction writer, I personally feel, one should try to come out of his/her own domain.  There are a few editorial mistakes, but I won’t blame the writer for this.

In a nut shell, 'Tea-20' is a well-written compilation of short, yet meaningful stories that convey many lessons worth learning. As promised in its tag line, it is a perfect teatime companion. And, those who don’t drink tea, like me, can enjoy reading this book while doing, just about anything. I am going with 3.5 out of 5 stars for Vinod Kumar’s 'Tea-20'.

Verdict: Sweet, Simple, Well Narrated, Conveys some Important Messages and a Perfect ANYTIME Companion.  

Book Review : The Secret of the Nagas

“THE SECRET OF THE NAGAS” is PARTLY EXCITING, and PARTLY DISAPPOINTING

Genre: Mythology/ Fiction  

“The Secret Of The Nagas” is the second book of the Shiva Trilogy, written by Amish. This book is the sequel to “The Immortals of the Meluha”, a national best seller. 

“The Secret of the Nagas” begins where the first book of the trilogy, “The Immortals of the Meluha”, ends – a Naga attack on Shiva and Sati. Nagas are the people having non-human deformities, due to their past lives’ sins. And hence, they are neglected by the common society and are forced to live in abandonment. In the first book, Shiva’s best friend, Brahaspati, got killed in a terrorist attack, which Shiva assumed, was the act of Nagas. Now, Shiva is on a revenge mission.  He takes on a journey, across India, to find the evil and the real secret behind the Nagas. Who are these Nagas? Are they really evil? As Shiva travels across the lengths and breaths of ancient India, he finds out the answers to all the unsolved mysteries – the mystery behind the Nagas, the mystery behind the Maika system in Meluha, and of course, the mystery behind the death of his best friend, Brahaspati. He finds out that the Nagas are actually not as bad, as they are considered to be. There are incidents when the Nagas save the lives of his wife, Sati, and son, Kartik. In a major revelation, he also finds out that the Naga Queen is none other than his wife’s real sister - Kali, and the Lord of the People, a Naga, is none other than his wife’s first son - Ganesh. But, being born with deformities, they were abandoned by Daksha, the emperor of Meluha and the father of Sati. However, the biggest secret is revealed when Shiva reaches Panchvati, the land of Nagas. This is the secret behind the death of his friend, Brahaspati.  

This is a brief summary of a 385 page mythological saga. As I said in the review of “The Immortals of Meluha” – The Shiva Trilogy is NOT a Shivpuran. So those who are expecting to learn about the Lord Shiva, will be disappointed. Amish has picked up the mythological characters, like Shiva, Sati, Daksha, Nandi, Kartik, Kali, Ganesh, Parshuram etc. and fascinatingly blended them into a fictional trilogy.  

Now the review…“The Immortals of Meluha” was splendid. Quite obviously, expectations are always very high when a sequel to a successful movie or book is released. But, like most sequels of successful movies, the sequel of “The Immortals of Meluha” is nowhere near the first one. Yes, Amish has done an outstanding job in imagining the whole concept of Shiva Trilogy by blending mythological characters in a fictional story. This effort, indeed, deserves applause. “The Secrets of the Nagas” also has some exciting moments, some unexpected revelations, some great battle scenes, but… it drags! At most places, the flow of the book is slow, and the reader tends to feel bored. The narration is simple, but the narration style does not fit the story, which is set in the 1900 BC. Dialogues like “Ditto, Oh Hell, Dammit etc.” spoil the magic of the book. If, for a moment, we forget that the characters’ names are taken up from Hindu mythology, the story itself becomes very ordinary.

Some of the concepts, described in the book, are/can be really baffling. Like for instance – The competitive examination to filter Chandravanshis and Suryavanshis, reminded me of IIT or AIEEE competitive exams. The temples, build at great heights, acting as transmitters, reminded me of Transmitter Towers. There is one character in the book, which is sketched quite similar to Bollywood’s music director Mr. Bappi Lehri, and quite interestingly, the name of the character is Bappiraj. But the biggest concept, which may or will baffle the readers, especially strong believers of Hindu religion, is calling Ganesh and Kali as the Nagas – characters with deformities (Ganesh, a Naga with a face of an elephant, and Kali, a Naga with four arms). It is very hard for the reader to remember, that this is just a fictional story, with fictional characters whose names are similar to Hindu Mythological characters. If the readers manage to keep the Hindu religion beliefs out of their mind, then this book will surely be liked by everyone. 

To sum up, Amish’s “The Secret Of The Nagas” is exciting, yet disappointing. It will keep you engaged for a few moments, and then it begins to drag.  The reader will feel mesmerized, but sometimes, the reader will feel frustrated as well. There are way too many characters in the book, which reduces the immense presence of Shiva. I am going with a generous 3 out of 5 stars for Amish’s “The Secret Of The Nagas”.

Verdict: “THE SECRETS OF THE NAGAS” is partly EXCITING, and partly DISAPPOINTING.  The sequel is nowhere near the first book.

Book Review - It's Always Been You

“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU” is SWEET, YET, LACKS THE PUNCH

Genre: Romance/ Fiction

Publisher: Mahaveer

“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU” is the first novel by Kritika Malhotra. Set during school times, the story starts with a breakup of the protagonist, Maully, with her boyfriend. As expected, Maully is sad and broken, but she decides to move on, with the encouragement of her friends. Very soon, she spots a handsome lad, Keyur, and instantly gets attracted towards him. But, Keyur is in love with Neha, despite their breakup. Keyur requests Maully to pretend to be his girlfriend, for just one day, so that he can make Neha jealous. Maully reluctantly agrees, and they both meet Neha, who comes along with Viraj. Keyur’s plan works, and Neha is jealous to see Keyur and Maully together. Ultimately, Keyur and Neha confess their love for each other, and are together again. Meanwhile, Viraj spots Maully, and gets attracted towards her. One fine day Viraj proposes to Maully, to which she agrees. The story slowly moves forward, coursing through the school practicals, the board exams, IIT preparations, farewell parties, few sex scenes, thus strengthening the love between Maully and Viraj. School ends, and Maully and Viraj take admissions in different colleges. While the lovers get separated, the friends get united, as Keyur takes admission in the same university (Delhi University) in which Maully is. From here, Maully’s attraction towards Keyur and distance from Viraj increases. Finally, a stage comes in Maully’s life when she is in a dilemma to choose between Keyur and Viraj. Now, I leave the details of the climax for the readers. Read the book, and find out.

As a first time writer, Kritika Malhotra has done an okay job. She picked up the concept of “school-college-love-breakup-chiclit”, a tried and tested one, which is already successful with Indian readers, and did fair justice to her story. Maully’s character is well sketched, and few scenes have been written brilliantly. I personally liked the long message (full of slangs) which Maully, in anger and frustration, sends to Viraj, after she finds out something bad about him. It reminded me of Kareena’s dialogue from the movie Jab We Met, but Maully’s dialogue proves far more powerful. The climax of the book is well thought, and well written. As I said earlier, the character of Maully has been sketched very well – her expressions, her thoughts, her feelings, her dilemma, her frustration, and her love are very well expressed. Not to forget, the poems in the book are really good. Lastly, the editing is decent (not flawless though, but still better than many other books).

Now the weak points…

Lack of fresh ideas is damaging Indian readership quality! Every second book, I pick up, is about “college-love-breakup-heartache-chiclit”. Fiction gives writers a freedom – a freedom to explore new ideas, a freedom to write much more than just an everyday-lifestyle-love-breakup chiclit.

Coming to the weak points of this book… The story offers nothing new, and the narration is weak, especially during the first half of the book. There is hardly any spark in the love story of Maully and Viraj, or Maully and Keyur. Unnecessary sex scenes, between the school going couple, may not be liked by all. I maybe sounding orthodox; I am not against the love making scenes. But scenes should justify the situation and romance. Moreover, I don’t know how many would love to read about school practicals, farewells, exams, admissions and ragging. Avid readers may/might/will get bored. I appreciate the writer for using numerous complex words, highlighting her strong control over the language, but what is the use if a layman has to consult a dictionary every now and then? As a writer, we should write for the readers. One more thing, which I want to point out, is the lack of punctuation. Consider the difference:-

“How are you finding NC tattoo girl?” 

“How are you finding NC, tattoo girl?”

The comma, after NC, conveys that the question is being asked to someone referred as 'tattoo girl'.

Punctuations play an important role in literature, but most Indian writers tend to skip them.

And lastly, I didn’t expect the writer to use Durjoy Datta’s style of writing. I am hugely disappointed. The ease with which Durjoy writes his love making scenes in his stories is commendable, though I do not support his usage of slangs (f**k, a$$hole) in literature. Modern/ Young writers are just blindly following the trend set up by Bhagat and Datta.

Overall, Kritika Malhotra’s “IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU” is sweet, but could have been better. Being a first time writer, she has done a decent job. She has potential. Few scenes are well written, Maully’s character is adorable, poems are good, but everything else is disappointing. I am going with a generous and motivating 3 out of 5 stars for Kritika Malhotra’s “IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU”.

Verdict: One time read. It is Sweet, but lacks the punch!!!

Upcomin book by Nikhil Mukhija - You & Me... & Our Relationship...

You & Me... & our Relationship... is the upcoming book by Nikhil Mukhija.

In Nikhil's own words: -

This book is meant for those dreaming of igniting the spark of love in the Girl or Guy of their dreams; those ‘turtle-ing’ (progressing but slow) around their relationship; those who are confused whether it's the right move, right pace or the right way to proceed and those who are missing the charm in their relationship. Offering an insight into Love, Crush, and Infatuation and with psychology assisting you,This book gives you an insight into how a person perceives love and what causes attraction between a girl and a guy.

NEVERTHELESS YOU BELIEVE YOU DON'T NEED TO OR YOU ARE A STUD OR DAMSEL ON YOUR OWN!

BUT, LOVE IS A VERY DELICATE PHENOMENON & JUST A SLIGHT MISTAKE CAN PROLIFERATE MISINTERPRETATION & MISUNDERSTANDINGS, SO IN ANY CASE there's NO HARM IN TAKING THE PRECAUTIONS AND BEING ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THE DIMENSIONS.

Doesn't matter if you are an Office Going Guy or a 13 Year Old teenager...

Doesn't matter whether you are a male or a female...

In the era where packing matters more than the substance itself...

Neither is it a Fictional Story nor is it a Hypothesis...

It is a theory that will rewrite the script of your love life forever!!!

Enough of ‘be yourself’ cliché, now its time to be, what ‘they’ want you to be.

FB Page Link:- http://www.facebook.com/YouNmeNourRelationship

Youtube Link:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY4RcypheMc

Book Review - If It's Not Forever

“IF IT’S NOT FOREVER ”  ... it’s CERTAINLY not Love....

Genre: Romance/Fiction

Publishers: Grapevine

“IF IT’S NOT FOREVER” is a Romance/Fiction novel, penned by best-selling authors Nikita Singh and Durjoy Datta. It is the story of Deb, a writer cum publisher, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he miraculously escapes a powerful blast in New Delhi. He escapes unhurt, but he is emotionally weakened. He realizes that life is too short, and one should not shy away from confessing his/her true feelings. Still scarred and haunted by the tragic incident, he visits the blast site and finds a half-burnt diary – a diary written by someone, with initials RD, who, possibly, died in the blast. He reads the diary, and realises that they are the unspoken words of RD, who loved Ragini truly, but ‘somehow’ never mustered enough courage to convey his feelings.  Deb takes up the responsibility and a journey, to convey the ‘final’ words of RD to his true love, Ragini. But the road is not easy. The last few pages of the diary are burnt, and Deb has very limited clues.

Avantika - Deb’s true love, Shrey – Deb’s best friend, and Tiya – Shrey’s girl friend join him on this journey to unravel the unsolved and unspoken love story of RD. Their journey takes them to different cities, as they slowly put together the pieces of RD’s love story. But, will they be able to solve the mystery of RD’s story? Will they be able to find Ragini, the true love of RD? Who is RD? Is he really dead? You will get all the answers, after reading this book. I don’t want to spoil the magic by revealing the details of the story and the climax.

Now the REVIEW!!! 

Nikita Singh and Durjoy Datta, being the expert writers, have done a fantastic job. The story is intriguing, right from the word go. The characters of Deb, Avantika, Shrey and Tiya are beautifully sketched. The writers have done full justice to the supporting characters like – Piyush, Nivedita, Sumi, RD and Ragini. The story starts on a strong note, and continues effortlessly till the end. The scenes, the dialogues, the expressions and the emotions are perfectly expressed. The language is typical Nikita-Durjoy style, which I generally don’t prefer. But in this book, the way the characters have been written, few slangs here and there don’t do any harm. The humor is witty, and will make you smile and laugh. The emotional scenes are well written, and will make you sad (weak-hearts may cry). As a reader, you will smile and laugh on Shrey’s and Deb’s witty dialogues, and the inner pain of Deb and RD will make you sad as well. Avantika’s character is adorable and Tiya is sweet. My favourite chapter is the one in which Deb meets Nivedita, RD’s sister.

The only negative, which I felt, is too much reference about sex, in the first half of the book. It, momentarily, diverts the reader from the main story line, which otherwise is very captivating.

In a nut shell, “IF IT’S NOT FOREVER” is Nikita Singh’s and Durjoy Datta’s best work till date. The story is strong, the characters are adorable and powerful, and stay with you long after you have finished reading the book. The book is fast paced, and offers lot many moments to remember. I am going with 4 out of 5 stars for Nikita Singh’s and Durjoy Datta’s “IF IT’S NOT FOREVER”. 

Love is beautiful...

Love is strong...

It flows...

Like a romantic song...

It makes you believe

To face the odds, rise above

But, if it’s not FOREVER...

IT IS CERTAINLY NOT LOVE...

(Sorry for the stupid poem...)

Verdict: A Sure Shot Best Seller!!!

Book Review : Few Things Left Unsaid

“FEW THINGS LEFT UNSAID ” conveys very FEW THINGS!!!

Genre: Romance/Fiction

Publishers: Srishti

“FEW THINGS LEFT UNSAID” is the first novel by Mr. Sudeep Nagarkar. It is the story of Aditya, who does not know what he wants in his life. He hates engineering, but ends up taking admission in an engineering college, just because his parents want him to be an engineer. His search for his perfect girl ends when he meets Riya, a beautiful girl, and one of his classmates. One fine day, he proposes to her, to which she agrees. They bunk classes, go on multiple dates, enjoy their newly found love, and their bonding strengthens. And then, the “not so” unexpected happens. One of them starts taking the other for granted, then the regular fights and patch ups, and finally the BREAK UP!!! I will leave the answer to the question “Will they be together again?” for the readers.

Well this is the gist of the 231 page story, and as I said earlier, this book conveys very FEW THINGS. The title of the book promises a lot, and the book has received an overwhelming response (a National Best Seller and 4+ rating on Flipkart.com). But when I read the “hook” of the book, I knew what was in my hands. One of the lines, in the hook (back side of the book), is “FROLOCKING WITH HIS CARRIER”. I guess, the author meant, “FROLICKING WITH HIS CAREER”. But few mistakes can happen... few!!!

Let’s begin with some positives. The last 1/4^th part of the book is impressive. As a reader, you tend to feel sorry for Aditya. The climax, though predictable, is well written, and there is no ending. In fact, Sudeep Nagarkar has left the scope for the sequel. So, the readers who have loved this book, this is good news for you. I am sure; the sequel will be out soon. Few moments, in the love story of Riya and Aditya, are sweet and adorable. This book will appeal only to love-breakup-heartache college going “chiclit” lovers. They will not feel disappointed.

Now the negatives... Very very poorly written and edited book. There are innumerable grammatical and spelling mistakes. I always blame the editors/publishers for this, but, I think, it is the responsibility of writers as well to write “somewhat” correct English. The story, itself, offers nothing new. The same love-breakup-heartache college story, with repetitive scenes and cheesy dialogues (my Bachcha, my Bachchu, my Jaan...).  The descriptions are poor as well. Just by saying over and over again, that she was looking beautiful, will not make the character beautiful. Readers cannot imagine the characters, unless and until the writers don’t describe them. The ragging scene in which Aditya French-kisses his class-mate (Nikita), is indigestible and totally unnecessary. First of all, Nikita raises no objection, in French-kissing a stranger (Aditya), and secondly, such kind of ragging does not happen in college campuses (anything can happen in hostels, but in campuses???!!! I doubt!!)

In a nut shell, after reading the story, I realized that the author had very few things to convey. The entire story could have been conveyed in less than 230 pages. The scenes are repetitive, and the reader tends to feel bored. The story offers nothing fresh, and the HINGLISH dialogues spoil the magic. The unnecessary usage of “F**k” word is also a letdown.

On the whole, Sudeep Nagarkar’s “FEW THINGS LEFT UNSAID” is an okay first attempt. The story offers nothing new, for the readers of good books. Readers, who like college-going chiclits may/will like this book. The book’s pace is slow, and it offers very few good moments. I am going with 2 out of 5 stars for Sudeep Nagarkar’s “FEW THINGS LEFT UNSAID”.

Verdict:  A National Best Seller... but a Letdown, as the story conveys very FEW THINGS.

Book Review - The Immortals of Meluha

“THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA” is ENGAGING, FASCINATING, AND DARING!!!

Genre: Mythology/ Fiction

“THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA” is the first novel by Amish, and is the first book of Shiva Trilogy. Set in 1900 BC, it’s a fascinating story of an extraordinary man, Shiva, who eventually turns into a MAHADEV (God of Gods). Shiva, a man with uncommon gifts, is the tribal leader in Mount Kailash. But, his destiny takes him to a “near perfect” empire of Meluha, the land of Suryavanshis. The Suryavanshis are constantly being troubled and attacked by Chandravanshis. To make the matters worse, the Chandravanshis have the support of the “Nagas”, the sinister race of deformed human beings with astonishing martial skills. The only hope for Suryavanshis is Neelkanth, a Legend, for whom they have been waiting for hundred years. Their hope turns into the reality, when they find their Neelkanth in Shiva, who promises to be the saviour of Meluha.  Under the expert leadership of Shiva, the Suryavanshis plan to attack the Chandravanshis. Amid some conspiracies, terrorist attacks and brutal battles, Shiva finds his soul-mate in Sati, the princess of Meluha. Now it is up to Shiva to overcome his inner torments, and destroy the “so called” evil.

Well, this is just the gist of a 400 page mythological saga. First thing first, “The Immortals of Meluha” is NOT a Shivpuran. So those who are expecting to learn about the Lord Shiva, will be disappointed. Amish has picked up the mythological characters and fascinatingly blended them into a fictional story. But, what a story it is!!! It’s MAGNIFICANT!!! It’s 400 page of sheer brilliance. Every scene is so well written, be it the fearsome battle scenes, or the sweet love story of Sati and Shiva.

Amish, being the first time author, has done an outstanding job. Right from imagining the story, the characters, the events, the places, the descriptions, and blending them with mythological characters of Shiva, Sati and Daksha, Amish has announced his strong arrival. Today, when most Indian authors are blindly following the spineless love-breakup “desi-chiclits”, I truly applaud Amish for his first book. Scripting your first book, with 400 pages, needs guts and confidence.

Now the few negatives... The story is set in 1900 BC, but the usage of certain words, like “Dammit, Oh Hell” should have been avoided. I personally believe, no one would have used such words 4000 years ago. Secondly, some of the concepts described in this book, may baffle the readers, e.g. the explanation of the word “Aum”, or the concept of Saptrishis, the name of certain places (like Rajasthan).  But as I said, this is not a Shivpuran, and the readers, who are expecting the “real” mythological Lord Shiva story, will be disappointed.

To sum up, Amish’s “THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA” is a near-perfect book. It will keep you engaged, it will keep you mesmerized, and it will make you chant “Har Har Mahadev”. I am going with 4 out of 5 stars and two thumbs up for Amish’s “THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA”.

Verdict: “THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA” is ENGAGING and FASCINATING, and contains some DARING IDEAS... This Book should and must be read by ALL!!! I am right away ordering the next book in the trilogy.

Book Review : I'M HEARTLESS by VINIT K. BANSAL

“I’M HEARTLESS” is an HONEST CONFESSION

Genre: Romance Fiction

“I’M HEARTLESS” is the first novel by Mr. Vinit K. Bansal. It is the story of Viren, a day dreamer, who dreams that one day he will definitely find his true love (or Pari, as he fondly calls her).  One fine day, he finally finds his Pari, when he falls in love with Rashi, who ‘quite unsurprisingly’ treats him as ‘just a good friend’.  He expresses his strong and true love to Rashi, makes many sacrifices for her, but she continues to treat him like a normal friend. Amidst all this, Viren ignores the true love of Manasi, who is Rashi’s best friend. He ridicules Manasi, ignores her often, but she remains honest and true to him. Viren, instead, waits endlessly for Rashi, and one fine day, Rashi informs him that she in a relationship with Pratap. Viren is heartbroken, and starts behaving like a hopeless loser. At this stage, Manasi takes care of him, and ‘quite unsurprisingly’ they become very close. But, Viren is not the same guy any more. He has lost all his faith over love and relationships. He treats his relationship with Manasi, very casually. There comes a stage, when he becomes total ignorant, mad, psycho, and even gets involved with another girl – Neetika. His life takes a serious turn when Manasi gets to know the truth about him, and his wrong doings. She leaves him, forever!  Years fly by, and Viren realizes that Manasi was the real “Pari” , who he always ignored, and also used as per his needs. He realizes his mistakes and sins, and expresses his “real confessions”, before attempting suicide.

As a first time writer, Vinit K. Bansal has done a good job, and I really liked the way he has penned the character of Viren. It looks very real, and many people can easily relate to him. The second half of the book flows superbly, especially from the scene when Manasi starts taking care of Viren. The book contains many words that may prompt readers to consult a dictionary. But, Vinit has used them aptly. There are certain instances, in other books, where authors have used complex words without knowing the exact meaning and usage. The climax of the book is very good, very engrossing, makes you feel sad as well, and is very well written. Clap Clap Clap!

Enough of Appreciations!!!  

The first half of the book, literally, drags. It is slow, very slow in fact, and most of the scenes are not properly connected to each other. That is the stage, when the reader tends to lose patience. But, as I said earlier, the story kicks off superbly well post “interval”.

The plot, on the whole, is very predictable; in fact, the prologue will tell you the gist of the story. There are many editorial mistakes, for which I will not blame the author. I want to appeal to all the publishers out here, please take care of editorial mistakes. They make a good book, look bad! And lastly, the usage of certain words will force a layman to refer a dictionary every now and then. Usage of complex English words is acceptable, maybe in descriptions etc. But, I personally believe, we don’t use complex English words in normal communication. So such words should be avoided, while writing the dialogues.

On the whole, Vinit K. Bansal’s “I’M HEARTLESS” is a good (yet, not perfect) book. As this is Vinit’s first book, he has done a good job. He has potential, and is here to stay. I am going with 3 out of 5 stars for Vinit K. Bansal’s “I’M HEARTLESS”.

Verdict: Read it. Be Patient with the first half. You will definitely love the second half, because it’s an HONEST CONFESSION.   

Quick Review - Life Is What You Make It

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT” is FLAWLESSLY INSPIRING

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT” is the second novel by “best selling” author Preeti Shenoy.  Set in early 80s, it is the story of Ankita Sharma – a young, good looking and talented girl. She completes her graduation from St. Agnes (Cochin), and manages to get into a premier MBA college in Bombay (yes not Mumbai, as the story is set in 80s.) Everything goes exceptionally right for her, as she explores her hidden talents and excels and progresses in whatever she does. But a few months later, she gets admitted to a mental health hospital.

“Life Is What You Make It” is the story of how Ankita touches the pinnacle of success, the events that lead to her descent, and how she takes control of her life, and comes out as a WINNER. Thus, proving that life is CERTAINLY what you make it. Preeti Shenoy is, by far, one of the best Indian writers I have read. Her impeccably strong hold on the language, her clarity of the story, and her way of expressing her thoughts are her biggest strengths. As a book, “Life is what you make it” is certainly one of the most well written books in the recent times. The story is well narrated, though it drags a little at certain points, but by the time you finish reading the book, you realise that your life is not that bad either. When the current Indian market is flooded with Love-BreakUp-HeartAche kind of ‘chiclit’ books, “Life Is What You Make It” comes as a fresh breather. Young writers (including myself) should take a cue from Preeti Shenoy, and realise that books can DO WELL, without writing too many slangs.

On the whole, Preeti Shonoy’s “Life Is What You Make It” is FLAWLESSLY INSPIRING. Readers of any age group can and should read this book, at least once. I give 4 stars out of 5, and thumbs up for Preeti Shenoy’s “Life Is What You Make It”.

Verdict: One of the best books in recent times. Flawlessly Written and Inspires to Live... Happily!