Book Review #44 : Legacy

Book Name: Legacy

Author: Mohan Prasad

Publisher: Lead Start Corp Publishers

Legacy is meant to be read by every patriot who is interested in knowing the story of India, post independence, but finds History books not engaging and interesting enough! Believe me this will keep you hooked. 

After a long time I have closed a book with a sense of satisfaction that I have read a good book.

"Legacy" is written by Mohan Prasad an ex IITian and is unlike any written by the students of India's elite institutions so far. I bet. An incredible debut by Mohan Prasad.

It's an inspiring story, as India stumbled again and again since independence, but always got up, coped up and moved on, carrying with her the billion people, their hopes, their aspirations. The central character of the novel is 'India'.

The other two characters, Darshan and Anita, act as the narrators, through whose eyes we see the enchanting saga of India. It's interesting, exciting, passionate and endearing. It's a period epic, very interestingly written. It's a love story too, an unusual journey called life, an adventure called experience.

If are looking for cheesy-cheeky-candy flirting story, or a Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020 kind of stuff, this book isn't for you.

This book acknowledges the truth existing around us, which most of us are afraid to acknowledge. It is a brief history of India since last 70 years. The book manages to touch almost every social issue that has hit us over half a decade - be it the scars of untouchability, kidnapped marriages and dowry, Kosi-floods-droughts, Lalu-raj, neglect of Bihar by Central administration.

A lot of hard work has been put up since there are a lot of details of the past and it feels the author has very good know-how about the happenings, not just current but also the past! Because every historical event that you have ever heard of in north India had found its place in this book possibly in most interesting way.

India in 330 pages - that's 'Legacy' for you.

A love story waving between agony and delight with potent characters of post-independence India. I must congratulate the writer, Mohan Prasad, for this effort!

A must read!

Rating: 4.8/5

Book Review #43 : There's Something About You

Title: There's Something About You

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 268

Genre: Chick-lit, Fiction, Romance

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.

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This book is a pure joyride. Believe me! The cover is beautiful and colorful, making you want to pick up the book instantly.

It begins as the story of Trishna whose life is a maze of monotonous days. To aggravate it, are her problems - she is overweight, she just lost her job, her father is a patient of Alzheimer, and so much more. She can be called a 'loner'.

This novel is such a refreshing one - a methodically etched plot of chick-lit, a bit serious towards the end!

Funny, hilarious, heart-warming, positive and quirky – a perfect monsoon read.

Trish is a very relatable character. It’s easy to identify with her fears and insecurities. Trish’s father's character is the high point in the book. Yashodhara does a fantastic job of portraying the father-daughter relationship. Shades of this book reminded me of the recent popular Bollywood film, Piku.

It is largely a rough ride for Trish who is just hurtling from one disaster to another in her life. But Sahil is her solace. He knows her secrets and who ensures she knows his secrets too. Fireworks. Magic. Humor. He seems to have the answers for most of her dilemmas. 

I also enjoyed Lal’s depiction of the corporate workplace, made complete with the snooty editor and the obnoxious boss.

The book is a light read. At the same time, you can almost read your life as you flip the pages. The story is fast-paced and what I liked is that the secondary characters play big roles too.

The author has beautifully added romance into the story. She has beautifully dealt with relationships, friendships on and off the job, selfishness of people, etc.

The characters, apart from Trish - are regular people, a plump girl, a geeky guy, a hi-fi friend, an irritating colleague, a pestering mother, you feel very connected throughout and the characters seem like just next door people.

The most interesting point I liked in ‘There’s Something About You’ is that the female protagonist is not beautiful, slim or attractive like the heroines of other romantic novels. That connects!

The conversations between the protagonists are the most enjoyable. The book also touches upon serious issues, such as caring for an Alzheimer's patient, problems that arise because of lack of communication in a family, etc.

The ending is also superb as it shows how unpredictable life can be and that there is a rainbow at the end of the dark clouds. 

I enjoyed this book a lot.

There’s Something About You is quirky, witty, highly entertaining and a light engaging read, packed with many sub-plots. All in all, a worthy tale of our middle-class life and the struggles that we go through almost daily!

Rating: 4/5

P.S: Many thanks to Yashodhara Lal for the thoughtful note that was sent along with the book. It felt very personalized.

This book was reviewed for Indiblogger's Get Published Column

Things To Do For People You Love!

In response to -

"If you could do one thing for someone or something that you love, what would it be and why? #OneThingForLove"  - Indispire, Edition 75.

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You can never do just a thing for people you love. I believe in showering the people I love with so much love that they always are drenched with care and support.

1. Never forget to notice important things about them: I am forgetful at times, with him. But I remember what he wore, when. I remember how he smelled on our first date. I remember all the stories he has ever told me, like ever. I don't forget to make him laugh and smile. I am forgetful at times, because I am busy noticing the important things about him. I love him because he wants to know my favorite color, how I like my coffee and so much more.

2. Loving them for what they are: I do not know what love means for everyone, but I can tell you what it means to me. It is knowing all about a person, and still wanting to know more. Love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of. Loving him is being comfortable with him yet feeling weak in the knees every time he walks towards me, smiling. Always look for a person who is strong and sure footed, their mouth full of your name, with no room for lies, open hearted and bold enough to see through your disguise.

3. Commit a 'forever': Love is knowing that you are not perfect yet he treats you as if you are. As flawed, unattractive or unaccomplished I am, his love is like the sunlight that enters a broken window and illuminates a dark room. Love is getting old together, seeing his wrinkles, gray hair and yet fall in love all over again! Love is making connections between your hearts, souls and minds, rather than between bodies.

4. 'Treat them like you are still trying to win them - you'll never lose them.': I read these golden words somewhere and they always make perfect sense to me. When you love someone all the things start to disappear and become irrelevant, you recognize the scent of their skin, their essence as a person.

5. Be a constant source of happiness for them: Love is making the other a better person over time, being a cheerleader and a trusted confidant. Having him is like having a shelter to run to in the midst of a storm. I usually do not believe in depending for happiness on to someone else, other than my own self; but what if I tell you - he is me and I am him? We are not two separate souls, just two different people physically? You know what his real power is? The size of my smile when I sit next to him. I am stronger with him around.

6. Choose them, daily: I can take down that wall I built for most of the people before him. I don't need to impress him, I can just be 'me'. That's love. I don't disagree that there can be someone greater than him, maybe, just maybe, more attractive than him, more fortunate and so on. But that's life - full of temptations. Above all, what I realise is, there are people greater than me too, yet he chose me. I now feel, that everything in my life has led me to him. Because maybe if I had done things differently, I might never have met him. We just belong together, to be partners in crime and everything else. He makes me believe in sheer luck, coincidence and fate. Choice is the thing - I choose him, day after day. It is a privilege to call him all mine.

7. Believe them: There are some feelings that fill you up, that dig their roots into your skin and never let go, they swell and blow you over - like wind and waves; love is one such feeling. He fills a void like no else can. The one who makes ordinary moments magical. He brushes hair out of my eyes, he calls to ask if I am home safely. He tells me that I am the most beautiful girl in the world and for the first time in my life - I believe it! I trust him enough to catch me when I fall. He is worth everything.

8. Be their 'witness': Ask me to define a beautiful life - I would lean my head on his shoulder, hold him close and answer with a smile - "Like this!" Where is my heart? It all comes down to the person I think of last, before sleeping. We all need a witness to our lives. What does one life mean in a world of billion people? My life will never go unnoticed, nor will his. Because in love, you are a witness to each other's lives.

What It Takes To Be Happy?

To all those you come across this post,

Hi. I am writing this piece to comfort myself and reminding myself - that life after all isn't so bad. Also, nothing lasts forever. Happiness is bound to be followed by sadness and vice versa. Both grow you. And so reading this may make you feel happy too. Try it.

I, as a person, am very independent. I do not like depending on anyone for anything. Be it physical dependence, emotional dependence, etc. 

Let me tell you - emotional dependence on an xyz person is the worst kind of dependence. This is when you are completely dependent on someone or some people for your happiness and everything rest that happens in your life. This kind of dependence will either make you fly at times or shatter you completely.

With me, I have noticed that I mind things that don't make me feel good, put me down, and that keeps me gloomy all day. I cry over things; come out stronger. But, what if you ignored those things and kept your standard always high and filtered these things to hug happiness? You just have to push yourself away from the 'sadness'. Happiness is always a welcoming feeling. It never shoos you away.

But hey! Here's a tip! Never rely on anyone for happiness, never ever. Believe you me, expectations hurt. And there is nothing you can do, when expectations fail. So it is always better to bank on just one person throughout. Want to know who? Oh! Just have a glance at the mirror. The key is - how you react!

You yourself should feel empowered, to take decisions for your own good. Remember no one knows you like you know yourself. And no one can think the best for you than your OWNself! You know your deepest fears, anxieties. You are your best friend. Self love is the most prior kind of love needed! You cannot love anyone if you do not learn to love your own self. Have your own back.

So take a minute to ponder and analyse yourself- who do you rely on for your happiness? Who do you give the power to hurt you? Who do you give a chance to give you a 'dimag-ki-dahi' situation?

Remember, not everybody deserves your energy. And never let anyone compromise on your dignity.

Life is short, so let negative thoughts and people go away. Very away. You can't control situations and moreover you can't control the people involved. They don't mean a thing anyway. Love yourself enough and stay happy. Learn your lessons in time. There is a silver lining to every grey cloud!

I feel good after penning this reminder down. Did you? I hope it did. Life goes on, never forget to be happy. Maybe, just maybe, we are smiling together now! :)

Book Review #42 : Just the Way You Are

ISIN: 978-81-8400-634-6

Genre: Romance/ Fiction

Pages: 199

Publishers: Random House India

Price: Rs. 175/-

The first and foremost thing that attracts one to this book is its young cover and the title! You cannot ignore it in one glance.

The book tells the story of Sameer, a Steve Jobs fan who is all set to start his dream job in Switzerland. He leaves just a day after his wedding, leaving his wife, Shagun alone. Thinking of her husband, Shagun reads Sameer's diary, his precious, beautiful world. She discovers a secret hidden in it, that may lead to a misunderstanding.

What's the secret? How would Sameer defend himself as he is not around to explain? What's the destination of their relationship?

You have to read this book to find these answers.

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Just the Way You Are is a humorous, heart-warming story about one man’s quest for true love.

Sanjeev's writing is really simple which makes for the book to be a fast read. By the end of the story, the true meaning of love and marriage comes out making it a happy ending.

Sanjeev has managed to bring out the confusions of a youth very well. The varied thoughts on marriage, career, love, relationships, parents, friends - all so well narrated that you almost end up nodding your head in approval with the author. The various scenarios he is caught up in, the confusions he has got within him and his quest or rather desperation to find love in life is presented pretty well.

The book starts off well, but later on seems quite stretched. 

We get to see immense growth in Sameer's character since the beginning to the end of the book.

The narration is smooth though. But the book somehow fails to convince the readers and feels a bit unorganized. The book starts in first person then it goes in diary form and switches to Shagun's point of view.

The scenes between Sameer and Shagun are written beautifully. But sadly, lack of interesting incidents and 'what comes next factor' make the story plain.

I would say I was a tad disappointed in terms of the plot and the storyline as it is a bit cliche. Slowly, the book turns into another mediocre, run of the mill kind of a romantic novel.

This book showcases the nature of deep thoughts Sanjeev possesses while describing a pure emotion like love. Sanjeev has proved yet again that he has evolved as a matured writer and presents his thoughts with utmost ease.

The characters are good, charming and charismatic in their own ways. I enjoyed Sameer and his conversations with his mom. I liked how the family dynamics were shown.  I also liked the sweet character of Shagun.

It is disappointing to note that, the book has  editing mistakes. It should be rectified in the next edition. Perhaps the book has been proofread in great hurry by the editor who has passed up a bucket full of typographical errors.

A beautiful message is concealed in this book—to love and to be loved for what we really are. That is the takeaway for the readers.

Rating - 3/5

Verdict - One time read!

P.S: This review is for The Readdicts

Soulmates

I've had fingerprints,
From birth left on my soul that -
Match yours perfectly!

His soul is like art,

Custom portrayed for my own,

I am his viewer.

Honey Diet

Image Source

My blogpost is about a 'sticky' topic today - 'Honey'! We all want to be healthy, in fact being healthy is a major concern among people now, given our current lifestyles. But what do we do to lose weight? Some of us ignore it, some try gym, some run behind 'weight loss' programs that promise to help them lose weight really fast! But do these diets work? Do they really cope up for the absence of a healthy, balanced diet? Is there any other alternative to lose weight in a more healthier manner? Read to find out!

The benefits of a balanced healthy diet:

Balancing what you eat is the key to healthy lifestyle. Eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions and maintaining a healthy body weight is something that everyone desires.

Healthy eating habits can help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, and arthritis too.

When you eat a balanced diet containing whole grains, meats, low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables, your body has the necessary fuel to run it efficiently. A balanced diet boosts energy and enriches the body, thus making it strong enough to combat diseases.

A balanced healthy diet improves longevity and increases your chances of a longer life. A balanced, adequate and varied diet is thus a step towards a happy, healthy lifestyle.

The nutritional compromises of a crash diet:

Crash diets mostly fail because they try to fool the body. Rapid weight loss promises are metabolically unsound and unsafe.

When a person suddenly goes on a crash diet and restricts calories the body needs, the body actually starves. This threatens the nourishment level of the body.

Wise management is hence required for a healthy weight loss.

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We all know that honey has many advantages. But rarely do we know, that it helps to lose weight effectively too?

A Times Of India report quotes that you can drop a dress size by simply consuming 1 teaspoon of honey every night before going to bed. Simple, isn't it?

So how does this work? Honey helps burn a lot of fat and increases stamina. During sleep, honey works its magic and burns fat. Magical, isn't it?

Dabur introduces the Honey Diet ... A new revolutionary and a scientific way to getting slim. The natural sugars in honey make it a perfect weight loss food.

Honey Diet has shown remarkable results. Replace all the sugar intake by honey.

Due to our busy lives, we are approaching an unhealthy lifestyle by consuming junk food. To fully experience the benefits of Honey Diet, you should completely avoid junk food.

Give a healthy start to your day with a spoonful of Dabur Honey with a glass of warm water. The key to losing weight is a combination of diet, honey and exercise!

This topic is about Dabur Honey and the Honey Diet.

P.S: Check this: http://www.daburhoney.com/ for more information.

Surf it All! Surf it Fast!

Cricket is a force, a madness in India. Cricket seasons are celebrated for long in India. Indians worship cricketers and hence love the game so much so that they go to different heights for watching the game LIVE.

Cricket is India's true religion, India's national anthem. Cricket is almost a synonym for 'sports' in our country! This game keeps the masses gripped!

Being a cricket crazy nation, we always strive to catch the game live and do not ever want to miss the action.

But at times, we have commitments made, that may prevent us from watching it live on TV. In such cases, we are tempted to skip work/office, or family get together, etc. But, UC browser lets you see videos faster. Which means you can now stream matches at faster speed, thus catching all the action live anywhere, anytime, without compromising on your commitments.

UC Browser thus allows a cricket worshiping country like ours a chance to stay connected to the game always without missing out on the little things that make life worthwhile. You can surf, browse at faster speed with seamless transitions.

Cricket is an entertaining game. The game can change any moment. No one would like the fun being spoilt by slow browsers trying to load the game, while in reality the game has moved ahead. Holding your breath and staring at the screen for the game to buffer is such a no-no. This is where UC Browser plays a pivotal role in bringing about a difference.

The excitement for the ICC 2015 World Cup Cricket tournament made the developers of UC Browser announce their new cricket application "UC Cricket".

'UC Cricket' is a special space dedicated for every cricket fan, connecting them to the match wherever they are. Nice, isn't it? UC Browser provides the best cricket service in India including Live Scores & Latest News.

 Some features of UC Cricket:

- Live Scores with auto update

- Match Result

- Latest News

- Videos

UC Cricket comes with a fresh user interface and provides the most comprehensive cricket services to cricket fans. It allows cricket enthusiasts across the country to conveniently access the most up-to-date tournament/match information including live scores, previews, commentaries, stats, videos, etc. Through its exclusive "Cricket Guessing Game", users can also guess/pick the winner of every match and collect points to get a chance to win exciting prizes, like iPhone 6, Samsung GALAXY Note 4 and much more.

Apart from providing all cricket-related information, UC Cricket is full of useful features including a real-time notification which runs in the background and keeps users updated with the latest scores. Another exciting feature is that, cricket fans across the world can interact with each other in the "comments" section of each game! Isn't this app truly tailor made for our nation's 'cricket madness'?

During the 2014 IPL, it is quoted that 1 million users logged onto UC Browser for cricket information. The stats can truly speak for themselves!

This topic is about UC Browser. Check this http://www.ucweb.com/