Haiku #20 ~ Proof

HAIKU : A poetry form, with three lines. The first being 5 syllables, the second 7, then 5 in the third.

Footprints of logic I see,

Showing how and where one truth leads,

Another one follows in league. 

14th June 2020 was the day when many of us were shocked with the news of ‘suicide’ of Bollywood Actor “Sushant Singh Rajput”. The news came as a form of suicide however the way authorities including media started giving the information gave a way to think most of us that if it was a ‘Real suicide’ or just a high profile ‘Planned murder’. His death is found to be suspicious for several reasons. 

This post is for #JusticeForSSR #CBIProbe

Book Review #135: The Naughty Proposal

Title: The Naughty Proposal
Author: Shanaya Taneja
Publisher: Shristi
Genre: Fiction
Total pages: 90

The book is an erotica. It revolves around four people Tara, Sneha, Dheeraj, Abhimanyu looking for some excitement in life without falling in trap of unnecessary love affairs. It is a small story which ends with a tricky suspense.

Some part that I didn't like was that story was incomplete, did not address one or two of the character well. Did not tell about how Tara and Abhimanyu knew each other, since how long were they in a relationship. The suspense was not disclosed well, only a few hints were dropped along the story.

While the storyline has elaborated and detailed erotica passages, the story is dull. Characters are built by specifying their personalities multiple times, instead of giving some background. No background, just forced character building.

The unexpected part was the twist at the end. Sometimes, being cautious and understanding the complete picture is better than giving in to the lure of mystery and novel temptation is the moral of the story. It is a definitely an adultery novel with a lot of detailed sex descriptions.

Coming on to the storyline. Except the climax parts, nothing was there that could hook you till the very end. There were some really good erotic scenes between Tara and Dheeraj, but when we talk about characterization, author totally forgot to work on it. It’s a pretty short book, but fast paced and you can enjoy it on a short journey or on lazy weekends, don’t expect anything exceptional, just wait till the climax. Language is very simple and you can easily connect with the characters. You get the feeling of watching a Bollywood movie.

The primary focus of story is on need(s); need for love and need for money. Weirdly this tries to portray all rich people as nice and craving for love; and all middle-class people using rich people for money.

Verdict: Ending could have been more descriptive. For me – I ended up feeling incomplete and ditched just like some of the characters in the book.

Ratings: 3/5

Book Review #134 : Dented & Painted

The anthology “Dented & Painted” comprises of 23 remarkable short stories. The cover of the collection is beautiful and attractive. The collection is penned down by author Tirupathi Khemka. This book is a must read for all humans due to the depleting mentality of our society. Harsh reality is portrayed that shows you the mirror unto society. 

Dented & Painted is appalling in its tone and subject. The stories begin with the opening lines in italics which store in them the essence of the whole story and ends with question marks that leave your mind ticking. These life changing stories shake the insides of your soul. It deals with some of the highly sensitive issues prevailing in our society at large. Each story is instilled with sheer pain, misery & struggle. The complexities of women’s life, how they are tortured, subdued, and tormented, and how they fight back are narrated by the author. The language is bold and comprehensive. On the whole, the collection is nicely compiled and stories are engrossing and have a power that grips you from within. As you continue reading these stories, you develop a strong sense of connection with the theme of feminism. The author has poured his heart into these stories. 

‘Male chauvinist pigs’ are well-exposed. The mind-blowing stories are an eye-opener and make you question so many things. The narrative is quite strong and details are well written. Sometimes the pace gets fast, though the emotions are well maintained. True reality is pictured which pinches you somewhere, depicting the cruelty of patriarchal society in which we continue to live. The stories expose a wide horizon of themes from prostitution to rapes, women as victims to women as fighters, the sufferings of women to struggles of women, women as creators to the women as destructors, the divine to the not so divine women, and many more. I can't get a few stories out of my mind; they were very impactful. I felt proud of a few ladies, yet felt sad for some. 

Dented & Painted is a complete page turner. It leaves your eyes moist with tears and you feel how crippled you have become by letting others dominate you and decide things for you. The author has made very interesting and keen observations before penning down each one of these wonderful pieces of writing. Kudos to him for his brilliant attempt! He proved the power of pen and the wonders that it can do. 

Ratings: 4.5/5

Book Review #113 : Patna Blues

Book :- Patna Blues

Author :- Abdullah Khan

Publisher :- Juggernaut

First thing first. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to Mr. Abdullah Khan for entrusting me with the review for his debut book ‘Patna Blues’.

"Patna Blues" revolves around three main characters; Arif, a Muslim boy from the lower-middle-class family who dreams of becoming an official of the IAS and changing the fortune of his family. Zakir, Arif's younger brother and an aspiring actor who eventually becomes a victim of the fascist side of India. The love of his life, Sumitra, a mature married Hindu woman. Arif and Sumitra, two amateur poets, share their love and passion for Urdu poetry. Urdu Shayaris are the fragrance of this story which will certainly make you fall in love with them.

The book is hard cover and the cover looks very good with a picture of a young boy who plants a lots of questions and curiosity in the reader's mind.

The book illuminates the post-Babri life of Indian Muslims too. The way the author has explained the life of a Muslim boy or a Muslim family in the Hindu majority India is the highlight of the book.

The book is a heart-wrenching tale from dream to destiny with a gripping storyline and admirable characters. It explores the various taboos existing in our society and highlights the hostility towards Muslims. The characters are relatable inspired from those who we have met at some point in our lives. My most loved character is that of Arif, a boy who despite of several hurdles doesn’t lose hope. His relationship with his family and friends is warm and pleasant.

The book is a gripping read which doesn’t allow you to take a break from it. At one point, it seems that Arif is a reflection of the author himself. The distinct portrayal of emotions make this novel an interesting yet realistic read.

Patna Blues does full justice to its title. As we accompany Arif Khan, the protagonist, along his life’s path, mostly strewn with speed breakers, pothole’s and occasionally down gravel filled paths as he trips and falls, again and again, we can’t help but root for him to do better: to pass the all important IAS exam this time, somehow be with the woman of his dreams, help his Abba with the financial burden that wears his lower middle class police officer father down, find his beloved younger brother Zakir who the police have picked up one dark night and then have denied picking up.

There are a lot of scenes and incidents that take place and are left unexplained as to why it happened or what exactly happened. I humbly demand him a sequel. The author writes lucid language that is relatable and understandable. The narration is a combination of crispiness, ornamentation and a bit of a drag at places.

I recommend this book to one and all. Especially to those who wants to try out new storylines, that are different from the unusual boy-meet-girl tale. It is a heartrending tale that would eventually pull the reader to the very depth of the narration. The ending is touching, a feast to the readers’ soul and perhaps the best part of the book.

Rating - 4.5/5

Book Review #101 : Milk and Honey

Book - Milk and Honey
Author - Rupi Kaur
Genre - Poetry
Publisher - Andrews McMeel Publishing
Hit the shelves on - November 4, 2014
Pages - 204

This heartfelt collection of poems hit the shelves November of 2014. I saw milk and honey in the local bookwalah shop and decided to embrace my poetic side and purchase it. Needless to say, I was baffled with what I found folded into the pages. I was expecting an inspirational slightly tacky read much like how I viewed poetry prior to this. What I found was vulnerability, startling bluntness, and a pure and raw story laced into the pages of Rupi Kaur's poetry.

Kaur breaks her book into four parts; the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing. The poems open in a bit of a dark aura. The hurting depicts the author’s experiences with sexual assault and the struggles of overcoming family issues. This section is a bit chilling.

The next section, the loving, is a more uplifting read. The poems are sweet and idealistic. These are the ones that couples want to read to remind themselves of why they are still together.

The breaking returned us to a darker place in Kaur’s life. Any girl that has ever endured a break up after a long term relationship could find a relatable poem in this section. While these poems were sad, they were also very realistic and relatable.

The last section of milk and honey accomplished exactly what I think the author was aiming for. These poems empowered women to embrace themselves and to value who they are regardless of the turmoil they have endured. I would recommend this section to anyone going through a break up or just yearning for some comfort.

Overall, I really enjoyed this compilation of poems and would totally recommend to anyone who is looking to heal from a bad experience in life or breakup.

Btw - Upon publication, ‘milk and honey’ sold over 1.5 million copies, defying expectations of modern poetry’s popularity. In an age favouring easily digested thriller novels and celebrity biographies far above verse, this collection of poetry is certainly the exception to the rule. Perhaps this is due to Kaur undercutting the impersonality of a modernist aesthetic with accessible, simplistic language. Kaur does not subscribe to the belief that poetry must be difficult to be meaningful, championing a direct and inclusive register that unites her personal experiences with the reader. Combining a first person perspective with the repeated second person pronoun ‘you’, Kaur further bridges the gap between her poetry and her audience. She forges a link that causes the reader to imagine themselves not only as author, but as muse. Pointing beyond the page at ‘you’, Kaur rejects the division of the reader from the writer, assimilating her own experiences, memories, and subjects with her audience.

VERDICT - ‘milk and honey’, is a ‘modern classic’, worthy to be read out loud, written in texts to loved ones, and learnt by heart. The reminder to appreciate yourself and to embrace emotion is timeless.

The book teaches you that life is filled with terrible and heartbreaking moments but within those moments you can find great things. Great things that you might have missed if you were not looking. There is so much meaning and emotion behind every word, and it is even relatable. Several of the poems deal with situations that many face today.

RATING – 5/5

Book Review #98 : I Owed You One

Publisher: LiFi Publications Pvt. Ltd. 

ISBN: 978-9386191281 

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 258 pages 

Book Blurb: 

Dev Khanna has a perfect life with his loving wife Radhika and son Neel in Melbourne, Australia. But there is something from his past that keeps gnawing him, an open wound that is a reminder of a debt. His present is very flourishing and future promising but what happens when the past comes knocking? As the skeletons begin to tumble one after other from the cupboard it is now threatening his present. 

Join Dev on a journey that spans across the tall skylines of Melbourne, the royal Dilwalo ki Dilli to the dingy streets of Moradabad as he battles love, religion, politics and fear questioning his own beliefs at every step. Will he be able to make peace with his past and save his future? Will humanity lose this battle against everything else? 

About the Author: 

Dr. Madhu Vajpayee- the writer is born somewhere in those hospital corridors where she has spent the last two decades of her life. Witnessing life at such close quarters pushed her to capture the enigma of life in her words and slowly it became her passion. After writing several medical papers and chapters in books, she started her journey in the literary world. Seeking Redemption was her first fiction book which is now followed by I Owed You One. 

Having done her graduation, MBBS from King Georges Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow she went ahead to pursue her post-graduation, MD from AIIMS, New Delhi. She was a faculty at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi having been associated with management of patients living with HIV/AIDS. She is now settled in Melbourne, Australia with her family, where she is devoting most of her time to writing, the passion that she couldn’t pursue earlier because of the demands of medical profession and commitment it requires. When not creating stories, Madhu enjoys reading and traveling. 

REVIEW: 

The cover of the book is also very striking and suits the title and blurb flawlessly. 

I Owed You One by Madhu Vajpayee has a well thought plot and beautifully united to form an extraordinary read. The story has every emotion known to the human race. The language used in the book is simple which makes it easy to understand and connect. Also, the author had made sure that her readers stay hooked page by page till the end. 

One thing that I liked the most about this book is that it is very natural and the story is not solely based on love. It displays other interesting life events of the protagonist too, which will add spice to your reading. I Owed You One has to be the most realistic fiction that I read this month. 

The central character of the novel is Dev Khanna, a chemical engineer based out of Australia. Dev is happily married to his wife Radhika and has an adorable son named Neel. He is very well to do and his life is progressing at a steady pace when suddenly he receives a mysterious letter from his hometown in India. What is inside the letter and how this small piece of paper changes so many lives is what is answered in the novel I Owed You One. The letter results in a series events of self-realization which form the crux of the story. 

Relationships and how we handle them decide our happiness in the future. Growing up in one such dysfunctional family, where Dev’s parents are not close to each other and where he often feels neglected by his father, when he grows up into a man, it leaves an adverse effect on him. 

I Owed You One is a fascinating read and sends a very important message that irrespective of the amount of wealth a person owns, he cannot buy true happiness! 

Madhu has chosen a male character and she narrates from his POV. From the beginning, it never felt that the character was a male character and if you somehow skip on the author’s name, I doubt you’ll be able to know that is a woman. Entering into a man’s head and thinking like him and expressing his behaviours and emotions is commendable. 

This book is a medley of drama, mystery, suspense, thriller with a tad bit of love and friendship. It explores the family relationships and shows how important it is to bond with your children and how it can affect your children when you’re not emotionally involved with him/her. 

The best part of this book are the characters. I would definitely say that it is a character-driven plot because they have been portrayed with such finesse and the author has managed to put all the nitty-gritty details. The book is definitely emotional because when you are exploring such familial bonds, you have to dig down deeper. Dev’s emotions have been very well expressed. I could feel his pain, his angst, his anger, his embarrassments; each and every of his emotions. The supporting characters have also been portrayed well. Each character plays a vital role in shaping the story. Removal of one, will make the story look incomplete. 

The shifting of the scenes has been carried out well. The difference in the scenes could be easily understood and they didn’t get mixed up. Also, the switching between past and present is managed well in the book. Often times, it gets confusing when the story runs parallely in the past and the present, but here, the author has managed to do it really well. 

The author conveys the beautiful message of humanity and peaceful coexistence. The story is well-written and has its high and low points, just like the stirring ups and downs of Dev. The climax of the story is well-crafted and the intense build-up of the story with its entire emotional quotient and grooving twists and turns makes it even more exceptional. 

Negatives: 

A couple of spelling errors in the book, showing that the editor did not give a good read. It could have been avoided with better proofreading. 

VERDICT: I Owed You One is the story of promises and commitments, of triumphs and defeat, and of holding on and letting go. It is a contemporary take on modern family relationships and the challenges that a family can face if it stands united against adversities. 

Overall, I Owed You One By Madhu Vajpayee is an exemplary read and I would like to recommend it to everyone. 

RATING: 4.5/5

Book Review #97 : Demons In My Mind

Title: Demons in My Mind 

Author: Aashish Gupta 

Genre: Fiction 

Publisher: Kalamos 

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 224 

COVER : I loved the simplicity of the cover, not too much in display but surely appealing. It’s the kind of cover that would make readers like me to pick the book only for the cover.

BLURB : The blurb is informative, just what provides a clear insight regarding the content of the book, not too revealing, just the perfect amount of information.

FONT : Its a fat book with a well spaced font, which is a big yay for me. Though the number of pages are 224, the well spaced font is that what led to the increase in the number; the book is easy to read.

The book is written in a simple yet captivating language, it holds in itself some beautiful pieces of poetry which flaunt the author’s fine storytelling skills.

This a novel which has every potential to cut through the humongous number of desi authors flooding the market with cheesy, chick-flick stuff. It’s a good, intellectual read which challenges the reader and brings forth some very relevant questions in quite an entertaining way. 

The book deals with heavy questions of criminal psychology and how a criminal should be treated in a society. This book is divided into various sub plots, all woven intricately, so together, it can provide enough suspense to the reader.

“Demons in My Mind” tries to make us understand human emotions in a better manner, emotions like anger, anguish, pride, hatred, etc. through three major stories entwined with the plot surrounding Dakshesh. 

The protagonist, Dakshesh is shown to be at the last stage of cancer nearing a painful death. To be relieved of this malady, this pain, he asks his comrades to take him to three powerful mystics who seem to be the only ray of hope for an escape from this end. The story seems to be going on a spiritual turn just when the twists are brought in, and these three are shown to be in real hardened criminals. They narrate their stories to Dakshesh and how they came to a fork in the road in their lives on meeting Alia, a homeless girl, when they made the decision to leave their dark pasts behind and move to a better path.

It is these three monks who narrate their own stories, and from their own experiences, show us a side of humanity that majority of us have never been acquainted with.

The author manages to highlight very important factors that bring a person to such a path. You see the happiness, the fame, the satisfaction, all ruined when the demons reign. The author, dedicates his work to those similar to him, to those who have demons in their minds.

It consists all elements that most of us readers seek in a book. Surprise, thrill, emotional touches, and a kick to our minds in the end. This book is full of them. From early chapters till last page, this book continued to amaze me. 

NEGATIVES : The book is just perfect. But, there are some spelling errors, typos and the story can get a bit confusing if you’re not paying close attention. I would suggest to take breaks while you’re reading this book.

VERDICT : The plots are dark and quite unbelievable at times, all suggesting that heinous crimes are nothing but a harvest of the uncontrolled minds. Coming from an Indian debut author, I congratulate the author for achieving a feat most debut Indian authors fail miserably at. His extensive vocabulary and the imagination fuels suspense scene after scene.

Overall, this book is a great read, which entertains and sometimes sends chills to your spine. A great work by debut author and I strongly recommend this book to every thriller lover. 

RATING - 4.8/5

Book Review #96 : The Accident on the A35

Author Name: Graeme Macrae Burnet 

Book Title: The Accident on the A35 

ISBN: 9781925603057 

Year of Publication: 2017 

Publisher: BEE Books 

The Accident on the A35 is, according to the preface, the translation of an unpublished Brunet manuscript, released after his mother’s death. 

The book centres around detective George Gorski and the small, seemingly dead end town of Saint Louis in which he lives. When the book opens, Gorski’s wife has left him and he is called to the scene of a car accident on a nearby road. The scene appears to be an open and shut case but there are some odd details and Gorski allows himself to be charmed by the dead man’s widow into investigating further. At the same time, the dead man’s son Raymond, after finding an address in his father’s drawer of a house in a nearby town, is also both investigating and trying to grow up. 

The Accident on the A35 is written in the mould of a classic French crime novel, it is intensely focussed on the characters of Gorski and Raymond and is less about the solution to the crime, if indeed there is one, than the impact that the events surrounding the death have on them. Gorski gets caught up with an unsolved crime in a nearby town and Lambert, the shonky detective running the case. Raymond finds himself shoplifting and becoming obsessed with a girl called Delph who lives in the block of apartments that he has been watching. 

Crafting a crime novel that is more about the effects of a crime and its investigation and resolution than a crime itself. But this device does provide another, potentially deeper layer to the text and the end notes invite the reader to consider how autobiographical the fiction is in relation to the life of Raymond Brunet. 

It’s slow, atmospheric, often surprising, with a denouement which is beautifully under-played. One should also say it is daring, for it is rash to venture into the territory of a master-novelist. I found it enjoyable, a very nice piece of craftsmanship, and hope that Burnet may yet discover other unpublished novels by the hitherto obscure Raymond Brunet. 

What’s impressive about Burnet’s new novel is the way in which even though both of his main characters – Gorski and Raymond – are pushed to extremes, tested almost to destruction, their interior lives remain credible throughout. Mad, or blurred with drink, or both, but definitely credible. Which takes some doing.

VERDICT- This book reads like a lavishly detailed, psychologically accurate, intelligent, well-plotted, unsimple Simenon. To be honest this one started out slow, but once I got into it, boy was I rewarded! I think it took me awhile to get used to the writing, but in saying that, the clever writing was lovely, just a different style to what I've been used to. Graeme Macrae Burnet truly has a style all of his own. An enjoyable and quick read. I really rate Graeme Macrae Burnet as a very clever contributor to the development of the literary detective genre. He’s inspired and inspiring to read. 

Rating - 4.5/5

Book Review #94 : Fate's Design

Book Name - Fate's Design 

Author - Subhashish Dey 

Publisher - Good Times Book Pvt Ltd 

Subhashish Dey’s debut novel makes for an intriguing read as a hired killer develops a conscience leading to a strange string of events. 

What does a professional kidnapper do when he suddenly develops a conscience? Anastasaii, a hired thug from Russia is sent to kidnap the daughter of a rich man for ransom. However, guilt plagues his conscience as he knows the predicament of kidnapping a two-year-old could never be good. What follows is a series of events across continents and years that lead to a rather surprising conclusion. 

What is interesting to note, is that the young 14 year old author, spares no stones in giving equal attention to all the characters of the novel. Be it Anastasaii, the young girl Natalia, Mrs Sapsky, his mum; Felix, Andrei or Irina, everyone is given their equal space in taking the novel forward. 

Flitting from one character to another and one tale to the next, Subhashish makes wonderful use of time in his novel, as seemingly unrelated incidents slowly create a motif towards the conclusion. 

The language is simple and poetic, a far cry from a lot of what passes off as literature these days. Narration is perfect and mature. The author’s age is perfectly reflected in the way he handles a seemingly happy ending for a family separated by one act of conscience. 

A thoroughly interesting read, Fate’s Design, plays out as a struggle to live, survive and not merely exist. The synchronization can be understood at certain places where the geographical demonstrations pertaining to that location is described effectively. 

We could give a benefit of doubt for the age of the author but some of the dialogues in between forces me overlook the fact that a kid wrote the book. Nevertheless the effort that is invested in the book could not be overlooked. A strong message about relations is the highlight of the book. 

VERDICT- A case study on suspense! A perfect collection of adventures! Amazingly well written novel from a 14 year old first timer. And its a book that will take you to a completely thrilling journey about fate in your fantasy with suspense in every page you flip. It sparkles with subtle and wry humour, vivid characterizations, poignant observations and breezy sentences. 

Sharp insights into the human psyche and crisp writing are the hallmarks of this book. Striking phrases like "It was easier this time. Second times are always easier" shall linger on and haunt the reader long after one puts the book down. 

Written at an age when most teenagers find their boats floundering in the sea of words, Subhashish had not only managed to keep a grip on the plot, taking the reader along the journey of his well drawn out characters, he had also shown a rare maturity in his choice of words. Also not to forget his understanding of music and his love for the art. I wish Subhashish Dey a bright career in writing! All the very best! 

RATING -4.5/5 

Book Review #78 : The Deliberate Sinner

Author-Bhaavna Arora

Publisher- Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Genre- Fiction

Pages- 165

ISBN-13 – 9789382665205

The Deliberate Sinner has a wonderful cover that screams for attention and gets it. The story raises some important questions.

This book is a story of Rihana- free spirited girl yet confined in emotional turmoil about family and society, Veer- A product of a typical patriarchy society who firmly believes in receiving everything in relationship but giving is out of his dictionary. Rihana puts up with Veer’s extreme behavior and also try to work out the marriage because of the family and society. When she realizes Veer’s infidelity, she decides to walk out of the marriage but again it wasn’t an easy way out, as the world around her firmly believes that a dishonest husband deserves to be forgiven which makes her to become a deliberate sinner.

This book is close to reality of many women’s life.  I appreciate an author for her bold approach in the novel and her ability to deliver the message in a right manner. Bhaavna has done a tremendous job in delivering the exact emotions of a Rihana about the sexual preferences and equality in sexual act to the readers and explicitly stated woman’s point of view on sex in a relationship without making it sound vulgar or exaggerated.

Raj was an important character in the first half, but soon disappears only to come back later to disappoint. But all of it falls flat on the weak story line. Then ending of the book is what disappoints the most. If she wanted Veer to catch her in bed with another man, just so that he understands what she felt, she could have slept with Raj again. Or should have told Veer about their one night stand that happened when she was engaged to him. But instead she decides on staging an act with a random friend of hers who conveniently agrees to be a part of this mindless drama. Why the book gets its title is explained in the last line of the story.

Language and writing have kept consciously simple by the author, the person who reads is never over laden with witty lines and idealistic terminologies. It has quite a few graphic sex scenes as well.

In this story the author has explained various relationship issues like – Domestic Violence, Marital Rape, societal problems (premarital sex), Indian Mentality regarding Marriage (Dowry, man’s dominance) and consequences of Divorce in a womanly way. However, Rihanna’s character is designed as an empowered and self-respecting woman and she doesn’t consider herself as a sufferer but a survivor and crusader.

Overall, this story has portrayed the relationship blues in a feminist way, projects men negatively though. It is a good read to understand sexual nuances of a woman; however fails to take care of the relationship issues in an objective way.

Rating : 3/5

Book Review #72 : Blood In The Paradise - A Tale Of An Impossible Murder

Genre: Fiction/Thriller

Author: Madhav Mahidhar

Publisher: Frog Books

ISBN: 978-93-52017-10-2

"Blood in the Paradise - A tale of an impossible murder" is a suspense murder case mystery by Madhav Mahidhar.

The cover of the book caught my attention – The picture of a dark wall with an eye and blood dripping from that. It is so intriguing.

Murder mysteries thrill me as they send a chill down the spine. The plot is set in Bangalore, the hub for IT companies. The story deals with the current days’ financially independent women, their intelligence, their feminist thinking, their ambitions and their lifestyle.

The story begins with a suicide note of a woman – Madhumitha. My heart sank seeing a successful woman to be depressed and eventually deciding to end her life. The suicide was being investigated by DCP Vishwaroop – a highly intelligent, honest, sharp, diligent and competent cop and his team. The author manages to make you ponder between the intellects of DCP Vishwaroop and that of Madhumitha along with her friend Anupriya. It’s a detailed narration of how they decode the little clues gathered while investigating the suicide or the murder scene. The author has been successful in depicting the role of media, the women’s commission and how it becomes a hindrance for the work of the police department. Knowing almost for sure who the criminal is, you will not be able to keep the book down!

The author has done a detailed research for writing this book. It gives you an insight of the present days scenario of a man and woman relationship, the problems of married life and its consequences.

His narration will keep you riveted to the plot. You will end up discovering the facets of feminism and how confused the concept of feminism is in our society. You will question age old structure of our society and its impactful consequences in our lives. It describes, how this society gives us the courage or the strength or both to do the impossible in a sheer possible way. The author has also, cleverly, tells the readers what ideal feminism should be; it’s not about hating men, but establishing feminine dexterity in every sphere of life.

The language is lucid and simple and, the characters are well-portrayed. The efforts taken to create the settings in Blood In The Paradise - A Tale Of An Impossible Murder by the author should be appreciated and the scenes appear very real in terms of their detailing to the core of correctness, for example the legal trails and the interrogation questions. There are the details which will give you a kind of visual experience of watching a movie… Those who love suspense, will surely love it! However, I found the story stretched in places and could have 10-12 pages shorter easily.

I hope the author comes out with even more interesting plots which I know he will and am waiting for his next bestseller.

Recommended for all who love thrillers/ mystery. Especially, the youths who want to read the novels with a lot of detective impetus and adventure will surely love the book!

My rating: 4/5

P.S: I won a review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

Book Review #65 : 03:02

Author : Mainak Dhar

Publisher : Westland

Number of Pages : 350

Publishing Year : 2016

Edition : Paperback

Price : 295

Apart from a creative name and amazing plot, the cover of the book is also very creatively designed and it looks very unique.

This book titled "03:02" written by Mainak Dhar and published by Westland Publishers, surprised me and made me curious as it was something about 03.02 am, the city of Mumbai suddenly going black with no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. I just wanted to know more!

As I began reading, I was impressed with the way the story began. Eventually, the reader gets to know that a big terrorist group has invaded the city with all its forces. And then there is the protagonist who helps the people and when he comes to know about the terrorist group, fights it. The power of positivity and managing things with little resources is highlighted.

The narration of the author is action packed and fast paced. 03:02 is a book full of surprises. It is all about effortless narration. The plot is fresh, and a lot of time has been invested in research. Even the vocabulary is simple which helps you to keep reading in a good speed with a flow. He has written things with so much ease, that you feel that everything is real and is happening around you. The characters and their backgrounds are nicely developed. A special treat for all the Mumbaites is the Mumbai setting.

The first 80 pages aren't much captivating and it could have been cut short. But the climax makes up for it. The way it ends leaves you with a wide smile, it is so inspiring. There is hardly a dull moment in the entire novel, and once hooked you can be assured of sailing through right till the end.

The book forces you to think about the unanswered question “What will happen if everything goes down one day?” with no technology, can we survive?

03:02 is a different type of war story - yet gripping. An ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary circumstance, like acts of terror, and how he copes with it and leads others with leadership and conviction, makes an interesting read.

A well crafted story with powerful characters. Perfectly executed.  Impeccable character portrayal. It will bring out the patriot in you.

I recommend  the book to all the thriller lovers. Mainak Dhar proves that Indian authors can pull off thrillers with close knit storyline and action sequences with ease and conviction!

Rating - 4.5/5

P.S: I won this review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

Nano Fiction 45 : Murder

The issue of alcohol misuse and crime impacts not just offenders and their victims. Spouses, friends, family, employers, and communities all struggle with both the human and the economic toll of alcohol misuse. The trickle-down effect is staggering.

Research finds that many of the offenders where under the influence of alcohol, when the crime was committed. People go out of control and do things they wouldn't had they been in their senses.

Say no to alcohol or have it responsibly.

With this short message,

Love and Positivity,

Aayesha

Nano Fiction 9 : Marital Rape

"Is a wife merely body parts?" I ask.

What compels a wife to continue living with her husband who is a sex-maniac? What kind of man commits such atrocious acts on his wife, almost daily? How does he get away with this brutality? Is it because marital rape is not a criminal offence, compared to one committed on an outsider? Is marriage for such depraved men a license to rape because of the 'implied consent' which comes with wedlock?

Wonder on basic tenets of common sense, how does a cruel, inhuman marriage remain sacred? What is sacrosanct about it?

In cases of sexual violence in marriage, the woman is a victim. She is degraded, humiliated and made to feel unwanted.

If a marriage is still continuing, it is because she is submitting to it, she is weak, poor, and afraid, has children, is dependent, roofless, and reconciled to fate. She is also often ignorant of the legal help available. 

It's time we empower our women, to fight against anything that harms and humiliates them - even if that comes under a sacrosanct relation called 'marriage'. A woman does not have to submit to whatever has been thrown at her. She and only she, can save herself.

Book Review #41: Glorious Uncertainties

About the book

After winning the Miss Bangalore title, Garima Pradhan is offered a lead role in a movie. She resists the temptation, preferring to complete her MBA course. She then takes up a job in a bank where one day she meets Deven Herai, a high value customer, in a most unromantic situation. The two, nevertheless, fall for each other soon and after a brief courtship, they tie the knot. Garima is soon disillusioned... she finds herself reduced to a trophy wife... Unfazed with the difficulties, she fights back and emerges victorious, and discovers the purpose and peace in life.

About the author

PeeKay (Prashant Kumar Singh) hails from a family of political leaders and bureaucrats. After his schooling in Kanpur, he graduated from Allahabad University in political science and philosophy. As per the family tradition, he spent a few golden years of his life attempting to get into civil services after completing his MBA from Delhi. After unsuccessful attempts in civil service exams and a couple of entrepreneurial projects, he switched to the corporate sector and became a banker. He currently manages the Wealth Management portfolio of a leading bank in India. He counsels on parenting, career and relationship issues, which has helped many and has earned him the title of 'Banker by profession but Human Behaviourlist by nature'. This is his debut novel.

"Glorious Uncertainties" is an inspirational and fast moving story written by Peekay.

Garima Pradhan wore the title of Miss Bangalore, all through her adolescence. People were amazed of her beauty. However, she waits till she is 21 & in the final year of her MBA course.  After winning the title, Garima feels the world at her feet.

Life is full of delightful surprises & sometimes inglorious uncertainties. Reghu Reddy, a well know director tries hard to convince Garima for signing 3 films & offers her Rs 10 Lakh as bondage amount. He insists Garima to join acting classes. However, Garima takes up a banking job.  She later marries Deven Herai, an entrepreneur.

Life takes some ugly turns, as she feels tied up in her marriage. She witnesses death of a child because of lack of medical facilities and callousness of authorities after an incident of rape. She fights back, clears the civil services exam and is posted as an IPS officer.

The story underlines the strength and grit, that a woman possesses. The novella is without any fillers. It is to the point. Best for a lazy Sunday afternoon—to be read in one go. Fast paced, unpredictable plot, well rounded end - keep you glued!

The author from his experience, presents a vivid description of the struggle of civil services aspirants who throng the national capital.

The story line is the life path of a beautiful and intelligent girl, Garima Pradhan beginning from Miss Bangalore then her hardships to overcome her failed marriage, choosing Civil Services Examinations over CAT examination in order to serve the country and at last to become an IPS Officer.

This book is a brave attempt. This book is a story of success, womanhood, courage and strength. I felt good after reading this book, as a woman!

Ratings - 4.2/5
P.S: This review is for The Readdicts