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 #99 : A Cage of Desires

Title - A Cage of Desires
Author - Shuchi Singh Kalra
Genre – Fiction (Erotic)
Publisher - Penguin
ISBN – 978-0143441625

Finally, a book that talks about women, their desires and dreams! It is such a refreshing read. It focuses on an aspect of the Indian culture that so many people choose to ignore. Women are not puppets to be tossed around, but deserve to be treated with respect. The story is a manifestation of how the men use women for their own lust. It felt so real and not fictional, with a strong message that if women are taken for granted, they will not spare anyone and you can’t escape its consequences.

COVER- The cover of the book is lit!

TITLE - It suggests the book must be based on physical desires but it turns out to be a sensitive, riveting and engrossing story, elegantly presented.

THEME OF THE BOOK – It portrays the mundane, middle class life of the protagonist Renu, who, is reckoned as a liability on the society. She also has to deal with acute loneliness despite having a family with two beautiful children and a shrewd husband. Their marriage misses the spark of romance and she often feels the lack of emotional and physical understanding. To make her life more miserable and unnecssary, there is an old father-in-law, who keeps a sarcastic vigil on her and treats her like a machine. She craves for: love, freedom, companionship, and physical satisfaction.

REVIEW - It was really interesting to read each and every page with utmost care as it brought out untold emotions which was overflowing from Renu. But, she had another face. Despite being a mother of two, a typical housewife, she was never given the place or freedom she always had yearned for in her life by her spouse. Her journey from a lost homemaker to a liberated, strong, and independent woman is nothing short of inspiring. How she finds solace in fulfilling her physical desires in secrecy and in doing so she explores the hidden desires of her heart is satisfying to read.

The book is a heady mix of love, sex, lust, greed, betrayal, drama, revenge and secrets… a middle-aged Indian woman openly expressing her desires, needs, wants and dreams.

Story is perfectly paced, and speeds up as the story unfolds. The writing style is very beautiful, poignant. Though there are some intense intimate and erotic scenes, they are placed subtly. Shuchi has a strong grasp of her writing - there is no cheesiness in the erotic parts and the story flows flawlessly.

The raw emotions and the portrayal of Renu's inner turmoils have been beautifully depicted in the book. This book is empowering, while still touching upon the taboo subject of a woman’s sexuality in our Indian society. Renu's philosophies will clutch on to your heart. She shows us what a determined woman with unwavering spirit can really do in life by breaking the stereotypical norms.

VERDICT - Shuchi Singh Kalra writes on bold subjects, that raise a lot of questions on our society. This book too does. Totally recommended! 
 

The book has certain expressions which seriously made me screenshot them & share on my social media! Check my Instagram and Twitter!

Rating – 5/5 
 

AUTHOR - Shuchi Singh Kalra is the Amazon bestselling author of two novels - Done with Men and I'm Big. So What!? Her short stories have appeared in Love across Borders, Stories for Your Valentine and NAW Anthology 2013. In her freelancing career of over a decade, Shuchi has written for major print and online publications such asFemina, Good Housekeeping, Hotelier International, Huffington Post, and Home Review, among others. She has also been listed among the top women authors to follow on Twitter.

You can purchase A Cage of Desires by Shuchi Singh Kalra here.

Book Review #89 : Small Is Big

"Small is the new big." With Small is Big, Rafaa Dalvi has created a potpourri of 100 diverse micro tales (140 characters or less) that will provide you a rich experience in easy-to-digest fragments and urge you to read one page after another before you finally finish the book. It is such a page turner and keeps you hooked.

The title of the book is highly justified. I was lost in the world created by Rafaa. It is a breezy read that gives the readers many flavors all seasoned into one book. Being a multi genre book, you will experience all emotions all at once while enjoying this book. But everything is not upright there, 10% is revealed and 90% is for the readers to imagine. Stories build up a thought provoking process as it is a perfect mix of dark, light hearted and diverse plots. 

And the best part is that there’s a story for everyone, including YOU that will have a huge impact on you. A superb collection of tales with topics ranging from love, loss, pride, crime, thrill among many others! 

Tiny tales or micro fiction are easy to read, and my favorite reads, as they require less attention span, infact, this book, you keep flipping pages and within minutes, you reach the end! 

We see many Instagram pages popping up every day promising to set a platform for Microtale writers. Being a writer myself, I love to weave micro tales too! And once in a while even a non writer is seen penning exceptional micro fiction. 

Rafaa Dalvi's Small Is Big, a collection of tiny tales, is work of a prolific writer.I have followed Rafaa's writing for years now. In fact, it was his blog and writings that encouraged me to dive into this world of words and I started my own escape, my own blog. 

Tales are alphabetically arranged. Some of the works that I really loved were- Awoke, Beauty Marks, Birthday Special, Change, Daddy, Desire, Doctor, Faint, Goodbye, Homesick, Lie, Lookalike, Management, Mother's Love, Name, Ring, Scars, Suffer, The Switch, Trapped, Useless, Zoom. 

Every tale strikes a chord. To get this book in just Rs 49/- was a treat. I read it on Kindle. 

Anyone who has even a minor interest in literature should read this masterpiece. 

One could sit with a friend and discuss their take on almost each story. This book can be such a conversation starter! These micro tales are absolute gems and their impact is everlasting. Brilliant work. Would love to see this one in print too. 

Congratulations and huge credit to Rafaa, you are so so talented and dexterous enough to keep most of your stories open to interpretation. 

MUST READ! Looking forward to more such tales. 

Rating: 4.8/5 stars 

Download the book now and read it on the go on your Kindle app or device.

Book Review #83 : Chicken Soup for the Indian Bride's Soul

Book Author: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Raksha Bharadia 

Language: English 

Publisher:  Westland Publisher (2011) 

A new addition to the popular Chicken Soup for the Soulseries, Chicken Soup for the Indian Bride's Soul is full of delightful insights into married life and the days preceding it. The heartwarming stories of an Indian wedding, the initial meetings in an arranged marriage, the hectic wedding preparations, the traditional rites and rituals, the new fumbling relationships with the in-laws, the gradual love and understanding between husband and wife, and the start of a new life are all brought to life in this book. Their distinct Indian flavor can help every Indian woman connect with these stories effortlessly. 

I love this book! I read it a few months back and I know, I would want to re-read it in the future as time goes on. It is an inexpensive, good quality, well written book you can gift to any of your near and dear relatives or girl friends who are about to get married! It's a great, insightful book for a bride-to-be, or any person in a relationship as a reminder of what's important in life and relationships. 

Nice little read in which reminds you why you are getting married. This book is equivalent to a good friend. It is a self help book with over 344 pages and specific sections, each section having little experiences/stories that women have shared. 

Chicken Soup for the Indian Brides Soul is for all you women, whether you’re newly engaged, recently married, or reflecting on years of married bliss. Stories of elopement, big fat Indian weddings, groom-hunting in arranged marriages, dealing with in-laws, wanting that jaw-dropping lehenga and having that perfect wedding day this collection will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, cry and perhaps see your family in a totally different light. Most importantly, this book will remind you of how strong the bond between couples in love can and must be if they are to share their lives together. 

Rating – 4/5

10 Signs That Show You're A True Bibliophile

A bibliophile is someone who breathes, sleeps and eats books. Someone who dreams about letters and texts and everything bookish. Being a bibliophile isn't easy because there's something that is constantly on your mind - So much to read, so little time!

1. Your idea of paradise and ultimate fantasy is having your own walk-in library.

2. An unfinished book does not let you sleep in peace.

3. You would rather curl up and read a book than go out partying. Reading is your partying.

4. The smell of a book brings you immense pleasure.

5. You never move past a bookstore without going in.

6. A book is like your go-to person for coping up with all tragedies in life.

7. You treat books like they are your babies.

8. It is annoying when someone interrupts you while you’re in ‘the zone’.

9. Unexpected endings may leave you unsatisfied, intensely angry, or simply saying, “what the heck was that?”

10. When you try to bring along that big, heavy book on a family trip and, you always get told to leave it behind.

Book Review #75 : The THC Under a Gibbous Moon

Author: Manoj V Jain
Publisher: Notion Press
ISBN: 978-1-946129-82-6
Genre: Adult Fiction

No. of pages : 194

The story of the book The THC Under a Gibbous Moon is about three different individuals, Sanjaneka, Samar and Varun, who visit The THC, Total Healing Center for reasons very peculiar to them and it becomes a part of their journey wherein they want to get rid of the disharmony in their life and come to terms with it.

The book conveys the message, "It's okay to be emotional, it's okay to fail, it's okay to disappoint. Just move on". It is very modern in its approach and as a reader, you will connect to the story. It is also about the other side of human behaviour and desires which are usually hidden under the pretext of culture and "Log Kya Kahenge" syndrome that our society is affected with.

The narration of the book, The THC Under a Gibbous Moon is very bold. The characters, the situations that they are in, their sexuality and their existence, the problems they face and their exploration of solutions make the book a gripping read.

We, as humans, have gone beyond the usual of expectations. We always want more, more than that more and it goes on and on. In this never ending loop, we have engulfed ourselves with pain and agony, with irritation and discomfort, with trouble and turbulence, with what and what not! In the quest of achieving, beyond the expectations, we leave behind the bundle of happiness and the nature of being content.

The book is all about the healing process, that one needs during the demanding times, during the phase of accepting the past and overcoming it only to move ahead with grace. The book talks in detail about sex, gay relationship, expectations and betrayal in great detail.

The story is aligned real perfect with various incidents and it needs patience to read in full as it is not a thriller. The book still appealed to me for the simple fact that it talked in great detail about the human psychology which is the need of the hour.

Homosexuality is still a taboo subject in India and in Indian context the attitude is skeptical and not so clear enough to be discussed openly. Also marriage is said to be an institution of responsibility , compromise and convenience. It has become an affair of complexity. The book deals with both of them in a bold and honest manner.

“The THC under a Gibbous Moon” an excellent novel tells about the haven of health for both the physically and psychologically sick and troubled persons inclusive of those suffer from sexual dysfunction. The center gives them holistic treatment in the form of Massage, Oil and Steam bath, coupled with the therapy like Acupuncture , etc for recovery and rejuvenation so that they lead a happy and hale life.

I am overwhelmed by the functioning of the Total Holistic center which caters to the needs of the people affected by chronic diseases. The tight time schedule, good diet, timely advices by the doctors  psychological support given to the inmates and professional touch of the employees with result orientation all are fantastic and informative. Such clinics should be opened in a large scale in our country instead of poly clinics and specialty hospitals.

It is a roller coaster read. I would recommend this book, The THC Under a Gibbous Moon, to anyone who is interested in reading a bold and gutsy adult fiction. Good job, Manoj!

Rating - 4/5

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 #71: Colourful Notions - The Roadtrippers 1.0

Book: Colorful Notions - The Roadtrippers 1.0

Author: Mohit Goyal

Publisher: Srishti Publishers and Distributors

Price: Rs. 175

BLURB:- “Would you give up your high-paying job and comfortable personal life to drive ten thousand kilometres across India? Just for fun! Three twenty-something's dare to do just that! While the two boys take turns to drive, the girl gives voice-over as they record their entire journey on a handy cam. Ab, Sasha and Unnati are ordinary youngsters, rendered special by the feat they accomplish. As they recount their adventures, I crave to live their journey. They look at each other with a glint in their eyes, as if refurbishing those memories while narrating their spooky time at Bhangarh Fort, strange escapades at Wagah Border and Sundarbans, car breakdowns, wild animals, near-death experiences and highway robbers! It's nothing less than crazy. I doubted if I'd ever have the gumption to create such experiences. So I did the next best thing - I penned a book about them and their road trip. Colorful Notions is a journey of three young hearts on the Indian terrain and into the inner recesses of their souls, giving a new perspective to relationships, love and life.”

The cover absolutely seems to make complete sense in accordance with the title and retains the flavor of it. The long roadway and the car with three roadtrippers - so attractive for all the travel enthusiasts out there.

The story revolves around three friends—Abhay (Ab), Sashank (Sasha) and Unnati (Unns). They decide to take a soul-searching road trip covering the entire India. The plot sounds almost like Zindagi Milegi Na Doobara, right? The book met my expectations of going on an amazing journey across the length and breadth of India from the comfort of my own couch!

The journey puts their physical as well as emotional states of mind to test. While Abhay is trying to deal with a troubled past and his relationship with his parents which is strained, Sasha who is his bestie offers to accompany him on the trip. In a way, he is also trying to escape an over-protective family. Both of them then, convince Sasha’s girlfriend, who is a clueless assistant RJ to join in.

The trio plan to cover the entire India in just 75 days; starting from Corbett Park and ending in Delhi. The itinerary is well planned. The author has done immense research before penning down the book. They cover places like Goa, Haridwar, Leh, Amritsar, Alwar, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhuj, Mysore, Kanyakumari, Hyderabad, Puri, Kolkata, Gaya, Varanasi, Agra, Kumbh Mela, Kargil, Golden Temple, Wagah, Bhangarh Fort, Thar Desert, Rann of Kutch, Ellora, Mysore Palace, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, etc. It is a fun-filled emotional roller coaster as they try to spot tigers at the Corbett National park, take a dip in the Ganges at Haridwar, battle altitude sickness at Ladakh /Leh, cause a security threat at the Wagah border, chase and be chased by ghosts at Bhangarh fort at Alwar, get caught in the marshlands and quick-sands at Runn of Kutch and finally encounter a man-eater at the Sunderbans while setting foot on Bangladeshi borders and even obtain enlightenment at Gaya! If this is not enough, you will get to read about the culinary delight that is India, as your senses take in the description of delicacies like the momos at Ladakh, Hyderbadi biryanis, Lucknowi Kebabs, Punjabi chicken, Goan seafood, Udupi cuisine and of course Idli, sambar and chutney and other rice delicacies from Tamil Nadu too! Almost all travel requirements like finances, stay & rest, fun, route map etc have been taken care of.

The language is highly simple and easy to comprehend. I found the details of the places quite engaging, which definitely makes it a delight for all travellers with the vivid picturesque narration.

How they execute the entire trip, how the feelings of friendship and love are challenged in the course of 75 days, will the trip help them lighten the emotional baggage that they are trying to escape from, how does the trip change their lives are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Colourful Notions: The Roadtrippers 1.0.

The author writes effortlessly. It is difficult to believe that he is a first time author. The book manages to impart some simple lessons while not being preachy. Some of the chapters will have you thinking about the life we live, our expectations from it and our perspectives on happiness. This book seems like the answer to a lot of questions youngsters these days are plagued with. We all want to escape from our routine and follow our calling. Sometimes it also happens that just want to escape and in that process find our calling. This book is about such escapism. 

The author has also given a lot of attention to the characterization. The characters of Ab, Sasha and Unnati are well demarcated and evolved throughout the journey. They became more mature by the end of the journey. 

The story has it all. Friendship, love, jealousy, food, fun, adventure, horror and comedy, thus making this a packed entertainer with first hand lessons of what life is all about. There is not a single dull moment in the book and you will surely read up to the end page of the book.

The poor editing of the book is a huge dampener especially when you reading something which is pacy and thrilling.

This 200-page book is a must read books for all those who are looking for a fresh and light read during their journeys, and are bored of simple romance tales. It is for the adventurer in you and more essentially the dreamer in you.

Ratings: 4/5

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 #52: The Bestseller She Wrote

ISIN: 978-93-85152-38-2

Author: Ravi Subramanian

Genre: Romance / Drama / Thriller

Publishers: Westland Books

Price: Rs. 295/-

Getting author signed books delivered right at your doorstep is one of the blessings blogging bestows on you.

The novel starts as the story of an aspiring author Shreya, who is from IIM. Shreya right from the beginning appears as a manipulative, ambitious girl who can go to any extent to fulfil her dreams. She exploits Aditya in every sense to publish her book (even if that means sleeping with him) and turns his life upside down. Aditya is bewitched by Shreya.

Adultery causes chaos in Aditya's household while Shreya is busy finalizing her manuscript. It is when Maya, Aditya's devoted wife is on the deathbed that Aditya realizes that he has wronged her by indulging with Shreya, and seeks her forgiveness while deciding that sleeping with Shreya hasn't, in any way, hampered the love for her almost dead wife. The turmoil of a wife when she finds out her husband is having an affair is portrayed in a very emotive manner. The part where Maya gets Ebola has been explained in a good way too.

As Aditya puts an end to his adulterous relationship with Shreya, she doesn't take it very well and poses a threat to his writing career as well.

The characters are very neatly etched out. The story brings out the fragility of human relationships beautifully. From the plot to the characters to the dialogues everything is just perfectly served!

Ravi Subramanian is an amazing thriller writer and his books start doing magic right from the first page itself. Kudos to him for venturing out into something so drastically different from his previous works and yet managing to do it with such an amazing ease and perfection.

With so many writers aspiring to become ‘Best Selling Authors’, this book gives an insight into the Best-Selling game and guides the reader regarding the process of writing, editing, publishing and marketing the book.

This book is definitely a thumbs up from me. It is pretty light and easy read and keeps you hooked to the climax too. It is a corporate saga of love, betrayal, friendship, vengeance, dreams, desires, love, lust and longing all wrapped into one. 

I found the book interesting also because it provides a man’s viewpoint on extramarital affairs. Many books that deal with this theme are women-centric and dwell on the fate of the woman. What happens when a middle-aged guy falls for a woman, loses his carefully constructed family and world and wants to end it all because he loves his wife? What can he do when he realizes he is being used, yet is still in love with the ‘other’ woman?

There are minor grammatical errors that could have been avoided. Overall, the story is a potboiler, with the right mix characters, conversations, twists and turns.  The chapters are short and engross the reader, making it difficult to put the book down. It definitely makes the reader a better person by the end.

I am waiting for the Bollywood movie release of this book!

Rating: 4/5

P.S: Special thanks to BlogAdda for sending me an author signed copy of this book! I am reviewing ‘The Bestseller She Wrote’ by Ravi Subramanian as a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

That Kiss

Anticipation,

Eyes glued,

A wet tongue tracing your lips,

Upon breath upon,

Lovely ephemeral breath,

Rests amorous kiss,

Melting on my lips.

A dizzy delight,

Hot-breathed kiss,

Life disappears,

Replaced by fireworks,

Such sweet surrender,

Thunder in the mind,

Madness engulfs the body.

Book Review #34 : Rise Of The Grey Prince- Book 2 The Saga of Agni

Title: Rise of the Grey Prince

Author: Arka Chakrabarti

Publisher: Srishti Publishers

Binding: Paperback

Number Of Pages: 232

Blurb:

That cursed night at Nisarga had revealed the true reason behind his father's sacrifice and his own dark past. Each revelation now draws Agni into the sublime world of secrets. With Vrish and Guru Sidak by his side, fighting the daggers from the past and winning over the opponents of the present, somewhere deep down, he knows that his journey has just begun.

The other scarred prince walks the ashes of his reality. Haunted by the glimpses of truth the same night, Yani had but one choice – to survive. His unknowing steps, trapped in cruel games of ancient powers had led him to a truth, a truth which shall mould a good man in the clay of misfortune, hate and lust.

Such is the world of Gaya, and thus shall be the Rise of the Grey Prince – the one torn between the darkness of evil and a lone ray of hope.

******************************************************

Rise of the Grey Prince throws the reader in a world of fantasy, with an indifferent story written to astonish, scare and lure readers where the supernatural goes in hand with realism. 

The story is about Agni, and his moving world of secrets. He fights with evil that terrorizes his being and that of his family when he comes to know the reason behind his father’s sacrifice. He endears over the foe of the present, for which he knows that his journey has just begun.

The storytelling picks up a swift pace as the story progresses and I realise there's a whole lot happening. The story is fast-paced, develops rapidly, and is enthralling once you get into the story, and begin to make a connect with it.

The characters have not been properly filled out in this book. The start of the book should ideally give a list of characters and the basics of those characters, which is vital given the length of the story, and its complexity and number of characters.

A neatly drawn map of the land at the beginning of the book becomes an interesting element in the book. 

Arka Chakrabarti's style of storytelling is smooth and fluent. There are many layers to the story and the author has made a great attempt to tell it all. Probably in a hurry to finish the take the story from one level to the next, I imagine he has restrained from launching into elaborate descriptions. He has left a lot to my imagination.

The epilogue is riveting and smartly written, leaving great scope for the third book!

There is a link back in the book, with a short précis on what happened in the first part; but it does not suffice. It is not presented well.

It is fictional story where the writer mixed fantasy with horror. With no big words/sentences, it is an easy read for anyone. The author has made a very good attempt at constructing and deconstructing before our eyes with his words.

All in all, this is a very promising concept, and could be a top-notch fantasy thriller. All it requires is attention to detail and proper presentation so that the ones who haven't read the first part can also connect!

Recommended. Happy Reading.

Ratings - 3.5/5

P.S: A review copy of this book was provided to me as part of the Book Review Tour for the series of books conducted by b00k r3vi3ws.

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