Book Review #128 : TIME GUARD: THE AWAKENING

Honestly, I was not impressed by the cover art as I believe it is not able to portray the subject matter of the book well. Also, the use of different font types along with the absence of a prominent title in the cover made it even more confusing for me. The blurb is the only thing that actually attracted me to the book! The ideas explored in ‘Time Guard: The Awakening’ are related to Astral Projection and Manipulation of Time.

The author challenges the readers to think outside the box and imagine a scenario where Astral Projection may be used by the gifted few to influence the mass for their own benefits or the ones who practice it for the benefit of the World.

From the very first pages, I found the book engaging as things were happening so fast. The scenes that lead to the female protagonist realising the powers of the protagonist were filled with a sense of thrill and tension. 

Although certain scenes were being repeated to move the story forward it did not seem tiresome. Actually, it helped in understanding the flow of the story and capture the missing elements. But, coming to the matter of missing elements, there were many characters whose origin or fate remained unknown.

Moreover, the end of ‘Time Guard: The Awakening’ seemed abrupt with the introduction to many new concepts that remained unexplained. Maybe, these will be cleared in the next book in the series; ‘Time Guard II: Reborn’.

Another drawback while reading the book was the presence of a few grammatical mistakes which should have been corrected while editing. Sometimes, the appropriate words were not used; thus, the author was not able to express a few situations accurately.

The book is filled with turns and these spirals are hefty and sometimes intricate. They’re daunting at first, but eventually a foundation of travel respite. There are many resplendently over-the-top actions sequences throughout the book.

I loved the portrayal of Arjun and Swathi. I also liked the small sketches in between the reads to give this book more pictorial plea and to comprehend the story well.

This book may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are into make-believe, magical realism, science novels and more importantly time travel- then this book is a must-read. 

Ratings - 4/5

Book Review #127 : Dream Sutra

I've always been curious about the implications and meaning of the dreams that we have. Dream Sutra gives an insight into this realm. You can either read it simply as a fascinating and entertaining story of people who have had amazing experiences and what they meant, or, read it like me to gain a deeper understanding of dreams and how they relate to our lives spiritually and the messages they carry for us. 

Everyone dreams. We feel joy, fear, anger, pain and every other conceivable emotion in our dreams...and it all feels so real in the dream state. I have always been fascinated by the ability of the mind to conjure up these amazing worlds where everything is possible - You can fly, you can be superhuman. 

The parallel dream world is a powerful place -- a place where you can exhaust your karma, you can help and be healed. There is so much that we dismiss as too fantastic to be true because it doesn't fit into the ideas that we have classified as "believable", yet every day we 'feel', 'dream', 'experience' things that fall out of this rigid classification, that make us sit up and question the very foundation of our understanding of this world, of other worlds, of our inner world.

The Dream Sutra is an inspiring book that takes us through the nuances of several dreams and their relevance. Dream Sutra is brilliant because it redefines the boundaries of what is believable! A great read. 

What I must say is the readers must read the other two books of the author to better understand this one. Although it doesn't mean you will miss concept if you start this first except that you will see multiple references to other two.

This is not a coffee table read. The book does need some amount of hunger to know the unexplained science. Author has multiple instances to share and decode dreams based on his understanding.

Book is simple and easy to understand with plenty of examples with reference to people. I am a person who believes in science and I keep questioning for scientific evidence. But this book fails to give 100% scientific explanation. 

This book made me realise that dreams can also carry messages from the beyond. From near and dear departed souls or even the universe. Dreams could be visions or warnings of some event. Reading about so many people’s dream experiences make you wonder if dreams could possibly carry some hidden message.

Dream Sutra is not just a book about dream-state experiences but also a book that highlights the ability of spiritually evolved entities to use the dream state to evolve other beings. It talks about the oneness of the universe, about the divinity that binds us all while highlighting the wondrous experiences where people have been healed in dreams, received messages and shown dimensions that the naked eye cannot see. It's a very enlightening read. I would urge readers to write in with dreams which have puzzled them ...maybe there’s a meaning hidden in them!

Ratings : 4.5/5

P.S : This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review #126 : Aatma Sutra: Unveiling the Soul

After reading Karma Sutra by the same author, I was curious and excited to read the second book. All I can say is that it exceeded my expectations. 

Easy to read book with practical experiences are mentioned. A book that makes you accept and understand that all of us have a soul within us. This aatma is super powerful. You are lead through this book into a journey of realising and recognising your aatma and its power. It can guide you. Answer your questions. Help you and heal you. 

Rarely are sequels as good as their predecessor (Karma Sutra), but Aatma Sutra is one such example! Much like the first book, it is jam packed with spiritual concepts and aided by fascinating anecdotes.

Reading the book, understanding the concepts the writer has put through with examples, surely got me to start empathising, accepting gracefully everything destiny throws at us and above all our role play in this physical body.

VERDICT : The book is your journey on the road to self-love and acceptance. This book shocks, delights and liberates the reader! It certainly has helped broaden my perception. Recommended!

Ratings : 4.5/5

P.S : This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review #125 : Karma Sutra: (Cracking the Karmic Code)

Karma Sutra gives the clearest explanation of the term 'Karma'. It is a book that explains how your actions and deeds causes good and bad fortune. This book has explained various concepts relevant to our daily lives in a simplified manner. If you are too inquisitive about life and its philosophies, read this! A very informative piece with paintings that can probably be a result for a change in our ways of perceiving, thinking, evolving and constant learning. 

The author has divided this book into six sections, where he talks about the Karma in general in the first section, and the next three sections are focused on how we become indebted to what we receive (from parents, teachers, five elements, to animal and plant kingdoms etc). The next section shows us via worksheets how we can balance Karma by not taking the ownership or increase our positive karma in comparison to our negative karma or by just being plain and nice. The next two sections in itself can form a separate book where the author deals with the different attitudes by which we act, The Kleshas, the five sheaths, the three Gunas and so on. Some sections require multiple readings to understand as the concepts are profound.

Reading Karma Sutra by Hingori has been a soul stirring experience for me. It is a book explaining profound concepts, but in such a simple fashion, that even a layman, stepping into the field of spiritualism shall be engulfed in its words of wisdom! 

VERDICT : One of the finest self improvement books I have ever read! It does not seem to bounce over the head. This book will change the way you think and live. Worth reading if you are into spirituality!

Ratings : 4/5

P.S : This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review #124 : The Mistake - A True Love Story

Hi everyone!

When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was my first book from the author. But, I had a wonderful experience by reading this book and it rarely happens that I read the book completely within 2 days. This book is a lovely story with fun from college days. 

For all those who have loved someone and lost them due to some reasons or circumstances, this book comes across as a hope. It's an optimistic read.

I learned. Life depends on our actions and decisions. The book is indeed beautifully written and it reached out into the depths of my soul. Such a tiny book can stir great emotions in the reader too.

Written in simple, easy to understand language, it makes you realise how often we take things for granted. It is an interesting story with the essence of love and romance, full of unexpected turns.

Thank you to the author for writing such a wonderful story. It is realistic. The novel makes you think about your decisions. We feel the emotions of the characters first hand. I really loved how the story narration captures the intricacies of relationships, the longing, drama and choices.

Reading this novel in this weather with some hot chocolate is what I totally recommend.

Rating – 4.5/5

P.S: This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review #123 : 'Til Health Do Us Part

In this well-crafted memoir, author Rooney chronicles her journey towards holistic wellness as she healed from a host of debilitating diseases and her family falling apart.

She introduces readers to her past through flashbacks—physical and sexual abuse as a child, her joyful marriage disintegrating as her husband’s career progressed, and dozens of doctors piling on diagnoses and medications. In 2010, Rooney’s life took a life-altering turn when she moved to Hawaii and met Xavier, a shrewd, composed Eastern healer who guided her towards health with constant probing. Xavier’s enduring patience with her fuels her sense of humor which allows her to express her true feelings. With his help, she thrived and separated herself from the toxic environment of her family, established a healthy diet, and learned to nurture herself. But the biggest hurdle was weaning herself from the heavy medications she had become dependent on for years. As she made monumental strides to improve physically, she also engaged in the grueling emotional work of overcoming the pattern of self-destruction rooted in an inability to love herself. 

The author takes you through her personal transformation, kicking & screaming, as she experiences her awakening realizing that her choices are creating her reality. This book is a soul’s journey, a spiritual story, told by a woman as she discovers that the body, mind & breath are all connected. She comes to realize that her emotional state of consciousness is creating her physical challenges. Xavier helps her to connect with that inner voice which becomes the pivotal trigger that propels her forward with confidence in knowing she has established her connection to her essence. 

Rooney’s writing style is genuine and engaging; short chapters keep the pace lively. The chapters usually ended with a statement that enticed me to keep reading. The narrative weaves seamlessly between what is she experiences in Hawaii, her childhood and young adult years, and the years during which her diseases progress. Not even a physician can fix a person if they're not willing to participate in their own healing. She captures Xavier’s advice in memorable stories and phrases, like his observation that in healing, “there’s a point…where you stop swimming away from something and begin to swim towards something.”

Julie’s honest reflection & relationship with her emotional state of mind throughout the process of healing radiated with so much honesty. You can feel her sorrow when she realizes that she needs to listen to & depend on her own intuitive voice in order to go forward & be truly healthy and happy. I'm inspired and uplifted, and the writing, injected with humor and passion, makes this book worth sharing with anyone I know! Her total healing is raw and remarkable. Quite the courageous lady. 

Verdict : An astonishing yet plausible story of recovery told with authenticity and a healthy dose of humor. Would recommend this book to anyone really wanting to understand what true health is all about.

Rating : 5/5

P.S : This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Book Review #122 : A Man From Mandu

Title - A Man From Mandu
Author - Manoj V. Jain
Genre - Fiction
Publisher - Notion Press
ISBN - 978-1-64587-162-0

This is the third book of Manoj V. Jain that I have read apart from Dystopia & THC.

Wondered how Dhongi babas would picture in this digital era? ‘A Man from Mandu’ is a book of deception, transformation and growth.

We have seen gurus promoting their brand of spiritual wisdom or flooding our timelines and WhatsApp with spiritual messages. Author Manoj Jain picks up on this trend to spin a never-told-before tale about a 'sadhu of stories' in this novel. 

The story is told through the perspective of Tarini who needs a 'project' to revive her corporate career. She uses her marketing skills to create Brand Avishkar Baba! But who exactly is Avishkar Baba and what is his game? Is he a conman, a storyteller or the real deal - a true spiritual leader? And what will happen to Tarini? The story takes you on a ride as to how one becomes a Godman, what are the pros and cons of becoming one, how is the branding done and so on and so forth.

The author reveals the story through the Baba's sermons - which are told in the form of short stories. Each of these stories is engaging and has got a message in itself which makes it stand apart from others. Moreover all these short stories are different from each other in terms of concept. These would also make it a perfect bed time stories for kids; none of them are boring, pretentious or half-baked. Those are the stories you would want to re-read to decipher more positives from it.

Talking about the writing style and storyline, it is simply beautiful and gripping. There is wisdom lying all over the pages in Manoj’s books. He is one among the few authors who has always given a different subject rather than sticking on to a single genre. Both the lead characters, Tarini, and Dhawal a.k.a. Avishkar Baba have been well-crafted.

What I liked the most about the story was the characterization and the sequence of events are so perfectly woven that you don’t feel isolated with the story and narration even once. Each chapter begins with a quote from none other than Avishkar Baba himself. After completing the book, I read those quotes again and I must say, some of them really brought changes in me.

The climax of the book is so nicely closed that I was just getting emotional yet happy to have read such a book which leaves you with so many questions and answers at the same time. The author has embedded philosophy, spirituality, love and struggles- all into this small story of 170 pages and the amount of beautiful moments and messages it gives you throughout stay with you forever!

The best part is, there is no space for unwanted text in the book. It's full of twists and turns and once you start reading you won't realize when you completed it, it's definitely that gripping.

The book is light, innovatively written and extremely entertaining! Definitely recommended!

P.S: This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

RATINGS : 4.75/5