“Your childhood hunger is the one that never leaves you.”
THE NEW YEAR STANDS BEFORE US, LIKE A CHAPTER IN A BOOK, WAITING TO BE WRITTEN. WE CAN HELP WRITE THAT STORY BY SETTING GOALS.
Melody Beattie
WHAT'S INSIDE
STORIZEN INTERVIEW
Durria Kapasi - Author, Once Upon A Genie
Swapna Peri
are Displaced by Malala
Malala Yousafzai
Preeti Gill & Samrat
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE
New Year Love Story
Sumana Bhattacharya
STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE
Review
Tejaswi Vajinepalli
Anubha Mehta
46
STORIZEN REVIEW
WHAT'S INSIDE
Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole
– Meera Menon
50
STORIZEN REVIEW
Hungry Gods by Richa Lakhera
- Himani Gupta
54
STORIZEN REVIEW
Rise in Love by Siddharth
Roy – Swapna Peri
58
STORIZEN REVIEW
Gurgaon by Veena Talwar
Oldenburg
– Swapna Peri
– Namrata Thakur 61
STORIZEN POETRY
New Beginnings
– Shalini Menezes 64
STORIZEN POETRY
Another Year Gone By
– Aparna Mukherjee 66
STORIZEN POETRY
Ring The New Year Bells
calling all writers!
DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF STORIZEN FAMILY?
You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues. from the editor
The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” This quote by Melody Beattie aptly describes the New Year 2019 and the theme for our January Issue, New Beginnings!
This New Year, we are glad to start off and feature Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – whose books have charmed the audience and her latest book ‘The Forest of Enchantments’ is worth a read!
We take pride in announcing three new hot releases including Malala Yousafzai’s 'We are displaced'. Joining it are Amaryllis Publishers latest releases Insider/Outsider by Preeti Gill & Samrat Choudhary and Peacock in the Snow by Anubha Mehta.
This issue features an interview with Durriya Kapasi, author of the book Once Upon A Genie published by Half Baked Beans.
Our January 2019 Issue is packed with four book reviews, stories and poems from our contributors.
We received a lot of love through the tear 2018 and we heartily want to thank our readers, contributors for the constant support, encouragement and feedback. And we look forward to continuous showering of love and support.
You make us where we are today!
Help us spread the word by a like, comment and share and let us grow our family of Storizen!
Happy Reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com
#Decoding CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
From doing odd jobs to Author, CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI has written many books including the recent "The Forest of Enchantments". In a candid conversation, she shares his journey with Pria
by Pria
How did the journey from working on Odd Jobs like babysitting, store clerk etc.turn towards writing? Was it a passion?
I think immigration made me into a writer. It opened up so many experiences (because for the first time I was working at all these jobs and also just struggling to survive financially and living away from my family).
Writing helped me deal with these experiences and also to make sense of immigrant life. It also helped me to put into words what (from halfway across the world) India meant to me.
Both real-life observations and library research are part of my writing process.
The Ramayana, one of the world's greatest epics, is also a tragic love story. In this brilliant retelling, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Sita at the centre of the novel: this is Sita's version. The Forest of Enchantments is also a very human story of some of the other women in the epic, often misunderstood and relegated to the margins: Kaikeyi, Surpanakha, Mandodari. A powerful comment on duty, betrayal, infidelity and honour, it is also about women's struggle to retain autonomy in a world that privileges men, as Chitra transforms an ancient story into a gripping, contemporary battle of wills.
Your novels are based on multiple genres like realistic fiction, historical fiction, myth and fantasy etc. Do you feel that readers are fascinated by the real life more or somewhat imagination/fantasy also is a motivation to read?
I think there are both kinds of readers. For instance, one of my very popular books is Sister of My Heart—that is completely realistic, beginning in 1970s India and moving to the US as one of the main characters gets married and settles there. On the other hand, The Palace of Illusions is probably my most popular book so far, and that is set in mythic times. So I think what matters most is that the characters need to come to life so that readers can relate to them.
You also co-founded a helpline for South Asian women battling domestic abuse. Was any real incident/case behind the initiative? (no personal details expected)
Yes, indeed. There were a couple of cases in the San Francisco area, where I lived at that time, of women in really bad situations of abuse and despair with nowhere to turn. One of them tried to commit suicide. It really shocked me when I met her afterwards. I got together with a group of my women friends and we decided something needed to be done. There needed to be an organization that women in distress or despair could reach out to. Thus we founded Maitri. Now Maitri has grown immensely and helps many women start new lives each year. In Houston I am on the Advisory Board of a similar organization called Daya.
Tell us about the book ‘The Forest of Enchantments’.
It is the retelling of the Ramayan in Sita’s voice, her point of view. In it, I show Sitaat different stages of her life: when she is a girl and falls deeply in love with Ram at first sight, when she insists on leaving Ayodhya and going with him to the forest, her darkest times after being abducted by Ravan, her happiness when she is finally queen of Ayodhya, her ultimate banishment to the forest by Ram, and her strength as she brings up her sons on her own. I have tried to imagine her thoughts and feelings, her happiness and her pain, her relationship with the other women in the Ramayan, and how the world appears through her eyes. I have tried to show that the age-old patriarchal evaluation of her character
silent sufferer isn’t really correct. It is a project very much like The Palace of Illusions, where I retold the Mahabharat from Draupadi’s viewpoint.
What kind of research have you been doing while authoring your books? Or your real-life observations/experience led you to writing the books?
Both real-life observations and library research are part of my writing process. Even in writing The Forest of Enchantments, I used both kinds. I read up on many different versions of the Ramayan, and delved into whatever scholarly material is available about life in those times. But I also listened to popular folk songs about Sita and asked many people of their opinion of Sita’s character.
Do you think a few people may differ with you regarding some events or subplots that you have written? How do you deal with such situations/criticism?
Almost every event in The Forest of Enchantments is taken directly from Valmiki, Krittibas, the Kamba Ramayan or the Adbhuta Ramayan. It is only my interpretation of the characters and their motivation that is unique. And if people disagree with that interpretation, that is of course their right, as long as they have a good reason. I
always listen to criticism and check carefully to see if there is something for me to learn from it so I can become a better writer. But if it is only someone’s opinion not based on any fact (or sometimes--sadly--opinions of people who haven’t even read the book), then I don’t take it too seriously.
In any of your books, is there any true-life story of any person(s)?
I have sometimes been inspired by true life stories, but I always change key elements carefully so that the characters become fictional.
I don’t really want to make use of any specific person’s life—or trauma—to create my books. Of course, I have used powerful historical events, such as the post-Godhra violence in India, and the post 9/11 violence in American in novels like Oleander Girl and Queen of Dreams. And right now I am writing a historical novel with real-life characters.
What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
That is a tough question. Maybe it was that story ideas kept appearing. I had seriously been afraid, after writing my first novel, Mistress of Spices, that I’d run out of things to say that would interest readers! I am thankful that Goddess Saraswati has blessed me to continue writing. It is one of my greatest joys.
Words of wisdom for your readers and followers!
Reading is a wonderful activity—it opens up our worlds and our lives. It gives us empathy for those who are unlike us. It makes us deeply human. I love reading. I have to read a little bit everyday. I tell everyone I know that they must keep reading so their minds and hearts can expand. I have a great deal of love and admiration for my readers. The other side of the coin is, that without readers, there would be no writers. We’re in this together! So I’m deeply thankful to all my readers who keep me motivated to write by often asking me “what’s next?”
In what ways do you promote your books? Do you feel they add or detract your working time?
I have a website and some social media presence: Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram. I like interacting with my readers, so it’s quite enjoyable. I do keep a strict limit on the time I spend doing this—because it all comes out of writing time. And of course, when a new book is published, I do a tour. I am a somewhat nervous traveler, so I hope many readers will come to the events for The Forest of Enchantments and give me encouragement and support.
Other books you working on at present?
I am working on a historical novel, but I don’t want to give away the subject!
What do your future projects look like? Any plans for converting those books into movies?
divulge information at this point. All I can say to my readers is, keep your fingers crossed for me!
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
I have actually become quite fond of e-books. They are so helpful when I travel, and more earth friendly as well. But I must say when I held a copy of The Forest of Enchantments in my hands, it was a very special feeling. I feel one should try conventional publishing first. You get so much help. For instance, my wonderful editor Diya Kar at HarperCollins gave me so much helpful feedback. But alternative publishing is becoming very strong now, because of small presses, Amazon, etc. Certainly something to be considered. I’m talking to several producers about the possibility of books being turned into movies or maybe Netflix serials. But I’m not allowed to
For those interested in exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start?
I invite everyone to my website, www.chitradivakaruni.com. There is quite a bit of information about all my books there.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
I have been inspired by stalwarts such as Tolstoy and Tagore, and strong women writers such as Mahasweta Devi, Toni Morrison and Margaret Atwood. They have all taught me the importance of writing about things I care deeply about, even if those are disturbing truths.
What is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?
One of the most important things people don’t know about the epics, particularly the Ramayan, is that it has existed in so many versions down the ages. So if we take up a fanatical attitude and say, no one should write their own version of the epics, or, no one should change what we think of Ram and Sita (which is actually based more on popular retellings and films than the original Valmiki) then we are going against the spirit of great writers like Tulsidas, Krittibas, Kamban and Chandravati who felt inspired to bring these characters to life in their own way.
What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive?
Most useful: following a strict writing routine and reading a lot so I could learn from great books. Least useful: thinking that there is only 1 way to write a story. Or trying to copy popular novel structures or scenes. You have to come up with your own!
What was your goals and intentions in the book‘The Forest of Enchantments’, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My goal in The Forest of Enchantments is to make people really think about Sita’s character and to have them admire her for the right reasons: because she was courageous, not meek. Because she was resilient, not long-suffering. Because at the most important moments of her life, she stood up for what she believed in, no matter what she had to give up for it.
(As told to Pria) (Visit www.storizen.com for the full coverage!)
About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too.
She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.
@mystery_pria
@Loudest_Mystery
pria@storizen.com
HOT OFF THE PRESS
In a time of immigration crises, war, and border conflicts, We are Displaced is an important reminder from one of the world’s most prominent young activists that every single one of the 68.5 million currently displaced is a person – often a young person – with hopes and dreams, and that everyone deserves universal human rights and a safe home.
Nobel Peace Prize winner and bestselling author Malala Yousafzai introduces some of the people behind the statistics and news stories we read or hear every day about the millions of people displaced worldwide.
After her father was murdered in the civil conflict in Columbia, Maria had to escape in the middle of the night with her four siblings and her mother who did not dare tell them she feared they would be next
Zaynab was out of school for two years as she fled war in Yemen before finally landing in America. Her sister, Sabreen, survived a harrowing journey from Egypt to Italy
Marie Claire was nine when her family escaped the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They fled to Zambia but quickly discovered that the people there did not want them
Malala’s experiences travelling the world and visiting refugee camps caused her to reconsider her own displacement – first as an Internally Displaced Person when she was a young child in Pakistan, and then as an international activist who could travel anywhere in the world, except to the home she loved. In We are Displaced, which is part memoir, part communal storytelling, Malala not only explores her own story of adjusting to a new life while longing for home, but she also shares the personal stories of some of the incredible girls she has met on her
HOT OFF THE PRESS
various journeys – girls who have lost their community, relatives and often the only world they’ve ever known.
In a time of immigration crises, war, and border conflicts, We are Displaced is an important reminder from one of the world’s most prominent young activists that every single one of the 68.5 million currently displaced is a person – often a young person –with hopes and dreams, and that everyone deserves universal human rights and a safe home.
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist, student and the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. At age 15, she was attacked by the Taliban for speaking out for the rights of girls in her community to go to school. Malala recovered, continued her campaign and, as co-founder of Malala Fund, is building a global movement of support for girls’ education
About Malala Fund - Malala Fund is working for a world where all girls can learn and lead. Malala Fund advocates for resources and policy change needed to give all girls a secondary education, invests in developing country educators and activists and amplifies the voices of girls fighting for change. Learn more at malala.org
HOT OFF THE PRESS
We all know what North-Easterners face in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. But not much is known about the innumerable problems faced by the North-Easterners within the North-East. This book is an eye-opener in that sense.
Amaryllis is delighted to inform about our new release
Insider/Outsider: Belonging and Unbelonging in North-East India, a compelling and untold bunch of short non-fiction, essays and poems that address the issues faced by the North-Eastern states of India, edited by Preeti Gill and Samrat Chaudhary. The North-East is a complex mosaic of multiple ethnicities, languages, religions and tribes. Apart from the groups that lay claim to indigeneity, there are minorities here from communities that are majorities elsewhere in the Indian mainland. These are people who are typically viewed as outsiders in the North-East, though they may have been living there for generations.
These shared twin experiences of being simultaneously insiders and outsiders is the subject of this anthology. There are scholarly essays as well as personal accounts and a few poems. The result is a delightful mix that opens up a window to a part of the world that is still little known and poorly understood, whose experiences may shed some light on global issues of migration and citizenship as embodied in the lives of ordinary people.
We all know what North-Easterners face in cities like Delhi and Bangalore. But not much is known about the innumerable problems faced by the North-Easterners within the North-East. This book is an eye-opener in that sense.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A page-turner about the power of love, sacrifice and the tireless capacity of the human spirit to hope, strive and succeed despite impossible circumstances.
Amaryllis is delighted to inform you about our latest release, Peacock in the Snow by Dr. Anubha Mehta. After creating waves in the North American subcontinent, the Indian of this genre-bending thriller, published by Amaryllis, will be launched on 19 January 2019 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. On her short book tour of India, Anubha will be presenting at various prime events including the Jaipur Literature Festival, 2019. This is an opportunity to chat with this versatile author on her perspectives of privilege, patriarchy and power across geographic boundaries and cultures. Having served in the Canadian Public Service for the past twenty years, with a doctorate in Political Science,
Anubha has won awards for her leadership work with diverse Canadian communities and is presently engaged in hands-on projects within the writer community in Canada.
Peacock in the Snow is a page-turner about the power of love, sacrifice and the tireless capacity of the human spirit to hope, strive and succeed despite impossible circumstances.
Anubha, who was born in India, has woven a tale for readers on both sides of the globe. In her adventurous journey, the protagonist Maya, for readers in the West, reveals the allure, decadence, and degeneracy of the upper class in the East. For readers in the East, this narrative satisfies their curiosity on what life looks like in the West for a family who migrates ‘not fleeing persecution or
A page-turner about the power of love, sacrifice and the tireless capacity of the human spirit to hope, strive and succeed despite impossible circumstances.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
poverty, but redefining themselves in Canada all the same after having lost the privileges they enjoyed in their home country’, Toronto All Lit Up states in its review. Born to privilege and wed to her high school sweetheart Veer, a free-spirited Maya feels trapped in a conventional upper-class family in India, weighed down by suffocating patriarchal expectations. Claustrophobic within the dark walls of the mansion in which she lives with Veer, she starts living precariously through the threads of her curiosity. This curiosity leads Maya to unearth a dark family secret a brutal ancestral murder − which begins to haunt her and also affect her marriage.
To escape the malicious spirits lingering in the house, Maya and her family move to Canada and discover the hardship and bounty that the new land offers. As she tries to rebuild her life amidst the struggles of settling in a new country, her relationship with Veer is tested beyond its limits. Not knowing that the ghosts of their past have followed them, in a race against time, Maya is put to a final test. She realizes that the only way to overcome past wrongs is to face them. Armed with conviction and courage, she sets out to face the dark forces that lie await. Will Maya ever be free of a dark past? Will she be able to survive so far away from home and at what cost? Will her marriage stand the test of time, displacement, and hardship in a new country?
Author, Once Upon A Genie
DURRIYA KAPASI
Writing a fantasy genre book is always an interesting risk. After the huge success of Once Upon a Genie, what exactly made you think and come up with the second book in the series?
Once Upon A Genie is my first published book, I was curious and also excited to know how readers going to take it, but deep down inside, I knew this plot is going to be unique and liked by many. While writing Once Upon A Genie, I got the idea of my second book, its plot and characters which turned out as a sequel, Neverfound Land.
How are the responses for the unusual and impossible love story from the readers?
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
I believe the readers appreciated the story, specially the character of Khalil in Once Upon a Genie. And now, Solomon in Neverfound Land.
Is there any particular person's resemblance in real in Solomon's character in the sequel, ' Never Found Land ‘?
Not really, but what I imagined about Solomon’s physical appearance is somewhat near to an Iraqi model, Alexander Uloom.
Other than fantasy, what this that one genre you really want to explore and maybe write a book?
I wish to write a horror story someday because I am also very much fond of the horror genre in general, be it books or movies. I’ve added little bit of horror in both of my published books.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Do you want each book to stand on it’s own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' Nataraja, Kartikeya, Ganesha and the Devis in their various forms.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Yes I want each book to have its own characteristics and charisma. If it’s a sequel then a little connection is also required for the ease of readers.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Some publishing houses that offer paid anthologies or paid publishing. Aspiring authors often fall for this trap, pay and get your work published. No one really cares about the quality content or editing, hence affecting the literature all around.
It does energize me, because when I’m writing I travel to a world of my own fantasyimagination, and relax there with my characters in the magical genie world.
What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
Like I said, money plays one of the most unethical roles here. Earlier, getting your book published was a task because content was priority, now it seems money taken over it and compromise the quality content.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I prefer the balance between both.
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
Writing comes from heart, and feeling every emotions are needless but words should descriptive and expressed strongly so that the readers feel them exactly the way you want.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
There are many I don’t want to miss any names so better I should not mention them.
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
My early experience of writing started from Wattpad.com, an online community of readers and writers. There I read works of very talented international writers, both newbies and experienced.
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
The book is work of fiction and imagination. No real people, character, and incidents are taken.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I wrote 3 unpublished books (published online) on wattpad.com before writing Once Upon a Genie
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
What does literary success look like to you?
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home' a good marketing company. If you have no such budget then keeping all your social media handles active definitely helps in promotion.
People says literatures are getting distinct because readers are declining in world, I don’t believe in this, Readers are changing their way of consuming content. Everything is getting digital so is literature and that’s good.
What’s the best way to market your books?
Content- if worth doesn’t need marketing, you know there are many master pieces written decades back and never marketed but because of its exclusivity it reached millions of readers and still spreading. Still, to answer your question, author should purely focus on writing and for marketing its best to hire
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I don’t do any research in advance; I actually frame my plot first and then work on the research needed. If I need to visit places, which are practically possible, then I do it otherwise I try to connect with people from that place (city/ town) to give me firsthand account. Then there is internet to help me.
Daisy had no idea what was in store for her when she uncovered the priceless reward concealed in a miscellaneous bottle; a super sexy genie that would pull the rugs below her feet. Khalil Muwahid, the genie owed Daisy his gratitude for freeing him from the trap. He generously asked her for three wishes without holding any grudges against her. Gradually there was a strong connection between them, the bond of love. Also, the rules of Djinn world were amended for their love, where Daisy wasn't supposed to ask for the third wish since they could be together, everlastingly. BUT on the horns of Dilemma, Darren, Daisy's best friend's life was at threat. Does she use the last wish to save Darren? Or does she save her love?
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Spirituality is something, which comes from heart and appears on your character. My spiritual practice usually shows in my writing, especially when I try to give a positive message.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Framing the basic plot. Once I cross this stage everything goes smooth until I finish my book.
Anything you would like to say to your readers.
Every writer takes lot of pain and hard work to complete his / book and getting published, but its very easy to comment good and bad. I request all
readers to balance their words with sensitivity and keep motivating writers.
(Interviewed by Swapna Peri)
A New Year Love Story
by Sumana Bhattacharya
Tiya wades through traffic impatiently on New Year’s Eve. She’s headed to the club to meet her friends where they will usher new year and then go to a friends’ place and chat through the night over a few drinks. This has been their ritual for the last few years and she’s excited about Tarun joining them this year, she sincerely hopes he does. While the over-crowded roads, slow moving traffic and constant honking irritates her, she tries to keep her spirit up thinking about the evening ahead!
Like every year she’s been planning this for long time. It’s not easy to get into a good place in Gurgaon on
Dec 31st unless you prebook, and of course you are over charged. While she was thinking about all the trouble she went through to get bookings for the new year’s extravaganza in this club, she suddenly remembered the quiet and simple new year celebrations of her childhood – mom would cook a nice dinner, bake a cake and they would all sit together before the black & white TV (Westin was it?) to watch the special shows. First, a look back at the year that was, a recap of the important happenings of the year passing by that was presented by the suave DD news readers. Meenu, Geetanjali Aiyer,
Shammi Narang and their ilk had a class and a poise that is completely lost to news anchors of our times.
Then came the much-awaited year-ender presented by a Bollywood star, with lot of nanch, gaana, smart oneliners and jokes and Bollywood numbers. In fact, all the different shows on different Bollywood award nights that we see now are basically a modern and glitzy take on the old DD format. The grand finale would come at 12 with a big star presenting a special number welcoming the new year. Tiya vaguely remembered Hungama 85 or 89 was it? After that they would cut the cake wish each other new year and go to bed. Stuck in traffic that is barely moving now she suddenly missed those simple new year festivities, they didn’t do much but there was so much
warmth. When she invited Tarun for the new year’s party he did suggest that she could come over and he could cook her a nice meal and they could watch a movie together or listen to music. But Tiya wanted to impress Tarun with the glitzy club and introduce him to her friends. Tarun however wasn’t too excited about the club, though he promised Tiya that he would try to join. They have been dating for a while now but Tarun is yet to meet her friends. Each time she tried organizing a lunch or an evening do with her friends, there was always some last moment work emergency due to which he couldn’t attend. So, when Tarun suggested a quiet dinner at home instead of a party with her friends for New Year’s Eve, Tiya felt he was
avoiding meeting her friends and that made her uncomfortable. May be Tarun sensed that and agreed to come.
Tiya wondered whether she could even make it to the club. Most of her friends were already there and she still has an hour to go according to GPS. What if Tarun reaches before her, he doesn’t really know anybody. Soon enough the phone rang, it was Tarun he left very early so he could be in the club on time, and now that she’s yet to reach he will wait for her at lobby. Tiya felt terrible, the unending traffic and chaos frustrated her. Somehow, she manoeuvred her way to the club and found Tarun patiently waiting for her at the lobby. He’s been waiting for almost an hour with a bouquet of flower and an old fashion New Year’s greeting card. Tiya was touched,
by
Photo
Joanna Nix
nobody has given her a greeting card in years. As Tarun smiled shyly, she opened the card, ‘It has been wonderful meeting you’, the card read. ‘Are you sure you want to go to this crowed club?’
Tarun asked, ‘we could still go to my place and have a quite dinner.’ ‘Let’s just go to your place, cook together and watch some TV,’ Tiya said, she’s had enough noise for one night. ‘But what about your friends?’ asked Tarun. ‘I will message them, we are very late anyway,’ said Tiya. They celebrated new year over Tarun’s home cooked meal and few glassed of beer (Tuborg strong
was their favourite drink). And they talked through the cold winter night into the new day!
Sumana Bhattacharya is a PR practitioner by profession and a writer by passion. She recently started a blog The Retro Feeling that stems from nostalgia, longing or twinge of guilt for days gone by or left behind. Her style is simple, and she likes to write about things she feels deeply about. Sumana is a post graduate in English from Hyderabad Central University. She works for PR agency and lives in Gurgaon.
@theretrofeelings
@the_retro_feeling
It is believed that resolutions tend to change your lifestyle drastically and it did happen in my Life. My 2k18 resolution was writing a daily journal and it had a huge impact on me. Mainly the fact that I am writing a journal daily from one year gives me immense satisfaction and boosts me up that I can work on things with enough commitment and patience. This year truly is a
2k18 Review
BY TEJASWI VAJINEPALLI
game changer for me, I have done things that I never thought would happen in my life, starting with the diet I followed for the first 4 months of this year, getting into a relationship, getting an opportunity to fly to Stanford. I was a part of college Entrepreneurship Club and was actively involved in all the activities throughout the year making me a part of many
professional societies. Then I networked through all the platforms that were in my reach to increase my contacts, make friends which filled my life with completeness.
Improving social network had a lot of advantages than I could ever imagine for it taught me to accept things at a faster pace. I got to know about traditions all over India that I would never get to know until I get to that place. Virtual friends just created a virtual world for me so beautiful. It gave me broader view of society, a person like me who was once afraid to converse with a new person now has been networking wonderfully and people actually are liking me. That appreciation and recognition fellow individuals give telling you what are the positive and negative aspects in me was a real discovery and an amazing feeling to experience. The reason for this change is as well reading books that my virtual buddies made me get habituated to.
There are no proper words with which I can thank them for they have given me so much. Most importantly when you need the like-minded people who are not found in your locality and can’t sync with you. It is the social network that gives you company in the form of virtual friends, a company is always needed to share things, to stand by and to guide you all throughout. These virtual friends made me realize this and made me discover the actual reason for my depression that I am fighting with for many years and taught me how to fight it. I used to suffer frequently with anxiety attacks and panic attacks but my parents never knew, they thought it was out of some stress but the actual reason is a much bigger picture, that awareness and discovery helped me fight better. This networking also taught me some weaknesses of mine, the main important thing to connect to any person is by being a part of their nativity and that helps us to click on really well. My resolution for next year is to learn Hindi for
better communication, a more appropriate understanding and a better comfort level.
Tejaswi Vajinepalli is a final year Mechanical Engineering Student from Guntur. He is an avid reader and a passionate writer. He loves to express his feelings by penning down his thoughts.
@philo_psyche
@TejaswiVajinepalli
by Meera Menon
The ‘Dreams Of A Dark Warrior’ is the 11th book of Cole’s IDA series, the story of eternal love.“He’d vowed he’d come for her”… “And she awaits his return” - a Valkyrie awaiting the return of her berserker. Met centuries ago, Regin the radiant (an immortal) and Aidan the fierce (mortal foraging immortality) were cursed never to be together. The results have always proved fatal for Aidan in each and every rebirth of his. Would it be any different this time?
Dreams Of A Dark Warrior
by Kresley Cole
Aiden is reborn, this time as a brutal Celtic soldier, vowed to hunt down what is left of the immortals. Just as always, there is no trace of past-life memories in him. The reincarnation, Declan Chase, who portrays an exasperated warrior, is ‘driven by revenge’. On his road to destroy the immortal world he captures Regin, all set for the brutal examination. Will she be able to escape their torture? Is Chase ever going to remember the events of his past life?
About the Book: ‘The Dreams of a Dark Warrior’, the Kresley Cole romance cum fantasy work, had rolled out into the readers’ world on the 11th of Feb, 2011. Through her novel, the New York Times bestseller Kresley takes us on a fantasy ride, a ride that narrates the tale of ‘Regin the radiant’ and her beloved Adian.
About the Author: Kresley Cole is one of the most celebrated American novelists, infact the number one New York Times bestseller for YA’s and fantasyromance. She is most widely known for her ‘Immortals of the dead’, a paranormal series with Dreams of a Dark Warrior being a part. She was bestowed with the RWA awards, thrice, thereby getting her name inscribed in the RWA hall of fame in 2009. Her books have been translated to over 23 different languages.
Summary:
Verdict: If you are among those few for whom Valkyries, Vampires, and all those mystical characters seem live, then, IDA series is a perfect shot. I had picked up ‘The Dreams of a Dark Warrior’ at the Bookchor exhibition, without quite knowing it had prequels. This played a major role in making it a bit difficult for me to place the missing jigsaws (especially the characters mentioned). Still, I’d say the book is pretty much a standalone and you can give it a read even if you haven’t read numbers 1-10. The plot, characters (the good and irritating ones), the flow, each and everything is simply commendable. The book was capable of keeping me glued to it. Even so, there were times when I got so jaded with the hero, Declan Chase, and the plot seemed never-ending. I would give a 4.5 for the whole resonance the read gives.
An engineer by profession, Meera is deeply passionate about blogging, art, and photography. Her focus is mainly on travelogues. Being a folklorist in making, she goes about with a purpose of documenting various cultures. She is also an avid reader who enjoys the company of good crime/mystery novels.
@carvingmemory
@Meera_Menon_P @memorycarver
by Himani Gupta
The cover of the book is very interesting perfectly match with the title that will urge you to purchase the book and read it. The plot of the book is very bold and appealing that will make you hooked to the book till you complete it. It was for the first time I enjoyed reading a crime thriller. I finished this book at one go as I could not stop myself to keep the book aside till, I complete it. Every character of the book was interesting to read whether Dr
Hungry Gods
by Richa Lakhera
Ranga a pervert or Valentine or silva. The language of the book was crisp and easy to understand. Revenge, sex cruelty these were the emotions depicted in the book which were very enjoyable read. The book was not vulgar but a beautiful concept to read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book because of the wonderful concept. The climax was top of the world which was hard to swallow where every suspense was revealed slowly. Every character had dark side but as a reader you will enjoy reading every character. Richa Lakhera had written wonderful crime thriller and I will recommend everyone to read this.
About the Book: Beaten and brutally raped, her body is never found. However, the killers make one mistake. They leave a witness, a witness who has nothing to live for except
revenge. And when he crosses the boundaries of time to make the guilty pay, a whole lot of dark characters come to light. There is Valentine, the superstar brand ambassador who sells anything for a price; there is Medici, a pharmaceutical company fraudulently manufacturing banned drugs; there is the perverted and sinister minded Dr Ranga and there is Este, the prostitute whose dark secret will blow up a daughter’s sanity. So, is there another murder waiting to happen? Will Police Inspector Dorab Silva be able to connect the clues to prevent another crime? Will these gods of greed be exposed? And yes, you will be surprised by who you will find there, finally. Deeply unsettling, Hungry Gods takes a hard look at greed for wealth and power.
About the Author: Hungry Gods is Richa Lakhera’s third novel, she has previously written Item Girl, a crime novel and Garbage Beat, a satire on the Indian entertainment industry. A libertarian addicted to absurdism, she works as Deputy Editor at NDTV. She has a Master’s in Organic Chemistry and Bio-technology and is the recipient of the Indian Council for UN Relations (ICUNR) Award for Excellence in Journalism. Richa divides her time between New Delhi and Mumbai and is currently working on her next crime fiction novel.
Book Review
Summary:
Book: Hungry Gods
Publisher: Rupa Publications
India
Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ A gripping crime thriller that will keep you hooked with the book till you finish it. A must-read book for those who love to read crime thrillers.
In her own words: I am Himani Gupta, By profession, I am an HR Manager working in Bengaluru. Reading is my hobby which led me to write reviews for my readers. I have read and reviewed numerous books so far. Rohit is my favorite writer as far as writing is concerned and I wait for his books to read. If you wish to get your book reviewed, do feel free to contact me.
@himanigoyal21
by Swapna Peri
The story is about Adi and Adhira, two young and charismatic individuals who live in either side of the worlds fighting for their dreams. There are some hardships faced by both of them from the families. But the friends in their life come to their rescue at such hard times. The birth of love between these two scripts a new story in their life.
The story talks about a simple person's complicated journey
Rise in Love
by Siddharth Roy
that is always tossed with problems and the fight against them.
What I like:
1. The importance of relationships with family and friends is explained well.
2. The psychological fight one undergoes when life decisions are often altered b family pressures is nicely showcased.
3. No matter what may happen, achieving the goal is the ultimate pinnacle of success and this is clearly explained by every character.
What I didn't like:
1. Average looking cover image of the book.
2. The feeble ending of the story.
Language and Grammar: A simple yet good language with proper grammar is found.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a simple silhouette image of a couple during the dusk. Nothing much can be explained about the story from the cover image.
Book Title: The title of the book ' Rise in Love ' is positive and interesting.
Narration: Some books have a narration that is directed to a set of readers. If it is a love story it definitely targets college people or youngsters. But here, the author has managed to attract readers of age with effective storytelling with no traces of chic romance or freestyle simple writing through the story falls under the romance genre.
Characters: The characters of the male and female protagonists along with their family and relatives are very well written. Most of them are relatable and the readers can get connected easily.
My Verdict: A good one time read!
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
@swapna.peri
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City
by Swapna Peri
In this book, the author has put forward the facts and figurines of a village changing to a city. This also amplifies the political reasons behind the changes occurred. Also, a part of the book is dedicated to the ancient history of the city.
by Veena Talwar Oldenburg
What I like:
1. An honest attempt that showcases happiness and at the same time anguish when changes happen at a larger level.
2. The emotional turmoil of certain sections of people is scripted very well in the book in the form of some incidents.
3. The difference in making the public understand what real development is.
What I didn't like:
1. At a personal level when I don't belong to the North side of the country, it took a while to induce myself into the emotion of a city. But the author's narration has helped me in understanding the transition every citizen has gone through.
2. Somehow I felt that the author has failed to present before the readers the limitations a city when developed only at a superficial layer.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a picture of skyscrapers and modern buildings depicting a welldeveloped city in infrastructure.
Book Title: The title of the book ' Gurgaon: From Mythic Village to Millennium City ' clearly states the metamorphosis of a village named ' Gurugram ' to one of the busiest cities in Northern India, ' Gurgoan '
Language and Grammar: Good language and fine grammar are used.
Narration: A fine narration is found in the book.
My Verdict: A onetime read.
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
@swapna.peri
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
New Beginnings
by Namrata Thakur
That breaking dawn is the hope, Sun is just below the horizon. Dedicated weaver bird shows, that genesis lies in the efforts we grow.
Beginnings are not necessarily the origin. Only a focused sculptor can tell. Playing with all positives and negatives very well. All it takes for the transformation from a rock to perfectly sculpted block.
Chef and DJ Carlo gives us a tour in Rome, Italy
Those inchoate relations, we make. Act as the cherry on the cake. for all the goals, we want to achieve. They got our back, to make us believe.
Jen is loving her 15 minutes of fame and fortune
If every page was a road. Each story was a destination untold. The inception of success is just because of the failures we Patiently face.
The change begins today. Each new beginnings starts with the end of something. Everyday is a chance, to step ahead. For better tomorrow in advance. Hand in hand it all goes, Like living our nourishment vows. Human intellect is just like a clay. All it needs is a Perfect way.
Chef and DJ Carlo gives us a tour in Rome, Italy
For new beginnings And happy endings !
Jen is loving her 15 minutes of fame and fortune
Namrata Thakur is an practicing architect from Nashik while an author by passion. She already had an hand in writing essays and speeches during her school days. She is strong beliver of simplicity is the best form of sophistication. The best teacher to her in world is travelling.She better knows that observation makes person always the better from the previous ones. She has her works earlier published as a contributing author in various anthologies.All she wants is to make her writings a medium to bring out a change towards to betterment of society.
by
Photo
Meagan Paddock
Another Year Gone By
by Shalini Menezes
Another year gone by In the twinkle of an eye
Thankful to the One above Who made this possible with ❤
The lessons learnt along the way New friends who are with us to stay Reviving old treasured friendships
Filling our lives with renewed partnerships
Pray our families stay close and united
Strengthening bonds always committed
Our faith in the One keeps growing stronger And happiness, joy, and peace always linger
A happy New Year to all across the globe
May this year bring all you desire and much more Treasured memories across the miles
Thank you, Lord for filling our lives with smiles
Originally from Mumbai and living in Dubai since last 2 decades, Shalini got closely connected with Kerala after interacting with many friends colleagues from Kerala and partaking in their cultural events. She is a passionate lover of words, a toastmaster for a decade, a poet, and a blogger.
@shalini-menezes @shalini_menezes
Photo CreditsRay Hennessy
Ring The New Year Bells
by Aparna Mukherjee
The moment when you want to feast and jubilate.
The moment when you want to fill the shades of colors. The time has arrived now.
For, here are the hours, You have been waiting for so long, When you can zing up and cheer.
As this is the time,
To party in the vibrant ambiance, Of the glorious ensuing new year.
Blow the past candles of despair.
Release yourself from the beads of fear.
The present times call for,
To jazz up and welcome, The ring of new year bells, With smiles and cheers.
Tap your feet,
To the music beats. Raise a toast, And make the most.
Of the present time, That fills with pleasure, With beautiful memories to treasure.
Time to pop the champagne, Let off the fireworks, And cut the cake.
In the honour of the coming year, For everyone which is so dear.
The current year is slipping by, Walk ahead from the dark into the light, May every day, Be a brand new day. With hopes and possibilities, On your way.
The year that will be ending soon, May the year turn out to be a boon. To all of you there, Who are close and afar. Holding the glass of wine, Wishing the new year, May brightly shine.
In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online content writer and blogger who writes informative articles for various UK and US blogs and websites.
Her poems got published in the digital Reflection Magazine and in the Indian literature website named Facestory's.com. She is a budding author too. Her first story on romantic theme got published in a book named "Memoirs Of Love".
As a person, she is open-minded, downto-earth and amiable in nature. Her world revolves around creativity. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on her readers' minds.
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