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
Irecall a quote by Anne Frank - “Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”
The life is full of darkness and light, with lots of ups and downs, we have kept the theme for the month of November 2019 as the "Journey Towards Light".
We are delighted to feature A Passionate HistorianRana Safvi who will tell us that how every monument has a story and how her love for history germinated and bloomed to share the tales.
Book Lovers, this month we bring you six hot releases in association with HarperCollins Publishers viz. Strange Stories by an award-winning author ShreyaSen-Handley, Against The Wind - A Life’s Journey by Rajni Kumar, and TheBook Of Kindness by Om Swami. Grab your copies NOW!
Do check out our Editor's Choice article of the month"Let's Fall To Rise Again" by Stuti Gogia
Packed with poetry to touch your hearts and four book reviews you will surely enjoy the issue!
We received a lot of love and support and would like to thank our readers and contributors.
Help us spread the word by a like, comment and share!
Happy Reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com
A PASSIONATE HISTORIAN RANA SAFVI
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
After writing three successful books on history, Rana Safvi has another feather in her cap with her new release Shahjahanabad - The Living City of Old Delhi. A Historical Writer at heart, how Rana ventured into writing and how her love for history germinated, she tells Pria.
by Pria
How do you think urbanization has affected the New Delhi Architecture?
If we read the books on monuments written in the early 20th century there are many monuments mentioned which no longer exist. Some were demolished to make way for Lutyens Delhi, while others had buildings built around them. Urbanization means that old has to be adjusted to accommodate the new. In the case of JLN Stadium,
there is a small medieval Phoota Gumbad existing peacefully with the modern architecture but not all have been so lucky. Those that are not listed in ASI have faced the brunt of encroachment.
How do you accept traditional Indian values in contemporary robe?
As far as traditional values are concerned, I was brought up with a lot of moral values of honesty, standing up for what is right,
What is today the overcrowded, neglected city of Old Delhi was once the magnificent capital of the Mughal Empire. At its heart was the spectacular Qila-e-Mubarak, now known as the Red Fort. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639, the beautiful city of Shahjahanabad was built around the spectacular Qila-e-Mubarak (Red Fort), on the banks of the Yamuna. Almost a decade later, in 1648, Shah Jahan entered through the river gate and celebrated the completion of this 'paradise on earth' filled with gardens, palaces, water bodies, mosques and temples. About two hundred years later, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, left the fort by the same gate after the failed Mutiny against the British in 1857. Subsequently, both the fort and the city fared badly, as they faced the wrath of the British. The final instalment in Rana Safvi's informative, illustrated series of books on Delhi, Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi describes the magnificence of the fort and the city through its buildings that are a living monument to the grandeur and strife of the past.
humaneness above all and being and doing good as well as being well mannered. There is no substitute for these and I feel they are universal and eternal.As far as traditions are concerned, I believe in preserving them as long as they are not patriarchal or impinge on somebody’s freedom, rights or dignity.
How much time did it take to write this book? Adding pictures do add zing to the book. Did you click them yourself or visited personally while they were clicked?
It took me three years of research and a year of writing. I have visited each monument and place mentioned personally. I took most of the photographs for this book myself. Some of the photos are taken from friends such as Abu Sufiyan, Jayshree Shukla and Rameen Khan who are fellow heritage enthusiasts.
Do you think every monument has a hidden story within?
What we see as ruins or buildings bricks and stones once had people living in them, or in many cases buried in them with relatives and devotees visiting them. So of course each has a story to tell, we just need to look for them. Fortunately, the 19th and 20th century texts provide the back stories.
What we
see as ruins or buildings bricks and stones
once
had people living in them, or in many cases buried in them with relatives and devotees visiting them.
What kind of research have you been doing while authoring your latest book Shajahanabad?
Apart from visiting each monument I consulted the books written on monuments in the 19th and 20th century in Urdu and English. Apart from that I consulted the English translation of medieval and contemporary Persian texts. Do you think few people may differ with you regarding some events that you have written? How do you deal with such situations?
I try to write as honestly as I can after doing research. Some of the stories I have written are from Urdu texts which are unavailable to the general public as they were never translated. If someone has a genuine difference of opinion based on facts I try to recheck facts and wherever possible correct them. I don’t pay so much heed to unsubstantiated differences because they just take up time.
The genre like Historical Fiction have comes with a suspense/curiosity. Your thoughts?
I don’t write historical fiction but I do read it. As long as the basic facts about the life and times of the characters is correct I think composite characters make a story interesting. But we should remember that historical fiction is not the truth, however close it may seem to the original.
Which genres you enjoy reading the most? Which you don’t enjoy at all?
I grew up in a house where reading was a very important part of our lives. My father insisted that for every couple of novel I read in school I would also read the classics: So I had a good grounding in English classical writers. I have a very eclectic taste in reading and love crime, romance, thrillers, humor and of course history and historical fiction.
Do you think that anecdotes with Old Delhi monuments are manipulated over the years?
Yes, of course because there is so much of oral history too.
Also the layperson would not have access to well researched academic books and so they believe the stories told to them.
How do you think these real stories can be brought to light for the future generations to know?
I think heritage tours by trained historians or story tellers trained by historians is a great way. And of course there are many books that can be read as well , written in an easy to follow format.
How do you think these can be preserved-Crumbling beautiful monuments...and Lost traditional values?
This can only come when we are invested in that culture and that monument. Part of my work is towards trying to generate that sensibility and I am not alone.
Today there are many authors and historians who are working towards this.
What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
The joy of connecting to readers and receiving feedback. It’s a unique experience when someone writes that my book may have touchedtheir lives in some way.
Anything you would like to say to your readers?
I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for reading my books and connecting with me and thus inspiring me to work harder and harder. It is they who made me a writer or else I would have stopped after my first book.
What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?
I do promote my books with snippets, photographs, my experiences on social media platforms like twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I do this in my leisure time. My writing hours are fixed and in those I either research or write. What projects are you working on at the present? When can we expect a new book from you?
I am working on a couple of books. I would like those to come as a surprise to my readers.
The joy of connecting to readers and receiving feedback. It’s a unique experience when someone writes that my book may have touchedtheir lives in some way.
Rapid Fire With Rana Safvi:
1. author/writer?
Your all-time favorite
P.G. Wodehouse
2. Do you believe in writer’s block? Did you have it anytime or not?
Yes I do.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)
I have a small desk in my room, which is where I do most of my writing.
4. What do you do in your free time?
These days I have very little free time but I like to use that time on social media, tweeting photos and snippets from my travels and research.
5. Do you Google yourself?
I sometimes search Google alerts when my books are out to see mentions or reviews
What do your plans for future projects include? Any plans for a motion picture/web series/documentary based on your book(s)
I would love to have a motion picture/web series/documentary based ion my work. I hope someone is listening.
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
easier but a true book lover will always go for a print book. The smelland touch of a print book is something very personal.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
My favorite authors are Enid Blyton, Jane Austen, The Bronte Sisters, Daphne P G Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Irving Stone,
"I love the physical feel of books and have a huge collection of them, but since I can’t possibly buy all the books I need I end up reading many on kindle."
I love the physical feel of books and have a huge collection of them, but since I can’t possibly buy all the books I need I end up reading many on kindle. Kindle is easier as it can be accessed anywhere and makes life much
Daphne du Maurier, Morris West, Wilbur Smith, Roald Dahl and recently J.K. Rowling and Dan Brown. As I said I have a very eclectic taste. I devoured the Perry Mason and Sherlock Holmes series too. For me humor, suspense and a twist in the tale are very important.
What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive?
I started writing at the age of 55 ( I am now almost 63) and it was an impulsive decision. I didn’t learn how to write, and perhaps just relied on all my past reading experience. I am continually trying to evolve and take in whatever criticism or feedback I get from readers and reviewers.
(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.
pria@storizen.com
HOT OFF THE PRESS
The book has thirteen twisted tales about everyday people whose lives take unforeseen turns
Imagine: A disenchanted wife embarks on a one-night stand… A wheelchair-bound poet comes home to roost, upsetting the balance of his career’s life.A troubled mother finds solace in an unusual place.
“There was something about the room, too, that hadbegun to disturb me. It had an atmosphere. Not eerie,quite the opposite. It would draw me in and make me wantto stay, feeling like I was visiting a confidante for a chat.But I knew the hold it had on us was odd….. ”
The book has thirteen twisted tales about everyday people whose lives take unforeseen turns. The characters suddenly find themselves drawn inexorably into encounters and situations that weren’t part of their plan, but which result in the shocking revelation of buried parts of their psyches. The author weaves
stories around themes like horror, infidelity, mental health, guilt, loss and survival amongst other themes. This book will have you engrossed as you try to guess what happens at the end of each story and its characters will haunt you for a long time after you’ve turned the last page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shreya Sen-Handley is an author, journalist, illustrator and librettist. After years of writing and filming for international media organisations, National Geographic, The Guardian, Times of India, MTV and BBC amongst them, she has embarked on a bookand opera-writing adventure, collaborating with the Welsh National Opera on a production that will tour the UK in 2020, and with HarperCollins on a clutch of books, including the awardwinning ‘Memoirs of My Body’ published in 2017.
The book has thirteen twisted tales about everyday people whose lives take unforeseen turns.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
At the wholesome age of ninety-six, the founder of the Springdales Schools looks back on her extraordinary life
Thus begins the story of Nancie Joyce Margaret Jones with her arrival in Bombay on an ocean liner from London one morning in 1946. She had never travelled abroad until then, but now she was in love – with Yudister Kumar, a fellow student from her university days who had to return home to immerse himself in India’s freedom struggle, with no prospects of coming back to England. And so, at the young age of twenty-three, she decided to follow him to a strange and faraway country that, she did not know then, would transform her life forever. As she got married and took on the name Rajni, there were exciting developments on the professional front too. A series of unexpected circumstances led her to start a kindergarten in the living room of her Delhi house in 1955. And thus was born Springdales, which burst upon the educational scenario with vibrancy, dovetailing much of the
ethos and culture of the new India into its philosophy. Now, at the wholesome age of ninety-six – the school having grown to four in India and one in Dubai, with several thousand students on the rolls and an enviable reputation for education – Rajni Kumar looks back on her extraordinary life in Against the Wind. Observant and vivacious, it is a memoir that is a testament as much to her lifelong work in education as to the spirit of romance and daring with which she set foot in a new country all those decades ago.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
RAJNI KUMAR has worked for more than sixty years in the field of education in India. Now the Chairperson of Springdales Education Society, she started the school in 1955 and worked as Founder Principal until her retirement in 1988. She has received a number of national and international recognitions for her work, including the Padma Shri in 2011.
At the wholesome age of ninety-six, the founder of the Springdales Schools looks back on her extraordinary life
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Based on real, inspiring and life-changing anecdotes, this book will help you practise kindness as a means to be happy
ABOUT THE BOOK:
‘A random act of kindness needn’t always be a material offering. Even a word of encouragement, a compliment, a helping hand can be equally, if not more, profound. Make such acts a habit and Nature will reciprocate in kind.’ In his latest book,bestselling author Om Swami su ggests a definitive means to achieving true happiness: through kindness. In his signature candid style, he clarifies that the only way one can be successful in the quest to achieve happiness for oneself is to first spread happiness and show kindness to others. With real, inspiring, lifechanging anecdotes, Om Swami goes on to illustrate how compassion and gentleness are intrinsically connected with humanity. The Book of Kindness will help you understand, practice and master kindness, the key to inner bliss and
fulfillment, and the only means to attain the happiness that you seek.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Om Swami is a mystic who lives in the Himalayan foothills. Prior to renunciation, he founded and ran a multimillion-dollar software company with offices across the world. He is also the author of the bestselling books If Truth be Told: A Monk’s Memoir (HarperCollins, 2014), The Wellness Sense: A Practical Guide to Your Physical and Emotional Health Based on Ayurvedic and Yogic Wisdom (HarperCollins, 2015), When All Is Not Well: Depression, Sadness and Healing – A Yogic Perspective (HarperCollins, 2016), The Last Gambit (HarperCollins, 2017), Mind Full to Mindful: Zen Wisdom from a Monk’s Bowl (HarperCollins, 2018) and The Children of Tomorrow: A Monk’s Guide to Mindful Parenting (HarperCollins, 2019).
Based on real, inspiring and life-changing anecdotes, this book will help you practise kindness as a means to be happy
My Journey Towards Light
by Tejaswi Vajnepalli
Each and every one of us might have gone through a dark phase at some point or the other in our lives. Darkness is inevitable, tough times in life are never going to stop. Life is neither a bed of roses nor a bed of thorns. There is glee and there is gloom. There is appreciation and there is criticism. Darkness is essential because without experiencing the night, the importance of light would never be known.
To reach the light, we must cross the darkness Sometimes we are so stuck in darkness that we find comfort, solace and complete peace in darkness that we give up on the hope of light. This happens often with many people, they compromise on a lot of things in life and slowly get habituated to living with compromise converting their life into monotonous routine. Crossing darkness requires a small tool, something that would aid you come out of the maze, open a door, unlock a closet and I call it “Source of hope”.
Photo by Farrel Nobel
Everyone has that Source of hope towards life that thrives them to live better. But most of the times, this fact is often neglected Most of the times having a tool isn’t sufficient, one should have the expertise of how to use it. And at this point,
Every one of us require a trainer to train how to utilize that source of hope. Source of Hope is not just an abstract but a school to teach the usage as well and that includes a special person in life.
I witnessed many of my friends suffer with life on different issues and healed with the help of that one special person. I have one such person as well Help always arrives in one form or other Super natural Power never leaves us alone. There are mostly two types of help that arrive, one type keeps coming up when needed, the other type comes and completely changes us as a person. I got the second kind of help.
I was in despair and completely out of hope when she arrived uninvited.She is an absolute stranger to me when I met her. I met her with a mask that I put on to avoid people but she saw the person behind the mask and yet considered me as a normal person
She helped me create hope again, clarified my every confusion, gave insights to my every thought, listened patiently to my venting, supported me in shedding tears and crying, she made me handle relationships better, think in a clearer and broadminded perspective. I always felt that I needed another person to complete me but she made me realize that what I needed was myself. It took 18 months for her to put me back as a whole from my scattered pieces. I owe her so much for transforming me like this. I was habituated to judging myself depending on how others treated me. She explained that they are not worth your time. I assumed only if people hangout or spend time with us we were valuable to them In truth I was looking for a validation from them that I was important and when that arrived, my happiness knew no bounds. Working on one thing at a time, she ruled out all my insecurities and made me a better decision maker.She made sure I did not require any mask.
The moral of this article is that there is always light on the other side of the tunnel. No matter how long or deep the tunnel is, you will always be guided towards light and hope for Hope is what keeps us alive. You are never alone in this, you will
get help and conquer the darkness. Be grateful to everything that you have, believe in yourself that you are courageous enough to face it. Problems always come to warriors who can face them and warriors never quit. Fight with all the strength every single time life throws a problem at you trying to push you into darkness. We fought to see the light by pushing as much as possible before coming out of mother’s womb Never be comfortable in darkness for there is no life there.
Tejaswi Vajinepalli is an avid reader and a passionate writer. He loves to express himself through his words. He is currently working with TCS and is based out of Chennai. He dreams of becoming a writer someday to write a book on self-help narrating all his life experiences. He is currently looking for opportunities to seep into the writing Industry to gain exposure and experience.
Let’s Fall to Rise Again
by Stuti Gogia
Autumn is the best season because the lessons learned during FALL can help us to keep moving for the whole year with joy and hope in heart.
Photo by Larm Rmah
Why trees never mourn over the falling leaves which shed from its branches? Nature gives us the amazing life lessons and one of the most beautiful one is how to let go. Letting go is something which can help us grow and bloom in the ways we never expected
We are so much used to clinging to things and people which no more serves us just because either we feel attached to them or we have no idea how to outgrow them. On the contrary nature let go so easily, with every fall season some old leaves and branches shed from a tree and the tree prepares itself for winter, which is actually a metaphor for dark or challenging times but after
passing through this cycle, as the spring come sit blooms again with all those fresh leaves, fruits and flowers.Life of humans is a similar cycle, we also have to face changing seasons but if we adapt the fact that we can bloom better and stronger with our roots intact only if we inculcate the habit of “letting go”. Letting go of our old self! Letting go our ego! Letting go of negativity and self-doubt! Letting go of people who hamper our growth and happiness! Letting go of everything which stops us to bloom!
Stuti is a Software Engineer by profession and a writer by nature. She realized her love for writing while blogging for her own page. Her work has also been appreciated by Quora users. She is God's true evangelist and her work speaks volumes about it.
@stutigogia
A Will To Kill
by R.V.Raman
by Swapna Peri
The story is about a young man explaining to a detective about his father. The discussion is about his father's final will of the property. There comes the twist while going through the will. The father mentions that he has written two kinds of will - one accordingly if his death is natural, another unnatural.
This is the starting point of the interesting story that unfolds into a very interesting roller coaster ride of subplots, thrilling sequences, and interesting narratives. As the story progresses, the story also talks about the mansion being cursed, and subplots attached to this facet of the mansion.
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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. The plot is very intriguing.
2. Strong storytelling is found in the book without any loose threads.
3. The honest attempt in building up the characters with ample details is very interesting.
4. With a clear and colloquial language, the readers find the story smooth and at a good pace.
What I didn't like:
Many characters at some places may create little confusion within the reader's mind. Other than that, the story is absolutely flawless!
Narration: An engaging narration is observed in the story.
Language & Grammar:
Usage of clear and easy language with good vocabulary comforts the readers while reading.
Characters:
Every character with a perfect background story is woven beautifully
Book Title: The title of the book ' A will to kill ' is shocking and intriguing
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a blood-dripping knife depicting the story to be a crime thriller.
My Final Verdict: A perfect fictional thriller!
Rating
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
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
@swapna508 @sappy_dreamz_unlimited
Tby Swapna Peri
The Last Ball Six
by Pradeep Kapoor
he book is a fast and easy read about Titu aka Tijinder Tuteja who is a fan of the game of cricket.
To him, there is nothing else in the world other than cricket.
The story completely revolves around Titu, his for cricket, love, family, and friendship. The author has managed very well in blending every theme with an ample amount of emotions. There are many yesteryear things mentioned in the story which will definitely make the readers travel back in time and enjoy the nostalgic moments.
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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. The humor and witty content in the story
2. A very relatable story as a cricket fan
3. The naming convention of the characters is unique and funny
4. Many human emotions are described in a heartening manner
5. Though an easy read, the author has equipped everything in his words and presented it in a very nice way.
What I didn't like:
The story is so engrossing and witty that there is nothing to be disliked.
Narration:
This book has one of the best hilarious and meaningful narration with an ample amount of information and nostalgia.
Language & Grammar:
A very clear and easy language with good vocabulary is used in the book.
Book Title: The title of the book 'The Last Ball Six' is interesting and nostalgic
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is an illustrated art of a cricket player decked up in cricket attire.
My Final Verdict: Healthy humor good book
Rating
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
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
@swapna508 @sappy_dreamz_unlimited
Tby Swapna Peri
By
by Shashi Warrier
he story is about a utopian world, called Ghublistan. In the story, the country experiences flow in the evacuation of people. Two of Ghublistan's people, Tomikanza and a barber, Neepane set out in an endeavor to understand what 'democracy' is. The two try to understand the present system on which the world runs and seek for a change.
The author tried to reflect through his words the changes he is expecting. The satirical and witty book is a definitely recommended book.
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. The plot of the book.
2. The intention and the intensity that the author showed and exhibited is appreciated.
3. The subtle criticism against the present system is very well articulated.
4. The politics, the mind games, and spine chilling things are explained nicely.
What I didn't like:
The book is flawless and hence nothing to dislike
Narration:
The author has aced in this section. Very interesting and engrossing narration is found in the story. With good drama, the author has explained the current scenario o the world in a fascinating manner.
Language & Grammar:
Easy and simple language is used in the book.
Book Title: The title of the book 'By God' is unique and thoughtprovoking.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a close-up image of praying hands with a super layered image of monks.
My Final Verdict: Modern-day seeker's questionnaire!
Rating
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
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
@swapna508 @sappy_dreamz_unlimited
Tby Swapna Peri
Blue Is Like Blue
by V.K Shukla, A.K. Mehrotra, Sara Rai
his book "Blue is like blue " is totally different & unique. It is a collection of short stories, written originally in Hindi by Legend Vinod Kumar Shukla, during 1950s to 1960s, which is translated by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra & Sara Rai.
There are 12 stories with 12 different lifestyles. Each story beckons the not so developed life of the common man way back in just getting modernized India. Every story reflects the hardships faced by a middle class and lower-middleclass family.
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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. Simple stories
2. The perfect amalgamation of human emotions
3. Not so observed lifestyles but with great interest in life are shown
What I didn't like:
There are as such no drawbacks in the book but the young readers from this generation may find it hard to relate to yester year's lifestyle.
Narration:
A very heartwarming narration is found in the book. Some stories are too good to be forgotten. As the stories are translated from the original language of Hindi, few stories are not so relatable yet good ones to read.
Language & Grammar:
Simple language is used in translating the stories from the original and hence it's an easy read.
Book Title: The title of the book ' Blue is like blue ' is very unique and interesting Click here
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a simple image of everyday things that are found in one's life.
My Final Verdict: A nice book of good short stories
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
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
@swapna508 @sappy_dreamz_unlimited
Now Here or No Where
by Geeta Varma
The squirrel hoards are ready, The rabbits' hideouts too, The chipmunks are getting ready to sleep, Are you?
The trees resplendent, stand,In their autumn attire, Like scraps of gold, strewn from a magic wand, Oranges, reds and yellows. The colours of Fall fire!
Oh! The comforts of the season Of hibernation..!
Air filled with scents, sweet, Like Halloween candy,
A sense of bounty, the yellow pumpkins bring, Of rich harvests, feasts and Thanksgiving.
A blanket keeps my feet cozy, My extra cup of cocoa, I keep, handy..With my favourite book, I huddle,
My cats, beside me, cuddle. In Nature's Ecdysis, she takes me along, Like scale and leaf, ready to die, My inner inhibitions, shed I.
Of letting go, I learn, I sing a songOf the autumn unknowns
Until spring does a rebirth bring,Slow, unseen, a lit-up, vibrant green!
Ms. Kamar Sultana Sheik is a poet, writing mostly on themes of spirituality, mysticism and nature with a focus in Sufi Poetry. A post-graduate in Botany, she was educated at St Aloysious Anglo-Indian School ( Presentation Convent, Vepery) and completed her degree from SIET womens' college, Chennai. Her professional career spanning 18 years has been in various organizations and Institutions including the IT sector. She is a self-styled life coach and has currently taken a break to focus on her writing full-time. Sultana has contributed to various anthologies and won several prizes in poetry contests
A green enthusiast, blogger and content-writer, Sultana calls herself a wordsmith.
Someone
by Nikesh Jain
I was finding someone,
By my side
The time was hard, And the doors were shut.
My spirit is drained, And I feel so lost. My body is numb, And yet, I feel the pain.
The Sun has gone, And everything is quiet. Life is helpless, And the sky was pouring relentless.
I have lost the path, And I feel devastated Is there anyone, Who can eradicate this darkness?
But then, I found myself, I buried my doubts and tears. I fought the storm, And the hungry tides.
The Sun was risen again, And even brighter.
Now, I don't pray for easier, Each time, I learn to be stronger.
Nikesh Jain currently residing in Bangalore, is an International Business Management graduate from MIT-SOM College, Pune.
He says “If you don’t know where it ends, don’t run a race”. With young mind motivated and driven on business start-up “XROSS BUTTON™” , an apparel brand, he is passionate about his future
He feels the power of a pen and a book together is greater than anything else.
He has an intense love for writing and reading, and put this out as a useful tool to inspire and motivate people around him.
Now Here or No Where
by Geeta Bharath
After the autumn harvest, Where shall I be
When I am not here?
Every cell that I called my own
Will be recycled, regrown Organisms, big and smallI shall be a part of all
A tree, a bee, you and she, Will include an atom that was me.
So soon, some when and somewhere, I shall be spread across the everywhere!
Gita Bharath describes herself as a Tamilian brought up in North India. After teaching middle school for 5 years and putting in 34 years in banking service, she is now a busierthan-ever grand-mom. She lives with her husband in Chennai and is a kolam and crossword aficionado. She loves to travel. Her extended family is active in many fields, e.g.: services, business, performing, even martial arts. This has broadened her outlook and given her confidence to deal with different perspectives of everyday events.
I Stand Alone
by Geeta Varma
I shred, I cry, I lose you in millions,
Heavens have dropped down, Now, stone-like,
I am alone With frozen thoughts
Frozen loveI wait, brooding Craving for the day
I am loaded, Filled to the brim,
With dreams woven in mystery
A tapestry of colours in festivity
A song for the frozen lake
But for nowI stand alone
Stark, with veined branches, Dark, against the sleeping sun
Behind the mountains.
Geeta Varma has been a teacher and a journalist for many years. She has taught in Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary school and The School KFI She has conducted Creative workshops for children and used to run a Creative Learning Centre for children where they could explore and learn. She has been an Educational Consultant for some time. She has written for publications such as Aside, The Hindu Metro plus, Trident, Ritz, City Express, The Deccan Herald and so on, and was also involved in Design and Publishing. As a journalist, she has interviewed many creative people- Scientists, Writers, Artists and Filmmakers, including the Chinese writer Han Suyin. She has recently published a book of poems, ‘To my Violin’. She lives in Chennai.
Song of an Autumn Sun
by Vidya Shankar
My work done for the day I glide gracefully into my nest Even as the birds have, into theirs Leaving the unusually sparkling rich azure
Of an otherwise bleak Chennai heaven In November to turn to a calm velvety depth. And though the dark wafts in determinedly And the moon strengthens her glow,
The lambent trail I leave behind Paints a peaceful picture upon iridescent clouds In purple and pink. Cloudwalker I am, but not a nefelibata
ICannot live in the in the serenity of my own laws For, the world wakes with my awakening And readies to lie down with my setting. The mundane clockwork is monotonous and tiring
But at least the dark days of sharp excessive heat is over And till such time my feeble wintry rays find unpleasantness I can
Revel in the more welcome continuum
Of a festive mood when struggle is faint And change is in the air.
So I settle down for today, in appreciation Of another brighter tomorrow when
I will shine my light yet again, and all the world
Will look up at me with gratitude, for now they can
And say with an effervescent smile, ‘It’s a good day tohave a great day indeed!’
Vidya S p r, blogger, motivational speaker, English language teacher, instructional designer, content developer, and yoga enthusiast. An active member of poetry circles, her work has appeared in national and international literary magazines, literary platforms and anthologies. Her first book of poems 'The Flautist of Brindaranyam', a collaborative effort with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan. Herself a ‘book’ at the Human Library, Vidya Shankar lives a life of purpose by using the power of words, both written and spoken, to create awareness about environmental issues, mental health and the need to break the shackles of an outdated society. @shanvidwinsalways
@vidya
shankar author
That Light On Thy Face
by Moinak Dutta
That light on thy face
Filtered through curtain
Drew heavenly hues
Love as gathered like
Nascent wintry dews, I looked at thee, thy ey
They held waters of the Happy and blessed
As thou me caressed I looked at thy hands
They wore marks of lan
Where thou hath gone to
Saplings of hope on desert
Thou hath that Godly fra
Which carried once that d
Who had travelled many m
Who had seen both pains smiles,
Thou hath the splendour b
Like Theia carrying the l
Over the seas, the oceans vast
Thou with Love me touched, And I looked at thee, Thy face filled with glee,
by Javardh
Photo
And thy eyes fell on me, So filled with joy, watery, And I thought what was it
That made me to sit By thy side one day so, Painted by thy awesome glow, Then I looked at thy face
So lighted like a bless,And I wrote in my mind lines
Finding thy beauty, thy sublime, It had been a moment's sojourn
From dawn to dusk and then to morn,
I traveled both time and space, So decked by thy immortal dress,
I became a speck of gold I became a story not told, I became a faery man
Going with thou to wonderland,
There I saw how flowers shine How waterfalls carry the divine, How valleys give continuous birth Of happiness not found on earth,
That light on thy face
Filtered through curtains
Made me so filled with words, Becalmed as Love in me surged.
He has been writing poems and stories for the last fifteen years, having many of his poems and stories finding their ways in journals, magazines, ezines, dailies, anthologies, published in India and abroad. He got two published fictions to his credit , namely 'Online@Offline' and 'In search of la radice'. His third fiction will be published soon
He is presently engaged as a teacher in a government sponsored school.
Apart from writing, he enjoys traveling and doing photography.
Twilight still around
Autumn Bliss
by Hema Ravi
A peek through the stately pinesThe enchanting autumn moon is up To cast a silent spell in the starry sky.
The winged creatures have long retired; The lone raven Flaps faster to reach her abode Get home, safely, my dear!
The aroma of coffee brewing reaches The nostrils; incandescent lights are on.
An assortment of vehicles halt; members enter Their ivory towers, glassy-eyed, Transfixed to mobiles.
The gentle wind in The chilly autumn sky Teases; hurriedly, I get out of the car, Domestics beckon, miles to go Over the weekend!
A casual glance at The near-new moon Leaves me mesmerized I stand, I stand atop the moonship...
Author Profile: Hema Ravi is a freelance trainer for IELTS and Communicative English. Her poetic publications include haiku, tanka, free verse and metrical verses. Her write ups have been published in the Hindu, New Indian Express, Femina, Woman's Era, and several online and print journals; a few haiku and form poems have been prize winners. Besides writing, editing and reviewing, She has authored ‘Everyday English,’ ‘Write Right Handwriting Series-1,2,3,’ co-author of 'Sing Along Indian Rhymes’ and ‘Everyday Hindi.’ Her "Everyday English with Hema," a series of English lessons are broadcast by the Kalpakkam Community Radio.
Photographer Profile: Ravi N is a Retired IT Professional (CMC Limted/Tata Consultancy Services ,Chennai). During his professional career spanning 35 odd years he had handled IT Projects of national importance. Post retirement in December 2015, he has been spending time pursuing interests close to his heart-Indian Culture and Spirituality, listening to Indian and Western Classical Music, besides taking up Photography as a hobby. He revels in nature walks, bird watching and nature photography. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with others.
