This is the world. Half of it is lit by the sun and the other half remains in darkness. It is the same with life. There is good and bad and it's our duty to remain in the light, be good.
INTERVIEW ON PAGE 8
“IT MUST BE OCTOBER, THE TREES ARE FALLING AWAY AND SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS.”
Charmaine J Forde
STORIZEN INDULGE
Ok! Lets Have A #wetwo Movement Now
– Manil Mayank Mishra
STORIZEN TRAVEL
India's Most Beautiful Waterfall Is Here In Meghalaya- Krang Shuri
- Jagatsinh Parmar
STORIZEN INTERVIEW
Ruchira Khanna
- Saurabh Chawla
STORIZEN POETRY
The Invincible Power Lies In Her
- Aparna Mukherjee
STORIZEN POETRY Shadow
- Rohit Bhatia
BOOK REVIEW
Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
- Meera Menon
BOOK REVIEW
My Mute Girlfriend by Himanshu Rai
- Himani Gupta
BOOK REVIEW
Hope and Sunshine by Debasmita Nath Ghosh
- Himani Gupta
BOOK REVIEW
Anon by Bhavani Iyer
- Swapna Peri
BOOK REVIEW
Kartikeya and His Battle with the Soul Stealer by Usha Narayanan
- Swapna Peri
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 month of October acts as a bridge between the Autumn at one end and welcoming the Winters on the other. There is a flow of emotions, the bonds as the old leaves shed paving way for the new ones.
We always try our best to bring for our readers' new stories, a new outlook that resonates with them and keeps the spark alive and engage you.
We are glad to feature an advertising professional turned author, Anita Nair in an exclusive interview.
We are excited to present four hot releases this month in association with HarperCollins Publishers, Hachette India and Raindrops Publishers viz Typically Tanya by Taha Kehar, Don't tell the Governor by Ravi Subramanian, Brief answers to the big questions by Stephen Hawkins, and The Happy Tree by Rajat Bansal.
As the wedding season is about to begin, we have something special for you in the column, 'Storizen Fresh' in association with The Wedding Brigade. Don't forget to check out the column.
An article contributed by Manil Mayank Mishra on the #MeToo Movement is worth a read!
Also, you will enjoy the other articles and poems by our contributors in this issue. This issue features five book reviews, So grab a book this weekend!
With all our gratitude, Storizen team is grateful to all the readers for their love and support which constantly inspires us to keep moving on and strive to be better than before.
We always welcome your feedback and love to hear from you. Keep sharing your feedback and views.
Continue to bestow your love and support!
Happy Dussehra!
Happy Reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com
From Advertising to Author, Anita Nair has won many awards and accolades. A versatile writer, she has written on almost every genre. In a candid conversation, she shares her journey with Pria
by Pria
Being a writer in crime and mystery genre as a woman in India is tough but gives an edge too? Do you agree or disagree? Your thoughts.
I am not entirely sure it gives me an edge but I realize that in my own way I have created a niche for the noir I write. The interesting thing here is that noir is a dark space and it requires a certain mindset to
be able to delve into it and create a book that is edgy. So it is presumed that men will excel in it.
I am not entirely sure it gives me an edge but I realize that in my own way I have created a niche for the noir I write.
In a small town by the river Nila, a thirty-five-year-old writer kills herself. No one knows why. Fifty-two years later, an antique cupboard in a private resort opens to reveal a frightened child. And the mystery begins to unravel. From the bestselling author of Ladies Coupe comes an unusual new novel about the intensity –and consequences – of desire.
ANITA NAIR IS A FINE WRITER WITH A GREAT SENSE OF CHARACTER... AND AN EYE FOR TELLING DETAIL. SHE CAN MOVE FROM TENDER COMPASSION TO SENSUALITY TO RAGING HATRED... A COMPELLING TELLER OF STORIES. - HINDU LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
What motivates you to write the books in crime/mystery genre? Any life experiences or observations, etc. Orit’s just an interest and inclination towards it?
I think what prompts me to write crime fiction is how it allows me to be a social commentator. With literary fiction, the mindscape of the characters rule and so a lot of weight is given to the crafting of characters and their thoughts. However, with crime, I am able to point out the social ills that lead to crime. My reason for writing crime is to address the darkness that is part of our society; a darkness that we seem to be in denial about or are unwilling to accept as the reality of our lives.
Your second book was published by Picador USA and it was the first book by an Indian author to be published by them, Congratulations! What was your reaction?
It’s a long time ago. But I do remember that I was rather excited at that point.
Any other genre you tried or would like to try in future apart from your forte?
I think I have pretty much written in every genre that I like to read.
I think what prompts me to write crime fiction is how it allows me to be a social commentator.
Tell us about your latest book, 'Eating Wasps'.
It has been 17 years since Ladies Coupe was published and I had been wanting to revisit the lives of women. But if Ladies Coupe was about women finding their identity, I thought Eating Wasps would be about women preserving their identity despite the constant challenges they face on numerous fronts everyday be it patriarchy, misogyny, the male gaze or even the allpervasive touch of technology. But I also wanted to focus on the challenges a woman faces from within herself especially as the world we live in today ceaselessly drums in tropes on how a woman may be or may not be. Many streams of thought were running parallel in my head. I needed a thread to connect the multiple stories. I wanted an invisible narrator. And yet, I also
It has been 17 years since Ladies Coupe was published and I had been wanting to revisit the lives of women.
wanted the narrator to be the protagonist. And that’s when I remembered the story of this writer Rajalakshmi from Kerala who killed herself in 1965. To this day no one knows why she did it. I took a cue from that and turned my protagonist and narrator into a writer and a ghost who is condemned to live even after she is dead.
What are your future plans with the books? Tell us about your books on Inspector Gowda. Is there any real living person from whom this character is born?
I have the next Inspector Gowda novel in my head. But it is in a nebulous form. He isn’t based on any real person. I often think of him as my alter ego, somebody who does all the things that I wish I could do. I actually am living vicariously through this character. My reallife experiences with policemen
have been very limited. I have met and interacted with several senior police officers and policemen from the ranks as well. Most of them impressed me immensely and in all honesty, a few of them made me want to laugh at their pomposity and a few others I wanted to kick for their churlishness. When I was building Inspector Gowda’s psyche, I knew for certain that all cops didn’t have to be the boorish creatures they are made out to be. Some of them are wonderful human beings and work tirelessly to make things right, and I was certain Gowda would be one of them.
Nowadays, crime/mystery/thrillers are taking over other genres. They are highly unpredictable, intriguing and makes the reader crave for more. What's your take?
Crime fiction is still in its primary stage in India. It will go global when the characters and issues written about start having greater dimensions than just the usual run-of-the-mill crime procedural and puzzle solving.
Tell us about the things you love in your books? Characters, setting/plot etc.
I think my books will always be character driven. What makes them tick and how characters react to different situations.
You have also written travelogues. Which destination is your most favorite one? Please elaborate on what you liked/disliked?
My favourite destination will always be Italy outside India. The food, the wines, the landscape bathed in that golden light, the art and architecture and the gelato always fill me with a great sense of well being. Kandaghat in Himachal Pradesh is my favourite mountain travel destination within India. I first went there two years ago and went back again last November, and was awed by the pristine beauty and untamed nature of the place.
1. Your all-time favorite author/writer?
Ian Rankin
2. Do you believe in writer's block? Did you have it anytime or not? No.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)? My study
4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer? Research and write
5. Most important aspect of your book? Characters, Setting/Plot, dialogues, emotions, or any other (please specify) Writerly insight
Who is your biggest critic?
Apart from all the best-selling numbers, accolades, interviews and fame, what makes YOU feel successful as a writer?
I think I am my own biggest critic. What makes me feel successful as a writer is when I am able to strike a chord with a reader. No matter how often that happens, it makes me feel validated as a writer.
As an author, what message you would like to share with the budding writers.
Write honestly and write as though your very life depended on 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
On 8 November, when the clocks strike 12, your money will be no good.
Somewhere on the India–Nepal Border, a car full of passengers swerves off a highway and plunges into a valley, its trunk full of cash.
In the UK, a Bollywood starlet
he’s been handed the reins of the RBI on a platter. His only job: to make sure he doesn’t rock the boat.But, unknown to him, the wheels have begun to turn, as the country heads towards the biggest financial event in modern Indian history. And Governor
On 8 November, when the clocks strike 12, your money will be no good!
Wednesday October 17th 2018 will see publication in India of the final work by Professor Stephen Hawking – in BRIEF ANSWERS TO THE BIG QUESTIONS, the world-famous cosmologist, number 1 bestselling author of A Brief History of Time and one of the greatest minds of our time leaves us with his final thoughts on the universe’s biggest questions. Working in collaboration with the Stephen Hawking Foundation, John Murray is leading publishers around the world in a global celebration of Professor Hawking’s remarkable life for this landmark moment in popular science.
The book, which Stephen Hawking was working on at the time of his death, is drawn from his extraordinary personal archive and has been completed in collaboration with his academic colleagues, his family and the Stephen Hawking Estate. Comprising his most profound, accessible, and timely reflections on questions such as Can We Predict the Future? Is there a God? Will we Survive on Earth? And Will Artificial Intelligence Outsmart Us?, and with a foreword by Eddie Redmayne, a percentage of the royalties will go to charity. John Murray will release exclusive footage revealing details of the publication via Stephen Hawking’s Facebook page - with an audience of over 4 million – on Thursday 13th September.
On the eve of publication, John Murray will be hosting an exclusive evening with the Guardian, a multimedia public event to celebrate the release of the new book, with Hawking’s friends, family and very special guests talking about the Big Questions, Hawking’s final work and his legacy. Tickets will go on sale week beginning 10th September and proceeds will go to the Motor Neuron Disease Association and the Stephen Hawking Foundation. On Wednesday 17th October, the Babbage Theatre in Cambridge will host a public panel discussion on the Big Questions and Hawking’s legacy, with Hawking’s peers, colleagues,
and other leading academics. Global news headlines on the eve of publication will be followed by a week of select international broadcast media appearances from Lucy Hawking.
John Murray is also delighted to announce that the Audiobook will be read by the award-winning British actor, Ben Whishaw.
Lucy Hawking on behalf of the Estate said: “Communication was so important to our father in his lifetime and we see this book as an integral part of his legacy, bringing his scientific writing and his social commentary together into one beautiful edition, laced with a dose of his trademark dry humor.”
The Happy Tree is a collection of ten short, simple and sweet stories for children of Rajat’s age group. In some of the stories, you will find an innocent child seeking love while in others you would get to read a boy who understands pain and suffering. The world is beautiful because of these innocent kids. Let us all be a part of the journey full of love, adventure, and a lot of unanswered questions.
AUTHOR BIO -
Rajat Bansal is a class 4th student of Cambridge School Noida. He is 9 years old and this is his first book. He loves to do creative writing both in English and Hindi. He loves reading and few of his favourite books are Charlotte’s Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Panchtantra, Akbar and Birbal. He aims to be a scientist one day.
In the vein of Moni Mohsin and Saba Imtiaz, a story from modern day Pakistan about a headstrong woman with equal parts sass and smarts. There’s a little bit of Tanya in all of us, and it’s mostly the part we suppress.
Tanya’s got a pretty good life, working for Karachi’s Daily Image newspaper and smokingdrinking-flirting her way through minor romantic escapades. Sure, there are a few tiny problems. But, so far, she’s been handling them well enough —in fact, she’s even managed to neatly sidestep the rishtaas her mother’s match-making friends keep bringing in. Arranged marriage? No, thank you. She’d like some knee-shaking love instead.
But Tanya’s carefree life quickly gets complicated after her (erstwhile) best friend Sonia’s Shaadi is called off when the groom runs away with another
woman—the same groom Tanya once got intimate with on a drunken night she would rather not remember. Now it’s up to Tanya to set things right.
Will Tanya manage to save Sonia’s wedding? And will she finally find true love?
Typically Tanya fills a muchneeded gap in terms of fiction emerging from contemporary Pakistan and brings to you a cast of politically opinionated, liberal, urban women that are both feisty and fearless.
A story from modern day Pakistan about a headstrong woman with equal parts sass and smarts
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Storizen extends with The Wedding Brigade to bring you tips for making your wedding ecofriendly this wedding season!
Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life… and it can also be a great opportunity for you to be socially and environmentally conscious.
There are plenty of ways to host an eco-friendly wedding without compromising on your wedding vision, so if you and your fiance want to go green and eco-friendly, here are some tips! :)
Instead of using floral jaimalas, go for jaimala made with organic/recycled paper flowers. We’ve been seeing a lot of dry-flower and satin jaimalas lately!
Request your photographer to give you digital prints rather than wedding albums or proof sheets. Once you have the digital photos, print a few that you are going to have framed. This is a clever way of saving paper and giving back to the society.
For an eco-friendly wedding, gift potted saplings to guests and if there are more outstation guests, you can consider giving them seed packets or earthen jars as it is easier to carry.
The trend of sending paper invites is swapped with digital invites - thanks to Whatsapp and emails for existing.
You can also opt for invites made from eco-friendly papers or seeds that can be planted later.
We see a lot of food being wasted at wedding maybe because caterers always make extra food! Instead of the leftovers being chucked in the bin, opt for an NGO to pick up the extra food at the wedding and transport it to the needy people. Discuss this with your caterer before so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Day wedding is the best option to save both energy and cost in a wedding. In case, you are having an additional night reception, ask your venue for energy saving light bulbs, candles, and use of biodegradable products.
Avoid using too much of genda phool like every other Indian wedding. Use cloth decor like colorful drapes which looks amazing at a wedding day add colors to your venue. Go for linens of natural fabrics like organic cotton and recycled fabrics.
They are reusable, looks beautiful and add ambiance to your venue. Plus, they can be used later as a wedding favour!
Opt for a handwritten chalkboard signs that can be rubbed and used again.
Look for an outdoor venue with lots of natural light, greenery or historic structures, it will minimise your need for decorations.
The Wedding Brigade’s mission is to create India’s most-trusted wedding brand through curated and easy to access content, products and services. Users can browse wedding inspiration and read original content on their wedding blog, buy wedding-related products like clothing, costume jewelry, and gifts, and book wedding-related services such as venues, photographers, make-up artists and more. They deliver their products panIndia and have recently started international delivery. Currently their wedding services platform is active in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Goa. They have also launched betas of their iOS and Android social wedding apps which let users invite guests, make announcements, share photos and more.
@theweddingbrigade https://www.theweddingbrigade.com/
BY SIDDHARTH SHARMA
On 16th October, just four days after my b’day, we met for the final time. To be honest, I was really petrified to meet you for the final time in my life as you decided to not continue with our thing, partly because of my overpossessive and over-loving nature, and mainly because love was not for you in search of.
That white shirt I wore for our
breakup moment, as hoping that you would memorize our first date, to make my ultimate efforts to bring you back into my life. I ordered a black coffee as I started this drink because of following your choices blindly, but more because out of unbroken love for you. Without wasting any time, as we were not talking much, I started looking deep into your eyes to be blessed with your love that I prayed to
still get back, but your discomfort impaired all my emotions like garbage into the dustbin. You, for the first time, started looking different to my eyes as you were carrying all the beauty you had, but not that innocence in your eyes for which I always yearned to be your companion of life. Still, I keep in mind our last meet up. Tears were all I was carrying the whole time in my eyes that you didn’t even notice.
I knew no ways to give up on you. Following the end of café meet, I was walking down over the metro station with you when I grasped your hand tightly with mine. You did the best then by not stopping me. I knew, thereafter my hand holding your hand, your eyes were waiting for my eyes to try once more to stop you, but you were now all learned in walking without me. Trust me, I was one-hundred percent more in pieces than you
Love entails the breath of both of the souls to reach the holiness, where the one lover’s breath is not involved, it’s better to let them liberated and to not poison your spirit’s breath.
ever were broken by your decision of breakup, but I did not stop you as my faith loses balance in walking with neatly expert moves of my dear one.
That final walk when we were together for the last time, my hands holding yours, my eyes avoiding yours, my heartbeat beating as fast probably like yours, I asked eventually for the very last hug to accumulate all my memories and pains to pour out of my heart permanently. Every single bit of the hug I remember as it made me stronger and weaker at the same. That hug gave me no more the feel of your love, but I got the real reasons of this emotionally hectic breakup as post the hug you came closer to kiss my lips and I stopped
you, much unexpectedly for my loved one as it was the first time when I took a stand to not consent to her. That ending to our relationship was not beautiful, but undoubtedly the best judgment by a blind lover of yours.
I discovered myself only when she left in the dark.
“Love entails the breath of both of the souls to reach the holiness, where the one lover’s breath is not involved, it’s better to let them liberated and to not poison your spirit’s breath.”
Thank you for taking the time to have the interest to read about me. I am a Journalism and Mass Communication graduate and working as a freelance writer. I am pursuing my studies in M.A. English. I am passionate about writing and exploring the roads of life that I have never been to in the past.
@siddharth.sharma.77582
by Abhrekha Jain Sahlot
“Juggling is an illusion. ... In reality, the balls are being independently caught and thrown in rapid succession. ... It is actually task switching.”
― Gary Kelle
“Juggling is an illusion. ... In reality, the balls are being independently caught and thrown in rapid succession. ... It is actually task switching.” Gary Kelle.
This quote rightly defines many of our day to day life cycles. We are the generation capable of doing many things at once, without enjoying any of them or understanding the real purpose. I stay in Mumbai and see people working non-stop, 24 by 7, day in and day out Extremely talented people and best brains.. but find most of them just running from one end to another, boarding one train from another… unaware of their real destination.. just being part of the crowd.. left to right.. right to left…
Life is not only about running and achieving goals, one should not only survive but start living.
The justification which we give for this over busy life and over
work addiction is primarily to earn livelihood and save some “Extra earned money/assets” for our children. Have we stopped once and thought that the time we are spending away from our family and children for work is more precious than the “Extra” money we earn?
Will the childhood come back? Children requires toys or parents? Could a maid or care taker ever replace a parent? Does life give us many chances?
Have we decided on some threshold? The maximum limit where we would be content and stay happy with what we have or the needs would continue growing?
Agreed that with changing times and competitive work environments we need to perform distinctly from peers, in order to achieve success, in
order to have a better lifestyle , we have to slog more than usual.
But this is a vicious circle, you invest your health to work overtime and earn money and then you invest your money to get your health back. (Please note sometimes even all money cannot get your health back ) similar to the time and happiness you had missed away from your loved ones.
In today’s time, one needs to be really smart, with advent of technology and automation era, we need to improvise our working style and discover mechanisms to outsource/delegate some work to take some time off for your own self.
Please note you cannot be BEST at everything, you need to deliver your BEST in your capacity. Also, do not try to unnecessary please people, as you can fool some people sometime, but you
cannot fool all the people all the times! Therefore, work honestly with commitment, your hard work and honesty would be respected and valued sooner or later. Never give up, try exploring, what different you can do and how differently you can do. Innovate, think and be mindful, understand your life in depth, be alert of your actions. Try to do some impact analysis and try not to reduce your work but optimize.
Taking my example, I took a less challenging role at office post my kids were born, while I did not want to lose my financial independence, I wanted to enjoy my motherhood too at the same time.
Some proactive planning and thoughtful mindset enabled me to attend all office meetings as well all events at children’s school. I became good in stake holder management. 24 hours were
To work, play with my children, cook & pursue my hobbies.
While the life was moving, children were growing, I never stopped living, I always could manage and take out time for my hobbies and stay motivated. Remember being content is the key!
As I always summarize with the disclaimer, that my suggestions may not be the best, as each one to their own, however one tip I strongly recommend to everyone I meet is to consciously stay happy.
And that can happen only when someone is happy from inside. reduce screen time and posing fake to the world showing your happiness.. as Happiness is not to be shown but to be FELT!
I wish all the readers a happy and healthy life, and request
them to take a moment and think what they are doing and what they really want to do? Things are easier said than done, but please try...
Think & ACT !
Meet Abhrekha Jain Sahlot, the name is derivative of her parent’s name ( Abhay & Rekha). She is full of life, energy and enthusiasm. A gold medalist computer engineer she has been working with top MNC for over 13 years now.
Blessed with an incredible supportive family, Husband Tushar Sahlot stands behind her as the strongest pillar of strength, shouldering equal responsibilities at home. A doting mother of 2 boys ( Nabhanyu & Daksh Sahlot), life has given her various opportunities to explore and she seems to have taken best of everything. From singing, painting to acting, swimming and basketball, she has been into various co-curricular activities from artistic ones to the sports ones. However, currently, she enjoys sharing her blessings with fellow women by addressing women and parenting forums and helping women in her capacity and spread message & the importance of being happy & content
by Anubha Srivastava
Hills have been my favourite holiday destination. Since childhood, the imagery of floating clouds, deep valleys, shining peaks, and tall pine forests mesmerized me. I had spent countless hours sitting on the balcony bench weaving poems and stories; sketching sceneries and images, gazing at the sun drowning midst the peaks. I have always been in love with the sunset. But that was for sheer beauty and colour. Never did I imagine the love will mask my days by becoming one. "Hi, free?" And my heart would dance at the ping! Didn't get to realize when the charm of his linguistic genius and witty remarks became the necessity of my
days. He sure had a fantastic command over the language. Much much more than what I had heard for him. The romance with poems and poets got pushed to a second position. No sooner it was falling in love when he so skilfully pointed out the errors of my immature English, the ones which sounded like a warm embrace of a caring elder helping a toddler hold a finger to walk. And the sheepish grins got converted to pride possession of his treasured company. I had never allowed anyone to point out my mistakes; leave aside correcting me. What a comfortable grip he commanded over my boisterous ego.
I picked it up from my Papa. Pa took pride in being himself and taught us the same pride in
being honest and true. "That is the most precious way of being as one can be", Papa used to say, " and so one should not allow anyone to poke into one's unique being as long as one is true". How effortlessly he walked through that walled castle and marked an indelible signature of his being- true being; that commands unparallel respect. I allowed him to be my master for everything. And it was a perfect concoction for a highly potent drink. A grounded mind, a lover of words, high principled, impeccable sense of humor, a thorough gentleman; I can probably go on and on with adjectives describing the man I lost my heart and soul to. The image of my school days stood real before me. The shades of people witnessed through college;
post grad; post-research, which once made me accept that there is no perfect being; was proven wrong. "He is, just so perfect", I would tell myself and swell with pride whenever he would behold me with those looks in his eyes - and yet I stayed greedy. Wanting to hear it in his velveteen voice. Which he did one day; somewhere between those endless conversations where we talked about anything and everything under the sun. And my reason to smile got etched in every desire he expressed. We dissected philosophies, we sketched future, we were critics for books and movies, and loved flowers and nature shared the silly problems of day to day life, and smiled at kids, worried about their future. The intoxication was mutual, and addicted we grew, of each other, of each other's words and thoughts. The alcohol they say is more
toxic to women than to a man. He probably sailed out of the hangover and I stayed. And everything changed, yet nothing changed. The conversations gradually reduced. I denied accepting the changes and questioned the reasons, questioned the priorities, darted allegations and demands. And he kept withdrawing more and more as I kept looking for my being and my worth in those moments of unacceptance. The sunsets are more real than they ever have been. How can love die? "I gave my soul to you", I sit questioning endlessly. And in vain would also send across many questions to him. There were no answers. Only lesser contacts with every question asked. The grey cells would warn me to stick to no questions and only formal relations but I would revolt. " you are not you if you are formal. You are only THE YOU that you have been. How can I treat you like anyone else?"
"Wake up", he would scold. But wake up to what? What unreal did I hold? I simply embraced the most genuine smiles in those conversations. "You are addicted." Again he scolded. I witnessed my most stubborn self, not accepting, not giving up. And daily I would ache at my own life slipping out of my grip.
Nothing changed and everything changed. The child in me is long dead. The desires are none but one. The smiles are all so plastic. And ironically, the life is just the same. The heart pumps blood normally, the brain is still sharp and focussed at the office desk, the kids and the family continue to pour love, the eyes don't blur, the parties don't stop.
Nothing, just nothing has changed, but the pings! If ever there are any, they are the official ones. He talks to everyone and I wonder if there will ever be a day when he will miss me as much as he is missed? He taught me how to
live, only to take away every trace of life from me when he decided to walk away. I tried sincerely to abide by his ways, just the way I had listened to his words in past, following verbatim! It wasn't as easy as it seemed. The traces of his being were in every moment of my life. My dreams, my words, my decor, my hobbies, my job, my clothes, my drinks, my friends- just everything carried a whole lot of him. How do I stay sane when my bestie narrates tales of her fondness for him?
Where do I bury the ache when she shares her concern for him, his eagerness to talk to
her, her fantasies, his advances, like the lava into my ear. I withdrew from her and fought with him. No pleadings and cribbing but worked.
The words penned it's said, bring healing. I gaze at the marvellously red giant ball in the sky, fiddling with my pen. Bathing in the scarlet, smiling with moist eyes, another day I get up from the swing to hug the one anxiously wagging its tail. "You are awesome", I say as I hold the restless imp in a tight embrace. The words sound familiar, coming out from the past. The smile stretches ear to ear and I walk waving silently to the sinking old love. Just before vanishing into the horizon, the sun throws back a naughty
wink. As if saying, "we meet tomorrow to relive more memories". The warmth of the sun carried his warmth which I always feel, is special for me, and will be. Some of the love stories are eternal. Just like the sunset and me!
Anubha is an educationist by profession, with a love for literature. The fondness for the world of words grew through her postgraduate degree in Biological Sciences and research in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, which reflects in her choice of similes and metaphors. She has been a passionate teacher for the younger lot in school as well as college and presently leads a k-12 public school as a Principal. She plays Mouthorgan, is trained in kathak and enjoys gardening and colouring. A mother of two, she is a prolific blogger and writes poetry in English, Hindi as well as Urdu.
BY MANIL MAYANK MISHRA
“I am an Indian and all Indians are my brothers and sisters”. So categorically, I still remember my school pledge which, devoid of any day, our Sister principal made us take in those mandatory morning assemblies. Alas but! Seems we never adhered to it. We never adhered to it to an extent that allegations, clarifications, opinion makings, mud slandering, hurling abuses,
tears, cries, asymptomatic sympathies, plastic valor, hollow manhood, and womanhood are simply becoming a viable and plausible replacement of social network and subsequently, media today.
I wonder if some decorated man or woman from History ever wondered “What is injustice? Justice, which is not done in your favor.” The fundamental idea is what are we seeking from this movement? The entire Indian society is divided between boon or bane on this issue, however, the much-flabbergasted question still exists “What are we looking for – Support, sympathy, a shoulder to cry upon or plain and fair justice? For if you seek the former, you are doing some kind of social favor to yourself, however, if you seek justice, you are establishing a moralistic and empowering chapter for all those deprived and marginalized women who either are petitely submerged in some remote villages and have understood sexual misconduct as a direct biological consequence of being a woman or do not have access to elitist social media or that communicable English language, however, but, the paradigm doesn’t shift, it still says, a woman and her chastity still
should be procured the same whatever backdrop she comes from.
A little excavation in the American history would tell us that that during the 18th and 19th century, sexual coercion was a norm with the female slaves in the south and free domestic workers in the north. The situation as late as late as in 1920s was so inevitably inexplicable that the only solution mechanism given to the distressed female employees was to simply quit their jobs if they weren’t able to handle the ‘pressure’. With the wave of post modern awareness and women empowerment rampages and campaigns, the demand for equity and balance grew and therefore, we have in Asia today (including India) certain stringent laws which promise draconian punitive actions against such acts. The significance is, in plain and simple statement, is to strengthen the history than to underline the jargons in
vocabulary, to act methodically than to spread it like a happy new year get to gather. Any movement shall lose its sheen if isn’t dealt at the right time, with right people and at the right place. With the entire barrage of opinions, declamations and debates, the essential element of any story would become feeble, less important, blurred and shall be replaced by personal vendetta, common experience sharing and mere redundant gossiping forgetting about the viable mediums to seek justice. Always remember, you don't need ‘per se’ a movement to call out an injustice done to you. Let’s never forget that the entire ‘#MeToo’ movement was never about a man or woman, it was always about to seek justice about social annihilation on morality and physicality and a vehement yet suppressed demand to achieve it.
Between all what is said and what is yet to be done and when humanity and men – women relationships are at a new low, alienations are happening like never before, I firmly imagine some kind of a ‘wetwo’ movement where people can share ideas, experiences and incidents where everyone lose their emotional baggage to share where a man or a woman has been an inspiration to each other’s life. This could range anytime and anything between immediate unadulterated friendships to a sustainable relationship for life. Mother nature did not do anything except creating an emotional thread between a man and woman to establish conventional empathy for each other’s pain and pleasure. The love between a man and woman is not dependent upon the fulfillment of conditions or abiding by norms or laws. It's free and restless. It sets its own principles upon situations and circumstances. Let it flow
the way it wants to. Let’s not become an oppressor in the middle of it, anywhere. Let’s become a medium between and man and a woman to have that basic trust, inspiration and a little cuddle to initiate the process of global harmony and embraces. A movement like ‘we too’ shall indeed enhance and rejuvenate the idea that before being a man and a woman, we are humans too. Then only and only then, we shall have a great society to look upon.
While working with Barry John Studio (BJS) as a mentor for Children’s workshops and later, with multiple academies as an acting teacher, the process of knowledge sharing strengthened my courage to write commercial stage productions.
My inclination to writing as an individual who can think towards the idea of a beautiful world is a direct outcome of the unique experiences I had with humans and objects which most certainly, still continue.
by Jagatsinh Parmar
Rarity attracts everyone. This concept also works for traveling, as travelers have always been hungry of quaint and different kind of places. India is the best country for traveling, but still, there is a lack of long stretch without urbanization for tranquillity. However, there is one exception and it's North-East India because North-East is still kept preserved with intact natural beauty. You must have witnessed so many types of waterfalls in India, like biggest, tallest, widest etc. But today I am going to talk about one waterfall, which is completely different. I can say, it’s simply potent enough to give a visional feast to your eyes. Yes, you heard right! A waterfall, whose scenery is an enchanting enough to question its reality. Krang-Shuri is a waterfall, situated in West
Jaintia district of Meghalaya state. It is off the way place, which is also cut off from the usual bucket list of travelers who come to Meghalaya. This is the same waterfall which can give you reminiscence of that scene of Bahubali movie. Not usual, but this place is nestled in the mid of forest, where peace is lying perfectly. From the main Dawki-Jowai highway, there is one cobbled way bringing us to the point, from where we can have a view of the waterfall from upside. This waterfall is sandwiched in mid of dense forest. From the same peak point, the trek starts to downside. You will start getting excited after having a far tucked view of this waterfall from that point. That trek is of around 10-20 minutes, which is adorned by the local art of bamboo and surrounded by greenery. And here you reach the destination like never before.
Nowadays it has been becoming a tourist place as gradually it has been exposed to people. But it’s not the fault of anyone, as who don’t want to visit such places? Luckily, I have met the founder of this place, and story of the discovery of this waterfall. This area of Meghalaya is normally famous for its natural resources, where amazing landscapes are lingering on the land. Meghalaya is actually full of such hidden gems, but only locals know about it. As having a rocky soil on the heart, entire Meghalaya state has crystal clear water flowing in its veins. The founder of this pace had seen this place once when he was wandering around the forest for his household work. He saw that there was no one around, but still some groups of friends used to come there silently for spending a quality time. He developed a big idea in his
mind for doing something great.
As a dreamer to do something new, he decided to develop this place on his own as a tourist place and this is how all work started off. And he proved that nothing is impossible for dreamers.
Krang-Shuri word is the foundation of two words. Krang means “cave” and Shuri means “sword”. So ultimately KrangShuri means “Cave of Sword” according to its shape. It was all due to DONBOK- a local guy, who just found that place 2 years back. He single-handedly made that rough cobbled way from the highway to the main point, along with adorning of down trek with bamboos, the tent site nearby waterfall, the swimming, and boating equipment with picnic point and the restaurant. He did everything on his own investment as the government has not given anything yet. He faced a lot of troubles during progress, but he didn’t stop. I felt happy when he said now
government is about to extend their hands as this place has got a great fame and they are going to invest 4 crores there instead of famous Shnongpdeng. He said I never imagined that in this short time, the people would go mad like this for this place, but again saying, that's the only beauty of this place.
Meghalaya is heaven for travellers as it consists of everything what explorers use to wish for having. The secret is nothing, but a stony land gives a gift of crystal clear water around and climate renders raining and its' outcomes. This all things altogether with presence of Khasi, Gharo and Jaintia hills at Bosom, makes Meghalaya a wonderful destination to get interacted. This place has its own magic. It’s away from normal running world. When you go there, don’t forget to spend a night. Just imagine, you are sleeping
in tent, hearing to voice of waterfall in symphonic tone. You are assuming a wonder of it and in early morning, you wake up with chirping of birds and colourful stream water in front of your eyes. In early morning( if it is not raining), you will find a water with green shadow completely at the time of sunrise. That water gradually turns into blue, by the passing of time as entire flow grabs that colourful shadow . Sitting at any corner and witnessing the peaceful environment, while having a hot Maggie with tea can be defined as new love. You are allowed to do so many activities there. They have their own campsite exactly nearby to waterfall. The stream coming from mid of forest is being used as a source of boating. You can also enjoy swimming at upper and lower side of waterfall origin. There are certain treks around, which can be explored without guide. The entire scenery is enough to make you questioning, what is this? You won’t find such luxurious amenities, but I am sure, you will find a sheer magic in minimalism there. For food, there is also one restaurant nearby waterfall, which is run by founders. You can find a good food there. What else do you need?
As there is no railway connection in entire Meghalaya state, you have to depart at Guwahati junction, which is 190 km away from this place.
Another nearby railway station is Silchar in lower Assam, which is also 19p km far away from this venue. Both places are well connected to other parts of the country.
Shillong serves as the nearest airport, but still, the frequency of flights will be better from Guwahati. Shillong is 90 km away from Krang-Shuri.
Guwahati is well connected by most of the cities of the country, by inter-changing flights.
It’s well connected by road. You can hire a taxi from Jowai or Shillong to reach there. The place falls onJowai-Dawki road, which itself a spectacular road.
You have written 4 books. Which one is closer to you?
Actually five now! I just published another fiction novel: RSVP. Honestly, all are dear to me since it’s my creation
Books involving Indian people blended with the American culture (major writings) - What is your take on the culture abroad? Is it better than India or living there is a tough call to make?
The beauty of culture is that it can be brought along to any country. That’s what I have tried to portray in my novel, “Breathing Two Worlds”However, the question is if you go abroad will you take it along with you? That is dependent from an individual to individual.
America is a country of immigrants making it very
liberal for those who want to adapt to their culture or even embrace somebody else’s. Thus, making it a feasible stay! However, India today is no more staunch as what it was in the 20th century thus, making even this country very liberal and allowing the citizens to take a step back when it comes to feasibility and convenience.
You write on modern time challenges faced by Indians abroad, any other genre you tried or would like to try in future?
I have tried magical realism genre in my recent release where the troubled young adult travels thousands of miles mentally while physically being stationed in one place. With that he has been able to embrace his past and move forward in his present.
What are your future plans with the books? Tell us something about your upcoming book(s).
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming
My recent release novel (August 2018) via a fiction tale talks about the significance of family as it explores the thin lines between reality and illusion. It also emphasizes upon embracing the past and moving on in the present.
A short fiction story is to be released soon where I take the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions as the astral and physical bodies clash due to their egos!
'Choices' raises the questions, does fate make a man, or do his desires? Do ambitions and desires actually lead a person to true happiness and fulfillment, or does providence and life changing events actually show a person the true path to follow? What's your take on the subject based on Indian context?
Indian or non-Indian…the context is simple.
Karma is a bitch and we get what we sowed. However, we all get to experience ‘free-will’ in any situation, and the choice is ours how to react and act in that time period.
Tell us about the things you love in your books?
Characters, setting/plot etc. Which is your favorite character(s) among your books? Tell us the inspiration behind them.
Honestly I like everything in my books. It’s my creation after all. With regards to gathering inspiration, I bow thee to the society that we live in. My characters, setting, and the plot is courtesy them.
What you feel about the future of women writers in India and abroad?
According to you, where the writers most valued and respected?
Writing is a creative process and it does not matter if the writer is a male or a female. And I don’t think the world also cares which sex wrote the book. As long as the story appeals to the reader, there is future for the writer
whether it is India or abroad. Value and respect is also based on the appeal of the story from an individual to an individual.
Who is your biggest critic?
Apart from all the bestselling numbers, accolades, interviews and fame, what makes YOU feel successful as a writer?
Honestly when I read books; I try to capture the essence of the story, and love to contemplate within. That inspires me to pen such kind of work.
I love writing about issues that stalk the mind of the man via tales of fiction.
I pen books in the contemporary fiction genre and my books go by the tagline, “Books that make you ponder!” Apart from the sales the accolades what makes me
most happy is when the reader has to say that this book gave me a “xyz take home lesson!” I am thrilled beyond words!
Anuradha Prasad with her book 'Coming Back Home'
What are the most common traps for aspiring authors?
I believe there are many but what I encountered in my writing journey are: To avoid polishing your first draft. That just leads to ruining your creativity since as a writer if you would be wanting to polish every scene every reaction the characters with whom you are playing around with go hide behind a bush. Boom! You are lost! Just write.
Capture the essence first and then polish it further!
As an author, what message you would like to share with the budding authors and writers?
Write what aspires you! You will write with your heart and the words will bleed!
In her own words -
I would like to introduce myself as Ruchira, a San Francisco based Indian writer.
To tell you a bit more about myself, I am a biochemist turned writer who gathers inspiration from the society. I love writing about issues that stalk the mind of the man via tales of fiction. I have been privileged to have been bestowed with the tagline, "Books that make you ponder!" by my readers for my work.
I started my writing journey with my blog, Abracadabra, which has been featured as "Top Blog" for consecutive three years at Best Indian Blogs. It has also been featured in Feedspot as the Top 50 Mindfulness Blogs. My blog is ranked 40. Many of my write-ups have been published on LifeHack, HubPages to name a few. Apart from all of this, I am published author of four books that have managed to find a space not only in the reader's hearts but also in their kindles forever. You can find them here.
I pen my work in the contemporary-fiction-drama genre with stories that talk about human relationships and values at large.
My recent release, "Breathing Two Worlds" has been nominated by Reader's Choice Awards for 2017 under Favorite General Fiction.
by Aparna Mukherjee
From the image of clay, Comes out the incredible portray, Of a radiant face and bright eyes, With a vibrant glorious smile.
She is Goddess Durga, She is the creator and destructor, All the power of the universe lies in her, To her children on earth, She bestows all her love and care.
She eradicates the demon of negativity, Blesses all, her sublime divine beauty, On earth when steps she, Takes care of all her devotee.
Echoes the sounds of temple bells, There lightens up the candle flames, Everyone showers flowers on Her feet, When our Mother takes Her golden seat.
Chants of sacred words, can be heard all around, Songs in Her praise, Everywhere surrounds.
With her ferocious looks, She appears, Riding on Her lion, with weapons in Her arms, She comes to put an end to the tormentors, With her invincible power, She extirpates all fear.
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, down-to-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.
by Rohit Bhatia
I ran and escaped myself into the dark, searching for a room for myself.”
I’ve been used to run away from my feelings, in such a way that, when I ran away from ‘Love’,
I didn’t sense that out. Since childhood, ‘My parents’ wanted me to be someone, who would stand for them, so I took that as a goal for me. I thought I would love my life, without expecting
anything in return. But… No matter how far I went, I wasn’t left far, life kept on following me. Expectation killed my emotions and jolted me upstraight to the deep core. As a result, I was
used and betrayed. Not once or twice, as far as I remember, a number of times. But a part of making me weak, these things made me learned lessons, and moreover, how to choose the
genuine stuff for life. You won’t ever be sure enough to catch your own reflection, but you can surely be best in pouring it. Be genuine, not for what you going to achieve,
but for something which you are doing at present. Instead of running off your problems, stand still and solve it.
A 21 years old soul from Ranchi, Jharkhand. He loves pouring his heart out on the white sheets of paper, with his baby named Ink in different colors. Contributing writer of 35+ Anthologies, he is looking to bring his debut novella out this March’19.
@inked.sheets.via.poetry
by Meera Menon
TThings aren’t going well for the army return, Detective Sergeant John Rebus when we first meet him. He’s smoking and drinking too much, trying to soak in the facts of his broken marriage with Rohana, who has taken their daughter Samantha along. The story unwraps with the scene of a small kid being strangled. Yes, Edinburgh has a serial killer on the loose, kidnapping and killing young kids. And you guessed it right! Rebus, along with Gill Templer and many others, is posted to investigate.
by Ian Rankin
Just like his name, an enigmatic puzzle, Rebus has been portrayed as a troubled man, “a flawed hut humane detective”. Something haunts Rebus, recurring visions and dreams. But no clue to this peculiar behaviour is reviled until the end. Apart from this, the inspector has also been receiving random notes, with knots or crosses along. Is this some kind of prank played by a weirdo? Or has it anything to do with the murderer? Nonetheless, Rebus chooses to ignore them. It takes a while until he realizes that this series of murders are in fact intensely personal. What is the connection between the abducted kids and Rebus? Is Michael, his blood-brother involved? Who is “his” next target? Hold on to knots and crosses till the end to get this ‘enigmatic puzzle’ explained!
About the Book: Published in 1987, the crime thriller Knots and Crosses was Ian Rankin’s key to Inspector Rebus series. The story is spun around John Rebus, a detective sergeant who is introduced as being messed up and lonely. A postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, Rankin most certainly has highlighted a different side to the picturesque city - a quick explosion of flavors of crime and action.
About the Author: Ian Rankin (Jack Harvey) is a celebrated Scottish crime novelist who is best known for his works of John Rebus. He is one of the writers who contribute huge proportions of crime novels sold in the UK. He has won copious prizes, including the honored Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. His works have been translated to over 30 languages.
Summary:
Verdict: Rectos of Knots and crosses certainly couldn’t knot me up until the last lap. I felt the pages were overflowing with the emotions and thoughts of a messed up DS. Rebus has been characterized to be extremely different from the detectives we are adapted to. A squiz at Rankin’s work and we would realize that Rebus is nothing but extremely humane. No super senses of finding abstract or obscure clues. Even so, the storyline and its good presentation style are appreciable and I would give it a 3.8/5, with an overall rating of 3.5/5. Though “There are clues everywhere”, “there were no clues worth going on” - Yes, I personally missed getting sucked into the world of detectives, trying to solve the case along with the protagonist. Knots and Crosses can be labeled as one of those thin, quick reads. I wouldn’t par it with my favorites, but it certainly prickled my interest to get more of Rebus series.
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
@memorycarver
@Meera_Menon_P
VICTOR HUGO:
by Himanshu Rai
by Himani Gupta
TThe cover of the book looks romantic and perfect suited the story. The title of the book seems different and interesting which will urge you to buy the book and read it. I am a romance lover and love to read love stories, so this book was a good start. I loved the relationship between vaidehi and Rohan. I loved the way they express their love together silently. Some of the incidents really touched your heart and make you emotional as well. The narration is a bit slow which sometimes make you bored
while reading the book. The story is simple and easy to understand. The plot of the story is very good, and it could be better if some parts of the story could be cut short. The climax of the story touched my heart and you feel be emotional and felt like crying. The story not only speaks about love but also friendship, brother sister relationship which was also the highlight of the book. The characters are nicely described, and every character is important part of the story. The title of the story makes u inquisitive to know the reason behind “Mute girlfriend” as to why this title is used. Is it because of some medical condition or something else? This urge you to read the story completely. Overall a one time read book and good for the first-time readers who want to read a simple book. I wish all the best to the author and there is always a scope of improvement. Would love to read more books.
About the Book: “That day I realized I had lost her forever. I had lost her smile, her friendship, her voice… But still, somewhere in my heart, I believed her to be my girlfriend. My mute girlfriend.
Rohan is a telecom professional posted in Meerut and misses his girlfriend from college days, who had stopped interacting with him, without giving any reason.
Although she had always stood by his side and her eyes reflected immense love, but she remained his mute girlfriend.
About the Author: Himanshu is a telecom professional and storytelling has been his hobby. My Mute Girlfriend is his third novel, reminiscing his college days. His way of writing is often termed as visual writing, because a reader can visualize all the action with great ease.
Summary:
Publisher: Srishti Publications
Verdict: ☆☆☆½ A beautiful and different love story that will touch your heart and make you feel loved and happy.
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.
by Debasmita Nath Ghosh
by Himani Gupta
The cover of the book is simple and sober. As a reader, I was attracted by the title of the book “Hope and Sunshine”. I always believe hope gives rise to Sunshine in your life and that is what narrated in the book by the author which simply attracted me to read the book and as a reader, I simply loved the book. Each character of the book was interesting and beautifully described by the author. My favorite character is Aditya which is the dream of every girl to have a life partner like him. He is the hope and sunshine of
the story. The bond between Naina and Arjun reminds me of my relationship with my brother that is very close to my heart and I smiled as well as cried reading their relationship. It was like salt and pepper. Author had beautifully captured the emotions in the book. The climax of the book was so beautiful that I wished to read again and again. The author had beautifully described the cause and effect of long distance relationship. Some parts of the story were very emotional which really made your eyes watery. Some parts were slow and boring specially Ved and Naina’s part which can be avoided. Overall a nice read. I would recommend all those who loves to read romantic novels.
About the Book: Naina Grover has an imperfectly perfect life, or is it perfectly imperfect? A Punjabi kudi from Delhi working in the city of joy, Kolkata is joined by her crazy cousin, Arjun and his sober friend Aditya to come of age while at a longdistance relationship which seems to be going nowhere. She knows it is a recipe for disaster but should she let go or not? Should she hope for the best? Hope she will be accepted?Hope she can settle down? Hope she can come to terms with a family secret bothering her for years now? Just hope. Keep hoping? And then, Hope welcomes a ray of sunshine. Naina welcomes you to look at life from her perspective. 'Hop'eOn!'
About the Author: Debasmita Nath Ghosh is over pampered by her father and rightly so, born and brought up in Guwahati, studied in Pune and now is the co-founder of a successful travel company in Kolkatta. Not only father she is also pampered by her husband as well. She is now a published author of her first book “Hope and Sunshine.”
Publisher: Power Publication
Verdict: ☆☆☆½ A beautiful love story which gives you goosebumps as well as hope and sunshine. I simply fell in love with all the characters of the book
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 Bhavani Iyer
by Swapna Peri
The book starts with an introduction of two young lads who come from different lifestyles, economic and cultural backgrounds. The plot is set up in the beautiful city of Joy and the epitome of heritage, Calcutta during the years between 1960 - 70. The author has captured perfectly the soul of the city during those rustic years of paradigm shift both in economy and culture of the native Bengalis.
The journey of the two young boys from their childhood to the
later years is narrated in a very interesting manner. They both come across each other in the heavenly destination, 'Shantiniketan'. Since the time they meet with each other, the story takes a great U-turn and the author must be given all due credits for a wonderful plot.
The book mainly emphasizes on human emotions, forgotten memories of childhood and left out little feelings towards the people we love unconditionally.
What I like:
1.The narrative style
2. The plot and the depiction of emotions
What I didn't like:
There is nothing to be mentioned as I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the story.
Book Cover: The book cover is an abstract art of two feathers and Bengali Text on the background that supports the blurb of the story which says the book is set up in Kolkata, the then Calcutta!
Book Title: The book title 'Anon' looks very unique and different. At some point, it looks like a short form of the word Anonymous which makes the read interesting.
Narration: The narration is very interesting with ample amounts of wit, emotion and good story telling abilities.
Language and Grammar: A matured style of writing with some rich vocabulary is observed. As the author is an experienced screenwriter, the language is atop.
Characters: The characters of the two protagonists, Deb and Sardar are very established and are written with engaging personalities that don't take the readers interest away from turning the next page.
My Verdict: A satisfying and an engaging read.
Rating
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3.5/5
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
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
by Swapna Peri
This book in detail and with beautiful narration talks about the history of Lord Kartikeya.
Every chapter in detail gives the readers a satisfying feeling of understanding the history of Kartikeya that also includes the events before his birth, during his birth, and after his birth. The book is categorized into different chapters and each chapter creates an interest to read. Be it the story of Diti or Tarakasur or Parvati, all are been explained very logically and appealing to the new
by Usha Narayanan
generation people.
The language used is very much simple and easily understandable. People of any age can read the book.
Language and Grammar: Easy and simple language is used.
Narration: A very good narration of all the main and sub-events is observed.
Book Title: The title of the book is 'Kartikeya and His Battle with the Soul Stealer' that clearly explains to the readers the book is all about Kartikeya and his life.
Book Cover: The book cover is a beautiful digital art of a young Karthikeyan and his mount Peacock and the art looks very beautiful in soothing colors and intrinsic details.
My Verdict: A very good read to understand why was Kartikeya born?
Rating
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
About the book: 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
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
