Storizen Magazine September 2019 | Illuminating the Characters
Shalini Lal & Pradnya
STORIZEN
by Ranjit Chaudhari
calling all writers!
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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
"Let us tear down the walls of our hearts in order to tear down the walls of concrete” Fouad Twal (top Roman Catholic official in the Holy land and Palestinian citizen of Jordan). The quote is a perfect depiction of building stronger relationships.
Latest developments have seen some bitter sweet relations among people. Our theme for September is dedicated to breaking down the walls of hatred and discrimination.
Have you ever had a problem with sketching the characters while writing a book? Do check out our special Cover Feature - Illuminating the Characters.
Book Lovers, this month we bring you four hot releases in association with Hachette India and HarperCollins Publishers viz. That will Never Work by Marc Randolph, Flawed by Pawan C. Lall, Adulting by Neharika Gupta, and Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed. You are surely going to enjoy them in your weekends. So go grab a copy now.
Do check out our Editor's Choice article of the month - The rise of right wing populismA Common Trend Across Borders by Sankha Ghosh
Packed with poetry and four book reviews, This issue is surely going to light you up.
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
Illuminating the Characters Building The Character Sketch A Storizen Exclusive Feature
Whether you are writing your Novel, a short story, or a novella, Shaping Up "The Character" can make or break the success of your novel.
by Pria
Whether you are writing your Novel, a short story, or a novella, shaping up "the character" can make or break the success of your novel.
As the plot is important, so important is how the characters are defined. When it comes to shaping the characters, some important things are to be taken into consideration. Characters are the ones who speak for us, set the mood, carry the theme, carry the
emotion. But they only exist when we describe them on the page. gems.
Overusing the Adjectives
When it comes to using adjectives as descriptors, its common to find the ones which are overused. For example, Frizzy hair, Bulging muscles etc. The phrase should not be only accurate and sensory, but also fresh. Often the easiest way to avoid an adjective-based cliché is to free the phrase entirely from its adjective modifier
Making the details more specific
The adjectives used to describe the character like frizzy hair can be made a lot way better by using specifics such as a military buzzcut, prickly to the touch. This description will create a clear, stronger picture than using the bland phrase frizzy hair. These description helps create an image and they also suggest the background and the personality of the character.
Revealing the inner lives of the characters
Characters must reveal their inner self in the story. Their lifestyle, the car they drive, the bike they ride, what they will pack for the trip on the weekend, the brand of watch they wear etc. The best way is to make a list of anything and everything to reveal the lives of the characters.
Description that is not direct can also be effective
Let your character show the emotions like squirming, shouting, laughing etc. on different circumstances. Choose the description in such a way that it reveals the traits of the scene you are creating. If the characters are divorced, how will they divide the assets. Who gets the lake cottage the stepson or the daughter?
This way, the thrill, the suspense is always maintained and characters are sketched well.
Characters must reveal their inner self in the story.
Describing the character's surroundings
In order to describe the character's surroundings, don't stick only to their present lives. The best way in shaping up the characters from their earlier lives in their past to how they got to their present to how they are moving ahead towards their future.
Another way the surroundings can be described are the dreams. Dreaming can become a tool of use to describe the character's surroundings and the life they are living or dream of living.
Action-based descriptions
Verbs are the best to describe the actions of the characters. Well-placed verbs can sharpen almost any physical description of a character. Strong verbs like bowed forward, brow sloped, hair hovered etc. form a basis of a perfect action based description.
Actable actions are important elements in many fiction and nonfiction scenes that include dialogue. In some cases, actions, along with environmental clues, are even more important to character development than the words
Photo by Zane Lee
the characters speak. Writers of effective dialogue include pauses, voice inflections, repetitions, gestures, and other details to suggest the psychological and emotional subtext of a scene.
Use of concrete, sensory details to describe the characters Writers probe characters’ inner lives through what characters see through their eyes. A writer who describes what a character sees also reveals, in part, a character’s inner drama.
In The Madness of a Seduced Woman, Susan Fromberg Schaeffer describes a farm through the eyes of the novel’s main character, Agnes, who has just fallen in love and is anticipating her first sexual encounter, which she simultaneously longs for and fears.
Actable actions are important elements in many fiction and nonfiction scenes that include dialogue.
In short, describing the characters is as much important as the plot of the story. If the story has a perfect character sketch, the novel with the strong buildup of the characters, be it the protagonist or the antagonist, or the supporting characters in the plot, it will definitely strike a chord with the readers and make it a success.
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 multilinguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.
pria@storizen.com
HOT OFF THE PRESS
How We Took a Crazy Idea, Built Netflix and Disrupted an Industry
ABOUT THE BOOK
Once upon a time, brick-and-mortar video stores were king. Late fees were ubiquitous, video-streaming unheard of, and widespread DVD adoption seemed about as imminent as flying cars. These were the widely accepted laws of the land in 1997 when Marc Randolph had an idea. It was a simple thought - leveraging the internet to rent movies - and was just one of many more proposals, like personalised baseball bats and a shampoo delivery service, that Randolph would pitch to his business partner, Reed Hastings, on their commute to work each morning. But Hastings was intrigued, and the pair - with Hastings as the primary investor and Randolph as the CEOfounded a company. Now with over 150 million subscribers, Netflix's triumph feels inevitable but the twenty-first century's most disruptive start-up began with few believers and calamity at every turn. From having to pitch his own mother on being an early investor, to the motel conference room that served as a first office, to server crashes on launch day, to the now-infamous meeting when they pitched Blockbuster to acquire them, Marc Randolph's transformational journey exemplifies how anyone with grit, gut instincts and determination can change the world - even with an idea that many think will never work. What emerges, however, isn't just the inside story of one of the world's most iconic companies. Full of counter-intuitive concepts and written in binge-worthy prose, it answers some of our most fundamental questions about taking that leap of faith in business or in life: How do you begin? How do you weather disappointment and failure? How do you deal with success? What even is success? From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Marc Randolph is the co-founder of Netflix, serving as their founding CEO, the executive producer of their website and a member of their board of directors. Marc’s career as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur spans more than four decades. He has founded or co-founded more than half a dozen other successful startups, mentored rising entrepreneurs and invested in numerous successful tech ventures. Marc speaks frequently to companies and at industry events internationally. Marc is due to appear in a documentary in 2019 called Netflix vs. The World.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
‘My interactions with the man revealed a most complex character – a creation of multiple cultural settings, the loss of a parent at a young age, and an intense drive to prove a point and make a mark… ’
ABOUT THE BOOK -
In early 2018, the implosion of Nirav Modi’s Firestar Diamonds International, on its way to becoming India’s first truly global luxury company, threw the country’s diamond industry, as well as its banking system, into utter disarray. Allegations against Modi, of defrauding banks to the tune of US$1.8 billion, brought a whole business community under scrutiny and escalated rapidly into an international scandal. Based on personal encounters, incisive interviews and meticulous research, this riveting narrative exposes the incredible twists and turns of the Nirav Modi story – of a thirdgeneration diamantaire who moved from Belgium to India to apprentice with his uncle, Mehul Choksi, an established diamond merchant with extensive connections; of an astute businessman whose firm grip over
an intercontinental supply chain saw his branded jewellery stores dotting not just every Indian metropolis but also marquee locations such as London, New York and Hong Kong; and of a reclusive, inscrutable man with a penchant for the high life that possibly led him to fly too close to the sun. As the Nirav Modi saga – complete with his arrest on international soil, rejected bail pleas, extradition theatrics and the frenzied pursuit of diamond-trading minutiae by investigative agencies across three nations – continues to make headlines, Flawed recounts in close, compelling detail the rise of a global player and his equally dramatic fall. Arresting and revelatory, it raises indispensable questions about how one man’s drive to succeed at all costs can jeopardize an entire ecosystem.
‘My interactions with the man revealed a most complex character – a creation of multiple cultural settings, the loss of a parent at a young age, and an intense drive to prove a point and make a mark… ’
HOT OFF THE PRESS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Pavan C. Lall is associate editor at the Business Standard, where he writes about the automotive sector, private equity, real estate, storied conglomerates and more. A winner of the Citi Journalistic Excellence Award 2016, what really drives Pavan is unravelling corporate conspiracies and industry scandals and laying them bare. Born in Kolkata, raised in Texas and presently living in Mumbai, he has also written for Fortune India, the Telegraph, the Dallas Business Journal and other publications.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A dazzling debut novel about love and self-discovery
‘A book promising to withstand the test of time with challenges I have faced and still see young people facing today, be it body-image, creativity or confidence.’ – Neharika Gupta, Author
Adulting is a must-read for the urban millennial looking to connect with characters who are bold, passionate and ambitious – who overcome obstacles to achieve their goals, find love and embrace who they are, even in the face of difficult bosses, creative blocks and internet trolls.’ –Prerna Gill, Editor – HarperCollins India.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Social media manager and popular blogger Aisha is flirty and flamboyant ... even as she battles personal demons that tell her she must stop eating if she wants to stay pretty. Ruhi couldn't be more different from her friend Aisha. Working at Litracy
Publishing, she feels grossly underappreciated by the editor-in-chief, who happens to be her mother. What keeps her going are her own ambitions - and her handsome author Tejas.
Bestselling novelist Tejas has a bad case of writer's block. He leans on Ruhi for emotional support before getting enamoured by Aisha as he struggles to live up to everyone's expectations, including his own.
Bold and unapologetic, this is a story of love and self-discovery, heartache and book launches.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Neharika Gupta is a writer, poet, yogi and martial arts practitioner. She worked in publishing for a year before shifting to writing full-time. She holds a B.A. (H) in English Literature from Lady Shri Ram College for Women and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, UK. Paperback
A dazzling debut novel about love and self-discovery
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Individual intelligence is no longer enough - why cognitive diversity is the solution to tackling our greatest challenges.
Where do the best ideas come from? And how do we apply these ideas to the problems we face - at work, in the education of our children, and in the biggest shared challenges of our age: rising obesity, terrorism and climate change? In this bold and inspiring new book, Matthew Syedthe bestselling author of Bounce and Black Box Thinking -argues that individual intelligence is no longer enough; that the only way to tackle these complex problems is to harness the power of our 'cognitive diversity'.
Rebel Ideas is a fascinating journey through the science of team performance. It draws on psychology, economics, anthropology and genetics, and takes lessons from a dazzling range of case-studies, including the catastrophic intelligence failings of the CIA before 9/11, a communication breakdown at the top
of Mount Everest, and a moving tale of deradicalization in America's deep South.
It is a book that will strengthen any company, institution or team, but it also offers many individual applications too: the remarkable benefits of personalised nutrition, advice on how to break free of the echo chambers that surround us, and tips on how we can all develop an 'outsider mindset'. Rebel Ideas offers a radical blueprint for creative problemsolving. It challenges hierarchies, encourages constructive dissent and forces us to think again about where the best ideas come from.
Matthew Syed is a leading columnist and feature writer for The Times and the host of the UK's biggest podcast: Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy on BBC Radio 5.
Matthew also gives business talks to major international corporate clients including. Before becoming a writer Matthew was the England table tennis number one for almost a decade, three times Commonwealth Champion, and he
Individual intelligence is no longer enough - why cognitive diversity is the solution to tackling our greatest challenges.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
wice represented Great Britain in the Olympic Games. Matthew Syed's first book, Bounce:
The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice, was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.
His second, Black Box Thinking, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller. He has also published a collection of his award-winning sports columns in The Greatest.
As the legend has it, Lord Shiva appeared to Sage Vasugupta in a dream and instructed him to go to a particular stone near a stream. When Sage Vasugupta went there the next day, the stone turned over at his touch, and on its face were inscribed the Shiva Sutras. These sutras were to be revealed to those fit for grace as per Lord Shiva’s instructions. Explaining our true nature and the illusion we are living in, The Shiva Sutras guides us as to how we can set aside the illusion and experience ultimate reality. The sutras with their transformative message have the power to end our suffering and open up a whole new world for us.
The Rise Of Right Wing Populism
by Sankha Ghosh
the voters are responding to similar promises and displaying similar sentiments. Though the scenarios may vary - the basic pattern remains the same.
Just like the extreme “Republicanism” and madness
"The rise of right wing populism in Europe was more about positioning nationalism and immigration as a threat to the country. Boris Johnson helming Britain to his “promised” Brexit is only a confirmation to that."
Boris Johnson
(Image Source - Politico Europe)
around the “wall” that took Trump to power – the unprecedented win of Modi for second term was also a triumph. Such a dramatic change of voter behavior across the world indicates a common perception of quality of political leadership It’s a result of an accumulated resentment and frustration with existing economic circumstances and perception of policies as nonrelevant.
The reason for resentment is varied in different regions of the world. Let’s check out the story of United States first. With dollars dominating the world market, US economy outsourced trivial services and productions to low-cost centers around the world. Their focus was more on knowledge economy
But in a couple of decades – the scenario changed. The skillset required to service shifted from Business Processing call centers to Knowledge Processing centers. To meet needs, the low-cost centers (including the SE Asia) equipped themselves with hordes of degrees and skillsets resulting in high paying jobs in US. So the companies of Bay area and elsewhere started getting credible candidates willing to
work at reasonable pay. And with this mounted the perception of “immigrants” stealing “lesser pay” jobs. The immigrants were mostly South American or South East Asian. A resentment against race was visible Added to that 9/11 happened and the natives found their enemy in a brown-skinned and bearded person. And then happened the housing bubble burst resulting in a huge recession. Barack Obama (a black) came to power with a huge support and remained in White House for two full terms. The cumulative resentment spreaded over a long two decades was visibly prominent amongst a significant section of US population when Trump came to power. The primal need of resentment was addressed by a few simple keywords – nationalism, illegal immigrants (read race) and a reassurance of - “It’s their fault – I am on your side.”
If noted closely, a very different yet similar scenario followed in India. With the advent of outsourced jobs and the tag of “world’s fastest growing economy” – the country struggled through huge unemployment and a visible institutionalization of corruption. Added to that was resentment among people who wanted quality education and
employment but was not eligible under “reservation”. With Narendra Modi – a charismatic leader and a powerful orator promising “better days” – he came to power with a sweeping victory. His first term was heavy on “nationalism” and “militarism” and also implementing a “muscular” version of Hinduism
The enemy of “illegal immigrants” of Trump was altered with “minorities of other faith” here. To note closely, he too met the primal need of resentments of a significant population by a few keywords – nationalism, macho Hinduism and a reassurance of “It’s their fault (read Indian National Congress)– I am on your side.”
The rise of right wing populism in Europe was more about positioning nationalism and immigration as a threat to the country. Boris Johnson helming Britain to his “promised” Brexit is only a confirmation to that.
The twenty-first century presents complex problems that require a wiser way of reasoning, one that recognises our current limitations, tolerates ambiguity and uncertainty, balances multiple perspectives, and bridges diverse areas of expertise.
IReal Religion is Happiness of All
by Stuti Gogia
n the quest to learn more and have insights for peace and harmony, I went to a meditation retreat last month for 10 days. The experience indeed was amazing and when suddenly I saw the theme of Storizen for the month of September, it made me realize that the theme is completely in Synchronization what my take away from that course was.
What actually is Religion for us? Is being Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh a religion? In addition, if our answer to this is YES then the next question is then how do we treat people who are of different religion/culture/ethnicity than us.
If we do a slight introspection, we will understand that there is a boundary, which is surrounding us always.
Either we have created it on our own or we have built it up hearing someone’s opinion or view How many times in a day, we react towards a situation being fully wise/aware or being, compassionate for people around us. From today and this moment, can we all have one definition of what religion means? Religion means having a world where we are
Photo by Larm Rmah
not pointing fingers and not blaming everything outside for all the wrong things happening with us. Real Religion is on compassion, kindness, and understanding. Real Religion is sowing seeds of happiness. Real Religion is peace and harmony. No country, person, culture, and community are bad, every living being on the planet deserves love, respect, and happiness. The path of religion is tough but indeed peaceful and powerful in the end Let us all break the wall which has built around us in years, let us all pledge not to judge people and let us all start creating a world which is free from hate, aggression, and judgments. Let us all strive towards world peace and become responsible global citizens.
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
"Because Real Religion is happiness of all." - Stuti Gogia
Confession
by Harsha Shastry
This is part 2. To read part 1, click here.
At Six-thirty Rohit brought her back to home in his bike I watched them through the window hiding my body behind the curtain. My heart skipped beats when I understood the body language of Rohit. He is apologizing! For what? Oh, God! Could it be that? Could it be just as I feared? Ishuddered with the thought and rushed towards the door and opened it. Tanya walked in showing the signs of all fatigue.
“Are you alright, dear?” I asked her anxiously.
“Yes mama, fine ” Her voice had a touch of irritation
“Tanya, I – I mean, nothing went wrong, isn’t it?” I asked again for my own satisfaction.
“Come on Mama, how many times are you going to ask me that? I already said I am fine and I am ok, please stop pestering me.” She raised her voice uncharacteristically and started to walk upstairs towards her room as hot tears began to roll down my cheeks. However, she stopped at the
Photo by Farrel Nobel
half stairs and turned her head back.
“Mama, I am sorry, I shouted at you.
Look, I am fine, just a bit tired, ok?
Please don’t worry ” She said with a faint smile on her face
I carefully watched her during dinner. She was crisp to the point in her conversation and never showed the exuberance of a cherishing trip.
She ate less than usual and kept her eyes down most of the time.
To my utter surprise, I noticed her heavy grunt when I served her ‘not so favorite’ but her father’s ‘favorite’ capsicum masala. First time in Tanya’s life she is showing deepest disgust. She was not like this, I have made this dish a hundred times before, but never ever she has behaved this way.
And I understood one thing. She is showing signs! Perhaps, signs of some mishap, signs of some unprecedented incidents or even better, one-sided precedence events, and I said to myself, “It’s TIME - time to talk.”
Tanya was punching the keypads of her mobile hard when I entered her room. She hastily clenched it to her heart as she heard the sound of my footsteps
“Yes, mama?” She questioned softly, however, I could trace a faint note of irritation in that.
“Tanya, I want to talk to you,” I said hesitantly.
“Yes mama, I am listening.” She said without lifting her head.
After a few more moments of awkward silence, she lifted her head and looked at me, only to see tears in my eyes.
“Mama, is something worrying you?” She asked with genuine concern.
“I am worried about you,” I said taking her hands.
“But why mama?” although she tried to look innocent, her face gave a clear indication of guilty feeling deep in her heart.
“Look, Tanya, you are at a very tender age. I just don’t want anything to go wrong, I – I know you and Rohit like each other, but you both are at very early stages of life I just don’t want something to happen between you, at least now.” I said lowering my eyes.
“What makes you think that something is going to happen between us?” She asked so feebly that I knew it was another sign. I felt silently embarrassed since this is just the second time I am talking to her
on such personal and sensitive matters, of course, earlier one being during her first period days.
“Let me narrate you a true story, Tanya. It is the story of a young girl of your age, but the story happened nearly 22 years ago. She was the only daughter of her parents and hence was pampered too much, just like you. But during her late teens, she fell in love with a college mate and they went on to have intercourse being all curious and eager. The sad part of the story starts only now, the boy, however, resumes his normal life and lived happily. But the girl soon found out that she is pregnant. Since her boyfriend was not capable of managing the issue; she had to bring it to the notice of her parents. Of course, her parents handled it better and forgave their only daughter. But the most important thing is that this incident had left a permanent scar in the life of a girl She just couldn’t forget the pain the whole experience caused Conceiving one new life is a different thing, but giving it away, rather killing it for no wrong of it’s, is a real pain.
Although she endured it bravely, the incident made her feel like a murderer.
She just kept on dreaming the images of dead baby, even today; the incident brings hot tears in her.
I – I just don’t want anything like that to happen to my lovely daughter.” I stopped and looked at Tanya. She was sobbing and soon tears started rolling down her cheeks and she hugged me tightly and I too began to sob unleashing all my sorrows and fears through hot tears
“Mama?” She whispered through her hard breaths.
“Yes, dear?” I encouraged.
“It must have been very hard?” She asked in a feeble voice. I didn’t dare to reply.
“Mama, do you still see the images of dead babies?” She asked again releasing me from her grip.
“ ” , I just couldn’t answer her, but her hand forcefully lifted my chin so that I have to look at her tears filled eyes
“Confession is good Mama I don’t want you to see the dead babies’ picture anymore. Mama, I – I want to make a confession too.” She said showing a bitter smile. My heart at once skipped a few beats.
“Mama yesterday, I - I mean we, I and Rohit were very close to
doing what you did in your teen. Luckily, somehow it just didn’t happen and now, I am so glad it didn’t happen I promise you, I will make sure that I won’t do it until the right time. If hadn’t been for your confession, we would have done it in the very near future. Mama, you are the best and I love you so much for showing me the right path.” Tanya stopped and began to sob uncontrollably. I hugged her tight with a strange excitement in my heart. I had understood one thing; my so-called small confession (in reality - a made-up story and some good acting skills!) had done wonders. It would now make sure that my daughter goes on the right path and live happily
That’s what mothers are for, isn’t it?
Harsha Shastry is a dynamic creative writer with over twelve years of experience in the areas of creative script writing including animation screenplay, lyrics, Novellas, Novels, copy ads, contents, jingles, game concepts, and dialogues. He has written numerous stories/screenplays for very acclaimed and popular cartoon shows like Choota Bheem, Motu and Patlu. His stories have been published in international journals like “Earthen Lamp Journal.” His debut novel “The eight FBian hearts” is being published by Numerique Publication. Apart from being a writer, Harsha is a humanitarian who believes in the strength of each individual irrespective of race and gender
@harsha-shastry-0295072b
by Swapna Peri
The Intelligence Trap
by David Robson
n this debut book,the writer Robson examines the “flawed mental habits” of people with “greater intelligence, education, and professional expertise”—and how they can learn to “think more wisely.” The book talks about human stupidity; which hides in secret areas behind veils of pseudo or incomplete intelligence. It appears as if total stupidity is constant and when it is reduced in one cognitive field it can grow in other areas.
The Intelligence Trap was quite a different sort of book. It is definitely not at all the normally available self-
help. This is very informative and there are some interesting things to learn and know. However, at one point during reading the book felt slow-paced and kind of fell flat On the other hand, the second part becomes more interesting in comparison with various examples put in.
Overall the book is a typically designed yet different genre book to understand the psyche of a human mind.
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. The concepts explained
2. The take on the human mind and behavior related to psychology
3. It talks about many important things such as the importance of the productive struggle, mindfulness, biases and etc
What I didn't like:
Though an interesting read, too much information makes the book little slow-paced and boring in some places.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a simple plain colored turquoise cover with the title in yellow.
Book Title: The title of the book ' The Intelligence Trap' is very different and interesting
Rating
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
Tby Swapna Peri
The Secret Life of Organizations
by Shalini Lal & Pradnya Parasher
his book acts as a guide to the young people who move from the student phase to young adult phase towards the working adult lifestyle.
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
1. The unique concept of dealing and understanding how different phases of life work
2. The transition issues faces by an individual in each stage of adulthood are explained very well
3. The paradigm changes in working culture when the organisation in which an individual works changes are illustrated very well
What I didn't like:
There are no flaws as such but at times the book lags in narration.
Narration: An interesting narration is observed in the book
Language & Grammar: A very fine language with good grammar is observed in the book
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a abstract image of a secret folder with a lock. This complements the title.
Book Title: The title of the book ' The Secret Life of Organizations' is unique and intriguing Click here to read
My Verdict: An interesting book with an indifferent concept
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Inside the book: 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
TThe Shiva Sutras
by Ranjit Chaudhari
About the book:
The "Shiva Sutras," or "Aksarasamamnaya," are 14 verses of Sanskrit phonemes. From these verses, 281 different combinations of letters and bound letters (anubandhas) can be made. The "Shiva Sutras" are part of the foundation of Sanskrit grammar. by Swapna Peri
he Shiva Sutras are divided into three sections, which correspond to the three “means” (approaches; ways) or upayas, in Kashmir
Shaivism - 1st SectionShambhavopaya or Divine Means. 2nd Section - Shaktopaya or Empowered Means. 3rd SectionAnavopaya or Individual Means. In the book, the author has taken the utmost care in explaining the abovesaid things in layman language. Shiva Sutra is a central text for Kashmir Shaivism. Shiva Sutra is divided into three sections and gives the core of the inner yoga practice and philosophy not only of Kashmir Shaivism but also of many other Tantrik traditions.
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
What I like:
The book is written in a very easily understandable manner. The concept of consciousness is explained well
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is an abstract close-up picture of Lord Shiva
Book Title: The title of the book ' The Shiva Sutras' is spiritual and attractive.
My Final Verdict: A unique read
Rating
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 Himani Gupta
Give Your Heart a Break
by Anuj Tiwari
he title of the book or it’s cover will make you think as a normal love story but when u purchase this book and read it, it will touch your heart. It is first time someone had written a book on Sibling relationship. I could relate to this book fully as the same relationship I have with my brother. The relationship between Agastya and Addya was really beautiful. It makes you laugh as well as cry. The narration of the book is flawless. It is inspired by real life incident which will build thousand of emotions in your mind while reading the book. My
Brother also helps me in every situation and guide me when I am in low life. Apart from brother sister relationship, the book also speaks about torture which married women sometimes face from her husband. They are unable to speak about the physical abuse they face in their married life. This part really touched me so much that after reading the whole book, I was speechless for sometimes. As a reader, I was totally engrossed with the book till I finished it. Each character of the book was well portrayed and have their own part to play. I liked dimpy aunty very much. Her Humor or her motivational talk was simply superb. I really enjoyed reading Anuj Tiwari books as his books have so much emotions and mostly inspired by real life that makes the book interesting and as a reader you enjoy reading it. This book is also one of his master piece. Every Siblings who have a strong bond will enjoy reading this book and can relate to it. I would recommend everyone to read it.
About the Book: When is it enough, really enough? In love, never! In abuse, forever. Written flawlessly with tenderness and fury, heartbreak and acceptance, Give Your Heart a Break is the story of Addya, a flamboyant, confident woman, leading a carefree life. That is, until the day she gets married, and her life suddenly takes a turn for the worse. Caught in a steadily deteriorating relationship, Addya is stretched to her limits as she tries to cope. Through it all, she has her brother Agastya standing by her side like a rock, vowing to avenge his sister. Will Addya be able to survive unscathed? Will Agastya succeed in seeking justice? Or will he succumb to the wounds of his past? Can the love of his life, Tarjani, provide him succour? Inspired by a true story, this is an incredible tale of abuse and vulnerability, of the exhilaration of romance, of an unshakable sibling bond that is at once unique and universal. Above all, this is Anuj Tiwari’s unsparing account of love and loss, capturing the grit and courage of a woman trapped in a loveless relationship.
About the Author: A TEDx speaker and marketing consultant settled in Mumbai, ANUJ TIWARI was brought up on the bustling streets of Bareilly. Tiwari studied in a Hindi-Sanskrit medium school where there were
Book Review
no English books Seeing the kids of his neighbourhood reading colourful storybooks, he started building dreams of being able to read in English; however, he kept those dreams to himself. Despite going through six months of depression and severe anxiety and trying to give up on his life in college, Tiwari is now the bestselling author of four books, inspired by real-life incidents. He has also been listed as one of the top ten most influential authors in India in 2016. This book is Anuj Tiwari’s most personal creation, inspired by his own family.
Summary:
Book:Give Your Heart a Break
Publisher: Rupa Publications India
Verdict: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ A book that will make you cry and Laugh at the same moment. Book on sibling relationship which will touch your heart completely. In one work it is captivating.
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
WALLS HINDER, BRIDGES EXPAND
by Priya Karthik
Rational thoughts mind pe
Emotional feelings he commands,
Divinity reach, the soul cl Is there not a disparity w
Differences do exist within around.
Variations does prev Compare not, Criticize Unfold the capability comprehend.
Aesthetic, the cultural diff are,
On its appreciation, cultu become.
Heterogeneous opinion homogeneous action
Striving to accomplish the equilibrium.
Walls hinder the potentials expand.
With ceaseless efforts buil to travel along
Unparalleled views, conve An uncontroversial solu
by Junior Moran
Photo
Unveil the curtain of clouded thoughts,
Let pass the beams of coherence, reverence,
Refined thoughts, rearranged actions radiates,
To add many a feather in the cap of mankind.
Padmapriya Karthik is an enthusiastic orator,writer and a budding poet. During school and college days, she had participated and won prizes in various oratorical, essay and debate contests.
Poetry is her passion.She feels poetry as an effective tool to portray ones vivid thoughts with unique choice of words Her works have been featured in different anthologies like ‘Scintillating Scions’,'Efflorescence’ and Muse India, an online journal.’
priya.kkarthik@gmail.com
Broken Walls
by Neetu Kajal
It’s time to break walls, Walls that create boundaries, Boundaries between hearts, Hearts that are full of love,
Love that doesn’t know differences,
Differences which arouse malice,
Malice which is worthless to human,
Human who are created being loved,
Loved and to offer belongingness, Belongingness of hearts and souls,
Souls which know love and peace,
Peace that comes spontaneous , So it’s time to break walls of hate,
Hate that rebuilds boundaries.
Neetu Khatri Kajal has done triple masters in Commerce, English and Education. She had got her paper published on Education during her masters in Education She is a published author of two novels titled 'Immortal Love' and 'Beyond Expectations' and working on her next one. She is an avid writer, traveller and blogger. One may find her blogs, articles and poems on boloji.com. Her travelling experiences are reflected in her write-ups. She loves to explore hill stations more often.She writes about Parenting, Adolescence, women and nature. She is a social activist and a big hand of help to the oppresed ones. Presently, she is working as a post graduate mentor in English.
@kajal neetu
Silos
by Sumana Bhattacharya
We live in our comfortable silos
Silos created by our opinions and judgements Silos that define ‘what is right’ for us
We dwell in our silos with a certain sense of superiority, things outside our silos don’t matter
We look down upon people outside our silos
We are quick to judge and reject Opinions, biases, skin-tone, language, accent, sexualorientation, cast, creed, religion define our silos
We firmly place those who don’t look like us, talk like us, think like us outside our silos
We vehemently guard our silos; we feel threatened by anyone who has a different view
We argue, we troll, we fight, we lynch, we kill
We do anything to defend our silos
Silos filled with opinions, judgement and hatred
Silos that blind us, break us, restrict us, pull us down
Sitting in our tiny silos with vision colored by biases, we talk about humanity and peace
We talk about going to the moon, conquering the outer space
We blame governments and political parties for creating boundaries, for dividing us
But how can anyone divide what is so divided?
All we need is the courage to break down our little silos
We need courage to accept and accommodate
We need courage and wisdom to create a beautiful harmony
With so many different sizes, shapes, colours, flavours, Languages,dialects
by Kelly Sikkema
Photo
We need courage to revel in the variety and freedom of our choices!
Sumana Bhattacharya is a PR practitioner by profession and a writer by passion. Her style is simple, she likes to write about things she feels deeply about In her writings she sometimes draws from her experiences of having grown up in a small town, Agartala. She has recently started a blog The Retro Feeling, that stems from nostalgia - longing or twinge of guilt for days gone by or left behind. She is an ardent reader of poetry, fiction and mythology. Sumana is a post graduate in English from Hyderabad Central University. She works for a PR agency and lives in Gurgaon.
Why Is It Always Her?
by Aparna Mukherjee
From heaven she was sent on earth
In the affectionate cover
Of the womb of a beautiful soul
Who was her mother
Where she was blossoming like a flower
She was dipped in Her mother's love and care Which was so pure and rare
Never thought she
The insurmountable walls of Gender differences will be so high That it will take a toll on her life.
On an unfortunate day Withered
The tender flower
In the safety cover
Where once she was treated Like a princess and bountiful affection Was showered upon her.
She had no right
To view the light Of the outside world
For she was a baby girl.
It's the time to break the rules And demolish the walls
Of gender inequality
Break the shackles
Of old beliefs
And fight for the cruelty
Dictation and torementation
Done by the patriarchal society.
Stand up for your rights
All women out there
Cross the Age-old gender border
Do not live in despair.
Never shrink or scare
Show the world your infinite power
You are not born On this earth to die
Walk in the streets
With your head held high.
In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online content writer and blogger who writes informative articles for various UK and US blogs and websites.
Her poems got published in the digital Reflection Magazine and in the Indian literature website named Facestory's.com. She is a budding author too. Her first story on romantic theme got published in a book named "Memoirs Of Love".
As a person, she is open-minded, downto-earth and amiable in nature. Her world revolves around creativity. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on her readers' minds.
Standing Before The Barbed Wires
by Moinak Dutta
That land beyond the bar wires Looked exactly like th stood,
Same arid land, red-brown i sandy, With no sign of hu presence near, Only some standing here and there tombs, Mute witnesses of wars the had seen,
I looked at the barbed wi closely, A feather of an unk bird was stuck somewhere wire,
The desert wind, hot and dr through the feather maki tremble like a tiny white f
Peace,
It hang there loosely, Like that feather, Whispering stories of half fo bloodbath and carnage,
I was suddenly reminded of a scene from a flick,
by Javardh
Photo
Two little boys on two sides of fence Sharing foods, Their eyes eager and keen Like eyes of two friends meeting secretly
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.
Scarlet Rising
by Vidya Shankar
The scarlet blouse beseeched her to take it home. It was a declaration of boldness, a solid fiery red With a splatter of silver and black sequins around the neck
And no protective arms of modesty
All she had wanted, when she had picked it up, Was to satisfy an unresolved fancy of several years, A secret desire to wear something… er… well, outrageous,
For maybe a moment in time, yes, just that. And what better occasion to fulfil her desire Than in the confines of the trial cell
Where no one save her could see what she was dressed in
And judge her through the conditioned mirrors they bore in their hearts?
Oh, she had really meant to put it back
On the hanger, with all the other blouses in the store, And take with her
Only the sweet minute-long memory
Of the pretty confident woman who smiled at her
In a bright scarlet sleeveless blouse
Closing her eyes she imbibed the image she saw of herself,
The vivid bearing of assurance that was so distinctly not brazen.
Why not? She asked herself.
It was thus that the bright scarlet sleeveless blouse
Got paid for and found its way to her wardrobe at home
Only to be delegated to a hidden nook,
Seeing the light of day and breathing in a quick breath of fresh air
On those very rare times when she would take it out
And run her fingers over it longingly, A reminder to herself of the image that was her but not, And with a sigh, would resign the awaiting flame
And herself to the dankness of their imposed existence
Till one day she decided that she was going to be the scarlet queen.
Out came the blouse and with it, some matching accessories That had been lying ignored. She gave her hair a twist and settled it into a style that she had never worn before. Her dressing completed with matching bag and shoes
She dared out into the immediate world she was part of, A world rooted in traditional superiority and decent values
That spat quite vehemently At even the slightest trace of immodesty And ruled it disgraceful any crossing of standardized thresholds. Especially if it involved married women.
As expected, the middle-aged mama was at his balcony
In his supposedly white dhoti discoloured with miserliness, Rightfully shirtless as ever, leching at passing femmes.
“Women these days seem to have lost all sense of decorum,” He quoted.
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She passed by the official gossipers of their apartment,
Three ladies who unfailingly took up their positions
Come rain or shine to indulge in worldchanging conferences
Disapproving the improprieties of society. Their bored expressions lit up when they saw her.
She had given them food for talk. The mami on the ground floor who deemed it her diligent duty
To keep a mental record of where and how her neighbours were going Called out loud to her. She pretended not to have heard but walked on.
Mami, her saree hanging loosely about her shoulder,
Leaving uncovered one round breast kept in place by a sweaty blouse
And exposing a generous waist, Took a quick step up to the gossipers, eager to join
The ongoing discussion about a red alert that had come From an unexpected quarter.
The saga in scarlet marched on, unfazed by the stir she was causing. None of it mattered to her, anymore. For in the vulgarity she had donned, she found The strength of her femaleness, The beauty of liberation, And love for herself. She discovered she was poetry
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.
