The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian!!!

            It often happens that you hear an author's name continuously by the bunch of good readers but still you never get a chance to pick up their book and read. Same happened with me in the case of Ravi Subramanian. I have heard his name a lot but never got a chance to read his book because none of my friends are into reading habit. And even if they are, they are either interested in foreign authors or Indian chick lit. No one reads such intellectual and interesting books. :-) Finally, I got my hand on The Bankster- latest release of Mr. Ravi Subramanian- an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, has spent two decades working his way up the ladder of power in the amazingly exciting and adrenaline-pumping world of global banks in India. It is but natural that his stories are set against the backdrop of the financial services industry. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Dharini and daughter Anusha. In 2008, he won the Golden Quill Readers Choice award for his debut novel, If God was a Banker. Recently, I missed an event in Mumbai- The Economist Awards where the author won the Popular Choice Award for his book- The Incredible Banker. Awesome CV! :-) 

            The synopsis of the book- THE BANKSTER says: Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive? When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far reaching ramifications a secret that could not only destroy the bank but also cast a shadow on the entire nation. With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.

             Ravi Subramanian does not need any review, that is what I personally feel. When an author starts writing into a genre which never got the amount of respect before, but got once he landed with his masterpieces, he should be kept in a different category to which no one can criticize. :-) But as the universal law says, positive and negative are in equal amount, one has to place their views on God too. :-) The language that the author has used in the book is very easy to understand. Though the initial pages has some vocabulary for which I had to run to dictionary but after few pages, the language is kept simple until the end. Though, authors get descriptive at times, boring sometimes and stretches the story, I loved some sequences for which I'll always remember this book for. Reading the author for the first time, I now know the mistake I have committed for not reading his previous successful works. 

             When the word "thriller" is used, it itself says that all the interesting matters are left for the last pages and you are made to get confused and irritated for rest of the pages. :-) The same follows here. Though the initial chapters of the book generates interest but it dies once all the murders that are plotted in the story are done. After that, the book gets too boring for a long time until the character of Karan enters to investigate and unfold the whole thing within few hours. The humour quotient is too less but everything that is attached to Zinaida made me laugh. You know I'm naughty. :-) Initially when Vikram fools Nikhil and Divya with the flat is another amazing part. Haha. Zinaida's entrance in the book is the most crazy thing. The first scene after the murder when Karan tells about the possibility of the incident being a murder and not suicide amazed me. Some portions where intellectualism is used to solve the case made me know why the writer is so renowned. 

             The biggest problem with the book is too many characters and not even one being described so that it can remain with you after the book ends. The climax is not as hardcore as you expect it to be. It's as if a fresher is been made to sit in the placement cell and recruiters are taking him on with confusing questions. The 50-60 pages in the middle of the book were too boring to handle. Too many sequences going on simultaneously is very interesting to read but I wanted all of them to be connected as if a screenplay of the movie is being written. But still, I want to compliment author for it. It's not easy to signify so many parallel sub-plots in a plot that needs such sub-plots to add special effects. In the end, I would like to say that Ravi Subramanian deserves all the fame that he has. I would rate this book 3.5/5. 

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 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

The METH by Tanmay Kulshrestha!!!

           Reading two novels in a day is the best productive day for me. Once I read 4 novels in a span of 24 hours. That day still remains unforgettable and memorable for me. I need to experience something of that kind but I am seriously saying, this academics being the only option to survive in this world is a very bad idea. Whoever created it would not have been a fan of reading books. If he would have known power of reading good books and novels, he would have made a course where our job would have been just to read books and give a review as an examination. :-) At least somewhere I would have ranked favorably. Haha! After Durjoy Datta's latest, I have finished reading Tanmay Kulshrestha's "The METH" which also has the tagline of "...when a lie takes away a life". This book was initially self-published by the author but lately the charge was taken up by Mahaveer Publishers- one of those publications who love publishing debutantes. 

TANMAY KULSHRESTHA: is as different as can be from the popular image of other authors. He is a natural gentleman who lives austerely, litters his conversation with fellow mates and sails with young and ambitious friends to professional and delightful harbours where sky is the limit. Tanmay is currently pursuing his B.Tech in Information Technology from KIIT University and is set to graduate in 2014. Right from his school days, he had flair to write and pen down his feelings and expressions. This dream has today come alive in the form of 'The METH' - When a lie takes away a life..!! Being an Engineer who has now become an author, Tanmay's personality demarcates the truthfulness within him. He has much more in his bags than just drafters, dreams and documents..!! His good points cannot be enumerated as he has plenty of them. Many a times, Tanmay has turned out to be a perfect mentor, motivator and guide to a number of his fellow mates, friends and colleagues. Amongst all these, Tanmay is also a motivational speaker..!!

SYNOPSIS: The Meth -When a Lie Takes Away a Life Overview

It is a tale about Arush and Trisha, who though they love each other, fall victim to the snares of the 'METHAMPHETAMINE', the bond of love may be as strong as they wish it to be, but nothing or no one can withstand the buffeting of the craving for this drug. It is a fact that nobody will deny. It has been the ruination of innumerable lives and continues to be. Most live in denial by lying....hence the punch line that 'a lie takes away a life'. The people who embark on a course of this drug abuse are bound to cause ruination of families, of partners and most importantly, life itself. The message is strong, unambiguous and very powerful. The Meth is the cry against any more loss of life due to 'METHAMPHETAMINE', especially students, and is a remarkable way to launch the campaign, so that no student can fall prey to this drug.

          Tanmay is obviously a writer who wants to bring a change in society through his writing. He may have seen something during his Engineering days that led him to speak on the consumption of drugs by youth in his debut novel itself. Though I would like to suggest the author to improve his language a bit more. He has a beautiful thought process but because of lack of reading habits or I must say, grammar and language too, he couldn't speak exactly what he has in his heart. As I am myself a writer who wrote miserably, I can easily understand what writer wants to convey and what he couldn't because of lack in grammar. Mr. Tanmay, read more books and I can surely say that you will come up with a surprising element in your next. 

            The first chapter has an excellent language. I was too happy to read it. It was written as great journalists write. But just after that, author has written in the same manner as few young authors write these days, often. The story starts with a great story of how a boy scores in examination and move out of his home in a quest to study from a great institute from where no one has ever studied in his home town. Finally, he finds a good friendship in Trisha and the saga of friendship starts. The whole segment is beautiful described. But the conversations that both of them have with each other are so childish that I wanted to skip them all. But later the description of personal experiences of the protagonist after consuming Meth is described fine up to an extent. I am happy as writer hasn't dragged story after 150th page. I liked the way he directly came to the Post Script part where he tells all the information related to Meth and how it causes destruction to a human body. 

           In all, I would give the book- 2.5/5. .5 extra for the message that the writer has tried to spread.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

Till the Last Breath by Durjoy Datta!!!

             Being honest to self is the best that one can do with himself. I am no different. Though last time I reviewed Durjoy Datta's book and got landed up in an unwanted controversy of which I am still guilty of, I am again reviewing his latest book after fighting all my dilemmas. First, I thought of just reading the book and not reviewing. Then I thought "For whom do I review?" Obviously, it's for my Blog readers first and then the author if he wants to take something from the review to improve himself. No, I am not a boss to tell but sometimes a weaker element can also give a lesson to the one who is mighty and powerful. Because my review has no sense as this book has already got its 35,000 copies sold till date. I thought if I won't review I may be called coward which has no sense. If I would review I may again be called a Publicity-seeker, which again is senseless. So finally I thought I'll review the book because Durjoy has been one of my favorite writers though he disappointed me with his 6th book- "If it's not forever...". Let people say what they want to, I seriously don't care. If I like a book, I would review it to let my readers also buy and read it to get an experience. 

              With his 7th and the latest book- "Till The Last Breath", Durjoy Datta has almost transformed himself as a writer. Remove the name "Durjoy Datta" from the book and you won't identify if it's the same person who has written the last 6 books. You would certainly guess the mysterious writer as Preeti Shenoy, Novoneel, Ravinder Singh etc but certainly not Durjoy Datta. I am once again proud of him in the same way as I was after reading "Now that you're rich" and "You were my crush...". This book does not have a fancy title like his previous books. This book does not have a bright and sexy cover page. This book, surprisingly, shockingly, does not have any sex sequence. WOW! With this, Durjoy Datta has proved that he can write an unforgettable book without including a bit of sex in it. Respect! With age, Durjoy has also shown maturity in his writing skills this time. Not for a moment would you feel as if story is fictitious. It is inspiring, transitional, motivational, a guide, philosophy, theory etc. Durjoy, you better write books without any co-writer. :-)

               The whole story line is based in a hospital ward. Keeping this as a base, writing 237 page novel isn't a joke or a game. One needs to have a sense of writing, creativity, story-formation to make it interesting up to the end. Though initially, I felt it hard when the connection of each character was shown with each other but later when I got it embedded in my mind for next few hours, I got the real fun of reading the book. After 50th page or something, I don't remember if there was a single moment that I didn't have tear in my eyes. Though all the characters are in depression, you can't say that the book is depressing because every chapter is a message in itself. The life given to each character signifies some or the other traits of human behaviour. With it, directly or indirectly, author also tells how can one get out of the bad and unwanted traits and how can the most required and wanted traits can be possessed and followed even in the moments of challenges and controversies. :-) Excellent! 

             For the characters- Pihu and Dushyant, I would say you have bought 100 times more memories and feelings than the over-rated Deb and Avantika. Your stories, pasts, current situations, the way you struggled for the last breath, waited for it, cried in loneliness, made others love you even after this and many other activities that you kept yourself involved in even after being on bed continuously for days has bought too many changes in my outlook towards life. You will be forever remembered. For the character of Zarah, I have deep sympathy. But I am happy the way you ended all the problems of life with smile and move-on theory. Arman, if some day I would be a patient, I would love to have a kind doctor like you. No, not the way you behaved with Dushyant but the way you treated Pihu. Disclaimer: I am not inviting for a gay love story. :-) Kajal, you teach how wrong decisions can end up isolating us from the loved ones. I hope I would never take a wrong decision like you and end up losing everyone I love. For the parents of Pihu, it happens. For the parents of Dushyant, please tell other parents that child is not always as bad as he/she seems to be. 

              The pain of patients, the hard decisions of doctors to save patients, the trauma of those who love the one who is patient and still accepting the truth that they are just a few-days guest and the incomplete LOVE that comes in between patient and that one person is so perfectly described by the author that I would say "Till the Last Breath" is a perfect book considering these points. With the story line that guarantees not a single smile, Durjoy Datta has still managed to make me laugh at moments and smile continuously at others. There are many terrifying moments in the book while there are some very lightning moments too. I am not describing any of them because I want you to read the book. The biggest drawback of the book is the worst quality of pages. The initial books that I ordered of Grapevine Publication had milky-white pages while this one has surely disappointed me. Please work on it, publishers. In the end, I would give the book- 4.5/5.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU