It's All About Books!!!: August 2019

Sunday, 25 August 2019

Dark Destiny by Kamal Kant (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

There is one thing I have observed with my readathon that whenever I have picked up a book with yellow cover page, it has rarely disappointed me. This time it has been the book named “Dark Destiny” written by the debutante author, Kamal Kant. The book is published by Rupa Publications and is around 246 pages. This is one of the few books which I have ended up reading at different places while traveling, roaming and at home hence it seems that with the accelerating pace of the book, even I lived many lives with it.

The story is written in a very thrilling behaviour right from its first 15 pages itself and doesn’t keep your mind silent until the book completely gets over. The narrative of the book is very fast-paced with lots of characters here and there. In the beginning, getting in terms with the narration becomes little difficult along with memorizing the name of the characters, because the timeline keeps shuffling in the flashback and the current day. With the shuffling, the characters keep on getting appearing and disappearing which makes it very tough but later on in the story, when you are aware about the whole history and the present day of the protagonist- Aditya Malhotra, keeping in tap with the narration and characters become easy and entertaining.

I can easily divide the book in 3 equal parts and can say that the first and the last part were great which keeps you entertained with their actions and descriptions but it is only in the middle of the story where it provides little boredom to you as many characters are planning too much but executing too little. All the love angles are very beautifully portrayed but showing all the female characters as victims becomes too much after a point. I must say that author’s way of reaching the reader’s heart is immensely powerful as the way action-packed and fighting scenes are described actually makes it possible for you to imagine them in a very big scale.

Talking about the anti-climax and the climax, it becomes little disappointing with the way that the character for which protagonist takes so many risks doesn’t end up with the chemistry it was expected. Though the revelations in the end are great but seeing the simple protagonist do such Bollywood Hero-kind of stuff becomes unbelievable after a point of time.

Speaking about the book overall, it is a fine attempt in this genre and I shall give it 3.5 stars out of 5. As a debutante, this is a super creation and I am looking forward to read many more work from Kamal Kant.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

Saturday, 24 August 2019

A Dog in the House by Dr. Kisholoy Roy (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

I have always been vocal about my unlove (not using the word “Hate”) for Short stories and anthology hence every time I get an opportunity to pick it up, I always pray that it turns out well so that my doubt and hesitation towards them get reduced gradually with time. And I must say the latest book that I read on this Saturday morning has served its purpose well by being such a beautiful and simple short story- named “A Dog in the House” by Dr. Kisholoy Roy. The book is of around 35 pages and independently published with an animated cover page.

Seeing the cover page of the book, you might assume that the story shall be more preferred by children but after reading it, I can tell you that this book shall appeal to everyone belonging to any age-group. The way author has described the characterization of each of the characters in the family in such a short book is so apt that you wished this should have been a full-fledge novel. Even the backdrop of all the characters, their current situation and the turmoil in the family is beautifully covered and made a very interesting plot for this book.

The book starts with author’s words where he talked about pets hence we get an idea that the book is about pet but the great part is that the pet is not mentioned itself in the first 75% of the story. And the importance given to the pet in the last 25% section of the book and how its presence in the home changes the life of the family members is very nicely inserted in the plot.

Overall, this book has very good vibes. I completed it in just an hour and I must say the after-thought that it left with me has almost been equivalent to what I feel after reading a good full-fledged novel of 250-350 pages. I give this book 4.25* out of 5 for the treatment given to characters, story and the way social message is given about keeping pets and respecting animals. Kudos to the author.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

Saturday, 17 August 2019

Your Destination Has Arrived by Barry Cheema (Book Review: 4.75*/5) !!!

There are few books which doesn’t seem to be extra-ordinary with their content in the blurb etc. but the moment you start reading the story, after a point of time, one of their sentences strikes you so hard that you start reading each word with startled eyes and surprised face and when the book really starts unfolding to you, you gradually realize that your life is getting transformed. Similar experience happened with me when I read the book named “Your Destination Has Arrived” written by, surprisingly, the first-time author- Barry Cheema. The book is published by Notion Press and has around 375 pages.

When I generally see any book crossing the mark of 250-pages, I term them a stretcher in the beginning itself and the book should really hook me up with its content to ensure the word doesn’t find the place in my review. Fortunately, this book isn’t one at all though I have found some people calling it so. Barry has used a very great story and theme to tell the technique to experience the peace in life which every human being quests at some or the other time in their life. This makes this book a very purposeful material which shall benefit you only when you are in the state of mind to take all the intelligence, philosophies, techniques, quotes, learnings, lessons, examples etc. which is delivered mostly in the 2^nd half of the book otherwise you shall call it just a “stretcher” and put it aside.

If you have ever wanted to understand and know about spirituality, meditation, yoga and the way it should be begun and followed religiously but in not so serious manner, this is the book to go for because the way author has fictionalized the whole thing for the readers is something very commendable and inspiring. The characterizations used for the same in the form of Hassan or Bruno who is a dog but given the life of a human being which shall be taken away if it doesn’t find the PURPOSE OF LIFE within a limited timeframe and the way the struggle takes place in the 1^st half to achieve the same and then the way it is being delivered in the 2^nd half, I wouldn’t comment about the character but I really got answers for many questions (about life) I had or didn’t have. This book worked like a self-awakening through its other characters of Pinky Singh, Kumar, Sachi etc. as author has included all of them- the one who follows the spiritual techniques religiously whereas the another who follows but keeps questioning the silly practices he has to go through.

This book is a great example on how spiritual lessons can be delivered in the form of fiction along with meditational techniques. I have myself undergone meditational course hence the initial concept on Explosive meditation was something new to me. The other important chapters such as of Passive meditation, Karma, The Purpose of life, the science behind meditation etc. are very eventful and exploring. I liked the balancing of both- the story of an antagonist and the philosophy throughout the book and I must say, the book is also very high on emotions as there are events when you shall smile, laugh and even have tears in your eyes. Also, every time I came upon the descriptive understanding provided by the character about any question on life, I would find myself in a very emotional state as there were certain areas getting revealed to me about my own life which made me feel weak at times.

Talking about the climax of the story, it is so wonderfully executed without making it too high-on-imagination or overwhelming that you don’t even consider it in a book of such kind which has more substance in a philosophical way. It is something that makes you believe in this whole story and want to live it yourself completely without eliminating any part of it.

Overall, this is one of the books that goes into the rare list of the books that have managed to change my life. I would give it nothing less than 4.75* out of 5. Highly recommended to everyone belonging to any age-group.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA