Beaten by Bhagath! by S. V. Divvaakar (Book Review)!!!

       

   Aah!!! As I said in my last post too, seems as if Frog/Leadstart publication has become one of my pet publication whom I am reading quite often these days. Right now I am just done with 191-pages novel "Beaten by Bhagath!" which also has the tagline "A Tale of Two Writers". This novel is being written by S. V. Divvaakar. Though its not his debut work but seems to be- as his first novel didn't do quite well. With some authors, the scenario is that they believe in writing what they feel than going in the same flow in what every commercial writer are con-temporarily writing. This is what, sometimes, turns out to be lucky but sometimes hard on luck. The same happened with S. V. Divvaakar with his debut novel and this book "Beaten by Bhagath!" is also based on the same topic. Let's introduce the author first before talking about how good and bad the book is. :-)

           S. V. Divvaakar an alumnus of the IIT Delhi, is an international Monitoring and Evaluation specialist and serves on the boards of a few international companies. He is now in the process of a gradual transition, re-balancing his professional work and his creative interests: writing and music. He composes music, sings and plays the key board. His music addresses matters of public interest, such as: Corruption, Delhi's traffic, and Commonwealth Games. He writes a blog Life Purpose and Happiness and has now ventured into writing, picking up the genre of realistic fiction. This is his second novel. Divvaakar lives with his wife and son in New Delhi.

            The synopsis of the book says:-

I m sure you can do a much better job than Bhagath! 

When BB hears these inspiring words from his sexy lady boss, his staid life as a successful analyst in an MNC goes into a tailspin. 

Bitten by the ego bug and smitten by her, BB sets off on his quest to write a book thats better than Indias greatest writer Dr. Bhagaths blockbusters. Nothing unusual about this for BB, who likes a good fight. Except that he and Bhagath had been classmates and friends at college. 

What follows is a roller-coaster voyage of the debutant author and his book, with all its twists and cul-de-sacs. Brushes with publishers, celebrities, retailers, book chains, and competition with the alliances among giants, mark the challengers journey, upping the stakes at every stage. 

Will BB catch up with his famous friend?

What will their encounter be like?

Written from inside the ring, Beaten by Bhagath is a gripping tale the first-ever about the unseen side of the wonderland of Indian fiction.

       

   Coming to the author, as I have said above, S. V. Divvaakar has definitely tried something which not many writer will dare to. I have known many authors, who after getting a new publisher, wanted to write a satirical on their previous publisher or its CEO. But none have been able to do this. For this attempt, I would like to salute S. V. Divvaakar. If he continues this face-off with the reality, he will be an awaited-author for the reader-base that loves reading such books. And there's something amazing about this book, though its noted down under the Fiction category but while reading, I found that its as much a non-fiction as much it's a fiction. This is something that I find very rarely in books. 

           Coming to the story, yes, its about how BB's boss motivates him to write a book and tells him that he can beat Ketan Bhagath, the bestseller author of India. As BB turns out to be the classmate and college-time friend of the author, he feels that if he can be an author, why can't he beat him. With this ego and competitive attitude, he completes writing his book. And with this, he discusses what problems he faced while writing the book and how after the book gets completed, he has to face rejections and how even after he gets published, he does not enjoy the status of the author as he has imagined. There's a tale at every step of the story. To know the complete story, get the book. :-)

             As its obvious that it was no one other than Chetan Bhagat whom author has continuously talked about in the book, it was fun to imagine his tryst with him during the college time. Then the poem that is being written about how one friend reach heights while other is still struggling is also beautifully written. Then the unsocial life of the writer and the problem he faces because of cutting-off from his family and relatives is rightly described. Later on, the Ghanta Singh part made me laugh like hell. There are some moments in the book which are too funny to stop laughing as you start comparing them with real-life examples which are exactly as same as they are described. The middle part of the story is the best according to me. Then, in the pre-climax, the revolutionary idea that a party brings towards the writer is something I didn't expect the way the story takes turn lately. It's a surprise.

          Now talking about the drawbacks- Initially as the story starts, it seems as if its going to be a childish tale of how a writer will face rejections. Though after few pages, I realized that its a mature tale which tells about the reality of the publishing industry in India. Then I didn't like the part where writer tells about how the protagonist tears his book out of frustration. Also, I felt that the climax was too dramatic after a time. The book could have been written in a much better way but still whatever the author has pointed out, I will recommend everyone who's thinking of entering the industry with their manuscript ready or are about to write a book to read this book before thinking of being a Successful and Bestseller writer in India. Even the cover page does not synchronizes correctly with the story. In all, I would give this book 3.75/5. Just a bit of better execution could have fetched 4 stars but for now, its 3.75 which means you can definitely try this book for once.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA- VEERU!!!

The Teen by Gyandeep Kaushal (Book Review)!!!

    As I have been picking up books of Srishti and Mahaveer from a long time, God has played a mischief and suddenly I find myself around Frog/Leadstart publication books these days. Recently, I have read many novels from them and right now, I have completed reading the one which was of 591 pages. This is the most thickest novel I have read till date. Finally breathing a sigh of relief. Seems as an achievement after completing this book in just 1.5 days (sleeping included). As the books from this publication has mixed reviews from me, I was scared as to what would my comment be after devoting so much time to this novel but fortunately, all worked well and I loved reading it. Not for a moment did I feel that I should skip a page or two. I loved reading each and every sentence. The name of the book is "The Teen" and it's written by debutante Gyandeep Kaushal. 

      Gyandeep Kaushal is a 17-year-old student of class 12th from Hazaribag, Jharkhand. Just like any other boy of his age, he is usually deep inside books with extra tuitions to take care of. His love for books is so much that he enjoys sleeping with his head into their pages almost every time he opens them. As a result, he has been a top-notch academic achiever in his class 10th examinations with a CGPA of 10 out of 10 of which he has no clue how he achieved that. Despite the high marks, he is not the nerd of the class. He enjoys taking regular breaks (rather long ones) from studies with his friends and hardly misses a new movie! When he is not with his books or friends, he would usually be disturbing neighbours with either his guitar or drums for he also plays those musical instruments. Well, the bad part for his neighbours is that he sings too.

            The synopsis of the book says- Love can make you do anything, absolutely anything. It can make you run out of your house in the middle of the night to save the girl you love, it can make you not fear anything, not even death when you feel you have been forgotten by someone you can never forget, it can make you choose to live in isolation for a complete year just so that you don't risk her peace; it can make you choose to wait for her forever, and it can make you choose to be awfully selfish so that you can see your whole life being ruined, at the cost of seeing her alive and breathing.

         

    Coming to the author, I would say that I never ever assumed that a 17 year old boy can write a novel of 591 pages. Secondly, the kind of maturity that is being reflected from the writing of Gyandeep, it can be easily said that we can get an epic story by him in the years to come. Normally, when a < 20 years old authors write, they normally write something that's too cliche or sentimental but there are very rare authors who really touch heart. Some of them for me are Durjoy Datta, Sanchit Goel, Prateek Verma etc. I can literally say that Gyandeep Kaushal is Durjoy Datta in making. The kind of words that he has chosen, the way he has taken his story forward, the incidents that he has included- all are being done perfectly. Even when the book is too thick to handle, as I have said above, I didn't get bored much. I liked his work very much and I am just looking forward to read more from him.

            Coming to the story, I would say that the way book has been started is perfect. I got intrigued into it as soon as I was done with first 10 pages. I learnt that this is going to be a phenomenal journey. The character of Ravi is given a good shape. Even I felt that I make the same mistake as him and I will have to improve it soon. :) What I liked the best is that author hasn't given the physical description of any character. Even when this is a hardcore love story, the physical outlook of the lead girl- Nikki is not discussed. It is left on us, the readers to imagine how the characters look. And again, as this is a love story, I was expecting lots of unwanted love-making and sex scenes but there isn't a single one. Author has done good justice to the title of the book- The Teen. He has maintained a dignity that when in this age, it should be pure love and no physical involvement. Awesome!!! 

           The plight of both the brothers seeing their parents' continuous fighting is something that made me be grateful of having parents who never raise a voice against each other. The maturity with which author has handled this part of story made him the winner for me. The love between Ravi and Varun, both the brothers is another beautiful part of the story. In Indian books, teachers are being given funny names by the lead characters and that particular names are being used throughout. Author, once again, showed how the teachers are meant to be respected in any case, even when they promise us something and goes against it. The twists and turns that author keeps introducing incessantly is another USP of the book that keeps us interested in turning the pages. The first half is exceptionally commendable.

           Now its time for some drawbacks- As I have continuously said in the review that 591 pages weren't much for me as this story had the power of keeping the reader intact with it but still, I would say that the story could have been summed up in 400 pages or something. But still it's fine but I request author to not write his 2nd novel this lengthy as people don't really like picking up a 600 pages novel when a love story is beautifully said by some other authors in 200-300 pages. Or else, plan a sequel if your story is really very long. Then, I was expecting some melodrama with which Ravi would have brought his parents together but it didn't happen till end. One scene in which the protagonist humiliates a girl in a get-together party after exam, according to me, was overdone and unfortunately, cliche too. And yes, I wanted climax to be the opposite of what it is. Happy endings is preferable, at least, when 600 pages are being read. Haha! And yes, it's very rare that I say 1st half of the book was better than the 2nd and here, I say this. I also felt that 2nd half was dragged too much. In all, I would give this attempt of author 4/5. It would have been 4.5/5 if the book would have been summed up in 300-400 pages. And yes, Gyandeep, I want you to write something else now. Not a love story again. Please.

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!! 

            

The Hope Factory by Lavanya Sankaran (Book Review)!!!

       

  I am done reading this 350-pages novel "The Hope Factory" by the authoress- Lavanya Sankaran. The book is being published by Tinder Press and has a very beautiful cover page. The greenish effect and a poor child splashing water over himself speaks a lot about what the story would be. It already reflects that it's a tale about India and its poverty in its main segment of people. 

          Lavanya Sankaran is the author of The Red Carpet, the bestselling, critically acclaimed debut collection selected for Poets and Writers magazine's Best First Fiction Award, Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers, and Borders Original Voices. The tile story was first published in the Atlantic Monthly. Her work has also been features in the Wall Street Journal, the Times of India and Outlook among other publications in America, India, Italy and France, as well as in numerous television appearances in a social and political commentator. Lavanya studied at Bryn Mawr College and lives in Bangalore with her husband and daughter.

           The synopsis of the book says:-

An international event: a remarkable first novel of modern India, weaving together a rich tapestry of social manners and mores, ambition, greed, and love, which will establish Lavanya Sankaran as one of the most gifted and original writers of fiction today.

Bangalore: where innocence, deceit and love collide

Anand is a Bangalore success story: successful, well-married, rich. At least, that's how he appears. But if his little factory is to grow, he needs land and money and, in the New India, neither of these is easy to find.

Kamala, Anand's family's maid, lives perilously close to the edge of disaster. She and her clever teenage son have almost nothing, and their small hopes for self-betterment depend on the contentment of Anand's wife: a woman to whom whims come easily.

But Kamala's son keeps bad company. Anand's marriage is in trouble. And the murky world where crime and land and politics meet is a dangerous place for a good man, particularly one on whom the wellbeing of so many depends.

         

   Lavanya Sankaran has a very good command over the language. After a long time I got to read a book by an Indian author written in a way that it seems as if its by an English author. He has given full justice to the story she has picked up. She has tried to express her views on the problems that a class of people in India suffers with. She has not tried to show an industrialist, entrepreneur or a working class person based in abroad and returning India to see how problems cover him from all the 4 sides. In fact, the story is kept quite realistic. 

             I loved the way both the stories goes simultaneously. Its about two families and I love how a same scenario is being showcased from both the point of views. It is quite visible that not only a servant is dealing with poverty and crisis but the situation of the boss is no less than that. I loved how every character is being built that we get attached with them. We know the characteristics of each of them. The dialogues are so deeply written that some of them made me remember some days of my struggle and pain. The second half of the book is amazingly written and every thing that this book should be complimented for is in its second half. 

             Coming to the drawbacks of the book, first is the slow pace and no suddenness in the plot initially. Secondly, I would say that according to an Indian audience, the cost of book- Rs. 550 is too highly kept. The similar names of the character becomes confusing at times- Anand and Anantmurthy. Also as there are many characters in the book, it's better to write them on a piece of paper and then read. In all, I would give this book 3.5/5. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Taken Already by Yaagneshwaran Ganesh (Book Review)!!!

  I am done reading "Taken Already" written by a 2nd time writer- Yaagneshwaran G. Yaagneshwaran is a product marketing Specialist at a reputed IT organization based out of Chennai, India. he is also an avid business blogger and conducts seminars for B-school students especially in the area of marketing. He is known for his earlier novel "The Group of Fools". Apart from books, the author has a keen interest in entrepreneurship and spirituality. This 130-pages novel has been published by Notionpress which is a self-publishing firm. I am sad to see that this book isn't available on all the e-commerce portals. An author should at least be given this privilege because most of the books are being sold on Internet these days. 

          

 Let's come to the synopsis of the book- 

When Arjun, who had fallen head over heels for his colleague Anita, realizes that she is engaged to his close friend, who knew her by a different name at a different place, all hell broke loose. 

As Sam Chacko investigates, he ends up uncovering a baffling mystery. He tries hard not to panic and soon understands that when hormones take over the intellect, it can ruin your life.

       

  Coming to the author, its his 2nd book while his first was also being released by a self-publishing firm. Author believes in writing a novel of less than 150 pages as he knows that there is no need of dragging a story which already has its plot very short and direct. I liked this approach. The first half isn't that good as its an average attempt to tell how a boy falls in love with a girl amidst friendship being a part of life simultaneously. But the second half is truly surprising and a total page turner because of the suspense that the author adds to make the book spicy and sensible. At least, its a good version than many such type of books which starts with a love story, shows some break up points and ends up either giving the couple a happy or sad ending. 

         I loved the sentences in italics that author has used many a times in the first half of the book. Some of them made me smile for a long time while some talked expressions of the protagonist which was again helpful in making this book a level up than usual fiction love stories by Indian authors. The character of Sam Chacko is the most interesting while the climax is been ended with a hope that there can be a sequel to this book. It's nice. 

        Talking about the drawbacks of the book, I would say that the language isn't that crisp as it should be. Even the plot of the story was quite different, author failed at many a times in bringing the kind of expressions that could have come up if written in a better way. The narration is also very simple. When a book has a story, one should not keep the language this easy, it should have some complexity because it adds to the quality of the story. I just want to suggest author to go through some of the books in the genre that he writes and improve his narrating style. Else, I would give the book- 2.75/5. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

The Redeemers by Suresh Taneja (Book Review)!!!

       

   After a long while, I picked up a book that's published by Frog/Leadstart publication. Though this is a self-publishing company but I acknowledge some of the book that I have read from this source. And the amazing part has been that either I have loved the books very much or I have directly rejected them. But the book that I have just completed is the one that I found mediocre- Neither very good nor very bad. "The Redeemers" by Suresh Taneja- who is a chartered accountant by profession and is looking after the financial affairs of a listed company. He published his first book We can pull it off in 2010. This book is an improved and complete version of his earlier book. Suresh aspires for maximum readership of the book, particularly by children and youth. 

             Suresh strongly feels that the youth need to play a leading role in shaping up the future of our country which presently is plagued with alarming proportions of corruption, malpractices and declining moral values. The intent behind this book is to kindle a sense of awareness amongst the youngsters on their possible role, encouraging them to be creative in finding solutions and inspiring them to translate their thoughts into action. Suresh writes regularly to express himself on a variety of issues. His writings are generally inspired by his life experiences and keen observations. Suresh does not wish to confine himself to issue based books only; he is keen to experiment with different genres and capitalize on his knack for storytelling.

Synopsis of the book says-

One bizarre vacation marked a turning point in the lives of four teenage friends. It dawned upon them that corruption and malpractices had become rampant and deeply ingrained in our culture. They felt anguished and shocked at the shameful state of affairs. They pledged to redeem and change the destiny of the country. They had only two weeks of vacation left to take some big initiatives. The pressure on them was immense. Status quo or failure was not an option for them. Read the inspirational story of a unique movement masterminded by youngsters through innovative ideas and creative thinking. Not a single family could escape from its unrelenting onslaught. It was a rewarding outcome for their persistence and hard work, as they nostalgically recall in 2030.

          Coming to the author, Suresh Taneja does have a great ambition of spreading message through his writings and it can be clearly seen in every page of the book as he does not leave the focus from the subject/issue. He also has good imagination. The only problem that I feel is with the execution of the stories that are in his mind. It's either because of no hand in writing before or bad command in the language. The story that he has written has almost everything that should have been in a book that is based on a group of friends trying to eliminate corruption from India but there's an X-factor which is missing throughout. There are moment that excites you but because the language isn't as fluid as it should have been, you don't jump off from your bed but read the whole sequence with just a smile on your face. 

        Book is written with a good style of going into a flashback while the current year is said to be of 2030 where 1 Rs=100$. Though it makes us greedy to experience such a moment but it seems to be so unrealistic that we sit down again. India is being talked of as superpower in 2030 according to the author. And then he goes to the flashback where he tells about how it all happened because of just 4 young college students who lead the scenario. The first incident of road accident that enlightens the brain of these 4 Indians is given a good justice. Later on, the conversation that makes this children take a step forward towards eliminating everything is also exciting. Then how the whole thing comes up is wonderfully written. The part of the media and Zarine is discussed briefly. The family tree of the protagonists shown in the first page of the book is a very good idea. I liked it. Else everything is fine.

       Coming to the drawbacks, as I said that initially everything looked exciting but the book failed to create that feeling of extravaganza because of bad execution. Though the story selected and plot chosen could have been favorite of Indian readers as its inspired from one of the movements that took place recently but its kept too simple for a book that lies in a genre "Fiction/Drama". Even when this book is re-written and released with a new title, I still think that there are many limitations. I would rate this book a strict average- 2.5/5. If this would have been a Non-fiction, I would have given it 3.5 but as its a fiction book, we expect some drama, twists and goosebumps-giving sequences. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

That Kiss in the Rain by Novoneel Chakraborty (Book Review)!!!

     

     So, on the same day, I am done reading Novoneel Chakraborty's second novel- That Kiss in the Rain. This is a 204 pages novel which also has the tagline- "Love is the weather of life". This book is yet another book by Srishti Publication while Novoneel C is one of those writers who turned Bestseller with Srishti and later left it for Random House Publication at the time when his 3rd book was about to come in market. Novoneel has surprisingly done very well since the start of his writing career. It's just that he is little cut off from the social world that is making his fans get little disloyal towards him. I hope he interacts with his fans more often that he does. Let me give his introduction once again- Novoneel Chakraborty has written three bestselling novels. He also writes screenplays. As a screenwriter, he has collaborated with a National Award winning filmmaker from Bengal. His other novels are - A Thing Beyond Forever - The Reward For Every True Love is Not Love..., and How About A Sin Tonight? The author also works as a scriptwriter for the Hindi film industry. He maintains a blog called Novosphere, which he regularly updates with his writings and updates on his novels.

            Coming to the synopsis of the book-

Hasil is a young businessman, who had everything he wanted in life. He had married the girl he loved, and the business he had started with his friend Nitin is going well. Then, his world turns upside down when he is involved in an accident in which he loses his beloved wife, and also loses his memory.

The story of That Kiss In The Rain..: Love Is The Weather Of Life begins when his friend Nitin visits him at the hospital. Talking to him, Nitin soon realizes that Hasil has lost his memory and does not know that his wife is dead. Nitin decides that it is better not to reveal that fact to him. He helps Hasil realize who he is and comes up with various explanations for his wife’s absence.

Meanwhile, Hasil has to get on with his life. But his life is different as he keeps wondering about Palki. Two other women enter his life. Pallavi, a girl who was adopted by a rich family, and Swadha, who was rejected by her family because she is a female.

These two women could not be more different, and their contrasting characters are highlighted by the author.

Pallavi had loved and lost once. This failed romance makes her believe that it has killed her capability to truly fall in love again.

Swadha is a simple girl with modest ambitions. She just wants a job that will take care of her needs. And then, she meets Hasil.

Meanwhile, Hasil is still puzzled about what happened to his wife. When Pallavi and Swadha enter his life, it just gets more complicated. He knows how much he loves his wife, but what happened to her? And what about the two girls who are in love with him?

The personalities of the main players in the story are well developed, with background stories providing the reasons for their attitudes towards life. The three main characters drive the story as the author unravels the romantic tangle they have got themselves into.

     

  Coming to the author Novoneel, I would say that yet again with this book, he hasn't surprised me as he again delivered his best. It seems as if he has millions of thoughts in his mind which he has to put in a book and he ends up putting only 1% of it. The desperation of giving the best can be seen in every sentence that is a part of his stories. With this book, I am now done with all the three books of Novoneel and I can undoubtedly say that he is one among the rare authors who love to write a character-based novel where we are told everything about the characters since their birth. It gives us an insight into the characters of the people involved in the book which makes us understand their state of mind before reading what they actually think during an important scenario of the book. His language might seem difficult for some starters but its as smooth as the flowing water of river. Oops, even I started writing like him. Haha!!!

          This book is an exceptionally well-written story where the character of each of the three main characters is portrayed descriptively which makes us feel attached with each and every sentence. Again, I would say, the way Novoneel narrates the teenage love does not make the part look cheesy and childish but even that has so much of philosophy and deep meaning involved in it. As a youth, I also got to learn as to what shortcomings a parent goes through while nourishing a child which I'll have to take care when I will become a father. :-) This book consists of everything- a boy losing his memory, he forgetting everything about his wife and wanting to meet her, his friend trying to fool him, his childhood admirer coming back to his life, a new girl wanting to get close to her, the changes that a girl feels when she attains puberty, experience of a girl during her first period, feeling during the first sex encounter, a family's outlook towards a baby girl, how a girl gets physically abused by a respected member of the family just because there's no respect for girls involved in the family's culture, what consequences an ambitious model faces in the Bollywood industry, how a girl saves herself when a MMS of hers is recorded etc etc etc. 

           This book is full of twists and turns and everything that you want in a book. Though, I felt that the second half gets stretched too much. Or to be precise, the pre-climax part of the book. The climax is once again not satisfying as it does not happen the way we predict the story to end. :-) And I am also doubtful about Novoneel C's style of closing a story that you feel something is incomplete. He leaves the end for the reader to decide. This is something that may be his specialty but I find it very contradicting to my choice for the climaxes of the beautiful stories as of those Novoneel C writes. :-) In all, I would give this novel 3.75/5. Waiting for the 4th novel of the author to release soon. :)

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

A Thing beyond Forever by Novoneel Chakraborty!!!

         

   I am done reading one of those books by Srishti Publication which got released long back in 2010. I have this book since then but I, finally, got time to read it now. "A thing beyond forever" which also has a tagline "The reward for every true love is not love" is a debut 212-pages novel written by the then debutante- Novoneel Chakraborty- is an Indian author and screenplay writer. His other works include That Kiss in the Rain and How about a sin tonight? His writing is inspired by the likes of Haruki Murakami, R. K. Narayan, and Ayn Rand. It explores various aspects of life, particularly the tug-of-war between the light and dark sides of human nature. Novoneel Chakraborty is a full-time writer. He is working on two Hindi film projects as a scriptwriter. He has also written a script for an award-winning Bengali filmmaker. He maintains a blog titled Novosphere, where he writes one-paragraph stories on inspiration and life. Chakraborty is based in Mumbai, India.

               The synopsis of the book says- 

A Thing Beyond Forever -  The Reward For Every True Love Is Not Love presents Radhika Sharma, a doctor who has an aura of being arrogant and unemotional. Yet, she is a sensitive woman, who still deeply feels the pain of the loss of her one true love.

She fell in in love with Raen while they were both at high school. Raen, however, is attracted to another girl, Savera. But eventually, Radhika’s bold expression of her feelings for him turns him towards her. Yet, he still seems to remain attracted to Savera.

It is now 15 years since that time. Radhika is now a successful doctor and seems dispassionate and free of any softer sentiments in her life. Yet, an innocent enquiry from a boy at the hospital sets in motion a series of events that prompt her to reexamine her attitude towards life.

Radhika, by her own confession, has not even looked at a picture of Raen for years. But, she has always kept his personal diary through the years. She hadn't read it, but the boy’s question prompts her to do so now.

The story then unfolds in the form of a personal journal. The plot takes many strange twists and turns, going into philosophy and the idea of rebirth. For Radhika, the answer to her questions about life and love are slowly revealed. And now, she has to make a decision about her future based on these revelations.

The book goes beyond chick-lit romance and explores deeper questions. The author attempts to answer some of those questions, while the rest are left to the readers’ interpretations. The interesting, complicated story line and the well-crafted characters are the highlights of this love story.

     

  Coming to the author, Novoneel has been one of the young authors who have been favorite of many readers who like reading love stories. But I find him more matured than just a chic-lit author. I read his 3rd and the most recent book- How About a Sin Tonight? and I found him a good intense writer who tries to bring out the secret and back ground of the whole movement that he is writing on. There he wrote on Bollywood industry and it made me read this novel that is his first. And I have found this love story a book on philosophy and some one-liners that can give you answer of some confusing questions about life. Hence, it can be easily said that Novoneel is not just a story teller but is helping youths through his writings. Just after this, I am going to read his 2nd novel with which I would have read all the 3 novels written by him till date. :-)

         A Thing Beyond Forever does not seem to be a work by a debutant writer instead you will feel as if its written by someone who has experienced a lot in life. It's hard to believe that its by a writer who is as young as me. :-) Book starts with a love making scene which turns out to be dream of Radhika. A good way to start a book by giving an erection to male readers and equally orgasmic sensation in female readers. Haha. As soon as the Raen's diary part begins, the story becomes interesting as we come to know how Radhika's past has been and what connection does Raen has with her. Then the way Raen's confusion over two girls is been narrated confuses us because we find his dilemma obvious. Story makes us sympathize with Radhika. Later on, as soon as the diary parts end, a shocker comes which gives reader an unwanted sensation as he expects a good event. Later on, the little adventure which Radhika goes through also makes us curious to know about what relation does she have with a 9 years old boy. In the end, I would say I was expecting much with the climax but it wasn't up to the mark. In all I would give the book 3.75/5. A perfect read. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!