It's All About Books!!!

Saturday, 7 May 2016

Forget Me Not, Stranger by Novoneel Chakraborty (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

This whole first week of May would be remembered for "The Stranger trilogy" written by Novoneel Chakraborty for me. It has been one of the best series I have ever read and enjoyed thoroughly. Novoneel has taken a drastic jump in his writing career and impressed his fans a lot with this one. The idea of dividing this story into 3 books has been an interesting one as it helped him gain few more readers while readers enjoyed thinking about who the stranger might be and what would happen next with the protagonist- Rivanah. Specifically, talking about the 3rd and the last book in the series named "Forget Me Not, Stranger", it has been written in a surprising synchronization with the first two books which makes it easy for you to read it in fast pace since the first page itself. I would specially like to appreciate author for not getting into the complex way of presenting this story as a trilogy. In fact, he made the story simpler for his readers with the help of distribution of it into 3 books. Kudos!

The first half of the book is interesting as you find Rivanah and Danny still in love and enjoying their relationship. Stranger is still troublesome for her and have now started to do more heinous activities with her. But he is now ready to reveal himself and meet her soon. This makes it a page-turner and you will find yourself finishing this book quite before than your average reading speed. The book explores the characters from old books quite nicely and the new characters also become familiar to you within few scenes itself. The involvement of Rivanah's parents in the mystery is also an added value as you know that something big is about to get disclosed in next few chapters.

This book is also narrated well keeping the same curiosity in the reader for knowing who the STRANGER is. But coming to the drawback of this book which is really a huge one:- The last chapter. Yes! The last chapter when the stranger is finally revealed just depresses like anything. You just can't introduce a new character in part 3 who has nothing to do with Rivanah in the first 2.5 books and announce him as Stranger for whom we waited since the first page of the first book. This whole concept of secret society in the end is not what we awaited for. Also how the character kept eye on Rivanah 24*7 and how he managed to run away each time after trapping her isn't explained which takes this book down quite a level indeed. I am very disappointed not with the author but with myself that I have not liked this book as much as the first 2 books because I seriously wanted to get crazy about this series. Anyways, Novoneel Chakraborty has emerged out to be a great writer with this one and there is no looking back after this. I give the last book in the series 3.5* out of 5.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Thursday, 5 May 2016

DNA - Dad's Not Adopted by Shikha Kaul (Book Review- 3.75*/5) !!!

“Delve into the timeless journey that promises to keep you hooked from the beginning to the end…without a blink!” – This is what Shikha Kaul’s 2nd book named “DNA- Dad’s Not Adopted” promises on its back cover to its readers. And I must say it surely keeps up the promise throughout the book and Shikha Kaul has definitely improved a lot since her first book-“Hidden Husband”. It seemed as if this book is written by some another author itself. Her writing style is simple and her narration isn’t quite troublesome even when she has attempted a thriller. Though I felt that the projection of few scenes could have been far better and exciting but she still manages to hold her reader’s attention with her words.

The plot of the book is great and I have felt that the first-half does complete justice to it. Second-half just couldn’t match up with the power of first-half and therefore the book starts feeling little boring in the start of second half and until pre-climax. The characters in the story are beautifully developed and you can empathize and sympathize with each one of them whenever their dilemma and trauma is described. You will fall in love with Ghazal and her portrayal is described the best in the book. Few of Pranab’s segments are another great fillers. His conversation with Ghazal in the initial phase of their Thailand trip is one of the best parts. Their love story is a great stress-buster while reading this thriller and I have loved how authoress have inserted it in right proportion without diverting away from the main story anytime. Kudos!

I feel that the book needed a much better cover page to grab readers’ attention as it is not appealing and after reading the book, I am not even finding it much relevant. I am happy that authoress have not wasted pages in describing sex scenes which is a big issue with Indian authors. Talking about the climax, the reason behind the murder isn’t much convincing and it sounded like an end of a typical Bollywood movie. It was depressing as authoress didn’t make any mistake in 240 pages but in the end, she is not been able to make her reader feel enough astonished after the revelation of the truth. That’s the only reason this book wouldn’t be listed in Best Indian Thrillers but noticing the improvement in the authoress, I am sure her next book is not going to leave any stones unturned. I give this book a very good 3.75* out of 5 and it can surely be tried, especially for its first half which is mind-blowing and the sweet love story of Ghazal and Pranab.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Gumrah by Ira Trivedi (Book Review-3*/5) !!!

I am just done reading Ira Trivedi's latest release which is an anthology consisting of 11 short teen crime stories named "Gumrah". It is based on the popular tele-series Gumrah by Star India Pvt Ltd. The book basically focuses on adolescent crime, deceit, treachery and bad judgement. Ira has used a very simple language while writing this story so that the children in school can also understand what's happening with the characters. The book is written as fiction stories rather than documentary. I feel this is a good approach as it sounds interesting currently otherwise many would not have picked it up considering it to be a boring stuff. Each story is based on different emotions and conditions hence not making it sound monotonous after a while.

The book is around 200-pages and can be easily completed in a sitting of 3-4 hours. The cover page is also appealing. Talking about the stories, Ira have made it clear in each of them that awareness has to be there in a child while making new friends and giving someone the authority of your life. She is asking everyone to "Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Safe!". And I feel that the way juvenile crimes are increasing in the nation currently, this book can be a good way of letting the teens know the consequences of committing a crime in anger and later on, getting affected for lifetime because of it. This book can surely influence their minds.

Coming to the drawbacks, I would say that authoress should have added some advice from her behalf too which could have been like a personal message to the readers. They could have understood the premises more clearly. Some may end up reading this book as a crime thriller with tragic endings and nothing else. That's the only issue with this book written with a great purpose. And I hope this book brings Ira Trivedi back into the writing foray as she has been away since a long long time. I give this attempt 3 stars out of 5.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

The Leadership Sutra by Devdutt Pattanaik (Book Review- 4.75*/5) !!!

This new genre that many learned authors are exploring these days where they are using history and its events to make us understand how to grow in today's competitive and corporate environment is my new favorite. Another book that I just read of the same kind is Devdutt Pattanaik's latest release "The Leadership Sutra". The tagline of the book is "An Indian Approach To Power". The book definitely does justice to the tagline and title. Devdutt Pattanaik has this wonderful propensity of writing difficult books in such an easy language that makes naive people like me also understand the topic. The diagrammatic representation also makes it easy for the reader to understand the basis of the chapters if in case he is unable to decipher the real motive behind which the whole chapter is written. The Sanskrit terms that Devdutt has used throughout the book has been explained in the end of it.

The book consists of four different types of Leadership Sutras named Significance, Property, Rules and Stability. Each of these sutras consists of several chapters. Each chapter has an example of Indian mythology either from Mahabharata, Ramayana or Vedas. It is interesting to read a chapter starting with an event described appropriately from history as it's written in a very crisp manner. After that, author explains the consequences of why a character from mythology took that decision and connects it with current scenarios which makes it easy for us to understand how to deal with the same kind of situation next time when we are stuck with it in our firm. In the end of the chapter, an example from the current corporate scenario is shared with which you can relate yourself or any of your colleagues. And each chapter has a diagram which is an icing on the cake.

The easy language, wonderful narration, nice examples, short chapters, live scenarios makes this book a perfect in its genre. The publishing quality is also great with hardcover binding. But the only factor that will resist readers from picking up this book is its MRP i.e. almost 400 bucks. Spending Rs. 5 on each page is too costly for a reader. Though the target audience of this book will surely invest in it but to make it reach among the pass-outs and young professionals, the cost should always be taken care while releasing the first edition. Rest, this is a book which should be read slowly and each of its sutras should be implemented in our professional and personal life as it will surely develop you into a great leader. I give this book 4.75* out of 5.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

All Yours, Stranger by Novoneel Chakraborty (Book Review- 3.75*/5) !!!

After finishing the Book 1 in The Stranger Trilogy last midnight, I returned back from office early to finish the Book 2 which is of 242 pages. Thankfully, with no disturbance even though Virat Kohli scored yet another half-century for RCB, I managed to concentrate upon this book. Haha! Compared to first book, this book starts slowly and you just keep on wishing when the stranger will come back in life of Rivanah again. But he/she (of whatever gender the stranger is) didn't take entry in the first half and whatever little bit he took in the second half wasn't enough to give you the same goosebumps as Book 1. Book 2 is more about the protagonist yearning for the stranger to come back in her life as she is facing an emotional turmoil to find her boyfriend giving his best friend, Tania, more attention than her. She knows that anyone who could help her is one and only stranger.

Finally after a very long time he comes back in her life to help her but starts keeping difficult clauses like the Book 1 and kept reminding the protagonist to understand what her worth is. The Book 1 ends where it seemed as if the Book 2 will reveal the story behind Hiya Chowdhury but unfortunately, that is still a mystery for the reader. The book is still a page-turner because you want to know who the stranger is and why is he behind Rivanah but frankly speaking, this book should have been better than the Book 1 to make the reader go crazy about it which it isn't. There are many elements which are still magical about how the protagonist meets her ex-boyfriend through a new roommate and the way things starts happening with her life which she is unable to comprehend though she knows stranger is doing it for her.

The last few pages are again written with wonderful narration where you read it in a speed that even you would not have discovered you had. You want to know who the next suspect is but the last page is totally unexpected and it is going to be great reading the Book 3 with all these secrets opening up one after another. I have liked how author didn't make a joke of this character "Stranger" that he has developed in the Book 2 and managed to create the same kind of curiosity about him in the reader's mind. Coming to the drawback, I felt that the first half is totally wasted in dilemma that the protagonist is going through watching her boyfriend getting more concerned about some other girl. The book just didn't look like a thriller all this while but like some yet-another-cheesy-novel. Otherwise the 2nd half is what I expected this book to be. I would go with 3.75*.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

Sunday, 1 May 2016

Marry Me, Stranger by Novoneel Chakraborty (Book Review- 4*/5) !!!

Novoneel Chakraborty is a brilliant writer and I am glad that I have been able to read each of his books. He is one of the few Indian pulp-fiction writers who has great command on the language which makes his novel a great reading experience. You can easily complete any of his books in a single sitting itself. This time I picked his most-talked about book- The Book 1 in "The Stranger Trilogy" which is named "Marry Me, Stranger". Though I had this book with me for last 1.5 years but I didn't read it as I have the habit of reading trilogies only after it's last part is released. I am an impatient personality, after all. Haha! After completing this book, I can only say that Novoneel is one of the few authors like Ravi Subramanian who keeps improving with his every book. And this one is clearly another feather in his cap.

The language and narration that Novoneel uses to tell his story is very simple yet so authentic and beautiful that you find it very literary. And even though his book deals with love story as a foundation of the premises, he doesn't restrict the story to the tale of two lovers only. He always add that punch in his books which makes them special and talking about this book specifically, author has just mind-blown with each page. The suspense that he keeps almost till the last page skews a reader in you as initially you die to know why a "stranger" is troubling the protagonist and later on, you almost kill yourself while reading as fast as you can to know who actually the stranger is. And the way anti-climax and climax is written, you almost get surprised with an unexpected twist looking into your face. And the book ends at a very great moment that will not let you sleep until and unless you do not start reading the second book in the trilogy. Philosophical lines in between are the icing on the cake.

In his 5th book, Novoneel has given great description of each character which makes it easy for you to understand psyche of each one of them. It helped this thriller wonderfully as you know which characters are going to support the protagonist up to what level. And that makes it more interesting for a reader to keep guessing who the stranger is. Though at a point of time, you start feeling that it's kind of ghost who's behind the protagonist but still you want to know why exactly is it behind the protagonist. Right from the first page to the last, Novoneel keeps this book powerful enough to make the reader read it without a blink of an eye. For me, this is one of the best work of Novoneel till now. I am rating it 4 stars out of 5. All of his last 4 books have received 3.75* each from me. Finally, for me, Novoneel has taken his writing to the next level with this book. I am going to start reading The Book 2 in the Stranger trilogy from tomorrow.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!

jangshersingh.com by Vishal Bhatia (Book Review: 3.75*/5) !!!

When you pick up a book to read on a weekend, it needs to be special. Hence, I always pick a Bestseller to make sure that my weekend is not wasted. This time, I picked up an Indian debutante, Vishal Bhatia's first book, named "jangshersingh.com". The title is unique but I was very skeptic about the plot and writing style of the author initially. But as I progressed reading it, I found that author has surely invested a lot of time in making this book as perfect as possible. I am glad to find a book without any grammatical and spelling mistake by an Indian debutante after a very long time. The book has been edited well. And even though the book is almost 350 pages, it keeps you excited till the end.

jangshersingh.com is a sports fiction novel and any book that's based on sports need a very well paced description of the minute details happening during the play. Vishal has been able to capture those moments very well in this book which makes the second half of this book something which you will never ever forget if you are a reader looking out for segments which makes you jump in excitement. The masterstroke in the game of lawn tennis happens in a blink of eye and writing those sequences could have been a challenge even for an experienced writer and a debutante managing it so well is impressing. The best USP of this book has been the characterization of the legend players against whom Jangsher plays in the Grand Slam. You can actually imagine the backdrop and personality of each player. Kudos!

The first half is little boring when the whole story revolves around how two boys are trying to get their car back from a brutish thief. It becomes unexciting after a point of time. But initially the way Jangsher's character has been developed and how he adapts a furious personality in the court is also done perfectly. The emotional scenes are also heart-touching and you can feel for the protagonist each time he goes through a tragedy.

Coming to the drawback of the book, I found the language very difficult to adapt initially because it's written more in western style than Indian. Also, writer has chosen to write big sentences sometimes which makes it hard for the reader to read in flow. I would suggest him to keep sentences short and crisp. Rest, if second half is 100 then on that scale I would rate first half of the book only 50. There shouldn't be such fluctuation in quality of narrating scenes. Rest, this book is amazing. You will surely start following tennis in case you have not been following in all these years after reading this book. And I am very keen to check out what this author is going to try in his second book as he surely possesses some great writing skills. I give this book 3.75* out of 5.

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ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!