It's All About Books!!!

Thursday, 27 June 2019

How to Finish Everything You Start by Jan Yager (Book Review: 3.25*/5) !!!

Reading non-fiction books are a game that I love playing whenever I get time. Though there is excitement in fiction books but the kind of refreshment a non-fiction book provides is amazing. It is because the way it connects with your own life. You don’t need to relate with any character as while reading a non-fiction, you can relate directly with yourself and your life. The book that I have finished reading just now is “How to Finish Everything You Start” written by the author of 46 other books- Jan Yager and published by my favorite non-fiction books’ publisher- Jaico.

The book comes with a tagline- “Habits to Transform your life”. The title of the book is what made me get in awe with it as it is something that all of us are concerned about with our routine. There are so many things that we start but are unable to finish and complete it due to multiple causes. Author has tried here to define all those prospective causes and provide the solution on how we don’t repeat the same mistakes and follow some basic rules to ensure that when we start something new next time, we don’t end up keeping it unfinished. Author has defined FINISH rule which focuses on prioritizing the tasks one by one, ignoring distractions etc. which is really practical and goal-oriented.

The best part about the book is the exercises and actions defined in the end of each chapter and in some cases, between the chapters. These are really something which makes you think upon yourself and the way you have been managing things until now. It regularly keeps striking you how we have not given importance to our multiple tasks with equal importance till now. Overall, the book is written with a very good intent where author has gone into as specific as possible that a chapter is completely dedicated for authors on how to complete a book.

Now, talking about the drawbacks, I felt author just couldn’t give a straight flowchart on how to provide tips and advises to the reader as several times there are references given of a chapter where the rest of the topic has been explained. This makes the reading experience difficult as reader keeps getting such interruptions though this issue in the book is for initial few chapters only. Secondly, I felt there are many more tips and tricks that author could have discussed as I believe whatever has been mentioned is already known to the readers; it’s just that author balanced it with those exercises at the end of the chapters which are definitely unique. Overall, this book is definitely a fine read if you have not read many self-help books as this shall really help with its easy language and short chapters. I give this 3.25* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

25 Essentials To Happy Living by Preeti Pathak (Book Preview) !!!

These days people have started inclining towards Spirituality which is a very good thing. The best option to get near to Spirituality are books related to them. One needs to get a very powerful book on Spirituality to understand it completely and follow it with purity and cleanliness. I recently picked up a book named “25 Essentials To Happy Living” written by Preeti Pathak and published by Vishwakarma Publications.

The book is of around 125 pages with 25 different chapters: - obviously each one of them discussing about specific essentials which which the authoress suggests are important for living happily. The book is great for beginners as authoress have used simple concepts to explain what is needed for us to understand the essence of life and quest to achieve the same to ensure that we find ourselves in the spot as less as possible. The basic purpose of all the 25 chapters is to ensure that the readers understand that living happy is not as tough as we think it is and it all depends upon our perspective towards things. If we get on following few basics and give considerations to things we think are needed to be taken care by others around us, we can achieve happiness very easily.

The book is written in a very simple language which shall make it easy for anyone to finish it within an hour or two. The book has tips on several concerns like stress management, money, anger, criticism, ego, being judgmental, communication, parenting, love, friendship, devotion, possessive nature, freedom, emotions, karma etc. The best part is that in this short book of introducing people with concept on which there is always negligence and ignorance, author has ensured that people would actually start feeling positivity. After every chapter, a quote or section said/written by Paramhansa Yogananda is mentioned which I found as effective as the complete chapters.

Overall, this book is recommended for beginners and practitioners too who are looking out for options which can ease the stress of their life and they can start living happily but are not interested in going through a 300-400 pages full-fledged book.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

The Patomskiy Crater by Khemkarann (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

Well, when you chose a 400-pages book to read, you just pray before starting that it turns out to be good. And more so when you understand nothing by its title, it’s scarier. And when you are also reading the author for the first time, it’s all God’s play now how your long reading session shall end like. Thankfully, I can say that I didn’t have bad experience reading the book titled “The Patomskiy Crater” by the author, Khemkarann. The book is published by The Write Place publication house. The book is all and out a complete thriller and makes it clear within the first few pages itself.

The author must be appreciated for the fact that he had enough guts to give a title to his book which is tough even to pronounce the same but the confidence is quite evident which reflects in the way the story is been written. Right from the 1^st page, author has come directly on the point where you realize that the story is going to be a tough read due to the kind of suspense it is going to hold and it does that. I liked how author has chosen to keep the narration for specific group of characters in parallel through different chapters that you feel like you are watching a movie which doesn’t have background music where everyone is walking and chasing and running from someone and is yet scary being noiseless. I liked how author didn’t narrate the whole story in a continuous timeline but chose to bring all the characters together by treating everyone as protagonist in their own timeline of events.

The book is divided into 80 different chapters. Yes, you heard it right. 80 DIFFERENT CHAPTERS and each chapter describes a scene about specific group of characters which makes you know more about what happened with them but in the next chapter you have similar excitement for different group of characters which are discussed and at the end of the chapter, now you want to know what happened with this set of people. This is what makes this book amazing and I would call it the USP of the story-telling of the author.

The way each character is introduced in the first half of the book is amazing. It becomes little difficult to remember each of them as names used are not Indian whereas I am used to reading books with Indian characters but post that, there are no unwanted characters inserted in the book which makes it easier to connect with the characters. Author plays with only those characters who are meant to enrich the story. The good thing which helped in the way the background of the story is developed is author’s background- as the Author is a Mumbaikar but has been staying in UK since last 16 years, the book had flavour of both- though the characters were based in foreign but their emotions were very much Indian.

In the pre-climax and climax, the way the story unfolds when all the characters end up meeting and the game of run and chase ends, makes you jump and sit to know who would end up being the criminal of all. I am glad author ended the book with some facts revealed which actually excites you and makes you believe the story rather than shrugging it off the way it generally happens with Indian-based authors. I am also glad that even though the book was initially about friends, author didn’t waste time in the useless friendship tales and flashbacks.

Talking about the drawbacks of the book, I must say that the book could have been edited and shortened very well by almost 100 pages. Yes. The biggest problem is that the synopsis or blurb, whatever you call it, mentions too much which is then elaborated in book for too long which bores you at times. Also, in between, the run-and-chase becomes too monotonous with nothing much getting revealed but only the same cycle getting repeated. Similarly, I felt that Vin’s father’s role could have been used more to twist the story as he was a key character. Similarly, the mask men are hyped too much even having them on the cover page but they are also too under-utilized in the story. The title of the book gets mentioned in the final part of the book but it could have also been made the centre point of the story right from the beginning.

Saying it all, I would say this is one of the genuine thriller I read which is written with heart. I give this book 4* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA

Monday, 10 June 2019

Master Your Money, Master Your Life by Abhishek Kumar (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

As far as my memory goes, I have read around 3-4 books related to how we can manage our money and finances with many tips out there. But the problem with those books was that it explained money and the methods to save it in the way that someone like me who has started earning since last 3-4 years itself shall never be able to comprehend the jargons and what to do exactly to understand whom to believe and whom not to believe. I have finally completed reading a book which has actually satisfied me in terms of suggestions provided. The book is “Master Your Money Master Your Life” by 2^nd time author, Abhishek Kumar, and published by Wisdom Tree.

Reading a non-fiction book becomes great when authors try to keep language and narration simple and I must applaud Abhishek for managing to explain such complex terms and topics in as easy language as possible that reading this book has not only been informative but also entertaining and exciting. There are so many advertisements, financial advisors, family agents, family friends who have filled our minds with multiple concepts on how money can be multiplied and saved. Author had a difficult task of going against them and putting up his belief and make sure the reader agrees with it. I must say I agreed on most of things that Author explained in the book though there are few things on which I did disagree too.

Author has divided the book into different segments to take the things ahead gradually so that readers can grasp the same with the pace of the book. Author starts by explaining the concept of Goal-making which we generally find in Management books and with-it author tries to convince us to be serious for mastering our money and monitor it by creating a serious goal for the same. And then the author goes on explaining us how we are made to believe that our life has been simplified with loans that we can take even for our small purchases but derives the conclusion on how we are actually losing money with each loan. Post that, author goes on a long spree to dilute our passion for owning as many credit cards as possible. In fact, author suggests us to not have credit card at all. Well, here I disagreed as author tries giving suggestions that seems to be too over-protective. Anyway, the myths that author busts regularly up till this chapter is really an eye-opener.

The good thing till this chapter in this book is that in the 1^st half, author has told us what not to do and what to completely avoid so that we spend less on things which are not necessary. But the problem here is that still, author has not begun speaking on what needs to be done to save and multiply money. Post this, author starts providing us concepts such as Five Funds Funda where he tells us how to distribute our money to assure we are able to secure all kind of requirements in our life which needs money to be fulfilled. Another unique thing that author has described in one of the chapters which is highly important is how you can effectively regulate and build your money if you and your spouse do it together rather than doing it individually. This is what many advisors miss to include while planning our money.

In the last quarter of the book, author concentrates upon the factors such as real estates, mutual funds, ULIP, Insurance etc. and shares his To-Do list and Not-To-Do list. Here also author has tried his best to keep the jargons away and explain as basic terms as possible so that people who know nothing about it can also enjoy the lessons given.

This book is actually a must-read book as the kind of myths that author has dismissed is really commendable and makes us understand a lot of things. I liked the Five Funds Funda concept and I am surely going to follow it as much as possible. The way author has tried explaining the concepts with the help of charts, fictional conversations and examples is effective and impacting. I am glad that author has not thrown much of calculations, percentages and numbers while explaining the same as it becomes highly irritating for the reader to understand the same and get stuck in a concept or on a page.

Now, talking about the drawbacks of the book, as I have already mentioned above, reader will have to wait for the complete 1^st half of the book to actually know where the money needs to be kept. Secondly, as I said above for the chapter on Credit-cards, author has completely invalidated it whereas author should have also told us about how it can be used for benefits in control. Similarly, I believe there are many types of Pension Plans and Insurance Plans which author has not detailed the way I was expecting. If we should go towards LIC or other Insurance Companies and their differentiation and comparison isn’t provided. Similarly, author could have suggested some Mobile Apps which could help us in planning our money, buying stocks, investing in mutual funds etc. Similarly, I was expecting strategies from author on how to plan investment which can help us with Income tax. How to manage money even with having children and how to save for their education, marriage and future is not included.

But, overall, considering even these drawbacks, the book is still worthy enough to go through and follow the basic tips that author has suggested. I give this book 4 stars out of 5. Recommended for those who have just started earning and doesn’t know where to keep their money so that they can save it better.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Yug Purush by Savita Singh (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

Reading about mythology in not-so-literary and serious manner has become a new cool for me. I remember my father gifting me a book on Mahabharata when I was child and I didn’t pick it up till date just because of its difficult vocabulary. But, since Amish Tripathi has come up with his Shiva trilogy, I have gone crazy about such books on mythology which are written in an easy to go language which believes in sharing the story and tale rather than improving our language. One such powerful book I read on the life of Lord Krishna is “Yug Purush” written by Savita Singh and published by Rupa publications.

To begin with, the cover page and overall aesthetic of the book is very beautiful and serene which compels you to pick it up above any other book. Yug Purush is the complete life story of Lord Krishna who is depicted as a simple human being with extra ordinary powers which made him special. Initially, the book seems to be boring as authoress take some time in building up the story and describing Krishna as we know him. As soon as those incidents begin with which we start feeling the connection with the character of the protagonist, the book becomes interesting. The book gives perspective of Krishna as a King and I had never read the tales which are mentioned about him of those times. It is interesting to read the many kind of decisions that Krishna took as a king for his people and kingdom.

The relationship of Krishna with Pandavas and Kauravas is very nicely portrayed which helps us to understand how he was connected with them and why he was involved throughout the proceedings that took place between the cousins. The way Krishna helped Pandavas before war with the Swayamwars, decision-making incidents, marriage etc. makes the read interesting as I have generally read only about the Bhagavad Geeta part mainly. Later on, the role of Krishna in the war and its arrangement is what makes the experience of reading the 2^nd half of the book very thrilling and exciting. There is an adrenaline rush regularly while reading those parts where Krishna is regularly on toes and keeps on changing plans every now and then by right and wrong means to ensure that the righteous party wins the war.

The way even the wrong means of Krishna are discussed makes the book interesting as there is reason given for the same regularly without making you disbelieve in the character of Krishna ever. Even the anger of Krishna on certain incidents is nicely narrated as the way character of Krishna is developed, it becomes difficult to imagine him getting angry, frustrated or irritated but the authoress has played her part well. The ending of the book is also closed with such powerful tone that you just keep on thinking about it even after turning the last page. You just can’t believe this can happen with Krishna. Another thing that I would like to appreciate about authoress is wonderful editing of the book and ensuring it ends in one book itself rather than stretching it for trilogy or 5-book series.

Talking about the drawbacks of the book now: - As the focus of the author is on Krishna, all the other characters are not developed the way he is done hence you can’t connect with anyone else. Sadly, not even with Arjun. Krishna’s multiple marriages are discussed too much in the 1^st half. The part when Krishna conversed with Arjun in the middle of the war ground is ended without even giving it a proper chapter hence excluding the Bhagavad Gita section completely. This disappointed me a lot. Also, the spiritual part of Krishna isn’t much explored in the book. Because Krishna is in focus, many important events of Mahabharata is also out of the scope of this book.

Overall, this book is a beautiful read and gives you peaceful feeling post completing the same. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Sanjay Dutt: One Man, Many Lives by Ram Kamal Mukherjee (Book Review: 3.75*/5) !!!

There are few personalities who are so shady in their character that people don’t know if they should talk good about them or bad but one thing is sure they are always a topic whenever their industry is discussed. One such personality is Sanjay Dutt from Bollywood industry who has been in so many controversies all through these years but yet gets sympathy of his fans and people knowing him. Whenever Sanjay Dutt’s life is discussed, it has so many dimensions to it that the topic just doesn’t end in few minutes. Still, Mr. Ram Kamal Mukherjee showed guts in summing up Sanjay Dutt’s life in less than 200 pages in his new book “Sanjay Dutt: One Man, Many Lives”. The movie on Sanjay Dutt that all of us witnessed last year also had the same tag line but this book is little more transparent than the movie.

Mukherjee has not treated this book as a biopic but talks like an editor which makes it interesting as author hasn’t got into useless detailing of his childhood etc. which has nothing to do with a normal reader though it could haven an interest point for a die-hard fan. Author has written the book being very neutral where he talks about both- the good part that Sanjay Dutt brought into the country through his profession and also the bad part he did being an actor and Indian citizen. Just as we saw in the movie, Sanju, here too, author focuses on Sanju Baba’s relationship with his father, Sunil Dutt, majorly. Author talks about Mr. Sunil Dutt as much as he talks about Sanjay Dutt in the book. The love that he had for his son but still he didn’t act as a good father throughout his childhood in order to be strict with him is discussed. Also, how he tried saving Sanjay Dutt from any severe punishment is also described in the book which tells about what a good father he was even without displaying his emotions.

Sanjay Dutt’s personal and professional life is given a glance in this book where almost everything from his drugs to court case to prison days to multiple marriages to his relationship with his sisters- before and after to his concern for his children to his relationships with his colleagues- ups and downs are discussed briefly. You will get many answers about Dutt’s life which certainly media never tells you without keeping bias. Sanjay Dutt’s professional life is also discussed where his trend setting styles, his gangster movies, his flops and hits, his relationship with his co-stars are given some light.

Sanjay Dutt’s relationship with Manyata is one of the USPs of the book as there are many insights about Manyata which shall definitely make you think twice about her commitment towards Dutt as not much is discussed about her in the media. Also, why Sanjay Dutt’s relationship gets on and off with his sisters, Salman Khan, Sanjay Gupta and other people associated with him is nicely narrated in the book. The way author has written or you can say, the way Sanjay Dutt’s life is, everything seems to be a fiction and therefore reading this book never becomes boring.

Author has tried to be as little biased as possible and it shows in the book where he talks everything as it is without trying to give his perspective to the story unlike what Indian media did because of which Sanjay Dutt suffered more than he deserved. Author’s language is very crisp and easy for anyone to go through this book without any concern. I managed to read the book in a single sitting and I was very satisfied with the way book has been handled. Talking about the drawbacks, I still felt that author knew much more but didn’t mention about Dutt. Also, most of the parts in the book are already out in the world through media and magazines and even through the movie- Sanju hence you actually don’t get to know much in 500 bucks that you expected. The images attached of Sanjay Dutt’s life in the book are not much relevant with the chapters.

Overall, this book is a great stuff to read if you have no information about Sanjay Dutt and are keen to know otherwise it can be ignored if you are already updated about his life through media and newspapers. I give this book 3.75* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

Give Your Heart a Break by Anuj Tiwari (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

Just after I end up reading the last word of any book, a rating gets imprinted in my mind immediately. So, when I ended up reading Anuj Tiwari’s latest book “Give Your Heart A Break” published by Rupa Publication and a rating flashed in my mind, I went onto check the ratings I gave to the previous 4 books written by him, I realized this is the best book written by Anuj Tiwari as per my taste. The cover page of the book is themed in white colour which gives a peaceful impression to the story and it is exactly like that. Though Anuj is known for writing love and romantic stories, this book is actually based on the Brother-Sister and Cousin relationship unlike the other books written by him.

Once again, Anuj has tried writing on relationships and right from the first chapter, he starts talking about all kinds of relationships in the story where they are sharing good and bad phase respectively. The protagonist is going through the process of divorce as she had been suffering physical abuse from a long time. Her brother, Agastya, and cousin, Arjun, are all in there for her support. The bond between Agastya and Addya is very beautiful described where Agastya’s selfless and obsessed love for his sister shows in the actions that he takes in her favour to secure her from her bad phase of life and bring her back in her flamboyant, confident and carefree avatar. Arjun’s character is used as a supporting cast in the book where he plays his part in supporting Addya and bringing in some motivation for her in life regularly. Arjun is portrayed by the author as if he’s talking about his real self. Anuj’s favourite, Dimpy Aunty, also plays cameo in the book and I am glad that Anuj has not overdone her character just for maintaining the hype that he creates on social media for her but used it sensibly.

Talking about the story, there are not many twists and turns that shall make you fall in love with the story as already mentioned, book stays focused on talking about characters and their relationship with each other. Story focuses only on the problems faced by Addya and how everyone is out there to support her by thick and thin. Anuj has handled the scenario very well as it must have become quite boring if the character would have been regularly showcased as a victim but rather she has been portrayed as someone who is wanting to stand back on her feet. This keeps the story moving forward in a pace which you shall love reading.

Another thing that I would like to mention quite specifically are paragraphs which talks about several topics such as motivation, thoughts on love, loneliness, affection, relationships, life, inspiration etc. which are actually very effective. Any among all those sentences can strike anyone who is feeling down in life to get charged up to do something bigger and incredible as it is written keeping youth in mind. Being a young author, such pieces should be part of any book in some way or the another and I am glad that Anuj has tried and done it so well.

Talking about the drawbacks- the story is very simplistic. Anuj should now start leaving his comfort zone and write stories which are more than just love and relationship. Even though there was a small incident of a suspense kept in the story but even that is worked upon very simply in the end of the book. The court sessions are also tried to be kept realistic but they couldn’t create any kind of magic as they play the major part in the story.

Overall, this book is a nice light read which you can read while traveling or in a single sitting on a silent weekend. The way one of the romance writer has written a book not on intimate relationship but on the Brother-Sister relationship only is commendable and appreciable. I give this book 3.5* out of 5. I recommend it to everyone who is feeling down due to some personal tragedy in life, mostly, if it is a girl.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA