Beeja ka Jaadu by Rida Chauhan (Book Review: 5*/5) !!!

28^th Book of 2021

 

I remember reading the book named “Wadiya Singh visits Planet Sparkle” published by Sonalika Publication and I was so impressed because I had purchased it for a 6-year-old niece; and the content of the book made me feel so bliss about how beautifully the social messages are imbibed in the children through lovely stories right from their developing years itself. I wished if similar books could get published so that children can benefit most out of them which will also help parents provide values to their kids in the form of stories. As all of you know that I assure that there is equal amount of content in Hindi as our non-English population is huge which are left out whenever we try to convey something in English. Hence, when I got to know about the new book from Sonalika Publication named “Beeja Ka Jaadu”, I really got delighted and picked it up for the same niece and before gifting her, read it myself. Haha! The book is written by Rida Chauhan.

 

This time the book is about the boy named Arjun who lives in a village. His father is a farmer. The issue here is that his father is idler and doesn’t work at all. Arjun himself tries to work as much as possible along with his studies and household activities. He is a workaholic and a very good boy. One day, he meets a man who gifts him a seed which turns out to be magical. When he goes next day in the field to sow it, suddenly, the seed starts talking to him and asks him to tell any three wishes which can be easily granted by the seed. This makes Arjun very happy. Now these three wishes are where Rida has tried to provide the message to the children through which they can learn great lessons to be a good person in life.

 

Like the previous book, Sonalika Publication and Rida again focuses on providing good messaging on nature and how it needs to be prevented for the betterment of the society in long run. This is a value which needs to be inculcated in kids as we, the previous and current generation, have already ruined enough on this Planet. It’s time that the next generation is aware about the benefits of nature and preserve it as much as possible.

 

The story also delivers a good morale value of how a person needs to wish well and best for others which ends up helping them achieve well in life. How we can find happiness in our own life by sharing and providing happiness with others is nicely portrayed through the story. I liked how in the end the Chauhan has also focused on the message knowing that kids might not grasp the purpose the story is providing.

 

The book also has meanings etc. in the end of the book for few Hindi words in case someone is unable to understand. I believe authors can keep it on the same page itself where the word is mentioned so that children can refer them then and there as some might not know that the meanings are present at the end of the book. There are fun exercises in the end which allows children to paint Arjun and his world as per their imagination while reading the story as well as they get a chance to find 10 differences from the two images. This book again has illustrations and images which makes the reader travel to the world the story is talking about. I feel this is one of the best practices to be followed by the publication house.

 

Overall, this is a very good initiative and every parent and grown up should ensure that the children in their vicinity are reading such books and stories to learn big messages of life through short stories. How can you rate this book at all – I give it 5 out of 5. Kudos to Rida Chauhan for the amazing short story.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

Writing Buddha Podcast 4 | Akash Verma on love, relationship, heartbreaks, Extra-marital, divorce | Part 2 (Video)

Hi Friends,

 

Hope all of you took out time from your busy schedule and watched the Part 1 of my Podcast with Akash Verma. In case, you haven't, the link for the same is again re-shared in the end of the post.

 

In this Part 2 of the Podcast, Akash Verma, the founder of Chokore & National-Bestselling Author discuss a lot many things from which youth and even the grown-up can learn and take the lesson from.

 

We discussed everything from Love, Relationships, Heartbreaks, Extra-marital affairs , Divorce etc.

 

Please watch & leave your comments on the Youtube video.

______________________________________________________________

 

Akash Verma is the co-founder of a fashion startup centered around

Indian designs - www.chokore.com, and a national bestselling

author. Akash has 24+ years of experience in FMCG and Media at

senior levels with Coca-Cola, Red FM, Big FM, and TOI. Akash’s

work has taken him across the world, and he finds this experience

very relevant while giving shape to his stories. Akash practices

Buddhism as a life philosophy and loves Travel, History, Cinema,

and Music.

Akash Verma is a renowned thriller author and has authored six

books till now. National media have covered him in publications

such as The Pioneer, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times,

Financial World, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, and The Week

to name a few. He has also appeared at renowned literature fests

and interviews. His publisher is Penguin Random House, India.

 

Akash is a Science Graduate and holds a PGDBM degree. He is based

out of Gurgaon. Akash’s parents are eminent and awarded Hindi

writers.

 

Website : www.akash-verma.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akash-Verma-...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/akashvermanow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akash_verma...

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Purchase Akash Verma's books from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CwkeJp

 

__________________________________________________________

Follow me on:-

 

My Blog:- http://www.writingbuddha.com/

 

Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/writingbuddha/

 

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/WritingBuddha

 

Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/WritingBuddha/

 

Youtube:- https://www.youtube.com/WritingBuddha/

Podcast 4 | Akash Verma on his creative side, relationships & multitasking | Part 1 (Video)

 

Hi Friends, it has been my dream to talk with great personalities and learn from it since last decade. I had many personal interactions with authors and other such personalities. But recently after knowing that something which was in mind has already taken shape in the digital world called as Podcast, I thought of starting the same with some great people whom I can bring on my platform and learn something from them and make it accessible with all of you, so that along with me, all of us can learn together.

 

In this Podcast, Akash Verma speaks on his books, his view on relationships, multi-tasking and his opinion on being too workaholic…

______________________________________________________________

 

Akash Verma is the co-founder of a fashion startup centered around Indian designs - www.chokore.com, and a national bestselling author. Akash has 24+ years of experience in FMCG and Media at senior levels with Coca-Cola, Red FM, Big FM, and TOI. Akash’s work has taken him across the world, and he finds this experience very relevant while giving shape to his stories. Akash practices Buddhism as a life philosophy and loves Travel, History, Cinema, and Music.

Akash Verma is a renowned thriller author and has authored six books till now. National media have covered him in publications such as The Pioneer, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, Financial World, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, and The Week to name a few. He has also appeared at renowned literature fests and interviews. His publisher is Penguin Random House, India.

 

Akash is a Science Graduate and holds a PGDBM degree. He is based out of Gurgaon. Akash’s parents are eminent and awarded Hindi writers.

 

Website : www.akash-verma.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akash-Verma-...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/akashvermanow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akash_verma...

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Purchase Akash Verma's books from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CwkeJp

 

__________________________________________________________

 

Follow me on:-

 

My Blog:- http://www.writingbuddha.com/

 

Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/writingbuddha/

 

Twitter:- https://twitter.com/WritingBuddha

 

Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/WritingBuddha/

 

Youtube:- https://www.youtube.com/WritingBuddha/

Mapping Love by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (Book Review: 3.25*/5) !!!

27^th Book of 2021

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has already won our heart by creating great movies such as Nil Battey Sannata, Bareilly ki Barfi and Panga. I adore for the way she has created her own identity in the Hindi film industry through her work. It was a surprise when I got to know that she is releasing a book written by herself because generally, filmmakers take some time entering the world of literature as writing and working on a movie itself takes most of their energy. Her very first book named “Mapping Love” is published by Rupa Publications in around 187 pages.

 

You can surely finish this book in one or two sittings as it’s not a very long story but the way it moves insist on making you pause for some time before proceeding ahead. It has not happened for long with me with a book but this one really made me think a lot about my past decisions. The protagonist Oorja’s character is framed so deeply that you understand the kind of dilemma and trauma she is in. She is returning to India with lots of angst because her mother has died due to a mistake committed by her father. And over that, now her father is also no more – as he lost his life almost in the similar scenario. She is back in her grandfather’s home where she meets a boy named Anang who has taken care of everyone in her absence.

 

The emotions of a girl knowing that someone else has better tuning in her family than herself because of her absence can be felt throughout the story post-entry of Anang. The way she deals with him tells you how difficult it can get when you have failed multiple times in past relationships, but you must again decide if this one is okay to commit yourself in. Also, the way she thinks about Anang even after leaving the place makes you feel for her – a girl who is already in stress and confusion has only one hope of love – and she is surviving only on it. The way pre-climax makes us acquainted with a fact we were not expecting at all gives us a chair-jump as suddenly, it seems the book has shifted the gear and become one from thriller genre. Another such moment is when Police calls her for verifying a body. That scene is totally chilling and horrifying.

 

The poems as filler in between the story are so moving that you end up reading them 10 times before proceeding ahead. It gave me a little ZNMD movie kind of a feel but generally, I don’t like English poems, but some of the poems mentioned in this book makes your heart weep in love and hope. I also liked the philosophical take by the authoress throughout the story in almost every important section. Even when something is said which is quite general and common, her philosophical part uplifts the paragraph or chapter. Without the inclusion of it, this book must have lost 50% of its effectiveness.

 

Talking about the drawbacks now, I felt that author didn’t work much on characterizations. I couldn’t relate too much with anyone else other than Oorja. Even with her, you don’t get to know much about the important happenings in her past which can make us understand her completely. Secondly, the language used in the book is not very easy and you’ll find it very hard initially and if you are reading it with lot of gaps, it is going to trouble you each time while re-starting. Thirdly, the whole angle of Anang’s medical condition seems like a forced drafting as it doesn’t sound genuine at all. Even the whole thing is just informed to us rather than driving story on it for little longer.

 

Overall, this book is a fine read and it can gather mixed reviews based on everyone’s experiences in their own life and how they relate it with Oorja’s life. I give this book 3.25* out of 5. Please read to understand if it connects with you or not.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

The Granddaughter Project by Shaheen Chishti (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

 

26th Book of 2021

There are few books which can move you emotionally as well as psychologically. I am not talking about just making you cry and leaving an impact through the over-eruption of emotions. I mean to say that they carry such situations and characters which insists you to put yourself into their place and think of what you could have done- when you find no better idea than what is already being told in the story, you get submerged in the story and give yourself to it completely. I had the similar experience with reading Shaheen Chishti’s debut book named “The Granddaughter Project” which is of around 264 pages. It’s a very nice package in terms of publishing quality – in a hardcover format with a very beautiful cover jacket having a very intense and appealing cover page. And rest, author further makes this book a very satisfactory experience overall.

 

The story speaks of how a girl gets a letter from her grandmother which covers all the details about her life which leads in making the girl understand how women were treated during her grandmother’s era and how not much changed even when her mother got married. Her grandmother also gives her 2 more letters to handover it to random girls in different cities which are also written by their respective grandmothers. This irritates her boyfriend as he has to live away from his girlfriend until she is back after delivering the stupid letters to some random girls. The other two girls also get to know about their grandmother’s life in detail about which they didn’t know anything earlier. It makes them think about the women’s condition in those days. These letters make all the three girls take some important decision in their current life - learning from the experiences and hidden message their grandmothers are trying to tell them through their story.

 

The narrating style of author is very interesting where you will find a very great commanded words and sentences crafted which ensures you relate to every emotion and condition he is trying to tell. Chishti also ensures that the transition between the letter content and current story is rightly balanced so that none of the flow gets compromised. I liked this handling a lot as many authors fail to make a mark in such complex story-telling methodology. Though the subplot sounds little unrealistic that a girl travels so much just to deliver letters to random girls, but author ensures that it all sounds justified once he is telling the story in his writing style. You start trusting in everything he tells. I believe that’s what the USP of his uniqueness is.

 

The story ends up telling the conditions of women in all the generations which makes us think about how oppressed they have been. Every woman reading this will be able to relate it with themselves or their mother whom they have seen closely doing nothing else except satisfying their respective husbands and still getting ill-treated for a small mistake. Similarly, any girl of this era will understand how things have got better now with more friendly and feminist men around them but still they will get alarmed about something which is still not going the way it should be. This book is such thought-provoking, futuristic, and eye-opening.

 

While reading, I thought so much about how my mother is being treated and I felt that yes, women, despite of gender equality discussions are still not getting the same respect they need to get for what they are. The patriarchy and the male ego are still killing the emotions, willpower and life of many women and girls. I, as a man, had to question myself if I am doing well with the relationships I have with females in my life. This is the power Shaheen’s writing has upon you. Even after being a man, you will question your attitude and try to change yourself immediately.

 

The book talks about many factors on how Bengal famine in 1943 impacted the whole place and how some women suffered because of it. We are acquainted with how people like landlords molested and misused women just because they had money to buy anything – even humans. Reading the encounters where men almost rapes women in pretext of providing some benefits and women must suffer it without raising their voice made me feel pit in my stomach. Similarly, in another story, we get to know of horrific stories which takes place during World War 2 where again, women are led into prostitution services and reading those accounts will make you go and hug a rape survivor and help her as much as possible. I just couldn’t imagine the kind of violence Jew women had to go through and author has written everything raw which makes you feel as if you are present in the camp and experiencing everything yourself. Scary!

 

The book is impactful, interesting, strong, women-oriented and what not. The way it does justice to its title is mind-blowing. The research of author to understand how the old era was and what exactly happened during those real historic events with sufferers is worth applauding. I only disliked the last Grandmother’s story because it was really nothing when compared to the first two stories. Also, I felt that the book could have been short by 30-40 pages as it feels stretchy beyond a point. Otherwise, this is going to be one of the remarkable books to be published this year. I am glad I picked it up. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5 and ask all the modern women as well as men to read this. It is going to change your perspective forever.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA  

Ashwatthama's Redemption: The Bow of Rama by Gunjan Porwal (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

 

25^th Book of 2021

 

There are very few duologies or trilogies which keeps you interested with its sequels in the series. Some where down the line, we observe that the essence of the 1^st part has been lost because either the author ends up overdoing or writes it just for the sake of completing the sequel because of the publisher’s deadline. This has NOT been the case with Gunjan Porwal’s 2^nd and final part of the “Ashwatthama’s Redemption” series named “The Bow of Rama”. The 1^st part is named “The Rise of Dandak” which released 3 years back and the final part has taken a good amount of time to be in our hands. I can proudly say that Gunjan impresses you with his craft again and every sentence that he writes screams of how he deserves to be one of the popular Indian mythological and historical fantasy writers.

 

His writing style is so apt that I couldn’t find any flaw anywhere. The way he takes the story ahead from where the 1^st book ends is done very seamlessly. I keep suggesting authors to give a small recap of their earlier books in case of sequels so that people can revise it before proceeding ahead with the new part but not many implement this – may be because they believe the sale of previous books will decrease. Porwal has done it by himself, and it has been blended so beautifully in very few words that even if you haven’t read the 1^st part, you will not find it difficult to understand the 2^nd part. My recommendation would be to read the 1^st part as it has many great concepts and philosophies discussed in detail such as karma, life, death, guilt, ego, mind games etc.

 

The narration of “The Bow of Rama” is quite relaxed despite several things happening at different places with different characters at the same time. You will feel the excitement and there will be the curiosity about what would happen next, but author keeps everything quite calm for the reader to not find anything clustered or pacy. Most of the characters are from the 1^st book itself hence they don’t need much introduction but here, we start getting to know about their power with which they can win against the Dandak and Asuras. I liked how the bow of Rama on which even the title of the book is based is given importance and thrilling aspect right from the initial chapters itself. You will just want to know how the weapon which is associated with Lord Vishnu will be regained by this team of righteous people.

 

I liked the whole section which leads Ashwatthama to go to Ayodhya – the chapters where he ends up meeting Hanuman and the little tale of Lord Ram that is being discussed. Something similar happens in the 1^st book too which brings back the nostalgic effect. I liked some great philosophies that is discussed in this same segment such as where Hanuman tells how he got a chance to redeem his Karma and end the cycle of Birth-Death otherwise God can do everything by himself, but he gives an opportunity to human beings to better their karma. Amazing! Similarly, the book also talks about some ancient powers and miracles such as shahtra-bhautik-vigyaan, parmanu-bahutiki, atomic physics, dark magic and other scientific factors which has been part of our culture since long back.

 

The great USP of this book has been that more than the action scenes the book here talks about the strategy that both the end choses to get onto the fight. The very first scene where one of the main character loses life and the love relationship of a couple gets affected speaks about the intense planning with which it happens. After that, the way author has used many intellectual elements to plan the last big war is a treat for readers. You need to be very calm and patient throughout the whole 2^nd half because somewhere you want the War to begin and bow to come into the picture but that’s what the narration of this book is all about – wait and watch! I also liked Ashwatthama’s dilemma on what to choose – mortality or immortality. Every time he gets into that situation, as a human being, you get a lot to question yourself about what you would have done in that situation and it tells us, how hard one’s life can be.

 

The conversations between all the characters just win your heart time and again. The most magical part about the book is that author has written fighting, action, battle, and war sequences not only for you to feel the adrenaline rush but to ensure that you keep on imagining the whole scenario and build it in your world of Visualization. This makes the book very impactful and memorable. By the end, I wanted it to have another part in the series too which I rarely wish for any duology or trilogy. Haha!

 

Lastly, talking about the drawbacks- I must say that there aren’t many but still I think the book could have been 70-80 pages less. I feel few parts are given too much description which doesn’t elevate the scene but become stretchy and boring after a time. Because the book’s title has the name Rama, you want to read more about him, but it ends very soon, and you are taken ahead in the story immediately. Otherwise, this book has no issues at all and is a superb read. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5 and recommend it to all the fantasy, Indian mythology, ancient history, philosophical lovers to get it soon along with its 1^st part.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

When Love Holds You Forever by Miihir Raaj (Book Preview) !!!

 

24^th Book of 2021

 

I remember the period between 2010 to 2013 when many authors started trying their luck in writing through the love and college campus stories. I had just started purchasing books online and all these Rs. 100 books were available for just Rs. 50 on e-commerce platforms. This made me read a lot of them which eventually made me fall into love with books. One such book that I read during the same phase was “Plz… Kiss me Or Kill Me” written by the author Miihir Raaj. Many authors whom I read then didn’t write their 2^nd book ever as mostly the 1^st one was based on their own love experience than being a pure piece of creativity. Miihir Raaj, finally, is back with his 2^nd book named “When Love Holds You Forever”. It is a pure love story again with no other genre touching even in its sub-plots.

 

The book talks about the character of Dev right from the starting as he is the one who is mostly driving the story here. His passion for work and sex is discussed immensely in the 1^st half of the book. He is kind of a Casanova and doesn’t believe in falling and settling with one girl at all. There’s a catch here as this personality has developed because of his upbringing and the experience he had with his parents. You will find his character crazy as he will not think twice even while sleeping with his friend’s sister in his absence.

 

Later, the book starts introducing us with Pooja, a young and successful journalist who is fighting against all odds to be at toes with her job and the challenges that comes with it. Author has very nicely tried to explain us how tough journalism and its tasks can get for girls where they are insulted, molested, and demeaned almost every day as they must get into crowds and do their work. Irrespective of such challenges, Pooja dares to perform her tasks very well and cover things which makes even her seniors conscious about her reporting. She is a very simple girl and has never got involved in any kind of relationship with anyone – leave having physical intimacy.

 

The book then brings both these characters under each other’s acquaintance and how the two different personalities start gelling together is what this book is mostly about. There are other characters such as Shruti, Farhan, Naaz, Mihir etc. who keeps coming in between to support one or the other among the two protagonists. The pre-climax brings a big twist in tale which has been mentioned in the back-cover of the book too i.e. starting from seduction, traversing through “Sins” the book finally reaches a stage of “Schizophrenia” which changes the whole dimension in which the story was moving in.

 

The climax will make you feel both- happy and sad. The people who are new in love will love reading this book. The book is a nice pick for beginners in reading journey. The book is available on the major platforms, and you can purchase it from AMAZON on great discount.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA