Neelam

An internationally accredited book blogger, voracious reader and the founder of Booxoul, one of India’s leading book and lifestyle blogs, Neelam is a person with a penchant for bringing out the best in people. A website designer, a renowned book blogger and a leading creative influencer on Instagram, here is a lady who is candid, closer to life and sensitive to the softest of emotions…

A Book Blogger, Reviewer, a true friend, honest critique, a relentless benefactor and more…

Review of the Book Rose's Bent Stem by Nomita Khanna
Book Reviews

Rose’s Bent Stem by Nomita Khanna

This year has been really good in regards to reading good books, compared to last year. I got to read some of the finest books by Indian writers, which is to be quite rare. Nomita Khanna’s book ‘Rose’s Bent Stem’ is one of those books that kept me hooked throughout. In fact, it turned out to be a completely well-executed surprise for me. Why a surprise, you ask me? Well, for one, I had thought it to be an average love story kind of book, but rather it turned out to be a psychological thriller. My favorite genre, you see… So imagine my delight when the book started taking shape in front of my eyes. I was in complete awe of her writing style. Intricate and executed well. The writing and the narrative of the book blew my mind off the walls. It was gripping, heart racing, a complete thrilling drama that gave me a jolt of shock so strong that I was rendered speechless. Furthermore, it was smooth as a flowing river and eerie as the nursery rhymes used in the book, which gave goosebumps. I could literally feel my hair standing on end. Moreover, loved the language used in the book, fresh, easy and free-flowing. I was lost in the story that was a maze of twists and turns so intense that at the end of the story, one had to remind herself to breathe deep and have a cup of hot tea. Though at some places, I thought it was stretched a bit long, and that kind of was off-putting, otherwise no bother. It is an amazing job done by Nomita. Penning a real-life story, that could have gone either way. It was a risk she dared to take. As I reckon writing a psychological story needs lots of details taken care of. The book is very vividly written in a diary form. Very graphically detailed. Ergo, not everybody’s cup of tea. I highly recommend this book to all who like Crime/Thrillers. This book has earned a 4 on 5 stars for its gripping story and strong plotline. .   .   .   .   . Love reading suspense thriller, then definitely check this book out and also, visit more of our suspense thriller book reviews and recommendations. Happy Reading 🙂

Book Reviews

In a Conversation with Arun Batish, the author of EKA – Rendezvous with your life forces

From his childhood to the journey of writing ‘EKA – Rendezvous with your life forces’, here we are, in a conversation with the author Arun Batish. Here we go: Q. How did you come up with this book? Anything particular that prompted you to write this book? A. I live and experience emotions like – Admiration, Adoration, Aesthetic Appreciation, Amusement, Anxiety, Awe, Awkwardness, Boredom, Calmness, Confusion, Craving, Disgust, Empathetic pain, Entrancement, Envy, Excitement, Fear, Horror, Interest, Joy, Nostalgia, Romance, Sadness, Satisfaction, Sympathy, Triumph every day and this is what prompted me to write this book EKA – Rendezvous With Your Life Forces. Q. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? A. I am strong believer that, if you do not have these in your life you are useless and deserve to die today itself ” experience, happiness, inspiration, life, love, mistakes, pain, philosophy, reality, sadness, smile, truth, life-lessons, beauty, family, nature, heart, humanity, friendship, Betrayal, freedom, ditched, wronged, change, fantasy, motivation, dreams, spirituality, motivational, people, peace, power, courage, joy, future, world, learning, motivational-quotes, soul, money, self-help, passion, mind, creativity, purpose, prayer, love-quotes, psychology, insults, belief, depression, spiritual, relationship, desire, friends, trust, loss, humorous, forgiveness, loneliness “. This is where I get all the information and ideas to write my book EKA – Rendezvous With Your Life Forces. Q. What makes this particular genre you are involved in so special? A. I think the reason this particular genre that I am involved and write-on is so, special, is for the fact that it can help people learn self-help skills and live an independent, meaningful and fulfilling life. I am a strong believer that the Self-help genre is extremely empowering, it means having a customized plan of your life events, making other people feel good about you and by reading books of Self-help genre one becomes a better and wiser person. Q. If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why? A. Rhonda Byrne’s, The Secret. It is wonderful to read that sold bazillion copies and bulldozed through a few million people’s wallets but that does not change the fact that I just don’t like it. It is nothing but a book that describes the (in) famous ‘Law of Attraction’. Had I been the author of the same, I would have added realistic emotions and credits to human thinking patterns that more or less say the same thing: mind your thoughts, stay positive and focused on your goals, ignore self-doubt and criticism, visualize and concentrate on what you want and you will eventually have it. Q. Do you aim to complete a set number of pages or words each day? A. I do not aim to complete a set number of pages or words each day, though I do write every day for 30 minutes. I allow no interruptions, no beeps, no notifications, and nothing to check for 30 minutes straight before my house gets lured by the smell of freshly brewed Himalayan coffee wake me up and I start my day of being a Corporate Executive and act as a Human Resources professional. Q. What do you think was the greatest turning point of your life? A. After, leaving school in the beautiful city of Shimla. I strongly considered joining the Indian Army and so one day on a practice hike in the Himalayas, my life took a bad turn. Whilst negotiating a treacherous crossing between two narrow cliffs, I slipped and took a free-fall into the deep gorge underneath. As I tugged open my parachute, the canopy ripped on the jagged edge of the jutting rock face and he plummeted to the ground from a height of 4,000 feet. The damage to the canopy allowed for only a partial opening of the parachute, causing me to land hard on the ground below, with the parachute pack crashing onto my back. I lay unconscious for several minutes before I was finally rescued by my team. I was rushed to the nearest hospital where the doctor reported that four of my vertebrae were crushed, nerves were all compressed and when the reports came out, it was stated that I had come “within a whisker” of being paralyzed for life. During the recovery phase, doctors told me that it was questionable whether I would ever walk again. This was not just a shock for me, but also a turning point in my life. As a young man who had envisioned the life of an army officer ahead of him, I felt pained. And I fell into a period of deep heartbreaking pain as I spent the next eight months in and out of rehabilitation. As I healed I spent time meditating in a trance of deep introspection. What saved me ultimately was my faith which grew stronger day by day as I started reading many of the ancient Indian texts like the Bhagavad Gita and other books on philosophy which made me realize that when the Divine gives us such life and death moments – it is because our soul seeks a greater understanding of life. Within a year of tenacious dedication and determination in the rehabilitation center, hard work in the physiotherapy room, I bounced back to new adventures that have hence taken me forward in life. This was when I realized my potential life forces and turned my life forever. Q. When did you first consider yourself a writer? A. It was in 7th grade when I wrote a love letter to my class teacher. In fact, it was her response to let me know that I’ve written a beautiful letter. This ignited a fire of writer, which I only realized later post overcoming my hormones change dates. This answer might sound funny to many, but like an innocent prisoner, I stand by it. Q. Often in life, it’s our greatest challenges that make or break us. What do you think is the determining factor between whether we

Lifestyle

Whose fault is that women get raped?

Whose fault is it that women get raped? Short clothes! Society! Education! Convent Schools! We knew that we’re going to hear some really horrifying things while shooting this video but now, we are more disgusted than horrified. But as the famous saying goes ‘Har raat ke baad subah aati hai’, we also believe that things are going to change and we as collective can play our part in bringing those changes. We mostly talk bookish stuff at @booxoul but today, in our own small way, we want to bring a change and hope that you will help us to bring that change by sharing this video and, let us know in the comments section, what else we can do. (Read more)

Top 10 Adventurous Things to do in India
Travel

Top 10 Adventurous Things to do in India

India is an incredible country where so many adventurous can be done; Numerous people visit India every year for enjoying unique festivals, for relishing authentic & traditional Indian dishes, and for having exciting, daring, and unusual experience in life. Here I want to describe ten adventurous things which people can do in India. Here we go:   1) Holi Celebration This occasion is known as the festival of colors, Mathura and Vrindavan are the best places for Holi celebration, their people play Holi with flowers, colors, water, and these places are also famous for Lath maar Holi in which women beat men with sticks and men use shields to protect themselves. This is an old tradition that was followed by Lord Krishna and his beloved goddess Radha Ji. Million of foreigners and locals visit these places at the time of Holi.   2) Rafting There are so many rivers in India where people can enjoy rafting. Still, Rishikesh is the well-preferred place because of the Ganga river, it is known as the holiest river, and rafters can fill their mind with positivity and can enjoy breathtaking sceneries and views.    3) Diwali This is the very famous festival of Hindus, and People celebrate this festival for commemorating Lord Rama. This festival is the sign of victory of good over evil; this can be enjoyed in many states (Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, etc.)  of India in October and November.   4) Ride of Hot Air Balloon Riding in the hot air balloon and great fun, those we see in the movies or our imagination world we can enjoy those views in real via hot balloon ride. Beautiful sceneries, seas, and oceans can be seen clearly. Jaipur, Lonavala, Bhopal are the most beautiful sites for a hot air balloon ride.   5) Trekking It’s a type of walking, and the purpose of walking is exploring and enjoying the view of a specific place. People can enjoy trekking in Nag Tibba, Bhriggu lake, Ladakh, and Singalia national park in India.   6) Paragliding If you want to fly like a bird in the sky with open arms, so paragliding is the immaculate activity for you. There are numerous destinations where you can enjoy the lush greenery and snow-capped mountains in India through paragliding.   7) Underwater Walking Do you want to feel like marine animals? If yes, then there is no need to worry about swimming because you can walk underwater and enjoy marine life. Guides accompany you in underwater tours, Pigeon island, Havelock island, and Grand island are the great destination where this walking can be enjoyed.   8) Scuba Diving Scuba diving can give you the excellent lifetime experience of marine life. You can see beautiful fishes octopus, sharks, and other marine animals; the beautiful view of underwater can give a different light to your eyes.   9) Windsurfing There are many water activities which people live to perform, but widely performed water sports is windsurfing. Goa is the most preferred place where this activity performed by numerous tourists and locals.   10) Jungle Safari It is a courageous thought to explore wildlife where you can see the natural habitat of your favorite animal. Gir forest in Gujarat, which is popular among other forests because of conserving the Asiatic lion, jeep safari is the only way to see lions there.  .   .   .   .   . Also, read: 4 Underrated Destinations in India every traveler should visit before they die Overall, you can say that the person who once visited India cannot forget the unique things about the nation which is versed and quite famous. Do let me know in the comments below about your experiences in India and hey, Happy Traveling 🙂

Book Reviews

The Camphor of Night by Samir Satam

It’s been quite a while since I last read a poetry book that managed to strike chords in my heart. Little did I know that this short book of merely 118 pages will have such a devastating yet lingering effect on my mind, heart & soul. Words seem to fall short in describing my emotions at this moment. All transcendental feelings seem to perish when I think about writing a review for The Camphor of Night. This is a very good poetry book of hardly 118 pages. So considering the size, it took me a little over an hour to finish it. Now let me get down to the facts which will help me justify my point accordingly. The cover has been designed very well. The backdrop looks very good, it’s simple yet vivid. The dark and white theme along with the rider and trees enhances the overall picturesque presented here. It looks attractive and pleasant to the eyes. One of the very reasons why I picked this book up. The title is another important aspect that captivated me. It’s apt and sounds interesting. It gets justified with the content over the passage of time. From the very first page where the author leaves a note for the readers under the headline, ‘ode to an unfinished coin‘ to the ending page describing art as a loved child of restlessness and insanity. Samir Satam has a very unique, lucid and vivid approach to things. Let it be short notes, messages or poems throughout the poet. This fact gets accomplished effectively. It also gets accompanied by the sheer tenacity of the poems which are capable of capturing the underlying emotions lying dormant within our heart. The figure of speech and rhyming has been incorporated well in some of the poems in the book. Though I felt this compilation could’ve been added at many other places of the book as well. Nevertheless, it was a really good read. It’s been ages since I read such a fine piece of art. Overall, The Camphor of Night is a lovely read. My Rating: 4/5 stars .   .   .   .   . Also read: A poem that will fill you up with the nostalgia of your first time in Mumbai Do you guys love poetry? If yes, then I’m sure that you’re going to love this book and our section of poetry in Booxoul’s bookshelf, check them out here. Also, do let us know your favorite poetry book in the comments below!

Book Reviews

A thriller to keep you on your toes – The Correctors by Rahul Vishnoi

2019 was a good year of reading. I’ve discovered a lot of great authors, and some of them are Indian authors. One such author, which I have recently discovered, is Rahul Vishnoi, a professional dentist and an amazing hobby writer. ‘The Correctors‘ is his second book. What an amazing book this has been! ‘The Correctors‘ is a story that has kept me on my toes from the beginning to the end. It’s spread across three genres: Suspense Thriller Comedy The story revolves around the most eccentric characters, such as the Bride, The Correctors, Ayan Bakshi, the protagonist Saayan Bakshi, and so on. The characters were so eccentric that they left a huge impression on me, and they shadowed my thoughts long after I read the book. No matter how you try, you just can’t turn off their strong personality. The style and narrative of the writer fascinated me mightily. Moreover, every nook and cranny of the narratives is polished to perfection, spell-bindingly gripping and smooth as butter. This pushed me to read on the run for hours to the limit. The beginning shocked me, Thenceforth, I was invested in the story. It was a maze of sudden twists and turns full of laughter and unpredictability, jolting me out of my senses. But the climax was shocking. What an ending author gave to this book. Though I have an inkling, that there might be a book 2 in the future, seeing how it ended. Furthermore, the language impressed me. Neither simple nor hard hard to understand. One can see clearly the command of English the author has in the book. Rahul’s book ‘The Correctors‘ has earned 5 on 5, for its high entertainment quotient and writing style. I recommend this book to every reader, who don’t mind reading graphically detailed suicide and torture scenes.⁣ What an incredible journey this has been. Reading this book. .   .   .   .   . Love reading thrillers? Then, don’t forget to check out our Thriller section. Also, do let us know your favorite thriller book in the comments below! Happy Reading 🙂

Book Reviews

The Mind Game By Devika Das

Publication:  Blue Rose Publishers Page Count:  203 Review: Another Non-fiction book by this Author. Which I really enjoyed reading, because of its fast pace, non-repetitive and to the point writing style. Devika’s The Mind Game is a fairly straightforward Self-Help book on mastering emotions to achieve success. It is divided into 6 main sections that deal with the following: Emotions and their Management Understanding Behavior of People Recommends Simple Living Staying Happy despite the Circumstances Anger Management Promotes a Good Work Environment Do I recommend ‘The Mind Game’? I’m absolutely not a fan of Self-Help books. In fact, I tend to gravitate towards Fiction rather than Non-fiction.  Ergo, I had my doubts about this book too… as I have for countless self-help books. Needless to say, against my better judgement I started with this book. In the beginning, my mind kept wandering every now and then while reading, but after like 30 pages in, I kind of started enjoying the book. To be frank, I did not discover any great epiphany or find any major information that would transform my life, but then again, I guess it’s nice to be reminded of the small ways in which you can get back on track in case you need a reassuring hand. Probably those looking for a simply written book that gives basic insights might find this one useful. I loved the simplistic way of writing of the author. It was what kept me hooked to the book. Also, the points in the book were relayed in a simple manner. Overall, it is a good read. Readers who like to read Self-Help will surely love this book.   My Rating: 3.5/5 stars .   .   .   .   . About the Author Devika Das is simply described as a Passionate Writer, Theatre Artist, and Poet. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on her website. .   .   .   .   . Also, read: Finding your G-Spot in Life Do you guys love self-help? If yes, then do let us know your favorite self-help book in the comments below!

Book Reviews

A Wonder Book For Girls and Boys: A Retelling of Greek Myths by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Publication: Rupa Publications Page Count: 208 What do I think of this retelling of Greek Myths? A Wonder Book For Girls and Boys is essentially an Anthology of short stories based on Greek Myths. It features the well-known Greek characters of Medusa, King Midas, Pandora, Hercules, Pegasus etc. Nathaniel has very cleverly woven these myths into lovely stories adding his own special touch. As they are written as a narration by the 18-year-old Eustace Bright to the children of Tanglewood, he can get away with poetic license or rather what I would call the mythological license. Do I recommend it? Somehow, felt quite appropriate to read this book on the occasion of Children’s Day. It was like being transported straight back to my childhood Gulmohar Days. I thoroughly enjoyed this bit of a blast from the past and immediately recommended it to my Kid who is currently enjoying it. Now need I say more? It’s a 5 out of 5 stars read. .   .   .   .   . About the Author Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, and is known as one of the best fiction writers of America.  He was a master of prose style, especially of allegorical and symbolic tales, and this is clearly reflected in the characters he crafted and the psychological depths he imbued them with.  In his sketches, tales and romances, Hawthorne drew especially upon the history of colonial New England, and Salem during the time of his early American ancestors.  However, as a struggling writer during his lifetime, he had to resort to working as a customs officer in Boston and serving as the US consul in Liverpool, Lancashire.  He is known best for The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851). .   .   .   .   . Loved the review? Then, don’t forget to share it with friends who love books and trust me when I say, to everyone who shares this post, may your crush marry you someday.

Book Reviews

Feni Daze By Mathew Vincent Menacherry

Publication: Vanguard Press Page Count: 346 Review Set in Goa, ‘Feni Daze‘ by Mathew Vincent Menacherry is a story of an ex-soldier Victor Gabriel, an aspiring writer meets up with his former girlfriend, the gorgeous and rich Ana at the latter’s behest in a final bid to reconnect. What follows is about their brief stay in Goa complete with a constant Feni guzzling Victor who seems to have a knack of rubbing off people the wrong way or maybe he just can’t get over the whole macho soldier persona. There’s a constant back and forth between the past and present as Mathew pieces together the complex character and justifies the behavior of his main protagonist. Plenty of intricate situations and characters add layers and layers to the whole back story. Do I recommend it? ‘Feni Daze‘ is a decent book that reads like a Hindi masala film with our Hero-the drunk with a golden heart, beating up the baddies as he goes about rescuing damsels in distress. Add to that his totally smitten, poor little rich girl, Heroine who ensures Daddy dearest takes care of any real messes that our Hero might get into. All in all, not bad and the title clearly says it all.      Rating I have rated it 3/5 stars. .   .   .   .   . If you loved this review of Mathew Vincent Menacherry’s ‘Feni Daze’, then get your copy of it on Amazon by clicking here and if you want us to review or recommend a specific book, then do let us know in the comments below or DM us on Instagram at @booxoul.