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…

Book Reviews

This book is going to sweep you off your feet!

A Man from Mandu by Manoj V Jain “So be careful in what you choose, in what you commit, and in your relationships with your studies, your work, your parents, your lovers, and friends. Commitment and responsibility come with freedom, ropes are binding us all, and you have to know which ones to untie and which ones to keep.” This is simply the Era where Spiritual Guru advances as Brands. What’s more, there is no deficiency in profound messages flooding our internet based life. Keeping this as the topic of the book A Man from Mandu’s author Manoj Jain gives his readers a fascinating story of Avishkar Baba, AKA #SadhuOfStories’ in his most recent novel. I have heard quite good praises for Manoj V Jain’s books, yet this is the first occasion when I read one of his books, and I should state, I was really dazzled with his varied way to deal with a storyline. He is one of the rare sorts of people who know how to interest and enchant his readers. What’s more, I was captivated by the minute I began reading the book. From the absolute first page, this book is going to give you a lot to contemplate over. The story is told through the perspective of Tarini, who is almost 40 years old and clueless about her career and life. A bet with her closest friend gives her what she looking for. A challenge. All she has to do is use her marketing skills to create a Brand Guru Avishkar Baba. Avishkar Baba, a new age guru who is gradually gaining popularity. Slowly, his band of devotees duplicates. And he meets them twice a month and keeps them mesmerized with his abstract stories. But the question is who precisely is Avishkar Baba, and what is his game? Is it safe to say that he is a conman, a storyteller or is he the real Guru? I was aghast after reading about how a Guru is rebranded and marketed. And how these Social Media help them grow. What I really liked about the book was its narration. It had a ‘magical realism’ quality. I was captivated by the story throughout. And the language used in the book is crisp, clear and easy to understand. The concept and the storyline of the book are quite unique. It has quite a few backstories, which are weaved smoothly into one story. This fast-paced book is going to sweep you off your feet. A must recommend for every fiction lover. For me, it’s a 4 out of 5 stars read. You can buy this book on Amazon or Flipkart.

Book Reviews

An Unbelievable Story that you would Love to Believe

Your Destination Has Arrived by Barry Cheema When I started reading this book, I thought this is yet another book where a young author is trying to sell his book in the name of spirituality. But I am glad to accept that, I was wrong. This book touches all the topics relevant to our generation. From depression to terrorism, ragging to racism, spirituality to love, philosophy to everything. He touches base with everything & does it with simplicity, without making this book a heavy read for us readers. Congratulations Barry, who has succeeded in writing a wonderful novel. Basically, this book is what “Kal Ho Na Ho” is, to Bollywood lovers. It has dramatic events (a grand Indian wedding, a terrorist attack), a strong life lesson (you need to finish the book to know it) and like the author says “an unbelievable story that you would love to believe” (& also, a dog). The characters are beautiful & fit so well with the storyline that you wish you also have people like them in your life. A master likes Pinky Ji, a friend like Kumar & a lover like Sachi. This book also describes the wrong preaching of yoga that is happening across the globe and how people are fooled in the name of faith & religion by so many Godmen. It shows us a path to avoid these so-called spiritual masters & gurus. I really liked the way he has explained topics like catharsis and emotional intelligence while narrating the story of Bruno. If you really want to enjoy a spiritual read but not able to take the heavy content available on the internet, you should read this book. It introduces you to spirituality/meditation in a language that you will easily understand & will definitely connect to. Though the book looks quite lengthy (376 pages), but it’s so gripping that there is no turning back, I mean no way you are putting it down. The small chapters make it easy to read and help the reader to connect the dot better. Language is easy and you need not refer to a dictionary every now & then. I am giving this book 5 out of 5 for its amazing blend of characters, storyline, spirituality & everything good. You can buy your copy of ‘Your Destination Has Arrived‘ on Amazon or Flipkart. Happy reading fellas! 🙂

Sidereal Destiny by Vaishnavi Sanoj
Book Reviews

Sidereal Destiny | A Book Review

Sidereal Destiny by Vaishnavi Sanoj What if every move of your life is being governed by the distant stars and moon? A destiny governed by each word of an astrologer. Blurb Two couples, Arpitha – Aarush and Anand – Rashmi has no bounds. The only thing dividing getting them together is a thin boundary of caste, religion, social status, and Arpitha and Anand’s mother. A mother, who does not take a step without consulting star’s chart. Chaos reigns in these two couples’ life. But will they escape their fate drawn their chart? or they will fight their destiny against all odds? Review A true storyteller knows how to keep its readers hooked and in this case, Vaishnavi is a master in storytelling. Author Vaishnavi has given utmost importance to the plot. The twists and turns never fail to shake its readers from the very edge of the seat. The concept of the story is taken out of our everyday lives yet the way the story is told is simply astounding. Though the beginning of the story is slow but as you near the third chapter, the story takes the pace and hooks you to each word. I really enjoyed the narrative. It is so smooth, it enthralls you to keep reading till late at night. It is a very light read and yet potent. The author gives us something to think about throughout the story. A lot of thought is given to the characterization. Each character has a distinct personality. And some characters leave their imprints on you. However, there is a good balance of everything: characters, their emotions and the emotions in between. Do I recommend this book? Vaishnavi’s Sidereal Destiny is a perfect light read. Fast-paced and very enthralling. The written simplicity bowls over its readers and earns a 5 out of 5 stars. You can get your copy of ‘Sidereal Destiny‘ on Amazon. Also, read: The Patriots Legacy

Book Reviews

The Ultimate Guide to Smart Shopping by V. Rajesh

Can a consumer be a smart shopper? Do Women Really Shop More than Men? What is the right price? The Ultimate Guide to Smart Shopping by V. Rajesh answers all the above questions and many other questions like this in a very simply-written yet elaborated manner. V. Rajesh has talked about those topics that you might never have thought of. Let me be honest with you about when I first received this book from Rupa Publications, I thought that this read is going to be a tussle for the review but instead, Rajesh’s funny yet logical writing expedite my read and I read it in one go! I thought that this book is just going to be a book full of WhatsApp jokes, some quotes, and some shopping related stuff. But I was wrong, this book has explained the psychology of a consumer and a shopper very well. From ‘Why Men sucks at shopping?‘ to ‘Why we buy the things we buy?‘, he has explained to them all. The first chapter is ‘Do Women Really Shop More than Men?‘ and it’s my favorite. Favorite because we all know that women love shopping and Men kind of hate it but we never knew why! Well, the first chapter in a very well manner reveals this WHY. Also, it explains why Men usually forget to buy some of the things they were supposed to purchase and trust me it really does makes sense when you read it! Few things I’ve learned after reading this book are (From the Key Takeaways): The behavior of shopping varies based on gender, age and the category of product being purchased. There is no universally correct, right price. Shopper prefers self-service stores as they enable the ‘Touch, Feel and See’ experience. This is one of the key factors that drive, impulse buying. The most attractive and also the simplest promotion is always a straightforward discount. Online shopping is here to stay. However, physical stores are also not going anywhere. And a lot like these… The best thing about the book according to me is that the author has provided a ‘Key Takeaways’ and ‘Smart Shopping Habits’ column after every chapter so that readers can narrow down the things that each chapter is trying to tell. I would recommend this book to every person who loves to sell and shop stuff as it will tell you ‘The Science behind Shopping‘ and help you to alter the way you sell or shop for better. My Rating: 3/5 stars .   .   .   .   . Who doesn’t likes to shop especially if we’re talking about books, so to just let you know, you can save that money and get a chance to win free books every month by following us on Instagram at @booxoul and participating in the giveaways we host. Happy reading 🙂