Book review of Blue Eagle by Sharada Kolluru
Blue Eagle is the kind of story which explores the world inside us just as much as it explores the one that lies beyond the reaches of ourselves. Book review of Blue Eagle by Sharada Kolluru
Book review of A Stick in the Dirt by Vidit Uppal
The book came as a surprise, a good one, and I fell in love with it. Book review of A Stick in the Dirt by Vidit Uppal
Au Contraire, Mademoiselle by Indrani Mirajkar
Au Contraire, Mademoiselle by Indrani Mirajkar When I had done reading the book, the first thought that came to my mind was ‘WOW’, how am I going to review such a book. Where there was no stronger character than the protagonist Rani, she single-handedly overpowered the whole book. Various thoughts were racing through my mind. And I am not even sure, in which genre does this book fall in. Blurb The story is merely an allegory to the protagonist’s battle with life in an attempt to establish her own unique sense of being and existing in the world as we know it! The world is a mere observer to the protagonist’s valiant attempts at conquering herself even as it judges and is forced to participate, albeit reluctantly. As the lotus tries to bloom in the quagmire of life, the world decides to call it a ‘#lousylotus’ for daring to bloom… It’s the story of Rani, who is a loner at heart. She joins a Law College in a not so famous place where people are stereotyped and discriminated, depending on their status. But Rani doesn’t give a hoot of what people think of her. Yes, She is not your everyday girl, she is different, very different indeed. She will do, whatever she wants to do regardless of what people think of her. Over the year she becomes an intimidating lawyer, and that also on her own terms. I don’t know if I liked the story or not! I know, I am sounding a bit confused, and believe me I am. For starters, Rani, the protagonist is too strong and lacks certain emotions for my liking. The plot revolves around Rani; it focuses on Rani at all points of time. Every now and then a few characters are introduced to support the story. The story, though, could have been better, but drags a lot during Rani’s court cases, which kind of went overboard for me. The climax kind of blew me off! I was really shook and wanted more from the Author. The story was left in a big cliffhanger. Long after finishing the book, I kept asking myself, ‘Why did Rani do this? What was the sane reason? Well, I hope the author writes a sequel to this book explaining what happened to Rani? And Why did Rani took this dastardly step?’. For me, it’s a 3 out of 5 stars read. You can get your copy of ‘Au Contraire, Mademoiselle‘ by Indrani Mirajkar on Amazon or Flipkart.
The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat
When you read a book and that book leaves a lasting impression on you and that in a way changes your perception towards life is what I call a ‘Book to keep on your shelf forever and Nemat Sadat’s book ‘The Carpet Weaver’ is one such book. This book brought forth my emotions in torrent. I was struck by the brilliance of the narrative. Despite the book being Nemat’s debut, I was left awestruck with an appreciation for his writing style, its pace, and its creative profundity. Book Blurb: Afghanistan, 1977. Kanishka Nurzada, the son of a leading carpet seller, falls in love with his friend Maihan, with whom he shares his first kiss at the age of sixteen. Their romance must be kept secret in a nation where the death penalty is meted out to those deemed to be Kuni, a derogatory term for gay men. And when war comes to Afghanistan, it brings even greater challenges-and danger-for the two lovers. From the cultural melting pot of Kabul to the horrors of an internment camp in Pakistan, Kanishka’s arduous journey finally takes him to the USA in the desperate search for a place to call home and the fervent hope of reuniting with his beloved Maihan. But destiny seems to have different plans in store for him. Intimate and powerful, The Carpet Weaver is a sweeping tale of a young gay man’s struggle to come of age and find love in the face of brutal persecution. Review Set in 1970s Afghanistan, ‘The Carpet Weaver’ is a coming-out story of Kanishka, amidst this pours political disarray. This is also a story of love that is a transgression, even in the high society of Afghanistan, where girls and boys mix freely yet homosexuality is frowned upon. This coming of age story is divided into three parts. Three important life-changing twists in Kanishka’s life, which as the story gradually progresses, so progresses the years, and we along with the protagonist escape the once peaceful land of Afghanistan to the refugee camps in the far off ranges of the Baluchistan in Pakistan and then to the US ‘Promised Land of America’, where he slowly starts to rebuild his life. This gut-wrenching book will take you to the places, you’d never want to visit. The pain and emotions throughout the book are as vivid as reality. But also this book is a lesson unto itself. However heartbreaking it may be, one has to stand for himself. I was equally elated – for Kanshka stood for what he was and, heartbroken – because he had to leave his family. This book reminded me so much of Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner‘. Both in their own way stirred us and showed us the stark reality of humanity. This heartwrenching story has earned a 5 out of 5 stars for the author’s sheer empathetic penmanship and the characters that were as alive as any of us. I say, read this fast-paced book, which will compel you to search for the answers, for this book raised many questions. . . . . . I so so recommend this book to everyone reading this review and for those who have already read this book, I would love to know your opinion of it in the comments below. Happy Reading 🙂
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.
