Fall Again, Rise Again-Sandeep Aggarwal with Sunny Sen

Book: Fall Again, Rise Again
Author: Sandeep Aggarwal with Sunny Sen
Publisher: Rupa Publications

Fall Again, Rise Again is the autobiographical account of Sandeep Aggarwal and how he braved the odds to start India’s one of the very few unicorns. The story of a middle-class boy who couldn’t speak English for the better part of his school life, but had bigger dreams for his future. The book tracks his journey as he tells us about his journey from different cities in Haryana, his fist job, life in the United States, and his journey as he created ShopClues and Droom. Highlighting the good, bad and the ugly aspects of his life as he became a sought-after Wall Street Analyst, then an entrepreneur in India. He details his life as he faced insider trading charges for 6 years, and at the same time was managing the growth of Shopclues. The book is an interesting and honest account of a man who has the ability to take challenges head on, and come out of it shining.

The story has been penned in an honest voice with all aspects of his life, professional and personal covered. Being an autobiographical account, he talks about how various stages in his life unfolded, and how that fueled his fire to become an entrepreneur. The telling is simple, yet brings out some interesting learnings, most important being to never let go of one’s dreams and to persist. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that it highlights how friendships and networking is important, both personally and professionally. There are multiple instances where we see his networking playing a crucial role in the way things unfolded for him. While his story has a lot of ups and downs, it goes on to show that if a person has a dedicated life for an activity, he can surely succeed. The language of the book is simple and engaging. One thing that stands out in the book is the fact that while it is an autobiographical book, there are no magnanimous gestures or over-the-top claims. It’s simply the story of how a person got what he wanted.

Overall, a definite recommendation from my end which scores a 4/5.

Grab a copy here.

Srilaaji-Shobhaa De

Book: Srilaaji
Author: Shobhaa De
Publisher: Simon and Schuster India

Srilaaji by Shobhaa De is the story of the namesake character, a Marwari goodwife. The book chronicles the journey of Srilaa from the age of 11 years, till the time she has led her full life. Brought up in erstwhile Calcutta, she is an untamed woman, who does not shy away from expressing her desires, and pursuing the things she wants. Heartbroken from her first suitor, she is married off to another from Mumbai, a person she lovingly calls squirrel. In the hustle-bustle of life in Mumbai, she experiences womanhood and explores her sexuality, misgivings and desires   refusing to live her life by the unrealistic standards society often sets on unconventional women. The young and vivacious Srilaa slowly but assuredly becomes the inimitable Srilaaji! And each time life starts crumbling around her, she manages to pick herself up. The story explores the life of a woman, akin to a phoenix who rises every time life deals her a blow.

The plot of the book is crafted beautifully with the undertones of the author’s message through her character coming out towards the end of the book. While the book seems to talk about Srilaaji and her carnal desires, the story of the protagonist is a lot more. The plot of the story basically creates an enigma of a person who can fight against all odds to do what her heart desires. Srilaaji as a story represents a strong-willed woman who has the courage to choose her own destiny and fight to achieve it. There are many instances in the story which stand testimony to the fact that all she desired was her own identity and to be her own person. The biggest example of this can be seen when she creates her own brand of food later in the story. Another aspect of the story that appealed to me was the manner in which it has been crafted. True to Shobhaa, the language is extremely local with bits and pieces of the local dialect coming in, making the story seem all the more real, more natural. Set in different cities like Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai and Goa, the author has taken the very fabric of each and embedded it in the story itself. Shobhaa is known for her signature writing style, and her food allegory through out the book is a testament to that. With comments on various types of relationships, social drama and the antics of the “high-class” people, there is a bit of social analysis as well. I loved the way the book closes and the imagery of it is amazing!

The book has a lot of strong feminine characters that add flavor to the book. Buaji is a headstrong woman, the mistress of the house that Srilaa grows up in. We see that she has a strong hold over the house, and the staff in it through instances when she commands the respect of one and all. We see little of Srilaa’s mother in the story, but despite the limited presence, it is evident that she is her own woman. Post her marriage, we come across Chachiji, another heady character that’s sort of equivalent to Buaji in Kolkata. We see similar characteristics that standout in her marital home as well. On the other hand, there are a couple of amazing male characters as well that drive the story well. I liked the character of Squirrel as well as “Ji” and the manner in which they both added so much to the character of Srilaa in their own ways. Finally, our protagonist, Srilaaji, who is a person that is steadfast and believes in whatever she does, and sees it through. There are shades of impulsiveness and irrational behavior, but mostly she is a person who was starved for love and was looking for that spark of affection throughout her life.

Overall, a good book, though recommended for mature audiences only. It scores a 4.31/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Daughters of Char Chinar-Almas Hussain

Book: Daughters of Char Chinar
Author: Almas Hussain
Publisher: Pirates Publishing

Daughters of Char Chinar is the story set in the fictional place of Char Chinar, a place where being beautiful is a curse your young women. Born in this land are the twins Nafisa and Meher, the daughters of the fourth wife of Kazi Shah. Far from the place where they were born, the girls are brought up by their mother’s relatives after they are abandoned by Kazi at birth. In their maternal home, the girls develop a world of their own, educating themselves and even finding their love. Everything is going fine until the day Kazi kills a man and returns to reclaim his daughters to be presented to the Jirga council as atonement for his sins. The leader of this group of man decides to claim her, and Nafisa is scared beyond her wits. This is a bitter-sweet tale of the Daughters of Char Chinar based on the primitive justice systems that prevail in some parts of South Asia, where rape is a punishment, not a crime.

The story is told in a very interesting and free-flowing manner, such that the reader is completely a part of the tale as it unfolds. The descriptions of people, places and things is quite vivid, and  a wonderful picture is painted while reading. There are happy as well as painful moments and each of them give the reader a high that comes from the very idea of storytelling. Almas has taken up a very sensitive issue and woven  a tale around it that is not just about the primitive justice system, but also women empowerment and the way they are treated in the society. All things said, the part of the book after the Jirga court incident in the later half seemed to drag the story too much and it becomes uninteresting as the tempo and the feeling drops. Apart from that, the climax was quite interesting.

The characters have been vividly crafted and they are quite unique in the manner in their story is told. Most of the primary characters are misfits in their own rights in Char Chinar and each one of them rises above what the society thinks of them to be a part of the change. This was something I really liked as Almas has given each character a distinct voice and gives them a chance to actually change the way things work in that place. For me, the most interesting character was that of Nanna and the courage she displayed from the very beginning.

A special mention to the cover of the book that will make you pick up the book the moment one glances over it!

The book scores a 3.70/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Head Over Heels-Milan Vohra

Book: Head Over Heels
Author: Milan Vohra
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Do you believe in the concept of revenge, or is it just something that eats you up?

Head Over Heels by Milan Vohra is the revised and updated version of The Love Asana where we see the journey of Vivan Parasher as the moment he had been working for all his life comes when he gets a chance to exact his revenge on his nemesis Divyant. To drive the sword in deeper, he meets Pari Chand, a yoga teacher and Divyant’s sister and a plan begins to form in his mind. With a thought that Divyant and his sister are cut from the same cloth, Vivan puts his plan in action but Pari is a woman of her own and decides to push back. With the fate of Divyant and his family in the lurch, she decides to choose her battles wisely and focus on helping the one person who stood by her. As Divyant, Vivan and Pari experience the ups and downs of their life, things start becoming clearer. The power keeps shifting and soon it all goes topsy-turvy. For when has the path of love or hate ever been straight? But one thing it sure is and that is - it is fire hot at every bend and twist in the tale.

The plot of the book is quite interesting, almost filmy with revenge, love and power coming into play. The concept of love as a power play is something that is always interesting, and add to it Milan’s penchant for storytelling and you have got yourself a winner. The plot is well crafted with the storyline following a pattern and the characters behaving the way they should be. Based primarily in Delhi, with some parts in Mumbai, the painful pasts of Divyant, Pari and Vivan are quite distinctive, yet similar to one another. With this past, Milan has also shown that despite someone’s pasts, a person can turn out differently, only if they make one different choice. Pari and Vivan’s relationship is steamy, yet the physical intimacy is a very small part of their tale, and the emotional connect they develop is something I adored about this book. Told simply, the story should be read both with the message that is said directly, as well as the underlying message that the book tries to convey. The climax was well drafted, and the cyclic nature of the plot got me floored.

Coming to the characters, Pari as a character did stun me with the powerful as well as the gentle side of her coming to the fore at multiple points in the book. The yoga teacher who is calm and composed on the outside, with a storm inside her was a pleasure to read. As her story unveils itself, she comes out as a character that derives her power from her emotions and the strong emotional connect she has with the people she cares about. Vivan was another piece of the story that presents conflicting images and it took some time for his arc to take a certain path, and  I believe that is what set this book apart from the other books in this genre. There are grey shades to his character that add the spice, but at the same time, there is a gentlemanly demeanor that makes him an enigmatic person to read about. I would have loved to see a bit more about Divyant and probably a bit more of his life choices.

Overall, a good read, recommended for mature audiences. It scores a 4.18/5 for me.

Grab a copy here.

Yesterday’s Ghosts -Nikhil Pradhan

Book: Yesterday’s Ghosts
Author: Nikhil Pradhan
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do you think the past has a habit of catching up with our present?

Yesterday’s Ghosts by Nikhil Pradhan is the story of Black Team which was disbanded in the wake of a disastrous war in Sri Lanka, three decades ago. In the present, the members of the team, now well past their prime and in their 50s and 60s are living the civilian lives, with the past being in the past, when one day they receive a mysterious message, written in a code they had left in the annals of time, and it is when it dawns upon them that the past they had walked away from had followed them home. A story of secrets that haunts the people who carry it, it is a story of a team of disgraced spies, and a code that should not exist.

The story has been crafted beautifully with the plot twisting and turning at the right moments. The author has used chess terms and the comparison is prevalent throughout the book in multiple places such as section names, code names etc. The details have been revealed bit by bit as the plot moves and the past has been revealed in a manner that leaves the reader hungry for more. The interrogative tone in the book is a nice touch, one that adds credence to the entire premise. The language of the book is simple but engaging and keeps the reader hooked till the last page. The research that would have went in the crafting the story would have been immense with codebooks and number stations in such intricate detail being explained in the book. I loved the part where the story has layers of supernatural elements, just hints and Nikhil has very precariously balanced the narrative between a thriller and a tinge of supernatural element. The climax was truly unexpected and terrifying. I specially loved the prologue and the epilogue of the book and the powerful symbolism embedded in it.

Coming to the characters that make the story the way it is. I loved the element of mystery that shrouds the Black Knight and how the author has maintained that persona throughout the story. Castellan was another favorite of mine in the manner in which he carries himself and conducts the entire interrogation, with some very interesting moments that come out in the open. Zed as a person surprised me with his mental acuity and the way he shows various facets of his character at various junctures, and how despite being a rebel, is a better soldier. The one thing that would have added more flavor in the story if we could find out the story behind the Knight as well.

Overall, the book is an excellent composition and is a must read if you like chess, spy thrillers or have a penchant for the unknown. The book scores a 4.85/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Jataka Tales-Bijit Sinha

Book: Jataka Tales
Editor: Bijit Sinha
Publisher: Half Baked Beans

Which is the most memorable Jataka Tale that you have read?

Jataka Tales is a collection of 4 one-act plays based on the Jataka Tales and each of them reimagines a Bodhisatta, a person yet to become a Buddha. The first story is titled The Bodhisatta and the Master Mariner which tells us the story of a partially blind son of a master mariner who competes for the same title as his father. The second story is titled The Bodhisatta and the Garuda King and is the story of a weakling king, who is tasked to save his kingdom. In Bodhisatta and the Prince Samvara we experience the journey of a prince who is thought to be the prophesied child of the empire but turns out to be a disappointment. However, mysterious events unfold with the appearance of a stranger. The last play in the book is titled The Bodhisatta and the Principal Blacksmith where we journey through the life of a blacksmith who has been touted as the curse to his family, and has to travel to the village of blacksmiths to uncover a 20-year-old secret behind his bloodline.

The selection of the plays is an interesting one as each of them is quite different from the rest, yet they maintain a common thread that binds them together. There is a moment of reckoning for each of the protagonist as they find their destiny, or in some case it finds them. The screenplays have been drafted in an amazing manner and since these are essentially one-act plays, they can be a good inspiration for people to take these up and probably dramatize them in person. The fact that there are young children who have played a huge part in the drafting of these plays is an additional bonus of reading the book. Taking this opportunity to appreciate all the young authors of the book-Reina Sagar, Asmee Dewan, Jayaditya Gupta, Liubov Gorejko, Pragnya Gupta, Shaarav Jhamb, Anika Malhotra, Syona Brar, Lalit Kohli, Jonathan Munluo and Lavanya Sharma. These young minds have come up with something quite interesting and I am sure I am going to see a lot more of these guys in the coming years. The dramatization is simple, yet retains the true essence of the story, one that keeps it fresh in a reader’s mind and helps them recall it time and again.

Overall, a good read that scores a 3.88/5 for me.

Grab the book here.

The Fixer-Suman Dubey

Book: The Fixer
Author: Suman Dubey
Publisher: Rupa Publication

Are you an ardent cricket fan?

The Fixer by Suman Dubey is the story of Neil Upadhyay, a cricketer with almost 2 decades of service to the National team and one who had won the “ICC Emerging Cricketer” at nineteen, expected to become the next Kapil Dev. Fast forward to today, he is now wallowing in sorrow. Haunted by the failures of his past, he aims for a resurrection in the glitzy new Indian Club Cricket League (ICCL) by building the best team, but his billionaire cousin Akash uses the team to execute a hostile takeover of the family business, raising the stakes very high. Add to it the idea of matches getting fixes, and Neil finds him in an impossible position. Would ambition power Neil and make him do whatever it takes to win, or would he chose to play it safe on the backfoot?

The book has a very interesting and engaging storyline as Suman brings together the glitz and glamour of the league cricket in the book and adds the family drama and match fixing to make it spicier. The story is very well crafted with the characters evolving throughout the plot and the situations changing dynamically as it progresses. The book has been divided into 3 parts with multiple chapters in each part, which symbolize the path that the book takes. With extremely relevant chapter titles, it adds to the charm of reading the book. The plot is extremely well crafted and no where there is a point where the story ebbs. There is thorough research done and it shows in the story with some technical cricketing terms present. There is an element of mystery that unveils in the end and I am extremely happy with the way things unfolded. The climax of the book was quite interesting, and it closed the story with a wonderful clap.

Coming to the characters, Neil’s arc development from a person wallowing in self-pity to a confident person was something I liked. A person continually oppressed by his family, his defiance towards the end signaled that the match fixing scandal taught him a thing or two about life. The second character that I liked was that of Akash and the ruthless businessperson streak in him, but yet maintaining a softer side for his family. His development was quite striking, and I did not peg it to be the way it actually turned out.

Overall, a wonderful book and a definite recommendation.

The book scores a 4.38/5 for me.

Grab the book here.

The Fate I Cherished-Debashrita Manik

Book: The Fate I Cherished
Author: Debashrita Manik
Publisher: Poetic Imagica

Do you think that there is fate involved in what happens in our lives?

The Fate I Cherished by Debashrita Manik is the story of Pihu, a person who has suffered a lot through the hands of life and yet she has come out like a phoenix from the ashes. Based in Cuttack, Odisha, the story tells us the story of a modern, bold and self-sufficient girl who lived for herself and others. However, life is not fair, and out of the blue, one of the happiest days of her life takes a turn for the worst, so much so, that she is almost on the brink of ending her life. How things unfold in her life and was she able to walk away, unscathed from that traumatic experience is the story of the book.

The plot of the book has been planned well, with the entire focus being Pihu’s life and how different events in her life affect her. The story is quite simple as Pihu finds the closure to one of the most traumatic events of her life, at an unexpected moment. The buildup to the actual event is quite high, but the narration disappoints a bit as it is narrated in a somewhat flat tone. Some of the events in the book does not seem relevant and just add volume to the central plot of the book. Narrated in parallel timelines, we see Pihu’s past as she recollects various milestones in her lives, both happy and sad. The thing I liked about the book is the honest storytelling and a colloquial language that helps the reader connect with the plot. The love story and the romance in the book is quite commendable and it adds credence to the story of Pihu. On the other side, the biggest issue in the book is its editing and poor grammar. There are common words that have been misspelt and issues with sentence formation that might make a reader squirm. The story seems powerful with everything happening at a rapid pace, but falls flat towards the end as if the author was in a hurry to wrap things up.

Coming to the characters, while the book focusses on Pihu and her past, I liked the character of Anirudh and the way he conducts himself. There are genuine moments when he is likeable and affable. I would have loved to read a bit more about Vivaan and Mukul’s story and how things shaped up for them as well.

Overall, a decent read that scores a 2.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Total Power -Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills

Book: Total Power
Author: Vince Flynn & Kyle Mills
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Do you think that politics causes more harm than good?

Total Power by Vince Flynn, penned by Kyle Mills is a thriller that traces the journey of what happens when terrorists take out the entire US power grid, and its just a matter of time when the country descends into chaos. ISIS’s top technology expert reveals that he was supposed to meet a man who had claimed to be able to do this exact same thing, but the CIA’s plan to eliminate this plan fails, the ISIS teams up to execute this task. With the entire grid down, with no solution in sight, Mitch Rapp and his team are tasked to find the person responsible and repair the damage. Easier said than done, would he be able to deliver on the task, or would the darkness herald a completely different future for the world?

The plot of the book is quite intriguing that has come up with a lot of detailed research. The level of detail that has gone into this book is quite interesting. The plot of the story, rather than turning into a heroic thwarting of the plot, is focused on mitigating the disaster which makes it stand out. As far as the engagement goes, the book has the intensity to keep a reader engaged till the last page, and there are quite some plot twists that might make the reader squirm a bit. The book looks thick on the outside, but the plot is well justified in its length, and nowhere does it seem that the story is dragging in. I liked the way the author has captured the human desperation for survival and presented it in the book. Another aspect of the book that I liked was the reference of the red-tapism that prevails in the echelons of power, irrespective of geographical locations. The climax of the book was expected, but the execution of the same was quite fresh.

Coming to the characters, I liked the character of Alton, and the role he plays throughout the book. While there are shades of the character one might not like, but personally, I believe that showed a lot of grit and determination. Sonya was another character that appears briefly, but changes the tone of the story completely. I loved the fact that the human side of a Russian Spy has been explored and tried in the book. Mitch Rapp as the protagonist deserves a mention, just because of the no-nonsense attitude and his ability to get work done, no matter the odds.

Overall, the book is a wonderful read, and scores a 4.13/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Gangster on the Run-Puja Changoiwala

Book: Gangster on the Run-The True Story of a Reformed Criminal
Author: Puja Changoiwala
Publisher: Harper Collins India

Do you believe that life gives you a second chance if you have the will to change?

Gangster on the Run by Puja Changoiwala is the life story of Rahul ‘Bhiku’ Jadhav- a gangster who captured his don’s attention being tech-literate and employing technology by running his extortion ring over Skype. As the time went by, he became one of the most wanted criminals of his time. after he got arrested in 2007, he became a shadow of what he had been, afflicted with alcoholism and  drug abuse, brought him to the brink of insanity. However, that was the first part of his life. Today, he is an ultra-marathoner who has covered a distance of 10000 kilometers, including one run from the Gateway of India in Mumbai to India Gate in New Delhi. This is the story of a man journeying to the depths of hell and rising from the ashes.  

The book is an inspirational journey that details the effects that the life of crime can have on a person, but more importantly, its about the will power of a person to reform and how a person’s choices can affect their lives. The book goes deep into the Mumbai of the early part of the millennium when it was ravaged by gangsters and how things unfolded during the time. A very well-researched book, Puja has incorporated some interesting insights into the lives of not just Rahul, but also the criminal justice system that prevailed during the time, both the good and the bad aspects of it. It also presents an interesting account of the systems that were in place that led to the crimes being committed. A very informative account, there are moments in the book that were quite amazing, like the interrogations that happened. I loved the detail of Bhiku’s time in jail, specially the part that shows that the humanity inside him hadn’t died. His time at the recovery centre was quite touching and his transformation was quite magical, and Puja deserves mention for penning it out so nicely that one can actually feel the different emotions that course through Rahul throughout the story. there are some places in the book that have some grammatical errors which can be removed in the subsequent editions.

Overall, a good book that is an inspirational read. It scores a 4/5 for me.

Grab a copy here.

My Best Friend’s Son’s Wedding-Zarreen Khan

Book: My Best Friend’s Son’s Wedding
Author: Zarreen Khan
Publisher: Harper Collins India

Have you ever attended a crazy wedding?

My Best Friend’s Son’s Wedding by Zarreen Khan is the story of Minty Sood, the daughter-in-law of the Soods of Sood Hospitality, and a well-known face in the social circles of Delhi. She is single, and looks a lot younger than her age, so much so that people don’t get convinced that she is the mother of a twenty-two-year-old son. With a lot of proposals coming her way, she picks The One, but the trouble starts when her son proposes to his girlfriend, exactly 24 hours after she accepts Puneet Bhalla’s proposal, and she has to switch gears from being a potential bride, to a potential MIL. To add spice to this, there is a lot of drama, the intimidating mother of her son’s fiancé, a secret love affair and a crazy best friend.

The plot of the book is well crafted, with the story having moments of pure laughter and seriousness in correct proportions. The manner in which this story is told is quite interesting, and Kittu’s perspective of events that unfold are quite unique. There is an inherent Dilli wali feeling in the book that adds to the charm of the story on the reader. With Minty’s story and Parth’s story running in parallel, the generational gap has been addressed very effectively. The plot twist was unexpected, and I almost fell down laughing when that scene came. The language of the book is simple, and it matches the voice of the characters. The climax of the book is well developed and the build up to that is phenomenal. My favorite part of the book, however, was the unfolding of the drama of Miss Muffett.

As is with all the Indian weddings, there are characters that just stand out from the crowd. For me, the first one was Soni Sood, with all her quirks and the obsession with rechristening people was quite interesting. Minty was another character that impressed me with her presence of mind and the ability to think on her feet and take decisions from a mature viewpoint. Ashra was a surprise I did not expect to pop up, and I could not fathom the reason for her presence till the very end. Lastly, Miss Muffett deserves a mention because had it not been for her, the story would have lost the thread connecting the characters.

Overall, a read that is sure to tickle one’s funny bones and it scores a 4.25/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.