The Blue Jinx-Nisha B Thakur

Book: The Blue Jinx
Author: Nisha B Thakur
Publisher: Self Published

Do you like reading about murder mysteries with paranormal components?

The Blue Jinx by Nisha B Thakur is the story of Nikhil, who has just got an opportunity to work for his dream company. He gets a prestigious project to renovate a house in Nasik, where he meets Samara, the daughter of his client. Things take a turn when he comes to know that Samara’s mother was brutally murdered, and her father had kept this from her. He is facing a dilemma about telling the truth to her as he fears losing one thing or the other from the revelation. To add to his troubles, he keeps seeing the ghost of Samara’s mother around the house. This is a psychological thriller that blurs the line between fact and fiction.

The concept of the book is well planned and the idea of using gemology to create a plot point is quite imaginative. The story is short and a simple read that can engage a reader. The storytelling is good, and the plot moves in a linear pattern with not much of change in tone. The setting in a bungalow with enough places for a paranormal activity is well thought of. However, the book needs a second round of editing as there are quite a lot of grammatical issues that need to be corrected to improve the reading experience. Secondly, the central idea that the title and the cover put forth is missing in the storytelling. It only arrives in the end. Even then it does not tie in with the complete plot and feels like an afterthought.

The characters of the book are good, and they seem in-tune with the context of the story. Nikhil’s character as a person chasing the truth is well planned. His tryst with Samara and her mother is unnerving and send chills down the spine every time. Samara’s father’s character is another one that was well planned. Moody and reactive, he provided the perfect push to the story to move forward.

Overall, a book with a good concept that could have been better. It scores a 3.31/5 for me.

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The Boatman of Murshidabad-Madhu Kailas

Book: The Boatman of Murshidabad
Author: Madhu Kailas
Publisher: Aleph Book Co.

Do you like to read free verse?

The Boatman of Murshidabad is a collection of poems by Madhu Kailas that cover a range of topics from a boatman’s story in the titular poem or the story of travelers to return to pick up new faced for rebirth in “The Day a Song Dared to Soar”. In ‘Keys Made of Sunshine’, a child grows up and learns to listen to silence; in ‘Silence of Butterflies’, golden silk strands cascade on to the green forest floor; and in ‘The Forest Sings’, the breeze preserves an arrangement of leaves and flowers in a secret language. Deeply felt and packed with original insights into the human condition, The Boatman of Murshidabad is a dazzling collection of poems by an accomplished poet.

A collection of 50 poems written in free verse, each of them is unique in the manner in which it focuses on the various emotions and aspects of human life. Whether it is pain, love or longing, there is a deep emotion that jumps out through the words that the poet has woven together. The poems are written in free verse, so at times it seems like a prose written like a poem in a few cases, however there are some absolutely brilliant poems that will help you connect with the emotions of the poet. The language used is simple and no complicated words are used, helping the reader spending the time to understand and comprehend the metaphors and wordplay that the poet has used.

It is a short book, which can typically be read in a single day. The rhyme scheme in some of the poems was excellent and the meter is maintained for a particular poem across in most of the cases, making the familiarity of the style better. I would have loved if the poems that dealt with a specific emotion be grouped together rather than random orders. It would have helped enhance the reading experience. A few of the poems are dedicated to certain initials and I loved how the poet keeps them into the book so that the message is understood. My personal favorite would be “My Joys”, a poem dedicated to the City of Joy, Kolkata and I loved how he describes the city, and having lived there for a better part of my life, it was reliving the experience.

Overall, a good book that scores a 4.25/5 for me.

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The Search-Sajita Nair

Book: The Search
Author: Sajita Nair
Publisher: Juggernaut

Would you make a choice against the societal pressures?

The Search by Sajita Nair is the story of Laya and the choices she makes when life throws her curve balls. At first, she has a challenge in the form of her identity and while she had accepted her life as is, a sudden change in her circumstances make her reevaluate her identity as a person. When she decides to embark on a path against the societal expectations and customs, her biggest challenge would be to go against the very pillar of her strength, her parents. This is the story of a girl in the search of her true identity and how she discovers a little more than just her past.

The plot of the story is quite straightforward and Sajita has explored a topic that has become quite common, yet remains hushed up in most parts of the country and the world. She also takes up another aspect of human relationships that tends to put up an exact situation that Laya faces in the story. While the previous lines might sound cryptic, I am intentionally hiding the exact theme as I wish the reader to chance upon them the way the author intends them to, and trust me, that emotion is a crucial part of the storytelling. The story is simple but powerful in the manner it is told. The plot follows a linear narrative, and the focus is on the emotions and not the words, which add to the experience. The language is easy to understand. The climax is heartwarming and quite surprising in the way it is explored and unwrapped.

The story primarily focuses on Laya and her relationships in the world. Using her as a medium, the author explores the different emotions that we feel as a friend, as an offspring, as a colleague and much more. Laya’s character is well sketched, and I loved how simplicity was the way to give her such a depth. Another character sketch I loved was that of Vaibhav and Sajita outdid herself by providing such a powerful character who despite not being the focus of the story manages to get his share of the spotlight. I loved the way his story is explored.

Overall, a book that is definitely recommended for people who love a light read and to people who like to read to derive meaning from fiction. The book scores a 4.44/5 for me.

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Monk in a Merc-Ashok Panagariya

Book: Monk in a Merc
Author: Ashok Panagariya
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Do you think we need to relinquish material comforts in the pursuit of happiness?

Monk in a Merc by Ashok Panagariya is a book in which the author blends his life experiences with modern science and Indic philosophy to tackle the questions and shares some tools to become a better “brain-manager”. He goes deep into the human mind to explore the unique elements about our mind while maintain the role of luck and chance in our lives. The book basically explores the idea of attaining happiness without renouncing the worldly comforts of the material world, and turns the table on the conventional idea of monkhood.

The book is an interesting take on the idea of attaining happiness and Dr. Panagariya tackles some of the toughest questions related to the human mind and the psyche. The book is replete with interesting examples from his own life where the lines became blurred between science, chance, and Indic philosophy. The book touches upon topics such as training the mind, accepting situations, and tacking them and so on. The good thing about the book is that it does not take a preachy stance and advises a person to take a specific path. The author goes into detail to explain the reasons and situations that led to a particular thought, thereby encouraging the reader to take time to think and understand the concept being explained. The second thing that I liked was the idea that he has not limited himself to science or to philosophy, but to blend it and present it like a normal person experiences situations and reacts to them.

The book is easy to read and understand, and the division of the chapters is such that a particular concept is introduced and concluded as they are sub divided. This helps the reader take a break and take stock of what has happened and get some learnings out of it. The book includes sections on stress and how to cope with them, which is quite an eye opener. Taking up the idea of faith, Dr. Panagariya has explained the concept of fate and I was astounded with the details he brings up. The thing that didn’t work for me in the book was excessive detailing in certain sections which could have been avoided to make it a better read.

Overall, a book I would recommend if you like reading non-fiction that is based on facts and you aim to expand your horizon. The book scores a 4.13/5 for me.

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Sentenced: A Memoir-Andrew Hawke & Victoria Oak

Book: Sentenced: A Memoir
Author: Andrew Hawke & Victoria Oak
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing Limited

Do you think people come in our lives for a reason?

Sentenced: A Memoir is a true story that follows the journey of friendship that develops between the authors, Victoria, a London housewife and Andrew, a British citizen incarcerated in Thailand between 1998 and 2013. Focusing on the letters they exchanged from the two ends of the world, the narratives trace how a common thing can change the lives of two people. Spanning from their childhood to the present, the narrative reads almost like fiction as we encounter the ups and downs in both their lives. A story of entrapment and freedom, it is also a story of the ability of humans to overcome the harshest of situations and come out of it.

To begin with I would like to put this out there that this book demands attention. The way the narrative is structured, I would not recommend a skim read, but to savor the words Andy and Vicky have penned. The narration is powerful, and we see the story of two people unfold who seem so different that their coming on a common path seems unimaginable. Using letters as a bridge between the lives of Vicky and Andy, we see how their lives shape up as they continue serving their sentences. The title of the book actually makes sense towards the end as they make the reader realize that being sentenced does not always being in jail. Sometimes you can be held prisoner by emotions and relationships under the garb of societal conformity. The language is fluid, and the letters present and portray a side of both our authors from a perspective of the immediate emotion they felt. Andy’s descriptions of the “Bangkok Hilton” are detailed, and it gives us a unique insight into the conditions he lived in and how his life shaped up.

The book is an excellent read for someone who likes to read heartfelt memoirs and who wish to read stories filled with emotions. Vicky and Andy have bared their deepest emotions and the deepest fears in the best possible way, almost to the extent that one would feel to write a letter immediately to both of them. The flow of the story is smooth, and the overlapping of incidents helps the reader create a visual map of the events as they take place. I loved the vivid descriptions by Vicky of the journeys she took as a part of her healing and has inspired me to maybe take such a trip of my own. Andy is a powerful storyteller, and his words have power to keep a reader hooked.

Overall, a book worth reading and a story worth remembering for its not just the story of 2 people who met by chance, but it is also a story of hope, friendships, and the idea of being human and what it truly stands for. The book gets a 4.75/5 from me.

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This review is a part of the blog tour organised by Literally PR.

The Shambala Sutras-Aurijit Ganguli

Book: The Shambala Sutras
Author: Aurijit Ganguli
Publisher: Self Published

Do you think that the mythical city of Shambhala does exist?

The Shambhala Sutras by Aurijit Ganguli traces the journey of Arjun and Lisa as they look for the elusive Sanjeevani in the hills of Uttarakhand. Paired up circumstantially, the former is a botanist, and the latter is a chef, with a common friend Sara who guides them towards this trip. As they reach Varanasi, some shocking revelations are told to them and unknowingly they trudge on the path to a mystical place that is believed to be the epitome of ultimate knowledge, power, and wealth. Would they be able to decode and find this elusive place?

The Shambala Sutras has a simple and a crisp plot that is executed with finesse. Aurijit has taken the mythological references as well as urban legends to weave a wonderful story. The idea to bring to strangers on a common journey is quite interesting and I loved the way he builds up the journey as it moves from the USA to Varanasi to Chidambaram and then to the upper ranges of the Himalayas. The storytelling is quite good and breezy. At no point does the plot seem slow or unnecessary. The pace is quite fast, and the reader is always motivated to turn the page. The language is easy to understand, and no complex words or phrases are used. The second part of the story did seem a bit fast as the things unfolded and I would have loved to see a bit more of the tension before the secret is revealed. It would have improved the overall story experience. The climax is interestingly crafted, and I liked how the author meshes the reality with fiction.

The book is focused primarily on Lisa and Arjun as characters. We do come across some other characters, but their presence in the story is more as facilitators and thus they don’t have much of detailing. Both of our protagonists are well sketched, and the backgrounds are provided to help understand the context in which they are operating. I loved the clever history that the author uses to set context and how he uses an urban legend to provide context to the plot. Another aspect of the characterization I would like to commend is the names of certain characters in the plot and how it connects to the theme of the book in the climax.

Overall, this is a recommendation if you like reading a fast-paced and well told mythological fiction. The book scores a 4.13/5 for me.

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Murdrum: The Probe Begins-Dr. Sohil Makwana

Book: Murdrum: The Probe Begins
Author: Dr. Sohil Makwana
Publisher: Notion Press

What if you encounter a case with decapitated heads in your first assignment?

Murdrum: The Probe Begins by Dr. Sohil Makwana tells the story of Komal, a CBI Intern who finds a body with two mysterious dots on the body. As she brings in the latest in forensic technology to the fore and Human DNA is extracted from a mosquito’s stomach and a human face is regenerated through DNA, the race is to find a horrific and sadistic serial killer who is killing ruthlessly and targeting a specific set of people. The question is, would the advances in technology be able to find the killer and stop him before the numbers start increasing exponentially?

The concept of the book is interesting, and the author has researched extensively to incorporate the best of the forensic tools available today. He has introduced the idea of a serial killer with a signature, and this is what keeps the reader hooked to the happenings in the plot. The story is quite detailed with the author focusing on auditory as well as olfactory cues to set the scenes at places. The storytelling is primarily linear with some flashbacks which I think would make sense once we see more books in the series. However, there are things that need to be improved to enhance the reading experience. Firstly, the book has quite a lot of issues with grammar and editing. There are spelling mistakes as well as sentence construction issues that need to be taken care of. Secondly, at times the details in the story are unnecessary and that needs to be looked into in the second round of editing. Towards the end, the plot is a bit muddled up and I think a cleaner climax would have made more sense to encourage the reader to pick up the next book.

Coming to the characters, the author has created an interesting set of characters that gel well with the plot. Komal’s character as a forensic expert is well crafted and the same is demonstrated throughout the plot. However, the character arc remains constant, and we don’t see much of a difference in her character development over the course of the plot. The other characters are good, but the development is rather limited as there are a lot of supporting characters in the story. I would, however, like to see how this shapes up in the next part.

Overall, a story with a good premise that could have been edited well. It scores a 3.38/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Dare to Live!-Himanshu Bhatia

Book: Dare to Live!
Author: Himanshu Bhatia
Publisher: Self Published

What would you choose: Dream job with a bad boss, or an average job with a great boss?

Dare to Live! By Himanshu Bhatia is the story of Atharva Arora, an IIT-IIM graduate who has had a dream work life until he takes up an assignment with Mandira, a boss who is a difficult, bordering on insane boss. As Atharva tries to make peace with his situation, manage the never-ending workload and his commute through 2 states from Mayur Vihar to Gurgaon, Mandira keeps finding new ways to demean him and break his confidence. While Atharva is grappling with this virus of a boss, another virus strikes the world and brings the world to a virtual stop. The book is a sarcastic, humor-laden, and dramatic story of a corporate employee.

Dare to Live! is a story that would be relatable to anyone who has worked in the corporate sector. The plot is simple and moves in a linear manner that builds up the idea of how the work environment around Atharv changes. The storytelling is very engaging and through the eyes of the characters we see how things  deteriorate at the workplace. The concept has been very well explored and at no point do the things seem exaggerated or over the top. Taking up multiple instances of Atharv’s life, the author has shown how a boss can impact a person’s life. The language is simple and Himanshu has used Hindi at places to emphasize the emotions which couldn’t have come out so eloquently in English. The monologue was one of my favorite parts and I was truly surprised to get a QR with the audio narration at the last page, elevating the overall experience of the book. Another aspect of the book that I loved was the fact is  Atharv’s resilience and how he tackles the issue. Atharv is almost made up of the two types of corporate employees-the silent type and the reactive type. The transition from the former to the latter is interesting to see and the climax of the story was crafty, and I would certainly not wish that upon the worst of bosses. The climax closes the story beautifully and almost has shades of poetic justice.

Coming to the characters, Atharv is a superbly crafted relatable character, one which brings out the idea of a corporate employee to the T. Shown to be a patient and a dedicated person, the self-talk shows the reader his true feelings as he maintains a stoic face for the world. His character arc is crafted in an interesting manner, and I loved his transformation from the patient person to the person who could craft something like the climax. Mandira is a character who can at best be compared to a supervillain in a superhero movie and Himanshu has taken all the traits that make a bad boss and put them all into Mandira. One person without whose mention the discussion would remain incomplete is Gauri. She was the one who shows the reader the other side of the story and how the nature of the workplace impacts a person’s family and work-life balance. Overall, the characters are relatable and seem to be drawn from real-life.

In a nutshell, the book is an interesting commentary on the corporate work culture that has developed in our country. Through satire, humor, and sarcasm, Himanshu brings to light the impact a boss can have on a person’s life. Also, a special mention to the ample amount of the pop culture references spread throughout the book.

A definite recommendation from my end which scores a 4.81/5.

Grab a copy of the book here.

The Branded Criminal: Yakub Totanawala

Book: The Branded Criminal: In Search of Liberation
Author: Yakub Totanawala
Publisher: Self Published

Do know about the abolished “Criminal Tribes Act”?

The Branded Criminal by Yakub Totanawala is the story of Vikram Chhara, who is born in the Chharanagar locality in Ahmedabad, a man of the Chhara tribe who is manipulated by the political forces to commit atrocious crimes. The realization of his crimes incites him to kill his manipulators and escape to Bangalore and amass wealth and become influential. As the story moves from oppression, exploitation, and crime, Vikram gets trapped until he meets a young ragpicker, and thus begins his tale of redemption, forgiveness, and liberation. With his life, family, business, and the oppressed communities at stake, Vikram must stand against the political heavyweights and the cruel society.

The plot of the book is based on an interesting premise that aims to bring focus to a part of our society that we have ignored and how our past still influences our present. The storyline, for the most part, moves between the present and the past, and the author has used the 2002 riots as a base to explore Vicky’s story. The first half of the book is primarily conversational, and the second part moves towards the present. The concept is well explored, and the author has tried to get into the details, however this is also the part that goes towards the negative as well. The narrative becomes a bit repetitive and lengthy which reduces the experience of reading. The description in some parts is too detailed, leading to longer scenes that distract the reader. Another issue with the book is the editing and there are grammatical issues that need to be looked into once to improve the same. The climax is good, but seems overstretched at certain points.

The book basically has two primary characters and both of them enjoy a good presence in the plot as the author explores their lives and how their paths cross. The character arcs are well sketched. I liked the way the story of Vicky moves and how it comes a complete circle. The characters represent transformation, and that aspect is something that runs through the entire plot line.

Overall, a book with a good concept which could have been executed better. The book scores a 3.63/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Murder at Daisy Apartments-Shabnam Minwalla

Book: Murder at Daisy Apartments
Author: Shabnam Minwalla
Publisher: Speaking Tiger

Has the lockdown made you more observant of things around you?

Murder at Daisy Apartments by Shabnam Minwalla takes place in May 2020 in Colaba where on the 46^th day of the lockdown, Baman Marker, the chairperson of Daisy and Lily Apartments is found dead in his home, poisoned. As the two apartments are sealed  due to the pandemic, the murderer has to be one of the residents. The news shakes the fifteen-year-old Nandini Venkat, a resident of Lily Apartment and has a passion for murder mysteries. She realizes she saw some movement in Daisy Apartments on the night of the murder, and along with Shanaya, her best friend and her twin brother Ved, she decides to investigate. The question is, who was the person who veered off the ledge and committed the crime?

The setting of a murder mystery in the middle of a pandemic-induced national lockdown is an interesting one as it limits the scope of the story, and the characters are confined to a space. This have the plot a very authentic look as I could relate to the feelings of the residents as the buildings were sealed and the general emotion running through the residents of Daisy and Lily Apartments. Being a Young-Adult novel, the protagonist is a fifteen-year-old girl and looking at the world through her eyes was a wonderful perspective. I loved how Shabnam took her time establishing Baman’s identity and his relationship with the other residents. The plot moves with a comfortable pace with it being fast enough to keep the reader engaged and slow enough to connect the dots. The storytelling is very intricate, with subtle details being mentioned in the plot that come to bind the story in the climax. The language is good, and Shabnam has put some local words here and there to keep the flavor alive. The climax of the story is worthy of a mention, and I can say it was one of the best revelations in a murder  mystery and Shabnam does a wonderful job of keeping the identity of the murderer a secret.

Coming to the characters, I would commend Shabnam on creating a very Christie-like motley of characters. It was as if a move was playing out when the characters were introduced. Making people across professions, religions, and age groups a part of the story, it is a wonderful whodunnit that succeeds because of the strong character base. The descriptions are vivid and at a certain point of time, almost all people look guilty of the murder. Personally, the character of Nandini was a wonderful one, along with her mother.

Overall, the book is a recommendation if you like reading a well-cooked murder mystery for this one has all the ingredients and also has a dash of tadka in the climax. The book gets a 4.88/5 for me.

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As Death Stared Back-Ajinkya Bhasme

Book: As Death Stared Back
Author: Ajinkya Bhasme
Publisher: Self Published

What would you do if someone came back from the dead?

As Death Stared Back by Ajinkya Bhasme is a  bone trembling psychological horror based on absolute reality. Sanjana starts having nightmares of her husband trying to kill their son, after Punit’s death. As she rushes to comfort him, she realizes he has had the same nightmare. Things stabilize for 10 years until Punit turns up at their door. While he looks like him, behaves like him and knows the minute details but she still doubts the fact that he is Punit. As the evidence of Punit's death starts disappearing, will Sanjana be able to save her son from this imposter and prove her husband's death before her sanity collapses? When your eyes are the sole proof of reality, would you dare to believe that there are times when they lie?

The plot of the book is intriguing and the idea of meshing horror into a psychological thriller is very well executed. The first part of the book is a spine chilling horror story that is almost guaranteed to send chills through you. The transition into the thriller part is excellent and seamless. I loved the detailed research that might have gone into the book as Ajinkya talks about some psychological aspects of human psyche. The thing that stands out in the book is the level of detail that Ajinkya puts in to tell the story. The book opens with a scene that conditions our mind to look at the story from Sanjana’s POV all through the way, tuning us into the fact that what she sees and believes is the truth. Apart from just words, he tries to entice the other senses to make the reader imagine the scenes as they unfold. One thing that didn’t work for me is the shifting timelines and at times it became difficult to comprehend the exact time the story as taking place in, and a mention of the year could have helped that part a bit. The climax is set up beautifully and the revelations are something I did not expect.

The characters are very well crafted and the author has given due attention to detail to establish them. The character of Sanjana is set up so that the reader is very well attuned to her POV and is able to visualize the story Ajinkya set up, including the truth and the untruths. Punit’s character adds gravitas to the plot, and his appearances maintain the gory narrative of the plot. True to the characters, one scene in the book is pretty gory, one that flips the narrative. The character arcs are pretty flat and a switch in the aforementioned scene makes the characters’ actions understandable in hindsight.

Overall, a book well done and a definite recommendation for anyone who loves reading a well written thriller. The book scores a 4.64/5 for me.

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Legal Fiction-Chandan Pandey (Translated by Bharatbhooshan Tiwari)

Book: Legal Fiction
Author: Chandan Pandey
Translator: Bharatbhooshan Tiwari
Publisher: HarperCollins India

What do you think the term “Legal Fiction” means?

Legal Fiction by Chandan Pandey is the story of writer Anuj Kumar who receives a late-night call from his ex-girlfriend Anusuya, which forces him to leave his wife in Delhi and travel to Noma, a mofussil town on the UP-Bihar border. The reason for the call was that Anusuya’s husband, Rafique Neel, a theatre director and a college professor had mysteriously gone missing. As Arjun gets into the depth of things, he realizes that things in the settlement are not what they seem. Everyone has their own version of events, and each one of the people Arjun comes across seems to have their own agenda. Janaki, Rafique’s student, has also disappeared, and the locals are determined to turn it into a case of 'love jihad'. Inspired by true events from today's India, Legal Fiction is a brilliant existential thriller and a chilling parable of our times.

There are certain stories that make you contemplate the situation around you. Legal Fiction is a story that does exactly that. It is a short and fast-paced read, but the depth that it explores is quite high. The idea of the story is to showcase that there are always multiple perspectives to a situation, and there are times when what we see might not be the truth. The storytelling is powerful and makes the reader pause and contemplate the theme he is exploring in the story. The emotions that Anuj feels are very real, and they are portrayed beautifully, both when he is speaking aloud and when he is thinking. I loved that the story is set in the inner mofussil town that provides a gravitas to it. The devil lies in the details, and Chandan details the plot just enough for the reader to make the connections. The book does not provide a specific ending, but the cliffhanger makes the story even more real, almost as if a life like incident unfolding.

Being a story that relies on its characters, Chandan has done a wonderful job creating relatable and realistic people, one that we would probably meet and interact in our daily lives. Anuj is not created as a knight in a shining armor, but a person with his share of faults which make him human. I loved how his beliefs change as the story progresses and his mind absorbs the gravity of the situation he has been put up in. Another character that I would like to mention, who impacted the story for me, was Archana, even though a major part of her is present only through an occasional message or call, but for me that played a crucial role in letting the story go the way it did. Rafique’s diary, for me, was as good as a character and deserves a mention here.

For the people who love reading a book cover to cover, do not miss out on the disclaimer, for it is something that explains the very idea of the book, and the emotions that the author felt while penning it.

The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here from Amazon India.

Midnight’s Star (Shades of Night #1)-Shilpa Suraj

Book: Midnight’s Star (Shades of Night #1)
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Publisher: Self Published

What if you have to choose between your dream and the person you love?

Midnight’s Star by Shilpa Suraj is the story of Dev Arya, a visually impaired author, and the current heartthrob of the readers. He has not just overcome the odds in his life, he's got fame, fortune, and floozies in abundance, and Avni Desai, café owner and the only child to her dependent father, who is broke and heartbroken. Their paths cross when Dev walks into her café and they realize that life wouldn’t be the same for them.  From excellent tiramisu to ear shattering singing, from dramatic friends to accident prone sexcapades, they embark on the ride of a lifetime.  Will it all be worth it though? Will two broken souls find a way to heal each other? Or do the fractures go so deep that there is no way for either of them to find the love they so deeply crave and yet can't seem to have?

The idea of the book is interesting in the manner it is put across. Shilpa has portrayed physical disabilities in a manner which becomes a key plot point in ways more than one. The storytelling is very natural, and the plot moves at a comfortable pace. The romantic tension between Dev and Avni is palpable, and I loved the cat-and-mouse game that forms the bulk of the story. I also loved how the parallel track becomes an interesting aspect in the end. Apart from the concept of love, romance, and friendship, Shilpa touches upon the delicate topic of disabilities and how it impacts the person as well as those around him. I loved how she has dealt with this aspect and included it seamlessly into the plot. There are moments in the story which are pure bliss, and one would roll over laughing in those, especially the scenes between Dev and Avni. The climax is cliché, but I loved the way it was executed and how it completes the story nicely.

Coming to the characters, Avni’s character is beautifully created with its share of positives and negatives. I loved how different shades of her are shown at different parts of the story, yet she never loses the air of independence that she exhibits from page 1. Dev, on the other hand, as a character was interesting because of the way he presents himself, specially in the second half of the book. Another aspect that stands about the characters is the way the supporting characters have been detailed, especially the arc of a particular character, who shall remain unnamed to avoid spoilers.

I would like to highlight one point is that whenever we explore the story through the perspective of Dev, Shilpa has used extensive olfactory, haptic, and auditory cues to drive the point home. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

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The Six Levels of Theory of Marriage-Rachit Sehgal

Book: The Six Levels of Theory of Marriage
Author: Rachit Sehgal
Publisher: Self Published

What is the weirdest date you have been on?

The Six Levels of Theory of Marriage by Rachit Sehgal explores the story of Rishabh, who is bombarded with a series of weird people in the search of a potential wife. As he juggles his search along with his stand-up comedy, his life and career graph, both move like a yoyo. He has an interesting theory about marriage, but unfortunately finding a taker for it is difficult. Shreya is a banker by profession, all set to marry her childhood sweetheart Gaurav, until a trip changes her life forever. The book traces the very relatable journey of two unconnected individuals, Rishabh and Shreya, woven around the peculiar and often hilarious world of the Indian marriage system.

The book has an interesting plot in the way it is narrated. In the initial part, I couldn’t connect the two parallel storylines, but as the second half starts, the two plots merge seamlessly. The storytelling is engaging and there are some very great moments as we navigate through Rishabh’s and Shreya’s life. I loved how Rachit takes his time to set the context. Rishabh’s dates are well explained, and I loved a few of them, specially in the way he explains them. Rachit has grabbed the pulse of the Indian marriage process very succinctly and his take on it through the characters is a very good attempt. I would have loved a bit more connect among the scenes, particularly in the first half as the reader’s interest starts waning off due to the disconnect. Another thing I would have wanted improved is a second round of proofreading for the second half. The climax is quite predictable but executed well.

Coming to the characters, Rishabh and Shreya, both have been created well and the first half of the book sets a good tone for the actions of both the protagonists of the story. The level of detail that he has put in into not just the lead characters, but also the supporting characters is commendable. The character arc of Shreya was something I was impressed with, considering all that happened, but I would have loved a bit more of substance into Rishabh’s character.

Overall, a good book that I would recommend if you like to read a romantic story with a different perspective. The book scores a 4/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Falling-T J Newman

Book: Falling
Author: T J Newman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

What is the one experience of flying that you remember vividly?

Falling by T J Newman traces the journey of Flight 416 to New York with almost 150 souls on board. Imagine you being on that flight. You can see that there are 143 other passengers taking the flight. What you don’t know is the fact that the Pilot’s family was kidnapped 30 minutes before the flight. The demands are simple: for the family to survive, everyone onboard has to die. The question is what would the captain’s choice be? Save his family and crash the plane, or make sure that the plan lands safely and he loses his family.

The crux of a thriller is its ability to surprise the reader, and keep the readers guessing till the last moment. Newman achieves that with ease. Falling as a story holds very well throughout the 300+ pages and there is never a dull moment. The storyline is robust and despite the fact that almost a half of it takes place onboard an aircraft, it uses its strength to move around. Another thing that I loved about was the book was the fact that it paid attention to detail, and with due credit to Newman who used familiar territory to set her story in which gave it the extra push to be detailed and exact. The storytelling is excellent and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats till the last page. The language is simple, easy to understand which helps the reader keep their focus on the plot. I loved how the twists are introduced just at the right moment as the guess of the reader becomes a bit stronger. While disclosing the one I connected with could be a possible spoiler, it was a moment that somehow elevated the thrill in the story to an entirely new level. The climax is well written and provides a wonderful closure to the plot.

The characters in the story are a revelation in themselves. Bill Hoffman as the pilot literally pilots the story from the first page to the last and I love how his character has been crafted. He is shown to be a professional, following the ethics of the profession, yet Newman manages to showcase his softer side, the human side at certain points. While he maintains the statement that he would not do what the captors want, and also save his family, there are moments where I thought that he would take a leap of faith. Jo as a character impressed me with the grit and determination that oozed out of her character throughout the story. Carrie was another part of the story who came across as a surprise and I was amazed by the way her character arc turned out. Overall, the characters are given their due space and time to grow and develop so much that the story moves on Autopilot after a certain point of time.

Falling is a complete package that has excellent writing and a set of well-created characters that make it a definite recommendation. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book from Amazon India here.