Go Start Up-Karan Kashyap

Book: Go Start Up
Author: Karan Kashyap
Publisher: Fingerprint Publishing

What are the steps one should take once you have decided to venture out?

Go Start Up by Karan Kashyap is a book that precisely talks about this. Based on intensive interactions with businesses in India’s third-largest start-up ecosystem, the book provides a starting point for young enterprises’ owners to establish their legacy as founders. In conjunction with importance of values and culture, the book keeps in mind important facets for potential entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting an enterprise such as Visual Appeal, Effectiveness, innovative ideas etc. The book also incorporates Words of Wisdom from Founders of Unicorns.

Usually, non-fiction books about business are filled with jargons and concepts that generally feel alien to most of us, however this book moves away from that and presents an interesting read into the mind of an entrepreneur. The book takes up simple yet critical issues that startup founders face and then goes on to talk about the various ways to solve those issues. The book is visually appealing, and the author uses charts, graphs and graphics to put forth his points and summarize them for the benefit of the readers. The language used in the book is easy to read and understand and the focus is on the content, rather than the style of writing.

The book explores ideas, cultures, expansion etc.; issues that are of paramount importance to an entrepreneur as they move ahead in their journey. Karan also uses examples to show how he arrives at those solutions and then provides a template for the user to implement the ideas in the book through the form of worksheets towards the end of the book, and even they have been provided with examples for the reader to maximize their learnings in the book. Being an excellently researched book, I was impressed by the resources Karan provides in the form of list of venture capitalists, accelerators and incubators etc. He also provides a list of jargon that is used in the circles to help one prepare.

Overall, this is a book I would recommend for anyone who is thinking about dipping their toe in the world of startups, or for that matter everyone who is working in an organization as some of the concepts can easily be used in our day-to-day workspace. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

This review is in collaboration with Fingerprint Publishing, and a copy of the book was provided to me in exchange of an honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your local bookstore!

Written in the Stars-Divya Anand

Book: Written in the Stars
Author: Divya Anand
Publisher: Penguin India

Would you rather choose true love or career progression?

Written in the Stars by Divya Anand explores the story of Sitara and what happens when all her efforts at political maneuvering, sucking up and even doing her job fail to land her that elusive promotion, and she decides it's time to use the new marketing head Abhimanyu's obsession with his horoscope to her advantage. Soon, she's rescheduling meetings, pitching ideas, and picking launch dates based on his horoscope. Except, Sitara is so focused on manipulating Abhimanyu with the career section of his horoscope that she doesn't pay attention to the personal section. Hilarity ensues when these star-crossed signals result in Abhimanyu pursuing Sitara romantically, without realizing that the 'signs' are engineered coincidences in her quest to get promoted.

The plot of the book is basically built up on the premise of destiny and how timing can affect people, relationships, and work. The story is told wonderfully, and I loved how the author uses romance, comedy, and corporate life to create hilarious situations for Sitara and Abhimanyu. The book starts interestingly with a trivia night in a bar, and how one chance encounter starts things rolling in both our protagonists’ lives. The interesting thing about the book is that none of the things in the book seem ridiculous or over the top. The romance is sweet and subtle, and at no point does it overpower the romantic comedy feeling. I loved the interactions that Sitara has with her cohorts and that adds a nice vibe to the whole book. The concept of destiny and horoscopes is explored nicely, and a shout out to the chapter titles for being in the same vibe as well. The book is a comfortable read, and the pace is just fine so as to keep the reader hooked. The climax is something I really loved about the book, and it brings the story to a close in a wonderful manner.

Coming to the characters, people in this book have been carefully sketched, and no detail has been spared to ensure that there are no plot holes. The characters are wonderfully planned, and each one has a nice role in the story. Another thing I admire about the characters in the book is that they each have unique quirks. From mysterious names to attitudes, each one paints a different picture, and this is the level of detail that drives a good story. One observation that I have is the meticulous planning it would have taken to zero in on Sitara’s name, because it becomes a critical point in the climax.

The book is also a musical journey in itself. As we go through the book, one comes to realize how music connects Sitara and Abhimanyu. There are character building discussions on songs and believe me, this again becomes a critical point in the climax. Check out the Spotify Playlist I made to go along with the book!

Overall, a romantic comedy I would definitely recommend for fans of this genre to read. The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Grab your copies of the book on Amazon India, or your nearest bookstore!

This review is in collaboration with MarketMyBook, and a copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Leadership in 100 Words-Mainak Dhar

Book: Leadership in 100 Words
Author: Mainak Dhar
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

What are the challenges you think new leaders are facing today?

Leadership in 100 Words by Mainak Dhar combines the experience and insights of a CEO with the storytelling of a bestselling author. Mainak provides thought-starters to help you find your answers to common challenges new leaders face. These are not long theories or complicated models, but straightforward, simple, and practical advice born out of two and a half decades of experience in the corporate sector and the wisdom of the many great mentors Mainak has been blessed with in his leadership journey. Addressing your leadership challenges through straightforward, bite-sized answers-one hundred words at a time-this is your personal mentor, one that you can carry with you!

The book is interestingly written and compiles the eye-catching posts that Mainak does with #leadershipin100words on LinkedIn. The book aims to explore the idea of leadership through three perspectives-Leading Others, Leading Through Change & Leading and the book is structured into these three parts. As we move from one section to the other, the examples are quite interesting and relating to them is quite easy. Another good thing about the book is that it is not preachy, and the message that the author wants to put across is quite simple yet effective. The situations and the solutions are quite practical, and as the questions are drawn from real people, the applications of those solutions are quite easy as well.

I liked the fact that the book is an easy read and not bulky with too much of gyaan, rather it is a reader friendly book. With short chapters and a restraint on the word count of the solutions, these solutions are easy to read, comprehend and implement. The introduction to each section is vivid and the closure of the sections with a short reflection sheet is a wonderful way to connect with the readers.

A definite recommendation if you are looking for a book to implement change in your life and specially if you are in a leadership position or are willing to be in one at some point in your early career. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Thank you Bloomsbury India for providing a media copy in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here, or your local bookstore!

What I Hate Most-Milan Vohra

Book: What I Hate Most
Author: Milan Vohra
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Are there moments you wish you had said things differently?

What I Hate Most by Milan Vohra is a short story about a couple married for almost 30 years. Where every day of their lives and every sentence in the story tells you what he hates about her. And what she hates about him. She hates how even today it hurts, because like a fool she wants him to say something different, something from his heart - just once to her. But every time, once in the year when she tells herself she'll ask him once more, just this last time, "Do you love me?” he looks surprised as if it’s so immature of her to want to know. "What kind of silly question is that?" That's his answer. Every single year. Will it change this year? Is it even a love story if no one ever says 'I love you' to the other? An off-beat story of love gone old that is sure to pull at your heartstrings.

This year’s Valentine’s Day read; this is a short story that is told using just statements by a couple about what they hate about each other. Developing an interesting concept, the story starts small, and slowly builds up to the reason why the conversation is taking place. I liked the fact that how, even though they are talking about the things they have about each other, the couple is actually expressing their love for each other and telling us the story of their life in the last 30 years. The storytelling is interesting, and I liked how Milan introduces a hook question that culminates into an end that one would not have foreseen in the beginning. The attention to detail is worthy of an applause, specially to the visual cues that have been built into the story.

The reason why I would recommend this story is because, it is a quick read, is imaginative and has the bandwidth of almost a full-length romance novel. So, if you are a die-hard romantic and love reading a wonderful love story, do read this story which scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

Shuttler’s Flick: Making Every Match Count-Pullela Gopichand with Priya Kumar

Book: Shuttler’s Flick: Making Every Match Count
Author: Pullela Gopichand with Priya Kumar
Publisher: Simon & Schuster India

What do you think goes into making a champion?

Shuttler’s Flick is the official; autobiography of Pullela Gopichand, India’s Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton Team, written along with Priya Kumar. Through his own voice, as well as those of his students, mother, and wife, we get a look at the mind that revolutionized the game. We are shown not only what it takes to get to the top, but also, and more importantly, how to stay there. With the principles of his play laid bare, we are invited to apply them to our own everyday lives. In doing so, we ask questions, take accountability for our actions, and perhaps find the answer to the greatest question of all—what does it take to become a champion?

The book is excellently written and through his life experiences, Gopichand explains his strategies and the way he takes life every day, and how he keeps his focus, even when the odds are stacked against him. As the book starts from his childhood, we are exposed to the way his early life was shaped, and how his parents and his grit brought him to the place he is right now. As the book moves ahead, we see him take on life and face hurdles that most people would be crushed after, but Gopi rises after every challenge like a phoenix. As we move on to the coaching phase of his life, we see how he transforms from a player to a coach and how is priorities and approach change, but the core focus remains the same.

The book is written in an easy-to-read manner with short chapters and a summary and a question to ponder at the end of each one. The book is not preachy, and to think of it, it is different from most autobiographies in a way that it does not talk about some magic formulas to win over obstacles, rather the methods he uses can seem extreme to a few people. With sections from his mentees and ace players such as Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, the book is a good study into the life of a champion, and more so how he uses his life lessons to mold the future of the country. The chapters are well planned and explore various facets of his life and career, specially with his family and the emotional roller coaster he goes through, first as a player and second as a coach. The book also gives an interesting insight into the mind of a person who has a vision and how he dedicates his life to that cause.

This is a book I would highly recommend if you wish to bring focus and make every moment of your life count. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon Here, or your local bookseller!

The Bestseller She Wrote-Ravi Subramanian

Book: The Bestseller She Wrote
Author: Ravi Subramanian
Publisher: Westland Books

Do you think ambition can affect your ability to make informed choices?

The Bestseller She Wrote by Ravi Subramanian is the story of the Paperback king Aditya Kapoor, whose life is straight out of a modern man’s fantasy. His literary stardom is perfectly balanced by a loving wife and a spectacular career. With everything he touches turning to gold, Aditya is on a winning streak. Shreya Kaushik is a student with a heart full of ambition. Young, beautiful, and reckless, Shreya speaks her mind and obsessively chases after what she wants. And what she wants is to be a bestselling author. What happens when their worlds collide? Is it possible to love two people at the same time? Can real ambition come in the way of blind passion? Can trust once broken, be regained? As the story delves into the glitzy world of bestsellers and uncovers a risky dalliance between a superstar novelist and his alluring protégé, what we see is a combustible cocktail of love, betrayal, and redemption.

I had heard about this book quite a few times, and while I had wanted to pick it up, it somehow got missed every time. As Amazon Prime announced that the series based on the book was getting premiered and coupled with Westland’s impending closure, I decided to get a copy of it. As one reads the blurb, the book seems to be about love and adultery, but the actual crux of the story is completely different. The book explores not just the relationship of our lead characters, Shreya, Maya, and Aditya, but rather also focuses on how ambition and past can lead us to make some choices we go on to regret. The things that did work for me include the pace of the book, the structure of the story and the way Ravi weaves the climax to bring the story to a closure. The story initially confused me for a bit because I had a love story as a preconceived notion and I was wondering where the book events were leading up to, however things do make sense in hindsight once the climax unfolded. Another good aspect of the story was that while the author explores the adulterous relationships, the characters never once pass judgements, or condone it. The plot moves at a brisk pace, and while it is a long read, it does not tire you out and in the end, you are left with the satisfaction of reading a nicely crafted story. The cherry atop the cake were some recognizable names that are a part of the literary world and that added a whiff of real world into the fictional world.

The characters are well sketched, and the book moves on the complexity of the characters that Ravi had built into this story. Aditya’s character is quite simple, and I liked the fact that Ravi kept this one simple to ensure that the twist he had in mind was palatable as well as easy to execute. Shreya’s character, on the other hand, had me guessing and I did have my assumptions about her that, ultimately, did not prove to be right. I had my suspicions about Sunaina’s character by the way she was popping up in the story, and I believe that is the best thing about the characters is that they keep evolving throughout the book.

Overall, this book is worthy of a screen adaptation, and if the makers are true to the story as Ravi brings out in this book, then I am excited to do a binge watch. The Bestseller She Wrote gets a 4.81/5 for me.

Grab your copy on Amazon here or your local bookstore!

Watch the Trailer of "Bestseller" on Amazon Prime Here

The Girl in the Glass Case-Devashish Sardana

Book: The Girl in the Glass Case
Author: Devashish Sardana
Publisher: Penguin India

What is the key to a good psychological thriller?

Simone Singh, assistant superintendent of police, would rather spend her days locking up criminals than apologizing for her lack of social skills, and she knows that time is running out to piece together the clues as the Doll Maker has made it clear that the killings have only just begun. Another serial killer, the Clipper, who enjoyed nine years of infamy as India's most notorious butcher, erupts into an all-consuming rage when he is cast aside by the media in favor of the sick new slayer-the Doll Maker. The Clipper turns his fury into blood-soaked revenge to capture the top spot. As corpses start to pile up, Simone fights to maneuver the Doll Maker into a clever trap. But the Clipper is hell-bent on striking first and regaining the crown with his most grisly murder yet. Can Simone take down the two serial killers and stop the psychotic competition before it gets out of hand?

When we talk about psychological thrillers, the basic expectation is that the plot holds till the end, and The Girl in the Glass Case by Devashish Sardana does more than just do justice to the concept. The plot starts off on a great footing and as the story moves, you get engrossed into the plot so deeply that you feel the emotions of the characters as they feel it. The storytelling is superb and the almost onion-like layers that keep peeling off makes the plot even more interesting. The plot is well thought of, and the intricacies have been worked out perfectly. As the author explores the psychological condition, there are subtle hints, but nothing is revealed until the very end, and I think that is the best thing about the book. The plot is so tight and well edited, that there are no loose ends that unravel or weaken the story. The climax is another wonderful thing about the book as the big reveal happens and its execution is almost as good as the story. Reading this book is an experience that shows that even a thick book can be pacy. The journey that you take through the book is quite imaginative and I loved how the author has focused on the details to keep the reader hooked.

The characters in the story are the soul of the story and just like the story, the attention to detail is quite uncanny. Simone’s character and her quirks form an interesting part of the story, but unlike usual cases, I was more impressed by the antagonists of the story. The intense planning and the war between the two serial killers adds a bit of spice to the thrill of the story. I loved how the author uses the character’s past to set up the plot points and while doing that, does not let the plot loose even for a bit. Zoya’s character is quite interesting, and I liked that how closely it ties into the climax.

Overall, this is a book I would definitely recommend if you like reading a well baked psycho thriller that would have chills run down your back. This wonderful book gets a 5/5 for me.

Thank you BookReviewersClub for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India, or your nearest Indie Bookstore!

Forgiveness is a Choice-Kia Scherr

Book: Forgiveness is a Choice
Author: Kia Scherr
Publisher: Penguin India

Do you think that forgiveness is one of the most powerful acts?

Forgiveness Is a Choice by Kia Scherr is a book where she peels back the many layers of personal bereavement. She moves beyond the incident, focusing on the reality of dealing with sorrow that rears its ugly heads in myriad forms. Never mawkish, her writing offers everyday advice on how to meander grief-laden experiences. A tender and understanding guide on getting a grip and taking life one day at a time.

The book focuses on various aspects of human life where forgiveness comes out as one of the most potent emotions that we can channel. Through the various examples the author derives from her own life, we see that small acts that we might do unknowingly can come back to us in ways we could never imagine. Developed after she lost her husband and daughter in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks; the book starts on with how she channeled her emotions after getting the sad news and pushed to look at the brighter side of things and used the aftermath of the tragedy to bring good into the world. She also shows the power of looking at the brighter side of things by taking the example of her mother who was suffering from cancer.

The book is written in a vivid manner with short chapters so that the reader does not lose interest. Each of the 30 chapters focus on one emotion and Kia takes up examples and her journal entries to show who she channeled the emotions. The writing is impressive and does help you focus on a different shade of life. On the other hand, though, the book does get repetitive after the halfway mark and the things start tilting towards being almost sermon-like which causes the interest to wane.

Overall, a good book that can help you realign your perspective, but I wish it would have been written in a bit more engaging manner. The book scores a 3.88/5 for me.

Thank you, Market My Book, and Penguin India, for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here, or your nearest bookstore!

Death of a District Magistrate-Nachi

Book: Death of a District Magistrate
Author: Nachi
Publisher: Notion Press

What do you look for in a good murder mystery?

Death of a District Magistrate by Nachi explores the events of what happens when the death by gunshot of a powerful and controversial District Magistrate brings in the idealistic and puritanical DSP Arjun Iyer to the District Magistrate’s residence, where his large joint family lives. It seems like a suicide at first glance, but is it really one? Along with his assistant, the deeply loyal but irascible, devil-may-care Inspector Munuswamy, DSP Arjun leaves no stone unturned in investigating the case where surprise upon labyrinthine surprise awaits them until they arrive at the conclusion.

The story explores a nice premise and brings a nice character into focus who could be a focus of a series. The plot is quite interesting, and it starts on a nice note with the murder mystery deepening. I liked how the author builds up the suspense that surround the death of the District Magistrate. The storytelling is catchy, for the first part of the story and keeps the reader turning the pages. The descriptions are vivid and painting a picture of the events as they occur is quite easy. The plot, however, starts dragging towards the second half and the events start seeming repetitive and seem like fillers to increase the length of the plot, without contributing much to the overall story. The murder mystery plot seems to go on a backburner as things start closing in. The side plot of the romance also seems half baked. The climax could have been better without the DSP being judgmental and the flat tempo.

The character descriptions are well done and quite a part of the first half of the story. Nachi uses the descriptions to set up the plot in detail as we meet each our characters in detail and set up the climax way in the beginning as you can piece the path they take in the story. The thing I loved about the story was that no person is perfect and each of them have their own flaws and how they work around them, while someone take it negatively, some channel positive emotions from that.

A good story that could have been better, the book scores a 4.06/5 for me.

Thank you Writersmelon for providing a copy in exchange for a honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.