The Book Club-Debeshi Gooptu

Book: The Book Club
Author: Debeshi Gooptu
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

What would you do if a murder occurs during a regular meeting of your book club?

When Bansuri `Bee’ Kohli’s dead body is discovered in the middle of a high society book club meet, everyone assumes that her death is due to natural causes. Bee had just turned forty and heart attacks were increasingly common in women of that age. But, as the investigation progresses, it becomes obvious that there is something sinister afoot. All the guests present at the meet that night - from the hotshot novelist to the cut-throat socialite - had a reason for wanting Bee dead. And one of them is prepared to go to any lengths to keep a terrible secret hidden. A twisty thriller about friends, deception and murder from the author of Gurgaon Diaries.

The story explores the lives of four members of a book Club in Gurgaon who meet regularly to discuss about the books they read. Things go haywire when in one of the meet ups where celebrated author Rohan Sood is invited and Bee drops dead and an investigation ensues where secrets start tumbling out of closets. The storytelling in the book is quite engaging and Debeshi has written a story that keeps you hooked. What I loved about the book was that it keeps its pace throughout the storytelling. The idea of a close-knit community which has secrets has been explored in a wonderful manner. Another aspect of the story that stood out was the investigative process that she has explored in the book, and rather than creating a larger-than-life investigative officer, a tea-loving and parantha eating police officer is deputed the case, who seems like a bumpkin, but is as sharp as a tack. The idea that you can know people for years, yet there are aspects to their personality that might remain hidden for years has been woven in in detail. Using the concept of a book club and the high-end society of Gurgaon, the setup is relatable. The book makes you take a step back and evaluate relationships and people that you associate with. The climax of the book is quite shocking and as a reader, you are truly surprised because the revelations that happen are not something that anyone could have foreseen.

The characters in the book are very well sketched, and I liked how each of them has been given a detailed background that adds value to the story. Being a character driven plot, description of the characters and their backstories adds quite a bit of authenticity to the storytelling as well as keeps the story moving. I specially loved how the character of Inspector Yadav and his tenacity in keeping the investigation going and keeping his cool till the very end. Bee’s character was also quite complex and the complexity has been explored very well throughout the story.

Overall, the book is an engaging read and a recommendation for anyone who loves to read a well-written crime thriller. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon Kindle!

Daiva-K. Hari Kumar

Book: Daiva: Discovering the Extraordinary World of Spirit Worship
Author: K. Hari Kumar
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do you know the stories behind the Spirit deities of Tulu Nadu?

The famous Kola performances of Tulu Nadu involve dancers who invite powerful, sacred spirits to possess them. Through the performers, and surrounded by vibrant colours and striking visuals, these spirits - known as Daiva - may settle disputes, provide guidance, grant blessings and pass judgement. However, there is so much more to it than art and devotion. From Panjurli, the benevolent boar spirit to Bobbarya, guardian of the sea, this book explores it all: the kinds of Daiva, their stories, their individual natures and the ways in which they come to inhabit the devout. In Daiva, bestselling author K Hari Kumar, brings you stories of powerful immortals along with details of their worship through mystifying rituals - all of which are known to leave onlookers awe-struck.

Non-fiction is not a genre of books I usually pick up, but when Hari comes up with one, the book deserves to be read. The book is divided into 2 sections. The first one “In Search of Satyolu” highlights the path and the research that Hari did to find the stories behind the second section, “The Stories of Satyolu.” The book is extremely well researched and I loved the passion that comes out from the writing in the book. Hari explores the culture of Tulu Nadu and while he explores the region and the stories of worship of the local spirit deities. The first half of the book also talks about the Tulu language and its current status in the country. Hari delves into each aspect of spirit worship, right from the difference between the spirits, the root of various words and how performance is an important part of the spirit worship in the region. One chapter that captivated my attention specifically was the one where the parts of the Kola performance have been explained. The detailed description keeps you intrigued and personally, I am now intrigued to experience atleast one Kola performance to understand the spirituality it represents. The significance of each aspect, each part of the entire performance, right from the materials being used to the way it is experienced was quite an eye-opener for me. Another aspect of the book is its personalization. The book is based on Hari’s experiences and his travels blended along with the local tales, and this is what made the book stand apart. His experiences and commentary are as important to the book as the research and the folk stories because that is what adds the flavor to the book, the connection with the present times. Hari also makes space to present sources for his research, as well as anecdotal evidence he encounters during his search for the stories. This adds a volume of credibility to the book.

Coming back to the book, reading a non-fiction title can become tedious at times due to its reliance on information, however something opposite happens in Daiva. As a reader, you are so invested in journeying along with Hari that you become a part of the book, and suddenly start experiencing the emotions that Hari presents time-to-time as a part of his travels. Another aspect that adds to the readability of the book is that it is divided into clear sections and you can take pre-defined breaks without losing track or the information.

The book is a wonderful peek into the culture of Tulu Nadu and the world of spirit worship. Living in cities and towns, we sometimes lose the very identity that makes us who we are, and this is an excellent example of how there are stories all around us which deserve to be told, and all we need is an inquisitive mind and drive to tell them. Daiva is a book that deserves to be read by all, to dispel some myths and preconceptions, as well as to understand an integral part of our own culture. The book is a 5/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore. (I got mine from a bookstore!)

Shakchunni-Arnab Ray

Book: Shakchunni
Author: Arnab Ray
Publisher: Hachette India

Have you heard of the lore of Shakchunni?

Shakchunni: a demon from Bengali lore, one who possesses married women. The Great Famine scours Bengal. The once verdant countryside is now a mass morgue. Yet none of that pain seems to touch the Banerjees, the lords of Shyamlapur. They rule their fiefdom with an iron fist and great pomp and pageantry. There is the Raibahadur, his wife, and his two young sons – Narayanpratap, the slender poet- intellectual, and Rudrapratap, boisterous and handsome. When Narayanpratap comes back from London, abandoning his education as a barrister and having been heartbroken by an Englishwoman, Raibahadur and his wife marry him off to a poor girl from a distant village, the ethereally beautiful Soudamini. But on the day of the wedding ceremony, just before a tantrik dies, he sounds an ominous warning. 'The Shakchunni dances tonight. You shall all fall dead like flies.' Soon it starts. Soon it starts. The terror. And a haunting of dark secrets that refuse to stay buried in the past.

Set in the time of the Great Famine of Bengal, Shakchunni is a book that utilizes the local folklore of Shakchunni who possesses the bodies of married women. Arnab has developed the story inside the Banerjee family of Shyamlapur. The Raibahadur and his two sons form the protagonists of the story. The elder son, Narayanpratap, is an intellectual person, and has recently returned from London, nursing a broken heart. Seeing his distress and the insistence of the Raibahadur for an heir, he is married off to Soudamini, a poor girl from a far-off village. Things take a turn when a tantrik sounds an ominous warning to the family. What I loved about the book was that it is not your run-off-the-mill horror fiction writing that has jump scares or paranormal entities roaming around the corridors of the Raibahadur home. Arnab’s writing is quite excellent and he has actually written about the social stigmas and a lot about the human psyche. The first half of the book, while setting up the lore of Shakchunni, also sets up the social background of what is happening in Shaymlapur and in Calcutta. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that there are hints that you keep on pulling to understand the real picture but every time you hazard a guess, something flips and you are sucked back into the story. The writing is extremely engaging and the fear that Arnab wants the reader to feel is quite palpable. The language used is easy to understand and you get the feeling that you are living the story as you read.

Coming to the characters, I felt that the characters are the backbone of this wonderful book. The manner in which Arnab creates the characters is quite nice. Starting with Narayanpratap, the lovelorn older son has been described in detail and you cannot help but feel pity for him, and on the other hand Rudrapratap’s character makes you realise that things are not always what they seem. Soudamini’s character and her transformation is one of the best character arcs I have read in recent times, and coupled with the revelations in the climax, you realise the expertise of Arnab as a storyteller par excellence. Last, but not the least, Handi’s character and her development is yet another example of how each and every person in the story is important, and if you overlook them, you do so at your peril.

While I have written about the book from a fictional book perspective, the book also touches upon a lot of social stigmas that were prevalent at that time, and some still are. Arnab explores these concepts in an excellent manner and I must say that one must read this book, if not for the horror, but for the social commentary. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

The Black Orphan-S. Hussain Zaidi

Book: The Black Orphan
Author: S. Hussain Zaidi
Publisher: HarperCollins India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you like reading fiction based on real-life events?

It's love at first sight for DIG Ajay Rajvardhan of the National Investigation Agency when he sees attractive young lawyer Asiya Khan in court, defending a young woman the NIA has arrested on charges of terrorism. They are on opposite sides - he specializes in taking down terrorists while she defends those wrongfully arrested by the authorities - but he finds he is unable to get her out of his head. Even as Ajay and Asiya are drawn closer, a web of crime, deception and intrigue weaves itself around them and threatens to take them down. A serial killer is on the loose, murdering India's most famous nuclear scientists one by one. And something far worse is brewing in the bylanes of Mumbai. Time is running out for Ajay and his associates, Deputy Commissioner Sagar Pratap and Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, to find the mastermind behind these incidents and stop them. Inspired by true events, this riveting tale of love, terror and revenge is Hussain Zaidi at his best.

Based in Mumbai, Zaidi takes the events of Operation Neptune Spear of the Navy SEALs and sets the tone for the book. The story is told in a linear manner with a few flashbacks to set the tone of the plot. The core idea that Zaidi explores is the cooperation of the various Intelligence agencies and how there are events in the background that a lot of us do not understand. The primary plot in the book is that a serial killer is on the loose in Mumbai and after famous Indian Nuclear scientists. The responsibility comes to DIG Ajay Rajvardhan of the NIA, as well as Deputy Commissioner Sagar Pratap and Commissioner Neeraj Kumar of the Mumbai Police to find the person responsible. As is with Zaidi’s works, you’ll find pieces of real-life events spread out in this story. There are names, places and events that you recognize, and the author binds them in this fabric of fiction quite beautifully. The story is quite fast paced and events take place in quick succession, leaving never a dull moment in this book. The spy craft has been explored well, and there are minute details that he has provided, which add a good flavor to the story. The intricate detailing which lets the case unravel was explored in an extremely well-planned manner, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While the overall reading experience is enjoyable, Ajay and Asiya’s plotline was quite predictable, which, while told nicely, did not work too well with me. Secondly, the conflict in the thriller was a tad bit mellow for me, and having read his other works, I expected a bit more from his storytelling. The climax is executed nicely and brings the story to a close perfectly.

The characters are the elements who drive this story. Basing the primary characters on real-life people is something that the author does with ease, and that is what works in this book as well. The character of Ajay has been layered and the way he builds in the individualities of the characters, which is a major plot point, was something I really enjoyed. Another aspect of the characters I liked was that there is not much fluff provided to set up the characters. The information provided is just enough for you to imagine the characters, and the plot takes care of the rest.

Overall, the book is a good read for readers of spy thrillers. The book scores a 4.38/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

The Way Home-Shalini Mullick

Book: The Way Home
Author: Shalini Mullick
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

How would you define the idea of “Home”?

Anya is grieving the loss of her beloved sister and is desperately in denial. Neel is consumed by the shame of not living up to the accomplishments of his overachieving parents. Roy’s Impostor Syndrome and a crushing heartbreak have depleted his self-confidence, making him give up his career as a surgeon. Seeking refuge from their inner demons, the three millennials flee to Goa, where they become friends. Will their friendship help the trio shed their demons and reclaim their life and happiness? Can this camaraderie give them the connection they need to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing? Or is it too little, too late? The Way Home is a relatable tale of bonding and self-discovery that will touch your heart.

Not a lot of stories make you pause and wonder about life as you know it. The Way Home is a book that explores the idea of home and self-discovery through its three protagonists-Anya, Neel and Roy-each of whom is dealing with their own demons. Shalini, through her characters, tackles the concepts of grief, self-discovery and self-doubt in this story. The book is written primarily in a linear form in the present time, with a few instances dwelling into the past to establish the characters’ lives. The book also explores the theme of mental health and the need to address it professionally and how it can impact you positively. What I loved about the book was that Shalini has created these three distinct personalities that ideally would not have crossed paths, but yet they meet and form a bond of friendship. It is then this friendship that helps them build each other up, helping them find their paths in life. Another concept that is explored in the book is that of societal expectations and how they can impact the psyche and life of a person. I really liked the manner in which the author puts this forth in the first part of the book, and then also addresses it in the second part, both with Neel and Roy’s families. With Anya’s character, Shalini highlights how grief can impact our lives and take a toll, both in mind and body. I specially loved the moment when the pent-up feelings are released and the description of the calmness that follows was something that was penned beautifully. Coming to the climax, Shalini creates this order from chaos scenario that was very visual and the romantic aspect of it was just perfect.

The storytelling in the book is extremely engaging and keeps you turning the pages because there are no moments where the story lags, or the events don’t make sense. The medical terminologies used are explained as well as they add quite a bit of authenticity to the plot when the doctors are conversing. The descriptions in the book are vivid and help you visualize the moments as they occur. Another aspect of the book I truly liked was that she does not let the spotlight stay on Anya, Neel and Roy. In the second half of the book, we meet the three sets of parents, and I liked how she describes the Diwali night and the subsequent morning at the three houses. The misunderstandings, the regrets and the questions are some points that we have all seen in our own families and that was one of the highlights for me. This brings me to another point that Shalini has addressed, and that is of choices that we make for our families. While we talk about the three protagonists finding themselves in Goa, each of the three families also find something, and that was a red herring that made me smile.

The characters in the book have been created in depth. Each of them has an individual storyline which is unique and has led them to the doors of this hospital in Goa. She has given them unique traits and that was something truly wonderful to read. From Neel’s cloud watching to Roy’s passion for football, the character traits have been allowed to manifest, and in a way that helps the character develop along with the plot of the story. If I had to choose between the three, I would pick Neel as a character with whom I could resonate with the most.

Overall, The Way Home is a book that is highly recommended if you are looking for a book that would inspire you to look for something you can call home. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or on Amazon India (Associate Link).