Pronounced Guilty-Monica Singh

Book: Pronounced Guilty
Author: Monica Singh
Publisher: Readomania

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

Do you believe that people convicted of crimes deserve a chance at redemption?

Is redemption possible behind bars? Dushyant Dave, a disillusioned advocate, spearheads a radical mission: Bandi Mukti Morcha, India’s first open-prison dedicated to rehabilitating criminals serving life sentences. Joining him are Vijendar Singh, a reluctant ex-convict, and Dr Anusuya Savarkar, a seasoned psychologist, both harbouring their own demons. As inmate resistance and political agendas mount, secrets unravel and trusts shatter; the project teetering on collapse. Can this unlikely trio bridge their differences to make the program a success or will Bandi Mukti Morcha crumble under the weight of its own ambition? Will society ever embrace a second chance for those it has pronounced guilty? Pronounced Guilty is not just a novel—it’s a reflection of the world we live in. Step inside the courtroom of conscience and explore the price of justice, the weight of guilt, and the echoes of redemption.

The book focuses on an important question of the possibility of redemption and the root cause of crimes. The book opens with a heart wrenching scene where Vijendar is arrested just because he has had a criminal past, and from there starts a journey to change the lives of people who have completed their sentences. The second part of the book is when the Bandi Mukti Morcha is created and the process of rehabilitation is shown. The courtroom part of the book is quite well written and I liked the detailing that the author has put in while describing those scenes and the emotions of the people while sitting as the arguments were being parried. What I liked about the book was the flow and the narrative that keeps you turning the pages. What did not work for me was the second half of the book where the entire setup of the open prison is shown and the writing lacked a bit of research and execution on that end. A book that focused on the redemption of convicts could have shed a bit more of light on the open-prison part of the book, but sadly there are glimpses, but not much of spotlight on the open prison. The sub-plot involving the female prisoner was good to show that corruption can breach lines everywhere, but it felt a bit unnecessary and its role in the climax was also a bit sketchy.

Coming to the characters, Dushyant Dave’s character was very well written and his scenes in the court were quite wonderful to read. Another character whose writing impressed me was that of Vijendar and his character arc throughout the story. I felt that Dr. Anusuya’s character could have been a bit more detailed and contributory to the plot, rather she felt more like a side character in the bigger scheme of things.

Overall, Pronounced Guilty is a book that I would recommend to people to understand the concept of redemption and the idea of open prisons. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

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

The Unforgettable Woman-Pankaj Giri

Book: The Unforgettable Woman
Author: Pankaj Giri
Publisher: Bee Books

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

How would you react if a long-time secret came to light?

Abandoned by his wife and daughter and living with his cousin’s son, senior doctor Adarsh leads a lonely life . . . until he begins glimpsing someone in the streets of his hometown, Ilathang—a woman he knew once, a woman who had long disappeared. As Smriti starts working as a teacher at Ilathang Government School, she develops an affectionate bond with her PG owner’s teenage son—who is suffering from drug addiction—which fulfils her childhood craving for a brother. But one day in the summer of 2007, a dramatic turn of events unveils a devastating secret, a secret that turns her life upside down. Will Adarsh be able to discover the mystery behind the curious glimpses of the woman? Will Smriti be able to recover from the trauma of the shattering secret? Set in fictional towns in the beautiful state of Sikkim, The Unforgettable Woman is an inspirational, heart-touching story that explores the themes of regret, love, and forgiveness and shows how a single secret can influence several lives.

The book is wonderfully written and the plot is so engaging that you keep turning the pages. As the story progresses, you are pulled into the plot and it keeps you hooked. The writing is quite impressive and the plot threads are extremely well connected and the idea of how relationships can stand the test of time. Pankaj explores the idea of love and how the different aspects of love manifest in the relationships we have with people around us. The book also explores the idea of fate in a beautiful manner and how interconnectedness of life binds us all. The writing in the book is quite powerful and makes you think of how one impacts the people around us as well. What I loved about the book was that the author has left crumbs to the climax all through the book but only when you reach the end do the bits make sense and you get to see the whole picture. Pankaj’s mix of love, regret and forgiveness in this story make the entire reading experience a delight. Another aspect of his writing that shines through is the simplicity and honesty. As a writer, he stays true to the core storyline and slowly lets the story unfold as you live and breathe with his characters. The climax has been given its due and the author takes his time revealing the thread connecting his characters and the core idea of the story. The way he reveals how Smriti, Dr. Adarsh, Shobha, Savitri, and Mr. Sharma were connected is quite magical.

Coming to the characters, each of the primary character in the story has been written in painstaking detail. There are no loose ends that seem frivolous or unnecessary at any point. Each character that has been introduced is integral to the story. The author also does not waste time in describing our protagonists, but lets the scenes take over and you have a picture of them. The book is driven primarily through the interactions between the characters and each of the interaction gives you something to think about as you keep turning the pages.

This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking to read a story of love, regret and forgiveness, and one that is heartwarming, perfect for a winter evening to pair with a cup of hot chocolate. The book scores a perfect 5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

Embraces In Ink: Notes from the Soul-Manali Desai

Book: Embraces In Ink: Notes from the Soul
Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

How would you define gratitude?

When was the last time you said 'thank you'? Be it to your parents, siblings, friends, the books that made you smile, the movies that made you laugh, or anyone and anything else? Was it today? Was it so long ago that you can't even remember? How often do you feel blessed or perceive a sense of gratitude for the simple joys that every day brings? We generally take the people around us for granted, failing to appreciate their contribution in our daily happiness. The same goes for things too; right from a sunny day during winters, to a rainy day after the long summers, or from the perfectly cooked dish, to the comfort of a quilt. The pages within, Embraces in Ink, make you look at these very things and people, by tapping into your feelings about them; emotions you may not even have realized you had for the smallest of gestures, words, and blessings, whether manmade or natural. Come, take this journey, where these, Notes from the Soul, will make you feel grateful towards life and everything that it has to offer.

Embraces In Ink is a wonderful collection of letters that explore how one can be grateful for the little things in life. The book is divided into 6 sections that explore gratitude to things, self, family, friend, everyone and walls. Each of the pieces included in this collection is a wonderfully written piece that forces to look within you and think of someone or something to thank. The writing is extremely relatable and as a reader, you are bound to find some pieces that resonate with yourself and that is what makes this book a great read. Manali also explores our dark sides as well when she writes letters to “Dear Aggravator” and “Dear Backstabber,” but in the same tone also addressing “Dear Artists” and “Dear Domestic Help.” This shows the spectrum in which she writes and that is evident throughout the book. “When Socials Become Anti Social” deserves a special mention because it is a mirror to what we have become today and how social media has become a part of our lives.

The book is an easy read, but in no way a simple read because the pieces help you look within you, focus, and explore facets of your life that have become hidden somewhere. The book also helps you identify the people and things that make our lives better and shows a path to being grateful for their existence and support. From the animate to the inanimate, the pieces have a life of their own and I am sure that some of them would find mention on your social media stories, or snaps or maybe snippets on your wall.

Overall, the book is a definite recommendation in case you like reading letters and poetry. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon Kindle.

The Blogchatter Book of Love-Multiple Authors

Book: The Blogchatter Book of Love
Author: Multiple Authors
Publisher: Readomania

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

What does the idea of love mean to you?

What if love isn't just a single, defined emotion? What if it's a spectrum of feelings that transcends borders and defies societal expectations? This is where the magic of romance lies, and our journey begins. A woman who had to leave her motherland behind but passes on the legacy to her granddaughter, a sister who has to prove her love and worth on an impossible mission to save their kingdom, a husband obsessed with his wife's dreams, a woman navigating motherhood in the times of AI, star-crossed lovers with love blossoming anew among books—be prepared to traverse different worlds in these pages. Love beyond marital ties, borders, acceptable gender norms, social structures, age, beyond distance, or the realms as we know them; dive into 18 stories from Blogchatter's community writers that celebrate the many hues of love and life.

The book is a collection of 18 stories that explore various aspects of love. Right from the love for self, or a pet, the stories cover a wide array of relationships and what can love mean to different people. Each story is well written and fits perfectly into the overarching theme. The stories are heartwarming and make you believe in love all over again. The community writers have explored some interesting concepts and the stories keep you hooked and into the book. Each of the stories have been written wonderfully, and I loved that no two stories were similar. The stories that stood out for me were One True Love, A Cry for Love, A Pawsome Love Story and Janmabhumischa. Each of these stories explore Love from a perspective that really made me smile. The other stories were also good, but somehow felt undercooked. While the emotions that they covered were nicely though of, the writing needed a bit more of editing.

Overall, the book is a nice collection of stories and the various ideas of love. The book scores a 4.25/5 from me.

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

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program