Mostly Mundane-Saugata Chakraborty

Book: Mostly Mundane
Author: Saugata Chakraborty
Publisher: Redgrab Books

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

What would you do when life keeps throwing curveballs at you?

Is your existence feeling a bit... predictable? Do the words ""chore list"" make you contemplate a permanent nap? If the thrill of alphabetizing your spice rack has worn off, you desperately need Mostly Mundane in your life. This isn't your standard how-to, find-your-purpose, or unlock-inner-peace self-help drivel. Prepare to have your mind delightfully scrambled by the sheer brilliance of the utterly ordinary. Mostly Mundane exposes the hidden hilarity waiting in the shadows of your routine. From the existential implications of facing a not so amused life skills teacher in a PTM to a weekend eating out going awry, this book turns the everyday into an epic adventure filled with side-splitting absurdity. Imagine this: Pondering the evolutionary significance of toothpaste while brushing those pearly. Chuckling at the existential crisis of a wrinkled shirt. Experiencing an internal monologue worthy of Shakespeare while waiting for the microwave. Think you've seen it all? Think again. Mostly Mundane will revamp your perspective and remind you that laughter is lurking in even the most mundane corners of life. If you're ready for a gut-busting shift from blah to brilliant, ditch the self-improvement manuals and dive into the world of Mostly Mundane. Your funny bone (and your sanity) will thank you.

Mostly Mundane is a book that, at the first glance, looks like a collection of normal short stories with a common central character, but as you keep reading, you discover some amazing life altering guidance in the stories. Through the central character Shantilal, the author tackles some important points in one’s life such as exploring a business, hobby or how to move ahead if you lose your job. The positive theme of the book keeps you turning the pages and find out more about Shantilal and his antics. Another good thing about the book is that the stories are crisp and the message is subtly told and there is no point which reads preachy. I was happily reminded of my experience reading Malgudi Days, and with this happy remembrance, it was even more fun. The storytelling is very engaging and the writing is very polished. Saugata manages to keep you guessing the endings, and not for a single story was I able to predict what was going to happen next.

Coming to the characters, Shantilal is created with an image of your friendly neighborhood uncle who comes up with interesting things to do every day. The character development is interesting, and with each chapter, you see that while there are lessons that Shantilal learns and teaches us as well, the core of his character does not change and he remains this lovable character that we meet on the first page. The secondary characters in each story are beautifully crafted, and I was thoroughly amazed by the characters of Mr. Gupta and Tiwari.

Overall, this is a highly recommended book and my advice would be to read it slowly and not go by the number of pages. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.

I also had a discussion on the book with my buddies, which you can check out here on Instagram!

Zara and the Bumbling Genie-Padmini Shankar

Book: Zara and the Bumbling Genie
Author: Padmini Shankar
Publisher: Om Books International

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

What if you had a friendly genie to help you out with problems?

Eleven-year-old Zara will soon lose her sight unless she undergoes an expensive operation her teacher-parents can’t afford. The devastated girl meets Joom, a runaway genie who’s lost all his magic and is terrified of being discovered by his evil master. Then, when the villainous headmaster of Zara’s school fires her father, Zara and Joom decide to take action. Will Zara regain her sight? Will she avenge her father’s unfair dismissal? And will Joom escape the clutches of his evil owner and regain his magic? Zara and the Bumbling Genie is a story of courage, loyalty, friendship and trust between the most unlikely people.

The book is a wonderfully written story that explores how young Zara is facing problems, both with her eyesight, and the problems with family as her father is unfairly dismissed from the school. Padmini has used simple language, consistent with the target audience for the book, and has also put in meanings of words that might pose a challenge to the younger crowd. Through the conversations between Joom and Zara, the author presents interesting perspectives of what to do when faced with a challenge. She also uses the story to showcase that people who are good at heart triumph in the end. The storytelling is linear and interesting. Padmini has kept the plot relatable to an early teenager using common issues in school. I liked how the author also creates an antagonist in the book while keeping the plot simple. The aspect which could have been improved was that I felt that the book had lesser visual elements which could have been added for a young reader to imagine the scenarios. Another aspect was the similarity of the genie in the book with that in the Arabian Nights stories, even with the images that have been put in. While this has been addressed in the book, I would have loved a different presentation of the genie. The tension in the climax was a nice touch, and I liked how Zara helps Joom in this scenario.

Coming to the characters, the set of characters used to narrate the story were quite good. I liked that each character was given a distinct personality, and that they are quite relatable to the people we usually see around us. The entire character arc of Mr. Boyle was nicely written, and provides good context to the characters of Zara and her parents. While the overall aspect of the character development was nice, the designing and naming of the characters could have been contextualized a bit. While the story is set in Gurugram, we have characters with foreign sounding names such as Mr. Boyle, Mr. Solomon, Adam Butt etc. The surnames felt like a last-minute addition to add the Indian context to the entire story. I believe that this should be addressed in the future editions of the book to make it relatable to the target audience.

Overall, the book has good storytelling, and can be picked up for an early teenager. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book from a bookstore near you or on Amazon India.

Beneath The Surface-Lavanya Mathur

Book: Beneath The Surface
Author: Lavanya Mathur
Publisher: Bookleaf Publishing

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

Have you ever wanted to read short stories that could inspire you?

A collection of thought-provoking poems, short stories, and features, perfect for anyone seeking inspiration, change, or simply a moment of reflection. Each chapter is a standalone piece, ideal for quick reads during your coffee or tea break. Written in simple, accessible language, this book delivers profound messages that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. "While all reds and golden try to steal the spotlight, The innocent and soft Lilac wins the heart effortlessly" -Iris

Lavanya’s book is a wonderful collection of poems, short stories and features that are inspiring, as well as feel like conversing with a friend while you are reading them. The poetry section features 6 poetry pieces, and each of them is quite wonderfully written. The verse is simple, but the message that the author wanted to convey has been duly passed on. The section with the 10 short stories was the part I enjoyed the most. Her writing is fresh and Lavanya blends storytelling with her messaging simply but effectively, and reading through the pages becomes a breeze. My favorite from the lot was the last story, Biryani With Love, because of how simply the idea of familial love has been presented through the metaphor of food. The last section of the book is Features where the author picks up a theme and talks about it, but true to her writing style, she has put these microtales as examples to put her point across to the reader. Coming to the writing, Lavanya’s voice is quite fresh and her positive attitude shines through in her writing. Each of the piece in the book acts as a ray of hope, and there is something for everyone in the book. The writing is such that you feel like that the stories are being narrated to you and you are visually engaged in reading them. There are parts of the book where one more round of editing could have improved the experience, but overall, the book is a wonderfully written collection of inspiring pieces.

The book is recommended for anyone looking to read inspiring short stories, poems and musings that would help you look at the brighter side of life. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India!

Festivals of South East Asia-Anita Bose

Book: Festivals of South East Asia
Author: Anita Bose
Publisher: Bee Books

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

Have you explored the festivals in South East Asia?

Festivals of Southeast Asia is your passport to the heart of a region where tradition and celebration intertwine in a spectacular display of culture. From the exuberant water fights of Thailand's Songkran to the majestic rituals of Vietnam's Tet Nguyen Dan, this book takes you on a vibrant journey through the most cherished festivals of Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Discover the deep spiritual roots, rich history, and colourful customs that make each celebration unique. With vivid storytelling and immersive detail, Festivals of Southeast Asia invites you to experience the sights, sounds, and flavours of these captivating cultural events as if you were there. Whether you’re a traveller, a cultural enthusiast, a student, a researcher or simply curious, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the joyous heart of Southeast Asia.

The book is a wonderfully researched book that explores the various festivals that are celebrated in the regions of Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Anita has researched quite deep into the various customs and the stories behind these festivals. While reading the book, you are transported into the location you are reading about through the vivid descriptions and the pictures that accompany the text. The author has also added the sources for the information at the end of the chapters which elevate the authenticity of the information, as well as also provide sources where one can go and explore more about these festivals. My favourite part of the book was exploration of Champa civilization of Vietnam and how they celebrate the festivals. Another interesting aspect of the book is that the author has explored the link to India through the perspective of culture and festivals.

Through the lens of historical intermarriages between Indian tribes, the wealthy, and immigrants from six other nations, the author illustrates a rich cultural synthesis. She also highlights how Hinduism and Buddhism have adapted into distinct regional forms influenced by diverse customs, while the fundamental beliefs persist. The author also brings to light Indonesia's multi-religious society where festivals are celebrated inclusively. The similarity between Thailand's kite festival and India's Makar Sankranti further exemplifies these cross-cultural connections.

This is a wonderful coffee table book that can be read to explore the culture that is all around is. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.