The Great Indian Tamasha-Rasika Bhatia

Book: The Great Indian Tamasha
Author: Rasika Bhatia
Publisher: Om Books International

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

Have you ever wondered what goes behind the scenes of a Big Fat Indian wedding?

The band, baaja, baraat have got louder. With destination weddings, experiential events, curated guestlists gaining popularity, the wedding planner has become a permanent fixture on the shaadi scene not just as the event organiser but as the friend, philosopher, and guide to the entire khandaan. The Great Indian Tamasha makes us realize that saying yes to the proposal is probably the easiest part. As we immerse ourselves in the chaos of the stories laced with black humour, we are exposed to the dark underbelly of the weddings of the affluent and the influential. These weddings are more than just a glamorous return to traditions or celebration of new kinship bonds; they have come to epitomize conspicuous consumption and a show of strength. Well-known wedding planner Rasika Bhatia’s incisive portrayal of spirited brides, hesitant grooms, controlling parents, greedy in-laws, fraudulent clients, and conniving competitors aptly depicts the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of the modern big, fat Indian wedding that has indeed become a tamasha.

The book is a wonderful collection of 22 instances from Rasika’s experience as a wedding planner in Delhi where she introduces us to what all can go wrong while planning a wedding. Rasika’s narration is engaging and her emotions as she deals with the good, bad and the ugly keep you hooked to the book. I loved the fact that the stories have been carefully chosen to bring out the craziest of the events to the fore. Right from weather playing spoilsport to clients with weapons, each of the story is quite unique. As a planner, Rasika brings forth the struggles of bringing the dreams, whims and fancies of her client to life through the execution of the wedding they want and how it can test the limits of her patience. The book has been written in an easy-to-understand language which keeps you focused on the story and the umpteen characters that we meet. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that the book is always high on emotions and as a reader, I really appreciated those because it kept me interested in what was unfolding. Of the 22 stories, the ones that stood out for me were “In the Don’s Den”, “I’m going to Make You an Offer You Cannot Resist”, and “Pressing the Wrong Button”.

This is highly recommended for anyone who has a interest in drama and the human psyche. The book is definitely designed to be read one story at a time, savouring the moments as they happen. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book from Amazon India or your nearest Bookstore.

Balli of Bagdih-Nilotpal Dutta

Book: Balli of Bagdih
Author: Nilotpal Dutta
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing

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

Smart and confident Balli has a deep connection with Bagdih, a coal mine in a fairly remote part of Bihar where his father works and where his Nana had chosen to work after the partition of India. Bagdih, which nurtures everyone who comes to earn livelihood and still holds no grudge when they never return, has a special relationship with Balli, whom she finds so much like herself. Growing up in a small colony, Balli builds his beautiful world with Samar and lovely Samaira, whom he loves and feels fiercely protective about. As he helplessly watches his world slowly disintegrate due to misunderstandings and unmet expectations, he only has his promise of joining the Indian Army made to Nana and affection of a much older Shambhu to keep him moving. Balli leaves the place that gave him everything to pursue his goals only to return years later on a rescue mission. As he encounters several emotions on his return and goes through upheavals, he finds solace only in Bagdih's serene lap. Set in the later part of twentieth century, 'Balli of Bagdih' is a depiction of how the characteristics of a place can build the character of a person born and brought up there.

The book is a wonderful example of how a single-person narrative can be used to show how a place and the events around that person can affect their mindset. Nilotpal uses Balli as a central character and uses his life to show how the thoughts of a person get molded as they age. Setting up the story in the small mining town of Bagdih, he creates a world that is self-contained, yet is connected with the world to show that the national and international events do affect a person’s psyche. The storytelling is engaging and keeps you hooked into how Balli negotiates his life and faces reality. The idea of weaving in key events in Indian history such as partition, the emergency etc. is quite brilliant. Another interesting aspect of the story is friendship and how the facets of friendship change during various stages of our life. Balli’s friendships evolve and as a reader, you start empathizing with Balli. Nilotpal also weaves in the social construct of the Indian society and how the social divide starts right from when we are kids and gets ingrained into our minds. I loved the climax and the call back to the idea of friendship and the power of love.

The characters created in this book are quite relatable. Balli as a middle-class child exploring the world is well crafted. He is created as a simple person, without malice in his heart and I loved the manner in which his helpful character has been exhibited through ample examples throughout the story. His character grows from the time we meet him, a young child about to start school, right to his twenties. Other characters have been duly detailed, such as the characters of Samar and Samaira, the friends that provide context to quite a bit of Balli’s character and drive the story forward. Lastly, the town of Bagdih and the coal mines are an important part of the story, almost like a character telling their story.

Overall, this is a wonderful book and a definite recommendation. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Get a copy on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!

All Those Who Wander-Kiran Manral

Book: All Those Who Wander
Author: Kiran Manral
Publisher: Amaryllis

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

What if the past, present and future exist at once? What if you could rewrite your past? What if you could protect the child you were from the trauma you know she will have to live through? What if you were living infinite versions of the same life simultaneously? This is the story of Ana, who is at a different age each time we meet her. But who is Ana—is she really who she says she is? Through the multiple lives Ana used to be and will be, she grapples with the question of whether the past and the future can ever be changed? ‘All Those Who Wander’ turns the classic time-travel genre into a spine-tingling gorgeousness of who, what, when, where. Wouldn’t you take that one chance to heal your inner child? Kiran Manral's taut, gripping novel of looped time and non-sequential lives, of guilt and repercussions is for everyone who wishes they could rewrite their childhood, or have that one chance to heal their inner child.

The concept of the book is quite interesting and the plot keeps you hooked as we take the journey through space and time along with the characters. The story moves forth between years and we see how the time travel affects both the characters and the life they are living. The idea of multiple versions of oneself living in multiple times has been explored quite well. The idea of the protagonist trying to ensure that the pain she has lived through is not present in the lives of her alternate versions is quite noble, even though the price she pays for it is high. The book starts on a good note where we see that the Nayna from two different times face each other. As she tries to help her younger self, the complexity of the plot increases. What didn’t work for me in the book was the fact that the timelines become confusing and as the plot moves forward, the story starts getting muddled up and as a reader, it becomes quite a challenge to keep track of what is happening, in which timeline and to which version of Nayna. It would have helped if the concept that Kiran is using in the book would have been explored in a bit detail so that the connect with the story could have been better. The climax of the story is well executed and brings to the story to a close with an interesting finality.

The book primarily focuses on Nayna and her versions from different points in time and space as she attempts to move back and forth in time. The journey of self-discovery as she learns from her mistakes is told in a wonderful manner. Sukanya’s character was a good addition to the plot, and running her story in parallel with Nayna adds another level of detail to this story.

Overall, this is a book that deserves its own dedicated reading space, and as a recommendation, do take time while reading the book so as to appreciate the nuances. The book scores a 4/5 for me.

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program.

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

One Night Only-Saumyaa Vohra

Book: One Night Only
Author: Saumyaa Vohra
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India

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

Do you believe that one night can change the course of your life?

In a snap, Natasha, Saira and Faiza revive a languishing plan to take a trip to Goa. Over the course of their holiday, the four girls drink, dance and karaoke, even as they nurse old wounds, kindle new romances and discover metamorphic truths about each other – and themselves. It’s a vacation with all the fixings of a quintessential girls’ trip – emotional drama, secrets unveiled, bonds strengthened – as each friend recounts the one-night stand that changed her life. Amidst swapping stories, Natasha has a mysterious midnight tryst, Saira meets a man who makes her question her disdain for commitment, and Faiza discovers that her ex still gives her butterflies. Rubani, with a mission yet to be accomplished, finds her interest piqued by a girl who’s exactly her type – and a man who isn’t. Now the holiday is drawing to a close and she must make her choice: to be or not to be wild as the Goan winds. Zany, pacy, soulful and fun, One Night Only is as much an ode to desire and sexuality as it is a celebration of female friendship in all its turbulence and splendor.

Saumyaa’s debut novel explores an interesting plot that keeps you hooked till the last page. Every group we have known has planned a Goa trip atleast once, and whether the same materializes or not, might sometimes be another story. The central idea of the book is how decisions taken by each of the characters one night changed their outlook towards life, relationships and friendship. I loved the fact that the book stays in the present while we go back in time as each of the characters-Natasha, Saira, Faiza & Ahana narrate stories of one night which changed their perspective towards relationships and one-night stands. A wonderful aspect of the book is that while the book celebrates relationships and sexuality, the intimate scenes are crafted with detail and are quite crucial to the plot. Another aspect of the story I really loved was that Saumyaa doesn’t craft the story of four friends who are perfect, if love has been explored, then so is the idea of jealousy, competition and resentment which can affect people as much as love does. I really enjoyed reading each of the back stories, however Faiza’s story was something that would stay with me, just for the complex emotions that particular part of the book brings out in the story. The climax is interesting in the way it has been put, and while not revealing anything, I really love the fact that she has not let go of the complexity of Rubani’s character.

The book’s strength are its characters and they are the four pillars that hold the book in its place. The characters in the book are powerful and their beliefs and ideas really make the reader think about the pre-conceived notions that each of us have. What I loved about the characters was the depth she imparts to them and how she uses their traits to deliver the message she intends. Another good aspect of the characters is the fact that none of them sounds holier-than-thou or the messages sermon-like. The conversations are quite natural, and you would feel that you are sitting with them, on the beach and having a casual conversation with one of your friends.

Overall, One Night Only is a gripping read that explores the concepts of relationships, friendships, sexuality and the idea of choices impacting one’s life. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

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

Until I Find You-Kanchana Banerjee

Book: Until I Find You
Author: Kanchana Banerjee
Publisher: Om Books International

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

What if your past catches up with your present?

When Jenny sees the picture of a boy in a travel magazine, she is stunned. He is a dead ringer for her friend Rubina. But the boy is supposed to be dead. Ten years ago, Jenny had failed to save Rubina and the infant from the clutches of the charming leader of a dangerous cult who led his flock to a mass suicide. Jenny’s journey to find the boy leads her to a sleepy village in Rajasthan, where she comes across Virat, a police officer investigating the discovery of a decomposed leg from a construction site. Are the two cases linked? As her past threatens to catch up with her, Virat and Jenny get involved in a cat-and mouse game that leads to a diabolical climax. Taking off from the notorious Peoples Temple mass suicide-murder led by the charismatic Jim Jones, and told from multiple points of view, Until I Find You is a grim and brutal thriller where the arid landscape of Rajasthan is as much a character as the shadowy dramatis personae.

Until I Find You has an interesting premise that draws itself from real events. Kanchana has painted an interesting picture of what happens when a person inspires a cult to commit mass suicide. The storytelling is quite imaginative, and having being set in a village in Rajasthan, the local dialects, food and the landscape play a crucial role in her storytelling. The plot moves quite fast and as a reader, you get engrossed in it till the very last page. The book starts with two very different threads, and you keep looking for a manner when they will cross each other and the real story would begin. There are elements of mystery that keep you guessing about the motives of each of the characters as you go along. The idea of two people looking for someone who could be connected has been explored in quite some detail. Another aspect that I liked about the story was that there are hints being thrown all around, which start making sense once you read the climax. While the overall feel of the story is gripping, I felt that the book became a bit of a drag in the middle, and preferably a bit of police procedural could have added that bit of taste into the plot. The big reveal in the climax, however, was quite unexpected and in hindsight made that character seem important.

Coming to the characters, I must commend Kanchana for creating a shortish cop named Virat. The jokes, puns and the sarcasm added to the intrigue of the plot, and adding a bit of the human touch in the story. Virat as a policeman was quite effective in the story, specially towards the end. I loved how he is shown as a normal cop, one you can see and relate, rather than a supercop. Another interesting character in the story is that of Jenny, and the layers that come off one by one as you keep reading. I loved the way her perseverance has been shown, specially after facing what she faced.

Overall, if you are looking for a thriller with a twist, then Until I Find You is a definite recommendation. The book scores a 4.44/5 for me.

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

Who Wants to Marry Kai Juicewalla?-Kainaz Jussawalla

Book: Who Wants to Marry Kai Juicewalla?
Author: Kainaz Jussawalla
Publisher: Om Books International

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

How many toads should a girl kiss before she finds her Prince Charming? Kai Juicewalla. Foodie. Sucker for Shah Rukh Khan movies and everything about him. A romantic feminist (no, that is not an oxymoron). Parsi by birth, so crazy by right. Likes making rules but keeps forgetting them. Is unconventional in the most conventional sense. Has ample curves but still rough around the edges. And loves to exercise—her opinions only. Who Wants to Marry Kai Juicewalla? is her racy, candid and juicy chronicle where she battles bullies, bulges and badmash company in a classy, sassy and bad assy way. An unending list of losers seems to be the bane of her life—a gold digger, a social climber, an unrequited love interest, an Italian Adonis, an identity thief (in the closet), a confused hot therapist, a raging narcissist. For this singleton, the global hunt for the perfect man always seems to crash and burn. Her life comes a full circle when she discovers the most important relationship of her life—her relationship with herself. This no-holds-barred assault on your funny bone upholds the universal truth that the journey is more important than the destination.

I have always thought that memoirs are boring, and that reading about someone’s life would be quite uninteresting. Kainaz, on the other hand, makes this journey quite interesting. The book explores Kainaz’s journey of finding her significant other, and how that journey has shaped out to be, till now. The book is quite candid and I loved the way how she has framed it in various sections. The prologue gives the reader a good taste as to what to expect when you are looking at Kai’s life through her eyes. The language of the book is simple, easy to understand, and filled with so much of the vernacular that you are almost in conversation with her. The frankness in the book is evident, and keeps you wanting more of the story. From the romantic liaisons to the sweet moments with friends, the emotions are always running high in the book.

Another interesting aspect of the book is that she is not just talking about her search for a groom, but also talks about body positivity, how she deals with various hurdles in her life in her style. Friendship is an important aspect in her life, and we see, first hand, how important it is to have good friends. The book focuses on the many hats she wears-journalist, air hostess, writer, friend, and how each chapter of her life taught her something interesting. The humor and sarcasm in the book are par-excellence, and with each instance, I almost fell off the bed laughing while reading.

Overall, this is a book that one should read, if you want to understand the power of love, friendship, and what goes in the mind of Kai. And as we pin our hopes that you get to meet your true love-SRK, here’s me recommending this book to anyone who is looking for motivation. The book gets a 4.75/5 for me.

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

Love & (Mellow) Drama (Love Trials II)-Manali Desai

Book: Love & (Mellow) Drama (Love Trials II)
Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Self Published

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

What do you think is the biggest challenge for a romantic relationship?

Gayatri Kulkarni: A gen Z girl who has always lived under the shadow of her elder brother Sharad; so much so that she even chose her degree and college following in his footsteps. Although she doesn’t regret it, she wishes her parents would understand her dream to pursue her one true passion - DANCE. Varun Agarwal: A millennial who believes there are no shortcuts in life. He has learned the hard way that being born into a wealthy family comes with more cons than the world would ever understand. She belongs to a Maharashtrian middle-class family from the suburbs. He hails from an affluent family in South Bombay. The only common point between them - being Mumbaikars. How do their paths cross in this city of dreams? Gayatri believes it’s because of Abhi Agarwal, Varun’s younger brother, who also happens to be her brother’s batchmate and close friend. But Varun has harbored a crush on her long before they exchanged hellos and phone numbers. Their story is a meeting of two generations and families, who are poles apart. Is there drama involved? Gayatri is often called a drama queen by those who know her. But after Varun’s entry into her life, she’s transformed from Miss Melodrama to Miss Mellowed Drama. Find out all about that transition in this much-awaited spin-off from Manali Desai’s debut novel, Love (Try) Angle, Love & (Mellow) Drama (Love Trials-II)

The second book in the Love Trials series by Manali is wonderfully crafted. The plot has been planned in detail and the story keeps you hooked on till the last page. Manali has extensively used Bollywood as a plot point to emphasize on key moments in the story. The story spans across years and through the transition of time, the story takes you through unabashed love, heartbreak, pandemic, death and a slew of emotions that each of the characters is feeling. Taking the time to let each emotion sink in, the book has crests and troughs that make the journey oh so interesting. The storytelling is highly compelling and the drama of the characters is so extensively penned that it makes you read the book cover to cover in one go. What I loved about the book was that the story is relatable with real problems that love marriages go through. Another aspect of the book that stood out for me was the idea of using songs to add a layer to the characters, and that for me was truly wonderful. There are scenes in the book that will make you fall down laughing, and there are equally somber scenes that will bring you to the verge of tears. The pandemic sequence and the pre-climax sequences specially stood out for me for their sheer imagery and the emotional factor. The climax is quite interesting, and I loved that the book does not end the story, rather puts a break to it.

Coming to the characters, Gayatri’s character is very well created. I liked the way Manali has created a character who loves drama and being over the top, but at the same time is very clear about her priorities. The strength of this character was the fact that she stands up against every adversity and comes out stronger. Her DDLJ obsession is quite interestingly chronicled, and kudos to the author for using that as a pivot point of the story as well. Varun’s character is also created with a good detail in mind. His perspectives in the story are interesting. I liked the fact that he is created as an opposite to Gayatri, but there are traits which are quite similar as well. Another interesting character in the story is the city of Mumbai, and how Manali uses it as a part of the story. From eating places to the travel routes, the essence of the city comes out in the story and gives an interesting character to it.

A special mention to the titles and the quotes from the characters that form the beginning of each chapter. Reading them and getting a sense of the chapter was quite a good touch on the book. Including the playlist of the songs referred to in the book (46) is a wonderful way to enjoy the book, and personally I would highly recommend keeping the playlist handy while reading the book.

Overall, I can confidently say that this is one of the best works of Manali I have read, and specially for keeping me reading from the point where I thought the story had ended, and pivoting to a completely different situation was truly amazing. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.

Check out my review of the first book of the Love Trials Series: Love (Try) Angle