Love (Try) Angle-Manali Desai

Book: Love (Try) Angle
Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Self Published

Do you think we can fall in love with more than one person at a time?

Love (Try) Angle by Manali Desai is the story of Ayesha, who has moved to Mumbai to pursue her BA (Hons.) Political Science from a reputed college. Things start on a rough note when she comes across Abhi who is hell-bent on making her life difficult in the college. She manages to calm things down, when Viren joins the college as an ad-hoc lecturer. Things start getting heated up as a love triangle tries to emerge out of the chaos that is the life of Ayesha, Abhi and Viren, but there is one catch. Ayesha is not sure about her feelings for either of them. Is her frenemity with Abhi a start to a love story, or her chance encounters with Viren a precursor to blooming of love? Read the story to find out.

Manali’s debut novel is an interesting read that ticks off almost all the boxes of a good romantic novel. The plot of the story is very well crafted with elements of drama, fights, and even physical altercations! The story moves smoothly, and the plotline does not drop throughout the narration. I loved the fact that the story was told from the eyes of the three protagonists and so we get to understand the feelings and emotions of the characters as it happens. Another thing that I liked about the story was the natural manner in which the events unfold, and none of them seem forced. The detailing of the events and the descriptions are quite vivid, helping a reader imagine the things as they happen. Personally, the Chandigarh part of the story did not seem to be fitting well into the plot and acted just as a filler. A Special mention to the adorable sketches at the end of each story that summarize the chapter quite well. The climax is very filmy and while it was expected, the way it was executed was interesting and good.

Coming to the characters, I loved the manner in which each of the characters-Abhi, Ayesha and Viren have been given their individual identities and quirks. Ayesha’s dilemmas, Viren’s comforting gestures and Abhi’s nonchalant attitude has been captured quite well and adds a good flavor to the plot. Another interesting aspect of the story is how characters like Nalini, Ayesha’s parents etc. have been used to steer the plot and they have not been used just as fillers or to fill plot holes. The relatability with the characters was easy because they seem to be taken from the people around us with teasing parents and nosy friends.

Overall, an amazing debut that is recommended if you like reading romantic stories. This book takes a 4.25/5 from me.

P.S. The titles of the chapters hold an interesting pattern. Do notice them.

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Arzoo Arshan-Mukul Kumar

Book: Arzoo Arshan
Author: Mukul Kumar
Publisher: Self Published

What is your take on love?

Arzoo Arshan is the story of Arshan, an anti-hero who is a neuroscientist in the making, has radically different ideas about love. Blessed with swank, good looks, and a penchant for ladies, and an aversion to commitment. His aversion is tested when love comes to him in the form of Arzoo, a small-town girl who aspires to be a model, and he rejects it with an unforeseen force.  When he is unable to get over the love in him, he decided to create a potion that will ensure his continuing desire for ‘chicks’, as he dismissively calls them, and the ability to walk away from them without looking back. Arzoo-Arshan is a psycho-romantic thriller, an unusual tale of love, lust, obsession, ego, jealousy deceit , and revenge with a gripping suspense.

The plot of the book is crafted quite superficially, and the story actually did not work for me. The concept of the book is based on the nature of the protagonist who seems to be extremely dismissive of women, and while it actually sets the theme of the book for the second part, it is quite derogatory and seems to derive itself from the patriarchal perspective. The conversation between Arshan and Shourya forms a major part of the book, and personally, it did not seem to fit into the overall idea of the story. However there are things that are good about the book. The language of the book is quite good, and the narration is interesting. The tension between Arzoo and Arshan is well developed and adds a good flavor to the plot. The climax of the book was quite sudden, and made no sense to the story, but it seems to be a fitting end to the tale.

Coming to the character, while the author has described the characters physically, their development over the course of the story is almost negligible. There is a long list of characters, but none of them add much to the story in the overall context. We discuss about Arshan’s aversion to love, and attraction to women, and Arzoo’s reaction, but that is all.

Overall, the story could have been treated well, and it did not work for me. The book scores a 2.88/5 for me.

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The Roaring Lambs-Sreedhar Bevara

Book: The Roaring Lambs: A Fable About Finding the Leader in You
Author: Sreedhar Bevara
Publisher: HarperCollins India

What is one quality that you think makes a person a leader?

The Roaring Lambs by Sreedhar Bevara is a fable that tells the story of how situations can bring out leadership qualities in a person. Set in Mau forest of East Africa, the story is about a flock of sheep who are brutally killed by the Lions, led by Kaizaar. With his own interpretation of the Law of the Jungle, the Lions have started harassing the sheep and other animals in the food chain. Ministered by the Shrewd Shaka, a former leader of the lambs who has betrayed his own for selfish gains, Kaizaar wreaks havoc on his subjects. The question is, can a flock of lambs roar, and take on the King of the Jungle? This is a story that inspires, and brings out the qualities of a true leader.

The idea behind the book is very imaginative, and it basically builds on the quote by Alexander the Great which opens the book. Told in an engaging way, the fable is quite inspiring, and I loved the way the author has tried to send his message across. Starting with a problem that seems to have no solution, Sreedhar through the characters, gives us anecdotal evidence that shows how even the weakest of people can face the strongest of they have a proper will. The language of the book is simple, and there are no complex or long words that would confuse you, rather it adopts an approach so that the pace is such that the reader is comfortable while journeying through the forest.

Another good thing about the fable is the way things mirror the situations between the first half and the second half, and how that ties in with the idea of an effective leadership. While Kaizaar is shown to be a leader with an ego, Shuja comes across as humble. Queen Leela is another character who shows remarkable leadership skills, and being a pragmatic character, reacts as per the situation. Other characters such as Kesan, Kaboo, and Akili also impressed me with their stands and stances throughout the fable.

Overall, the story is a definite recommendation for anyone who is a leader, or aspires to be one. Containing some crucial lessons, this fable is a must read and it scores a 4.69/5 for me.

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Once Upon a Reunion-Nithya Sashi

Book: Once Upon a Reunion
Author: Nithya Sashi
Publisher: N K & Co.

What is your take on reunions?

Once Upon a Reunion by Nithya Sashi is the story of Nirmala, who is happily married and living in Chennai. Living with her Husband Sreenivas, she secretly pines for her ex-lover Suresh, and when memories of her past life surface, it does ripple her happy life. Unable to fully love Sreenivas with the insane intensity she had felt for Suresh, she is conflicted and lives in a parallel world, always tormented by the probability of a what-if! When she comes to know of a school reunion which Suresh would be attending as well, she is in facing a dilemma. On one side, she has a chance to close a chapter of her life permanently, and on the other hand she isn’t sure of her reaction on confronting the past. Either way, the events at the reunion would change her life permanently, and changer her opinions of the people close to her.

The story of the book is a bit confusing in the fact that it is not clear as to what is the intention of the author in penning it. A major part of the story focusses on Nirmala, her life, her past and her interactions with the various characters. The title of the book makes a reader think that a reunion would be the focus point of the story, which, though critical, does not form the crux of the story. The storytelling is engaging and keeps a reader hooked to the happenings in the story. the visual cues are quite powerful, and Nithya has tried to incorporate elements that can engage the other senses of the body as well. The language of the story is easy to comprehend and suit the characters. The scenes however seemed a bit disjointed as there were some events which did not seem relevant to the plot, and the events at the reunion seemed quite rushed and hurried. The climax was planned well, but could have been executed well.

Coming to the characters, Nirmala as the primary character is well sketched, and the details about her personality are well explained. Her family life, her professional life, and her equation with her friends has been explored in detail. Sreenivas as a character seemed a bit interesting in the beginning, but his mood swings, though well crafted, did not seem natural.

Overall, an interesting plot that could have been executed well.

The book scores a 3.75/5 for me.

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Her Dark Lies-J T Ellison

Book: Her Dark Lies
Author: J T Ellison
Publisher: Mira

What if the past comes back to haunt you on the day you are getting married?

Her Dark Lies by J T Ellison is set off the Italian Coast, on Isle Isola, a cliff-top villa owned by the Comptons. Claire Hunter is all set to get married to Jackson Compton, surrounded by close family, intimate friends…and a host of dark secrets. As the wedding weekend begins, things take a turn for the worse when an old body gets dug up on the island, menacing texts get delivered, and a ruined wedding dress. Its not just the happenings, people on the island carry secrets, dark secrets that can ruin not one, but multiple lives.

The plot of the book is quite complex, and in a good way. The plot is not a normal and usual run-off-the-mill thriller, rather it is a story that makes a reader turn the page compulsively. The storytelling is quite interesting, and the author has used subtle details in the beginning that become important towards the end. The language of the book is easy to comprehend, and suits the characters quite well. I loved the part of the book where the tensions start building up and the secrets start tumbling out slowly. The author keeps the shadows hidden, and the revelations are done at the time which is just right. The picture that the author paints is quite detailed and vivid, and I could clearly visualize the island, the villa, and the events as they occur. The climax was quite unexpected, and it added to the charm of the storytelling.

The story is primarily character driven, and it is them who provide the tension needed for a thriller to deliver on its promise. Claire’s character is interestingly crafted, and her past is hinted about in the story, but revealed only in the end, which is quite well done. Jackson’s character has shades of gray which actually set the tone of the book. His loving, romantic side towards Claire is quite opposite to how he reacts towards Elliott. His complex character is something I really enjoyed in the book. Other characters I enjoyed were Ana Compton, and most of all, Will Compton, and the way he adds to the story in the end.

Overall, a definite recommendation for thriller readers that scores a 4.12/5 for me.

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The post is a part of the blog tour by Harlequin. I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review

If I Could Remember-Vedant Saxena

Book: If I Could Remember
Author: Vedant Saxena
Publisher: Kalamos Literary Services

Do you think the past comes back to haunt us?

If I Could Remember by Vedant Saxena tells us the story of Armaan who wakes up one summer night to find a corpse lying beside him, and there is blood all around him, only to realise it was a dream. This is just one such instance, and his life has actually become a blur where differentiation between reality and dreams has become very difficult, and add to that he has memory lapses. Things were happening like this until the day he discovered the tapes of his classmate Ananya in his father’s office, who is a psychiatrist. What is in those tapes that put the fear of god in her? Things start changing when the tapes go missing, and he starts thinking that there is an underlying fear that something sinister is happening, until Ananya opens up to him that she has a traumatic past, so much so that it has forced her to kill. What are the secrets that the people are hiding?

First things first, the book is not for the faint hearted. The book is excruciatingly detailed and Vedant has explained the physical and mental trauma of Ananya and Armaan quite graphically. The plot of the book is very well written, and the story moves at a pace that is a bit slow, but it actually adds up to the thrill of the story. The revelations are slow, and as they secrets start tumbling out. The events preceding the chapter start making sense. Since the characters are late teens, the language is what a teen uses. It is easy to comprehend, but as a personal recommendation, I would not recommend a sprint read, rather a marathon by taking a break after a few chapters to process the events. Vedant has taken 2 characters and shown how physical and mental abuse of a person can affect them, and change their perspective on life. Another idea that I liked in the book was that of hope, and how proper support can change a person’s life. The last part of the book is exquisitely written, and the twist in the tale was phenomenal. The moment the other shoe drops, I took a moment to process things, and the last scene of the book makes me want to know more as to what happened after that.

Coming to the characters, Armaan as a character impressed me in the manner he evolves through the time. Despite the way he was treated by his peers, he was actually not one to resent. The trigger event was something that changes his perspective, but I felt that Armaan’s condition was a result of the society’s ignorance, rather than his anger. Ananya’s character lies between the black and white and while each reader would have their own interpretation of her actions, I think Vedant drew her as an anti-thesis to Armaan as to how different people react to trauma. Mrs. Rekha was one character I must applaud, and I think she was the one who actually understands Armaan and mental health, and it is my interpretation is that she actually looked out for Armaan, and her detentions were actually a way for Armaan to seek help from her.

Overall, this is one book that I would recommend to everyone. It scores a 4.94/5 for me.

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Corporate Blah Blah Blahs-Sandeep Pawar

Book: Corporate Blah Blah Blahs: (In)effective Ways of Tackling Business
Author: Sandeep Pawar
Publisher: Self Published

What is the one business jargon you hate?

Corporate Blah Blah Blahs by Sandeep Pawar is a satirical take on the jargons that have become a part of corporate life today. Told through the eyes of Samay, a wall clock, the story explores the office life of Corporate Subbu. Subbu has understood that the mantra to succeed is to talk. However, his knowledge of the jargon is half-baked, and so begins a journey that entertains not just his team, but the readers as we explore Subbu’s understanding of some commonly used jargons. This collection of short stories will give you a perfect fun ride of what happens during office meetings and how the confusion can be fun to witness.

The book is very well written as it explores 11 commonly used jargons as to how Subbu understands them, and the comedy of errors that follow. Before each chapter, Sandeep explains two meanings of each jargon-the usual, dictionary meaning, and secondly the corporate speak of the same. Each of the jargon then follows a practical example which is used by Subbu. I liked the satire that the author wanted to portray, and the sheer contempt he has for the terms. The storytelling is engaging, and the author manages to maintain the overall theme of the book in each of the stories. For me, Let’s be on the Same Page, Eyeball it Once, and Gentle Reminder were the best among all. The idea of using Samay as the narrator was quite cheeky, and Samay’s introduction was imaginative.

Coming to the characters, Samay was the showstopper for me with his introduction. Corporate Subbu was created as an interesting character, a corporate dreamer that each of us would have encountered at one point or the other in our lives. Each of the story help us understand him, and towards the end make us a bit emphatic towards him as well.

Overall, I would highly recommend the book in case you are in a corporate setup, or are planning to be a part of one. The book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

P.S. Don’t forget to read the post-its at the beginning of each story.

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