Ratings: 3.5/5⭐
Genre: Fiction; Crime thriller
Number of Pages: 185
Format: Kindle

SUMMARY

Naithy Cherokil, a rich businesses woman from Mumbai marries a young model named Tony D’Souza after losing her husband in the 26/11 terror attack. But little does she know that the handsome lad she married is actually a LTTE sleeper cell. Alice, her only daughter, however, never liked her stepfather and stays away from him as much as possible but turn of events occur and her life changes when she finds out that her mother met with an accident and is in coma. She learns about Tony’s filthy actions and decides to do something to save herself and her mother that she never thought she’d do.

Prem Rollands is a bright student, whose life revolves around his elder brother, Arun. But under undue circumstances he loses his beloved brother and swears to seek revenge.

Their lives cross paths and it’s intriguing to know who can survive and save their loved ones and seek vengeance. Faith and the beloved is a story of love, lust, vengeance and crimes (a lot of them).

“Life always offers you second chance, that is called tomorrow”

PERSONAL REVIEWS

Faith and the beloved is my first read from the author – Kochery C Shibu so I obviously kept no prior expectations but I happened to like the book when I started off with it. The initial chapters were really gripping but as the story advances it gets darker and more complex. The back stories of all the characters are narrated and they seem pretty random tales till the dots start connecting.

The narration is like that of a web series plot with the right amount of suspense. However, at a few places I feel the author has over-explained things- some details which were even irrelevant to the story. I was even grossed out at a few points. And there is SO much of crime– right from gruesome murders to ruthless rapes that it actually makes you sit and think about the kind of society we’re residing in where it is actually easy to commit a crime and get away with.

In a nutshell, there’s a lot of stuff happening and you’re likely to get lost or keep the book down. I’d only suggest you to read this if you’re a seasoned crime thriller reader.

Ratings: 5/5⭐
Genre: Non-fiction; Self help, Psychology
Number of Pages: 214
Format: ebook (Google Playbooks)
Publisher: Bluerose Publishers

The Mind Game by Devika Das is a highly informative book on human psychology, dealing with complex topics of Emotional Quotient (EQ), varied moods, negative thoughts and tips to live a happier life with a healthier mindset. The book is divided into six sections and total of 31 chapters which talks extensively about every aspect of human behaviour- be it the pattern of thinking or reacting to an emotion or communication skills or response to the external world, in general. It also highlights that folks need to be in comfort with their inner self first, in order to find peace and happiness in their surroundings.

The first few chapters deal with the subtle topics of what exactly emotions are, how “emotions” and “feelings” are two different terms, why and how one should control one’s emotions and not always be too “emotionally driven” while taking a decision and the most emphasized term– Emotional Quotient, which is as important for human survival as Intelligence Quotient.

The author implies the art of effective communication which can only be applied when people are honest and have a healthy inner environment. Only when a person is clear in his/her thoughts and ideas can he/she understand the perspectives of others better and thus, can have an active conversation with them. It deals with both verbal and non verbal (body language, gesture, voice tone, etc) communication.

“If you wish to live a good life, do not ask why life is unfair. Instead, accept the challenges life throws at you.”

The book also talks about the negative emotions- fear, anger, anxiety, depression, et cetera and how they effect not only our mental health but also our physical and social health. Therefore, it’s extremely crucial to learn how to handle these emotions in the correct way.

Ultimately, it talks about how to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle, how to be elated and have a positive outlook on life.

I simply loved this book. I found it so gripping from the very first page that I couldn’t keep it down till I reached the last page. The book’s full of facts, statistics, quotations, precise points and elaborate passages. The writing style is very lucid, even when dealing with much complicated topics. It enlightened me about so many new terms and ideas. There are things which you’d need to process after you’ve read this book but once done with it, I’m sure you’ll have a fresh perspective towards everything. I’ll highly recommend this book to everyone!

Ratings: 3.5/5⭐
Genre: Fiction; Anthology
Number of Pages: 82
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Bluerose Publishers

The Lockdown by Rashmi Trivedi narrates the story of six people and how this lockdown changes their lives. The six people– Dr. Rajesh, Samar, Saurabh, Vijay, Ramakant and Divya who lived a live based on various principles and assumptions, apparently changed their perspectives and they decide to live a more healthy and meaningful life in this Lockdown.

Out of the six stories, the ones of Dr. Rajesh and Ramakant I found the most inspiring. It is because of ‘Corona warriors’ like them that we still hope to come out of this pandemic alive. The others who were infected with Covid-19, fought their battles valiantly, and got recovered soon. They learnt that life had given them a second chance and they should lead a humble and healthy life henceforth. The Lockdown also helped people enhance their relationships and connect better.

“Sometimes, all that one needs is faith to carry one through a rough time. Faith could give people the strength to overcome all obstacles. Faith could be on one’s own capabilities, on the capabilities of the leader or faith on God’s love. Faith was that twig that helped one to swim in rough conditions.”

The author has made an effort to put forward the optimistic side of this lockdown to spread positivity, with a message to look at the brighter picture in every situation. However, when I read the title of the book, I was expecting pretty more from the book. I mean, there’s so much you can talk about when you’re speaking of lockdown. I felt a lot of things were missed out.

Overall, it’s a short and simple read and many people might find it relatable so can give it a shot!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rashmi Trivedi is an author and a poet working as a Deputy General Manager in a leading PSU. She entered the literary world in 2016 with her first book, ‘Woman, everything will be fine’, which became a bestseller in its genre. ‘From ashes to dreams’ which was published in 2018 rose to the number two position in Amazon best sellers’ chart. 2047: The unifier which was launched in January this year is creating ripples because of its unique futuristic story about the union of India and Pakistan. The lockdown is her fifth book. A working mother of two children, Trivedi lives with her family in Delhi.

Ratings: 4/5⭐
Genre: Non-fiction; Anthology
Number of Pages: 83
Format: e-book
Publication date: 22nd April 2020
Publisher: Litburg

Tales of Unstoppable Women by Urmi Thakker is an 83-pages book which narrates the stories of seven women who struggled their way out to make an impact on the society and aimed to create something big not only for themselves but also for the people around them.

The book talks about these women and respects them for their boldness and strong determination. All of them faced certain disturbing situations but they didn’t succumb to those circumstances, instead they faced their fears and tried their best to make their lives better and contributed something significant to the society. Be it a housemaker or a single mother, all these women have an exceptional vision and unaltered determination which have helped them make a difference. Their will to fulfill their dreams despite their conditions makes them a woman worth looking up to, not just for other women but for everyone.

“You are unique. You are different. Stop being like other people. Focus on your unique strengths and core values that make you who you are.”

After reading the stories, I had a sense of adulation and regards for them for they are not the VICTIM of their lives, but the HEROES. The book talks about how one should accept oneself for who one is, should be honest with oneself and love oneself for being so. My favourite part of the book was the three questions mentioned at the end of each chapter for introspection. The basic idea these stories give us is “every cloud has a silver lining”, so we should never give up hope and always try to make our dreams come true. Through the stories the author also implies that there is no substitute for hard work, perseverance and determination.

It’s a short, highly- motivating book and it’s for everyone to read, not just women. The stories are really inspiring and yearn to be read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Urmi Thakker, MD (Pathology), is passionate about personal growth and development and imparts knowledge in the same area to help people improve their quality of life. What started as a hobby has now turned into her life’s purpose! Having seen the medical side of healing and understood the physical aspects of healing mechanisms of our body, she was intrigued by the power of the human mind. And hence, she chose to work on attitudes, approach, and mind power to help people reset their minds, heal, and progress in life. She is an internationally certified NeuroLinguistic Practitioner, personally trained by Dr. Richard Bandler, Internationally Certified Eutaptics Practitioner (In training) and Arfeen Khan Certified ‘Incredible You’ Coach and many other modalities. Currently, she is working as a mindset coach. She helps people harness their powers and talents, which are otherwise lost or suppressed by mental blocks. This way, she helps them break the boundaries of self-belief and use their mind at its full potential. She truly believes that we all have the potential to live an extraordinary life, and simple hacks can profoundly impact our quality of life.

Ratings: 4/5⭐
Genre: Non Fiction; Business
Number of Pages: 295
Format: Kindle

Take off your start up deals with how to start a business; explained in 145 Startup Stories, 8 Steps to choose new business ideas, 72 concepts to create business plan.

The author has carefully weaved the chapters with crucial and most frequently asked questions about entrepreneurship. The book has been divided into 17 chapters, each deals with different business-related concepts which are very precise and specific. Each concept has a relevant success and failure story, a business pearl, statistics, apt quotes from famous and successful folks and scientific approach on every theory.

“If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”
-Warren Buffet

The book deals with everything from little things like completing the daily to-do list to herculean tasks of working out the best to keep the company up and running. In a nutshell, the book is all about management. What I like the best about the book is, the author does not sugarcoat anything. He merely puts down all the facts and details related to start ups, irrespective of how they might sound.

The only turn off is the numerous typos and grammatical errors in the book. It does need to be proofread thoroughly. But the fact that it’s filled with so much of knowledge compensates for it.

Being an aspiring entrepreneur myself, I really liked the book. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who’s thinking of building a start up or is getting an MBA degree or is simply interested in business administration and wants to know more about it.

“If you don’t distinguish yourself from the crowd, you’ll just be the crowd.”
– Rebecca Mark.

Ratings: 4.5/5⭐
Genre: Non Fiction; Self Help
Number of Pages: 238
Format: Kindle
Publication in: 1937
Original Publisher: The Ralston Society

“Man’s only limitation, within reason, lies in his development and use of his imagination.”

The most inspiring book written in late 1930’s which has been a bestseller for over 80 years, selling millions of copies throughout the globe, Think and Grow Rich is Oliver Napoleon Hill’s magnum opus. I had heard so much about this book that “if you want to be successful in life, you must read this book”. Well, I finally read it and it’s worth all the hype.

“A mind dominated by positive emotions, becomes a favorable abode for the state of mind known as faith.”

The book talks about 13 principles to be mastered: Desire, Faith, Auto-suggestion, Specialized knowledge, Imagination, Organized planning, Decision, Persistence, the Power of the master mind, the Mystery of sex transmutation, the Subconscious mind, the Brain, and the Sixth sense. The narration is made so engaging by adding the motivational stories of the millionaires like Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and more.

Napoleon Hill took more than twenty years traveling and interviewing the rich men and distilled all his experience and knowledge of a lifetime in this book and henceforth, even after decades of being published, people still find this relevant. Not only if you want to be an entrepreneur, but whenever you have a desire, backed by faith and love, you should read this book. It’ll give you a highly positive mindset and attitude so you actually feel motivated to work towards your goal.
This book was written during the great economic depression and I feel this will be an appropriate read given an impending economic crisis is again looming over us.

The words and phrases are pretty rich and you should have certain extent of maturity so as to understand the concept of the book fully. But I’d genuinely recommend everyone to read this book atleast once in a lifetime as it’s totally worth it!

“Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.”

Ratings: 4/5⭐
Genre: Fiction; Fantasy
Number of Pages: 171
Format: Kindle
Publication Date: 22nd March, 2020
Publisher: Gloryburg

SUMMARY

Scarlett, the Illuminos Princess of the Sky Kingdom loses her memory and her parents in a fierce fight with a menacing Obsidian, Tristan. She falls off from the sky to the evil Queen Callista’s kingdom of Brutus. She is quickly rescued by Black Viper (aka Ziana) to the neighboring kingdom, to Queen Edwina, who’s kind-hearted. Scarlett goes to the best school in the realm but she fails to lead the life of a normal teenager as she’s chased by guileful monsters.
How long will she survive all this when she doesn’t even remember who she is and what potential she has?

“It’s not about your race, Scarlett. It’s about what you do. What you are capable of. You don’t really need someone to tell you that. Your true identity is what you are on the inside.”

PERSONAL REVIEWS

Scarlett, by Rajendra Sarilla is a dynamic and impressive story. The narration is very fast paced and gripping from the very first page. The turn of events makes it so intriguing that it’s absolutely a page-turner. It’s a fairy tale but not with a cheesy romance plot; instead with Warrior Princesses and Dragons and ferocious battles. There’s a hidden sense of feminism as all the main characters are women, from the protagonist to the villain.
Also, the book teaches you to find your inner potential which can be defined by no one else but you.
However, I’d have liked the story more if there was more details about the Illuminos, and the Sky Kingdom. Overall, it’s a great book and deserves a read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajendra Sarilla lives in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. He is an Engineer by education & an educator by profession. Scarlett is the product of his real passion: story-telling. When he is not writing, he does stand-up comedy at open-mic events. He is a big Marvel Universe fan and does not miss any of their movie releases.

Ratings: 4.5/5⭐
Genre: Fiction; History, Mythology
Number of Pages: 380
Format: Kindle
Publication Date: 1st January, 2008
Publisher: Picador

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni which deals with the tumultuous and timeless tale of Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective is a masterpiece and a bestseller.

“A situation in itself, is neither happy nor unhappy. It’s only your response to it that causes your sorrow.”

SUMMARY

The epic is narrated in Draupadi’s (aka Panchaali) voice, beginning right from the magical birth of her brother, Dhristadyumna, and her from the inferno, when she is prophesied to “change the course of history”. Even born in the extensive patriarchal society, Draupadi holds an interest and a keen eye on the scholastic studies, which were only allowed for her brother.

“In a society that looked down its patrician nose on anything except milk- and- almond hues, this was considered most unfortunate, especially for a girl.”

A Swaym-var is arranged for Draupadi to choose her husband where the Kings and Princes from all renowned kingdoms came to participate, including Duryodhan, Karna and Arjun (in disguise). Karna is humiliated by Panchaali infront of everyone else for being a lowborn so he leaves and consequently she is married to Arjun and eventually to all the five heroic Pandav brothers. Henceforth, her life changes drastically. Soon, they move to Khandav, where Maya creates the most enchanting palace ever for them: THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS (from where the book gets its name).

However, as Krishna says “We are all just pawns in the hand of time”, Yudisthir lost all of the Pandavas’ weath, their beautiful palace and kingdom, and even Draupadi. Panchaali is insulted the way no woman should ever be, and in a fit of anger she curses the Kauravas which leads to the great war of Kurukshetra between the Pandavas and Kauravas after 13 years. The Palace of Illusions is the story of Draupadi, from the little naïve girl who craved for nothing but love, to the woman who gouged a deeper mark into history!

“Let the past go. Be at ease. Allow the future to arrive at its own pace, unfurling its secrets when it will.”

PERSONAL REVIEWS

I’m simply in love with this rendition of the Mahabharata. What’s best about the book is the writing style of the author. The way she has empathised with Draupadi and imagined the full situation of Mahabharata, while crafting this unique composition is appreciable. The vivid description and lucid writing helps you to almost visualise all that was happening in the past, from the Palace of Illusions to the Vanvaas incidents to the war of Kurukshetra. The actual plot of Mahabharata is extremely complicated, but here she tries to make it as much simplified as possible for her readers. The characters are very strong and a bit complex. I liked all the major characters from Arjun to Karna, from Bheeshma to Parikshit. I fell in love with the characters of Krishna and Draupadi (she might have been the first feminist ever). The bond, the love, the friendship these two characters share is impeccable.

“Can’t you ever be serious?” I said, mortified. “It’s difficult,” Krishna said. “There’s so little in life that’s worth it.”

However, the relation of Karna and Draupadi has been romanticised a bit. Though there is no written evidence of such a thing, nevertheless it only makes the plot more intriguing. I can’t stop myself from thinking that what could have been the consequences if Draupadi had chosen Karna instead of Arjun. The narration is so fast paced that you can’t keep the book down till you’ve reached the last page. If you’re someone who has even an iota of interest in Hindu mythology, go pick this up RIGHT NOW!

“What is more numerous than the grass? The thoughts that rise in the mind of man. Who is truly wealthy? That man to whom the agreeable and disagreeable, wealth and woe, past and future, are the same. What is the most wondrous thing on earth? Each day countless humans enter the Temple of Death, yet the ones left behind continue to live as though they were immortal.”

Ratings: 4.5/5⭐
Genre: Fiction; Fantasy
Number of Pages: 340
Format: Kindle
Publication Date: November 19, 2018
Publisher: Independently Published

SUMMARY

Ankido Gulzar, a twelve- year- old British- Iraqi boy, is an admirer and dreamer of words. One morning, Habubti, his grandmother comes up to him and tells him that his father , who’s a distinguished archaeologist, is missing as he went for one of his field trips in Iraq. Habubti entrusts Ankido with a book titled “The Land Of Mesopo” and a quill in a small, red box and leaves him in the care of his uncle and aunt, to look for his father. As soon as Habubti is gone, Aunt Geraldine, in lure of the Gulzar Estate, decides to send Ankido to a boarding school. But fate has decided something else and he lands in the desert leading to the Library of Nineveh, which connects the fantasy world (Mesopo) with the real world.
There he meets Scribe Mohan and Zinaida, who tell him that something terrible has happened and Mesopo is ill as innumerable words have been stolen from it. His grandmother and father are stuck there and only he, who is the new “Tale Smith” can save them and the rest of Mesopo. The long quest with Humbaba, the word thief and all the adventures included, makes this one a very interesting read.

“You must never think of the whole road at once. You must only occupy your mind with the next step. And the next. And the next. And before you know it, you have reached the end of the road.”

PERSONAL REVIEWS

Mesopo by Eva Dietrich is an intriguing read. I loved the book for it’s vivid description of the fantasy land of Mesopo, from where all the stories origin. The story and plot is very simple and easy. The writing is pretty lucid, keeping in mind that it’s a book for ten year olds. There are images added in between the chapters, and trust me you’ll always like books with pictures no matter how old you are!

Through the story, the author tries to highlight the importance of words, stories and books in our lives and tries to make us believe that the only boundary is our imagination. The characters are so vibrant that you’re bound to like them. Initially the book is a slow read but after a few chapters, it gains pace and you can’t put it down till you’ve reached the last page. I’d highly recommend this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eva Dietrich is the author of The Great Rainbow Hug (Le gros câlin arc-en-ciel, from Samir Editeur, 2011), recognized by La Revue Des Livres Pour Enfants in 2011 as their annual selection. Eva holds Masters’ Degrees in Children’s Literature from the University of Surrey, London and Creative Writing from the Metropolitan University of Manchester, UK, and is the founder and director of Aladdin Books. She is equal parts Spanish and German, and currently resides in Madrid with her three kids, three dogs, two cats, three rabbits and lots of hens.

Ratings: 4.5/5⭐

Genre: Fiction; Fantasy
Number of Pages: 494
Format: Hardcover
Publication  Date: 15th December, 2019
Publisher: Harvill Secker

The Starless Sea is the second novel by Erin Morgenstern which was nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards for Fantasy.

“Sometimes, someone finds a door and opens it and peers inside only to close it again. Some will find a door and open it and pass through to see where it leads.”

SUMMARY

Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a second year student of Emerging Media, in New England, is fond of reading novels. He visits the campus library to find a mysterious book amongst the stacks of uncountable books. It doesn’t have the name of it’s author or publisher but wrapped in red leather all it said on the cover was “Sweet Sorrows”. The book looked intriguing so he picked it up and soon is beguiled by tales of lovelorn prisoners, lost cities, and nameless acolytes, until he comes across a chapter which is a story of his own childhood days when he sees a door painted on a wall but doesn’t open it. It leaves him bewildered and he becomes really skeptical about it. He discovers the symbols concealed by the library barcode- a bee, a key and a sword, which takes him to a masquerade party by some literary organisation where he meets Mirabel and Dorian. They are taken to one of the “Harbours” on The Starless Sea, which is kind of a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with infinite stories and books. Zachary falls into an intoxicating world soaked in romance and mystery. As Dorian, Mirabel and Zachary dig deeper into the space, it’s stories and it’s mysteries, looking for lost answers and themselves, with the help of Fate and Time, they unwind stories of love, heartbreak and magic all floating above The Starless Sea!

“There are so many pieces to a person. So many small stories and so few opportunities to read them.”

PERSONAL REVIEWS

“How are you feeling?” Zachary asks.
“Like I am losing my mind, but in a slow, achingly beautiful sort of way.”

I felt kind of same when I was reading The Starless Sea. The way it leads you to the mystical lands and makes you fall in love with those places is insane! I liked The Starless Sea for what it is- a fantasy. The proses, the metaphors, the short stories, alongside the main plot is commendable. However, it is a slow read and deserves to be cherished bit by bit. I can’t say that it’s a very lucid read, which is why not everyone will like it. Plus, it’s a BIG book with 494 pages so needs a lot of patience to read all of it at one go (which you should else you might not connect the dots). The best part is the end is a cliffhanger which makes me yearn for a sequel but even if we don’t get one it’s fine because it’s still a really good book as a stand alone. Since, it’s the Lockdown phase and you can’t really move out of your house, you can always pick up this fantasy read and drift away to an imaginary world!

“Not all stories speak to all listeners, but all listeners can find a story that does, somewhere, sometime. In one form or another.”