Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Review of Born to Be Hanged: Political Biography of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

"Born to be hanged" - Political Biography of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) is one of the kind of genre that I have tried the first time. Before I talk about ZAB or author I would like to praise book designer. Hardcovered book & its content is wonderfully designed. It is one of such book which you can keep in your library no matter content is interesting or not.


Book blurb
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto held the reins of the country from 1971 to 1977. He was overthrown in 1977 by his Chief of Army Staff, General Zia-ul-Haq and executed in 1979. Zia-ul-Haq ruled over Pakistan for eleven years with an iron fist, curbing all dissent until he got blown up in an air crash in 1988. In almost three decades since, Pakistan’s leadership has changed hands fifteen times. An extremely controversial and confrontational politics is associated with the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is therefore not surprising that, considering his towering stature, not enough has been researched and written about the tumultuous years of his accession to power culminating in what today is best described as regicide. Syeda Hameed delves deep into the politics of Pakistan, meeting Bhutto’s contemporaries, mining information from archives and letters to bring to the fore a rich yet disturbing life and times of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Now talking about ZAB's life. The book has covered how ZAB son of a Jagirdar (landlord) rose to the top & eventually went down. ZAB's childhood & upbringing was done with great care. He attended prestigious schools & colleges, he was a star performer during his schooling.He was active in politics even during his studies. He had to come back Pakistan due to his father's death. When he came back he joined Pakistan politics & represented Pakistan in UN. From there onwards, there was no look back for ZAB till one day he was imprisoned. Do read for more information.

The book is written with a good amount of research. It is having detailed annexure for those who would be interested in only his major life & political events. 

Talking about ratings
  1. Cover & design - 4.5/5
  2. Content - 3.5/5
  3. Overall - 3/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Durga - Vimanika Comics

I have already praised work of Vimanika Comics in my last review of Shiva - The Immortal. Those who have missed it can check here.


While Shiva is an ongoing story. Durga is the collection of three stories of "Aadi Shakti" (Devine Goddess) incarnations. The first story covers Mahisasura - killing by Goddess Durga. The second part covers the Vaishno-Devi story, where she killed Bhairav Nath. The Last story is about Goddess Mahakali's rise & end of Raktabija.


Though these stories we heard from our childhood, Vimanika has given a modern way of portraying. Where Shiva was pure mythology-based series, these series have some fictional content to make it more interesting. This series is for more mature people & young ones. The artwork is better than Shiva.

The only issue I found was a confusion of following dialogs. I am used to referring flow of Manga, maybe that's the reason. So I am not forcing on that point. Talking about ratings

Talking about ratings

  1. Cover - 4.5/5
  2. Artwork - 4.5/5
  3. Content - 3.5/5
  4. Storyline - 3/5
  5. Overall - 3.5/5
Book can be found at Amazon

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Monday, February 26, 2018

A Heart Touching Story - Little Maryam by Hamid Baig

If you would like to read emotional books, try "Little Maryam" by Hamid Baig. It is so touching that I literally cried at the end. This book shows the power of unconditional love in a magnificent way.


Book Blurb
While giving an acceptance speech for his Nobel Prize nomination, Dr. Saadiq Haider, a renowned gene therapist and professor at Stanford University, receives a phone call that changes his life. Abandoning his duties and responsibilities, Saadiq hurriedly boards a flight bound for India, embarking on a journey that spans thousands of miles and pulls him back into a past Saadiq thought long-buried. Seated next to him on the flight, Anne Miller-an intrepid journalist with a nose for headline news-senses the reclusive genius has a story to tell. During the flight, Anne manages to break through Saadiq's hard exterior and listens, rapt, as he unfurls a tale fraught with love and heartbreak. His story transports Anne back in time to a small, sleepy town nestled in the mountains of northern India, where Saadiq spent his childhood. Through Saadiq's narrative, Anne meets Maryam and witnesses the friendship between Maryam and Saadiq mature into an intense love; a love that is tested when tragedy strikes and the lovers are separated. Try as they might, their devotion is no match against the workings of fate, and the tighter Saadiq and Maryam cling to one another, the faster they slip apart. Now, after two decades of trying to forget his past with alcohol and drug abuse, Saadiq tells Anne that fate has acted again; Maryam is the hospital, her condition critical. When their plane lands in India, the newfound friends part ways and while Saadiq rushes to Maryam's side, Anne returns to her life, grateful to have met the enigmatic man. Months later, Anne learns that after wrenching Maryam from the indomitable grip of death, Saadiq took her back to America, where they finally married. But, her assumption that the greatest love story she had ever known would end happily is shattered when Anne receives devastating news. Reviews: "Little Maryam is a compelling story, filled with pain and heart, and culminating in such a poignant and original twist, it stayed with me for days after I put the book down." -Francine LaSala Author of A Comfortable Madness
"Little Maryam" is the story about Saadiq, a smart-intelligent boy, and Mariyam. Saadiq's father was a gardener in Mariyam's father garden. Her father was a colonel. Saadiq father introduced Saadiq to little Maryam. Soon they became friends. Their friendship converted into love soon. But a tragedy struck and they were forced to part ways. After many years they met again, but circumstances were different. Maryam had met an accident, and her memory of being married to another man and having an ill daughter is wiped out. Saadiq and Maryam tried to bring her memory back but couldn't so they moved on and got married. One day Sadiq found out about Salman, Maryam's husband, and her daughter Sania. Sania had a heart disease and a rare blood type which happens to be same as Saadiq's blood type. The situation became emotional where Saadiq had to decide the future of Sania.

The book is written very nicely. The part where Saadiq took the decision to save Maryam's daughter is written so beautifully that I can't hold back my tears while reading. The story I found a little bit clichéd but it's written so beautifully that I am able to forget that.

If you believe in love then you should read this book. This book is a perfect example of an unconditional love. And lastly Kudos to the author for writing.

Talking about ratings
  1. Cover : - 3.5/5
  2. Content : - 4/5
  3. Character : - 4/5
  4. Concept : - 3/5
  5. Overall : - 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Prem Purana - Mythological Local Stories by Usha Narayan

Blog Tour by The Book Club of PREM PURANA by Usha Narayanan


PREM PURANA:
MYTHOLOGICAL LOVE STORIES
by
Usha Narayanan

Blog Tour by The Book Club of PREM PURANA by Usha Narayanan


BLURB

Stories of love and extraordinary devotion 

No one is untouched by love, not even devas and asuras, kings and nymphs. And when they face life’s unexpected tribulations, their love also undergoes trials. Read how Ganesha took myriad forms to please Riddhi, Siddhi and Buddhi, how Ravana shared an unbreakable bond with his true love, Mandodari and how Nala and Damayanti’s relationship was tested till almost nothing remained. 

Tormented by passion, wracked by betrayal, torn by the agony of separation, love in its many splendored forms is the origin of these incredibly endearing stories of Prem Purana. 

READ AN EXCERPT
Ganesha stood with Brahma’s daughter Siddhi on the sacred soil of Kailasa, offering worship to the linga that Parvati had installed. He glanced at his companion’s proud face, knowing that he had embarked on a rough path in attempting to win her over. For now, however, he had to focus on his confrontation with Parasurama whom Shiva had blessed with his great axe.
Siddhi watched from a safe distance as Ganesha bowed to the warrior and requested him to wait until Shiva granted him permission to enter. But Parasurama angrily pushed him aside and strode towards the cave. Ganesha intercepted him, causing the angry warrior to raise his axe to threaten him.
Finding that his antagonist would not listen to mere words, Shiva’s son extended his trunk by many lengths and wound it around Parasurama 100 times. He then raised the warrior into the skies so that he could see the seven mountains, the seven oceans and the seven islands of the earth below him. Then he whirled him around and showed him all the lokas including Vaikunta, where Lord Vishnu presided on his lotus throne with Devi Lakshmi. With his yogic power, Shiva’s son granted Parasurama a vision of Goloka, the purest of realms, where blue-hued Krishna resided with Radha and his gopis.
After showing Parasurama how insignificant he was when compared to the primordial universe spanning endless time and space, Gajamukha dropped him gently on the ground outside Shiva’s cave. He smiled at Siddhi who stood dazed, clinging to a tree for support, as she too had been granted the supernal vision by Ganesha’s grace. She realized now that her cheerful friend was called Vakratunda not because of his crooked trunk, but because he was the one who straightened out the crooked.
Parasurama recovered from his stupor and saw that he was lying on the ground at Ganesha’s feet. Incensed by this humiliation, he sprang to his feet and took up his mighty axe. The parasu hurtled towards Ganesha with a deafening roar. Siddhi trembled, certain that her friend would not survive the dire power of his father’s weapon.
Strangely enough, Gajamukha made no attempt to counter Parasurama’s axe. Instead, he joined his hands in worship to the parasu and stood calmly as if reconciled to his death.
Siddhi heard a horrific crack as the parasu struck one of Ganesha’s tusks and severed it completely. It fell to the ground with a crash, smeared in blood, looking like a crystal mountain covered in red chalk. Shiva rushed out of the cave, followed by Parvati, who turned into fiery Durga when she saw that her son had been wounded. She discerned what had happened and raged at the warrior who stood before her with the axe that had returned to his hand.
‘O Parasurama!’ she said. ‘You may be learned and wise and the son of a great sage, yet you have allowed wrath to overcome you. You received your parasu from your guru, Shiva, but abused your gift by using it to wound his son. Ganesha, on the other hand, allowed the axe to sever his tusk due to his respect for his father’s weapon. What next will you do, Parasurama? Will you assail mighty Shiva himself? Presumptuous warrior! I curse you this day that though you are an avatara of my beloved Vishnu, no one on earth or heaven will ever worship you!’
Parasurama cowered before the angry goddess whose fury grew by the moment. ‘It is only due to Ganesha’s forbearance that you are still alive, for he can kill a hundred thousand Parasuramas in the blink of an eye,’ she said. ‘But I am unwilling to be so tolerant and will end your life today!’
Durga rushed towards him, with her trident aimed at his head. Parasurama stood unarmed and unresisting. He closed his eyes, joined his hands together and surrendered to Krishna.
‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!’ Parasurama chanted, invoking his god with his last breath.
At once, Krishna appeared before him, lustrous and omnipotent, granting him protection with one raised hand. Durga stopped mid-stride and gazed at Krishna. Her wrath vanished, dissolving like mist in the light of the sun. A beatific smile adorned her face. She offered him a reverential welcome along with Shiva.
Krishna addressed them gently, a calm smile on his face. ‘I have come here to rescue my devotee,’ he said. ‘Though Parasurama has committed a grievous sin, I request you to forgive him, Parvati. He is your son too, for you are the divine mother, the refuge of all creation. As for you, Parasurama, you have to undertake a severe tapasya to attain forgiveness. Worship the Devi who animates the three realms in the form of the gentle Gauri and the fierce Durga. Seek the blessings of Ganesha who is now Ekadanta, the lord with one tusk.’
Having offered his counsel, the lord returned to Goloka. Parasurama prostrated himself before the gods and laid his axe at Ganesha’s feet in tribute. He then retreated to a distant mountain to begin his worship. Parvati took her son into her mansion, to coddle him after his fierce encounter.  

Grab your copy @

Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Flipkart


About the Author



Usha Narayanan had a successful career in advertising, radio and corporate communications before becoming a full-time author. Her bestselling novels span multiple genres: ‘The Madras Mangler’, a suspense thriller; ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ (Harlequin) and ’Doctor Stalker Spy’ (Juggernaut), lighthearted romances; ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’, ‘The Secret of God’s Son’ and her latest ‘Prem Purana’ (all from Penguin) that have been praised as ‘Indian mythology at its fiercest and finest.’ Two new books are in the offing. When she is not travelling, writing or editing, Usha reads everything from thrillers and romances to the puranas.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author...


Praise for Usha’s books:

'Like the best of our mythological tales, Pradyumna: Son of Krishna too is a multilayered one...There is valour, there is cowardice, there is glory, there is shame, there is sex, lies and deception.’

The Secret of God’s Son is a compelling read on mythological tales.’ – The Sentinel


Prem Purana is so good! I am impressed at how Usha can write about Ganesha with so much personality while at the same time showing him as a cosmic divine being. ’ Dr Laura Gibbs, Professor, Indian Epics, University of Oklahoma 


You can stalk her @
      
        


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Saturday, February 24, 2018

To the Moon: How I Blogged My Way to Bollywood - An Inspirational Tale of Malini Agarwal

When Vishnu told me that he got his hands on "To the Moon: How I Blogged My Way to Bollywood" by Malini Agarwal, I could not contain my excitement. I messaged him to give the copy to me.

Malini Agrawal aka Miss Malini is one of the top Blogger in India and a role model to many aspiring Bloggers. I also have a Fashion blog (http://edgeofashion.blogspot.com/) so this book was kind of like must read for me.


"To The Moon" is an autobiography of Miss Malini. She has written about her life before the blog and after it. She has talked about people she encountered during her journey to the top, it also covers about how she build a brand. And finally notes from her friends including many celebrities.

Now the most awaited question "Is this book helpful!?" The answer is well both yes and no in terms of what you're asking.

Yes, if you're asking is this book helpful for inspiration and just the way of life than my answer is yes. The notes and all the #MMProTip is awesome.

No, if you're asking about blogging. I don't think so that this book has something that I already did not know about blogging. Yes if you don't know anything about blogging at all then this might help you.

So lastly if you're someone who knows miss Malini and are inspired by her then you should definitely read this book otherwise you might get bored.

Ratings
  1. Cover : - 3/5
  2. Content : - 3/5
  3. Concept : - 3/5
  4. Overall : - 3/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Friday, February 23, 2018

Meet John Thomas Author of The Big Switch

Last week we published review of The Big Switch: It's never too late by John Thomas. Those who missed it can check it here - Review Link



Can you tell our readers about your schooling & education?
I studied Bachelor of Engineering from Fr. Agnel college in Mumbai. It is a four year course, where you enter as one person and leave as another. After all, four years is a very long time, isn’t it? I was a very shy kid during my initial years at school. I think a part of me is still like that kid.
What are some day jobs you have held?
I have worked as a Software Programmer at companies like MAQ Software, Ugam Solutions, Gramener. I had also co-founded a content marketing startup in 2015 named Thought Triangle. Though it didn’t work, it taught me some very important life lessons. Apart from all this, I have also worked as a Mathematics professor and have also got a keen interest in the stock market.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? Which author inspire you the most?
It is strange, but in a way, I started reading after I started writing. Only after deciding to write my debut novel, I started picking up books regularly. Somehow, I don’t read books to enjoy them but to learn and understand the craft of writing better.

I am a person who doesn’t have many favorites, not just in writing but in other spheres as well. But I do find Khaled Hosseini’s writing many notches above all the other writers I have read.
I am currently reading Serious Men by Manu Joseph.
When did you start writing?
I started writing in December 2013. I was a very poor writer back then. Still not very great but definitely not as bad as I used to be then. And my first attempt at any sort of writing was my debut novel, The Big Switch.
When did you decide to become a writer?
It was in April 2013. I still remember the month because I had written it down somewhere that I was going to write a novel. And come November 2017, I had published my debut novel via Amazon KDP :)
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I want to reach more readers (which means ‘I want to become a bestselling author’ :P)

Yes, writing is a form of expression, one that you must enjoy even if there isn’t anyone at the receiving end. But a decent reader-base always helps. It means that there will always be readers who are willing to consume what you are going to produce next as a writer.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I don’t have a specific time when I write. If I have clarity on what I am supposed to write, then I can write anytime and anywhere. But getting to the stage where I have clarity takes time as it involves a lot of thinking.
What genre are your books?
If you are looking for an official genre, then it is contemporary fiction. But I like to call it an inspirational fiction.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
The Big Switch is a story which every person, who has a goal in life or is confused about what his goal is, will relate to. It is the story of a young man, who wants to have a better and more fulfilling life but is scared to take the leap of faith towards his dream. The things that happen when he takes this leap of faith is what forms the crux of the book.

Give us an insight into your main character
You know, of all the characters in the book, the protagonist (Keith Kurien) is the most unsure. He is also the most ordinary of them all. But he is also the one who acts based on his instincts. And when you will read the book, you will notice that this quality of his distinguishes him from everyone else.
Where did you get idea for this book?
The central theme of the book is something that I have learned in my life. That it’s never too late to do what you want to do in life. (Everyone is going to die. No matter what you do, you are not going to escape death. So, why not do something which we want to do and then die?)

I thought of writing a story around this theme and The Big Switch happened.
How much research did you do for this book?
Not much to be very honest. There were things which needed research. But it wasn’t very substantial. You can say, five to ten percent of all the work that I put in for the book was research. 
Who is your favorite character in your book and why? (If applicable)
I really don’t have a favorite character from the book. Even if very small, every character has a purpose in the story. But if you will push me for a name, I might go ahead and say Ramesh Singh.
What was the most difficult thing about writing your latest book?
When I began with the story, I didn’t know how to write. Like I said previously, it was my first attempt at writing. So, it was very challenging. But with every chapter that I wrote, I got more and more comfortable.
What are you working on at the minute?
I am preparing the plot for my second book at the moment. It is mostly going to be about love, religion and how they interact/collide with each other.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Yes, that’s the new trend and I would love to write a book series. But I haven’t got any ideas/stories at the moment.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Just write!

And after you have done that, you must listen to that honest voice at the back of your mind which tells you how you have done. If you keep on writing and keep on improving yourself based on that voice, then there is no stopping you.
Links for your book readers

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Book Review - What Next?

"What Next?" by Santosh Gangadharan is an excellent mixture of history and advanced sci-fi technologies that will occur in future. The story twirls around the journey of a soul.



Book Blurb
WHAT NEXT? That is what the quest is for. An Omani couple travels in India's Chandrayaan 8 mission to moon. While in transit, strange things occur in the spacecraft. During the end of the 15th century, Vasco Da Gama travels to Calicut in India via Malindi, a kingdom on the eastern coast of Africa. Around the same time the great Omani traveller Ahmed Ibn Majid also makes several voyages in these seas. Two sailor brothers from Liwa in Oman are destined to travel with Ahmed. Meanwhile their pretty sister falls in love with a stranger who had come across the ocean to Liwa. Strange circumstances drive the lovers to elope from Oman to Calicut in India. Their past catches up with them and they disappear mysteriously, leaving their son under the tutelage of a local couple. Brave Abhay is adept in martial arts, and different languages and customs. Strange dreams of a man in distress perturb the boy and he sets off to find the man in his dreams. His travails take him through the jungles of Kerala braving the sniper war between the moors (Arabs) and the parangis (Portuguese). When he learns of his origin, he travels over the high seas to reach his roots in the hope of meeting the one who gave birth to him. In his homeland he encounters the threat of the Portuguese and the evil from the past threatens his parents' existence. He has to act fast to protect his family from uncertain danger. He races against time to carry out his mission. The future of the couple in Chandrayaan is entangled with the past of a family in Liwa. What destiny has designed for each one cannot be changed. Rules have to be followed, albeit in ignorance. The soul has its way of drawing the life of its carrier. Nobody is allowed to edit what is already written. The voyage continues.
The plot of the book is quite new. The author talks about the ancient history of Oman, Saudi Arabia, where people buried their dead ones on mountain tops to help their souls to complete their journey.

The story covers India's mission to the moon: Chandrayana 8. With its travelers' roots in past from 15th century. The author has narrated science with a twist of mystery and thrill. At every chapter, the story will leave you guessing What next?

Although the ending of the story was bit abrupt in a philosophical way. The author left us to assume what had happened.

Overall a good gripping historical fiction novel till the end.

Talking about ratings:
  1. Cover: 3/5
  2. Characters: 4/5
  3. Concept: 4/5
  4. Overall: 3.5/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

We would like to thank Leadstart Publishers (Frog Books) for providing this opportunity to review book. Readers can check their wonderful collection of books by going through this link - Leadstart Books

Sunday, February 18, 2018

The Big Switch - It's never too late by John Thomas

I had mixed feelings when I have got this book. It was highly praised book looking by reviews. Though fictional, it was a story of an IT guy and that's why I was bit hesitant. Still, I started this book, and I really liked the was story progressed.



Book Blurb
AN INSPIRATIONAL TALE WITH A TWIST 
What does a 24-year-old man want in life? Love? A decent job?
Keith has both. He is a software engineer at a reputable company and has a girlfriend whom he loves a lot. Yet, there is something missing in his life. He is not even close to being happy. Only after losing his girlfriend, he realizes what the reason for his unhappiness is. He realizes that he is caught up in the wrong career. With time running out, he knows that he must switch to a new career — one that makes him happy. But, is 24 too late to do that? Is he making a mistake? Find out as Keith follows his heart in pursuit of an impossible-looking dream
The protagonist of our story is Keith. Being a solely responsible guy for his family economic responsibility he was giving his 100% in his current IT job. Captured between insensible boss and over-expectant girlfriend his life had become frustrating, boring & monotonous. His frustration crossed limits when his annual appraisal & girlfriend both dumped him. In the mix of leaving the company or doing something else, he got chance to work with a new manager for the duration of 2 weeks. And that was all he could have asked of the God. His life got new direction after meeting that guy. I don't want to reveal more information. So do check the book for the same.

Talking about writing style, I was finding book "okay-okay" in first few chapters. Maybe I have worked in IT industry, where I have seen a similar situation in the day-to-day. Maybe for the people from other industry/mindset find it more interesting. Having said that story takes an interesting turn once Keith meth new manager, Ramesh. Their conversation was having inspirational material. Every few pages you can find a life-changing quote or line. I have shared more than 10 such wonderful line on Twitter while reading the book.

Talking about characterization, the author has used optimized detailing to create them. You won't find too much use of words to explain or describe a thing. The storyline was also to the point. The pace was medium to fast, appropriate for the genre.

My suggestion to the author, when the book goes for printing edition (and I think it will go), do get some a better cover design.

Talking about ratings
  1. Cover - 3/5 
  2. Content - 4/5
  3. Concept - 4/5
  4. Overall - 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon India & Amazon USA
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Draupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidya

I wanted to read "Draupadi" by Kajal Oza-Vaidya ever since I heard praise of it from Vimmy. I could have borrowed it but I wanted to have a copy of the same. And finally I got my copy and I read it in 4-5 sittings. I must say it's an implacable read.



Book Blurb
આ પુસ્ર્તકમાં દ્રૌપદી વિશે કહેવામાં આવ્યું છે કે વિશ્વની કોઈ પણ સફળ, સુંદર અને બુદ્ધિશાળી સ્ત્રીએ પોતાના વ્યક્તિત્વને અકબંધ રાખવા સંધર્ષ કરવો જ પડે છે. પ્રશ્ન પૂછવાનો અધિકાર એ કાળમાં પણ સ્ત્રી પાસે નહોતો અને આજે પણ પ્રશ્નનો પ્રતિઉત્તર મેળવવા માગતી સ્ત્રીએ સમાજ સાથે સંધર્ષમાં ઊતરવું જ પડે છે. એક સ્ત્રીનાં લોહીમાં વહેતી,એના મનમાં ઊગેલી,એના હ્રદયમાં ધબકતી અને મસ્તિષ્કમાં રહીને સતત એના અસ્ત્તિત્ત્વને તહસનહસ કરતી એક સર્વાગ સંપૂર્ણ, સંવેદનશીલ નારીની આ કથા છે.
Dhrupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidh is a Gujarati novel based on Mahabharat 's character Dhrupadi. This book is written in Draupadi's perspective of Mahabharat. What must have gone through her mind at that time and what was her opinion on Mahabharat's battle.

The book is written wonderfully. Though the book is written on an ancient character, still a modern day woman could also relate to it. Draupadi's friendship with Shree Krishna is also written impressively.

All I want to say is that in my opinion, every woman should read this book at least once. It is always an experience to read Kajal Oza's book.

Ratings
  1. Cover : - 4/5
  2. Content : - 4.5/5
  3. Character : - 4.5/5
  4. Concept : - 4/5
  5. Overall : - 4.5/5
Book can be found at Flipkart & Amazon 

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - Soul Warrior Volume 1 - Age of Kali

Book Blurb
Fight fate, or succumb to destiny? 
In the dark Age of Kali, the Soul Warrior alone stands guard over the Human Realm, protecting its denizens from evil-willed asuras or demons. When a trick of fate appoints him guru to a motley crew of godlings, he agrees to train them as demon hunters against his better judgment. Suddenly, Lord Karna is not only battling the usual asuras with sinister agendas, but also rebellious students and a fault-ridden past. 
Spanning the cosmic realms of mythic India, here is a tale of a band of supernatural warriors who come together over a singular purpose: the salvation of Karna’s secret child.
In Mahabharata war the most of the earth warrior died, Danavas / Asuras started spreading chaos on the earth. Yamraja granted Karna special powers and celestial duty of Soul warrior to control & fight Adharma. Few thousand year later, a Rakshasa named Vala was defeated by Karna, but Karna was not able to annihilate him completely. In current time, Karna was handling his job properly, when Tridevas appeared and gave him the job of training six of Draupadi's kids. The shock was that youngest of the kids was Karna's. And as that was not enough he found they were girls. 

During Mahabharata time, Karna was informed by Narayana that if he and Draupadi mate then their first born child can destroy the world. Due to that, he didn't appear in front of Draupadi a night before Swayamwara, which made Druapadi insult him during Swayamwara. Where Karna was trying to understand why he was given responsibilities of Draupadi's kids, somewhere in the Patala Shukracharya was doing something sinister.

As usual Falguni's book is full of the emotional turmoil of lead characters. Though the theme was a mythological thriller, it was more towards mythological emotional drama. The pace is slow, only action parts are fast. Talking about characters they were developed leisurely by Falguni. 

I would like to thank DDS & Falguni Kothari for personally arranging review copy of this book.

Ratings
  1. Cover - 4/5
  2. Characters - 3.5/5
  3. Overall -  3/5
Book can be found at Flipkart, Amazon India & Amazon USA
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Friday, February 16, 2018

Ira Oberoi's Pursuit of Love by Niti Chopra

"Ira Oberoi's Pursuit of Love" by Niti Chopra is a very nice love at first sight kind of love story. The storyline is gripping and flow of the story is also well maintained. We came across very few Indian love stories which are up to mark but this is the one.

Book Blurb
Sparkling and zesty with a dash of green, a Virgin Mojito is a unique blend up and Ira is one lucky girl to have found her Mojito – tall and handsome with green eyes, he is in every definition the intoxication for her. In a twist of tales, the traditional concept of the boy wooing the girl goes for a toss. Smitten at first sight, she boldly pursues her love interest, every bit candid and upfront about it. 

But what is a concoction if not for a heady mix of elements? Her descriptive personal diary falls in the hands of her mother who, on the verge of a cardiac arrest, forbids her from getting into a relationship with the guy she has fallen for. 
Will Ira stand up for the love that she has found?Or will she be the ideal daughter and keep the promise for her mother’s sake? Will hers be a love story that finds it difficult to have a sweet ending or will it be the perfect fairytaleto be remembered down the years?
The thing I like about this novel is its written with such a simplicity and yet with so much of connecting. The author has actually made the reader visualize every situation precisely.

A nineteen-year college student fell in love with a green-eyed boy. The story covers their journey from being a friend to lover, from confronting the traditional Indian household marital issues to overcome them flawlessly.

This novel teaches us to live and enjoy every moment of life with joy and follows our heart for every decision. Because decisions taken by the brain may seem right but decisions taken by heart will give you the inner peace which is best.

Overall A nice light-hearted novel to read.

Ratings:
  1. Cover: 4/5
  2. Characters: 5/5
  3. Concept: 5/5
  4. Overall: 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Monday, February 12, 2018

Comic Review - Shiva - The Legend Of The Immortal Book 1

I love to read Japanese manga. And I won't feel ashamed to accept that I still follow One Piece every week. I have read Naruto, Fairy Tale, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist & many more mangas. And I always felt that our culture & heritage is rich enough to create multiple comics based on it. I have seen usual Indian comics like Chacha Chaudhari & Nagaraj but there was a missing component in it. These comics were written for kids & kids only. Whereas in other countries comics were written with different angles for different age groups.


Book blurb
Shiva The Legends of the Immortal submerges readers into the story of origin of the universe & Lord Shiva's marriage to Sati. "The Legends of the Immortal" Lord Shiva is the central figure of the Holy Trinity of Hindu Gods- Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu as the other two. Lord Shiva is hailed as a spiritual guide and destroyer of creation. Lord Shiva taught the Vedas to Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to facilitate the process of creation. Lord Shiva is the epitome of devotion, spiritualism and vedic knowledge. Lord Shiva is also known as Bholenath(another name for Shiva) who rushes to the aid of his devotees if they are in trouble. The tales of Lord Shiva depicts the importance of spiritualism in Vedic culture and the triumph of good over evil. In the forthcoming Graphic Novels, authentic Hindu Mythology will be presented to you in inimitable Vimanika style. In each volume we will depict tales of Shiva, which reveal various aspects of Lord Shiva's complex personality.
When I have seen few posters of Vimanika comics I instantly felt that missing gap can be filled with these wonderful comics. I instantly went for Shiva - The legend of Immortals. I selected it based on cover only but the moment I opened it I felt like a precious book. It's artwork, quality of content & quality of product pages are wonderful.

The story is not new for those who have kept eyes ears open to our mythology. The first part covers the creation of universe followed by the creation of mankind. The grudge of Daksha against Shiva, union of Shiva & Sati, finally separation fo Shiva & Sati. Though the story seems less, for comics followers it is enough in one volume. And each sequence was properly drawn with required details. The only issue I found at some places that characters faces were different but not a big issue.

A perfect gift for kids & young age once. Though any age group can enjoy it.

Talking about ratings
  1. Cover -4/5
  2. Artwork - 4.5/5
  3. Content - 3.5/5
  4. Overall - 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Become: The 5 Critical Conversational Practices

I rarely read self-help book especially related to personality development. If I have been to window shopping to a book-shop I might have missed this book as I ignore the whole section of self-help. I checked the cover of "Become" by Sameer Dua and thought of giving a try. And I really liked the book.


Book Blurb
Become is an invitation to you to choose a powerful 'posture' in your leadership, and life. You don't 'become' by knowing more, you 'become' by shifting your practices, and in case of leadership, by shifting and creating new conversational practices. Which is why this book is not about understanding new concepts, but about learning new practices to shift 'who you be', moment to moment. The promise of this book is to provide, in simple words, the fundamentals of the critical leadership coaching conversations to enable leaders to generate sustainable, extraordinary results.
The book is started with the importance of conversation. Believe me not just me but the most of the professionals think only about end results. If things not done then all other things are treated as arguments. Author has thrown light with the help of examples that it won’t be the case every time. In most of the situations, a proper conversation is missing between two channels. Then Sameer has explained the role of leaders. Normally people think leadership is just to lead outputs but successful leaders are those who coach his team. And then starts the crux of the book. i.e. important aspects of conversation for coaching. Author has finished with Adobe’s case study which was equally interesting.

I liked the book and the way the serious material was delivered. It reminded with me, my previous boss. I have seen similar leadership style in him.

It is a perfect gift for professionals. Talking about rating:
  1. Cover – 3.5/5
  2. Content – 4/5
  3. Concept – 4/5
  4. Overall – 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Friday, February 9, 2018

The Inheritors: Stories of Enduring Success and Innovation

I am a big fan of entrepreneur stories. I have read most of the books of Rashmi Bansal. So the moment I saw "The Inheritors: Stories of Enduring Success and Innovation" by Sonu Bhasin I jumped for it.



Book Blurb
Why did Harsh Mariwala leave his family business?
Why did the Burman family quit the day-to-day operations of Dabur?
How did the Dhingras turn a collapsing business into India's second-largest paint company?
The Inheritors offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in Marico, Dabur, Keventers, Berger Paints, Select Group, Antara, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Luxor and Motilal Oswal. The book focuses on culture, family politics, ego battles, business rivalries and a lot more. And then, of course, there are the inheritors themselves-some take the businesses to even greater heights while others lead them to doom.
Inheritors is the compilation of success stories about the brands/companies we hear in day-to-day life. Dabur, Berger, Motilal Oswal and 6 more big brands were covered in the book. Each of the stories started with how each of the inheritor's forefathers has established the empire. Being part of such big empire how these individuals have spent childhood or youth. What are the reasons they wanted to do something different from their established business? How they have handled the rollercoaster life of the business.

Being an MBA and a Gujarati myself I like to reach such stories as they give inspiration of thinking differently, motivation to work hard/smart and understanding of different businesses. I personally adored this book. Thanks, Writersmelon for arranging review copy.

Talking about ratings
  1. Cover - 3/5
  2. Content - 4.5/5
  3. Overall - 4.5/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

1 Man, 10 Years, 100 Life Goals - The Art of Fully Living by Tal Gur

"The Art of Fully Living", what made me really read this book was this phrase on the cover "1 man, 10 years, 100 life goals". The instant thought after reading that cover phrase was "What journey did this man go through to reach 100 life goals? " And after reading this book I must say I am rejuvenated and astonished. It was a great inspiring read.


Book blurb
The Art of Fully Living takes you along the exhilarating ride of Tal’s journey while illuminating your own possible life-goal trajectory: as Tal relates how he socialized nonstop in vibrant Melbourne to master English and trained intensively to complete Ironman New Zealand and practice ancient Thai martial arts, you’ll learn how to apply immersion to achieve your own life goals; as Tal describes how he eliminated his crushing student debt in one year and attained financial and location independence, you’ll learn how to simplify your life, recognize your own present wealth, and turn your passions into a living; and as Tal animates his experiences learning to surf and salsa, to drum in a troupe and compose electronic music, and to write this very book, you’ll learn how to let your intuition be your guide, reveal your authentic core, and achieve flow—among the myriad other adventures and take-aways that fill this book. 
The story starts with Tal living an ideal corporate life, high paying job with conventional success. Soon Tal realized that he was unhappy with how he was living his life and he became true to himself. He decided that he would live his dreams, put up with his goals. Thus created a beautiful, meaningful and inspirational journey.

What I really liked about this book was that it isn't based on fundamental scientific facts but a man's own experience. The lesson and key points that I really liked and found life-changing thoughts are as follow :
  • Redefinition of "Failure"
  • Moving beyond discomfort and embracing it
  • The quote "every crisis is also an opportunity, row potential for a powerful growth experience "
  • Chasing happiness and not the materialistic things
  • Embracing uncertainty
  • Concept of living simple life
  • The power of surrendering to life
  • Embracing intuition and uncovering authentic core
Every chapter has something new to learn. It was an implacable and inspirational read. I would like to congratulate Tal Gur for achieving the life of his dreams and the great journey.

Ratings
  1. Cover : - 4/5
  2. Content : - 4.5/5
  3. Concept : - 4/5
  4. Overall : - 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon India & Amazon USA
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Fat-loss Diet by Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar

I got "Dr Dhurandhar's Fat Loss Diet" from HarperCollins as a gift and I would like to thank them for it.


Book Blurb
Have you tried diet after diet to lose weight? Tried hitting the gym, doing aerobics, Zumba, but lost interest? Does one day of binge-eating make you want to give up? Has weight loss become an unattainable dream? Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar is the man who transformed Aamir Khan s fat Mahavir Singh Phogat into an incredibly fit on-screen wrestler in Dangal He has treated over 10,000 patients and, in this book, he wants to help you! Dr Dhurandhar busts diet myths with science, presenting facts over fads, and gives us a plan designed specifically for Indians. Here are all the secrets you need: The reasons for weight gain The things you ll need The meal plans Motivation tips and tricks How to stop the lost weight from returning Dr Dhurandhar s Fat-Loss Diet is for all who don t have the time to go to the gym like Aamir, and for all looking for actual results.
Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar is a celebrity physician having 35 years of experience in weight management practice. He helped Aamir Khan to reduce fat in Dangal movie. His qualification and achievements in the field are the testimony of his fame.

The book started with the chapter “Why Am I Fat”, which gives us multiple facts about our changed metabolism. It also covers how the author became obesity physician. It also covers how this book can help someone reduce fact. Then come chapters on diet and protein importance. Diet planning chapter is really in depth to help someone understand his or her food intake. The 5th chapter is my favorite as it is about Dangal and Aamir Khan. It covers his weightloss journey with author and Aamir’s conversation. The final chapter was around the importance of exercise.

Overall a nice book which can show you the importance of proper diet & weight or I would say fat-loss. Talking about ratings
  1. Cover – 4/5
  2. Content – 3.5/5
  3. Overall 4/5
Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

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