All Day I Dream About Books

 

Blurb:

Review:

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

Blurb:

 

Surpanakha, Ravan’s famous sister. Ugly and untamed, brutal and brazen—this is often how she is commonly perceived. One whose nose was sliced off by an angry Lakshman and the one who started a war. But was she really just a perpetrator of war? Or was she a victim? Was she ‘Lanka’s princess’? Or was she the reason behind its destruction?

Surpanakha, which means the woman ‘as hard as nails’, was born as Meenakshi—the one with beautiful, fish-shaped eyes. She is often the most misunderstood character in the Ramayana. Growing up in the shadows of her brothers, who were destined to win wars, fame and prestige, she, instead, charted out a path filled with misery and revenge.

Accused of manipulating events between Ram and Ravan, which culminated into a bloody war and annihilation of her family, Kavita Kané’s Lanka’s Princess makes us see the familiar events unfold from the eyes of a woman more hated than hateful...

Review:

My Rating: 4/5

 

Blurb:

It is the 18th century and despite the dominant Mughal rule, the Maratha Confederacy has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Indian Subcontinent. The fragile peace between the two powers is threatened when Balaji Vishvanath Bhat, Peshwa of the Confederacy, foils the plans of Nizam Ul Mulk of the Mughal Empire, and asserts the power of the Marathas. However, little does the Peshwa know that he has dealt the Nizam an unintended wound—one with roots in his mysterious past and one that he would seek to avenge till his last breath.

When the Peshwa surrenders his life to a terminal illness dark clouds gather over the Confederacy as it is threatened by a Mughal invasion as well as an internal rebellion.

All the while a passive spectator, the Peshwa’s son, Bajirao Bhat, now needs to rise beyond the grief of his father’s passing, his scant military and administrative experience, and his intense love for his wife and newborn son to rescue everything he holds dear. Will the young man be able to protect the Confederacy from internal strife and crush the armies of the Empire all while battling inner demons? Will he live up to his title of Peshwa?

Review:

The Peshwa is a book that takes the readers on Bajirao Peshwa's journey from his birth to the first battle he wins against the Mughals. I started reading the book with a blank canvas because my knowledge about this great hero is restricted to the information I gathered from the movie “Bajirao Mastani”. However, I must say the author has done an excellent job in portraying the life journey of this great hero. The characters are well established and the storyline realistic.The description and narration is so vivid that the reader feels as if he is present in that era. Although the book is based on fiction but I liked to read it and enjoyed it thoroughly.

‘The Peshwa’ is a fascinating read! A fast paced well crafted book with a tightly knit storyline. The book is set in the 18th century and has depicted one of the major wars between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire.

The narration of the events is very intriguing which keeps the reader hooked to the book. Although it is historical fiction but the author has written it in a very engrossing manner which is refreshing with various twists and turns. The battle scenes are very very vivid and the reader feels as if everything is happening in front of his eyes.

We are all aware of Bajirao’s love interest Mastani, especially after the release of the film. But those who are looking for some romantic angle in the book will face disappointment as there is no mention of Mastani except in the epilogue.

The pace of the book is very good that keeps the reader glued to it. The cover is very beautiful and gorgeous. Just loved it.

Overall, The Peshwa is a sure page turner and is highly recommended to those who have interest in historical fiction. A great work by a debutant author.

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in lieu of an honest review.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Other Details:

Author: Ram Sivasankaran
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Paperback

 

 

Blurb:

 

When people we love pass away, they only take their presence with them. They leave their memories with us. The story revolves around 'Alia', an emotionally distant woman, and how the lives of four elderly strangers impact her own very deeply, bringing about a change in the way she treats herself and those around her. As the clock begins to tick and they each start to die, leaving their stories behind for her to learn from, she finds that the depression and trauma caused by their loss have left with her the gift of a lifetime... Realisation. In the tale of life, death and the ride in between, where there are always mistakes and never second chances, there is only one question. Can you make it through without regrets?

 Review:

 

Turning Back Time is a refreshing book from a debutant author Shravya Gunipudi which not only takes you to an emotional journey but also leaves you with several thoughts to ponder once you finish it. The book has been divided into episodes, each one of it dealing with a different story. The writing style is very impressive, simple yet powerful. It leaves a deep impression and stays with you for log after you finish the book.

The book takes the reader to  roller coaster journey and makes you smile, cry and most importantly enriches you. The backdrop of the book is an old age home where the protagonist Alia works. The central plot around which the plot revolves is death and the realisation it brings with it. It is an extremely fascinating book.

The cover of the book is equally fascinating with the image of a beautiful painting of old village times. The title is apt and relates with the central idea of the book.

Overall Turning Back Time is a book for those who appreciate life. Loved it. A must read for everyone interested in soft emotional stories.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Other Details:

Author: Shravya Gunipudi
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Paperback

Blurb:

Vaibhav Kulkarni has had few accomplishments worth boasting about in his modest life and career. Yet, his happy universe lies intact in the love and pride his ten-year-old daughter inspires in him. Nisha Kulkarni justifies every reason to be the favourite child of Pune’s premier school-be it her academic brilliance, her exceptional facility with music, or simply her unassuming charm. With his daughter showing promising signs of a stellar success story, Vaibhav has made peace with own unrequited dreams of the past. But when the girl mysteriously starts losing mojo and spirals into despair and seclusion, Vaibhav faces the toughest test of his life as single father - to reclaim his child’s trust and happiness. What distance will a middle-class man with limited means go to show his daughter the merit in believing in a dream?

Review:

A middle class father, a ten year old daughter and an amazing story about their relationship. What happens when life compels a single parent to juggle between duty and love for his child? My Father Is A Hero is one such story of a single father belonging to the middle class society who is torn between the struggles to make two ends meet and raise his daughter. The novel is a soft emotional story that revolves around the relationship of a father and his daughter. The story has been told beautifully in a simple language that intrigues the reader from the very beginning. Middle class is the most amusing strata of the society where parents are ready to go to any extent to a smile on their kids’ face yet they are bound by several limitations. This book deals with this dilemma beautifully.

The style of writing is crisp and intriguing that holds readers’ attention till the end. The book captures various emotions that a child goes through during his/her school years and also about the sacrifices of a father and the extent he can go to ensure happiness of his child and fulfil the child’s dreams.

This story is very nice and is told in a very beautiful manner. The emotional scenes are very touchy that bring tears to your eyes. The characters are also very believable that we come across daily.

Overall the book is a very nice, soft emotional tale of a father and a daughter that keeps you hooked till the end. One can very well relate with the situations described in the book which make it all the more real.

The cover of the book is also very apt. I loved the simple cover image which is absolutely in sync with the storyline.

Congratulations to the author for bringing up such a nice story amongst the crowd of romantic and thriller books available in the market. Loved it to the core of my heart.

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in lieu of an honest review.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Other Details:

Author: Nishant Kaushik
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Paperback

Blurb:

Paridhi Mathur, dusky, beautiful, and (determined to be) single, is doing everything to keep her academic records high and her love life nil, but lady luck keeps frowning at her. When she meets Abhigyan Ambastha, rich - devastatingly handsome, intense and sometimes curt, her resolve wavers. Despite regular warnings from her ever-suspicious heart, she inexplicably gets attracted towards him. But she would not let him trespass her soul. Why? Is she scared of mendacious face of love her past has inflicted on her? Can Paridhi really trust Abhigyan? Will a blissful breeze of love ever kiss her heart? A heart-warming saga of dreams and desires, We Will Meet Again promises to make you smile and cry at the same time. Hold on to your hearts before embarking on this roller coaster ride of emotions!

Review: 

We Will Meet Again is a simple love story which is free of any twists and turns. It is the story of a college girl, Paridhi, which is very believable. The other lead character, Abhigyan, is also very relatable. However, there is nothing new in the plot and a lot has been written like this in the past years. Many instances reminded me of Bollywood specific scenes that somehow didn’t go well with me. The narration style is okay and not very impressive. The story is told in a simple manner without much drama which made the book a bit boring as I expected more from it. Due to lack of many twists, at times the story felt a bit flat. However, considering that the book is a debut novel, I would say the author has potential to come up with better books in future. I liked the cover though. The image is very fresh and impressive.

The book is a light read and suitable to read during a flight.

I received a free copy from the publisher in lieu of an honest review.

My Rating: 3/5

Other Details:

Author: Tarang Sinha
Genre: Romance
Format: Paperback

 

Blurb:

Ten-year old Lakshya Gaitonde dreams of following a career in cricket like his idol, Sunil Gavaskar. But destiny has other plans for him. He loses his father, Police sub-inspector Rajaram Gaitonde in the Mumbai terror attack of March 1993. He decides to follow his father's footsteps and becomes a police officer. In the July 2006 serial train blasts on the Mumbai suburban network, he loses his mother and fiancée. In consultation with the Commissioner of Police, he devises a diabolical plan to crush the menace of terrorism at its roots. Does he succeed? How does he manage to avenge the killing of his parents and his beloved? Why does he finally don saffron robes?

Review:

The Monk is the story of Lakshya Gaitonde who dreams of becoming a cricketer but life has different plans for him. Forced by circumstances, he chooses another path but tragedy strikes his life again and he is left with no one to call his own. The story is about his journey of avenging the wrongs done to his family due to terrorism and finally embracing saffron robe.

The story begins on one fine day which is like any other normal day in a middle class family and then moves on to the lives of the protagonist and also the people surrounding him. I will start with the cover of the book which is highly intriguing and creates a natural urge in the reader to read the book with its cover image. The title of the novel is in total contradiction with the image of a gun and the trigger ready to be pulled. This gives the impression that the book is a thriller. However, the book is much more than any other thriller.

The concept and the plot are interesting and the writing style is impressive, but the execution could have been better. However, the author shows promise considering the novel is his debut book. The author has been successful in portraying the struggles and post-traumatic stress disorder of the protagonist Lakshya he undergoes after the death of his father.

The story is captivating and the book is a sure page turner. I enjoyed reading the book.

I received a free copy from the publisher in lieu of an honest review.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Other Details:

Author: Akshay Shroff
Genre: Crime, Thriller & Mystery
Format: Paperback

Blurb:

Rene thinks all her dreams mean something…well, maybe they do. Vipin thinks his life is over ever since his wife died in a car accident…well, maybe it is. Upasana thinks she has it all figured out. But does she really?

You put the three twenty somethings together, and it results in some absurd and hilarious situations, which the characters themselves believe are truly dramatic.

And then there’s Mark - A man very much in love with Rene. A man who's perhaps secretly writing a code book on 'how to win in love'.

If you're not living this life, you're watching it happen to someone else and punching a wall somewhere going, ""balls!""

Set in India and the USA, 'Graffiti', lampoons a range of social issues, all tightly packed into some highly entertaining fiction. It is a novel about relationships. It's about that beautiful puzzle on the wall...an ever changing puzzle called life.

Review:

Graffiti means writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on any surface in front of the public. The book Graffiti has done complete justice to the title as it is a graffiti in itself of the lives of several characters. Many complex relations and issues have been showcased in the book camouflaged behind a romantic comedy.  There are too many characters and too many incidents taking place and thus took me some time to get into it. Graffiti is a complex drama about life involving tragedy, humour and romance with a serious philosophical background.

Vipin who is an IT guy is trying to get back to his normal life after tragic death of his wife and realises that it is not so easy. He lives in the USA and is in a pathetic condition after the death of his wife in a car accident. He constantly blames himself for the death of his wife and another couple who were with them at the time of the accident. Eventually he comes across Rene, who in no time, becomes a very important part of his life. Rene’s character is also interesting who is a colleague of Vipin also has a backstory. Both of them become good friends and this forms the base of the story where they re-invent each other and many other aspects of life.

I personally feel that Graffiti is a good read but at times the story or rather the descriptions dragged. There were many unwanted pieces of texts making the novel too lengthy and could have easily been removed. The concept of the novel is good and the characters and some incidents; interesting. The book is funny but at the same time philosophical. The story is told from different point of views and in different persons of speech (first and third). Overall, I enjoyed reading Graffiti but in parts. I also loved the cover image which perfectly justifies the title. Recommended to those who are looking for a light and quirky read.

I received a free copy from Writersmelon in lieu of an honest review. 

My Rating: 3/5

 

Blurb:

The Times of India ran a short story contest between July, 2015 and May, 2016. Eleven of India's best selling authors were requested to provide a prompt (one each month) based on which a short story was to be submitted. This short story collection comprises the authors' submission for each prompt. The short stories submitted cover a range of genres: historical fiction, drama, humour, relationships, current affairs. The author in some instances has tried to give an innovative twist to the prompts, trying to lead the short story away from the direction the prompts indicate.

Review:

Last year Times of India conducted a short story contest and Dissent is the outcome of this contest which was hosted over a period of 11 months. The ebook is a collection of all the eleven submissions by Deepak Kaul for the Write India Campaign of Times Of India.

All the 11 short stories are distinct from each other and belong to different genres which is understandable as the stories were supposed to be written based on the prompts given by some best selling authors of the nation. So to meet the prompt and its flavour, the stories had to be from various genres.

The first story of any short story collection lays the pitch for the readers and thus needs to be one of the best pick from the lot, but the book lacked in this department. The book opened with a lacklustre story Dissent which is about a girl, the story being set during pre independent India. However, in the later stories, the author has shown much improvement and growth in writing and storytelling style.

The story concepts picked by the author are quite good and unique but he lacked somewhere in the execution. They failed to intrigue the reader. This book might interest people who prefer having a light, quick read, but for mature and serious reading, the book is not recommended. The cover of the book is not appealing either. Some of the stories that I liked are LCA, Mirage and Karma Agni.
Basically this collection of stories sums up the everyday nuances of life that also leave the reader to interpret the ending in his or her own manner. The book can not be considered as a great piece of writing and someone looking for a light entertaining read may go for it.

My Take: The author Deepak Kaul has done a decent job as a beginner. The stories are light hearted and entertaining suitable to keep you engaged during a Metro ride. Readers looking for some serious reading may not find it a suitable fit.

I received a free copy of the ebook from Writers Melon in lieu of an honest review.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Other Details:

Author: Deepak Kaul
Format: eBook
Genre:  Short Stories

 

Blurb:

 

The Time Traveler's Wife is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

The Time Traveler's Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare's marriage and their passionate love for each other as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals--steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Review:

 

This book is a debut for Audrey Niffenegger. And as a debut novel, she made the complex timelines with ease. The Time Traveler's Wife is a love story concealed inside a suspense novel but is far from a science fiction exploration of the space-time continuum. The book is about the two characters - Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire. Henry is a time-traveller; a genetic mutation which causes him to spontaneously travel through time, disappearing from view, leaving behind his clothes and possessions, and arriving naked in another time and another place. While Clare is leaving a chronologically normal life, Henry isn't. After their first meeting (Clare was 6 and Henry would be 36) Clare will always wait for his arrival. She has known him all her life. He visits her numerous times during her childhood and adolescence, and inadvertently reveals that they will be married in the future. His last visit is on her 18th birthday in 1989, and will be separated for two years. Finally, they meet in 1991, a real time for both of them, Clare is 20 and Henry is 28. Henry does not know anything about Clare and Clare has to show Henry the diary she made as a testament of Henry's existence in Clare's past, which is still in Henry's future. Henry begins to experience the events in Clare's childhood and at the same time experiencing life with the adult Clare in the present. In the novel, the future cannot be changed, and many tragic events are foreshadowed in the past.

I loved this book. It's not perfect, but it compelled me to feel and think. It's one of those stories that pulls you into the characters' lives and leaves you wanting more. You are wandering over the scenes and premise for days after you've actually finished the book. Rarely is such an original idea portrayed with such vivid language so you believe the time travel possibility and the characters are almost people you know. I felt that the way the author set it up was ingenious. While you are reading along in a fairly chronological timeline, it is interspersed with moments of past and future as Henry travels through time. At first it felt very disjunct, but by the end I really loved the way it mirrored how Henry and Clare must feel as they lived their life in such a non-chronological manner. The love story was indeed epic and the book a sure page turner.

What I loved most about the book is that Niffenegger absolutely nails the relationship between Henry and Claire. I liked the idea of the time travelling. The backdrop is interesting - time-travel and the works.

My rating: 4/5