All yours, Stranger by Novoneel Chakraborty: a review

As I have always written all these years and I will continue writing, the brand name of ‘Novoneel Chakraborty’ is the only reason I reach out to the book. But today, I would like to say that it is more than the name of the author, it is about the protagonist of the book- The Stranger that pulls me towards the book.  All yours, stranger- the second and awaited book of the stranger trilogy is something that had kept me on the edge of my seat. 

The cover of the book, after the cover of Book 1, catches a lot more attention. The color combination and the photograph to be specific, fits in perfectly with the flow of the book. Before I divulge much about my feelings for the book, here is a sneak peak of the blurb of the book and before that, I can’t stop myself from saying- SOME MYSTERIES ARE DANGEROUSLY SEXY.

From the back cover of the book- For those of you who don’t know me yet, I’m Rivanah Bannerjee, a Kolkatan trying to find her footing in Mumbai. Even though I’m currently in a relationship with a great guy, I can’t help but miss my ex-boyfriend despite knowing that he cheated on me. But that’s the least of my worries. The stranger has gone missing since the police tried to nab him unsuccessfully. Where is he? What does he want from me? Why did he come into my life in the first place? Will he ever contact me again? These and many more questions continue to torment me every day. I’m desperate for the stranger to come back to me, knowing full well that he may destroy me forever. But then that’s the sexiest thing I have ever known about someone. With every revelation, it seems the truth is far more twisted than Rivanah can imagine. Wickedly plotted, All yours, Stranger- Novoneel Chakraborty’s gripping follow-up to his hugely popular Marry Me, Stranger- will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

Yes, I know! I had the same reaction. While reading the blurb and then when I started the book, from the prologue, it kept me on the edge of my seat with my heart beats accelerated throughout. It was one point where I even thought that the author is stalking my life and writing the book on it. Believe it or not, when I had a discussion with my friends and fellow readers regarding the same, they had an exact similar reaction. That’s the beauty of a Novoneel Chakraborty book. Oh wait, that’s the beauty of the stranger!

To talk about the stranger is something that I don’t want to do much. For the people who haven’t read the book, I would suggest them to read Marry me, stranger before starting this book. The stranger is a person with no face, no identity, no voice, no address but all that the stranger has is an intention. The intention is not revealed yet. The stranger is neither a friend nor a foe. The stranger is simply- The stranger. Known for his strong female characters, Novoneel has out-powered himself and brought into life the character of the stranger.

Having said that, I would also like to compliment the writer on the character of Rivanah. She is one character who is very much like you, me and every other girl of the world. Coming to the story, as it was in Marry me, stranger; Rivanah’s life, the people in her life, complications, happiness, sadness and the stranger, all in all makes the story a worth reading one. Not only once, but even twice and even then you’d have the same goose bumps while you are reading. The dialogues given to the characters, especially to the stranger are something that will give the thrill of your life.

Written in a very typical Novoneel Chakraborty flow, the book has more to offer than what it shows. Unlike a few other trilogies’ I’ve read, even if you read just Book 2, you’ll get the plot and understand what had happened in Book 1 but the feel only comes when you have read Book 1. Both the books are an experience to behold for a life time. The mystery deepens as you flip through the pages. For the end of book 2, I would like to say that it was a bit abrupt.

I say abrupt because when the last page ends and you get to see- “To be continued” All you can feel is a sudden pang of emptiness. I, as a reader, read so many books and so many different genres and types of them. But there are very less books which leave me speechless. This book managed to do what the likes of big authors do. Coming to the errors, I would like to say that there are a few printing errors of the book, which are negligible when the book is read in a certain flow that the book offers.

Apart from that, there are no such errors in the book. Since the expectations have raised two-three notches higher, I can only wish the author loads of luck for Book 3 – the final book of the stranger trilogy, hoping that winter 2015 comes soon. For me, the book is 4.75 out of 5. (If only it was an endless book, I would've rated it 5).

There are many dialogues from the book which I want to quote to end this review but the only reaction I have right now is – I’m all yours, stranger!!

A honey diet makes for a healthy living

The mantra of today’s time is something we all should follow and we do follow- Money is honey! Yes, I know it is a much exaggerated version of the real life thing that is going on but this is the truth. Money is surely honey but do you know that it is the same vice versa? Honey is money too. Let me tell you a real life story of mine which will make you understand why I say that honey is money too.

I am a working lady. My work timings are usually 10 AM to 7 PM and after that, I also overtime till 9 PM every day. After I come back home at around 10 PM, trust me, I don’t have any energy left in myself to take care of my body and health. In the morning, I usually wake up at 6 AM and do my household chores and then leave for work by 9 AM. In this way, the 24 hours of my life passes. I am one person who has always been known for being efficient in whatever she does and I am never late. Punctuality, efficiency, effectiveness being my middle names.

My work also includes a lot of statistics and data and thus, I have always been known as the to-go person whenever any kind of data or statistics is involved. There was this one day when I had a meeting to attend but I was so sick due to the late night workings I had done and by not taking care of my body and health that I couldn’t get up from the bed only. I had instructed my assistant to go about the meeting and give my proxy but it was then I realized that the importance of taking care of the health is utmost important.

In the beginning days, when I took the vow that I will take care of myself first and then work, I was very confused on how to go about taking care of myself. I had seen my friends failing numerous crash diets and I didn’t want to be like them. It was then that my mother suggested me an awesome cure about it. Guess what was it? Honey! She told me that honey is the solution to all my problems.

Having my doubts on that, I started having honey on a regular basis. I started with having warm water with honey every day with a dash of lemon in the morning. Then I substituted sugar in my tea with honey. Believe it or not, it actually worked. I started feeling refreshed and could carry on throughout the day without slumping or being tired. Today, I do not miss a single meeting and I do not feel sick also. This is how I got to know that Honey is Money too. I would suggest everyone to follow the Honey diet and lead a healthy life.

Note: this article is a part of  http://www.daburhoney.com/

For all cricket lovers; redesigned UC Browser!

Cricket is a religion and Sachin is God. I have grown up hearing this, but I have never grown interest in watching eleven guys running for one ball hit by another. I had started watching cricket because of the historical six sixes which changed me. Trust me, I am not writing this just because Yuvraj is there in the video, but he is the one for whom I have started watching cricket. He is cute, isn’t he? I started to learn the way the game is played just to see him playing.

Now, I can’t live without cricket. It is addictive, more than drugs. I can’t think how I had spent earlier days without watching this thrilling game. And Yuvraj is still my favorite player. You know the feeling of the first crush or the first gift or the first ride, then you would surely know how I feel about Yuvraj. I was the happiest when Yuvraj lifted the trophy and he was given the Man of the Series of the World Cup. A player with such calibre can’t be taken out by a mere cancer, I knew he will come back for the very first day when he was dropped. I prayed for him every time when I saw Indian playing without him.

Then came the day when it was official that Yuvraj is making his comeback. But certainly I was out of state. I was devastated with the thought that I would not be able to see him batting in his comeback match. Then I felt the requirement of an application which will keep me up to date about what’s happening in the match. Believe me there is not one such application in the market which has everything I need. Few had scores update but didn't have scoreboards, few had scoreboards but didn't have highlights. Can you imagine I had to almost miss Yuvraj’s comeback match which unfortunately India lost. From that day I was waiting for an application which will fulfil my requirements and I don’t have to install three application for one purpose.

Then came UC Browser. At first I couldn't believe a browser offering such features. But after getting recommendation from a trusted friend I downloaded the browser. First thing first, I loved the look. From the color combination to the font style I loved everything. And the browser is smartly designed. I didn't have to search for anything because almost everything is there right in front of me in that one browser. One touch in theUC Cricket and you are in. Live score updates with auto refresh option. Can you believe it, all this you can do through a browser not an application? I simply loved it and felt that this browser is made for me and all the cricket lovers. So it would be my suggestion to all my readers, download this super browser and enjoy cricket!

P.S.: This article is a part of http://www.ucweb.com/

Nights in Pink Satin by Anita Shirodkar: a review

Anita Shirodkar and her writings have been in my mind since I had read her debut book- Secrets and second chances. Her style of writing is usually very normal but her way of expression is something that I look forward to always. The cover of the book, as usually is ‘deep’ in its meaning and connected to the storyline. The best part of the girl in the cover of the book is the eyes and the way the picture of the girl has been utilized in the front cover of the book. The title of the book, Nights in Pink Satin only is the cherry on the cake of the whole package of the book.

According to the blurb: What happens when a heartbroken newly-wed girl writes an erotic, sexually-charged story based on a cougar she knows? Simran Dandekar, the pretty daughter of a rich construction magnate from Nagpur, marries Siddharth, the good looking scion of the Mumbai based Raichand family, only to find out that her marriage is nothing more than a financial transaction, her husband is still not over his last heart and that the high society Mumbai which she has married into is a cesspool of extramarital affairs and torrid sexual encounters! Not one to shy away from taking inspiration when and where she finds It, Simran soon writes a spectacular tale of love and lust, even as she struggles hard to find both in her married life. But the things spiral out of control when the anonymously published risqué potboiler becomes an instant best seller. Just as her relationship with her husband begins to bloom, the controversial ‘Nights in Pink Satin’ threatens to bring her down! Will Simran’s literary aspirations bring her rewards, or bring her into disaster zone? Join Simran in Nights in Pink Satin, a warm, colorful story set in Mumbai’s high society with entirely believable characters.

When I started this book, I had huge expectations. If not from the plot, then at least from the authoress. Having read her debut work, I knew that what she knows is just a nutshell of what she is to offer. This book is no less. From the first page to the last she has her readers engrossed in the book. The way the characters have been explained to the way the whole story has been handled, the flair of writing that the authoress has is worth a mention.

If someone asks me what the best part of the book is according to me, then I guess I would mention the fact that the way the story has been put in front of the readers is the biggest plus point of the book. It surely can make anyone feel and relate the storyline and its situations to the authoress herself and that feeling of ‘knowing-ness’ is something that adds up to the feel good factor of the book.

As far as the errors of the book are concerned, I didn’t find much error. Only the fact that this book can be mistook as any other mills and boon story takes this book a little notch lower. Apart from that, there are a few characters of the book that come and go without much do and without any trace and reason. If only the authoress would’ve done a bit more research on that and another round of proofreading would’ve done the trick. All in all, a wonderful one time read, I would give it 4.2 out of 5. And, I must say, this subtle hint of erotica is a must read for ever teenager.