Nagin by Mayur Didolkar: a review

For everybody in today's time this is not a topic which has not been used. Starting from movies and carrying forward to television serials the stories of ichadhari Naags and Nagins are well known. Mayur Didolkar, in his book Nagin deals with exactly that; the most sought-after topic in today's world. When I first saw the book Nagin I actually thought that this would be a complete novel, had I not read what the back cover says about the book. So, here's what the back cover says, for you.

According to the back cover- Loving wife, obedient daughter, loyal friend. But if you provoke her, she will raise her hood and spit poison. A woman is stalked by a man she had once rejected. A housewife discovers a plot to kill her husband. A blind young girl is chased by an underworld gang. But these are no ordinary women. Some of them aren't even women. You have been warned.

The tagline of the book reads her love is fierce, her Venom is fatal. What is also exactly what the nine short stories in the book portrays to the audience. My thoughts with disrupted when I completed the first chapter and the understood that this is going to be a racy anthology. I usually do follow a rhythm but with this I wouldn't anymore as I used to with other anthologies so I will not comment on each and every story but would give a generalized review of the whole book. The first thing that I would like to talk about the book is that every story is extremely fast paced and not lengthy at all.

Once a story ends you would not feel that something was left amiss, as all the parts of the story are covered and then it ends. Every story also is not written on a random whim and fancy of the author. With a specific interest kept in mind, this book is for all kinds of audiences. I love the first story and trust me when I say the choice of making the story The first story couldn't have been better for the author. It creates a field for all the other stories that are to follow and a very strong field at that.

All the stories have presence of ichchadhari Nags and Nagins and even though set in the modern day world, it might also come as straight out of a folklore. What makes the book interesting is that every story is made believable to the audience. What makes the book a bit tedious for me at times is that, also along with ichadhari Naags and Nagins, there is the mention of other shape shifting creatures. Sometimes even those are the shape shifting creatures are the highlight of a particular story. That is something that put me off the book at times, because when you are reading the book knowing that it is all about Nags and Nagins you really would not want to know about any other shapeshifting creatures being the limelight of the story.

Apart from that if I have to speak about anymore cons of this story then I would like to say that I did not like the cover. The cover, to begin with, could have been a lot more better because the content of the book is not really what the cover depicts the content should have. If the book had rather a simple cover then I guess it would've been accepted more by a wider audience which would have worked for the favor of the book. All in all a very good read, I would like to read more from the author and rate this book 3.75 out of 5. 

Cheaters by Novoneel Chakraborty: a review

I'll begin with quoting Novoneel Chakraborty from Marry me, stranger, “Cheating is not an action like kissing someone or sleeping with someone. Cheating is when you feel the pressure of being faithful to someone because of someone else. When you suddenly realize, there's an option. That realization is cheating!”

Chakraborty's 11th book had to be special. This book is something the author wanted to write for a very long time and is surely an example of writing for the world what the author wants and not what the world wants to read. Cheaters: Nine stories that explore the other side of love. We all love mushy lovey dovey romances and we all hate admitting to cheating. This book, after multiple romantic thrillers and a majorly love story series (the Forever Series) brings forth the author's choices as a writer and is surely much needed.

According to the back cover: Nine stories. Nine ways it can all go wrong. None people all their experiments. Cheaters, Novoneel Chakraborty's first collection of short stories, examines the theme of adultery today when the definition and dynamic of a romantic relationship are undergoing unprecedented changes. These nine short stories are experimental and complex, much like modern day relationships.

Period. “Experimental and complex, much like modern day relationships!” That's what I am gonna write now. Because, there's nothing more apt than this line. I'll start with admiring the cover. Till date, I could proudly say that the first cover of How About A Sin Tonight was the best of his covers. This cover, beats that. Done in red and black (the colors of love and cheating?) and that godforsaken dagger tugs at your heart at the very moment and you feel like getting the book. And then you have expectations.

These nine stories mentioned in the book are very unlike what everyone has read of Chakraborty. He has been known for writing characters that are universal. Everyone could relate to it. But in this book, each story has a different character and only the people of the backdrop the book is settled in would relate to the characters. It's not for the mass (or is it?) This is a serious and a subtle book, my dear readers. Trust me when I say that.

The Tickets are Done: The first story revolves around a young married woman and her blast from the past. Since this is a first story you get a feel of the usual Novoneel while reading this and then you reach the end of the story and you're jolted out of the blue with an expression: ‘ohkaay! What exactly was that?’ and this expression is for the good. The way real and surreal has been handled is commendable. God! Why can't I write more about this story? You'll have to read this and know the answer.

The vacation: By now, you've gotten used to a pattern the author follows throughout the book. Of seven parts of every story. The auspicious 7! This story is about Radhika Bose, a perfect housewife, a perfect mother and her life altering secret vacation with her internet lover. It's forbidden. Trust me. To even admit to the fact that something like this actually happens in real life. But it does. Trust me! I personally loved the sketch of the whole story and how the forbidden is also written to make it appealing.

Tomorrow is cloudy: The third story. Main characters being N and R. And people are sure to imagine who the N and R are. I imagined too. Just being honest! This story would be one of my close to the heart stories. This story delves deep into the What if’s of life. What if you meet your estranged lover after years at an airport? What if you find her pregnant? What if you want to talk but you don't want to be approached either. Oh, by the way, your spouse calls you RIGHT THEN!

Clicks: Eklavya (I know, the name brings in a lot of memories for every Chakraborty reader) is suffering from the monotony of life. He starts clicking his surroundings, a new found love. That's when he clicks his fiancée with someone. Can it not happen with you? Or me? What will we do if it does? The book asks that and much more. Answers too? Understanding the whole point of the story, I somehow felt still there was something that was missing. The end, could've been sharper?

The Whore and the Wife: This has to be one of the best stories of the book. A story of empowerment at its core, it traces one night of the life of a prostitute (whore! How I love the word) and her connection with the wife of her client for the night. The two women, without even knowing, alters each other's journey of a lifetime (and probably the man's too? *Wink*). It connects on a personal basis somewhere and the core of the story remains intact.

Weekends: Read this story. Please. The only story in the whole book that reeks of love making. Sex, I would rather say. And God, Novoneel aces the story. Regular readers might heave a sigh of relief. But then there is a twist in the tale. And you do a double take on the whole story of Devang and Kratika and I'm sure there will be a smirk on your face just the same as the author's when he wrote it. The story takes a social turn but with a point where it is so relatable.

The flight is on time: Siya Mishra and Ram Mishra. Siya writes an email to Ram after she's accused of her character. Somehow, in this pack of 8 strong stories, this falters a bit. But again, the email ends and the story doesn't. The twist in the tale brings you to think, again, what if? Only if it could've been more explosive. But then again, this happens. This story was needed to be told.

Children: My personal top favorite of the whole book. Shayan and Priyanjali. The way they connect with each other over the memories of their sons, now no more, in a Kolkata back drop somehow connected me too much to the story. One of the longest stories of the otherwise crisp and short book, this story has a much deeper connect than all the other stories the book has to offer. Agreeing with the author, it couldn't have been with any other background. They had to be Bengalis. Please, it's a request! This story has to be told to a much wider audience. In all forms possible. I cried and even smiled at the end of it.

On bed with strangers: The final story of the book is surely not for the mass. You would need to do a double or even a triple take on the story to know what exactly the story stands for. Having been an ardent reader of the author and having attended most of his sessions it was a bit predictable to me but to the people I know have read the book, this was the most unpredictable story.

Cheaters is a journey. And it all comes back to the quote I referred in the beginning of the review. It's all about the realization. This book breaks down the quote and represents it in a way where probably you would want to go back to one story at a time in various points of your life and experience them all new. I won't say it is one of Novoneel's best. No. It isn't. But what it stands for is something a novel would never have been able to represent. I would want to read more short stories from the writer, yes. This book is difficult to rate, also because each story has something different to say. I'll leave without a rating as this journey is something you should live and not rate. I've lived it. Would you?

Initial Offerings by Rupali Desai: a review

If I have regular readers then they would know for sure that poems have a special place in my heart. When I met the author of “Initial offerings” while working with her during the Kolkata Literature Festival 2017 and learnt that she is a poet, I couldn’t resist myself from grabbing hold of her book and reading it. The result of which, is this review. The minimalistic cover is what drew me to the book while I turned the pages and went through the blurb.

According to the blurb- Initial offerings is a poignant yet tender collection of poems which offers its readers a pure and a beautiful expression of the author’s emotions and feelings of life as-is. These poems have an uncanny hint of spiritualism in them. It is a combination of multiple themes and elements that give this book its universality, suppleness and infinite appeal. Rupali addresses topics such as love, devotion, the subconscious mind and qualities such as humility, arrogance, indifference, beauty, dream and desire. This book is a paradox of sorts as here you will find a poem about death (Death of my beautiful poem) and another about ‘Life being so precious!’ This book will take you on your own personal spiritual journey and help to rationalize some of your feelings bottled deep inside in the most understated of ways. Be prepared to be surprised!

I know that everybody reading this would second me if I say that I have been surprised with the blurb of the book. Never before had I read any blurb of a poetry book that is so beautiful. Reading this, I was sure that I have to read the book. As I kept on flipping through the pages from one poem to another, I was so engrossed in the writing that I almost forgot the world around me. Yes, I would agree to the fact right in the beginning that the poems are lengthy and might seem stretched at places but as you keep reading through it, you would fall in love with the writing style of the poetess.

Talking about the writing style, I need to say this. As the poetry in the book progresses, you tend to find a tune in the poetess’s words. There is a specific style in which the poetess writes and the style catches on to you. Guess what happened to me? After I finished reading the book, I re-read it and after that whenever I wanted to write something or the other, I ended up writing almost like the poetess. All the more reason to wait for a day or two before framing up and uploading the review. One of the best things that I liked about the book is the fact that it has all flavours and all themes incorporated in it. It doesn’t limit itself to just one theme.

The contradictions in the book and the fact that two contradictory themes can exist in one book tells every reader how polished the writer is. I also loved the fact that there are two acknowledgements in the whole book. One, to begin and the other to end. Aptly justifying the name, these offerings make the book what it is. If I have to list the cons of the book then I would say that the poems are lengthy (and I realised that I have mentioned that earlier) and also the fact that the book is a few poems too short. I would have loved the book had there been more poems. Having said that, I also expected a few poems to be crisper than it already is. Even though I am always in favour of wordy sentences, poems at times demand crisper lines. All said and done, I would give this book 4 out of 5. Looking forward to more writings from the poetess. 

Tale O'2 by Biranchi N Acharya: a review

Being a blogger myself, I have immense amount of respect for all other fellow bloggers. Irrespective of the genre they blog for and so when I heard about blogger Biranchi N Acharya coming out with his 2nd book, it had me straight away. I didn't know what to expect from the book but what I knew is that if not anything else, the viewpoints would be superbly expressed there. When I had the book Tale 0'12 in my hands, the first thing I did was turn to the blurb.

According to the blurb- Every life event is a story. In fact every moment of our life is part of a story being happened. We always ignore those because we think stories have no connection to real life happenings. But when we read stories or fictions suddenly we connect ourselves to the story line or some of the characters emotionally or otherwise. That's why stories always fascinate us, entertain us & give us some lessons of life. 'Tale O'12' is a collection of twelve stories inspired from real life events written in a fictional narrative. One would definitely connect to the characters of the stories someway or other because all the stories have something that's related to everyone's life.

Rightfully so. Every story that is mentioned in the book has something or the other that is taken from real life and there's another thing that is very much evident on reading the book is the fact that it is written by a blogger. I'll start with the cover of the book. I like the way the title of the book is written and even though in the long run you might get used to the color of the book, at first glance it is too much to take in. And yes, this color is surely one color that I am fond of.

I love the quality of the book. It feels great to hold and the pages are wonderful. The preface of the book gives in how this book took shape and it is good to read it from the author's point of view. The book consists of 12 stories. Each story has a very strong moral backing it up which makes for great reads. I liked the way those points have been turned into stories that appeal to the masses.

Among the points that has been talked about in the book you get politics, religion and a lot of topics in abundance. The narrative is strong and to the point and makes the impact much needed. With every story you would feel that the characters are around you and that is why you would be able to connect to them.

If I have to speak of the cons of the book then I have a lot to say. To begin with, every point of the book felt like it is written by a blogger and these stories make for super blog posts. There are errors in the book. Grammatical ones. The names of the characters seem out of place, a bit too fictional and the dialogues seem a bit too forced. If all these points can be forgiven, this is a really wonderful attempt and for me this is 3.25 out of 5 looking forward to a refined version of the book in the future and wishing luck to the author.

PS- This book is a part of the BlogAdda Book Reviews Programme.

Shiva in the City of Nectar by Preetha Rajah Kannan: a review

It is said that “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Well, the line might be true but at times, you tend to judge a book by its cover only. There are books which instantly catch your attention and some do not catch the attention at all. When I received Preetha Rajah Kannan’s book Shiva in the City of Nectar, I couldn’t help but be surprised and awestruck at the beautiful cover that it has. A light green cover along with illustrations that are done to perfection brings this book alive and attracts the readers like anything. It was then that I turned the book to read the blurb of it.

According to the blurb- Throbbing with non-stop excitement, Shiva in the City of Nectar sweeps across Heaven, Earth and the Underworld, narrating the exploits of the mysterious and powerful blur throated God. One after another, the tales unfold the follies of ancient devas, asuras, sages and men and mythical beasts. And through them all, Shiva blithely takes on the guise of a beggar, saint, monarch, merchant, fisherman, hunter, warrior and woodcutter; walking through the three worlds to slay rampaging demons, perform his Dance of Bliss and embrace good and bad alike. Shiva is portrayed in is multi faceted mystique- the tender lover who woos and weds Goddess Meenakshi; the eternal Guru who dispenses wisdom; the fierce avenger whose third eye flashes fire; the generous benefactor who showers blessings on his devotees; and, above all, the gentle prankster who embodies the essence of Vedic faith.

I am sure of the fact that as much as I was mystified with the whole blurb, even you are. Trust me, the book as much more to offer. As I was leafing through the pages of the book, I couldn’t help but go back in time when I used to listen to all those mystic tales of the devas, asuras from my parents and family members. As a kid, I used to love those little stories and now having grown up; these books bring me back to my childhood. With a gleam in my eyes, I kept unfurling new and more interesting stories that are present in the book.

Narration wise, this book is very simple yet very interesting. People of all ages can read and understand the book. I will not go story wise but I would say that I was amazed by the way the authoress has written something so distinct from each other yet connected with a simple thread. This book can easily be as a token for the children of Gen Y with the help of which they would learn a lot about the tales that we all grown up listening to.

The book feels very good to hold, resulting in the fact that enhances the whole experience of reading. The simple thread that holds the book together is the prologue and the epilogue of the book which states why the book is written. I would rather say that the book serves as two types of reminders. One that says that fairy tales still do exist and the second that says there is a never an age to read about these fairy tales. Shiva is the greatest God of all time and that is proved to perfection in the book.

Coming to the cons of the book, there weren’t many. Or rather, there weren’t any. It was a very clean and well implemented book. I would take a moment here to say that for the readers who haven’t read or heard much about the Indian mythology would find it a bit difficult at first but they are sure to get a grasp at it. A book that takes time to read as you sit and savor every bit of it. There is also a glossary at the end of the book that makes sure you have everything that you need to read this book. 

For me, this must read book is 4.5 out of 5. I would’ve loved if the stories were written in a bit longer way rather than keeping them so crisp and short. Looking forward to reading more from the authoress in the future.

Igniting Key: A Collection of Poems by Pramila Khadun, A. V. Koshy and Bina Biswas: a review by Amit Shankar Saha

This volume of poems is one of the significant anthologies to come out of the stable of The Significant League, a poetry group in Favebook administered by Dr. Ampat Koshy. The book primarily comprises of poems by the 2015 Reuel Prize winning poet from Mauritius, Pramila Khadun, but also includes a fair number of poems by the other two contributors Dr. A. V. Koshy and Dr. Bina Biswas. Dr. Santosh Bakaya in the blurb writes that this volume offers “an exciting journey into and sojourn in the world of poetry” and no doubt it does. Reena Prasad in her foreword writes that if “a book can be a poem, it is this one.” We seldom come across such a highly recommended volume of poems in today’s world that can prove worthy of the appreciation showered on it. So this is perhaps one of those rare moments that a reader can indulge in, discover a hidden track and walk the pleasure path seldom travelled. One can pause and pick up a line from Khadun’s oeuvre and brood at “Dead leaves make soil/ And dead loves make stars” (“Call it by any name”) or one can become one with the poet and “feel like writing/ An everlasting poem of love” (The joys of summer”).

Michele Baron in her introduction to the volume writes of Pramila Khadun that she “treats the reader to a potpourri of poetry, ranging from rhapsodic odes to love and the poet’s beloved, to well-phrased railing against the injustices and inequities of the world.” Khadun writes with a vision and her poems have a smooth texture so that one can seamlessly read them one after the other. But this does not mean that one may not pause to ponder. The pondering is a luxury that she offers the readers as a gift. In “Lover returns” she writes “One evening, as she sat by the bubbling brook” and in “Soulmate” she writes “I heard your voice reverberating/ By the bubbling brook.” The recurrence of the same imagery in the two love poems interconnects the two and produces the effect of an organic wholeness. Khadun’s conception of love is unique and she reveals it gradually as we read. In “The beauties of silence” she writes,

In the silence of night
Grew the art of loving
Exchanging the sexual pleasures
So near to Nirvana.
She writes again about love in “Mysterious Love,”
Her love for him
Is neither from favor nor frivolity,
Neither the soft touches nor the hot kisses,
It is not even the sexual pleasures
Close to the nothingness of Nirvana
And then in “Silence” she writes,
There is silence in the smile,
Silence in the act of love-making
And silence in the waiting
And the longing, as well.

This gradual unveiling of her idea of love is like an adventure of discovery that she leads the readers into and her carefully chosen diction makes it all the more pleasing. She can often end a poem dazzlingly with a couple of lines that will last in memory for long – “And eternity is too short/ To love you” (“Doubts and fears”). Reena Prasad rightly says that Pramila Khadun’s poems have the ability to connect with “the tenderest affairs of the heart in a sensitive and refined manner” and she best depicts that ability in a beautiful poem, which has a curious title, “Don’t be silly.”

When she is not engrossed in love, she can take “eagle’s wings” and can feel the essence of her “feminism unfolding gently” or she can become spiritual and envisage “a long Viking boat” on the waters of the Brahmaputra or she can revisit her old home and muse how “When the fruit grows, the petals fall off/ When man grows, memories fade off” or she can “no longer decipher/ The architectural designs/ Of her feelings” and plunges into “a sea of silence” to crumble “into cosmic dust.” Khadun’s imageries are fantastic and her imagination spell-binding. If at all she falters, but very rarely, it is when she becomes didactic and loses some amount of grip on her craft as in “The school within us” or The Scarecrow.” But these poems too have memorable lines. In “Blood and ink” she says, “I simply love leaning on your verses/ O poet!” It almost echoes the reader’s stance on reading Khadun’s poems. The hidden track the reader has discovered and is surreptitiously travelling has stiles and bushes to lean on and ponder with a smile in the mind’s sanctuary and then to continue the journey blissfully. Very soon the journey itself becomes poetry.

When the reader comes out into the clear there are two more little paths to discover paved by the poems of Koshy and Biswas. Ampat Koshy’s poems are different from Pramila Khadun’s poems is to say it mildly. Reena Prasad says that Koshy’s poems “refuse to be cast into any comfortable mould but rise like yeast does within the reader and spill their beauty all over the place.” In the poem “Aria” he writes most memorably: “The cold of winter penetrates my bones,/ while I play Russian roulette with my life.”  Michele Baron mentions about Koshy’s erudite irreverence and wry humor and it is aptly displayed in his poem “Setting the world on fire.” On the other hand Bina Biswas has bewitching nuances in her poems and she, especially in her shorter poems, is rather mystical. Her poems “Canonization” and “Coincidence” are excellent in that department. Both Koshy and Biswas add something extra to this volume that is a bonus for the readers. It makes the experience of reading poetry pleasurably complete, if there is at all an experience of completeness in reading poetry. The triumvirate adds variety and makes reading well worthy. Igniting Key ignites the poetic sensibility and takes the reader to a plane of bliss. There are a few typos and editing errors but they are not jarring enough to intrude on the pleasure of reading poetry. And all the three poets leave their indelible marks in this volume. This book is highly recommended for poetry lovers.

About Amit Shankar Saha- Dr. Amit Shankar Saha is a postdoctoral researcher, a critic, a short story writer and a poet. In a previous avatar he was also a guest professor teaching at the distance education programme of Madras University. His love for literature led him to obtain a PhD in English from Calcutta University. His doctoral dissertation is titled “The Indian Diaspora in Transition: Reading Anita Desai, Bharati Mukherjee Sunetra Gupta and JhumpaLahiri.” His research articles have appeared in journals and anthologies nationally and internationally such as Research and Criticism (BHU, India), Families (Kolkata, India), Pegasus (Kolkata, India), Decoding the Silence (Delhi, India), Comparative Literature and Culture (Purdue University, USA), Cerebration (Drew University, USA), DESI: La Revue (Bordeaux University France), Diasporic Consciousness (Germany), Humanicus (Czech Republic) and others. His essays and reviews have appeared in Desilit Magazine, Muse India Boloji, Rupkatha, Langlit Diplomatist, Asian Signature, etc. His short stories and poems have been published in periodicals and books both in India and abroad such as Estrade Magazine, Muse India, Journal of Bengali Studies, The Four Quarters Magazine, Kritya, Indiaree, Writing Raw, Palki, Learning and Creativity, Hall of Poets, Asia Writes, The Dawn Beyond Waste The Red Balloons, Tell Me a Yarn Blessings and others. He has won prizes at a number of creative writing competitions which includes Wordweavers Award Poiesis Award for Literature, The Leaky Pot - Stranger than Fiction Prize, Asian Cha – Void Poetry Prize, and others. He has also written for the Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul series books. He is the co-founder and coordinator of Rhythm Divine Poets group. His website ishttp://sites.google.com/site/amitshankarsaha and he blogs at http://amitss6.blogspot.com

Romance Shorts by Sourabh Mukherjee: a review

A breather from everything in life, even though romance may be done to death, it is the only thing that can bring you to a world of dreams and you will end up liking every bit of time that you spend with any book that has romance in it. As I came across the title of Sourabh Mukherjee’s anthology, I was intrigued and wanted to read the book. Romance Shorts, as it is titled. The cover of the book, done in pink and shades of it adds to the soothing effect that the title had given. So, it was time that I read the blurb of the book.

According to the back cover- What does destiny have in store for a teenager unable to express his feelings for the girl of his dreams as their paths keep crossing through the years? Sid turns to work and alcohol to get over the pain of losing Sheetal till she walks back into his arms in the after party of a corporate awards function. Is she back for good? What does an advertisement on a billboard try to tell a man who has lost his memory and his wife in a near fatal accident? As Ria nurses her broken heart, she meets a stranger on the internet and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Will she find love again? ‘Romance Shorts’ is a collection of four contemporary romantic stories. A brisk read with a lasting impact, it paints love in its various hues that make it the only emotion worth dying for. A slice of life in true sense, Romance Shorts takes us on a soulful journey as we relive loves lost or found or nurtured unprofessed in the deepest recesses of our hearts.

I would start with mentioning the fact that the book has only four stories. Very unusual for a short story collection, the fact that it has only four stories both helps and acts as a con for the collection. Now, the presentation. Given the fact that it is a self published book, there was more that I, as a reader expected out of it. The stories though, make up for the flaw in the presentation of the book. To speak about the stories I have to say that each story has its own essence and still a very invisible thread somehow, to me, binds all the stories together. I would go for every story one by one.

The first story in the book is Nargis through the summers. As you might’ve already read in the back cover of the book, the gist of the story is about a teenager who is unable to express his feelings for the girl of his dreams as their paths keep crossing through the years. But is this story just that? I would suggest that do not be misled through the gist in the blurb because the story has a deeper story into it and you would miss it if you don’t read it. All the questions that might arise when you are reading the story will be answered by the end of it. A wonderful and touching story to say the least.

Mine forever is the second story in the book. Again, the gist of the story is given very well in the book blurb and I would say that personally this is my favorite story of the whole book. I loved the way the emotions have been dealt with in this story. It touches the heart and the concept of the story was totally on point.

The third story on the list is Memories. As the gist on the back cover blurb says, the story is about a man who has lost his memory and his wife in a near fatal incident and there is a billboard which he encounters every day to and from work that reminds him of something which he is unable to remember. Just like all the other stories of the book, this story is also not what it shows itself to be. You will surely be engrossed in the story and in knowing what is to happen next in the story.

The last story of the book is titled Love came calling again. This story is my second favorite in the list. The story of Ria might seem fictional but it does happen in real life and what if I say that it has happened to a very close friend of mine? What happened to Ria, if you ask, then I have to say that you need to get hold of the book as soon as possible and know.

All the four stories make for a delightful read of the whole book. Coming to the cons of the book, the book doesn’t have any such con apart from two major things which I, personally, did not like. The first, as I have already mentioned is the presentation and the second is the fact that there are only four stories in the book. If there were more stories then this book would’ve garnered more stars from me. 

A compact book, I would still say that the author has set up high expectations for himself and so I felt that a few parts of a few stories could’ve been smoothed a bit. For me, looking forward to reading more from the author, this book is 3.75 out of 5. A delightful attempt and a must read book.

Absence of You by Sarah Elle Emm: a Promotional Tour!

Absence of You

by Sarah Elle Emm

Released on 17th May, 2016

About the Book:

Absence of You, a collection of poems, takes you through stages of love, from the first moments of falling, to heartache, to healing and growing. With Sarah Elle Emm’s simple, yet powerful, words and rhythm, venture through the ups and downs on this heartfelt journey.

Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon

About the Author:

Sarah Elle Emm is the author of ABSENCE OF YOU, LAST VACATION, the HARMONY RUN SERIES, and MARRYING MISSY. She has lived in Germany, England, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and traveled extensively beyond. Her writing cave is currently located in the Outer Banks. When she’s not leading kitchen dance parties with her daughters, she writes poetry and fiction.

Stalk the Author:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon Author Page

This Feature is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours and Vanya's Notebook

All of Me by Jonali Karmakar: a promotional Tour!

*~* Release Day Blitz *~*

Title: All of Me

Author:JonaliKarmakar

Length: 69 pages

Publication Date: May 29, 2016

ASIN: B01G0P8JGK

Book Blurb:
All of Me is a collection of thirteen little stories that have been gleaned from real life as well as imagination. Exploring a range of genres, these throb with everything primal to human nature: fear, angst, joy, love, and longing. Some stories are designed to elicit smiles, chuckles, and maybe even a belly laugh or two whereas some are meant as a reality check. Universal in nature, each story provides a glimpse of what women empowerment or a lack thereof can mean in a person’s life.
From a small hamlet in India to the roads of Australia; from a mother’s betrayal to a daughter’s confession; from an extra marital affair to a same sex relationship learn for yourself the what, how and whys.

Originally written for anthologies and ezines, these stories have been revisited and updated for this new collection.  

Amazon.in * Amazon.com

Excerpts from stories in All of Me:

1

Instead there were so many questions that started to raise their bantam heads. Why did she drive the winding lanes into the past to warm herself? What was it that she was hoping to find? Had she really blamed Palash for naught? Over the years had she made him less a person who had lived and breathed and more the dream of one? It was not impossible what he had accused her of. 
Ira looked at the man before her and matched him to her memories of him. They seemed two very different beings! Waves of humiliation washed over her until she was rigid with misery. The purpose of this trip was lost on her.

For a while she let his words run through her head like cool water on a headache and dared to examine her sentiments in the privacy of her thoughts. She let the long buried memories surface and in the one moment saw everything and wanted not to, wanted to make it go away, to unknow. In finding closure she had unearthed a truth that she wasn’t willing to face ever. 

2

She liked her job. It was good. Brought in quick money.Left her enough hours for cramming her boring science papers. What else can one expect? There were quite a few perks too. Posh parties where cocktails, five star food and good contacts flowed uninterruptedly not necessarily in the same order. Whatever. It was fun.

Okay it wasn’t a job to be proud of she agreed. But she wasn’t ashamed of what she did. Still it was a put-outer when people shriveled their nose after learning about her profession. As if she reeked! So she didn’t advertise her work much. Clients came in on their own. She had a reputation. Word of mouth was her advertisement. 

Namita was one of the best. A little pricey but satisfaction guaranteed. Naturally her clientele list included only a handful. She liked to stick to her regulars. Knowing each other intimately created a comfort zone which she thought was essential. Mutual enjoyment was her mantra. She diligently noted their likes and specially their dislikes. Their preferences for toys. The usual. 

It was a little tricky with the fly-by-night customers. It usually meant a day call. She preferred evenings. If the money was good she accepted. But she didn’t compromise with her three-days-a-night policy. In such situations Namita ditched one of her regulars by calling in sick. A little ditching was healthy especially since her work was so damn physically tiring. She only accepted them after seeing their medical certificates. It irked some but she never budged. She didn’t want to pickup something nasty from them. If they wanted her it was on her terms.

About the Author:

JonaliKarmakar is a fiction writer with a Masters in English. Writing is not just her passion but her way of dealing with life. She loves being able to escape into the worlds she creates. Everything that she writes becomes a part of her and she wants her readers to know the woman behind those words. In addition to being an educator, she works as a content editor for a local news portal. She has been providing editing, proofreading and translation services for the past few years.

Jonali’s work has been published in several journals, anthologies and poetry collections both national and international. An avid reader, she loves flipping pages of anything and everything on the table and reviewing the same on her blog Eclectic Moods. She feels that reading and writing are the flip sides of the same coin. Writing is her way of communicating with the world. When she’s not writing or teaching she loves to experiment with her paintings.

She has quite a few accolades to her name.

Contact the Author:

Blog * Twitter * eMail

This Feature is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours and Vanya's Notebook

All of Me by Jonali Karmakar: The Cover Release!

*** Cover Reveal ***

Title: All of Me

Author:JonaliKarmakar

Length: 69 pages

Publication Date: May 29, 2016

ASIN: B01G0P8JGK

Book Blurb:
All of Me is a collection of thirteen little stories that have been gleaned from real life as well as imagination. Exploring a range of genres, these throb with everything primal to human nature: fear, angst, joy, love, and longing. Some stories are designed to elicit smiles, chuckles, and maybe even a belly laugh or two whereas some are meant as a reality check. Universal in nature, each story provides a glimpse of what women empowerment or a lack thereof can mean in a person’s life.
From a small hamlet in India to the roads of Australia; from a mother’s betrayal to a daughter’s confession; from an extra marital affair to a same sex relationship learn for yourself the what, how and whys.

Originally written for anthologies and ezines, these stories have been revisited and updated for this new collection.  

About the Author:

JonaliKarmakar is a fiction writer with a Masters in English. Writing is not just her passion but her way of dealing with life. She loves being able to escape into the worlds she creates. Everything that she writes becomes a part of her and she wants her readers to know the woman behind those words. In addition to being an educator, she works as a content editor for a local news portal. She has been providing editing, proofreading and translation services for the past few years.

Jonali’s work has been published in several journals, anthologies and poetry collections both national and international. An avid reader, she loves flipping pages of anything and everything on the table and reviewing the same on her blog Eclectic Moods. She feels that reading and writing are the flip sides of the same coin. Writing is her way of communicating with the world. When she’s not writing or teaching she loves to experiment with her paintings.

She has quite a few accolades to her name.

Contact the Author:

Blog * Twitter * eMail

This Feature is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours

Panorama by Shilpi Chaklanobis: a review

Unlike most people who I know, I do not hesitate reading the works of a debut author because for me, the debut authors are very promising. They always come up with something fresh and new, making me wait for their books and also the debut authors have something new to tell. So when I came across Panorama – A collection of Short stories by debut author Shilpi Chaklanobis, I did not hesitate before picking it up. The cover of the book is so inviting that I would not be lying if I say that I fell for the book at first glance. Then, I turned towards the back and read the blurb. Like most anthologies, this blurb also gives a take on the stories that it has. Have a look at it, before I go for reviewing each story one by one.

According to the back cover- A turbulent relationship between a mother and a daughter takes a sudden turn when the daughter stumbles across a past that she never knew. The golden period of a professor’s life is tainted by questions about his purpose until one night gives him all the answers he needs. Desperate times test us all but when hunger drives a girl to do the unthinkable, her life changes forever. Woven around the lives of the people around us- the shy girl on the metro, your domestic help, your neighbours and perhaps even you- this collection of short stories will take you on a bittersweet journey that explores the spectrum that is part of any human relationship and all the complexity and chaos that secretly dwell within the homes and hearts of India. Often laced with an element of introspection, the stories are sure to change the way you see the world around you...

The Wok is the first story in the book and is basically a story which could be anyone’s. It can be of the maid who works at our place or of the beggar of the street. What works for the story is the fact that it is written so beautifully that it touches the heart at first read.

Peanut is the second story of the book. How dear is out pets to us? That is exactly what the essence of the story peanut depicts. I had a pet once and the story reminded me of her. By the end of the story, I had a lump in my throat. A treat for every pet (dog) lover.

The third story of the book is a story called The thirst. With two beautiful stories as the opening stories of the book, this story took me by surprise. I won’t say I did not like it. It is a very good story and it touches too, showing the reality of life but I felt that it could have been told in a much better way than it has been told.

Selective Secularism is the fourth story of the book. Now, this is a story which needs to be told. Selectivity and secularity at its best, or worst? This is the story of most people in every second house. One major must read story. But then again, some more details could have meant to harm.

The fifth story of the book is called bribe. The thing which is usually unsaid but it also goes without saying that it exists. Who does a child love more- the father or the mother? You should really read this story to know and to open your eyes.

There are very few stories which stay with me but I am sure the sixth story of the book, forever, will. Perfect for a TV show episodic, this is a beautiful tale. Keeping a few errors (grammatical) aside, by the end of the story, I had tears.

The seventh story of the book is The wait. I have noticed a pattern in the writing style of the authoress. She charms her readers and then suddenly with a story the reader feels like taking a step back. This story had the essence but lacked the narration that was needed.

The eighth story of the book, The second tsunami made me think. The story might just be a true story. It would surely touch your hearts and give you mixed emotions. What would you have done in such a situation? Read the story and let me know.

The ninth story of the book is titled The example. The authoress gas a talent in showing her story writing capabilities in the writing industry. Evert story of hers seem to be a brief of a novel’s storyline. A much liked story of mine, the essence is well maintained.

The meeting is the tenth story of the book. I’ll confess, I have a best friend and we are known as twins too and I am also sure of the fact that 25 years from now, this is exactly what would happen to us. Me being Payal and she being Ria. I have a piece of advice- listen to the story. Please.

The mirage is the eleventh story of the book. For a fleeting moment after reading the story, I did not know how to write about it. The story has something in it which is very precious. Misunderstanding in a relationship. It does not hurt knowing both sides of the coin, does it?

The twelfth story of the book is destiny. First, I am a believer. To whosoever reads the story there are 2 things- one, you are a believer and two, you are not a believer. For me, it was the former. A tactfully formed story and a controversial concept, I felt that the authoress could’ve written it in a better way so that even those who fall in the latter category would believe it.

The thirteenth story of the book is titled The untimely death. The title might seem to be mentioning about a person’s death but the story was much more than that. How can one incident change so many lives? Read on to find out.

Before it’s too late is the fourteenth story of the book. ‘Live before you die’. A very meaningful line that says a lot. Who follows it? It is hard to decipher. Who do we loose in this rat race? And who do we gain? It is for you to decide but before it is too late.

The final story of the book, The sealed wish, is the perfect story the book could end with. A treat to the readers and a lump in the throat story, you would have to read the story to know what the story does to you.

Once I had finished reading the book and was analyzing the book I felt that everything worked for me in the book. The stories were nice, the concepts nice. I loved the cover of the book and even the blurb. The few things that I did not like are the few grammatical errors of the book and also the pattern of the authoress which gives you a break while reading. All in all a book which you can finish at one go and you would be satisfied, I would want to read a novel from the authoress soon. This book is 4 out of 5 for me.

Myriad Tales: a review

The cover of the book can turn eyes of the readers but then the size of the book, specifically of that of an anthology can turn them off. I really liked how the book has been presented to the readers with the Glitterati signatures and personalized messages from the authors. The printing quality of the book and paper quality was also nice (just to mention, my copy had a page that was printed in the opposite direction) but nonetheless, the first impression that the book gives is very nice. The book has 32 stories and that’s why I would like to write a few lines on all the stories…

Guns and Roses by Akash Shrivastav- The story of Rajveer, One year of his life where he had seen the most highs and lows was the biggest attraction of the story. What I felt was that, the story was a bit too fast paced and it could’ve been better if that was done in a slower way. The story was very ‘listened to’ and I felt that I had read it earlier.

Prank by Nikhil Uprety- I would call this story a real good one. The super natural element added in the story makes this a show stealer. The story, the way of describing and the turns of the story can give goose bumps to the readers. The story is also such that it can be read in one go. It surely seems as if it is enacted in front of you.

Battle of wits by Rafaa Dalvi- I don’t know what to say about the story. Reading the story I would like to say that the story is indeed about the battle of wits. The characters, the story is something that has been paid very much attention to. But still, at one point I felt that the story could’ve seen a better ending than it has.

Duplicity by Alexander Altman- Thrill, the story shrieks of the word and the cold blooded murder describes the word to the fullest. Though the very base of the book seems ‘already read’, still, the new plating of the story makes it a very interesting read for all the thrill lovers. A perfect one time read.

The unwelcome Guest by Dr.Roshan Radhakrishnan- The eerie feeling that the story gives you is something that any reader can look forward to in the story. I specifically liked the way the author has described the scenes. But at one point of time, it felt that the story was a tad too big for an anthology. If it were a bit shorter, it would’ve made a great story.

Atarahbaham; Mahabharata Remixed by Suhail Mathur- Coming from the editor of the anthology, I had much expectations from the story and specially when the story talked much about a remixed version of the Mahabharata. When I read the story, yes, the comic timing was very accurate and it can make the readers laugh out loud, but to a certain extent being a mythology lover; I personally feel that a certain set of readers might get offended with the story. Apart from that, a very nice concept.

The raveled mystery by Saurabh Chawla- I really liked the way the author has tried to move on with the story, but at one point of time; the story seemed to be a tad too clear to the eye which is not mostly the case with thrillers. The characters were etched very properly and the feelings too but the ending could’ve been a more elaborate one and the story a bit twisted and turned.

Seat Number 66 by Vaisakhi Mishra- If you travel on trains late at night and are mostly alone; if a cemetery is on your way then treat this as an early warning. For people who travel late night on trains, this story is not exactly something that they would like to read. But telling that, I would also say that the story is actually that much creepy that you are bound to imagine things when doing the things mentioned in the story. Over all, an eerie story.

Spectacles in Goa by Anil Antony- Friends, Goa and fun; that surely is the perfect mantra for a fun filled adventure. And if the adventure is as funny as the author has described it to be, it is sure to be experienced! The way the story progressed never gave a hint to the reader about the end but surely it was a fun filled story.

The lady who loved tea too much by Ritesh Agarwal- This story can very well be called one of the stories in this book which I liked a lot. The way the story progressed didn’t give in much about the story and that’s how I like my stories to be. The end of the story, though, made me smile with tears in my eyes.

Gem of a thief by David Singh- A very nice comic ‘drama’ as I would like to name it by the author. The way the narration has been done leaves all readers ‘into’ the story from the beginning till the end. What the end has in stores surely pushes the right comic buttons of the readers. A great job done by the author.

The facebook girl by Dr.Vivek Banerjee- Spooky! What happens when a stranger is watching you? Well, a stranger? Not exactly… Telling more about the story will actually ruin the fun so I would like to leave it on the readers to see what happens when Sahil puts up a facebook status. I would really like to read more from the author.

Fundawear by Saurabh Mishra- You can’t stop yourself from laughing your heart out from the time you start reading the mid portion of the story. The way the story has been narrated, can make anyone laugh. But the only hitch is that, I, personally, don’t like stories involving mainly around physical intimacy amongst a book that is supposed to be read by people of all ages. Thinking about the story as an individual, a nice attempt by the author.

The poison ivy by PT Sahasranaman- This story is also one of the best stories I have read in the book. The references given at the end of the story brings forth the thin line of non-fiction that is used in the book, making it more reliable to the readers. The readers, at one point surely feel into the book which is a great achievement by the authoress. I wish the story was a bit shorter than it actually is.

The deal by Tapobrata Kumar- The author struck a chord within me mainly because he used a few lines from my most favorite poem and justified them to the fullest. The terrorist part of the story was a very intriguing one. For me, this story was a complete story but again, it could’ve been written in a more interesting way.

401 wellington Avenue by Nabanita Dhar- Yes, you get creepy while reading the story and that is exactly why this story is written. At the end, you are left with mixed emotions and that makes you like the story. Hitting the perfect spots, I would like to read more from the authoress on this genre.

The love story by Upneet Grover- After finishing the story all I could do was *facepalm*. Well, yes. The story, told in very few words is surely one of its kinds. What would happen next, is something you think while reading the story and when you end it; all you can do is *facepalm* (in a good way) Not revealing much, I would want the readers to enjoy the read.

Twisted Fate by Chandrapal Khasiya- The story actually can be treated as an eye opener. It opens the eyes of those people who are blinded by faith. The way the story has been churned out brings out one of the best by the writer. Though I was expecting more, I really liked the story as a whole.

Raped by Raviraj Ramavarapu- Thrill is written large on the story. Having read the authors’ work a lot of times earlier, I would say that the author could’ve written the story in a far better way. But still, to a certain extent, the story has the capability to hook the readers from the first till the last. Would like to read more from the author.

The black pearls by Sufia Khatoon- Pearls are something that unknowingly castes a very endearing feeling on every woman and the same happened in this case. A story within a story. Thrill and spookiness teamed into one makes this story a must read by the authoress. I would’ve loved it even more if the story would’ve been a bit more shortened.

It’s time by Arka Chakrabarti- It’s not very frequently that I have tears in my eyes while reading a short story and I would like to give a round of applause for the author to have brought tears in my eyes. I would’ve appreciated the author more if he would’ve given a bit of descriptions in the story instead of telling it in one flow.

The venomous vault by Ayush Agarwal- The story can actually cause panic amongst the people reading it. One’s mind is constantly thinking of so many things while reading the story. But as compared to the whole story, I somehow felt that the ending lacked the much needed surprise that short stories mostly contain. Apart from that, a nice story to read.

Today’s special poison by Uwais zubair Sait- The story leaves the reader with mixed expressions. Mostly that of a smile. To talk about the story would be tough because that would mean telling about the story. I would just like to say that the narration could’ve been done in a better way. Other than that, the story keeps the readers hooked till the last line.

3AM when reality met illusion by Neoni D’souza- I have a particular aversion for stories coming from the authoresses’ pen. I have read her earlier and I had huge expectations from the authoress. No doubt, the authoress didn’t disappoint me. The story of Annie kept me hooked. The only thing I wish was that it is high time that the authoress higher up her writing standards a notch.

Paint it red by Rahul Mohan Sharma- The story surely has a moving effect on every reader and the time and dedication that the author has given in writing the story clearly reflects on the writing. I wish to read more from the author. The only hitch is that the story is too short of descriptions. A stronger base story could’ve made it work.

The letter by Ayush Agarwal- When I started the story, I never knew what is going to happen next. Maybe just another stalker story. But when the story advances, the thrill of the story gets into you and the unexpected twist at the end of the story can actually shudder the readers to an extent. A job well done by the author.

Project phantasm by Kosha Srivastava- This is again one of those stories that left me dumbfounded. Talking more about the story would mean revealing it and I don’t want to do it. The narrating style was wonderful and has the capability of keeping the readers hooked and guessing about what is going to happen next. I would like to read more from the authoress.

Drishti by Praveen Sinha- For this story I would like to congratulate the author for having weaved this story to a wonderful symphony of words. It’s not every day that you get to read a story weaved like this. But somehow, the ending couldn’t quite satisfy the needs of the reader. The description style is something that the readers can look forward to in the story.

Unravelling the night by Amogh Srivastav- The story kept me at the edge of my seat from the beginning but at the end I couldn’t believe my eyes. The twist in the end was surely a very nicely executed one. The writer surely has a knack of writing and I would like to read more from the author.

Messed up by Shipra Jain- The story started off quite nicely. Just like any other thriller story. But at one certain point, I felt that the story got actually ‘messed up’. The main base of the story was very shaky and even though the narration was nice, the formation just couldn’t take place properly. I guess, a bit more descriptions and a firm plot could’ve taken the story to a whole new level.

The forgery by Arka Dutta- The story is exactly about what the title of the story claims to be, ‘forgery’. The story has a very good quality to it and you must read the story to know what exactly it has in store for you. The descriptions have been taken care of and that keeps the readers hooked.

Honeymoon of the Haunted by Mihir Shah- The title itself attracts the readers and I won’t be wrong if I say that the book has one of the best for the last. The way the story has been etched makes the readers sit at the edge of their seats. The end can actually bring a wicked smile on everyone’s face.

At the end, there are a few things I would like to say about the book. In certain places of the book, editing and grammatical errors were seen that drops the speed of the book. For me, I somehow felt that all the stories have been written with almost the same graph in mind. If the book is read constantly, without any breaks then the book might seem to be written by a same author rather than different kinds of authors. For an anthology, I particularly hunt for different edges of stories which were present here but the frame seemed similar. All in all, a very satisfactory read. I would like to rate it 4 on the scale of 5.

He said She said by Angad Singh Saluja & Priyanka Bharadwaj: a review

In a very subtle vermillion color background, a ‘he’ and a ‘she’ sitting, having drinks and talking! Well I guess nothing could have been better as the cover of Angad Singh Saluja and Priyanka Bhardwaj’s poetry book He Said She Said. Now I guess you can understand why I mentioned ‘he’ and ‘she’ instead of using any other pronoun for it. The first look of the book has been really good (Yes, I am badly in love with poetry of any form) and so I had huge expectations from this book.

The book is divided into two vast portions. One- poetry by he (Angad Singh Saluja) and Two- poetry by she (Priyanka Bhardwaj) and that concept have made this book all the more interesting. Starting with poetry by he, I must say that he has a wonderful way of explaining what he feels. Covering a variety of topics in his poems, he has also used different types of styles to write each of his poems and this adds to the essence of the poems.

There were a few poems which were too good and few, which in comparison were not that good but were good enough in their way. He has used certain metaphors in his writing and it feels good while reading it. I just wish his poems were written in a better way which could’ve brought life to the book.

Quoting a few words from his poem-

“A promise made

An expression stated

A journey started

An enigma solved

A love lived

You and Me”

Now coming to her poetry, on contrary I must say that I practically loved her poetry. I could feel life in all her works. To point out a specific one which I liked the most would be pointless because I loved all of them. She has used very refined poetry skills in her writing and it seems professional to the readers. The touch of real life in her poems has made them stand out from the crowd.

Unlike he, she has used a very similar type of style in writing most of her poems that at times can make it a bit repetitive. A few words have been used in many consecutive poems which again might feel a continuation of the others. Apart from that, I really liked the way she has written all her feelings out. The ‘feel good’ factor remains and that is a plus point for the book. Would’ve loved it more if there were a few other styles of written poetries.

Quoting a few words from her poem-

“In your asking for blue, but wanting red,

In your love said and unsaid,

I reside…”

For me, this wonderful collection deserves 4 out of 5. But I surely would want to read more from both he and she!