Review: Hindi Medium: Wonderfully executed movie! ***½

1584th BLOG POST -->>

There are very few movies in Hindi film industry which can deal with a serious subject by making a commercial movie that also entertains the audience. Raju Hirani has been able to create such movies regularly which speak about one or the other social issues of our contemporary society along with multiple laughter moments that are better than the so-called comedy movies. On the similar lines, recently a movie got released called Hindi Medium. Though it was released with Half Girlfriend, it did better than it even after not having elite casting. The film starring Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar is a treat to watch indeed.

Hindi Medium speaks about the current mindset of people where the ones speaking English are considered to be respectable and dignified while the Hindi-speaking class is considered to be low grade and still under-developed. In the quest of getting their daughter admitted in the most elite school of the area, the parents go to any level to make it possible even leaving their home and living with the poor people in slums of Delhi. The wife is always embarrassed by her husband as he is not from English background and keeps on making mistakes my talking in his unsophisticated and simple manner which is not what this English-speaking society likes. While wife is always in continuous efforts to reach the lifestyle and standard of these people so that her family can stand in equals with them.

The second half of the movie moves ahead from this and starts talking about how the exploitation really takes place and the climax is all about self-realization. The story is very well written by the writers and does not make you feel bored at any moment. The editing is perfectly done which makes you sit throughout the movie with the same excitement and chill. The dialogues and one-liners are spot-on and when you have Irrfan Khan in a movie, you can already claim about this. The performances are great by both, Irrfan and Saba along with all the supporting actors. Deepak Dobriyal, once again, makes people feel his emotions and few of his scenes will keep you teary-eyed and think about him for a long time. The subject that the makers wanted to make the people aware of is perfectly done with this movie. I rate it 3.5 stars out of 5. The film is out on DVD. Do get it soon.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Himalayan Lust by Sadhguru (Book Review-3.5*/5) !!!

1583rd BLOG POST -->>

In the books and authors that speak only about spirituality, I have gone through many books but finally found my home and solace in the books and words of Sadhguru. I can identify with every word that he speaks. Even if something that I am not able to understand, following some advises of his makes it possible for me to decipher the meaning of what he wanted to speak in that particular chapter or paragraph. I am just done reading his “Himalayan Lust” written in the year 2010. It has become my task these days to read all the books of Sadhguru one by one and follow the path of meditation. Because they he describes meditation and concentration, no one else does.

Himalayan Lust is about the conversation of Sadhguru with the seekers who joined his adventure of trekking over Himalayas. As everyone could not be with Sadhguru in this great experience of being at Himalaya, this book helps the reader to understand the thought process of each peak and mountain with significance as Sadhguru talks about specific topics only at respective peaks. The dialogues between the Seekers and the Sadhguru is nicely edited and presented which helps the reader to understand the topic in flow. Otherwise it would have been very messy for the reader to understand what exactly is being talked about.

Sadhguru answers many difficult questions like why saints chose only mountains for meditation, how does one know that which Guru is real, how does one understands that one is in need of meditation, how much is several myth related with a normal person who has never been in touch with meditation etc. The best thing about the book is that even after the book is based in Himalayas, Sadhguru presents his ideas and tools in such a way that it does not sound religious from any point of view. Any person of any religion will find his talks relevant and customized for himself. The only drawback of the book is that I found Sadhguru talking too much about his greatness in this book unlike many of his books and speeches. I was surprised to notice this again and again. Another problem is that the book is not much about Himalayas as the title goes. This is just another book on spirituality by Sadhguru but has nothing to do specifically with Himalayas or mountains. I give this book of Sadhguru 3.5 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

A Sister To Honour by Lucy Ferriss (Book Review- 4*/5) !!!

1582nd BLOG POST -->>

I have never read any book by Lucy Ferriss before but while browsing through the books published by Fingerprint publishers, one of my favorite publication houses in India, I got to read the title of the book “A Sister To Honour” which made me pick up the book and read it this weekend. The cover page of the book says a lot but its only after you end up reading this almost 400-pages book that you are able to comprehend what this book wanted to let us know. The way author has discussed some contemporary issues through this story is worth-praising. We only hear in news about honour killing etc. but after reading this book, the mentality that few regions, religions, sect etc. has will open your eyes as an individual.

This book is about a Pakistani girl who goes to USA following her brother who is already settled there as a star athlete. She never knew what future had for her. She just wanted to finish her medical studies in this part of the world. But one photograph of her holding hand of an American man that gets posted on Internet changes her life. Even her brother, Shahid, who is expected to save the honour of his sister, is considered a crime-in-partner for not being able to save his sister from getting into such acts. This would have been a normal case for any American girl to do but for a girl belonging from Pakistan primarily, this case leads to investigations and what not.

The way author lets us know the point of view of each character by speaking the story in the first-person voice makes it easy for us, as a reader, to understand the different mindset of people. At some moments, we feel like hitting some character speaking their mind for being so miserable in their thinking and close-mindedness that it becomes hard to accept some truths in the form of this fictional story. The book is nicely written which makes us read every page with details to capture every minute details about the people’s reactions, mindset and thinking.

The first half of the book sets the plot of the book while the second half of the book actually plays the purpose behind writing this novel. The good thing about this attempt is that author has based the whole thing in USA to make the reader understand about how two totally different cultures resides on this same planet itself where something is very casual at one end of the world while it is a crime in the opposite end of it. Such a bold topic is very greatly handled by the author and I give this 4 star out of 5. I would ask everyone to read this book and also ask everyone to read this book in your circle that belongs to such close-minded society. Kudos to the author for attempting something like this. Recommended!

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Warjuna- Book 1: Mrithasu Rising by Krishnaraj (Book Review-3.75*/5) !!!

1581st BLOG POST -->>

Since Shiva Trilogy has made it mark in the Indian literature market, I have seen many authors trying out their creative piece in the same genre by writing stories based in the historical era. Many authors have done well in it while many have failed badly. I know many books that were meant to be a trilogy but never came out with their 2^nd part because the first one itself didn’t work with the readers. It’s very tough to garner the interest of readers when you are writing in the same genre as everyone in the contemporary period where the particular stuff has become fashionable. However, I just completed reading the book named “Warjuna” which is said to be the first book in the trilogy based on the rising of the Mrithasu. The book is written by the author Krishnaraj and published by Notionpress.

This 300-pages book doesn’t allow the reader to get up from his seat and leave it even for a second. The book engages you right from the first page itself. The author does not take time in introducing Arjuna with the readers and makes sure that he is regularly involved in all that takes place throughout the plot. The way author has managed to take out some characters from the epic, The Mahabharata, and use them in a totally new story based in another era makes this book special. Earlier, it took me sometime to understand how exactly is the book related with Mahabharata but after reading some more pages, I understood that it is a totally new fantasy fictional world that the author have created in this book.

The book is very fast-paced and the story regularly moves forward without boring the reader at any point. Some or the other events keep taking place in the whole set-up of war and the ideologies shared between the characters and the way war is proceeded with different political mindset gives the reader what he desperately asks for. The only problem with the book is that to move the story ahead in a very speedy manner, author has forgotten to give some time to develop the characters. The characters are just used as a stepping stone in this story and only the main protagonist is discussed in detail. Anyways, the way author describes action-packed scenes, nature, Mother Earth, war-based scenarios tells a lot about how deeply he fantasizes the world within his mind and only after which he shares it with his readers. Overall, this book will make you imagine each and every sentence in your mind and take you to a different world itself. I give this 3.75* out of 5. I am definitely waiting for its 2^nd part to release soon and take the author’s work a level up.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!!  

What did the loss of Champions Trophy and Women's World Cup teach us?

1580th BLOG POST -->>

Everyone was not over Champions Trophy defeat that we lost another important finale, Women’s Cricket World Cup tonight against England. Though no one had expected our team to reach Finale so easily crushing almost every team they got in their way. This was a game that we had almost won. It was just because of some hurry in the end that made us cost a World Cup trophy which would have cemented our place in the Women’s Cricket as well. Similarly, we see Indians losing many such important events at the last stage most often. Why is it so? Why are we unable to take that last shot properly? Why are we not able to handle stress when it is most needed? Why do we lose our concentration and determination just before the final jackpot is to be handed to the flawless winner?

Since childhood, we are asked to win big. We are never encouraged to participate but everyone wants us to win as soon as we tell the people about our participation in something. The stress level gets boomed right from that moment itself. No one encourages you to just participate and not think about winning all the games. No one asks you to just give your best and leave the results in the hands of the God. No one. The Indian parents want you to be first if you are in the race and they purposely pin you daily to ensure that the medal is coming to our home rather than the neighbour’s wall. This inspires us initially and we give our best in the very early stages and conquer what no one before us has done either in the society, family, village, town, state etc. But the moment we find ourselves in the last game that will decide who’s the ultimate champion, the expectations and promises that people have themselves made on behalf of us stresses us like hell and we always perform under pressure.

We have heard it many a times from Indian parents that our kid performs well in Unit test, prelims etc. but we do not know what happens when he is out there to give his final examination. The child scores best throughout the year but screws it all in the exam which matters. This is only because we never asked that child to enjoy studying and let the results take care of themselves. We always demanded our child to not study but still score 1^st no matter what. This makes his blood flow frozen the moment he sees the Question paper being distributed. And as soon as the paper comes in his hand, rather than feeling positive about the questions for which he knows the answers well, his negativity multiplies tremendously for that one highly weighted question which he didn’t prepare for. And then he imagines his parents, siblings, families and everyone’s reaction on his result day when we won’t be scoring as good as he is expected to.

When we are enough deserving to reach the Finale of any game, job or task, we shouldn’t be defeated in the final event no matter what. We should be totally stress-free and take even that moment as just another day of our daily life and perform. This will help us to motivate ourselves for all the future endeavors as the way we carried out ourselves in this moment of craziness that will remind us of the power we have within us. The people around us should also learn that winning and losing is just two options when you are against someone/something. So anyways, if you do not end up winning, you lose. It’s just that and not the end of it. People make us believe that we have lost everything and we do not know if next time we would be able to perform as brilliantly as we did this time.

Let’s encourage everyone around us to just prepare using the best tools available and take every match as a learning game to know what’s good and what’s still lacking in our performance. By the time, we are about to take the next exam/game, we are ready to not do the same mistake as last time again. This will automatically keep eliminating all our negatives and by the time we reach the D-day,  we do not think about winning it under pressure, but play with positivism keeping in mind that we have to not repeat any mistake we did in our previous exams/tasks/games which will gradually bring the trophy to us. Whatever, the Indian Women Cricket team gave us enormous reason to celebrate this World Cup and we are sure to see many more spectacular performances from them in future tournaments. I pay my respect to all the girls who played like boss even when they weren’t sent for the tournament with the same kind of expectations and enthusiasms that we show for our male team. Hats off to each and every member of this squad.

Jai Hind!

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Review: Jagga Jasoos: Musical, Unique but interesting in parts! **½

1579th BLOG POST -->>

When I saw the trailer of Jagga Jasoos on Youtube, I wasn’t very much impressed with it and found it very boring. But when I decided to watch it, I had prepared to go in with a positive mindset even though my parents started uttering “0 Star” within the first ten minutes of the movie. But after watching the movie, I can say that the spirit of Anurag Basu is undeniably and unarguably challenging and worth-applauding. The concept in his mind and its projection on screen with such a cinematic experience tells the hard-work he has put in this movie. The 3-years long time is visible in each and every frame.

The movie starts with Katrina telling bored little children different cases of Jagga Jasoos and declares even her being a part of his adventure. The way music is used in this movie is incredible and something which the Indian audience has not seen before. That is why the movie is not getting accepted here because people are finding music as a lighter note and not concentrating towards the story that is been told through it. Later on, when Jagga’s father disappears leaving Jagga Jasoos alone in a boarding school and the way he discusses his theories with his friends there is enjoyable as a viewer.

Later on, the main case on which the whole movie revolves is discussed in the 2^nd half. This part should have been enough interesting to move the viewers but unfortunately, it seems as if the writer did not have more creative thinking to make this look little more difficult. All the secrets and suspense are revealed just like that without any unpredictability. The viewers themselves know what might happen in the next scene. The main problem and the biggest one is the length of the film which it didn’t deserve. It’s easy to find Jagga Jassos interesting till 105-120 minutes but post that each minute seems to be a challenge for the audience because even too much music is a problem. Hence, that’s the plus point of the movie and also the biggest negative of it.

Talking about the performances, Ranbin Kapoor as Jagga Jasoos does wonderful and keeps the same expression on his face through the movie and never leaves his character. He is the person after Anurag Basu for whom this movie will always be remembered. Katrina Kaif, once again, acts as plain as it gets possible. Not convincing at all. Saswata Chatterjee is incredible in his role and he is the life of this movie after Ranbir Kapoor. Overall, considering the length of the movie, its superb visuals and the predictable suspense in the 2^nd half, I give this movie 2.5 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Black Suits You by Novoneel Chakraborty (Book Review: 4*/5) !!!

1578th BLOG POST -->>

 There is not a single book that I have missed by Novoneel Chakraborty because of the suspense that is always involved in his books. Not always I have enjoyed the final climax but still I love whatever he writes because he doesn’t only narrate a suspense thriller but make the reader to keep thinking in parallel about what will happen with the protagonist in the end. His thrillers are very different from what I read from other popular authors of India. I am just done reading “Black Suits You”, the latest released novel of Novoneel, however, his another book is up for pre-order already. His speed of writing and publishing book is something I am sure his publishers would be very happy and grateful about. Haha!

Black Suits You is an amazing thriller where the protagonist is shown involving in an affair with a girl even after he is in relationship with Anaysha. He is been made to fall for this new girl named Kashti by her even though he finds the whole thing very scary. He breaks up with his girlfriend, Anaysha, on the day of their engagement just because he gets a “gift” from Kashti which makes him not say “NO” to her. And from here onwards, he is been dominated by Kashti and being followed everywhere. And then begins the real story of this book which will make the readers keep turning page to know what happens next.

Author’s decision to tell Anaysha’s story from her own voice in the form of the diary notes is nice as it makes the narration more fluid and systematic. The reader gets to understand the parallel thought of Anaysha after knowing what is up with the life of Kiyan, the protagonist. The suspense is nicely built up in spite of the linkages that the characters have amongst each other in a correlated timeline. The pre-climax is wonderfully handled where the final thrilling part is out and we come to know about the people involved in the crime, avenge or revenge (read to know what specifically it is).

The book could have become boring as it is written in lot of confinement as there is no traveling part of exploration of characters but only what goes on between the protagonist and Kashti. But author makes sure that the plot is enough engaging to never make you feel bored. And in the 2^nd half the way story starts progressing makes the reader not leave the book until the climax is not finished. And the climax is very well executed which makes this book a best concluded one. Thankfully, this is not a trilogy or else waiting for the next one would have become much difficult. Author has absolutely written it better than his most famous “The Stranger Trilogy”. I give this book 4* out of 5. And I am just waiting to put my hands upon his upcoming novel “Forever is a Lie”.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

How LONG can you HOLD someone?

1577th BLOG POST -->>

Every time we find someone very close to us, whenever we are out to pray, we ensure that we are also asking goodwill for them. We want them to stay better and safe always. Even if one is selfish and only asks for himself but do not consider well for people around him, he/she can never be happy because in your happiness, you always need another happy person to celebrate the occasion. If you do not have anyone, you stay unhappy even after achieving everything of this world. We have seen cases where in a group of friends, only one friend passes the exam while others fail, that one candidate is unable to celebrate the moment because the people around him/her are not happy with their results or lives.

Hence, it’s a human tendency to wish well for everyone who is close to him/her along with being selfish and thinking first about ourselves. There can be few exceptions for sure. There are many a times when you find someone close to you going on a path that’s risky and you want to stop him/her but the person is adamant about trying the same. You are just praying day and night and pleading the person to change his/her decision but the person doesn’t give any heed to your suggestion or advise and continues with the proceedings of this dangerous  job that he/she is entering into. The most that you can do is emotional blackmailing in the end but the question is for how long can you hold the person?

How much right do you have over the decision-making and decision-executing rights of that person? Do you own the person? Does the person consider you God to follow everything you feel is right for him/her? I have seen my friends taking wrong decisions in professional life in spite of getting several suggestions about continuing/discontinuing their present job. I have seen my friends taking education lightly even when they were lectured daily about the money their parents are spending on them. I have seen my female friends going for picnic with boys who have planned to drink even when they know the happenings taking place all over the country. I have seen my couple friends breaking up even when they could have become the best partners ever for each other just because of their ego.

But is there anything we can do more than only giving suggestions to these close people we have in our lives for whom we cannot think negative as much as we want? We will have to come to the conclusion that we do not have the destiny of anyone in our hands and we are not liable or eligible to hold the happiness of anyone. Each person takes their own decision, passes or fails accordingly, and becomes a rich or poor person in terms of both- money and quality of life respectively. We can only pray for their best but thinking that we can put restrictions or ban on someone from taking a decision and then even executing is wrong. We can take only our care. These days, even children do not listen to parents who almost own them so what are friends, siblings or colleagues to stop someone from going on the track which will only lead to failure.

I have become wrong several times just to explain someone what is  the ultimate right thing for that particular action they are about to take considering whatever knowledge I have in that area. Rather than listening to me, we ended up in dirty arguments which almost came to the level where the relationship was about to be called off. Why should one take such path when you can be friends with that person for lifetime irrespective of whatever the quality of life that person is leading? But personally speaking, I do not like sharing my space with anyone who is not worried about the quality of life they need to live. If they are just happy with the short term happiness of drinking, smoking, chilling, hanging-out with dangerous buddies, taking worthless decisions out of superiority complex or ego etc., they do not have place in my most inner circle where I want to keep only the special people of my life.

Doing wrong just to say that you needed to experience it to know how it is is the most foolish thing I have ever heard. And I would only suggest everyone to not bear such foolishness around you for the sake of peace of your own mind. And remember, we cannot hold anyone any longer. They are a full set of flesh and blood of their own and let them go with their heart and mind. Just sit back and watch the show after intimating them for once about the dangerous path they are about to walk into. That’s all I had to say.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

The Boy Who Loved by Durjoy Datta (Book Review- 4.5*/5) !!!

1576th BLOG POST -->>

There are few authors with whom you share an emotional connect as you are an audience to their work since the time they were building their niche in the field. That’s the reason I connect with many authors even if I like their work or don’t. One of the most unusual authors for me is Durjoy Datta who started writing campus love stories full of sexual explorations but started experimenting different plots since last 3 years. I have enjoyed him as a writer since beginning but the variations that I got to experience in these few years is what is more delighting to me than anything as a reader. I am just done reading his latest experiment named “The boy who loved” which sounds to be just another love story but this is one of the best character-based novels I have read. I can easily compare this one with another favorite DD-novel, “Someone Like You”.

The book starts as a diary of a boy who has considered himself as he is good for nothing because he does not have any bigger ambitions but wants to lead a normal life. The way the whole plot is handled in the form of a diary spoken in the first-person voice is amazing and does not bore you even for a minute unlike many popular fictions where the same concept is not treated as maturely as DD has done in this book. The magic is woven in the book right from the first page till the end. The way the protagonist is introduced in the initial chapters makes you curious to know more about him. And the way each day is narrated makes this book a perfect page-turner that you won’t be able to keep down without completing it in one sitting.

The characterization is so beautifully done in this story that you will be able to interpret each one’s mindset. The orthodox mentality of the protagonist’s parents is very nicely discussed in this book which makes you wonder why Indian parents are so pitiless and rude when it comes to accepting the child’s choice for his/her own marriage. The way the chemistry and relationship between the protagonist and Brahmi is mentioned also breaks your heart many a times. The condition in which Brahmi lives will make you emotional time and again. The last chapter of the book is heart-breaking and I wish if the ending would have been something different but whatever, I feel this book would have been incomplete if everything would have ended happily. This will remain to be my favorite Durjoy Datta’s book for a long time for sure. I rate it 4.5* out of 5.

THANKS.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

Does "relationship" change our Living Attitude?

1575th BLOG POST -->>

The relationships in a human being’s life make him/her whatever they are in terms of sociability and communication. But is carrying a relationship that easy for which one can try to indulge in one just like that? I don’t believe so. One of the most difficult things to do is to decide if we should escalate the relationship level with a person to the next stage. You never know what might occur tomorrow which may change the relationship patterns which the two of you share between yourselves. Today, the need of getting involved in a relationship with someone might sound the only alternative but what if tomorrow makes it one of the burdens in your life?

I have seen people dying every day because they are unable to either break off with a person or continue with such stressful bonding. Their life has become hell because of this dilemma which would not have been part of their life if they had not chosen to build any kind of relationship with that person. When I say relationship, I mean every kind of relation that exists in this world between two people- Friendship, blood relation, love affair, marriage etc. Any kind of relation can give you immense pain or pleasure. I have used pain before pleasure because we often do not notice the pleasures we get from a person but pain gets so much imbibed in our personality that we are unable to become the person we once were.

If I have been in a friendship with someone where I ended up being cheated, my first thought after liking someone would be- Should I give this new person the space I gave to the previous one who broke my trust? But the immediate reaction to this thought is to become defensive and protective about our self. Now, rather than thinking about what might be the result of our association with this new person, we start comparing the person with the person who gave us immense pain. And that leads to loneliness again and more depression because we see an opportunity in front of us but we are unable to take a chance even though our mind, soul and body are getting attracted towards it.

Our personality is not what only we have motivated it to become but it is also accumulation of all the relationships we had in our life. It leads to certain memories and those memories lead to certain decision-making parameters under which we always act after we get in touch with a new person. The decision to enhance the decoration of the relationship by mooting the person to a little more inner circle of our life is the biggest decision, I feel, one takes. Even though the complexities involved in this is not clearly visible but it affects our life, somehow, later on.

Please make sure that whenever you are about to fall in relationship with a new person, be ready to explore the several dimensions of emotions that it will bring with itself and make it change you in the process of it. Your thought process will never be the same as it has been till date. It is now going to consider even their thoughts on every decision that you will take in your life. Somewhere you would want to impress or consider even their opinion on whatever you do with your own life. Either small or big changes, their presence in your subconscious mind are a surety. Think hundred times before building a new relationship with anyone. Even while selecting a Sutta-partner, think that a sutta only takes 2 minutes of your life but this person might take away the whole pleasure out of your life. I am not scaring but focusing on difficult part of involving with another human being in this human life which is actually meant to create equilibrium of loneliness and detachment throughout. Best of luck for the next time you decide to make a stranger a big part of your life.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA !!! 

Review: MOM: A riveting revenge-drama! ***½

1574th BLOG POST -->>

There are many Bollywood movies that are based on taking revenge from a villain who has either spoiled your life or someone’s whom you love more than anything else. Considering the current state of our nation, rape is one crime that is happening like marriages every now and then. There is no stringent law which can reduce the frequency of this crime and people are worried about how to handle this effectively. In this mindset, come several films where rapists are being punished by a civilian itself away from any law and order. One such film has released recently named “MOM” featuring Sridevi.

MOM is an amazing movie where a mother’s plight is shown after her daughter suffers assault. The law releases all the four rapists because of lack of evidences and proofs. The victim has almost lost her mind and starts behaving psychically. Her stepmother playing by Sridevi cannot see this happening and takes a strong decision of taking action against these rapists out of everyone’s notice. She starts planning and does her part to ensure that all the rapists suffer as deeply as her daughter and understand that raping a girl is not a game but one of the biggest crimes in the world.

The movie is made very intelligently covering the mindset of a rape victim, her parents and policemen involved in covering the details of the crime. The only thing not covered in this movie in the mindset of the rapists as director believes that there is no use of making these guys uttering vulgar and dirty words to tell how wicked they are. Also, the rape scene in the car is handled appropriately by not showing a single scene of rape making this movie an easy-watch with family. Everyone already knows what kind of wild act is being carried out. Such approach of story-telling from the director’s vision is what impressed me about MOM.

The movie engages the audience with its fast-paced plot with amazing performances. Sridevi gives a solid performance by not overdoing any of her parts. Nawazuddin Siddiqui kills it with his humour and one-sentences and lightens the grave situation on which the movie is based upon. Akshay Khanna has also played his part well. I feel that his role should have been little more in the movie as it could have made it more special for the audiences. The climax is also treated very well assuring that the viewer leaves the theater with smile. I give this movie 3.5 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

The Left Roof by Narendra & Vishvendra Singh Nathawat (Book Review- 3.25*/5) !!!

1573rd BLOG POST -->>

It has been very rare when I have picked up a book which belongs to the world of fantasy because I am generally not used to imagining stuff a lot while reading which are not usual. That is the reason why I have still not gone through Harry Potter series because I feel very hard to connect with such stories. But still I like picking up such books rarely to be connected with this genre too. I have just finished reading another fantasy-based book on Kindle named “The Left Roof” which also comes with a tagline “A Way to the Infinity World”. The book is written by two authors, Narendra Singh Nathawat and Vishvendra Singh Nathawat and published by Partridge publishers.

The book starts off very well which keeps the readers hooked to the story as they want to know about the protagonist’s past and his parents’ back story. The suspense behind the old home is what makes the reader excited in the initial few pages itself and after the concept of Infinity World gets introduced, the world of fantasy gets opened for the reader. The way characterization and conceptualization has been drafted for this section of the story tells about the authors’ dedicated towards telling the story about an imaginary world where each and every term has to be created to make the fake world seem to be live. The way authors have described the fantasy part makes it very easy for the readers to imagine the scenarios which adds effects to the book.

The 2^nd half of the book gets little slow in the beginning but the way whole pre-climax is handled makes the closing of the story even more interesting. I just felt that the climax could have been a lot better as it ended in a very lighter note. Just like the movie, Bluffmaster, even this book manages to surprise the readers in the end and make them go like “Why the authors didn’t tell this in the first page itself!” This is the surprise element of this book- The very last small paragraph. The drawback of the book is that it stops discussing anything about the Earth etc. but only focuses on the escapade of the protagonists and his supporters from here and there in the Infinity World. I also felt that the narration of the book could have been better as it becomes quite of a booster in between where the plot is taken forward by discussing one scene after another in hurry. Otherwise, this is a good fantasy novel. I give it 3.25* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA !!! 

Somewhere To Go by Shambhavi (Book Review-3.5*/5) !!!

1572nd BLOG POST -->>

After reading books belonging to different genres, I finally read a book after going through its synopsis which fascinated me a lot. “Somewhere To Go” is written by Shambhavi and published by Rupa Publication. This 200-pages book is a stuff that can be read in one sitting. The book is based upon how a boy in a relationship working in a good media company suddenly takes the decision to go on a spiritual path to find himself. The suspense about what he would do in the end- return back to his previous life to be back again with his dear people or find his calling in the world of loneliness itself keeps this book a good page-turner. Even though the plot is simple but the way author has narrated the whole scenario makes this book worth reading.

The book is written in a very good flow making it sure that reader does not find any difficulty in identifying the characters and their backdrop. The characterization is done very wonderfully making it sure that every character who passes just as a cameo in this book also leaves an impression on your mind. As the character is shown to be very dedicated initially towards being spiritual etc, the way he has to struggle while treading on this journey and the easy decisions that he ends up taking makes this story sound more realistic. The first half of the book is very difficult for the reader to adjust with considering the tough decision that the protagonist is about to take. The second half turns little boring but it is interesting to read about what really would happen if someone takes a decision of this sort.

Talking about the drawbacks of the book, I found that author only concentrated on the protagonist and left all the other characters as a by-product of the story. Even the girlfriend of the protagonist isn’t discussed after he moves on to his journey. It would have been interesting if author would have added some parallel plot about how other characters struggled after the protagonist moved away. Also, there are many typos in the book which makes it look silly on the publication’s end. Rest, this is a book I liked reading as the genre is of my interest. I give this book 3.5* out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA – VEERU!!! 

Mayhem in South China Sea by P. R. Franklin (Book Review 4*/5) !!!

1571st BLOG POST -->>

I remember watching “The Ghazi Attack” some months ago and enjoyed it a lot because of its thrilling and surprising elements with intelligence and mind games involved in the whole game of fight between the two countries. If ever I would be able to compare the movie with any book, it would be none other than my latest read book named “Mayhem in South China Sea” written by the debutante P. R. Franklin. The book is written with very good research and knowledge which is evident in each and every chapter. You can decipher just by how the scenarios and conversations between the characters are planned about the background of the author who has served in Defence services and has a wonderful experience list.

The book is about the plot that is based upon how China is trying to occupy the South China Sea and treat it as its own area while the neighboring countries and littoral states are helplessly watching it happen. With the support of America, India decides to upset the Chinese policy. The book starts with full flow and maintains its rhythm throughout till climax. The book never gets boring at any time. The way the author has used his experience in writing this fiction tells about his conviction towards defining few rules about how to treat the countries/continents who try to break the rules for their own benefits.

The book treats various characters such as politicians, civilians, officials, terrorists, separatists, media, naval forces, defense team etc. Author never fails adding twists and turns whenever needed. The dialogue between the different parties is nicely written which makes you smile while reading the conversations. The war and strategies are nicely handled in the second half of the book and mainly the climax. The way the book ends make you want to read more about it. I wish author writes something on the similar lines again. The book has been edited well because of which you never feel any part been stretched. As the book is divided into small chapters, it is easy to read in multiple sittings which is generally not the case with thrillers. Overall, an impressive debut. I give this book 4 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

My bouquet, for you by Rukmini Dey (Book Review-3*/5) !!!

1570th BLOG POST -->>

There are very few books that you can finish within half an hour. And when the book is about poetry and poems with just 65 pages, it can be finished even within 15-20 minutes. But the effect of the book stays only if the words embedded in the sentences are enough to reach your heart and make you say “WOW” after understanding the depth of it. This is the same feeling you get when you will read this very short collection of poems written by Rukmini Dey named “My bouquet, for you”. The book is published by Zorba publication that I have tried for the first time and I am quite impressed with their choice.

The poetess talks about small things in this book through poems which she experiences in her daily life. There are poems dedicated to her particular friends. There are poems dedicated to her trips, vacations and journeys. There are words which tell us about her love with mathematics as she either talks about it directly or uses it as metaphor to compare it with something else.  She also speaks about how Rabindranath Tagore is next to Jesu for her as his poems and writings are something which is very close to her. There is another funny four lines of her husband. It can be said that poetess has actually offered her bouquet to her readers through this book.

The poems are written in easy language unlike how mostly English poems are written. Some poems are just describable about something or some moments while some of them are really deep in their meanings which rejoice the reader in you. The book makes you feel about the unobserved and unforgotten elements around you. The book is a very good flavor for a reader to taste once in a week as few write-ups are really nostalgic. I give this try 3 star out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA!!! 

The Fragrance of Rose by Chirajit Paul (Book Review- 3.25*/5) !!!

1569th BLOG POST -->>

There are many books that I have read where a female goes into sexual relationships with many male counterparts throughout the story. Sometimes, its written with a motive to interest only those readers who are interested to read sexual stuffs but most of the times, such books are written to let the readers go through the story of a female who had to get into sexual relationships with many men in her life because of some valid reasons which were unavoidable. The book written with the latter reason is what I prefer reading out of the two. I picked up a book with the similar plot named “The Fragrance of Rose” written by Chirajit Paul which also has tagline saying “Beauty-Dignity-Ambition”. The book is published by one of the most popular publication house- Srishti. 

The writing style of the author, Chirajit, is easy and fluid which help this book a lot in turns of narration and flow. The way each scenario is bifurcated from another is very well managed. The characters are handled properly because of which the readers do not get confused in remembering the names and their relation with the protagonist. The character of Rinita Bose is portrayed wonderfully as it can make any girl who has gone through the similar phase in her life to look forward to her ambitions and desires with dignity. 

The story does justice to the reader’s time. The circumstances that the author have chosen in which the protagonist has to give away her body to the men she would have never even given another glance is imaginable and genuine. The book never looks like desperation to make readers fall for it due to sexual scenes. Author handles these moments nicely in the book. This book is not like a revenge-drama or something but about the years a girl goes through the same loop again and again due to the mindset of the men she gets accompanied with. The book is not stretchy and ends where the reader feels it should end. The climax is little down in terms of the ending of the book but still, this book is great to accompany you while traveling. I give this one 3.25 out of 5.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA – VEERU!!!